Heart Soul and Might

I’ve been reading books on prayer, looking for the right book for our congregation to inspire and encourage them in their prayer life. A few months ago I went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle website to see what they might recommend. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending some time with their Senior Pastor, Jim Cymbala, and view him as one of Christianity’s most passionate voices on prayer. Anything he would recommend, I would want to check out.

Sure enough, there is one book (other than those he himself has written!) that he highly recommends, and in fact, wrote the foreword to: Samuel Chadwick’s The Path of Prayer. The subtitle to this book is “A vital book on a vital issue written for plain people who are sincerely simple in their trust.” Upon coming across this book and knowing Pastor Cymbala so highly recommends it, I’ve read it and will be posting chapter summaries on my blog for your edification and encouragement.

About this little book, Cymbala says: “The Path of Prayer is a very special book about a vital subject. Most books on prayer only inform the mind, but Samuel Chadwick both instructs the intellect and inspires the heart to meet God at the throne of grace. I thank God for this precious volume for it has greatly affected my life and ministry.”

Chapter one is entitled “The Sign of Prayer” and in it, Chadwick lays out the biblical foundation for his view of prayer as being inseparable with God. He says “Belief in God and belief in prayer are elemental and intuitive.” The Old Testament is full of stories that show how central prayer is to the life of God’s people – deliverance, victory, experience and vision… all point to prayer and the answer to prayer. He says the basis of prayer is sonship: “It is natural for a child to ask something of its father, and it is reasonable for the father to listen to the request of his child.” The testimony of scripture and all of history is that God listens to and answers the prayers of His children.

Saul’s conversion at Tarsus in Acts 9 is where Chadwick finds a unique revelation concerning God’s heart for prayer.

“There is the man who prayed, the God who heard and the man through whom the answer came.  God, of course, is central. It is to Him prayer is made, through Him prayer is interpreted, and by Him prayer is answered.” He cites Acts 9:11 as a verse which shows the “wonder” with which God views prayer: “Behold, he is praying.” Chadwick says that the only thing in the universe more amazing than a man praying, is that man, knowing God’s heart for prayer, would NOT pray! He says that in the word “behold”, there is “wonder, rapture, exultation. In the estimate of God, prayer is more wonderful than all the wonders of the heavens, more glorious than all the mysteries of the earth, more mighty than all the forces of creation.”

It is clear that Chadwick sees prayer as absolutely central to sonship – to the proof of grace in one’s life – to life itself. His conclusive statement (actually a question) to this fact is this: “Is there any proof that a man is a man of God like the fact that he is a man of prayer?”

One of the reasons I love this book (in addition to Cymbala’s recommendation!) is that the author has absolutely no pretense, and certainly isn’t seeking to come across as an expert on prayer. On the contrary, it is clear that he is led by humility and in his introduction says honestly and candidly that he is simply writing out of his own prayer life experience. It’s because of that, I believe I can trust him as an author. It’s clear he has a deep relationship with his Lord. One that I hope to have as well.

I’m a huge fan of both Al Mohler and C.J. Mahaney, so I highly recommend first reading Mohler’s review of Mahaney’s Humility: True Greatness here, and then motivated by Mohler’s inspiration, just go ahead and read the whole book yourself. It will change your life.

I sort of wrote a review of this book, but I like Mohler’s MUCH better.

We’re in search of truth… and Al Mohler is a true guardian of it. He writes a great blog here in response to George Barna’s latest book Revolution. I would encourage you to read the whole article, but here is an excerpt:

The modern age has been the age of revolution, and the world we now inhabit has been shaped by a series of earth-shaking revolutions that have altered the cultural, economic, political, and personal lives we lead. Now, researcher George Barna declares a new revolution–a revolution on behalf of spiritual vitality, but at the expense of the local church. In Revolution, Barna never seems to take refuge in understatement. To the contrary, he demonstrates a marketer’s bravado when he declares: “Whether you want to or not, you will have to take a stand in regard to the Revolution. It is on track to become the most significant recalibration of the American Christian body in more than a century. Your response ought not to be based on whether you are comfortable with it, but rather on its consistency with biblical principles and its capacity to advance the Kingdom of God. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you must understand this Revolution of faith because it is already impacting your life, and it will continue to do so in the years to come.”

