Sermons | FBC Boerne
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Sermons | FBC Boerne
Sunday Sermon | Prayer: Approach in Prayer
Pastor Jason starts a new series looking at prayer. This week, we explore prayer as a learned desperation rather than just a discipline, examining how Jesus teaches us to approach God as our Father rather than with empty repetitions.
• Prayer isn't just a position of our knees but a disposition of our hearts
• Jesus modeled prayer throughout his ministry, often slipping away to pray for extended periods
• Writing prayer requests in a journal helps us recognize God's specific answers
• Approaching God as "Our Father" gives us complete access to His throne
• Children bring everything to their parents – from problems to celebrations
• We can come to God with our full range of emotions, just as we see in the Psalms
• Meditating on God's greatness lifts our eyes above our circumstances
• Our access to God is based entirely on Jesus' finished work, not our performance
• On our best days and worst days, God's love for us remains unchanged
This week, take time to approach God as your Father, bringing Him your whole self without fear or formality, knowing He loves you completely.
So let's talk about prayer. You see, all earthly things will fade away, but prayer grasps at eternity. I'm convinced that God not only hears desperate prayer, God also hears every prayer. But you see, prayer it's not just a position on your knees. Prayer is a disposition of your heart. Prayer is so much more than a discipline. It is a learned desperation. As human beings, prayer is one of the greatest privileges that we have.
Speaker 2:All right, good morning church family. If you're a guest with us, let me introduce myself. My name is Jason Smith. I have the honor and privilege of being the pastor here of First Baptist Bernie.
Speaker 2:This morning we're going to begin a new sermon series titled Prayer. Look at that, you guys got it. Okay. Now you may also be thinking, pastor, you're about 10 minutes early for being up there to preach. Like we're supposed to sing four songs and then the pastor preaches and then one song at the end. So, guys, for the prayer sermon series, I'm going to do something that is going to blow your mind. Are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? We're probably going to sing three songs, the sermon, and then have two response songs at the end. Okay, boom, all right Now. I tell you that so that you can prepare your heart right now, because we're doing that, so that you can have extended response time, extended time in prayer, so that we can press into that. And I'm also telling you that because there is about 10% of you that as soon as the pastor begins to pray to close the service, there's like an avalanche that runs towards the back door. So I'm just letting you know there's going to be two response songs and don't run out immediately. Okay, you can stay for the whole service. It will be a blessing to you. You will be anointed by the Lord if you stay for the whole service.
Speaker 2:All right, turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew, chapter 6. Matthew, chapter 6. Now, this sermon series is going to look different because I'm not just picking one text to walk through the entire time, so we're going to bounce around. It's going to be more topical on a topical teaching, on prayer. But you may be astute, you may be like Matthew, chapter six. I know that's the Lord's prayer and that is where we are going to start, so hold your spot there. In just a moment.
Speaker 2:I want you to imagine with me that you are a custom home builder. Okay, and because of your trade, you have an incredible spread of power tools, just like the Tim Allen, the man cave of power tools. The Lord has blessed you financially. And then the Lord lays it on your heart. What about those in the third world countries? What about those much less fortunate? And he lays it on your heart that they don't have power tools. And he gives you this prompting that you are to go to a remote part of India and take and share your power tools. So that's exactly what you do. You pack them up with all your tools and generators and you go over there and you gift to them, to an entire village, this remote part of India, an entire village of your power tools. Then you leave there and you come home and you're diligent to email and to check on them and every time they say, oh yeah, the power tools are great.
Speaker 2:But two years later you show up on a surprise visit, okay, and you quickly find out that they have only been giving lip service, only lip service. They're actually not using them at all. Person after person in the village, no one is using them. And then you happen to stumble across a guy who is actually using the power sander but, to your whore, he's working twice as hard as he would without that power sander because it's not even plugged in. I suspect most of us, when it comes to our prayer lives, feel like we've been handed a set of power tools with almost no training and we're we're like am I doing it right? And it's not even plugged in.
