I am grateful for our freedom and for the men and women who fought that you and I might be free. While today some of our freedoms are discussed by our government and become a source of debate politically and personally, there is one freedom that can never be taken away. That one freedom is PRAYER!

Prayer was an important part of our country’s freedom from the very beginning. In New York City on October 3rd 1789, George Washington wrote: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits, humbly implore His protection and favor….and also that we may unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all to render our national government a blessing to all the People.”

We can pray wherever we are and in whatever situation we are in. Just to mention a few. Jonah prayed from the belly of a whale, Elisha from the foot of Mt. Carmel, David prayed while fleeing from a King, Jeremiah from a dungeon, Daniel from his window for all to see. Moses prayed in the wilderness, so did John the Baptist and Paul and Silas from prison. Governments and Nations may try to take prayer away from us but they can’t!!! We can PRAY!

As we begin a new church year let us pray. “Father, the time has come….” Jesus prayed in John 17:1. Jesus earthly ministry was almost over. The high of being welcomed in Jerusalem, that would soon become a lonely and painful walk to Calvary was just before Jesus. The plan of salvation was coming to completion. The time had come for the agony of the cross, but, three days later the agony and pain would be overshadowed by the emptiness of the tomb. It was time to leave the disciples in charge of spreading the gospel. It was time for the Holy Spirit to come in power and be in us. It was terrible times and yet it was the best of times. And Jesus PRAYED!!!

Jesus is our example and He prayed with deep conviction and concern for the things that mattered in His life and what mattered in the lives of others. Jesus is our example so we need to pray. We can pray about anything because it all matters to God. Jesus is interceding for us and will take our prayers before the Father. What a great picture of Jesus going before God and saying ‘Father here is a special request.’ The songwriter Joseph Scriven wrote it best when he pinned “What a Friend we have in Jesus…What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”

Jesus said: “Father, the time has come.” And then He prayed. The time has come for us to PRAY! In His High Priestly Prayer Jesus gives us some things to pray for.

1. In John 17:1-5: It is time to come and glorify God. Worship! May our worship glorify God. God inhabits the praise of His people. George Barna has stated that 71% of adults say they have never experienced the presence of God at a church service. Go to church and realize God is there too. He wants to meet you, bless you and strengthen you. God loves you and He desires your love. It is time to Glorify God.
2. John 17:6-8: It is time to come and completely obey God’s Word - obedience to God’s Word. The best foundation for life is God’s Word. It stands strong and it lasts forever. Obey God’s Word and your life will be full of purpose and hope.
3. John 17:9-12: It is time to come together in Unity. Prayer is most effective when God’s people are in unity. D.L. Moody once stated, “I have never known the Spirit of God to work where the people were divided. It is time to come together in Unity.
4. John 17:13: It is time to come to the Lord with Praise: The Joy of the of the Lord is our strength. Come with Joy and Pray.
5. John 17:14-19: It is time to come and pray for complete surrender. Holiness is absolute surrender to God. If the fire is almost gone, then repent and go back and surrender yourself afresh and anew. You will find spiritual victory right where you left it. Let us pray: ‘Please Lord fill me / fill me.’ Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in people’s lives and for Him to go with them. It is time to be Holy!
6. John 17:17: It is time to come and know truth. We can do a pretty good job in avoiding the truth especially when it comes to us personally. Our calling is to follow what is truth and light. Some say ‘God said it-I believe it-and that settles it for me.’ A better way could be to say, ‘God said and that settles it, whether I believe it or not.’ Truth has no special time of its own, it is NOW.
7. John 17:20: It is time to Share the Good News. Prayer always makes evangelism more effective. The greatest joy in life is having the privilege to bring someone to Jesus. The Great Commandment tells us to Go and make disciples. John Wesley once said, “You are not called to do this or to do that, but you are to win souls.”

Our job as Christians is pretty simple:

1. It is time to Glorify God.
2. It is time to Completely Obey God’s Word.
3. It is time to come together in Unity.
4. It is time to come with Joy and Thanksgiving.
5. It is time to come and completely surrender.
6. It is time to come with Praise and Joy.
7. It is time to come and share the Good News.

Enough has been said. The time has come…PRAY