Unleashing the power of prayer

Friday, December 14, 2018

Waiting for the Saviour

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”

1 Peter 1:9–11

In 1744, Charles Wesley published a collection of songs for Christmas titled Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord. One of the new songs he had written for the Christmas season that quickly became one of his most popular hymns was “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”.

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart

We have the privilege of looking back on the birth of Christ, but for thousands of years, those who loved and followed God were looking forward to that great event with eager anticipation. There are more than 350 Old Testament prophesies about the first or second coming of Christ. Peter tells us that even the men who were inspired to pen the Bible did not fully understand what they were given to write down regarding the future.

Through the long years they watched with eager anticipation for His first coming, just as we now watch for His second coming. Most of those who came before Christ did not live to see the promises fulfilled, but they still believed. None of us know whether we will live until His return, but we can be fully confident that it will happen in God’s perfect time, just as the birth of Jesus did. Hearing the Christmas story should inspire us to be more faithful and diligent in looking forward to His return.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Rejoice in the faithfulness of God that provided the promised Messiah exactly on schedule.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES The Gift   CURRENT TV SERIES Home for the Holidays

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” --Jeremiah 33:3 What part does prayer play in your personal life? If your spiritual life seems to lack power, you can probably trace the problem to a lack of true, heartfelt prayer and communication with the Lord. How can you and I have his presence and power without talking to and listening to God? The early church was not lacking in power. The early believers were praying people who were devoted to the teaching of the Word. And like them, we have been urged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which means we should make it a habit of our being to commune with the Lord. If you don’t know how to pray, you can use the model that Jesus gave in Luke 11. Or pray the Scriptures themselves. This is the way to unleash the power of prayer in your life. Because prayer invites the presence and the power of God into our lives, into our families, and into our church! Start now and make prayer your personal assignment. Let it invade every aspect of your life. Just come to him as those first disciples did and say, “Lord, teach me to pray.” PRAYER INVITES THE PRESENCE AND THE POWER OF GOD!

[The Reality]

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

[The Eager]

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15

[The Invitation]

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3

[The Promise]

Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.