By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sermon Series: Prayers of the Bible
Sermon Text: Luke 1:46-56
Sermon Theme
Mary’s prayer of praise, often referred to as the Magnificat, is one of the most familiar in Scripture, frequently invoked during the Advent season. Yet it is a prayer for all seasons. It represents the prayer of defiance, what is referred to by Biblical scholars as “imprecatory prayers.” Literally, these are prayers against the enemies. Many of the psalms fit this description. We seldom pray these kinds of prayers. Yet these prayers are necessary in a world of conflict and sin. In the light of Christ’s prayer of forgiveness (Luke 22:34) we might more properly think of praying against the works of enemies rather than praying against them personally (Matthew 5:44). This is prayer as participation in the ongoing spiritual conflict between Jesus Christ and “the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19).
Sermon Outline
- Conflict. The birth of Jesus Christ sets up a conflict which continues to this day. It is a conflict against “the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). The legitimacy of earthly rulers (Romans 13:1-7) is often compromised by their allegiance to the “ruler of this world” (Revelation 13:1-5). Jesus is being born “in the fullness of time“ (Galatians 4:4) into a world ruled by Caesar Augustus whose titles included son of god, prince of peace and the savior of the world. It is no accident that he is the first person mentioned in Luke’s account of Jesus’ actual birth (Luke 2:1). Augustus represented the world system governed by the proud, the powerful and the rich. This system included politics, education, the arts, law and philosophy. The gospel of Jesus Christ strikes at the heart of this entire system. To be a Christian is to be in conflict with this world.
- Courage. Christians can neither avoid this world nor compromise with it. Following Mary’s example we are to pray against the work of the proud, the powerful and the rich as the world defines these terms. We need to pray against these things in ourselves. Our prayer must be confirmed by our actions. We must recognize the spiritual forces at work in our world. We need to pray for those in the grip of those forces. We live in a culture that has largely rejected the word of God (Mark 12:24). We see this in the attempt to do away with the Biblical view of marriage, in greed which robs the poor and enriches the wealthy, in the despoiling of the earth, in war and terrorism, in art which debases the image of God and in the worship of false gods (II Timothy 3:1-5). We are not dealing with personal or physical forces ultimately but rather with spiritual ones (I John 4:3). We need spiritual preparation for spiritual conflict. This requires prayer, study and the willingness to enter into the conflict (I Thessalonians 2:1-2).
- Consolation. The culture of the world system, whether ancient Rome or modern America, is a complex one which requires more than sharing the gospel with individuals (as crucial as that is). As Paul was called to take the gospel to the center of the empire, Rome itself (Acts 23:11), so we are called to take the gospel to those areas where the proud, the powerful and the wealthy dominate. These areas include secular campuses, the media, Wall Street, Hollywood and politics at all levels. Jesus calls us to strive for the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). No area of life is exempt from this. Paul in his presentation of the gospel addressed everything from philosophy to the care of the poor (Colossians 2:8; Galatians 2:10) . Church history is full of similar examples from Augustine to John Witherspoon, who signed the Declaration of Independence, on up to the present. Our real struggle is that we ignore or play down the task before us (“to make disciples of the nations” Matthew 28:19). In so doing we rob ourselves of the hope and joy of God’s presence in our lives. The same Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin sheds his joy in our hearts (John 16:7-11; I Thessalonians 1:6). Mary’s defiant prayer announced the coming end and transformation of Caesar’s world empire. That is still true today.
Questions for Us
- Why do you think most Christians don't consider prayer as a form of spiritual warfare?
- Who do you think represents the proud, the powerful and the wealthy in our world?
- Why do you think joy and conflict are so often connected in Scripture (Romans 15:30-32; I Thessalonians 1:6)?
