Do We Really Have to Pray?

Everybody knows the answer to the question, “Do we really have to pray?” is, “Yes.” “Prayer is a necessary part of the Christian life,” we might respond. But if asked the follow up question, “Do you pray as a Christian should?” most of us would have to embarrassingly answer, “Nope.” Why is it that a people who follow a Lord, whose life depended on prayer, don’t pray (or at least not very much)?


There is a truth we haven’t accepted. The Jesus who taught us to pray and told us to pray is the God who waits for us to pray before He acts. If you will really believe this truth, it will transform your prayer life and become your greatest motivation to pray. The plans God has for our future, the marvelous things He wants and promises to do, He has made them all dependent upon prayer. Its not that God can’t do anything if we don’t pray (He created and maintains the universe regardless of prayer), it is rather that God has determined that before He will act to help and bless His people, He will wait for them to pray.


In the Old Testament book of Exodus, Moses and God’s people escaped from Egypt and were being chased by Pharaoh’s army. God led His people right to the edge of the Red Sea; they were trapped and faced certain slaughter. It wasn’t until Moses called out to God for help that God told him to raise his staff and the sea parted. Why didn’t God just go ahead and have the Red Sea parted and waiting for His people when they arrived? Because He waits for us to pray.


Daniel, the prophet, realized the time had arrived when God promised to let His people leave Babylon and return to Israel (Daniel 9). So Daniel began a long period of intense fasting and prayer. So I turned to the LORD God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting (Daniel 9:3, NLT). This was in addition to Daniel’s normal routine of praying three times a day. Why didn’t Daniel just go about life as normal and wait for something to happen? Why didn’t he act presumptuously, pack his bags and start out on the journey? Because Daniel understood God waits and will not act until we ask.


Do you wonder why the things you want God to do don’t happen? Are you under the false assumption that God just does things for His people? Will you accept this truth: You do not have, because you do not ask God (James 4:2b, NIV).


We all want our church to grow and succeed in bringing those far from God near Him thru Christ. This will require much work. But the first work God’s people must do is pray as Jesus taught us and the apostles modeled for us: pray together.

Who's Driving?

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. - Colossians 2:6 (NIV)

There is a slogan missionary pilots cling to when flying dangerous missions, “God is my co-pilot.” Upon landing safely after a near disastrous encounter with a tropical storm, one pilot gave up the slogan for a new one, “I am God’s co-pilot.” The Christian life is only survivable and only enjoyable when we remain in the passenger seat and let God drive. Faith becomes stagnant, joy non-existent and hope is crushed when we take the steering wheel and say to God, “Leave the driving to us.” That is not true Christianity. Real Christians are Christ-followers, we let Him decide where to drive even if it’s not the way we’d choose to go.

This was part of the crisis in the New Testament church in Colossae (located in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey). The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage them to continue living (literally “walking around in”) Christ. It seems some of them were relegating Jesus to the passenger seat. This was a new development. When they began their Christian adventure they eagerly listened to Jesus’ commands and applied them to every area of life. But somewhere in their journey, they began listening to those who said, “Jesus doesn’t know where He’s going.” They began to realize Jesus’ route was a bumpier ride and they decided to take the wheel.

The decision to let Jesus drive and submit to His authority as Lord is not just a one time commitment or prayer. The Christian journey is a daily surrender, a daily dying to our self, a daily decision to let Jesus lead us, as Paul said, “I die every day…” (1Corinthians 15:31). Daily we must decide to trust Jesus, to give Him the reigns, to listen to His word, to love Him, to obey, to let Him drive.

When each of us first came to Christ, we came in bad condition. We’d been doing the driving in our lives and so there were dings and dents of varying degree on the outside and severe engine damage under the hood. To put it plainly, our hearts were wicked because we rejected God’s rule (Jeremiah 17.9). When we received Christ He made us new and gave us hearts capable of knowing Him, submitting to Him and loving others. In a world that cares nothing for these things, the Christian’s journey is difficult. But the work Christ is doing in us and the destination to which He is leading us makes it worthwhile. Jesus knows what He is doing and where He is going, let Him drive.

Psalm 100 Prayer

A prayer inspired by Psalm 100: 

We have surrendered our boldness in singing Your praises O' Lord.  The words we utter in song are without passion, just air passing our vocal cords.  Rekinkle our joy in knowing You.  Restore our confidence in your goodness so we will praise You as the delight of our life.  You are greater than the trials that beat us down and discourage us.  We will enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise.

Praise in the Midst

The Christ-follower is able to praise God in the midst of hopeless circumstances when he believes God is greater than the troubles at hand.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!  Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.  - Psalms 100:1-2 (NLT)

AFTERTHOUGHT

 - From Sunday’s Message, “The Christian Citizen,” Romans 13:1-7

On Sunday we learned that Christ wants and commands His followers to be model, law-abiding citizens. This is the basis for His command, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities.” (see Romans 13:1,5; Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13)

In his commentary on Romans 13, Albert Barns points out the following principles:

(1) Government is essential. God establishes governments to protect us from anarchy so we may live in peace.

(2) Civil rulers are dependent on God. He has full control over them, and can set them up or take them down when he pleases.

(3) God’s authority is superior to the authority of civil rulers. They do not have the right to make laws contrary to His commands.

(4) The government must preserve the rights of individuals to worship God according to their conscience as long as the peace and order of the community is not violated.

Here is the challenge to the faithful follower of Christ. Since Americans live in one of the few nations that have true religious freedom, we must take advantage of our freedom and do the tasks Jesus has given us. Galatians 5:13 says it well, But don’t use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Have we got the purpose of our lives wrong? Do we think we are here to live for our own enjoyment, leisure, pleasure and/or fun? Did Jesus put each of us in America to pursue the American dream or for His greater purpose? How can I live out His purpose for me?

Let the Holy Spirit help you ponder and answer these questions.

In His Service,

- Pastor Tim

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P.S. Here is a great truth I learned from my wife, Lisa, “If it’s not worth praying about, it’s not worth worrying about.”

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P.P.S. Our Wesleyan Food Pantry was blessed to serve a family of four on Sunday evening. Keep up the shopping and keep your ears open for those in need in your neighborhoods and workplaces.