A COMMITMENT TO PRAYER (PHIL 4:4-7)

SERIES: THE COMMITMENTS DISCIPLES MAKE, PART 2

GCEFC: OCTOBER 12, 2008

INTRODUCTION

1. Today we move to part 2 in our series: The Commitments Disciples Make. Last week we looked at the first commitment—that being a commitment to the Word of God.

a. We saw there are 3 steps in the proper assimilation of God’s Word into the life of a disciple—what…so what…now what?

b. What answers the question: What does the verse or passage say? So what answers the question: What does it mean? Now what answers the question: How do I respond?

c. In the end, the goal is not to just know what it says, or even to know what it means. The goal is to put into consistent practice. To do what it says.

2. This morning we look at the second commitment disciples make—a commitment to prayer.

3. Prayer is viewed in different ways by different people in the modern world.

a. For some it’s the ultimate good luck charm. Like a rabbit’s foot, horse shoe, four-leaf clover, lucky penny, and wishbone all rolled into one. The philosophy that prayer certainly doesn’t do any harm—and it may do some good—Hey-you never know!

b. For others it’s just an outdated holdover from an age of superstition. A modern enlightened society doesn’t need prayer because in our sophistication we’ve outgrown it.

c. Just as there was a time when people believed that the earth was the center of the solar system and that the sun and planets revolved around it—now we know better.

4. But for others, prayer is alive and well in the modern world. The Senate and House of Representatives still begin each legislative session with prayer.

5. We have a National Day of Prayer each May. And the National Prayer Breakfast continues to be held each winter in Washington, despite protests by certain groups.

6. The tragedy of 9-11 brought a resurgence of prayer from the national to the local level. And remember the Prayer of Jabez? This book topped the New York Times bestseller list and sold more than 9 million copies worldwide.

7. And prayer entered the sports world long ago.

a. The well-known sports announcer, Joe Garagiola tells the story of his boyhood pal, Yogi Berra, who grew up just a few doors away in their St. Louis neighborhood.

b. Both Yogi and Joe were very promising catchers, and Berra would go on to become the great catcher for the Yankees.

c. Garagiola’s career didn’t go so well. He used to say that not only was he not the best catcher in the Major League—he wasn’t even the best catcher on his street!

d. So in one game, Yogi had been watching players kneel for a moment or bow their heads before entering the batter’s box.

e. But when Jimmy Piersall came to the plate and made the sign of the cross, it was the last straw. From his catcher’s position Yogi yelled: Why don’t you guys leave God alone and just let him watch the game?

8. We’ve said that the Christian life is relational. Primarily about our relationship with God. Secondarily about our relationship with people.

9. Prayer is about communication. Through the Bible, God speaks to us. Through prayer we speak to God. Yes, I realize God is omniscient and knows our thoughts before we have them—certainly before we speak them.

10. But have you ever done something nice for someone, and you knew they were grateful? But wasn’t it nice when they actually said so?

11. God wants to hear us too. Though it may be hard to believe the Creator of the universe wants to converse with you and me. But he does.

A. BE JOYFUL

1. There are many good passages in the Bible on prayer. One of them is PHIL 4:4-7. This entire chapter focuses on joy. Specifically it focuses on the close relationship between what we think and how we feel.

2. In fact it’s teaching that the attitude we choose has an effect on nearly everything else.

3. In V4 we have a command. Usually once is enough for a command, but here it’s given twice: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

a. The command is to rejoice in the Lord. To rejoice in the Lord is to realize what we have in our relationship with Christ—and allow that reality to prompt joy.

b. And we’re to rejoice always. Not just when we feel like rejoicing. Not just when it’s easy and natural. But even when we don’t feel like it. Even when it’s a struggle.

c. This verse is not a command to be happy. Happiness is a feeling that arises spontaneously as a result of pleasant circumstances. In fact, when circumstances are pleasant—we don’t need to be commanded to be joyful—we do it spontaneously.

d. You find a $100 bill on the street and you’re happy. Your team gets into the playoffs and you’re happy. The price of gas drops and you’re happy.

e. But though happiness and joy are related—they aren’t identical. Happiness is like a thermometer. A thermometer measures temperature. A thermometer has no stake in what the temperature is—it simply reports it.

f. But a thermostat determines the temperature. A thermostat regulates the temperature. A thermometer is passive—a thermostat is proactive.

4. Many people don’t realize they’re free to choose their attitude. In fact you’re the only one who can choose your own attitude.

5. And though circumstances may affect the attitude we choose—the circumstances don’t have to determine it.

6. I read a story about a plane flight from San Francisco to Tulsa that was delayed in Los Angeles because of a problem with the plane’s hydraulic system. After a long wait and much complaining on the part of the delayed passengers, the pilot came on the intercom and said: Why don’t you look at it this way. Wouldn’t you rather be down here wishing you were up there, rather than up there wishing you were down here?

7. The circumstances hadn’t changed. The passengers were still being delayed. But their attitudes changed when they saw the same circumstances from a different perspective.

8. That’s really what being joyful is all about. It’s the settled conviction that all is well because God is sovereign and on the throne.

9. The key is not how things look. Or even how things are. What matters is the attitude we choose to have in the midst of circumstances we may not like.

