The Multitudes

“A great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to The Lamb.’ ” Revelation 7:9-10

Heaven will be filled with prayer and praise. Those who picture it in any other way are looking at it from a world-view, but not with a biblical view.  Those who place no priority on prayer and praise on earth are unlikely to be genuine citizens of Heaven. Prayer and praise reveal the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit on a believer’s passport from this world to the next.

 “Prayer can move the Heavenly world.” Andrew Murray

John saw countless numbers of people from every nation who perished in The Tribulation. The inhabitants of Heaven have not entered into this holy place through a painless, bloodless passage. Salvation cost Jesus His life- blood. It will cost a believer death to self. In The Tribulation it will cost many people from every nation, their own lives.

There is no easy-believism or cheap grace available to bypass the price of redemption. No matter what some contemporary church conductor has to say about it, there are no discount fares available on this train.

Those who lay claim to God’s salvation have done so through the blood of the Lamb and death to self. God set the fare, Jesus paid the price, and He punches the ticket for all who enter Heaven. He is the guardian of the gate, not St. Peter.

“I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

The Multitude of people John saw before the throne of God and before The Lamb cried out with one united voice and for one great purpose, to serve God. Those who have no joy in serving God on earth, and no passion for prayer and praise reveal they have no real sense of direction for Heaven.

“Prayer is a plan of God. It is an outworking of His sovereignty.

In His wisdom, God chose prayer and gave mankind a role to play to accomplish His purpose. Prayer is about Him, not us. His purposes, His will, not our preferences.” Dave Butts

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple.” Vs. 14-15

Those who pass through the Tribulation will pay a price in their own blood, but when they arrive before the throne of God they are overwhelmed with prayer and praise for one thing, the blood Jesus shed for them. The Lamb responds with the care and concern of a shepherd for his flock.  

“The Lamb will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” V. 17b

NOTE TO SELF: The Scripture’s brief glimpse of Heaven gives you a world of insight, if you are willing to see it with the eyes of faith, through the lens of prayer. While you remain on earth, waiting for The Return of Jesus, remind yourself of this one thing. Heaven is not about you at all. Heaven is all about God.  While you remain on earth, may your persistent prayer be, “Not me, but Thee.”

The Martyrs

“How long, O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Rev. 6:10

The church of Jesus Christ has always faced opposition from those who seek to annihilate the message by murdering the messengers of The Truth. When the first martyr of the church faced death at the hands of Saul’s death squad, he cried out to Heaven. Martyrs still do. Heaven still hears.

Scripture records that the Glorified Lord, Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of The Father in Heaven, and lives to make intercession for the saints. It also reveals when Jesus heard Stephen’s voice proclaiming the truth in the face of his enemies, He stood in his honor.

“And being filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into Heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55

The passion and the prayers of the martyrs may land on deafened ears on earth, but they are heard in Heaven. With martyrs for the faith once delivered to the saints increasing with every passing day, it is not too hard to believe that Jesus still hears and still stands in their honor.

The prayers of the martyrs continue to ascend to the ears of God, and cry out for justice. They did not take out revenge on earth, but they expect to be avenged by Heaven. They trusted God’s word on earth and pray with an expectation of their patience being honored in Heaven.

No one should ever assume that in the light of God’s love, His passion for justice has become diminished. He made a promise, and He intends to keep it. Payday is coming. The forces of evil will get everything that is coming to them. They have earned it.

“Vengeance is mine. I will repay.” Romans 12:19

The martyrs’ prayers are not only heard in Heaven. They are answered. They receive a white robe and are told to wait. Justice delayed is not justice denied. There is a time limit on evil and it is quickly reaching the point in history when God will say, “Enough.”

“They were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been has been would be completed also.” Rev. 6:11

The arrogance of evil always causes the forces of darkness to boast with pride that they have overcome The Light. Their pride causes them to overplay their hand, and to double down on a bad bet they cannot possibly win. This only happens… EVERY TIME.

Pride never leads to repentance. Pride like a self-destructive, heat-seeking missile collides with God’s vengeance. There is a reckoning day coming for evil, and for all of those who were willing instruments in the hands of an ancient enemy who exists only to shed the blood of the messengers of The Light.

