I’m not sure how many of these I will write, but at least a handful are coming to the forefront of my mind. We live in a time of non-commital demands. We make demands of churches but refuse to commit to helping, participating, or sacrificing. So, I will lay this before you: I would argue that if we announced on Sunday that we would no longer be a praying church, most people would be offended by that. But why? When you think of the number of individuals willing and able to attend a prayer meeting for our church, it would represent approximately .5% of those who attend our Lord’s Day gathering.
We would demand prayer, which is important and should be a part of the church, yet not sacrifice to participate in this most important ministry. As Christians, we recognize prayer as one of the foundational aspects of our faith. We hear inspiring quotes from men such as Johnathan Edwards, “Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is to life.” We know the Scripture's testimony to the centrality of prayer for God’s people.
17 Pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:17
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:18
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
God’s Word is loud on this subject. We are to be a praying people. So, if we are to be a praying people, most of us would agree that a church that doesn’t pray is not doing God’s will. How did we end up with a generation who demands a church that prays but refuses to sacrifice to gather to pray? I would argue the following:
We are a pragmatic society. We have plans, procedures, and strategies for how to fulfill things. Thus, prayer becomes a nicety and not a necessity.
We are a highly individualistic society. We like to do things on our own. Coordinating with others is exhausting and can even feel unnatural to us.
The church has not been taught the priority of corporate prayer in recent church history. There is a lack of knowledge, understanding, and conviction regarding the priority of spiritual matters such as prayer over morning chores, getting extra sleep, or what makes us comfortable.
If the devil were to attack any area of the Christian life, prayer would seemingly be an easy one for our generation. If he can convince us that we do not need prayer, do not need to prioritize it, and can always do it just on our own, he successfully weakens the saints and the committed community that we should be.
Prayer requires humility, which our pride hates. This is shown well in a parable Jesus told in Luke 18. While His point is that we should persist in prayer, another point could be made of the humility required to continually come asking after the answer has been no so many times before.
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while, he refused, but afterward, he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18:1–8
Much like a clean house, obedient and honoring children, or a purposeful work environment, most people desire the outcome without requiring something from them. In a generation of fast food, having it your way, when you want it, and how you want it has trained us away from living as a sacrificial spiritual community. To mimic Jesus’ words, we must wake up, persevere in prayer, and trust God to give us the strength to overcome.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34–36
You and I were made to be a praying people. Life happens, and change is hard, but I encourage you to find ways to gather with the saints and pray…not only on the third Sunday of the month but throughout the week. Nothing would upset the enemy of our souls more than if we became a church that gathered together regularly through the ebbs and flows of life to pray to our Mighty God.
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
Shoutout to Tim Challies for inspiring me to write this series through his writing!
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