Lord, teach me to pray

So the twelve apostles called the whole group of believers together and said, It is not right for us to neglect the preaching of God's word in order to handle the daily distribution of food. So then, friends, choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this matter. We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching.

Acts 6:2-4

This is where each Christian should be strongest: in the word of God and in prayer.

The Cathedral Staff team spend several hours each week discerning God’s word as we prepare to teach and Minister. We spent five days last month at NEAC a conference which encouraged us to Fan into Flame the word of God. 

In this church we have been encouraging everyone to take bible notes and to read the bible each day. The Home Groups have been learning to travel light through their study of the 23^rd Psalm and this has been a blessing and encouragement to those in the Home Groups, do join a group near to you.

We are also called to be a praying people and …..

WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING GOD: OUR FATHER.

What joy then Jesus words in Luke 11 are to every believer: “When you pray say: Father”

God is our Father and we through faith in Jesus, His son, have the privilege of drawing close into an intimate relationship with Him.

From being a people in the Old Testament who wouldn’t even say the name of God, (for remember the Jews were not even allowed to speak his name) now through his son’s life giving sacrifice for our sins, the new relationship we have with God means that we can call him and know Him as our Father.

And the bible tells us, no one can call him Father apart from Jesus, that is until we are born again when we become adopted children of our Heavenly Father.

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth, that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit”.   

John 3:5

“Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.”

John 1:12-13

So it is only when you seek forgiveness for your sin and receive the Lord Jesus Christ that you become a child of God and God becomes your Father.

Only through the power of the Spirit received at the time of your salvation can you call God, “Father”.

Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, “Father! My Father!”

Romans 8:14-15

I wonder have you fully studied this issue from God’s word deeply – for only then will you understand and realise that prayer is a privilege reserved for those who are truly the children of God.

Prayer is said glibly by many, but scripture tells us, it is only for those who can say with Jesus, “Our Father” those who are truly sons and daughters of God.

Most of all this shows us that Prayer and faith isn’t a matter of duty or religion, it truly is about a relationship, through the son, with the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER THEN IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP AND HONOUR GOD.

And to worship some one is to give them the honour and respect that is due to them.

When we come to pray we are standing on holy ground before a holy God, who is mightier and greater than ourselves.

Remember God’s commandment, in Exodus 20:7

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

So instead of taking God’s name in vain you are to honour his name and remember how awesome and mighty He is and that may mean being aware of how you can take His name in vain by: disbelieving what God can do, or denying Him when you are called to publicly make a stand for Him; or by distorting the truth about Him. 

If you say, “I’m sorry, I just can’t believe God will really provide my needs, or heal my neighbour” or “I just can’t believe that God alone created the world” or “I can’t accept that the Holy Spirit still speaks today” or “I don’t believe God let His Son die for my sins,” then you are dishonouring His name, you are having wrong thoughts about God. 

Many people who would never dishonour God by swearing or speaking his name in a casual manner still desecrate his name when they doubt or deny his being or his character. 

Let’s aim to look on his holiness. To honour His name by bringing Him praise, in the midst of our strain and trusting in His greatness. By offering Him worship from our inner being that proclaims his majesty over all. 

And to do this it may be helpful to look afresh at: the names of God from the bible and to honour his name and as we worship our holy and mighty God who loves us. These are just some of God’s names from the scriptures. 

The names of God.

God’s names tell us who he is and when we acknowledge and respect who He is we honour His name. When we acknowledge His omnipotence, then we have his strength and His power to change any situation, to hear where His spirit is leading and to pray His kingdom here on earth.

Jesus said: “When you pray, say this: Father: May your holy name be honoured

As a church, as an individual, prayer is where we should be strongest, let’s devote to building our selves on our weakness, let’s say as the disciples said in Acts 6:4 “We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer – and see it as a privilege.