Today’s reading is Revelation 5:1-6:17.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the souls of martyred saints are seen beneath the altar of God. They want to know when God is going to take vengeance. They, no doubt, remember that God said, “Vengeance is mine.” They wonder when it will happen. God’s answer was, “Wait.” 

I struggle with that answer. Usually, if I pray and something doesn’t happen immediately, I think He just said, “No!” I need to learn patience. I need to learn that God’s timetable is not my timetable.

However, there is a deeper part of this “Wait.” God not only told them to wait, but during that period of waiting, some pretty dreadful things were going to happen. In fact, God was waiting until the dreadful things happened. He wasn’t going to take vengeance until more Christians died at the hands of their persecutors. 

This, of course, leads us into the questions about suffering and God. We have a tendency to think that if a loving God existed no one would suffer, especially not His followers. However, what we learn is life is not about our pleasure. Rather, God in His time is going to do what is best for us and what glorifies Him the most. Sadly, we have bought into the the temporal, materialistic, worldly mentality that what is best for us is a long life. That is only true if there is no resurrection. Once we accept the resurrection, we recognize there are better things than a long life. A resurrection that provides eternal joy and contentment tops that list. But that list may also include a death that glorifies God. 

I’m not saying we should go about seeking martyrdom in some sort of masochistic spirituality. I’m simply saying if that happens, it is not as bad as the world thinks it is. As Paul said in Philippians 1:19-26, death means to go be with Christ. What could be better than that when the time comes?

I have to learn, sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes that means waiting through some very difficult trials. However, God will always do what is best. I need to trust Him.

Keep the faith and pass the word along,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Matthew 21:1-22:46. 

Perhaps because I’m getting to preach my prayer series again this week, the prayer passage jumped out at me. Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:21-22).

This sounds like a pretty blank check as long as we believe enough. Some have taken this passage and acted as if I could pray for God to give me a million dollars and if I believed enough, He would do it. They make these promises on television, usually coupled with a plea for a seed of faith. That seed of faith is, of course, we send them some money to show that we really believe God is going to bless us. This, however, is not what the passage teaches. In fact, this demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of biblical faith.

The passage does say, if we have faith, we’ll get whatever we ask. However, what is this faith in the biblical context. According to Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Biblical faith is not just a personal conviction that something is a certain way or that something will happen. Biblical faith is a conviction that something is so based on the evidence of God’s word. Therefore, if I, based on God’s word can believe He really is going to give me a million dollars, then I can pray for that in faith and will get it. However, understand this, the faith is going to have to be built on something more than just I want it really badly.

Consider a great example of this kind of faith demonstrated through prayer.

In James 5:17-18, we read about Elijah who prayed fervently and the rain stopped and then prayed again fervently and the rain began again. Clearly here was a man who prayed in faith and God acted on his behalf. But from where did this faith come? Did Elijah just think it was a good idea to stop the rain? Absolutely not. Look at Deuteronomy 11:16-17.

Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the LORD will e kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.

Elijah had faith about the rain stopping because God had promised if the people went into idolatry, that is exactly what He would do. We can have this kind of absolutely certain faith in regard to our prayers only when we can base that faith on God’s word.

Now, please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying we can only pray when we have that kind of certain faith. Consider Jesus’ prayer in the garden in Matthew 26:39. Consider Paul’s prayer in II Corinthians 12:8. Consider Paul’s prayer in Romans 10:1. These are all prayers offered expressing the desire of the prayer. God said, “No,” to each one. (Although, with Jesus’ prayer we do need to notice His greater point was that God’s will be done above His own. God did say, “Yes,” to that.) My point is God is not saying everything we ever pray for if we believe enough that God is going to do it, He is now forced to do so. Rather, when our prayer is backed by the full faith and credit of God’s word, we can have absolute assurance and certainty that God will do it. Of course, He only will, when we have that assurance. This, of course, is when I most often pray, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

What is the final take away? Have assurance from God’s word. When we are praying for God’s will we can have the absolute faith that God will grant our request. We can pray for other things and God may grant or deny those requests for various reasons. 

Hope this was helpful.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get from today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Matthew 7:1-8:34.

I am struck by Matthew 7:11. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”

It doesn’t say, “How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who want them?”

It doesn’t say, “How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who need them?”

It says, “How much more will you Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”

How many of God’s blessings do we miss out on because we simply did not ask? Don’t worry, I understand God may say no to our requests. Asking God is not a blank check. However, I also understand God wants to bless us. He wants to give us good gifts. How many of them do we miss simply because we did not ask?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Matthew 5:1-6:34.

It is really hard to figure out what I want to highlight in today’s reading. Having written an entire book on the Sermon on the Mount, every statement is packed with power for me. However, today the Beatitudes really hit me. I was especially thinking today about “praying the scriptures.” That is, I was thinking about how this reading would impact my praying in a few minutes and the Beatitudes just slammed me. 

