Prayer

Title: "Prayer | Pastor Joel Mason (Sunday Service)" URL: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk76ZHUKFpQ" Transcript: "(00:00) So, good morning. Glad that you're here. This morning, we are continuing our series on life unlocked. We're in the middle section of this series. Uh second second part of yeah multi-layers here. Second second second part in our response to what we believe. And so we spent 10 weeks looking at at the foundational beliefs of our faith and now we are turning that that belief has to turn into action. (00:26) If belief does not produce action and results in our lives, it actually is not a fund amental belief. It is it's something that it's like a good advice or a little proverb we heard somewhere and we thought, "Hey, that's got a catchy phrase to it. I like it." Um, but until it begins to produce change, it's not truly a belief. (00:45) And so as followers of Jesus, we want what we believe about him, that God is knowable, that he knows us, that he's personally involved in our lives, that he uh sent uh his son Jesus as a means of building and restoring back a relationship with him, th at he has has uh sanctioned the church to be his main representative on the earth today. (01:07) And so therefore, we are called to be those who live out life as representatives of Christ in everywhere we go. The way we value other people, the way we uh invest in other people, and the way that we worship God by loving others. And uh we looked at that all of those things moving forward and then ultimately to the reality that we are living for the return of Christ because that is ultimately why we as followers of Jesus we long for his return that we can be with him in relationship face to face. And so um that's where we've gotten to last week. (01:37) Now first resulting action has to be the action of worship uh knowing what God has done for us. Then worship needs to become the expression of our lives. And we talked about worship in multiple ways, but I want you to hear this. I stated it last week. Worship is not just singing, but singing is one of the fundamental foundational elements o f worship. (02:00) So we started there last week that we sing with celebration, but we sing with humility. And that God calls us in our lives to be humbled before him, but to sing of the good things that he has done. So that knowing him and what he has done will directly influence the other aspects and ele. So the reason we started with worship is you will find that as we go through these other actions all of them are based back on worship. (02:25) If we are not worshiping God with our lives, we will find all these other things that we're going to talk about fall away. And so uh worship is foundational. that every moment, every breath I take, conversation I have, every thought that should enter my mind should be an opportunity to recognize a truth about God and to rejoice in that truth. (02:43) Whether that truth is as simple as I know God is with me and aware of what I'm doing to God is aware of what I'm doing and loves to set the path for my life. Is it uh God wants to use me in the in the life of another person? He wants to use me to make an impact for his kingdom. Everything is an opportunity for worship. (03:02) That includes your job. That includes your family. That includes the neighbor that you don't like. Every person and every relationship is an opportunity to worship God. Last week I was talking about worship. Some of you I know because I've had conversations with you. I gave the example of of when we're you're driving and the things that you display, the attitudes and aggressions are the things that you display when you're driving. (03:26) Well, Renee was quite um it had a big impact on Renee, I'm going to say. Um mainly because she felt that that gave her the opportunity to be the Holy Spirit in my life. And so she was reminding me about some pastor she heard in Hillsboro that was speaking about worship even when you're driving. (03:52) And so she was uh kind enough to help me in my spiritual journey. And I just want to say thank you, Renee. Um um good reminder though. And you know, she said, "Well, I heard heard this guy say on Sunday that you know um you need to pray for these people and and actually see value in them." And that's where I said, "Well, God bless them then." And she didn't think I was sincere. So, um I'm working on it. (04:18) Let's put it there. I'm working on it. I hope you are, too. every every moment of my life and your life is an opportunity to worship God. Uh doesn't mean we're there yet. Means we're growing. And so um G od can use the Holy Spirit in the form of her day even to if you would like her to ride with you, I can make and arrange that too. (04:43) So, so I am seriously we should be those who are full of joy because we do know God and have an opportunity to worship in every part of our lives even when things are going wrong. And so I want to transition us this morning then if everything is based out of worship, the first thing we're going to look at then in that connection is the aspect of prayer. (05:0 3) Um, so I got a couple of questions for you. You don't have to raise your hands or anything. Just something to think about as we walk through this this morning. Um, do you pray more often when things are going good or when they're going bad? If you are typical follower of Jesus, you pray more when things are going bad. We just do. (05:24) Nothing necessarily wrong with that, but worship shows levels that out to constantly praying. Do you pray with a prayer from is the perspective of um this is an opportunity for God to do something for me or do you pray from the perspective that this is an opportunity for God to teach me something? We'll talk about that. Bless you, Kim. (05:51) We take prayer oftentimes if we're really honest. Well, maybe I'm going to ask the third question. There was a third question I had. Do you pray regularly? You don't again you don't have to answer that but I think it's a question worth asking is if we are those foundational belief that God is interested in our personal lives and that he uses the Bible as a means for us to primary means of us to get to know him and then through relationships we get to see him in action in other ways and that he is uh interested in using our lives uh to continue to communicate the good news of the gospel. It would seem to me that we (06:29) should be developing a uh practice of prayer. Not just so we're uh learning what the next thing would be, but that we are able to surrender ourselves to God's direction. Um a little truth. I'm going to walk through