When you Believe in God, but not Prayer

FUMC Traditional 02.25.2024

INTRO:

The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel is the framework upon which this series of sermons hangs. This lesson explores when you believe in God, but not in PRAYER.

In the book, Groeschel shares a story about a church and a neighborhood bar. The church had been praying that God would rid the neighborhood of the evils of the bar. Within weeks, the bar was struck by lightning and burned to the ground!

Having heard of the prayer crusade, the bar owner sued the church. The court date arrived, and the bar owner passionately argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members’ prayers.

The pastor backpedaled, brushing off the accusations. He admitted the church prayed, but he also affirmed that no one in the congregation really expected anything to happen!

The judge leaned back in his chair with a mix of amusement and perplexity on his face. Finally, he spoke, “I cannot believe what I am hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer … And a pastor who doesn’t!”

How about you?

Do you believe in prayer?

Perhaps you believe in God, but not in prayer.

Prayer is a big part of my faith, and it is my prayer that this sermon might move the needle for you in embracing it as a foundational part of your Christian journey.

The What and Why of Prayer

Of all the things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them – it could have been healing, preaching, or teaching, but they asked Him to teach them to pray (Matthew 6 & Luke 11)!

What follows is what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer.

We say it every week. Have you thought about the words of this corporate prayer, which we recite as a body? It is worthy of a sermon series of its own.

It provides a pattern for us to follow in our prayers:

Praise

Provision of our daily needs

Forgiveness of sins

Protection from the evil one (sin)

The Matthew 6 scripture passage for this morning should also serve as a warning to how we treat the Lord’s Prayer with such a nonchalant attitude.

READ: Matthew 6:5-8

5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

This is the word of God, for the People of God, Thanks be to God!

These words should come as comfort for those who feel inadequate when they try to pray. Perhaps they don’t feel as if they are eloquent or gifted with words. It is about communication with God.

You cannot surprise Him

You cannot impress Him

You might fool the rest of us – but not God

Prayer is communication with the creator of the universe and the author of life. He wants to hear from us and be in connection with us.

When we consider who we are talking to in our prayer – prayer becomes a lot less boring! It should not be an empty meaningless ritual but a life-giving communion.

He is not looking to be an accessory in your life – rather LORD of it. He is seeking to be intimately engaged with your life.

When we move the focus of prayer from us and onto God – then see how much more fulfilling it can be!

Genuine communication with God may or may not change what God does, but your prayer will often change your heart and perspective.

Prayer reminds you that you are not in control and keeps you close to the one who is!

Prayer is simply communicating with God.

Honest communication – natural, direct, and simple. A gut-level honesty – See Psalms for examples of gut-wrenching despair and hardship on full display.

Craig Ciaccio's example in Men’s Prayer Group

Constant communication – calls us to pray continually – without ceasing. Not special occasions or specified times & days.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Two-way communication – frequent, honest prayers open our hearts and minds to God.

In genuine prayer, we relate to God in conversation.

It has seldom come to me in an audible voice – more of a thought or insight that shows up from nowhere. Devotional topic

When we shut up – we might hear His voice in the whispers of our life.

The How of Prayer

If you are someone who does not know how to pray, then you are in luck. Here are some pointers to help you get started and comfortable in private or public prayer.

There are acronyms such as PRAY, ACTS, or our fingers, but the point is not ritual but communication and communion.

My favorite is - PRAY

P – Praise: start with praise for the Lord and what He has done for all of us. We are lost sinners without His saving grace.

R – Repent: seek forgiveness for our sins and turn from that behavior. It is not just an apology for what we did wrong, but a commitment that we will not go back to the sinfulness.

A – Ask: We are already comfortable with this area – asking for the desires of our hearts. We spend way too much focus on this element and put our desires ahead of Him and others.

Y – Yield: We should be willing to yield our desires to His. His perfect and pleasing will is beyond our comprehension and will lead us to a life that is joyous and fulfilling by His design.

The power of prayer is unleashed when we embrace what scripture calls us to do. Turning to Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church we find more instruction.

READ: Ephesians 6:18-20

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

This passage echoes I Thessalonians 5 in that we are called to pray on ALL occasions. Even when we are not sure what to pray.

Verse 8 of Matthew 6 reminds us that the Lord knows what we need even if we do not! We can simply ask that His will be done in our lives.

Secondly, the passage calls us to ALL kinds of prayers.

Intercessory prayer – on the behalf of others

Corporate – prayers said by a group or assembly

Private – prayers known only to you

Public – shared with others

Scripture – pray by reading or reciting scripture

others

Praying for all the Lord’s people – those we like and agree with as well as those we struggle to accept. This practice should come with a warning: it can be difficult to despise those you are praying for regularly.

Paul also includes himself in verse 19 of the Ephesians passage.

Pray that he would be given the words to fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

C.H. Spurgeon – one of the greatest evangelists, preachers, and Christian influencers of England in the 1800’s. When asked about his success, he remarked that my people pray for me!

As pastors, staff, and a congregation, we covet your prayers surrounding us. From preaching the word to making decisions and plans for our future. PLEASE pray for us and this body of believers!

Answered & Unanswered Prayers

A few of you may still be carrying the baggage of a prayer that was not answered. Maybe it was not the outcome or timetable you wanted.

Prayers can be answered without getting the answer you were seeking.

Garth Brooks song – “Unanswered prayers” explains that some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

I can testify in my life that numerous times I prayed for what I thought was best for me … only to be relieved that the Lord knew me and the future better than to answer my prayer in the fashion I was seeking.

Matt Locke story from Clemson

James 4:3 tells us that we may ask with wrong motives for the prayer to be answered, seeking your will above His will. It might not be WRONG motives as much as immature or incomplete.

For example:

If you read or listen to most prayer lists and requests, you will find a theme in most churches.

We are praying harder to keep Saints OUT of heaven than we are keeping SINNERS out of HELL!

Nothing wrong with that, but what do you think would matter most to the Lord? In terms of eternity, which is more important?

When we as a church passionately care about the lost/unsaved in our community – watch out! There is no telling what the Lord might make happen!

The Posture of Prayer (IF TIME ALLOWS before 10:45)

Before we wrap this message up, I wanted to address a part of prayer that we don’t often discuss. What do I do with my hands?

Some will raise both hands up high

Some will raise only one hand

Some will lift them, but only to waist-high

Some will have hands together and at a certain angle

Sitting, Standing, or face down on the flooor

Some of the holiest prayer times I have experienced came when I was a part of the BSF Leadership Team. We met on Friday mornings at 6:30 am and started the session with a time of prayer. A dozen men on their hands and knees prayed out loud together. It was a beautiful time together in humble prayer and adoration. The attitude of the discussion and lesson was set at that point.

It is hard to be prideful and arrogant when you are on your hands and knees praising God. DEMONSTRATE?

Maybe your body won’t allow you to do that any longer – it’s OK, it is more about the posture of the heart than the body!

God-centered and in submission to Him.

Conclusion

I hope that your understanding and appreciation for prayer have been enhanced this morning. Maybe you will consider the gravity of the Lord’s Prayer the next time you recite it.

Maybe you will try to pray with a different attitude and perspective on how it might change your life.

The most significant prayer is the one in which you give your life to Christ as Lord and Savior. If you haven’t taken that step, then start that conversation with the Lord right now. Don’t put it off.

Prayer

This closing prayer is a bit different. Ephesians 3:14-21 is part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church - including this prayer. I want to offer it to this gathering of believers.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

As we leave this place, pray without ceasing.

Be open, honest, and genuine in your prayer with the Lord

Pray for each other, our community, and this church

Now, follow Jesus & share Him with others!