Prayer is critical, but does it matter where you pray? Having a spot set aside for conversation with God, even if it’s just a corner of your room, is key for winning your spiritual battles. If you want to hear God’s voice and have His help in the fight, discover how a specific place to pray can make all the difference. This sermon was recorded before COVID-19. For the protection of our staff members and the community, we are currently following safety guidelines by practicing social distancing. We appreciate your understanding.
the title of this message is the
believers war room you said what in the
world is that so I want you to turn if
you will to the sixth chapter of Matthew
the Sermon on the Mount and I want you
to look at a couple of verses here
because this is what you and I would
really consider a war room if we
understood what goes on in this room so
Jesus is speaking here beginning in
verse five when he says when you pray
you are not to be like the hypocrites
for they love to stand and pray in the
synagogues and on the street corners so
that they may be seen by men truly I say
to you they have their reward in full
but now watch this next verse but you
when you pray going to you or in a room
close your door and pray to your father
who is in secret and your father who
sees what is done in secret will reward
you think about this think about all the
kind of trials and heartaches and
burdens you face in life what do you do
with them many people don’t know what to
do with them and Jesus has given us in
this passage Scripture the solution the
answer when I think about in my own life
I learned to pray seriously very early
and I finally figured out why because I
had needs that I knew I could not meet
and secondly I felt very inadequate in
life in school and everything I did so
it forced me to begin to pray early in
life when I started that I prayed in my
bedroom and then after a while I
realized there must be a better place
and so I found a place in my church
which was a block away to pray and then
when I went away to college I thought
well I’ve got to find a place to pray
and I had a roommate at that time and so
he and I were good friends
but after a while I realized I didn’t
feel free to pray there so I found
another friend of mine who lived down
the hall in jitta Hall University of
Richmond and I said to him one day I
need a place I can pray and I need a
private place and I asked him something
that it was a little bit shocking at
first I said would you sell me your room
he said sell you my room I said that’s
what I mean I said I need a private room
where I can just pray and be quiet and
talk to God so I didn’t know what he’d
come back with because naturally those
rooms had already been paid for but I
wanted his room b-seventeen Jeter hall
so he came back the next day he said all
right I didn’t know what he was going to
say he said how about $15 I said yes and
I said it very quietly because $15
there’s a lot of money for me when you
didn’t have any I said fine so I bought
his room so for the next three and a
half years I had b-17g a hall a private
room and I had a wonderful place to pray
and probably after a few weeks maybe
somewhere thereabouts probably once a
week some student would come to see me
and say well could we just talk a few
moments and so I spent three and a half
years of listening and talking to my
fellow college mates and it was a
wonderful time when I went away to
seminary I didn’t have a place to pray
in my room it was very noisy and so I
finally found the place to pray in the
Music Building and so that helped me
through those times and then I got
married and so we had a very small
apartment and so I said to my wife now I
gotta have a place to pray and we had a
small bedroom a very small kitchen and
bathroom and a living room and that was
it so I had one of my mother’s Africans
that I do
so I stretched that over in the corner
of that living room and that was my
place to pray till we finished
similary I’ve always had a place some
time it wasn’t a different place
sometimes right in the middle of a lot
of things and I’ve had places to pray
and my studies and so for the church and
then touch and always had a place
there’s something about this passage of
Scripture when he says when you pray go
into your inner room close your door
pray to your father who is in secret and
your father who sees what is done in
secret will reward you probably the most
important lesson I’ve ever learned was
to talk to God and lot of people think
they’re praying when oftentimes they’re
not really praying there’s sort of
expressing maybe something in their life
that is going on I don’t know of a
lesson more important in life than
learning to pray so when we called it
the believers war room that’s really
what it is in a way because that’s where
you fight your battles and there are
other words if you turn to that sixth
chapter of Ephesians which you know
pretty well the scripture says in that
tenth verse finally be strong in the
