Archives For Prayer

Let Us Pray for the Salvation of the US Supreme Court Justices!

March 24, 2014

In 1973, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued an unjust ruling that has helped to deprive millions of unborn Americans of their lives. Because of that ruling, the blood of more than 40,000,000 innocent unborn American citizens is in part on the hands of those judges who ruled in favor of legalizing abortion in the US.

Soon, the justices who are currently on SCOTUS will issue a landmark ruling that will likely have immense ramifications for Christians in the US. As we pray and wait for the outcome of this momentous case, let us who have received forgiveness of our sins keep in mind the example and teaching of Paul that applies to the spiritual needs of the current justices of SCOTUS.

A Pauline Burden for Their Salvation

When he stood on trial before an unjust king, Paul desired that not only that king but also all the other lost people who were present at that hearing would be saved: “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds” (Acts 26:29). Through his example on this occasion, Paul teaches that we should have a burden for the salvation of those who exercise judicial authority over us, whether they do it justly or not.

A Pauline Emphasis on Praying for These Who Rule Over Us 

Writing to Timothy, who was in Ephesus, Paul exhorted him that they should make prayer for ruling authorities a top priority in the corporate prayer life of the Church (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Paul emphasizes in this teaching that such prayer is vital because God would “have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

Keeping in mind that the justices on SCOTUS are key authorities who rule over us, we must pray fervently in our churches for their salvation.

Discussion

Someday, each of the justices who voted in favor of legalizing abortion in 1973 will stand before the true Supreme Court of heaven and earth and give an account for their sins. In that day, these who were justices on SCOTUS will answer to the God-resurrected, God-glorified Jesus of Nazareth, the One appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).

Any of them who did not repent of their sins and believe in His name while they were still alive here on the earth died in his sins (John 8:24). God did not want any of them to perish (1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9) and offered each one of them forgiveness of their sins.

Moreover, regardless of how the current SCOTUS rules on the monumental case before them now, God wants them to repent of their sins and believe on His Son. If they will do so, He will forgive them of their sins and save them.

We must have a burden for their salvation and pray to that end. Doing so, we will be followers of Paul and Jesus (cf. Luke 23:34; John 5:34), as we must be (1 Cor. 11:1).

Conclusion

Based on Paul’s apostolic example (Acts 26:29) and instruction (1 Tim. 2:1-8), we understand that God would have us to desire the salvation of the justices on SCOTUS and to make praying for their salvation a priority in our churches. Let us pray fervently for the salvation of the US Supreme Court justices, especially because they are on the brink of making a decision that will likely have enormous ramifications for the cause of Christ!

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Exhortation, Interpretation, Prayer
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The Use of “O” in Addressing Deity: Part I

March 17, 2014

Using BibleWorks 7, I compiled the following instances of the use of the interjection “O” in addressing Deity. This data provides us with valuable information about various ways in which Scripture presents appropriate ways to address God using the interjection “O.”

By studying these 55 differing expressions used to address Deity, we can learn to vary our prayers to God. I plan to provide an analysis of this data in a separate post.

