Category Archives: Prayer

Abundance, Asking, Bible, Blessing, Oveflowing, Prayer, Scripture

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

EPHESIANS 3:20

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

A number of years ago there was a toy that was produced based on the Toy Story movie character Buzz Lightyear. This spaceman would pop out his collapsible wings on his spacesuit and proclaim, “To Infinity and Beyond,” as he jumped (and usually fell). Kids loved this toy. I can still hear kids screaming his words, lol.

Today’s verse has a phrase that is kind of expressed with that same motto. Paul says, as he describes God, “who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.” In other words, Paul says we just can’t put into words what God can do. We are going to look at some of the words in that phrase below, but just think a second about what Paul was trying to portray to the Ephesians in this statement. Think about where they were, surrounded by all these false gods. Only One was truly able to do this.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “far more abundantly” is a compound Greek word with the preposition uper. Don’t let me lose you here. Uper intensifies the other words it is attached to. In fact, of the 28 compound words in the New Testament using uper, Paul uses 20 of them. He obviously like that preposition to strengthen the words he was writing. The word used here is only used three times in the New Testament. Here and in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 and 5:13.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” Have you ever prayed that way? Have you ever prayed superabundantly? And in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 we see, “and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” Have you done that? Have you ever regarded someone that highly.

Don’t forget that every single word of Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). There’s a reason we see this word used here to define how we pray about God, how we pray for others and how we regard others. Hmm, there might just be a pattern laid out for us to consider. Don’t you think?

Father, I know You see me glorified, even now. Give me Your eyes to see others the way You do.

Standard
Bible, Blessing, Bowing, Heart, Honor, Humility, Prayer, Scripture

BENT KNEES

EPHESIANS 3:14

“For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,”

Eusebius of Caesarea quotes the writing of Hegesippus, a chronicler of the early Church concerning James, the half-brother of Christ and leader of the early church. “He alone was permitted to enter the holy place, for he did not wear woolen but linen garments. And he frequently entered the temple alone and was frequently found situated upon his knees asking forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard after the manner of a camel, on account of always bending down upon a knee while worshipping God and asking forgiveness for the people.”

I wonder if Paul’s knees were also calloused due to kneeling in prayer. I know mine aren’t. Paul begins a prayer in today’s verse that goes through verse 21. It is one of the most encouraging prayers in Scripture. It is one of many of Paul’s prayers recorded in the New Testament (some say his writings contain as many as 45 prayers or prayer “snippets”). “For this reason” points back to the preceding verses. Paul had many reasons to pray, but the salvation offered to the Gentiles was at the top of his list.

APPLICATION

Okay, this is one of those “duh” verses. What do I mean by that? I mean we can all see how to apply this our lives. I need to bow my knees before the Father a lot more than I do now. I cannot pray enough. In 2 Chronicles 6:13, we see Solomon, the king of Israel, bow in humility. “For Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the courtyard; and he stood on it, knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.” At this point in Solomon’s life, he was not ashamed to humble himself and pray.

How about this example of kneeling in prayer, despite the danger. In Daniel 6:10 we read, “Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously.” We know the consequence of this. He was thrown into the lions’ den but escaped death because of his obedience to be faithful in prayer.

What is stopping you from kneeling today? Maybe you have bad knees or a bad back and can’t physically kneel. Bowing our knees before God in prayer is about much more than our physical position. It has more to do with our spiritual position. Bow yourself in humility. Recognize the awesomeness of our God. Give Him the honor that is due Him when you pray.

O Lord, forgive me, cleanse me, purify my heart. I bow my heart and spirit before You today.

Standard
Accountability, Asking, Bible, Calling, God's Will, Prayer, Requests, Scripture, Talking

YOU’RE IN MY PRAYERS

EPHESIANS 1:16

“do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;”

For years now I have been praying for a list of friends, family, fellow missionaries and ministries. I am pretty regimented in my list. I have a daily prayer list, a weekly prayer list and a monthly prayer list. If I did not do that, I would definitely leave someone out of my prayers. But I also try to pray spontaneously when someone asks me to pray for them, either in person or through text or email. It doesn’t take but a second or two to bow your head and lift up a prayer to our Father.

