Always Pray Presented by Daniel Keeran, MSW

1

Always Pray Presented by Daniel Keeran, MSW

Scripture Reading:

Luke 18 : 1-14 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always

pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God

nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him

with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally

he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this

widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come

and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God

bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep

putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the

Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else,

Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other

a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like

other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a

week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not

even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell

you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who

exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Always Pray

The purpose of the message today is to encourage you to pray. If there is anything you

question or if you think differently about anything I say, I invite you to talk with me after the

service. I am not inspired as the apostles were, and I think it’s healthy to discuss the things of

God as a way of deepening our faith and understanding of God’s will for our lives.

In the reading about the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus teaches us to pray persistently

and not give up... in this case, it is for justice and for fairness in a court situation.

2

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-15 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, holy is your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily

bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

Our Father in heaven, holy is your name....So first of all, in this model prayer Jesus wants us to

recognize the holiness of God. It’s easier to pray more often when we who God is and know

that the one who made the universe and holds everything together, is constantly present,

always caring for us, and wants to hear from us. Then we can simply open the eyes of our

heart to speak to God. What an amazing thought, that the one who made the universe cares

about little me and not only cares about me but knows me better than I know myself and

knows what I need better than I do.

It’s so easy to give up praying because we can be distracted by the material world and the

cares and anxieties of life. To strengthen your faith, pray more often. To have less faith, pray

less often.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to

him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

So we can pray knowing that God exists, God hears, and God answers.

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven....Jesus wants us to pray that

the reign and rule of God, his teaching, will be obeyed as perfectly on earth as it is in heaven,

in my life and in the lives of people everywhere on earth.

Give us today our daily bread....God is the one who gives us health, work, knowledge, wisdom,

and intelligence to live from day to day, and we acknowledge this by asking God to grant us

our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors....If we want God to forgive our sins

and offenses against Him, we need to forgive our spouse, our neighbor, our children, our

friends, and the driver who just cut me off in heavy traffic. Our first prayer is in baptism when

we pledge to keep a good conscience before God.

1 Peter 3:21 “....baptism now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but a

good conscience pledge toward God.”

3

When we sin after baptism, we are taught to pray to receive forgiveness:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify

us from all unrighteousness.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one...Jesus was led by the Spirit

into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Ask God to lead you into paths of

righteousness and to protect you from situations and opportunities in which you may choose

to follow Satan in the unhealthy selfish use of material things, and anger, gluttony,

drunkenness, and sexual immorality.

Pray In Jesus’ Name

When we pray, I think it’s good practice to ask in Jesus’ name. In the past, this was the

standard practice, but today there is more variation and many sincere Christians leave out the

name of Jesus. I won’t offer a judgment on the matter but simply say let every Christian be

convinced about what God wants.

John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the

Father.

Why? So that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

Devote Yourselves To Prayer

Prayer was a constant practice of the disciples of Jesus recorded in the book of Acts, and even

of the Jews. I encourage us all to make prayer something we do often personally and when we

gather in small groups. When you have quests in your home, pray with them before they

leave.

Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the

mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the

breaking of bread and to prayer.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Every place there are Christians can be a place of prayer.

4

Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to

find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered

there.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is when we pray for each other. When someone is on your heart and you

are worried about them, maybe a son or daughter or a friend or family member who may be ill

or in some kind of trouble or lost in their poor choices, you pray constantly, often throughout

the day, every day for weeks and maybe months and even years. This is called intercessory

prayer and it’s in the Bible.

Romans 1:9-10 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness

how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by

God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He

is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature

and fully assured.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

As we think about intercessory prayer, here is Paul’s intercessory prayer for the Ephesian

Christians:

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in

heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen

you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power,

together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of

Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure

of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or

imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in

Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This is Paul’s intercessory prayer for the Colossian Christians:

Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped

praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual

5

wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the

Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the

knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that

you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who

has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

God Knows What We Need

Something else that is amazing about prayer is that we believe the Holy Spirit actually

communicates for us and intercedes for us to God. This is another way of saying we don’t

know what is best for ourselves or for others, but we can trust that the Spirit of God knows

what is best for us, what we need.

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we

ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Matthew 6:8 ...your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

God does not always give us what we pray for because God knows what is best for us.

Luke 5:16 ... Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

We have seen how the early church was devoted to praying together, and when we look at

Jesus who although he was the eternal divine Son of God, we see that he often privately and

personally used prayer to talk to God.

Acknowledge and thank God for all he has done: creating the universe, blessing us constantly

with good things, sending Jesus, forgiving our sins, always be present, always caring for us, for

the hope of the resurrection and of eternal life. Here is a beautiful example of praise and

adoration in prayer.

Jude 1:24-25 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring

you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone

is God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his

before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!

My understanding is that the sacrifice of praise and prayer is with the lips spoken or sung, and

I think this is because of what the Bible says in Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us

continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

6

Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the

other prisoners were listening to them.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and

attitudes of the heart.

God says: “I love you. I fogive you. I hear your prayers. I care for you in your suffering. I am

always here for you.”

God Answers When We Pray

James 1: 5-7 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all

without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not

doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Think about how you could invite God into that situation. Ask God for wisdom to fix it, for

patience with yourself, and self-forgiveness. Ask God for clarity of mind to problem-solve the

situation. Ask God to bring others into your life who can give wise counsel. Invite other

Christians to pray for you and with you.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and

petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

This reminds me of:

Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the

God of my life.

Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night

praying to God.

Can God Be Persuaded?

James 5: 13-18 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them

sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray

over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith

will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be

forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may

be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human

7

being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the

land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth

produced its crops.

John 14:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love

them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.

James 4:2-3 You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive,

because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

So when you make any request to God, pray that it will be given only if it glorifies God and

serves His purpose.

Francis of Assisi in the 1200’s, wrote this prayer that wasn’t actually published until 1912. The

prayer reflects his desire to be used by God for his purpose:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where

there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there

is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much

seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that

we are born to Eternal Life.

God had given wisdom to human beings to point others to himself:

Reinhold Niebuhr wrote these well-known words in 1943:

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to

change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the

other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a

pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting

that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy

in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

And finally I want to close with the intercessory prayer of our Lord.

John 17: 22-23 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and

said, "Father...I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in

me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you

and I are one, Father--that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the

8

world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be

one, as we are -- I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will

know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me“

(v.22-23).

Let’s join our prayer with Jesus’ prayer:

Lord we are amazed that you who created the universe and hold it together, would hear our

feeble prayers. We pray for the unity of all who sincerely try to follow Jesus, so that the

world will see the love and unity among us and turn to you for salvation. Lord we pray that the

words spoken today will remain in the hearts of all who heard so that we will gain strength

from drawing near to you in constant prayer. Thank you for your constant presence and

unfailing love. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.