O Father John 17:5
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth Matt. 11:25; Lk. 10:21
O God Num. 12:13; Jdg. 16:28; 1 Chr. 17:17; Neh. 6:9; Ps. 5:10; 10:12; 16:1; 17:6; 25:22; 36:7; 42:1; 43:1, 4; 44:1, 4; 45:6; 48:9, 10; 51:1, 10, 17; 54:1, 2; 55:1, 23; 56:1, 7, 12; 57:1, 5, 7, 11; 58:6; 60:1, 10; 61:1, 5; 63:1; 64:1; 65:1; 66:10; 67:3, 5; 68:7, 9, 10, 24, 28, 35; 69:1, 5, 13, 29; 70:1, 5; 71:17, 18, 19; 72:1; 74:1, 10, 22; 75:1; 77:13, 16; 79:1; 80:3; 82:8; 83:1; 84:9; 86:14; 94:1; 108:1, 5, 11; 139:17, 19, 23; 144:9; Isa. 64:4; Heb. 1:8; 10:7, 9
O God of hosts Ps. 80:7, 14
O God of Israel 1 Ki. 8:26; Ps. 69:6
O God of Israel, the Saviour Isa. 45:15
O God of Jacob Ps. 76:6; 84:8
O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD Gen. 32:9
O God of my praise Ps. 109:1
O God of my righteousness Ps. 4:1
O God of my salvation Ps. 27:9
O God of our salvation 1 Chr. 16:35; Ps. 65:5; 79:9; 85:4
O God our shield Ps. 84:9
O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh Num. 16:22
O GOD the Lord Ps. 109:21; 140:7; 141:8
O God, thou God of my salvation Ps. 51:14
O king Ps. 145:1
O King of nations Jer. 10:7
O Lord Exod. 15:17; 34:9; Jos. 7:8; Neh. 1:11; Ps. 35:22; 44:23; 51:15; 55:9; 57:9; 59:11; 62:12; 73:20; 86:3f, 8, 9, 15; 130:3; Isa. 38:16; Dan. 9:7, 8, 16, 19 [3]; Rev. 4:11; 6:10; 15:4; 16:5
O LORD Exod. 15:6, 11, 16, 17; Num. 10:36; Deut. 21:8; 26:10; Jdg. 5:31; 2 Sam. 15:31; 22:29, 50; 23:17; 24:10; 1 Ki. 18:37; 19:4; 2 Ki. 20:3; 1 Chr. 17:19, 20, 27; 29:11; Ps. 3:3, 7; 5:1, 3, 8; 6:1, 2, 3, 4; 7:6, 8; 9:1, 13, 19, 20;   10:1, 12; 13:1; 17:1, 13, 14; 18:15, 49; 21:1; 22:19; 25:1, 4, 6, 11; 26:1, 2; 27:7, 11; 30:1, 8, 10; 31:1, 9, 14, 17; 33:22; 35:1, 22; 36:5; 38:1, 15, 21;   39:12; 40:11, 13; 41:10; 54:6; 59:8; 69:13, 16; 70:5; 71:1; 74:18; 85:7; 86:1, 6, 11; 88:13; 89:5, 15, 51; 90:13; 92:5, 9; 93:3, 5; 94:5, 12, 18; 101:1; 102:1, 12; 104:24; 106:4; 108:3; 115:1; 116:4, 16; 118:25; 119:12, 31, 33, 41, 52, 55, 57, 64, 65, 75, 89, 107, 108, 137, 145, 149, 151, 156, 159, 169, 174; 120:2; 123:3; 125:4; 126:4; 132:8; 135:13; 137:7; 138:4, 8; 139:21; 140:1, 4, 8; 141:3; 142:5; 143:1, 9, 11; 144:5; 145:10; Isa. 12:1; 26:8; 33:2; 37:17; 38:3, 14; 63:16, 17; 64:9, 12; Jer. 5:3; 10:23, 24; 12:1, 3; 14:7, 9; 17:13, 14; 18:19; 31:7; Lam. 1:9, 11, 20; 2:20; 3:55, 61, 64; 5:1, 19, 21; Hos. 9:14; Joel 1:19; 2:17; Jon. 1:14; 4:2f; Hab. 1:2; 3:2
