Sermon Central
-
Way Cool! (09.26.05--Teach Me To Pray!--Ezra ...
Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 22, 2005 (message contributor)
Way Cool! (09.26.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Ezra 8:23)
What’s the one thing that we despise, but it is also the one thing we most dearly treasure? The answer? It is prayer. There isn’t one of us who really wants to do it; but, at the same time, there isn’t one of us who, once it is done, does not feel that it was worth the pain.
Why is it so? Why is it that something we need so much to be good at, we simply don’t strive to practice? One of the primary reasons prayer is such a difficulty for so many of us is that, unfortunately, it is not something that we often approach with sincerity of heart. Although we believe of it, we don’t truly believe in it. We give it lip service but not heart service. Approaching prayer with the understanding that it is the right thing to do but without the sincere conviction that it is really effective is probably chief among a variety of reasons why it is so much despised. When you get right down to it, it is like your car. You believe that it will start every time you get into it in the morning; but deep down there is always that nagging suspicion that there is a good possibility, given the right combination of factors, that it won’t.
Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire, told the following story. “A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls responded. ‘Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won’t feel so lonely.’ That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, ‘If God sent that, I’m sure He also sent a doll!’ And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child’s sincere requests, and five months earlier He had led a ladies’ group to include both of those specific articles.” (Source Unknown.)
The prophet Ezra, confronted by some pretty serious faith problems, wrote this: “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer” (Ezra 8:23). Prayer was a process for Ezra, a way of accomplishing God’s will. It wasn’t something upon which to speculate. It was something that God gave His people in grace, thereby it was something that could not fail under any circumstance. There was no taking it for granted or giving it mere lip service. If God says He answers prayer, He will. We pray, He acts upon it even before we ask. As my daughter would say– way cool!
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
One Sunday Evening, William Booth Was Walking In ... PRO
Contributed by Dan Cormie on Sep 15, 2003
One Sunday evening, William Booth was walking in London with his son, Bramwell, who was then 12 or 13 years old. The father surprised the son by taking him into a saloon! The place was crowded with men and women, many of them bearing on their faces the marks of vice and crime; some were drunk. The ...read more
-
A Faithful Christian Soldier Went To His ... PRO
Contributed by Sean Smuts on Aug 4, 2003
A faithful Christian soldier went to his chaplain for advice. “Last night,” he said, “when I knelt by my bed and prayed, the fellows began to ridicule me and throw shoes at me. What should I do?” “Well,” said the chaplain, “why don’t you stop kneeling down? Just lie down in bed and lift your heart ...read more
-
There's A Story Of The Italian Poet Dante ... PRO
Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 4, 2003
There’s a story of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who was deeply immersed in meditation during a church service, and he failed to kneel at the appropriate moment. His enemies hurried to the bishop and demanded that Dante be punished for his sacrilege. Dante defended himself by saying, “If those ...read more
-
Video Clip From The Messenger – ...
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 7, 2005
Illustration: Video clip from The Messenger – Joan of Arc from Videos That Teach 2 Page 108: The Movie France is embroiled in the The Hundred Years War with England, and young Jeanne d’Aragon (milla Jovovich) hears the voice of God telling her to lead the French army into battle and defend ...read more
-
John Piper Wrote, "What Is God Looking For In ... PRO
Contributed by Dana Chau on Apr 17, 2003
John Piper wrote, "What is God looking for in the world? Assistants? No. The gospel is not a help-wanted ad. It is a help-available ad. God is not looking for people to work for ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Power Of Helpless Praying
Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 30, 2007
You cannot know that God answers helpless prayers until you are in a helpless and hopeless situation. Only then will you come to know God as the God who answers helpless prayers.
-
No Other Name Like The Name Of Jesus
Contributed by Tony Abram on Sep 14, 2012
In this sermon outline we lift up the Name of Jesus. To be perfect in all we do we should be able to do so in His Name. If we cannot do something in His Name, most likely we should not do it. Colossians 3:17 (KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do
-
When Dreams Come True Series
Contributed by Mark Opperman on Apr 27, 2010
Our greatest dreams will come true when we get close to God and give our hearts completely to Him. How to get prayers answered and how not to.
-
Fill 'er Up: A Praying Community Series
Contributed by Paul Decker on Sep 17, 2006
We should pray for our spiritual growth.
-
Sermon For Graduates
Contributed by Bobby Stults on May 28, 2013
The nation of Israel was facing the unknown in exile in a foreign land, they needed to know God was there. Jeremiah gave them a message that brought comfort...
