Text: Ephesians 3:20-21 Cosperville Baptist Church
Series: Building Project Excursion Pastor Jim Barnes Topic: Prayer, Growth, Success
January 12, 2014
“Asking God To Do Big Things!”
Intro:
Johnny, a very bright 5 year old, told his daddy he'd like to have a baby brother and, along with his request, offered to do whatever he could to help. His dad, a very bright 35 year old, paused for a moment and then replied, " I'll tell you what, Johnny, if you pray every day for two months for a baby brother, I guarantee that God will give you one!"
Johnny responded eagerly to his dad's challenge and went to his bedroom early that night to start praying for a baby brother.
He prayed every night for a whole month, but after that time, he began to get skeptical. He checked around the neighborhood and found out that what he thought was going to happen, had never occurred in the history of the neighborhood. You just don't pray for two months and then, whammo- a new baby brother. So, Johnny quit praying. After another month, Johnny's mother went to the hospital.
When she came back home, Johnny's parents called him into the bedroom. He cautiously walked into the room, not expecting to find anything, and there was a little bundle lying right next to his mother. His dad pulled back the blanket and there was -- not one baby brother, but two!! His mother had twins!
Johnny's dad looked down at him and said, "Now aren't you glad you prayed?"
Johnny hesitated a little and then looked up at his dad and said, "Yes, but aren't you glad I quit when I did?"
THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S MESSAGE IS:
“Asking God To Do Big Things!”
Today, is a special day where we will consider whether or not to go ahead with adding to our existing church building. And we need to make sure that we pray – and ask God to do big things for this church.
There is not more encouraging verse that I can think of than Ephesians 3:20-21.
If you have your bible, please turn with me to Ephesians 3:20-21.
Paul says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
FROM THIS PASSAGE I WANT YOU TO SEE:
3 Ways We Should Pray To God In Order To See God Accomplish Great Things Through CBC.
HOW SHOULD WE PRAY TO GOD IN ORDER TO SEE HIM ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS THROUGH CBC?
THE FIRST WAY WE SHOULD PRAY IS TOO:
I. Pray Hard For This Church
(Ephesians 3:20a).
WE NEED TO PRAY HARD FOR THIS CHURCH.
WHY? WE SHOULD PRAY HARD BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO THIS ON OUR OWN EFFORT.
Notice Verse 20 says, “Now to him who is able…”
THE SUCCESS OF THIS CHURCH DEPENDS ON GOD NOT US.
IF WE ARE TO REACH PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL, SEE LIVES CHANGED, SEE A NEW ADDITION COMPLETED TO HELP US MAKE DISCIPLES…..WE NEED TO PRAY HARD.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us, “pray continually” or “Pray without ceasing.”
IN PRAYING HARD – WE ARE DEPENDING ON GOD TO HELP US DO WHAT HE WANTS US TO ACCOMPLISH.
THIS MEANS WE MUST DO THREE THINGS:
THE FIRST THING WE MUST DO IS:
A. We Must Admit Our Helplessness.
Why does he point out that God is able, because you and I are not!
He has been praying for God to do great things in our lives as believers.
Look back at Verse 14.
Ephesians 3:14-20 says, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Those are great things.
And maybe Paul anticipated the Ephesians feeling a little overwhelmed. How can I do this? That is a lot to ask?
But Paul reminds them that this is a task for God not for us.
It depends on Him – His ability not ours!
Verse 20 then says, “Now to him who is able!”
As a believer we need to get rid of the “Phrase”, “I can’t” from our vocabulary. I can’t love that person, I can’t forgive him or her, I can’t change. You are right you can’t but God can help you.
Paul points out that it is not dependent upon you or I to live the Christian life but God.
If we merely seek to accomplish this project in the strength of our own flesh, shear will power, our intellectual plans, we will fail.
We will be discouraged and ready to give up. We need to admit our helplessness before God – we need His help.
THE SECOND THING WE MUST DO IS:
B. We Must Recognize Reliance On God Is Essential.
On one hand it reminds us that we do not have the ability to live the Christian life the way God intended but God does and He has made that available to every single believer in Christ.
He says, “Now to him who is able to do…”
You get the sense that Paul is deep in prayer for these believers and all of a sudden he is overwhelmed with the reality that only God can this for you and for me.
You and I need to know the resource we have in Christ.
LOOK UP HERE –
The power is not within your own strength but in God. He is able. AMEN?