NOTE TO SELF: Jesus stood for the first martyr of the church. It should not be too difficult an assignment for you to kneel on the behalf of the martyrs who are still dying for their faith. There will be more, but there is a limit. Their deaths may be treated as footnote on earth, but they appear as screaming headlines in Heaven. God is preparing an invasion army. Never seek revenge, but pray for vengeance. God intends to deliver it. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Incense

"When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before The Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 5:3

One of the most amazing expressions of the unique Japanese culture is their use of gold to fill the cracks in priceless pottery. They refuse to let the priceless become worthless. When a piece of prized pottery is broken and appears beyond repair, they place it in the hands of the artisan to restore it by filling the broken places with gold. It is returned to them more valuable than ever. It is called "Kintsugi" and it means golden joinery.

In Heaven the prayers of the saints are collected in golden bowls filled with incense. I can't help but envision the prayers of people rising up to Heaven and allowing God to put all the pieces of their lives back together.

The Father receives the prayers of the saints in the name of His Son, Jesus. He takes their prayers to His heart and restores the broken places of their hearts by filling them with His peace. He places the prayers of the saints in the hands of His Son, The Lamb of God for safe-keeping.

"It is amazing what God can do with a broken heart when you give Him all the pieces." Samuel Chadwick (mentor of Leonard Ravenhill)

The prayers of the saints often arise to Heaven, billowing out broken hearts like great clouds of incense, accompanied by tears and fear. Prayers of thanksgiving and praise also ascend with glory to God for every triumph over each test and trial. Both expressions of prayer are priceless to The Father.

Great care was taken in Old Testament days to maintain the purity and the property of the incense that was offered up to God. Scripture places a very high value on incense, as a symbol of prayer. The ironic thing about incense is that the purity and the property of it is only released by going through the fire.

NOTE TO SELF: The Father intends to release the character of The Son in your life. You can expect a fire.

Prayer is not an optional devotional exercise offered to you. It reveals the content of your life. Prayer does not exempt you from every trial, and every test, but it is the key to every triumph. As you pray, come what may, through the fire of each and every one of these experiences, the incense of your life is released to Heaven. Remember the intent of incense. It is meant to be consumed.

Prayer may appear to be a fool's errand when everything around you doesn't make sense or it appears to be irrevocably consumed in a fight with evil. Appearances can be deceiving.

Your prayers are held in high esteem and considered to be priceless in the eyes of The Lamb of God. He has charged His elders with caring for each and every one of them, and collecting them in golden bowls.

"Prayers of faith are filed in Heaven; and though not presently answered are never forgotten." Matthew Henry

The next time the fog of war clouds your eyes and you can no longer see The Presence of God for the flow of tears in your eyes, keep praying. You are being heard. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. Brokenness before God in prayer brings great healing and wholeness to the broken places of your heart. Let Him fill you with His Presence. The more broken you are, the more priceless you are to The Father. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Restoration

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19

Today a new thing begins in Roanoke, Texas. Our daughter and son-in-law, Brent and Ashley Warren, along with Chad and Amy Johnston, and a team of church planting pioneers are launching RESTORATION CHURCH.

Dana and I are so proud of them. Throughout 2014 they have diligently prepared for this day. They have faced one after another, each terrifying, testing and triumphant step of faith. The time has come.

The weather will be cold. The sun will not be out. It is winter time in Texas. Not as brutal as some some, but greyer than anyone wants it to be on such a special day. Still, there will be The Presence of Almighty God gracing this effort, and warming the souls of those who venture out on faith to do a "new thing."

The Father loves it when His children trust Him for something bigger than their own self-importance and self-confidence. He is never more pleased than when His children leap into the dark at the sound of His voice, and trust Him to light the way.

An elementary school has been transformed into a birthing room for a new church. The sound system has been patched together. Chairs have been set up. Signs have been placed on the corners of streets to guide people to church. The children's rooms are prepared. The coffee will be hot, and God will be glorified.

