Page Three: Prayer And Wisdom - 8/04/13
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The man replied; "No, I’m not, Lady. I just got out of prison for car theft." The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out “Thank you LORD, You even sent me a professional."
[Found on www.sermoncentral.com]. A huge part of your prayer-life must be gratitude. First, your personal prayer life is central to your success in this world. Second, gratitude is an essential part of prayer. Third, God has called you to pray for others. Notice Paul’s request in verse three. (3) “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: (4) That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” Can you see what Paul is asking for the Colossians to do for him? He’s asking them to spend time in prayer for him; that a door of utterance would be opened for him; that he would speak to people the mystery of Christ. Who do you pray for beyond your immediate family? Have you remembered to pray for the person seated next to you today? Do you know of someone who is hurting today; maybe right here among us? Do you take the time to bring our missionaries to the LORD? How about the evangelists you know? How about those who teach God’s word in Bible studies each week? How can we expect them to reach out with power and the joy of the LORD when they minister God’s word if you don’t pray for them? Even the Apostle Paul needed his prayer warriors to hold him up in prayer, to “continue in prayer” lest, when he preached the Gospel, it would fall upon hard soil. So he asks for prayer. Folks, there will always be people in your life who need your prayer. Ruby Hamilton, a businesswoman in her fifties, was stunned at the loss of her husband of 32 years in a car accident. Her anger and disappointment went deeper than a more typical expression of grief though. She had become a follower of Christ in her late twenties, but her husband didn't share her newfound interest in spiritual things. Nonetheless, she had set about praying for him feverishly and unceasingly that he would come to know the Lord. And one day when she was praying, she felt a wave of peace wash over her, and that still small voice assuring her that her husband would be okay. She eagerly awaited the day when her husband surrender his life to Jesus. And now this. |
What do you do when faith doesn't make sense? When God doesn't seem to be answering or opening doors or being found? Ruby Hamilton stopped living for God.
Roger Simmons was hitchhiking his way home. He would never forget the date - May 7th. His heavy suitcase was making him tired and he was anxious to take off that army uniform once and for all. Flashing the thumb to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door swung open. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. "Going home for keeps?" "Sure am." "Well, you're in luck if you're going to Chicago." "Not quite that far - do you live in Chicago?" "I have a business there, the driver said. My name is Hamilton." They chatted for a while, and then Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to share his faith with this fiftyish, apparently successful business man. But he kept putting it off, till he realized that he was now just 30 minutes from his home. It was now or never. "Mr. Hamilton, I would like to talk to you about something very important." Then he simply told Mr. Hamilton about the plan of salvation and ultimately asked him if he would like to receive Jesus as his savior and Lord. The Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger expected that he was about to get thrown out of the car. Instead, the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me." Five years went by. Roger married, had a couple of kids and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a trip to Chicago he found a small white business card that had been given to him by Hamilton five years previous. In Chicago, he looked up Hamilton enterprises. The receptionist told him that it was impossible to see Mr. Hamilton, but he could see Mrs. Hamilton. A little confused, he was ushered into a beautiful office where he found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand "You knew my husband?" Roger told her about how Hamilton had picked him up while he was hitchhiking home after the war. "Can you tell me what day that was?" "Sure it was May 7th, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army." "Anything special about that day," she asked. |