When God’s People Pray, God Speaks

Do you remember a time in your life when you prayed about a specific request and God spoke to your heart? Maybe it was God’s Spirit who spoke. Maybe it was a child of God. Or maybe God spoke through His Word.

Once my wife Shelley and I were wrestling with what seemed to be an open door in ministry; but we were struggling with what we were hearing and experiencing. I knew I needed to clarify God’s call so I spent a day in prayer, fasting, and reading God’s Word, seeking God for His clear direction. I prayerfully read through select portions of Scripture, asking God to speak as I read. As I was reading through 2 Corinthians, God spoke clearly through His Word. Paul was writing to the Corinthian believers and he told them that although a door was opened to him by the Lord, he had no rest in his spirit so he said good-bye and left (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). That was my answer and it was an incredible moment. God had spoken to my heart through His Word as I prayed.

In Acts 1, we enter one of the early church’s prayer meetings. During the prayer meeting, Peter addresses the need to find someone to take Judas’ place as an apostle (Acts 1:13-14, 21-26). They needed a leader, so the apostles and disciples prayed together. In their prayer they acknowledged that 1) the Lord is omniscient, He knows everything; and, 2) that the Lord is sovereign, He is in charge. Since God knew all things and since God was in charge, they asked Him to show them who He had chosen. Matthias was God’s chosen apostle to replace Judas.

In Acts 6, Luke records a time when a need arises in the church (Acts 6:1-7). In short, a problem arose because the Hellenistic Jews believed their widows were not getting their fair share of the food that the church provided for their care. So the Apostles called the church together and charged them with selecting “seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Luke doesn’t tell us whether or not the church prayed about this specific decision, but based on the account in chapter 1, and the church’s commitment to prayer in chapter 2, I’m inclined to believe the church prayed. Once the seven men were selected, Luke tells us that the apostles “prayed and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6).

I love the Apostles’ commitment to prayer and preaching. While it was important to them for the widows to be cared for, they couldn’t be responsible for this ministry because it would take them away from their God-given calling. Therefore, the decision to select seven men for this work. As a result of the Apostles’ commitment to prayer and preaching, “the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). God blessed His church. And what God did then, He can do again.

There’s another time when the early church was in God’s presence (Acts 13:1-3). They were worshiping Him, fasting, and praying. And once again, God speaks. He tells His people to set apart Barnabas and Saul to the work He had called them to.

In the first century church God’s people prayed and God spoke. When they prayed about a replacement for Judas, God spoke. When they needed to appoint seven men to serve the church, God spoke. When it was time for the church’s first mission trip, God spoke. The early church was committed to prayer. And Luke is clear: both the church’s leaders and the church’s members prayed. They prayed together. They prayed together continually.

From the early church’s experiences we learn that when God’s people pray, God shows up, God shows out, and God speaks.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” God may not answer like we want Him to, but since He knows everything and since He’s in charge of everything, we can trust Him to do what’s best for our good and His glory.

Child of God, when God’s people pray He shows up, He shows out, and He speaks. Remember, what God did then He can do again! So let’s pray.

When God’s People Pray, God Shows Out

What would you like to see God do in your life? Heal your marriage? Bring your children to salvation? Break a stronghold? Return a wayward child? What would you like to see God do in your local church?

Over and over again when the early believers wanted God to do something, they prayed. And when they prayed, God showed up. We see this clearly in Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and amazing things began to happen. For example, the Galilean Jews spoke in the language of each visitor to Jerusalem that day. These Galilean Jews were considered to be uneducated, yet they spoke other languages. What happened that day in Jerusalem can only be described as an act of almighty God. You see, when God’s people pray He shows up and He shows out. 

In Acts 2, Peter preached the gospel and once again, God showed out! “When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them” (Acts 2:37-38, 41). God showed out when about 3,000 became believers in Jesus. In fact, God continued to show out by growing His church (Acts 2:47; 5:14; 11:24).

Following the massive baptism, Luke tells us that “many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles” (Acts 2:47). For example, Peter and John healed a lame man (Acts 3:1-8). Later on, Peter prayed and God showed out by raising Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:40). There were many occasions where God showed out by empowering the apostles to perform many wonders and signs.

In Acts 12, Peter was in prison. Luke tells us that “prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church. On the night before Peter was to be executed, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists” (12:5-7). God’s people were praying and God showed out by releasing Peter from prison. Later on in Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in jail. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose” (16:25-26). Again, God’s people were praying and God showed out.

