Why pray?
"As for me, I will call upon God, and The Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud and The Lord shall save me" (Psalm 55:16-17).
Why should a person pray? Prayer is simply the means by which God has chosen to work in our lives and in the world today. It is the way that He has chosen to do business in our lives. When you want to do something with another person, you have to communicate with them. Prayer is communicating with God. God created man in order to have fellowship with him. What an amazing thought, that the Creator of the universe would want to share HIs heart with us and to have us commune with Him (a desire that should be the heartfelt cry of any child of God). This is the starting point, but beyond this there are effects that prayer works for us in our present circumstances.
1. Prayer is the way that we express our need for salvation to God and receive Jesus as the complete payment for our sins. "But what does it say? 'The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the Word of faith which we preach): That if you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of The Lord shall be saved'" (Romans 10:8-13).
2. Each believer faces spiritual warfare. In such a battle that is totally beyond your natural abilities, wouldn't you love to have the assurance of victory? Ephesians 6:10-20 describes our spiritual warfare and the armor with which we must equip ourselves in order to face the battles that we experience. To what battles am I referring? There is a spiritual component to all of the conflicts we face in this life: when your arguments with your spouse tear at your marriage; when your economic situation causes you to question the goodness of God. It is interesting to note that Paul sticks with his armor analogy until he gets to Verse 18. The reason for the change is that he is no longer speaking of the armor, but the battle itself. The battles that we face are won or lost on our knees.
3. Prayer is the way in which we receive mercy and grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Here the writer challenges us to come boldly before the throne of grace on the basis of the work that Jesus completed for us on the cross. This is an incredible thing to realize, that the access to God and His working in our lives is solely on the basis of His totally undeserved favor toward us because we are "in Christ". So, don't waste your time trying to earn it, simply receive it.
4. Prayer is the way that we can be free of anxiety in a world that is falling apart (Philippians 4:6-7). The way that we stay free of care is to cast all of our cares upon Him because He has loving care for us (1 Peter 5:7).
5. Prayer is the means that God has set forth for ministry in the world to be accomplished. Toward the end of his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had a specific request of them: "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of The Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2). Paul wanted the believers to pray so that the Word would be effective as he shared it. If anyone is wondering what they can pray for me, this would be at the top of my list.
This is not an exhaustive list of reasons to pray, but should be more than adequate to jump-start anyone's prayer life. If in your reading you come across others, feel free to post them here on this blog. God bless you as you grow closer to Jesus.
Pastor Chris
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Prayer Point #1
"Yet you do not have because you do not ask". (James 4:2b)
Have you ever wondered why the church seems to be so weak and powerless these days? Even though we have mega churches, Christian TV and radio, Christian books and magazines, websites of every description, evangelistic and missionary organizations, and well published programs and strategies it still seems that we have a very limited impact upon our culture and the world. What is true for the church as a whole is also true for the individual believer. How much of an impact are you having upon the people around you? When we read the biographies of believers in times past, we often see a different story. From the Book of acts to the 20th Century we have seen men that were greatly used by God for His purposes in their time. What is the difference between these men and us?
I believe the answer can be found in these ten simple words, "Yet you do not have because you do not ask". Is it because of our lack of prayer that we so little spiritual power and progress in our walk with Jesus? Have you ever cried out in frustration to The Lord not understanding what the reason is for your sense of spiritual stagnation? Could it be that much of our Christian lives are lived in presumption rather than prayer?
If we were to be honest, we would have to confess that many of us really believe in the effectiveness of prayer. The idea that we receive something from The Lord without our scheming, or having conferences and planning meetings, is totally foreign to our 20th Century minds.
But it was Jesus who said: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8).
In future posts, we will get into the specifics of prayer, but for now let's begin to take prayer seriously and begin to do it. It is the means by which God has determined to do His work in the earth. As Christians we certainly don't want to miss out on everything that God has for us. So, let's begin to pray and see what God will do in our lives, through our individual churches and in the body of Christ as a whole. Go for it!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
A New Purpose
I started this blog about three years ago because I thought it would be a good thing to do.
It made sense to have an added resource with which I could minister to and encourage people in their walks with The Lord. As I have attempted to do this blog I have really fumbled around for a specific purpose. When something would pop into my mind, I would begin to blog about it. Sometimes there was some clear, encouraging thoughts, but several times I would not even complete the draft I started.
