A Praying Church part 2

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.

About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.

But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, "Get up, Tabitha." And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!

INTRODUCTION

Good morning Southpointe we started last week on this new series for a brand new year called “A Praying Church” and I shared my vision and strategy for the future of this church.

And that it deals we three words: A Praying Church.

So this morning here a sub-point: To be a praying church who reaches out and challenges everyone to follow Jesus completely.

Now in order to become a praying church, to be a fellowship that is known and described as people who pray, we really need to dig in.

Series: A Praying Church

Last week I challenged our longtime tradition on the way that we pray. To start praying with your“Eyes Open.” And it’s fine to pray with your head bowed and your eyes closed, but just realize that is not the only way.”

Now in order to become a praying church, to be a fellowship that is known and described as people who pray, we really need to dig in. Last week Kyle challenged our longtime paradigm of one of the ways that we pray. His message was “Eyes Open.” And I love the way he said, “It’s fine to pray with your head bowed and your eyes closed, but just realize that is not the only way.” Since the apostle Paul said, “Pray continually,” and, “Pray without ceasing,” it becomes more doable if our eyes are open to the needs that are all around us. The problem is we throw up all sorts of excuses to keep us from praying: “Well, we’re too busy. I don’t know what to say. I’m not really good at this. I’m out of my comfort zone.” Yet every excuse we come up with comes up short. For if we truly believed in the power of prayer, then there is nothing on this side of heaven that could keep us from investing time and energy in becoming praying Christians and, therefore, a praying church.

Since the apostle Paul said, “Pray continually,” and, “Pray without ceasing,” it becomes more doable if our eyes are open to the needs that are all around us.

The problem is we throw up all sorts of excuses to keep us from praying: “Well, we’re too busy. I don’t know what to say. I’m not really good at this. I’m out of my comfort zone.” Yet every excuse we come up with comes up short.

For if we truly believed in the power of prayer, then there is nothing on this side of heaven that could keep us from investing time and energy in becoming praying Christians and a praying church.

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came to Him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

I find it interesting that when the disciples chose to ask for some advice from the Lord that they didn’t ask him how to feed a multitude on a boy’s lunch, how to cast out demons or how to walk on water; instead they said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

Evidently there must’ve been some incredible correlation between His prayer life and the power that He had.

I find it interesting that when the disciples chose to ask for some advice from the Lord that they didn’t ask him how to feed a multitude on a boy’s lunch, how to exorcise demons or how to walk on water; instead they said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Evidently there must’ve been some incredible correlation between His prayer life and the power that He had.

Could the same be said of you? Do you live a powerful, Spirit-filled life?

This week I want to take a look at another method of prayer which we often overlook.

I want to talk to you about knees bowed.

Let’s begin by seeing the practice of the early church. Their practice and routine was to pray. Acts chapter 2 tells us that they were constantly in prayer, that they devoted themselves to prayer, that they were united in prayer.

In our text this morning:

We see a woman who is dead is brought back to life: and as the news spread many people believed in the Lord.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

So they sent for Simon Peter and Simon Peter arrives at the house. Skip down to verse 40:

But remember this Peter knelt and prayed.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

There is another place in the book of Acts—I want you to flip over a few pages to Acts chapter 20. Just turn to your right a little bit. Paul is saying an emotional goodbye to the elders in Ephesus.

When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them.

here is another place in the book of Acts—I want you to flip over a few pages to Acts chapter 20. Just turn to your right a little bit. Paul is saying an emotional goodbye to the elders in Ephesus in

A woman who is dead is brought back to life: many people believed in the Lord. But he knelt and prayed. There is another place in the book of Acts—I want you to flip over a few pages to Acts chapter 20. Just turn to your right a little bit. Paul is saying an emotional goodbye to the elders in Ephesus in : “When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.” Turn over to the next chapter, . In the next chapter Luke is writing about the time when he and Paul are in the city of Tyre and Luke says in , “But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.” So it’s another tearful goodbye, but notice that, once again, they all came together and they knelt. Also notice that they were on the beach. So going to the beach is a very scriptural thing to do, okay? (Laughter) Each of these times were significant moments. There was dire physical need or some sickness or death. There was a time of grief. It was a sad goodbye to close friends that they would never see again. Paul would never see them again on this side of heaven. I say all that so that you don’t get the impression that every time that they prayed in the book of Acts that they were always kneeling. They weren’t. But sometimes they did.

