Making Room for Prayer (Pt. 3 of 3)

(Part 3 of 3)

“And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”

                                                                                              

                                                                                                   Mark 11:17-18

Beware of becoming religious! The response to Jesus’ declaration to restore prayer to the spiritual life of Israel was swift. Unfortunately, the response was not one of repentance and vowing to return prayer to its proper place, but instead Jesus’ plea was met with a rebellious response housed in the form of religious indignation.

If fact, the religious leaders response to Jesus’ emphasis on prayer was the classic retort of many who are unwilling to repent of their sin; kill the messenger! They would rather kill Jesus before they would toss out those things that were occupying their lives; causing them abandon prayer as a vital component of their faith.

So it is with many people today. They would rather ignore the scripture, redefine faith, belittle pastors, and degrade the church before they would toss out those things in their lives that have caused them to abandon prayer as a vital component of their faith.

Their actions speak volumes to the real depth of their spiritual maturity. In fact, in my opinion, our time spent in prayer is a better indicator of our faith in God than our praise could ever be. Praise demonstrates our appreciation and thankfulness towards God. Prayer communicates our dependency on Him.

By eliminating the place of prayer, the religious leaders of Jesus day were proclaiming that they had stopped depending on God. They had no problem praising God and offering up adoration, but they abandoned the discipline that expressed a dependency on Him.

Armin R. Gesswein once said, “If you want to see how popular the church is, attend Sunday morning worship. If you want to see how popular the pastor is, attend Sunday evening. If you want to see how popular God is, attend the prayer meeting.”

How about you? Have you abandoned the place of prayer? What is occupying the time that you spend in prayer? Do you attend the prayer meeting at your church? Does your church even have prayer meetings?

It is time to toss over some tables and drive some things out so that we can once again make room for prayer!

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Making Room for Prayer (Pt. 2)

(Part 2)

“Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”

                                                                                                Mark 11:9-11

One thing that caught Jesus’ attention when he entered the temple was that the passion he had just heard in their praise did not carry into their place of prayer. If the only gauge we used to measure spiritual maturity was praise, we would assume that the people were spiritually healthy. However, upon reaching the temple’s outer courts, Jesus was shocked when he observed that the place of prayer had been hijacked and was being used as a marketplace. This obvious discrepancy is what led to his addressing the fig tree in full view of his disciples.

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                      Mark 11:12-14

People who praise without making room to pray are like a fig tree in leaf that bears no fruit.  A person whose life is devoid of prayer will eventually, spiritually speaking, wither and die. Why?  A lack of prayer demonstrates an absolute lack of faith in God.

We pray because we believe that we serve a God that cares about us and our needs. To abandon prayer demonstrates a faith in self, lack of need for God, or the belief that He cares little about our needs. As we begin to demonstrate greater and greater trust in ourselves, we will abandon the place of prayer in our lives. The lack of prayer in our lives is communicating just how much value we truly place on it.

By overturning the tables and running out the money changers, Jesus was establishing the importance of prayer:

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “My House will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of robbers.’”

                                                                                                            Mark 11: 15-17

Jesus was reclaiming and restoring what was being robbed from the people, by expunging those things that were occupying its space. If you abandon the place of prayer, it well get occupied with something! What’s occupying your prayer time?

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Making Room for Prayer (Pt.1)

(Part 1)

“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.”

                                                                                                            Mark 11:11

What was it that day Jesus was so curious to see? In the opening verses of Mark 11 we see Jesus entering into Jerusalem. He is led in, riding on donkey, with scores of people spreading out their cloaks, waving palm branches, and praising God. They believed that their Messiah had finally come.

However, upon reaching the Temple, Jesus entered into the courts of the gentiles and found a disturbing sight. What used to be a place designated for the gentiles to come and pray and worship God had been turned into a marketplace.

What Jesus heard when he triumphantly rode into Jerusalem is not what he witnessed when he entered the temple; the passion he heard in their praise was not evident in other areas of their faith.

The next day as they were traveling back to Jerusalem from Bethany, Jesus and his disciples passed a fig tree:

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.”

                                                                                                            Mark 11:12-14

The tree appeared to be vibrant, alive, and growing from a distance; but upon closer inspection it did not bear any fruit.  Jesus’ experience in Jerusalem the day before was remarkably similar. They nation of Israel appeared to be vibrant, alive, and zealous for God; but upon closer inspection they were not bearing fruit.

Once past the throngs of praising people, past the beautiful edifices, and ornate temple aesthetics; Jesus discovered that the gentile’s place of prayer had been renovated into a farmer’s market!

The marketplace occupying their place of prayer made it impossible for them to pray and worship there. So Jesus went to work:

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?” But you have made it a den of robbers.”

                                                                                                            Mark 11:15-17

The people valued praise, but did not value prayer. How often is this scenario being played out in our lives? We make room for praise, but leave no room for prayer.

What have you set up in our life that is robbing you of your time, place, energy, or ability to pray?  Perhaps it is time to start overturning some tables!

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com

Loaves and Fishes

(Part 3 of 3)

“The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth; no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them and got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.”

                                                                                                                        Mark 8:11-13

Beware of a Pharisaical Spirit! As Jesus met the needs of the people; a religiously charged or super-spiritualized attitude rose among the religious leaders. Apparently the feeding of four thousand people with only seven loaves and two fish was not enough of a miracle for them; they needed a sign from heaven.

Jesus, concerned that His disciples may be influenced by these contaminated attitudes, addressed His disciples in Mark 8:14-15:

“The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

However, instead of gleaning what Jesus was attempting to teach them; all the disciples could focus on once again was their lack!

