Prayer
Will We Pray...?
We desire to encourage all who read this article of the necessity to pray as found in the scriptures. In our day of business and activity, it seems seldom that people give themselves entirely to prayer and ministry of the Word, as in Acts 6:4. Although it is much needed. It is not just a ministry for a paid person who preaches, but for all who believe on Jesus Christ as Lord. God has called us All into the Priesthood of Believers and as a Priest we are called to intercede between God and mankind as directed by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer then, is to be a major part of the believer’s life and of our gathering together as The Church. Waiting on God in a prayer meeting is a very important meeting that I believe we should have with Gods people every week if possible. Why then is it so neglected in our day? I believe there are many things that contribute to this problem, a few of them are that, “the cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things” have taken the place of prayer and I believe there is also a lack of instruction and understanding on our need and the Power of prayer. This lack of effective prayer by The Church, greatly hinders our effectiveness in the world today. A great example on prayer for us in scripture, is of Anna. In Luke 2:36, “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she had lived with an husband seven years and was a widow of about 84 years old, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting’s and prayers night and day.”
I do recognize that we all have more than one area of service. Some are busy with raising the family and working different types of employment; (waiting tables) while others have been placed by God to minister the Word of God, while maintaining a family and other obligations as well. In spite of these obligations All believers are called to prayer, weather much or little is determined by each individual and “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” King David said in Psalms 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” We as believers have been given wisdom concerning prayer and an understanding about how to pray from the Holy Spirit, which God has given to each of us. We are fully equipped to carry out this work. Practically speaking, I find that if I give myself to the work of prayer, by setting aside certain times to pray, that God will meet me there; as well as giving me reminders to pray throughout the day and in every place. Isaiah 26:3 “You (God) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You.” The Bible is full of examples where God initiates prayer through His Saints to accomplish His will in the earth. Will you give yourself more fully to being a part of this greatly needed work? A quote from Andrew Murray, “We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.”
A powerful picture of intercession for us today is found in Exodus 17: 8-14 “Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. So, Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will completely put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” (It is suggested that Amalek represents the sin nature.)
So, we see when the hands of Moses were raised (with the rod of God) that the people of God prevailed and when his hands came down, they would begin to lose ground. This was more than Moses could do alone, more intercessors were needed to hold up Moses hands as he interceded for the battle being fought. This example is for us today… for one another...! that we should pray in earnest… to lift up those who are in a difficulty or for those interceding for the issues we face. Sometimes as Arron and Hur, we lift up the hands of those closest to the battle, to intercede for the Believers so that they would have the time, strength, wisdom and understanding to pray through to victory... In other times we are as Moses and need to be lifted up by others in prayer so that we can pray more effectively for the victory. At other times we are as Joshua and engaged in deadly combat, the outcome of the battle is many times determined by those praying for us… in a concerted effort, not just one, or two, but multitudes of people in prayer to God... Will we Pray?
Lastly, we are the body of Christ, those of us who believe on Jesus. I pray we are not so focused on our making a living and caring for ourselves that we forget this great call on our lives to reach our neighbors and the world with the Gospel of The Kingdom. This is also done with much prayer. I encourage all, to set aside your mornings and evenings for prayer and time with God. Not just a few minutes, but to wait on Him for instruction and strength for the day. This should also extend to gathering with other believers in prayer groups as often as possible. So that we might be His expression to the world in every circumstance that He chooses for us. So that we would not misrepresent the Kingdom of God and our Great King, Jesus the Christ. Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers… And with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
We must be about our Lords business and I pray we are not among those who have drawn back… Hosea 13:6 “According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore, have they forgotten Me.” Oh, let that not be said of us.
Please remember dear Saints, what God says in verse 9 “in Me is thine help”