In the early church, time and time again, God’s people prayed and God showed up and showed out. In his book, The Church God Blesses, pastor Jim Cymbala writes, “every time people really pray, they are believing that God by His divine power can change what is into something better.” He goes on to write, “we can all accomplish more for God’s kingdom than we have ever dreamed if we learn the secret of asking the Lord to stretch out His hand and do what only He can do in our midst.”¹

Believers in the early church really prayed. As a result, God showed up and showed out. He did what only He could do. What God did then, He can do again! He’s the One who can grow His church. He’s the One who can perform miracles in people’s lives. He’s the One who can set captives free. Do we want God to show out in our lives? If we do, then we must pray because what God did then, He can do again.

 

¹Cymbala, Jim. The Church God Blesses (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), p. 8, 17.

When God’s People Pray, God Shows Up

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to have been a member of the very first church ever established; to have been a charter member of the church in Jerusalem?

In 1995, my wife Shelley and I had the blessing of helping to launch Harvest Community Church. After several months of prayer and planning, our core group started meeting in a home for Sunday services. As our core group grew, we began public worship services on Sunday, February 11, 1996. One thing stands out to me about this church plant. We were committed to prayer. Before we launched our services, we prayed; and once we launched, we prayed. God heard and answered our prayers time and time again. And the church grew. Today Harvest Community Church has a facility that sits on 26 acres of donated land and continues to reach people for Christ. Harvest Community Church was birthed in prayer and continues in prayer.

Pastor Ronnie Floyd writes, “There is no great movement of God that has ever occurred, that does not begin with the extraordinary prayer of God’s people.”¹ This was certainly true of the first church in Jerusalem. It was a church birthed in prayer.

Following His death and resurrection, and just before His return to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Once Jesus returned to heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem. Luke tells us that they “were continually united in prayer” (Acts 1:14). These early believers were steadfast and faithful in prayer together. They persisted and persevered in prayer together.

Luke tells us, “When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech” (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit of God came. God showed up. When God’s people prayed, God showed up! The early church was birthed in prayer.

The early church also continued in prayer. Luke writes, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42). In the life of the church, teaching is important. Fellowship is important. Sharing a meal is important. But prayer is vital because when God’s people pray God shows up.

The early believers were praying. They were praying together. They were praying together continually. Why is it important to know that the early church was birthed in prayer and continued in prayer? Because what God did then, He can do again! What God did then in the 1st century church, He can do again in the 21st century church. God’s people prayed and God showed up. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them (Matthew 18:20). When we pray together God has promised to be with us. He has promised to show up.

Do we want God to show up or are we satisfied with mediocrity in our lives and in the life of our church?

In his book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, author Thom Rainer conducted an autopsy of fourteen churches that had died. One reason these fourteen churches died was that the church rarely prayed together. Thom writes, “Most of the churches, almost to the day they shut the doors, had some type of prayer time. It may have been a part of the worship services. It may have been with some type of fellowship like a Wednesday evening meal.”² When Thom probed further he, and the former church members he interviewed, concluded that the churches had not had meaningful times of prayer. Their prayer times were “more like a routine or ritual. It would hardly qualify as corporate prayer in the New Testament sense.”³

One former church member said, “There was a day when prayer was powerful in our church. People would pray before the worship services. Small groups spent a lot of time in prayer. We prayed intensely for our community.” The member shared a little more and then continued, “…we stopped praying with the passion we once had. That’s it. That was the beginning of the decline that led to our death. We stopped taking prayer seriously. And the church started dying.”⁴ According to this former church member, when the church stopped praying, the church started dying.

Are you praying with other believers? Is your church praying together? If we want God to show up, then we must pray. We must be like the believers in the early church. We must pray. We must pray together. We must pray together continually.

Child of God, let’s believe that when God’s people pray, He shows up. Let’s believe that what God did then, He can do again. Let’s anticipate God showing up when God’s people pray!


¹ Floyd, Ronnie. SBC Life, “Pleading With Southern Baptists” (Winter 2014/2015), p. 10.
² Rainer, Thom. Autopsy of a Deceased Church (Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2014), p. 64.
³ Ibid, 66.
⁴ Ibid, 68.

Prayer, The Greater Work

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.”¹ I wonder, do we really believe that statement? I’m sure every Christian, especially those in ministry, would agree with this statement. But then the question comes, Do we live like it? Do we minister like it? Do we really believe prayer is the greater work?

