Build our commitment to prayer

1. 40 Days of Prayer ”Build Your Church, Lord” • Build our commitment to prayer • Build our enthusiasm for worship • Build our love for one another • Build our courage to witness • Build our effectiveness in ministry • Build our church family • Build our Health

2. W P of The ower eeping Psalm 6:8

3. -tears will get you places. Most boys learn this before they reach their teens, but girls seem to be born with this understanding …

4. If there’s one thing boys don’t like, it’s tears -especially in girls.

5. In fact, boys look down on tears, generally, especially in themselves. One boy complained, “My emotions are leaking!” Some boys never learn to appreciate their emotions, nor do they know as men how to express them well.

6. Inasmuch as God(s) made us in His own image, our reactions to tears in others reveals something of God’s own attitude to tears -i.e. He regards them as powerful statements of our absolute dependence on Him.

7. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... “ 15 When the water in the skin was gone, [Hagar] put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch [Ishmael] die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob… Genesis 21 NIV’11

8. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 21 NIV’11

9. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah weeps before the Lord, and God grants her request for a son.

10. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... “ 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” … 2 Kings 20 New International Version ‘11

11. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly… 2 Kings 20 New International Version ‘11

12. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20 New International Version ‘11

13. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... David prayed in Psalm 56:8-9, “... Put my tears in your bottle; are they not in your book? When I cry unto you Then my enemies will turn back...” New King James Version

14. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... While Jesus sat at the table of Simon the Pharisee, “As [the woman who had lived a very sinful life] stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them... Luke 7:38 New International Version ‘11

15. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... “... Then [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ... Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven –as her great love has shown...” Luke 7:38 New International Version ‘11

16. There’s a long list of successful weeping in Scripture... So, in Psalm 6 David says, “I am worn out with my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.” Psalm 6:6-9 New International Version ‘11

17. In general, weeping, in all these places is a kind of prayer, a kind of appeal to God for help, or, as in the sinful woman’s case, an expression of deep appreciation and love. • In most cases there are few words, if any at all. • In all cases there is a specific issue over which the tears pour like rain from a down spout in a heavy storm.

18. In general, weeping, in all these places is a kind of prayer, a kind of appeal to God for help, or, as in the sinful woman’s case, an expression of deep appreciation and love. • Weeping, as prayer, is a powerful wordless statement. • In all cases there is a specific issue over which the tears pour like rain from a down spout in a heavy storm.

19. One might misinterpret these stories to assume that God, like many men, cannot handle people’s tears, caving in to their requests to stop their sobbing, but ... • Moses reports, “You came back and wept before the LORD, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you.”Deuteronomy 1:45 NIV’11 • Job complained in the midst of his trials, “My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes.”Job 16:16 NIV’11

20. One might misinterpret these stories to assume that God, like many men, cannot handle people’s tears, caving in to their requests to stop their sobbing, but ... • “Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks down with favour on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, ‘Why?’ It is because the LORDis witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.”Malachi 13-14 NIV‘11

21. One might misinterpret these stories to assume that God, like many men, cannot handle people’s tears, caving in to their requests to stop their sobbing, but ... • “Another thing you do: You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks down with favour on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, ‘Why?’ It is because the LORDis witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.”Malachi 13-14 NIV‘11

22. One might misinterpret these stories to assume that God, like many men, cannot handle people’s tears, caving in to their requests to stop their sobbing, but ... • Obviously, God can handle our tears, and won’t be manipulated by them if our desire for His intervention or support violates other priorities or principles.

23. One might misinterpret these stories to assume that God, like many men, cannot handle people’s tears, caving in to their requests to stop their sobbing, but ... • Weeping as prayer only ‘works’ when our cause is just, and when our request relies on His mercy and promises. • Weeping prayer is a kind of appeal.

24. Weeping gives us an avenue of prayer when we run out of words. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with God’s will.”Romans 8:26-27 NIV’11

25. Weeping gives us an avenue of prayer when we run out of words. We do run out of words for prayer at times. Whether we use words or tears, God’s Spirit ‘interprets’ our intentions according to God’s will so there’s no misunderstanding on God’s part.

26. Weeping gives us an avenue of prayer when we run out of words. In any case, God searches our hearts and accepts the Spirit’s intercession for us according to what’s true and in accordance with His desires for us.

27. Weeping gives us an avenue of prayer when we run out of words. So, in David’s case God gave him the assurance in answer to his tears that He had heard David’s prayers against his enemies.

28. God accepted the intent of his tears. So, in David’s case God gave him the assurance in answer to his tears that He had heard David’s prayers against his enemies. His appeal had been successful and he passed the judgment on to those who opposed his faith.

29. So, what can we learn from David’s example? • You can freely cry on God’s shoulder when you need to. I’m not comfortable with crying with many people -my list is pretty short, in fact. But, I can, and have, become comfortable crying on God’s shoulder. Tears mark the quality and strength of a relationship.

30. Tears mark the quality and strength of a relationship. Some relationships invite tears because the relationship is not mature, or perhaps, is insensitive.

31. Tears mark the quality and strength of a relationship. But when a relationship matures, it embraces tears, welcomes them, makes room for them.

32. Tears mark the quality and strength of a relationship. Accepting each other’s tears shows how deep the relationship has become.

33. In that light, how deep is your relationship with God? Have you come to the point of finding that He accepts your tears, your deep emotion, your special needs? Though God answers our prayers because of what He thinks of Jesus’ death on the cross for us, our tears are a valid way for us to express our heart to Him.

34. In that light, how deep is your relationship with God? Have you reached that level of intimacy with God yet? Though God answers our prayers because of what He thinks of Jesus’ death on the cross for us, our tears are a valid way for us to express our heart to Him.

35. In that light, how deep is your relationship with God? He doesn’t answer our tearful prayers because He doesn’t like the tears, … or feels pity for us, or is embarrassed by them. He answers our prayers because we asked according to His will.

36. It’s when our tears unite with God’s Kingdom purposes that we see the greatest benefits ... “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Psalm 126:5-6 New International Version ‘11 This is about those who returned to Jerusalem. It’s about wanting what God wants.

37. It’s when our tears unite with God’s Kingdom purposes that we see the greatest benefits ... For the dedication of the Temple, David wrote, “... For his anger lasts only for a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning... You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed the sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:5-11 New International Version ‘11

38. It’s when our tears unite with God’s Kingdom purposes that we see the greatest benefits ... Tears of repentance flow because it’s right. God always forgives when we appeal to Him in Jesus’ name (tearfully or not), and then comes the joy.