Prayer Causes Things to Happen
Prayer is a staggering privilege given by God that causes things to happen that wouldn't happen otherwise.
This sermon emphasizes the profound impact of prayer, highlighting how prayers have the power to cause things to happen that would not occur if we did not pray. It challenges the notion that God's sovereignty negates the importance of prayer, emphasizing that prayer is a privilege that allows us to participate in God's divine plan and bring about events in the universe. The message urges believers to embrace this privilege and not neglect the opportunity to partner with God in shaping the course of events through prayer.
Full Transcript
And it's simply staggering that God would ordain, now get this, that God, the sovereign ruler of the universe, would ordain that prayers cause things. They do. Prayer, prayers cause things to happen that would not happen if you didn't pray.
I wonder if any Calvinists out there are squirming. Listen to this. When James 4.2 says, you do not have because you do not ask, that does not mean you would have anyway, even if you didn't ask, because I got a plan.
The verse doesn't mean the opposite of what it says. It says you have not because you ask not. That means prayer causes things to happen that wouldn't happen if you didn't pray.
This is why this is a staggeringly glorious privilege to be taken by the sovereign God of the universe who runs all things according to his infinite wisdom and fold it in to his causality. This is breathtaking. If you do not avail yourself of the privilege of bringing to pass events in the universe that would not take place if you didn't pray, you are acting like a colossal fool.
Aren't you? I'm just thinking logically here. If you are offered the privilege of engaging with God in such a way that your request could bring into being things that would not otherwise come into being, not to avail yourself of that privilege is folly of the highest or lowest order. That's why we pray.
God is beckoning us into our share in the running of the universe. Do you not know that you will judge angels? Do you know who you are, child of God?
Sermon Outline
- Prayer Causes Things to Happen
- Understanding James 4:2
- The Privilege of Prayer
- Prayer is a way to bring events into being
- Not praying is acting like a fool
Key Quotes
“Prayer causes things to happen that would not happen if you didn't pray.” — John Piper
“When James 4.2 says, you do not have because you do not ask, that does not mean you would have anyway, even if you didn't ask, because I got a plan.” — John Piper
“If you do not avail yourself of the privilege of bringing to pass events in the universe that would not take place if you didn't pray, you are acting like a colossal fool.” — John Piper
Application Points
- We should not take the privilege of prayer for granted, but rather engage with God and bring events into being.
- Not praying is acting like a fool, as we are missing out on the opportunity to bring events into being.
- We should understand that prayer is necessary for things to happen, and not praying is the reason we don't have what we want.