05/06/2024
This morning let’s delve into the true object and source of our fervency and desires... and that is God. Do we realize that although fervency and desire are rooted somewhat differently that they both have to do with God, and seeking His presence? Pastor E.M. Bounds said this when he wrote these words: "Fervency, just like prayer, has to do with God. Desire always has an objective. If we desire at all, we desire something. The degree of enthusiasm with which we form our spiritual desires will always serve to determine the earnestness of our praying."
One morning Ann and I were traveling to Chattanooga Tennessee to celebrate the graduation of a wonderful young woman who meant a great deal to our family. We would be gathering with her family to wish her well in life, but we would also be joining them in fervent prayer for her healing... She had Multiple Sclerosis.
I find it interesting that in my devotional reading that morning the scripture reference came from 2 Chronicles 16, which is the story of Asa, King of Judah, who didn't lean first and foremost on God. When it came to War Asa sought not the council of God but formed an alliance, on his own accord, with Syria, and although he won the war he was judged harshly by God.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV
Later in his life he became exceedingly sick and diseased, and once again he shunned the Lord.
“And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.”
2 Chronicles 16:12 KJV
This time Asa would not find victory, but would succumb to his illness, and be buried in grand fashion but in a sarcophagus he made for himself... once gain… No mention of God.
I am not proposing that we not visit doctors for healing; God uses them. King David had human council, but he sought first and foremost the council of God. What I am saying is that on that day in Chattanooga we were going to pray for a beautiful young lady whose heart was earnestly seeking God first, and then the physicians.
On that day in Chattanooga, Tennessee, our two families would offer up our desire for her healing by praying together, much in the way we had so often offered them individually... Fervent prayer for the healing of someone we both loved. On that same morning, Bounds wrote in my devotional reading that "People who are fervent in spirit are bent on attaining righteousness, and all the other characteristics that God desires His children to have." One of those characteristics is good health, and our two families, who joined in prayer, were seeking Him fervently in this common desire.
I invite you to consider those whom you know, or know of, and to join with me in fervently praying for their healing this morning. From wherever you happen to be reading these thoughts please offer up this desire with me. We might not be physically together as we pray, nor praying for the same person, but our spiritual offerings of intercession will mingle and unite before the throne. Just as the apostles gathered together in one accord, in a common desire, to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit let’s pray as one today for healing…
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Prayer... Fervent prayer... it presses our faces into the thin veil separating heaven and earth and allows us to breathe the very aroma of the divine. In this act we are as close, in this world, as we can be to the person of God. Let’s join fervently in conversation with our Father this morning, and seek his healing touch for someone by joining in a common desire.
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."
God bless and be with you as we pray together, not only fervently, but with a unified desire, the healing of another.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for encouraging us to come to you as one with those things that are common to us, and which we fervently desire of you. Thank you for weaving our prayers together by taking those things we say individually, such as the name of someone we know who is sick, or our individual hungers, and forming them into one common desire of healing, or the end of famine. You hear our voices Father, and know our hearts. You feel the gist of what is the same, and hear what we pray that might sound differently, but you can gather together what is of one accord. Praised be your name for providing the healing, the end of war, the quenching of our thirsts, and whatever else our hearts desire that are of you as we bring them before your throne with one heart, one accord, and one desire. Help us Lord to know your will so that we can pray as we should, and then melt our prayers together as one like so many cheeses that become one in a melting pot. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who knows our every desire, and brings our voices together as one in a harmonious song of prayer. Hear today our desire for healing; the healing of many, that we lift up individually by name, but pray for in a common and fervent desire for your miraculous healing. This is our prayer today, and this is what we come before you as one to ask for. We rest in your promises and the name of Jesus, and know that the tapestry you will weave from these many prayers will be amazingly beautiful… the dark threads highlighting the brilliant, and the coarseness of one’s rough texture offsetting another’s that is as smooth as silk. Your desire for us will become apparent in your divine handiwork as you take our desires and pull their threads across your loom. Our sin becoming righteous, our sicknesses healed, and every brokenness made whole again. Merciful are you, and your grace our ointment that heals our lives and souls. Great are you Lord for there is none other like you! You are one, and our Great I Am!
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes