“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2: 1-2
Paul urged Timothy to pray for leaders who exercised authority and jurisdiction over early believers. At first glance it seems to be a noble concept, and worthy of honor. CAUTION: It is not a platitude fit for a throw pillow. It was meant to be an established priority. This call to prayer is the obligation of Christian citizens, but it may be the least obeyed passage of Scripture in the Bible.
Christian citizens in this nation still have the freedom to identify with a political party. It does not relieve them from the obligation to pray for those of the other party. The priority of Scripture is not placed on removing tyrants, by replacing them with Christians. Scripture challenges Christians to intercede for those who are already in authority over them, regardless of how they got there.
Intercession requires regular investments be made into it, before a dividend is received from it. One does not come without the other. Rejecting the priority of the former won’t lead to receiving the benefit of the latter. “…So that we can lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
“The end justifies the means” is the tyrant’s mantra. It is not the mission statement of a child of God. When fighting tyrants, the Christian citizen is often tempted to compromise their convictions, and “fight fire with fire.” Carrying a torch against a political enemy does not always lead to the shedding of light, but if mishandled it can lead to scorched earth. Christian citizens pray for those in authority, if for no other reason, to avoid becoming like them, or screaming at the TV because of them. Lead a tranquil and quiet life, indeed.
The early church was given little or no choice in the matter of selecting the leaders who reigned over them. Their opinions were considered inconsequential to the monarchs and authorities of their day. Still, they were urged to make intercession for them, not criticism of them, a personal and corporate priority. That is hard for American Christians to believe, but it must have been even more difficult for those early Christians to do. Mere Christianity always takes sheer courage.
Of Paul’s three Pastoral Epistles, I & II Timothy and Titus, his letter to Titus is his only prayerless one. His words to Timothy are carried over to Titus.
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” Titus 3:1-2
Paul’s reminder to Titus did not mention the priority of prayer, but Christian consideration has never been an option for true believers. It is unlikely that Christian consideration will be found in prayerless Christians. Prayer is essential to their strength of character. They were to be subject to and show consideration for their leaders, and for all men.
It is one thing to endure injustice with a tight-lipped, burning resentment. It is quite another thing to go through it with a prayer on your lips. Pray for leaders who burn you. It enables you to go through the painful experience without letting it turn your soul into scorched earth. It leaves your hands free to strike a match in the darkness, and it keeps your lips free to call on God to bring about the change only He can bring, a Great Awakening.
In spite of their prayers, the early church was not immune from persecution. They were still accused of treasonous behavior by various Roman emperors. When it pleased their constituency to do so, local politicians persecuted Christians to secure their base. Some things never change.
From its first day of birth to the latest breaking news, the church has faced death, mayhem, and destruction. Rather than snuffing out the light of The Father’s love in the world, it has fanned the flame of His love in the hearts of His children.
Christian citizens of the world don’t share the same type of government. They do not live under the same constitutional manuscript, but they all fall under the same divine mandate.
They are first of all and above all, to pray for all those who are in authority, and to give consideration to all men.
The Founders of the American nation broke with a tyrannical king, after years of tedious and fruitless negotiations. After engaging in an armed struggle that lasted seven years, and experimenting with a failed political system for nine years more, the remaining founders established a new governing document. The Constitution elevated the language of liberty and provided an instrument by which the people of this nation could establish a more perfect union.
NOTE TO SELF: Use The Constitution wisely. Protect it as a gift of God. As precious as your nation is to you, your obedience to The Father should never be set aside to participate in the process of exercising your rights as an American citizen. You will find yourself tempted to malign people in authority who have used or abused the powers of their office. Both parties do it. Pray for both, but don’t let either one of them get away with tyranny.
The Constitution gives you a means to remove tyrants and incompetents. It does not require you become like them. Register to vote, and vote them out of office. Praying for your leaders is at the very least an expression of Christian consideration. It may not do much for them, but it will do wonders for you. Pray for those who are in authority. They need it and you need the practice. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Payback
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on the guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me…” 2 Timothy 4:14-18
At first glance there may not appear to be a prayer within this passage of Scripture, but prayer was as close to Paul as his next breath. As a seasoned prayer warrior, he never allowed prayer to be any farther away than the air he breathed.
Paul survived being wounded by a false friend, not by forgetting about him, but by reminding himself that His Lord was with him and He would repay his enemies. In the case of Alexander, Paul didn’t try to pay him back. He prayed him forward.
“The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.”
Paul’s brief statement invoked the sure fact of The Father’s intervention in the face of injustice and the intimidation of His children. As surely as there was an injustice done to Paul, He rested in the knowledge that The Father would make a righteous judgment on his behalf.
“Paul prayed that God would vindicate His servant. His heart was full of praise as he realized the abiding Presence of Christ amid the cruel desertion of so-called friends.” Dr. Herbert Lockyer
When pain from the past surged into Paul’s present tense, he breathed a prayer, and rested in The Father’s hands for justice in the future tense. HE DIDN’T TRY TO PASS HIS PROBLEM OFF TO ANOTHER CHURCH. He handed his false friend over to God.
Many pastors fail to warn other churches about the dangerous behavior of people in their congregations or on their staffs. If they get a chance, they pass them on to unsuspecting churches, with a sigh of relief. Paul didn’t. He called them what they were, and by their own names. When pastors and churches fail to tell the truth, they only perpetuate the problem. They don’t solve it. But I digress.
Prayer takes the bone of an offensive person out of your throat and the rock of a wrong suffered out of your shoe. If you hold onto offenses, without placing them in the hands of Jesus, you will end up choking and limping your way through life. Prayer relieves you from the burden of having a bone to pick or an IOU to payback. Prayerlessness leads to a crippled life and the loss of rest. Paul would have none of either. He prayed.
This minute prayer of the Bible carries a wealth of insight for those seeking to find rest from past pain, present intimidation, and future fears. When any past wrong came to Paul’s mind, the next words out of his mouth were a prayer to God to make it right. He didn’t try to candy coat what had happened. He didn’t try to make up with an unrepentant person. He admitted his pain, and released it to God in prayer, and left the time and the amount of the payback up to Him.
NOTE TO SELF: Immediately whisper a prayer to God, when your chest gets tight, recalling the injury you received from a fellow soldier when he stabbed you in the back, in the heat of battle. Pray for him to receive from the hand of God exactly what he deserves. Nothing more. Nothing less. Take your hands off the scales of justice. Trust God to payback what you pray forward. Prayer leads to a life of R.E.S.T. , when you Release Every Single Thing. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Remembrance
“The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me – the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day –and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.” 2 Timothy 1:16-18
Bob Hope was not a flawless a man, but he remains a well remembered man for his tireless efforts to entertain soldiers in need of hope. He had a theme song played at the closing of his shows. He would croon along with the tune as it carried the sentimental refrain, “Thanks for the Memories.”
From WW2 through the Cold War, from the tropics to the arctic, when soldiers needed Hope, he was there. Entertaining troops in faraway jungles or on stage in one of the great cities of the world, Hope’s theme song sealed the bond between him and his audience. As the stage lights dimmed and the sounds of the orchestra faded into silence, Hope left the stage, but hope prevailed.. Thanks for the memories, indeed.
Solders aren’t the only ones who have remembered people who have been there for them when they needed them most. Paul recalled his loyal friends and remembered them in prayer. So should you.
The undying memory of the blessing of dear friends is one of The Father’s greatest gifts to His children. Remembering past blessings is the gift that keeps on giving. Recalling the blessing of good friends never grows old, and thanking The Father for them carries no expiration date.
“You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phylegus and Hermogenes.” 2 Timothy 1:15
The memory of a faithful friend is often made sweeter within the context of another’s betrayal. On a regular basis, Paul was a victim of “friendly fire.” He recalled with great joy the loyalty of Onesiphorus, but he still carried the scars of those who had wounded him. One can only speculate and trust Paul had forgiven them, but the Scripture records he had not forgotten them. Great memories can be refreshed repeatedly, but painful ones are rarely removed completely. At least, not in Paul’s case.
Paul wisely chose to dwell on the memory of the blessing of a true friend, rather than be distracted by the curse of two false friends. He recalled the refreshing experiences of Onesiphorus, when the draining influence of two false friends threatened to suck the joy out of his life.
“He often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”
Betrayal, like a bone in Paul’s throat, didn’t ever quite go away, but Paul refused to choke on it. When it came to fish and betrayal, he learned in both cases he could eat the meat and spit out the bones. He gained strength by swallowing the former, and spitting out the latter. The taste may have been bitter, but Paul prayed and stayed away from bitterness.
Paul took great comfort in and expressed his gratitude for the memory of his deceased friend. He had not only supplied Paul’s physical needs, but he had identified with Paul’s emotional needs. His friend did not just “write a check.” He showed up. He gave of his means, but he also gave his heart. Paul never forgot the double blessing and prayed his friend would be rewarded for his generosity and his loyalty at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
NOTE TO SELF: Healthy remembrances lead you to pray and thank The Father for those who have blessed you. Praying will not cause you to completely forget those who have betrayed you, but it will keep you from going postal over them. When you are served a bitter tasting meal from a false friend, you can draw strength from it by eating the meat and spitting out the bones. Remember well by thanking God often for loyal friends who have been generous to you and stood with you, during the storms of life. Pray for them more than you talk about those who failed you on both counts. Take hope. You will be refreshed and they will be rewarded. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Legacy
“I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,” 2 Timothy 1:3
In December, Mom will turn 94 years of age, and in March of next year, Dad will celebrate 93 years. For 64 years the one over-riding blessing my parents have made on my life has been their constant prayers for me. This is The Legacy that means the most to me. For 60 years my parents planted churches, and travelled all over the world conducting prayer conferences in over a thousand churches.
Today my parent’s ministry centers on their retirement center, but from their small apartment they are still in touch with a great God. They continue to invest their prayers in me, my family, and in the next Great Awakening. Mom’s classic response to all the chaos of the world, and the challenges of aging is, “It’s all going to work out.” Dad still prays with a smile on his face, and a childlike expectancy in his heart saying, “The best is yet to come.” I want to be like them when I grow up, and never forget The Legacy of Prayer.
“I thank God…” Paul’s prayer life was marked by gratitude to God. Thankless people and prayerless people both have an attitude of ingratitude. Paul was not among them. The Legacy of Paul’s life is his attitude of gratitude for what God had done in his life, and for what God was doing in the lives of those he loved.
“...Whom I serve with a clear conscience…” Through prayer, Paul kept short accounts with God. There was not one thing that he would allow to stand between him and intimacy with God. Prayer settled his accounts, because Paul didn’t offer God any excuses to God for a debt of sin. He cleared his account by forgiving others and by asking forgiveness from God.
Paul didn’t allow anything to stand between him and God. A clear conscience before God comes from having sin confessed up to date to God. You may not begin praying with clean hands, and a clear conscience, but if you are honest to God, before you finish praying, God will make sure you have both.
“…The way my forefathers did…” If Paul’s prayer life stood out among his peers, it was because he was standing on the shoulders of his forefathers. Paul prayed with power for those around him, in no small measure, because of The Legacy of the faithful prayers of those who came before him. Paul knew of their investment in prayer, and their faithful service to God, and he was faithful to carry on their legacy.
“…As I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.”
Paul’s served God with a clear conscience, by offering prayer with a constant confession for himself, and an intense entreaty for Timothy. Through prayer, he sought provision from God for what Timothy needed most, personal courage.
Like any good parent, Paul’s prayers for his son in the ministry over-rode any desire Paul had for personal comfort. Regardless of the time of day, or the dark of night, Paul prayed for Timothy. Wise parents pray constantly for their children to become intimately familiar with the ways and the will of The Father.
Answered prayer is a rare experience for prayerless people. Those unwilling to be regularly inconvenienced by prayer will never know the constant relief of answered prayer. My father, Don Miller, has often called his kind of praying, “Prayer with a price.”
“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” 2 Timothy 1:5
Prayer was a key component of Paul’s value system, and he invested in it sacrificially on behalf of Timothy. He also honored the root system for Timothy’s “sincere faith.” He recognized that it was rooted in the prayers of his mother and grandmother. They too had paid the price to pray for him, until there was fruit in him.
The fruit of Timothy’s sincere faith was grounded in the soil of a praying preacher, a praying parent and a praying grandparent. Prayer is God’s plan for developing a sincere faith in the heart of one of His children facing genuine fear in the face of the enemy.
Prayer was The Legacy of Pastor Jonathan Edwards, one of the key leaders of America’s First Great Awakening. Writing about the pre-revival state of his church and community he said, “Family government has failed in this town.” Reflecting on the surprising change that took place in Northampton, in answer to his prayers, Edwards recorded, “It was a time of joy as families on account of salvation’s being brought unto them; parent’s rejoicing over their children as new born, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands.”
