The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer

Isaiah 37 v 14-20

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

   We still today after revival healings, and many other great miracles. They all had humble beginnings, covered in prayers. Matthew 18:20  “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Most prayers start in the heart, someone needs help, and some of them are born out of desperation, and not born out of greed.
   As for our verses, we see a great trouble had beset Hezekiah, the great King, because of the Assyrian invasion, and the imperious attitude of Rabahaketh the captain. ‘Trouble’ has been said to be “A divine diet for the new man”. It is more ‘profitable’ then it is ‘palatable’.

Here are 3 ways ‘The Power of Prayer’ can help, and direction and how simple prayers can overcome your troubles.
1) The Cause of his trouble
It was ‘a letter’, but a veritable one from ‘a messenger of Satan’, sent to buffet him. It is incredible in today’s techno-age one where we look at our ‘in-box’ for our ‘e-mails’ or maybe that of ‘Facebook; ‘Twitter’, or even ‘Instagram’. Yet still, the postman brings those dreaded ‘brown envelopes’, which here in the UK, would have normally meant a bill, or even that long awaited Hospital appointment. Or, deep within the postman’s bag there will be letters that bring warm regards from an old friend or family member. In fact who knows what the next post may herald. This was an attempt to ‘destroy his faith’ in God (v10), to dispossess him of ‘inheritance’, and to bring him into bondage. So much so the enemies of our souls are always active toward the same end. Their letters may be beautifully written, but they are terribly bitter.

2) What he did withit.
“.. he spread it before the Lord ..” (v14)
Because he did this solemn act, it revealed his faith in God. He never spread before the face of Heaven, instead before the face of The Almighty Personality. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"
   While all I needed was the beginning of this verse, (as seen above) I reconsidered and included it all. Why this change of mind? Well, you will have to ask God, the next time you talk with His Almighty.
   I’m lead to say that this verse must go to show Gods thoroughness. It also shows that he spread it, he laid the whole matter ~ from the beginning to its end, all in front of Him. So, make sure your definite when you are dealing with God. In other words He wants your honesty, He wants you to be confident, as He wishes you to hold nothing back. Always remember, no matter what ails you, ‘mentally or physically’, He will always be interested, for after all He is our Heavenly Father.

3) How He succeeded
“.. The angel of the Lord..” (v36) ..became his defense. Whilst his argument was one of simplicity, it was also me that was so irresistible as well. “Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the Kingdoms of Earth may that you are Lord" (v20).
   When the Angel of the death spread his wings in the blast. Woe to those who fight the Kingdom of God .. “By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed” (Job 4 v9). The unbelievers will scoff and say; ‘it’s all just mumbo-jumbo; blah blah, or the back sliders will say ‘He never did anything for me/them' etc.
   It causes me much heart ache to hear these words. You see there are a couple of words that must go with ‘pray/prayer’ they are, Faith, you must have faith that your prayers ‘will’ be answered. May be not today, or, maybe not this week, but they ‘will’ be answered. My second word is ‘Believe’, for you must believe in God’s word otherwise what’s the point? So put them together, and with God in the mix everything is possible, I always say “have faith and believe” your prayers ‘WILL’ be answered. Is there any sorrow too great, or, circumstance too perplexing that the prayer cannot bring comfort and deliverance?   N O



“.. if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible for you ..”  Math 17 v20

The Power of Prayer

Isaiah 37 v 14-20  "..14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods.."

   We still today after revival healings, and many other great miracles. They all had humble beginnings, covered in prayers. Mathew 18:20 “..When 2 or more gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them..” Most prayers start in the heart, someone needs help, and some of them are born out of desperation, and not born out of greed.

   As for our verses, we see a great trouble had beset Hezekiah, the great King, because of the Assyrian invasion, and the imperious attitude of Rabahaketh the captain. ‘Trouble’ has been said to be “A divine diet for the new man”. It is more ‘profitable’ then it is ‘palatable’.

   Here are 3 ways ‘The Power of Prayer’ can help, with direction and how simple prayers can overcome your troubles.

The Cause of his trouble

   It was ‘a letter’, but a veritable one from ‘a messenger of Satan’, sent to buffet him. It is incredible in today’s techno-age  where we look at our ‘in-box’ for our ‘e-mails’ or maybe that of ‘Facebook; ‘Twitter’, or even ‘instagram’. Yet still, the postman brings those dreaded ‘brown envelopes’, which here in the UK, would have normally meant a bill, or even that long awaited Hospital appointment. Or, deep within the postman’s bag there will be letters that bring warm regards from an old friend or family member. In fact who knows what the next post may herald.