One of my favorite verses in Scripture is Mark’s account of Jesus’ prayer life. In Mark 1:35 we read, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Jesus understood the importance of spending time with His Father. It was His personal time with God that empowered Him to carry out the Father’s business. In fact, just before He was betrayed and arrested, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to His Father (see Matthew 26:36-44). I’ve often thought, if Jesus, the Son of God, needed time alone in prayer, how much more do the children of God need time alone in prayer. By the way, while in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cautioned his disciples to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). If you read the rest of the story you will discover that Peter slept rather than pray, and within hours he denied knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). It is clear that prayer is vital; it is the greater work!

Andrew Murray gave this caution, “Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart so you will be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”² When we pray we are displaying our dependence upon God, but when we do not pray we are displaying our dependence on ourselves. As God’s children, let’s be busy about the greater work!

 

 

¹ Chambers, Oswald (1986). My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering.

² http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Andrew-Murray-Quotes/page-3.shtml

When You Think You’ve Got It, Think Again!

The Summer Olympics of 2004 was held in Athens, Greece. American Sport Shooter, Matt Emmons, was going for a second gold medal. He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 50-meter three-position rifle event. He had done so well he didn't even need a bull's-eye to win. He just needed to be on target.

Emmons fired. The crowd waited anxiously for the score, but no score appeared. Emmons motioned to the officials, thinking something was wrong with his target. After the officials met, they awarded Emmons a score of zero. What had happened? Standing in lane two, Emmons had fired at the target in lane three. He fired at the wrong target and as a result, ended up in eighth place.

Have you ever been so confident in yourself—in your abilities, strength, and wisdom—that you just knew you couldn’t fail, but then you did? Or, have you ever made a promise you didn’t keep, or said you would never do something and then you did it? A man named Simon Peter can relate.

Jesus warned Peter that he would fail, but Peter was so confident in himself that he just knew he couldn’t fail. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34).

Peter just knew he’d remain faithful to Jesus even if it meant prison and death. And yet within a matter of hours Peter had failed. He had denied Jesus, not once, but three times (see Luke 22:54-62). Peter had been so sure of himself—there was just no way he would deny Jesus; but he did. There are several observations from Peter’s life worth noting…

1. Peter was once so close... He was a disciple and apostle of Jesus (Matthew 4:18-19; Luke 6:13-14). He was even a member of Jesus’ inner circle (Mark 14:33).

…but became so distant. Everyone, including Peter, left Jesus (Mark 14:50). In fact, Luke tells us that Peter was following at a distance (Luke 22:54).

2. Peter was once so certain…He was certain of Jesus’ identity (Matthew 16:15-16).  He was also certain of his own loyalty (Luke 22:33). According to Mark, Peter told Jesus, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31). He was so certain of himself.

…but became so defensive. Regarding Peter’s third denial of Jesus, Mark reports that after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”  But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak” (Mark 14:70,71).

3. Peter was once so comfortable…Before Jesus’ warning and before Peter’s denial, the two of them, along with the other disciples, enjoyed a meal together (Luke 22:14). Things were going well. They were relaxing, enjoying a meal, and sharing life together. But then Jesus was arrested and everything changed.

…but became so distraught. After he denied Jesus three times, Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). Guilt. Disappointment. Anger. Brokenness. It is clear that Peter was distraught over his failure.

As I looked at Peter’s experiences, I was left with a question: Why did Peter fail? Luke reveals at least two reasons.

1. Pride. After Jesus’ warned Peter of his impending failure, Peter told Jesus, “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29). He was ready to be arrested and even die for Jesus (Luke 22:33). He was so self-confident, self-sufficient, and self-absorbed. In fact, he was even a bit judgmental of the other disciples (Mark 14:29). Solomon warned against pride: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace” (Proverbs 11:2); and, he also wrote, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Peter’s pride led to his disgrace and his fall.

2. Prayerlessness. While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had warned Peter, James, and John to “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Jesus had even warned them that “the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). But rather than pray, Peter, James and John slept. Peter learned a valuable lesson that day. His self-will, strength, and personal determination was not enough to keep him from failing. His flesh was weak!

