PRAYING FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION
Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel, July 20, 2023
"16 He saw that there was no man. and wondered that there was no one to intercede; Then his own arm brought him salvation. and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing.
and wrapped himself in zeal like a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands, he will render repayment." Isaiah 59:16-18
INTRODUCTION
In Isaiah, God's intervention and deliverance are powerfully portrayed. God brought salvation even though there was no one to act as a mediator. He adorned Himself with justice, salvation, and retribution, prepared to pay back His opponents and enemies for their actions. Even the most remote coastlands will see His restitution.
Asking God for help and direction in trying or challenging circumstances is known as praying for His intervention. It is a decision to give up on our own strength and rely on God's strength and wisdom to solve our problems or deliver us. It declares our reliance on Him and our faith in His capability to step in and effectuate a turn for the better. Knowing that God has ultimate control and can perform miracles in ways that go above and beyond our comprehension, praying for God to intervene also shows our recognition of His sovereignty and authority over all circumstances.
The Bible is replete with stories of men of faith who prayed and experienced God's intervention. Abraham, who prayed for a son and was granted Isaac, Moses, who prayed for deliverance from Egypt and saw the Red Sea part, and Daniel, who prayed for safety in the lion's den and was miraculously saved, are some of the great figures of faith who prayed and experienced God's intervention. These people show how prayer can result in divine intervention and show God's faithfulness to those who put their faith in Him.
1. GOD WONDERS WHEN NO ONE PRAYS.
Prayer is a powerful tool that allows individuals to connect with God and seek His guidance, comfort, and intervention. However, when people neglect to pray, God wonders about their faith and trust in Him. Through prayer, we express our dependence on God and invite Him to work in our lives. Therefore, consistent, and sincere prayer is essential to maintaining a strong relationship with God and experiencing His intervention.
He longs for a relationship with His children and desires to be involved in their lives. Prayer is a means of communication and an act of surrender and dependence on God. When individuals choose not to pray, they miss out on the opportunity to experience the transformative power of God's presence and the blessings that come from aligning their hearts with His will.
"For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ," Philippians 1:19
The apostle Paul expresses his confidence in the power of prayer and the provision of the Holy Spirit. He understood that through the prayers of others, he would experience deliverance and support from God. This highlights the importance of intercessory prayer and how it can bring about supernatural intervention in our lives. Additionally, Paul's words remind us that prayer is not just one-way communication but a partnership with God where we actively participate in His work through our prayers.
Paul recognized that the prayers of the Philippians, combined with the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, would lead to his ultimate deliverance. This demonstrates his deep faith in God's ability to work through the prayers of believers and to provide the necessary support in times of need. When no one intercedes for others, God wonders, but at the same time, He makes it His duty to intervene on behalf of His people.
"And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” Genesis 17:18: Why? Abraham's plea for Ishmael to live before God reflects his desire for God's favour and blessings upon his son. As a loving father, Abraham wanted the best for Ishmael and hoped that God would extend His grace and mercy towards him. This request also highlights Abraham's trust in God's sovereignty and willingness to intercede on behalf of his loved ones.
"Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." —John 17:10–11 In this passage, Jesus is praying to God the Father, expressing his desire for unity among his disciples. He asks God to protect and guide them in His name, so that they may be united just as Jesus and the Father are united. This prayer reveals Jesus' deep love and concern for his followers and his understanding of the importance of unity in their mission.
2. GOD'S OWN ARM OF SALVATION
The power and strength of God in bringing about salvation. It signifies that salvation is not achieved through human effort or works but rather through God's divine intervention and grace. This expression emphasizes the sovereignty and authority of God in redeeming and saving His people, showcasing His limitless ability to rescue and deliver them from sin and its consequences.
This is extended to all who believe in His name. Through Jesus, God offers salvation and eternal life to those who put their trust in Him. This passage emphasizes the power and authority of God's saving grace as well as the invitation for all to experience unity with Him through faith in Jesus.
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. "Romans 10:1 The apostle Paul expresses his deep concern and longing for the salvation of his fellow brethren. He fervently prays to God, desiring that they too may experience the gift of salvation and be united with Him. This verse highlights Paul's genuine love and compassion for others and his unwavering faith in God's ability to bring about their redemption.
"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare, you will have welfare." Jeremiah 29:7
When we pray for something, we can see God's hand at work because we will reap the rewards of his blessings.
"Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “O God, heal her, I pray!” Numbers12:13
Moses expresses his love and concern for his sister Miriam in this verse by fervently praying for her recovery. His request demonstrates his belief in God's ability to bring about healing. Moses' example serves as a reminder of the value of praying for other people and having faith that God will grant our requests.
3. JESUS'S PRAYER MODEL
The Lord's Prayer, which is a model prayer that believers can use to approach God and seek His will, is found in Matthew 6:9–13. Jesus gave it to his disciples as a way of teaching them how to pray. We can align our hearts with God's purposes and feel the power of prayer in our lives by adhering to this model. This prayer emphasizes the value of confessing God's holiness, seeking His will, and pleading with Him for daily sustenance and mercy. It acts as a manual for Christians on how to approach God with humility, confidence, and dependence.
The Lord's Prayer also teaches us to ask God for protection from temptation and evil, realizing the spiritual battles we must wage and the need for His help. It serves as a reminder of our reliance on God for both our material and spiritual needs, as well as the value of forgiving others just as we would like to be forgiven.
God has always answered those who call on him for help and has never left anyone behind. We can find comfort in God's presence and ask for direction when we are uncertain through prayer. We can know God's faithfulness and unwavering love through this humbling and dependent relationship with Him.
Jesus is a well-known example of someone who prayed to God for help in the New Testament. Jesus fervently prayed to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading for the accomplishment of His will and for the fortitude to withstand the impending crucifixion. This moving instance demonstrates Jesus' intense reliance on prayer and his unwavering faith in God's purpose.
In Matthew 26:39, Jesus says, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." This heartfelt plea reflects Jesus' complete surrender to God's plan and his willingness to endure suffering for the sake of humanity.
4. IF I AM NEGLIGENT IN PRAYING, WHAT HAPPENS?
Without regular prayer, individuals may become disconnected from God's guidance and struggle to find strength and clarity in their decisions. They may also miss out on the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and experience the peace and comfort that come from communing with Him.
Neglecting prayer can lead to a lack of spiritual nourishment and a weakened relationship with God. It is through prayer that individuals can seek guidance, find comfort, and maintain a strong connection with their faith.
King Saul stands out as someone who disregarded prayer in the Old Testament. Saul initially sought God's direction, but later abandoned prayer in favour of his own discretion, which had disastrous repercussions for both him and his kingdom. Saul looks for a medium in 1 Samuel 28:6–20 to speak with the prophet Samuel, who has passed away because, as a result of his disobedience, he can no longer hear from God.
Peter's denial in the New Testament serves as an illustration of how prayer can be neglected. In Luke 22:31–34, when Jesus foretells Peter's denial, Peter confidently affirms his allegiance to and readiness to die for Jesus. But when it is time for Jesus to be arrested and put on trial, Peter gives in to his fear and makes three separate denials that he ever knew Jesus. The fact that Peter neglected to pray demonstrates how his lack of prayer weakened his faith and caused him to make decisions that were inconsistent with his professed beliefs.
