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A Culture of Prayer
How do you teach someone to pray?
In one sense, it is a question with an obvious question. It is important and helpful to model who we are speaking too ( God the father, or his Son Jesus), the kind of things we say (things that we ask for, things we give thanks for etc). We can do that. Indeed, Jesus did just that when his disciples asked him “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1) and he gave them a model in the Lord’s prayer.
But in another sense, prayer is all about relationship. How do you teach a relationship with God?
The question of how we relate to God is a very interesting question that people have been debating for thousands of years. Do we come having to placate God, bringing gifts and presents in hope that he might be pleased? Do we have to come on our knees, with our heads bowed, crawling before him with bloody knees? Do we have to wash in a certain way or are their other physical things we need to do before coming before him? Or do we just amble into his presence without a care in the world?
God’s character defines our relationship.
Of course, all these questions are dependent upon what God is like.
From the very beginning, since the days when man’s relationship with God was first broken (See Genesis 1-3) the Bible has told us three things that define the way we relate to God.
• God is Holy – he is separate from us, different, pure and perfect.
• We are sinful – living in rebellion against this pure and perfect God. And the just punishment for sin is death.
• God is gracious – despite this huge gulf between God’s character and ours, because of his love for us he provided a way that we might know him.
Look at these verses from Leviticus 26:3a, 11-13a
“If you keep my laws and are careful to obey my commands…I will live among you, and I will not despise you. I will walk among you; I will be your God and you will be my people. I, the Lord, am your God…”
God provides a way that people might relate to him – but it is on his terms. And his law and commands? Well, read these verses from Leviticus 16 (Click on the link below) and as you do, look out for the following words
Most Holy Place : Curtain : Death : Wash : Blood : Enter : Bathe : Water : Sprinkle : Lord’s presence
If we were left with just the Old Testament, and no new testament, that is what we would be doing every time we meet together. We wouldn’t presume to meet the way we do – so informally, the stakes were high
“If he follows these instructions, he will not die.”
But of course, things have changed – radically and decisively.
Look at these verses from Hebrews 10:19-22
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.
And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s people, let us go right into the presence of God with hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
The system we read of in Leviticus was only ever pointing forward to this – the way opened by Jesus.
For those of us who don’t know what a relationship with God is like – this is a good definition. Because of the blood of Jesus that he willingly and innocently shed on the cross, you and I can “Go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
But, those of us who are Christian, Jesus died so that we might go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. Are you?
Prayer is natural for Christians in a way that is was not before. The NT says one of the definitions of being a Christians is that we can now say ‘Abba’, which means Father.
“And because you have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.” Gal 4:6
One author has put it like this.
“Our author has laid a secure doctrinal foundation in the minds of his readers. If Jesus is our high priest, then we must follow his steps into the holy place. By his life on earth he left us an inspiring example: he prayed, and we must copy him. Now he lives in heaven; he still prays (Therefore he is able, once and for ever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives for ever to plead with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25) and we must join him. These verses explain how we must enter the holy place of prayer.” R Brown pg 184 in the Bible Speaks Today commentary on Hebrews
Prayer should be the mark of every Christian. It is what we have been saved for - a relationship with God.
But my intention is not that we end up feeling guilty; far from it.
As we think about prayer, let’s not think about us, and about what we might say, let’s think about God. Our prayer should be ‘God-centred’ not ‘me-centred.’ If it is ‘me-centred’ my prayer will be driven by my need, but if it is ‘God-centred’ it will be worship driven.
So, before we go on to think about prayer in a practical sense, lets just notice a few things from these verses in Hebrews.
Confidently
Firstly we can pray confidently. The writer says “We can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus” (v19) so he encourages us “Let us go right into the presence of God.” (v22)
So often we can be fearful to pray. We might think we are inadequate. We don’t have the words to say, the fluency of ‘experienced prayers’ who stand up in church. But God’s plea through his word is “come in!”
One of the key things we need to develop both at City Church or wherever we are is a culture of prayer – and one of the key things we need to develop in order to do this is confidence in prayer – both personal and public.
God is not concerned about how we pray – the door is open regardless, but he wants to encourage us to benefit from what God has done for us.
It is a little like houses with Wireless internet. Provided you have a password enabled wireless card on your computer you can log on. Each of us has been given the equivalent of a password enabled wireless card to the presence of God. We have been given free access to God by coming to Christ. As the writer to the Hebrews puts it - “This new, life giving way that Christ has opened for us through the sacred curtain.”
And of course, that is what it means for me to pray “in Jesus name”
Saying those words is not a mantra I say in a prayer in order to make my sure my prayer is heard and effective, it is an attitude. I am coming confidently to God because of what Jesus has done. I am coming in Jesus name.
