Archive for the 'Prayer' Category

Secret prayers in Neuschwanstein castle

Published on August 4, 2010 in Chris Brauns Radio Spots and Prayer. 0 Comments

imageThis is a radio spot reposted from earlier.  But, I am planning on putting this into practice all around Western Europe, including Neuschwantstein Castle.

Of course, I’m not sure those secret prayers will count given that I’ve posted about them on my blog.

Matthew chapter 6 begins with a principle. Jesus told the disciples to avoid doing good things for the sake of human approval. He said, “Don’t do acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them.” Instead, we should do our acts of righteousness “secretly,” before God alone.

One of my favorite ways to live out this principle is through what I call “secret prayers.” For me, a secret prayer is when I pray for someone I don’t know, will likely never see again, and who has no idea that I prayed for him or her.

My prayers go something like this. “God, I don’t know why this guy having his oil changed looks so tired. I have no idea what is going on in his world. Maybe he has a lot of stress at work. But, I pray that you might bless him today.”

How about this? Instead of getting angry at an aggressive driver, why not pray for him or her. “Lord, I don’t know why this person is being such a jerk, but I pray that you will keep him safe and that you will bless him in some special way.”

God is pleased when we care for people we don’t even know. And, God answers prayer. My secret prayers are just between God and me on behalf of someone else.

I have a theory that someday when I get to Heaven I’ll be able to check out DVD’s that document how a few of my secret prayers made a difference.

What would happen if every believer in Rockford started praying 5 secret prayers a day. The results might amaze us.

If you wish to humble a person. . .

Published on May 6, 2010 in Prayer. 0 Comments

If you wish to humble a person (starting with yourself?) follow the advice of Dean C.J. Vaughn:

If I wished to humble anyone, I should question him about his prayers. I know nothing to compare with this topic for its sorrowful self-confessions. Dean C.J. Vaughn

. . . Strange paradox, most of us are plagued with a subtle aversion to praying. We do not naturally delight in drawing near to God. We pay lip service to the delight and potency and value of prayer. We assert that it is an indispensable adjunct of mature spiritual life. We know that it is constantly enjoined and exemplified in the Scriptures. But in spite of all, too often we fail to pray. J. Oswald Sanders

Why pray?

Published on May 2, 2010 in Prayer. 0 Comments

Brian McLaughlin continues his series on prayer by listing some reasons that Calvin gives to pray:

Calvin then addresses those who claim that prayer is useless with six reasons why it is important:

  • “First, that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek, love, and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need to flee to him as to a sacred anchor.”
  • “Secondly, that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all our wishes before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts.”
  • “Thirdly, that we be prepared to receive his benefits with true gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, benefits that our prayer reminds us come from his hand.”
  • “Fourthly, moreover, that, having obtained what we were seeking, and being convinced that he has answered our prayers, we should be led to meditate upon his kindness more ardently.”
  • “And fifthly, that at the same time we embrace with greater delight those things which we acknowledge have been obtained by prayers.”
  • “Finally, that use and experience may, according to the measure of our feebleness, confirm his providence, while we understand not only that he promises never to fail us, and of his own will opens the way to call upon him at the very point of necessity, but also that he ever extends his hand to help his own, not wet-nursing them with words but defending them with present help.”

Here for the rest.

 

Why pray?

Published on April 27, 2010 in Prayer. 0 Comments

Brian McLaughlin has recently posted a thoughtful series on prayer, including this post which speaks to the question, “Why pray?”

Prayer is essential.  Prayer is difficult.  These two things all Christians accept.  But why pray anyway?  What’s the big deal?

I think one of the reasons that prayer is so difficult for so many people is that we don’t truly understand what it is or what it is intended to accomplish.  It is not uncommon to hear someone say that prayer is important “because Jesus commanded it.”  Yes, the Bible does encourage us to pray, but that doesn’t represent an understanding of why.  Furthermore, it often has the effect that my wife has when she keeps “reminding” me to take out the trash; it simply isn’t very motivating.

So let’s spend a little time thinking about some basics of prayer beginning with, what is prayer?

So often I find that theologian Wayne Grudem provides some nice, succinct definitions.  He defines prayer as “personal communication with God”  [this resembles Dallas Willard's definition of prayer as being an "ongoing conversation with God"].  Grudem continues to explain that this includes “prayers of request for ourselves or for others (sometimes called prayers of petition or intercession), confession of sin, adoration, praise and thanksgiving, and also God communicating to us indications of his response.”

Read more here.

Arturo Azurdia: “The efficacious empowerment of the Spirit of God is indispensable to the ministry of proclamation.”

Published on April 24, 2010 in Church, Prayer and Preaching. 0 Comments

Would you pray for the preaching of the Word in your church tomorrow?