NOTE TO SELF: Pray for your family, friends and fellow ministers. They need it. You need the practice. When you pray for and with your children on a daily basis, you make a powerful and productive investment in their lives, and the future of this nation. The dividends of prayer far outweigh your investment in it. When you pray, God surprises you with His grace in your life, and in the lives of others. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Request
“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you, and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Paul had the humility and the wisdom to request personal prayers to be made, on his behalf. His request was a call for help, and an admission of need. Both are heard from the lips of the smallest child. They also reveal the maturity of the strongest believer. Nothing expresses the humility and the hope of child of God like the three little words, “Pray for us!”
Spreading and glorify the word of The Lord was the burning passion of Paul’s life, not his health and wealth. He asked for prayers from his friends, and fellow believers to fuel the fire in his heart to see as people exposed to The Light, as quickly as possible. He asked them to pray for him “that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.” This is a far cry from what passes for prayer today. Prayer was not a means for Paul to satisfy his need for greed, but to supply what people needed the most, Jesus.
Paul had seen God move with power and speed before among these very believers. He had been in their city for less than a month when he was forced out of town by Jewish opposition, and these new believers were left on their own to deal with the persecution that came upon them. He knew he could count on them to understand his next request. Paul asked for them to pray that, “we will be rescued from perverse and evil men.”
Paul called upon people to pray for him, not as an optional devotional exercise, but as his back up in a perpetual conflict with evil. His request for prayer was not an invitation for his friends to take walk in the park with him. It was a call for help to enter a wrestling match with his enemies.
Paul knew the ultimate struggle was not against flesh and blood. It was not physical, but spiritual. Yet, he was not immune from the intimidation of the immediate. He knew the physical, emotional and spiritual trauma of being abused by people who were willing hand puppets of the enemy.
“Perverse and evil” people are not the source of evil, but they are often willing conduits and pipes for the sewage that flows from it. Unwitting dupes, or cleverly disguised under cover agents of the evil one hurt and hinder people whose great passion in life is spreading and glorifying the word of The Lord.
Not everything that appears green in your yard is a sign of fresh water. It may reveal a leak in the septic tank. Praying for “perverse and evil” people doesn’t always remove them from your yard, but it will keep you from digging a hole to get at them, only to end up smelling like them.
Prayer will help you plow around a rock in the field, instead of plowing right through it. Prayer will keep you focused on sowing seed, and moving on to more fertile ground.
“When you come to a rock in the field, don’t dynamite it. Plow around it.” Dr. Harry Piland
Recently, I hosted a table at a prayer meeting that was marked by a sign, “Personal Needs.” I had been asked to intercede for any personal prayer requests people attending the prayer meeting might be willing to share. Personal needs are always a bit awkward for complete strangers to reveal to one another, but answered prayer begins by leaving our comfort zone and admitting we are in need of prayer, and asking for help.
I have learned that it is not unusual for people to balk at the opportunity to openly request prayer for their own needs, their family’s need or their friend’s needs unless the pressing needs are the loss of health or the loss of a job. Apparently, when we are healthy and wealthy, other personal needs don’t readily come to mind or require intercession.
I once served as a church staff member responsible for coordinating an Adult Education Ministry. I began calling the Bible Study leaders of the departments on Saturday night to pray with them. I would ask, “How can I pray for you?” Their response was generally an awkward silence, followed by a common line, “Nothing that I can think of. We’re all OK.” I then asked permission to pray for them. Once granted the privilege, I began to pray for the leader, their spouse and family, the people who would be attending in the morning, those who were going to be guests, those who were chronic absentees, and asked God’s Spirit to move in a mighty way in the lives of the members of that department to restore marriages, rebuild friendships, that would bring honor an d glory to God. It took about a minute. Week after week as I called, the prayer time became longer and longer, as the leaders began to open their hearts, and share the pressing needs of their lives. It was a great lesson. People have to know you care before they will trust you with prayer.
NOTE TO SELF: There is simply nothing like the blessing that comes from having a friend who will stand in the gap and pray for you about a pressing need. Never stop maturing in your own personal prayer life, but never outgrow the childlike capacity to admit your need to friends and to request prayers be made on your behalf. Paul was humble enough to say, “Pray for us.” You should be too. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Worthy
“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“To this end we pray for you always…” Paul’s ceaseless praying was not pointless. He had an end in mind. He prayed not only for people to be converts, but to be worthy, living lives
“…that God will count you worthy of your calling…” For believers to be counted worthy of their “calling” they must be counted among those who glorify The Father now, not later.