But the question is, are we taking advantage of this free access to God anytime, anywhere. All we have to do is click the Internet icon on our desktops and we are there. The writer says – “let us go right into the presence of God.” Click on the icon, enter. That is what it is there for. But are we?
We are not talking about having confidence to pray in front of lots of people. Some people will be up for that, others not – but no one will want to pray in front of others, or on their own unless they are confident before God.
Cross centred
The second thing to notice, is that prayer is to be cross centred because the ability to go right into God’s presence is dependent upon the cross - it is a product and outworking of the cross of Jesus. So often we claim to be people who believe in, and trust in the cross of Jesus, but are prayer lives show far less evidence than we might claim. We must pray in the light of what we believe.
If you had been freely given a wireless enabled computer, a recognition of the cost of that computer would inevitably mean you would use it. And so it is with the cross. Access to God the Father has been hard won by Jesus Christ – so let’s make the most of his grace, make the most of access to the Father who loves us and cares for us.
And cross centred prayer also means cross-centred priorities in prayer.
God wants all men to be saved – so he sent his only Son to the cross. So we should be people who pray that all men will be saved
God wants all evil, pain and sickness to end – so he sent his Son to defeat evil and death - so we pray for those who are suffering, ill etc
One very helpful way of making sure our prayers are cross centred is by looking at what people like Paul prayed for – examining his priorities. Take these verses from Philippians for example.
“I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pre and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Phil 1:9-11
No “God bless Mummy, God bless Daddy” stuff here. Paul is serious about his faith, and serious about his access to the Father and he prays in the light of that. And as he prays, God works
Clear Conscience
Thirdly, we can have clear conscience as we pray.
So often in my life, I have struggled to pray when I have been struggling with me.
It seems to go something like this.
Monday “Well, Lord. I’m sorry; I’ve let you down again. I can’t believe you forgive me, even for that. But thank you for your grace and forgiveness.”
Tuesday “Lord – I’m really, really sorry. I’m ashamed to say it, but I’ve done it again. I’m not worthy to be your child. Please forgive me!”
Wednesday – nothing. I can’t pray!
But Hebrews shows us the solution. We can come, despite what we are like with hearts fully trusting God because “our evil consciences had been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
We can, and should have a clear conscience – even though we are only too aware of our sin. But Jesus blood has cleansed us. We are clean.
Understanding these things, that we can be confident in prayer, should be cross-centred and can have a clear conscience will enable us to depend on God in prayer.
But, what does this look like practically?
Practically
It seems easiest to think about this in 3 sections. Firstly, praying alone, secondly praying with someone else and thirdly, prayer as a church.
All prayer starts alone.
When Jesus teaches about prayer, he explains that prayer should be in secret, should be simple, should be persistent, must be humble and should be specific (see 'the secret of prayer').
Regardless of our personality, we can all become adept at praying on our own.
Get a prayer journal, write down the things you give thanks for, things you pray for, what God means to you.
Shape your prayer around the 4 words that make up ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Prayer that appreciates the cross will contain all these elements.
Pray for others, pray for the church, pray for the world, pray for yourself.
And that is it, just get on with it. Set aside 5min to pray. (if you start with 30mins you will fail)
It really is that simple, like talking to a friend who you can’t see, but who is more powerful.
Praying with someone else
We all become adept at this too. It is good to learn the ability to pray with someone else, and be prepared to do that out-loud. Before we go any further, I am not talking at this point about praying in public. I am talking about praying with one other person, in private.
There are a number of forums in which this happens as a church. Sometimes as cell groups we split up into pairs to pray, prayer after the service or just with friends. We are not talking about counselling, or advice, just simply gentle, sensitive and sensible prayer. Nothing scary or spectacular – just offering peoples problems and difficulties to God.
Why is this so important? Because sometimes, the hardest person to pray with faith for is yourself – you need someone else to do that. How about we all grow in the ability to do that – to pray for one another.
Praying as a church
If God’s word and evangelism are the stick of dynamite that will set a fire in this world, then prayer is the fuse. Prayer must be central tp everything we do as a church. But of course church is made up of the people. How about we become a church that is adept at praying together…
Now I don’t mean we all have to be adept at praying out loud in a group – some of us have personalities that struggle with feeling like we are up front – that is fine. But we can all take part in the churches corporate prayer life by being their and saying Amen (I agree)
How about we make praying together a priority – setting aside Saturday prayer mornings, before Sunday services and we commit ourselves to God?
So – what is the big challenge for you? Why not offer it to God right now and ask him to change you. Go on…walk into his presence.