Sermon Tone Analysis

As we’ve been talking about the past several weeks, for the month of May, we will be walking through 2 different topics...

The topics of:

Water Baptism

Prayer

Last week - we focused in on water baptism and what it is...

As we’ve mentioned as well - there is a sign up sheet in the back for anyone interested in getting baptized...

NOW - this week - we come to - Prayer

I think it wouldn’t be an OVERSTATEMENT to say - that Prayer is probably the most UNDERRATED and NEGLECTED aspect of Christianity...

…which I think - would point to it being one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christianity...

Seems weird to say - because I think most people would reply to THAT by saying - What??

Its not that complicated...

You just pray...

BUT DO WE?

For the next 3 weeks, we’re going to dive into this thing called “PRAYER”...

And TODAY - we start with this question: WHAT IS PRAYER?

The first aspect of PRAYER that we’re going to look at is that it is - INDEED - a Privilege!

SLIDE: What is Prayer?

A Privilege Bought With Blood

What is Prayer?

*How often do we hear about Professional Athletes RUINING their careers because of:

drugs

violence

etc…?

We hear about it a lot - One of our own - Josh Gordon**

And what we often say is - He doesn’t understand that playing in the NFL is a PRIVILEGE - NOT A RIGHT!

Well - when we come to this topic of PRAYER - we have to understand that it’s a PRIVILEGE!

AND - that this privilege was bought with BLOOD!

Back in the OT times, within the Holy Temple in Jerusalem...

..there were different areas/courts...

SLIDE: Temple Pic

You had the outer court… where people could mingle...

Then you had the inner courtyard....or the Priests Court - where sacrifices could be made...

And then you had the Holy Place....a separate structure that housed the Altar of Incense...

A Table of Showbread...

And then what was called - the Holy of Holies...

It was the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelt…BUT...

…as you can see - there was a giant VEIL that separated where men dwelt, from where God dwelt...

NOW - let’s keep looking at this…and I’m going to READ through Hebrews 9:1-8…

It’s going to describe what we’re seeing here...

So - we see that the Temple was constructed the way that it was - for a REASON...

And the High Priest was only allowed to pass through the curtain - ONCE A YEAR… to make atonement for sins...

WHAT DOES THE CURTAIN represent?

It represents SIN....in that SIN is what SEPARATES us from God...

The VEIL in the Temple - represented the SIN of mankind…in that it SEPARATES us from God...

And ONLY the High Priest was allowed to go through the VEIL (once a year)…to atone for SINS...

So now - let’s look at what happened when Christ died on the cross...

Notice how it tore...

from TOP - to - Bottom

ONLY God could have done this...

This veil, by all estimates, was about 60 feet tall...

And when Christ died…the BARRIER of SIN was now REMOVED....FOR WHO?

For all who would BELIEVE!!

So BEFORE - where in the Old Testament - the high priest needed to CONTINUOUSLY make sacrifices for sins...

we KNOW based on the fact that this had to be done YEAR after YEAR...

…that it was just a TEMPORARY atonement...

Hebrews 10 speaks to this...

And here’s where Christ comes in to play...

Jesus Christ - purchased US with His blood!

He was our SACRIFICE - ONCE for ALL…and when He died...

…what SEPARATED man from God (SIN) - that BARRIER fell - FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE in Jesus!

And so - Understand the PRIVILEGE we have

We have God’s EAR (through PRAYER) - if we HAVE Jesus Christ as our SAVIOR!

Notice I said - IF we have Jesus Christ as our Savior!

This means - NOT EVERYONE has God’s ear...

It’s saying here - that when SIN remains between you and God - He doesn’t LISTEN to your prayers...

God does not listen to - Unbelievers prayers

But like we saw BEFORE - When Christ died, the VEIL - TORE!

Sin is REMOVED between the - BELIEVER in Jesus Christ - and God the Father

WHICH means - if you trust in Christ and have been SAVED - you have God’s EAR in prayer...

What a Privilege that is!!

And BECAUSE this is based on FAITH…(HAVING God’s ear in prayer)...

INDIVIDUAL Faith in Jesus Christ…!

That means… (not only a Privilege)

SLIDE: What is Prayer?

Personal Communion with God

What is Prayer?

As Christians we MUST not forget - God wants to hear from - YOU!

God CREATED PRAYER to be a means that we use to - GLORIFY Him!

And in many ways...

SLIDE:

God created prayer as a means by which we can enjoy Him

God IS - the epitome of JOY…it’s FULLNESS in His right hand...

Prayer helps us to TAP INTO that JOY....

NOW - think of how POWERFUL that joy really is!

think of the Crucifixion…think of the pain…the suffering...

Listen to a Physicians take on the Crucifixion:

The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand.

This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each.

The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs.

At first the thongs cut through the skin only.

Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles.

The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows.

Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue.

When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped.

The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood.

The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist.

He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.

Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement.

The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The Victim is now crucified.