Get It Right Sermon V: A Mature Christian's Perspective On Prayer Series

A Mature Christian Perspective on Prayer

“It is what it is.” When I hear someone dismissively assess a situation or circumstance with that expression of resignation, my initial reaction is to cringe at the implication that there’s nothing that can be done about it.

The notion that “it is what it is” is closely akin to one of the most pessimistic theological views ever articulated - “whatever will be will be”.

The way I feel about “giving in” to such a pessimistic prediction of our future is the way I feel when I hear someone exclaim, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. My stock answer to that particular assessment is, “Well, I’m glad the makers of black and white TV did not see it that way.”

If I did not believe there’s a chance for betterment in life, especially a Christian’s life, I would have quit discipling folks and doing Christian ministry a long time ago . . . .

The fact of the matter is that we were brought into a relationship with God through Christ so that, as children of God and joint heirs with Christ, we might keep on growing in the likeness of Christ until we all reach the highest level of maturity attainable for entering into that glorious experience awaiting all who are “in Christ” (believers and doers of the Word) in the hereafter.

Folks, the Cause for which Christ suffered, bled and died has come a long way since that day twenty centuries ago when our Lord’s Resurrection shocked His followers and subsequently ushered in the world-wide crusade known as the Church of Jesus Christ for spreading the Good News to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Needless to say, the world today is not the same as it was then. So many changes have occurred – some for better and some for worse – and so many people have inhabited the earth that the number is now inconceivable! With population explosion, there came an eruption of ideas that inevitably led to massive advances - most of which we have witnessed during our lifetime – all of which have contributed to what you might call a “good news, bad news” proposition:

The good news being that. Nowadays, we have so much available to us for the betterment of mankind - the bad news being that, along with the good, there has come into play a dramatic rise in evil, associated with the misuse and abuse of it all, to the extent that the world may be on the verge of the coming to pass of that warning found in Proverbs – “Pride goeth before a fall.” So, how do we as Christians deal with what appears at times to be a hopeless situation? Ephesians 6:10-18 . . .

In Ephesus – an area of about a quarter million people in Paul’s day -competing religions and philosophies vied for the undying devotion of its inhabitants, as is the case throughout the world today.

In America - on every hand, in every way, each and every day – we are being bombarded with propaganda intended to minimize if not cause the demise of Christianity.

To stand firm in our faith and thereby against evil, Paul made the case for “spiritual warfare” by using the analogy of a Roman soldier’s armor to describe “spiritual armor” that is needed to win the fight for right! “Getting it right as far as truth is concerned, getting it done as far as the spread of the gospel is concerned, getting ready to go marching in as far as God’s purpose for His people is concerned” is a plan that must not fail. Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him take a stand!

After all, “He who is not with me is against me!”? (Luke 11:23) Do you recall the context in which Jesus drew that conclusion?

It occurred in connection with His teaching on Prayer . . . then He told a story to illustrate his point that our Father in heaven gives the Holy Spirit to all who “ask, seek and knock” - immediately after that, He cast out an evil spirit, for which his critics publicly “condemned” Him, whereupon He told yet another story which led to that conclusion, “He who is not with me is against me.”

To be “with Jesus” is to take your stand against the devil’s schemes . . . stand your ground and not give in . . . stand firm on Christ the Solid Rock . . . speak the truth in love . . . live in peace within the family of God . . . be and do what’s right in God’s sight . . . imitate “agape” in all of our relationships . . . be cognizant of the presence and power of, and be led by, the Holy Spirit of God!