Prayer

Praying is one of those mysteries of the Christian faith

We know its important

We know it in someway connects with God

But we have questions we do not want to talk about; does it work?

And it is awkward, its like talking to a person thats not there in physical form

And even more awkward if you are listening to someone else pray - like someones conversation!

So much so, that If someone prays out loud it can stop us in our tracks

So much so, that If someone prays out loud it can stop us in our tracks

We may feel awkward asking for prayer

Tonight we are going to delve two footed into the awesome world of prayer.

Why should we pray at all?

Simply put, if we are followers of Jesus. If we are Christians. Then we need to follow his example.

Jesus prayed and he urged his followers to pray as well.

For some that is enough, but if you are like me then you may ask .. but thats fine .. but why does he ask us to pray?

Lets start from the premise that God loves us.

I mean really loves us.

I mean beyond.. our wildest dreams, or beyond comprehension.. can we even begin to figure it out?

Ephesians 3:18–20 The Message

you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Gods love for us overflows within us and fill us with his spirit (love) so that other people will see (If you like it or not!)

Ephesians 3:17–19 NRSV

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:

If that’s true – and I believe it is

And guess what? He wants to hear from us!

** Think of a person you love or have loved. Imagine if they just go about their business without even acknowledging you – how would it feel? How would it feel when they finally turned to you for a chat? Just turning and looking at you would make you feel amazing!

He does not demand that you talk to him – he just loves it when you do. And he grieves silence. He wants you to turn to him and talk to him.

I often describe the Christian faith as a relationship with God. Which sounds a bit odd because you cant see God and it feels like you are talking to yourself!

But we know deep inside that we are not alone – and we don’t need to speak out loud to pray. We can just be silent and offer that stuff to God.

It begins process that we call a relationship – and we are blessed for it.. more than that later.

But it begins process that we call a relationship – and we are blessed for it.. more than that later.

How do we pray?

If we want to know how to pray we need to turn to Jesus. What did he do?

Jesus told us how to pray and how not to pray.

First of all, he warned us not to babble.

Matthew 6:5–7 TNIV

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:5-

that doesn’t mean not repeating prayers but he meant that we should be sincere in what we do.

This is key – prayers need to come from here – not necessarily here (head)

Demi sometimes just talks because she wants our attention!! BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

She does not want me to listen to the words, she just says the first thing that comes into her head.

She wants our attention – our focus.

Jesus says that God does not like babbling because he loves us and wants to spend quality time with us.

So our prayers should not be waffling on just for the sake of it. Like ‘I must pray as it’s the thing to do so.. ** lord blag blag bah blah (lord long prayer) (Am I done yet?!!!

Its not sincere. We must approach God with sincerity in our prayers however we do it.

Unlike me with Demi We have his attention - we are promised that.

Use our words heart-fully.

The Jews in Jesus time were very careful to be sincere, so they would subtly change their prayers each time so they could think about the words.

I know what you are thinking – what about the lords prayer – that’s the same words we say each time and Jesus asked us to say it ..

Matthew 6:9–13 NRSV

“Pray then in this way: 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 do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

matthew 6:9-13

Its got two main versions we know, and countless others.

But the exact wording is rather missing the point

What Jesus was giving his disciples that day is an outline – an example of how to pray

The was common – the Jewish people often gave basic headers in order for others to fill in.

The basic generic header of a jewish prayer is this:

1. Give the Glory to God

2. Petition – Ask him things but in accordance with his will

3. Give thanks and praise him

So they would take these headers and apply it themselves to keep things fresh and sincere.

So when the disciples ask Jesus how to pray – he responds with nothing out of the ordinary for them – the structure of the lords prayer is exactly what they expected to hear

- Beginning of the lords prayer tells God of his holiness

- Second part asks him for things according to his will

- The third section is missing from Matthew and Lukes version and has been added in by the writers – not because it was not important – but obvious in this context.

So why was Jesus stating the obvious? If we are not supposed to copy the lords prayer verbatim what was the point?

Well it was not how – but the manner in which they prayed and this is down to the language Jesus used that day.

He turns very formal Jewish prayers and turns them into childish language

Eg. Something to us would be like

‘Dear Daddy in heaven’ .. speaking as a child does to his dad

daily bread part – scholars thought it was made up until they found an ancient shopping list that was found and it was bread in everyday common language – more of a slang word!!!

Jesus was saying that when we pray to God we must be sincere and that means using our every day language

We approach God as a parent and out of love and sincerity

Can you see also how just repeating it verbatim without thinking about it is the exact opposite of what those Jewish people would have done? It would have been insulting and sounded as if we were mocking God himself!

(Say it like that).

When we say the lords prayer we should take it slowly – put in your mind the things you want to pray about if you are going to use it as it is.

Does prayer work?

Does it do any good anyway?

Simply Yes…

Something happens to us when pray for people out of love for them

When we make the effort to come before God and lift that person to them

We create a connection with God that we previously never had

That’s why I asked you to quickly pray before each day – because it changes us , it forms us, it connects us to the creator of the universe in a new way, and given time – it will transform your life.

What about people that are prayed for ?

There is no doubt that prayer is not a way of instant gratification – that we get whatever we ask for whenever we ask it.

It is clear, when we study the history of prayer and from our own experiences that prayer is a deep act on which we are told to pray for things – in accordance with Gods will.

We don’t often know what Gods will is – why would we?

Prayer is so much deeper than a quick fix – it is a deep connection with God in which we are invited to enter into Gods will and purpose for our lives, and the lives of people we pray for.

I have seen some amazing answers to prayer. But they were amazing because I had already decided what the answer would be.

How many prayers have been answered in ways I was not looking for?

**I have felt when I have been prayed for by a group of people. When I came into this church I felt a slight uneasiness that I cannot explain so I have prayed for three years for a lifting of it and to reclaim this place to the glory of God.

My pray wasn’t actioned instantly like a job to do – but after three years many people have remarked upon the calm, peaceful atmosphere and feeling in this church. Read the visitor book sometime and look at the recent comments. **

I have seen people get better when they have been prayed for – and I have known people not to. That’s not a mystery that we are going to solve today

All we know is that it is not q quick fix – it is part of a long standing, meaningful relationship with our creator God. And if we don’t get instant results or the ones we expect or the results we think should happen its not a reason not to do it

It’s a reason to pray more

We are do it sincerely

Heartfully

Not on our terms but on the terms of the being that created us

We are going to pray now and I am going to lead us in those three things Jesus asked us to do.. play music

1. Give the Glory to God

2. Petition – Ask him things but in accordance with his will

3. Give thanks and praise him

Prayer is available after the service – don’t dismiss it because you might feel a bit awkward or because someone else is already up there – its too important for that. It wont be awkward if there is a cue for prayer …