It doesn't get any better than this. I am reminded this morning of the words of The Apostle John, "I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in the truth." 3 John 1:4

I have had the privilege of leading Ashley to Christ, and ordaining Brent to the ministry. I have presided over their wedding as they made their public vows to love and to cherish one another. Today falls into that same category of great days, and it will become unforgettable for all the right reasons.

Our prayers are with you. We will help in any way we can, but know this. God will make a way. He always has. He always will. Pray and trust HIM for the HIMpossible.

Love,
Pops and Gigi
(Gary and Dana L. Miller)

The Day

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psalms 34:3

January 1, 1977 was the day this passage of Scripture became our Life Verse, as husband and wife. I had been looking forward to this day for a very long time. It was the day Dana would walk down the aisle of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, Texas and walk away with me, as my wife.

Some days are just better than others. This one has no equal. Neither does Dana. We are still walking twogether, 38 years later. I had no idea who she really was when I asked her to be my wife. I am so glad God did. The longer I walk with her, the more I learn about her, and the more grateful to God I am for His gift to me of a warrior wife.

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.” Proverbs 12:4

I met Dana on September 9, 1974, but our first date was not until January of 1975. It did not go well. After a two-year roller coaster ride of break ups and do overs, we were engaged September 24, 1976. We would not have survived a long engagement, so we married just 67 days later. It was the wisest move I ever made.

Some things are meant to be, and postponing them doesn’t make them easier.  We signed up for the long haul, and 38 years later we are more in love than ever before. We often laugh and tell young couples we have had at least 10 years of happy marriage. Their nervous laughter reveals they know what we mean. Can I get a witness?

Trust me when I say, some things are worth fighting for, and a great marriage is the best fight you will ever win.  We both have refused to be outplayed or outprayed on our home court. When it comes to our marriage, we no longer fight like hell, but we fight hell, twogether.

There is nothing in the world that compares with being in a hard fight with a strong woman. Just make sure you are always on the right side. It helps to ask God for His direction, protection and correction. Pray it before you say it.

WARNING:  In the interest of full disclosure, I owe a word of explanation for the uninformed and inexperienced male. “Fight Like a Girl” doesn’t mean what you think it means.  Over the years, in most playground fights little boys have used it as a term of derision. Little did they know, it describes a sign of courage meant to be worn as a badge of honor. Watching my wife fight breast cancer has given me a whole new respect for her, and women in general. They have earned it. But I digress.

Dana and I enter 2015 with another passage of Scripture we have selected as our Verse for The Year.

“I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”  Joel 2:25

We are praying this passage over the churches of our nation with a profound sense of urgency. It reveals the willingness of God to remove His hand of judgment, if His people return to Him. He longs to restore and revive what has been lost as a result of rebellious behavior.

For over 20 years Dana has been expressing her profound spiritual discernment with this phrase. “Without Spiritual Awakening, there is no hope for our churches or our nation.”  As the years have added up, millions prayer warriors have begun to pick up this same Heaven-sent signal on their spiritual radar screen. May their tribe increase.

NOTE TO SELF: Continue to exalt God’s name twogether with your wife. Praying with your wife will help you stay on course. Finish the fight, twogether, against the right enemy. Help is on the way, and the best is yet to come. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Praise

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9

Praise is adoration, and adoration is a vital sign of prayer. Prayer without praise diminishes the sacrifice that makes prayer possible. Adoration avoids rushing into The Presence of God without counting the cost paid by Jesus, The Lamb who purchased your salvation. 

Praiseless prayer often focuses more on the disaster than The Master. Adoring Jesus doesn’t add an ounce to His weight on God’s scale of value, but praise raises His esteem in your eyes. His name is a priceless treasure. When you pray, don’t drop it. Invest your praise in it.  Soon you will find the words of the old song to be true, “Jesus is the sweetest name I know.”

Though not all music is praise, and not all songs voice adoration to The Son, the Book of Revelation reminds us that at the heart of every praise song is a deep and abiding prayer of adoration for the one who is always worthy of praise.