Turn over to the next chapter, .

In the next chapter Luke is writing about the time when he and Paul are in the city of Tyre and Luke says

: “When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.” Turn over to the next chapter, . In the next chapter Luke is writing about the time when he and Paul are in the city of Tyre and Luke says in , “But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.” So it’s another tearful goodbye, but notice that, once again, they all came together and they knelt. Also notice that they were on the beach. So going to the beach is a very scriptural thing to do, okay? (Laughter) Each of these times were significant moments. There was dire physical need or some sickness or death. There was a time of grief. It was a sad goodbye to close friends that they would never see again. Paul would never see them again on this side of heaven. I say all that so that you don’t get the impression that every time that they prayed in the book of Acts that they were always kneeling. They weren’t. But sometimes they did.

When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed,

So it’s another tearful goodbye, but notice that, once again, they all came together and they knelt. Also notice that they were on the beach. So going to the beach is a very scriptural thing to do.

Each of these times were significant moments. There was physical need or some sickness or death. There was a time of grief.

It was a sad goodbye to close friends that they would never see again.

Paul would never see them again on this side of heaven. I say all that so that you don’t get the impression that every time that they prayed in the book of Acts that they were always kneeling. They weren’t. But sometimes they did.

So I’m not suggesting that after this service is over, when you go out to eat at a restaurant – when your meal is delivered – that your entire party gets up and that you all kneel down right there in the middle of the dining area to thank God for your meal.

hat’s probably not appropriate in that setting. In my opinion, the posture of kneeling when you pray I think is appropriate when you are either in private worship with God or sometimes when we do so together in corporate worship and we all come together. But to do it elsewhere I think could be misunderstood by others and by non-Christians…even by baby Christians. And it could appear to be showy, as if you’re calling attention to yourself. So we have to think about that.

That could appear to be showy, as if you’re calling attention to yourself not a good thing. So we have to think about that.

Let me point out that when you pray, even when you pray with open eyes or bowed knees, that doesn’t ensure that God is going to answer with a “yes” of some request that you might say in that prayer, that He will always be in the affirmative of whatever you have on your mind.

Understand the God of the Universe isn’t a genie. You can’t dictate His will by you do a list of activities or physical movements in how you pray. Not at all.

So let me tell you why at times I think we should pray down on our knees.

Let’s look at the perspective of the early church. Why did they pray? Why did they pray on their knees at times?

There is a common thread that we see all throughout the book of Acts whenever they did so.

Here it is: dependence and desperation. They were so dependent upon God they said, “I need you. I’m desperate for you. I cry out for your mercy.”

And not only were they dependent on God but there was this sense of desperation that He was the only person they could go to.

He was the only One that they could talk to. We’ve lost some of that through the years. We don’t feel as dependent on talking to God as we should.

Too often we try to handle the pressures of life in our own strength, in our own flesh.

We have to realize that this Christian life is too big and that we are too small to start anywhere except down on our knees.

Why is kneeling a humbling act? I’ll tell you why. It’s because you’re defenseless; you’re vulnerable. You’re in a position where you can’t do anything offensively.

When you kneel you are not in charge.

Many people when they are worshipping they will knee and Worship is defined as “Having your face to the ground.

Worship literally means “to kiss the feet of the one that you are paying homage to or adoring.”

That involves lowering yourself and humbling yourself, and when we kneel or we bow before God it’s an acknowledgement of the worthiness of God.

But there is not one correct posture for worshipping God or praying to God. Posture is only useful when it expresses the reality of the heart.

Too many people go thru motions and not heart felt worship.

Look what God said about it:

Stop bringing Me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts Me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.

I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to Me. I cannot stand them!

When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of My sight. Give up your evil ways.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

"Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

If you will only obey Me, you will have plenty to eat.

But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

God was saying I’m not going to listen to your prayers. God was tired of their memorized prayers, the prayers that just spilled off of their lips and they didn’t even put any thought into them and you are not living like I have ask you to do.