several just principles today on prayer that I hope will help us tie this concept of prayer to worship and worship as a daily expression of our lives. (06:54) And in that, I want us to realize that prayer is not so much, in fact, I would encourage you, I'd talk to you more about this. Jesus said a lot about prayer. We often approach prayer from the perspective of getting what we need in a given point in time. So, we see something coming down the road toward us. ch him from an aspect of allowing him to be God in all areas of our lives. (07:50) so that we can worship him in the midst of our prayer. You see, prayer changes. Well, I'll put it this way. We often will approach prayer from the perspective of I've got to either convince God of something or I've got to change his mind about something. How successful is that for you? Because prayer, as I find it in God's word, as he's laid it out, and what Jesus taught is the opportunity for God to change me in ts to make us more like him. The aspect of worship draws us closer to look more like the family and prayer allows us humbles us to the point where God can change the things in us that need to change. So it needs to we need to keep that tight connection between worship and prayer. (09:35) But recognize prayer is not about changing the mind or heart of God, but submitting ourselves to the molding of God in my circumstances. Make sense? Let's start with First Thessalonians. Apostle Paul speaking to ow, you're feeling like things are tough and difficult. Come on, be joyful. Be joyful and forcing you to do it. (10:58) It goes back and it falls back to that concept of worship. If I am recognizing the presence of God and the of God, uh, as we looked at last week, I should be walking out and I see a tree that's changing its color as we go into fall. I recognize that there are patterns set forth in this world of a God who is concerned about life and its existence for me. (11:23) I should be able f the things that he might be wanting you to learn is it's not about how you feel, but who you are in the midst of the tough circumstances. Learn to be joyful. But it's not like I've got to go out and learn like 2 plus 2 equals 4. I go out and learn by experience. Then look for the presence of God. God is with me and it produces a joy. I don't go through life alone. God is here with me. (13:12) So always be joyful. Then he says, "Never stop praying." He didn't understand what the word never mean d. I just like to talk about the people in front of me. (14:40) Um, but the reality is this. We need to become those who are constantly in prayer as we're worshiping God. Prayer is not some mystical got to say the right words at the right time in the right way with the right posture. Prayer is communication with your heavenly father who wants to be at work in the lives of those who recognize him and surrender to him. (15:03) It's pretty simple and straightforward. So that's why Paul can say alwa ant to make sure I'm recognizing you. (16:09) Two, I want to make sure I'm surrendering to you. Three, I'm going to trust you. So, I'm going to be thankful that you've put me here. Like I said, we often pray in the difficult circumstances of life. How often have you given thanks first in the for the difficulty? Because that's what Paul's saying. We need to be those have such a pattern of worship that expresses itself moment by moment in prayer that when we are in a tough circumstance and and tru in everything. I want to move to a um situation I think illustrates this really well. It was in the life of King David in 2 Samuel. We read about this and I'm going to just give you a quick overview. I'm going to guess you probably are familiar. You can go read it. (18:07) It's in the 12th chapter of 2 Samuel. David was king over the nation of Israel. And at this point in David's life, we discover that he has had an affair with a woman made named Beth Sheeba. And he had sinned against God. And B is, I'm only reading a portion of it, but it says this, David speaking, "Have mercy on me, oh God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. (19:52) Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion. It haunts me day and night. Against you and you alone have I sinned. I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment uh against me is just. For I was born a sinne 26) You see sin has taken his joy. Why? because it's taken his perspective and he we read this and know this from David is that his eyes got on the wrong thing. He was focused not on his relationship with God and that God was present with him and God was constantly every moment by moment leading and directing his life. (21:52) He saw something he liked and got woo I'll go over here and in the process of that what did he lose? He lost his joy. He didn't realize it, but he lost his joy because he bility for what he has done, is asking God to restore things, shouldn't God give to him what he wants? Isn't that how we will often approach prayer with God? Is that if something is difficult, we'll we'll come back to joy. We'll be uh excited about knowing God if God answers our prayer. We're still putting conditions upon worshiping God and we're still putting conditions in our prayer. (23:59) God, we'll believe and trust in you. It will really help me next time if you answer this time the way I e to worship God before, in, and after any difficult circumstance or you're truly not approaching God as God. You are asking him to do what your will is in a given situation. Now, it is not wrong. Don't hear me. It's not wrong for me when I am facing a situation that is breaking my heart to be pouring my heart out to God. (25:52) But in the midst of pouring out my heart to God, I cannot switch my mindset to God, you are only God when you answer according to what I see, what I feel, what I need. ow me to be thankful in this situation. May my heart never stop talking to you and may I never come to the point where I think you need to surrender to me. That's what prayer is about. Where we can finally stop wrestling with God for who's in control and start rejoicing in the fact that I'm not and he is. (27:52) See how powerful the switch is that can happen there because the reality is you and I will go through a lot of real painful things in our lives. And we could sit around and we could hav ng on to control. (29:21) Prayer allows us to be humbled in the process of life. I want to I want to take a couple of minutes here this morning and um just walk through three principles real quick about prayer. Coming out of this whole idea, I've given you actually several. (29:39) One, it's got to be worship