“Adoration is a form of prayer and Revelation abounds in adorations.”
Herbert Lockyer

Adoration of Jesus inspires a deep appreciation for His sacrifice. Make no mistake about it. It also opens the arms of believers to embrace a worldwide family of diverse languages and nations.  

It remains a stain on the integrity and the authenticity of The Gospel when a church can meet and be made up of posers who claim to be  “purchased for God”, but refuse to value those who do not share their language or their ethnicity.  These prayerless churches need a blood transfusion only The Spirit of God can provide one heart at a time. Pray for it.

"It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning."
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 

This past Sunday, our pastor, Clayton Reed orchestrated a worship service that included a Spanish Church meeting in the facilities we share. It was an awkward and priceless experience. Learning how to communicate cross culturally is never easy. Expressing praise in words that are not our own is a learning curve that takes a lifetime of effort to achieve. We took baby steps, but we are no longer crawling. We are growing, and moving towards one another. Thanks, Pastor.

NOTE TO SELF: Prayers of praise to Jesus are essential first steps you need to take in building relationships with a worldwide family that may be closer than you think. Across the street or around the world, the mission is still the same. With His blood, Jesus purchased for God, “men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Prayers of praise give you a personal blood transfusion of God’s love, and strengthen The Body of Christ, one heart at a time.  Adoring The Lamb of God softens your heart, and opens your arms to those who are not like you, but who are loved by Jesus. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Strategy

“ ‘In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.’ These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of The Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” Jude 1:18b-21

Jude reminds us that there have always been those that have been driven by a spirit of destruction, rather than The Spirit of construction. They sometimes undermine the foundation of the church, from within the fellowship. Others, “devoid of The Spirit,” stand on the outside and mock everything the church holds dear.

The Holy Spirit meets the prayer warrior at the junction of destruction and construction. Those who yield to His sense of direction will build their lives upon the firm foundation of “praying in the Holy Spirit.” In doing so, they keep falling in love with God, and they avoid hating those who don’t.

“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.”  Vance Havner

Mocking describes a childish tendency to trifle with a parent’s instruction and correction. Perhaps there is nothing more annoying than a child repeating everything said to them with mocking disrespectful words, and a derisive attitude. It is childish, and immature. Most children grow out of it. When it becomes a way of life, there is little hope for them or the parent.

In these last days, it is impossible to avoid people who are driven by a world-view that is “devoid of The Spirit.” Their perspective on life comes from peering through their own cracked lens, and failing to correct their vision with the word of God. They end up calling wrong right, and right wrong, redefining or inventing words to support their personal preferences, priorities and prejudices.

Those who are “devoid of The Spirit” bring derision into our lives or division into the church. They cannot be ignored, but arguing with them never seems to rid our lives of them.

Evil isn’t interested in framing the debate. Evil is intent on the removal of dissent. It isn’t searching for truth, but seeking to destroy it. Talking to someone who is “devoid of The Spirit” rarely convinces them of their need for a breath of fresh air. It seems to put fresh life into them, and rob prayer warriors of the breath of life within them.

“The only thing required for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing. “
Edmund Burke

The alternative to debating evil is “praying in the Holy Spirit.” This is not an appeasing, or appealing devotional exercise, but an aggressive military strategy. “Praying in The Holy Spirit” outflanks the mocking, divisive, derisive attacks of an ancient and relentless enemy. Prayer warriors must remember this.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

The message is clear. People may be the hand puppets of the enemy, but treating them as the enemy is a strategic mistake, and leads to epic failure in spiritual warfare. Praying in the Spirit is the only winning strategy. Arguing with people who do not speak the same language is not.

