The Most Important Prayer Request in the World
I know I promised the next blog entry would be about the stolen laptop. ...At the end of March, I was quite tired and feeling kind of sick. In fact on April 1st I was even playing with the idea of backing out of that day's preaching engagement. Of course, God didn't like that idea. Not that He wants to kill me, but He does want to show His strength in my weakness. It was the 'best' so I was told out of a series of 4 events so far.
Anyway, I thought it would be wise to look back when I got a chance and take a record to see just how much speaking I had done in the month.
I don't have the list of dates and places now but in March I preached a total of 12 times; 7 different messages in 5 different places. Nothing compared to George Whitefield but a lot for me these days. It doesn't count short sermons delivered to 1-3 people on the Campus.
It started on 1 March with a double-dip at our church, the only church out of the 5 places, and it actually doesn't stop but continues this weekend for a camping sermon.
I will get to the stolen laptop eventually. Until then, read about John Piper's take on the most important prayer in the world. The idea just so happened to feature prominently in at least 6 of the 12 messages. I pray it will be a more common and pronounced prayer.
The Most Important Prayer Request in the World
March 26, 2009 By: John Piper Category: Commentary
The most important prayer is that the most important person in the universe do the most important act in the universe.
That’s why Jesus put this request at the beginning of the Lord’s prayer: “Hallowed be your name.”
God is the most important person in the universe. More important than all others put together.
All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness” (Isaiah 40:17).
The whole-souled act of hallowing God’s name is the most important act in the universe.
To “hallow” means to “sanctify” which in God’s case means to set apart in your mind and heart as supremely great and beautiful and valuable.
“Hallowed be your name” means, “See to it that your name is hallowed. Use your infinite power and wisdom and love to stir up billions of hearts and minds to admire you and prize you above all things."
We ask him to fulfill this promise:
I will sanctify [hallow] my great name, which was profaned among the nations.... And the nations shall know that I am the Lord...when I shall be sanctified [hallowed] in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:23)
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)
Ask the Lord to help you make the most important prayer your most common prayer. And the one you desire most to see answered.
posted by T L @ 14:22
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