So there. Of course, from the very onset some may question the earth-shaking significance of a “revolution” announced in a 140-page book, no matter how shocking its cover and publicity. Of course, The Communist Manifesto was a short treatise as well, but this hardly seems a fair comparison.

From Mohler’s review, it seems Barna’s “revolution” minimizes the power of the local church to change lives as people are transformed through truth, worship and biblical community. The New Testament is clear in the importance of living life together and thus experiencing all Christ intended as His bride, in all her warts and wrinkles grows, develops, matures and awaits His return. As we like to say at Fellowship, “Together is Better”, and “change occurs in the context of community over time.” But Mohler says that Barna “misses… the big picture of New Testament ecclesiology–a picture that identifies congregational life as the very means whereby believers are shaped into Christlikeness and Christian maturity through the ministry of the Word, the fellowship of the saints, and the normative patterns of church life. Barna’s Revolutionaries may be involved on spiritual quests that have added dimensions of meaning to their lives, but what they lack is the accountability, deployment, mutuality, and koinonia of the local church as envisioned in the New Testament.”

I love Christ’s Church. It’s what I’ve given my life to, and plan to until I die. I’m a big fan of accountability, deployment, mutuality and koinonia - so I’m not about to join Barna’s so-called ‘revolution’ - and I would encourage you to think through the ramifications of these important issues as well. Let’s not join on a bandwagon just because it might seem a cool, new, trendy, emerging thing to do.

Good friend and SuperBlogger Reid Monaghan points us to Tim Challies’ review of C.J. Mahaney’s Living The Cross-Centered Life here. Reid’s no fan of the term “blogosphere” but he knows a good book when he comes across it. I’ve read Mahaney’s The Cross Centered Life (which inspired a number of songs) and I look forward to reading this as well. Having recently read (and posted on) Mahaney’s latest book Humility: True Greatness, reading his thoughtful comments on the Together for the Gospel Blog and reading what others are saying about him, I’m getting the impression that he’s the real deal. I hope to meet him some day and hopefully even talk a little football with him. Here’s an excerpt from Challies’ review:

“Mahaney delights in the cross. The reader will only be able to conclude that the cross is what motivates his life and his ministry. His enthusiasm, his desire, his love for the gospel message in infectious. Always focused on the truths of Scripture, Mahaney draws the reader back to the very center and focus of the Christian faith. The reader will be given much grounds for rejoicing and much grounds for deeper, prayerful reflection. The reader will be led near to the cross where he can experience the power of the Son of God. He will learn the need for the cross, the power of the cross and the wonderful benefits that have been extended to us because of the cross. He will learn why this cross stands at the center of our faith and why we must always hold it there.”

I’m just finishing up reading this short book by David Jeremiah The Prayer Matrix: Plugging Into the Unseen Reality. God has had me on quite the prayer journey over the years. I’ve always had a heart for prayer and know the value of prayer - and even recently have been humbled as the elder board has asked me to lead our body in deeper prayer and dependence. The only problem is: prayer is so hard for me! I try to pray… I know the incredible effects of prayer… I want to pray… I know God answers prayer… But I’m not a disciplined person by nature, and as someone who is very active, I find it hard to spend time in prayer. Journaling, yes. Reading, yes. Praying…hard.

Thankfully, I believe biblically, prayer is not simply the words we say when we bow our heads and close our eyes. Prayer is a lifestyle. Prayer is how we live, not merely what we say. It is living life dependently, constantly inviting the Lord to lead and guide every word, thought and action. But even as I say that, I know that there is also a component to prayer that involves the hard work of getting on our knees and asking, petitioning and interceding in using specific words, in specific ways for specific things.

