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“Let’s do more than pray”

I have never understood this comment.  Perhaps you can explain it to me.

Prayer brings us into the presence of God, who is All Powerful and full of love and concern for ordinary people.  What “more” can we do than pray to this God?

Prayer changes lives, communities and nations.

About 15 years ago, I was in prayer meetings in India when people where making ridiculous requests of God! They were asking him to save India, and to bless it’s economy!

Today India is one of the fastest growing economies; and the gospel is spreading at record speed through this nation.

Prayer changes everything – because God is, and he answers prayer. Nothing is too difficult for him.

So what “more” can I do than pray?

I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you (Hosea 14:8, the Bible NLT)

I recently met a fairly well-known Christian, who has done a great deal of good to many people.  He found out a year ago that he was suffering from a terminal illness.  As a result, after many years of hard work, he resigned his post.  He is unable to do many of the things he once did to help people, or further God’s Kingdom.  And yet…

He was full of peace, and an unearthly joy. It was incredible!

As we talked about various things, I remarked, “Our lives are always full of purpose.”…

always full of hope for a better day, always full of a happiness that can never be achieved apart from knowing how much God loves us.

We are the happiest people in the world.

No matter what our circumstances, we remain in the Father’s loving/protective embrace. Our future is secure.

for the happy heart, life is a continual feast

(Proverbs 15:15, the Bible NLT)

The Church has suffered as a result of pastors who are “practical” handyman rather than priests; and shepherds of the flock.

Pastors who are so “hands-on” that they have neglected their duty of  watching over their flock in prayer. Who have little time to “do their best” when it comes to preaching God’s word.

In contrast, read what Peter the first Pastor of the church had to say about this:-

“It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. .. we’ll STICK to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.” (The Bible, Acts 6:4 MSG)

God has assigned pastors the task of praying and preaching – not to become distracted and to lose focus! If shepherds go astray, the sheep will follow.

God has commanded us to love our community – not to worship it!

The church has made idols of flesh – of people.

God commanded us to serve people; NOT to give them our time of worship.

Jesus taught us to, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”

We cannot give to our community what belongs only to God – our time of personal prayer and bible-study.

The act of individual worship is so neglected in the modern church.  Few Christians have a daily hour alone with Jesus.  Few Christians know the importance of prayer, or it’s singular power to transform human lives.  Many don’t know how to pray for more than a few minutes on their own. Prayer is seen as the “gift” of weak Christians.

In contrast, the great Christian leaders of the past (Spurgeon, the Wesley brothers, Smith Wigglesworth to name but a few) were known for their prayer lives. Today’s leaders are known for their wealth, their celebrity status, their charity – and falling into sin!

They have led the church astray into depending on our muscle power, and human understanding – idols of flesh; rather than the power of God that comes through prayer and fasting.

The believers in the first century church understood God better.  Their leaders were devoted to prayer, bible-study and preaching God’s word.  The congregation followed suit.  As a result, the first century church succeeded beyond any rational explanation.

What was their secret?

ALL the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, … and to prayer.

(Acts 2:42, the Bible NLT)

Scripture references: Proverbs 3:5, Zechariah 4:6, Matthew 22:21

he gave thanks…* 

At the start of the new year, it is time to look back and give thanks…

1. For God’s free gift of salvation

2. For his faithfulness

3. For his healing

4. At Hallowed – for his favour, for opening new doors, for bringing us this far, for being completely reliable

5. For the new year

6. For church, for family and friends – old and new

7. For food and shelter

I am about to do something new.
      See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

(The Bible Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

*Jesus in the Bible, Matthew 14:19