Can prayer truly alter the course of a crisis? Witness the remarkable impact of collective prayer through the heartwarming story of Madison and her baby's health ordeal. In this episode, we unpack the profound significance of prayer in a believer's life, supported by compelling biblical examples and personal reflections. Discover how prayer can transform from a daunting task to a cherished daily practice, and how Jesus' teachings provide a roadmap for effective and meaningful communication with God. We'll also share anecdotes about overcoming challenges in maintaining focus during prayer, and statistics that highlight prayer as a powerful yet often underutilized resource.
Explore the relational dimension of prayer through Jesus' intimate term "Abba," emphasizing an ongoing, conversational relationship with God. Learn how to seamlessly integrate prayer into your daily life, honoring God's holiness, seeking His kingdom, and prioritizing His will. We discuss the importance of recognizing God as our provider, seeking and extending forgiveness, and how communal prayer can transform communities. This episode is an inspiring call to place prayer at the heart of your spiritual journey, unlocking its transformative power within your life and community.
Can prayer truly alter the course of a crisis? Witness the remarkable impact of collective prayer through the heartwarming story of Madison and her baby's health ordeal. In this episode, we unpack the profound significance of prayer in a believer's life, supported by compelling biblical examples and personal reflections. Discover how prayer can transform from a daunting task to a cherished daily practice, and how Jesus' teachings provide a roadmap for effective and meaningful communication with God. We'll also share anecdotes about overcoming challenges in maintaining focus during prayer, and statistics that highlight prayer as a powerful yet often underutilized resource.
Explore the relational dimension of prayer through Jesus' intimate term "Abba," emphasizing an ongoing, conversational relationship with God. Learn how to seamlessly integrate prayer into your daily life, honoring God's holiness, seeking His kingdom, and prioritizing His will. We discuss the importance of recognizing God as our provider, seeking and extending forgiveness, and how communal prayer can transform communities. This episode is an inspiring call to place prayer at the heart of your spiritual journey, unlocking its transformative power within your life and community.
Speaker 1:
So we're jumping into a new series about the importance of prayer and I know we've talked about it before and Cody's talked about it. We have so many prayer groups and text groups going throughout the church. We had an opportunity this weekend to see prayer work with Madison. A lot of stuff went on with Madison and the baby this weekend and it kind of got dicey there for a couple seconds and, billy, if I'm sharing too much you can shut me down. She ended up having some health issues, ended up being life flighted, but you know she's doing better today. The baby is doing great and I joked about this with Billy and I haven't passed this on to Madison yet. But the baby was born on my birthday, which makes me the godfather automatically, I assume. Oh, and he also bears the name of my youngest Miles, which I'm excited. I don't think that was on purpose, but we now have to tell our Miles that he's not the cutest baby. He's not the cutest Miles anymore. So you know he'll be all right, he'll adjust. But really exciting, and we did. We prayed over her and we watched God protect her and take care of her and take care of the baby.
Speaker 1:
Prayer is the most valued thing we have as believers, but I would argue that it's the most underutilized resource that we partake in. In the Bible alone, there's 650 different prayers listed. There's 450 answers to prayers in the Bible. So the first time prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4, 26. The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during his earthly ministry. In the Bible Paul mentions prayer, prayers, prayer reports, prayer requests, exhortations of prayer 41 times, he said.
Speaker 1:
Although prayer can be done and should be done in different forms, the most common positions that we see prayer take place in in Scripture is people that are sitting, they're standing, they're kneeling, they might have their face on the ground or their hands are lifted up. Jesus modeled for his disciples and how they should pray. In Luke, chapter 11, said he provides five areas of focus that God's name be honored. The focus on God's glory, that God's kingdom comes. The focus on his eternal will, that God's provision is given. The focus on his presence. That God's forgiveness is granted. The focus on our past and that God's deliverance will be provided. The focus is the future. The Bible lists at least nine main types of prayers. There's the prayer of faith, the prayer of agreement, the prayer of request, the prayer of thanksgiving, the prayer of worship, the prayer of consecration, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of imprecation and praying in the spirit the word amen, which means let it be or so be it. So if you look at Scripture, you cannot argue that prayer is something that God desires for you and I to do occasionally.
Speaker 1:
Our prayer life should dominate most of our conversations throughout the day, and I understand how difficult that is, because when we talk about having a prayer life, I think a lot of people get confused or they become overwhelmed, because they go to God in prayer and they find themselves kind of stuck because they don't know what to say. They don't know what to do. I remember when I was in school up in Cincinnati, on Monday mornings, every Monday morning, we had an hour of prayer time and we were required, as a class hour and a half and Danny's correcting me right hour and a half, an hour and a half of prayer time. Every morning we would go to the chapel of the church we were at and I remember the first time we did it. Our director at the time his name was Stu he said to me he said the first time you do this, it's going to be really hard for you to figure out how to fill an hour and a half, but I promise you, by the end of the year you're going to wish you had more. And I was like, yeah, okay, like that doesn't make sense. Like you're asking me to sit for an hour and a half at 7 o'clock in the morning on a Monday in a quiet sanctuary to seek the presence of God.
