Prayer as a Weapon!
A full day already, Father, and it’s only about half done. As we come together, may my thoughts be on You and what You want the world to know. Amen.
Romans 15:23-33 (<<click here to read the passage)
We are all familiar with prayer. Even those who don’t believe in God or adhere to any spirituality, as such, know what prayer is, though they may think it foolish…having no impact whatsoever.
But believers know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that there is most assuredly power in prayer! My study Bible* states, regarding verse 30,
Too often we see prayer as a time for comfort, reflection or making requests to God. But here Paul urges believers to join in his struggle by means of prayer. Prayer is a weapon that all believers should use in interceding for others.
Prayer accomplishes so many things – most importantly it is a link of communication between us and our loving Heavenly Father – but honestly, I don’t often think of prayer as a weapon!
How many times have we heard someone (maybe even ourselves) say, “Well, the least I can do is pray…” and we tend to say it in a dejected, last resort tone of voice. Goodness gracious, prayer should be our first line of defense in each and every attack, no matter from whence the attack comes!
For sure, material resources (money, time, and talents) are needed to spread the Gospel – God’s Good News – to the world but many times our resources are limited…but prayer – oh, my! – prayer is limited only by our willingness to use it! And we don’t even have to speak it! We can think it!
Do you remember what happens when we as believers are at a loss for words? Romans 8:26-27 tells us,
In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. AMP
We have the mightiest weapon ever known to humankind at our disposal. We have access to it anytime, anywhere!
And don’t make excuses! Like anything in our lives, when we start, we’re not always very good. It takes practice. Practicing prayer gives a whole other meaning to “practice makes perfect”! We have the ultimate connection in prayer in that God will help us, if we will but ask!
My challenge? Pick up your weapon and unload the powers of Heaven against the powers of this earth. They don’t stand a chance!
With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. Ephesians 6:18 AMP
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Sept 6th, 2023, Wed, 12:51 pm
Should We Be Ambitious?
Well, we have begun the new school year. Lord, watch over me. May I be a child who reflects his Father. I pray that You will shine through my words and actions. Amen.
Romans 15:14-22 (<<click here to read the passage)
If I were to ask what a pastor’s job entails, I imagine it would be easy to assemble an exhaustive list. I’m not even going to try and list them. I know there are areas where I don’t measure up to people’s expectations. I strive to do better but when all is said and done, ultimately it is not my job to please people, but to please and honor God.
The Apostle Paul hits the nail on the head when he states regarding his ministry to the Gentiles, which is in essence what all ministers – past and present – are doing, in verse 16,
I minister as a priest the gospel of God, in order that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable [to Him], sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit. AMP
Pastors must endeavor to bring their “flock” to the point where they embrace holiness – where they are driven to draw closer and closer to God, becoming sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit.
That alone is what I will be held responsible for…that and making sure that I am drawing closer to God, and being set apart, as well.
In verse 20 Paul speaks of his “ambition”. My Life Application Study Bible states, “Ambition can be a difficult topic for Christians because we see so many bad examples of ambitious people who claw their way to the top.”
But reading through the writings of Paul it is clear that he puts no stock in climbing the ladder by means of tromping on those he considers beneath him. He is a follower of Christ who leads by example. Instead of looking out for himself and working hard for personal advancement, he was ambitious to serve God. His goal was to advance God’s Kingdom. He diligently labored – with literal blood, sweat, and tears – to bring others into an active – living – life in Christ. It was a striving, as he said to make them an offering wholly acceptable to God, sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit.
Paul didn’t just preach it, he lived it. His life radiated Christ…as should ours.
Are you ambitious for God? Do you want, more than anything else, to please Him and to do his will? Then do as Paul and all true followers of Christ have done and continue to do – ask God for “holy ambition.”
Sept 5th, 2023, Tues, 12:56 pm
We’ve Always Been Part of the Plan
It is hard to believe that our summer break is over! Father, thank You for the blessing of doing the jobs I do so as to enjoy the opportunities of extended time with family!
Romans 15:1-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the challenges in growing up in the environment I did was that I had to make new friends every few years. I’m not alone in this, for many ministers, as well as military families this is the norm. It seemed like I was regularly inserting myself into well-established social demographics. I stepped into groups comprised of children my age who had known each other most of their lives, and here I came, out of the blue, trying to fit in.
It was a challenge but, for me at least, it was not too stressful of an ordeal – I guess I am blessed with my dad’s gift of gab! Finding common ground always helped break the ice and move me along in relationships.
Another thing that grabbed my attention in today’s passage was the multiple passages of Scripture that the Apostle Paul quotes, showing that Gentiles (non-Jews) being a part of God’s plan wasn’t a last-minute addition to God’s plan. It wasn’t a “man, my people have really messed up my perfect plan and now it’s time for plan B” response on God’s part.
