The Power of Prayer

A good friend called asking us to pray for her sick husband and also regarding their need for a new rental accommodation.

The first matter was of top priority as the future was looking bleak, the second would be a great homecoming blessing from hospital.

We prayed, knowing that this couple value prayer; that they know their God is interested in everything to do with his spiritual children’s daily life journey.

Prayer immediately brought God’s miraculous touch into action and he continues to bless them one step at a time, one day at a time, one miracle at a time.

Believing and trusting
A great key is that we knew that here are Christians who believe in the power of prayer, that God really cares and that they especially know how to trust him.

As pastoral mentors and counsellors we have contact with many ministers and people from all over. Email, Skype and phone systems have their advantages!

Naturally we do our best to encourage everyone to believe that God cares and will move to assist in meeting our needs – as we seek his help and are willing to operating in simple trust.

And there are often times we require to give advice and make suggestions asking that people do a certain something themselves. For example, instead of seeking a prophetic word from God through us, they need to seek God direct and listen to him.

In other words, instead of ‘What’s God telling you, Robert and Maureen?’ it must be ‘Have you sought God? What’s he told you and what have you done?’

Prayer is free and brings results
Some time back we were invited to two dinner engagements. One was with a famous senator, a fundraising drive that would cost us $500 each! That fee put the night out of the question!

The other was a dinner with a Christian college. A special time just for pastors so that the principal and his board could inform us of the college’s outstanding advances, progress, vision and plans.

We responded to this invite…and not just because the night was free and not a fundraiser per se, the restaurant surroundings relaxing with excellent a la carte food, and company amiable. But mainly because we wanted to hear the presentation and learn of practical ways in which we could help.

Sadly only a few city ministers turned up! It almost seemed that not many had a real heart for Christian education...perhaps others were unaware of the great gains and advances over the past 20 years in Christian colleges, and the need for such institutions in these days of scholastic compromise, mixed values or lack of high standards in teaching circles.

From what we learned city churches – and Christians – can be proud of Christian colleges. Progress has been tremendous, current programs are based on strong Christian values, Jesus Christ is at the core of all that is done, taught and envisaged, and the vision and future plans are exceptional. 

First priority
Then the principal mentioned one major thing – simple but powerful – that not only ministers can do for Christian colleges, but also every Christian, especially those that know the power of prayer…PRAY!

Pray! This is the first priority - beyond needed finance - in this principal’s agenda for pastoral and church input into assisting the college and pupils that he is proud of.

We liked that …for we know that without prayer (never mind a vision) ‘the people perish.’ And this goes for any Christian personally, family, Bible college, ministry or church as well as local Christian colleges!

So many times we’re able to bring great comfort to people by explaining that the Bible word for ‘prayer’ - in Aussie dictum - simply means ‘to yak.’ Such as a bereaved lady a while ago.

Her eyes light up and peace entered immediately. Gone went the harsh wrong Sunday school upbringing that ‘You had to pray’ with no given explanation of how or why. Realisation came that it is possible to have meaningful relationship with a caring, loving God simply by talking prayerfully with him and trusting!

Prayer, when properly understood, is a power key to touching God’s heart and changing/shaping future events. It’s also the means of bringing about blessings into situations, organisations, ministries, churches and people’s lives! Many times we’ve seen God heal people, change situations and enrich lives through the power of prayer!

In these days of ongoing uncertainty - including health and financial future, our advice is:

·         Know God personally. Pray, believe and trust

·         Invest tithes and offerings into one’s local church

·         Donations? Don’t forget worthy Christian colleges.

Most churches have some great prayerers. We encourage such to be active.

As James once wrote: ‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results’ (5:16NLT). (c) 2013.08

Depression!

Despite the strengths and victories Christians receive from Jesus Christ, many times – as we minister to people at a prayer line -  some tell us quietly (wrongly feeling ashamed and not wanting anyone else to know) that they are suffering from depression.

Depression is an interesting word, meaning to be lowered in spirit, dejected, weakened, pressed down, despondent, lowered activity, having feelings of low value, sadness and pessimism, carrying delusions of inadequacy and hopelessness. It comes from Latin words meaning ‘pressed down.’

Anyone could be so afflicted
Yes, as mentioned above, we Christians have great strength and resources in Christ. But we must all be aware that even we could get hit by depression at some point, especially if overworked, tired, going through difficulty, disappointment or illness.

But if it happens, it’s not something to be ashamed of and feel we must be quiet about. That someone will accuse us of having lost our faith. If they do, that’s their problem, not ours! What we must learn to do is to recognise symptoms and how to deal with this problem.

Depression - this ‘pressing down’ - is a ‘following on from’ word. Depression can follow on from some upset or stress that happened to the person being affected.

Depending on which translation you use, you’ll find depression used quite a few times in scripture. For example Prov. 12:25, ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.’ Anxiety – that’s means anything that causes heaviness of heart.

