Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

2 Kings 6:15-17 May 6, 2007

Service for Wholeness and Healing
“The Power of Prayer”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer

There is so much that could be said about prayer this morning. There is so much that could be said about prayer any time. We just shared the National Day of Prayer this past Thursday. People all over the country gathering together to pray. Prayer gatherings were shown on TV and broadcast on the radio. Statistics show that about 80% of people in America say that they pray. Now, I don’t know how often they pray, and I don’t know to whom they are praying, and I don’t know what kind of prayers they’re offering up. I did, however, hear about Barry’s prayer.

Little Barry came into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner. His birthday was coming up and he thought this was a good time to tell his mother what he wanted: "Mum, I want a bike for my birthday."

Little Barry was a bit of a troublemaker. He had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Barry's mother asked him if he thought he deserved to get a bike for his birthday. Little Barry, of course, thought he did.

Barry's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on his behavior over the last year and write a letter to God telling Him why he deserved a bike for his birthday.

Little Barry stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write God a letter [which is a form of prayer].

"Dear God, I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one. Your friend, Barry. "

Barry knew this wasn't true. He had not been a very good boy this year, so he tore up the letter and started over.

"Dear God, This is your friend Barry. I have been a pretty good boy this year, and I would like a red bike for my birthday. Thank you, Barry."

Barry knew this wasn't true either. He tore up the letter and started again.

"Dear God, I have been an OK boy this year and I would really like a red bike for my birthday. Your friend, Barry."

Barry knew he could not send this letter to God either. Barry was very upset. He went downstairs and told his mother he wanted to go to church.

Barry's mother thought her plan had worked because Barry looked very sad. "Just be home in time for dinner," his mother said.

Barry walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was there. He picked up a statue of The Virgin Mary [he must have been catholic). He slipped it under his shirt and ran out of the church, down the street, into his house, and up to his room. He shut the door to his room and sat down with a piece of paper and a pen. Barry began to write his letter to God.

"I'VE GOT YOUR MOTHER. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE."

Like I said, I don’t know what kind of prayers these 80% of Americans are praying, and perhaps (no, definitely) I don’t want to know.

Let me ask - How many people here pray…to the God of the Bible … on a regular basis?

The Bible tells us to pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17). We, as Christians, are called to “always be prayerful,” (Romans 12:12). We are called to “pray at all times and on every occasion,” (Ephesians 6:18). It’s not burdensome. It’s not even distracting. In fact, continual prayer is fortifying – helping us with every task before us. Prayer is a continual awareness of God’s presence.
“Thank you, Lord for getting me up today,”
“Thank you, Lord for helping me find that piece of paper,”
“Thank you, Lord that my car started,”
“Thank you, Lord for helping me through that test.”
Prayer is a continual awareness that God is working within us.

Did you know you can talk to a person and
pray to God at the same time?

Perhaps you find yourself in a challenging conversation. You can either run away from it, mess it up big time by saying things you shouldn’t say, or you can pray your way through it.
“God, a little help here, please.”
“Help me speak gently and truthfully.”
“Help me hold my tongue.”
“Help me say what you would say.”
God always provides this kind of loving assistance. It’s like going to the water cooler in the middle of the heat of life and taking cool drinks to refresh, restore, and redirect.
“Guide me, dear Father.”
“Forgive me for that thought, Lord.”
“Protect my children today.”
“Please help this person or that person make it through this day.”

Now, that’s just a little instruction about the power that continual prayer can bring to your everyday life. Right now, however, before we move into praying for each other – I want to talk about a different aspect of the power of prayer. It is the power of speaking out the big things inside of you.
Inside of all of us there are fears, doubts, dreams, hurts, hopes, and sins about which God knows. Remember, God knows everything about us. There is nowhere we can go from his Spirit, Psalm 139 tells us. God knows the turmoil within each of us. But, until we have the courage to speak it out to Him, all of those fears, doubts, dreams, hurts, hopes, and unspoken sins will do nothing but weigh heavily on our spirits. God wants us to speak them out. He wants us to be honest with Him so that we can live free.

At least little Barry knew he hadn’t been a good boy and was willing to admit it. Stealing a statue and threatening God wasn’t the solution, but at least he was being truthful.

Our Scripture in 2 Kings 6:13-15 shows us what speaking out the truth can bring forth in our lives. Before I read these couple of verses, let me set the stage for you. The Arameans were fighting Israel. The king of Aram would make a plan to go attack the Israelites, and lo and behold, the Israelites wouldn’t go the way they were supposed to go, or would move camp just in time to avoid the battle. The king said to his advisors, “Hey, we must have a spy among us.” And the advisors told him that it wasn’t a spy among them, but it was the “man of God” that Israel had with them – Elisha the prophet. Well, the Arameans found out that the Israelites were in Dotham, and this time, Elisha did not tell the Israelites to move out. Here’s where we pick up the story:

When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, “Alas, master! What shall we do?” He replied, “Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.” Then Elisha prayed: “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Now, the prayer I want to pay attention to is not the prayer of Elisha. It is the prayer of the servant. He is with Elisha, the “man of God.” The servant knows when he speaks to Elisha, he is basically speaking to God because Elisha was one of those people who prayed continually. Whatever came to him, he prayed into the heart of the Father. The servant cried out, “Alas master! What shall we do?”

“Yikes! There’s an army all around us.”
“I feel hemmed in on every side.”
“My family is falling apart.”
“My test results show a suspicious mass.”
“My bank account has nothing in it.”
“My son is addicted.”
“I am addicted.”
“I cannot sleep for worrying.”
“I don’t think my wife loves me anymore.”
“I’m lonely.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I’m so sad.”
“I’m not sure which way to go.”
“Do you have a purpose for me, Lord?”
“Alas master! What shall we do?”
I’m telling you, this kind of honesty with the Master releases God’s power in your life.

God is not too busy to help you. God is not tired of hearing the same prayers. The prophet Isaiah tells us in 59:1, “See, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” The Lord wants you and me to speak out the truths within us. He wants honesty. We don’t have to be all together to pray to God. Just read the Psalms! David was falling apart much of the time when he wrote those wonderful prayers. “O God, where are you?” “O God, how long are you going to wait to come and save me?” “O God, I don’t think I can hold on much longer.”

My experience has been that with our raw honesty comes new vision, for the man of God who stands with us, who prays continually for us is Jesus the beloved, the crucified, the resurrected, and the glorified Son, and he will reassure us just as Elisha reassured his servant (and remember, we aren’t just Jesus’ servants, he calls us his friends [John 15]). ““Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.” Then Elisha prayed: “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

As each of you come forward this morning with your prayer requests on your cards, I’m trusting that God is helping you open up to tell him your greatest need for healing - and I’m also trusting that in so doing, you will see that there is an army of saints in heaven, saints on earth, angels in heaven, and angels on earth, who are with you in the battle.

Hear the words of this poem from Caryll Houselander:
God will enter into your night,
As the ray of the sun enters
Into the dark, hard earth,
Driving right down
To the roots of the tree,
And there, unseen, unknown,
Unfelt in the darkness,
Filling the tree with life,
A sap of fire
Will suddenly break out,
High above that darkness,
Into living leaf and flame.

May God give healing that brings new life and new strength – may God bring physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing without delay to all who cry out for help. Amen.

Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Church

05-06-07