   This was an attempt to ‘destroy his faith’ in God (v10), 'to dispossess him of ‘inheritance’, and to bring him into bondage. So much so the enemies of our souls are always active toward the same end. Their letters may be beautifully written, but they are terribly bitter.

What he did withit.

(v14)  “..he spread it before the Lord..” 

   Because he did this solemn act, it revealed his faith in God. He never spread before the face of Heaven, instead before the face of The Almighty Personality. "..But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.." (Heb 11 v6) While all I needed was the beginning of this verse, (as seen above) I reconsidered and included it all. Why this change of mind? Well, you will have to ask God, the next time you talk with His Almighty.

   I’m lead to say that this verse must go to show Gods thoroughness. It also shows that he spread it, he laid the whole matter ~ from the beginning to its end, all in front of Him. So, make sure your definite when you are dealing with God. In other words He wants your honesty, He wants you to be confident, as He wishes you to hold nothing back. Always remember, no matter what ails you, ‘mentally or physically’, He will always be interested, for after all He is our Heavenly Father.

How He succeeded

 (v36)  “.. The angel of the Lord..”  ..became his defence. Whilst his argument was one of simplicity, it was also that it was so irresistible as well. “..Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord ..” (v20). When the Angel of the death spread his wings in the blast. Woe to those who fight the Kingdom of God. “..By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed. ..” (Job 4 v9). The unbelievers will scoff and say; ‘it’s all just mumbo-jumbo; blah blah', or the back sliders will say ‘He never did anything for me/them' etc.

It causes me much heart ache to hear these words. You see there are a couple of words that must go with ‘pray/prayer’ they are, Firstly, Faith, you must have faith that your prayers ‘will’ be answered. May be not today, or, maybe not this week, but they ‘will’ be answered. My second word is ‘Believe’, for you must believe in God’s word otherwise what’s the point? So put together, and with God in the mix everything is possible, I always say “have faith and believe” your prayers ‘WILL’ be answered. Is there any sorrow too great, or, circumstance too perplexing that the prayer cannot bring comfort and deliverance?

Math 17 v20  “.. if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you ..”

Seeing & Believing

 

John 4 v48    Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see

 signs and wonders, you will by no means 

believe.”

 

   This verse is part of a tale about a man’s son who is critically ill. And has travelled some distance, in order to try and meet a guy who creates miracles. It’s a long shot, this is the last he has, (The distance, he had walked, means nothing compared to his son’s wellbeing). Making this journey today is nothing as in a car it would only take 15/20 minutes.

 

   Bare with me if will, but, imagine driving this distance to a Hospital, because you heard of a surgeon who can cure your son. Only to be met such a rebuff. You would be staggered to, and probably you would be angered even frustrated. There’s you who has unlimited riches, but would give it all away to have your son made well-made well again. Because of the station in life your wealth has brought, and am used to people saying ‘yes’ to. So how knocked back you would be to have been me by such a rebuff.

 

   All be it was a boy who was sick and knocking on death door. Illness has no respect for persons of wealth or station.  

 

 Isaiah 55 v11   Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you 

people see signs and wonders, you will by no means 

believe.”

 

   Yet there is no doubt there is a little explanation, such is our Lords anxiety to purify and strengthen our faith in Him. The rich man’s faith was such that his faith was rested on the miraculous. In this very moment our Lord Jesus wanted show that His ‘word’ carried the same weight as if He was praying over his son back at home. Today we just call home on the mobile to find out there and then if his son had been cured, instead he had to walk/run home if faith that his son was well made so by Jesus. Wandering all the time is he or not well again, it must have been torture.

“If God wanted me to believe, why does He not put a sign

in the sky?”

 

   Faith is a matter of the heart and not merely of the mind. Real faith though is called into being not by an miraculous sign by the word of our Lord Jesus. For if faith was to depend on the visible sign in the sky, though there is great doubt it would accomplish it’s objective.

 

If the hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they

be persuaded that He rose from the dead.

 

   How precious is Faith in the estimation of our Lord and what pain He must have took to produce ~ purify & strengthen it. What may one explanation of many of His strange dealings with the son of man. His great longing is to lead us into the life of Faith. But what is Faith? Even though most exercise faith in our lives, in various degrees, what we are conscience of or not.

 

Have Faith and believe

 

The first time we see the word believe used is in . .

Genesis 15 v6    “. .And he believed in the Lord, and

He accounted it to him for righteousness. .”

. .according to the literal meaning of the time ‘Believe’ was to mean ~ to stand one self, by leaning on someone or something ~ this being so we lay our weak and changeable selves on Gods strength.

 

   At this point I must bring 2 things to your attention. .

1.     True faith will have God as its Origin & Objective. Remember ‘Abraham believed God’. In John 6 our Lord Jesus refers to it as ‘Work of God’. Hinting that it is God who give the true inclination of mind in complete trust.

