The Power of Public Prayer

1 Ti 2:1–3

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

Je 29:7

7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

What is Public Prayer

Public Prayer is the act of calling on God within or directed toward the shared life of the broader community, including those outside the household of faith—especially by those whose vocation places them in public trust.

It is not merely prayer that happens to be seen, but prayer that takes responsibility for the spiritual and moral condition of the public sphere.

Distinguishing Public Prayer from Performative Prayer

English Standard Version Chapter 6

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when 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 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Go into your “inner room” or “storage closet”

Not forbidding corporate prayer, but performative prayer

The imperative of Jesus command is not “do not pray in public”, but rather “DO NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRYTES”

It is not the location of their prayers that is problematic, but rather the motivation for their prayers.

They want to be seen as being pious.

Do not pray as something or someone you are not.

Not just the inner-room of the house, but the inner room of the heart.

The Desert Fathers often spoke of the heart as the true prayer closet, where we withdraw not just from people, but from distraction, from ambition, from noise. Even when surrounded by people, the heart can still be “shut in” with God.

Jesus is not forbidding the “prayer breakfast”. But Jesus is asking those who would pray at the prayer breakfast

Is it mere CEREMONY?

Is it SANCTIMONY?

Or is it SINCERITY?

I have heard many preachers pray in public. But, none like Rev. Elizabeth Bynum of the South Austin Coalition (How we could sense the power of God come on us march, to lay down in front utility trucks, to do whatever we were going to do)

Distinguishing Public Prayer from Corporate Prayer

Corporate prayer is the Church praying as the Church — inward-facing, formative, communal.

Public prayer is the Church (or its representatives) praying as neighbors, servants, and witnesses — outward-facing, intercessory, and missional.

Participants

Corporate: Usually fellow believers

Public: Usually engages unbelievers in some way

Location

Corporate: Usually some sacred space

Public: Often a shared space

Purpose

Corporate: Formation, unity, worship

Public: Witness, intercession, blessing

Posture

Corporate: Family to Father

Public: Ambassadors to King

To be called to public life (as a Christian) is to be called to public prayer.

“I believe the most adequate description of prayer is simply, “Talking to God about what we are doing together.” That immediately focuses the activity where we are but at the same time drives the egotism out of it. Requests will naturally be made in the course of this conversational walk. Prayer is a matter of explicitly sharing with God my concerns about what he too is concerned about in my life. And of course he is concerned about my concerns and, in particular, that my concerns should coincide with his. This is our walk together. Out of it I pray.”

(Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life God, 242-243)

This calling that you have is from God…

This concern that you carry is a burden from the Lord…

This is not just what you are doing with your life. This is what you are doing with your God…

Public Prayer Begins with Private Prayer

“It is no doubt that we sometimes meet with men of comparatively weak minds, of very small attainments in human knowledge, and in every respect unqualified advantageously to address an assembly in continued discourse, who were yet peculiarly excellent and edifying in social prayer. This is because they live at the throne of grace.”

(Princeton theologian Samuel Miller, Thoughts on Public Prayer, 264)

We must not be hypocritical

Have Christians…especially those in public life…abandoned our prayer closets in favor of “more productive” activity?

Do we believe that “passionate, heartfelt prayer from a righteous person is powerful and can accomplish a great deal”?

PUBLIC PRAYER SHOULD COME OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF PRIVATE PRAYER

Implementing Public Prayer

Public Prayer As Witness (GOD STILL REIGNS HERE)

Look at Daniel praying in the window (it is regular practice, but marks Daniel as a man of prayer)

Other examples?

Witness to (CeCe Praying at lunch)

Witness against (The prayer vigil at the courthouse)

Witness as invitation (“There was something different” at the police reform march)

Public Prayer As Intercession

Eph 6:12–18

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

$1 Billion in gift cards went unused last year

A lot of untapped purchasing power.

God wants to be invited to intervene, but he often waits to be invited.

The first petition of The Lord’s Prayer

Your name be hallowed

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

Illustration:

Peace campaign…drug dealers with dogs.

Gatekeepers' prayer meetings stopped in Chicago.

Public Prayer As Blessing

This is public prayer in its most joyful form—speaking God’s favor and peace over a people.

To bless is to name God’s good intention for others out loud.

Public prayer as blessing declares that grace still has the last word.

It opens space for peace in the midst of tension.

Some instances

The invocation at public meetings.

The opportunity to pray with and for elected leaders.

THE KEY IS TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY…TO PRAY BIBLICALLY/CHRISTIANLY rather than POLITICALLY.

(Close) Ezekiel 22:30, says:

“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”

In ancient warfare, when an enemy broke through a city’s wall, the defenders would rush to stand in the gap — literally putting their bodies between the invaders and the city.

Ezekiel 22 indicts Israel’s civic and religious leaders — prophets, priests, princes, and people — for corruption and injustice.

God says none of them were willing to stand in the breach “before me for the land.”

That phrase “before me” explicitly points to prayerful mediation — someone standing before God on behalf of others.

This is not just praying for personal needs, but for the land —

May it not be so your city and mine…

in our states…

in our fields…

in our issue coalitions…

in the public life of this nation.

May we not just be public leaders. May we be strong in public prayer.

Let’s spend the next few minutes doing the very thing we’ve been talking about—offering prayers in and for the public domain.

Offer prayers

Local, national, issue specific

I will close

A Prayer for Public Life

Eternal God our Father, you rule over all thrones and powers.

Teach us to wield the influence you have given us in prayer

not as a weapon of domination,

but as an instrument of mercy and truth.

Let our words, our decisions, and our prayers

be seeds of peace and righteousness sown into public life for the public good.

Guard us from cynicism and from pride,

from the lie that nothing can change

and the illusion that we ourselves can save.

Instead, let our hope be anchored in your kingdom —

in which every office, every institution, every street and every home

will one day resound with the justice and joy of your reign.

May we stand in the breach for our cities,

intercede for our neighbors,

and bless even those who oppose us,

until the day all creation bows to the name of Jesus.

We ask this through that same Christ who rules and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit; one God, forever and ever.

Amen.