Today, I don’t need to pray for prosperity; I need to pray that I gain more poverty of spirit. Today, I don’t need to pray for joy, I need to pray that I can mourn what I’ve done to my own life and my relationship with God.  Today, I don’t need to pray for power, influence, or fame; I must pray for the meekness to submit and surrender to God’s plan for me. Today, I don’t need to pray that my stomach be filled; I must pray that I develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Today, I don’t simply need to pray for mercy; I need to pray that God help me be merciful. Today, I don’t need to pray that I have a healthy heart; I need to pray that I have a pure heart. Today, I don’t need to pray for world peace; I need to pray that I can help make peace with those around me and God. Today, I don’t need to pray for ease; I need to pray for the strength to face up to the persecution I will receive if I live godly in this present age.

Excuse me for a little while, I need to go pray.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is I Corinthians 6:1-7:40.

I don’t know how many times I’ve read I Corinthians 7:1-5. I’ve heard it preached. I’ve heard numerous points about how the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body and likewise the wife over hers. I’ve heard points about not depriving each other because of temptations to lack of self-control. I’ve even heard lessons that point out the only exception is perhaps by agreement for a limited time to devote to prayer (at this point, please imagine hearing a screeching noise much like a record needle being dragged across a record).

WHAT!?

I’ve heard these lessons. But then I had to ask if I’ve ever heard of anyone actually doing that. Have you ever known any couple who was so devoted to prayer that even for just one day they agreed that today instead of having sex with each other, they would devote themselves to prayer? No doubt, there is no description given for what the limited period of time is. Maybe it’s just a day. Maybe it’s a week. Maybe it’s a month. Maybe it’s a year. Perhaps it would be different for different people depending on where they are spiritually with their sexual desires. 

Have you ever known anyone to say, “For this period of time, any time I am sexually aroused instead of pursuing sex, I’ll pray. And anytime we think about having sex, instead we’ll get on our knees and pray together.”

You know what I think? I think if any of us ever actually did that, over the long haul both our prayer lives and our sex lives would improve.

By the way, do not make this decision unilaterally for your marriage. Remember, the text says by mutual agreement. But still, maybe some of us should mutually discuss that with our spouses.

Just something to think about.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Todays reading is Mark 13:1-14:72.

In Mark 14:36, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

We know this prayer well. What caught my eye is what He said when He came back to His inner circle in Mark 14:37. How long did it take to read that prayer? 15 seconds? 10? But Jesus says, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”

I don’t care how you read that prayer. You can add inflection, pauses, emphasis, you’re still not getting an hour out of that verse. Yet, Jesus claims He had been praying for about an hour.

What is the point? The point is that while Jesus prayed for about an hour, His entire prayer is summed up in these three sentences: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” I have no doubt He used different words. He said it different ways. But He wasn’t praying all over the place. In this instance, He wasn’t praying for the sick. He didn’t ask for daily bread. He didn’t mention the future of the church. For about one hour, everything He said was summed up in those three sentences.

Even more interesting is He did this very thing three times. Let us not see this taking place in a matter of minutes. This was hours of agonizing prayer.

My question is whether or not anything is so important to me that I would spend an hour simply praying for that one thing? I have a tendency to want to be as expedient as possible. I have my little sentence long prayer and I’ve done my duty. However, when prayer ceases to be a duty and instead becomes a connection to the power of God so I may have life and overcome, I won’t be satisfied by having checklisted each of my requests. I’ll be intense in my prayers.

I’m not suggesting real praying has to be long. I’m simply asking if there is anything so important to me that I am not satisfied with offering up my quick little statement of prayer but rather I agonize in prayer for hours at a time. 

No doubt, this kind of persistence in prayer is a growth process. I hope I’m growing to pray like Jesus.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 1:1-2:30.

I don’t have much to say today. Philippians 1:19 really convicted me.

“For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (ESV).

What got me as I read this was Paul’s assurance that the Philippians were actually praying for him. He doesn’t ask them to pray for him. He assumes they are praying and has faith that through those prayers he will be delivered. 

I am convicted to ask, can anyone have that kind of faith about me? Can anyone assume and have assurance that I’m praying for them? I need to work on that.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 11:1-12:25.

Have you ever wondered why Peter went to Mary’s house when he was released from prison. Keep in mind, it is after midnight (remember there are four shifts of guards, which means every six hours. He was not found missing until the guard change at daybreak, which would have been about 6 am, meaning he was still in the prison at midnight). The gates have already been shut and locked. Peter’s not planning on spending the night there because in Acts 12:17, he departed and went to another place.

Why did he go to Mary’s?

I have to think it was because he knew brethren would be at her house. Perhaps when James was taken prisoner, she had an all night prayer meeting. Perhaps it was just that she had done this often and Peter knew tonight would be a night she had done it again. In any event, Mary clearly had a reputation of having her home open to brethren. Peter went to let them know he was freed.

I have to ask today, if one of my brethren was taken captive and then release, would he/she know that they could come to my home and find Christians praying for them? 