Speaker 2:Now, I have no doubt that you would all agree to the highest platitudes right there, along with Martin Lloyd-Jones that prayer is, beyond any question, the highest activity of the human soul. But there is a gap between what we know and should be doing and are actually doing. Fall asleep, my mind wanders. I don't have the time. I get tired of saying the same things over and over again. God doesn't even hear my prayers. And yes, I know you pray before meals, but that to most of us is like the anthem before the football game. Okay, let's get it over with so we can get to the real stuff. And yes, I know that if you lost your job or if someone that you really loved was in a crisis situation, then you would know how to pray. I don't doubt that in crisis, you know how to beg God. But if we're honest, most of us struggle with anything beyond 30 second prayers. 15 minutes is an eternity to spend in prayer. When it comes to the work of prayer daily praying for our loved ones, praying scripture, journaling our prayers, prayer partners, praying with people we aren't moving any mountains because we aren't doing it. We aren't doing it. See, what we actually do in practice reflects our true priorities in life. It reflects what matters most to us and for most of us, prayer is stuck on a far shelf in the back corner of the garage collecting dust, and I don't say this to shame us. I say this as a fellow struggler, as a way of connecting with you, a plea for us.
Speaker 2:Jesus was a man of prayer. I want you to think about that for a second. The eternal son of God routinely, all throughout his life, developed deep-rooted patterns of prayer. In Matthew 14, 23, he goes up on a mountain to pray alone by himself all evening. On two different occasions, in Matthew 6 and in Luke 6, we're told that Jesus stayed up all night praying. And in Luke 6, we're told that Jesus stayed up all night praying. And Mark 1.35, we're told that he got up early in the morning to go pray. He continually slipped away from the crowds and his disciples to pray. Hebrews chapter 5 actually describes to us that throughout Jesus's life he cried out to God with a loud voice and tears as he was learning a deeper and deeper obedience and reliance upon his father. You see, jesus prayed and he wants his disciples to experience God's stunning power for undeserving people who come to him in prayer.
Speaker 2:So throughout the series, I want to point out some really practical things to do with prayer, so that you can leave here and go. I can do that. One of those things is a prayer journal. Okay, logging your prayers, writing them down, because you have a tendency to forget what you've prayed. Okay, if you are anything like me, you don't remember what you had for dinner last night, much less that you were actually praying consistently for that, and then the Lord actually came through with that. So using a prayer journal is very, very key and important.
Speaker 2:So, going into the fall semester, I was praying and writing in my prayer journal for my children, specific prayers for them as well as my wife, and one of those for it was for the kids and for my wife was in that first week. Week and a half okay, it would be God, could someone unexpected come and encourage Lane this week? Okay. And that week, right in the middle of that second week, we're sitting around the dinner table and she just you know everyone's sharing about their week. We do a highs and lows of the day, what's going on?
Speaker 2:And my wife begins to unfold that she had a student, that she had the previous semester. That was somewhat difficult, but now he's in a different situation, in a different context, and as she shares this story. She just begins to beam right, she just begins to see, like, oh, this teaching thing, it's worth it, and you see that. And so in my mind I'm like check, all right, there we go. She's encouraged. Well, as I was checking that off of my prayer list, I thought you know what that's such a good one. I'm going to keep praying for that. So this week, right, I repray that exact same thing. Lord, could you encourage my wife this week? Could you just encourage her, as she's at school? 20 minutes later, after I pray for her, she texts me and says you wouldn't believe it.
Speaker 2:This morning I got to, I got to pray with a coworker that it was this, that it was this really unique situation and it's gonna be a special connection, and I got to pray with them. Now, what do you think that does to my prayer life? It becomes alive, it becomes God. You are listening to me. Yes, I'm gonna keep praying, all right, so listen to me. Write your prayer requests down. Write them down, check them off, be faithful, okay, all right.