One of my oft-quoted passages of Scripture –a core passage of mine – is found in Ephesians 1:4,
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Not one thing had been created, and our omniscient (all-knowing) God knew that instead of doing what He wanted us to do, we would do what we wanted to do, bringing sin into this world – placing a chasm between a holy God and ourselves. Despite that knowledge, He still created the world and placed us in it…but not without a plan of redemption for us. This passage in Ephesians 1 continues,
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. v5
It might be easy to believe these things if you were a part of God’s chosen people, the Jews. But if you were a Gentile, they made it very clear that you were not included. (Unfortunately, some Christians communicate the same idea to those outside the flock…) But know this, that was never God’s intent.
Four different times in today’s passage alone, God’s intent is made clear. Note too that these passages were not from Paul’s era – they were from the Old Testament! Paul quotes from the books of Psalms, Isaiah, and even Deuteronomy – the last one was exclaimed shortly after the new nation of Israel had been freed from their Egyptian captors!
We all have always been a part of God’s awesome plan of salvation. He has left nothing and no one out! We are a part of God’s wonderful family and as Paul says in verse 13,
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. NLT
Amen!
Sept 4th, 2023, Mon, 6:30 pm
You Scratch My Back…
Father, I acknowledge that tonight, as in every moment of my life, I am dependent upon You. You keep me safe, and I am gratefully encased in Your love. Amen.
Romans 15:1-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
Today’s picture is very interesting, don’t you think? I’ve never seen giraffes do this. I was searching for a picture to capture the idea of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours”. I felt that concept was reflective of today’s Scripture, especially verses 1-2 and verse 7,
Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves. Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor* for his good, to build him up spiritually. vs1-2 AMP
*i.e., all those with whom we have contact.
Therefore, [continue to] accept and welcome one another, just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of [our great] God. vs7 AMP
Christ has done for us the unimaginable – the absolute greatest gift of all time, and we in turn should do to others – our neighbors or as the note in the Amplified Bible states all those with whom we have contact.
I think we all would readily agree that we in no way, shape, or form deserve anything from God. Well, except condemnation and punishment – eternal punishment. But that is not what He gave us. Instead, Jesus paid our debt through His life, suffering, and death. We owed it, He paid it. No argument. No discussion. Those are the facts.
There was no way for us to accomplish what was needed for our forgiveness. There is nothing we could do or say to deserve the grace and mercy so freely extended to anyone who sincerely seeks that forgiveness, humbly admitting and confessing our sin to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Christ has accepted and welcomed us so…we, as His followers, must [continue to] accept and welcome one another, and as verse 1 stresses,
Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves.
…just like Jesus did for us – We are weak, but He is strong!
Back to our interesting giraffe picture. They are not scratching each other’s back, they are fighting! This beautiful photograph, shot in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, was taken by photographer Dana Allen. These two young bucks are standing side-by-side, pushing and shoving to judge which is the strongest. They are testing the other’s prowess. They aren’t looking to help each other out – they’re both out for the girl! It’s not about those with whom they have contact…it’s all about themselves…
Lord Jesus, help us to set others above ourselves. Help us to love each other as You have loved us. You first, others second, ourselves last. Amen.
Sept 3rd, 2023, Sun, 8:34 pm
Granddad, Conviction and Picks
Father, I’ve not said it for a while, but I am grateful for Your presence. Throughout the ebb and flow of my day, I know You are there every guiding, ever loving.
Romans 14:20-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
Thomas S. Fowler, Sr. was my grandfather, or as he preferred, my granddad. He was a faithful servant for many, many years ministering as a pastor and as an evangelist traveling with his musically inclined family. (They actually released a couple of records!)
He was raised in a spiritually divided home. His father was a hellion, putting it mildly…but his mother was a saint on earth. As a young man, he waivered in his faith. He even came close twice to taking his own life, but his ever-praying mother petitioned Heaven with her pleas, and the Lord graciously – miraculously! – intervened wooing him back to Himself.
In those early days, he by no means was a saint himself and one of his passions was playing the guitar with a straight pick – which is the way most everyone plays the guitar. He loved to entertain those around him, and more than willingly joined in their revelry – a drunk playing drunken songs on the beaches of Hawaii while in the service. After he gave his life over to Christ he felt convicted in regard to why and how he had played guitar, bringing only glory to himself. He acted on that conviction and from that time on, set aside his straight pick, switching to a thumb pick. Granddad faithfully played the guitar for the Lord’s glory throughout the many years of his ministry.
Reading that story, you may think his decision trivial – maybe even silly. But to him, it was an important difference. His change of focus had changed his life. His decision made a lifelong impact on the lives of thousands!
Verse 23, the last verse in this chapter, reads,
…if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
The Apostle Paul speaks here of food, but it is equally applicable to many other areas of our lives. I cannot show you any passage of Scripture that speaks of guitar picks but many times in our lives we come upon decisions that the Holy Spirit must guide us as to how to go about addressing them. Paul here clearly states that if we go ahead and do what our convictions tell us we must not do – if we are striding firmly ahead knowing we are doing things that are not right, then we are sinning.
Guitar picks may not be important to you, but they were to Granddad and when he gave his life to Christ, he did just that. Tom Fowler gave his all to the Lord who had given His all for him. May we all do the same.
Aug 31st, 2023, Thurs, 8:43 pm