Lord in the strength of his might put on
the full armor of God so that you may be
able to stand firm against the schemes
of a devil for our struggle is not
against flesh and blood but against the
rulers against the powers against the
world Force’s of this darkness against
spiritual forces of wickedness in
heavenly places therefore take up the
full armor of God and you know the
pieces the helmet of salvation to
protect our thinking the breastplate of
righteousness to protect their emotions
the girdle of truth so that we walk in
it feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace and he talks about for
example the sword of the Spirit the Word
of God
and above all taking the shield of faith
and that shield was not around
Sheila was a shield like a door that
covered you totally he says this is the
way we begin the day so I’m asked a
question do you ever placed afraid’s
your house you have an enemy and he’s
the devil Satan Jesus called him jesus
said he’s a murderer and a liar and
deceiver he called him a lot of things
he’s a schemer and he’s a tempter
he’s a destroyer you and I have an enemy
and many people are destroyed by the
enemy and do not even realize what’s
happening to him for all of us who are
believers God has given us the key to
living a godly life and a life that is
pleasing and honorable to him and a life
that makes it possible for us to
accomplish anything and everything that
God has said before us but prayer is the
key and so what I’d like to do in this
message is give you a little insight
into what a real prayer room is like
when I say war room I mean a war room
because that’s where the battles are
really fought and so many of you
probably would think well what would you
do in a prayer room that’s what I want
to share with you and I pray that you
listen carefully because listen you need
it all of us need a place where we can
talk to a Heavenly Father confidently
boldly sharing the animals things of our
heart and no one else listening and that
he will make a difference so I want you
to listen carefully you’re going to need
it some of you don’t even know how to
pray or you may just repeat the Lord’s
Prayer and think that’s sufficient that
doesn’t say what you really need to say
then in your heart
some want you to listen carefully do not
shut it out to say well I don’t have a
place to pray yes you
and I want to show you that you do there
is a place in your house your apartment
of somewhere that you can set aside to
pray may have to be when everybody else
is gone but the place that you and your
Heavenly Father can develop an intimate
relationship listen to what he says when
you pray go into your inner room close
your door and pray to your father in
secret and your father who sees what is
done in secret will reward you which is
his promise so he speaks of a place now
Jesus place changed because his tenor
had changed and my life’s changed over
all these years but I’ve had a place
I’ve found a place to pray because I
discovered very early in life I couldn’t
handle it without it and he made me
inadequate enough and needy enough to
depend upon him to trust in him and to
make prayer the priority of my life and
I fought a lot of battles then through a
lot of difficulties hardships have lotsa
needs but I can tell you this he’s never
failed me one time nor will he failed
you so Jesus called it a place and I
would say as Jesus said when he said
close the door a private place if it’s
possible somewhere in your house
someplace that you can set aside is your
place to meet God every day and if you
happen to be in a situation where you
have roommates you could just send you a
roommate you know I just need a place or
a little time to be alone with the God
be alone with God so if you work here or
you work that no words can be working
out so that I’ll have this particular
time that you’ll know that I’m just
being alone talking to God I’m gonna be
praying for you but I’m gonna be talking
to to God about my life
and about my future anybody who would
object to that makes a great statement
and that is I really need you to pray
for me that’s really what they’re saying
and so here’s what will happen God will
make a place if you want a place to pray
God will make a place for you to pray
for the simple reason there’s nothing he
wants any more than to develop an
intimate personal relationship with you
and if you’ll notice how Jesus said it
enter your room close your door and pray
to your father who is in secret and he
will reward you so it’s a private place
and what I simply want to do is to say
to you this is what a prayer room is
about and I just want to describe a true
genuine prayer room whether it’s a place
or room itself whatever it takes for you
to be alone with Almighty God think
about it in this light and that is
simply this it’s a private place it’s a
quiet place it’s a holy place it’s where
you and the Father made let me tell you
why that’s so important when you have a
place what I discovered after a while
because that’s your place to pray when
