The question that came to my mind, “What if Moses had not prayed and fasted before the LORD for forty days?”  Would GOD have destroyed them? Would there be an Israel today?  What about the lineage of Aaron?  Would GOD have destroyed Aaron, too?

This reminded me of Abraham’s encounter with King Abimelech in Genesis 20.  You remember how Abraham told the people of Gerar that Sarah was his sister for fear of his life.  Abimelech took Sarah as his wife and God came to him in a dream and told him he was “a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”  The GOD told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham “so he will pray for you, and you shall live.”  Would God have killed King Abimelech if Abraham didn’t pray for him?

And then the three friends of Job in Job 42.  The LORD rebukes Job’s friends for they had not spoken of Him what is right.  The LORD told them to go to Job with a burnt offering and “my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly.”  Was it Job’s prayer that turned God’s wrath away from the three?

How about me?  Where would I be had my mother and then later my wife Mary not prayed for me over the years?

So, who prayed for you?  And who/what are you praying for?

And, with a deep concern in my heart, where will our country be if I don’t pray for it?  GOD, save our land…

In Genesis 20, there is the story of Abimelech king of Gerar taking Sarah as his wife not knowing she was the wife of Abraham.   God appeared to Abimelech in a dream telling him that he was a dead man because the wife he had taken was the wife of another man.  Abimelech came back to God with his statement of innocence that he did not know she was another’s wife.  Then God told him in verse 7, “Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live”. 

Then in Job 42, God is rebuking Job’s friends for their ill spoken words to Job.  He instructs the three friends to offer up a burnt offering for themselves, and then in verse 8 says, “And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly”.

Are God’s actions dependent on our prayers (asking)?

You’ll remember in 1 Samuel 12:23 where Samuel told the people, “More over, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you”.

Then I remember the numerous times where Jesus prayed, taught about prayer, and gave instuctions to pray.

And, then the apostle Paul appealed for prayer -

•  To the Romans, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.”  Romans 15:30-32
•  To the Corinthians, “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1: 11
• To the Ephesians, “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication … that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”  Ephesians 6: 18-20
• To the Philippians, “… for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body.”  Philippians 1: 19-20
• To the Colossians, “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison – that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”  Colossians 4: 3-4
• To the Thessalonians, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.”  2 Thessalonians 3: 1

I know that God receives our prayers as a sweet aroma from incense.  Rev 5:8

My point is to say that I’m still striving with God to have a deeper understanding of a life of prayer.

Some ask “How can I be a Christian at work” as though Christianity is something we take on and off.  The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 4:6 that we have been adopted by God as His sons, and since we are His sons He “has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.”  So, as believers Christ lives in us.  And, in 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul writes “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”  The result is that where ever we are, Christ is there in us.  Since we have all of Christ in us, the question to ask is “How much of me does Christ have?”  Does He have me at work just like He has me at church?

The Holy Spirit taught me over time that I had to surrender each area of my life to Him.  I came to realize that God was using every thing that happened to me to make me into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-29).  So, work was just one of the places where He was doing the shaping of me. 

• I came to understand that I must put God first in all of my life and the only way I knew to do that was spending time each day in His Word and prayer. That way He grew me.
• Then as I stayed in Christ, my Vine (John 15), He began to see Him produce fruit in my life at home, work, recreation, etc.
• I began to see employees, co-workers, employers and others as God see them and have an interest in them and family.
• I began to treat customers and co-workers with compassion, justice and integrity.
• I was letting the light of Christ shine through me so that God would receive the glory.
• With Christ in me I came to trust Him in all things so that I had less fear when problems came my way. Since my body was God’s temple and His Holy Spirit lived in me I knew I had no reason to fear because He was experiencing everything I experienced. He promised to use everything that happened to me, good or bad, for my good.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you’” (John 14:27-28).  Praise God that Christ has come to us just as He promised.  Christ lives in us, even at work.

 What is prayer? 

• Think about the time that you spend with a friend over coffee or a meal, and just talk and share your thoughts?  Prayer is like that. 
• Prayer is talking to the God you love so you can get to know Him and share your thoughts. 
• As God’s children we call on Him like we would our earthly father.  “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  Romans 8: 15-16.   The term “Abba” is the Aramaic for “Father”.  This is the term that belonged to the familiar, daily conversation of little children talking to their father.  It is an Aramaic “nursery word”, the equivalent of “papa” or “daddy”.  It was such an intimate word that the Jews of Jesus’ day hesitated to use it in reference to God. This expression could be translated, “Father, dear Father”.

 Jesus taught His disciples how to pray.  “This, then, is how you should pray:

            ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  Matt 6: 9-13 

• Praise God for who He is.
• Pray that the will of God will be done in your life just like it is in heaven.
• Pray for your needs this day and thank Him for them.
• Confess your sins
• Pray for a Christ-like heart of forgiveness.
• Pray for help for yourselves and others. Jesus did in John 17.

Prayer is an important part of our Christian life. 