“They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

                                                                                                            Mark 8:16

The disciples had brought only one loaf of bread; and even though Jesus had just demonstrated what he could do with just a little; they looked at the little they had and declared “we have no bread.”

“Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand: Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes that fail to see and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

                                                                                                Mark 8:17-21

Jesus instruction to them had nothing at all to do with the bread! Jesus was teaching them that having little will never hinder a move of God, but a wrong spirit most certainly will.

Compassion is not about having the resource to meet the needs of the suffering; it is about having the desire to meet the needs. Some of you need to pray that God will fan the flame of compassion in your hearts to meet the needs of others. Others need to give thanks for what you have been given and begin setting it before the people. While there are some that need to abandon a pharisaical spirit  in order to see the miraculous work of God in meeting the needs of others.

Loaves and Fishes

(Part 2 of 3)

“By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and by themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

                                                                                                Mark 6:35-37

At times the greatest obstacle to compassion is our own reluctance. This reluctance often emerges as we are tainted by people that have abused the system, taken advantage of us, or continually take while giving nothing. We are left with the lingering uncertainty of whether the need was real or contrived making us suspicious of every future need we encounter.

However, this is not the only reason we fail to demonstrate compassion. Sometimes we fail to demonstrate compassion because we don’t see what we have to offer as enough to make a dent in the problem, so we hold back even the little we have been given.

Jesus addressed this problem with one simple question:

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

                                                                                                Mark 6:38

He did not ask “How many loaves do you need?” He asked “How many loaves do you have?” When the disciples returned with five loaves of bread and two fish; Jesus demonstrated two important truths: give thanks for what you have and then set it before the people.

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them.”

                                                                                                Mark 6:41

The first thing that Jesus did when the disciples returned was to give thanks for what they had been given. Everything we have comes from Him. Instead of focusing on our lack, we should be rejoicing over what God has put in our hands; regardless of how much or how little it appears to be you and me.

Then Jesus said to them, “Set it before the people.” Take what you have and give it to those who need it. One thing I noticed in both passages was that Jesus never prayed for God to multiply the loaves and fishes. He gave thanks for what they had and started passing it out; that’s when God stepped in and provided the increase.

What God proved that day was that He can do amazing things with what we have in our hands; regardless of how much or how little it may be, if we are obedient to share it with those in need.

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Loaves and Fishes

(Part 1)

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way because some of them have come a long distance.”

                                                                                                            Mark 8:1-3

The story of Jesus feeding the multitudes with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish is iconic to our Christian faith; it was a miraculous event that took place, not just once, but twice in Jesus’ ministry resulting in thousands being fed each time.

It is hard to calculate the number of times that we have heard these stories preached, written about, or taught in countless Sunday school classrooms. Often the focus of those teachings tends to gravitate to Jesus’ ability to multiply the little to meet the greater need.  As Christians we use the phrase ‘loaves and fishes’ as a declaration of faith in those moments we need God to stretch out something we are using until we are finished with our project or multiply the food at our fellowship dinners so there will be enough to feed everyone.

However, when we focus on Jesus’ ability to multiply our resources something gets lost in translation: Compassion!

Compassion is the emotion that we feel in response to the suffering of others that motivates a desire to help. It is this motivation to act that differentiates compassion from sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is simply feeling sorry for what a person is going through. Empathy understands what a person is going through because you have been in a similar situation. Compassion moves us to action.

Jesus was moved by the need of the people. He was not moved because of the apparent lack of food nor was he moved by the tremendous amount of people. He was moved by their need. Unfortunately, too often, when faced with humanities’ needs we become discouraged or disillusioned. We begin focusing on the obstacles to meeting the need:

“His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

                                                                                    Mark 8:4

The disciples, in the face of what seemed to be an impossible need to manage, began focusing on the obstacles. They focused on the remote location they were in, the obvious lack of food, and the tremendous number of people. We see this same pattern in Mark 6:34-37. Jesus looked on the multitudes and had compassion; the disciples looked and saw obstacles.

Often times the greatest obstacle to compassion is our own reluctance!

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/

Testing! (Pt. 4 of 4)

Testing!

(Part 4 of 4)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

                                                                                                James 1:2-4

Testing is part of the maturing process. It develops in us a perseverance which leads to maturity and wholeness in Christ. However, James is quick to explain that not every hardship we find ourselves in is a test.

Often times the struggle we experience when facing temptation can feel like God is testing us, but testing and temptation have two very different sources and outcomes:

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

                                                                                                James 1:13-15

Do not confuse testing and temptation. Temptation leads us into sin and destruction. Testing leads to greater dependence and nearness to God.  One is to be endured and the other is to be resisted. Temptation is not of God because it is destructive, entices us to sin, and leads to death. Testings, which are designed to strengthen our faith and develop our perseverance, reflect the concern and goodness of our God:

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”                                                                           

                                                                                                James 1:16-17

 

When tested we should remember one very important truth.  Testing is designed to gauge what we have already learned. A test indicates that prior to this moment; there are things you should have been learning. I have heard many people say that “God wants me to learn something through this time of testing.” That makes no sense.

It is not time to begin the learning process when we are being tested. We should be exercising what we have already learned through study, opportunities, and obstacles we have faced leading up to the time of testing.

As believers, it is God’s desire that we grow in our faith; which means that inevitably we will face testing. The question then becomes: Are learning what you need to know to stand the test?

 

 

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/