Please open your Bibles to Revelation 7:9-12 which we will read in a few minutes.
This past weekend we saw two groups rioting against each other in Charlottesville, WV. Two groups from polar, political extremes. Each group intent on having their own voices heard, shouting each other down and finally turning to violence.
Will there be only whites or blacks around the throne of God?
Will there be only professors or policemen worshiping in eternity?
The book of Revelation answers these questions.
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read: Revelation 7:9-12
While the tragedy of Charlottesville and hate has been around since the time of Cain and Abel, are we as Christians in some way responsible?
Do we sometimes send half-truth messages with what we say or what we post online?
Often we will say things like, “Prayer works” or “Prayer changes things” we know that both of those statements are true and yet what does that mean to the unchurched person when they hear, “Prayer works” or “Prayer changes things?”
When we talk about prayer in this way we are talking about prayers being prayed by those who have come to Jesus for salvation and not prayer by those who are living lives in rebellion to Jesus Christ.
In this case we are talking about someone who is born again, someone who is a son or daughter of God, someone who is a believer in Christ Jesus, someone who is praying to the Father for a spiritual or material need.
But when we say “Prayer works” or “Prayer changes things” we need to ask …
Prayer to who? Prayer to Jesus? Prayer to the Buddha? Prayer to Allah? Prayer to some unknown deity? Prayer to a dead ancestor? Prayer to the universe?
When we just leave it at “Prayer works” or “Prayer changes things” it is left wide open for interpretation. What is the person who has no idea of Christian beliefs to think?
Can I pray to whomever I want and it will still work?
Can I pray to whomever I want and it will change things?
Naturally the Bible gives us many examples which we can use as guideposts in our prayer life.
Wherever we encounter prayer throughout the Bible from the very first to the very last verse it is always directed to God. The God of Heaven, the Creator of all and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:9 NIV
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name ,,.’”
We pray to God (the Holy Trinity) or God the Father. Those are the only examples we see in the Bible. Of course, if you start out your prayer with “Dear Jesus” I am sure that it is neither sinful nor disrespectful. I am sure the Lord can sort it out!
John 14:13-14 NIV
“I (Jesus) will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”
Have you ever wondered why we end our prayers with “in Jesus’ name”?
Well, this is it.
When we say this we are not pronouncing a magical formula which will make the Lord do what we want.
When we add this on to the end of a prayer we are saying two things:
1. That we believe we are asking according to the Lord’s will
2. That we are asking according to authority of the name of Jesus.
A check completely filled out but with no signature has no value.
A prayer that is not according to the Lord’s will is invalid and will not be endorsed.
As we grow in Christian maturity we know more of Christ we will ask less and less for things which are outside the will of the Lord.
That is why we pray “in Jesus’ name.”
Now, of course, if you end your prayer with, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” that is fine as well. When we pray in the name of One we pray in the name of the Three in One.
Let’s review; we pray to the Father, in the authority of the Son Jesus Christ and, finally, by the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18 NIV
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
When we pray in the Spirit:
The Holy Spirit calls us to prayer
The Holy Spirit guides our prayers
The Holy Spirit translates our prayers (I especially love this one!)
Romans 8:26 NKJV
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
The Holy Spirit, the Word of God and prayer all work together to create a form of communication and relationship building between us and God.
It is a miracle! It is also neglected and distorted.
There is a group of people who call themselves the Emergent Church.
There is no standard in the Emergent Church; not even the Bible in most cases.
In many instances it might more properly be called the Merging Church and prayer is just one example.
Some in the Emergent Church teach that a process called “centering prayer.”
For instance let’s take a look at one of our memory verses.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Here is an excerpt from an article by Matt Slick.
Centering prayer is "the opening of mind and heart - our whole being - to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, and emotions." So, it is a non thinking, emptying of the mind that seeks to find God in a way that is "closer than consciousness itself." Why? Because, according to the contemplative mystics, absolute truth is unknowable just as God is mystically unknowable. Sure, they know that they can know things in truthful ways, but ultimate truth is not perceivable via the senses and mind. Experiencing God is through silence, emptying of self through contemplation in the quiet of the mind and soul. Some directions for centering prayer are offered at contemplateiveoutreach.org: Here are four guidelines it recommends.
