PRAYER IN TROUBLED TIMES

Oh Great Father in Heaven, You are alone are worthy to be praised. When Your great prophet Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel in front of the pagan priests of Baal and all their fancy accoutrements, You stood alone with the prophet and in all Godly simplicity and reality, Elijah cried out to You in Heaven, as recorded in 1 Kings 18:36  " “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel". Lord, You are not only God in Israel but in ALL the Earth.

We face a pagan system, like the Baals,  of rank unbelief today which is markedly absolutely no different that what Elijah faced with those doomed for perdition on Mt. Carmel. Today in the face of secular humanism, there are people who think they can alter the Climate which You created and which therefore, only You can change. 

We face a system of callous disregard for innocent unborn life and those at the end of life, at our senior homes and elsewhere. 

We face a corrupt system that seeks to ruin our children with their education systems from Kindergarten and up through College ages with no regard for the effects of their indoctrination and perversion on young peoples' souls, hearts, minds and emotional make up. 

We face systems in the culture with feeds the beast and leads many astray, ignoring your warning that about the fate of those who harm Your young ones.

All of that at more, we see, as many are devastated, dear Holy Father. But You, oh God, are not asleep. You judge the hearts of all men -   saved and unsaved. 

You see the end from the beginning and not just the end of all evil but the possibilities of those who can be restored.

You see the deeds of the ungodly, but the fullness of time has not yet been reached.

You see the hopelessness and hunger for something real out there.

You see the many who are unable to even make it through another day, sleep at night or just function as we all should.

You, of God, are the God of all Hope. 

You desire that none should perish but that all come to repentance and eternal life.

You desire that all will come to reason together with You as there is no doubt of fear which You cannot put to rest.

You desire that all Your children live together in peace, love and harmony.

All this and more, can happen, but for the prideful and stubborn hearts of even some in Your church.

Lord, bring a fresh wind of revival of spirit, hope and understanding. 

Let Your Holy Spirit inspire Your Redeemed to excellence that we may serve as a beacons of light to draw men, women and children closer to you.

Let us be lighthouses to serve as red flags and warning signals of the days of Judgment to come, so we can lead many to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross.

Let all of this happen, oh great Father in Heaven, and let it begin in our homes, with each one of us with our nose to the heavenly grindstone. We know this cannot be done in a day, Father, but inch by inch, it's a cinch. Yard by yard, it's hard. 

There is nothing too hard for You though, so we surrender all of this and our mission here on earth, at the Foot of the Cross, from whence cometh our Deliverance. Give us the courage and wisdom to discern the times and who the modern day acolytes of the current crop of Baals are, so we can stand like Elijah, strong in our faith and trust in You, the Lord God Almighty, the King of Heaven and the Lord of all the Armies of Heaven, which cannot and will not be defeated....give us the strength to proclaim like the Prophet to all the earth "the Lord, He alone is God"....We believe it, receive it and no one will deceive us, as it is in the Mighty, Powerful and Strong Name of Jesus I pray, amen and amen.

WHY PRAY? Part 6 - UNDER JUDGMENT?

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit....James 5:17-18

If there ever was a time - if you are called by His Name (a real live born-again authentic Christian) to pray - now is that time. James, the Lord's half-brother, did not just insert the Name of the Great Prophet Elijah here for academic reasons. Elijah was ministering unto the Lord, and prophesying against the pagan Northern Kingdom of Israel when this incident happened. Because of the evil idolatrous conduct and their worship of pagan "gods" for over two hundred years, God brought His Judgment down on what was the country ruled by the corrupt Ahab and Jezebel. It was in this context that Elijah "a man with a nature like ours" called out to the Lord, Who, recognizing His faithful servant - responded.

Now, "a nature like ours" simply means the great prophet who never died, had the same feelings of insecurities, fear and even passion for Godly living, as most Christians possess.  This man was literally scared for his life as Jezebel promised to kill him, and ran...and literally ran and hid in a cave. "Prayed earnestly" implies that he was devoted, in life and ministry, to prayer. 

We are not prophets, as defined by Scripture, but in once sense we are to do what they did magnificently - proclaim the Word of the Lord...such as "thus sayeth the Lord". There have been men with prophetic-like gifts like David Wilkerson, who could read the signs of the times and proclaim "such and such" will occur to America and world, if we do not repent. This remains true. America and the West are completely under the Judgment of God right now, and not even the religious leaders are seeing it or if they did, even worse - they refuse to acknowledge the times!