Paul loved these believers in Ephesus. He knew he was probably not going to see them again, so he wanted them to know how grateful he was for them and that they were in his prayers. When someone tells you they are praying for you, that means a lot. I am sure when this letter was read to the church, they all smiled, picturing their beloved teacher and fellow believer. They knew the power of his prayers. This brought them comfort.

APPLICATION

Who are you praying for? Who are you praying with? I have to confess something. The one person I don’t pray enough with is my wife. Sure, we pray at meals and once or twice a week before we go to sleep. But I mean we don’t spend that extra, consistent time we need as a couple praying with and for each other. Forgive me, Chris. Encourage me to do better.

Okay, I had to say that.  They say confession is good for the soul. I bet you are not much different. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. Paul uses the adverb, adialeiptós, three other times in Romans 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2:13. Adialeiptós means to not allow any interval of time to separate. We should always be in a spirit of prayer. Prayer is our way to communicate with God. Why would we ever want to stop talking to Him?

A.W. Tozer said, “The key to prayer is simply praying.” It’s not that hard. There are no magic words, just open hearts. Pray for your family. Pray for your friends. Pray for people you know who are lost and need Jesus. Keep praying. Don’t stop. He hears each and every prayer you offer. He will answer in His time, in His way.

Give me knees that are calloused from bending in prayer before You, O Lord.

Standard
Answers, Bible, God's Will, Prayer, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Time

RIGHT ON TIME

GALATIANS 4:4

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,”

Right on time, just in time! That’s part of a quote my brother-in-law used to make at the end of every service in the church where he pastored. The congregation would join him in the “cheer” signifying their agreement. It almost always made everyone smile.

When Paul penned the words of today’s verse, he was speaking of the perfection of God’s timing. Why did God wait so long to send Jesus? We won’t know that until eternity. We have to trust that His timing was exact.  When He saw mankind was ready to receive His Son, He was sent to redeem mankind. Even though Jesus was “born under the Law,” He superseded the Law.

APPLICATION

Jesus spoke of His coming in John 16:28. “‘I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’” I love how John writes about this in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

At the right time! Not too early, not too late. Just right! Think of the times in your life when God came through at just the right time. I can think of numerous times when He has done that for me. He revealed my Amyloidosis at just the right time through an emergency gallbladder surgery. If it had gone undiagnosed, I probably would not be here now. Right on time!

 
What are you waiting for right now? What are you asking the Lord to answer? Waiting is hard, I know. My wife and I are waiting on something right now. It is hard, but we have to trust Him. We have to know that He is more than capable of making anything happen – when it’s time. Until then, we wait. God is always right on time.

Lord, give me patience and give it to me now! Forgive me for thinking that, Lord. I will wait.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Church, Following, Holy Spirit, Invitation, Prayer, Scripture, Testimony, Witnessing

INVITE SOMEONE

ZECHARIAH 8:21

“‘“The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go at once to plead for the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of armies; I also will go.’”’”

I am planning for a conference in Kenya and Uganda right now and am busy inviting people from all over Africa to attend. It’s going to be a wonderful time of training and encouraging the leaders of our Every Man A Warrior ministry on that continent. I want all who can come to be there. I don’t want them to miss out on this training and fellowship.

The people of the cities were looking at Jerusalem in today’s verse and encouraging each other to go there. They wanted to “plead for the favor of the Lord.” They wanted to be where the Lord was. They could see how Israel was being blessed and were drawn there. I love that last phrase – “I also will go.” In other words, lets’ all go!

APPLICATION

Have you invited anyone lately to be a part of your small group or fellowship? I just finished a small group with four men and am praying about men for a new group in the Fall. I long for that time. I need that fellowship and comradery. But I have learned to pray these men in – not just grab some guys and start a group.

The same thing applies to inviting people to church. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the right people. Then when He gives you an open door of opportunity, take it. Tell them what these people told each other. Tell them to come and seek God’s favor with you. Paul tells us in Romans 15:7, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.”

I had the privilege to preach recently in a church of a different denomination than my home church. I was totally welcomed there and felt right at home. The Spirit of Christ welcomes us, not a specific church. Would you allow the Spirit of Christ in you to welcome someone to visit your church or small group this week? Be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I will be obedient to the Spirit as He leads me this week to talk to others about You, Lord.