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Sounds pretty mystical doesn't it? Yes, it is and it is based in occult and eastern metaphysical practices, something the Christian church should carefully avoid.
Mr. Slick goes on to say;
“Before I became a Christian I was involved in the occult. One of the practices I would undergo when trying to contact the spiritual realm and/or trying to receive some mystical experience would be to empty my mind, remain motionless, and completely open myself up to receive whatever would come. Essentially, I was seeking an altered state of consciousness and contact with the spiritual world. This is one of the hallmarks of occult practices and it opens the person to demonic contact.
“This centering, this emptying of the mind was a physical and mental process of stillness, waiting, non-thinking, and expecting to have a spiritual experience. It worked. Using these techniques I have seen lights move in darkness, a bright yellow cross materialize out of thin air, and I've heard voices calling me from the darkness. I'm not exaggerating. I was not on drugs, medicated, drinking, or sleep deprived. I definitely contacted something in the spirit realm. But, it wasn't God.” (End of excerpt)
Now, don’t get me wrong, Christians are not against meditation, just against that kind of meditation.
This idea, this “emptying of mind” is the exact opposite of what a true Christian would desire. Once a person has been filled with the Holy Spirit the last thing they would ever desire would be to have an empty soul as they had before Jesus came to live within them!
Look again at Philippians 4:6-7.
Suppose you chose the word “peace” and tried to follow the steps described above. It would be of no value and would actually open you up to spiritual harm.
But, on the other hand, what if you were to sit down one day with those two verses in front of you and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you need from those verses.
Is there anything you are anxious about? Why?
Help me to overcome my anxiety because I trust in You.
Do I take the time to present all of my prayers and petitions to You?
If not, why not?
Help me to be more faithful in my prayer life.
Am I praying with thankfulness? Does thankfulness saturate my prayer life?
If not, why not?
Help me to learn from this Scripture so that I may be more like You and serve You better!
That’s the kind of meditation the Lord is looking for.
Psalm 1:1-2 (recite)
Now, this is important! In this confused world we live in, many outside of Christianity will know more about and identify more with “centering prayer” than with real prayer.
So, when they see the phrase, “Prayer works” or “Prayer changes things” they may very well be thinking of something entirely different than we are!
There is also a thing called a prayer labyrinth which leads you along a path from the outside to the center. Often on the path to the center the person is instructed to meditate on the phrase, “I am.”
This, of course, is anything but what the Bible teaches but it is exactly what the devil wants you to do.
Any prayer or any type of prayer or any prayer to anyone other than God is a misdirection.
Any such prayer will only serve to take your eyes from the goal, and the goal is Jesus Christ our Lord.
You see, emptiness must be filled.
We see the results of emptiness of souls attempting to be filled with the violence of Charlottsville and in other racially motivated demonstrations and rioting.
We see the results of emptiness of souls in the pandemic addictions to alcohol, opioids and other drugs throughout our nation.
We see the results of the emptiness of souls in the skyrocketing suicide rates.
What is the answer for this emptiness? JESUS!
People strive for greatness, for influence, for power; hoping to fill the emptiness of their souls. But, what does the Bible say? If you want to be great in the kingdom of God you must become the servant of all! Upside down but full instead of empty!
What if those in the white supremacy movement got saved and learned to become the servants of the Lord Jesus and then the servants of others? What if they humbled themselves before God and men?
What if they showed up at a black lives matter protest with water bottles and sandwiches? What if they got beat up, went back for more water and sandwiches and then came back? What if they prayed for their enemies and blessed them?
You see, slogans will never save anyone; genuine prayer followed with servant actions will help the spiritually empty to want to be filled.
We have what they want and need because we have Jesus. Let’s share Him!!!