It’s interesting how the Bible knew all about many illnesses and God had answers before prescription tablets!  Actually there are a number of examples in scripture that indicate people were struck by depression. For example, depression can hit…

Following exhausting hard work, including ministry
Samson - that incredibly mighty man of God was exhausted after killing 1000 of Israel’s enemies single-handedly (even though he moved in the amazing power of God’s Spirit and strength) – and cried out to God: ‘Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagan people?’ (Judges 15:14-19).

The strongest man in the world was obviously depressed but God had an answer…he ‘caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground … and Samson drank and was revived as he drank.’ Revived indicates that he was refreshed anew...’came alive.’ The Good News Bible puts it this way: ‘began to feel much better.’

God always has an answer to every problem, including sickness weariness and heaviness of heart (depression).

Following success

Elijah, that amazing prophet, who held back rain for almost four years and called fire down from heaven destroying false prophets, became crushed in spirit – depressed - after his incredible victory over satanic forces.  

1 Kgs 19:3-4 (Mge) tells us that ‘When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life’ from the evil Queen Jezebel who now threatened him for having caused this victory over her evil rule.

Again, God had an answer. Just a gentle whisper of his comforting voice and a good heaven supplied meal fixed him up (1 Kgs 19:12ff)! Elijah found himself strengthened, recommissioned by God and sent out immediately on a new assignment.

Even a little R&R in God’s presence is enough to get us refreshed and going again! Spending time with the Lord, reading the Bible (our heavenly food!) and talking to God will help refresh us and we’ll be able to move ahead into whatever the Holy Spirit has for us next.

Following dark times and all kinds of attacks

David, the ‘man after God’s own heart,’ was no exception. Dark times fall on all of us every now and then, no matter who we are or how close to God we may be! In fact, when you carefully read David’s writings in Psalms and elsewhere, you get the impression that he suffered quite a bit from depression.

But David always ‘picked himself up, shook himself down and started all over again’ as he turned to God and drew strength and refreshing from him. For example, 2 Sam. 22: 29-30,’O Lord, you are my light: yes, Lord, you light up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army.’

It’ll be the same for us if times of depression come. We can echo David’s strategy by truthfully admitting we have problems but then exclaiming, ‘But ah God.’ See Psalm 10:14 for example; ‘But you, O God, do see trouble and grief...’ 

These are good ‘Buts’ And no matter how dark the hour, our God will never let us down.

Following heavy decisions and responsibilities

Jesus too had his moments!

Think about the awful agony he went through in the garden struggling with the knowledge of the torture he would soon be suffering. (Mark 14:33-34): ‘He began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told (his disciples), “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.”‘

The Message Bible puts it like this: ‘He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.’ The wording means a deep distress of mind. But Jesus knew how to draw answers and supernatural overcoming strength from his God! ‘Abba, Father, everything is possible for you…I want your will, not mine’ (v36).

Strengthened within Jesus moved afresh in ministry, miraculously restoring the severed ear of one of his opponents (Luke 22:51).

Following disappointments and troubles

Hey, being disappointed, especially being heartbroken, over what someone did or said can hurt big time!

But, again, God has an answer: ‘The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit’ (Psa. 34: 17-18).

Depression is a real nasty!

Like Satan it endeavours to sneak up on us, catch us unawares and rob us of joy. If we hang on to feelings of depression, they’ll flatten us – ‘de press’ - for days, weeks, months or longer.

They can lead to emotional and mental illness and cloud our thinking for a long time! We’ll go round the clock dwelling on even trivial matters. It’s really a rotten thing.

Yet God always has answers…we ought to turn to him right away and get his help. See Pro. 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart for everything. Verse 8 promises renewed health, nourishment and vitality. GNB says: ‘If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.’

The good news
Revelation 21: 4 is comforting! ‘God will remove all your sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.’

That’s not just a promise to be outworked in eternity…it can be ours here and now! But remember…it all depends on us calling out to God, just like Jesus and other biblical examples did!

And, by the way, if we need some professional medical care, there’s nothing wrong with that providing we look to the Lord first and trust him fully!  And as we grow in Christ we can learn to trust him to free us from everything that goes wrong and tries to destroy us. 


Calling out to him is simply a matter of intelligent prayer. 

Legacy!

This week we learned that an amazing servant of God had died. A man who had strongly influenced us and countless others. His passing was lovingly described in a good old-fashioned way – ‘Reverend Sam has passed into glory.’ The added words spoke so meaningfully of this totally dedicated minister who was a legend in his own time – ‘The Reverend has left behind an incredible legacy!  His reward will be outstanding.’

For decades Sam Workman (83) was best known in his homeland of Northern Ireland for his sterling evangelist ministry and caring for people. He also touched the lives of many in England, Australia and elsewhere. Thousands were led to Christ through his commitment to seeing people saved and lives changed.

His story is this, after graduating from a ‘tough’ live-in Bible college – he would often remind us that fifty years ago students were sent out at weekends with only a quid (British slang for a £1) in their pockets for food and to fend for themselves while taking opportunities to minister the gospel – Sam Workman only knew one thing: That he just had to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus.

This would lead to taking on a daunting challenge – accepting the call to a Congregational church of only 20 people and a great but empty building with a huge debt of £16,000 (a lot of money back in the sixties) and threatening bank foreclosure.

