Putting the National Day of Prayer in Proper Perspective

1Timothy 2: 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (NKJV)

Tomorrow is May 6, 2010. This date has been set aside since 1988 for the National Day of Prayer and the history of such proclamations actually goes back to our revolutionary days as the 13 colonies. There is no doubt that the majority of our founding fathers shared the same beliefs that we do (sorry atheists). They believed in the God of the Bible and His son Jesus Christ. But a funny thing happened on the way to the future. Because we established this country with freedom as our basis, people of other beliefs came here as well. This became a polytheistic country and a largely pagan culture. The concept of God is actually accepted and politically correct. In this country, 92% of the people believe in God. But when we deal in matters of faith and salvation, the mere belief in God is not enough:

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. James 2:19

You have to have relationship with God. And there is only one, very politically incorrect way to have that:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

It is verses such as these that make Jesus as politically incorrect as the mere concept of God is acceptable. Because it is definitive. It allows for no wiggle room. The truth is that we have been creating God in our own image since the fall of man. John 14:6 allows no such creativity. If you wish to have eternal life then you must come to Jesus. That grates against people because Jesus shines the light of truth into the darkest places of our souls and we often do not wish to see that. God is not interested in the religions of man. He is interested however in having a living relationship with each and every one of us. Prayer is the communication within that relationship.

Our key verse shows us the desire of God regarding prayer. First of all, God wants men everywhere to be praying. For us today I think this should be a reminder that people in other countries matter to God. Sometimes we can fall into the habit of thinking that God only blessed America. Every country matters to God:

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67: 1-2

Not only does every nation matter to God but every person within every nation matters to God:

...He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter 3: 9

There can be a certain level of arrogance sometimes within American Christianity. We can often confuse the morality of Christianity with the love of Christ. God's desire is for people everywhere to lift their hands in prayer to Him. That means even people who do not look like you. That means people you may not even like. And yes beloved, that also means Muslims and people who do not believe what you and I might. In the days of Jesus the most scorned and derided sect was the Samaritans. They were considered half-breeds by the Jewish people. Is it any wonder when telling a parable about the love of Christ and being a good neighbor, Jesus made the hero a Samaritan? That is radical Christianity. It challenges stereotypes and breaks down barriers.

Secondly, our key verses speak about not holding any anger (wrath) in our hearts while we pray. Why? Because you cannot focus on God if you are carrying around resentment and anger towards another. In fact, you cannot even love God in that condition:

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1John 4:20

God does not want a distracted heart. The enemy speaks anger and resentment into our hearts so he can draw us away from God. I can guarantee you this. If you choose to walk out your door today and step into this world, someone, somewhere, somehow, will say or do something, that you don't like. It is just human nature. But while we cannot control the actions of others, we can always control how we choose to let it affect us. I hear the often sad lament, "he makes me feel so angry." Nonsense! Only YOU can make yourself feel a certain way. The world sells you constantly on the victim model, where you give up your own control over yourself. That is not Biblical because as long as you play the victim, you pretend that you have no control over your own circumstances. But God said:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1Corinthians 10:13

This verse does not say that your psychiatrist will help you stand up under it. It does not say so that you can find the right medication to stand up under it. It says YOU. God will always provide a way out for YOU to stand up under it. Do not listen to the lies of the enemy when he sells you victimization or wrath. Being distracted from God will hinder the desire God has for your prayer life.

The final point from the key verses is that we cannot pray in doubt. If you do not believe that God can accomplish what you ask of Him, it will not come to pass. God acts on our faith in Him.

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 (NKJV)

The measure of the power of God you walk under in your life is equivalent to how much you truly believe in that power. God can do anything. He created everything. He can fix your medical report. He can fix your finances. He can change your neighbors, your community and even your nation. But does not start with unbelievers. It starts with us.

And that brings us back to this, the National Day of Prayer. The world is walking in utter darkness beloved. The same darkness you and I were in before God reached down and picked us up. The Bible says that the things of God  are foolishness to them. That includes prayer. They cannot see what we see because it is spiritually discerned and they do not have the Spirit of God within them:

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Corinthians 2:14

It seems the enemy is real good with distracting the church in these end times. If we stick to what we believe than the eternal destination of all of the unsaved are at stake. Loved ones facing eternity separated from God. Jesus gave us many instructions about how to live our lives but only one directive. That was to bring the Gospel message to the lost. It is the Gospel message that sets people free. It is the message of hope and salvation that breaks the yoke the enemy has people enslaved under in this world. That hope is not found in pomp and circumstance. It is not found in ceremonies and fancy words. It is not found in setting one day aside per year to pray. Every day should be a national day of prayer for believers!

