Hustlers Anonymous.

In yesterday's morning sermons, Pastor Richie noted a characteristic of hustlers: they seek short-cuts and quick fixes. Often this is viewed in a negative context, but we as Christians have the privilege of knowing a "quick fix" to many of our personal prayer requests. Our short-cut is to abandon the appeals for God to respond to our prayer concerns, and instead to appeal to God for the presence of His Spirit in our lives.

Our pastor referenced Luke chapter 11. In Luke 11:1-4 we have record of what is commonly termed The Lord's Prayer. However, that prayer is followed by several verses in which Jesus tells His disciples that God can be understood as a caring Friend and loving Father. Then Jesus closes with a question (paraphrased here): If we, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, then how much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (see Luke 11:5-13)

Pastor Richie shared with us that the presence of Holy Spirit is the real answer to our varied prayer requests. Why? Because the Holy Spirit, in addition to being the best Person we can know, is also the Person who knows what is best for us.

This is not to belittle the seriousness of our personal situations. We in the body of Christ, at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene and at other churches, are suffering. We are dealing with terminal illnesses, evictions, financial ruin, unemployment, hatred and bias, violence, famines, and so many other issues and systems that burden our souls. Our prayer lists are long, and rightfully so. But Pastor Richie has thrown down a gauntlet, and I believe the Spirit of God has made an offer through our pastor's sermon: In this season of prayer and fasting, why not fast from the urgent prayer requests and instead pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit of Christ, the One who is seated above all urgency?

That's not an easy task. But I pray we will be found as people who seek after the Spirit of God.

"But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what He wants.  Then the other things will be yours as well." (Matthew 6:33, Contemporary English Version)

"The kingdom of God is not about food and drink; it is about the righteousness, peace, and joy which are found in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, paraphrase mine)