There are a couple noteworthy things about Elijah and his prayers both to stop the rain, and then to restart it. The lesson therein for us, is that here was a man who is just like you and I in physical person-hood. However, in the spiritual realm, he was completely sold out, committed and obedient to the Lord.  Even when he feared for his life, he always did the right thing. His prayer, unlike the faithful Jew in the Southern Kingdom of Judah who had to go to the Temple, had to be made on the fly! He had no God-honoring synagogue or temple to worship in, where he was sent to minister unto the Lord.

So the following lessons are for us from these two verses:
- Even if our churches, church leaders and others are not devoting themselves to prayer in these troubled and evil times - YOU AND I SHOULD.  Elijah was a forerunner of one who was indwelled by the Holy Spirit therefore making himself a living temple of the Lord. He was thus, empowered to pray anywhere he was at the time and the Lord (Yahweh, Jesus) would listen.

- Earnest prayer and devotion to the Lord are required of one who is sent out to the home first, and then the community, such as we are. The faith of a mustard seed which can say to this mountain, be thou removed from here to there, is the same faith which each Christian and true believer in Christ possesses. We do have the authority (John 1:12) to approach the Throne of Grace and seek His intervention in the affairs of man.  How He responds may not be the way we expect. He may not stop the heavy snowfall in Niagara Falls or Boston, but He will give you and I the capacity to survive it with grace and good humor and good health, because we cannot see the purpose of His plans. We cannot also see the purpose of His thinking. His Ways are NOT our ways. There is currently a group of so-called clergy in the north east who said they are getting together to pray for God to stop the snow. They are from the liberal protestant, liberal reform Jewish community and some muslims - all 13 of them. They all got together to "pray" for God to stop the snow. Sure there has been over 107 inches of snow so far this year in Boston, but can you imagine Elijah praying with the "prophets of Baal" for the rain to either stop or go away? This can never happen....and brings us to the third and final point.

- Elijah prayed AGAIN (after earnestly praying for the rain to stop) and the Lord answered and sent the rain back. First, if we belong to a prayer group, or pray chain or call into one of those increasingly popular prayer conference calls, you and I have to be careful with whom we pray. Since before we had the destruction of 9/11, there has been a growing interfaith movement which is completely lacking in spiritual discernment. A few misinformed Christians as well as those who profess to be, have been promoting the idea that all religions believe in the same "God", just "by a different name". If this were so, God would have to apologize to Himself and rewrite the Scriptures because this is the exact opposite of what His Pure and Precious Word says. There are an host of Bible verses who teach us that God does not hear the prayer of the unrighteous and for this church age, the unrighteous are those who do not believe or, or have accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.

Here are some of them:
John 9:31 - Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Proverbs 28:9 - He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.
Proverbs 15:29 - The LORD [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Psalms 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:
1 Peter 3:12 - For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.
Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.

None of these Bible verses give Christians permission to pray with other religions with expectation that the Real God of Heaven will even pay attention. The introduction of Elijah by James the Just (or "Old Camel Knees") at the end of his epistle accomplishes much. It shows both the power of a praying man, as well as the power of THAT praying man, who is exclusively a committed, submitted and faithful servant of the Holy One of Israel, our Father, Who rules the Heavens.

WHY PRAY? Part 2 - WE TRUST!

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him (James 5:14-15)

The Lord promised that "in this world you will have tribulation (or trouble), but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). How does someone do that when the enemies of God are systematically destroying His people....when many are losing hope....when the numbers of "nones" (those who believe in nothing) grow exponentially....etc. etc..

These are the Biblical end times which are in view, primarily, to those who are saved and called by Christ into the Kingdom. We are seeing a plethora of incurable diseases, deadly viruses and inexplicable things all around us. Cancer is on the rise due to the many different things - lifestyle, quality of food and environment etc. In fact, if you act even the dearest Christian, there seems to be a sense of resignation and defeat.

This is both understandable and wrong at the same time. We see an exhortation from James here which is hardly called upon, in times of need, even by those who call themselves strong believers.....and that includes pastors. On average, you hear pastoral prayers about "Lord heal so and so, touch brother X, remember sister Y....etc.." But is there the strong biblical prayer system for healing, whether Body, Soul or Mind, which lines up with James 5:14, 15? Not really!  This sort of healing and restoration requires Faith and Trust in the Promise AND persistence in prayer.