Speaker 2:Matthew, chapter six, beginning in verse seven. I'm going to read seven, eight and nine Jesus is teaching his disciples. Okay, jesus is speaking. He says and when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way. Ask him pray then in this way. Our father, who is in heaven, will you pray with me. Father, we do come to you this morning in the name of Jesus and we are grateful that we can come to you with childlike faith. As your child, father, we pray that you would teach us mightily. Father, I know across this room that there is a desire to want to be better at prayer, to want to be able to connect with you in prayer. But, father, we are so limited, it doesn't always feel like we're doing, accomplishing a whole lot. And so, father, I pray this morning, god, that you would teach us through the power of your spirit, especially this morning, how to approach you In Jesus' name. We pray, pray, amen, all right.
Speaker 2:Louis XIV, who built the palace of Versailles, okay, was notorious for controlling every detail of etiquette around him. Okay, nobles would compete for the honor of handing him his shirt or holding his wash bin, or just being there when he put on his shoes. And at every moment, louis demanded the strictest of protocols of etiquette. Bow a certain way. Never turn your back to the king. Address him always with precise titles. The dress code around him was rigid. Everyone, even where you stood. Everyone, had to be in precise order according to their rank and those who approached him too casually risked disgrace. One Duke, anton Cremant, once spoke too freely and was thrown into prison for 10 years for breaking etiquette.
Speaker 2:In front of him, this morning, jesus teaches us how to approach God in prayer. All right, so perk up. This could be life altering, because it is actually exceedingly very important how you approach God in prayer. But Jesus's instructions will not be what you think. Now, in the context here of Matthew, chapter 6, jesus is criticizing those that pray on the public street corner. Okay, jesus says to them listen, god isn't even your audience when you're praying. You are praying just to look more holy, to be found holy amongst your peers. You don't even actually care about God himself. God will not heed your prayers when you approach him like that. And then, even more closely, he goes on to critique those who use many pious words, for they they pretend that God will be impressed with their magic formula, as if God's up there in heaven and going oh, they said the magic code words. I guess I've got better. Do it now. Okay, their approach to God like like a book of magic spells and God will not heed their prayers.
Speaker 2:In fact, the most dramatic story in the whole Bible about approaching God wrongly in prayer is out of King Saul in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel, chapter 13,. King Saul is leading an army against the Philistines, and the Philistines have a bigger army than the Israelites do in that moment. And King Saul has been told he knows that he is not authorized to offer the sacrifice, but he's been told to wait till Samuel comes. Okay, samuel will offer the sacrifice and then go into battle. But as as Saul looks out across the battle lines, he looks at his own army. They're getting discouraged and actually they are beginning to to get fragmented. Some people are starting to leave. Okay, and and Saul, in a panic, he says look, my army's about to go astray. And Saul offers the sacrifice, as if to say let's get this part over with so we can get to the battle. And as soon as he offers the sacrifice, samuel appears on the horizon, comes and has a word from the Lord, and the word from the Lord is this Saul, the kingdom has been removed from you and is given to another.
Speaker 2:Now I want you to think about this context for a second. Okay, what did Saul do that was so bad to receive such a harsh punishment? The kingdom has been removed from you. The Messiah will no longer come from you. I've given it to another.
Speaker 2:What did Saul do? He approached God as the pagans do, as if God needed to be appeased. Okay, yeah, give God his sacrifice so he will bless us, and then we can get on to our part, to the battle. And you say well, pastor, I'm probably not going to be in that situation, so I'm okay. So let me explain.
Speaker 2:I've used this illustration before At my previous church. We were right across the street from a university. Why is it that at finals times did suddenly, for a week there, the church was full of college students? Because I need something from God to pass this test, a promotion at work. I need something. I need something. So let me scratch God's back, go to church, play nice, so that he will give me what I want. How did God respond to Saul?