Speaker 1:
Oh, and, by the way, you weren't allowed to fall asleep. I fell asleep a lot. I would wake up, I would sit there and I would start praying and the next thing you know is people would hear my snoring and someone would have to come wake me up. And it's not that I disrespected God, it's not that I didn't care, but to sit in that kind of silence is, it's almost intimidating, because in that quietness of that moment, you are challenged with the reality that your life, no matter how important you are, no matter how many people know your name, that in that moment, in that quietness that my life is but a speck to the creator who made me. And where I struggled the most is if I wasn't sleeping. The moment the world got quiet, my brain ran 1,000 miles an hour, like I'm an overthinker in general, but if you give me an hour and a half of silence, my brain treats it like it's a circus.
Speaker 1:
How many thoughts can this guy have? How many distractions can we give him? And I think the reason that is and I believe the reason that is is because Satan knows one thing, and he knows that our prayer life connects us with God. Our prayer life connects us with the will of God. Our prayer life is powerful and if he can distract us from it, then he can distract us from everything else. Prayer is essential for you and I. Matthew 6, 9-13.
Speaker 1:
This is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He's teaching so many different aspects, so many different things that are important and necessary, and so he goes into a prayer and he teaches them a really simple prayer. And it's what is it? The other day I was somewhere and, listen, I know what the Lord's Prayer is. I promise I do. But I was at an event and someone unexpectedly asked me to pray it real quick. I wasn't ready for it and I was like, uh, what? And they're like, oh, never mind. I was like, no, no, no, give me a second, my brain needs to catch up. But Jesus gives this really simple prayer. So, starting in verse 9, it says Pray then like this Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. And so he gives this really kind of short prayer to his followers and says Listen, I need you to understand that prayer is so important that I'm going to try to simplify this for you as much as I possibly can.
Speaker 1:
I was reading last night Griffin gave me a book and it's a children's book that tells different Bible stories and it tells some incredible Bible stories, but it does it in two pages with like 40 words. And so we're sitting there and I'm going through it and as I read each story I'm like, and Griffin's like, oh, this is so cool. And I'm like, yeah, but there's so much more here. Like there's so much more here. And of course I'm not getting into this with my five-year-old. But we get to the story of Daniel and the lion's den and it really just says two pages.
Speaker 1:
It talks about how Daniel was faithful and God made the lions at peace with him and turned them into cuddly cats that Daniel could pet. And I was like I don't think that happened. I don't think God just like, listen, he quieted them. I mean he closed their mouth. But in my mind I can't imagine at any point during Daniel's time in the lion's den he laid down with them and cuddled them Right. I think I would have just been happy for them to stay where they were. But the reason why we have books like that is because we're trying to convey an idea to children that they need it understood. They need it to be given to them on their level. So in their mind, daniel was faithful. God protected him. That's it. That's how kids see it.
Speaker 1:
Now we get into Scripture and there's obviously a whole lot more going on. But as I was sitting there reading that, I was thinking in this passage Jesus is saying listen, I'm going to give this to you as simply as I can, because I don't want you to complicate it. I don't want you to make this so difficult for you to do, to make this so difficult for you to do that when you need to do it and when you should be doing it, that it's a burden for you. And so, in his particular audience, they would have seen the Pharisees, they would have been the ones who they would go into the public courts and they would make this big ta-da of a prayer and they would use these big words and they would make a show of it. And Jesus is saying to his audience listen, that's not what I need you to do. Instead, I want you to keep it Simple, simple. So let to keep it simple. So let's break it down a little bit.
Speaker 1:
Jesus says start out like this Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. It's interesting that, when you look at the context of this passage, in the language that Jesus would have been speaking, which was Aramaic, the word that he would have used with father was Abba. And Abba promotes this love, this relational connection with a father figure. And so, jesus, he starts the conversation by simply saying hey, dad. And I think that's such an important, necessary understanding for us, because one of the biggest fundamental differences and I hear people ask me this all the time you know well, you're just talking to the ceiling, but if you're a believer, you're not. You are engaging in a relational conversation with the creator of the universe, the one who designed you and you're acknowledging in this statement. Jesus is saying hey dad, I'm here and I'm willing to listen to you.