It is too easy in this fast-paced, extremely busy day and age to get caught up in myself and my own family and only see my brethren on Sundays. I need to open my home more. I need to pray with my brethren more.

Of course, that brings up a more fundamental question. Is there anything so important that I would open my home to brethren into the middle of the night just so we could pray about it? I don’t want to think about that too much. I might get convicted about it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 3:1-4:37.

I’ve been studying the Psalms a great deal lately in preparation for a lecture I am to present to a group of preachers about praying the psalms. Therefore, I’m not surprised that Acts 4:25-26 jumped out at me. As the apostles prayed for the Lord’s help, they not only referred to but quoted Psalm 2:1-2. 

This brings two things to mind. First, was the time when I heard a brother speak on prayer and he talked about praying the scriptures, quoting them in prayers. A very good friend of mine simply didn’t like this preacher. Despite my friend’s good intentions, he simply couldn’t get past his dislike of this preacher and so he seemed to look for every opportunity to criticize the preaching. He bitterly lambasted the idea of quoting scripture in prayer. It was silly to tell God what He put in the Bible. Besides, our prayers are supposed to come from our heart. It can’t come from our heart if we are reading it off the page. I was 18 at the time and didn’t know much (even less than now if you can imagine). Sadly, I joined in with the ridicule.

Second, I can’t help but bring up the scene from my favorite musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Tevye often quoted “the good book” to folks and he often just looked up to heaven to pray. In one scene, he is praying and says, “…as the good book says…why should I tell you what the good book says?”

Certainly, God does not need us to inform Him what is in scripture. However, this whole complaint mistakes the purpose of prayer. Prayer is not intended to inform God. He already knows (cf. Matthew 6:8). Prayer is not intended to bend God to our will. Rather, prayer is the means by which we are bent to God’s will. We can pray scripture because it demonstrates we are only interested in God’s will, not our own. Further, I just have to say, if the apostles could quote scripture as prayer, so can I. Further, if Jesus can quote scripture as prayer–see Matthew 27:46 and Luke 23:46–so can I.

If you’re struggling in your prayer life, start here. Find scriptures that express what is in your heart and pray them. It will strengthen your prayers and it will help you bend to God’s will.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Once again, with this past weekend on my mind, the prayer point stands out to me.

In vs 2, we see Jesus as He rides forth conquering and to conquer. This is not the antichrist but the true Christ, for the true Christ is the one who rides forth on the white horse conquering (cf. Revelation 19:11ff). It is an apocalyptic picture of our Savior’s death and then victory over death. The next three seals are a bit odd. We expect to see this White Horse rider leading the battle charge and immediately conquering all others. However, it doesn’t work that way. This Rider leads a spiritual army and establishes a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one. In fact, in the physical realm, it looks like the White Rider’s enemies are winning.

The Red Rider goes forth and causes war. People are being slain…the White Rider’s people.

The Black Rider goes forth with famine. But not necessarily a complete famine. The price for wheat and barley are exorbitant. However, it is not as if they don’t have things like oil and wine. The point is the White Rider’s people are not being allowed to purchase the good stuff. They are being oppressed.

The Pale Rider goes forth bringing death. The White Rider’s people are being killed by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. They are facing natural tragedy as well as persecution, but all of it is part of the overall spiritual battle the enemy wages against the people of the White Rider. 

Then the fifth seal is broken and we actually get our proof that all this bad stuff is happening not merely in general but in specific to Jesus’ people, the White Rider’s people. The martyrs, the ones who have died at the hands of the Red, Black and Pale Riders cry out for justice. We hear their prayer.

O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

The question is essentially, “God, we know you are the winner. How long until you act like it? We know our leader, the White Rider, is conquering. How long until we actually see it?”

God’s response is phenomenal:

Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Here is the point about prayer we all need to see. How often do we think God has said, “No,” when what He has actually said is, “Wait.” In the moment, it may have appeared to the martyrs that God was denying their request. Rather, He was pointing out that He had a plan they could not fathom. He would grant their request when it best fit in with His plan.

I need to remember that. Sometimes God is not denying my request. He is telling me to wait, relying on Him and trusting His wisdom to know when the affirmative fits best in His plan for me, for all and for His own glory.

Of course, I know many will disagree with me. But I believe there is a representation of elapsed time between vs. 11 and vs. 12. I think we often miss that this is not a regular story book. It is an apocalyptic vision, giving flashes not detailed story. We actually get to see God granting the request of the martyrs. In vss. 12-16, as the sixth seal is opened, we witness God’s judgment on those who have oppressed and martyred the servants of the White Rider. It is the great day of the wrath of the Lamb and those who have been oppressing the people of the Lamb are now running for their lives and can’t get away. 

God told the martyrs to wait. They did wait and God’s judgment finally came. This chapter presents the number one message of the entire book of Revelation. It is the message we will repeat over and over again as we blog through this book over the next two weeks.

Sometimes it looks like Jesus is losing. However, in the end, He always wins. We need to stay on His side, trusting Him even when He tells us to wait.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC