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But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
“Prayer Doesn’t Work! I prayed for my grandma and she died anyway.”
“I prayed about that job but didn’t get it”
“I prayed that relationship would work but it didn’t.”
One of the reasons many leave the faith, doubt God, or fail to believe in the power of prayer in their lives is because of “unanswered prayer” and God’s seeming inability to fulfill his promises.
John 15:7 is often quoted, or should I say MISquoted, as proof. However, if you read the whole verse in its context you’ll see that the emphasis isn’t on getting what we want at all! The emphasis is on abiding.
Charles Spurgeon writes, “If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
When we are one in heart and mind with Jesus our desires become his desires. Our ‘wants’ become His wants. Our focus is on the Kingdom not on earthly passions.
Does that mean that God is not interested in providing us with good relationships, good jobs, and a happy life? Of course not! Jeremiah tells us he has a wonderful plan for our life. But it’s a matter of priorities. Jesus says “seek first, the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added to us.”
I dare say many if not all of our “unanswered prayers” are self-focused prayers, not abiding prayers.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that often my prayers are for my own good, and not for the good of the kingdom. I don’t see things as you see them. My ways are not your ways. Help me to learn to abide in you so that when I pray, my prayers are kingdom-focused and not self-focused. In your name I pray, amen.
So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:20
One day, Jesus and his disciples crossed a lake and entered gentile territory. Near the shore was a grave yard. Soon He and his friends were approached by a man so possessed of demons he could not be chained or controlled. He spent his life wandering among the tombs screaming and moaning. I’m guessing that was a pretty scary moment for the disciples. I’m also guessing it didn’t affect Jesus in the least.
It’s interesting, the man screamed at Jesus, but Jesus only addressed the demons inside him. That’s Jesus for you. We’d focus on the man and his behavior. Jesus focused on his heart.
After talking with the demons, Jesus sent them into a herd of nearby pigs who promptly drowned themselves in the lake! When the herders of the pigs saw this they were shocked! They went and told the people in the nearby town what had happened. When the crowd returned they saw the crazy man of the village sitting calmly talking with Jesus. Fully clothed and in his right mind.
This was all too much for the people in the town to process. They could handle the crazy guy full of demons, but apparently Jesus made them uncomfortable. Or perhaps they were upset because all the bacon they hoped for was in the bottom of the lake. (Ok, sorry. Couldn’t resist that one)
Anyway, back to the story. As Jesus and his crew prepared to leave, the man healed of demons asked to accompany Jesus. Jesus, however, told the man to stay back and travel to the surrounding countryside and tell people what Jesus had done for him. You see, the man had a story to tell and although I’m sure Jesus would have loved having him around, the man’s mission to tell others about Jesus was far more important.
He has the same message for you too, you know. The man in our story was most likely a gentile, not a Hebrew as Jesus and his friends were. Jewish boys are taught about God’s law from the very beginning. Not this guy? He most likely didn’t have a clue about Abraham, Moses, Isaiah or all the prophecies about some coming Messiah. He hadn’t gone to church, been baptized or studied the ‘Bible’. He really only knew one thing and that one thing was what Jesus had done for him.
As believers in Jesus we need to have a passion to tell others about what Jesus means to us. Education in God’s word is nice. Going to church can be helpful. But the best tool you have to bring others to Jesus is to tell them simply, “This is what Jesus did for me.”
So, what’s your story? How has Jesus made a difference in your life, in your marriage, in your work ethic, in your attitude? Sharing what Jesus means to you is far more valuable than any sermon any pastor can ever preach. People may be able to argue theology or doctrine. They may be able to ask all sorts of questions you can’t answer. But the one thing they can’t argue about is what Jesus means to you. Make your story real. Make it short. Make it meaningful. Spread it to your world!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 