The Language of Prayer (Part Three)

Praying through…Victory

Pentecostal people have long used the term of “praying through.” While this idiomatic phrase is often misunderstood, it expresses the idea that prayer can have a satisfying conclusion. You can pray until you receive an inner assurance that you have been heard and that the answer is on the way. Many of our prayers, like those for daily needs of sustenance or divine support, do not fall in this category, probably because they are ongoing. Certain needs, however, require us to intensify our prayers until we see our way clear, or at least until we feel that God’s power has been mobilized on our behalf. This kind of praying calls for definite breakthroughs that give us a release from feelings of distress or worry.

Jesus illustrated this dimension of prayer by telling a parable about a man who needed loaves of bread at midnight . He persisted to knock on his neighbor’s door until his reluctant friend finally gave him what he wanted. In Luke 11:8, Jesus said, “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” There could be no other message of this parable than to strongly encourage his disciples to press on in prayer. Sometimes, as shown in this man’s friendship with his neighbor, our relationship with God alone is not sufficient to expect an answer. Many immature believers have a false impression about God’s providence. God does not jump to meet our every whim as though he were a foolish, doting parent. In his larger plan for our spiritual development, he nurtures us to become responsible, industrious and patient.

Weariness or frustration causes us to abort many of our prayers. We often stop much too soon after we start. Perhaps our technological age has so conditioned us to expect instantaneous results that we are left with little patience to persevere. We faint in doing the primary job of the church---praying. Again, Jesus charged us, “…that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1. If you want victory, if you want completion to your prayers, if you would rather die than live without the answer to a particular prayer, then pray on! The early church saw powerful results at the conclusion of their prayers. “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 16:31 .

Many reasons compel us to pray through. Satan greatly opposes the advance of God’s kingdom and we must wage spiritual warfare through prayer in order to defeat him. Also, God constantly monitors the intensity of desire and the level of faith in our hearts. God responds---not to the mere existence of the need---but to the faith and importunity that seize our hearts. Abraham’s experiences in prayer offer valuable insight to us in this regard. Even further, we must remember that there may be many steps or increments along the way to ultimate victory. God engages our services in prayer to supply the spiritual impetus for the campaign, much like a military maneuver. This calls for many elements to function together, and each element presents a challenge to us. One word of caution: don’t’ expect to pray through if your prayers contradict the word of God or if you have purely selfish motives in mind. First, you need to immerse your will in the will of God and make sure your prayers reflect his divine purposes and mission.

Pray through doubt and fear. Pray through sadness and loss. Pray through hurt and disappointment. Pray through spiritual dryness and apathy.  Pray through confusion. Pray through the feeling that you don’t want to pray through! Pray until you experience a breakthrough!

Praying against…Combative

The church has formidable enemies. These opponents employ every strategy---from frontal assault to under cover operations, from mass destruction to personal sniping, from to lies to demonic attacks. If we fail to recognize and understand this treacherous reality, we will find ourselves in deep trouble. Paul warned the Ephesians, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.

The word wrestle begs explanation. The ancient Greeks practiced wrestling as a sporting event that tested the strength and skill between two comparable athletes who were weight and size classed. But this scripture implies more than a simple grappling contest with another individual. Paul undoubtedly speaks of a larger conflict involving enormous superpowers and eternal stakes. God outfits us with weaponry and armor, yet we cannot dismiss the enemy with a feint, an argument or a threatening word. We must be prepared to do actual battle with him on a spiritual level.

Failure to seriously engage our enemy will result in tragic and unnecessary loss. While we should not see a “devil behind every bush”, neither should we naively skip our way though this world as though we travel an unimpeded, rose-strewn path. We face a vicious, fallen angel and his minions who have zero chance of redemption. With nothing to lose, Satan has declared war on the church of Jesus Christ . He conducts his warfare through an amalgamation of evil spirits, through forming alliances with worldly powers and through drafting people as unwitting pawns to do his destructive bidding.

Jesus recognized the personage of Satan throughout his ministry and addressed him on many occasions. He contradicted Satan at the time of his temptations, he cast demons out of Legion in a herd of two thousand swine and he bade the demons to go from those who were possessed. While Jesus never exhibited a fearful attitude toward evil spirits, neither did he sink into mindless oblivion about them. He alerted his disciples to the whole specter of the “principalities and powers” arrayed against them. The devil, he taught, robbed people of the word of God. “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Luke 8:12. He informed Peter that he was a target of Satan. Later, the Apostle Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

What can the church do about Satan and his forces? We can pray against them! We take our cue from 2 Kings 19:20. “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.” As a representative of evil, Sennacherib was targeted by the prayers of Hezekiah. God heard those prayers and sent his angel to decimate the Assyrian army. Sennacherib retreated to Nineveh and abandoned his quest to conquer Israel . The Assyrians were defeated---not by Israel ’s military might---but by the effectual prayer of the King.