2.   Our Faith in God is an act and NOT a mere sentiment. It is not something that easily or simply comes to a man. He must believe in something or someone other than himself.

 

. . I would be a miss if I did not point out that there is a close relationship between Faith & Will. Observe here, that, in the literal and strictest of senses of the word Faith ~ is that we must use effort. Whereas Will ~ is to make it so. My summation comes but in 3 stages, which I hope will cement what Seeing & Believing has been about.. ..

Stage 1 : Belief in Him our Lord

Stage 2 : The Saving belief

Stage 3 : Believing in the Lord

 

Stage 1 : Belief in Him our Lord

…To begin with this would lead us to an acceptance of His Revelation. All be it that it shows us, not, tells us how to be saved. Though many Christians can testify, that the book of Revelation paints a more vivid picture than Michael Angelo’s cysteine chapels ceiling. Of what will happen during the end times. Whilst it is possible for someone to have faith, yet still be lost? I say yes. True faith is something far far more than this. Therefore the 2^nd stage it is far more imperative that this next stage be reached . . via . . simple belief in Him our Lord Christ Jesus our saviour

Stage 2 : The Saving belief . .

Hebrews 10 v39  “. . But we are not of those who

draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the 

saving of the soul. .”

. .This is where the saving comes in. When I go out and by a chair, I have faith without doubt, that when I come in weary from the day it will hold my weight. Merely believing that the chair will not give on me will give peace of mind, but, ‘believing ‘on’ it, that it will bear my weight gives me peace of mind. This is just one of many instances that we show in our modern living that an unconscious belief in . . the cars we drive . . the coats we wear will keep us dry and warm . . or even this very pen . . that they will do what it says on the tin, to coin a phrase here.

 

Stage 3 : Believing in the Lord . .

   I may believe in the chair to help me become rested and restored. Also as I believe in my car and the pen I write, the same way. But still the car pen and I remain separated and distant, though not so with Christ and my Soul. Believing  . . on . . Him will lead to . . believing . . into . . Him. Becoming one with Him, united to Him be ties of Love & life. What a blessed union this has become.

 

Words will forever fall short and are unable

to describe the union fully

 

 

   Lets say a short prayer I have come across to describe my feeling…

“My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary

Saviour divine”

Helping by Prayer

Helping by Prayer

   God has put it in our power to help each other in many ways, sometimes by deeds that lift away burdens; sometimes by sympathy that halves the sorrow. But, there is no other way in which we can serve wisely, so effectively, so divinely, solely interceding for them.

   Our hands are clumsy and awkward, and often life would heal with our touch or strength . . .

“. .Not by my strength but by thine alone/own. .”

. . .but in prayers we can reach our friend through God’s grace. Because God’s hand has an infinitely more gentle touch that would NOT hurt but only heal us in our time of need. We know that our wisdom, and at times the help we give is untimely (we offer help after the horse has bolted, yet only then do we think to close the stable door), or unwise. When we try and fix that which is no longer broken, thus making mess. We need to learn when to let go.

   There are times we think we are helping by lifting a friends burdens, that God needs them to carry by themselves. You might be forgiven that by doing this we are making his burdens lighter. But it was Gods intention to make it harder for our friend for his own good, for his own development of his powers.

   Don’t be disheartened that by not saving our friend from the burdens & . .Hardship ~ self-denial ~ Perilous-duty ~ Exhausting-Service . . when these are the very paths with which God will lead him to . .

·       The paths to Honour

·       To Longer Usefulness

·       To Nobler Life

. . all be it at times our love is short sighted.

   This goes to show that we may all think we are helping our friend, when we really are doing anything but. When we are actually hindering him in the very things that deeply concern his life. Instead of hindering in the flesh, we can use a tool that will be far more effective. In prayer we can let God know we have faith in our belief that our prayers will be answered in fullness.

   In our prayers we can ask for help in which our friend will feel His divine healing. Who so ever fails to pray for ones whom we love, is a miss, in the most sacred duty of God’s Grace, not to mention His divine healing power.

“A prayer less love may be  tender

And may speak murmuring words of sweetness

Sound, but it leaves the deepest expression

and the noblest of speech. We never want

To help our dear ones so well as when we

Pray for them.

Romans 8 26 “. .  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered. .”

   

   As Christians we should know how to pray. The thing is how many of us, as newly saved Christian’s, were taken aside and over a number of weeks, were taught how to pray, using the Bible as direction? “pray for as we ought”. This is something sadly lacking, the only true direction for those just saved is called the ‘Alpha Course’.

   We truly have a gift/tool to help us if only tapped into. There are some ‘Evangelists’’, some have a good reputation. There are 2 that who are known even out of Church circles. .

