Prayer: Our God Connection
Men have always been in search of power. From the beginning of civilization, men and women have spent time and energy trying to figure out how to find and harness power. From the power of animals, fire, wind, sun, water, coal, steam, electricity, to nuclear energy, men have sought diligently for ways to have power in their lives. How often we take for granted the outlets that we plug things into. Unless the electricity is off we never give it a thought. When it is off we wonder how long we can survive without it. We are dependent upon the things that power off lives. Man-made energy is what makes us thrive. Take it away and listen to the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.
There is a power far greater then anything we have come to depend on. It is a power that is right around us everyday. We can access it at anytime and it is free yet how many of us neglect or forget to even consider it as a part of our daily lives? It is as though we are searching in our lives for something that is right in front of us but we choose to ignore it and persist in our pursuits of other options.
There is no greater work on earth than the work of prayer. Prayer means contact with God, communion with God and fellowship with God. It is not simply asking God for things although it includes that. Prayer is often the most neglected power on earth.
To attempt to do anything without prayer is foolish at best. To rely on one’s own talent, gifts or abilities without the ingredient of prayer is like trying to sing without a voice or drive a car without gasoline. It is useless to try to make something significant happen in our lives without understanding the critical nature of prayer.
Most of us know exercise is good for us. But we may struggle in actually doing it. You may think you’re the only one who has this struggle. It may even be a source of guilt for some of you. Today I want you to know you’re not alone. I want to share with you testimonies from others don’t exercise or have had negative exercise experiences. Hopefully, this will encourage you. Lessons learned in the wonderful world of exercise
Don’t jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass.
If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently you have to show up.
I don’t exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our body.
Long walks are good, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
Yes I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.
The only advantage of exercising every day is you die healthier.
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now & we don’t know where she is.
Now those excuses for not exercising are just about as lame as the excuses we offer for living our lives on this earth and not praying.
Jesus taught about prayer. He modeled prayer. He prayed early and often. He prayed at night and during the day. He prayed in public and private. He knew the value of prayer when He was on this earth. He connected to His Father through prayer.
Luke 18:1-8, “1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Jesus taught that praying was necessary.
1. What is prayer?
There are many kinds of prayer—petitioning prayer, silent prayer, intercessory prayer, thanksgiving prayer, even what some might call “listening prayer,” and “soaking prayer.” But at its heart, prayer is nothing more or less than opening up your heart to Jesus. Prayer is the language of intimacy. Whether it’s a quick breath at a stoplight, an eloquent benediction in church, or a long discussion in the solitude of your room, prayer is connection. It is alignment. Prayer is transparency.
Prayer is one of the greatest assets in the spiritual life. You don’t have to be in a church or wait until a certain time of day. You don’t have to kneel or stand or bow in a certain direction; you don’t even have to speak. One thought toward God and the connection is made. Did I mention it is high speed and always on?
Prayer is you and I talking and connecting to the Lord of all creation.
Prayer is the channel through which all good flows from God to man, and all good from men to men.
Prayer is the outstretched arms of the child for the Father’s help.
Prayer is seeking to know God’s will for our lives.
Prayer is God’s life giving breath.
Prayer honors God, acknowledges His being, exalts His power, adores His providence, and secures His aid.
2. Why is prayer necessary?
Prayer is anything but natural. We are taught from the moment we are born to be self-reliant and we struggle to attain some sense of self-sufficiency. Almost everyone prays at one time or another. But what I am talking about today is something much more than just praying when your world is crashing in around you.
Every Christ-follower is on the road to increasing maturity and intimacy in their spiritual life. Prayer is perhaps the best barometer of that process.
Prayer is necessary because Jesus taught us to pray. (by words and example)
Prayer is necessary because the Bible emphasizes it.
Prayer is necessary because it keeps us focused.
Prayer is necessary because it gives us a godly perspective.
Prayer is necessary because it allows us to express our thanksgiving to God.
Prayer and a holy life are one.
Prayerlessness is sin.
Prayer is the power by which the church will do its work effectively.
Prayer is the power by which we live are lives.
Prayer brings revival to our souls.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go.”
3. When should we pray?
In other translations, verse one uses the word “ought.” In the original language this means a sense of duty and urgency.
In Thessalonians we read that we should “pray without ceasing.”
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[h] I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19
We should pray daily.
We should have a place of prayer.
We should recognize that prayer can be done anywhere at anytime.
The brilliant scientist, Sir Isaac Newton said that he could take his telescope and look millions of miles into space. Then he added: “But when I lay it aside, go into my room, shut the door, and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of heaven and feel closer to the Lord than if I were assisted by all the telescopes on earth.” “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12
4. What should we pray about?
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will. Romans 8:26—27
You should make a list and keep it in front of you when you pray during your private times of devotion to God. Even the Bible tells us what to pray for:
Wisdom, Peace, our leaders, our families, the persecuted church around the world, our church, (ministries, staff, leadership) our community, our schools, our jobs, forgiveness and cleansing, prayer for the Lord to examine your life, to keep us from presumptuous sins,
You and I can know what we need to pray about if we will just take the time to think about it.
