INTRODUCTION
Last Sunday, we introduced a new series called “This One Thing”. The idea is that when someone says remember this one thing or they say do this one thing, the idea is what they are telling us is of upmost importance, and it will require our action.
Jesus used that phrase “this one thing” on several occasions. For example, when He was talking with the rich young ruler, He used that phrase to describe this one thing the young ruler lacked and he needed to take care of. And the Scripture says that the rich young ruler went away sad because he knew he could not do it.
On other occasions, Jesus did not say those exact words.” this one thing”, but by the wording of His statement He implies the words “this one thing.” When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people greeted Him, it began the week before His Crucifixion. And it was during that week that Jesus visited the temple, and He ran out the money changers and He made this statement. “My house shall be called a House of Prayer.” Jesus was implying that prayer has got to be the most important thing a church does.
We looked at a survey of 14,000 Christians and in the survey we discovered that 72% of Christian feel that there prayer life is poor or only acceptable. And then I asked by a show of hands how many feel that the prayer portion of our church is poor or only acceptable, and a large portion of you all raised your hand.
And what I have concluded is this: God asked us to make His house a House of prayer, we don’t, and it is because we don’t know how to do it well.
So, we are going to begin looking at how we ought to pray. And the first one, we are going to tackle is how we ought to pray for the church.
Let’s begin by reading our Scripture.
SCRIPTURE
Revelation 2:1–7 (NKJV)
The Loveless Church
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Background Information
It seems to me if you attend Bala Chitto Baptist Church then you ought to be praying for Bala Chitto Baptist Church. Think about it this way. Your biological family is important to you. No question about that. But your church family to which you belong should have a great level of importance to you also.
Think about all the reasons your pray for your biological family- someone is sick in the family, there is a squabble going on in the family, you children need direction in their life, your family needs protection as they travel and the list goes on.
Those are the same type of prayers that a church family ought to be offering up for one another.
But here is the problem: a non-praying biological family won’t offer up those prayers nor will a church that has not made prayer a priority.
So, the letter to the seven churches in Revelation reminds of how we ought to pray for the Church.
Point #1
Our prayer ought to be that no one other than Jesus Christ ever has authority over this church.
Revelation 2:1 (NKJV)
The Loveless Church
2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Revelation 2:1 is talking about Jesus as the one in authority at the church at Ephesus.
But if that is not clear to you let me read you Colossians 1:18 which spells it out very clearly.
Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Let me tell you if you have been a Christian any length of time and have been active in church during that time, you probably experienced this. Someone or some group begins to think that they run the church.
I have seen pastor’s think that this is their church. I see it when the deacon body forgets their job is to be a servant and starts thinking that they run the church.
And then there are those people with deep pockets, the money people of the church, start thinking to themselves that this church would not survive without me. So people better listen to me as to how this church ought to run.
And what about the group of women who do everything down at the church house. And soon they begin to think this church could not do anything without us. And so they begin to think they run the church.
Let me give you some good advice: if Jesus don’t run a church then get out. It does not matter what the pastor thinks, it does not matter how the deacons thinks, it does not matter how much money someone throws at the church. God’s church is not for anyone’s control other than Jesus.
We may not like that because that means One important thing.: it matters only what God Word says.
If I was living at the time of the Church of Ephesus was operating, I could be thinking this is a great church. But Jesus makes it quite clear it is not what you think but what I know that matters.
Point #2
Our prayer ought to be show us where we have failed you so that we can repent and get it straight.
Let me share with you some of the places these seven churches have failed Jesus and they need to repent and get it right.
At the church of Ephesus, we are told that they lost their first love. Have we substituted doing Church for loving Jesus?
At the church of Pergamum, they have let false teaching seep into the church. Have we keep God’s Word as the standard?
At the church of Thyatira, they have become too tolerant of sin. Have we allowed sin to become part of our church life?
At the church of Sardis, they are sleeping walking through their church life. Have we allowed the church to lose some life through our actions.
At the church of Laodicea, they lost their zeal for winning the lost. Have we gotten comfortable just the size we are?
There was seven churches that Jesus mentions in Revelation. Five of them has got problems. Over 70% of the churches in that time has problem.
But do you know what I don’t see in our day and time. Churches saying that we got this wrong; we got to fix this. Now, I don’t think that that churches got it all right; what I think is happening is that we don’t ask God to show us what we got wrong.
Doesn’t that go back to who is the One in charge.
Point #3
Our prayer ought to be that we come to church to receive and do something with the message the Lord has for us.
Revelation 2:7 (NKJV)
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
I am told by my wife that I have selective hearing. I hear what I want. And from what I hear most women believe that their husbands have selective hearing.
In Revelation, Jesus knows that church members have little to no hearing. It is worse than selective. Seven out of the seven churches, He says the one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
You need to be praying that something that is said, or a prayer that is lifted up or a song that is sung will touch you and motivate you to do what God has laid on your heart.
You do that I can promise you that we will see more people going to the altar during the invitation.
Conclusion
Praying for our church is not an option.