“…and fulfill ever desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.” Transformed conduct is produced by Christ-like character. Christ’s character can be traced to His handprints all over the heart of a true believer. True beliefs influence genuine behavior. Don’t let your talking about God, outdistanced your walking with God.
“You do what you believe. The rest is religious talk.” Peter Lord
Paul prayed for believers to reveal the evidence of Christ in them with a “…desire for goodness and work of faith in power.” The fruit of goodness is rooted in the Spirit of God. The work of faith is an expression of God’s power. You need both or you will be good for nothing.
Paul prayed for believers, “So that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you, and you in Him…” Never pray for any other reason. Ceaseless praying is pointless praying if it does not desire the glorifying of the name of Jesus.
The call of God has two dimensions. He calls you out of an old way of life and towards a new life in Christ. Both take place in the present tense, not a future tense. Children of God express His call on their lives best when they listen to His Son. When they pray, they hear His voice, and follow His lead, and they glorify their Father right now.
Legitimate children of God don’t delay their obedience until the return of Jesus. When they pray in His name, the respond to God’s call on their lives. They hear His invitation to join Him, and they obey Him. Prayer provides access to His amazing grace, and brings glory to their Father now. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” His sheep never wander very far away from prayer.
First Century Christians held no vast political influence and wielded little financial clout in their day. For the most part conventional Roman wisdom disenfranchised and discounted them as deluded members of a new cult. It was assumed they would not pass the test of time. In the eyes of the world they had little political or financial power, but in God’s Kingdom, spiritual dynamite comes in small packages.
Their power was a result of the favor of God. His grace was their source of goodness and their works of faith. His grace provided His power, precisely because they did not seek the approval of men, but the approval of God. Their desire for the goodness of God set them apart for favor from God. Their works of faith made a difference.
Powerful prayer always makes a difference in any heart in any generation, humble enough to yield to God’s direction, protection and correction.
“I don’t pray because I am holy. I pray because I am not.” Doug Small
First Century believers appeared in a global garbage can, as the gardenias of God’s grace They were persecuted, not because they didn’t count to God, but because their fragrance could not be discounted by their enemies. They were worthy to be counted by God, because they were willing to suffer, at the hands of unreasonable men. They were worthy, indeed.
The appeal of the culture lost its grip on the early believers. Sickened by the bankrupt spiritual climate of the prevailing world religions, they were attracted to Jesus by the fresh breath of The Spirit of God. Paul prayed for them so they would not blend in or fit in where they once felt at home.
The early believes were counted worthy because they turned their backs on an old way of life. They breathed in the new life in Christ like a drowning man bursting out of deep water, gasping for air. Paul prayed they would not dive back into a culture that had tried to drown the life out of them. He prayed they would be determined to breathe deep, daily and often the fresh air of God’s grace.
NOTE TO SELF: Transformed behavior must mark your life as a rescued, grace driven believer. Prayer causes you to stick out like a sore thumb. Expect the contemporary culture, and church to hammer your thumb for it again and again. Don’t take it personally. The First Century believers experienced the same thing, Their “desire for goodness and the work of faith in power” changed their lives and transformed the culture. Pray for The Father to do no less in you, and to count you worthy of His grace to desire His goodness, and perform works of faith with His power. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Climate
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love…” I Thessalonians 1:1-3
While watching a recent winter weather report on TV, I was struck by the weather map’s graphic depiction of the size and scope of the latest arctic blast. While the rest of the states were held tightly in the grip of frigid temperatures, the peninsula of Florida stood out like a green thumb. To warm Floridians it must have looked like a huge “Thumb’s Up.” To me, it looked like Florida was thumbing its nose at those of us who didn’t have the good sense to move to a warmer climate.
“God works in the climate of prayer. Prayer is behind closed doors, and God opens closed doors as a result of prayer.“ Dr. Michael Catt, Senior Pastor – Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, GA
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I am reminded of the attitude of gratitude. It is the heartbeat and birthmark of a child of God. Prayer is God’s way of breaking the icy grip of selfishness, and changing the climate of my cold heart when I give thanks to God. It is one thing to talk about the weather, but prayer brings about a real climate change in my heart, when I move towards the Son.