• Jesus prayed regularly.  “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”       Mark 1: 35
• Jesus prayed before making major decisions. “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray (possibly Mt Arbel), and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:”  Luke 6: 12-13 
• “Pray for each other so that you may be healed.”  James 5: 16
• “Pray for those who persecute you,”  Matthew 5:44
• Pray for wisdom.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” James 1: 5
• Pray as a church. “My house will be called a house of prayer.”  Matthew 21: 13 

Pray in the name of Jesus.  “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”  John 14: 13

• We come before the Father because the Son sent us.
• We represent Jesus when we pray.
• It means that you come to the Father with the knowledge that your only right in approaching Him is that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that He Himself has sent you to the Father. It means that you know that you are totally unworthy of receiving anything from God and that the only reason God should grant your requests is that you come in Jesus’ name. It is not a magic formula, but a heart attitude. 

Pray with faith.  “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything form the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”  James 1: 6-8 

Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.  “…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  Romans 8: 14

 Pray continually.  Be in a mind of prayer at all times.  “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

God wants to hear from us.  “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. God wants us to talk with Him. 

God is honored by our prayers.  “Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  Revelation 5: 8

 Have you ever really thought why God loves you?

 In Jesus’ prayer to the Father recorded in John 17, He says  “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.  Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  John 17:24-26

Think about how God loves His Son.   Jesus is sinless – so God doesn’t love Him because He’s good.  “God made him who had no sin to be sin…” (1 Cor 5:21).   ”… but we have one (a high priest) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” (Heb 4:15).

God loved Him before the creation of the world, so God didn’t love Him because of the good things He did.  We think of being good or doing good works or giving good gifts to gain love.  Jesus didn’t do any of those things and yet God loved Him before the creation of the world.

 Why?  God must love Him just for who He is – His Son!

That’s what we are.  We’re His children.  That’s the love that God has for us, His child!  “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”  (1 John 3:1).

The Very Words

If you have been reading my blog lately you have undoubtedly noticed the latest posts on location in Israel.  Thanks to Omar Garcia and Jon Davis for posting and keeping you informed.  Their written perspectives of the journey certainly gives you a flavor of the experience.

There is a reason I did not post.  For the past 10 days I have been leading a diverse group of people from our community at Kingsland up steep mountains, across deserts and through deep valleys to places they didn’t understand.  I would dare say I purposefully took them places that would make their bodies and their minds feel uncomfortable, pushed to the extreme, weary, and dependent all at once.  I never told them where we were going until they got there.  They had to trust me.  I did all this for two reasons: 1) To demonstrate the perfection of God’s story and (2) to instill in them a passion for the Text.

We ventured to magnificent places and climbed to heights unimaginable.  It was hot, it was cold, it was dry, it was wet.  We carried the Text everywhere and I taught the Bible on location in certain spots along the way.  All week long I was praying, “Lord, give them a passion for your Word!”

You may not understand.  I have spent 4 years preparing to lead this Journey.  In the last 2 months I have spent hundreds of hours studying the Bible in hopes that God might use my sacrifice to do something in the lives of the 31 people who would follow me in Israel.

At the time of this writing,  we are 37000 feet headed from Tel Aviv to Newark.  As I look at the in-flight navigator it appears as if we are about half way back to the States.  I just sat down after a quick walk through the aisles of this 777.

Sometimes God allows you a gift.  Sometimes he lets you see the fruit quickly.  As I walked through the aircraft, I expected to see the bulk of our group watching movies, TV, or playing games on the in-flight entertainment system.  Instead I found something very different.

Bibles, the red ones that we used on the trip, open and heads buried in the Scripture. Not just a few people.  Over 20 of the original 31 are immersed in the Text. As I walked along a young couple asked me to explain something from Leviticus.  Did you catch that? LEVITICUS!

As I passed the lavatories I joined in a conversation with a group of guys I love.  They were discussing the Text in light of their current life situations.  I actually heard one of them say, ” Maybe we should inquire of the Lord.  What does the Text say?”

I am back in my seat next to a guy I don’t know.  He speaks Hebrew and we can’t communicate very well. He keeps looking at me out of the corner of his eye.  He is wondering what I am writing that is causing me to weep.  I must tell you, it is an incredible joy to see the fruit.  The eyes of 31 people have been opened maybe for the first time. Maybe for the billionth time.  They crave the Text.  For some of them, though they are church leaders, and long time Christians, it is the first time in their lives they are hearing God.  Why?  I think they finally get it.  They believe it. The Bible is “THE VERY WORDS OF GOD” Why wouldn’t you crave more of it?  Bless God!

Quit looking at me dude.  Just let me cry.  It’s a good thing.

“All Scripture is God breathed…” 2 Timothy 3:16

The Very Words

God then responds through his prophet “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

God reminded me that as his child all of life’s battles are not mine, but His.  Large or small.  They are all His because I am His.  My task is to keep my eyes on Him, whether I know what to do or don’t know what to do.  Just keep my eyes on Him.  By that I acknowledge my dependence on Him.  Just like Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.”

So, when I don’t know what to do, I’m reminded to keep my eyes on Him for wisdom, guidance, and strength.