God wants us to be at the point in our life where all we can do is look up. We are relying on God alone to help us live for Him every moment of every day.
Why? It is because, “He is able…”
The word, “Able” is that word, “Dunamis” from which we get the word, “Dynamite.” “All forms of this word have the basic meaning of “being able,” or speak of “capacity” (TDNT).
This same word is used in Romans 16:25 where Paul said, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…”
The way it is worded reminds us that God is continuously able.
God has the power available to us through His Spirit who lives in us.
He has the power to do what?
Paul prays, “He is able to do.”
The word for “do” is the Greek word meaning, “To do or make.” The idea is to “Accomplish or produce.” God is far more able than you or I to empower us to accomplish what He wants in our lives.
It is by God’s power that we can bring about these things in our lives.
What does that mean for you and I? It means I need to depend on God:
1. FOR GROWING SPIRITUALLY.
Look with me at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22.
Notice all the things you need to be doing as a Christian and ask yourself is this not overwhelming or not?
It says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.”
Whew? Is that a lot of things to do?
Can you do that all in your own strength and in the power of your sinful flesh? NO!
That is why he prays in verses 23-24, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
God will do it. Literally, “He will bring it to pass.”
2 Peter 3:18 tells us to, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
You and I need to depend on God to grow as a Christian. If you are struggling in a sinful habit it is not by trying to white knuckle it, it is not by trying to try harder but by relying on God to give you the power to change.
Sanctification is the term for growing as a Christian.
Our growth depends on God who is faithful to do it. It is by depending on God to help you change.
God does not sprinkle you with magic change dust. You will not be zapped with a power from on high this morning and it will hold you over to next week. It is depending on God to help you make those changes from the inside out.
We need to depend on God for growing and changing but also:
2. FOR UNITY IN THE CHURCH.
How do Jews and Gentile get over years of hatred? It was by depending on God to give them a love for one another. The same is true for us here at CBC. How can we have unity in this Church and continue to be united? It is by depending upon God to do it through us.
Paul reminded them of what Jesus did on the cross to reconcile them to God.
Ephesians 2:17-19 says, “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…”
Colossians 3:13 says, “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Another area that is important is to depend on God is:
3. FOR SEEING PEOPLE SAVED.
We must depend on God to open people’s hearts to the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
4. FOR WISDOM.
WE WILL NEED GOD’S WISDOM AS WE MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING THIS BUILDING PROJECT.
James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
5. FOR DIRECTION.
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
AS WE DEPEND ON THE LORD – HE WILL DIRECT US IN THE WAY WE SHOULD GO AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A CHURCH.
6. FOR SUCCESS.
IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED IN SEEING THIS BUILDING PROJECT TO COMPLETION – WE MUST DEPEND ON GOD’S ABILITY TO DO IT THROUGH US.
1 Samuel 18:12-15 says, “Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.”
IF GOD IS WITH US – NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.
THE THIRD THING WE MUST DO IS:
C. We Must Know That Without God Nothing Matters.
WITHOUT GOD – NOTHING MATTERS.
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF WE BUILD A BUILDING IF GOD IS NOT IN IT.
IT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE / WORTH WHILE IF GOD IS NOT IN IT.
Look over at psalm 127:1.
The Psalmist says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”
“Work done independently of God will be futile!” (Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Matthew Henry said, “If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing, and without his blessing all is nothing” (Matthew Henry Commentary).
PRAY HARD BECAUSE GOD IS ABLE!
LET’S PRAY HARD – DEPENDING ON GOD TO HELP US BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM NOTHING MATTERS.
Application:
It is only when we allow Christ to be the Lord of our life, day by day, moment by moment that we can truly depend on our God. We need to be reminded that only God is able to grant us success as a church. He is the one able to work in and through us to accomplish His will for Cosperville Baptist Church.
THE SECOND WAY TO PRAY IS TOO:
II. Pray Big For This Church (Ephesians 3:20b).
WE OUGHT TO PRAY BIG FOR THIS CHURCH.
WE OUGHT TO PRAY BIG PRAYERS FOR THIS CHURCH!
Notice what Paul says in Ephesians 3:20.
He says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”
IF WE ARE TO PRAY BIG PRAYERS WE MUST BELIEVE 3 THINGS.
WE SHOULD:
A. Believe God Wants To Do Great Things Through Us.
Notice how much power is available to you and I as a believer in Christ. He says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…”
How much power is available to you and I as a Christian?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN AND THROUGH US AT CBC?