E.V. Hill was a well-known African-American pastor and great preacher who has now gone on to heaven. In his book, A Savior Worth Having, Hill told about being one of five children raised by a single mother during the Great Depression in rural Texas. A woman he called “Momma,” who was of no relation to him announced to her church when he was in ninth grade that, “My boy is gonna finish High School,” Most young black men in rural Texas dropped out of school in the tenth grade and started working for $2 a day. But Hill finished High School just as Momma said he would. Then she said he would go to college, so she bought him a bus ticket, a suit, a couple of pairs of blue jeans and some shirts, took him to the bus station, gave him $5 and said, "I’ll be praying for you."
Hill said he had $1.83 left when he pulled in to Prairie View, Texas, and he spent 25 cents of that to catch a city bus to the Prairie View A&M campus. As he stood in line at the registrar’s office, he noticed a sign that read, "$83, cash, cashier’s check or money order." Hill didn’t have $83 and didn’t know what to do. As Satan whispered into his ear that he had no business being there, he remembered "Momma’s" promise, "I’ll be praying for you." So he stayed in line.
As he was just about to step up to the counter, someone put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Are you Ed Hill?" The man then told him to get out of line, and as they walked off to the side, the man said, "Son, didn’t you get our letter? We’ve been trying to contact you. We are giving you a four-year scholarship. It will pay your tuition, room and board and give you $35 a month for spending money."
Hill said he heard "Momma" saying, "I’ll be praying for you."
5. How should we pray?
The lady in Jesus story gives us a clue how to pray. She demonstrated three characteristics that we should emulate:
She was Persistent:
She was Insistent
She was Consistent
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:1-6 NIV) There’s a scene at the end of the movie, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In this scene, Charlie has been told he has won the grand prize, and he, Grandpa Joe, and Wonka get into the great glass elevator (Wonkavator, technically). The small passenger compartment has hundreds of buttons to press, each one corresponding to a different room in the factory.
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Mr. Wonka tells Charlie something to the effect of, "You know, Charlie, I’ve pushed every button in this elevator except one. And I want you to press it now." So Charlie hits the button and the Wonkavator shoots out the top of the shaft and becomes a tiny, glass-encased hovercraft. Then there’s the happy ending. But I always found it odd that this eccentric candy-maker who could do pretty much whatever he wanted to do had actually tried everything but one little button on the elevator.
Why wouldn’t he have pressed it at some point? In my mind, I’ve concocted all kinds of scenarios as to why Wonka kept his mitts off that button. Perhaps it would have given away some sort of secret about his identity to the public, or aroused the interest of his competitor, Slugworth. Certainly there must have been a good reason. Right? It’s a perfectly good button. It seemed to work just fine. Why not use it?
Fantasies about chocolate-makers and oompa-loompas aside, I’ve found there’s a button that many Christians seem reluctant to press as well. The prayer button.
Apparently it’s not a new phenomenon. James chides the readers of his letter that "You do not have because you do not ask God." Or in the Wonka version, "You do not have because you never press the button." So, why don’t we pray?
I don’t buy the argument that we don’t have time or that we don’t know what to pray for or that we don’t know we should pray. I’ve used all those excuses many times and I know they are nothing but empty excuses stuffed with rationalization. We know we’re supposed to pray. Most times we know what we are to pray for. Needs and people come to our minds and to our attention often. I’ve even caught myself thinking, "I need to pray for that family," only to let it slide from my attention. And I know we’re all incredibly busy, but there is always time to pray if we make the time.
Jesus taught us a prayer that we are going to close with today and we are going to pray it in unison.
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c]
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
David Jeremiah writes “Colossians 4:2 commands us to “continue in earnest prayer” (NKJV). The word continue is the term from which we get our word strength. We are instructed to be strong in prayer, to give strength or energy to our praying. This reminds us that prayer is work. It is not an idle pastime, an optional exercise reserved for more “spiritual” believers. Prayer is the hard-work business of the church of Jesus Christ.2
Author John Piper compares prayer to a wartime walkie-talkie designed for accomplishing a divine mission. And then he asks this penetrating question: “Could it be that many of our problems with prayer and much of our weakness in prayer come from the fact that we are not all on active duty, and yet we still try to use the transmitter? We have taken a wartime walkie-talkie and tried to turn it into a civilian intercom to call the servants for another cushion in the den.” As Piper says, “Life is war.”
Today I call on us as a church and as individuals to rediscover the power of prayer.
Go today and pray. Find a place and pray. Take the time to pray. Build a relationship with God through prayer.
