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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 30, JULY 25, 2004 I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE When you think of the word prayer, what comes to your mind? Is it quiet moments spent in communication with our Father in heaven? Is it a list of requests that you have made, a list of supplications and desires that you have expressed to God and are awaiting answer? Perhaps when you think of prayer the first thing to come to your mind is thanksgiving for petitions granted, for help given, and for comfort and encouragement secured. All of these and more come to my mind when I think of prayer. I believe in the power of prayer. I know that James told us in James 5:16, that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” I have found confidence in the words of 1 John 5:14-15, where we find, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I know that our Father in heaven hears us and what a blessing it is to have this avenue of communication with Him available to us and to have Him want us to use it. Paul wrote in 1 Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” One of the really wonderful things about prayer is that I can pray for you and you can pray for me. Now, I don’t mean that I can pray “instead” of you, or that you can pray “instead” of me. I simply mean that I can offer prayer on your behalf and you can offer prayer on my behalf. We can pray for each other. Who can forget the beautiful prayer of Jesus in John 17? In verse 9 Jesus said, “I prayer for them: (‘them’ being the apostles, g.l.) I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” In verse 20, Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” In Luke 22:31-32, we read, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus shows us that we are to pray on behalf of others. In Acts 12:5, we are told, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Look at what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18-19, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 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.” We could present a host of additional examples of brethren either praying for one another or being exhorted to do so. Let us be certain that we follow this part of the New Testament pattern and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. With those of our number who are sick, those who are bereaved, those who are shut-in, those who are weak in the faith, those who are experiencing financial difficulties, those involved in a job search, and those who can simply use a word of encouragement; there is never a lack of need for prayer. Let’s remember each other several times a day as we go to our Father in prayer. It works. Greg Litmer UNDER CONSTRUCTIONSoon concrete will be poured, doors will be moved and new ones cut, and walls will be torn down. The first phrase of the remodeling and expansion will be taking place. It will be a bit of an inconvenience, but only if we choose to look at it that way. I think it is going to be fun to watch and fun to be involved in. When I think of the physical work to be done I am reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 3:11-15. He wrote, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Every Christian is a construction worker, building upon the most precious of foundations, indeed the only foundation upon which a church of Christ can be built – Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God. We build as we live our lives as Christians, teaching others the gospel of Christ. Some will respond favorably, and the boundaries of the kingdom will increase, just like the addition to the building. Great care will be taken concerning the type of materials included in the remodeling and expansion and nothing of inferior quality will be used. All of the materials will have been tried and tested, proven to be able to withstand the stresses they will be put through. In the construction of the Lord’s church not all of the material will prove to be able to withstand the stresses of being part of the temple of God. Paul referred to it as wood, hay, and stubble. Some of those who respond favorably will fall away when the fiery trials of the life of a Christian come upon them. Others, referred to as gold, silver, and precious stones, will come through those trials stronger and purer than before. Our job is to keep on building. It won’t be long and the construction will be completed. When you think about it, it won’t be long before our work as builders in the kingdom of Christ is over too. I watched a bricklayer once laying bricks on a building. At first I thought he was slow. I came to understand that he was steady and consistent. That is what we must be as we build on the foundation of Christ – steady and consistent. Just keep on working, keep on building. Greg Litmer
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