In Search Of Worship - Simplicity

James (5 months) and Ah Kong

' Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' Matthew 18:3

I used to sing the praise song, “I love you Lord” to my grandson James every night before he slept. James is 12 years old now, then he was 5 months old. Like every 5 month old, James will fight sleep but when he listened to this song, he would stop crying, become calm and would soon be ready for bed. It is a simple four line tune: 

“I love You Lord and I lift my voice to worship you. 
O my soul rejoice! 
Take joy my King in what you hear. 
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ears.” 

James just loved to hear this song repeated to him over and over again. In the singing I imagined we were praising God together, grandfather and grandson.

Worshiping God with a five month old in tow does not trivialise the act of worship. True worship is hard to find. If one could capture the right inspirational moment, an unfettered time, one should take the opportunity to worship. Make it simple. It is quite natural to worship with James in hand, for this baby is indeed a blessing from God; a clear and present evidence of God’s creative power and of His goodness.

Falzarego Pass, The Dolomites

In the same way if you happen to chance on a very simple church when you are hiking up some mountains go inside to pray and worship. Do not miss the opportunity to seize one sublime moment of simple worship. No need to be intellectual, nothing to be complicated about; even better if worship can be impulsive.

Once, when Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem, the little children were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David," The priest and scribes were indignant at the commotion and they complained, "do you hear what these children are saying?" meaning to accuse him of instigating the children to blasphemy, "Yes," Jesus replied, "have you never read, "from the lips of children and infants, You have perfected praise?" (Matt 21:16 and Psalms 8:2). Perfect praise exudes from pure simplicity. Babies, by their very lives are testaments to God’s bountiful grace.

In contrast, there is much that is contrived and showy when adults worship. Words that come out forced can be hypocritical. Catchy tunes are sung repeatedly without thought to the adequacy and appropriateness of the lyrics. The Rev (Dr) Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary speaking in Singapore at the Aldersgate Convention in May 2008 asked the question, “Who is doing the worshiping? Who is the beneficiary?"

Speaking about congregational worship Dr Witherington (Ref 1) said, “We often hear people say I don’t go to that worship service because I don’t get anything out of it. But who is supposed to be doing the worshiping here? If it is the congregation, then the primary question should be where can I go to best give praise and worship to God, not where I can go to get the most out of it. Any experience that put us on God’s level is not worship. It is inappropriate and even shocking familiarity; indeed it can even be called idolatry. God condescends and remains God, we do not ascend and become as gods. Worship happens when the creature realizes he is not the creator and bows down to the One who is.”

In speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus told her that where one worships, what styles one would use do not really matter. He told her one day, the true worshiper will be worshiping in spirit and in truth. No hypocrisy. God is more concerned with the attitude of the heart than the melody of the song; the motive of the people than the performance.

A poor Methodist woman (Ref 2), probably a labourer in the work houses or a farmer’s wife in 18th century Britain wrote, "I do not know when I have had happier times in my soul than when I have been sitting at work with nothing before me but a candle and a white cloth, and hearing no sound but the sound of my own breath, with God in my soul and heaven in my eye. I rejoice in being exactly what I am – a creature capable of loving God and who, as long as God lives, must be happy. I get up and look for a while out of the window and gaze at the moon and stars, the work of an almighty hand. I think of the grandeur of the universe, and then sit down, and think myself one of the happiest beings in it."

When we worship, it is not fulfilling an obligation, it is a human delight. Come back to 'The Heart of Worship.'

Lionel

1 Methodist Message 110(7) Jul 08
2 Mary Tileston, ed. Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Updated 1st Published 31 May 2020

Let There Be Praise

'Praise the Lord

Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens

Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.

Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, Praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.' Psalm 150.

  

Is there any reason to praise God? 

Today, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine rage on. Countries such as Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen are all currently experiencing some form of terrorist insurgency. Others like Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are all currently experiencing civil wars and ethnic cleansing. In many places in the world there are racial and religious persecutions. 

In the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli tanks surround Gaza's hospitals with patients still inside and others seeking refuge. Israel claims that hospital and schools sit atop a labyrinth of underground tunnels housing the Hamas control centre, fighters and caches of weapons. They say that Hamas had contravened the Geneva Convention and use civilians and patients as human shields. Hamas denies this vehemently.

A seven-day humanitarian truce allowing for exchange of hostages and prisoners and the delivery of much needed disaster relief, food, fuel, etc ended. The fighting resumes. In the fog and wounds of war, many of us are left broken hearted at the untold human suffering. We question, What is there to be happy about? Where is God? Why would we sing praises?

There is a rather strange incident recorded in 2 Chronicles 20 during the time when Israel was at war with the surrounding nations. It was a time much like what is happening today in Israel's southern and northern borders. The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites declared war on King Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was terrified by the news and begged the Lord for guidance. As they went out to face the enemies they were led to sing and praise the Lord.