you get there you don’t have to get
ready after a while your whole system
adjust to the fact this is what you do
here this is the only thing you do here
you don’t read books here you don’t do
it this is what you do you talk to the
father you may have your Bible there but
primarily you’re talking to him so when
you when you get there you know what
you’re gonna do
and I remember I was praying one evening
and this is why I say it’s a holy place
because one of the most important things
God’s ever said to me said to me lying
over there on that spot and here’s what
he said I was talking to him about
something in school and so forth
he said to me whatever you accomplish in
life you’ll have to accomplish on your
knees you cannot trust in your education
or your abilities and talents and skill
only on your knees I never forgot it I
can never thank God enough for telling
me early in life this whatever I do with
you I will do as you come to me commune
with me kneel before me worship me on
amiyo Bay me on your knees
watch what I do and I can tell you it’s
the most important thing God had said to
me up until that time because the truth
is this whatever he accomplishes in your
life that really fits his will and
purpose and plan to your life it’s as a
result of your relationship to him there
are a lot of people who look famous and
a wealth in this said never but I have
no relationship with the father the most
important relationship you will ever
have is with God the Father and how do
you develop that relationship he said
when you pray go to your in a room or
wherever it is close your door for
possible pray to your father who is in
secret and your father who is in secret
will reward you
it doesn’t make a difference who you are
when you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as
your personal Savior you develop a
relationship but then when you begin to
put prayer in its proper place
that’s first in your life God will do
things in your life and for you you’ll
never figure out and you’ll never do and
never accomplish unless you put that
where it belongs
it was first in Jesus life that’s why
the scripture says a great halt before
day he was doing what he was up and away
in the wilderness praying and so this is
where our battles are fought our battles
are fought on our knees because what
happens when you go through difficult
and hardship in your life and conflict
with other people and so forth
when you in your place of prayer bring
that to your heavenly father listen to
what happens you know what happens
here’s what happens you you engage your
heavenly father in this warfare you’re
having with whoever it might be in
whatever the situation circumstances it
may be even your husband and your wife
or your kids your parents when you kneel
before him and ask for his guidance in
his help and his strength and how many
times have I had to come to him when I
desperately needed him he was all I had
and no other place to go listen
carefully they’re going to be some times
when nobody knows the answer to your
plea but Almighty God nobody will be
able to comfort strengthen you help you
encourage you like Almighty God and when
you develop that relationship with him
and that place listen if if the place
and the quietness and the seclusion and
the holiness of that place from not
important Jesus will never have put that
in the Sermon on the mountain but he
said it because he knew it was so
important because he practiced it
himself that’s where you fight
temptation that’s where you fight trials
on your face before Almighty God now I
know and I’ll say it once in a while you
do not have to kneel to be holy before
God but I’ll put it this way you at
least must be in the mode of worship you
can sit down if you can sit down but for
me I’ve been dealing since I was a kid
and that’s just the reason I say
kneeling before him honoring him and
worshiping him and to me to get on my
knees before him was straighten out flat
out on my face before God says what my
heart says
and that is holy God I come to you and
need and I’m crying out to you to give
me help and strength and whatever I may
be praying for and think about this
that’s why you should get your
instructions for every day
you not never know what a day means we
never know what we’re going to face and
if you turn to your place of prayer and
you start the day with him asking for
his guidance for his direction and
listening you don’t have to wonder if
he’s listening you don’t have to wonder
if he’ll answer that prayer trust in the
Lord with all your heart lean not to
your own understanding in all your ways
acknowledge him and he will direct your
path and so we could go right through
the scriptures with promises of God but
to begin the day in that private quiet
place with Almighty God that’s the way
you start the day and a lot of people
who suffer a lot of turmoil in their
life unnecessarily because they get up
and rush off and it’s just that them
versus the world-wide do it you versus
the world when you can walk with a