Long before Hezekiah, the Psalmist David had already learned to pray against his enemies as we see in Psalm 64:

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.  2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:  3 Who whet their tongue like a sword,  and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:  4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.  5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?   6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.   7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.   8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.   9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God;  for they shall wisely consider of his doing.    10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him;  and all the upright in heart shall glory.  

Pray against the devil. Pray against evil forces and evil people.  Pray against the dominance of the flesh.  Pray against roadblocks to revival.  Pray against the enemies of the Cross. 

Praying over…Protective

Most of us who were raised in Christian homes began our prayer life as toddlers praying over things. We prayed over our food. We prayed over our night of rest. We prayed over a trip we were about to take. As we grew older, we prayed over an exam before we took it; we prayed over the music piece we had to play for the recital; we prayed over our car that it would make it home. Now, I find myself praying over my children, my Christian witness and my doctor’s appointments.

We have scriptural precedent for this kind of praying. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5. Many unseen and unknown dangers lurk out there, hidden among everyday activities and vicious microbes or nasty chemicals threaten us constantly. We cannot presume that all is well as we travel through a world that “lieth in wickedness.” Prayer throws a protective covering over our endeavors and confers a divine blessing on our necessary activities.

When sickness does attack our bodies, we possess a Biblical authority to have our spiritual leaders pray over us. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14. This verse does not specify how the elders are to pray, but it strongly implies that the blessing and power of God will be conferred upon the sick person.

Believers need to exercise this right to pray over their lives and loved ones. We should not simply chalk events up to fate, or think that we have to gamble with our lives as though we have no covenantal relationship with God. Through a prayer covering, we can place ourselves in God’s protective custody.

Pray over your food. Pray over your day’s activities. Pray over your children. Pray over your business decisions. Pray over people afflicted with sickness and disease.

Pray to, pray for, pray through, pray against, pray over…these are the prepositions of prayer. Understand how they are used and how they enhance your prayer life. You will profoundly affect your prayer experience.

Corrie Ten Boom asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” If it is your spare tire, it doesn’t matter where you go or how you get there. When it becomes your steering wheel, you need you know how to turn the wheel and how to head in the right direction. Wherever you need to go in God, prayer will take you there.

And Then, God Created Grandparents...

Max Lucado writes, “You trace a soft finger across tiny, sleeping eyes, and wonder, “God gave you to me?” Let me tell you…or remind you…about the joys of grandparenting, as opposed to parenting.

Parents stand close…often too close…to their miracle to drink in the wonder of it all. Their focus is on the multitude of tasks, the urgency of care, the responsibility of a new life now living under their roof. The daily dose of relentless pressure presses in on them. In their brief moments of respite, they are more apt to seek a quiet place, a few minutes of uninterrupted peace, rather than to lose themselves in the awe of God’s gift. Oh, they know, and love, and hold, and cuddle and breathe thanksgiving to God, but it is cut short by an eye on the clock. Feeding time, sleeping time, playing time…and then time to do the laundry and time to visit the doctor, and time to run to the store for more diapers and all the other paraphernalia that babies need.

But grandparents…they are a different story. Time means nothing to them. They have time to step back and get totally lost in the bigger picture. They have time to stare into bright, little eyes when sleeping time is over and trace their fingers over the lips protruding with a pitiful cry, around the dainty, pink ears, and beneath the quivering chin. Grandparents have untold quantities of unaccountable time to rock, to feel the little heartbeat and stomach breathing in and out, and be content with no more excitement than an occasional yawn or twitch of the face. They have time to talk hours on end about a dimple, a wrinkle, the shape of a foot or the sound of a whimper. They don’t have to be bothered with feeding times, nap times or all that other nonsense. After all, that’s why God made parents. He specifically made grandparents to coo, and laugh, and hold, and sit in the wonder of divinely created life. Someone had to notice how delicate the ears are, or how perfectly shaped the nose is, or how sweet the cry is, or how cute the tiniest facial expressions are. No one is better suited to do these important jobs than grandparents. Much of God’s finer work would go unappreciated if it were not for grandparents. (I also suspect that many grandparents try to make up in the grandchildren for what they missed in their children.)

