The Holy Spirit and Prayer-filled worship

 

February 1st, 2026  

(Luke 4:16–21)

A Longing for Something Real

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I hope you are staying warm and safe in this biting winter cold. As we gather today, I want to share some thoughts on the state of the church today and the state of our own hearts.

Recently, I’ve been reading several articles about a surprising trend among young people. Some famous Christian magazines(Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition) are talking about how young adults are choosing traditional ways of worship. For a long time, many churches thought that to reach young people, we needed more "flash," louder music, and high-tech media. But a big change is happening. Young adults are moving back to the old, deep ways of worship. They are being drawn to the traditions and the history of the church.

Why? Because many people are tired of "shallow" worship. They feel that when the focus is too much on the fancy show or the performance on stage, there isn't enough room left for deep thinking. They aren't looking for entertainment; they are longing to feel God more deeply. They are looking for a "Bethel" moment—a place where, like Jacob in the Bible, they can say, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it" (Genesis 28:16).

 

The Holy Spirit and Prayer in Luke

Today, our journey through the New Testament brings us to the Gospel of Luke. While we have been studying Matthew and Mark, stepping into Luke feels different. Luke was a gentile, a doctor and a traveling friend of the Apostle Paul. He didn't see Jesus with his own eyes during the time Jesus was on earth. Instead, he listened carefully to the stories of others. He had the heart of a healer and the mind of someone who writes down history.

In Paul’s final days, he wrote a sad line: "Demas has left me... Only Luke is with me." This tells us about Luke’s character. He was faithful, steady, and kind. He wrote his Gospel for someone named "Theophilus." This name means "Beloved of God." Whether Theophilus was one real person or a name for all of us, Luke’s goal was clear: he wanted to write a clear, orderly story so that we could be sure of what we believe.

As a doctor, Luke noticed the details of suffering and healing. But even more importantly, Luke focuses on two main pillars of the Christian life: The Holy Spirit and Prayer. In Luke’s writing, the Holy Spirit is the main leader. The Spirit is the one moving behind every story.

John the Baptist was born through the work of the Spirit. Jesus was also born by the Spirit. Luke is the only one who tells us that the Holy Spirit came down in a clear way while Jesus was praying at his baptism. Later, Jesus was "full of the Spirit" before he was led into the desert to be tested.

 

The Mission of Jesus

Today’s Scripture, Luke chapter 4, is very important. This is where Jesus explains his mission. He stands in the church of his hometown, Nazareth, and reads from the scroll of Isaiah. He says:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent me to tell the prisoners they are free and the blind they can see, to set the oppressed free, to tell everyone that this is the year of God’s favor." (Luke 4:18–19)

Jesus then says something shocking: "Today this scripture is coming true as you hear it." He is telling them that He is the Savior, the Messiah. And he makes it clear that his power comes from the Spirit.

For Luke, this spiritual power is kept alive by prayer. Luke is the only writer who tells us that Jesus prayed all night before picking his twelve disciples. Jesus prayed on the mountain when his face changed with light. While other books show Jesus’ busy schedule, Luke shows us that Jesus often walked away from the crowds to find a quiet place to pray. Even in the Garden before his death, Luke gives the doctor’s detail: Jesus prayed so hard that an angel had to come and give him strength. By showing us a Savior who was led by the Spirit and always praying, Luke invites us to find that same power for our lives today.

 

A Lesson from Church History: Robert A. Hardie

This dependence on the Spirit is exactly what the history of the Korean church teaches us. This week, I thought about the story of a man named Robert Hardie. He was a Canadian doctor—just like Luke—serving in Korea in the early 1900s. He was a man of great knowledge, but he became very tired and empty. He was frustrated with the Korean people, blaming them because they weren't changing.

But during a Bible study, the Holy Spirit moved. Robert Hardie realized the problem wasn't the people; it was his own pride. He stood before the church and confessed his sins. He told them he had been arrogant and tried to do God’s work in his own strength. That moment of honest prayer and repentance was the spark for a Great Revival in Korea. It wasn't a new "system" or better "church buildings" that saved the church; it was the Holy Spirit entering a room where people were finally being honest in prayer.

The Heart of Worship

This brings me to our song today, "The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman. Many of you know this story. Matt’s church in England was struggling. The pastor felt the people were coming just to watch a show, like they were "customers" of music. So, he did something very brave: he took away the sound system, the band, and the instruments. For a while, they sat in silence, with only their voices and their prayers.

In that quiet time, Matt Redman wrote:

"I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus."

This song is a prayer about saying sorry to God. It reminds us that we can easily get "caught up" in the way things look—the lights, the sound, the media—and lose sight of the "Face" of the One we are actually worshipping.

 

A Personal Confession

Brothers and sisters, I must be honest with you. This past month has been difficult for all of us. The snow, the cold, and health problems have kept us apart. In our effort to stay connected, we have worked so hard on our internet and media systems. I am so thankful for our media team and our trustees who worked so many hours.

But in the middle of these technical problems, I realized I needed to say sorry—to God and to you. I am sorry that I sometimes forget what truly matters. I lost the center of worship by caring more about "systems" than about the Spirit.

I forgot that this church stood strong for over two and a half years without a pastor. You stood strong for months without fancy media or music. God showed His power through your "weakness" long before I arrived. If my frustration or my push to make things "perfect" made any of you feel discouraged, please forgive me.

 

A Church Filled with the Spirit

Last Friday, we held a prayer meeting in this room. Before the meeting started, many were exhausted. We were worried about health, family, and the world.

But as we lifted our voices and brought our requests to God, He made our souls new again. God met us through the Holy Spirit and lifted our heavy burdens. I pray that our worship will always be filled with the Spirit and prayer. I pray that our sanctuary remains a holy place that holds every sacred moment, so that anyone who enters this building may feel the power of prayer. Penny’s insight was a great reminder: Let’s pray first, for any and every reason we enter this church building.

To help us do this, we are starting five minutes of quiet time before the service begins, while the music is played. I invite you to use this time to pray quietly and get your heart ready for worship. Even when things go wrong or machines do not work, Lord, do not let us lose the heart of worship. We carry our burdens to Jesus; we listen to Your Word, feel Your presence, and lift our voices to praise You. We are a church filled with the Holy Spirit and prayer. Amen.

 

Silence and Unison Prayer 

 

A Wesleyan Prayer for Renewal

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known,

And from you no secrets are hidden.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.