O Lord GOD Deut. 3:24; 9:26; Jos. 7:7; Jdg. 6:22; 16:28; 2 Sam. 7:18, 19 [2], 28, 29; 1 Ki. 8:53; Ps. 71:5; Jer. 32:25; Ezek. 37:3; Amos 7:2, 5
O LORD God 2 Sam. 7:22, 25; 1 Chr. 17:16, 17; 2 Chr. 1:9; 6:41 [2], 42; Ps. 94:1
O Lord God Almighty Rev. 11:17
O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel 1 Chr. 29:18
O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God Neh. 1:5
O LORD God of hosts Ps. 59:5; 69:6; 80:4, 19; 84:8; 89:8; Jer. 15:16
O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel Ps. 59:5
O LORD God of Israel Jdg. 21:3; 1 Sam. 20:12; 23:10, 11; 2 Ki. 9:15; 2 Chr. 6:14, 16, 17; Ezra 9:15
O LORD God of my master Abraham Gen. 24:12; 42
O LORD God of my salvation Ps. 88:1
O LORD God of our fathers 2 Chr. 20:6
O LORD God of truth Ps. 31:5
O LORD of hosts 1 Sam. 1:11; Ps. 84:1, 3, 12; Jer. 11:20; 20:12; Zec. 1:2
O LORD of hosts, God of Israel Is. 37:16; 2 Sam. 7:27
O LORD our God 1 Chr. 29:16; 2 Chr. 14:11; Ps. 99;8; 106:47; Isa. 26:13; 37:20; Jer. 14:22
O Lord our God Dan. 9:15
O LORD our Lord Ps. 8:1; 8:9
O Lord, the great and dreadful God Dan. 9:4
O LORD, the hope of Israel Jer. 17:13
O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be Rev. 16:5
O most High Ps. 92:1
O my Father Matt. 26:39, 42
O my God 1 Chr. 17:25; Ezr. 9:6; Neh. 13:14, 22, 29, 31; Ps. 3:7; 22:2; 25:2; 38:21; 40:8, 17; 42:6; 59:1; 71:4, 12, 22; 83:13; 102:24; Dan. 9:18, 19
O my Lord Exod. 4:10, 13; Judg. 13:8; Zec. 1:9
O our God 2 Chr. 20:12; Ezra 9:10; Neh. 4:4; Dan. 9:17
O Shepherd of Israel Ps. 80:1
O thou God of my fathers Dan. 2:23
O thou Holy One of Israel Ps. 71:22
O thou most High Ps. 9:2; 56:2
O thou my God Ps. 86:2
O thou preserver of men Job 7:20
O thou that dwellest in the heavens Ps. 123:1
O thou that hearest prayer Ps. 65:2
O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel Ps. 22:3
O thou that savest by thy right hand . . . Ps. 17:7