Having said all of that, I want to thank Ryan and Megan Jordan for their part in giving us MaKinzie. They are great parents. Maybe great parents is what it takes for grandparents!

What Is Your God Like?

This may strike you as a strange question, but every one of us has a decidedly personal concept of God, a blend of what we’ve heard, what we’ve been taught, what we’ve researched in our personal devotions…plus our own feelings, emotions, impressions and desires.

Those of you who have suffered through classes on world religion in high school or college classes have seen many interesting concepts and pictures of God held by individuals and cultures from the past and present. From dragons, gargoyles and hideous creatures to beautiful forms that appeal to the eye, God has been represented in every imaginable way. The attributes and personalities of deity have also taken many forms. He has been seen as loving, hateful, cruel, soft, aloof, diabolical, devious, perfect, flawed, weak, strong…on and on the list goes.

Paul captures some of these ideas in writing to the Romans, a culture saturated with pagan religion and idolatry.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Roman 1:20-25

Man continually re-makes God into an image like corruptible man or other beings. While people who hold to the Judeo-Christian understanding of God may reject such far-out views, we still tend to think of God in a way that confirms our own thinking or desires.

Here is a list of images some people cast God into:

• Agent:  Sees things from my perspective.
• Banker:  Provides finances for me whenever I need money.
• Bell Hop:  Carries my baggage.
• Bodyguard:  Won’t let anybody hurt me.
• Coach:  Gives me pointers on how to live my life.
• Co-conspirator:  Helps me carry out my plans.
• Congressman:  Makes new laws just for me.
• Custodian:  Cleans up after me.
• Doctor:  Diagnoses my every problem.
• Judge:  Interested only in right and wrong.
• Lawyer:  Constantly looks at the fine print.
• Mechanic:  Fixes things for me.
• Nurse:  Makes me feel better.
• Personal Chef:  Prepares foods I like.
• Personal Valet:  Always makes me look good.
• Policeman:  Always ready to enforce the law.
• Press Secretary:  Always spins the story in my favor.
• Referee:  Makes sure I play fair.
• Scorekeeper:  Keeps a record of my actions.
• Sympathizer:  Affirms my feelings regardless of what they are.
• Teammate:  Works with me and helps me out.
• Water Boy:  Attends to my smallest needs.

The problem with re-making God into our image:

a.  We become the main character in the drama of redemption.

Isaiah 44:15-20 speaks about a man who cuts down a tree. He says,

15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.  16 He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.  He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”  17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image.  He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”  18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand.  19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”   20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”   NKJV

But in Colossians 1:15-19, the Apostle Paul writes, ”He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.”  NKJV

b.  We end up with a false God. (Hosea 13:1-2)

When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.  2 Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen.  They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”   NKJV

c.  We live our lives under false pretenses. (Esther 4:13; Romans 2:1-3)

2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?   NKJV

The truth is that we were originally created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27)

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. NKJV

• He has primacy over all. (Revelation 1:8-18)
• He has ownership. (Psalm 100:3)
• He gives direction to us. (Proverbs 3:6; Jeremiah 10:23)

The real challenge is letting God re-make us into his image.

There are three operative words here: Become, Grow and Change.

Become.

John 1:12-13  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  NKJV

Grow.

Ephesians 4:15 “But, speaking the truth in love, [we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— “  NKJV

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”  NKJV

Change.

2 Corinthians 3:18  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. “  NKJV

Why is the process of change into the image of God so hard for us?

• It goes against the way we were raised.
• Prejudice, Anger, Superiority, Entitlement, Victim mentality, Fear.
• A past religion or teaching we received.
• Easy believism, ecumenism, humanism, legalism, self-reliance.
• We don’t want to lose any advantage we may have. When we have lived our lives investing in our identity and establishing our persona, the thought of walking away from it seems to make us a non-person.
• It’s a scary proposition to re-define ourselves.
• We don’t want to lose face.
• It will cost us money, possessions, independence.
• It may be painful.
• It seems unfair.
• We don’t know what the end result will be.
• Yet, regardless of the difficulty of the change, discipleship demands this precise transformation.

What does God need from us in order to re-make us into his image?

A willing an pliable heart.

