Have you ever felt as though your prayers were bouncing off of the ceiling and back into your lap? I know that I have! And if you haven’t you probably haven’t prayed too much. It just seems sometimes that no matter how much you cry out and pray, God is not answering.
I don’t know about you, but that aggravates me. Sometimes it downright angers me. You start wondering… “Why pray at all?” “Is God even real? Does He even exist or is this all just a game to help us cope with life?” But probably the most popular question we ask at a time like this is, “Am I doing something wrong that would hinder God from hearing?” “Am I not praying right?” Simply put, we often ask, “Is it me that is the problem here?” Obviously sometimes that is the case.
Often, however, the problem is not us. Our prayers bounce off the ceiling and we do not know why. We are tempted to get down in the dumps. We are tempted to take matters into our own hands. We are tempted to make decisions independent of God. We are tempted to believe that our case is hopeless.
Let me just say to you, do not give up and do not feel alone. David, a man after God’s own heart, had the same problems that we have today in his prayer life. In Psalm 69: 1-3 he wrote, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” ESV I cannot tell you why your prayers sometimes seem to bounce off of the ceiling, but I can tell you that, you are not alone. I can also assure you that if you know Christ your prayers are getting through. They don’t get past the ceiling because you have been a good boy or girl today. They don’t get past the ceiling because you say the right words. They get past the ceiling ONLY because of Jesus. So, don’t give up. Keep praying. That is what God would have you to do.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 to the effect that his people should always pray and not lose heart. He described a judge who did not fear God or care for man. In the same city with the judge there lived a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not wear me down by her continual coming and pleading. Then Jesus said, in verses 6-8 “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. (And listen to the last phrase) Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" ESV What in heaven is going on, while I am suffering with my hurts, my pains, my burdens, and my concerns on earth!? God is listening in his compassion, but waiting in his wisdom in order to grow our faith and trust in Him. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Your prayers are not bouncing off of the ceiling. They are just accomplishing exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask or imagine.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Are you sleeping or praying?
One passage of scripture repeatedly stands out to me, especially around Easter. It is the detailed description of what Jesus' closest friends were doing during the most critical time in his life and theirs. Jesus is moments away from being betrayed, arrested, tried, and executed. He is moments away from taking the sins of Peter, James, John, you, me, and the world upon himself. He is moments away from having his Father turn his back on him. He is moments away from the most critical moment in his ministry: when he went to the cross to shed his blood as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical turning point in the Kingdom of God and the plan of God? What would you be doing?
It is not only about to be the most critical time in the life of Christ, but it is about to be an extremely critical moment in the life of Simon Peter. Satan is about to sift him like wheat according to Jesus. He has been warned that he will be made to stumble. He has been warned that he will deny his Lord and Master. He has been warned that he is about to face an extremely critical moment in his life. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical moment in your spiritual walk and personal life? What would you be doing?
I would think that you would answer, “Praying like crazy!” If I were living in such a critical moment as Simon Peter I would be praying. If I were there when Christ was just about to be betrayed, arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and buried, I would be praying! If I were about to have a head on collision with Satan and were in danger of denying my Lord, I would be praying! That is what I would be doing! But look at what Peter was doing in Matthew 26:36-46. “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand" (Matt 26:36-46 ESV).
