No Time Lost an E a Johnston Classic
E.A. Johnston emphasizes the vital importance of prioritizing prayer and time with the Lord to ensure spiritual effectiveness and avoid losing ground in life.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston challenges believers to evaluate their time spent with the Lord amidst life's busyness. Using the biblical example of Martha and a vivid oil painting illustration, Johnston highlights the power and priority of prayer. He encourages Christians to make prayer central in their lives to experience spiritual effectiveness and divine partnership.
Full Transcript
How's your time with the Lord? Silence. Speechless. He said finally not too good there.
You see what I mean? He's going to seminary to learn how to be a pastor and he doesn't even have time to pray. When he graduates his schedule's not going to change. He'll be more busier then than he is now.
You all know that. If he doesn't make time now to be with the Lord he's going to fall on his face. He doesn't make that a priority.
He's like Martha, focused on too many things. He's forgetting the main thing, Jesus. We must take time to pray.
I am reminded about an oil painting that hangs in a Spanish gallery. In that little scene is a farmer. He's just removed his straw hat.
He's laid down his farm implements and he's assumed the position of prayer. In the distance of that painting if you look closely there's a little village in the background with a church steeple and a bell tower and evidently the bell has rung calling the little community to a time of prayer. Everyone's laid down their farm implements, set down their work and they're praying and he's doing that.
But if you look more closely at that painting over to the right is a form of an angel and that angel has picked up his plow and has gotten a team of mule going and it seems like that angel's getting ready to make a new furrow in the ground and the caption of that oil paint is three words. Three words. You know what they are? No time lost.
Do you get it? When we pray, all of heaven is enlisted on our behalf. We get more done in prayer than we do out of prayer.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The busyness of life threatens our time with God
- Even those preparing for ministry struggle to prioritize prayer
- Without time with the Lord, spiritual failure is inevitable
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II
- The example of Martha focusing on many things instead of Jesus
- The necessity of making Jesus the main priority
- Prayer as the essential spiritual discipline
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III
- The illustration of the oil painting depicting prayer and work
- Heaven is actively working on our behalf when we pray
- Prayer accomplishes more than physical labor alone
Key Quotes
“If he doesn't make time now to be with the Lord he's going to fall on his face.” — E.A. Johnston
“He's like Martha, focused on too many things. He's forgetting the main thing, Jesus.” — E.A. Johnston
“When we pray, all of heaven is enlisted on our behalf. We get more done in prayer than we do out of prayer.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Set aside daily time specifically for prayer to maintain a strong relationship with God.
- Evaluate your schedule and remove distractions that prevent you from focusing on Jesus.
- Remember that prayer enlists heavenly help and is more productive than working alone.