[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Saturday, June 22, 2013

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all.  Here in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. it's a bit warm and humid with temps in the upper 80's, but it's summertime, so I guess we shouldn't complain.  I'm sure that, in other parts of this country, it's a lot warmer than we have it.  In any case, I hope that you all are doing well, weatherwise and otherwise.

The article I wish to present to you may engender some discussion, but hopefully it won't be a heated one.  All I'll say about it is that the views expressed therein are those of the author and not necessarily those of this compiler.  It was originally written for the 30th edition of a magazine called "One Body," published by Peace on Earth Ministries of Joplin MO.  The article in question is entitled "Five Crucial Prayer Requests From Jesus" and is rendered as follows:

Prayer requests at church sometimes take up more time than the actual praying itself.  So many of them are biological in nature that someone has called these requests "organ recitals."  In the gospels we find at least five prayer requests that Jesus made.  They are succinct, crucial, spiritual and eternal in nature.  If Jesus asked us to pray about these things, we should be eager to honor Him.  Let's take a look at His five crucial requests.

Prayer request #1.  Pray for God to send laborers into His harvest field.  "Then He said unto His disciples, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (Matthew 9:37, 38 NIV).  The New Testament in Modern English (J.B. Phillips) says, "... pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out men to reap it." The Amplified Bible says, "... force out and thrust laborers into His harvest." When was the last time you heard this prayer request at church? Don't you think the church should be praying every Sunday for laborers to be sent--_thrust into the harvest? The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few.

Prayer request #2.  Pray that you won't fall into temptation.  "Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping.  Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? He asked Peter.  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:40, 41 NIV).  The Message says, "... wander into temptation." The Holman Christian Standard Bible says, "... enter into temptation." You are tempted every day, maybe every hour.  How many times have you wandered or fallen into temptation because you did not pray? Watchful prayer is the biblical antidote for becoming a sad victim of satanic temptation.  God can keep you from falling into temptation--if you will watch and pray.

Prayer request #3.  Pray in order to be ready for Christ's return.  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming" (Mark 13:32, 33, 35 NKJV).  There are more than 300 verses in the New Testament that are our AWS (Advance Warning System).  We do not know "When the appointed time will come" (NASB).  No one knows when Jesus will return.  But return He will! It is imperative that we pray to be ready for the coming of the Master.  Watchful prayer will make us ready for His return.

Prayer request #4.  Pray that you may escape the things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man.  "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36 NKJV).  The Message says, "So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch.  Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."  Some extremely cataclysmic things are coming down the pike (2 Peter 3:7).  The only way we will be able to escape the coming holocaust and stand before Christ is by earnest and constant prayer.

Prayer request #5.  Pray that you will be united with all believers and do your part to convince a lost world.  Twelve hours before going to the cross, Jesus prayed:  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20, 21 NKJV).  The Amplified Bible says, "... and be _convinced that You have sent Me."  The unity of believers is absolutely essential to the conversion of the world.  We honor His prayer and hasten this goal when we "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph4:3 NIV).  We dare not make secondary what Jesus made primary.  He earnestly prayed for the unity of believers.  "That they all may be one"--but why? "That the world may believe" that God sent Jesus to be their Savior! The late Walter Stram said, "Division in the church is treason against Christ!" Discord and division hinder His prayer.  Dwelling together in unity hastens His prayer.  Which will it be? Only when we are one in Christ can the world be won to Christ.  Let us all do our part to please His heart.

And there you have it for today.  Hope that this article made you, in the words of every "unshackled" radio broadcast, caused you to "face yourself and think."

Before I close, I'd like to take the position of a non-Christian who is looking for a church to join.  I might say in your hearing something like this,  "Well, there are all kinds of Christian faith communities (I prefer that term to denominations( out there:  Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Lutherans, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Church of God, and I'm sure there are many others.  How can I know for certain that a particular one is the one that God wants me to join?" Of course, we have the indispensable Holy Spirit to guide us, but sometimes our fleshly desires get in the way of the Spirit's desires and God's will for us in this particular situation.  Those of you who knew me back in August can remember that there was extensive prayer made on my behalf that the Lord would show me in no uncertain terms which church to join, and, thanks to your prayers, He definitely showed me.  It's not a perfect congregation by no means, but it's the one God chose for me.  It is unfortunate that churches from various faith communities can't unite on things like sending out missionaries, whether overseas or here at home, but they are so concerned about "their" ministries or "their" missionaries.  Others may be doing the Lord's work effectively, but we're only concerned about "our" group.

Anyway I think that I'll quit pontificating.  Perhaps this will engender some serious discussion on the various lists or even privately.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul