I read the following article this morning:
Key Bible Verse:Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. (1Timothy 2:8, The Message) Dig Deeper: Luke 18:1-8
In May of 1934 in Charlotte, North Carolina, a small group of men met together on a dairy farm to pray. It was the middle of the Great Depression, and the farmer had lost all of his savings in the banking collapse the previous year. But he gave up much-needed time at work to pray with his friends.
Together they asked God to raise up a person from the Charlotte area who would share the Good News of Jesus all over the world. A few months later, the farmer's teenage son (who was mocking his father's faith at the time of the prayer meeting) committed his life to Jesus. His name was Billy Graham.
What would have happened if there hadn't been a prayer meeting on the Graham farm that day? What would we have missed? How many millions of people would never have heard the message of Jesus' love through the sermons of Billy Graham if this group of farmers had not asked God to provide a gospel preacher?
When we pray together, we draw close to God's heart and tap into his infinite power and love. God has chosen to use our prayers—especially our prayers together—as one of the main ways he accomplishes his work in our world.
I see a couple of messages here. The first, and most obvious, is that as much as private prayer is important, communal prayer is a very valuable tool in God's toolbox. Jesus said "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).
The second message, and perhaps less obvious, is to be careful of how we treat those who heap scorn on the faith. I do not compare myself in any way to Billy Graham, but I was once a "mocker". And how about that guy in the New Testament named Saul (who later became Paul)? We need to be aware that they are not the enemy, they are simply not privy yet to the Truth, in need of prayer and, when the opportunity presents, guidance.
Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you today.
Bruce
O God, the everlasting Creator of all things, remember that the souls of unbelievers were made by Thee and formed in Thine own image and likeness.
Remember that Jesus, Thy Son, endured a most bitter death for their salvation.
Permit not, I beseech Thee, O Lord, that Thy Son should be any longer despised by unbelievers, but do Thou graciously accept the prayers of holy men and of the Church, the Spouse of Thy most holy Son, and be mindful of Thy mercy.
Forget their idolatry and unbelief, and grant that they too may some day know Him whom Thou hast sent, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Salvation, our Life and Resurrection, by whom we have been saved and delivered, to whom be glory
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