• Jer 18:3-4 “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”  KJV
• Romans 9:20-22 “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”  NKJV

Humility. 1 Peter 5:5

Teachable spirit. 2 Timothy 2:2

Submission. James 4:7

What methods will God use to re-make us into his image?

Examination and trial.

Psalm 26:2  “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.”  NKJV

Affliction.

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV

Fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Peter 4:12.

Preaching. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Discipline. 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Buffeting. 1 Corinthians 4:11;

1 Cor 4:11-13  “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. “  NKJV

What is God’s purpose in re-making us into his image?

Mark 12:15-17 “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.” NKJV

In the end of all time, when the church lives in eternity with her bridegroom, God intends to fashion us into his image.

1 John 3:1-3 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” NKJV

I know what the God of the Bible is like.  He is a God of love and forgiveness.  He is a God of might and power.  He is a God who takes a personal interest in me.  He is a God who has a beautiful plan for my life.  I can believe in a God like that.  If your God doesn’t resemble the God of the Bible, it’s time to make a change.

Micah 7:18  ”Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.   NKJV

Mother’s Hats

The creative powers of God were fully challenged. After he flung the galaxies into the expanses of near space, spun the planets into orbit, and dusted his hands of the Milky Way, he turned his attention to the world we inhabit. He sculpted out the Grand Canyon, smoothed out the Saharan Desert, chiseled out the snow-capped Andes Mountains, scattered California with mighty Redwoods, carpeted the tropics with exotic palms and Birds of Paradise, ran his finger around the seven continents’ coastlines creating beaches with white sand and rugged rocks, carved Egypt with the Nile, Brazil with the Amazon, India with the Ganges, China with the Yangtze, and the U. S. with the Mississippi—-and he wasn’t finished. He tinged the forests with shades of green, brushed yellow onto the daffodils, pink onto the azaleas, red onto the roses and violet onto the violets, but even more was required. He had to pour grace into the deer, ferocity into the mother grizzly, craftiness into the fox, exquisite color into the peacock and song into the swallow. Almost at the end of his creative run, he made man.

Now, ready for his crowning achievement, God surpassed every one of the previous creative marvels. He made Mothers.

Mothers are terrific. There’s almost nothing they can’t do—-certainly nothing they wouldn’t try to do in fulfilling their creative instincts. They wear many hats and change them at the drop of a hat.

My mother used to be an incurable hat wearer. She wore the pillbox hat, the tam, the straw bonnet, the broad-brimmed satin or a hat trimmed in lace, the plumed hat, the veiled hat and dressy coverings made of felt. Some women wear hats decorated with beads, feathers, flowers, tassels, pins or even pieces of fruit. Others wear fur caps, head wraps, decorative scarves and colorful bandannas.

The hats I’m talking about, however, aren’t part of a fashion aficionado’s wardrobe. I’m referring to the hats that define the roles that moms play.

Mothers wear the cook’s hat. From baloney sandwiches to au gratin potatoes, Mom does it all. She can whip up a cake from scratch, make special fudge at Christmas time, and cook that turkey tender. She mixes, stirs, grinds, fries, bakes, boils, broils, grills, bastes, simmers, heats, sautés, toasts, and browns—-all without burning or scorching. She cans peaches, freezes corn, organizes spice trays, clips coupons and shops for all the groceries. Mom does it all.

Mothers wear the homemaker’s hat. She arranges—-and re-arranges—-furniture, measures for curtains and carpet, hangs pictures, paints and papers the walls, and decorates for Christmases and birthdays. She color-coordinates the towels, plants flowers, buys shrubs for Dad to plant and picks up bug-spray for Dad to apply. She does almost all of the shopping for household items and has been known to take back every single one of those items that she purchased and either replace them with the right color or size, or get a refund because she decided she didn’t need them.

Mothers wear the maid’s hat. She washes, dries and irons clothes, sews on buttons, makes beds, cleans toilets, shakes out rugs, defrosts freezers, washes dishes, scrubs pots and pans, dusts furniture, superglues broken vases, wipes up spills, throws out soured milk, dumps moldy leftovers, vacuums carpets, sweeps away cobwebs, mops and waxes floors, inspects the shoes of Dad and the kids before she lets them in the house, and has been known to raise her voice at messy rooms.

