Pulling Off Powerful Prayer

Acts 1:6-14; John 17:1-11

Our lesson for today from the book of Acts talks about how Jesus ascended into heaven. And it makes sense that we should mention that, today, since this is Ascension Sunday. The Ascension, as you may know, is the event talked about in the Apostle's Creed where we say, "He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father . . ." Celebrating the Ascension is important because it marks the end of Jesus' physical presence upon the earth and anticipates the sending forth of the Spirit upon his followers. Thus, next Sunday, indeed, is Pentecost Sunday, a day upon which we will be celebrating the beginning of a new season in the church year, the season of Pentecost.

The events surrounding the Ascension seem mystical and strange to us. But, the account from the book of Act gives us some of the general details. We're told, for instance, that Jesus stayed around for several weeks, following his resurrection, completing the education of his disciples. And our scripture lesson tells us that one the last day he was with them some of the disciples asked, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" And Jesus replied that it was not for them to know the times or the dates the Father has set for such things." And then he told them to get ready for receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. And as he ascended up to heaven the disciples stared and looked and gawked at the sight. But a couple of angels asked them why they were just standing there, looking up into the sky. "This same Jesus," they pointed out, "who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." And, this statement reflects the rest of the Apostle's Creed that we recite: ". . . From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

But the question we might ask about this event is this: "What did those two angels mean when they said what they said to those disciples? Why did they ask the disciples why they were just standing there, looking up into the sky? In fact, I believe that it was their way of reminding the disciples that just standing around looking up into the sky, just waiting for Jesus to come back, wasn't what followers of Jesus should do. Those who follow Jesus have too many other things to do.

I believe that it is for this reason that the disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem and, as the fourteenth verse of Acts 1 says, ". . . joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." They joined together in prayer. That was the first thing that Jesus' disciples did on the day of the Ascension. They didn't run out and start up a bunch of little churches. They didn't go out and start preaching on the street corners and in the synagogues. They didn't go to towns and villages and heal the sick. Rather, the first thing they did following the ascension of our Lord was go home and pray.

Now, I believe in the power of prayer. And I know that many of you believe in the power of prayer, as well. Most of you, for instance, read the newsletter article about how my little car got hit by a deer out on the freeway. I say that my car got hit by the deer because the car is so small. If it was a big car I could then say that my car hit a deer. But, I figure that since my car and the deer were almost the same size then it was the deer that hit my car and not the other way around. But, as I sat there at the side of the road that day, unable to get the engine started, I prayed. And, no sooner had I said, "Amen" than along came a State Highway Commission truck with two guys in it who got out to bury my deer. I mean, God really does answer prayer!

Of course, someone could say, "Why didn't God keep that deer off the road so it didn't hit your car in the first place?" And I've often wondered about that. And I haven't been able to find too many good answers to that question, except maybe it was an evil deer? It's possible, I guess, considering that it did have two little horns on his head! But, I don't worry myself about why bad things happen. What I do praise God about is how helpful God is once bad things have happened. Even if I should die, which is what many people think is about the worst thing that can happen to anyone, I still have faith that God would continue to be helpful and come to the rescue. And, in fact, it was precisely for this reason that Jesus died upon the cross. And it was because they knew with certainty that prayer worked that following the ascension of our Lord the disciples went home and prayed.

And, what's even more important is what the scriptures tell us about how they prayed. We're told that ". . . they all joined together constantly in prayer."

Now, I don't want you to think, even for a moment that I would ever trivialize prayer. Indeed, a prayer life often demands that we take some time away from the normal flow of life to literally get down on our knees to pray. But, on the other hand, it is also possible for prayer to be a constant dialogue between a person and God even while a person is caught up in the ebb and flow of life's activities. The apostle urged the Christians of Thessalonica to "pray without ceasing." Certainly, the only way a person can do this is by making every thought, making every activity in life, making every conversation a prayer.

Now, this may be a startling concept to some of us. We may have always thought that "prayer" was something that we did occasionally. But, to make prayer a constant and continuous activity? It sounds pretty strenuous, even a bit fanatical, right?

But, on the other hand, maybe if we were mindful that everything we said and did to others was also a prayer to God, we would be a little more careful and sensitive about the things we said and did! If we really believed this, then how would we behave when someone hurt us? Would we be a bit less likely to strike back if we knew that we would be striking back at God, as well? Wouldn't we be more likely to bless those who curse us? to walk the extra mile? to give our cloak and our shirt, as well, to someone who asked for it? If we knew that what we said and did in the presence of others was also a prayer to God, wouldn't that affect our quality of work? our fairness in our business dealings? even our sportsmanship in our recreation? Certainly, looking at prayer this way gives special meaning to Jesus' words, "Even as you did it unto these, the least of my brethren, you did it unto me."

But, as I said before, there are certainly times in our prayer life, or life of prayer (as it might better be known), that we have to get off, alone, and literally get down and pray. It was Jesus, after all, who championed this kind of praying on numerous occasions, going off to pray alone on a hillside, or in a boat, or in the wilderness, or in a garden. For, even though it is possible for us to live a life of continuous prayer, there come those times when we really need to get away from the rush and business of the world, to engage in fervent, uninterupted prayer, to really have it out with the Lord, even to wrestle with an angel or two, as the Old Testament character, Jacob, did one night.

Our gospel lesson is an example of this kind of praying. Going to the Garden of Gethsemanie before his crucifixion, Jesus knew that the end of his ministry on earth was drawing near. He knew that, soon, his disciples would be left on their own, in the world. Yet, Jesus knew that they would not be alone, but would receive the power, gifts, and unity of the Holy Spirit. So, he stopped what he was doing, left his disciples behind, knelt down beside a rock, and prayed. And for those who were to become the Church of Jesus Christ, this prayer was a milestone in the history of praying. Next to the Lord's Prayer, this is probably the most important and well known prayer that Jesus prayed. And we need to be regularly involved with this kind of praying, as well, whether it is here in church, or with a prayer group, or in some private place, alone.

I am reminded of a poem about prayer I found a while ago:

I knelt to pray, but not for long,

I had too much to do.

Must hurry off and get to work,

For bills would soon be due.

And so I said a hurried prayer,

Jumped up from off my knees,

My Christian duties now were done,

My soul could be at ease.

All through the day I had no time

To speak a word of cheer;

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I feared.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry;

No time to give to those in need --

At last was time to die.

And when before the Lord I came,

I stood with downcast eyes;

Within His hands He held a book --

It was the "Book of Life."

God looked into His book and said,

"Your name I cannot find,

"I once was going to write it down,

"But never found the time."

The fact is that God will never run out of time for us. God is always there for us in times of need, in times of loneliness, or when we need strength and gifts for discipleship. So, let us take the time to pray; living a life of prayer in all that we do.

Amen.