“Constantly bearing in mind” means remembering without ceasing. It carries a similar sentiment of a great old love song made famous by Glen Campbell, “You are always on my mind.”
“What thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith? “ 1 Thess. 3:10
“Night and day” includes praying for others even when it is inconvenient. It appears a bit extreme and even fanatical to the uninformed and disinterested, but earnest, passionate prayer is the only kind of prayer that touches the heart of God.
Praying earnestly is costly. It comes with a price. It is an investment in the benefit of someone else, not yourself. It doesn’t take into account how long it takes. It doesn’t calculate how much it costs. Praying earnestly gives true meaning to the contemporary concept of “All in.”
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.” I Thessalonians 5: 16-19
“The original words for ‘without ceasing’ mean ‘stretched outedly.’ “ Dr. Herbert Lockyer, “All The Prayers of The Bible”
“Pray without ceasing” describes a habit of prayer that is carried out earnestly. It perseveres. It stretches out, in time and scope. It is not selfish, but selfless praying. It does not look at the clock on the wall, but the needs of others. It intercedes for the longest period of time, and reaches out to the largest number of people.
“Pray without ceasing” wherever the crises of life hit you. Pray on the water, in the water, or under the water. Prayer provides the scuba tanks to survive in a hostile climate.
Pray without ceasing” when you find yourself in the dark. Prayer will lead you back into the light. Prayer provides the night vision goggles to see what God is up to, even in the dark.
“Pray without ceasing” in the morning, through the day, and through the night. If you are sleepless, don’t remain prayerless. God may have awakened you to intercede for someone. Turn off the TV. Open your Bible. If you fall asleep praying it may be because the enemy sought to rob you of sleep by firing his darts of worry and fear into your heart. When you pray, you shoot the enemy’s arrows back at him. He always runs when you pray. Draw near to The Champion.
“Pray without ceasing” when you are reading, hearing, or watching the news. It turns your “Whine” List into a prayer list.
“Pray without ceasing” when you are driving. Praying for other drivers will keep you from cursing at them. Hearing the sound of an ambulance is a call to prayer. Observing a wreck on the side of the road is not a point of interest, but a divine appointment to pray for the victims. Pray with your eyes open.
“Pray without ceasing” when you are in a conversation. It will improve your listening skills, and keep a conversation from becoming two people conducting independent lecture series.
“Pray without ceasing” calls for the breath of The Spirit to blow upon God’s Holy fire in your heart to keep it from being extinguished, by the suffocating schemes and relentless intimidation of a ruthless enemy.
“Pray without ceasing” like breathing, is a vital sign of a healthy body. It sustains a life-giving climate change in the hearts of believers, and strengthens the health of the Body of Christ.
Pray without ceasing” has no time limit or expiration date. More than my daily bread, it is my next breath, and my constant source of life-sustaining grace. Prayer protects my faith from being extinguished, and The Body of Christ from experiencing extinction.
Note to Self: You may be able to stop talking, but the moment you stop breathing, you invite death not life. Your sweat equity may make your faith appear death defying, but prayer will make it life giving. Refraining from talking is not enough to sustain your life. You must breathe. “Pray without ceasing” and you sustain and strengthen your faith with the breath of Heaven. “Pray without ceasing” is more like breathing than talking. It is possible for you to live without talking, but you will have no life without breathing. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Desire
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers and petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4
I tend to lose my grip on this verse of Scripture when reading Facebook posts of my Christian friends, and listening to the talking heads on TV. While they attempt to boost ratings to keep their jobs, they raise my blood pressure, and make me want to drive my car into a tree.
Apparently, some things never change. The following words are a blast from the past, but they are as accurate as the latest Tweet.
“National leaders, particularly in these critical days, need to be upheld by our prayers. Paul never forgot that he was a citizen of the world, and that citizenship, like every other privilege, imposed responsibilities. The scope of intercession is universal. References like Ezra 6:10 and Jeremiah 29:7 are associated with prayers for heathen rulers. How much more should we pray for nominal or actual Christian rulers.” Dr. Herbert Lockyer, 1886-1984, English preacher, and author who pastored in England, Scotland and the United States
My wife, Dana, and I selected the passage listed above as our Verse for The Year in 2011. I should have held onto it a lot longer. Every year, I seem to need it more than ever before. Can I get a witness?
