Sermon Tone Analysis

We can be praying daily and going through the motions, but its a powerful thing when we pray, and then go out in faith and do,

We have our gaze set on the Hope of heaven, Jared talked of how to start the car, and our motivation to get us there.

Not only praying for a broken relationship, but going out and confessing to that brother or sister where you are at when God tells you to do it.

Im trusting my Life in you Jesus.

Cars are cool, they do things that are almost of a super natural proportion, Man has never been able to run as fast, or find and ride animals as fast, or work as hard as the machine of the automobile.

They do things that feel larger than life, and get us to places you would never achieve by your own strength.

The vehicle of Salvation is of EPIC proportions.

For Jesus gave his life to get us to places we could have never dreamed, the destination of heaven is pipe dream to wandering sinner along life’s road.

But He purchased the car at the cost of His life to get us to places we couldn’t go.

The make up of the vehicle of salvation is of epic supernatural proportions.

Jesus gave his life to get us to places we could have never dreamed as a sinner, lost and wandering the highways.

We say THANKYOU!!

As Jesus followers we have the priveledge of setting our gaze on the far point down the road, the hope of heaven, and while down here to reach a world that needs to get there too.

I hope

This morning we are thankful to be in the car, and last week Jared talked about the transmission, and our motivation to go and do what God has for us.

And Today we are going to talk about the Antenna… namely prayer.

We are going to look at the life of Elijah, and what His prayer life looked like.

( There’s alot of content regarding prayer, a quick search in logos, which is a Bible study and resource tool i use...

I got 10,000 results in 45 different sources.)

But how many of you know that it doesn’t matter as much to know a little of everything, but much better to know a couple things, and to know them well… So Im not going to focus on all that this topic holds, but a few things.

This series we are in “The Summer Spiritual Tune UP Series” somehow just beg’s for “first car” stories.

And this story came to mind as I was preparing.

My fondest memories were less of my first car, and more of memories riding with my brother Josh in his first car.

He found this car at a farm auction, and it was the dirtiest, loudest thing at the auction.

And when the auctioneer came around and they started this thing up, it was barking and sounded terrible.

I think the muffler was sawn off, but Josh waited until the auctioneer went way, way down, he bid and payed the whopping price of $200.

For that price we drove that car for another 150,000km or more.

It was a 1986 Chevrolet Nova, after a new exhaust we called it the “Pootermobile”

When I think of this car it was a gateway of sorts.

On Friday nights we’d burn out of the yard to head to Youth Group.

One word in particular helps some up the experience “Subs”, Josh had put in a 2x12 in the back with a pre-amp.

And getting in that car meant we could rock out, for the 5 miles it took to get to youth group, and we could turn up, which was not an option at home… The only kill joy at first was that at the price of $200 as you might expect, the antenna was broke off.

And so we proceeded with metal wiring trying to route wire from the broke off section, along the frame to the top of the car.

And in this way we could find a signal, but it wasn’t a complete connection.

We had great gear, but bad connection.

Along this life’s journey we need to ensure that our antenna is intact, and free of obstruction so we can communicate with the one that is going to get us home in one piece.

I dont know how many of you make a hobby of people watching, but if you do you might find this sight,

someone oblivious to the world, driving along and singing at the top of their lungs to their favourite song, and in their mind they are like Celin Dion.

Just killin it.

And we get the pleasure of watching that.

A common experience in any car, is seeing someone oblivious to the world, singing at the top of their lungs to their favourite song, in fact this is a lot of what we enjoy of the experience of being in a car.

A common experience in any car, is seeing someone oblivious to the world, singing at the top of their lungs to their favourite song, in fact this is a lot of what we enjoy of the experience of being in a car.

I know at times i have confided in the ride home as a private oasis to sing really loud, because nobodies there to tell me how bad i sound, and Im glad for that.

I don’t think this is wrong.

But when it comes to our prayer life there is a certain sentiment that we would long for, and it is to have this private oasis with God without dealing with the sin in our lives or hurt relationships or doing, or maybe the opposite.

That we are trying to live our lives sold out for God, but our prayers are weak, and seemingly prayerless.

But just like any relationship, you need to spend some life with a person and give of yourself before clear and vital communication happens.

So here’s the church in Acts.

So here’s the church in Acts.

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

And so this was the daily routine, it says “ day by day, they were attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.

This morning we are going to look at the life of Elijah, because if there is a prayer life that I would long for it would be his.

His Faith was undeniable for he was praying, listening and doing, and God was moving.

Acts ch. 3

I just want to make it clear at this point that the church in Acts was doing a lot of things that we should be doing and they are a great example of what a church can be.

But in many ways they are the same as us, so lets keep reading...

The ninth hour, that is, three o’clock in the afternoon, was one of the hours of prayer among the Jews; nine in the morning and twelve at noon were the other two.

In James ch. 5 we have some sweeping statements over his life

With reference to public worship, there must be a house of prayer and an hour of prayer: the ninth hour, that is, three o’clock in the afternoon, was one of the hours of prayer among the Jews; nine in the morning and twelve at noon were the other two.

See Ps. 55:17; Dan.

6:10.

It is of use for private Christians so far to have their hours of prayer as may serve, though not to bind, yet to remind conscience: every thing is beautiful in its season.

Henry, M. (1994).

Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p.

2072).

Peabody: Hendrickson.

Matthew Henry Commentary says this about the ninth hour:

The ninth hour, that is, three o’clock in the afternoon, was one of the hours of prayer among the Jews; nine in the morning and twelve at noon were the other two.

The church in Acts was on fire, but something wasnt

And at 9am 12, and 3pm, these would head to the temple to pray.

And so it was that daily the church in Acts was going to the temple, and simulataneously, daily this man was being laid at the temple gate, asking for alms.

This was his daily routine, that he would beg for alms which was the equivalent of crumbs falling from the table.

And this seems to me to be a common experience of us, that on the way home, or on the way to prayer, we pass by either needs that need to be met, or we pass by issues in our own heart that need to be adressed.

And it is a hap hazard attempt at tying the antenna back to the car, and the signal comes through faint and fuzzy at best.

So what can help faint and fuzzy signal??

I think God would have it, that a lot of your own healing and effectiveness in prayer would come through praying with another believer, and working through life together.

Lets turn to for a moment because when I think of road blocks in prayer, this passage has been foundational for me in moving ahead in my prayer life and walk with God.

starting in verse

Is anyone among you suffering?

Then he must pray.

Is anyone cheerful?

He is to sing praises.

14 Is anyone among you sick?

Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, banointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will brestore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

There’s an interesting connection between the new testament and old testament here.

Usually you have to read the Old Testament to give insight to what a New Testament writer is saying, but here James is telling us new insight on things you wouldnt find in the Old Testament.

So If we read back,

The first mention we have of Elijah in the Bible is in and it start this way:

In the old testament passage there is no mention of Elijah spending time in prayer, but the new testament writer sheds light on the life of Elijah as it says that “Elijah prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

And that is a worthy reality to be aware of.

This morning I’d like to draw our attention to the life of Elijah, because He was a man who’s walk with God was not compartmentalized.

He was prayer warrior, and he listened for God’s voice and he was not delayed in doing what that voice was telling him.