B. DON’T BE ANXIOUS

1. The positive command to rejoice is a natural segue into the negative command of V6: Do not be anxious about anything.

2. Believers should not only cultivate an attitude of joy in circumstances that are not pleasant. They should not worry in those circumstances either.

3. They should in fact not worry about anything—but pray about everything! It’s not a command to play Pollyanna. Or to ignore the things that impact us.

4. Or to be unconcerned about issues that are important to us. It says don’t be anxious. Don’t be concerned to the point of worry, and distress, and fear.

5. We are to exchange worry for prayer. So what are we to pray about? Whatever is potentially a source of worry and anxiety.

6. And what is the result of obedient praying? What is the return for substituting prayer for worry? The answer is right here….PEACE.

7. V7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8. Note that the answer to the prayer is not the removal of the circumstances that brought the anxiety. What changes is the attitude of the pray-er. Peace replaces anxiety.

9. Peace is one of the most sought after conditions of life. Whether it’s peace between nations. Between races. Between husbands and wives. Between parents and children. Between brothers and sisters. Between friends. Between colleagues.

10. But the greatest peace anyone can have is between oneself and God. This is what salvation is. It’s peace between a holy and sinless God and a rebellious and sinful person.

11. But why does it say it’s peace that transcends understanding? Well, it transcends understanding because it transcends circumstances.

12. There may not be a logical reason why there is peace—but there is. It defies logic.

13. Now, if prayer accomplishes peace in the midst of difficult circumstances…then what does peace accomplish?

14. The rest of V7 tells us that it guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

15. You see, our heart and our mind are the source of our anxiety. The heart is the center of our emotions, and the mind is the center of our thoughts.

16. If you have calm emotions and calm thoughts—you don’t have anxiety. They cannot exist at the same time. One must prevail while the other must bow.

17. When we’re anxious and worried and fearful and fretful, we are beyond the capacity of hearing God’s voice and claiming God’s truth.

18. And we become subject to all kinds of destructive input into our minds and hearts.

19. When we pray, peace will come over us, even in dire circumstances, because the peace is God’s doing and not ours. This peace guards our hearts and our minds—in Christ Jesus.

B. SO WHY DON’T WE PRAY?

1. So if prayer is one of the commitments that every disciple should make.

2. If prayer results in an inexplicable peace that guards our hearts and minds—even in the midst of dire circumstances.

3. Then why would anyone claiming to be a disciple of Christ neglect prayer? Why would it not be one of our highest priorities?

4. Well, there is actually more than one reason. But I’d like to give what I believe is the most common reason among 21^st century American Christians—WE’RE TOO BUSY!

5. We just don’t have time to pray. We’ve got too much to do. Places to go. Emails to write. Games to watch. Internet to surf. Phone calls to make.

6. We must be the busiest generation in the history of the world. Even with all of the time-saving devices and time-saving technology we have.

a. Now those of you who were born in the 80’s will have to take this by faith. But there was a time when if you wanted to make a phone call, you had to insert your finger into a specific number on the dial of the phone.

b. Then you had to spin that thing around and release it. Then wait until it swung all the way back to where it started. Then repeat the same procedure for 6 other numbers.

c. If the person wasn’t home, you couldn’t leave a message because there were no answering machines. So you had to call again later when they were home.

d. Now you don’t even have to push 7 buttons. You just hit one button and it dials the number for you. Or if it’s voice activated—you just say the name.

7. This is just one example of how we’ve saved so much time. The problem is we just fill the time we’ve gained with something else.

8. So we still don’t have time to pray! We can’t even afford to do only one thing at a time anymore. We’ve got so many things to do that we have to multi-task.

a. So you’re driving down the road talking on the cell phone, fiddling with the CD player, breaking up a fight between the kids, doing your shopping list—while mentally trying to solve the conflict in the Middle East and global warming. And this is just in the morning on the way to school!

b. We just don’t have time to pray. Or if we manage to find the time, we’re too tired. But even God took off one day in seven. We can’t even do that most of the time.

c. Some of you are anxious about the current financial crisis. I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t be concerned. But there’s no reason to be anxious about it.

9. Let me offer some thoughts.

a. The current economic crisis is the result of a long history of greed and short-sighted financial management. It will probably be a while before it’s resolved.

b. The Bible says a man reaps what he sows—man is simply reaping what he’s sown.

c. The Bible says in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. So we should anticipate something good from this.

d. We should not even consider for a second renouncing our support of God’s work through his church—either personally or corporately.

e. Rather than be unfaithful to our commitment—we should allow God to show himself strong on behalf of our unwavering loyalty. It’s an opportunity for God to work.

f. And when we get anxious, that’s the time to pray. And peace will return.

10. Prayer must be the commitment of every disciple. If we’re going to grow as disciples, we must make prayer a priority. This means it will need to be done instead of something else. You must determine what will have to go to make room for it.

11. We need the twin disciplines of the Word of God and prayer to grow. Communication that we receive and communication that we send out.

12. Both help us to be stronger, healthier, growing disciples. Which is of course what all disciples are called to be.

13. You don’t need to pray for hours. Just start with something manageable. Begin with 5 minutes a day—you can always expand later.

14. The main thing is to regularly spend quiet time in God’s presence. That is, if you want to be a growing disciple. If you don’t, then it doesn’t matter. If you do, then it matters a lot.