This nation’s never-ending political trauma and drama, and the international persecution of Christians have brought me back to it. I admit and repent of the sin of prayerlessness on behalf of my national leaders and my fellow international believers. I may not be alone, but I only speak for myself. I have wronged them, and sinned against God. I am forgiven and driven to intercede for them.
Prayer, as Jesus expressed it, was a yielding of His will to The Father’s will. He prayed honestly enough to express His desire, but long enough for His desire to become aligned with The Desire of His Father. I can pray no better, and I should pray no less.
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but yours be done.” Jesus – Luke 22:42
Recently, I heard a friend of mine describe a powerful moment he experienced while sharing a meal in the home of Romanian Christians. They offered him an opportunity to drink from “The Martyr’s Cup.” It was a teacup once held in the hands of a fellow believer shortly before he was martyred for his faith, at the hands of the Communist government. They had given the cup a place of honor in their home. They only took it down to use it on special occasions. My friend described a sacred and symbolic moment when he was honored and humbled to be invited to touch the cup, and to drink from it.
Removal of corrupt leaders from office is not always the remedy The Father has in mind when He hears the prayers of His children. The early church survived the Roman emperors not by voting them out of office, but by dying in front of them in the coliseums. God’s remedy was not a relief from persecution, but a platform for their witness of Christ’ love.
Eventually the word for witness became synonymous with the word for martyr. Scripture says, “God desires for all men to be saved.” The Father’s strategy for world evangelization includes a martyr’s cup and is often hard to swallow. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid of easy believe-ism and cheap grace.
Buying into The Desire for people to be saved comes with a price. God’s value system is not the same as mine. Some things are worse than death. Dying with a living faith is worthy of His honor. Living with a dead faith, is worthy of His judgment. God places a high value on praying for leaders to have a change of heart. Don’t change the price tags. Start praying for change.
Some Christians speak of their leaders, both pastoral and political as if they think the Bible says, “God desires for all men to be scathed, not saved.” But I digress.
The Desire of God is for people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. His plan for seeing this accomplished involves calling His people to pray for their leaders. People who refuse to pray for their leaders are not likely to lead a peaceful and tranquil life.
Note to Self: Dismissing The Desire of God doesn’t lead you anywhere you want to go. There is a difference between praying for your leaders and scathing them. When you don’t pray for them, you betray God, not them. God has placed them in your path, and in authority. You don’t have to vote for them. You just have to pray for them. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!
The Quotes
Scripture encourages me to pray. Though there are many more, I have selected my “Top Ten” Bible verses on prayer. I often rely on them to inspire me and to embolden me to pray, believing.
Believing prayer is not merely a devotional exercise expressing genuine humility and personal intimacy towards The Father. Prayer is not about generating a warm fuzzy feeling. It is about standing in the battle line in the face of enemy fire, and alongside The Champion at the hottest point of the battle.
Prayer is my personal war against the schemes of the enemy who seeks to intimidate me with hopeless odds. The enemy is a ruthless, and a relentless adversary. Though I sometimes feel that I am helpless against him on my own. I am not hopeless, when I stand next to The Champion in prayer. I recall the words of my father, “
“The true prayer warrior spends more time with his Commander and less time in the battle.” Don Miller
Prayer is not only the life breath of every believer, it is the climate in which God works through His church. His prayerless children often become breathless with panic. If they become breathless with prayer, they will never lose their child-like wonder over the grace of God, in the face of the enemy.
The prayerful learn they are not hopeless, just helpless. The prideful will remain prayerless. The humble will pray and discover that The Father inclines His ear to hear the prayers of His children.
“Father…not My will, but Yours be done.” Jesus – Luke 22:42
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus – Luke 23:34
“Christ Jesus…also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34
“He (Jesus) always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“We do not know how to pray as we should, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1
“Whatever you ask of The Father in my name, He may give to you.” John 15: 16
“You have not because you ask not.” James 4:2
“First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers… be made on behalf of all men.” I Timothy 2:1
“Pray in the Spirit.” Ephesians 6:18
Quotes of seasoned prayer warriors, though not equal with Scripture, are powerful reminders to me. I draw strength from those who discovered how to turn their battleground into holy ground. Those who have stood their ground and the test of time are the most reliable. Only those who have finished strong give me the greatest encouragement. Other voices may be eloquent, but in prayer, it is not the voice of eloquence, but the life of experience that counts. They change from time to time, but here are my “Top Ten Prayer Quotes.”