Speaker 1:
So prayer at the start is relational. It has to be relational when Paul talks about praying without ceasing. You ever ask yourself what that means? Like do we just walk around 24-7 with our eyes closed and our hands up and all we do is pray? There'd be a whole lot more car accidents. There'd be a whole lot more. No one would be doing anything right. No one would go to work. I mean, I think about you know, billy, when she was asking people to pray. One of the text messages I got was you know, while I was driving a car, imagine if I just closed my eyes and started praying in the car. It would be bad.
Speaker 1:
But this idea of praying without ceasing is because Paul understands that the conversation with God is a 24-7 conversation. It doesn't have to be this super formal. Let's go in a room, let's lock ourselves in, let's quiet all the lights. Let's sit in an empty sanctuary at 7 o'clock in the morning for an hour and a half and try to not fall asleep. Instead, it's relational as I go throughout my day, in the same way that I communicate with you guys, I can communicate with God. I can talk to God wherever I am, wherever I go. There are times that I sit in my car and I drive in silence. I do that for two reasons One, because sometimes it's the only silence I get in my house. One, because sometimes that's the only silence I get in my house. And two, a lot of times in that silence it's just me and God having a conversation About my day, about our future, about where we're headed, about the church. Prayer is relational.
Speaker 1:
And then Jesus says hallowed be your name. The hallowed be your name part puts God in proper perspective. He's holy, he's perfect, he is worthy of honor, he is worthy of our prayers. I talked about this a couple weeks ago. God is not just some genie To grant us our wishes. He is the almighty, the one who is the beginning and the end, the creator of everything, the one who set the world into existence. And when you approach him, you should approach him With that level of respect and understanding. And Jesus establishes that hey, dad, I'm here. But I also recognize that you are an infinite God, that you are God of all things. And then Jesus continues on, says your kingdom, come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Be done on earth as it is in heaven. Prayer connects us to the bigger picture. It's interesting that in the moment that Jesus is teaching us to pray, he recognizes God relationally, he recognizes God in glory and honor and, before he asks for a single thing for himself, he says God, your kingdom, come, your will be done. Because that is what prayer does. It connects us to the kingdom of God. It helps realign our priorities. It helps realign our focus.
Speaker 1:
When we talk about the changes that we've made and was it last year? We changed the name to Refocus Christian Church and we've had a lot of conversations about it and how it kind of fits the direction we're headed. What I can tell you is, six months prior to that decision being made, once a week, the eldership was fasting and praying to make sure we were doing the will of God. As we continue to move forward and seek his will for our church, we continue to pray specifically that we are honoring God in everything that we do. Nothing that has been done has been done haphazardly. Nothing that has been done has been done without the guidance of the one who created us, because everything in our life is his anyways. So prayer puts us in a connection, should put us in a connection, with the fact that God's kingdom matters above all.
Speaker 1:
Jesus continues said give us this day our daily bread. Remind us every day, god, that everything we have, every resource we have, every bit of money in our bank account, comes from the one who made us, that you are a provider, that you take care of your people. So Jesus teaches through prayer that we can ask God to meet our daily needs, it said. Martin Luther stated that bread was a symbol for everything necessary for the preservation of this life, like food, a healthy body, good weather, house, home, wife, children, good government and peace. God wants to provide what is necessary for us to live. All we have to do is ask, but we have to remember who it is that's providing for us.
Speaker 1:
Jesus continues and forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. The last part of this is a reminder in this passage that God give us some clarity on where we're missing the mark. That's what sin is. Sin is this idea that we as human beings are missing what God wants us to do. We're not perfect. We're flawed. Every single one of us makes mistakes. I've had people tell me, as Christians, that they don't sin anymore and I'm like, okay, that's cool. I don't believe that, because I think we all have our struggles. And it's interesting because when Jesus makes this statement, it says you know, forgive us our debt, but also forgive the debts of others.
Speaker 1:
There's a series coming up here and we're going to talk about that. What does it look like to forgive other people? Because our forgiveness is tied in with our ability to forgive other people, because, as we are flawed, so are those around us. I've said it before and I know, I'll say it again, that I know where my role is, I know what God is asking me to do, I know my leadership here and what I'm supposed to be doing, but I ask that you never put me on a pedestal because I'm not perfect. But I ask that you never put me on a pedestal because I'm not perfect. The moment you start thinking that Jason and his family has it all figured out is the moment you're going to be disappointed, because I have struggles, I have debts, I have sins that I have to seek forgiveness for and I have people that I have to forgive and I have people that I have to forgive, and so Jesus is reminding his audience that don't come into prayer without understanding that you're flawed, but I think it's important, when we look at it as a whole, that so much of that particular prayer is focused on God.