'The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendour. This is what they sang:

"Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!"

At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.' 2 Chronicles 20:21-22

The Israelites learnt that even in the times of war to give praise. By the time the army of Jehoshaphat arrived on the battlefield all they saw were the dead bodies of their enemies on the ground. The war was over.

It is strange that at hard times Christians are told to praise God. Eugene Petersen in his book Answering God admitted that this is not the easiest thing to do, "It is easy to be honest before God with our hallelujahs; it is somewhat more difficult to be honest in our hurts; it is nearly impossible to be honest before God in the dark emotions of our hate."

Yes the Bible tells us that in all circumstances, in good times and bad, the Lord God is to be praised. Timothy Keller gave a series of 7 short meditations entitled 'Trusting God in Difficult Times' (Ref 1) which are worth listening to, if you are in the predicament of asking God, Why the suffering? And there is no answer yet forthcoming.

Even so we need to continue praying. Prayer is the most honest way to face these difficult circumstances, these difficult times. By praying we come face to face with reality, dealing with our problems, viewing the world with honesty and with the very depths of our hearts. Yes, we travail and agonise.

But Eugene Petersen concluded, “No matter how much we suffer, no matter our doubts, no matter how angry we get, no matter how many times we have asked in desperation or doubt, ‘How long?’, prayer develops finally into praise. Everything finds its way to the doorsteps of praise. Praise is the consummating prayer. This is not to say that other prayers are inferior to praise, only that all prayer pursued far enough, becomes praise."

This brings us to the very last Psalm, Psalm 150. Timothy Keller emphatically explained this Psalm,

• Where should God be praise?     Everywhere
• Why should we praise God?  for Everything
• How should we praise Him?    in Everyway
• Who should praise Him?            Everyone    

Petersen wrote “Prayer is the language of the people who are in trouble and know it, and who believe or hope that God can get them out." That is why your prayer will end in praise. 

Christians are often told to praise God in every situation, even in deprivation, our vocation is to praise God. Let everything that has breath, praise God.

'I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.' Isaiah 43:20b-21

'So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out to us who belong to His dear Son.' Ephesians 1:6 (NLT)

'The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.' Ephesians 11:14 (NLT) 

   'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.' 1 Peter 2:9

That is why the Psalms, a book of prayer and worship ends finally with praise; 'Let There Be Praise'

Let there be praise

Let there be joy in our hearts

Sing to the Lord

Give Him the glory

Let there be praise, let there be joy in our hearts

Forevermore, let His love fill the air

And let there be praise, let there be praise

Let there, let there be praise

He inhabits the praise of His people

And dwells deep within

The peace that He gives none can equal

His love, it knows no end

So lift your voices

With gladness sing

Proclaim through all the earth

That Jesus Christ is King

When the Spirit of God is within us

We will overcome

In our weakness His strength will defend us

When His praise is on our tongue

So lift your voices

With gladness sing

Proclaim through all the earth

That Jesus Christ is King

Let there be praise

Let there be joy in our hearts

Sing to the Lord

Give Him the glory

Let there be praise

Let there be joy in our hearts

Forevermore, let His love fill the air

And let there be praise

And let there be praise

Let there be singing

Let there be music

Let there be honor

Let there be glory

Majesty worship and praise

Let there be praise

Lionel

Ref 1; Timothy Keller, Trusting God in Difficult Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjQM7uZcbbM&list=PLqdAeLCMehGFJ0Q-8Ll1y0t5ml6qWYHiz

Day By Day

'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord Your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.' Isaiah 43:2-3a

How many of us live as though we entirely depend on God, Day by Day? When you are a cancer patient or suffering from a severe illness, you will learn the meaning behind the phrase 'Living Day by Day in the Palm of God's Hand.' You live with uncertainty, the fluctuations of your blood counts, the up and downs of your energy levels, the vulnerability to infections, with fevers coming and going. You brace yourself for periods of recovery, remission and relapses

During these uncertain times, you will learn to rely on the grace of God, day by day; His mercy and protection. You are encouraged by friends and families praying for you daily; for that you are ever grateful.  

 

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.' Psalms 50:15

Living Day by Day dependent on the grace and mercy of God is experienced by the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt where they wandered for 40 years in the desert and wilderness. Throughout that period God provided them with manna from heaven but always just sufficient for the day. 

'Then the Lord said to Moses, "I'm going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day.' Exodus 16:4a  

God provides our Physical Needs day by day

Andrew Murray wrote, "Many a soul is disquieted with the thought as to how it will be able to gather and to keep the manna needed for all its years of travel through such a barren wilderness. It has never learnt what unspeakable comfort there is in the word: The day's portion for its day.  Manna, as your food and strength, is given only by the day; faithfully to fill the present is your only security for the future. Accept, and enjoy, and fulfil with your whole heart the part you have this day to perform. His presence and grace enjoyed today will remove all doubt whether you can entrust the morrow to Him too."