Too many modern seminaries, and thus, the pastors they put out, have removed the spirit of this Scripture which says that such faith for healing, anointing with oil and restoration "is only for Bible times" and not now! I have heard that so many times, I don't even listen to it anymore. Because the Living Word who abides in the Christian testifies that the entire Word of God - all 66 books - are for now and for you and I. Therefore, even if the elders don't pray for the church and the sick as they should - YOU DO IT!

To drive home that point, the Lord gave us the account of the man of God - Elijah - who was sent to a place of famine and a poor woman in Zarephath. 

Read the full account here from the flowing narrative of God's Word Translation:
8 Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: 9 “Get up, go to Zarephath (which belongs to Sidon), and stay there. I’ve commanded a widow there to feed you.”
10 He got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town’s entrance, a widow was gathering wood. He called to her, “Please bring me a drink of water.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”  12 She said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.”

13 Then Elijah told her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.” 15 She did what Elijah had told her. So she, Elijah, and her family had food for a long time. 16 The jar of flour never became empty, and the jug always contained olive oil, as the Lord had promised through Elijah....1 Kings 17:7-16 (GNT)

Notice the parallel to a life of belief, faith and therefore, TRUST:
The RED HIGHLIGHT from verses 10-11  “Please bring me a drink of water.” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her again, “Please bring me a piece of bread too.”  
Elijah was repeating the Word of the Lord to the widow of Zarephath, just as James is telling us that if we are sick, go to the elders. God gave the widow the following commands: 
- Bring me a drink....even though I know you're thirsty and there is famine and drought in the land (Sacrificial prayer.....what are YOU willing to surrender to Christ to be in the center of His Perfect Will through obedience?)
- Bring me a piece of bread too....even though I know you have nothing and are about to die because of this famine, caused by the disobedience of others. Noteworthy here is the condition of the saint. We are not exempt sometimes when the Lord judges a place, as He judged Israel then and the even harsher judgment coming to America for its rebellion against God. This is what Jesus meant by tribulation. This walk with Christ through life is not meant to be easy and woe to those who deceive with the health, wealth and prosperity gospel!

This is proven by the BLUE HIGHLIGHT and the words of the poor widow “I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.” (Verse 12).
The prayer application for us here is this - simply go to the Lord, explain your case and do it over and over (persistent prayer). You say, "well, God knows what I need....why should I have to pray?" God does know what we need and we pray because He desires fellowship with His Elect. We all come from families, whether large or small. How can we live in our homes in peace, joy and contentment if we do not speak to our moms, wives, dads, brothers sisters and cousins?! It is the same thing with the Lord, our Heavenly Father! He is called Abba which in English is the equivalent of "Daddy"! We present our case to Him in humility, fear, trembling but we also present to Him in anticipation and the STRONG belief that He hears and will heal, reveal and not conceal!

The great result of this tremendous, dynamic and ever growing faith is found here in the GREEN HIGHLIGHT: “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. 14 This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.”
Look at what the man of God (and therefore GOD) says:
-DO NOT BE AFRAID! Do not be afraid to ask and believe and trust in Him to do what He says, even in the darkest hour!
- GO HOME! What? You mean, leave my burdens and cares and some Cross I can't see and under some "Blood" that I only read about being shed for me? Yes, doubting Thomas - Go home! Go and rest and abide in the fact that you can have peace, joy, contentment, hope and victory from the One Who already won it at the same Cross you doubt it and because ye doubt, ye have not the answer ye seek! Go home simply means - DO YOU BELIEVE ME, JESUS...DO YOU BELIEVE I CAN DO IT? YES I CAN...NOW GO YOUR WAY - YOU ARE HEALED! Such amazing faith in His Amazing Grace is such a sweet sweet sound, to a wretch like me that I don't deserve what verse 14 says: Until the Lord sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil. 

That simply means - until the Lord Jesus returns for us, calls us home or either one or the other, I will live in that promise, my cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever....to the praise and glory of His Name. Saint, be of good cheer, because we pray....because we TRUST! Amen!

THE DAY IRON FLOATED

 1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there." And he answered, "Go." 3 Then one of them said, "Be pleased to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed." 6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, "Take it up." So he reached out his hand and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

Elisha was quite the prophet and man of God. As the successor to the great Elijah, who was taken up to Heaven in Chariots of Fire, he appeared to do even more miracles than his master. The key was - he did it in the Power and Strength of the Lord.

Here we have the situation where the heavy piece of an ax made of iron (similar to the picture above) fell into the water and sank. But look at what Verse 6 says "THEN, the MAN OF GOD"....this is qualification. This is the day when iron floated to the top. This is the day when something impossible materialized.

