Help me to pray as I ought to

I've attended quite a few churches. One thing that most of them have in common is that their prayer emphasis is on sick people.

That's not what the early church did. A search for occurrences of "prayer," "pray," and the like, in the New Testament, not including the Gospels, was done. That is, the search was in the Bible's record of the early church. I found about sixty such occurrences. Of these, only three were for a sick person, and only one was for the salvation of others, and that was for Jews in general (Romans 10:1), not for any particular Jew.

The first mass conversion in the early church was at Pentecost, where about three thousand people were converted. There's no indication that the believers had been praying for the salvation of any of these people, as individuals. Apparently, they were praying for their own group, for the Holy Spirit to empower them. And Spirit-filled believers were able to influence others to become believers.

Almost all of the New Testament church’s prayers or prayer requests were for believer’s growth and/or for their ministry. And besides that, of course, there's the most important prayer in the Gospels, that of Jesus, for believers, in John 17.

It’s not wrong to pray for the sick or for the salvation of others. But it is wrong to spend little or no effort in praying for believers to grow, to stay pure, to be guided by the Spirit, to absorb the Bible, and to have effective ministry. Am I a good example of this? No. I wish I were a better one.

Thanks for reading! Pray for other believers, and their ministry.

Prisoners for the Lord

Prisoners for the Lord

We are to minister to those imprisoned, whatever the reason they are there.

Luke 4:18a “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives,

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35a for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in bonds*, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. (*or “in prison.”)

Christians may be jailed, or otherwise suffer, for their beliefs.

Christ's servants, if they come to be prisoners, are his prisoners; and he despises not his prisoners. He thinks never the worse of them for the bad character which the world gives them or the evil treatment that they met with in it. – Matthew Henry’s Commentary, public domain.

“… for most of church history—and in most of the world today—Christians have been severely oppressed, marginalized and killed for their beliefs. (Daniel Hess, “God Has a Great Plan for You (Even If It’s Not What You Had in Mind),” Relevant, January 5, 2018.)

Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you.

Acts 12:1-16 tells the story of Peter’s miraculous release from prison; 16:16-40 Paul and Silas in the jail at Philippi; Acts 21:12 through Acts 28 tells of Paul’s arrest and transfer to Rome. (See below for full texts.)

Becoming a believer is like being released from prison.

“And Can It Be” and “O Zion, haste” are hymns that speak of salvation in such terms.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. ("And Can It Be ...," Charles Wesley, public domain)

Behold how many thousands still are lying
bound in the dark-some prison-house of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life He died for them to win. ("O Zion, haste ... ," Mary Ann Thomson, public domain.

Following Christ is like willingly being jailed by Him. That seems to be what Paul was saying in these verses, although he probably was also referring to actual imprisonment:

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me.

A prisoner of the Lord gives up her freedom. She eats and sleeps as Christ commands. She lives for Christ, and others, not for herself. But she gladly submits to such imprisonment!

Acts 12:1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. 8 The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

Acts 16:16 As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. 17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us a way of salvation!” 18 She was doing this for many days.
But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city 21 and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”
22 The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, 24 who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. 27 The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
29 He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, 30 brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house.
33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. 34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore come out and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
38 The sergeants reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and begged them. When they had brought them out, they asked them to depart from the city. 40 They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, then departed.

Acts 21:12 When we heard these things, both we and the people of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 

Thanks for reading!

Excerpts from Impressions, by Martin Wells Knapp, 4

There are many different telegraph wires over which messages are transmitted from the Divine mind to our own. The following are among the number:

The Bible. This is God's will revealed in human language. Its impressions are divine. It speaks on every needed subject, and its general principles and specific applications of them are designed above all minor voices to so impress us that "being made wise unto salvation," whatsoever we do in word or deed shall be done solely for man's good and God's glory.

The Ministry. God frequently sends special and startling messages by His ministers. Impressions made by the truth as it leaps front a glowing heart are often indelible. Many, as at Pentecost, have been "so pricked to the heart," that they have found no rest until fully surrendered to Jesus. Others have thus been comforted, or strengthened, or convicted for some special work.