I like this little book (97 pages) by David Jeremiah. It has many bite-sized ideas to chew on and a lot of practical applications. I was very encouraged to read that even the author of a book on prayer finds prayer hard! In fact, he says that he is always in the process of reading a book on prayer BECAUSE he finds prayer so hard. However, essentially we can really only learn to pray by praying…

His reason for calling God’s plan for prayer “the prayer matrix” is that in Jeremiah’s words “Scripture insists that God has hard-wired the universe in such a way that He works primarily through prayer…At the moment we pray, we become subject to the most powerful force in the universe.” He goes on to say when we’re prayerless, we short-circuit what God desires to do on our behalf. We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)

Prayer is our way of being involved in God’s purposes of redemption throughout the world, all to bring Him glory. There is no other purpose that is worth anything but God’s glory. And prayer is the way it all works - and if it’s helpful, think of life in terms of the “prayer matrix.” My encouragement to you would be to read this book - or anything by Andrew Murray for that matter - and simply… pray.

I just read an incredible book by C.J. Mahaney entitled Humility: True Greatness. This is something I wish I would have been able to read years ago, because I so deeply need it. I am one of the least humble people I know! I think it’s probably one of most people’s goals to be humble - but often also to be seen as humble by others. Isn’t that an amazing contradition?! True humility wouldn’t be concerned at all whether others actually see one as humble. That’s why this is such an issue! (And one that I struggle with daily…)

Think about C.J. Mahaney. To be asked to write a book on humility is a pretty daunting responsibility. I mean… how do you get to the point in your life and career where someone asks you to write a book with this title? Certainly, it couldn’t be written by someone who actually writes a proposal and presents it to the publisher. Can you imagine the conversation? “Uh, Bob. Can you take a look at this new book proposal I’ve put together? I’ve written a manuscript on humility… and it’s pretty good if I do say so myself.”

Actually, from what I’ve read, C.J. Mahaney IS the right person to be writing a book on the subject of humility, and others have vouched for him as well. The 51-year old Mahaney, in the prime of his life and ministry, recently handed the senior pastorate he held at Covenant Life Church near D.C. for 27 years over to 30 year-old Joshua Harris… and in the book, calls Harris his favorite senior pastor. Senior pastor and friend, Mark Dever, says this in support of Mahaney:

“C.J. Mahaney is not a humble person. At least that’s what he’ll tell you. And that’s one reason he’s so well qualified to write this book.”

But this isn’t about Mahaney. It’s about living a life that models after Christ and the humility He displayed as he walked the earth. It’s about being a servant. It’s about redefining greatness as rather than success through power, influence and wealth - through servanthood and death to pride and position.

At the end of the book, Mahaney provides some very helpful practical tips on building humility into our lives:

ALWAYS:

1. Reflect on the wonder of the cross of Christ.

AS EACH DAY BEGINS:

2. Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for God.

3. Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.

4. Practice the spiritual disciplines - prayer, study of God’s Word, worship. Do this consistently each day and at the day’s outset, if possible.

5. Seize your commute time to memorize and meditate on Scripture.

6. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

AS EACH DAY ENDS:

7. At the end of the dayy, transfer the glory to God.

8. Before going to sleep, receive this gift of sleep from God and acknowledge His purpose for sleep.

FOR SPECIAL FOCUS:

9. Study the attributes of God.

10. Study the doctrines of grace.

11. Study the doctine of sin.

12. Play golf as much as possible.

13. Laugh often, and often laugh at yourself.

THROUGHOUT YOUR DAYS AND WEEKS:

14. Identify evidences of grace in others.

15. Encourage and serve others each and every day.

16. Invite and pursue correction.

17. Respond humbly to trials.

C.J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness, pp. 171-172.

Father, may I exhibit true humility every day as I learn to serve better, allow for profitable and necessary correction in my life and seek to live in light of the cross of Christ for Your glory.