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even if you offer many prayers,

I will not listen.

You say, “What? God says that? Why in the world would God say that? ‘I’m not going to listen to your prayers?’” Well, the reason why was God was tired of their perfunctory prayers, of their memorized prayers, the prayers that just spilled off of their lips and they didn’t even put any thought into them.

On the other hand, God delights in physical expressions when it expresses inward reality.

Take kneeling for example. Kneeling in the Old Testament always expressed humility and reverence.

On the other hand, God delights in physical expressions when it expresses inward reality. Take kneeling for example. Kneeling in the Old Testament always expressed humility and reverence. says, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” You see, when God gives you a fresh vision of His holiness, you might fall on your knees out of respect and reverence; you may even weep before Him as you think of His kindness and love for you. One of the most moving passages of worship is found in . You can feel the passion and the love for God in David’s worship as, instead of asking for things, He just praises God for who He is. And after sensing God’s glory and presence we read later in the chapter, in the 20th verse, that David and his congregation—this large group of Jewish people “bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord.” Bowing low is a natural response to God’s glory and power. We are more powerful on our knees than we are on our feet.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

You see, when God gives you a fresh vision of His holiness, you will fall on your knees out of respect and reverence; you may even weep before Him as you think of His kindness and love for you.

Some of the most moving passages of worship is found in . You can feel the passion and the love for God in David’s worship as, instead of asking for things, He just praises God for who He is.

Then David said to the whole assembly, "Give praise to the LORD your God!" And the entire assembly praised the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the LORD and the king.

David and his congregation—this large group of Jewish people “bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord.”

Bowing low is a natural response to God’s glory and power. We are more powerful on our knees than we are on our feet.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft in his book, Lessons from a Father to a Son, tells of when he was growing up as a child and he awakened every morning to hearing his dad’s prayers in the next room.

John’s father died the very day that he was installed as U.S. Senator, but before going to Washington to begin as a senator, he stopped by to see his father on his way to that installation service.

Because John’s dad wanted to pray with his son about his new responsibilities, he had him come by on his way to that service.

And when John arrived, his father was very sick and he tried to get out of bed to pray for his son.

And John said, “Dad, you don’t need to try and stand,” and his father replied, “I’m not struggling to stand; I’m struggling to kneel.”

John Ashcroft said that’s why he still starts every day with prayer, with a devotional time.

My question is, men, what if our sons and daughters occasionally walked in on us and caught us praying? If they saw that prayer was important, what would that communicate to them?

Let’s have clear understanding: Kneeling should be the outward sign of an inner humility.

I think that the reason that we don’t pray as much as we should is because we doubt its power. We doubt the power of God. Yet study after study done by secular organizations continues to show the power of prayer. Look at some of the research that takes place in the medical community of those who pray for someone versus those who don’t. It will astound you.

Three weeks ago we had a young woman respond at the invitation to go into full-time Christian service. I remember talking to her and I said, “Do you have any idea what you want to do?” She said, “I think missions.” I said, “That’s great.” I said, “Any place on your radar screen?” She said, “You know, I’ve just always kind of felt a call to Scotland.” I said, “Well, do you have connections there? Do you know some people there or friends there?” She said, “No, I just have kind of always felt that.” I said, “Well, that’s great.” I saw her last night after the service and she said, “You know, I went to one of the Perspectives classes here in the missions ministry the next week and,” she said, “I was standing in line to get some snacks before the program started and the woman who happened to be there that night that was in front of me was a representative, a regional director, for a mission group in Scotland.” And she said, “The last two weeks I’ve been skyping with a missionary in Scotland.” She said, “God answered my prayer that quickly.”

