March 18, 2017 - Church at Worship

Sermon: “While I Was Still in Prayer" by Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Tyler Stewart

Responsive Reading: A Prayer of Confession by Claudia Carmona-Thomas and Christopher Thomas

Children's Feature: Filip Milosavljevic

Sermon Notes:

 Daniel evokes deep respect in my heart, and he does so for a number of reasons—courage, humility, moral clarity and truthfulness, among others. But there is one more reality that moves me about Daniel—his deep and true connection with heaven. His unswerving connection to God and His will seems to fill the pages of his book. And it’s not just that Daniel seeks God; it’s that God responds. 

That may be no more obvious than it is in Daniel 9:21: “While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice” (TNIV). What a precious thought—that while still in prayer, heaven responds. 

It drives me to ask questions of myself about my prayer life. Am I opening my heart to God as to a friend? (To borrow the words of Ellen White). Do I approach heaven with the confidence that God hears? Do I pray “ceaselessly?” (To borrow a thought from Paul). Do I linger long enough before God to allow His Spirit to work in my heart? 

As you ponder such thoughts, it might be good to do so with the following words in mind: 

You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink. – G.K. Chesterton 

As long as we have unsolved problems, unfulfilled desires, and a mustard seed of faith, we have all we need for a vibrant prayer life. 

John Ortberg 

God bless you as you pray. 

Randy Roberts,Senior pastor