Prayers Not Working? Try This.

I'm not an advocate of quick-fix, magic formula approaches to prayer. There is not a "secret word" that makes lifeless prayer suddenly become powerful prayers. But there is guidance in God's Word that leads us to the God who hears, and answers those who come to Him as He instructs. (Jer. 33:3) But to often, we carelessly, blindly and sometimes "lazily" approach prayer with the same "self-centeredness" that makes us pray with the wrong motive. (James 4:1-3) That attitude also keeps us from doing the "prayer-work" needed to experience the results God desires for us.

For me, prayer-life is a journey. It includes facing the challenge of selfishness, that seeks to invade my prayers, that need to be replaced with a Spirit-given desire to glorify God. For any of us, that takes constant care. I am learning that when we are consistent in seeking God's guidance, He is consistent in guiding us through the steps we need to follow.

I recently came across an article, by Armin R. Gesswein,* that presents a simple but great challenge. The author spoke of his encounter with an old saint who had a history of a powerful prayer-life. He prayed with him, and witnessing his wonderful connection with God, he asked, "Uncle Am, what is it? ...You have some kind of secret in praying... Would you share that with me?"

The author said, "I was 24, he was 73 (he lived to be 93) and, with an eagle-look in his eyes he said: 'Young man, learn to plead the promises of God!'"

Do you desire God enough to do the work... the work of seeking out His promises to us regarding the needs of your burden? If your prayers are not working, try this... find and learn the promises of God. Learn to plead the promises of God. Pray them to Him. After all, "Faith comes from hearing the message... the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) This has a more literal to us than we have imagined. The Psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105) The literal Word makes the difference.

For example, you can pray to God for revival like this: "Lord, you have promised that if I call to you, you will hear and answer me. You said, 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jer. 33:3) I trust your promises and accept that you will. You said, 'You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.' (John 14:14) Father, in Jesus' name means according to His will. Lord, that is what I am seeking to do now. I seek His will through your Word. I know it is your will that your people be revived in your Spirit. Habakkuk prayed, 'O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!' (Hab. 3:2, NKJV) Lord, that is my prayer to you." You can pray any need in this way.

Do your prayers work? Do you really want them to? If you truly do, you will be willing to search the scripture for faith and guidance. It is full of God's promises, and God's answers. We must learn to make the Bible our prayer book. Find the promise that fits your need. Prayer for God's glory. Learn to plead the promises of God.

* www.leaderu.com/orgs/bpf/pathways/plead.html

Who Do You Serve? Are You Sure?

The preacher saw the crowds come by the thousands. The word had gotten out and people were coming from all directions. Entire families would sit for hours and listen as he taught. When meal time rolled around, meals were served, and the preaching and teaching continued. It was amazing. The stories spread and reporters eventually pinned their reports.

What preacher, teacher, or evangelist wouldn't like to see such a response to their ministry. Buttons would pop as chests swelled with pride. The staff would be overwhelmed with growing satisfaction as they observed such a popular response to their leader. Even they would have growing anticipation of what the next meeting would bring. But even with such momentum, this kind of popularity is fleeting...for one reason or another.

The preacher was Jesus. The thousands upon thousands of followers became a dozen, maybe a few more. The reason? It was because they didn't like what He was saying...and what it meant to follow Him. They wanted their "itching ears" tickled (2 Tim. 4:3), but it wasn't happening any more. They didn't like it so, like church jumpers today, they left. And as they left they "grumbled" their excuses to try to explain their actions and rid themselves of the guilt. Then Jesus turned to the handful and asked, "You do not want to leave me too, do you?" (John 6:67, NIV) In today's standards, the ministry would be considered an "over-night failure."

Who do you serve? Or, maybe the question should be, "What do you serve?" Who or what you serve will be the reason why you stay or go. If you stop serving because a person, or people disappoint you, you are serving them, or because of them, not God. If you stop serving when things get uncomfortable, or things aren't "happening" like you want, you are serving the circumstances, not the Lord. When those circumstances become less favorable, you will stop.