Standard
Access, Answers, Asking, Bible, Confession, Forgiveness, God's Will, Hearing, Prayer, Scripture

NO RESPONSE

ZECHARIAH 7:13

“‘And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of armies;”

Don’t you just hate it when you text someone, and they don’t text you back? In days past, you would write a letter and wait for a response. Later on, you would call and leave a message on an answering machine, expecting a return call. Our frustration with not receiving a response hasn’t changed, has it? We still want to hear back, and the sooner the better.

So, when the Lord said these words to Zechariah to deliver to the people, they must have stung. The Lord of armies (also known as the Lord of Hosts) says “they called and I would not listen.” Why? Because their unrepentant sin had cut off communication. It was as if the phone line to heaven had been cut. They called out, but no one answered. I bet the silence was deafening.

APPLICATION

Do you want God to hear your prayers? Then stay “prayed up.” Confess your sins quickly and completely. Name them. Ask Him to reveal to you those secret sins you keep tucked away. Psalm 90:7-8 tells us. “7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,

and we have been terrified by Your wrath. 8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You, our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.”

Did you catch that last phrase? It said, “our hidden sins.” Another translation says, “our secret sins.” Come on, you know you have them. What have you not confessed to the Lord? What is that secret sin you are holding on to? I know you don’t want to cut off communication with heaven. No one wants that.

Our approach to the altar makes all the difference. If we come as the Israelites did with pride and arrogance, God will not hear. But if we come in humility and brokenness, He promises to hear and answer. God wants to work in our lives. He really wants to. Clear the slate. Confess those sins. Allow Him to work in the ways He wants. You won’t be sorry.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing my confessions. I want to keep our lines of communication wide open.

Standard
Asking, Bible, Fasting, Obedience, Prayer, Questions, Scripture

A GOOD QUESTION

ZECHARIAH 7:3

“speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the LORD of armies, and to the prophets, saying, ‘Shall I weep in the fifth month and fast, as I have done these many years?’”

Have you ever gone to a pastor or preacher to ask for advice about a spiritual matter? Maybe you have a question about praying or fasting. You could be confused about a certain passage of Scripture and need their insight. Seeking the advice of our spiritual leaders is a good thing. This is what we see in today’s verse.

Sharezer and Regemmelech had come seeking the Lord’s favor and had this question for the priests. This may sound like a strange question, but you have to know what was going on. During the fifth month, the people fasted and prayed in remembrance of the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. But now that the temple was being rebuilt, these two men were asking if they should continue that or pray with joy. In other words, do we keep doing this or not?

APPLICATION

Malachi 2:6-7 says, “6 True instruction was in his mouth and injustice was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and justice, and he turned many back from wrongdoing. 7 For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of armies.” I just love that passage. I have put it to memory, mainly because my boss told me to, lol.

As a pastor and minister of the Gospel, it is my job to dispense knowledge and wisdom to those who seek it from me. Let me say quickly that I have no knowledge or wisdom outside of the Lord’s. That is why I always point people to His Word. It is the true source of wisdom.

If you haven’t read Psalm 119 lately, take a few minutes and do that. Notice that just about every verse has a reference to God’s Word. It may be called commands, law, precepts, statutes or something else, but all those descriptions are pointing us back to the Word. If you have a question, go to the Word or go to someone who can direct you where to look there. It has the answers.

I praise You for giving us Your Word to guide us and answer all of life’s questions.

Standard
Advocate, Asking, Attitude, Bible, Blessing, Humility, Prayer, Scripture, Seeking

SEEKING FAVOR

ZECHARIAH 7:2

“Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the LORD,”

There have been a few times in my life when I had to go to someone to ask a favor. Maybe it was to ask a work colleague to swap days off with me so I could go to an event. Perhaps it was to ask someone to borrow something. Each time I have done that I have gone with a sense of humility, knowing that I was the one doing the asking. The other person had the power to grant me the favor. It was not up to me.

The phrase “seek the favor” in the Hebrew is literally “pray before.” These two men, Sharezer and Regemmelech, are unknown to us except that they represented the people before the Lord. The people knew that to truly seek God’s favor, they had to come before Him in prayer and humility. The Hebrew word used here can also mean sick or weak. The word picture here is one who comes before someone with no power of their own – humble and lowly.

