19/02/12

What are you praying for?

Luke 1:60 - And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.


In the background of today's message we read Zacharias who was a much respected priest, known for his pious and blameless life. But we see a two faces of a coin when it came to his faith in God. He was an aged man who spent a great part of his life praying for a child since being a Levi and a high priest he needed someone to keep that portfolio in the family like he received from his fathers. Not only he but even his relatives prayed unceasing unto God for his cause.

But surprisingly when the time came for him to receive the answer of his long efforts, when the Angel Gabriel appeared unto him, he lost faith and failed to believe that his prayer would be answered. This caused the Angel to make him dumb till the time the child was born, so that he does not open his mouth in his faithlessness and stop his blessing.

What we see, even though the Lord answered Zacharias' prayer yet he did not get what he thought he wanted. Zacharias wanted a son to inherit the traditional post of being a High Priest and serving the Lord. The Lord did answer Zacharias' prayer of giving him a son to serve the Lord but not in traditions but in truth. It is written there was no man in whole of history till that date, who had managed to bring so many people to God like John did. That list includes Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah and other Men of God. Never is it written a man caused humans to 'take the Kingdom of Heaven by force'. John was the first man to give the perfect Gospel. In all this we can imagine the mental state of Zacharias (if he was as alive at that time) as his son grew and instead on being involved the temple work, went into the desert and started living a strange way of life.

In today's message the Lord is telling us to be aware of what we are praying for, are we asking things worldly or things heavenly? Our God is not interested in traditions or rituals, these things are for the eyes of the people and not for the Lord. Lord does not answer prayers which are to please people or to keep people busy. When the Lord blesses He does it in truth and in perfection. It is our short sightedness, our lack of knowledge of the Kingdom of God that causes us to ask for things which the Lord does not give. So let us know the Kingdom of God and pray according to His will not ours.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, out of our lack of understanding of reality we pray and pray and find our prayers are not been answered. At times to answer our prayer You need to put us in difficult situations so that we do not be a hurdle to our own prayer. We also find at times we receive exactly what we asked for but we know Lord You will not give a serpent to your child when he asks for food. Lord help us to keep faith in You and to trust You to give us the best for us, beyond the limits of our understanding...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Luke 1:5-22, 57-64

Matthew 11:7-15
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


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