Mothers wear the nurse’s hat. She administers medicine, applies Band-Aids, washes out cuts and scrapes, kisses owies, takes temperatures, forces down cough syrup, calls doctors, fixes hot tea with lemon for sore throats, reminds kids to wear their hats, scarves, gloves, boots—-and their retainers for the teeth from which the braces just came off that cost thousands of dollars…not to mention the third pair of eyeglasses that have been lost! She prescribes home remedies, sets out the vitamins, sends kids back to brush their teeth, and writes out excuses for sick kids—-or sends them on to school when she thinks they’re pulling her leg—-and has the incredible wisdom to know the difference.

Mothers wear the policeman’s cap. She senses when something is wrong. She checks pockets, digs in back-packs, flips through books and rummages through purses. She demands to smell breath, inspect hair, rub cheeks, lips and eyebrows, and examine belt-lines, hemlines and necklines. She asks who you’re riding with, emailing, calling and having over. She wants to know who gave you that item of jewelry or article of clothing that you’re not supposed to have. She finds mysterious notes, forbidden tapes and CD’s, trashy books, questionable magazines, and rips up Abercrombie and Fitch’s catalogs! She wants to know what you watched when you went to someone’s house, why your radio is set to 102.5FM, and why you got into a certain website. She never stops questioning, and is never satisfied with the first answer she gets. Aren’t mothers wonderful?

Mothers wear the hats of story-tellers, book readers, game players, one-person audiences for kids reciting poems, homework helpers, baseball coaches, taxi-drivers, referees, umpires, mediators, detectives, prosecuting attorneys, defense lawyers, judges and juries. She advises, counsels, sooths, comforts, chides, mentors, hugs, kisses, pats, reminds, scolds, sends cards and letters, drops off a batch of cookies for the neighbors or the bake sale, takes pictures and pastes them in album after album, (or at least intends to some day).

But, most importantly, Mother’s wear the prayer warrior’s hat. You might think Mom always knows and always has the answers. But, she knows she doesn’t. That’s why—-late at night or early in the morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night—-if you sneak into the family room or kitchen, you will see Mother in her most glorious hat, the hat of the prayer-warrior.

You see, sometimes Mothers don’t get the answers they want when they ask the questions. They worry about rashes, bumps and scrapes. They may not know what all the medical terms are, but they know when you just aren’t yourself. They worry about the older kids that come around their children, and what happens at school or the playground or the park.

When kids get older, Mothers are troubled by rebellious looks, hateful remarks, shifty eyes, strange words, reluctance to go to church and a resistance to do the right things that had never before arisen.

She knows you’re vulnerable as you enter changes in your life.
She sees the pain on your expression when someone disses you.
She sees signs of spiritual struggle.
She knows when you’re not around the altar.
Sometimes, she doesn’t like the relationships you’re getting into.
She sees the far-off look in your eyes, and it worries her.
Your spiritual well-being is the single most important thing in her life.

And so she prays. Sometimes, she feels like she just can’t get through to you. She can’t watch you all the time. She doesn’t know all of the influences you may be under.

And so she prays. If the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, you can double that for a mother. The very demons of hell tremble when a mother comes after them with intercessory prayer. The mothers of the Bible say, “Pray on!”

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:15-17 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Deborah: Judges 5:1-2 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel , when the people willingly offered themselves. 7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel , until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel .

I’m confident that behind the successes of Isaac were the prayers of his mother, Sarah. Rebekah must have prayed for Jacob, Jochebed for Moses, Hannah for Samuel, and unnamed mothers for Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the long line of prophets. A grandmother named Lois and a mother named Eunice must have prayed for Timothy. Mighty patriarchs, prophets, priests and kings all must attribute their blessings to mothers who knew how to pray.

Mothers, on this Mother’s Day, you may be weary and distraught. Satan may have told you that you are fighting a losing battle. You may feel inadequate, outsmarted, helpless and hopeless. But, you’re none of these things as long as you can pray!

Pray through the attack of Satan on your home and children.
Pray through the clouds of darkness that try to suffocate you.
Pray through the attempts of evil influence to destroy everything you’ve instilled in your kids.
Pray—-not with resignation, but with resolve!
Pray first, pray last, and fill up the hours in between with whispered prayer.
Find time, make time, take time to pray.
Pray early, pray late, pray often.
Pray softly, pray loudly, pray fervently.
No one can represent your children before the throne of God like you can.
It is time that the mothers in Israel arose. There is a mighty prayer army that moves the very throne of God.

