From the Pulpit
Sparks from the Gospel Anvil 1 Timothy 2:1-8
The ministry of intercessory prayer is only one of the four kinds of prayer mentioned in verse 1. It is without questions one of the most neglected ministries in the Lord’s work. And yet, no part of God’s work can prosper apart from prayer. It is of upmost importance to know the three persons who are involved in this ministry. The Enthroned Savior, is the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible teaches that He is seated at the right hand of the Father for the purpose of interceding for us in prayer. Romans 8:34 reminds us that, “Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us.” And Hebrews 7:25,tells us that “He ever liveth to make intercession”; I can think of no one I had rather have to represent me before the Father than His Son and my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the One Who stood at the grave of Lazarus and said, “And I knew that Thou hearest Me always…” (Ref. John 11:42) Our only access to the Father is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and my assurance of answered prayer is praying in the authority of His Name- the Name that is above all others. There is also the indwelling Spirit to help us to pray.
A careful study of Romans 8:26-27 will shed a great deal of light on His ministry of prayer for us. Without Him we could not know WHAT to pray for or HOW to pray as we ought. He even takes over when we reach the point that we are unable to verbalize our feelings and desires. Lastly, I can think of no greater ministry in the Lord’s work than intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer affords us the opportunity of being personally involved with our missionaries and others in the Lord’s work, even though we are separated from them physically. There are several reasons why Christians should involve themselves in this ministry. It is Prescribed in Scripture, in order for God to honor something it must have the blessings of the Word of God upon it, and we do have a biblical basis in both example and precept. It should challenge us that Bible history is highlighted with great men and women who were known as great intercessors; in Scriptures it was Abraham for Sodom and Gomorrah; Moses for Israel; Christ for the Church and Paul for the Jews; in centuries past it was George Mueller for his orphans and for those he desired to see saved; for Praying Hyde and Amy Carmichael who prayed for souls in India; William Booth for the lost, the least and the last.
It is practicable by all Saints; everyone who is saved and in right standing with God is qualified, everyone is commanded to intercede for others. Intercessory prayer is not just for those who are ordained or in full time Christian service, but for all who name the Name of Jesus Christ. It is powerful in all situations. It is hard to imagine a situation where prayer would not be a plus. Prayer connects us with the Trinity, and we become co-laborers with God and other believers. Prayer knows no distance, and no man-made barrier can circumvent or repell it.
Lt. Charles Smith is commanding officer of the Salvation Army of El Dorado.
Ancient Words—Walk to Emmaus, A Walk with Jonah
Emmaus lies about 7.5 miles to the northwest and downhill from Jerusalem. Walking at 4 mph, the two travelers would need about 2 hours to complete the journey. However, when the “Stranger” joins in the journey and begins to explain all that Moses and every prophet had to say about Jesus, the Christ, more than 2 hours would be needed and in fact a whole day was available since the Sunday sunrise prompted the tomb visit by the women who quickly reported back to the disciples.
The story of Jonah must have been at the top of the list of Old Testament stories that would be told. The event of Jonah in the whale’s belly for 3 days had been addressed by Jesus more than once in response to the Pharisees demand for a sign: Mat 12:38-40 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
To a world void of Bible knowledge and skeptic at best of Creator God and His Son Jesus, the story of Jonah seems like pure foolishness. Occurring about 700 BC, the prophet Jonah is told to preach repentance to the evil city of Nineveh, population 120,000. Jonah refuses, runs away and boards a ship in the Mediterranean Sea. A violent storm ensues and the last resort to save ship and crew is throw Jonah overboard: Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. The sea grew calm after Jonah was tossed into the raging sea, enough of an event to cause certain death. Yet Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, created by God for this purpose, and lives inside the fish for three days and three nights. No plush condo arrangement here; wet, cold, stinking, nasty and deplorable conditions could only describe the inside of the great fish’s stomach that would have killed any man! Yet Jonah lives on to pray in Jonah 2 a prayer of praise and thanksgiving and salvation from inside the belly of the whale and during his 3-day encounter. After three days and three nights, God commands the fish to vomit Jonah on the shore near Joppa. Jonah regains his senses (for a time), cleans himself up, and marches some distance to Nineveh where in complete success the entire city repents in sackcloth after hearing Jonah preach for 40 days.
Salvation came to the ship of the past, Jonah should have died but lived, and salvation came to Nineveh, centered around 3 days and 3 nights. Jesus died in his physical body yet his Spirit was made alive, centered around 3 days and 3 nights: 1Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus left his physical body and went to offer salvation to the “ship” of the past: 1Peter 3:19-20 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. Jesus, however, also went to Paradise after he died on the cross for he said to the thief on his right: Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Like Jonah who was alive in the whale’s belly though he should be dead, Jesus was alive in the Spirit even though dead in the body, and proclaimed his saving message by the power of the Holy Spirit both to mankind of the past and mankind of the future. After 40 days on earth “Nineveh” would hear the first gospel sermon on Pentecost, appropriately from Simon, son of Jonah: Acts 2:38-41 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Scott Johnson is pastor at East Faulkner Church of Christ and author of the BRG Bible. Bible questions can be sent to brgbible@gmail.com.