Years ago I heard a story, purported to be true, and I have no reason to doubt the source, of a missionary in Africa who was sharing the Gospel with people in different villages despite the danger of rebels who had more than once threatened his life. This missionary had a group of prayer partners back at his home church who regularly prayed for him, and occasionally came together to lift this man of God before the Lord.
One morning one of the prayer partners felt a strong compulsion to pray for the missionary. The more he prayed the more convicted he felt that he needed to get the other prayer partners together. He started making calls. Eventually, he was able to round up twenty men. They gathered at church and prayed, interceding with God on the missionary’s behalf. They would find out later that God was at work through their prayers.
The morning after they had gathered to pray, on the other side of the world, the leader of those rebels came to the missionary and told him, “Last night, we were preparing to attack you, steal your food, and kill you. But just before we were ready to attack you there was suddenly a ring of twenty strong warriors around you, and we were greatly afraid of them. Please tell me of your God who defends you.”
The missionary was shocked. He had no idea that he was ever in danger or that he had been so powerfully defended. However, he did not miss the chance and he shared the Gospel with the leader of the rebels, and he, along with some of his men, were eventually baptized.
God protects his servants. He hears the prayers of His people and acts upon them.
In light of the fact that James died in our reading, it might seem strange to say that God protects His people, but it is true. He doesn’t always come through in the way He did for the missionary or for Peter, releasing us from difficulties and danger, but He always protects us for the Kingdom. This earthly life is temporary, a blip on the radar screen of time, and sometimes our momentary suffering in this world can help bring others to the glory God has prepared for all of us, other times our lives are what is need to advance the Kingdom. As Paul would later say of himself, “To live is Christ, but to die is gain.” We go through this world remembering whether we live or die we belong to Jesus, and He is faithful.
The other thing that I’d like for us to see is that God’s people had gathered to pray for Peter, much as they did for the missionary. We must not underestimate how God honors our prayers. James teaches us that the prayers of God’s people are powerful and effective. Pray. Pray for your pastors. Pray for the leaders in your church. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done. Pray that God would, “rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.” (Luther’s explanation of the 7th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “But deliver us from evil.”) Pray, because our Father answers our prayers.
Father in Heaven, I thank you for hearing my prayers. I have not always been constant in prayer, nor have I always trusted you to hear and answer my prayers, fill me with faith and trust so that I will be able to put all things into your hands. Make me more bold to pray for the work of your kingdom and help me to seek your will. Amen.
One morning one of the prayer partners felt a strong compulsion to pray for the missionary. The more he prayed the more convicted he felt that he needed to get the other prayer partners together. He started making calls. Eventually, he was able to round up twenty men. They gathered at church and prayed, interceding with God on the missionary’s behalf. They would find out later that God was at work through their prayers.
The morning after they had gathered to pray, on the other side of the world, the leader of those rebels came to the missionary and told him, “Last night, we were preparing to attack you, steal your food, and kill you. But just before we were ready to attack you there was suddenly a ring of twenty strong warriors around you, and we were greatly afraid of them. Please tell me of your God who defends you.”
The missionary was shocked. He had no idea that he was ever in danger or that he had been so powerfully defended. However, he did not miss the chance and he shared the Gospel with the leader of the rebels, and he, along with some of his men, were eventually baptized.
God protects his servants. He hears the prayers of His people and acts upon them.
In light of the fact that James died in our reading, it might seem strange to say that God protects His people, but it is true. He doesn’t always come through in the way He did for the missionary or for Peter, releasing us from difficulties and danger, but He always protects us for the Kingdom. This earthly life is temporary, a blip on the radar screen of time, and sometimes our momentary suffering in this world can help bring others to the glory God has prepared for all of us, other times our lives are what is need to advance the Kingdom. As Paul would later say of himself, “To live is Christ, but to die is gain.” We go through this world remembering whether we live or die we belong to Jesus, and He is faithful.
The other thing that I’d like for us to see is that God’s people had gathered to pray for Peter, much as they did for the missionary. We must not underestimate how God honors our prayers. James teaches us that the prayers of God’s people are powerful and effective. Pray. Pray for your pastors. Pray for the leaders in your church. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done. Pray that God would, “rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.” (Luther’s explanation of the 7th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “But deliver us from evil.”) Pray, because our Father answers our prayers.
Father in Heaven, I thank you for hearing my prayers. I have not always been constant in prayer, nor have I always trusted you to hear and answer my prayers, fill me with faith and trust so that I will be able to put all things into your hands. Make me more bold to pray for the work of your kingdom and help me to seek your will. Amen.
Comments