Speaker 2:But now, in complete contrast, how does Jesus instruct us to approach God in prayer, our Father, our Father, notice that this isn't a privilege that Jesus gives to a select group of his followers, for priests, for only his inner circle. This is for anyone, regardless of education, social status, financial status. Anyone who has placed their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can approach God as our Father. Have you been saved? Have you been saved, then? God is your father and you approach his throne as his child, entirely by the merits of Jesus Christ. He has accomplished your forgiveness, your reconciliation, your righteousness. He has accomplished all for you. Theologians call this the imputed righteousness In your mind. I want you to imagine it is good for you to imagine that Jesus has come and taken a robe and completely covered you in his perfection. Covered you in his perfection, spotless, because this is how you approach the throne of God and prayer. And listen to me God, the Father, is completely, 100% satisfied in the finished work of his son on your behalf and therefore he is completely satisfied to call you his own. This means on your best day and on your worst day, there's no difference. You hear that when you fasted for a week or when you've just committed a sin and gone further from God than you ever thought you could. He still calls you his own.
Speaker 2:The scripture says Jesus sits at the right hand of the father. The scripture says Jesus sits at the right hand of the father. And when you pray, dear Christian, Jesus says to the father this one is mine. My blood has forgiven, reconciled, redeemed. My blood covers them. Come, come, child, to the throne of grace.
Speaker 2:Listen to John 16, 23 and 26. Jesus speaking, teaching his disciples, he says truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the father for anything in my name, he will give it to you. Now, in that day that you ask in my name and I do not say that to you that I will request of the father on your behalf, okay. Now there are sections of scripture that talk about how Jesus is our advocate, he's our intercessor. Okay, that scripture wants you to be able to think in terms of a legal courtroom that the judge is before you, but Jesus is your lawyer who is arguing your case. Scripture wants you to be able to think in that way. But here, jesus also wants you to think completely different, because listen to what he says. He says on that day, when you pray in my name, I don't have to stand next to you and go hey, father, remember I've covered this one's blood. No, no, no. Listen to what he says On that day. I don't have to make the request for you, for the Father himself loves you Because you have loved me and have believed that I've come forth from the father. He is your father. The greatest father in all of history now calls you his own. Listen to me. I know many of you in this room have not had the greatest father. I want you to understand. He is the perfect, the most amazing father. You can't even imagine how good he is, and this scripture says he loves you.
Speaker 2:Now, when it comes to prayer, why is it important to think? What is so special about being a child? So let us begin with access. Did you know that my kids don't knock whenever they come in the house? They have a fingerprint code. They just walk up fingerprint. It goes right in. They come in. My 11-year-old has taken over my bathroom counter. My sons eat me out of house and home. My oldest will walk down the stairs and I will say hey, I remember that shirt.
Speaker 2:A servant, an employee, only has access to the boss during business hours, when it's convenient to meet, but a child has access to the father all the time. I am always available for my kids, for my kids, and I'm finite and limited in my abilities. Your heavenly father does not sleep. Okay, he's never tired and he's never in a bad mood. Okay, it's not like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He's like I'm really cranky today. I'm not going to listen to you. Then why do you hesitate to go to him? Some of you almost will not pray yourself because you feel unworthy, but you will come. You will ask someone like me to pray on your behalf, a pastor, because you think that God will listen to me. A child does not ask someone else to pray for them. A child has complete access to the father. Now, of course, we can pray together and hold one another up, but never in place of.
Speaker 2:What sorts of things do children bring to their parents? All things right. They bring scraped knees. They crawl into bed when there's a nightmare. They celebrate spelling bee victories together. Parents get I'm hungry. They get financial requests dad, I need help with homework. They get financial requests Because their problems are my problems. I've been saving up for four years for my oldest to turn 16. Because his problem is my problem. You know, a child isn't afraid to ask. Now, they certainly heard the word no and that's not good for you and we can't do that, but they are never afraid to ask. One of mine has been making a birthday list for six months. It keeps getting longer and longer and longer. He doesn't care.