Gospel only!

Those were scary days for that church on the verge of closure. Taking on a new minister was really a last ditch stand. But for visionary Sam Workman, with an unbreakable trust in God’s word and faithfulness, it was an opportunity to go forward and build for the future. 

Any minister today daring to take on such a challenge would  follow what most churches would do … frantically start repeated programs of coffee and cake mornings, jumble sales,  target-sign financial goal drives and other fund raisers.

But Sam Workman didn't promote such things 60 years ago - they were secular and left no room for the Holy Spirit to work and demonstrate God’s power.  Instead he flatly refused to go down that track! He simply believed in the power of the gospel to change not only lives but situations as well.

‘The Reverend’ was small in stature, hence the fond colloquialism of ‘The Wee Man’ but he was big in his faith and in believing the word of God. Church planting, church growth seminars, leadership training was unheard of back then. But Sam Workman knew and believed this: If  church people were right with God and living holy lives; if there was no discontent, bickering, backbiting or fighting - God’s resources would come through and meet the need! He was a living example to all. (Photo: Sam Workman, 2008)

Sam knew only one way of changing the situation – preach the gospel. And that‘s what he did…no fundraising activities. And instead of foreclosure, the church grew at an incredible rate. With solid Bible teaching and clear gospel invitations – not to come to the altar but individually into his vestry behind the pulpit immediately after the service - people started getting saved. In turn they brought others along to find salvation. 

And then, through the Wednesday ministry of a low-key, dedicated electrician - not a credentialed minister, but someone released into his God appointed ministry - believing in God’s word on divine healing and the power of prayer, incredible healings and miracles took place in that same vestry. People would even drive from 50 miles away to be prayed over.

Later the church’s secretary told a local paper: ‘The Reverend did nothing but preach the gospel - no fundraising activities. People flocked in. He had a weekly Bible study of over 300. In every sense of the word, the church has become one of the strongest in Northern Ireland. We’re now getting 600-700 in each Sunday morning and evening service.’

New halls were built for the growing Sunday school, youth, Tuesday evening Bible study and kids’ junior prayer and Bible study night. Additional balcony seating had to be added and a manse was built - and the church was not in debt!

(Photo: The church sign depicts the heart of Sam Workman's ministry)
Even after several years the church didn't have a pastoral or visitation team or offices like today’s churches. Sam Workman lived up to his surname - he worked hard and long hours for the kingdom, as he'd been taught in his Bible college days. Yes, there was an non-salaried secretary, deaconate, youth leader, Sunday school superintendent and such but his dedicated servant of God virtually did it all. Many times some sick or troubled person that had been visited was heard to say, ’The Wee Man called today, prayed and blessed me. I'm feeling so much better.’

Sam’s reputation spread and he received many invitations to take evangelistic crusades in his own country and elsewhere. Countless received Christ, broken marriages were restored, Christians were encouraged to read and understand the Bible and follow Jesus more closely.

Young people, youthful parents – such as we were back then – were inspired to step out in faith and believe that we too could serve God in meaningful ministry ways. Personally we will never forget the dark days when Maureen was dying. We felt so alone with no one to share with and uncertain about the future. Sam visited us one evening and prayed quietly but strongly against the illness.

Then he looked into Maureen’s eyes and spoke prophetically over her regarding a teaching and prophetic ministry, then did the same for both of us. Although we didn't understand it all at the time Sam's prophetic words came about …Maureen was miraculously healed and as we trusted the Holy Spirit he has taken us around the world and given us many opportunities to teach the word, move in the anointing and bless many.

Three lessons
Why are we recalling all this, apart from honouring an outstanding servant of God? Threefold…

1) Every Christian needs someone to look up to and imitate. Paul urges this in 1 Corinthians 4:16 and Hebrews 13:7 Mge instructs: ‘Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.’

2) Leaders need to have personal confidence in God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit; knowing that no matter how insurmountable church and life problems seem, if we stick to great biblical truths and principles such as Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be yours as well’ the breakthroughs will come - to God’s glory.

3) We’ll soon be remembering the most important of all church celebrations: Easter. This is when we remember the greatest example of all, the one who with Spirit’s supernatural did it all himself, who knew the call of God on his life and against all odds followed without question. In doing so Jesus accomplished so much, reaching out to everyone he encountered, overcoming Satan, establishing God’s plan of salvation, birthing the church and anointing his followers with authority and Holy Spirit power to see people’s lives changed.

We’re not all meant to be a Sam Workman or a Billy Graham. But if we are willing to receive some ministry vision from God and dare to go for it with the Holy Spirit’s assistance, we too could become legends in our own time as we take examples from such dedicated ministers and obey and follow Jesus.

In law a legacy is a gift. To those we help receive salvation, achieve breakthroughs, and get a life, we’re leaving a legacy. What greater gift can you give people you encounter than that of discovering Jesus and the freedom to live life to the full?

Yes, there’s work involved, hard work at times. But remember … it’s only in the dictionary that we find Success before Work!