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January 18, 2015
*Intro* – A family had some guests for dinner one night and Dad asked his 6-year-old daughter if she would pray.
She replied, “But Daddy, I don’t know what to say.”
He replied, “Just say what you hear Mommy say.”
So the girl bowed her head and prayed, “Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?” I’m guessing Dad wished she’d copied Jesus rather than Mommy!
Jesus has been asked: “Lord, teach us to pray.”
But before we look at the detail, we are gleaning a lot about prayer from some general observations we started last week.
*I.
Prayer is entre to God, not Self* – Prayer takes us into the very presence of God.
Look around.
We don’t belong there, could never deserve to be there, but in Christ, we are invited and wanted!
*II.
Prayer is essential, not optional* – Then we saw that prayer was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry indicating to us that it is not optional in living a Christian life, but essential.
If He needed it, how much more do we need it?
*III.
Prayer is Hard, Not Easy*
Praying isn’t so hard, but taking time to pray is.
Those hard-boiled fishermen and activist businessmen were not prone to stop long to pray to a God they could not see, touch or feel.
R. C. Sproul wisely says, “Prayer is not something that comes naturally.
No-one is born a good prayer, for there is nothing more repugnant to fallen man, to natural man, than to spend time alone with God.”
If you find it hard to take time to pray, join the club.
Right up until the moment of His crucifixion, the disciples found it very difficult.
Remember what Peter, James and John were doing on the Mount of Transfiguration?
Sleeping!
Almost missed one of history’s great moments by sleeping through it.
Lu 5:15 tells us, “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Jesus is constantly praying, but we don’t see the disciples there.
Interesting.
And when they are invited at Gethsemane you know the story.
Sleeping again.
All 3 times Jesus sought them.
Prayer is hard for everyone – including guys whose names are written into the foundation stones of heaven!
Because they finally learned to do the hard work.
Some years ago a young man applied for a job with a logging crew.
After successfully cutting down a tree he was told: “Start Monday.”
So he started on Monday and worked hard through Thursday.
But that afternoon the boss approached him and said, “Pick up your paycheck on your way out today.”
Startled, the man said, “I thought you paid on Friday.”
The foreman replied, “We do, but we’re letting you go today.
You’ve fallen behind.
You dropped from first on Monday to last on Wednesday and today hasn’t been any better.”
The young man replied, “But I’m a hard worker.
I arrive first, leave last and work through breaks.”
Sensing his integrity the boss thought for a minute and then asked, “Have you been sharpening your axe?”
The reply: “I’ve been working too hard to take the time.”
Taking time to pray is hard, Beloved, but it must be done.
Remember Bunyan’s wisdom: "You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."
That needs to become our life motto.
*IV.
Prayer is simple, not complicated*
This should encourage us.
While prayer is hard; it is not complicated.
This is kind of amazing really.
The disciple says, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and Jesus responds with 3 simple verses containing 5 simple requests.
Matthew’s extended version has 2 additional ones.
Now I’m not suggesting that Jesus means us to say these 5 things over and over.
That’s not the point.
But His answer does indicate that prayer is not complicated.
It doesn’t have to be involved; it doesn’t have to be long; it doesn’t have to be per some formula.
Prayer is mostly opening our heart to God.
Anyone can do it.
Some people say, “Pray Scripture.”
Is it good to pray Scripture.
To repeat God’s thoughts back to Him in form of a request?
Great idea.
Do you have to do that?
Absolutely not.
Some people begin with a lot of theological jargon.
It’s almost like buttering God up or something.
Is it good to address God with all His character traits?
Sure.
Is it necessary?
Absolutely not.
Is it good to go through ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication?
Yes.
Is it necessary?
No. Don’t overcomplicate it to the point that you don’t do it, Beloved.
Prayer at its core is my heart connecting with God’s heart.
Dick Foth, a pastor at Timberline, presented at the CBMC prayer breakfast last year.
He is past president of Bethany College in Santa Cruz and spent several years in DC establishing prayer breakfasts and counseling for government officials.
He told of one foul-mouthed, womanizing lobbyist who always had a story about his latest conquest.
But he began attending the breakfasts (for contacts), pulled Dick aside one day and said, “Dick, I may be in trouble.
I’m seeing this woman who is a follower of Christ and I don’t think she’ll go on seeing me unless I give up these other women.”
Dick said, “Who’d have guessed!?” The guy asked for prayer to know what to do.
But he said, “I don’t hold hands with guys and I don’t shut my eyes.”
Dick said, “No problem,” and prayed eyes open, no hand-holding.
A few weeks later the guy was back.
He had really fallen for this girl, but she was indeed insisting that there not be other women involved with him.
What should he do?
He asked for prayer: “You know that open-eye prayer?
Do you think maybe I could do that?”
Dick said, “Sure.”
And so the guy began, “Lord, I know you’re trying like hell to get me!”
And went on to ask for help with his decision.
Of course, it was too late.
God was hot on his tail.
He ended up committing his life to Christ, marrying the girl and cleaning his life up.
“But,” Dick said, “he did continue to like open-eyed prayers.”
I love that story.
Shows prayer isn’t complicated.
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