Text: Jeremiah 11:14

14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Jeremiah 7:16

16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

Jeremiah 14:11

11 Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.

Introduction: 

What is wrong with this picture?

National - Day of PRAYER - May 1 (but no prayer in school)

National - DAY of SILENCE - April 25 (silence in support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is O.K. in school) (see note at end of sermon)

These Scriptures reveal some of the most startling words in the Bible. They reveal a people without a prayer. They had their prophets, place of worship, but no prayer.

Does not the Bible encourage prayer? After the birth of Seth, Gen. 4:26, men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Men ought always to pray, Luke 18:1. Pray without ceasing, 1 Thes. 5:17. The Disciples asked Jesus, "lord, teach us to pray." They didn't ask Him to teach them how to heal or preach, but to pray.

Here is a people privileged above all other nations. Here is a people noted for their prayers. A section of the Bible, Psalms, is given to the recording of their prayers. Yet a time had come in their history when God told His prophet at least three times not to pray or make intercession for them ...for I will not hear them

Observe some reasons why these were without a prayer.

1.      THEY HAD FORSAKEN GOD. 

a.       This is apostasy, Jeremiah 1:16.

b.      They had changed gods, Jeremiah 2:11.

c.       They were backslidden. They had a revolting and rebellious heart, Jeremiah. 5:21-31.

1. Jeremiah asked them to remember how good the Lord had been to them, but they remembered not.

2. Jeremiah asked them to stand in the ways, but they would not stand.

3. Jeremiah asked them to see and ask for the old paths and walk therein, but they would not walk in them.

2.      WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE WITHOUT A PRAYER? 

a.       It means to be out of touch and contact with God. This is worse than a sinking ship unable to radio for help. It is like a sheep without a shepherd.

b.       It means to be without Spiritual power.

c.       It means to be without peace. In Jeremiah's day they cried "peace, peace, when there was no peace." The same thing is true of our generation.

d.      It means to be without comfort and hope, Jeremiah. 11:14.

3.      DOES THE WORLD TODAY HAVE A PRAYER LEFT? 

a.       Has our world come to the place that it doesn't have a prayer? The individual, the church, the nation.

b.      If we have a prayer left, what will it be?

1.      A payer of salvation

Romans 10:9, 13

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

2.      A prayer of confession.

Psalms 51:1-2, 10, 12

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-she'-ba

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

3.      A prayer for conviction.

1 John 1:6-9

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

4.      A prayer for conversion.

Romans 10:1

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

4.      Conclusion:

Paul spoke of "My heart's desire and prayer to God." Romans 10:1

Jesus said, "That men ought always to pray." Luke 18:1

Daniel called upon God to hear his prayer. Daniel 9:17

On another occasion in I Thessalonians 5:17, Paul said, "Pray without ceasing."

Prayer is an audience with God, the Highest of all beings. Just think how privileged we are to talk with God!

To pray means to request something, to ask because of a of need. Oh, how can you define such a privilege as this?

It might be called a sin killer; a strength obtainer; a help giver; a power conductor, and a love inspirer.

It was the instrument that opened the Red Sea, brought the manna from heaven, and gave water to thirsty Israel. It was the telescope through which Moses saw the coming of the Christ. It gave Samson his strength in the time of need. It gave wisdom to Solomon and added fifteen years to the life of Hezekiah.

Prayer is a real thing, a simple thing, a desirable thing, a testing thing, a constant thing, and a profitable thing.

DAY of SILENCE (last week)

Silent for Lawrence King

Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. This year's DOS is held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15 year-old student who was killed in school because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.  What are you going to do to end the Silence?

Dear International School of Beaverton Parent,

Your child has opted to participate in the Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year's event will be held in memory of Lawrence King,  a California 8^th grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. This should not disrupt the learning of ISB students, as they will be refraining from verbal communication, but other forms of communication and participation are encouraged. To learn more, please refer to the following website: www.dayofsilence.org.