“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, or prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick
“Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never fault-finding.” Oswald Chambers
“The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods but through men. He does not come on machinery but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men – men of prayer.” E.M. Bounds
“The man who mobilizes the church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelism in history.” Andrew Murray
“If I could hear Christ praying for me, I would not fear a million enemies, but the distance makes no difference. HE is praying for me.” Robert Murray M’Cheyne
“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Your extremity is God’s opportunity.” George Whitefield
“It is God’s will through His wonderful grace, that the prayers of His saints should be one of the great principal means of carrying on the designs of Christ’s kingdom in the world. When God has something very great to accomplish for His church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people;” Jonathan Edwards
“Men intimate with God are not intimidated by man.” A.W. Tozer
“Prayer is the intimate communication between The Heavenly Father and His child.” Don Miller
The Veteran
Squeezed in between Halloween Night and Thanksgiving Day, our nation officially honors The Veterans who have stood on the wall and protected a free people. Words cannot express the genuine appreciation most Americans feel for the families of those who have sacrificed sons and daughters to preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted. Today Americans say, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice.”
God thought highly of the service and sacrifice of soldiers. His Spirit selected them as expressions in Scripture of the kind of people God enlists to serve in His army. When we honor our veterans, it would be wise to remember what God loved the most about soldiers.
Good soldiers were effective soldiers, because they were willing to suffer hardship, when others were seeking to be put at ease. They were willing to be inconvenienced, or pressed beyond their comfort zone.
When the night falls the enemy always seems larger in the dark. In the face of a relentless enemy, prayer has always been the soldier’s most fluent language. Prayer will turn any battle ground into holy ground. This only happens…EVERY TIME.
Good soldiers have always pressed on when other soldiers fell out of a forced march. They never dropped their guard or fell asleep on the wall. Good soldiers kept marching, standing and watching. The standards remain the same for soldiers in the Army of God.
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good solder of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3
Good soldiers have always been focused on obeying the orders of their commander, not debating them. Their allegiance was expressed by their obedience to fight, not in the eloquence of their debate. It is one thing to say a Pledge of Allegiance. It is quite another thing to pay the price of obedience. Good soldiers learn to pray and obey, and stay in the fight.
Good soldiers do not obey because it is convenient. They obey because they live to protect the ones who need them the most, and to serve the one who called them first.
For good soldiers to obey their commander requires sacrifice. America's army is made up of volunteers. Veterans of this army over the years have had to make personal choices to pry themselves away from people, places and plans that were very dear to them. Untangling themselves may have cost them the loss of a career. At the very least their service cost them the loss of sleep. For some their sacrifice required their loss of blood and for others the loss of life. Thank you for your service and sacrifice, indeed.
"No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of every day life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4
Good soldiers know that no matter how low or how high their rank may be, their power comes from being under authority. It does not flow from being in authority. BIG DIFFERENCE.
Good soldiers serve effectively by honoring the one who commands them. They are never guilty of stealing glory, taking credit or usurping the authority of their commander.
Stolen valor may be one of the most despicable crimes committed by someone who wears the uniform of our nation. Those who claim to be soldiers of our Lord are not immune from this same temptation. When people wear fake medals or preach and teach beyond their genuine experience, they are worse than deserters. They are posers. To lack moral earnestness is to be an immoral fraud.
Jesus recognized faith when He saw it. He honored the Roman solider who could sense that Jesus had power to command because He was under the authority of God. The solider knew what it meant to follow orders, and He could see the marching orders of God written all over the life and ministry of Jesus. His words should leave an indelible mark on us all who serve.
"I too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me..." Luke 7:8
Good soldiers are equipped with the right weapons, and they are filled with the courage to use them against the right enemy. They don’t just fire when ready. They fire at the right target.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Ephesians 6:10-12
“When one brave man stands, the spines of others are strengthened.” Dr. Billy Graham
Note to Self. Taking friendly fire will be the saddest experience you will ever experience while serving in combat for your Lord. It is very painful and seems pointless. Taking fire from those you have sworn to serve, and who benefit from your sacrifice is hard soldiering. They can steal earthly benefit from what you suffer, but don’t return their fire. Let God do it. His aim is better than yours. Keep fighting the right enemy, by praying for your friends and enemies. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!