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:18

“Praying in The Holy Spirit” keeps you in love with God and provides the patience to wait on God’s mercy. “Praying in The Holy Spirit” softens your heart and your rhetoric, transforming your heart’s desire for mercy to be poured out on those who hurt you, rather than demanding justice be brought down on them. No words can discribe “praying in The Holy Spirit” like the simple prayer of Jesus. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

NOTE TO SELF: It is harder to hate someone for whom you are praying. It is not impossible, just hard. When you are being mocked, and all that you hold sacred is being defamed, hating someone will never be a winning strategy. Debating those “devoid of the Spirit” is not the path to victory. Praying for them is. You will never be more like Jesus, and more in love with The Father than when you are praying for God’s best over those who are doing their worst to you. “Praying in the Holy Spirit” takes up the mantle of mercy and leaves the matter of justice in God’s hands. “Praying in The Holy Spirit” leads to a Ph.D. in The School of Prayer. (Pray Hard Daily) TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Answer

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

I still have a powerful resistance to the word, “Whatever.” Parents who raised teenagers, during the Valley Girl phase, will know what I mean. Every question was always met with a shoulder shrug, and an eye-roll, accompanied by the word, “Whatever.” But I digress.

“Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to his.” ~ John R.W. Stott

Answered prayer builds our faith because it places our confidence in The Father, and yields our will to His. Answered prayer is not based upon our eloquence but on our obedience. Answers to “whatever we ask” are not based upon the limits of our own personal resources, but on the limitless love The Father has for His children.

NOTE TO SELF: You can have no greater confidence than to know that your prayers are heard, and answered, when you pray in line with The Father’s will. Pray accordingly, and pray expectantly. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Heartbeat

The slightest implication of prayer has the power to release the greatest implementation of prayer. The pulse is a small vital sign of a beating heart pumping life throughout the body. Where there is a pulse, it reveals life in the body. The smallest prayer releases the greatest power in the world.

The will of God is found in the Word of God. John, The Elder does not disappoint those seeking to pray according to the will of The Father. He tells his readers that He has had his hand on the pulse of Life, and he knew prayer was His source of power.

“What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life – and the life was manifested and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was the Father and was manifested to us.” V.1-2

The brief pages of I John reveal no grand design for prayer, such as the one outlined by His Master in The Lord’s Prayer.  Still, his gentle gestures towards prayer are his homage to Jesus. John learned the lessons of prayer while listening, watching, walking and talking with Jesus through a three-year School of Prayer.

“While no repeated prayers are to be found in this book, prayer is every where implied.” Herbert Lockyer

The handprints of The Manifest Presence of Jesus were all over John’s heart, and His heartbeat pulses through this little book.  At 90 years of age, John’s consistent intimacy with His Savior in prayer had transformed this “Son of Thunder” into “The Apostle of Love.” It had taken a lifetime. Prayer always does.

John’s powerful personality no longer promised more than it delivered. Advancing age had taken its toll on his power to bring the heat on every subject under the sun. He now spent his last days, seeking God’s will, not speaking his mind. He wisely shed more light on prayer, instead of rashly torching those around him with his opinion.

Prayer is more than a devotional discipline or an extended military exercise against an entrenched enemy. It is both, but when you add the two together, prayer is more than the sum of the parts.  

Prayer offers fellowship with The Father and The Son. Is it any wonder why the joy of life is lost when the fellowship of prayer becomes a casualty of spiritual warfare?

John never got over being in The Presence of Jesus, and hearing The Son pray to His Father. Hearing Jesus pray introduced John to an intimacy with The Father only a child can have with a loving parent.

“Prayer is the intimate communication between the Heavenly Father and His child.” Don Miller

The pulse of prayer reveals the vital heartbeat of fellowship. John had heard Jesus pray until His will was conformed to the will of His Father. John would settle for nothing less than the abandonment of his own will into the hands of The Father. He had heard Jesus pray many times, and he had wisely followed His lead.

When John prayed, he discovered…

• Prayer is fellowship.
  “Our fellowship is with the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.” V. 3
   
• Prayer releases joy.
  “These things we write, so that our joy may be complete.” V. 4
   
• Prayer reveals The Light.
  “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light.” V. 5a
   
• Prayer removes the darkness.
  “…And in Him there is no darkness at all.” V. 5b
   
• Prayer receives cleansing.
  “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” V. 7
   
• Prayer requires confession.  
  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” V. 9

