Rom 8-Prayers of the Heart
| Prayers of the HeartAn Introduction to the Mystery of Prayer! Romans 8:22-32
March 11, 200722We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? PRAYScripture Memory:We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 Intro:Prayer – one of the most basic and simple things in Christianity – while at the same time one of the most mysterious and difficult things for most of us.There is hardly a person who doesn’t pray when things are not going well—even atheists!Yet even the most devout people often struggle with their prayer lives. In fact, along with evangelism, prayer may well be the guilt producing exercise in the Christian faith.There is not a person here this morning who hasn’t prayed, and yet…So many Christians, especially young Christians, feel so intimidated by prayer, particularly prayer with others. Why is this?1st of four weeks on prayer – 1. Prayers of the Heart – An Introduction to the Mystery of Prayer2. Prayers of the Mind – Praying with confidence3. The Power of Prayer – Prayer as our greatest strength4. Prayers of the Soul – Spirit led prayersMark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This morning: Prayers of the Heart –An Introduction to the Mystery of PrayerQ: Why don’t we pray more?Why don’t we come to corporate prayer meetings?Why don’t we pray with our spouse more often?*** give folks a chance to think about it ***Many reasons – among them:· I don’t know what to say· I’m just not comfortable praying out loud· I’m not really convinced that it makes much, if any difference?· It’s too much work. There are so many other things which I would rather do.· It’s not convenient· I’m just too busy· I get SO distracted when I try to pray Our prayers tend to be like those of an Irishman named O’Leary:O'Leary was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.Looking up toward heaven, he said "Lord, take pity on me.If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every
Sunday for the rest of my life and I'll give up me whiskey."Miraculously, a parking place appeared.O'Leary looked up again and said "Never mind Lord. I found one." When we have a need which seems to be beyond our ability to meet, we pray. And then when God graciously grants our request, we are quick to attribute natural means to it.When we think of prayer, for most of us this means something we call intercessory prayer, bringing our needs and the needs of others before God, asking Him for help.Prayer, though, is far more than merely intercession. It is worship, confession and thanksgiving. It is communion with God. Prayer is communion with God in which those praying, acknowledging His greatness, and His worthiness, humble themselves before Him and seek His good pleasure.I am convinced that many (most?) Christians tend to relegate prayer to a needs-only mode. This is sometimes called foxhole praying. Praying when the bullets overhead greatly reduce our other options. For many of us this means that when we do pray, 90% of the time it is for health related issues, or other needs which impact our, or other’s ability to enjoy life…We are doing ourselves a SERIOUS disservice when this is true of our prayer lives. Prayer is, at one and the same time, one of the greatest gifts God has given his children, and one of the most important responsibilities.Four reasons why we SHOULD pray, both privately and together:1. Law2. Life3. Limits4. Love Law – it is clearly commanded in ScriptureLife – Prayer is our lifeline to Him Who is the source of our lifeLimits – With prayer there is no limit to what God’s people can accomplish. Without it, everything we attempt is undermined at best.Love – Love implies a desire for communion and communication. It needs them to grow. 1. Law – it is clearly commanded in ScripturePray Continually (Message all the time). (1 Thess 5:17 NIV )Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (Phil 4:6 NLT )Pray at all times & on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert & be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. (Eph 6:18 NLT )"Let it not be that I should sin against my God by ceasing to pray for you." (1 Sam. 12:23 NIV )etc. etc. etc.The reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. (James 4:2 NLT )"Prayer is an expression of our dependence upon God, while prayerlessness is an expression of our independence." (source unknown)The bottom line: Prayerlessness is sin. Just as autonomy or independence from God is at root of sin, so also failure to bathe everything we do in prayer is a reflection of our failure to keep God central in all of life. | | 2. Life – Prayer is our lifeline to Him Who is the source of our life.In prayer we have access to life itself. When we allow other things to keep us from praying, we cut ourselves off from that life."The problem many people have with prayer is that they consider it supplemental and not fundamental." (source unknown)"There are 2 types of attitudes which should drive us to prayer: When we feel like praying... for it would be terrible for us to miss so great an opportunity, and when we don't feel like praying... for it would be dangerous for us to remain in such a condition." (source unknown)Satan knows that if he can keep us from praying we become easy prey.Seven days without prayer make one weak.We all know this. Deep within our souls we know that life is found in God and in an ever deeper communion with Him. As we grow in our faith, we grow in our LONGING to be with Him, to see Him face to face.God delights to give far more than we delight to ask.It is interesting to observe a godly man or woman in their final days of life here on earth – prayer becomes so much MORE than a discipline…Spiritually, prayer is both a symptom of and means to a living, growing relationship with our Heavenly Father. 