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“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *
Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte,
NC 28210
Text: Matthew 6.5 – 13; II Thessalonians 3.1 - 5
Thesis: “As we approach God in prayer both God and
we know precisely where we are in our Walk”
Introduction
Roger Scruton, an Englishman, once observed; “God
is defined in the act of worship (and prayer) far more precisely than He is
defined in any theology.” (1)
·
What I believe about God is immediately known to
both God and me.
·
This should terrify us.
·
This should bring us to elation!
·
Emulating biblical prayers will soon erase our
terror and bring us to elation.
·
Today, we will take a “reality check” regarding
our beliefs, our priorities, and our doctrine as they are revealed in
prayer. We will then make application by
considering and emulating Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in the text just
read in your hearing.
·
PLEASE STAND
Our Most Kind and
Gracious Heavenly Father;
May our ears, our
hearts, and our minds now come open to the implanted Word that can save our
souls.
In the Name of
Christ, we pray; AMEN
·
PLEASE BE SEATED
·
WE WILL NOW HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD!
I
Our Prayers Reveal Our True Beliefs (2) About God and His Holiness
In the year that
King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and
the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had
six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and
with two he flew.
And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD
of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
And the
foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the
house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I
am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
a. Reality
Check One: “Just what do I think of God as I pray?”
1. Am
I fearful?
2. Am
I distracted?
3. Am
I bored?
4. Is
God Holy or is He not?
5. OUR
PRAYERS REVEAL OUR TRUE BELIEFS ABOUT GOD AND HIS HOLINESS
II
Our Prayers Reveal Our True Priorities (3) for Both God and To Us
a. Reality Check Two: “What are my priorities
before God?”
1. What
do we pray for?
2. Do
we use formulaic words and phrases?
3. Are
we just trying to get through?
4. Are
our prayers intercessory or self-centered?
5. Are
we trying to convince God to do something our way?
6. OUR
PRAYERS REVEAL OUR TRUE PRIORITIES BEFORE GOD.
III
Our Prayers Reveal Our Doctrine (4)
a. Reality
Check Three: “Do I truly seek to embrace the Apostles Doctrine in its
entirety?”
1. Who
is God the Father?
2. Who
is God the Son?
3. Who
is God the Holy Spirit?
4. Is
the Word of God true and without error?
5. Who
is man?
6. What
is sin?
7. Who
will be saved? Who will be lost?
8. What
must I do to be saved?
9. The
Power of the gospel
10. The
reality of death and judgement
11. The
hope of the resurrection!
12. The
POWER of prayer!
13. “How
shall I now live?”
14. OUR
PRAYERS REVEAL JUST WHAT OUR DOCTRINE TRULY IS AND ISN’T
IV
Paul’s Beliefs, Priority’s, and Doctrine Are All Revealed to the Thessalonians
in II Thessalonians 3.1 - 5
A. Finally, brothers,
pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as
happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For
not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard
you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that
you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your
hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
B. Paul’s
prayer is mutual
a. He
asks the church to first pray for him
b. He
then prays for the church
C. Paul’s
Prayer List:
a. It’s
profound to see just what is and is not on his list:
1. He
prays that the Word of God speeds ahead.
2. He
prays that the Word of God be honored
3. He
prays that they be delivered from evil and wicked men as not all have faith.
4. He
prays that they be established.
5. He
prays that they be guarded from the evil one.
6. He
prays that they be blessed with confidence
7. He
prays that they be directed to the Love of God and to the Steadfastness of
Christ
8. Paul’s
prayer action words are: SPEED, HONOR, DELIVER, ESTABLISH, GUARD, CONFIDE, DIRECT.
-
7 Power words of prayer!
9.
Paul reveals his beliefs,
his priorities, and his doctrine to God, to the church and to himself as do we as we pray.
V
As We Have Learned from God’s Word Today, Let Us Pray:
Our Most Kind and Gracious Heavenly
Father;
We
pray for all our brothers and sisters worldwide that labor in Your Vineyard
that Your Word, O Lord, may speed
ahead and be honored! We pray that they may be delivered from evil and wicked men for not all have faith.
But
we know that You are Faithful! Lord, establish us and guard us against the evil
one. Bless us with confidence in You, O Lord, that we may do the things that
You command. Direct our hearts to Your love, O God. Direct our hearts to the steadfastness of Christ in Whose Name we pray.
Let All the Church Say; AMEN
CONCLUSION:
The
Meaning of the Text:
Our Bible’s teach us how to pray so that we will approach God
with fear and reverence, so that we will give our own wills over to God, and so
that we will know His Word more fully.
The
Challenge of the Text:
Is for us to prayerfully set aside our casual approach to our
Holy God, to forge our wills into His, and to know His Word more fully.
“Just how did your reality check come out as you prayed here
today?”
“The Gospel
Call”
Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the Name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
NOTES:
(1) As quoted by: Mohler, Jr., R. Albert (The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down), Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson, 2018, pg. 10.
(2) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 - 17 - Content is mine - RHM
(3) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 -17 - Content is mine - RHM
(4) Point is from IBID, pg. 12 - 17 - Content is mine - RHM
·
My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time;
Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”
Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles.
He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.”
Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here:
http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
