Can You Get a Prayer Through?

Saints, we are living in perilous times. People everywhere experiencing overwhelming circumstances. Worldly people, church people, sinners, and saints all are feeling the effects of Covid-19, People are sick, losing their jobs, losing their homes, losing their loved ones, and etc.

Only Jesus can heal, restore, provide, direct, answer, comfort, etc. He can do these things with or without man's help. But He chooses to use us to help one another. If you have the means, then do what you can to help someone else. If you feel that you do not have anything to spare, look inside yourself....... surely you have a PRAYER.

When a person has a heart attack, the very first thing an onlooker should do is, call 911. Yes, they should begin CPR if they know how, but that phone call for help should come first. As Christians, our first call should be directly to the Great Physician. CAN YOU GET A PRAYER THROUGH?

In I Kings 17:17 - 24 we read where the widow's son died. Elijah took him up to his room, stretched him out on his bed and according to verse 20 says, " O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?"

What sort of prayer is that? It wasn't with lofty words and pious platitudes. It wasn't a quiet repetition of petition. It was one borne out of desperation, bewilderment, and genuine desire for an answer. It was a prayer from the heart of a man who conversed with God on a regular basis.

When you have a relationship with someone, you spend time with them. You learn their speech patterns, mannerisms and body language and at the same time you learn what is important to them, you come to understand what makes them tick, you come to know their heart.

Elijah's prayer wasn't pretty but God heard & God answered. Maybe you are barely making ends meet and can't afford to "give your money away" to help someone else. Perhaps you are the one who is sick and in quarantine and unable to travel. Or maybe you are one of the exhausted care-takers or "essential workers" that has been stretched to your limit. In the natural, you may feel that you have absolutely nothing to offer to help another. But, my brother, my sister, if you are a true Christian, you have the Power within you to do all things that Christ Himself strengthens you to do. You CAN PRAY. Will you PRAY?

Can you get a prayer through to God? If you are truly in relationship with Him, if you converse with Him on a regular basis, if you genuinely desire His answer, then I believe you can. However, if you have grown lax in prayer and have difficulty getting into His presence; let your first prayer be for yourself. Repent, reconnect, and be restored. Then you can pray the prayers that will resuscitate the dying.

Trappings

Ever get your finger caught in a mouse trap? You thought you knew how it worked. You thought you knew how to set it. You thought you were doing it right...... Then...ooouuuccchhhh!!!!.. We can do everything right and still get caught in the trap. Accidents happen. Can we blame the trap for doing what it is designed to do?

Psalm 91:3 says, "He will rescue you from the snare of the fowler". God WILL RESCUE you from the trapping devices of the enemy. II Cor 2:11 clearly states we are no longer ignorant of satan's devices/traps.

Yet, we (The Bride) fall prey to one of his most common tactics.. Oh, it's not because we don't recognize the trap. It is because we think we are above/beyond/smarter than its capabilities.

When you have been in church for as long as I have, like me, you will find that it is easy to put your Christian service on auto-pilot. Go through the motions. Quote the scriptures. Sing the songs. Use the cliches". But those things are merely the appearance of Christianity. True Christ-likeness is borne from the heart and is revealed in our secret actions as much as it is in our open gestures.

To be set free and remain free of the fowler's snare, we must remain fully aware of satan's trapping methodologies. And we must be fully committed to following biblical principles in our everyday living. As believers, there are certain principles that we have come to accept as absolutes. Principles that directly affect our relationship with the Lord. Principles that, when followed, will enrich our lives; yet if neglected, will bring us ruin.

One such principle is found in Matthew chapter 18:15, quoted here from the NKJV "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother". Closely related to this idea is, Matthew 5: 23, 24. The NKJV renders it this way, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

I'm just going to leave it "as is". You know, when a seller says that an item is being sold "as is", that means you take it for what you see and for what you may not see about it.Those things unseen at the time of purchase, tend to come to light upon closer inspection. That's all the Lord is asking us to do with these passages. Bring them close to the eyes of your heart and see what will be revealed in the Light that is within you.

Temporary Trouble & Eternal Glory

I can't seem to get away from something that I posted a while back. "Our perseverance testifies of the power of the Treasure within us. When others see our troubles overshadowed by the light of His strength shining through us, they are in fact receiving the Good News of Christ." 

While I used II Corinthians 4:8-10 as a text for that post, it is the later portion of the chapter that speaks of the fleeting nature of our afflictions and the eternal nature of the glory that is revealed as we endure them.

In Romans 8:18, the Apostle Paul wrote "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

It is the revealed glory of God at work in us that draws others to Him. When they see us suffering in pain without complaint, when they see us bereaved, but putting our feelings aside to comfort someone else, and when they know we are financially strapped and yet we will give to the needy, that is when they see Christ. That is what will draw them to inquire about the source of our strength & compassion. That is when the lost will open their doors to the Gospel.

If the very thought that our malady is temporary is enough to give us a measure of hope; how much more should we be comforted knowing that the Holy Spirit is making intercessions for us.

"So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." Romans 8:26-28 Amplified Version

" I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit[a] to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again." Acts 20:19 -25 NLT

Come & Dine

Going to close with a verse from "Come & Dine". "Jesus has a table spread, where the saints of God are fed. He invites His chosen people, 'come & dine'. With His manna He doth feed. And supplies our every need; Oh 'tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!"

There is nothing like a good hot meal after many hours of hard labor. And certainly nothing better than fish & bread miraculously cooked by the Master. Yet, He bid them to bring some of their catch to be cooked. 

It is said about worship (declaring His worth), "It is all about Him". Yet, it is for our edification, that He delights in our worship and partakes of the fruit of our labors.

