PRAYER LIFE

Jesus' Model Prayer

Time with Jesus - 23 July 2013

Hi all,

Praying Jesus' model Prayer

The topic today is Prayer. It’s a topic with which we all should be thoroughly familiar, but so often fail to carry it out; it’s one of the areas in most of our lives where we can be accused of not “doing” His Word. Eugene Peterson in the Message quotes James as follows: ²² “Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” James 1:22 MSG

Prayer in a Small Group

Prayer is seldom spoken about in most churches. Furthermore, we are informed that statistically, only 3% of “church members” participate in prayer groups or meetings. There must be reasons for this. Here’s one or two:

1.     In most churches, the Pastor, Minister, Priest or whoever, have made it very easy for congregants to be passive observers. Pew mentality has “spilled over” to the point where saying something, even in prayer, doesn’t happen.

2.     Gossiping or talking things over with others! It’s easier to chat about things than to dialog with God. Friends will answer you directly and immediately. God answers prayer. Sadly many people are unfamiliar with listening for His voice. In any case, listening for His voice is perceived to be hard work. So why not talk about it with a “professional”. In this regard I’m reminded of a comment made some 20 years ago in Worcester. When we asked this individual to pray or get involved with something, the comment was, “We pay you to do that”.

3.     Those who have participated in prayer groups discontinue. Typically we have heard:

a.     The occasion is used to try and correct someone’s doctrine

b.     The same person praying the same prayer every time we meet.

c.     Long passages read from the Bible for no apparent reason.

d.     Long-winded and religious prayers.

e.     People shouting at anything and everything.

Small Group Prayer

f.      People praying in tongues while “stomping” up and down and round and round indefinitely.

g.     Lack of mutual submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

h.     Unnecessary and over control of the prayer meeting by those in charge.

i.      Aimless and unfocussed prayers.

j.      People using the meeting to follow their own agenda.

Now I’m the first to admit that I’ve been guilty of all of these difficulties now and then; more so when I was new to Christianity. But Phyllida & I have come up with a couple of guidelines to make prayer meetings more meaningful.

1)     Don’t be afraid of silence

2)     Don’t come with an agenda for the meeting. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what to pray for.

3)     A maximum of 5 verses only to be read at one time by one person.

4)     Prayers to be limited to that which can be said with one

breath.

5)     Go round the circle of prayers. Ask them to pray something. (Even if it’s God bless granny)

6)     Always have a scribe to write down what is prayed and God’s reply!

7)     At the end of the meeting, go round the circle and ask everyone what they heard in the meeting. (a Nugget)

8)     Don’t compel anyone to pray or give a nugget. Encourage them all to come again. They probably will!

9)     At the next meeting have a time of feedback from the previous meeting.

10)  Meet at a convenient time for all and limit the prayer time. Perhaps 1 hour?

11)  Try not to have young children or babies in the meeting. They can be a distraction.

We may never be an “expert” when it comes to prayer. But following these guidelines may help others become people of prayer