companion of the Lord Jesus Christ
living within you through the Holy
Spirit to enable you strengthen you
guard you protect you God’s you enabled
you whatever he wants for your life you
start the day off with him I hear people
say all the time Allah I gotta have a
cup of coffee as soon as I get up no you
don’t you give you just hooked yourself
on that you need to get hooked on Jesus
I’m not saying you can’t have a cup of
coffee but that’s not the first thing
the most important thing in your life if
that’s what it takes to wake you up to
pray then that’s okay but that’s not the
most important thing in your life the
most important thing in your life every
morning is asking for the Lord’s
guidance and help and strength
surrendering yourself to him Lord
whatever you have in mind for me today
I’m available
let me think your thoughts let me think
before I speak God I want whatever you
want to accomplish in my life you begin
the day with him listen you can’t beat
that you have God guiding you and
leading you and so what happens in the
war room is we get ready for the day we
asked for directions and guidance Lord
make us sensitive to the people around
us let us hear what they say what they
don’t say let us read
let us read their facial expressions
what are they trying to say to us lord
help me to do my best today if somebody
gives me instructions let me get them
down if I’m given an order and on my job
and I don’t like it Lord you help me to
like it anyway lord I want you to I want
you to guide me through this day God
will never ignore that request he says
go into that inner room
close your door and pray to your father
and so what does he do we dress for the
battle we get instructions for the day
and also remember this this is a
guidebook tell me one thing in your life
that’s not in here that you have to face
every single circumstance of life there
is an answer for it in the book this is
a book of instructions this is this is
God’s battle plan for us you cannot live
a godly life with a closed book you
can’t win the battle if you don’t know
the battle plan if you’re not listening
to the general you’re making your own
decisions you’re gonna lose the battle
and so he said go into your inner room
and close the door and what he was
saying is this I want you to my self to
begin this day and there’s not a person
in here who can tell me any reason that
you can’t do that and if you say well I
just get distracted and when I pray get
in your closet close the door put some
clothes or something under so there’s no
light tell God you just want to think
about him you want him to speak to your
heart because you can’t think of
anything more important than hearing
from the Living God and he’s willing to
speak to you you said well I’ve never
heard y’all speak you probably weren’t
listening God is willing to speak to
anyone who’s trusted him as their
personal Savior God is willing to listen
to any center crying out to salvation if
you want him to be a part of you in life
yield your life to him surrender
yourself to him ask him for the
forgiveness of your sin trusting in his
death at Calvary to pay your sin debt in
full and become a child of God your life
with him will begin and so when I think
about what’s involved and opening the
Word of God and asking him to speak to
my heart that’s where you and I deal
with our sins
honestly thoroughly by ourselves alone
with Almighty God now though you can
pray to of it with other people but
listen to this God wants an intimate
relationship with us he wants us to give
him our full attention he wants us to
listen carefully of what he says now
listen carefully bish when you’re
praying and in that in a room wherever
that place is you don’t do all the
talking you learn to listen tell me
what’s on your heart what you’re
concerned about what you need or how
grateful you are for whatever it is and
then just be quiet when I hear people
say well God’s never spoken to me I know
why because they didn’t give him a
chance do you listen to your children
when they come to you crying for example
are needy about something what do you do
if you’re a good mom or dad you sit and
say sweetheart tell me what’s on your
mind
tell me what’s hurting tell me what can
I do think about Almighty God your
heavenly Father is never too busy to
listen to you
but you need to give him time to speak
and God is willing to speak to you and I
told you in the very beginning once the
God said to me about always needing him
and whatever accomplished in life i
accomplish on my knees he made that so
absolutely clear to me and I could spend
a lot of time this morning say here’s
what God said to me about this and that
he will do the same for you in your life
in your circumstances but you got to
listen to him you have to get in the
position listen to him and I love what
he said
he said go in your room close the door
it’s private and listen to your heavenly
Father and you may begin your session
with him by simply saying Lord I’m just
here to listen today this morning or
