Prayer Power

“Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (-Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV) [Read Ephesians 3:14-21].

Ephesians 3:14-21 is Paul the Apostle’s prayer for the Christians at Ephesus, throughout Asia Minor, and even to the ends of the world—to us today who read his prayer and marvel that the Apostle would kneel to pray for believers everywhere.

Alfred Lord Tennyson, the great English poet, wrote: “More things are wrought by prayer/Than this world dreams of.” Knowing the power of prayer, our means of communication to the very throne of God, borne along by the Holy Spirit who “intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26), how can Christians not pray? I put great store in prayer. It has been my means of spiritual strength ever since I became a Christian at age nine. Prior to that, I had already been praying the much-loved prayer from The New England Primer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, /I pray the Lord my soul to keep; /If I should die before I wake,/I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Modern child psychologists are now saying we should not teach this prayer to our children because it is morose, speaks of death, and will give children a complex. But to me, this simple prayer did (and still does) express trust and commitment to the Lord of glory to care for His own during hours of rest. He keeps His forever vigil beside His own. Try that simple prayer nightly; it works!

Prayer can encompass every care we have, every praise we raise, every thanks we offer, every plea we make. This very day, I am seeing an answer to prayer, and I praise God for it. My second-eldest granddaughter, Dr. Christina Marie Berenguer, is graduating today from five long years of surgical internship. Prior to that, she had four years of college and three years of medical school. Altogether, to reach her goal of Medical Doctor, Surgeon, she has studied hard and worked diligently. Her goal was reached because she felt a calling from God to be a doctor, and she pursued a course to achieve the aim. Many prayed for her, including her parents and grandparents, and others. Lying ahead is her brand new practice and the work she is well-trained to do. As Paul states in his prayer, God did “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Praise be to God! Keep a prayer journal! Mark off answers to your prayers. Then you will see that God rewards our faithful praying. Claim scripture promises as you pray. “Watch and pray.” (Matthew 26:41).

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, June 18, 2010

The Holy Spirit Comes: A Promise Fulfilled

“Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”-Acts 2:1-4.

“And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”—John 14: 16-18 (NKJV).

Perhaps one of the hardest doctrines for Christians to understand (and explain to unbelievers) is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—Three-in-One, the Trinity. The word trinity is not used in scripture. It is a theological term used to describe God in His unified three-fold nature. The Trinity is a divine mystery. The term expresses the dynamic character and unity of God, and the demonstrated work of God. We are not to think of the Trinity in terms of tritheism (three Gods), but as God manifested in Three Persons, all with unified and distinctive purposes.

Jesus, God in the flesh, the Son of God among men, promised that His followers would not be left as “orphans,” little children without parental love, guidance and protection. Jesus promised the coming of a Helper, the Spirit of Truth, the Paraclete, one who would walk beside, be an advocate, a comforter. This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were “in one accord.” They were ready to receive the Helper. He came as a mighty rushing wind, a felt, physical demonstration of power, with “tongues as of fire.” He came with gifts. One was the ability to speak in other tongues. Much supposition has surrounded this gift of the Holy Spirit. Was it ecstatic utterance? Was it the ability to speak in what we call a “foreign language” without benefit of having studied that language? We know that those gathered from many countries to celebrate Pentecost were able to hear and understand the disciples, and especially Peter, in his great sermon giving highlights in God’s work with mankind, including His sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the people. About three thousand believed and were baptized on that day (Acts 2:41). The acts were manifestations of the Spirit’s presence and power.

The Holy Spirit is God with the believer, present as comforter, teacher, motivator, and advocate, to name some of the works of the One whom Jesus promised and Who physically and dynamically made His presence and power known to the disciples on that Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. We may not experience the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire, but can we not feel and acknowledge Him as we pray, as we study the Bible, as we teach and witness in His name? Paul described the work of the Spirit in the Christian’s life as “helping in our weakness,” in “groanings that cannot be uttered,” in ‘searching the mind’ and in intercession (Romans 8:26, 27). The Holy Spirit was also present in our salvation experience, convicting us of our personal sin and separation from God, and assuring us of salvation. Paul had much to teach about the Spirit in Romans 8. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God,” he declared in Romans 8:14. Likewise, if we feel that the Spirit is not working in and through us, we should examine our own spiritual condition. The Spirit is always available. If He is not with us, it is our own sin and indifference to His presence that prevent us from knowing His power in our life.

The Trinity is indeed a great mystery. But there was a time in history when God was manifested in power and in tongues of fire. And since that hallowed day, followers have depended upon the promised presence of the Holy Spirit to teach, lead, convict, comfort, prepare and propel them forward in Kingdom relationships and work. He has never left the believer comfortless or without help. Let us rejoice that He is here ever-present with us!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, April 11, 2010