Persistence in Prayer

Have you ever prayed and had to wait for God’s response?  Of course you have.  We all have!

In Matthew 7: 7-8 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  The Greek tense of the verse renders the meaning:   “Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking.”  This viewpoint focuses on God’s true meaning of this passage.  

Scholars refer to these times as employing the prayer of importunity, or perseverance.  Sometimes we are called upon to persevere in prayer, not because of God’s indifference to our needs, but because timing is always a factor with God, and He more often than not pursues a deeper purpose beyond our requests.

Importunity does not constitute begging but rather when we persevere in prayer, God has time to pull things out of our lives that He deems more important than even answering our prayer.  God is not a slot machine, that responds to our every request for help; He is a loving Father who values character, fruit and holiness above answered prayer.

I remember watching a movie that I think aptly illustrates God’s intention during our times of perseverance.  I don’t remember the name of the movie, but I remember being impacted by it very deeply.  A millionaire paid a train conductor and two other men to take a load of coal up a mountain grade deemed almost impassable in order to win a bet.  Three boxcars piled high with coal slowly grinded their way up a steep slope in western Pennsylvania.  The three men were determined to move the train forward because the millionaire had promised them a sizeable reward.

However, what these three men encountered along the way challenged their greed. Hundreds of people began lining the tracks with their hands held out, hoping to receive lumps of coal to burn in their potbelly stoves, as winter temperatures were severe.  Desperate faces and the children’s raggedy clothing caught the attention of the men and they said to themselves, “One or two pieces of coal won’t matter, as these people are freezing.”

Sad hearts were gladdened as pieces of coal were tossed into waiting hands.  Eventually, when the now empty train reached the crest of the mountain, all three men were fearful for their jobs because the millionaire’s bet had been lost. 

However, the unthinkable happened.  The wealthy man’s heart was overwhelmed by their heart-rending generosity. The wealthy man, now turned humanitarian, was reduced to tears upon hearing the fear-filled men explain their story, and subsequently rewarded the three men with more than originally promised.   You see, the men were challenged to unload what was more important than an impending reward in order to receive a better prize!  And that’s what God requires from us during times of perseverance!

During our “asking…seeking…knocking” times, we too are often required to rid our lives of issues, attitudes, and even sins that may be holding us back.  As we allow the Lord to “empty our “boxcar” while asking in faith – continuing even when answers allude us – He brings answers in His time and in His way.

Are you waiting for a prayer to be answered?  Keep praying, keep trusting, keep obeying the Lord’s directives in your life when He shows you things and know that in His time, you will be rewarded for your persistence in prayer.  Remember, the people needed the coal and the two men needed to walk in obedience!  When we persevere in trust and obedience to the Lord, even those around us benefit!

Finally, the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 illustrates the principle of perseverance when a proud Syrian general is asked to dip, not one time, but seven times in the River Jordan in order to receive healing from leprosy.  Why seven times?

For one thing, the number 7 in the Bible is according to biblical numerology God’s number of perfection or completion.  But I think the reason goes even deeper.  I believe it took seven dips for the Syrian general to wash his pride away!  Do you remember?  His first response when the prophet Elisha told him to go under the water seven times was that of anger:  “But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he (Elisha) would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy” (verse 11).

And you probably know how the story ended.  In obedience to God’s prophet, General Naaman went under the water seven times, “and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” (verse 14).  He may or may not have swallowed dirty water but we know for sure he swallowed his pride!  And the answer to his prayer came! In a very real sense, Naaman asked the Lord seven times before his leprosy was totally gone.  What a beautiful story.  Naaman obeyed the prophet’s command and God answered his desperate prayer. 

Have you reached a point of desperation regarding that thing for which you have asked the Lord?  Have you obeyed what the Lord has asked you to do?  Are you still asking, seeking and knocking?   Remember, you are not operating in a lack of faith; you are allowing the Lord to remove what may be in your “boxcar!”

Hold steady.  Your answer is on the way!

There's Nothing Like Family!

Family.  There’s nothing like it!  During our time on earth God places us within a family unit to love, nurture, and provide for our basic needs.  None of us are given a choice as to what family we’re placed.  As for me, I’m the middle of seven children and my parents were a hard-working and devoted couple.  My family of origin was made complete by many aunts and uncles on both sides, who also took an interest in our large brood!  And to be sure, family dynamics – good and bad –have impacted all of us throughout our lives. 

Our family unit met with tragedy when the unthinkable happened.  Mom was taken from us while all teenagers and dad floundered to hold us together.  He did the best he could, given the time, resources and energies he possessed; but frankly, when dad lost the love of his life, he was never the same.  Our family was shaken to its very core. 