God can, “To do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…”
Paul piles word upon word as almost as a pyramid to give us an idea of how much power is available to us.
The idea would be:
He is able
He is able to do
He is able to do far more
He is able to do all we ask or think
He is able to do far more than all we ask or think
He is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think.
He can do “Far more abundantly.” It is the Greek word meaning, “Superabundantly.”
God has an inexhaustible supply of power available to you and I.
It is like a “SUPER CALLA FRANGALISTIC EXPEALADOSES POWER!”
Even when we think we could have exhausted it Paul says, “God is able to do far more abundantly …”
GOD’S POWER NEVER RUNS LOW, NEVER RUNS OUT! IT IS A LIMITLESS SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO US.
God still has more in the tank. He has more in the reserves. He has an inexhaustible supply of power.
GOD CAN AND WILL DO FAR MORE THAN WE COULD POSSIBLY DO ON OUR OWN.
SECONDLY, WE SHOULD:
B. Believe God Can Do Great Things Through Us.
It says God can do, “Far more abundantly than all that we ask...”
WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO WORK ON OUR BEHALF.
The word for “ask” is the use of prayer. The idea is to “Continually make a request” (BAGD).
The idea is that what you are continually asking God for….He can do more than that.
WE ASK GOD TO HELP US BUILD THIS ADDITION – HE CAN DO MORE.
WE ASK GOD TO PROVIDE US WITH THE FUNDS – HE CAN PROVIDE MORE.
But not only just in asking notice he says, “God is able to do more than you or I think.”
This word means, “To think, perceive, or imagine.”
God has so much power He can do more than we ever dreamed of.
In Ephesians 1:20 Paul said the same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to us as a believer in Christ to help us live for God.
WE SHOULD DREAM BIG – WE SHOULD PRAY AND ASK GOD TO DO BIG THINGS FOR THIS CHURCH.
HE CAN. HE CAN DO MUCH MORE THAN WE ASK OR THINK!
The question is: Do you believe that? It is one thing to know it intellectually but it is another to believe it.
It requires faith in God’s power. I need to trust that God can do more, more in my life, and more for this church.
Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
It requires faith…trusting that God can really do more, that He wants to do more for our church. If I think…God does not want to do that. He can’t help me. That is unbelief.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS THROUGH US!
HE IS ABLE TO DO MORE THAN WE ASK OR THINK – IN FACT – I THINK GOD WANTS TO DO MORE THAN WE REALIZE – BUT WE MUST BELIEVE HE WANTS TO DO IT.
THIRDLY, WE SHOULD:
C. Believe God Calls You To Be Used For Great Things Through Us.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”
The last part of this verse says, “According to his power that is at work within us…”
His power is working in us!
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU AND I TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK HERE AT CBC.
MORE THAN LIKELY – GOD IS NOT GOING TO DROP A CHECK OUT OF HEAVEN.
HE IS GOING TO WORK THROUGH US AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO GIVING TOWARD THIS PROJECT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND IN EFFORT.
God wants to “energize” us or “empower” us to do what He calls us to do but it is up to us as believers to allow Him to do this.
God works in us to accomplish His purposes but we must allow Him to do it.
God wants to use us but we must be willing. We must yield our will to his and allow His power to be working in us to accomplish what He calls us to do.
Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
He gives you the desire and the ability to do whatever it is He has called you to do.
Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we as believers are, “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
God is able to do so much more but when we are not willing to allow Him to use us, we limit this.
So the more you and I yield ourselves to His control and to allow Christ’s power to help us live for Him the possibilities are endless.
James 4:2 reminds us, “You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace…”
WE HAVE A GREAT GOD WHO CARES FOR US MORE THAN WE REALIZE.
HE WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS – BIG THINGS THROUGH CHURCHES WHO YIELD THEMSELVES TO WANT TO PLEASE HIM WITH THEIR LIVES.
SOMEONE WHO PRAYED BIG PRAYERS WAS A MAN NAMED GEORGE MILLER.
Illustration:
George Muller was born in Prussia on September 27, 1805. His father was a collector of taxes and George seemed to inherit his father’s ability with figures.
When Muller was converted to Christ he was impressed by the many recurring statements of Jesus for us "to ask." At this point in Muller’s life he and his wife launched into a daring experiment. First, they gave away all of their household goods. The next step was even more daring, he refused all regular salary from the small mission he had been serving. He then set out to establish an orphan home to care for the homeless children of England.