In your life this morning...a life of which we are completely on borrowed time from the Keeper of Time - God the Father - do you have a sinking feeling of things just heading for the bottom? 

Do you have feeling of powerlessness as you watch it happen? 

Do you wish someone or "some thing" would just stir up the water enough so that you can at least - if not swim further down the road - that you would stay afloat?

Well all of this is possible, if the Spirit of God so indwells you that you can say "(where did it fall (verse 6)! If you are so walking in the Light of the Lord that He has top billing on your marquee, you too can cut off that stick, throw it into the water and make iron float! It is not going to be easy, but He really has given us that capacity! Yes, He did...and still does - if you and I seek His forgiveness, repent, turn away from our inner sinful self...and instead TURN TO HIM! If we accept, trust and recognize that He alone is Lord, we too can walk daily without that 'sinking feeling'. Listen to what the Scripture promises and says about us who are saved and being saved....and this is the thought to hang your hat on, in this day of Drought and Despair: 

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12 KJV)

THINK ON THESE THINGS - WEDNESDAY

MOSES - THE FIRST CHRISTIAN!

As our Jewish brothers get ready to observe the DAY OF ATONEMENT (YOM KIPPUR) on Friday, I wish to continue into our five week long Hike through Hebrews 11, with purpose! We are now up to Verse 23, but need to look at Verses 23-29 in two consecutive parts before Friday. The reason - MOSES!


I have divided them into two sections dealing with the Faith of Moses and how it relates to this feast day. To wit, verses Hebrews 11:23-26 (NKJV) says:
²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. 
²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Please re-read Verses 25 and 26 in BOLD RED above and note these two things:

- While he was rescued and raised by Pharoah's daughter, once he knew better, he embraced his identity as NOT an Egyptian, but a man of destiny.

- While he could have had anything he wanted as the Prince of Egypt, Moses then threw in his lot with God's people at the time - the Hebrews (meaning "those who have crossed over).

BUT, more importantly, we see something unique here about Moses! HE KNEW CHRIST! WHAT? Whatchutalkingbout, Willis? Jesus was not born until around 3 BC and Moses lived about 1500 years before! 

I will say this loud and clear - MOSES WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN!

Who do you think gave Moses the LAW on Mount Sinai - Jesus!

Who do you think was in the Pillar of Fire by Night - Jesus!

Who do you think was in the Cloud by Day - Jesus!
Who do you think was in the ROCK that Moses hit, when God said to speak to it - Jesus!

Who do you think was with Moses and Elijah on Transfiguration Mountain - Jesus!
Who is this all about - JESUS!

What's the Name? - JESUS!

WHAT'S THE NAME? - JESUS!!!!!!!!!!

Something happened to Moses when he spent all that time with God on the Mountain of God and throughout his 120 years on this earth. He was not called into this amazing Walk with God until he was 80 years old and spent the next 40 serving God, listening to God and writing the First Five Books of the Bible, under power of the Holy Spirit.

He died at 120 years of age, not because of ill-health. He was as strong as an ox. Here is where the Reproach of Christ comes in and where WE must be careful in our disobedient mortal spirit! 

When God calls us to a task. He equips us. But never lose sight of this - IT IS HIS WORK, NOT OURS. MOSES WAS SO FILLED WITH PRIDE AND RAGE AT THE GRUMBLING ISRAELITES that he disobeyed God! Read Numbers 20 from verse 8 where the Account of Moses striking the Rock to let the water out, instead of SPEAKING to it as God told him to!

This earned an immediate rebuke from God Who told Moses "because you disobeyed me and STRUCK the ROCK instead of SPEAKING TO IT, as I asked you, YOU WILL DIE"!

You know WHY this is important and why this Reproach had to come from Christ, through God? Here is Scripture explaining Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:3 "and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ!!!"

The Rock that gave the Water for 3 millions Israelites, living water, WAS CHRIST!! Remember we said above, Jesus was everywhere with the people of God and Moses! MOSES HIT THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE WITH HIS STICK! 

Disobedience by a man of God, who has more accountability than most, leads to big problems! Moses. This is one big lesson! We must never lose our cool Our love for God and Christ and His people should ALWAYS our personal hangups; peeves; pride and quick tempers...because the latter will get us in trouble!

But Moses is still getting his reward right now as we live and breathe! That reward was visible when he and Elijah were last seen on the Mount of Transfiguration, talking to the Lord Jesus in stunning and shining White Light! Moses did land on the Promised Land, after all!

(image of BING images)