Peter wasn't praying. Peter was sleeping! During the most critical time of Christ's life and during the most critical time of his own life up until this point, Peter is sleeping instead of praying. Peter, if there has ever been a time to pray, it is now! If there has ever been a need to pray, it is here! If there has ever been a cause to pray, you have it! Pray Peter, Pray! Peter takes a bad rap quite often, but when you think about it, we are a lot like him. Sunday's are the most critical day of the week when you think about it. On Sunday the Word of God is proclaimed to a host of people. There are lost people who may hear the Gospel for the last time in the worship center. There are hurting people who may be on the very edge of giving up altogether in the worship center. There are people who are physically ill who have no hope of healing outside of the Great Physician. The hope of a host of individuals and really the hope of the world rests on Sundays. Think about it. The hope of the world (and it is in bad shape) is the West. Europe, Asia, Africa, India, China, and beyond all depend upon the West for their spiritual hope, and their physical hope in many ways. The hope of the world is the west, but the hope of the west is the U.S. Think about it. Canada, Mexico, and South America depend largely upon the U.S. The hope of the west is the U.S., so what is the hope of the U.S.? The only hope America has, is found in evangelical Christianity. America is not going to find what she needs outside of a great awakening and a mighty revival. The only hope for America is Christianity. The only hope for Christianity is the evangelical church. And the only hope for the evangelical church is the preaching of the Word of God. The church isn't going to be revolutionized by musicals, dramas, or movies. It will be revolutionized by the preaching of God's Word in the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see the trend! The preaching of God's Word is the only hope of the church. The church is the only hope for Christianity. Christianity is the only hope for America. America is the only hope for the West and the West is the only hope for the world! The hope of the word rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday. NOW THAT IS CRITICAL. So let me ask you…are you sleeping or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you cramming your mind with music on the way to work, or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you wasting your life in front of a television screen or surfing the net or are you praying? Are you rushing right into work independent of God… or are you praying? I want to plead with you to pray for your staff. I want to plead with you to pray for the Sunday school classes. I want to plead with you to pray for the services. I want to plead with you to pray for the sermons. I want to plead with you to pray for souls to be saved and lives to be changed and for revival to break out in the church and to spill over into Christianity and to spill over into America and to spill over into the West, and to spill over into the world, for the hope of the world rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday!! Are you praying or are you sleeping?
It is not only about to be the most critical time in the life of Christ, but it is about to be an extremely critical moment in the life of Simon Peter. Satan is about to sift him like wheat according to Jesus. He has been warned that he will be made to stumble. He has been warned that he will deny his Lord and Master. He has been warned that he is about to face an extremely critical moment in his life. What would you be doing just prior to such a critical moment in your spiritual walk and personal life? What would you be doing?
I would think that you would answer, “Praying like crazy!” If I were living in such a critical moment as Simon Peter I would be praying. If I were there when Christ was just about to be betrayed, arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and buried, I would be praying! If I were about to have a head on collision with Satan and were in danger of denying my Lord, I would be praying! That is what I would be doing! But look at what Peter was doing in Matthew 26:36-46. “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand" (Matt 26:36-46 ESV).
Peter wasn't praying. Peter was sleeping! During the most critical time of Christ's life and during the most critical time of his own life up until this point, Peter is sleeping instead of praying. Peter, if there has ever been a time to pray, it is now! If there has ever been a need to pray, it is here! If there has ever been a cause to pray, you have it! Pray Peter, Pray! Peter takes a bad rap quite often, but when you think about it, we are a lot like him. Sunday's are the most critical day of the week when you think about it. On Sunday the Word of God is proclaimed to a host of people. There are lost people who may hear the Gospel for the last time in the worship center. There are hurting people who may be on the very edge of giving up altogether in the worship center. There are people who are physically ill who have no hope of healing outside of the Great Physician. The hope of a host of individuals and really the hope of the world rests on Sundays. Think about it. The hope of the world (and it is in bad shape) is the West. Europe, Asia, Africa, India, China, and beyond all depend upon the West for their spiritual hope, and their physical hope in many ways. The hope of the world is the west, but the hope of the west is the U.S. Think about it. Canada, Mexico, and South America depend largely upon the U.S. The hope of the west is the U.S., so what is the hope of the U.S.? The only hope America has, is found in evangelical Christianity. America is not going to find what she needs outside of a great awakening and a mighty revival. The only hope for America is Christianity. The only hope for Christianity is the evangelical church. And the only hope for the evangelical church is the preaching of the Word of God. The church isn't going to be revolutionized by musicals, dramas, or movies. It will be revolutionized by the preaching of God's Word in the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. Do you see the trend! The preaching of God's Word is the only hope of the church. The church is the only hope for