Speaker 2:A child also gives their parents the real them, their full range of emotions. Right, there's no formality like Louis XIV, or did I say the magic words? Did I do it? Right Inside the home, the masks come off and we speak truthfully with raw emotions, and sometimes it comes out messy. Would you actually believe that? My kids, on multiple occasions, have said to me you're not being fair. Do you know how many times my staff has said that to me? Yeah, zero, they would never go. You're not being fair. Listen to me, I cannot say this strongly enough. Give God your full range of emotions, your fears, your frustrations, your hopes. He can handle all of you, your hopes, he can handle all of you. He can handle all of you. Have you not read the Psalms? Does that not encourage you, right? Give him all of you. Plus, he already knows. He already knows. So why do you hide from him? Why do you pretend that you need to come with some sort of formality? Come as you are, because your father loves you Even more.
Speaker 2:A child comes to their father with complete dependence, with the confidence my dad can fix this. So I remember a time when my brother and I we were young I think I was like eight and he was seven and we're at the park playing football, right, just throwing the football, and a group of teenagers come up and to think they're funny amongst themselves, they snag our football and they start throwing it around. Right, and you know, we start whining and going hey, give that back, that's ours. And they're like what are you going to do about it? And my brother yells right. He's like, wait until my dad hears about this, okay. And as teenagers, of course, they're like oh, yeah, ooh, I'm so scared. But they toss the football back and leave, right, okay, why? You see, a child knows that it doesn't matter if I'm big enough to get results. It's my dad who fights and moves for me.
Speaker 2:The one who imagined the son is your father, the one who coded the color of your eyes and then crammed 74 billion miles of DNA inside your body. He is your Abba. Your father does not lack for power or resources. In fact, that's one of Jesus's points here when he teaches us to pray Our father who is in heaven. It is a reminder for you and I to lift our eyes above our circumstances, to remember who your father is. Remember who he is. He is the eternal one, the self-sufficient one, the sovereign judge who reigns above it all. He is the one to whom everyone gives an account. He needs nothing and owns everything. It's so easy for us to get overwhelmed by our circumstances right, we are finite, we lose control. So easy, right, we're so finite. But Jesus is teaching that, in our very approach to God, to lift our eyes and meditate on him. It's like when Peter stepped out on the water. You know this. Peter steps out on the water and the moment he looks at the storm or the waves, he sinks. But when his eyes are fixed on Jesus, he's above the waves, he's walking on water.
Speaker 2:Listen to me, that's an incredible illustration, a picture for how you and I are called to approach God in prayer, adoration, meditation on who he is, to praise him. Now I'm going to do something completely different, something we've never done here, but I want us to enter into a time of prayer and I want you to allow me to be your guide, if that's okay. So right now, across this room, I want you to bow your head. I want you to close your eyes. You can pray with your spouse, you can pray with your kids. If you want, allow me to be your guide as we approach the throne of God.
Speaker 2:Throne of God, his name is Yahweh. I am who I am. He was and is and is to come. He dwells in unapproachable light. You cannot flee from his presence. His throne is above every throne, above every ruler and authority. Until there is only one. He causes nations to rise and fall for his purposes. Until there is only one, he causes nations to rise and fall for his purposes.
Speaker 2:When Moses just got a glimpse of his back, his face shone. This is your father. He supplied water out of a rock in provision for his own. He knocked the walls of Jericho down with a shout. The whole earth is his and everything in it. This is your father and you, child, are invited into his throne room, into his presence, to have his undivided attention, to have his undivided attention. You enter completely in the name of Jesus. His blood covers you. Jesus sits at the Father's right hand. He sympathizes with your every hurt and weakness. Child, he already knows, he understands and Jesus calls you forward. I want you to hear his voice. He says you are mine and I am yours. Come closer to the throne of grace.
Speaker 2:Believer, you now stand before your heavenly father, who loves you. Tell him that you love him. Now. What do you want to say to him? Feel the freedom to bring up any hurt or circumstance to your Father. Amen, our Heavenly Father, we praise you, we love you. You have entered into our sinfulness so that you might save us and redeem us. We praise you in jesus name. Father, I pray all across this room that that your children, that your children, would understand in a deeper way how to access you in prayer, coming as a child, solely because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, all because of him, we have access to you. Father, I pray through this prayer series that you would teach us. Your word says that you delight in us bearing fruit, because we abide in you and because we pray to you, because you are our source. Help us, father. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.