Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Always Pray And Do Not Lose Heart
Jesus intends to create a praying people. His demand is clear, and the issue is so important that he tells us why, how, for whom, and what we are to pray. And though we might think that the Son of God would be above the need to pray, he sets the example for us, as a perfect human being, by rising early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35) and seeking times alone to pray (Matt. 14:23) and sometimes spending the whole night in prayer (Luke 6:12) and, in the end, preparing for his suffering by prayer (Luke 22:41-42).
Why? For The Glory of God
Why did Jesus think prayer was so important for his followers? The reason is that prayer corresponds with two great purposes of God that Jesus came to accomplish: God's glory and our joy (John 14:13).
Why? For Our Joy
Everything Jesus taught was aimed to free us from eternal-joy-killers and fill us with the only joy that lasts - joy in God (John 17:13).
How? Simplicity
How then are we to pray? The readiness of God to answer and his perfect knowledge of what we need before we ask means that we should be simple in our wording and reject anything like a repetitive mantra that would imply God is aroused by our monotonous incantations. "When we pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8).
How? With Perseverance
This does not mean there is no place for perseverance in prayer. In fact, Jesus is explicit in telling us to be persistent in prayer over a long period of time, if necessary, as we seek some crucial breakthrough in the cause of righteousness for his glory (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8).
How? Through His Death and in His Name
The confidence that we have in prayer is owing to Jesus. He did not just teach us to pray - he died for us and rose again to remove insuperable obstacles to prayer. Without the death of Jesus, our sins would not be forgiven (Matthew 26:28) and the wrath of God would still be against us (John 3:36).
How? With Faith
This implies that Jesus does indeed want us to pray with faith. "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24). Some have taken verses like this and turned them in to the power of positive thinking. They believe that if we can be confident that something will happen, it will indeed happen. But that would be faith in our faith. When Jesus teaches us how to "move mountains" by faith, he says explicitly, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22).
How? Not For The Praise of Others
The reward of prayer comes from God, not man. He warns us of this in Matthew 6:5-6.
Jesus hates hypocrisy - like appearing to love God when what you really love is the praise of man. His most disparaging language was reserved for "hypocrites." He called them children of hell, "blind guides," "full of greed and self-indulgence," "whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:15, 24, 25, 27).
For Whom?
For whom does Jesus demand that we pray? Clearly ourselves. Not because we are deserving. Prayer has nothing to do with deserving. It's all mercy. We pray for ourselves because we are weak. We are so prone to sin and utterly dependent on preserving grace to sustain our flawed obedience. "Pray then like this," Jesus said, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9, 13).
Also, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44); "bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:28). None must be exclude from our love, and none may be excluded from our prayers.
What?
Finally, what does Jesus demand that we pray? What are we to ask the Father to do? Jesus' summary answer is called the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).
Our Father in Heaven,
1) Hallowed be thy name
2) Your kingdom come
3) your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
4) Give us this day our daily bread,
5) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,
6) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We pray for ourselves and for other followers of Jesus and for the world.
This implies that prayer is not only a duty of man but a gift of God. Jesus will awaken in his people the spirit of prayer that asks for everything it will take to accomplish God's purposes in the world. The prayers of Jesus' followers and the purposes of God will not fail.
- excerpts from What Jesus Demands from the World (pp 105-112) - John Piper
Why? For The Glory of God
Why did Jesus think prayer was so important for his followers? The reason is that prayer corresponds with two great purposes of God that Jesus came to accomplish: God's glory and our joy (John 14:13).
Why? For Our Joy
Everything Jesus taught was aimed to free us from eternal-joy-killers and fill us with the only joy that lasts - joy in God (John 17:13).
How? Simplicity
How then are we to pray? The readiness of God to answer and his perfect knowledge of what we need before we ask means that we should be simple in our wording and reject anything like a repetitive mantra that would imply God is aroused by our monotonous incantations. "When we pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7-8).
How? With Perseverance
This does not mean there is no place for perseverance in prayer. In fact, Jesus is explicit in telling us to be persistent in prayer over a long period of time, if necessary, as we seek some crucial breakthrough in the cause of righteousness for his glory (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8).
How? Through His Death and in His Name
The confidence that we have in prayer is owing to Jesus. He did not just teach us to pray - he died for us and rose again to remove insuperable obstacles to prayer. Without the death of Jesus, our sins would not be forgiven (Matthew 26:28) and the wrath of God would still be against us (John 3:36).
