American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 102
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This past week at ARC, Brother Jason Storms, expounded on the book of 1 Corinthians. He focused on chapter 1, verses 13-31. Jason revealed the reason why this church was dysfunctional, divisive, and somewhat delusional is they were acting in a carnal way. They were filled with spiritual pride, boasting in themselves, and glorying in their flesh.
This, the Apostle Paul points out, is the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness. This is not the wisdom that comes from God nor proceeds the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is foolishness to the world.
Our challenge for tonight is to connect this to our call to pray as a church. First, the Apostle Paul addressed a divided church that had become focused on personalities, human wisdom, pride, and worldly status. Though the passage does not mention prayer directly, it strongly reveals why prayer is essential to the Christian life. These passages demonstrate that prayer is necessary because human strength, wisdom, and pride cannot accomplish the work of God nor spread the Gospel of the Kingdom in an effective way.
Effectual prayer keeps Christ at the center. Prayer is important because true prayer refocuses our hearts upon Christ rather than personalities, denominations, or human leaders. It cuts down significantly on the opportunity for churches to divide over human competition that vies for control and power. Remember, they were saying, “I am of Paul” “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Cephas.”
And to this day, we have our Calvins, Luthers, Spurgeons, Wesleys and McArthurs and in typical fashion we see the body can become divided over these men. This is not to say these men have not contributed to the work of God. We can still benefit from their labors in the Lord. Ultimately, however, we are not of them, we are to be of Christ. Give honor where honor is due and certainly glean from those who have gone before us, but recognize they are mere branches just like us, but Jesus is the root.
When believers stop praying the likelihood of bad things happening grows exponentially. Pride can grow, the possibility of division can increase, the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit can end up dominating, and Christ will no longer be central, but human personalities and strategies.
A humble, praying soul before God reminds us Christ alone was crucified, Christ alone saves, and Christ alone deserves the glory. A praying church helps to preserve a Christ-centered church.
The church at Corinth struggled because they exalted men and human thinking that was not renewed by the word of God. Prayers have the power to correct both problems.
The cross humbles us and reminds us we cannot save ourselves. Prayer prompts us to understand that we cannot live the Christian apart from Christ living in us. Jesus is our life and our life is hidden in Him (Colossians 3:3, 4). The life that we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20).
When we are weak, God is strong. Worldly wisdom will fail. God’s wisdom never fails. Pride brings division, humility brings unity. We pray because Christ alone is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Amen!
