PENTECOST 9C
July 25, 2010
SCRIPTURES
Hosea 1:2-10. Hosea obeys God and takes Gomer, a prostitute, as his wife. She
bears children whose names are prophetic expressions of the reality of the
relationship between Israel and God — Jezreel (after an unjustly bloody
battlefield), Lo Ruhamah (not pitied), and Lo Ammi (not my people).
Psalm 85
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19). The subject matter shifts from Christology to
Christian living grounded in the reality of being baptized into Jesus Christ.
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit… in
Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."
Luke 11:1-13. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus gives them a
prayer (The Lord's Prayer — Luke's version) and a story of persistence in
prayer.
-In today’s passage we have the shorter and probably earlier form of the Lord’s
Prayer.
-don't dam up the spring. lindy
- Prayer is relationship
-Perhaps the easiest point of entry into wordless prayer is through listening.
-prayer is to open ourselves to be in alignment with God's will for us. Even if
such an alignment is attained, it is always dynamic, never static; and thus the
continued need for prayer.
-sometime I pray and sometime I say my prayers.
-So Jesus teaches them to pray a prayer that hallows God’s name, yearns for
God’s kingdom, asks for daily sustenance, begs forgiveness, begs off time of
trial.
-as we do mature, we come to understand that what we wanted in our immaturity
isn't necessarily what we needed to carry us into our mature years, something of
lifelong (and eternal) value. Jesus is simply directing us to maturity -
teaching us to ask for those things that are of true value now and in the
future. And if we can't have it now, keep at it until it is ours to claim.
Delayed gratification again.....
-"Your kingdom come", means, "God be the Ruler" (In my life, in my marriage, in
my social life)
-"We cant participate in God's "Yes" if we don't ask."
-Every time you say, "I need", check to see if "I want" is actually closer to
the case. And ask God to supply your needs trust him with the future. [
-Romans 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know
how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for
words."
-I know the Lord will help but help me Lord until you help! ( Hasidic)
- The Hebrew word for "bless" is "barak" which literally means "to kneel ... is
a "blessing" but more literally, the bringing of a gift to another on a bended
"knee".
-Do you have faith in prayer or in God?
-William Loader God is not a claimer of privilege. God is like the mum or dad
who really cares (and confronts us with reality), who is holy and makes you feel
holy. So prayer is an activity of intimacy and awe and thus a model for all
relationships; it is the language of the kingdom. It brings the gift of the
Spirit.
-Brian Stoffregen "First of all, we need to admit that prayer is not "putting
coins in a vending machine." It is not putting our prayer in the right slot,
pushing the right button, and waiting for the vending machine God to spit out
exactly what we want. God is not a vending machine."
- Mickey Anders Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer. We call it "the Lord's
Prayer," but it is more accurately called "the Disciples' Prayer." It was the
prayer Jesus gave for his disciples to use. Jesus' own prayer is the one
recorded in John 17.
-(Matthew 6:9-13). It is Matthew's version that Christians usually memorize and
pray together
-Another version of the Lord's Prayer by Mickey Anders
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be
done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and
deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now
and for ever. Amen.
- Con, (with) temptation (temple) = contemplation Lindy
-Mickey Anders On several occasions I have conducted my own informal survey
among Christians by asking if they are "debtors," "trespassers," or "sinners."
Most Methodists are "trespassers;" most Disciples are "debtors," and very few of
us are "sinners."
-Poem found in a mailing from the Omaha Home for Boys:
You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "I."
You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "My."
Nor can you pray the Lord's Prayer and not pray for one another,
And when you ask for daily bread, you must include your brother.
For others are included ... in each and every plea,
From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say "Me."
-Heaven is where God is and Hell is where God isn't. Lindy
-Prayer is more than a wish list, but is to enter into a relationship with
Jesus./God.
-Where does prayer originate? Does it come from us or beyond us? Is it inspired
by God or is it simply a monologue of wishes and desires?
- says that there are two essential ingredients for prayer to be prayer: faith
and helplessness. Hallesby
- One of the short comings of our culture is thinking that prayer is essentially
asking for something. This scripture seems to confirm that.
- Prayer is not a message scribbled on a note, jammed into a bottle and tossed
into the sea in hopes that it will wash up someday on God's shore. Prayer is
communion with God. We speak to God, but God touches, embraces, shapes and
changes us. Whether we pray for rain or sunshine, our prayer is answered because
in the act of praying we receive the gift we really seek--intimacy with God.
Thomas Long
-"God is always there first, and therefore our praying is always only an answer
to this simple fact." Helmut Thielicke
SERMON
THE COURAGE TO PRAY
I believe it takes a lot of courage to pray and below show some of the reasons
why. What some people call prayer is not prayer at all.
Lindy
-"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" ~ Corrie Ten Boom
- In prayer we must have courage to let God be God
- Prayer is self disclosure.
- We ask for many things: health, joy, prosperity, forgiveness, etc…we forget
that you already know our every need
-The greatest prayer is patience. Buddha
- Prayer is to expand God's presence. Abraham
- Is talking and listening.
-We ask God to be in many places: with the dying, the sick, and with those who
suffer, but we forget that God's spirit is already with them…caring for them,
guiding them, loving them.
