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Interrupting Heaven . . .
Or, maybe Heaven interrupting us?
Prayer. Does it seem to you like it is interrupting Heaven? For that matter, what do you think about it? Do you ever hear yourself, or others talking about whether or not prayer "works"? What is that all about? Prayer . . .
For many years I was bothered by the thought I was a failure at prayer. Then I realized, I will always be a failure at prayer, and I have gotten along better ever since. " - Brother Lawerence.
Yet, the Bible tells to pray. Constantly. Faithfully. Expectantly. Pray. At least when we have to, right? I mean, after all, we should do what we can first, right? Then, when we have exhausted our resources and have nothing left, then we turn to prayer. How often is that the approach? No wonder we have trouble understanding prayer!
If prayer is more about getting God to do things we can't as a last resort, instead of allowing God to get us to where we need to be, we will continue to misunderstand, and misuse prayer. Prayer is not about us getting into heaven, but heaven getting into us. We share what is on our heart with God not so He will do something for us, but so He has access to us more fully so He can do His work in us. Sometimes that includes changing the circumstances that we are troubled about, but always it involves changing us.
How do we understand what we are doing when we pray? How do we understand what God is doing? How does the perspective we bring to prayer change the way we pray? Something worth thinking about . . . praying about . . . and that is what Pastor Jon invites us to reflect on in this sermon.
If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here. Or, if you would like the live stream version, you can click here.
James 5:16
(The Message)
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.
1 Peter 3:7
(HCSB)
Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
1 Peter 4:7
(HCSB)
Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer.
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Steps to Christ
Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God. Page 98.
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