1.     Billy Graham

2.   Benny Hinn

 . . it has been reported both have a good & bad reputations for ‘Healing’. Jesus healed many ailments. All He asked for was ‘Faith & Belief’, which sadly many today will lack one or both.

Luke 8 49-50  “. .While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well. .”

   When a man can do nothing else, he would do well to remember this little saying to the great river of intercessory prayer which is always flowing up to the throne of God. The river is made up of such sayings as the Ocean is of drips . .

“A praying man can never be a useless man”

. . it is also well, that we think carefully of the things we ask for our friends. There is a danger that exists in prayer for ourselves, that we press only our own will for them and request for them only of an earthly kind.

Philippians 3 19   “. . whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. .”

  Another form of prayer is that of a Mother’s. Her prayer for her children will always be first, that may win Earthly honour, but, that they be complete in God’s will, and become what God has intended them to be. The best place they can reach in this World is that which God designed them when He gave them life.

·       “What shall our prayer be”?

·       “That our friend may recover”?

   Isn’t that what we want otherwise, do we pray and not mean it?   Prayers should always be offered up in love, or we may ask aimlessly. Jesus prayed 3 times that His cup of sorrow might

pass. .

This must not be all what He’s about!

We should ask. .

This must not be all what ‘It’s’ all about!

   It would be sad if our friend were to get well and NOT to get some blessing out of his sickness. Once he has made full recovery, we pray that he may be enriched in spiritual experiences. .

   Also ~ that he be in a closer relationship with Christ our Lord..

   Also ~ that his life may be purified..

   Also ~ that he made more thoughtful, gentle, unselfish, more Christ like..

   Also ~ that he be made more perfect and complete in the will of God. .

. . it may be needful to qualify the power that our friend will recover. It may also Gods will that our friend should now go home. We may still give vent to loves yearning that he will get better, but at the close of our supplication we must submit it all to Gods wisdom in the refrain. .

“never the less, not as I will, but as though wilt”

. .if love be true, it’s always the best thing that we ask for our dear ones when we pray. Heaven will be the crowning glory of our lives in Immortal Glory & Blessedness. As we begin to pray we remember that the truest and most loving prayer for Him be, that our friend must stand most perfect and complete in all God’s will. Possibly his load is part of God’s will to bring out the best that is in him.

   Here’s something to think of in that, when we decide to pray for our friends, we need to first and for most, pray of their spiritual good & wellbeing. In doing so we must seek above all things that the prayer and supplications offered up will sustain and lift them, so they will grow into the beautiful person in Gods eye’s and help them to have a wonderfully perfected Christian character.

   Surely you will have a poor and thoughtless friendship which desires the utter most Earthly good. It is asking of you a stone instead of bread or perhaps a scorpion instead of an egg, or a serpent instead of a fish.

‘Archdeacon Farrar, was once quoted in saying

‘There are 2 things to remember about prayer for

Earthly things. .

1.     That too ask for an Earthly blessing is a dreadfully dwarfing and an vulgarization of the grandeur of prayer, as though a handful of grass, when you might ask for a handful of Emeralds.

2.   You must always ask for Earthly desires with complete and absolute submission of your own will, to Gods’.

   We are to make sure that these things be as true of prayers, as for our friends as for ourselves. We do our friends a grave injustice as well as sin against our loved ones when we seek for them merely the things of our frail short-sighted judgement may desire for them.

“. .love is true only when it comes and rises up to

Heavenly heights, craves for those who are

dear to the things of Gods own blessed

& perfect will. This is and will always never

Be easy. .”

   It will always be hard for us to say ‘Thy will be done’. NO one will relinquish the reigns to their life to Jesus Christ. Knowing that it means our loved ones must endure some pain or walk in deep shadows, or be humbled under Gods hand.

   No matter whether for ourselves or for our friends, we dare not in prayers press our own wishes against Gods. .”Even though it be a cross that raiseth”. .this must be our own cry for our friends as well as for ourselves. . .

“The strength of pleading must be the same”

. . .someday we shall know that our love was the truest, when it was asked in pain and loss for one who was dear, and Why?.

   May be this poem will go to answering some of the questions you might have…

I sometimes think Gods tender heart must ache

Listening to all the sad complaining cries,

That from our weak, impotent souls arise, Because

 we don’t see that for our sake, He answers

not, or answers otherwise, Than seems the best

 to our tear-blinded eye, This is loves hardest task,

to hard things For loves own sake, then bear the

murmurings Of ignorance to dull to judge aright.

The love that rises to this wond’rous height

He wearies not, but bears complaint and moan

And shields each will heart against His

Own knowing that some glad day we too

Shall know.