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Prayer, Theology
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Have Mercy on Us, O Lord (Ten misercordia de nosotros, oh Jehová)!

February 11, 2014

From my regular reading in the Psalms in the Reina Valera, I have been struck by how many times the psalmists prayed for the Lord to have mercy on them. The phrase ten misericordia (‘have mercy’) occurs 19 times in 17 verses in the Psalms and 13 times elsewhere in 13 verses for a total of 32 times in 30 verses.[1]

Meditating on these verses provides us with rich instruction about how we should pray: 

  1. Psa 4:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.> Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.R60 Psa 4:1 <Al músico principal; sobre Neginot. Salmo de David.> Respóndeme cuando clamo, oh Dios de mi justicia. Cuando estaba en angustia, tú me hiciste ensanchar; Ten misericordia de mí, y oye mi oración.
  2. Psa 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.R60 Psa 6:2 Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová, porque estoy enfermo; Sáname, oh Jehová, porque mis huesos se estremecen.
  3. Psa 9:13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:R60 Psa 9:13 Ten misericordia de mí, Jehová; Mira mi aflicción que padezco a causa de los que me aborrecen, Tú que me levantas de las puertas de la muerte,
  4. Psa 25:16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.R60 Psa 25:16 Mírame, y ten misericordia de mí, Porque estoy solo y afligido.
  5. Psa 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.R60 Psa 26:11 Mas yo andaré en mi integridad; Redímeme, y ten misericordia de mí.
  6. Psa 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.R60 Psa 27:7 Oye, oh Jehová, mi voz con que a ti clamo; Ten misericordia de mí, y respóndeme.
  7. Psa 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.R60 Psa 30:10 Oye, oh Jehová, y ten misericordia de mí; Jehová, sé tú mi ayudador.
  8. Psa 31:9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.R60 Psa 31:9 Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová, porque estoy en angustia; Se han consumido de tristeza mis ojos, mi alma también y mi cuerpo.
  9. Psa 41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.R60 Psa 41:4 Yo dije: Jehová, ten misericordia de mí; Sana mi alma, porque contra ti he pecado.
  10. Psa 41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.R60 Psa 41:10 Mas tú, Jehová, ten misericordia de mí, y hazme levantar, Y les daré el pago.
  11. Psa 56:1 <To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.> Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.R60 Psa 56:1 <Al músico principal; sobre La paloma silenciosa en paraje muy distante. Mictam de David, cuando los filisteos le prendieron en Gat.> Ten misericordia de mí, oh Dios, porque me devoraría el hombre; Me oprime combatiéndome cada día.
  12. Psa 57:1 <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.R60 Psa 57:1 <Al músico principal; sobre No destruyas. Mictam de David, cuando huyó de delante de Saúl a la cueva.> Ten misericordia de mí, oh Dios, ten misericordia de mí; Porque en ti ha confiado mi alma, Y en la sombra de tus alas me ampararé Hasta que pasen los quebrantos.
  13. Psa 86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.R60 Psa 86:3 Ten misericordia de mí, oh Jehová; Porque a ti clamo todo el día.
  14. Psa 86:16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.R60 Psa 86:16 Mírame, y ten misericordia de mí; Da tu poder a tu siervo, Y guarda al hijo de tu sierva.
  15. Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.R60 Psa 119:58 Tu presencia supliqué de todo corazón; Ten misericordia de mí según tu palabra.
  16. Psa 119:132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.R60 Psa 119:132 Mírame, y ten misericordia de mí, Como acostumbras con los que aman tu nombre.
  17. Psa 123:3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.R60 Psa 123:3 Ten misericordia de nosotros, oh Jehová, ten misericordia de nosotros, Porque estamos muy hastiados de menosprecio.
  18. Isa 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.R60 Isa 33:2 Oh Jehová, ten misericordia de nosotros, a ti hemos esperado; tú, brazo de ellos en la mañana, sé también nuestra salvación en tiempo de la tribulación.
  19. Mat 9:27  And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.R60 Mat 9:27  Pasando Jesús de allí, le siguieron dos ciegos, dando voces y diciendo: ¡Ten misericordia de nosotros, Hijo de David!
  20. Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.R60 Mat 15:22 Y he aquí una mujer cananea que había salido de aquella región clamaba, diciéndole: ¡Señor, Hijo de David, ten misericordia de mí! Mi hija es gravemente atormentada por un demonio.
  21. Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.R60 Mat 17:15  Señor, ten misericordia de mi hijo, que es lunático, y padece muchísimo; porque muchas veces cae en el fuego, y muchas en el agua.
  22. Mat 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.R60 Mat 20:30 Y dos ciegos que estaban sentados junto al camino, cuando oyeron que Jesús pasaba, clamaron, diciendo: ¡Señor, Hijo de David, ten misericordia de nosotros!
  23. Mat 20:31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.R60 Mat 20:31 Y la gente les reprendió para que callasen; pero ellos clamaban más, diciendo: ¡Señor, Hijo de David, ten misericordia de nosotros!
  24. Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.R60 Mar 9:22 Y muchas veces le echa en el fuego y en el agua, para matarle; pero si puedes hacer algo, ten misericordia de nosotros, y ayúdanos.
  25. Mar 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.R60 Mar 10:47 Y oyendo que era Jesús nazareno, comenzó a dar voces y a decir: ¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten misericordia de mí!
  26. Mar 10:48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.R60 Mar 10:48 Y muchos le reprendían para que callase, pero él clamaba mucho más: ¡Hijo de David, ten misericordia de mí!
  27. Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.R60 Luk 16:24 Entonces él, dando voces, dijo: Padre Abraham, ten misericordia de mí, y envía a Lázaro para que moje la punta de su dedo en agua, y refresque mi lengua; porque estoy atormentado en esta llama.
  28. Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.R60 Luk 17:13 y alzaron la voz, diciendo: ¡Jesús, Maestro, ten misericordia de nosotros!
  29. Luk 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.R60 Luk 18:38 Entonces dio voces, diciendo: ¡Jesús, Hijo de David, ten misericordia de mí!
  30. Luk 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.R60 Luk 18:39 Y los que iban delante le reprendían para que callase; pero él clamaba mucho más: ¡Hijo de David, ten misericordia de mí!

