Does prayer work?

Last Sunday evening I preached about Philippians 1.19ff. I enjoyed it because people joined in.
Here's a version of it:

"Do you believe prayer achieves anything?  Really?

Do you believe the Holy Spirit makes any difference?  Really?

Paul in detention in Rome in AD62 (prob).  As far as we know never released, but executed within next 5 years.

Writes to the first church he planted in Europe - northern Greece - an imperial colony and tax-haven.

It’s a pretty healthy church, but with problems both outside and inside.

Back to the questions.

• Do you believe prayer achieves anything?  Really?

• Do you believe the Holy Spirit makes any difference?  Really?

Possible answers:

1. ‘Yes, and this is why I do.’

2. ‘Yes and no - in theory, but never for me.’

3. ‘No. I’ve seen no evidence to convince me.’

Answers from the congregation

“Yes. Because I’ve experienced several answers - not always what I’ve wanted! - when people have prayed for me.”

“As I’ve got older, I’ve come to know Jesus as my friend as well as my Saviour, and I’ve found him answering my prayers as I’ve come to understand his will.”

“I think we often find that God has answered our prayers - as we look back. Like for example our moving to Grove.”

I have a prayer partner on the other side of the world. It is extraordinary how often and how specifically her prayer requests are answered. 

Do you remember 3 weeks ago when Pope Francis called for people of faith worldwide to fast and pray (7 July) for peace in Syria, and what happened by the Monday?  From the imminent danger of US missiles to promise of Assad handing over chemical weapons… Unbelievable breakthrough towards peace!  A friend on Facebook reminded me of wartime national days of prayer, and the miraculous answers that followed (When the nation prayed).

Conclusion: God definitely does answer prayer now.

        

What does St Paul believe?

Verse 19 “I know that through your prayers and the help (God’s provision NIV) of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance”. 

He knows.  He knows their prayers will be answered.  He knows that the Holy Spirit will be at work on his behalf.  In fact, it appears that his “deliverance” would turn out “to depart and be with Christ”, which was far better (verse 23).

How does he know?

• Through relationship

• Through experience

Relationship

“I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1.12).

He has met with Jesus - dramatically! - and lives his whole life with daily reference to him.  “So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2.20).

“So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 9.17).

Experience

Paul not only prays for the young Christians constantly; he also keeps asking for their prayers for him.

And for him prayer is a two-way conversation, not always comfortable!

“And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me” (Acts 20.22,23).

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12.8,9).

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (James 5.16-18).                                        [NB Remember that “righteous” here doesn’t mean that we are good, but it means we’ve been made right with God because of Jesus.  We are righteous because we’re in a relationship with Jesus; we’re trusting him.]

So let’s be encouraged.  And be challenged to pray.  “Prayer... has great power as its working.”

Congregation asked what to pray for. 

Father, you know these needs of our church, which your Holy Spirit has put on people’s hearts. Put them on ours too, so that we all pray fervently and effectively according to your will, through Jesus Christ and to his glory. Amen."

Cracking up

Martin Wenham, The Tenth Beatitude

Thanks to Sister Catherine Wybourne of the iBenedictines I came across Martin Wenham, who as far as I know is no relation. He is an artist/craftsman who uses lettering in wood, who's exhibiting in Uppingham. Here's the link: Martin Wenham: a private view.

I particularly liked this one. Sadly it's sold. Those who know me will see why I like it!

"Blessed are the cracked,
for they shall let in the light."

Don't worry if you're cracking up....

Mutual support

My faithful correspondent, Leafyschroder, made a great comment after my last post. If you, like me, tend to skip comments after blog-posts, I want to make sure you haven't missed it. So here it is:

"The well known 'Lessons from the geese' was written in 1972 by Dr Robert McNeish of Baltimore, Ohio, in the USA. He was a science teacher who had been intrigued with observing geese for years and wrote the piece for a sermon he delivered in church. More information can be seen on the web site of Sue Widemark. 

Lessons from the geese
by Dr Robert McNeish
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson 2: If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point formation.
Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core values of others is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong."

The photo above was taken in Norfolk - where my correspondent used to live. Thank you, Leafy!

Morning Prayer

Here's a lovely morning prayer from Alice Tremaine's Prayers for Health blog.

Gracious God,

Thank you for being with me today.
Open my eyes to see you at work in me and around me as I go about my day.

Help me to enjoy the simple pleasures today,
To be present in each moment and to each person,                                                                                                             To be grateful for the unfolding of another day of life.

Help me to remember what really matters whenever I feel overwhelmed or frustrated.
Help me to be of service to others today.

When I feel judgmental, help me to find compassion.
When I feel shame, help me to find freedom.
When I feel guilt, help me to find forgiveness.
When I feel afraid, help me to feel covered by your love.

Thank you for this day.
Thank you for this moment.
Amen.