05/25/2024
It is true that people do pray more when they are in trouble, and they are also inclined to criticize God in the midst of great trouble, but in God's eyes our lives here are just a portion of the journey... When many are lost to calamity we have a tendency to think they are gone because this life is all we know, but in God it is not the end... Evil never triumphs, the journey is not complete. We already know the end of the story, and God is victorious and dries the tears of the martyred saints. Jesus has already risen and the promise of His return is real… He will return to claim His bride, and the dead in Christ will rise to meet Him. Are we ready?
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV
My devotional reading this morning was titled "Make the Promise Real" and in it Pastor E.M. Bounds used Paul's mission to deliver the gospel to reveal the promise, and then explored what was required for us to succeed in making that promise real. Like the answers to our own questions regarding faith, Paul's answer is revealed in scripture...
“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;”
Romans 15:30 KJV
Bounds emphasizes that it took the combined prayers of the saints to "secure his deliverance and secure [Paul’s] safety, and were also [required] to make the apostolic promise vital and cause it to be fully realized." You see, praying for one another that the will of God will be accomplished within each of us is key to our successes. Praying in the spirit is vital to the strengthening of our faith.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Ephesians 6:18 KJV
But, there is yet another element, and that is to pray fervently and without ceasing until the promise is realized. Saying a quick prayer is nice, but it is like a handshake between newlyweds... It doesn't satisfy the thirst; it doesn't achieve the goal of intimacy and consummation. When we pray for each other we should pray with an ever supportive prayer of the spirit, and for the will of God to be realized in them. This prayer for others should come from the depths of our being.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”
Colossians 1:9 KJV
Then once our prayers have been answered and come fully to fruition, we must proclaim the victory for the glory of God; giving him all the glory He is due, and rejoicing in His great provision.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”
2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV
So Paul asked for prayer, and we should ask for prayer too. In this we will be strengthened, but we should never forget the importance of our own prayers for those around us who need our strength of petition just as much as we need their prayers.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”
1 Timothy 2:1 KJV
When we ask for and receive the prayers of other believers we will be strengthened and obtain the promises of God, and if we pray for those around us their souls will be impacted in a mighty way too. The gospel message will find tilled soil, and its seed will find fertile ground.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV
God has made many promises in the bible and they are important to our walk with Him. Some are more easily realized and require less support from others, but some will take much prayer and the love of many hearts to usher them upward. Let's not stumble in our aid to others, but instead, pray for God's assistance to them in their quest for the kingdom. In these efforts we will be found good and acceptable in the eyes of God and Jesus… and my friends, that is a prize worth any price; that is how we make the promise real. Will you pray for me today? I am praying for you!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all those who pray for me, and for allowing me to lift their journeys of faith, and their daily needs, up to you too. Father bless us as we pray for one another, and increase us in our own belief, faith, and walk with you as we do so. Hear the outpouring of our hearts as the love we have for one another is shared with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and help us to weed the gardens where their righteousness has been planted. I ask today for the prayers of my spiritual family, and the intercession of your Son Jesus Christ. I pray for them now with all my heart, soul, and mind. I pray that Jesus come quickly, and that those around me be protected, comforted, provided for, and made ready for His promised coming. Strengthen us Abba as we pray fervently, and without ceasing, so that you might be glorified in our quests of faith. Give us understanding of your great promise of eternal salvation as your Holy Spirit leads us in our prayers. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come, and who loved us so much that you sent your Son Jesus to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected that we would be saved from sin and death. Thank you for sharing Him, your Holy Spirit, and the prayers of all those around us, with us as we seek and abide in you. Thank you for strengthening us in each of these, and for allowing us to glorify you, praise Jesus, and to strengthen each other as we make this journey of love and faith towards your promise of eternity with you. We humbly ask now for the prayers of the Church, and dedicate ourselves to praying fervently through the day for the lives and spiritual journeys that our friends, neighbors, and enemies who are traveling towards you. Hear us Father, be glorified by our efforts, and bless us with your grace and eternal love forevermore.
Amen.
Rich Forbes