Scriptures for Sunday, July 24th, 2016
Genesis 18: 20-32
Psalm 138
Colossians 2:6-19
Luke 11:1-13
“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the LORD,
I who am but dust and ashes.” Genesis 18:27
From what I’ve observed and heard in families and homes around the Bethel Church community, people’s notions about praying are all over the map. And that’s OK...
... As long as your prayer life is daily drawing you nearer to your Savior God. It is by prayer, you know, that we communicate with our Maker. Unless you have responded to God’s offer of salvation in your own private prayer of confession and repentance, you have not claimed the gift God is trying to give you. And unless we are living daily in pursuit of God’s way--through prayer— we are not able to live a life directed by Jesus Christ as our boss (Lord).
So all of us, in whatever way works for each of us, need to be in prayer. In prayer we receive the clues and cues that enable us to live “rooted and built up in him, established in the faith” (Colossians 2:7). We open up and listen while God speaks, and we pour our hearts out to God.
When I say I find Bethel people’s prayer practices are all over the map, I am picturing various friends who are faithful in giving and serving and attending. They simply have differing comfort levels and styles when it comes to praying.
Some seem to be afraid to pray in front of other people, like it’s a form of public speaking.
OK, so praying in front of other people is a lot like public speaking: it helps if the others can hear the words; it usually goes better for the group if they can all follow the train of thought expressed by the one who is speaking; and it is tough if someone disagrees with the one speaking, and interrupts-- like a heckler fussing at a politician! (I haven’t known this to happen here, yet...).
Jesus said that “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). This seems to me to be a powerful reason to get with like-minded Christians quite often and pray together about the things that are important to us.
Of course, Jesus also said we should not pray in front of others to try to impress them, but rather address our prayers to God, Who hears us in private. It is OK to be shy about praying in front of a crowd: if God wants you to pray in front of crowds, God will make you bold to do it (and you and I will be held to a stricter standard of integrity, too!). However, it is vital for each and every one of us to practice praying privately with fellow believers.
Another thing I’ve noticed since beginning to serve as a pastor is that some people will share with me— even if I’m virtually a stranger to them— what they are praying about in private. I feel honored to be included.
By contrast, others seem to wait for Sunday mornings or certain meal-times to ‘hear’ prayers ‘said’ by a specialist {;-)}
Genesis 18: 20-32
Psalm 138
Colossians 2:6-19
Luke 11:1-13
“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the LORD,
I who am but dust and ashes.” Genesis 18:27
From what I’ve observed and heard in families and homes around the Bethel Church community, people’s notions about praying are all over the map. And that’s OK...
... As long as your prayer life is daily drawing you nearer to your Savior God. It is by prayer, you know, that we communicate with our Maker. Unless you have responded to God’s offer of salvation in your own private prayer of confession and repentance, you have not claimed the gift God is trying to give you. And unless we are living daily in pursuit of God’s way--through prayer— we are not able to live a life directed by Jesus Christ as our boss (Lord).
So all of us, in whatever way works for each of us, need to be in prayer. In prayer we receive the clues and cues that enable us to live “rooted and built up in him, established in the faith” (Colossians 2:7). We open up and listen while God speaks, and we pour our hearts out to God.
When I say I find Bethel people’s prayer practices are all over the map, I am picturing various friends who are faithful in giving and serving and attending. They simply have differing comfort levels and styles when it comes to praying.
Some seem to be afraid to pray in front of other people, like it’s a form of public speaking.
OK, so praying in front of other people is a lot like public speaking: it helps if the others can hear the words; it usually goes better for the group if they can all follow the train of thought expressed by the one who is speaking; and it is tough if someone disagrees with the one speaking, and interrupts-- like a heckler fussing at a politician! (I haven’t known this to happen here, yet...).
Jesus said that “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). This seems to me to be a powerful reason to get with like-minded Christians quite often and pray together about the things that are important to us.
Of course, Jesus also said we should not pray in front of others to try to impress them, but rather address our prayers to God, Who hears us in private. It is OK to be shy about praying in front of a crowd: if God wants you to pray in front of crowds, God will make you bold to do it (and you and I will be held to a stricter standard of integrity, too!). However, it is vital for each and every one of us to practice praying privately with fellow believers.
Another thing I’ve noticed since beginning to serve as a pastor is that some people will share with me— even if I’m virtually a stranger to them— what they are praying about in private. I feel honored to be included.
By contrast, others seem to wait for Sunday mornings or certain meal-times to ‘hear’ prayers ‘said’ by a specialist {;-)}
As Mark Twain pointed out, over a hundred years ago, God hears the prayers of professing Christians, but the prayers of ‘professional Christians’ … God bundles them up together and uses them as headwinds to retard the ships of improper people. Don’t leave it to the pastor to pray for you and yours: you’d better practice praying, yourself!
My goal as pastor of this congregation is to assist each of you members and friends in living your Christian life with the best supports available.
A milestone on the way toward that grand goal will be when we have small groups of people meeting to pray together about each other’s joys and concerns.
Abraham, saint that he was, prayed to God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. But because they themselves would not accept God’s reign and pray to God, they were destroyed (Genesis chapter 19).
“For though the LORD is high,
He regards the lowly....” Psalm 138: 6
My goal as pastor of this congregation is to assist each of you members and friends in living your Christian life with the best supports available.
A milestone on the way toward that grand goal will be when we have small groups of people meeting to pray together about each other’s joys and concerns.
Abraham, saint that he was, prayed to God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. But because they themselves would not accept God’s reign and pray to God, they were destroyed (Genesis chapter 19).
“For though the LORD is high,
He regards the lowly....” Psalm 138: 6
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