- Prayer can never be “my” or “your”. It must always be “Our Father”
- Help us to hold on to You while you already have hold of us
- Are you praying or performing?
- Prayer is not our activity but God's action.
-We open our hearts and minds to your spirit and pray the only prayer that is
needful…”Thy kingdom come…Thy will be done.”
- We mostly talk when we pray…and fail to hear what You are saying to us. Give
us the courage to talk less and listen more.
- Are we prepared for answered prayer?
- Like a stream within us we are in the habit of letting our interests dam up
the spring
- Have you thought of putting yourself on your prayer chain?
-Three ways God answers prayer: Yes, not yet, I have something better. Caliandro
- Incantations vs. prayer.
- Prayer is the posture of a person who wants to change. submitted by Todd
Bonner
- Lord, I can't but You can through me.
- Bidden or not bidden, God is present. Carl Jung
- If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "thank you," that would
suffice. Meister Eckart
- If God doesn't seem to be giving you what you ask, maybe He's giving you
something else. Buechner Wishful Thinking
-Prayer changes things, (if you are prepared to change). Fred R. Anderson
--Sometimes I think the worst things we ever have to fear is that God will give
us exactly what we want. Barbara Brown
-God regards not the words that are spoken, but the heart that offers them.
-"When we pray we do something that in humanly impossible. Paul Tillich
-Prayer leads us from false certainties to true uncertainties. H.Nouwen
-He who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered. George Meredith
-I've been driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place
else to go. Lincoln
--Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change; the courage to change
things I can and wisdom to know the difference. Reinhold Niebhur
-What we are speaks so loudly, God cannot hear what we say. Emerson
QUOTES
- I always begin my prayer in silence. God speaks to us in the silence of our
hearts. Mother Teresa
-Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God Edwin keith
- "Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen." Bobby
Richardson (Yankee 2nd basemen)
ILLUSTRATIONS
1.- from PULPIT RESOURCE. A movie scene from "Shadowlands" in which C.S. Lewis
marries Joy Gresham. Right after, they discover she's dying from cancer. In
talking about prayer, C.S. Lewis responds to a friend who says that God may be
finally answering Lewis' prayers. Lewis says, " That's not why I pray, Harry. I
pray because I can' help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the
need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God;
it changes ME."
2.Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers Garth Brooks (You can get
lyrics of whole song on the web)
3. It was the common practice of some one aspiring to the monastic life to come
to the abbey and knock, remaining at the door for almost two weeks, no matter
the weather, before the door opened and he was granted entrance. If this is not
shameless persistence, then I don't know what is ...
4. I cannot say OUR, if my religion has no room for others and their needs. I
cannot say FATHER, if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily living.
I cannot say WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, if all my interest and pursuits are in earthly
things. I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME, if I, who am called by His name, am
not holy. I cannot say, THY KINGDOM COME, if I am unwilling to give up my own
sovereignty and accept the righteous reign of God. I cannot say THY WILL BE
DONE, if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life. I cannot say ON
EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, unless I am truly ready to give myself to His service
here and now. I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, without expending
honest effort for it or by ignoring the genuine needs of my fellow man. I cannot
say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, if I
continue to harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO
TEMPTATION, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely
to be tempted. I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL, if I am not prepared to fight
in the spiritual realm with the weapon of Word and prayer. I cannot say THINE IS
THE KINGDOM, if I do not give the King the disciplined obedience of a loyal
subject. I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER, if I fear what my neighbors or friends
may say or do. I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY, if I am seeking my own glory and
recognition first. I cannot say FOREVER, if I am too anxious about each day's
affairs. I cannot say AMEN, unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my
prayer
HUMOR
-If you hold your hands upside down you get the opposite of what you pray for.
prayer humor
--Judge asked, if you can recite the Lord's prayer, I will let you go.
..criminal, Now I lay me down to sleep.....judge, you may go.
- If I should wake before I die…”
- I'm going to say my prayers now...anyone want anything?
-O God, if there is a God, save my soul, if I have a soul, so I can go to
heaven, if there is a heaven.”
-There are people who pray for eternal life but don't know what to do with
themselves on a rainy day.
-Whose that lady that was by the still waters when every one else was lying down
in green pastures?
CHILDREN
LORD’S PRAYER TO THE TUNE OF KUM BA YAH
(Words by James Seddon)
Father God in Heaven ---Lord most high
Hear your children’s prayer -- Lord most high
Hallowed be your name--- Lord most high
O Lord, hear our prayer
May your kingdom come -- Here on earth;
May your will be done— Here on earth
As it is in heaven-- so on earth
O, Lord, hear our prayer
Give us daily bread --Day by day,
And forgive our sins, --Day by day,
As we, too forgive, -- Day by day,
O Lord, hear our prayer
Lead us in your way -- Make us strong
When temptations come,-- Make us strong
Save us from all sin, -- Keep us strong
O Lord, hear our prayer
All things come from you -- All are yours
Kingdom, glory , power,-- All are yours
Take our lives and gifts,-- All are yours
O, Lord, hear our prayer
PRAYER PHRASES
...Give me the courage I need to pray.