tonight if there’s something you want to
say to me I’m willing to listen Lord you
may be shocked at how clearly God will
speak to your heart sometimes he will
speak through his word and I remember in
one of the biggest battles I’ve ever
been in and I was being quiet and
listening to the Lord and I was just
flipping through the script chest and
God if he had something to say to me and
I turn to this passage no weapon formed
against you will prosper and I sat
through this horrible business meeting
reading that verse and reminding God
Lord here’s what you’re saying and I
listened to people who tried their best
to get rid of me and the interesting
thing yeah I read that verse over and
over and over and over again saying Lord
is what you’re saying I’m trusting you
and the jin.o for two hours and the
attempt to get rid of me not one person
said one negative thing about me and I
was sitting there thinking I could tell
you a lot of things about me that I am
perfect but you know what God used that
personal scripture to give me the most
awesome sense of peace but your hearts
gotta be right
lord I need you to encourage me a god
you have convicted me of something that
I had not seen before had not dealt with
before and Laura I’m confessing my sins
before you whenever you and I come to
him with an open heart will it and we
should always say to him the Lord if you
have something to say to me that I
missed I want to hear it if there’s
anything in my heart that should not be
there then the first thing I want to do
is I want you to show me what it is so I
can confess it and ask you to forgive me
so I want to start off clean god I just
want to start off clean so I can hear
what you have to say you can’t listen
God is not gonna do much talking to you
as long as you were living in sin he
speaks to those who willing to hear him
let me ask you a question
how do you feel maybe when you and your
wife our husband had a little bout you
want to get it straightened out and he
won’t listen what does that do to you
that I so as a wife or she won’t listen
or your son won’t listen are your
parents won’t listen there’s something
about opening our heart to God let me
tell you he will speak to you clearly
you know what because he loves you God
doesn’t try to keep secrets and this is
why he said go into your inner room
close your door that is it’s just you
and him and you’ll find a place if you
really want to find the place a place to
pray is a place that you know I can talk
to him quietly it doesn’t mean that you
can’t pray you can sit right here and
pray or go somewhere so riding on the
expressway but here’s what Jesus said
there ought to be a place a place that’s
your place a private place a holy place
it’s made holy because that’s where you
and God do business where you talk and
who are you listening where you
want God to speak to your heart it’s one
of the most important lessons you’ll
ever learn in life and somebody says
well I’ve come a long ways and I haven’t
done that and you don’t know what you’ve
missed the most important relationship
you have is with Jesus and he can be
more real in your life than any other
person because he speaks to the
innermost part of your being your heart
your life your soul your spirit and
Jesus who was holy the very son of God
listen the first son of God felt a need
to get away then Luke he’s at that
praying and that disciples come and
interrupt him saying well the people are
looking for you and when somebody says
to me I don’t have time to pray I sent
they want to think if that’s the only
reason you don’t God knows how to give
you a dose of something that puts you in
the bed stretched out flat on your back
where you got plenty of time to pray and
talk to God and some people have met the
Lord in that way when he absolutely laid
them down and then they began to listen
to him and God began to speak to their
heart so that’s where we deal with sin
in their life that’s where we that’s
where we develop an intimate
relationship with him now some of you
probably thinking well I don’t think
that’s necessary that’s the devil’s lie
don’t believe it let me tell you why if
it were not necessary it wouldn’t be in
the Word of God by the person of Jesus
Christ
he knows and you and I know we need a
place a
time and one of the best times to start
is early in the morning but for some
people that may not be the most
convenient thing then you make it your
time your place and your time where you
get alone with God uninterrupted and did
you know without even knowing this my
kids have told me this and I remember I
have a study out different from the
house in the backyard and I was passed
in Miami and that’s where I prayed I
asked him to build me a little place
away from my house because I didn’t have
a place so is this a cinderblock
building wasn’t very large at all and I
just had a in fact I had a door for the
desk so I didn’t want anything in that
to distract me had a door as a desk and
one chair I paid $15 saw it