Why I Believe That Miracles Still Happen Today

 Do you believe in miracles? Many don’t, but I do. Here are just a few reasons why, based on both the scriptures and ministerial experiences, that I accept the reality of the supernatural and preach and teach this in the church

1. There are no scriptural reasons to believe that miracles have ceased. Many who deny miracles today interpret 1 Corinthians 13:10 , “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” to mean that the when Holy Bible was complete, the need for miracles ceased. This view finds little support among Bible scholars. The phrase, “that which is perfect is come” actually refers to the second coming of Christ. Until he comes, spiritual gifts and miracles remain the province of the believer.

2. Jesus emphasized that whatsoever we asked in his name he would do it. John 14:13-14 states, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” Asking “in his name” is not a carte blanche, but a reflection of the nature and will of God.

3. The Bible teaches that these signs shall follow them that believe. Mark 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

4. The Bible states that the church would do greater works than he did. John 14:12. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” “Greater” refers to more in number because Jesus would not be limited to a physical body when we returned to his Father. Thus, he now extends himself and operates through his church. “Greater” does not mean “less.”

5. Multitudes in the Bible were saved because they saw the miracles. Matthew 15:31. “Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.” Millions of unbelievers exist today who would be equally impacted by the supernatural.

6. To deny the miracle power of God would be to place limitations on God. Psalm 78:41 says, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel .” If God wants to work miracles today, why should we try to limit him?

7. The Bible instructs us to pray for healing and miracles. James 5:14-15. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick…” If this scripture retains any value for the church today, it is because the potential for miracles to happen still exists.

8. Healing gifts and the working of miracles are among the gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:9-10 “To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles…” Nestled among the spiritual gifts that are resident in the church are these supernatural gifts. We must accept them along with all other gifts.

9. Those who say there are no miracles imply that prayer does not work. Many sincere people believe that if answers to prayer don’t come immediately, then we should stop because it must be against the will of God. Yet, they continue to pray for other things, like peace, strength, joy, even when they see no immediate answer. Does that mean that we are wrong to pray for such things? Absolutely not. Keep praying. You never know when and how the answer will come. If we take care of the praying, God will take care of the answering.

10. When miracles do occur, who should we thank? Should we exalt man? Science? Nature? Chance? No. James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Miracles come from God. Further, if God did want to show his miracle-working power, how could he convince us over our doubt? Doubt serves no spiritual purpose at all.

11. The testimony of millions today contradicts the denial of the critics. Too many examples of miraculous events and supernatural healings abound for us to fall in line with the critics. The healer is in the house. The very least we can do is acknowledge him and pray that he would extend his hand of power and dominion to us. Remember, Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

The State of the American Character

A Florida State University study finds 39% of workers claim their supervisor failed to keep promises. 37% say the boss failed to give credit when due, 31% were given the “silent treatment” by their boss in the past year, 27% report their supervisor made negative comments about them to co-workers or managers, 24% claim their privacy was invaded by a supervisor, and 23% say the boss blamed others to cover up mistakes to minimize embarrassment. (Associated Press, 1-2-07). The study did not concern itself with whether or not employees were guilty of behavior just as bad or worse than their bosses. My guess is that there is enough blame to go around.

Maybe I was born too soon. I could just say that it’s different today. Honesty, integrity, courtesy and good manners were common traits of the culture that I grew up in as a child. We were taught to be kind to each other, to say “thank you” for any nice thing someone did for us, and to take responsibility for one’s own actions. We smiled at each other, opened doors for each other and asked permission before we took or used something. Loyalty, faithfulness and commitment were not considered stupid. People knew that they should treat others with the kind of respect they wanted for themselves.

But, it’s not enough just to say it’s different. At some point, the baby-boomer generation threw off the old rules of common courtesy and replaced them with a new rule of serving oneself and forgetting about anyone else. Animal instincts have been elevated to become the basic definition of human life today. That might be why we talk of a “dog-eat-dog” rat race where we look out for number one and please ourselves first before pleasing other people.

I trace this deterioration back to the societal revolution of the sixties. Not only did we see three powerful political figures assassinated and experienced the riots of Watts and Detroit during that decade, we also banned prayer from the schools, asserted total sexual freedom, began the widespread use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and other illegal drugs, and saw the Vietnam War escalate and incite an unprecedented firestorm of protest. “The Sixties amounted to one collision after another, as if the culture were an enormous pile of fissionable material and each collision shook loose particles that collided with other particles until the entire society was undergoing a chain reaction.” (Todd Gitlin, Life). Never forget that an intense skepticism of religion and a rejection of biblical morality led the way.

