I’ll pray for you

 You can give others an amazing gift. You do not have to be wealthy, young, old, male, female … just faithful! Yes, you can pray for others. The Bible tells us to "… pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:16, The Message)

Too many times in my life to count, others have prayed for me. One of those prayers comes to mind today, the evening I was ordained to Christian ministry. Other pastors gathered around me in May, 1980 and placed their heads on my shoulders, inviting God, the Holy Spirit, to rest on me, to prepare me for service.  The prayers of friend and family have sustained me in trial, in sickness, when seeking guidance.

I’m fairly certain that when I have passed on to Heaven, most of my sermonizing will be forgotten, my writing will fade into oblivion. But, I hope that people will remember the prayers I offered for them.  I have no idea how many people I have prayed for in my lifetime, but it has to be thousands! I can only hope that my prayers are as comforting to them as the prayers offered on my behalf are to me.

Prayer is more than emotionally therapeutic. It is powerful!  Do you pray for others?  Perhaps you find that a bit difficult?  We simply present the need of our friend to God, asking Him directly on their behalf. Eloquence is not required. Lengthy, involved petition is not a prerequisite.  We just open our heart, our mouth, engage our mind and speak to the Father.  Sometimes when I pray for those in my pastoral care, I don’t even know what to ask God for on their behalf. The situation may be complicated, the details of their dilemma unknown to me, yet I can pray for them because God knows their need, so I ask Him to love them, keep them, steady them, entrusting that person to Him.

“But, Jerry, what does that gain? Doesn’t He already know the need?”  He does! I cannot explain all the reasons that an All-knowing, All-powerful Purposeful God wants us to pray, but clearly He does. The Bible make that abundantly clear. "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

Our personal prayer should include times of active listening, being attentive to the Presence, so that He is able to direct us.  And, the Word urges us to ask boldly, ask faithfully, and trust Him radically. Know this! Faith is important, a God-focused faith. Faith is not being convinced that God will do exactly what we ask Him to do. True faith is a sure hope that He will act in our best interest, an attitude of child-like trust. He doesn’t answer prayers because we’re good enough, loud enough, or even earnest. No good Dad gives his son everything he asks for because his wisdom knows that not all things the son desires are the best. Our Father does what is best for us.

There is this, too.  When we pray for one another, let’s not just do it from a distance, let’s learn to do that in person. Praying, even if the words get fumbled, even when there are quiet pauses, is like a soothing salve for the soul. Few things will evoke deep tears, not the sad kind, but the “I’m moved to the center of my being” kind, more than hearing someone talk about me, my needs, my life to the Father.  God will put it all in the right perspective and use our prayers to accomplish His will and purposes.

When we pray for each other, we must go beyond – “Lord, bless Pete, Sally, and Sam.” Let’s get specific, praying for financial provision, for specific guidance, for restoration of love in marriages, for victory over sin, for spiritual growth, … the stuff of real life! By the way, remember this - prayers for others must never be used as sermons! Don’t try to fix somebody or advise them while you supposedly talking to the Lord. I experienced a few of those ‘prayers’ and honestly, I resented them.

Let me pray for you now borrowing Paul’s amazing prayer for the Ephesians, a prayer that is one of my favorite passages in the Word.

"When I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus
and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus,
I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—
every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks.
But I do more than thank.

I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—
to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally,
your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do,
grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers,
oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—
endless energy, boundless strength!" (Ephesians 1:15-19, The Message)

To the praise and honor of our wonderful Lord. Amen!
___________

The Prayers Of The Saints
(Matt Redman invites us to worshipful prayer)

Are the prayers of the saints

Like sweet smelling incense

Are the prayers of the saints

Like sweet smelling incense to Your heart

To Your heart

Let these prayers of the saints

Be sweet smelling incense

Let these prayers of the saints

Be sweet smelling incense to Your heart

Are the songs of the saints

Like sweet smelling incense

Are the songs of the saints

Like sweet smelling incense to Your heart

To Your heart

Let these songs of the saints

Be sweet smelling incense

Let these songs of the saints

Be sweet smelling incense to Your heart

Matt Redman

© 1998 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Right Thinking, Right Living

Les Miserables, Victor Hugo’s novel, is the story of a man who is sentenced to 19 years of hard labor for stealing bread. Jean Valjean turned into a tough convict. On his release, he was offered shelter by a kindly priest.  During the night, he steals the silver and runs off.  The next morning the police drag him back to the priest’s home, expecting a tirade of anger. But, on seeing him the priest exclaims, “So here you are!  I’m so delighted to see you.  Did you forget that in addition to the silver I had given you the candlesticks?  They are silver and of considerable worth.   Here, take them.”  The police have no choice but to release the convict who stands trembling before the priest. He presses the candlesticks into Valjean’s hands saying, “Do not forget; do not ever forget... I have bought you, now make a new life for yourself as a new man.” It’s a great story of grace and redemption!

God has set you free through Christ Jesus, bought you, not with silver, but at the cost of His life.  

Is the evidence of that salvation growing in you?