APPLICATION

There is a perfect picture of how we are to come before the Lord when we pray – humble and lowly. Most of my prayers are accompanied with a certain posture. I bow my head or get on my knees as I pray. Occasionally, I will even lay on the floor. It is not about my body position. It’s about my heart position.

Perhaps the best way to show what I mean is to share the story Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14. “9 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.” 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

As you pray today, remember Who it is you are approaching. He is the God of the universe, the One Who created all things. He gave His Son to die for you, so that you can spend eternity with Him in glory. He deserves our praise and is welcoming of our prayers. Yes, come before Him with praises and singing, but do that with a humble and contrite heart. He is worthy.

Lord, I approach Your throne with a humble heart, asking You to hear my pleas.

Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Prayer, Protection, Provision, Scripture, Temple, Trust

THE TOP STONE

ZECHARIAH 4:7

“‘What are you, you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

I once helped my dad and other volunteers build additions to the school we were attending. I watched them pour the foundation and begin laying the block. At first, it was kind of exciting. But for a young boy like me, that did not last until…they were laying the last block on the top of the wall. Whew! What a project!

In today’s verse you see the mention of the “top stone.” Zechariah is being told their enemies (great mountain) will be defeated (become a plain). And then the temple, which had long had its foundation cornerstone laid, would have the crowning achievement completed – the laying of the top stone. Scholars agree that this is a reference to Jesus being not only the cornerstone but also the top stone. He is the beginning and the end.

APPLICATION

Do you see that in your life? I mean, is Jesus your first and last, the beginning and the end? He should be. He should have your highest priority. You have heard that your priorities should be God, family and then church. That is the order of things. That is how it should be. Jesus should be the crowning achievement in your life, your top stone.

When we don’t place Him first, we lose focus. Putting other things before the Lord never works. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Do you believe that? It’s true. He will meet your needs. Just put Him first in your life.

Maybe you have done that, and you still don’t feel He is listening. Hold on, dear one. He is. Keep trusting. He knows exactly where you are. He knows your name. Keep calling out to Him. His timing is always perfect even though we think He is not responding. He is. I promise. Better yet – He promises.

I know You hear my cries, dear Lord. I shall wait for You.

Standard
Bible, Courage, Defeat, Defense, Devil, Enemies, Oppression, Prayer, Protection, Safety, Satan, Scripture

FOUR HORNS

ZECHARIAH 1:18

“Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns.” 

I am a deer hunter. For all you animal lovers, please forgive me. I love to hunt and eat venison. I put out trail cameras to watch and see what deer are moving through the area I am scouting. I particularly like to watch for the big bucks with their beautiful antlers. The width, height and girth of the antler usually shows the age and health of the deer. The more mature and powerful deer normally have the biggest rack.

As you can imagine, today’s verse sparked my interest. The mention of horns made me curious, just as it did Zechariah when he saw this. Most scholars agree that these horns represented four powerful nations that had the potential to destroy. Benson says this about these four horns in his commentary, “the most ancient and prevailing opinion among the Jews themselves, and perhaps the most probable of any, is, that the four great empires, the Assyrian, or Babylonian, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman, are intended; namely, the empires alluded to by the four beasts, Daniel 7.” Whatever they represented, it definitely caught Zechariah’s attention.

APPLICATION

Okay Carl. Let’s see how you apply this verse about horns to us. I’m glad you said that. What powers or forces do you fear? Who has come against you? It doesn’t matter the number. You may have or have had multiple forces come against you. The same God who defended and restored Israel is here today. He stands ready to take on those horns.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we must be prepared to take on these forces of evil. You have read, I’m sure, the passage on the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. But did you stop there? You see, the secret to taking on these horns is found in verse 18. “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,”

We have to pray, seeking God and His strength. It is not about our strength. It is completely His strength that defeats these horns that come against us. And we must pray for “all the saints.” As we lift up others, God lifts us up. So, pray and believe. Let God smite those horns of evil in your life.

I will trust You, O God, to take up my defense. I will not fear when I see these horns come against me.

Standard