and and I had a little mat on that
concrete floor and they said to me you
didn’t know I was there but I slipped in
there and I was right beside you praying
and I heard everything you said
and my daughter came to me different
times and she would say something
similar to that you know what if I never
taught my kids another lesson I taught
it without even trying that you spend
time talking to your father and now that
they’re in their 50s they know what pray
is all about and as a parent you need to
demonstrate it you you need you need to
show them not just tell them how
important for areas and I’m not telling
you that for any other reason except to
say I discover that later on they didn’t
even tell me at first of course they did
tell me the times we had a we had around
the coffee table we all prayed around
when we prayed together as a family
and they are quick to remind me that at
one time everybody had prayed and then
they kept waiting for me to pray and
waiting for me to pray and I went to
sleep Wow all they prayed and they all
got up to walk out and at that time they
got to the door I started praying they
came back around but you know what
that’s okay
that’s all right that table was a place
we all prayed but then I taught them to
find the place for them to pray because
it’s the most important activity of your
life there’s nothing more important your
life than building an intimate
relationship with the Heavenly Father
and claiming his promises and in the
prayer room that’s where you lay your
burdens down and what does he say he
daily lifts our burdens this place to
pray is an awesome place they confess
our sins to where he lifts our burdens
where we weep over our trials and our
heartaches yes it’s a place to cry
before Almighty God
and he understands for we are crying
about its we’re broken hearts amended in
the prayer room
it’s where sins forgiven but also where
we forgive others it’s a holy place a
mighty place a powerful place it’s a
place that becomes the most precious
spot in your household because that’s
where you and the Father meet and
discuss every area of your life well you
bring you needs where you bring your
hurts where you bring you tears where
you bring your sorrows where your
burdens are lifted and where you’re
strengthened so where is your place you
can walk through life and ignore a
personal intimate relationship with
Christ
maybe you’re very talented and gifted
maybe you’re very wealthy and you say
well I don’t need all that oh yes you do
and the more prideful you are the
further you’re going to fall when God’s
hand comes upon you to teach you a
lesson that you need him desperately do
you have a place even as you’ve listened
have you thought a better place are you
willing to make a place they can be your
place they’ll become a holy place a
private place where you carry on the
most important activity of your life and
that’s community and fellowshipping with
the Lord Jesus Christ most important
thing you do
you say well I’m so busy I don’t have
time yes you do do you believe God loves
you enough to speak to you maybe you
don’t believe that but you get in a
place and you start praying and you’ll
find out quickly God will speak to your
heart your needs will be met you’ll find
joy in your heart and so sense of
security and comfort God meeting your
needs in an awesome way doesn’t mean
you’ll never be needy no he allows us to
meet needy sometime because it drives us
into a deeper relationship with him if
you one of those persons who’s never
trusted Jesus as your Savior I trusted
today you’ve settled that issue asking
him to forgive you of your sins and
acknowledging that Jesus went to the
cross in order to pay your sin debt in
full by shedding his blood in the moment
you will they confess that sin repent of
it and tell the Lord Jesus Christ you’re
receiving him as your personal Savior
your life with him will begin and my
prayer to you is that you’d be wise
enough to do what Jesus said go into
your inner room close your door pray to
your father who is in secret and your
father who sees what is done in secret
will reward you that is a promise of God
and if you’re wise
you’ll make a place father how grateful
we are that you made it simple
and I pray that the Holy Spirit will
sink this message deep in the heart of
every person who hears it and some who
have never trusted you as their Savior
help them to understand the first prayer
you listen to from them it’s a prayer of
confession and repentance and surrender
of their life to you as their Lord and
Savior and then you all can carry on a
conversation you know who’s listening to
this message is going through great
trial heart a difficult to pain
suffering a sense of futility not
knowing which way to turn or father
remind them that they’ve heard the
answer today and now it’s a matter of
making a choice making the wisest choice
they could make of finding a place and
begin to build that intimate
relationship and to begin listening to
you and hearing you speak is my prayer
in Jesus name Amen
you