Returning to Jefferson to plant a church after 40 years away has demonstrated not only the beauty of family but I’ve seen first-hand how family brokenness, along with the decline of family values has negatively impacted our culture in every way.  And I’ve been made to realize that “as goes the family, so goes the church!”  The enemy of our soul is out to destroy the family unit.  We poignantly see his handiwork in the local church.

The local church too is a family!  Or should be.  In ministry I deal with family issues that many times affect the forward movement of our church, and I’m sure all churches.  Sadly, many people whose family of origin was less than healthy do not know how to function in a local body of believers because they come from a background of serious dysfunctional behavior.  People are broken!  Individuals who are raised in less than desirable situations, and who are not taught healthy, biblical values, bring their pain into the church.  To make matters worse, we many times place these individuals in leadership – a ready-made formula for disaster!

I’m discovering that while many come to faith in Christ, they struggle to understand that their new faith requires that they learn how to function properly within their new family environment.  Continued pain happens when believers refuse to “re-learn how to live!”  Most of us have to start over again when it comes to understanding healthy family boundaries.

I often feel more like a parent than a pastor.  Perhaps they’re the same.  When I read Paul’s letters to his beloved church at Thessalonica, I’m made to realize that he saw himself as a “mother-father” figure to a group of struggling saints who did not know how to function in a healthy family.  Paul had to bring grass root level teachings to them because upon conversion they desperately needed “Family 101” instruction.  Consider these verses:

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 – “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nurturing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 – “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God…imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

In these verses Paul shows us how to “raise the babies.”  In the church we need loving mothers and concerned fathers.  It’s no wonder the church at Thessalonica prospered in spite of persecution.  They had been born right into a family of healthy origin (chapter 1) and nurtured right (chapter 2).  They were taught how to properly function within a church family.  And because they were spiritually healthy, they shared the Gospel with others for miles around.  And the church grew because they understood healthy family boundaries; and of course, invited the power of the Holy Spirit into their lives.

Everyone brings his/her understanding of what family looks like into the local church.  That’s why church leaders have to not only be healthy themselves, but they like Paul, need to insist on growing and teaching new converts how to function properly in their “new family” of God.   Remember what I previously stated: “As goes the family, so goes the local church!”

One of the greatest miracles I see is a healthy, growing church that understands the beauty of “family” values and functions in a way that adds meaning, love and fulfillment to communities that are full of broken families.  There’s nothing quite like the wonders of a healthy church family.  We at Hope Community are striving to build a family of believers where peace, safety and love abound.  Come join the family and let’s learn together!

When It's All Said and Done

My wife and I recently took a group of people through a video series on the book of Matthew.  Actually, the script WAS the book of Matthew and the actor who played Jesus was superb.  He accurately spoke Jesus’ words and beautifully captured the emotions of each event in the narrative. Matthew’s “snapshots” of Jesus’ life and ministry were astounding as we were transported back in time!

The book of Matthew was written to a Jewish audience.  The writer’s goal was to present Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah.  The story of His birth, His baptism in the River Jordan, the feeding of the four thousand, then later five thousand astounds the imagination.  His dealings with the Scribes and Pharisees, His miracles, and ultimately His mock trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection all capture the essence of His short life and life-changing wonderful ministry.

Toward the end of Matthew’s discourse, I was deeply touched by Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).  Something Jesus said twice captured my attention and my heart.  The Master rewards the first two men and condemns the third for not using his talents (gifts) wisely.

Jesus told the wise investors, “Well done thou good and faithful servant…”

Then it hit me.  One day we will stand before the Lord and judged according to our faithfulness.  The big question will not be, “Did you preach to thousands?”  Or, “Did you raise your kids to be preachers?”

No.  On that day we will be judged according to our faithfulness while on earth.  To put it another way, we will be measured by what we did with the gifts and assignment the Lord placed upon us.  I will not be compared with Billy Graham.  I will not be compared with other pastors and ministries.  Jesus will reward me according to how I invested my gifts and calling.  Was I faithful to what he called me to do?  Not, was I perfect, but was I faithful.  Not, did I make mistakes?  But was I faithful.

Church cleaners who were faithful to their calling will hear, “Well done!”  Faithful single moms will hear, “Well done!”  Billy Graham will hear “Well done,” not because he preached the gospel to millions of people over his lifetime, but because he was faithful to what God called HIM to do. 

What assignment has God placed upon your life?  What innate gifts get you up in the morning?  Understand something.  This measure of judgment will be qualitative, not quantitative.  Numerical statistics will have nothing to do with Jesus’ evaluation of your life’s work.  Only your faithfulness to what He called you to do.

Like you, I relish the day when Jesus looks me in the eyes and says, “Roger, well done my faithful servant.”  Oh what a day!