Dear Readers in Christ, "Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

Monday 6 November 2017

Born of Prayer to Pray for

1Samuel 1:10,11
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

1Samuel 12:23
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. (NIV)
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you (KJV)

He was born of prayer! Son of a sorrowful woman, who broke her heart and wept in the presence of God! Named in prayer as ‘Samuel” for I asked of God (1Samuel 1:20)! Nurtured by a woman of prayer! Grown in the house of prayer from the very early age for all the days of his life! Trained in prayer in the house of the Lord! (Speak Lord your servant is listening) Had the privilege of conversing directly with Almighty God at the small age! – The Almighty God spoke to this small boy about what He is going to do the family of priest and the people. Known to be an intercessor – Psalm 99:6b says ‘Samuel was among those who called on His name’. He prayed and interceded for the people of Israel. Jeramiah 15:1 the prophet writes ‘Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! An open testimony from God that Samuel was a man of intercession as Moses.
God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you… A very strong statement from Samuel: God forbid… 

Failing to pray for the people ยบ Sinning against God
He interceded...
Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you (1Samuel 7:5).

They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines. (1Samuel 7:8)

Word of the Lord came to Samuel saying “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. (1Samuel 15:10,11)

Cry aloud before the Lord, O walls of beautiful Jerusalem! Let your tears flow like a river day and night. Give yourselves no rest; give your eyes no relief. Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children, for in every street they are faint with hunger. (Lamentation 2:18,19)

To rescue the people from the darkness, we need to cry out, pour our heart like water… As the lamenting prophet Jeramiah we need to lament for the young people who are perishing, for those who are walking not knowing the destination, living in darkness, in fear of future, in anxiety, for those who are driven by passing pleasures of this world... This is the time that we need to watch and pray, cry out to the Lord to show His kindness; let tears flow from our eyes for our brothers and sisters. Like Samuel shall we intercede for our young generation? God is looking for someone to stand in the gap to intercede for the perishing people
"I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30)

Let's make this week as a week of prayer/intercession. Remember others who are in need of the salt and light and pray specifically for them throughout this week.