Prayer and Calamity (Matthew 26:39-45)
Gary McManus, 03/29/2020Part of the Prayer series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
March 29, 2020 Matthew 26:39-45
Prayer and Calamity
Optimism, pessimism and hope. . .
Prayer.
The A.C.T.S. of prayer:
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
-- a way to teach prayer.
The Lord’s prayer does not contain a “proper”
thanksgiving but in Jesus’ Jewish tradition,
thanks was given at every meal (Matthew 15:36, Mark 8:6)
Notice something else about Jesus’ prayers.
Jesus’ prayers are often about the future.
This is often what our own prayers are about.
We desire that something happen in the future.
We desire certain outcomes in the future.
There are prayers calling for the Lord to RELENT.
(Psalm 90:13, Psalm 106:45)
To request that the Lord relent,
means to cease the severity, the harshness,
the continuation and/or the worsening
of the present conditions.
[God’s relenting does NOT imply that
God directly caused the situation.]
(See the Book of Job.)
Examples of God relenting:
--prayers of Hezekiah (Isaiah 37, Isaiah 38,
Jeremiah 26:19)
--Jesus’ teaching: prayer could be and sometimes
was a prerequisite for healing. (Mark 9:29)
How often have we prayed about storms?
About Pastor Tony Spell. . .
Am I of so little faith?
Or is Pastor Tony Spell confused about the issues
(Take a long look at Acts 5:17ff.).
What are we faithful people to do?
Pray for those in harm’s way.
Does the love of neighbor that Jesus called us to
include prayer? Yes. Yes it does. Pray for their future and ours.
Like a tornado warning, seek a safe place in this pandemic.
Stay in safety until the sirens call the all safe.
And pray. . .pray prayers from the Psalms,
pray the prayers from the Bible’s knowledge
and experience with God, our heavenly Father:
Pray from Psalm 90.
Psalm 90:13, Joel 2:13-14, Jonah 4:2
Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants. -Ps. 90:13
Amen
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