The efficacious empowerment of the Spirit of God is indispensable to the ministry of proclamation. Arturo Azurdia

Would you pray in a special way for the preaching of the Word in your church tomorrow?

Published on March 6, 2010 in Prayer and Preaching. 2 Comments

If you are a Brick, would you come by my study for prayer at 8:30 tomorrow?

I often plead with people in our church to come pray with me before the morning services.  The reason is that in my own strength I might as well seek to part the Red Sea or raise the dead as preach successfully.  Unless the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word when I preach, then it is nothing more than a human production.

Arturo Azurdia summarizes:

People are brought to faith in Jesus Christ not because a preacher happens to be exceptionally dynamic one Sunday morning, or because he finishes his sermon with a spell-binding story.  Rather, in a mysterious work that is both sovereign in expression and divine in origin the power of God unites with the proclamation of the word of God and produces effects that are in keeping with the purposes of God.  It is the effectual teaching ministry of the Spirit of truth, without which the Bible will never be anything more than a book in a drawer in a room at a hotel.

Pray for me, whenever I open my mouth to preach, that words would be given to me that I might, “boldly proclaim they mystery of the gospel.”  Ephesians 6:19-20.

Prayer lessons from Jesus

Published on March 6, 2010 in Prayer. 1 Comment

Pastor Jeremy Carr reflects on our Lord’s example in prayer.

Early in Jesus’ ministry, he is experiencing great success. His fame is spreading through Galilee as he casts out demons and heals many sick people. After one particularly busy day of healing, Mark’s Gospel tells us this:

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." Mark 1 :35-38 (ESV)

Three observations from this account of Jesus’ ministry.

  • Jesus prioritized prayer as the way to effectively minister to people. He didn’t use busyness or success with people as an excuse for neglecting prayer and solitude with God the Father. He realized that in order to meet people’s needs he needed time alone with God. If we neglect prayer for the sake of ministering to people a breakdown will eventually come. We will get burnt out, or become proud of our "successes," or lack the strength to continue on, or lack the true power of transformation that God provides. Somewhere a breakdown will happen when we neglect prayer and solitude.

More here.

A good quote for pastors to consider on Sunday . . .

Published on February 14, 2010 in Prayer and Preaching. 0 Comments

A good quote for pastors to consider on Sunday and every other day of the week.

A preacher whose chief power is not in studious prayer is, to that extent, a man who does not know his business.  A stringent ethic would say he is in danger of becoming a quack.

“Fast Food”: It should be a matter of “when,” not “if”

Published on January 20, 2010 in Leadership development and Prayer. 1 Comment

I am having the right kind of fast food for lunch today, meaning I’m having no food at all.  Rather than allowing my stomach to always pound out marching orders, I am using the extra time to focus on prayer (1 Cor 9:27).  Every time my stomach protests, I am going to be reminded to pray.

In Matthew 6, Jesus said that WHEN we fast . . . The Lord assumed that his people would fast.

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.(Mt 6:16-18)."

So, today I am skipping my noon meal in order to focus on prayer.  One of my primary goals today is to follow the model of Jesus in Luke 6:12 when we are told that the Lord prayed all night before choosing the Apostles.  A goal for our church in the next 5 years is to see men grow in a special way as leaders.  And, that won’t happen apart from prayer.

You might chide me a bit for telling everyone on the world wide web that I am fasting.  Isn’t it supposed to be done in secret (Matt 6:1).  But, this is a matter of motivation.  And, there is a place to give leadership in prayer and to challenge God’s people.

Why not fast for at least one meal and really pray?

How much are you praying for the preaching of the Word in your local church?

Published on January 15, 2010 in Leadership development, Prayer and Preaching. 0 Comments

One of the most important ways you can serve your local church is by praying for the preaching of the Word.  Here is a note I recently sent to a number of men in our church.

Guys:
I wanted to share with you a special item of praise.

If you had asked me to rate yesterday’s sermon relative to my other sermons (I never try and compare myself to others per se), I would have said it was solid.  I thought I preached the point that flowed out of the text – - that sin gives way to sin and that we need to know we not only reap what we sow, but we also sow what we reap.

I was in know way tempted to think, that was some incredible sermon.  Far from it.

But, what has been interesting to see is how God has used it in the lives of our church.  I received feedback from multiple people that it was a real encouragement.  I was in a home last night praying with a couple and they commented.  Jamie received an email today from someone who was encouraged and is making some important decisions.

Of course, God only knows why some sermons are especially blessed, but I believe a key part of what sermon was your prayer support. I believe several of you were praying in a special way.  Shawn came by and prayed before church with me and I was conscious of how the Spirit was working.  Even while we were there praying together, I was aware of it.

Let’s keep praying.  If we are really on our knees (either literally or figuratively), and we preach and teach the Word, then we can COUNT on God to do a powerful work.
Titus 2:11-14,
Chris.