'Speaking Prayer' - An Excerpt

Sermon Excerpt: “Speaking Prayer” from the PRAY series

 “E iloa oe i lau gagana.”
“Your language tells of who you are and where you come from.”
(Samoan proverb)
 

"If the language we speak tells something of who we are and where we are from – then Speaking Prayer – a language of despair and hurt, a language of thanks and gratitude, a language of hope and trust, a language of love and intercession, a language of Scripture, a language of reverence to something greater; Someone Higher – Speaking the language of Prayer must tell people who we are and who (not where but who) we come from. Speaking the language of Prayer must tell others that we are the children of God; that we are a community of faith, hope and love; the language of Prayer must tell people that we are a fellowship of Eating, Praying and Loving together with and in Jesus.

This Samoan Language Week, we hear the common Samoan phrase: “E iloa oe i lau gagana” (You are known by the language you speak). I say to you this morning, “E iloa oe i lau gagana Tatalo.” (You are known by your language of prayer). Let us speak prayer in those public places where we eat and where we gather with friends. In the mall or at the restaurant say grace – give thanks to the One who provides for your meal – unashamedly. Let us speak prayer in our homes – that our children may learn the language of prayer growing up. Let us speak prayer in our worship services – that the discouraged would be amazed at the One who sends us Himself. That people would come to know that God’s Spirit is here with us – Counselor, Helper, Wisdom, the Holy Spirit."

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- on Acts 2:1-21 from the PRAY series
(Rev. G. Mauga, 2017)