Bonham Community Church
Sunday July 7
- Good morning! As I shared last week, this series is inspired by this book by Keith Newman (“Call Home”).In the intro., Newman says: “As I reflect on my teenage years, I wish I had discovered the power of praying often and praying big.”He goes on to say: “I was blessed with pastors and Sunday School teachers who taught about prayer and modeled prayer for me, [BUT] my prayer life could best be described as pitiful and anemic.”Is that what ours’ look like?Newman describes his as: Selfish and Fearful.Is that how you’d describe yours?(motorcycle ad)That’s great Pastor, but what does this have to do with prayer?Prayer is our chance to “Call Home”.to reconnect with the God who created us…to hear His voice, and listen to what He has to say about us…it’s where we find strength, gain direction, and discover peace…We know this, right? We’ve heard it all before, amen?SO… Why do we struggle so much with it?I think it’s because we don’t understand prayer…That’s why we are going to start today with this (as 1 pastor put it) “deceptively simple question.”WHAT IS PRAYER?(allow answers)[If we were to ask 12 people, we’d get 12 different answers]Here are some quotes - some thoughts from theologians throughout history on prayer:“Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God.”“To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenueGod uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives.”“To pray is to talk to God. — to get to know Him and to get to know yourself!”“Prayer gives us strength for great ideals, for keeping up our faith, charity, purity, generosity; prayer gives us strength to rise up from indifference and guilt…”“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or requesting of good things from God.” — — St. John of DamasceneSt. Therese of Lisieux — — “For me, prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance toward heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as the heights of joy.”“Prayer is not given us as a burden to be borne, or an irksome duty to fulfill, but to be a joy and power to which there is no limit!”No man can do a great and enduring work of God, who is not a man of prayer, and, no man can be a man of prayer who does not give much time to praying.”Look at what scripture tells us about Jesus:
Luke 5:16 NIV 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.Mark 1:35 NIV 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.Luke 6:12–13 NIV 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:Are you getting the idea? Prayer is important!Jesus gave us the example, as He often and regularly got away and prayed!Look at this next quote:“Poverty stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer.”(as one pastor said) “We have many organizers, but few agonizers… many players but few prayers… many singers, but few lingerers… lots of pastors, but few wrestlers… many fears, but few tears… much fashion, but little passion… many interferers, but few intercessors… many writers, but few fighters… Failing here, we Fail everywhere!!Listen… “The great people of the [world] today are the people who pray — not those who talk about prayer… nor those who explain prayer, but… Those Who Take The Time To Pray!!!”But, here’s the truth: Until you are convinced that prayer is the best use of your time, you will not find time to pray.Until we are convinced that prayer is our best and only option, we will not pray.— or, if we do, it will only be worthless, emotionless, recitation…Prayer is not rubbing a genie’s lamp to get what we want… Prayer is drawing near to God, leaning on His strength, being equipped by His power, and allowing His understanding to get us through the day.To pray is to get to know God, and to be changed in the process by gaining the knowledge of who HE says we are.Life is hard, amen?Sometimes we just need to “call home” — to hear that familiar voice — to talk to and listen to someone who loves us…NO-ONE LOVES US MORE THAN GOD!!!Prayer is THE great need of Christians throughout time… because, this life is hard!James 1:2 NIV 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,John 16:33 NIV 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”Jesus even prayed: Jn 17:15-16John 17:15–16 NIV 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.Jesus knew that this world would be difficult for us, so He taught us to pray.— He wants us to “Call Home” when times get difficult… because when we do, our hearts are opened, our desires are transformed, our wills are surrendered, and our lives are empowered to live in such a way that God is Glorified!BUT!!!There is a HUGE difference between saying prayers and praying, isn’t there?Many of us were taught to say a prayer before bed as kids, right?— What was that prayer?(Now I lay me down to sleep…)What about before meals?