Responsibility of God's people - to PRAY!

(Message on 16 Aug 2009 by Pastor Philip Joseph at NLF, Vashi. Developed from what I recall on Monday... may not match word to word, but must convey the spirit of the message. Happy reading!)

Yesterday, August 15 was the Independence day. I was praying for our nation and for God's word... and God impressed upon my heart this verse. Let us turn to the familiar verse in II Chronicles 7:13,14 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

We have a special privilege as God's people; a thing that others can't do; a value-addition - an unique gifting that ONLY WE, can accomplish in our country, India - TO PRAY and SEEK GOD'S FACE on behalf of our nation. "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain..." - Look around at the situation in Maharashtra and other states that are expecting monsoon... The government is on the verge of declaring this year as a drought year! There is insufficient rain... Farmers have sown their seeds; they wait for the rain - for a crop and harvest! When rain fails, their hearts sink, their hopes fade and some farmers even go to the extent of taking their own lives! We can hear about these things, see them on news channels and yet be indifferent to their plight! We can just talk to God of - Me, myself and my family - Bless, bless and bless! Let the government do whatever it can to alleviate the pain of farmers! Let the scientists do whatever they can for cloud-seeding and artificial rain! But, WE can stand up as God's chosen people, take responsibility and claim God's promise according to this verse and PRAY for the rains! Yes, it's a land filled with idols and worthy of God's judgement - but we - who are called by His name, are here, and we entreat our God to have mercy, to forgive our sin and to heal the land! Jesus said "...(God) sends the rain on the just and the unjust" (Mat. 5:45). Still, about a month is left before the monsoon season ends! God, who is in heaven, (if only we would PRAY) will hear our prayers!

The verse 13 also talks of 'pestilence' - meaning an epidemic disease; now in Mumbai and elsewhere in India, there is a lot of attention to 'swine flu'; a sort of plague, that kills. You can see many moving around in fear - wearing a mask. But WE are called to exercise FAITH! God has promised in Exodus 15:26 "...I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you" (Jehovah Rophe). That He will make a difference between God's people - called by His name, and others. (Ex. 11). I'm not saying 'Don't wear a mask!' - well, if the Government says so and if the doctors advise it, go ahead... but what I'm saying is that we have a protection that is better than all masks! In Psalm 91, we read "No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling" (Ps. 91: 10) and "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (v11). The Lord who heals - that who He is! 'If there is a pestilence in the land, and if my people - who are called by My name... pray and seek My face... I will heal the land' - That's God's promise. We know how He turned away the plague of the Egyptians overnight... The same God will hear us too!

Turn with me to Jer. 29:7. "And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace". Here Jeremiah the prophet writes to the people of Israel who are in a foreign land - Babylon, where they are held captive. Yet, he instructs God's people to '...pray to the Lord' for the city and 'seek the peace of the city'. We too can think of praying to God for peace in this city - Mumbai; for communal harmony, for inter-state harmony. We thank God for India - one of the developing countries not facing recession; while quite a few developed nations face it! We can seek the welfare of those around us and pray for them - seek the welfare of our country and pray for it!

In I Timothy 2:1,2, Paul exhorts a young Timothy, "first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." In the earlier chapter (ch. 1), Paul talks of how Timothy's conduct should be and how he conducts himself! But in starting ch. 2, Paul clearly instructs that "...first of all...supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made...for all men... and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life..." We thank God for freedom to proclaim the good news (giving of thanks)! We have the state elections coming up soon! We can get involved and PRAY to God for the election results before it happens!! That God would reinstate a secular government (intercession)! Else, we would be a mere 'spectator' once the results are out. God is not looking for 'spectators', but for 'participators' - people who get involved by praying for those in authority; praying for all men and leaders! We can pray that God would endow our leaders with wisdom and vision! (supplication).

In 3 John 1:2, apostle John says "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers". It is God's desire that WE prosper in all things and be in good health. Not just spiritually, but also in material things... just as our soul prospers! Here John is writing (to Gaius)... that he is praying for Gaius to prosper... We too can learn to pray for the prosperity of God's people; pray for the prosperity of the nation. For in the progress and prosperity of the nation, we too will have prosperity. We can pray to God for people who have lost their jobs - that God will provide them jobs and meet all their needs; that God's people called by His name, will prosper in all things and be in good health...

Finally, WE can pray for revival. Throughout history we see that every revival is preceded by prayer of God's people. In Matt 9:37-38, Jesus said "...The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest". We are called to be concerned and prayerful regarding revival... How about Vashi or Navi Mumbai? If we want to see the harvest, we can start praying for this place. When we see our neighbours and colleagues, we can be concerned of them too... apart from exchanging simple pleasantries. We can pray that God use us at every oppurtunity to be his laborer. God is looking for laborers, saying "Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?" Like Isaiah, we say, "Here I am Lord, Send me". The responsibility of sharing the gospel is given to Us - human beings; and not to any angels. Even a just man like Cornelius, an angel appeared and only instructed that he call for Peter, who in turn shared the Gospel to Cornelius.

Even in a city like Mumbai, in one part of the city, we see people coming to the Lord daily in dozens (in the western suburbs); a new house group being formed every day. Young people taking up the responsibility of leading the house-group. How can it NOT happen here? If we do not stand up and be counted, what is the use of many people coming into God's fold here? Who will lead and guide them? He's the same God, answering the prayers of his people... If we pray, we can see a revival here!

Finally, let me sum up -
WE can pray for the rains and God will give the rains and the harvest;
WE can pray for the pestilence and God will heal the land;
WE can pray for the peace of the city
WE can pray for leaders and those who are in authority
WE can pray for prosperity and good health
WE can pray for revival in this nation.
God bless you.