Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…When Pam and I left St. Louis and moved to Apollo Beach, Fl. in June of 2020, we did that expecting that I would join two Brothers in Christ that were already here, and together we would develop a joint ministry. Unfortunately, due to health issues and a resurgent second business career with my Brothers, that did not come to pass. So, after a month of unpacking and getting resettled, I was beginning to feel like a “fish out of water”. To make matters worse, almost all the area churches were shut-down due to Covid, and the services I was watching on TV were not filling that proverbial “hole in my soul.”
One sleepless night, when I was consumed with a sense of unfulfillment, I got up and moved to the lanai. As I sat there, I began asking the Holy Spirit to direct my path and put me where He needed me. Almost instantaneously, I was directed to start an intercessory prayer group right here in Southshore Falls. My first thought was a Moses-like thought: “I can’t do that. I don’t know anyone here.” But the seed was planted and it began to grow. Within a few days, I put a notice in the Southshore Falls Observer, introducing myself and explaining my plan; I invited people to join Pam and me at 7:00am Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Gazebo that overlooks one of our lakes. Our first meeting attracted three people; now it’s fourteen months later, and we are ten strong.
We have become our own little community, made up of caring, loving prayer warriors, right here in Southshore Falls. Others know we’re here and what we’re about, so it is not uncommon for us to get prayer requests while are out walking, or from people we meet at the pool, the gym, or the clubhouse. This morning when we met together, everyone had praise reports to share. Halleluiah! Our prayers are netting positive results, and people within our group, as well as others in the community, are taking notice. No doubt there is power in prayer, and that is what I want to write about today.
I want to begin by dispelling a myth. There is no such thing as a “bad” prayer or a “weak” prayer. Any prayer lifted up to God by anyone gets His full attention. He delights in ANYONE who comes to Him; He will meet them wherever they are, and He wants to hear whatever they have to say!” My experience with that last statement came after a forty-year hiatus from praying. I got on my knees and did the best I could do at that moment of pathos: “God, I don’t know if you’re there or not, but if you are, please help me stop drinkin’ and drugin’. I know I can’t do it myself. Please help me!” God answered that feeble-minded, whisky soaked, marijuana smelling prayer with a miracle. He lifted the compulsion to drink and drug at that moment. That was April 21, 2000, and I’ve continued to talk with Him daily. In return, He has kept me clean and sober!!
There are no rules or regulations concerning prayers. They come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, prayers can be “canned” prayers, meaning they are written out to be repeated by a reader. We had incredible prayers of this genera back at Grace Church-St. Louis called “Fellowship Prayers”. They were awesome! However, it is not about just reading the words; it’s about those words becoming engrafted in the reader’s heart and producing a transformation. These prayers can also serve as “seeds” with the intention of expanding and elaborating on the subject. There are also prayers that come from our hearts. They can be prayers of praise, prayers of petition, prayers asking for direction, or prayers expressing anger or dismay. David gave us numerous examples of each genera of these prayers in the Book of Psalms.
We are told in the Book of James, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” The story of Abraham praying on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of how God is moved by prayer. The Lord was going to destroy those cities because their sin was so great. But Abraham asked the Lord, “Suppose you find fifty righteous people living in that city – will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?” The Lord replied, “I will spare the cities for their sake.” Abraham repeated the same plea for 45 people, then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10, and each time the Lord replied, “I will spare the cities for their sake.” (Genesis 18:20-32)
The Book of James also reveals this all-important truth about prayer. “If you are petitioning God for wisdom (or courage, or strength, or for healing…whatever your need may be), be sure your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty between God and the world (which means “doubt”) should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Faith is the key element in receiving answers to prayers. Let me explain.
When you are petitioning God, you are, in essence, asking Him to bless you with the desires of your heart. However, there are three things that can stymie this process. First, God has something better in store for you; second, you are not yet mature enough to receive this blessing; third, you are asking for a blessing, but you are outside of His will. Maybe there are issues of doubt, anger or unforgiveness that first must be addressed. 1John 5:14 clarifies that last statement: “And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.” (This means, anything that is in line with His will.)
Nothing pleases God more than our dependence on Him; He wants us to wholeheartedly believe in, and trust in the truth of His Word, and His promises! In fact, He confirmed that in this Scripture: “As the rain comes down, and the snow falls from heaven – watering and producing crops for the farmer – so shall My Word go out and produce fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Now let’s turn to the subject of spiritual healing. God has honored us with many promises in the Bible. (actually, in the area of three-thousand) When we stand on those promises and pray them aloud back to Him, He is thrilled because His Word is not coming back empty. For instance, there are many promises concerning spiritual healing. In Psalm 107:20, God said, “I sent My Word and Healed them.” Therefore, we pray, “God, your promise to us is, ‘I sent My Word and healed them!” (His “Word” was/is Jesus Christ. And how does Jesus heal? Both spiritually AND physically.) Now, proclaim that YOU are standing on the truth of this promise.
Again, God made this promise in Jeremiah 30:17, “I WILL restore your health and heal your wounds.” Again, we pray aloud, “God your promise to us is, “I will restore your health and heal your wounds!” Therefore, I am standing on this truth, and claiming what is rightfully mine! Because we are in Christ, we are heir to all the promises in the Bible. Therefore, healing is a done deal; it IS OURS to claim! Spiritual healing is part of the atonement. Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins; at the whipping post, He paid for our diseases. “By His stripes we ARE healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
This topic is one of the most complex, confusing and controversial topics with which to wrestle. But again, when we make these petitions to Him, we must be steadfast in our belief that God’s Word IS TRUTH. If God said it, IT IS DONE! There is no room for doubt or fear. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that “we are heir to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms”, and one of those blessings is spiritual healing. Therefore, we are not hopeing when we pray for healing; we must have confident assurance that it will be manifested in the natural realm. That can only happen IF we have total confidence in the author of these powerful words. “He cannot lie!” (Titus 1-2) Amen!
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May God Bless You abundantly,
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
All prayer is good—-love that encouragement!