Earlier this week I spoke with a friend of mine, Bruce, and he told me about his wife who was driving around on Labor Day with her mother. Her mom’s health has been declining as she was getting up in years and on that Monday she wasn’t feeling very well at all. While they were running some errands, Kathy finally said to her mom, “Mom, is there anything that you would like? Is there anything that I can get you that would make you happy today?” And her mom thought for a second and she said, “You know what? I would love to have a hot dog that’s been cooked out on the grill.” And Kathy thought, “Well, that’s great but that’s also impossible. But,” she said, “I didn’t say it out loud. We weren’t anywhere close to our home. We were just driving around and places were closed for the holidays and we weren’t in an area that we knew.” But at that moment she decided to take Kyle up on his challenge and so simply and silently she just prayed to God. She just simply said an “eyes open” prayer while she was driving. Thank God for that. (Laughter) And she prayed, “Lord, my mom needs a grilled hot dog if you will supply that need.” A few minutes later they were at a stoplight and she smelled the aroma of someone cooking out. Then she followed her nose and she saw an unsuspecting man in front of his grill. She pulled over and she parked her car and sheepishly said to the man, “Hey, I have my mom who is here with me. She’s not been feeling very well and she has been craving a hot dog.” And the man said, “Sure, no problem! What does she want on it? In fact,” he said, “if you all would like to come back tonight and bring your mom with you and bring your family with you, we’re going to have ribs.” Well, they didn’t go back that night but I did get the address. (Laughter)

A bended knee doesn’t gain any more of God’s attention unless it is accompanied by a bended heart.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking around the MRC, one of our office buildings over here, and I walked past the mission’s office. I was looking for Charlie Vittitow and I didn’t see him in there. About an hour later I was coming back another way and I went past the same office. I was just going to wave at him since I saw he was in his office and he had a staff meeting going in there with the whole missions department. So I kind of got up in the window and made some strange faces and they all kind of laughed, and I thought, “Well, I better poke my head in since I’ve, you know, interrupted their meeting.” So I poked my head in and visited for a couple minutes and I cracked some jokes with them. I kept getting ready to leave but for some reason I kept staying. And I said to them finally, “You know what? I’m going to tell you all something that I’ve said to my wife. I haven’t told anybody else, but you guys probably need to know this just so you’ll hold me accountable. But,” I said, “you know, we haven’t been on a mission trip in several years with the church, and this next year our family…we’d like to go on a mission trip. You guys pick the place out, wherever you think I could be of the most service. You pick the location and I’ll pay for my family’s way and we’ll have a mission trip wherever you want to go.” And I didn’t think a whole lot of it. I basically said it for accountability. You know how my personality is…I can just blurt things out like that and I’m kind of ADD…and I’m kind of ADD as well. (Laughter) But as I said that about the mission trip, I glanced down and one of the guys in the room who works in missions, Ben Thornley…as I was talking, I saw his eyes well up with tears. And I thought, “You know, what is this about?” but I didn’t want to call attention to it. I talked for another minute or so and I started to leave, and Ben said, “Hey, can I tell you something?” and I was dying to hear the explanation of what was going on in that room. And he said, “A few weeks ago…we have devotions and prayer time every morning at the start of our day together as a department, but,” he said, “a few weeks ago we started praying specifically that the senior leaders of this church would get more involved in missions.” And he looked down at his open Bible and he said, “Today our devotional was on answered prayer and,” he said, “I just thought you might want to know that.”

Now the skeptic would just look at those three stories and say, “Scotland, a grilled hot dog, a mission trip—come on! I mean, you Christians are always exaggerating every little thing. It was merely a coincidence.” But here is what my experience has been. When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t pray, they don’t happen. Heidi Quade said, “Coincidences are tiny miracles in which God chooses to remain anonymous.” And when we pray confidently, believing that the God of the Universe is personally involved in our lives, you will be amazed. You will be amazed. I get letter after letter. I hear story after story. Martin Luther said, “None can believe how powerful prayer is but those who have learned it by experience.”

The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

Prayer is our lifeline as Christ-followers. This month I challenge you to go deeper, to take it beyond just your bedtime prayers and your meals, to try some different things.

Make certain that this is very clear: Kneeling should be the outward sign of an inner humility. A bended knee doesn’t gain any more of God’s attention unless it is accompanied by a bended heart. The Psalmist said in , “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” You say, “Gosh, Dave, I would love to be able to cry out to God. I would love to be able to just word a simple prayer to Him. But I don’t…I don’t really know how to do that.” Well, I know many of you have said to me since this series has started, “I really need to grow in this area but it’s a real stretch for me.” And we want to come alongside of you. Maybe you’re like the disciples and you’re like me and you’re saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Well, next Sunday, a week from today, September 19th, from 6:00 to 7:30 right here in the Block (Student Building) we’ve asked Joe Donaldson to lead us in a special time of training, of learning. Joe is a great teacher. He is hilarious. He is intelligent. But most importantly he is a prayer warrior. It will be held here next Sunday at 6:00, and he’s going to teach us about prayer so that we can feel comfortable talking to God.

