Kingdom Tension Part 5
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Tension,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
We’ve been saying in our “Kingdom Tension” series that the church is all about relationships. A relationship with God, a relationship with the people of God, and a relationship with people who don’t know Jesus yet. In the tension of the now and not yet, these relationships grow through worship, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry. We are going to talk about prayer today.
Acts 2:42-43 (NIV)
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and the apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of spiritual life. It’s not just a ritual; it’s a way to connect with the living God. The main point of our prayers, both as individuals and as a group, should be to connect with God so that we can live more fully in Him and for Him.
Still, we often forget to pray. Why? Because life is loud. There are a lot of things that want our attention, like obligations, distractions, devices, and demands. In a hurry, we pray in a way that makes it seem like we’re just checking a box—whispering over meals or mumbling at night when we’re tired. Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh is weak, just like the disciples were in the garden (Matthew 26:40–41). “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” Jesus said to Peter. This still rings in our hearts today. It wasn’t a scolding; it was an invitation. An invitation to be with Him in the hardest times, to get close, and to stay awake in spirit.
Peter cared about Jesus. But Peter was sleeping when Christ needed him the most. Isn’t that how we are a lot of the time? We want to love Jesus, serve Him, and follow Him. But our busy lives, tiredness, and sometimes even guilt or feeling unworthy keep us from just being with Him in prayer.
Prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s also about getting our hearts in line with God’s. That’s how we live. It’s how we listen to Him. It is how we let Him shape us to look like Him. When we pray, like the early church did, we’re not just doing something; we’re also building a relationship.
So let’s remember that prayer shouldn’t be our last resort; it should be our first response. God gives us strength when we take time to pray, even when we are weak. He honors our desire and comes closer. Let’s not just say a few quick words; let’s go to the One who asked, “Could you not give me an hour?” and show our devotion again.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
