Your Greatest Place of Influence?
There
were about 20 of us gathered on the front yard of a local church to
observe the National Day of Prayer yesterday. In the middle of one of
our prayers, as I heard the traffic rushing behind us, horns blowing,
motors revving; the apparent absurdity of our enterprise made its way
into my consciousness. There we were, several pastors, some retirees, a
teen ... singing hymns and praying ... while the world charged ahead. I
was tempted to wonder if we were just comforting ourselves with
religious exercises?
If
our hearts were turned to God and His Presence, we were doing
significant work! We cannot measure the efficacy of our prayers in the
moment. Results do not necessarily correspond to numbers. We were
intercessors and I believe that a single faithful intercessor can change
the course of history. Oswald Chambers points out that prayer for
others does not mean entering into their mind, but rather entering the
Presence of God. He says, “Our work is to be in such close contact
with God that we may have His mind about everything, but we shirk that
responsibility by substituting doing for interceding.” - My Utmost For His Highest
Moses knew the merciful heart of God and he went in prayer on behalf the stubborn people who had offended Him. "In
accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just
as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The
LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as
surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole
earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I
performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me
ten times- not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to
their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see
it." (Numbers 14:18-23, NIV) Isn’t that just magnificent? Moses gained forgiveness for the sinful nation!
Yesterday,
the little knot of people on that church courtyard of whom I was a
part, stood humbly and impressing no one with our numbers or power, but
we touched God on behalf of our city and nation. Only God knows what was
accomplished in our prayer meeting.
From
my reflection a new conviction is growing in me and now I wonder if I
spend enough time secretly praying for the people for whom I am a
shepherd? Lord help me if I do not enjoy talking with God about them
more than talking to them about God! If there is no prayer in the work
that I do, there is not power for change. And yet, I gain great
assurance from what James plainly tells me. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” (James 5:16)
Be an intercessor!
That sounds lofty, doesn’t it? But, in fact, what it requires is
sacrificial love - for God, for people - that causes us to reach upward to Him and outward
to them at the same time. We become a bridge for His blessings. Jesus
is our One Mediator of grace. We cannot ‘save’ others by our efforts,
but we can move heaven and change earth from our secret place of prayer.
In
2013, what America needs more than anything is an army of intercessors.
The godlessness of our culture will be little effected by religious
programs, by legislation, by public relations campaigns, or building
more churches. God desires bridge-builders who enter His Presence to
make a plea for others. Let them intercede: “Have mercy, God, on your
people! Don’t abandon your heritage to contempt. Don’t let the pagans
take over and rule them and sneer, ‘And so where is this God of
theirs?’ ” The Message, Joel 2:17
Father, pray for your children by name, each day.
Husband, pray for your wife, lovingly, each morning.
Wife, pray for your husband personally every day.
Pastor, pray for your congregation, each day.
Christian, pray for your circle of friends, your world.
Here’s the word from the Word. "
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and
holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to
be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God
and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:1-6, NIV)
________________
Arise, my soul, arise
Shake off your guilty fears!
The bleeding sacrifice
On my behalf appears;
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands!
He ever lives above
For me to intercede,
His all redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
My God is reconciled,
His pard'ning voice I hear.
He owns me as His child
I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba, Father, cry.
O My Soul Arise
Charles Wesley | Eric McAllister
© 2012 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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