The Psalmist said in , “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” You say, “Gosh, Dave, I would love to be able to cry out to God. I would love to be able to just word a simple prayer to Him. But I don’t…I don’t really know how to do that.” Well, I know many of you have said to me since this series has started, “I really need to grow in this area but it’s a real stretch for me.” And we want to come alongside of you. Maybe you’re like the disciples and you’re like me and you’re saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Well, next Sunday, a week from today, September 19th, from 6:00 to 7:30 right here in the Block (Student Building) we’ve asked Joe Donaldson to lead us in a special time of training, of learning. Joe is a great teacher. He is hilarious. He is intelligent. But most importantly he is a prayer warrior. It will be held here next Sunday at 6:00, and he’s going to teach us about prayer so that we can feel comfortable talking to God.

If you’re physically able, I want to ask you to occasionally express respect for the Almighty God by kneeling instead of sitting.

Now as I preach this sermon I’m afraid of something. My fear is that you’re simply going to view kneeling when you pray as another item on your spiritual to-do list. My concern is that we begin to see prayer as a prideful badge that we wear…“Well, yes, I pray all the time”—some legalistic thing that we check off. If you simply kneel on the outside and it’s not because of surrender or contriteness, then you and I will fall into the same category as the Pharisees, who did some very good things but they did so for the wrong reasons. Here is a bottom line. Vance Havner is the one that said it. He said, “The problem is the situation is desperate and we are not.” And we’re not. We’ve got money in our bank account. We live in a nice house. We have decent clothes to wear. What do we need God for? Don’t buy into that lie. Prayer is our lifeline as Christ-followers. This month I challenge you to go deeper, to take it beyond just your bedtime prayers and your meals, to try some different things. If you’re physically able, I want to ask you to occasionally express respect for the Almighty God by kneeling instead of sitting.

To conclude, I’m going to ask you to put this sermon into practice. We’re going to pray together.

Imagine you are married and you go on a one month trip together with your spouse—the entire month. But the only time you speak to your spouse is every couple of days, and when you do so it’s simply to request something. That’s the only time you talk to your spouse. That is a recipe for a disaster in a marriage. If there is no communication the relationship is fading instead of thriving. And if you tried to justify your apathy and selfishness by claiming that your marriage was great, your spouse would probably look at you and say, “Hello?! Are you in the same relationship that I’m in because you say that I’m your choice for your life but it surely doesn’t feel like I’m your priority. It doesn’t feel like I’m at the center of your life. You never talk to me.” I bet the Lord can relate to that scenario. After all, the church is His. The body of Christ is the bride of Christ.

In the Psalms it even speaks of bending over…or it even speaks of stooping as a form of worship…as you show reverence to God.

Evidently prayer is a distinctive mark of someone who wants to follow God and be empowered by the Spirit. So the question is, are you desperate for the Lord to bring about positive changes and improvement in your spiritual life? He’s waiting. He’s listening for you to speak. And this month you may learn that it is through the power of prayer that you’ll finally be able to overcome that haunting addiction. I mean, you’ve tried everything else. Why not give a chance to the One who created you and knows you inside and out? Through the power of prayer you can, perhaps, begin to see Christianity as a relationship instead of as a religion.

So if you’re physically able and if space permits, I’m going to invite you to bow your knees and your heart as we talk to the King of kings. Let’s do that right now.

To conclude, I’m going to ask you to put the title of this sermon into practice. We’re going to pray together. And it may be difficult for some of you in the balcony levels, but in the Psalms it even speaks of bending over…or it even speaks of stooping as a form of worship…as you show reverence to God. So if you’re physically able and if space permits, I’m going to invite you to bow your knees and your heart as we talk to the King of kings. Let’s do that right now.