Sparks from the Gospel Anvil
1 Samuel 1:10-17
You know 1 day the disciples were looking for the Lord & they found Him in the place of prayer. & they were so intrigued by the way He conversed with the Father that they forgot the question whatever it may have been that they had & they made a request. They said, “Lord teach us to pray.” They didn’t say, “Lord, teach us to preach”; as wonderful as the proclamation of the Word of God can be. They didn’t say, “Lord, teach us to sing”; as beautiful as music can be. But Lord, teach us to pray. Tennyson, the great poet said one day, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” & James 4:5 states, “We have not because we ask not.” Isn’t it amazing how we can pray effectively in an emergency. I have wished often I could pray always like I pray some of the time. You know when there is a great need, when a child is sick, when a loved one is in danger & you reach up to God’s throne & find yourself really talking to God. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could talk to God that way, All of the time, All of the time as we do some of the time.
But you see life is made up of monotony & routine may be more demanding than emergencies. We need to learn how to pray. Did you know that there are 4 ways that God answers our prayers. It is very important to know that God answers every prayer that the Christian prays. Sometimes He answers prayer DIRECTLY- & the key word is directly. You say, “Lord, do so & so” & He will do it. Sometimes He answers our prayers DIFFERENTLY -, we say Lord do so & so. And the Lord says “NO! Let’s do it differently” Let’s do it this way. Like the time the Apostle Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn from His side, but the Lord said MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU.He may DELAY the answer- You say, “Lord do so & so”; & God says, “I will do that 25 years from now. Remember Abraham & Sarah wanted a son & God didn’t answer that prayer until 25 years later. He may delay your answer
God may DENY your request. & that is an answer. He may say NO. Remember Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, & Jesus said, “Let this cup (crucifixion) pass from me if you can save the world some other way, let this cup pass from me. & God said no & Jesus went to the old rugged cross. & it is here in our passage that we see that God answered Hannah’s prayer. Do you believe that The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
The Puritan Preacher John Bunyan said we are to, “Pray often for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.”
General William Booth said, “You must pray with all your might! That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God…this kind of prayer be sure the devil & the world & your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame.”
Lt. Charles Smith is commanding officer of the Salvation Army of El Dorado.
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Ancient Words: Walk to Emmaus, A Walk with Moses
Moses was a great topic that Sunday afternoon. The “Stranger” told of all that had been spoken about Jesus in Scripture and these stories set their hearts on fire. Moses brought the law of commandments to school the people for 1,500 years yet the insufficiency of the old law had become evident. Sacrifice without mercy was no good and man was in desperate need of mercy. The answer was now clear, for mercy and grace came thru the sacrifice of God’s son, Jesus; and now Jews and Gentiles alike receive the eternal atonement.
Moses was indeed a “type” of Christ. He was born into the royalty of Egypt yet left his esteemed position of power to become the servant and “savior” of a nation: Heb 11:23-28 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
Moses prayed and this prayer for future generations was thankfully preserved in the Ancient Words by David: Psalm 90:1-17 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Scott Johnson is pastor at East Faulkner Church of Christ and author of the BRG Bible. Bible questions can be sent to [email protected].