WHY SHOULD I PRAY?
Does prayer make a difference? We have all seen the beautifully framed
words—cross-stitched, in calligraphy, superimposed over pictures: “Prayer makes a difference.” However, for many Christians who would say without
hesitation that prayer does make a difference, their practices of prayer would
suggest otherwise.
This week the nation mourned the death of
Terry Schiavo as her life came to a tragic end, regardless of your position on
the manner of her death. People on both
sides of the issue have said that they prayed for her—but she died anyway. Why should we pray if praying doesn’t work
out the way we want it to?
Millions of people all over the world have
been praying for Pope John Paul II. His
failing health has been a concern for some time and Roman Catholics as well as
Protestants have been praying for him.
Frankly, as much as we are saddened by his condition, John Paul will
die…perhaps soon, perhaps later…but like everyone else, unless Christ returns
first, the Pope will one day die. If
that is the case, why should we keep praying for him if it will not succeed in
keeping him alive as long as people are praying?
Have you not prayed for something that did
not turn out as you had asked? Have you
not been disappointed…even to the point of giving up on praying at one time or
another in your life?
Prayer is not intended to be a magical
incantation, a carefully arranged formula of words which said properly
guarantees specific results. Prayer does
make a difference, but not as a means of making God do what we want Him to do.
Why then should we pray? We want to see cause and effect, a direct and
immediate connection between what we ask God to do and what actually happens. Although that does happen, that is really not
why we pray.
THESIS: Prayer aligns
our heart and our interests with the heart and interests of God, not the other
way around!
This morning, I would like to take a brief
look at how that happens and why we should pray, regardless of the apparent
outcome!
I. GOD’S WORD COMMANDS US TO PRAY.
--As
an overall, compelling reason to pray, God tells us to!
--In
the three short verses we just read, we are told to do three things that occur
as we pray.
A. REJOICE IN ALL THINGS
1 Thes 5:16 Rejoice always;
--Much
of the absence of joy in the lives of Christians can be traced to their failure
to rejoice always, particularly so when they pray.
1. Joy in all of life
--Without
question, the exhortation arises in a variety of places in Scripture in order
that we might recognize the importance of joy in the life of those whose lives
have been made new by the grace of Jesus Christ.
2
Cor. 13:11
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made
complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and
peace shall be with you.
Phil.
3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the
Lord.
Phil.
4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
will say, rejoice!
1
Pet. 1:8
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him
now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice
with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1Th.
5:16 Rejoice
always;
--I
have begun to realize that a significant number of people who would be insulted
if their commitment to Christ were questioned give absolutely no indication
that there is any joy at all in their lives!
--We
can usually count on a consistent recognition among believers that we will be
known by our love for one another, but according to the Scriptures, we should
also be known for our joy!
2. Joy in all our praying
--That
joy begins in prayer where the Lord speaks to our hearts of His great love and
mercy, reminds us of His goodness and perfect sufficiency, and in many other
ways shows us the riches of His glory.
--Praying
with joy…what a radical reversal to the long-faced drudgery and mechanical
repetition of what we have for too long associated with prayer!
--Rejoice
always…when better than in prayer?
B. PRAY AT ALL TIMES
1 Thes 5:17 pray without ceasing;
--This
second command to pray removes any doubt that we are to make our lives a
prayer, abiding always in the presence of the Lord and keeping up a regular
conversation with the One who never leaves us.
--By
praying all the time, He does not intend for us to remain in our private places
of prayer never getting on with the business of life.
u
We are to maintain a steady schedule of
daily appointments to meet with Him for extended conversation.
u
We are also to cultivate the habit of
“short-hand praying” for those sudden urges to call on or speak quickly to Him.
--Whether
in extensive conversation or in short moments to touch base, praying at all
times advances three purposes:
1. Constant dependence upon the Lord
--By
constancy in prayer, we admit that we need Him and cannot live apart from Him
or get along without Him.
