06/16/2022
When we are facing great danger or eminent threat, who do we turn to for our salvation? Do we think that an army can save us, or the money of the wealthy will purchase peace and safety from our attackers? Perhaps we believe that our deliverance will be in a bottle of pills, or by the skill of a surgeon, but whatever, or whoever we rush to, they are nothing without the hand of God guiding them, and we can expect nothing unless our trust, and faith are in anything other than the Lord. Where does our help really come from, and do we place our confidence in God, or in the actions of those who can guarantee nothing?
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
Psalm 62:1-2 ESV
When our enemy approaches us in a cloud of dust, and we see the glint of his shields in the distant hills, who do we turn to? Do we look to our leaders who are pacing the floor with their counselors, or an army of men like ourselves who see the cloud of dust and wonder if they are strong enough, or see the glint of the distant shields and wonder if their spears can penetrate them? No, we are meant to turn to the Lord our God, and to pray for His deliverance… His help.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 ESV
In the end our God might give wisdom to our leaders and their counselors, or give instruction the generals, and He might reinforce and strengthen our army with legions of unseen angels, and arrows that find their mark, but let there be no doubt that our ultimate deliverance comes in the form of prayer, and through our trust and belief in God alone.
In times of crisis it should trouble us to hear our leaders tell us what they will do to save us, and not what God has told them to do in answer to their prayers for guidance. It should worry us when a physician says that he thinks a treatment will work with no mention of prayer, or God’s hand. And, we should begin to look with dread towards the mountains, expecting to see a cloud of dust, after the words “In God We Trust” have been deliberately, and systematically removed from our government, it’s laws, schools, and currency. So what are we to do in such times? We should do ourselves what is being neglected by the whole… we should enter into prayer, and seek help from God. It should not concern us when we feel that we are alone in our prayer closet, because we have faith in the power of a single prayer.
“… The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.”
James 5:16-17 ESV
Are we any less in the eyes of God than Elijah? Is our faith less, or our belief unable to reach the hem of Christ’s robe? In this way will we not be healed by a single touch, an outstretched hand, or one prayer that is offered in true faith?
“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.”
Luke 8:43-44 ESV
Though we are only one person, we read in God’s Word that He works through one man, or one woman, and uses them to save a people, and to change nations. Our Father sent His son, one man, to save the whole world… is this not our belief? Isn’t this the power that we wield in our prayers?
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
So, when I was told that my gall bladder needed to be removed, and when I was told that a cancerous tumor needed to be cut from my body, and when the doctors gathered around me with all their fantastic machines and tried to find the source of some stroke-like symptoms I was having… I prayed for them. I loved, and coveted, the prayers that were lifted up for me by many others, but I knew that any one of them, if prayed in faith, in God’s Will, in accordance with God’s promise, and in the name of Jesus… that any one of these prayers offered up for me, would be enough, and would glorify God… and each one of them was. All those individual prayers were offered through one man, Jesus Christ, to one God, our Father. Is this not what we believe… that our help comes from the Lord, and not the preponderance of our nations wayward desires, or prayers lifted wrongly, and with desperation, not faith, and in the expectation of man’s deliverance alone? James speaks of one prayer, listen…
“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:15 ESV
Are we confident that our help comes from the Lord, and that our prayers are heard… Then answered? Do we believe that one man’s prayer, rightly prayed, can cast mountains into the sea, save nations, and save our souls? If so, then fear not, and pray.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing each prayer of every believer as it is offered up to you. Thank you Lord for the peace and rest we find in knowing that you not only hear us, but answer our prayer, and do what we ask when prayed rightly through Jesus. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose breath brings life, whose touch heals, and whose strong right arm defends us. Praised be your name, and let all glory be yours, for every answer to our cry for help, or plea for you to reveal yourself to us. Merciful are you who heals, strengthens, redeems, and saves us from our enemies, and ourselves. Wash us in the blood of Christ, and remove our sin, and our sinful nature. Let this one prayer, uttered by whoever prays it in faith, your will, and the name of Jesus, be enough to save them, redeem them, and give them eternal hope in you. Your grace is sufficient for each of us, and all of us together; pour it over us individually, and all of us who stand as a whole. Deliver the one and the many from every sin, and every enemy, harvest the one soul, and the entire harvest field for your kingdom. Let this prayer for redemption transform each of us, and make us a pleasure in your eyes, and worthy to be seated eternally at your table. This is our prayer today, and we join together to pray it in mass… yet with the full promise and expectation of each individual soul. Praised be your name now, and forevermore.
Rich Forbes