Let us learn from this wealth of scriptural instruction to pray regularly, “Have mercy on us, O Lord” (Ten misericordia de nosotros, oh Jehová)!

 

[1]  Ten misericordia is rendered as follows: “have mercy” [21x]; “be merciful” [9x]; “be gracious” [1x]; and “have compassion” [1x].

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Exhortation, Prayer, Spanish
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Learning to Pray in Spanish

January 14, 2014

I am trying to learn to pray in Spanish. I produced the following model prayers using BibleWorks 8, Google Translate, the translation tool at Spanishdict.com (http://www.spanishdict.com/translation), and Webster’s Comprehensive Spanish-English Dictionary.

The Bible references provide the verse that I used to write each prayer. If you know Spanish and see any problems with anything below, please let me know.

(Estoy aprendiendo a orar en español. Si ves algún error en las oraciones siguientes, por favor, házmelo saber.)

Ten misericordia de nosotros, Jehová, porque somos pecadores. (Ps. 9:13)

Abre nuestros ojos para que veamos las maravillas de tu ley. (Ps. 119:18)

Nosotros deseamos que tus santos sean prosperado en todas las cosas y que tengan salud, así como prosperan sus almas. (3 John 2)

Padre santo, guarda en tu nombre a todos nosotros, a quien tú has dado a tu Hijo Jesucristo, para que seamos uno, así como tú y tu Hijo y tu Espíritu Santo somos uno. (John 17:11)

Te rogamos que nos guardes del mal. (John 17:15)

Santifícanos en tu verdad; tu palabra es verdad. (John 17:17)

Conceda que tu pueblo sean perfecto en unidad. (John 17:23)

Padre, por favor, haz que nosotros, a quien has dado a tu Hijo, para estar con Él donde Él está para que podamos contemplar su gloria. (John 17:24)

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Prayer, Spanish
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Six Prayer Requests for Persecuted Believers

October 11, 2013

In several recent messages on Wednesday nights, Pastor Mark Minnick has instructed us to pray six prayer requests for persecuted believers:

1. Deliverance from Persecutors 

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

 —Sometimes believers wonder whether they should pray for deliverance for persecuted brethren. This passage makes clear that it is right to pray for them to be delivered.

2. Unfailing Faith in the Midst of Sufferings

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

—Satan is the ultimate source of all persecution that believers experience. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail when he would be tried; we should pray for unfailing faith for persecuted believers.

3. Boldness to Give the Gospel to Persecutors

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

—Although Paul was in prison when he wrote these words, Paul asked that believers would pray for him to have boldness in his bonds so that he would continue to be a faithful witness in spite of his sufferings for the faith. We need to hold up persecuted brethren in prayer that they would be bold to give the gospel to their persecutors in spite of their suffering.

4. Patient Endurance of Suffering for Doing Well

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

 —Peter teaches us that God desires that believers would patiently endure the sufferings that they experience for doing what is right, even as Jesus did. Through praying that persecuted brethren would be like Christ in suffering (without reviling or threatening), we can help suffering brethren endure persecution in a way that is acceptable to God (see also 2 Thess. 1:4-5). 

5. Joy in the Midst of Suffering

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

—Jesus taught that believers must rejoice and be exceedingly glad when they suffer persecution for His sake. We can help them do so by praying for them to have the joy of the Holy Spirit even in the midst of much affliction (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6). 

