The Priority Of Prayer Series

Introduction:

A. I want to begin today with a wonderful story that the late Peter Marshall, who was the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, used to love to tell, called: “The Keeper of the Spring.”

1. Once there was a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps.

a. The old gentleman had been hired many years ago by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town.

b. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped silt that would otherwise choke and contaminate the fresh flow of water.

c. By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers.

d. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the millwheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.

2. Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting.

a. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid to the obscure keeper of the spring.

b. Said the keeper of the purse, “Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer!”

c. By unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services.

3. For several weeks nothing changed.

a. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water.

b. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring.

c. A couple of days later the water was much darker.

d. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was soon detected.

e. The millwheels moved slower, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists.

f. The clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.

4. Quickly, the council called a special meeting.

a. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the spring.

b. Within a few weeks the veritable river of life began to clear up.

c. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps once again.

B. Fanciful though it may be, the story is more than an idle tale because it carries with it a vivid, relevant analogy directly related to the lives we live.

1. What the keeper of the springs meant to the village, prayer means to our lives.

2. We live in a time where life is terribly complex and exhaustingly continuous.

3. Our culture offers little time or encouragement for qualm, quiet, meditation and prayer.

4. Everyone, including Christians, are often so busy, even doing good and godly things, but little attention is often given to the needs of the soul, and our vital, personal connection with God.

5. We have to stop and ask ourselves, why are we so busy?

a. Am I busy because I am vain? I want to appear important. Significant. What a better way than to be busy? The incredible hours, the crowded schedule, and the heavy demands on my time are proof to myself, and to all who will notice, that I am important.

b. Am I busy because I am undisciplined? If I were more organized or simply planned ahead, could I use my time more wisely and not find myself frantically trying to complete things at the last minute, under undo stress?

c. Or, am I busy because I don’t want to slow down and face myself? If I stay busy I don’t have to face the ugliness inside, or the insecurities, or the doubts, or the emptiness.

C. In 1 Timothy 2, we find Paul exhorting Timothy to slow down and to put prayer at the top of his priority list. Why?

1. Because prayer is the subtle, yet essential element of the Christian life from which everything else proceeds.

2. My aim today is to help us see the importance of prayer, and to encourage us to make a commitment to the priority of prayer.

3. So, let’s slow down the pace, allow the dust to settle, and learn how to regain the proper place of prayer.

I. Let’s Consider The Biblical Perspective on Prayer

A. Let’s start by doing a little investigating...Is it accurate to say that prayer should be the top priority in life and ministry?

1. Does the New Testament present prayer with such urgency?