Speaker 1:
Hey, dad, I'm here. I'm grateful that you're perfect, I'm grateful that you're holy. You know, dad, I just want to see your kingdom flourish. I want to see your ideas, your hope, your plans for my life come to pass, the same on earth as it is in heaven. And, by the way, I need you to take care of me today. I need you to provide for me today. I need you to remind me that everything I have belongs to you anyways. Oh, and, by the way, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm not always perfect. Forgive me for that and God, help me, forgive those that I've wronged and help me to seek forgiveness for those that might have wronged me. And then verse 12, 12 or verse 13 says and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Oh, hey, dad, by the way, I need you to help me. I can't do this on my own. You don't expect me to, though, right, you love me, you're my father and I need you to help me overcome these things that only you can help me overcome.
Speaker 1:
It's such prayer is such an important part of everything that we do, an important part of everything that we do. But it's probably the one thing that most Christians avoid the most. We always have a reason we don't do it more Life's too busy, I'm too tired, it's not really important, I don't know how to do it. We always find a reason to overcomplicate it. By the end of my time in school, I can tell you for a fact that that hour and a half was not enough in school. I can tell you for a fact that that hour and a half was not enough Because the more that I aligned myself with the Word of God, the more time I spent genuine relationship with Him and, mind you, we were only required to do this once a week.
Speaker 1:
But the more time that I spent with God, the more time I desired to spend with Him. I wanted more of Him in my life. I wanted Him to help me. I wanted Him to help me understand my struggles. I found myself going to Him for the good things and the bad things. I can tell you that from my own personal life.
Speaker 1:
The times that I struggle most in my family, in my roles as a father, as a husband, as a preacher, as a teacher, the times I struggle the most are when I neglect my time with God, when I start to try to convince myself I can handle this on my own and I stop seeking his presence. I stop seeking his face because I'm convinced that there's just not enough time. Jesus is teaching us one, that there's always time. And two you should always make time. Jesus and his earthly ministry. We have 25 accounts in the Gospels of the time he spent in prayer. Every big decision, everything that happened, we always find him in prayer because he understood. What we need to understand is that if we do anything without prayer, then we're in danger of ruining it Because it becomes about us. It becomes about our desires, our wants, our focus. But if we genuinely seek God and ask him to show us how he wants us to live, what he wants us to do, then we're going to find ourselves in line with his will and his purpose.
Speaker 1:
I'm going to leave you with several verses and listen. This is a very small chunk of scripture compared to how much is out there about prayer. It says James 5, 16,. It says, therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power. That is working. Matthew 6, 6,. But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, pray to your Father who's in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6, 7,. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Speaker 1:
Colossians 4, 2. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it, with thanksgiving. 1 Thessalonians 5, 17. Pray without ceasing. Jeremiah 29, 12, then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. Matthew 26.41,. Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak. Romans 12.12,. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Ephesians 6.18,.
Speaker 1:
1 John 5.14,. And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he'll hear us. Psalm 145, 18. The Lord is near to all who call on him, and all who call on him in truth. Luke 18, 1. And he told them a parable to the effect that they always ought to pray and not lose heart. And the list goes on and on and on.
Speaker 1:
As a church and as a Christian, your prayer life is the most essential thing that you have in your tool belt. We see answered prayers all the time. The decisions we make as a church are bathed in prayer, every conversation that I have and listen. Sometimes I have to come back to a conversation that I prayed over because God revealed to me something I did that was wrong. But everything we do as believers should be bathed in prayer because God is for us. The way we know the will of God in prayer, because God is for us, the way we know the will of God, is by seeking His face and asking in prayer. So everything we do should start in a conversation with the creator of the universe, acknowledging Him by name, acknowledging his holiness, acknowledging his protection, acknowledging his providence, the way he provides, acknowledging who he is, what he does, that his kingdom is important far above ours. And if we continue to seek God in prayer above ours, and if we continue to seek God in prayer, there's a whole book of things he can do. The Scriptures are full of them, answered prayers and there's so many things in the Scriptures that show us that God cares about us and he loves us. All he wants to do is have a relationship with us.
Speaker 1:
This afternoon we're going out to walk around the city of Follinsby and pray for it, because I believe that's step one. I believe that's where we start. We did it last year, we're going to do it this year, we're probably going to do it from now on. So I hope you guys like walking, because I believe that the way we see change in this community, in this state, in this country, is by praying first. Let God show us what we need to do and I pray with everything in me that we really honestly believe your kingdom come. Your will be done, because the community of the church at large is a whole lot bigger than this one place. On a Sunday morning, the apostles, in prayer and in faith, turned the world upside down. I believe the same God. They served the same God we serve too. All right, let's pray.