6. Love for Enemies Who Persecute Us

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

—Jesus proclaimed that we must love our enemies and relate to them in loving ways in keeping with our being true children of our Heavenly Father. We should pray that suffering brethren would have a proper love in the Spirit for those who afflict them. 

Learn more by listening to Prayer For The Persecuted Part I (September 4, 2013, Mark Minnick, 2013 Sermons); Prayer For The Persecuted Part II (September 18, 2013, Mark Minnick, 2013 Sermons).

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Mount Calvary Baptist Pulpit, Prayer
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Should Christians Pray That Suffering Would Come?

October 10, 2013

Someone told me recently that he had heard that some Chinese Christians pray that persecution would come to the Church in the U.S. I also saw a presentation that includes a statement from a prominent American Christian leader that communicates that he has prayed fervently that suffering would come. Should Christians pray along these lines?

No Biblical Teaching Supports Praying That Suffering Would Come

Those who pray that suffering would come to believers may typically do so out of a desire for the Church to be purified and for believers to grow spiritually. Some may think that David’s prayer in Psalm 139 supports such praying:

Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

These verses, however, do not support praying that believers would suffer; at best, they would only support a believer’s praying that he himself would be tried.

Although desiring the purification of the Church and spiritual growth of believers is commendable, I am unaware of any teaching in Scripture that supports believers praying that believers would be persecuted or that suffering would come.

Explicit Biblical Teaching That Teaches Us to Pray for the Opposite Experience for Believers

Not only does Scripture not support praying that suffering would come, but also it clearly teaches that what we should pray for is exactly the opposite experience for believers:

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

Paul informs all believers that they should pray for all authorities with the aim that believers would lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty—it is impossible for believers to do so when they are suffering persecution!

Furthermore, Paul also teaches us that we should pray for deliverance for believers who are already being persecuted:

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

Clear apostolic teaching in both of these passages, therefore, teaches us that we should not pray that suffering would come on believers

Other Considerations That Argue Against Praying That Suffering Would Come

Moreover, persecution does not bring about spiritual growth for any of the believers who lose their lives through it. Nor does persecution necessarily lead to the purification of the Church—it sometimes leads instead to the eradication of believers in a specific area because of the unrelenting actions of wicked authorities.

Conclusion

Explicit biblical teaching and other relevant considerations, therefore, teach us that we should not pray that suffering would come. Praying for suffering and persecution to come is not biblical.

We should pray instead for the Church everywhere to be able to lead quiet and peaceable lives that are fully sanctified and dedicated to God. We should also pray for deliverance for brethren who are being persecuted.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Prayer, Theology
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A Vital Matter for Prayer!

August 28, 2013

Scripture provides us with a vast amount of information about God’s mind concerning the prayer lives of His people. We are given that information in many ways, including commands, examples, and parables.

Reading 1 Chronicles 12 this morning, I was struck by a statement that suggested to me something about which I should pray for, both for myself and for God’s people as a whole. Although this statement does not say anything directly about prayer, it seemed that the Spirit highlighted this matter to me as I read the passage.

At Ziklag, God provided King David with numerous supporters who came “to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God” (1 Chr. 12:22). At Hebron, additional supporters came to him “to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chr. 12:23).

Among the people who gathered to David at this time were more than 200 men from Issachar who served a vital function in his army:

1Ch 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

In some unspecified manner, these men understood their times in a way that distinguished them in that regard from all the other supporters of David. Their distinctive understanding equipped them to know what the Israelites should do in view of their present circumstances.

The Church of Jesus Christ has a great need for such men in our day. Given the perilous nature of our time (cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-17), we desperately need to have men who understand our times so that they know what God’s people should do!

Sensing an urgent necessity also for me to have more of such understanding and knowledge in my own life, I believe that God would now have me to pray specifically for such understanding and knowledge, both for myself and for all His people throughout the world. I look forward to how He will answer my prayers (cf. James 1:5-8) about this vital matter!