Jesus is never interested in what you would do IF. He is interested in what you do NOW. If you believe you can do all things through Christ, where you are NOW is the testing ground. If you can't do it here, you can't do it there. In fact, what He really wants is for us seek the Father, not our success. The greatest indication that we are doing so is that we will be patiently and carefully consistent in our walk with Him... when the fruitfulness is evident, and when it is not. Fruit is evident "in season." It is not evident "out of season." But both seasons are necessary.

Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Tim. 4:2, NIV) It is safe to say that his guidance goes for "every" aspect of ministry. Serving "in season" means serving when things look good, when the fruit can be easily seen. Serving "out of season" means you don't "take a break from Jesus" because you feel bad, thinking that because you don't see the evidence of fruit, things must not be growing. That is often a sign of giving your best to other things, rather than the Master, leaving no energy for the Lord. It is a sign of what is truly in you. Jesus deserves our best dedication. We must not let our service be to circumstances, feelings, emotions, personalities, personal agreement or anything else. It must be only to our Father through Jesus Christ our Savior. Who, or what do YOU serve? Are you sure? Eventually, He will ask you about it... in person... one-on-one... face to face.

I like how "The Message" delivers 2 Tim. 4:1-2: "I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't quit. Just keep it simple." Teacher, preacher, leader, deacon, shepherd... don't quit. Challenge, warn, urge your people. Just keep it simple. Again, don't quit.

Are You In For A Surprise?

Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

I admit, every time I have read this warning of Jesus I have mixed emotions. I feel a bit of anger at the thought of the liar, Satan, deceiving so many with the very works they do. But they are not good enough to get us into heaven. They will never make us a child of God. Jesus makes that clear. And I have an amount of sadness at the thought of the surprise in store for those who never saw it coming. It will be a shock that will never wear off.

Jesus tells us here that it is the "relationship" that is important, not the works. Works without relationship will not be accepted. A right relationship with the Father, however, will always result in works acceptable to the Father. They still don't get us into heaven. Only Jesus has made that possible. But they are evidence of a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. The WILL of the Father is that we have a right relationship with Him over what we can give or do for Him. (Matthew 5:23-24) And Jesus is not teaching that we must maintain our salvation. Jesus does that as well. In this seventh chapter He says, to those who served fruitlessly, "I NEVER knew you."

This passage is a call to all of us to always "know" where we stand. (1 John 5:13) Many are lost, seeking to do good works to gain a home in heaven. It will never happen. Some are saved, yet their works are not "in the Spirit," but in the flesh. Those works will be consumed as the works are judged... but the one doing them, if a true believer, will be saved. (1 Cor. 3:15) And some are serving in "relationship" with the Father. The work is a result of that growing relationship. It is done by depending on and allowing the Spirit of God to do His work through our obedient actions. The relationship with the Father makes it possible to truly know when He is leading and working. These people are moved more by the relationship then they are the work. And whatever happens, no matter what others may do, they are steady servants... unswayed in their positive, joyful devotion. Are you a true servant, or are you in for a surprise?

He Already Knew

When, in my daily routine, I find myself coming across the same passage of scripture, or the same thought again and again, I must pause and consider that God is trying to say something to me. It happens often, but if I fail to acknowledge it, or fail to stop and listen, it does me no good. I fail to benefit from the Lord's teaching.

Lately I have been dealing with many major struggles in my life. I have brought them to the Lord, honestly seeking His response... and I've waited. Waiting can be a noble thing, being part of God's way in speaking with us. But if we fail to pay attention to Him, waiting becomes fruitless.

As I wait on God, I tend to think about the problem. I wonder what to do. I spend time thinking about ways to deal with the issue. I ask myself questions. I consider the possibilities. I take other people into consideration. I compare it with similar problems and how I've dealt with them in the past. But still, I want God's will, and God's help. I want a miracle-- besides, I want His direct intervention and that's what we call anything that the Lord does first-hand. But having patience and faith for that miracle is another thing altogether.

The passage of scripture that continues to "pop up" before me is found in John 6. And it is a small, obscure phrase, in the midst of a very familiar event, that continues to "cry out" to me. The little phrase "for He already had in mind what He was going to do" can be lost in the "bigness" of the rest of the story. (John 6:1-15) But it is significant. It speaks volumes to us in our own situations today. It is filled with "riches" that can be ours if we will only take them. Even before we become aware of our problems, Jesus has in mind what He is going to do.