Paul, in the 6^th chapter of his letter to the Romans, points out the change in our status with God that comes to us through Jesus and presses for transformed behavior. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:6-7, NIV)  That’s declared fact!  "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Romans 6:12-13, NIV)  That’s our part of applying the truth, living in grace.

A life that is pleasing to God, filled with the beauty of devotion, that reflects the character of Jesus does not just ‘fall out of the sky’ on our head. We work out the implications of our salvation. We live in ‘truth.’ We confess, we repent, we worship, we live as He desires. The paradox of this amazing way of life is that we are not called to more Law, to tighten the rules for ourselves or others as we attempt to be the holy people of the Lord. "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, NKJV)  We lean into the undeserved favor that is the gift of God, and in the increasing discovery of the depths of His love, we are led into righteousness.  Oh the wonder, the joy!

Have you failed, sinned? Do not run from your Father, hiding behind excuses. Run TO Him to find grace for renewal.

Do you feel the pull of temptation?  Tell Him and ask for the clarity of the Truth to replace the confusion of the Lie.

Our word from the Word today comes from the last lines of that same chapter. The Holy Spirit inspired words call us higher.  Meditate on these words and let the Truth set you free to live the glorious life of a child of God. 

"As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God,
you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living,
or right anything for that matter.
But do you call that a free life?
What did you get out of it?
Nothing you’re proud of now.
Where did it get you?
A dead end.

But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do,
and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you,
what a surprise!
A whole, healed, put-together life right now,
with more and more of life on the way!
Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death.
But God’s gift is real life, eternal life,
delivered by Jesus, our Master." (Romans 6:20-23, The Message)
___________

Reckless Love

(worship with this song about His love)

Before I spoke a word
You were singing over me

You have been so so good to me

Before I took a breath
You breathed Your life in me

You have been so so kind to me

O the overwhelming never-ending reckless

Love of God

O it chases me down fights 'til I'm found

Leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it I don't deserve

Still You give Yourself away

O the overwhelming never-ending reckless

Love of God

When I was Your foe still Your love fought for me

You have been so so good to me

When I felt no worth You paid it all for me

You have been so so kind to me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

Caleb Culver | Cory Asbury | Ran Jackson

© Watershed Publishing Group (Admin. by Watershed Music Group)

Bethel Music Publishing

Richmond Park Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

Who are YOU?

“That was fun,” the boy said as we left an awards ceremony where his achievements were recognized. It was fun to enjoy the reward of his real efforts. However, I smiled as he said it because he had unconsciously touched on a part of being human that can lead to folly. Recognition does feel good, doesn’t it? There can be a downside to thanks and awards if they become more important to us than faithfulness and obedience to our Father.  Being recognized, gaining the approval of others, can turn into an addiction, making people play the fool, pretending to be what they are not, telling stories that are not true- just to impress other.  We can know that pride is taking root when we find ourselves measuring yourself against others in an endless game of comparison.

It feels great to be voted ‘most liked,’ or ‘most successful’ and there is nothing wrong with those things, if the desire to gain recognition is not allowed to own us. But, how quickly pride can take charge causing us to ‘buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.’   Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, makes this wry observation: “I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke.” Pride can run out of control and turn a person into a fraud, a  ‘wanna-be’ who is incapable of finding God’s best in this day. Pride can steal the meaning of life where we are by causing us to think that we must turn into someone else to make others admire us.

The Bible says that Jesus was born a nobody, came from nowhere, had no degrees. He did not seek Jerusalem’s favor and cared little for applause. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would be a man without "beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:2-3, NIV) Jesus lived in the center of His Father’s will, content to be obedient. The Word says this about Him- He was "in very nature God, (but, He) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:6-7, NIV) "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name!" (Philippians 2:9, NIV)

Disciple, find joy in being who God calls you to be, in the place where God places you, with the people that God surrounds you.

If God makes you a king, then rule diligently.

If He makes you a servant, then serve with your whole heart.

Contentment is a choice we make each day and part of that choice includes recognizing the deadly seduction of pride. Now let’s not confuse contentment with complacency. If you choose to give up on life and drift along in mediocrity, do not call that contentment. Contentment is learning to be all that Christ has called us to be, using the gifts the Spirit has given us in the best ways, serving well. The focus, however, is not the applause of others. It is to please the One who knows us best and loves us most!

Choose humility as your way of life. Humility is found in being content to belong to God while being confident in His promise.

Here’s a word from the Word, wisdom about doing well for the right reasons and the certainty of enjoying the best reward.

"If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else," (Galatians 6:3-4, NIV)  So, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9-10, NIV)

__________

Who You Say I Am
(Worship with this song that sets our sights higher)

Who am I that the highest King

Would welcome me

I was lost but He brought me in

Oh His love for me

Oh His love for me

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I'm a child of God

Yes I am

Free at last

He has ransomed me

His grace runs deep

While I was a slave to sin

Jesus died for me

Yes He died for me

In my Father's house

There's a place for me

I'm a child of God

Yes I am

I am chosen not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me not against me

I am who You say I am

(Oh) (Yes) I am who You say I am

Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan

© 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055