NOTE TO SELF: Walking with Jesus includes talking with and listening to The Father. His will is found in His Word. Without consistent prayer and immediate obedience you may occasionally stumble from the dark into The Light, but you will have no intimate fellowship with God.  Stumbling out of the darkness into postponed confession, after prolonged rebellion, only makes you look wide-eyed and disheveled, not forgiven and cleansed. Persistent, consistent prayer improves your fellowship with God and cleanses your heart. One leads to the other, and you need both. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Way

 “Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17-18

A friend of mine had the honor and privilege of sharing a meal with a Romanian family shortly after the fall of the Communist regime. At the close of the evening, they offered him some tea, contained in a very special cup. It had been the property of a pastor who had been martyred for his faith, during the harsh days of Communist oppression. They called it “The Martyr’s Cup.” They only used the cup on special occasions, and they kept it on shelf separated from all the rest of the dishes. When the significance of the small cup was explained to my friend, he received it as a great honor. Wouldn’t we all?

Peter’s last words were shared with the members of the early church, under the shadow of his imminent martyrdom. He did so in the face of great lawlessness from inside and outside of the fellowship. The true church has always had to learn how to thrive, not just survive, under the forces of apostasy from within, and the forces of evil from without. Prayer warriors remain on guard against both.

The contemporary church has much to learn from Peter’s prophetic voice. When Peter embraced Grace, he was not taking hold of a concept. He was throwing his arms around Jesus. Amazing Grace, indeed.

“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Vance Havner

Tiny, mustard seed-sized, child-like faith receives The Father’s unmerited favor. He provides Grace through His Son, Jesus. The most seasoned saint never arrives at a full knowledge of The Father’s love for them. The learning curve lasts a lifetime, and continues into eternity.  The School of Prayer is always in session on campuses in Heaven and on earth, and the Ph.D* is the only degree offered. The education is on earth,  but the graduation is held in Heaven. (*Pray Hard Daily)

“To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Peter’s final words called for the church to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus.  A martyr’s last words hold great significance, and substance.  To ignore them devalues the martyr’s sacrifice, and leads to the spiritual bankruptcy of the church. Peter’s cup was full and overflowing with the wisdom needed for this hour.

“We cannot grow into grace. Grace is the unmerited favor we received when Christ is received as Savior. Once He is accepted, we grow in Him. It is only in the school of prayer that we can grow both in grace and knowledge.” Herbert Lockyer

Prayer provides access to The Way to grow in grace and knowledge. To grow in appreciation of The Father’s unmerited favor and to gain an awareness of His great love for His children, time in prayer must be spent with His Son.

 “I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” ~ Jesus - John 14:6

Jesus prayed early and often. He prayed during the day, and through the night. His prayers were scheduled, and spontaneous. Whether He was alone or walking with the disciples on a crowded road, He sought personal intimacy, and maintained unbroken communication with The Father, through prayer. Prayer was the air He breathed, the compass for His life, and His language of love reserved for His Father.

Those who race to embrace Grace, but express no desire to spend time with Jesus, are taking a walk in the dark, not in The Light. Prayer continues to be The Son’s love language for His Father. He is seated at His right hand in Heaven, and intercedes for those who come to The Father, in His name. The first step to growing in grace and knowledge takes place on bended knees.

Those who desire to grow in grace, and the knowledge of Jesus will enter into The School of Prayer, and learn to pray from The Master. Grace is The Gift from God. Prayer is an expression of gratitude for His Gift. Spontaneous prayer is an appropriate sign of appreciation for an introduction to Grace. Continuous prayer leads to a growing appropriation of the full knowledge of Grace. Prayer moves intimacy with The Father’s Grace from an initial introduction to a growing appropriation.

Growing in grace and knowledge requires spending time with Jesus in The School of Prayer. He is at the head of the class.  He invites those interested in learning to pray to move their desks closer to His. When they do, they learn from Him.

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.” ~ Jesus

NOTE TO SELF: When you are prayerless, you exhibit the self-centered character of a thankless child. Remaining prayerless while being a recipient of God’ unmerited favor is a poor reflection on The Father’s love, and shows very little appreciation for The Son’s sacrifice. Failing to pray is like cheating off your own paper. It only leads to more failure. Move your desk closer to Jesus. Learn from Him. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!