Ray Ortlund of Immanuel Nashville wrapped up a recent sermon on prayer in this way:
Centuries ago a man named John Bunyan – he wrote a classic called The Pilgrim’s Progress – wrote a book about how sincerely Jesus welcomes us in, as we pray. I’ve taken something from Bunyan’s book and adapted it to us today, to help us get past our reservations and pray. In fact, you are going to announce this gospel to me, answering my objections to prayer. But I am guessing you can identify with every objection I raise here:
Leader: I have strong reasons not to pray.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: I am a serious sinner.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: I’ve been sinning for 69 years.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: My heart can be as hard as stone.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: With every step forward, I take another step back.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: Sometimes, the way I act, I might as well be serving Satan.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: I sin when I even know better.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: I might respond to your mercy with more sin.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: I have nothing to offer but my failure and mess.
All: But Jesus says, “I will never cast you out.”
Leader: Okay, Lord. Count me in, if you will never cast me out!
All: We all say, “He will never cast us out!”
Jesus will never cast us out. Can we lay down our excuses and together, at the throne of grace, make prayer the center of Immanuel Church here in 2019?
