Title: Developing An Effective Prayer Life
Series: Prayer Changes Things
Text: Daniel 6:1-23
Introduction: The Graduates vs. the ACLU
This story took place in Calvert County, Maryland, where a senior named Julie Schenk was asked to lead a prayer at her high-school graduation. Of course, it’s perfectly legal for students, as opposed to school administrators, to lead classmates in prayer. But all too often, schools refuse to allow students to pray for fear of provoking a pricey ACLU lawsuit. And sure enough, a graduate named Nick Becker objected to the prayer. The ACLU swooped in to back him up--and school officials backed down. Julie was told that instead of a prayer, she could invite the graduates and their families to participate in 30 seconds of "silent reflection."
It turned out to be the noisiest "silent reflection" in history. When Julie asked the crowd to stand and begin the reflection, a man in the audience began to pray out loud: "Our Father, Who art in heaven . . ."
Instantly, large numbers of the 4,000 parents and students in attendance picked up the prayer, until it echoed all over the auditorium. Nick Becker, the student who had objected to prayer in the first place, stormed out of the building.
It appears that anonymous man in the crowd had decided he’d had enough. So he simply followed his conscience, regardless of the consequences.
In the aftermath of the prayer, the ACLU, knowing it didn’t have a legal leg to stand on, resorted to meaningless rhetoric. One spokesman said the "real loser here is the Constitution and the right of people to express dissent." Another said he would be "investigating the incident." (Chuck Colson, excerpted from a BreakPoint Commentary - June 30, 1999. Copyright (c) 1999 Prison Fellowship Ministries.)
Illustration: She Prayed, They Cheered
Recently, in Houston, Texas, a 16-year-old girl backed down from her decision to lead in voluntary prayer before a high school football game. She had been elected by other students at the school to pray before each of the Santa Fe Indians’ home games. The problem was that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this year that student-led prayers were allowable at solemn events like graduations. However, the court ruled that prayers at football games were not of a “singularly serious nature.”
In response, school superintendent Richard Ownby warned that any student who led prayers at the Indians’ home opener would be disciplined as if they had cursed. With the threat of expulsion, the young girl decided not to lead in the prayer. She said, “When a student is told by the government that she may say anything except a prayer, and if she does pray, she will be disciplined as if she had cursed, it is just too much pressure.”
Fortunately, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake of Houston issued a temporary injunction barring the school district from punishing someone in this manner. He said that the guidelines that sought to restrict her “clearly prefer atheism over any religious faith.” In response to his ruling, another girl, a 17-year-old, with quivering lips stepped up to the microphone and asked God to bless the football game. As she completed the prayer, the crowd stood and cheered. (Richard Goble, Evolution and Columbine High School: A Formula for Disaster, November 15, 1999.)
What can stop you from praying?
To develop an effective prayer life I must:
1. Be determined that nothing will hinder God’s blessings in my life.
2. Be determined that nothing will hinder God’s work in my life.
I. DAILY PRAYER OPENS AN AVENUE FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE. Daniel 6:1-3
Note: Daniel is more than 80 years old at this time, and has enjoyed an abundance of God’s blessings. Daniel 1:17-20
A. Through Daily Prayer We Become Like God.
Quote: God’s Heartbeat
Prayer is communicating with God for the purposes of knowing Him, seeking His heart, and doing His will. It is putting your ear to God’s chest to hear and know His heartbeat. (Contributed by: Joseph Rodgers. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
Illustration: Just Checking
A man who had regularly prayed for many years began to wonder if God heard his prayers at all. During one of his routine times of prayer, he started this doubting pattern once again. He stopped praying and thought for a moment. “Enough of this,” he said.
He then lifted his eyes toward heaven and yelled, “Hey up there, can you hear me?”
There was no response.
He continued, “Hey, God, if you can really hear me, tell me what you want me to do with my life.”
A voice from above thundered a reply, “I WANT YOU TO HELP THE NEEDY AND GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR THE CAUSE OF PEACE!”
Faced with more of a challenge than the man really wanted, he answered, “Actually, God, I was just checking to see if you were there.”
