Tag Archives: touched by the Holy Spirit

A Window Into Prayers Lifted Up to Heaven

Unless you have an encounter with an angel, receive a rhema from God or are touched by the Holy Spirit, it’s hard to understand the mind of God. Anyone who has lifted up prayers to God knows how frustrating it can be to pray about the same thing for weeks, months or years without receiving an answer or seeing any progress. Yet, at the end of Exodus 2, Moses provides a window into God’s perspective and response when prayers are lifted up to heaven.

However, after a long time [nearly forty years] the king of Egypt died; and the Israelites were sighing and groaning because of the bondage. They kept crying, and their cry because of slavery ascended to God. 24 And God heard their sighing and groaning and [earnestly] remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, Exodus 2:23-24.

During an interesting exchange at the end of Exodus chapter 2, God reveals to Moses his intentions based upon prayers that have been lifted up by Israelites. Since God is omnipresent, the Lord heard and seen all the harsh treatment that His chosen people were experiencing in Egypt. Yet, just as the film Bruce Almighty tried to illustrate, if God granted every prayer request such as winning the lottery, answers to prayer wouldn’t be as powerful or special.

God saw the Israelites and took knowledge of them and concerned Himself about them [knowing all, understanding, remembering all], Exodus 2:25.

The key take away into this window of prayers lifted up to heaven is that God knows and understands your current situation. Some days are like a blessing, but most of our days on earth God puts us into situations where you are forced to mature. The Bible refers to these events as trials, 1 Peter 1:6-7, to test and refine your faith. When God doesn’t answer any prayers for an extended period of time, Isaiah 1:15-18 provides further insight into this window into heaven.

by Jay Mankus

When Common Sense and Prayer Unite

Scanning cable news channels on any given night can be entertaining, head scratching, and frightening all at the same time. Left is right, up is down, right is wrong, and science is gender neutral. One of the things I appreciate about attending a public high school and university is that I’ve experienced several cultures, faiths, and people over my 53 years of life on earth. Despite the numerous differences that do exist, I’ve seen common sense and prayer unite a congregation.

Then [Abraham] said to Him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak [again]. Suppose [only] thirty shall be found there. And He answered, I will not do it if I find thirty there. 31 And [Abraham] said, Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak [again] to the Lord. Suppose [only] twenty shall be found there. And [the Lord] replied, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32 And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again only this once. Suppose ten [righteous people] shall be found there. And [the Lord] said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake, Genesis 18:30-32.

I recall a special Red Lion elder meeting hosted by the Gilberts. The entire Church Board was gathered in Larry’s office in a circle when Pastor’s Jamie’s words resonated with my good friend Mark. As the board was revisiting our mission statement and vision for Red Lion Evangelical Free Church, Mark was touched by the Holy Spirit, brought to uncontrollable tears. The Board didn’t care if visitors stayed or became members of our church, all we wanted as a group of believers is for our community is to know Jesus by entering into a personal relationship.

Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me [b]intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or [c]at the last she come and rail on me or [d]assault me or [e]strangle me. Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He [f]defer them and [g]delay help on their behalf? I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [[h]persistence in] faith on the earth? – Luke 18:5-8

When God reveals that Sodom, where his nephew Lot now resides, is going to be destroy, Abraham blends common sense into his prayer. Abraham begins his prayer hopeful that the presence of godly individuals will convince God to alter his judgement. Jesus points to a persistent widow who uses a similar strategy as she prays for the justice and ruling she believes is just and right. While God doesn’t grant every request that you long for in prayer, mixing common sense with prayer won’t hurt and can lead to uniting an entire church body.

by Jay Mankus