Series Base Verse: Matthew 7:24-27 The Wise and Foolish Builders 24. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Foundation stones:
1. Prayer
2. Bible
3. Fasting
4. Worship
5. Tithing
6. Giving
Story:
There is a story about two guys who were the only two survivors of a shipwreck. These two men were marooned on an island. Not being a very big Island with limited resources, these two men decided to split island and half. One guy went one way and the other guy went the other way. The deal was that under no circumstances were there to cross the dividing line of the island as the survival depended on it.
Months and months passed by, and on the one side of the island, the one man was flourishing. He had built a hut, he had a gushing stream pouring out freshwater, and all the free trees had more than enough fruit.
The other man was experiencing the opposite. He lived in a hollowed out tree, he had no fruit, and is water had dried up. He lived like that, until he passed away.
Shortly after that a ship was sailing by and noticed the survivors signal fire. The ship rescued the man and he lived out his days back in civilisation.
At a ripe old age, this man passed away, and he found himself standing before God. He said to God, "wow God, thank you for keeping me alive on the island. Without you, I would have died like the other man. You answered all my prayers. But tell me God, why did you not answer the prayers of the other man like you answered mine?" God answered, "I did. When you prayed for food, I gave you food. When you pray for water, I gave you water. When you pray for a shelter, I gave you a shelter. And when you pray for rescue, I rescued you. You prayed many prayers, and I answered. But your friend only prayed one prayer, and that was for me to answer all your prayers."
Today we're talking about one of the most important foundation stones in our Christian lives. And that is the gift of prayer.
Many of us take pray for granted. We only pray when we find ourselves in trouble. We don't use prayer as a time to communicate with God, to learn from God, to gain wisdom, to find peace, or to simply just talk to God. Prayer is treated like a get out of jail free card.
Especially in this crazy busy world where time is a rare commodity - that we do not manage well - when it comes to a relationship with God. God is given what time is left at the end of the day, and maybe not even that much.
Life is busy, noisy, invasive, and relentless. When do you speak to God? Do we speak to God?
And then we ask the question, "where is God? Why can I not hear him? Does God still speak today?"
There was a guy in the old Testament by the name of Elijah, who will help us answer that question. Maybe you remember him, or at least remember one of his stories; HE had a show down with 850 false prophets (1 Kings 18:19) to see whose God is real. They made two altars and prayed to their Gods. Elijah beat them with the power of God. Then He killed them all.
After that, he was on the run and found himself in a cave…
1 Kings 19:
9. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10. He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11. The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
13. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Did you notice something very profound in this reading?
God was not in the hustle bustle, and craziness of that story. He was not in the powerful acts of the world. He wasn't in the earthquake, the wind, or the fire. He was in a gentle whisper.
To look for God in only big things like rallies, churches, conferences, highly visible leaders, will often cause us to miss him. God is most often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humble heart. Are you listening for God?
There was another person who knew how to pray very well. His name is Jesus. This time in the new Testament, and in the life of his ministry, we often find Jesus, leaving the people behind to escape to a mountainside where he would quietly spend time with God. Because he knew that he would find God, and be able to hear God's voice, in created moments of quiet. Jesus himself did this. We also read that he would get up early in the morning, just so that he could spend time with God, before the world got crazy.
Now it might be safe to say, that our world is a lot more crazy than the world that Jesus lived in. We have loads of distractions that pull us in every direction. But the principle remains the same; if Jesus made time for quiet prayer, then so should we.
Jesus was faithful in this prayer life, so much so, that the disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. And this is what he answered them;
Matthew 6
5. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9. “This, then, is how you should pray:
(vs9-13)
Pray specifically. – If we look at the Lord's prayer, we will notice how specific he teaches us to pray:
· our father – God is your father (thought Jesus).
· Who art in heaven – God is sovereign above all, and is able to do anything.
· hallowed be thy name – praise God when you pray to him.
· Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven – submit your will to God's will. (Job, body, money, etc).
· Give us this day our daily bread – layout all your concerns with a big or small. If you need a miracle, ask for it without shrinking back.
· Forgive us our trespassers, as we forgive those who trespass against us – make sure there is no obstacle between you and God. Confess your sins, receive forgiveness and live.
· Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil – pray for your protection against evil and victory over temptation.
· For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever – end your prayer with worshipping God. Acknowledge that everything belongs to God and that he is in control.
· Amen – let it be so.
What lessons to be take from this?
