OMBS7/ Don’t Underestimate Your Prayers

PRAYER - "The Song of Deborah"

For twenty years, Canaanites oppressed Israel. Deborah and Barak took an army and miraculously discomfited Sisera, Canaan's captain, who came against them with 900 chariots of iron. Sisera fled to a nearby tent for rest. While he slept, an Israelite woman named Jael drove a nail through his head. By Deborah, Barak and Jael, God delivered Israel that day. The song of Deborah (Judges 5) declared the might works of God.

Judges 5:31 - "...let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might."

PRINCIPALS - "Rahab the Harlot"

Joshua sent two spies into Jericho before crossing Jordan. They met Rahab, who revealed that the people were terrified of Israel, because they knew that God was with them since leaving Egypt. Rahab hid the spies from Jericho's king, for their promise that she and her family would be saved alive whenever Israel invaded Jericho. Afterward, one of Judah's descendants, Salmon, married Rahab. They begat Boaz, who married Ruth. They were grandparents to King David, and ultimately, Jesus Christ.

Joshua 2:9 - "And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land."

PRINCIPLES - "Step Out By Faith"

Jordan was overflowing its banks, but Joshua told the Priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant, to step into the waters. As a sign that God was still among them, and would drive out their enemies before them, the waters of Jordan immediately rolled back. If you want the promise, step out by faith and take it. 

Joshua 3:17 - "And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan."

PROPHECIES - "The Wood of the Tabernacle"

The Ark of the Covenant, Table of Shewbread, Altar of Incense, and everything wooden in the Tabernacle was made of Shittim wood (Acacia Seyal). The last place Israel camped before entering the promised land was at a town named Abel-Shittim, which means "Meadow of the Acacias." I think there is some typology there. Wood, hay and stubble represent the temporal, mortal world. We will leave it all behind when we enter our Promised Land - the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Joshua 3:1 - "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan."

Don't Underestimate Your Prayers

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

That verse is clear, isn’t it? The instruction is plain. Yet even in these tumultuous days when our nation is so desperately in need of God’s guidance, most of God’s people don’t do what that verse commands. Why not? I believe it’s because most of us are overwhelmed by the problems we see around us. How could my prayers make a dent in the national debt? we think. How could my faith affect foreign policy? In other words, we fail to pray because we fail to realize just how powerfully our prayers can affect this country. It’s time we caught hold of that. It’s time we realized that if we’d just be obedient to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, there’s no council of any kind on earth, no king, no president, no congress, no anything that could overthrow God’s purpose for His people. God has called us to intercede. He has commanded us to pray for those in authority. He has given us His Word, His power, His Name, His authority and His faith. We have all the tools necessary to pray effectively for our government and its leaders. I urge you to intercede. It is your responsibility as a believer to get involved in the affairs of your country. God wants this great land of ours, and the only way He’s going to get it is through His ambassadors—you and me. Pray for your nation. Every day. And never again underestimate the world-changing power of those prayers.

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38