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 23 July 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	PRAYER LIFE
If there is one aspect about Christianity that is the most spoken about and the least done, that aspect is surely prayer. How many Christians actually pray? Speaking personally I must confess that my prayer life is not what it could be. Not even what it should be. If you were to ask why, the answer must be a lack of commitment to prayer. Another reason is because so much of it is artificial. It is so easy for prayer to become an unprofitable habit. As a schoolboy in a Roman Catholic School, there was prayer every hour on the hour. The bell would ring and we would all stand and recite the same old prayer every time except at lunch time, when a couple of prayers were added to the routine. It became so stereotyped that it was meaningless. At least it became meaningless to me. This was exacerbated by seeing my classmates going through their rosary beads. If they could have done it any faster, I’m sure they would have done. Incidentally, during our time in Syria 13 years ago, we found that the Muslims there had their own “rosary beads”. As a child and later as a father, the idea of talking to no one, as it were, seemed ridiculous. When I spoke to my dad or when my children spoke to me, there had to be an answer. Even if the answer was, “Not now!” It would have been an answer. Much later when Phyllida and I became part of the Charismatic, Pentecostal move of God, prayer still seemed artificial. Walking up and down, waving arms round, shouting and quoting Scripture with such a loud voice, we would think that God was deaf. We quickly realised that many think that this was a good way to pray. Perhaps it is. But it all seems so far away from Jesus’ simple model prayer and so unlike the Scripture which states. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 NLT I have difficulty reconciling current practice with what Jesus clearly taught. It was not until the late 1980’s that I came to the conclusion that prayer was meant to be a dialogue with God. Rather like a discussion between two close friends. It came as something of a revelation to discover that we could pray anywhere and everywhere. We didn’t have to find a special place or posture. We could pray at any time. That’s when Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians began to make sense. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV Paul indicated that this sort of prayer was God’s will for us. Here was the essence of simplicity. That’s when we changed from prayer in accordance with a religious formula to dialogue prayer. Praying and expecting God to answer. We call it “Hearing from God”. We quickly found that He wanted to speak to us more than we wanted to speak with Him. Out of all this came the accompanying poem, “Prayer Life”. Phyllida and I have tried to follow this as best we can. We still make mistakes. We still get puzzled by what He says to us. But not quite as badly as it was at first. As a “method” for prayer, we use this model in corporate prayer meetings. When we are alone together, we do our best to do the same. Our challenge to you today is to put aside anything “religious”. Then go to Him quietly and expectantly. Hopefully it will revolutionise your prayer lifestyle! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 NLT	"My child, you know I love you. Put away your fear. The fact is, it's your attitude that stops Me drawing near. You must walk in obedience, and do the things I say. There isn't an alternative. That is the only way. I've called you to a holy life, and one of constant prayer; To leading many people, and teaching them to share; Of leading by example, and not by word alone. Therefore, take the time to hear the things which I have shown." "You must start to talk with Me, whenever there's a chance; Never mind the circumstance; Never mind the glance Other men may give you; Their thoughts do not matter. You must follow after Me, not men's idle chatter. Son, there's no occasion that's special for a chat. We can be in fellowship, regardless where you're at. Driving in your motorcar; Lying on your bed; Everywhere you go, or are, I'm right inside your head!" "Praying is so easy. It's done naturally. All you have to do is think and you're in touch with Me! It isn't a position, nor any special time; To limit Me to intervals, that is the greatest crime! I bid you therefore, do it; Start communicating, With Me every chance you get. It's Me you're keeping waiting! Do it son, and tell those with whom you minister, This is the kind of prayer life, I want them all to share; Being in My presence is what they will enjoy; They have had a sample now, and I will employ All of them in teaching that prayer's a way of life; As natural as speaking between a man and wife. It isn't being pompous, nor turgid liturgy; Instead, it's a relationship that's personal, and free, With Me! Their Lord and Master. It's being closely knit, In deep communication with Me, as I see fit." "So teach this to the people; Tell them that there's more To praying to their Maker, than kneeling on the floor, Or prone before the altar. For, though that has its place, The purpose of the exercise is being face to face! Certainly I'm awesome, and I require respect. But for My sons and daughters, the way I will perfect Is intimate, communion; Not distant recognition; They're members of My family, and so their right position Is here beside My Father; where actually, I'm seated. They don't have to grovel, as though they've been defeated!" "Give them all encouragement to get to know Me more; Talk with Me whenever; Not only from the floor. That's how I desire it; A life of constant prayer, With Me, their God and Saviour, whose presence is right there." Jim Strickland Written 1988
			14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:14-18 ESV
			18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 NLT
			9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about His Son. Romans 1:9 NLT
			12 Epaphras sends greetings. He is one of you. He serves Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you. He prays that you will stand firm in holding to all that God has in mind for us. He prays that you will continue to grow in your knowledge of what God wants you to do. He also prays you will be completely sure about it. Colossians 4:12 NIrV