Luke 18:1-8 

I am convinced that nothing in the economy of God happens outside of prayer. We look to all sorts of gimmicks, plans and strategies to accomplish that which only the miraculous power of God can do. We think mimicking the Saddleback story, or copying the Korean House Church model will grow this church. We think if we can just find a financial benefactor who will fund us we can spread enough material to get our name known. We think if we can just host enough events drawing people to our property we will experience the growth others have. We think if we can just get the right musical team and produce the right sound we will gather the crowd we believe we are lacking.

All of these things have their value and all of them will, undoubtedly, produce results, but only, only as we walk in obedience to the Word and will of God, humbly seeking the face of God. That involves prayer, having a little talk with Jesus, communicating with the Creator and sustainer of all life. Now for those of you who have been with me a little while this is not news. As believers, we have been taught and have even experienced the efficacy of prayer. We have been told that God hears and answers prayers, but we are largely prayerless. We have been told, and I have said it myself, that prayer changes things. But perhaps what is truer is that prayer changes us and then we change things.

As we begin this week of prayer, I am convicted by our lack of prayer as a body and struggle to find the cause. Perhaps we do not understand the results of prayer, or if we do, maybe we do not really believe. I will not pretend to exhaust the results of prayer today, but allow me the opportunity to point you to some fundamental ones.

1. God will forgive our sin and heal our land. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

 2. God will reveal His plans for your life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

3. God will hear you and restore your fortunes. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:12-15)

4. God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   (Philippians 4:6-7)

I am convinced that nothing in the economy of God happens outside of prayer. We have such rich promises concerning prayer and yet we continue to rely on our own resources. Jesus taught His disciples to ask and they would receive, seek and they would find, knock and the door would be opened and yet, like so many other times, it appears that they did not understand the authority or privilege they had. Jesus, therefore, tells them a parable about a widow who persistently pled her case before an unjust judge. She refused to accept the verdict she would receive his verdict and continued to present herself before him until he relented and gave her justice. Jesus, using the parable, explains to His disciples that they should be as fervent in their prayer as this widow was in pleading her case, and God, who is always just and has promised to hear and answer prayer, will see to it that His chosen ones quickly receive justice.

The now dated hymn of the church, that some of you may recognize, highlights the comfort and power prayer provides. If I am not mistaken, it was one of the songs my family would sing as we went down the road, long before there were cassette, 8-Track, CD players, or blue tooth with which to connect your media players.

I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
, and then a little light from heaven filled my soul. It bathed my heart in love and it wrote my name above
, and just a little talk with my Jesus made me whole. 

Have a little talk with Jesus tell him all about our troubles. Hear our fainted cry, answer by and by.
 Feel a little prayer wheel turning, know a little fire is burning.
 Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Sometimes my path grows drear without a ray of cheer and then a cloud of doubt may hide the day.
 The mists of sin may rise and hide the starry skies, but just a little talk with Jesus clears the way.

Have a little talk with Jesus tell him all about our troubles. Hear our fainted cry, answer by and by.
 Feel a little prayer wheel turning, know a little fire is burning.
 Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

I may have doubts and fears my eyes be filled with tears, but Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
 I go to him in prayer he knows my every care, and just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Have a little talk with Jesus tell him all about our troubles. Hear our fainted cry, answer by and by.
 Feel a little prayer wheel turning, know a little fire is burning.
 Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right. 

© All Rights Reserved – Dr. James H. Logan, Jr.