The first home was dedicated in a rented building on April 21, 1836. Within a matter of days, 43 orphans were being cared for. Muller and his co-workers decided their experiment would be set up with the following guidelines:
1- No funds would ever be solicited.
2- No debts were ever to be incurred.
3- No money contributed for a specific purpose would ever be used for any other purpose.
4- All accounts would be audited annually.
5- No ego-pandering by the publication of donor’s names.
6- No "names" of prominent people would be sought for the board or to advertise the institution.
7- The success of the orphanage would be measured not by the numbers served or by the amount of money taken in, but by God’s blessing on the work, which Muller expected to be in direct proportion to the time spent in prayer.
When the first building was constructed, Muller and his friends remained true to their convictions. The public was amazed when a second building was opened six months after the first. They kept concentrating on prayer and eventually there were five new buildings, 110 workers, and 2,050 orphans being cared for.
George Muller not only counted on God to provide, but he believed that God would provide abundantly. For over 60 years Muller recorded every specific prayer request and the results. Muller was responsible for the care of 9,500 orphans during his life. These children never went without a meal. Muller never asked for help from anyone but God. $7,500,000 came to him over the course of his life and he vows it was all in answer to believing prayer.
SOURCE: Steve Shepherd. Citation: Boyce Mouton, Carl Junction Christian Church Newsletter, January 30, 1980.
HE TRUSTED GOD FOR BIG THINGS.
Application:
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRAY BIG FOR THIS CHURCH.
WE OUGHT TO PRAY BIG – AUDACIOUS PRAYERS! PRAYERS THAT ARE BOLD – RECKLESS – BIGGER THAN YOU OR I COULD ASK OR IMAGINE.
• LET’S PRAY THAT GOD WOULD HELP US RAISE MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED.
• LET’S PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND BY SPRING.
• LET’S PRAY THAT WE WOULD SEE GOD DO MORE THAN WE COULD ASK OR IMAGINE.
PRAY BIG!
THE LAST WAY I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO PRAY IS TOO:
III. Pray Up For This Church (Ephesians 3:21).
WE NEED TO PRAY UP – MEANING VERTICALLY.
ALL THAT WE DO SHOULD BE TO BRING GLORY TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
WE SHOULD DESIRE TO WANT TO BRING GOD HONOR AND GLORY THROUGH EVERYTHING WE SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH IN OUR LIVES AND IN AND THROUGH THIS CHURCH.
As a believer I am to choose to glorify God with my life.
The Westminster Confession asks the question: What is the chief end of man.
The answer they give is to, “Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
If you claim the name of Christ you need to ask yourself this question, “I live for _____________.”
If God is not the word that comes into your mind you need to ask yourself why?
We get our priorities all messed up when we put other things in the place of God.
As a believer in Christ, “I should center my life in God” for the purpose of glorifying Him. Everything I do should be done with the question, “Will this bring glory and honor to God?”
Notice Ephesians 3:21.
Paul says, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY UP – WITH GOD CHIEFLY IN MIND – WHAT WOULD PLEASE AND HONOR HIM?
THE FIRST REASON TO PRAY UP IS:
A. God Is Worthy To Be Glorified.
What does he say? He says, “To him be glory…”
In the Greek it actually has the definite article in front of the word glory. So it doesn’t just mean, “To Him be some glory” but “To Him be The GLORY!”
It means to give God the glory He deserves. There is no one higher who is worthy of honor, glory, and praise but God Almighty.
Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory…”
Psalm 96:7-8 calls every living person to give God the glory He deserves. It says, “Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!”
Unless you come to the place in your life where you realize that our lives as believers are to be lived in such a way out of love for God who saved us and redeemed us to glorify Him, you will not be living up to your potential in Christ.
WE NEED TO PRAY THAT IN AND THROUGH EVERYTHING WE DO – IT IS FOR GOD’S GLORY.
IT IS NOT FOR MY GLORY OR YOURS – BUT FOR HIS GLORY!
THE SECOND REASON TO PRAY UP IS:
B. God Is Glorified In And Through His Church.
What does Paul say? He says, “To him be the glory in the church…”
Where is the primary place God wants His glory manifested? It is in the church!
Think about that? Why should being a part of a local church be important to me as a believer?
It should be important because this is the chosen way God has chosen to bring glory and honor to Himself.