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1Timothy 2: 1-2

The people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are still desperately searching. They are seeking that missing part within them their link to their creator. The world offers them money and fame, drugs and alcohol, or sex and violence to fill the void. But nothing fills the void, only Jesus. They are looking for a reason to believe in what Christianity is offering. But they are like Thomas and will insist on proof.

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20: 25

Because as much as they are looking for a reason to believe, they are equally accepting of reasons not to believe. What do they see when they look at the modern day church? Do they see the love of Christ? Today is the National Day of Prayer and because the Pentagon decided to un-invite Franklin Graham we see Christians up in arms. Over what? Do you think God cares if Graham speaks at this event? Of course not. Yet Graham said that if he is not allowed to speak it would be a "slap in the face of all Christians." When Jesus spoke about being slapped, He said turn and offer the other cheek as well. He spoke about praying for our enemies. When He gave the Sermon on the Mount, He taught:

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5: 11-12

Mr. Graham does not sound so joyous and glad. Instead he sounds whiny and self-righteous. Mr. Graham should have made a polite statement about the rescinding of the invitation, reflected back to Jesus and brought glory to God. Remember, this is the same week that the co-founder of Focus on the Family (Mr. Rekers) was caught on a ten day trip to Europe with a gay escort. What does the world see when they look at Christianity? What do you think they will take from this week? That who speaks at an event is more important than prayer itself? There is a reason why the world views Christians as hypocrites. And until we recognize it and fix it, the Great Commission will only be more daunting.

I bring the commission up again because that is what we have been charged with. Not forcing our morality upon non-believers. In the days of Jesus, the Pharisees once criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus, calling them hypocrites, asked them if they would not pull their ox out of well he had fallen into even if it were the Sabbath. Today we need to be careful to not become what we abhor. To not become the modern day Pharisees. Instead of whining about healing on the Sabbath, we whine about a man made tradition such as the National Day of Prayer. Instead of Jesus inquiring about the hypocrisy of the ox and the well, today He is wondering about the hypocrisy of Rekers.

Where is our focus beloved? A national day of prayer? How about praying every day?

Be merciful to me, O Lord; for I cry to You daily. Psalm 86:3

A national day of prayer? How about praying:

In the morning - Psalm 5:3

Day and Night - Psalm 88:1

Morning, noon, and night Psalm 55:17

Without ceasing - 1Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer is not meant to be celebrated once per year, like a pagan festival. It is meant to be continuous and personal. Does that mean that we should not try to positively influence culture, of course we should. But how we do it is more important than achieving some pre-set goal or making the keynote speech. Blustering rhetoric does not make a good witness for Christ. Neither does talking the talk without walking the walk. I pray for Mr. Rekers but I am more concerned for those he may have permanently turned away from Christ. We have to be more responsible than that. When Jesus spoke of the hypocrites of His day He said this:

'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8

How sad but true it can be today. We got the lip-honor down but where are our hearts? If they are not focused on the lost then we are misguided. If they are not focused on the fact that based on our beliefs, everyone not saved spends eternity in hell, then we are not focused correctly. Prayer is extremely important in the lives of believers, not this country as a whole. Every day should be our own personal national day of prayer.

Well meaning Christians love to quote 2Chronicles: 7:14 as a panacea for healing our broken land. The part they often miss is the opening of the verse. It reads, "If the people who are called by my name..." This verse is addressing how the church is supposed to behave, not the world. The land is healed when the world sees Christians living the life they profess so loudly, and professing that life, with more love. Jesus never protested when someone disagreed with Him. He did not stamp His feet up and down and insist He was the only way. He did not have to. His life showed it.

That is what He expects from us as well. He desires everyone to come to Him, not just those we deem acceptable. He wants us to come to him without distractions and anger. Without doubt in our hearts. He does not want May 6^th to represent prayer. He wants all of us, to represent prayer every day. Celebrate the relationship, not the ceremony. Don't strive to stand at the podium - strive to be on your knees before Him.

Reverend Anthony Wade May 6, 2010