Personal Influence. Many messages from above are sent over this wire. The impressions thus made on my mind by letters from a dear friend awakened and led me to Jesus, and when tried in the furnace of God's afflictive fires, one of the strongest comforting impressions that came to me was caused by the following lines sent by one of earth's comforting angels:
"In the furnace God may prove thee,
Thence to bring thee forth more bright,
But can never cease to love thee,
Thou art precious in His sight.
God is with thee,
God thine everlasting Light."
Such instances like the sands on the seashore are numberless.

Prayer. One of the mightiest influences which lead Godward and heavenward is the prayer of faith.

Under its power persecuting Sauls fall blindly to the earth, and the counsels of persecutors are overturned, and saints are comforted and led in ways they knew not of. The pressure brought to bear upon the mind of the one for whom a number unite in prayer is mighty. Who is there that has not "felt" the prayers of others in their restraining or persuasive influence?

From Impressions, by Martin Wells Knapp. Original publication date, 1892. Public domain. My source is here. The previous post in the series is here.

Christianity Today and articles about the brain's ability

Christianity Today has recently published two articles about a handicapped brain and a relationship to God.

One of them discusses an all-too-common fact -- the church forgets people with Alzheimer's, and their caregivers.

The other gives the story of a man in South Africa who was unable to communicate for nine years, although his brain was active, and he could hear and see, but who came to faith in God during that time. A remarkable story.

Thanks for reading. Read these articles.

R. A. Torrey on the baptism with the Holy Spirit

“How the Baptism of the Holy Spirit can be Obtained” (From The Baptism with the Holy Spirit, 1895, by R. A. Torrey. Public domain. The book is available here, and from other sources.) Torrey believed that the baptism with the Holy Spirit was meant for all Christians. The following is a summary of a chapter of Torrey's book.

There are seven steps to obtaining the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All seven are stated or implied in Acts 2: 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. . . .”

1 Repent. That is, change your mind about Christ, by accepting Him as Savior and Lord.

2. Repent. That is, change your mind about sin, by putting away every sin, however trivial it may seem.

3. Be baptized. Torrey points out that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus right after His baptism. (Luke 3: 21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22a and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him) Torrey says that the experience of the household of Cornelius was exceptional, and that they were baptized with water immediately after they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

4. Obedience. “Total Surrender to the will of God.”

5. “Intense desire for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.” Torrey quotes Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” This desire must be for God’s glory, not ours, and must be a desire for a more effective ministry.

6. Ask God for a definite blessing – the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

7. Believe that you have obtained this baptism. Just as we aren’t saved by feelings, but can claim salvation on the authority of the Bible, Torrey says that we can claim the baptism of the Holy Spirit, if we have met the conditions, on the authority of God’s word.

Praying for my church

My pastor has recently asked us to pray for our church, on Thursday evenings, at a time of our choosing. What he really means is that he hopes that we will pray more than we have been -- I hope most of us were already doing so. It's a good idea, and I have begun to do this. I am grateful for his leadership.

I believe that the main emphasis in such prayer should be ministry, and ministers. 

What is meant by ministry? The following, and perhaps more:
+ visiting other members, or prospective members, for encouragement
+ inviting others to attendance, or to salvation
+ caring for the sick and shut-in, and providing relief to caregivers
+ welcoming, including greeting those who attend, and making them feel at home, serving refreshments, passing out bulletins
+teaching and otherwise leading small groups, including leading them in ministry, and caring for spiritual and other needs in the group
+ providing food for the hungry, and clothing and shelter for those lacking such
+ prison ministry
+ caring for children, youth and others with special need
+ raising children lovingly, teaching them the Bible, and what's right and wrong
+ testifying to others about what God has done
+ preaching
+ presenting music and A/V materials
+ administering sacraments
+ leading worship by means other than music and preaching, such as presenting drama, reading scripture or leading responsive reading
+ explaining and/or proclaiming the gospel publicly, as by example, word of mouth, by phone, letter, blogging or social media

People who do these things, and perhaps others that I have not included, are, for this purpose, ministers. Perhaps I have left out some categories. Feel free to remind me of any others that should have been included.

Giving and prayer are also ministry, I suppose, but should be part of the work of all believers, except for those unable to give.

Yes, there are sick and unredeemed people, and financial needs, and it's not wrong for Christians to pray for these. But the New Testament church emphasized prayer for ministry and ministers, with almost no record of prayer for the sick or unsaved, or for financial needs. That is probably because, if ministers are empowered and enabled to minister, the sick, unredeemed, and even financial needs, will be met.

Thanks for reading! Pray for your ministers.