It is when believers allow God to be working in their lives to produce godly lives through the power of the Spirit that God is glorified.
And what else? He says, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus…”
Christ is the head of the Church.
The way we live our lives reflect back on Him. I need to choose to live in such a way that pleases Him.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that as believers we are Christ’s Ambassadors.
We are to represent Christ and His church in such a way that brings glory and honor to His Name.
OUR TESTIMONY IS IMPORTANT!
WE SHOULD ASK GOD TO HELP US BUILD THIS CHURCH ADDITION FOR HIS GLORY.
• SO WE CAN REACH MORE PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL.
• SO WE CAN MINISTER MORE EFFECTIVELY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
• SO WE CAN PROVIDE NEEDED RESTROOMS FOR THOSE WHO COME TO CBC.
• SO WE CAN HONOR GOD WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
This glory will last forever. He says, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
We will bring GOD glory for all generations because this is why we were born again.
Revelation 5:13 says, “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
PRAY UP – PRAY FOR GOD TO BE GLORIFIED!
Illustration:
In his book Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee describes a preaching mission to an island off the South China coast.
There were seven in the ministering group, including a sixteen-year-old new convert whom he calls Brother Wu. The island was fairly large, containing about 6,000 homes. Nee had a contact there, an old schoolmate of his who was headmaster of the village school, but he refused to house the group when he discovered they had come to preach the Gospel. Finally, they found lodging with a Chinese herbalist, who became their first convert. Preaching seemed quite fruitless on the island, and Nee discovered it was because of the dedication of the people there to an idol they called Ta-wang. They were convinced of his power because on the day of his festival and parade each year the weather was always near perfect.
"When is the procession this year?" young Wu asked a group that had gathered to hear them preach.
"It is fixed for January 11th at 8 in the morning," was the reply.
"Then," said the new convert, "I promise you that it will certainly rain on the 11th."
At that there was an outburst of cries from the crowd: "That is enough! We don't want to hear any more preaching. If there is rain on the 11th, then your God is God!"
Watchman Nee had been elsewhere in the village when this confrontation had taken place. Upon being informed about it, he saw that the situation was serious and called the group to prayer. On the morning of the 11th, there was not a cloud in the sky, but during grace for breakfast, sprinkles began to fall and these were followed by heavy rain. Worshipers of the idol Ta-wang were so upset that they placed it in a sedan chair and carried it outdoors, hoping this would stop the rain. Then the rain increased. After only a short distance, the carriers of the idol stumbled and fell, dropping the idol and fracturing its jaw and left arm.
A number of young people turned to Christ as a result of the rain coming in answer to prayer, but the elders of the village made divination and said that the wrong day had been chosen. The proper day of the procession, they said, should have been the 14th. When Nee and his friends heard this, they again went to prayer, asking for rain on the 14th and for clear days for preaching until then. That afternoon the sky cleared and on the good days that followed there were thirty converts. Of the crucial test day, Nee says: The 14th broke, another perfect day, and we had good meetings. As the evening approached we met again at the appointed hour. We quietly brought the matter to the Lord's remembrance. Not a minute late, His answer came with torrential rain and floods as before.
The power of the idol over the islanders was broken; the enemy was defeated. Believing prayer had brought a great victory. Conversions followed. And the impact upon the servants of God who had witnessed His power would continue to enrich their Christian service from that time on.
Roger F. Campbell, You Can Win!, 1985, SP Publications, pp. 35-36.
THEY PRAYED FOR GOD TO DO SOMETHING GREAT SO THAT HE WOULD BE GLORIFIED!
Application:
LET’S PRAY UP FOR THIS CHURCH – THAT ALL THAT WE DO INCLUDING THIS ADDITION WOULD BE DONE SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW GREAT THE GOD WE SERVE REALLY IS!
What Are The 3 Ways We Should Pray To God In Order To See God Accomplish Great Things Through CBC?
FOR THIS CHURCH, LET’S:
I. Pray Hard.
II. Pray Big.
III. Pray Up.
Illustration:
At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in brevity and poignancy: "Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen." (Source Unknown).
Application:
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT – AMEN? GOD’S WILL FOR THIS CHURCH, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS, NOTHING ELSE!
DURING THE DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHS AHEAD – LET’S PRAY HARD, PRAY BIG, AND PRAY UP – SO WE CAN SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO IN THIS CHURCH IN RESPONSE TO OUR PRAYERS.
