Prayer in the Pulpit
Recently I watched a sermon by Pastor David Wilkerson. In it he spoke of a meeting/dinner he had with a pastor and his wife. During their conversation the wife interrupted and said something like, “If you don’t tell him I will.” It was then that the pastor opened up with a confession. Having led his church to over 1200 people and on the outside looking like a huge success, this pastor confessed to not praying for the past 12 months! Nothing done in his ministry was covered with prayer and only grew from his charisma and ability to lead. Shocked? Don’t be, because I think this is happening more than we know.
E.M. Bounds in his amazing little book “Power through Prayer” writes,
“The pulpit of this day is weak in praying. The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer. Prayer is with the pulpit too often only official – a performance for the routine of service. Prayer is not to the modern pulpit the mighty force it was in Paul’s life or Paul’s ministry. Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God’s work and is powerless to advance God’s cause in this world”
What is surprising is that he wrote that over 100 years ago. What is true then is true now. But what I want to make clear is that this urgent call to prayer is not reserved for the pulpit only, but also the pew. Our prayer life needs reviving, both publicly and privately. We all need to understand that prayer-less people are powerless people.
But why are God’s people so resistant to a lifestyle of prayer and seem to be only content with a prayer meeting? We seem to resist any mention of an increase in passion for prayer and say that that type of prayer is only for those “gifted” in prayer. Since when? Since when did praying become a gift for the selected few? Since when did praying become a cause of tension amongst God’s people? What must God be thinking when His very own people try to find excuses why they cannot pray together and alone? Try treating your spouse like that and see how long it lasts!
It goes deeper…what about Paul’s admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to, “pray without ceasing”? Is he serious? Something tells me that we have missed the point. Have we made prayer into a weekly meeting? Have we reduced the power of prayer into a structured practice of performance, routine and official duty? Are you willing to ask the hard questions with me and be prepared for the Holy Spirit to take us into the realm of a powerful prayer life?
I remember asking those exact same questions on How do I pray? and what should I say?
But I think that as we get into the word and start to understand Gos will it just flows as we relax and let the Holy spirit lead us. It gets easier. I guess because We are not so stressed about it. We Dont plan every word we are going to say. We get to know God and build a relationship with Him so it really is like we are talking to Him a if he was "physically" there with us.
It hurts that E.M Bounds wrote that 100 years ago and it is still happening today. The chuch still believes that they can go to church on a Sunday and repent but then go about things on Monday as if it never happened.
Maybe you are right Lyds. Maybe there is too much ritual or order around prayer life. People dont have the relationship anymore. I am amazed by the amount of people who call themselves Christians but do not act like it. They dont have the relationship. They dont follow God. They just claim to believe that there is a God. Its become a religion rather then a relationship.
Ok i think i might of become just a little passionate about this. But its because God has placed a burden on my heart. It pains me to think some people believe they are going to go to Heaven but they are far from it.
i dont like the idea of people standing there on Judgement day and being told to walk away becuase God doesnt know them.
Hmmmmm…
I remember thinking and even asking you the question Mark- How do I pray? What should I say? I felt intimidated by such an Almighty God, kind of when you see a celebrity and get stuck for words (so ok that is a total insult in comparison to God- just saying…). However then God showed me and continues to do so, to pray as though He is "physically" there with you. Talk to Him like you would a good friend and about absolutely everything!
Maybe we place too much ritual or order around our prayer life and we lose that personal touch?
I can not go one day without praying.I have read the book power of prayer and it did hit me to read that one preacher made prayer his business,and to read that John Wesley prayed for 10 hours on his knees crying out for the lost.Prayer is the only way to communicate with God and we are supposed to let Him take control of our lives,by praying we should be asking for His will to be done in our lifes.I am very passionate about prayer and know that without it we will fail.Jesus is our saviour and He loves us so much that he died a gruesome death for us,just by knowing that why wouldn't you want to spend time with Him corperately and on your own.