049 Pray First: Because Someone Prayed
I’d like to tell you about someone. His name isn’t important. His gender is irrelevant (in fact we don’t know whether this someone was a “he” or a “she”). There’s no reason to think that this someone was a person of great significance. The reason why this person is important isn’t because of who they were, but because of what they did.
He went to Jesus on behalf of a sick friend.
John 11:3 (NCV) says, “So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’”
By the time Jesus arrived 4 days later, Lazarus was dead and buried. But rather than being too late, Jesus was right on time. And one of the most dramatic stories in the whole Bible occurred. Lazarus came back to life and walked out of that tomb!
The steps that led to Lazarus’ healing began when “someone” came to Jesus and requested Him to act.
The power of God was released when a fervent request was made.
S.D. Gordon wrote:
“The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you cannot do more than prayer until you have prayed.”
The Apostle John, who tells us the story of Lazarus, also gives us a glimpse of what happens in heaven when we pray.
In the book of Revelation, the Lord pulls back the curtain and allows the aging, exiled apostle to see what is happening in the very throne room of heaven.
In Chapter 4 the beauty of that throne room and the worship of the cherubim is described in glorious detail.
In Chapter 7 we read how John saw the multitude of martyrs surrounding the throne. People from every tongue, tribe, and nation who had died rather than deny their Savior are now in His presence. Their worship fills the air as well.
In reading this we get the impression that the throne room is quite a noisy place, filled with glorious sounds….wondrous sounds…moving sounds. Heaven isn’t like some quiet cathedral – it’s more like some raucous praise gathering.
And then we come to Chapter 8. Until then there had been all this noise in the throne room. Then suddenly, everything goes silent. Every song ceases. Every voice is stilled. For thirty minutes there is utter silence in heaven.
It’s as if the Lord says, “Shhh…everyone be quiet. I want to hear something.”
And what is it He so wants to hear that He would interrupt the worship and praise?
He wants to hear the prayers of His people. Think of that! When you pray, God listens intently.
Our words prompt God’s works. Our requests trigger God’s response.
The prayers of God’s children on earth result in power from the throne room of heaven.
Never doubt for a moment that whenever you pray, that request goes straight to the throne room.
“Lord, the one you love has cancer.”
“Lord, the one you love is broken.”
“Lord, the one you love is empty.”
“Lord, the one you love is needy.”
You don’t have to be a powerhouse Christian to see God work in response to our prayers. You just have to be… a “someone.”
Text: John 11; Revelation 1, 4, 7-8
Originally recorded November 4, 2012, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.