3. Limits – With prayer there is no limit to what God’s people can accomplish. Without it, everything we attempt is undermined at best.Prayer doesn’t change anything. God does. Preaching doesn’t save anyone. God does. However just as God has chosen the foolishness of preaching as his primary chosen vehicle to save people, so also He has chosen the weakness of prayer to change things. (Global Church Advancement Seminar)"When God has something great to accomplish for His church it is His will that there should precede it the extra‑ordinary prayers of His people. (Source Unknown)I am convinced that we will NOT see anything extraordinary here at Hope Church until…To live by faith is “to believe that [we can] do things through Him that [we] could never do on [our] own. Steve Childers"Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." (Samuel Chadwick)"Often intercessors are unknown and unlauded, but their influence is beyond estimation." (Paul E. Kauffman)You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. (John Bunyan)God begins by remarkably pouring out His Spirit of Grace and supplication (prayers of intercession). Let us not miss it!" (Jonathon Edwards) 4. Love – Love implies a desire for communion and communication. Love needs them to grow.As in any relationship, communication is crucial for growth – two way communication. We may have strong feelings for another person, but if we rarely communicate, then our love is stagnant at best.Many people, usually women, complain that their spouse never talks to them. Many men have the attitude: “If I have anything important to say, I’ll say it. In the mean time, what’s the issue?!?”But most of us treat God this way…Most of us find it much easier to read our Bible for ten minutes than to pray for ten minutes. And when we DO pray, our prayers often tend to resemble a letter to Santa Claus more than they do communion with God.“Most men forget about God all day, and then ask Him to remember them at night.” (source unknown)If we want our love for God to grow, if we want to enjoy a growing relationship with Him, then we MUST learn how to pray. We MUST nurture and develop our prayer lives much as we need to work on nurturing and developing the key relationships in our lives – husband-wife / parent-child / etc.This is closely bound up with our ability to and our enjoyment of worship.Worship and love go hand-in-hand. Truly loving someone implies some level of worship.In fact, some would say, and I would agree, that worshipping God is the highest goal of the church, of each of us. Growing in this area, then, should be of the utmost importance to us.Some would say that missions and evangelism are the ultimate goal of the church. Certainly they are important, but as John Piper says, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.” John Piper—Let the Nations Be Glad“Worship is both the goal and fuel of missions.” John PiperSo, also, worship is both the goal & the fuel of prayer.If we love God, we WILL pray. If we desire to grow in love for Him, we will nurture and develop our prayer lives, not just in terms of asking for things, but in terms of pouring out our hearts to Him. Summary / Review:Q: Why don’t we pray more?Why don’t we come to corporate prayer meetings?Why don’t we pray with our spouse more often?Four reasons why we SHOULD pray, both privately and together:1. Law – it is clearly commanded in ScriptureThe bottom line: Prayerlessness is sin. Just as autonomy or independence from God is at root of sin, so also failure to bathe everything we do in prayer is a reflection of our failure to keep God central in all of life.2. Life – Prayer is our lifeline to Him Who is the source of our life.Spiritually, prayer is both a symptom of and means to a living, growing relationship with our Heavenly Father.3. Limits – With prayer there is no limit to what God’s people can accomplish. Without it, everything we attempt is undermined at best.You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. (John Bunyan)4. Love – Love implies a desire for communion and communication. Love needs them to grow.If we love God, we WILL pray. If we desire to grow in love for Him, we will nurture and develop our prayer lives, not just in terms of asking for things, but in terms of pouring out our hearts to Him. A Truth to Remember: God often waits for His children to ask before He pours out His power on and in His church. A Challenge to Consider:Prayer is not optional for God’s children. A Growing prayer life is both a means of improving and an indicator of strength of a persons relationship with God. What does your prayer life say about your spiritual health? One thing I heard this morning was… |