Like Peter, we’re in a spiritual battle and we’re told to keep alert and pray (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Having learned from his own failure, Peter cautioned believers: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

From Peter’s failure, we learn that prayer is paramount if we’re to remain faithful followers of Christ. Prayer reveals our dependence upon God. It reveals that we trust His strength and sufficiency, not our strength and self-sufficiency. By the way, prayerlessness is a clear indicator that we are prideful because when we fail to pray we’re trusting in ourselves rather than God.

So, how close are you to failure? If you’re trusting in yourself—your abilities, your strength, your wisdom, your past successes—you may be closer than you think! So, when you, like Peter, think you’ve got it all together, you may want to think again. Here’s a good motto to live by: be prayerful, not prideful!

Where To Turn In Times of Crisis

Before the days of GPS, while traveling, I would often have to stop and ask for directions. Inevitably, while giving the directions, the person would tell me how far to travel, where to turn and which way to turn. In times of crisis it is important that we know where to turn. During a time of national crisis, Nehemiah turned to God.

Nehemiah turned to God in desperation, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). When we find ourselves in a crisis, or when our nation is in a crisis, the first place we need to turn is to God in desperation. He’s our only hope!

Nehemiah also turned to God in adoration, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Nehemiah 1:5). As we invest time adoring Him, our focus will shift from the things of this world to the One who holds the world in His hands. As we adore Him we will be reminded that our hope is in the Lord.

Nehemiah also turned to God in intercession, “Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants” (Nehemiah 1:6). For three to fourth months, day and night, Nehemiah interceded on behalf of his people. He asked God to be attentive and hear his prayers. It was during Nehemiah’s time of intercession that God began to reveal His plan for the people of Judah as well as how Nehemiah would be a part of that plan.

Nehemiah also turned to God in confession, “confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:6-7). Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people, his own sins and the sins of his family. He confessed their corrupt actions and their disobedience to God’s word.

When we are in a crisis—whether individually or as a nation—we should always follow Nehemiah’s example by turning to God in desperation, in adoration, in intercession, in confession. After all, God and God alone is our only hope!

Responding To A Nation’s Crisis

America is a nation in crisis economically, politically, and morally. All you have to do is look around and you will see that our country is in trouble. In the Bible we read of a country whose people were in “great trouble” (Nehemiah 1:3).

The people of Judah had been taken into Babylonian captivity. In time, Cyrus, king of Persia, overthrew Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, although not all the exiles returned,and those who did return did not return all at the same time. One of the Jewish exiles, a man named Nehemiah, was the cupbearer to the king. One day Nehemiah’s brother and some other men visited and Nehemiah “asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 1:2). They told Nehemiah that “the remnant…is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). As soon as Nehemiah heard their report he “sat down and wept and mourned for days,” and he “continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). Their report was not good. Without walls and gates the city could not defend itself against enemy attacks and the residents were at risk.

After hearing the report, Nehemiah grieved for his people. His heart broke for the situation his people found themselves in. He was so heartbroken and concerned that he wept and mourned for days.

No doubt we all recall the events of 9/11 that left us all feeling vulnerable. We grieved for young children who lost their moms or dads, for spouses who lost their mates, for moms and dads who lost their children, and for other family members. We grieved as a nation for the loss and pain inflicted on so many. Similarly, Nehemiah grieved for the pain and shame his people were experiencing.

Nehemiah also fasted. Fasting is a way for us to draw nearer to God so that we may get to know Him deeper. Nehemiah’s grief led him to fast, to go without food, in order to seek God and discern His will.
Nehemiah also prayed a moving prayer of adoration, confession, and intercession (Nehemiah 1:5-10). In his prayer he acknowledges God’s greatness and faithfulness. Nehemiah also acknowledges and confesses his and his people’s sinfulness, specifically, the way they had acted and their disobedience to God’s word.
Jerusalem was in a crisis and Nehemiah knew that God was their only hope. In the same way, God is America’s only hope. Not a politician, party or even policies. America needs God. Our nation is living in blatant sin before God. Like the people of Judah, we have acted corruptly. Our nation desperately needs to turn from her sin and turn to God. In light of this, as Christians, we can follow Nehemiah’s example:

1. We need to grieve for our nation. Our hearts ought to break over the decisions that our leaders and justices are making and the direction our country is headed. Our hearts ought to break over the blatant sin that is rampant in our society.

2. We can fast before God on behalf of our nation. We can go without some meals and use that time to draw near to God and seek His face. The psalmist Asaph wrote, “In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord…” (Psalm 77:2).

3. We must pray to God for our nation. We need to acknowledge His greatness and faithfulness. We need to confess our sins and the sins of our nation. We need to plead for God’s mercy. We need to pray for our fellow citizens to come to the realization of the truth found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to pray for our leaders. Paul gave this instruction: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We also need to ask God to raise up godly leaders.

God is the only hope for a nation in crisis. Realizing that, we need to respond to our nation’s crisis as Nehemiah did: grieving, fasting, and praying.

Call To Prayer

The first Thursday of May is recognized as the National Day of Prayer. In 1775, the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer, asking the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation designating April 30, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. In his proclamation, Lincoln wrote, “It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” In 1952, the National Day of Prayer was created by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. I am thankful for each citizen across our nation who took time on this day of prayer to pray for our nation and leaders. 

Recently while reading through the Psalms I read David’s words, recorded in Psalm 11:3, “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” As I look at our nation today it is clear that the foundations of our nation are being destroyed. For example, our religious liberties are under attack. Tolerance is the buzzword of our day; however, many are intolerant of Christianity. Christians are accused of imposing our views on others; however, those who make this accusation are themselves imposing their own views—views that are contrary to God’s Word. Morality is at an all-time low. In fact, many people are substituting feelings for Judeo-Christian, God-based standards. Many people today no longer ask if an action is right or wrong because to them moral choices are simply a matter of individual taste. In addition, our nation’s debt crisis, the debate over the definition of marriage, and the growing entitlement mentality are signs that our nation’s foundations are being destroyed.

When we see our nation’s foundations being destroyed what can we do? Like David, we can trust God. In Psalm 11:1, David writes, “In the Lord I take refuge.” God is completely trustworthy. As in David’s day, God’s throne is in heaven (Ps. 11:4). God is still sovereign. He reigns over all things, all people, all leaders, and all nations. As sovereign King He is very much in control. Trust God!

Like David, we can also turn to God. David writes, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man” (Ps. 11:4). David looked around and saw the challenging times but then he looked above to God. He knew that God sees all and therefore knows all. God sees and knows what is happening in our nation as well. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul instructs Christians to turn to God by making “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Our neighbors need our prayers. Our co-workers need our prayers. Our leaders need our prayers. Turn to God in prayer!

There is something we can do as we look around and see the foundations of our nation being destroyed—we can trust God and turn to Him in prayer. As President Lincoln encouraged the citizens of his day, may we all humble ourselves before God, confess our national (and personal) sins, and pray for clemency (or mercy) and forgiveness.

Seeing What Jesus Sees

In the Bible we see many acts of Jesus’ compassion displayed toward others. In Matthew’s gospel alone we see repeated accounts of Jesus healing all kinds of diseases and afflictions (4:23; 8:5ff; 8:14-17; 14:14). He healed epileptics and paralytics (4:24; 9:1-8). He delivered those oppressed by demons, healing one who had lost his ability to speak (4:24; 8:16; 9:32-34). He cleansed lepers (8:1ff). He gave life to a girl who had died (9:23-26). He gave sight to the blind (9:27-31); and He fed those who were hungry (Mt. 15:32). With a heart filled with compassion Jesus met people’s physical needs; but even more important, He saw and met peoples’ spiritual need.

On one occasion Matthew tells us: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36). On this particular day as Jesus was looking at the crowds He saw struggling sheep. Matthew tells us they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus also saw a spiritual harvest. Matthew recounts: Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” There were crowds of people, but there was one problem: few workers! So, what was the solution to the problem? Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

I find it interesting that Jesus did not instruct His disciples to pray for the people nor did He instruct them to pray for power. After all, He knew that His disciples would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). Instead, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. In Matthew 10 we see that those who prayed—Jesus’ disciples—were the ones that He sent out. Jesus’ disciples were an answer to their own prayers. All Christians, or Christ-followers, are Jesus’ disciples. As disciples, God’s presence and power are with us and enable us to proclaim the good news to those in need of a Savior.

As I look around, not much has changed from that day when Jesus saw the crowds. The harvest is still great. The workers are still few. So, what is the answer? As His disciples we need to see people through the eyes of Jesus. We need to pray earnestly for faithful workers, and we need to be an answer to our prayers! I’m convinced that when we begin to see people through Jesus’ eyes, we will be filled with compassion for them, and we will then share the love and shine the light of Jesus. So let’s slow down from the hustle-n-bustle of life and see what Jesus sees—a spiritual harvest all around us—and then act with compassion.