12/17/2024
I was reading Pastor E. M. Bounds this morning and he was writing about a phenomenon that is hard to understand but is true none the less... Prayer Brings Heaven to Earth. There are certain times in worship when Heaven and Earth come into close proximity and can indeed touch one another... baptism, communion, marriage, and the burial of loved ones are a few, but in each case our prayers are the key that unlocks the door and makes this happen. We see this best when we read how Elijah saw the awesome power of God, but it wasn’t until God spoke with him in a low whisper and their conversation (prayer) began that Elijah truly came close to God and experienced Him.
“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:11-13 ESV
Pastor Bounds describes drawing close to God in this way...
"Prayer runs parallel with the will of God. Prayer reaches up to heaven and brings heaven down to earth. Prayer contains a double blessing. It rewards the person who prays and blesses him who is prayed for. It brings peace to places of conflict. There is an inner and outer calm that comes to him that prays." - E. M. Bounds
Prayer is more than a bill of lading in which we detail out the wants we have carried before the Lord, and God then acknowledges that He has received them... it is a time of joining... heart to heart... within His very will. It is knocking on His door and hearing the words "is that you? Come on in!" It is the response given to family and those we love. It is opening one world to another... an invitation of trust and love calling us to step across the threshold into a divine realm. It is entering into heaven because wherever God is... there so is heaven itself, and in that place we find the peace we seek.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 KJV
So this morning as we start to pray, let's put our list down and begin by knocking on the door of God himself, and when he whispers "Is that you?" then let's respond "Yes Father!" and step across the threshold into our Father's house... into heaven itself. After all, He has been expecting us. Then, after He holds us for a while, and we express our love for one another, He will ask what is troubling us and we can show Him our concerns. He has been waiting for us to come to Him. and to help us with those. Didn’t Elijah find this to be true?
“And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:13 ESV
The interesting thing about prayer, and especially a prayer for someone else is that you leave God's presence feeling a sense of greater peace than when you arrived, and with a glow inside that is similar to the glow of Moses... undeniable.
"Right praying not only makes life beautiful and peaceful, but it also infuses righteousness. Honesty, integrity, and strength of character are the natural and essential fruit of prayer." - E. M. Bounds
I once described my spiritual mentor, Jack Hughes, to a friend as someone who walks close enough behind God that he is covered with the dust of heaven. Isn’t that true of each of us as we come from our prayer closets? Don’t we bring back with us bits of heaven in the folds of our clothing, and a new righteousness inside.
Father, I stand at your door and knock, call to me this morning that I might enter into your presence and your will. Call me, Lord, to join you in heaven for a time of worship, love, and communing with you. Let my prayers bring heaven and earth close so that I can step easily across your threshold into what is my true family home. I pray Father that I don't come home to you as a prodigal son who has squandered your gifts frivolously, but if I have strayed, I pray that you meet me on the road and embrace me in forgiveness and love. Draw me close Abba and lift my burden, and the burdens of those I have brought to you in my golden bowl of prayers. Then hear my song of praise as I lift up your name and greatness in voice before heaven and earth alike.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:29-30 ESV
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for bringing us to the sheer veil that separates heaven and earth when we pray. Thank you for pressing our faces into it and allowing us to place our cheeks against the Cheek of Jesus in loving embrace. Open our senses Abba so that we not only feel your presence, but smell the prayers of the saints as they rise up in the smoke of incense from golden bowls. Help us as we open our mouths and release the sweet smoke of our own prayers as we join in praying to the Father. Thank you, Holy Father, for the peace that surrounds me at that moment; for you have most certainly conquered the world. Help me Lord to see your glory which shines through the sheer veil that separates us as we kneel before you and smell the aroma of the altar as the prayers of every saint rises up together from it. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who draws us near and whispers “Jesus” in our ear as we feel your presence, your peace, your quiet calm, and our hearts begin to leap within us. Your Grace and mercy wait for us here before the veil listening for our prayers, and for the temple veil to sigh as it grows thinner. We await the coming of your Son Jesus in this way, praying, and longing to hear the trumpet sound, and the curtain part that separates us. O how we will sing and praise you on that day, O how we will let go of our troubles and watch them fall away like scales from us. O the joy we will have as we feel the cheek of Christ with nothing between us… not even the soft fabric of a prayer.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
“And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
1 Peter 5:1-3 ESV
“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
Revelation 8:3-4 ESV
“Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.”
Psalm 115:3 CSB
Rich Forbes