Those Who Willingly Prayed

Scripture: Nehemiah 11:17

and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader in beginning the thanksgiving at prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Insights: We have more fun unknown hero names today.  At the same time, this fourth group is in my personal opinion the most important group.  Mattaniah was a prayer warrior.  I may step on some toes here, but I don’t think Mattaniah was praying for sister Sue’s bursitis or brother Bob’s cold.  Please read me carefully here, it is not wrong or even inappropriate to pray for peoples physical healing and wellbeing.  My concern, however, is that this kind of praying is of what ninety to ninety-five percent of our church praying consists (Scott’s guess and observation).  Martin Lloyd-Jones in his book titled Revival lists three things for which Moses prayed just before God granted him the privilege of seeing more of His glory.  1.  Moses prayed for the assurance of God’s presence.  2.  Moses prayed for power from God.  3.  Moses prayed for an authentic purpose from God, in other words, he wanted to be unique and separate from the world.  He wanted holiness to characterize his life.  These three prayers of Moses have eternal ramifications.  Let me list four questions to probe if your prayers are eternally focused or earthly centered.  Are you as a Christ-follower crying out with loud voices for God’s glory to be manifestly present in your worship services?  Are you begging God to fill your pastor with His Spirit and power in his preaching?  Are you praying for boldness in your witness to a lost world?  Are you praying for long lengths of time prostrate before your Lord and asking for His will to be done?  James tells us “… You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures (4:2-3).”  A little later in this letter James tells us “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (5:16).”  Here is the point, we often times don’t see miraculous things happening for the kingdom of God because we don’t ask for them to happen.  Sometimes when we do ask we are asking with wrong motives because what we desire is the personal praise for what God has done.  If, however, we are sincere, then our prayers are effective.  Pray kingdom prayers, Beloved!

Questions:

1. How much time do you spend on your knees in prayer?
2. For what kind of things are you praying?

Prayer: Father, it is a privilege you have given Your children to pray.  Increase my faith, Lord, and let my prayers become powerful and effective.  Let my desires be Your desires and let me pray with a focus on eternity.  Hear my cries, Lord, and grant me Your favor. Amen.