--If
we don’t need to pray about what we are getting ready to do next, why even get
involved in it since it must not have any eternal significance?
--If
we have no need to depend upon the Lord in the way we are spending our time and
energy, we need to re-evaluate the value of such investments!
2. Consistent acknowledgement of the Lord
--By
remaining always in prayer, we acknowledge His presence, power and place in our
lives.
--Without
remaining in an attitude and disposition of prayer at all times, we will
quickly and dangerously forget that He is the Lord of all…all the time!!
--Consistently
abiding in and acknowledging the presence of the Lord allows us to keep our
focus on Him, keep our desires for Him, keep our purity with Him, keep our
purpose from Him, keep our will with His.
--Prayer
without ceasing allows us to “keep seeking the things above where Christ is.”
3. Continual communion with the Lord
--As
much as any benefit we gain and any reason we need, ceaseless prayer draws us
into continual communion with the Lord, not needing to fill the air with words
to be satisfied with His presence.
Some
relationships reach a point of such intimacy and familiarity that two people
can be “comfortably silent” when they are together. Words do not have to be exchanged for
communion to be enjoyed and fellowship to be sweet. Ceaseless prayer need not mean ceaseless
chatter!
--In
commanding us to pray without ceasing, the Lord challenges us to remain with
Him, aware of Him, sensitive to Him, satisfied simply to know that He is there.
Psa.
73:28
But as for me, the nearness of God
is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy
works
--We
pray without ceasing as much as anything else in order to abide in the presence
of the One who has invited us to come near…and then sent His Son to show us the
way to come close.
Psa. 65:4 How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to
Thee,To dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy
house, Thy holy temple.
Whether God does what we ask or not, there is eternal value
and satisfaction in prayer just because as we pray we get to be with the One we
love more than anyone or anything else!
When we get to be with those we
love, we are not concerned about what they do for us, what they give us, as
much as we are delighted just to be with them.
Prayer puts us in a conscious and
constant mindset that we are with the Lord God Almighty…and He wants us, loves
for us to be there with Him!
C. GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS
--The
third command given to us here is simple, yet life-changing in its
implementation—give thanks!
--When
you give thanks, you always give thanks to someone…it is not possible to give
something when there is no one to receive it.
--Therefore,
when we give thanks to God, we pray.
--Why
do we pray? Because God commanded us to
thank Him in and for all things.
--For
example…
1. The Providence of God
--Providence
is the ordering and overseeing of all things by God so that His purposes in
creating them are fulfilled…”the same power which caused a thing to exist is
necessary to continue its existence.” (Noah Webster, 1828).
--Therefore,
in and for all things, we are told to give Him thanks because He can be trusted
to work all things together for His glory and our good.
a. In all things
1 Thes 5:18 in
everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
b. For all things
Eph.
5:20
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to
God, even the Father;
2. The Power of God
1 Thes 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit;
--We
are to give thanks for the power of God poured out in our lives through the
Holy Spirit who empowers us to live the way God intends.
--With
God, all things are possible and apart from Him we can do nothing—so we give
Him thanks for the power of the Spirit at work in us.
3. The Protection of God
1 Thes 5:22 abstain from every form of evil.
--We
give thanks for the protection of God that delivers us from evil and keeps us
from being tempted beyond what we are able to withstand.
4. The Peace of God
Philippians
4:6-7
Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. 7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
--We
give thanks for a peace that we cannot explain, or even understand, but a peace
that guards against anxiety and worry because we know how to trust God with
thankfulness in and for all things.
--God’s
alternative to worry and stress is prayer and thanksgiving—and that is when we
find His peace!
--Letting
your requests be made known does not always mean getting your requests…but it
does always mean that once you have prayed and cast them all on Him, you can
rest in His perfect assurance that He can be trusted to do what is best.
u
He
does what He pleases.
u
What
He pleases is good!
--So
why should we pray when we don’t see immediate results, when we don’t get what
we want?