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Prayer, Testimony
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How God’s Amazing Protection of a Philistine King Should Affect Our Praying

June 1, 2013

Genesis 20 relates Abraham’s initial (recorded) encounter with Abimelech king of Gerar. Through studying the record of God’s confrontation of Abimelech after this encounter, we should learn how His amazing protection of this Philistine king should affect our praying.

ABRAHAM’S ENCOUNTER WITH ABIMELECH

Although this account involves God, Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech, all his servants, and even sheep and oxen, its main characters are God, Abimelech, and Abraham.

Abraham Lies to Abimelech about Sarah

Because Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was very beautiful (cf. Gen. 12:14), Abraham feared for his life as he traveled through pagan places (Gen. 20:11). He instructed Sarah to say that he was her brother (Gen. 20:13c), which was partially true because she was his half-sister (Gen. 20:12).

While they were staying in Gerar (Gen. 20:1), Abraham said that Sarah was his sister (Gen. 20:2a). As a result, Abimelech sent and took Sarah (Gen. 20:2b).

God Confronts Abimelech in a Dream

In a dream at night, God confronted Abimelech with the surety of his dying (Gen. 20:3; cf. 20:7) because of what he had done: “Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife” (20:3). Abimelech, however, had not yet come near her and asked the Lord if He would “slay also a righteous nation?” (20:4).

Asking this question, he queried the Lord in a remarkably similar fashion to how Abraham had earlier pled with the Judge of the all the earth about His righteous dealings with the righteous and the wicked (Gen. 18:23-32). Through this inquiry, Abimelech asserted to the Lord that he believed that he was righteous in what he had done regarding Sarah.

Furthermore, he protested to the Lord that Abraham had said that she was his sister and that Sarah herself also said that he was her brother (Gen. 20:5a-b). Remarkably, he further asserted his uprightness in what he had done: “In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this” (20:5c).

God responded to him with an acknowledgement that he indeed had done what he did with integrity: “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart” (Gen. 20:6a-b). God did not, however, stop with this acknowledgement, for He added a profound revelation about His protection of him that he otherwise would never have known anything about: “For I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her” (Gen. 20:6c-d). (Before considering this stunning revelation further, it is helpful to treat the rest of the account briefly.)

God then commanded Abimelech to restore Sarah to Abraham because he was a prophet, and informed him that Abraham would pray for him so that he would live (Gen. 20:7a). He also warned him that he and his entire household would surely die if he would not restore her (20:7b).

Abimelech Confronts Abraham 

Following God’s dealing with him in a dream, Abimelech confronted Abraham about what he had done in bringing such a great sin on Abimelech and his kingdom (Gen. 20:8-10). Abraham explained that he thought that no one among them feared God and that they would kill him because of his wife (Gen. 20:11).

He added that Sarah actually was his half-sister and that she had become his wife (Gen. 20:12). He then explained the kindness that he had requested that Sarah would show him by saying that he was her brother wherever they would go (Gen. 20:13). 

Abimelech Restores Sarah to Abraham 

Abimelech did much more than just return Sarah to Abraham; he also gave Abraham sheep, oxen, and male and female servants (Gen. 20:14). Moreover, he gave him permission to settle in his land wherever he would like (Gen. 20:15) and 1000 pieces of silver on behalf of Sarah (Gen. 20:16).

God Heals Abimelech and His Household through Abraham’s Prayer

The account ends with God’s healing Abimelech and his entire household through Abraham’s praying for them (Gen. 20:17). They now bore children, after God had stopped closing their wombs because of Sarah (Gen. 20:18).

DISCUSSION 

Several profound gems of truth are embedded in this otherwise somewhat obscure account. First, contrary to Abraham’s negative expectation, there was at least one person in Gerar (Abimelech) who did fear God and understood that it would have been sin for him to take another man’s wife. Long before the Ten Commandments had been given, therefore, even pagans knew that adultery was sin.