The voice from above now answered with disappointment: “THAT’S ALRIGHT; I WAS ONLY CHECKING TO SEE IF YOU WERE THERE.” (Contributed by: A. Todd Coget. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
1. Prayer helps us to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29
2. From the moment we are saved, God is continually transforming us to become the glory of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18
B. Through Daily Prayer We Labor With God. John 15:16
Quote: Peter Marshall once began a Senate session with this prayer, "O Lord, forgive us for thinking that prayer is a waste of time, and help us to see that without prayer our work is a waste of time." (http://www.esermons.com. Rev. Dr. Robert J. Bryan, "All Constantly Devoted to Prayer.")
1. When I pray daily, I set about my tasks with God’s help at my disposal.
2. When I work without praying, I am working under my own power.
II. DAILY PRAYER PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO WORK IN MY LIFE. Daniel 6:10; 16-17
Illustration: Our Persistent Prayer
Billy Graham said, “Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.” Have faith in the God of the dream; let’s ask God to bring the dream to completion. God’s answer is ready; it’s just waiting for our personal and persistent request. (SOURCE: Billy Graham. Contributed by: D. Greg Ebie. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
Note: This pattern of prayer was established by David. Psalms 55:16-17
Quote: The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. – Samuel Chadwick. (Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2000.)
A. Prayer Establishes A Right Relationship With God.
Illustration: Teach Us What To Say
An African missionary named William Chalmers was approached one day by two tribal chiefs. They said, ‘We want Christian teachers, will you send them?
The missionary sadly said that he had no one to send.
Two years passed and the chiefs returned. The missionary himself could arrange to go now and promised to come. He arrived some time later.
As he entered the village on a Sunday morning he found the whole village on their knees in perfect silence. He asked one of the chiefs what they were doing. They told him they were praying.
But you are not saying anything?
The chief replied, “We do not know what to say. For two years we have met here every Sunday for four hours praying and waiting for someone to come and teach us what to say.” (Contributed by: Guy McGraw. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
1. I must consider my relationship with God. Psalm 66:8
2. I must consider my relationship with my “brother.” Matthew 5:23-24
3. I must consider my relationship with my adversary. Matthew 5:25-26
4. I must consider my relationship with my spouse. 1 Peter 3:7
B. Prayer Opens A Pathway Of Continuous Forgiveness, Mercy, And Grace. Daniel 6:18-22
1. We receive forgiveness as we grant forgiveness. Matthew 6:14-15
2. We receive mercy as we extend mercy. Matthew 5:7
3. We experience grace to serve God. Hebrews 12:28
C. Prayer Releases God’s Power. Daniel 6:23
1. Divine power gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3-4
2. Divine power gives us strength to endure trials and temptation. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
3. Divine power gives us courage to evangelize the world. Matthew 28:18-20
Illustration: The Power Will Be On
I once heard the story of an organist who was getting ready to play as the church service began. When he put his hands on the keys there was no sound. Everyone knew something was wrong, so the preacher quickly got up and led in prayer. The janitor was aware of the fact that they hadn’t plugged in the organ. So he went during the prayer, plugged in the organ, wrote a note and handed it to the organist. The note said, “After the prayer, the power will be on.” That is so true isn’t it? After the prayer, the power will be on. (Contributed by: Lou Nicholes. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
Conclusion
Ask again: What can stop you from praying?
Illustration: The Bonsai Tree
The Japanese introduced a tree to the world that is called a Bonsai tree. It is measured in inches instead of feet as other trees are measured. It is not allowed to reach anywhere near its full growth potential but instead grows in a stunted miniature form.
The reason for it growing in stunted form is that when it first stuck its head out of the ground as a sapling, the owner pulled it out of the soil and tied off its main tap root and some of its branch feeder roots and then replanted it. By doing this, its grower deliberately stunted its growth by limiting the roots ability to spread out and grow deep and take in enough of the soils nutrients for a normal growth.
What was done to the Bonsai tree by its owner is what Satan has purposed to do to the believer, if he can. He is going to try to tie off our tap root of prayer. He wants to limit our receiving in prayer what God supplies for our spiritual growth. (Contributed by: Bill Lobbs. http://www.sermoncentral.com.)
