In the life of Christ, the preaching and the teaching and the miracles were the fruit of a deeper root. The disciples recognized this and so they asked him to teach them how to pray.

Luke 11:1 NIV “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.’”

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about prayer.
For some it is a magic wand or an Aladdin’s lamp.
For others it is like a first aid kit you only use in emergencies.
Others see prayer as a tug of war to manipulate God to get him to do things.
And then there are those who view prayer as a religious duty.

When you hear a sermon on prayer you get filled with guilt because you feel like you ought to, or you have to. And when you pray from that motivation you memorize all kinds of pat phrases and you have to address God in King James language.

Imagine if the only time your kids came to you was when they viewed you as a magic wand or a first aid kit or a tug of war or an obligation. How would you feel?

For most people we need to know the “Why” before we will do anything. So why talk to God? There are three chapters; 14-16 of John’s gospel that are powerful. They have had the last supper, and he is preparing them for what is going to happen; his death and resurrection and ascension. He is explaining all of this so they will what to do when all of that happens.

Why pray? What are the primary roles of prayer?

Prayer Connects Me To God

Prayer acknowledges that I am not the captain of my ship. It is admitting that I don’t have it all together.

John 15:5 NIV “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.”

If you want to have fruit in your life you have to stay connected to the source. Have you ever sent he deep sea divers on the discovery channel? They have this line connecting them to the boat and they get their air through that hose. What would happen if that hone was severed? They would die.

And so would we if we become disconnected from the source.

Prayer Is A Means Of Communicating With God

Communication is essential in any relationship. When communication breaks down so does the relationship. It’s true in marriage and in every other arena of life.

How many of you remember the Cuban misstle crisis? We were close to nuclear war. Kennedy took a stand against Russia and we were close to nuclear war. And out of that came the hotline because they came to understand the importance of constant communication. It’s critical.

It is the means whereby we communicate with God in a personal way.

How personal is God? Look at John 15:15 NIV

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Imagine having the opportunity to go to D.C. and sit down and talk with the president. I read a story once about the feelings people have when they walk into the oval office. If you were getting ready for that kind of visit you would probably sleep like a baby the night before…waking up and crying every hour!

Do you realize how much God loves you? Do you know how much he wants to talk to you?

When I was a missionary I would sometimes be gone for days on trips. And when I would return my kids would run up and jump all over me. Then Gwen and I would get away together and just talk. We would talk about anything – the rain – whatever! It’s because we are friends.

And Jesus says we are friends!

Prayer Is How We Petition God

It is talking to him about whatever our needs are. There are some incredible promises in these chapters.

John 14:14 NIV “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do
it.” John 16:24 NIV “Until now you have not asked for anything in my
name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

There are some things in your life that God will not do until you ask him for them. Why would God do that? Well, because he wants you to know that he was the one who did it when it happens. Also, there are some needs in your life that only God can meet. You are asking everyone else to meet them and they never can because God is the only one who is supposed to meet those needs.

James 4:2 NIV “You want something, but don’t get it. You kill and covet but
you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have
because you do not ask God.”

What is it you are missing out on because you did not ask God? Pray before it before you pay for it! Some of us are in debt because we charge it instead of asking God.

Have you heard of the Stella awards? These are for the most amazing ridiculous law suits filed. The winner this year was a guy who is amazed by magicians. And he has sued David Copperfield because what they do defies the laws of physics therefore the must be doing it by the power of God. So he has suid them for the secret or 10% of their earnings for the rest of their lives. His premise is that he is God and they are doing it by his power without his permission.

We’ve gone crazy! Prayer is calling on God for the needs of life.

James 4:3 NIV “When you ask you do not receive because you ask with
wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Psalm 37:4 NIV “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the
desires of your heart.”

Sometimes we use this verse to manipulate God. But guess what God will do when you pray that prayer. He will change the desires of your heart. (Illus. when I was home sick in Mexico..)

What parent gives their child everything they ask for? But when they ask for something that you know is good for them you will move heaven and earth to get it for them.

Psalm 84:11 KJV “…the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing
will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Prayer Is How We Partner With God

God has chosen to set up a system whereby he limits himself in what he will do on earth by limiting it to what we will pray for.

He has chosen to do his work on earth through his people. It’s based on what we are willing to pray for and believe for. He gives us opportunity to team with him in his grand endeavor on earth.

John 14:12 NIV “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

John 14:11 NIV “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles
themselves.”

Why? John 14:13 NIV “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the
Son may bring glory to the Father.”

That’s why he offers us that kind of power. If you are asking with wrong motives it does not bring glory to God so you block the answer to the prayer by your motive.

How could we possibly do more than Jesus did? It is because prayer is not limited by space or time. While on earth Jesus limited himself to doing what he did in the confines of space and time. But during these chapters he is saying that he is going back and he is sending the Holy Spirit and they won’t be limited by space and time.

I was inn Costa Rica this morning? I also stopped off in Washington DC before this service this morning. How? Because prayer is not limited by space or time.

Hebrews 7:25 NIV “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come
to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Here you are praying with the right motive. The Holy Spirit takes that prayer to Jesus who is sitting at the right hand of the father. Jesus takes that prayer and he turns to the father and he says; “I know exactly how he is feeling right now. Father, would you send and meet the need he is asking for?” And the father answers the prayer.

Folks, if we are going to realize the vision we have articulated here, it is going to require some serious prayers.


Randy Carter on 05.31.07 [link]

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