(Claude and Rose’s prayer: “bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies for the nourishment of Your kingdom…”)I love these little prayers, but… unless there is something behind those words, they are just words!Matthew 6:5 NIV 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.“When you pray.” Jesus could have stopped right there.Prayer is an expectation. WHY?It is vital to our lives!Jesus says this right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount.— Jesus has been teaching about “practical righteousness”… He has been talking about what Faith looks like when it is “lived out” in our daily lives!Do you think He has shifted His focus?!? — NO! —Prayer has to be a result of our faith!Otherwise it is empty and worthless…Look at verse 5 again…Do you see the warning?“be careful how you pray”Prayer that flows from a heart that is not right with God is not prayer at all.It’s just empty words!!!Isaiah 1:11–15 NIV 11 “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!God does not desire empty words.He desires a relationship with you.— in the same way that we desire for our children to “call home”… to let us know they are ok… to include us in their lives and seek a relationship with us… God wants us to “call home”…That’s what prayer is…I want you to see something. Look at Luke 11:1Luke 11:1 NIV 1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”Now look at Jesus’s response:Luke 11:2–4 NIV 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”Can I tell you this?Unlike what many people believe, the Lord’s Prayer was not given to us for “rote recitation.”(explain)The Lord’s Prayer shows us “How to pray.”Look at it closer.— It’s more about God than it is about us.the ultimate goal is not to get our desires met, but to glorify God.to many times, we treat prayer like a “shopping list.” — “Dear God, give me this, take care of that, do this for me, and, oh yeah, it would be great if you could do this along the way…”And then what do we do?We say “Amen” and go about our way…Do you see the problem?— It’s all about us!I’m gonna come back to Luke, but take a look at the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew.The first half is all about God.Matthew 6:9–10 NIV 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Prayer that is pleasing to God begins with His glory.We pray for His glory, His kingdom., His interests, His will… WHY?It humbles us!2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.Jesus tells us:Matthew 6:33 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.We don’t start with our needs, We start with worship! We start with seeking God’s desires, knowing that He will take care of our needs… Then we ask for them.Matthew 6:11–13 NIV 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’“Give us our daily bread” — our needs“Forgive us” — sin** What is sin? — things that will turn us from the life that God desires for us.“deliver us from evil” — protection and provision, spiritual needs…Do you hear how personal this prayer is?Prayer is meant to be personal, intimate, it is between you and God.— It’s not for show— It’s not to prove how spiritual you are— It’s not a formula to get your desires met(you can’t compliment God and then ask for a Ferrari and expect to get it)Prayer is a place where you meet with God.— It’s an opportunity for you to be changed — to be transformed — to be healed — to be forgiven — to engage in fellowship with God, as you seek His heart.Look at verse 5 againMatthew 6:5 NIV 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.Jesus says, “When you pray, don’t make a show of it. Don’t announce it on Facebook, don’t tweet your friends, don’t post it on Reels. Simply find a quiet place and spend some quality time with God.”That’s the example Jesus give us, WHY?— Because that’s where the reward is found.Prayer is where we do business with God.— we seek His face, His kingdom, His will, His purposes, His heart, His desires for us… for our family… our marriage… our children… our neighbors… our work… our church…— is where we discover Healing for our brokenness… Hope for our future… Peace for today… and Strength for the moment…We were meant to be a people of prayer.Matthew 6:33 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Prayer is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, BUT… it is also one of the most neglected by Christians.That’s why we lack power in our lives… in our families… in our communities… in our churches…We need to become a people who “Call Home” regularly! Luke 5:16NIV2011
Mark 1:35NIV2011
Luke 6:12–13NIV2011
James 1:2NIV2011
John 16:33NIV2011
John 17:15–16NIV2011
Matthew 6:5NIV2011
Isaiah 1:11–15NIV2011
Luke 11:1NIV2011
Luke 11:2–4NIV2011
Matthew 6:9–10NIV2011
2 Chronicles 7:14NIV2011
Matthew 6:33NIV2011
Matthew 6:11–13NIV2011
Matthew 6:5NIV2011
Matthew 6:33NIV2011
Bonham Community Church
(228)563-0423
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