I like Philip. He was a very active disciple, but he was quiet. As presented in scripture, he seldom had anything to say. In this situation Jesus calls to him and does, what one might say, a very "uncharacteristic" thing. He asks Philip for advice. Have you ever heard Jesus ask for advice? Of course not! But it appears that He does here. For those who are familiar with Jesus, however, we quickly realize that the question was for Philips benefit, and that of other disciples. He wanted Philip to consider the problem, realize the impossibility, and then witness the Source of the answer. Jesus waited just long enough to teach an eternal truth.

Can you imagine that day? Things that seemed so trivial became so eternal. Only a little boy... only five loaves of bread... only two fish... only a passing phrase. But the little "obscure phrase" was significant to the disciples. It was so significant that it was passed down verbally until it was recorded in this Gospel decades later, and preserved for you and me today. Nothing is insignificant to God's Word. Everything deserves our deep consideration.

In my life, as in yours, our present "training" is intended to equip us for the next larger struggle, and greater service for Him. If we fail to pass the test, we very well may have to step aside and go no further. Don't fail the test. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep growing. Expect the unexpected in your struggle. Prepare now... the biggest test is yet to come. But, He already has in mind what He is going to do.

Who Is Your God?

Before you answer that, let's think. I was just reading a classic by Henry Drummond, "The Greatest Thing In The World." He speaks of Jesus' teaching that, "If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law." He says, "Take any of the commandments. 'Thou shall have no other gods before me.' If a man love God, you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law." That made me think.

From a secular view, a god is something that dominates a person. It can dominate from minutes, to months, to a lifetime. The god is what a person serves, obeys, or dedicates to. As I thought further, I realized that it is something that controls our time. It is our decision. That means it is what we "allow" to take our time. We can have a large collection of "gods" in our lives. And we can serve any number of them throughout a given day.

God gives us a lot of freedom. In that freedom we seldom have immediate accountability. When "legalism" makes us more faithful to God than does freedom, "legalism" becomes our god. If, in our freedom, we don't "dedicate" to our Creator, we are not recognizing Him as our God. There are many other gods out there: time, people, feelings, attitude, goals, pride, comfort... any number of "things." What He desires, in His relationship with us, is clear. We have become good at "brushing Him aside" in the midst of that realization, and bowing to another god instead.

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." And HIS commandments will always lead us to Him, with his family of believers. The Body of Christ, His church, isn't complete without your dedicated presence. What is your god today?

"You go... I'll show you"

Abram heard from God. God said, "Go to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) Test one. Abram was tested with the command to "just start going." There was no place yet revealed. No plan provided. No time table... just a command to go. As he went he heard the Lord speaking to him telling him of his plans. He built an altar to remind himself, and his descendants that God had spoken there. Then he continued the journey. As he went, listening and expecting God to speak, God guided Him to the land where He sent him.

Prayer is like that journey. We begin with a call, an inner awareness of the need, maybe a feeling of emergency to come to God and find deeper things. As we continue that journey, we will find times that deserve a spiritual "altar" to be erected to remind us of something God said. We don't want to forget that moment. That is a good thing for us to do.

Are you willing to go where He will show you? When you follow God in prayer, you will suddenly find yourself where you didn't realize you were going. The growth that led to that place was gradual, but the realization comes suddenly. A thought, a word, a prayer is suddenly more God-like, more spiritually mature. You hear something in your thought or word that is different than what you would have expressed months ago. That is evidence of God's direction in your journey. You are at a place where He has led you. But the journey is intended to continue. It will be filled with questions and doubt, with trials and struggles. It will sometimes be a lonely journey. But that is part of it. It is those things that will grow us and shape us until we reach His throne. There we are to make our home.

God is calling for His pray-ers to surface and travel with Him to new places. It is needed for His plan to come together. Our future will have a need for the mighty work of God to flow into this world through the prayers of His children. The "host of the faithful" are falling in line. "Call to Him..."