and worship has got to lead to prayer and we've got to be those who are surrendering our will to God's will. But I want to draw those out just a little bit more here this morning. And the f opportunity to know who I am. I am faithful. I've never abandoned you. I am merciful. I am forgiving. I am loving. I I will be with you in the darkest times. (31:09) I want to remind you that. I love for you to be out in the sunshine and running in the pastures. I love for you to be there. But the day is coming when you're going to be walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And guess what? I'm going to be there. Same God. I'm going to be there with you. But I want you to know me in th king for a surrendered heart. Just talk to him. God, you say that you stand with those who are being abused. I feel like I'm being abused. (32:45) Are you standing with me? Help me see it. Help me understand it. God, you say you love your children. You don't let them go. What does your love mean? Pray through those things. It's okay to ask God questions. It's okay in prayer to scream out to God, why is this happening? But I'll see you beyond this. Who are you in what's happening? Pray to know Go d walk you through the whole 77th Psalm and let me tell you this. This is a pattern in the Psalms. Start and God, my world's falling in. But then it suddenly, let me put that circumstance aside for a minute. I want to think about God and the one I'm talking to. (34:39) And then, as did here, he begins to recall the goodness of God. Guess what happens in the verses following this? Suddenly his problems take on a whole different meaning because he's seen God for who he is. And suddenly his circums request until he has stated the problem, the reality of God, what he has always done. And then he comes back and you realize I I don't really have anything to say. I just want to praise you. You see, that is what we (36:11) need to learn when it comes to prayer. But we often start with circumstance and never get to God. We just panic and scream, "Get me out. Get me out. Get me out." When we can move away from that, it's okay to state the problem. But never state a problem without stating the tr the second uh principle here. We need to pray to find direction for our lives. (37:43) Won't you think about that for a minute? We need to pray to find direction for our lives. Do we have an example of that? His name was Jesus. Do you realize I want you to think about this in the life of Jesus? He spent far more time than probably you and I ever spend in prayer. And he was God in the flesh. He spent time talking with his father. I want you to think about just I'm going to give you four examples. will be done. Your will be done." Jesus told us that we could ask for anything in his name and it'd be given to us. (39:22) Does that run contrary to this idea? No. It's actually the expression of this idea that when we can get to the point where we pray your will be done, anything we ask for will be understanding and seeking to know and express the will of the father. When we are in that point, you're going to be amazed at what God does. He needs the heart of his servants to surrender to him. know, and and he walks us through those, but all of them under the umbrella of seeing God's will accomplished. It's my mindset. (40:56) God, will you accomplish your will in my life today? I'm seeking you. I want you to be seen for the holiness of who you are in the way that I live my life. And the only way that's going to happen is if my life is surrendered to your will. We need to pray, learn to pray for direction. And this wasn't unusual. James, the brother of Jesus, in chapter 1 verse 5 of or you to know Jesus, to live out Jesus, to surrender to Jesus, to be one who is fully encompassed in the presence of your savior so that your circumstances run and hide from the light that is present in your life. (42:40) We've got to be those who are seeking direction rather than seeking answers. God, I need a new car. Got a flat tire and I really think it should be a new Lamborghini and I will look really good in it and I'll give you all the praise. I think I'd look good in a Lamborghini. (42 ame thing James talks about later. We often, and it's what we saw with David as well, will approach God. (44:05) The Bible refers to as a divided loyalty, divided heart. So when I'm praying, I'm really not praying for the will of God. I am praying for God to give me what I think is great. Just write it out for you, Lord. I'll slip you the paper and you just kind of make sure it comes back soon. We've got to be those instead who are praying with an undivided heart. My heart belongs to you. (44:30 s out on in prayer is at that point, be silent and still and know that he is God. Be quiet. Listen for him to speak to you. In the midst of knowing and seeking his will, God, give me direction. I will be quiet now and listen. And that voice may come through a friend. It may come through scripture. It may come through an unexpected place. (45:56) God will say, "Now you're listening. I need you to do this. You know, it's so often the circumstances don't change, but it's suddenly like the severity ow. A God who has been faithful and has been loving and kind to me. Who has never let me down. Who has always been present. I can look back through all of history and seen what you have done. (47:36) And so I will give you praise as I let go. I think that's one of the hardest things we can do because we think we're a little bit smarter than God. Just a little bit. He just doesn't understand everything we're dealing with. But when I can let go, truly let go, the joy will return and I will live wi not withhold. (49:14) So it doesn't seem right as I was saying that we talk about prayer without having an opportunity to pray. So I want to do this just briefly this morning. We're going to do a couple of things. One, I want to take a minute of just silence. I want you to go before God. And then if you're really brave and if there's something going on in your life that you would like to have somebody pray with you about, I'm going to ask you to just stand where you are and we're going to pray ister before you this morning and recognize that you are present not only here but in her life. And I pray that you will give her that she seeks. May you uh instill in her just the joy of being able to communicate and talk with you every moment of every day. (51:37) And whatever the circumstance is that brings her to stand here, we stand with her. We recognize it as one body. We are a body that needs each other. And so we uh just seek your presence for her. We recommend and re"