How? With Faith
This implies that Jesus does indeed want us to pray with faith. "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24). Some have taken verses like this and turned them in to the power of positive thinking. They believe that if we can be confident that something will happen, it will indeed happen. But that would be faith in our faith. When Jesus teaches us how to "move mountains" by faith, he says explicitly, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22).
How? Not For The Praise of Others
The reward of prayer comes from God, not man. He warns us of this in Matthew 6:5-6.
Jesus hates hypocrisy - like appearing to love God when what you really love is the praise of man. His most disparaging language was reserved for "hypocrites." He called them children of hell, "blind guides," "full of greed and self-indulgence," "whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:15, 24, 25, 27).
For Whom?
For whom does Jesus demand that we pray? Clearly ourselves. Not because we are deserving. Prayer has nothing to do with deserving. It's all mercy. We pray for ourselves because we are weak. We are so prone to sin and utterly dependent on preserving grace to sustain our flawed obedience. "Pray then like this," Jesus said, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9, 13).
Also, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44); "bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (Luke 6:28). None must be exclude from our love, and none may be excluded from our prayers.
What?
Finally, what does Jesus demand that we pray? What are we to ask the Father to do? Jesus' summary answer is called the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).
Our Father in Heaven,
1) Hallowed be thy name
2) Your kingdom come
3) your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
4) Give us this day our daily bread,
5) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,
6) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We pray for ourselves and for other followers of Jesus and for the world.
This implies that prayer is not only a duty of man but a gift of God. Jesus will awaken in his people the spirit of prayer that asks for everything it will take to accomplish God's purposes in the world. The prayers of Jesus' followers and the purposes of God will not fail.
- excerpts from What Jesus Demands from the World (pp 105-112) - John Piper
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Covey's Story ~ from Ethiopia to Texas
The video is appx 30 minutes long, so it's a bit of a time commitment ~ but to hear Covenant Bonnema's testimony of God's faithfulness is 30 minutes well-spent (esp. the last 60 seconds of the video!).
Enduring the loss of her entire family, Covey shares her story of how God brought a family from Texas to an orphanage in Axum, Ethiopia - an orphanage that, in the 50 years of its existence, had never seen a single adoption.
Don't think God answer's prayer? Let's ask Covey Bonnema. This is her story ~ from Ethiopia to Texas:
Covey's Story....from Ethiopia to Texas! from Griff Servati on Vimeo.
Enduring the loss of her entire family, Covey shares her story of how God brought a family from Texas to an orphanage in Axum, Ethiopia - an orphanage that, in the 50 years of its existence, had never seen a single adoption.
Don't think God answer's prayer? Let's ask Covey Bonnema. This is her story ~ from Ethiopia to Texas:
Covey's Story....from Ethiopia to Texas! from Griff Servati on Vimeo.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Art of Prayer - Matt Chandler
How many of you who have been believers for a period of time, whether that
be one year or 20 years, would say that, although you know that prayer is to be a part of our lives and that we are to be men and women of prayer, would have to honestly say that deep, intimate prayer life with the God of the universe on any consistent basis has been very difficult for you?
So let the record show that it’s a bulk of us. If you’re listening to
the podcast, through three services, anywhere between 85-90% of the room raised their hands.
Click here to read Matt's entire sermon titled, "The Art of Prayer."
be one year or 20 years, would say that, although you know that prayer is to be a part of our lives and that we are to be men and women of prayer, would have to honestly say that deep, intimate prayer life with the God of the universe on any consistent basis has been very difficult for you?
So let the record show that it’s a bulk of us. If you’re listening to
the podcast, through three services, anywhere between 85-90% of the room raised their hands.
Click here to read Matt's entire sermon titled, "The Art of Prayer."
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Sovereignty of God in Prayer
by John Piper
I am often asked, "If you believe God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11) and that his knowledge of all things past, present, and future is infallible, then what is the point of praying that anything happen?" Usually this question is asked in relation to human decision: "If God has predestined some to be his sons and chosen them before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4,5), then what's the point in praying for anyone's conversion?"
Continue reading.....here
I am often asked, "If you believe God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11) and that his knowledge of all things past, present, and future is infallible, then what is the point of praying that anything happen?" Usually this question is asked in relation to human decision: "If God has predestined some to be his sons and chosen them before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4,5), then what's the point in praying for anyone's conversion?"
Continue reading.....here
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)