Second, somehow Abimelech knew and believed that the Lord was a righteous judge who would not slay a righteous nation. We are not told how this pagan king knew this information, but it is amazing that he knew it, believed it, and even appealed directly to God based on his belief of this truth!

Third, Abimelech protested to God his innocence in what he had done, and amazingly, God attested to his innocence. Yet, despite that divine attestation of his innocence, Abimelech had sinned by what he had unknowingly done.

Fourth, and perhaps most profoundly of all, this passage teaches us that God protected this pagan king from sinning against Him by keeping him from actually having relations with Sarah! We, therefore, learn that for His own purposes, God sometimes keeps even pagans from sinning against Him!

Furthermore, through God’s saying, “I also withheld thee from sinning” (Gen. 20:6), we learn that Abimelech’s not coming near Sarah was the result of both his integrity and God’s protection of him. Thus, the righteous actions of this lost man stemmed from a mysterious and fascinating interplay between human actions and divine working.

APPLICATION 

The teaching of this passage suggests many applications, some of which I may treat in other posts. At this time, I would like to focus on its implications for our praying as believers.

God kept Abimelech, a Philistine, from sinning unknowingly against Him by committing adultery with another man’s wife. Because God does not tell us exactly how He prevented him from doing so, we should conclude that our knowing that information is not as important as our noting what God did on behalf of this pagan man. 

On that reading, our learning about God’s keeping this pagan from sinning against Him should motivate us to pray that God would keep us from sinning against Him! I have no doubt God that would be very pleased with His people who allow this passage to shape their prayer lives in this way.

I have begun to make the request that God would keep me from sinning against Him a regular part of my prayer life and encourage you to do the same thing.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Discipleship, Exposition, Prayer, Theology
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The Precious Priceless Potential Value of Every Small Church

May 23, 2013

Applying the teaching of a remarkable passage in Genesis 18 to the world today reveals a profoundly encouraging aspect of the priceless potential value of small churches.

The Judge of All the Earth Reveals the Profound Value of Righteous People

Genesis 18 records a remarkable exchange between Abraham and the Lord, the Judge of all the earth:

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

 30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

This conversation reveals that the Judge would have spared Sodom, despite its exceeding sinfulness, had there been even ten righteous people in it. Thus, the presence of even ten righteous people among a vast number of exceedingly wicked people in a contemporary city, state, or country potentially could have a profound sparing effect on the entire population!

The Incomparable Potential Value of a Small Church

By applying this truth to our world, we learn that a small church of as few as ten righteous people could have a precious priceless value for a community that no other group could have for it. This reality should profoundly encourage all believers in small churches to persevere in walking worthily before God regardless of how small their ministry may be!

Because the revelation of this remarkable exchange in Genesis 18 was in the context of intercessory prayer by a righteous man, we should also learn of the immense potential value of even one righteous person who intercedes faithfully for his city, state, and country. Moreover, we should allow this passage to motivate us to be faithful to attend prayer meetings in our small churches, and we should make intercession for our communities one regular aspect of our praying for them.

May God grace all of us in every church to be true to Him, especially in private and corporate prayer for our communities.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Exhortation, Prayer, Theology
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Holy Father, Hear Us Now

March 16, 2013

I wrote this song today for my younger guitar students who speak English. Like Padre santo, por favor, it is sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

1. Holy Father, hear us now;
By Your Spirit, teach us how,
We should love You day by day;
Hear and do all that You say.
Holy Father, hear us now;
By Your Spirit, teach us how.

2. Holy Father, grace us now;
In Your mercy, show us how,
We should hear, obey, and pray;
Honor You in what we say.
Holy Father, grace us now;
in Your mercy, show us how.

3. Holy Father, fill us now,
With Your Spirit, as we bow.
We would live for You each day;
Be more like Christ ev’ry day.
Holy Father, fill us now,
With Your Spirit, as we bow.

Copyright © 2013 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

You may use this song in a ministry context provided you do not change any of the words and you provide copyright information to anyone whom you distribute it. Please contact me for any other use of the song.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Music, Prayer
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