Christianity. Christianity is the only hope for America. America is the only hope for the West and the West is the only hope for the world! The hope of the word rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday. NOW THAT IS CRITICAL. So let me ask you…are you sleeping or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you cramming your mind with music on the way to work, or are you praying? Let me ask you…are you wasting your life in front of a television screen or surfing the net or are you praying? Are you rushing right into work independent of God… or are you praying? I want to plead with you to pray for your staff. I want to plead with you to pray for the Sunday school classes. I want to plead with you to pray for the services. I want to plead with you to pray for the sermons. I want to plead with you to pray for souls to be saved and lives to be changed and for revival to break out in the church and to spill over into Christianity and to spill over into America and to spill over into the West, and to spill over into the world, for the hope of the world rests upon what happens in the house of God on Sunday!! Are you praying or are you sleeping?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Must Read
Today I want to inform you of a book that every born again Christian should have on their shelf. This book should be read carefully and often. It is probably one of the most convicting books that I have ever read that was not primarily written to pastors. This book will change the way that you view God, yourself, and your relationship with God. There are some big words in it so prepare yourself to break out a dictionary if necessary. There are some extremely deep truths dug up and exposed within it, so prepare to read and re-read certain chapters. There are 369 pages, so go ahead and complain. This is not an easy read that you are going to breeze through in a few days (at least not for most people). This is a book that will drive you to the Word, to your knees, and to your thinking chair. Don’t let all that scare you. This book is very readable and I can’t think of anyone who couldn’t handle it. It just will not be as easy to read as Max Lucado.
The book is based upon the premise that our chief duty in life, as believers, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The way that we can best do that is by obeying Psalm 37:4 which calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. It is a serious book about being happy in God. This book was written over 20 years ago and has been edited several times through the years. I read an earlier edition that a friend loaned me about 6 years ago. I returned his copy after being unable to complete the book because I was so convicted. I talked to another friend in Pascagoula and asked him if he had ever heard of this book. He stated that he had and had tried to read it, but had gotten so convicted he couldn’t finish it either. A few years ago I mustered up the courage to go and buy the 2003 edition. It is a powerful book and I challenge you to buy it, read it, re-read it, and study it. If you can make it through it without being convicted you are either in much better spiritual condition than I am or you missed something somewhere!
In this book you will read about conversion, worship, love, the scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering all from a perspective that you have probably never heard. You will be challenged to make God the chief object of your affection. I believe this book will change your life. Are you ready for the title? It is…Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. John MacArthur calls Desiring God “A soul stirring celebration of the pleasures of knowing God…A must read for every Christian and a feast for the spiritually hungry.” If you are spiritually hungry, get this book. Of course, there are some things in it that may be hard to swallow. There are some things in it that you might not need to swallow. Bring along your Bible, test what Piper has to say by the Word of God, and try not to let your ingrained traditions root out the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Open your mind, open your Bible, and open Desiring God, and get ready to have your world turned upside down.
The book is based upon the premise that our chief duty in life, as believers, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The way that we can best do that is by obeying Psalm 37:4 which calls us to delight ourselves in the Lord. It is a serious book about being happy in God. This book was written over 20 years ago and has been edited several times through the years. I read an earlier edition that a friend loaned me about 6 years ago. I returned his copy after being unable to complete the book because I was so convicted. I talked to another friend in Pascagoula and asked him if he had ever heard of this book. He stated that he had and had tried to read it, but had gotten so convicted he couldn’t finish it either. A few years ago I mustered up the courage to go and buy the 2003 edition. It is a powerful book and I challenge you to buy it, read it, re-read it, and study it. If you can make it through it without being convicted you are either in much better spiritual condition than I am or you missed something somewhere!
In this book you will read about conversion, worship, love, the scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering all from a perspective that you have probably never heard. You will be challenged to make God the chief object of your affection. I believe this book will change your life. Are you ready for the title? It is…Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. John MacArthur calls Desiring God “A soul stirring celebration of the pleasures of knowing God…A must read for every Christian and a feast for the spiritually hungry.” If you are spiritually hungry, get this book. Of course, there are some things in it that may be hard to swallow. There are some things in it that you might not need to swallow. Bring along your Bible, test what Piper has to say by the Word of God, and try not to let your ingrained traditions root out the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Open your mind, open your Bible, and open Desiring God, and get ready to have your world turned upside down.
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