When society rejects the God of the Bible, it creates a gigantic moral vacuum that will soon be filled with any number of alternative beliefs and behaviors. Some mistakenly believe that the loss of biblical morality means nothing and that life just goes on. No. If we were to suspend the law of gravity, for example, objects that once were securely in place would begin flying everywhere. Even so, our dismissal of God’s laws means that fairness, kindness, courtesy and all the other norms of interpersonal behavior no longer stay put. The basis of righteousness must remain in place for righteous behavior to survive. Acting out a safe, rewarding and secure culture hinges upon our belief that these behaviors are indeed ordained of the God we love and serve. One cannot be divorced from the other.

Good character proceeds from basic faith.

The Engrafted Word

A Bible Memory Plan for the First Apostolic Church

The First Apostolic Church has promoted Bible reading for many years. We have used several formats, but all of them are set up so that all the verses in the Bible are divided by 365 days, allowing people to read their Bible in its entirety over the span of one year. Everybody, however, cannot or does not participate in the program. Even those who do read their bible through may not have time to memorize or to meditate over the meaning of the verses in their reading.

The Engrafted Word is an alternative plan that suggests important passages of scripture to be committed to memory. Becoming involved in this program yields several advantages beyond just reading the Bible:

• By memorizing the scriptures with others, you can share the word with family and friends.
• Focusing on specific passages of scripture gives you time to discover deeper applications of God’s Word to your life.
• Hiding the Word in your heart through memorization will make the Bible a fountain of continual blessing throughout your life.

We will begin the program April 1, the second quarter of 2007. Cards will be provided to all participants with a place for your signature and the signature of the person you choose to hear you quote the scriptures. We will recognize those who complete the memory work at the end of the year. The greatest blessing will not be recognition by the church, however, but by the spiritual treasure you will lay up in store in your life.

April

Week One 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Week Two 1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Week Three 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; Week Four 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

May

Week One Deuteronomy 6:1-4; Week Two Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Week Three Deuteronomy 6:10-13; Week Four Deuteronomy 6:14-19

June

Week One Philippians 2:5-8; Week Two Philippians 2:9-11; Week Three Philippians 3:7-9; Week Four Phillippians 3:10-14

July

Week One Proverbs 11:23-26; Week Two Proverbs 11:27-31; Week Three Psalm 37:1-4; Week Four Psalm 37:5-8

August

Week One Matthew 6:7-13; Week Two Matthew 6:14-18; Week Three Matthew 6:19-23; Week Four Matthew 6:24-29

September

Week One Psalm 1; Week Two Psalm 8; Week Three Psalm 23; Week Four Psalm 100

October

Week One Colossians 3:1-7; Week Two Colossians 3:8-14; Week Three Colossians 3:15-19; Week Four Colossians 3:20-25

November

Week One Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Week Two Ecclesiastes 11:1-5; Week Three Ecclesiastes 11:6-10; Week Four Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

December

Week One Luke 1:26-33; Week Two Luke 2:6-14; Week Three Matthew 2:9-15; Week Four John 1:1-14

Re-Imagining the Adult Sunday School

This piece is an idea in the formational process. We have experimented with the format in venues other than Sunday School and were excited at its success. Several physical changes need to be made before we can implement it in adult Sunday School classes. In the meantime, I offer this as an innovative way to reach out to new adults and still remain effective in teaching long term members of the church. I have attempted to find out if any other congregation uses a similar format, but, so far, my search has been unproductive.

The secular learning experience in the past few decades has undergone tremendous change. While large classes taught by one lecturer still happen regularly in college and university settings, other formats continue to gain popularity. Distance learning, multi-media, field trips, study groups, practicums, dyads, roundtables and other configurations of education make up the learning landscape today. These innovations reflect the realization that people learn in many ways, not just one. This leads me to a re-examination of adult Sunday School. The adult learning experience in the church, in my observation, needs a radical upgrade. The two main objectives of adult Sunday School ought to be teaching the Bible and discipling people into a Christian lifestyle: in short, Bible and fellowship. Most traditional adult Sunday School teachers lecture adequately, but their classes fail in the fellowship aspect. For example, when visitors come to an adult Sunday School class, they rarely have a meaningful conversation with anyone except the person that brought them. They listen to the teacher, but hardly ever converse with him. They get introduced to other members of the class on the way in and out, but exchange little beyond “hello,” “we’re glad to have you” or “hope you come back and see us.”