--Because
God told us to pray! And that should be
enough!
II. GOD’S WILL INTENDS FOR US TO PRAY.
--God’s
will is for us to pray…and to keep praying!
--He
commands us to do only those things which are profitable for us and result in
the glory of His name.
A. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WORSHIP IS PRAYER
--Whenever
we worship Him, all that we offer Him, in whatever form…song, attention to His
Word, quiet reverence, joyful celebration, commitments to obey, expressions of
delight, confession of sin…all are at their foundation praying!
--We
are communicating what we think and feel to God and listening for Him to speak
to us as well…that is praying!
B. THE BRIDGE TO OUR RELATIONSHIP IS PRAYER
--Almighty,
Infinite and Holy…weak, finite and sinful—the bridge to a living relationship
between God and man is prayer that is communicated in the name of Jesus Christ.
--God
calls us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him—all aspects of a relationship
between persons and the Incarnate Son bridges the gap that separates us from
Him and makes it possible for us to pray and actually enter into a holy
exchange with the Lord God Almighty!
u Hebrews
4:14-16
--Relationships
that are marked by insecurity never reach levels of closeness and intimacy that
come with the confidence that grows out of unconditional love and unmerited
favor.
C. THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IS PRAYER
--Anything we can achieve without prayer will not last, even if it
appears to succeed temporarily.
--For individuals and churches to enjoy the kind of success that brings
glory to God forever, God has so willed and intended that prayer play a pivotal
role in that success.
--Do you want to enjoy the blessing and favor of the Lord in your life
and the life of this church? Then you
can understand why you should pray!
--God somehow in His sovereign design incorporates our praying into His
appropriation of true spiritual blessing and Christ-honoring success.
D. THE MEASURE OF OUR FAITH IS PRAYER
--Outward
religious exercises can be performed without any investment of our hearts, and
sometimes without much involvement of our brains!
--But
the measure of genuine faith is the presence of an active, growing life of
prayer.
--The
measure of your faith will not be in how many verses you know, how many
principles you understand, or how many times you came to church.
--One
of the true measures of your faith will be the degree to which you are becoming
a man or woman who prays.
--Christ
wants His people, His Bride, His church, to be a house of prayer for all
nations…a place where hearts and minds are constantly seeking Him.
But some of you are convinced that in spite of all this, you
are not ready to commit yourself to pray any more than you already do. You simply do not see that it does any good!
Loved ones still get sick…Popes still come
to the end of their days…people like Terri Schiavo still suffer tragedy, both
in their illnesses and in their treatment…earthquakes still keep coming. If prayer won’t stop all that, why pray?
Because in spite of what we can see, God
has ordered His world so that our prayers are an integral part of the sovereign
design. Sometimes we get to see
how—specific answers surround us this morning as we see those who are still
with us because God answered our prayers for them and restored their
health…saved their souls…reconciled their marriages.
But if we never saw a single answer to
prayer, we would still pray for the reasons we have given today. God is worthy of our undivided attention and
deserves our whole hearted devotion.
That should be enough!
Will you examine your commitment to prayer
this morning? Is your prayer life what
you want it to be? If it is not, what is
going to make a difference?
We want to be a people who have aligned
our hearts and our interests with God’s.
The only way to do that is by seeking Him in His word and in
prayer. Over the next several months, we
are asking you to step out by faith and commit to pray more than you ever have.
Today when you leave, please take a copy
of the April magazine and read the Shepherd’s Staff so that you can add your
voice to the host of others who are going to pray specifically for the next six
months. Some of you will also sense
God’s calling to fast during that same period of time. We want not only to understand why we should
pray—anyone can understand why.
We want to understand why we should
pray…and then do it…PRAY! What amazing
things can happen in our lives if we gladly and willingly step up and fulfill
our calling, God’s command, to pray without ceasing!
April 3, 2005
Providence Baptist Church
© David Horner 2005
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