Recently I have received a new inspiration and purpose. The Lord has been dealing with me, and teaching me, a great deal about prayer. I would like to share the journey on which The Lord is taking me with as many as would like to come. I certainly do not claim to be an authority on prayer, neither do I claim that the thoughts of which I write are original to myself. I owe a great debt, first of all to The Lord, obviously, but second to that to the encouragement that I have received from men such as George Mueller, R. A. Torrey, and A. W. Tozer. So, if you are sensing this same calling upon your life, I would invite you to join me, not only in studying but also growing in and experiencing the blessing of prayer.
Pastor Chris
It made sense to have an added resource with which I could minister to and encourage people in their walks with The Lord. As I have attempted to do this blog I have really fumbled around for a specific purpose. When something would pop into my mind, I would begin to blog about it. Sometimes there was some clear, encouraging thoughts, but several times I would not even complete the draft I started.
Recently I have received a new inspiration and purpose. The Lord has been dealing with me, and teaching me, a great deal about prayer. I would like to share the journey on which The Lord is taking me with as many as would like to come. I certainly do not claim to be an authority on prayer, neither do I claim that the thoughts of which I write are original to myself. I owe a great debt, first of all to The Lord, obviously, but second to that to the encouragement that I have received from men such as George Mueller, R. A. Torrey, and A. W. Tozer. So, if you are sensing this same calling upon your life, I would invite you to join me, not only in studying but also growing in and experiencing the blessing of prayer.
Pastor Chris
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you might obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24).
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
Pretty much every one of us have made a New Years resolution of one kind or another. Probably the most common is to lose weight or to exercise. Usually these kinds of commitments don't make it through the first week of the year. We find that for some reason it just isn't in us to fulfill the resolution we have made. We simply don't have the strength in ourselves.
While that is the most common problem with resolutions, there is another. There are those, "the few, the proud", who seem to have the intestinal fortitude to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. You might say, "That's great! Isn't that the American way?" The problem is that they have set their goals by themselves and for themselves, and seek to fulfill them in their own strength.
In Daniel 5, we read the story of Belshazzar and the handwriting on the wall. This Babylonian king was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who had taken the Jews captive, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and brought the articles of the temple to the city of Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up in arrogance, The Lord humbled him so that he became like an animal for seven years "till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25b). But Belshazzar didn't learn this lesson from his grandfather. Daniel prophesies God's indictment against him: "And you have lifted yourself up against The Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; AND THE GOD WHO HOLDS YOUR BREATH IN HIS HANDS AND OWNS ALL YOUR WAYS, YOU HAVE NOT GLORIFIED". (Daniel 5:23).
The point is that we were created in the image and likeness of God in order that we might have a meaningful relationship with Him, that we don't live our lives apart from Him, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that He freely gives to those who ask (Luke 11:13). We were not designed to live by our own might, or power, but by his Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
How is it that you plan to live in 2013? Do you plan to set your own goals and strive to fulfill them however you can, or do you plan to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and allow Him to add into your life all the things that you need (Matthew 6:33)? The Lord has a great plan for you this year that involves your good and His glory. Let's not be satisfied with anything less than all that He has for us.
Pastor Chris
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
Pretty much every one of us have made a New Years resolution of one kind or another. Probably the most common is to lose weight or to exercise. Usually these kinds of commitments don't make it through the first week of the year. We find that for some reason it just isn't in us to fulfill the resolution we have made. We simply don't have the strength in ourselves.
While that is the most common problem with resolutions, there is another. There are those, "the few, the proud", who seem to have the intestinal fortitude to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. You might say, "That's great! Isn't that the American way?" The problem is that they have set their goals by themselves and for themselves, and seek to fulfill them in their own strength.
In Daniel 5, we read the story of Belshazzar and the handwriting on the wall. This Babylonian king was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who had taken the Jews captive, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and brought the articles of the temple to the city of Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up in arrogance, The Lord humbled him so that he became like an animal for seven years "till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25b). But Belshazzar didn't learn this lesson from his grandfather. Daniel prophesies God's indictment against him: "And you have lifted yourself up against The Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; AND THE GOD WHO HOLDS YOUR BREATH IN HIS HANDS AND OWNS ALL YOUR WAYS, YOU HAVE NOT GLORIFIED". (Daniel 5:23).
The point is that we were created in the image and likeness of God in order that we might have a meaningful relationship with Him, that we don't live our lives apart from Him, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that He freely gives to those who ask (Luke 11:13). We were not designed to live by our own might, or power, but by his Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
How is it that you plan to live in 2013? Do you plan to set your own goals and strive to fulfill them however you can, or do you plan to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and allow Him to add into your life all the things that you need (Matthew 6:33)? The Lord has a great plan for you this year that involves your good and His glory. Let's not be satisfied with anything less than all that He has for us.
Pastor Chris
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