My concept of a re-imagined Sunday School would be a format in which people enjoy themselves, want to be there, actively engage in the interaction both mentally and emotionally, have their needs of self-esteem and acceptance met, learn solid Bible principles, form wholesome relationships with others and see spirituality modeled not just before them but beside them. I envision a learning environment that is a virtual smorgasbord or banquet style of learning in which a number of round tables are set up in a Family Life Center like the one we have in Toledo. The teacher/moderator/facilitator at each table would explore a variety of topics and lead students in a conversational format. The topics offered would be Bible-based, people-driven, need-sensitive and would reflect the latest happenings and thinking in the world. Each table would hold a different discussion. Coffee, tea and donuts would be served from a main area. When people arrive, they would go to the refreshment area and then choose the table they feel the greatest need for on any given Sunday. They could—-and would be expected to—-change tables from time to time.

Topics offered may include Thru the Bible, Hot Topics, Marriage, Family and Parenting, Bible Doctrine, Spiritual Disciplines, One-on-One, Electives, Christian Finances, Christian Living, World View, Relationships, Theology, Practical Christianity, etc. They may even include such topical areas as New Converts, ACTS, Discipleship, Griefshare, Addictive Behaviors and other topics as needs arise. In addition to discussion tables, a media/literature table would be available that would be stocked with books, magazines, tracts, CD’s and DVD’s to enhance the educational experience of students. A TV monitor could be continuously looping with a selected DVD.

Each moderator would be trained to conduct “directed discussions” based on his or her subject range. Moderators would draw from their research, current events, their own judgment and from questions their participants ask to decide the specific direction they should go on a given Sunday. The key word that should drive all discussions is relevance. Because leading a discussion can be challenging, a thorough training session would be conducted to help facilitators to do an excellent job.

The Sunday School Superintendent and or designated assistant will coordinate the activities. This includes making sure of setup, the refreshment crew is doing their job, the check-in table is supplied with needed materials and the starting and ending times are observed. He would also need to be sure that the moderators stay on topic, provide help for them to get copies made of handouts, check out resources for them, be informed if a moderator is going to be absent, help secure substitutes for absent moderators, and keep the session running smoothly from an overall standpoint.

From an organizer’s point of view, the class names, attendance and offerings would be handled from a “check-in” table. All participants would stop by the table to check in and pick up a list which would show the topics, the moderators and the table layout. It would also include church announcements, flyers and tracts. Packets of church information for guests would also be available. Offerings could either be given at the check-in table or at the discussion table. Each table would conduct its own opening prayer. There would be considerable moving around in the room, but it should not disrupt each discussion. The atmosphere would be similar to a banquet where people have their own conversations going at each table and do not pay much attention to the noise and movement around them.

A committee would be appointed to prepare the coffee, bring the donuts, set up the counter and make sure everything is provided for refreshments. They would maintain the area during the session so the counter doesn’t get messy or unhealthy. If necessary, they should set up the tables and chairs before the session begins and stay afterwards to clean everything up and rearrange the room. If the senior adult classes need to use the FLC, they may need the room to be set up differently. This crew needs to be faithful, dependable and efficient. If there are enough people on the committee, they may be able to rotate Sundays of duty. Another option would be to hire a couple of teen boys to do the set up and tear down job. The class offering should take care of their wages.

Moderators need to commit to staying relevant, well-read, aware of current events and sensitive to the Spirit of God. Each one needs to be a seeker of knowledge and information; a listener; a counselor; a resource of spiritual and scriptural truth; and a friend to the people at their table. They need to know when a discussion is getting into areas that are potentially dangerous. They need to know how to handle obnoxious people. They need to know how to open, direct and wrap up a discussion so that the people leave with a solid grasp of truth.

Some discussion has led us to re-think the age-old title of Sunday School as it applies to adults. Twenty-somethings don’t respond well to that term because it seems too childish, especially when they want to invite visitors. While we would keep the term for the children’s programs, the name for adult education could be changed to something else. The following are either in use or have been suggested: LifeWord, Word of Life, Connect Point, Encounter, Sunday Morning Live, Sunday Friends, Foundations and other names. The name should be meaningful and easily explained.

This kind of format would require a large room and would need a qualified staff of facilitators. It may not work for some churches, but a larger church should be able to do this without too much trouble. The First Apostolic Church in Toledo will do several pilot sessions with this format before making a permanent switch. It is also possible that this set-up could be done on a six to eight week or a seasonal basis.