First Baptist Church
9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332
Inviting and Accepting
Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Pastor
BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE (Matthew 6:5-8)
By Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford
TODAY’S “SPECIAL”: “Johnny Didn’t Do It”
The visiting church school supervisor asks little Johnny during Bible class who broke down the walls of Jericho. Little Johnny replies that he does not know, but it definitely is not him.
The supervisor, taken aback by this lack of basic Bible knowledge, goes to the school principal and relates the whole incident.
The principal replies that he knows little Johnny as well as his whole family very well and can vouch for them. And if little Johnny said that he did not do it, he, as principal is satisfied that it is the truth.
Even more appalled, the inspector goes to the Regional Head of Education and relates the whole story.
After listening he replies: “I can’t see why you are making such a big issue out of this: just get three quotes and fix the wall!”
INTRODUCTION
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of this month, and Easter is April 1st. To prepare our hearts for these special days, I have initiated a season of prayer every Thursday at 7 pm throughout this month. I really hope you can come. But how do I pray, in public? Is that foreign to you? For the next several weeks, we are going to look at a most familiar piece of Scripture where the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. It’s in there! TODAY: 3 elements of Spirit-filled prayer. PRAYER
#1 FIND A MENTOR, BE A MENTOR (Luke 11:1ff)
In our text we are soon introduced to what has traditionally been called “The Lord’s Prayer”. But the context is prefaced by a request made by Jesus’ closest disciples. Luke 11 tells the rest of the story: the disciples had observed how John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray. Now they wanted Jesus to do the same for them. We need to find a mentor to help us pray. And when we learn how to pray, we need to encourage others.
One of the greatest “old salt” writers on prayer was a fellow named E.M. Bounds. I encourage you to look up his books. There are about 8 in the series on prayer. And he wrote them at a time before TV, radio, phone – you know, those times when all one had to do was learn of Jesus! And Pastor Bounds did!
Not in our hymnbook is an old hymn, “Teach Me to Pray”. The song, copyrighted in 1925 was written by Albert Simpson Reitz who lived from 1879-1966. Listen to the heart cry. This is what Jesus is talking about here:
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Chorus:
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me.
Constant abiding, this is my plea.
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free.
Power with men and power with Thee.
#2 DO NOT IMITATE THE WORLD (Matt. 6:5)
They know not – or might not know – Jesus!
Illus.: I distinctly remember a prayer a local “pastor” prayed at my brother-in-law’s graduation. It was an exceptionally hot Sunday afternoon when the “pastor”, honored to be asked to give the invocation, prayed “and Lord, please keep the ladies’ mascara from running.” His platform to influence the students for eternity had been wasted.
Written prayers are nice – and many old saints used to write their prayers (and we still have them). But this is an intimacy between you and God alone.
Key phrase here describing them is: “love to be seen” as professionals, not as servants of the King of Kings.
Are their “giants of prayer” that have influenced you? For me, Stewart D. from nearby West Eaton. Nearing 100, when he prays publicly, his prayers are full of Scripture as to Who he is approaching. “all mighty, all wonderful, most high God; all righteous, all powerful.” – all from the scriptures. He knows to Whom he is praying. Imitate heart-felt prayers.
#3 BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE (Matt. 6:6)
Illus.: The KJV says we are to pray in our “closets.” Let me tell you about the “Tom P. Syndrome”. Tom was a straight A student. Eagle Scout. Ultimate Doctoral Candidate. Yet when he was first saved, taking the Bible literally, he would pray in his closet. His mom could never find him when he was praying! Is that what is meant here?
You are not praying before the ones you are with. You are praying to the Lord. Alone. In fact, that is a good motto for one’s Christian walk & life. Perhaps Tom had it right – he was praying before an audience of One. As are we!
CONCLUSION:
REMEMBER: THE FATHER DOESN’T WANT YOUR WORDS; HE WANTS YOUR HEART (Matt. 6:7-8)
Illus.: When my dad was alive, I tried to call down to Florida at least once a …. Month! I thought that was quite the work on my life. After all, Dad was 47 years older than I. He was going to be around forever. But then one day I learned that his health wasn’t what it should be, and that his days were numbered. Guess how often I called then? And I made sure that at the end of every call he and I would exchange the words, “I love you.” In fact, those 3 words are the last ones I ever heard him speak this side of eternity.
Our Heavenly Father already knows your needs, your wants. Those may be important to you. Your needs may be overwhelming. But in the most intimate moment possible in eternity, the Father wants to hear you.
Will you talk with Him today?
Will our church talk with Him today? This week?
Or is it possible for a church to exist without ever talking with the Father?