1. Get away from distractions. – In the beginning of answering the question, Jesus told his disciples to Get Away from distractions, “Go into your room.” If you are like me, you find distractions deadly in making your connection with God. The secret I have found is this: don't bother fighting distractions, you will lose. Avoid them completely. Find a quiet place, where you can pray without interruption.
John Wesley's mother, was a mother of 19 children. The ways she would get away from distractions was to sit in the kitchen put her apron over her head and pray to God. All the children knew that when mom had the apron over her head , she was not to be disturbed.
Creating a place will become for you what the garden of Gethsemane became for Jesus – a holy place, the place with God meets with you.
2. Create a special atmosphere. – Many of us have a favourite holiday destination, or restaurant, or some kind of place they would like to be. The reason being is because it has the kind of atmosphere we like.
The atmosphere I create for myself happens in the morning is this: I wake up, I make coffee and breakfast and then I go sit on my favourite chair and spend time with God. This is the best part of the day for me. – Give God the BEST part of your day!
3. Mean what you say. – Not only did Jesus tell his disciples to pray secretly; but he told them to pray sincerely. Don't keep on babbling and be careful of cliches. Don't fall into the habit of using meaningless repetition. Speak from your heart.
4. Pray from the heart. – Psalm 62:8 says, "pour out your hearts to him." Talk to God. Telling how you feel. Say "Lord, this is how I feel today. I've been thinking about this recently. I'm worried about this. I'm depressed about that. I'm happy about this." Talk from your heart. That's what God wants.
5. Reflect on your time with God. – The reason why many Christians don't grow is because they don't evaluate the lives. In this busy world, it is important to force yourself to slow down. When it comes to my prayer life, I reflect on my time with God by journalling in a prayer journal. When Journalling my prayers slow down in my head and I actually think about what I'm saying. The advantage is, I can always go back and reflect on my life.
6. Above all, pray! – Jesus said, “WHEN you pray” x3. Do what ever it takes. (Under the ever tree; on the beach; in my room with earplugs (find peace in chaos); in a quiet room).
If we want to develop in any other area like – piano, fitness, any sport – we practice regularly. People who are serious about something always make room in the schedules. The more you do this, the better you will become.
Why is it important to pray? As selfish people we can even ask the question, "what do I get out of praying?"
The answer is this, and it is simple:
when we work, we work;
but when we pray, God works.
God, loves to hear your voice. After all, he invented prayer so we could chat. He wants to know about your life, he wants to know about your troubles and your victories, and you wants to make things workout for you.
God wants to bless you, but you have to cooperate. Cooperate? In what areas?
2 ways:
1. Obedience:
In following God's teachings:
· Lev 26:3 "If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,
· Lev 26:4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Obeying God when he speaks:
· Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Have you noticed what happens if you are obedient to God? You get rewarded, your prayers will be answered! I'm not talking about praying for a 100 bedroom house, but all your needs WILL be met.
But how do we hear God's voice? Now we're making a full circle…
By creating spaces of quiet to speak to God and listen.
Yes, God does love hearing your voice, but he also wants you to you his voice. God wants to speak to us. One way is through reading the Bible. (Next weekly talking about the Bible).
2. Stillness.
· Psa 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…”
· Psa 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
In my Christian existence God has always strengthened me in my times of quiet. I have found wisdom and power in those moments. And I know many of you have too. So why then do we starve ourselves of this power and wisdom and strength, everyday? And why do we starve ourselves of the intimate communication, we can have with God for free, everyday? It doesn't seem right, does it?
Prayer is a place where we hear God's voice.
Rev. Ian Francis Quote, “Prayer is the life-line of the Soul like oxygen is the life-line to living.”
Lauren Scholtz once likened prayer to a telephone conversation. It takes two people. Each one gets a turn to speak and to listen.
If you're new to prayer... There is a simple method that can help you start:
Start your prayer with "You are…" - This is we worship God.
Followed by "I am…" – This is where you unpack your heart to God.
Ending with "Please…" – This is where you ask God to help you.
Then, before you say ‘Amen’ keep quiet for 5 to 10 min and just listen. Maybe you want to write down what you hear.
Note: It takes time to get it right! Hang in there!
For the first two weeks, I never heard a thing. I was thinking about all kinds of different things – like laundry.
Get a focus point. I use a small cross that when I get side tracked I open my eyes and look at the cross for a few seconds and that helps me to refocus.
Life is Busy and we need to connect with God. We need to talk to God. God wants to talk to us. So, Step back – MAKE TIME - from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for God’s guidance. It may come when you least expect it.
*Prayer points from book "Too Busy Not to Pray" - Bill Hybels