"As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." John 21:9,10 KJV

Keep the Music Alive

Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah chapter 14 tell of the attributes of Lucifer, his characteristics, his intended purpose, his agenda, and his demise. 

In basic terms, Lucifer was created to be the music of praise and worship in Heaven. He was granted access to every part of the Kingdom. He was adorned in beauty and gifted above all cherubs. All of the heavenly creatures were to follow his example and instruction.

But he became prideful and over-estimated his importance. He became jealous of the Most High God and coveted the Creator's glory. Instead of conforming to his purpose, he strove to attain his own. He was cast out of Heaven, yet continues on Earth to seek what is commanded to be God's alone.

His agenda has not changed. He still solicits the accolades of mankind. He uses his gifts to lure them away from God and into his own band. No ethnic, age, religious, or gender group is exempt from his penetration. He uses the universal language,appeal, and acceptance of music to his advantage.

With that being said, consider how quickly your own mood can change as you hear various types of music. When you hear rhythmic soothing music you tend to linger near it's source. Conversely, music that you consider offensive will drive you away from it's source.  

Music is a powerful persuader. It can facilitate a wholesome life or one devoid of any moral character. Take the following quotes and consider their origins. The conclusions are obvious.

"Music is the strongest form of magic." Marilyn Manson

"Music can change the world because it can change people." Bono

"Music...will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God. Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and makes people cheerful. Then one forgets all wrath, impurity, and other devices." Martin Luther

Now consider the following words of David, a man who experienced defeat but found victory as he worshiped the Lord in music and song.

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress my God on whom I can rely." Psalm 59:16,17 NIV

Beloved, I challenge you to keep the music of your salvation, alive in your heart. Sing the hymns of old, the anthems of the victorious, the psalms of the Bible, the contemporary choruses of praise and worship, and the melodies that He stirs within your soul. Sing in your native language not only for yourself, but as a blessing to others.  Sing in the Spirit and edify yourself in the things of God.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16 KJV

Problem Solved

Recently I learned of a temporary type of arthritis, called Plant Thorn Synovitis. It is caused by the plant matter that is left in the joint after that joint has been punctured by a thorn.
The joint appears red and swollen, is painful to touch, and is limited in its function. It was such symptoms that drove me to search the 'net for possible cause. 

You see, I had a problem that was painful and limiting, but I didn't want to go to the doctor. I thought it was only a minor thing, I could handle it by myself.  And I didn't want to spend much time or money on obtaining a cure. Besides, I removed the thorn. I thought it would get better on its own.

We encounter similar situations in the spirit realm. Minor irritations that we think will dissipate in time. We distance ourselves from the one who offended us. We don't take the time to find the root of the problem. We don't necessarily want to discuss it with a pastor or counselor. And, we spend time worrying about it but fail to take it to the Lord in prayer.

There is no problem too great for the Master. Likewise, there is no trouble so small that He is not concerned. If He sees when the sparrow falls, how much more does He care about us? We do not have to bear our infirmities alone. But divine intervention rarely comes without an invitation.

Back to the problem with my finger. It didn't just go away. It swelled and festered. I picked at it, squeezed it, cleaned it, and bandaged it. I repeated the process about every four or five days. It would not get well. I asked friends and co-workers had they every seen something like it. I surfed the Internet and found mountains of information. 

Yet, it did not get well until I consulted a doctor. His first words were, "leave it alone. If it is thorn arthritis it will go away in time. If you keep picking at it, you will cause a bigger problem. If it is not plant thorn arthritis, I will need to lance and cauterize it." Well, it must have been something else. I left it alone for the next ten days. It was so sore that I could barely bend it. So, I went to the doctor. He opened it and found a tiny shard of glass. Once removed, it was only a couple of days and my finger was back to normal.

Many people have the tendency to pick and scratch at disorders of the skin. Most of the time that increases the damage and creates worse problems. We do the same thing with our spiritual inconsistencies. If only we would consult the Great Physician from the onset of our discomfort. The intensity and duration of our troubles would be lessened. 

The Apostle Paul found himself with a thorn. It was so troublesome that he prayed three times and asked God to remove it. God did not remove it, but He assured Paul that His grace would be sufficient for him to endure the thorn's presence.

Whatever your thorn, take it to the Lord. He will heal it or give you the grace to endure it. When you depend on Him in your weakness, His glory will be revealed. Let your thorns propel you to minister to others. Let His glory be revealed in and through you, today.

Like an Olive Tree

History tells us that all of the trees in and around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 AD. Yet there are olive trees there today. They could even be off-shoots of the trees that were growing in the days that Jesus walked the Earth. It has been said that olive trees can regenerate from their roots. This means they can be cut completely down and sometime later sprout, flourish, and bear fruit again.

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep." Job 14:7-12 ESV

As long as there is breath in a man, there is hope. Hope for salvation. Hope for regeneration. Hope for an eternal life with Jesus Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He searches the depths of man’s soul. He is the one who pricks the conscience of man. He is the One who draws the man to the Father. He is the one understands the non-verbal communications of man.
God created man in His image. He put within man a place that can only be filled with Him. Many search the world over for something to satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and plastic surgery are a few things that have been sought to stop the gnawing of emptiness. Oftentimes a person will have to hit rock bottom before they realize that Jesus is the answer to their woes. But some only need to witness a life that is vibrant with the love of Jesus.

Our mandate is to go and tell. To that I add; and live well. So what if you have been battered and cut down? Let the Holy Spirit water you soul today and you will begin to sprout again. As long as you have breath, there is hope.

I originally posted this on another site . Copyright 2008