CHURCH IS BORING: Prayer

Read Mark 11:15-19.

“And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’”
Mark 11:17.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3.

Prayer is primarily to have fellowship with the Father. Many people do not pray because of many reasons: A. They don’t know how to pray. B. We think that our concerns are too small for God. C. We are not sure that our prayers will make a difference. Why should we pray when God already knows our needs and wants? What is it that God wants of our prayers? To understand prayer, we must first know what Jesus meant by the words, Den of Robbers and House of Prayer.

DEN OF ROBBERS

“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say ‘We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers?”

Jeremiah 7: 9-11.

Jesus was angered by the Jews who came to the temple to pray and offer sacrifices to God; but once they step out of the temple, they continue to do things that are against God and His laws.

HOUSE OF PRAYER

“And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Isaiah 56: 6-7.

Jesus reminded the Jews who were making business out of selling to the Gentiles doves and other things to be used for sacrifices, that the foreigners can have access to Him.


THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER

The real essence of prayer is our relationship with God. We pray simply because we have a relationship with God. Church is life through prayer.

1. Pray honestly.

“But when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words”
Matthew 6:7.

Jesus was critical of dishonest prayers that were just made long. We pray because we have a relationship with God and not to have a relationship with God.

Pray for everything – big or small.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”
Philippians 4:6.

God is interested in our concerns because He is concerned about us.

Be aware of the Presence of God all the time.
“Pray continually” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.