Christians who live hand to mouth eking their daily living understand God's provision for our physical needs on a daily basis. Similarly those who are ill and recovering understand how God sustain their bodies on a daily basis. 

God provides our Spiritual Needs day by day

When Jesus taught us to pray the Lord's prayer and one of the petitions is

'Give us today our daily bread.'  Matthew 6:9

Although this phrase can also be taken to mean our daily physical subsistence, it is most likely that Jesus meant spiritual nourishment; our daily sustenance of our soul and spirit. And this is usually provided by the daily inspiration of God's Word. Jesus said 

'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.' Matthew 4:4

Andrew Murray wrote, "As the lesson of the value and the work of the single day is being taken to heart, the learner is all unconsciously being led on to get the secret of day by day continually."

Day by day, God fulfills our spiritual needs, the bread that satisfies our spiritual needs.

God provides us our Spiritual Blessings day by day

Andrew Murray wrote, "We are so easily led to look at life as a great whole, and to neglect the little to-day, to forget that the single days do indeed make up the whole, and that the value of each single day depends on its influence on the whole. Each day of faithfulness brings a blessing for the next; and so the Christian life grows: as we give our whole heart to the work of each day." 

We live day by day, one step at a time, exercising simple faith that God will provide just what we need, when we need it. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said, 

'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?' Matthew 6:25 

'And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was not dressed like one of these.' Matthew 6:28-29

Living 'Day by Day' in the palm of God's hand gives all living with cancer and illnesses daily blessings.

'So do not worry, saying,"What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after these things, and you heavenly Father knows that you need them.' Matthew 6:32

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

Jesus said,

'So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.' Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

Be assured that God has you in the palm of His hand. Timothy Keller, who this year succumbed to pancreatic cancer, wrote, “The central basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.” 

Lionel 

Praying In The Spirit

'Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.' Romans 8:26-27

Prayer is communication with God, a communion with the Almighty. As we all know communication can be verbal or non-verbal and that is the same for prayer.

Christian Meditation is often referred to as the prayer of the heart. In meditation we are to sit and keep our body still, then the mind should stay silent and be focused on God. Father John Main, who inspired the World Community of Christian Meditation, would say that we are to set our mind on the Kingdom of God. To help focus the mind, the WCCM recommend repeating silently a mantra, 'Maranatha' which is Aramaic and means 'Come Lord.' At some time in the meditation, though not always, our spirits would soar as the Holy Spirit leads us to a prayer without words. St Paul described such praying as 'praying with my spirit.'

This kind of praying could be distinguished from our usual praying with words, praising God with our adoration, making our confession, offering our thanksgivings and presenting our supplications or petitions (ACTS). We are taught to pray like this when we first become Christians. We could pray vocally or pray silently. A fellow Christian meditator, Andre Croquet use the term, devotional prayer. St Paul described this as 'praying with my mind.'

I would normally spent some time in meditative prayer followed by devotional prayer in the mornings and evenings. Putting the two together, one following another, is a recent spiritual experience for me. I hope to make this a habit from now on. 

Both are important to the growth and spiritual experience of Christians. Whether devotional prayer or meditation prayer, the Holy Spirit comes close and guide us to pray. As St Paul put it, 

'What am I do do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit but I will sing with my mind also.' 1 Corinthians 14:15

 

There is also another term describing prayer, often used in the Bible; 'Praying in the Spirit.' In the Greek the term 'pray in the spirit' generally has two slightly different meanings. It can mean praying with the help of or by means of the Spirit. Or it can also mean praying in connection to or in the sphere of the Spirit. J Oswald Sanders said, 'It is clear that praying in the Spirit means much more than praying by the Spirit's help, although it is included. We pray by means of and in dependence on the Spirit's help but the Spirit is in the atmosphere in which the believer lives. Our prayers will then be, in substance, the same as the intercession of the Spirit within us.' (Ref 1) 

'And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.' Ephesians 6:18

'But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.' Jude 1:20

John Piper said, 'Praying in the Spirit means our prayers are moved and guided by the Holy Spirit. That is, we are prompted to pray by the Holy Spirit; He's awakening it and moving it. And the things that we pray for are being shaped and determined by the Spirit. So, it's His power that carries the prayer, and it's His leading that guides, the prayer.' (Ref 2)

J Oswald Sanders quoted Andrew Murray, 'Just as wonderful and real is the divine work of God on the throne graciously hearing, and by His mighty power answering prayer. Just as divine as is the work of the Son, interceding and securing and transmitting the answer from above, is the work of the Holy Spirit in us in the prayer that awaits and obtains the answer. The intercession within is as divine as the intercession above.

Weakness and inadequacy in the art of prayer are not surprising to God. He never intended that prayer should be left to our own unaided faculties. So He gave the Holy Spirit to instruct, inspire, and illumine our hearts and minds. Unaided by Him, we would be likely to pray for things not only contrary to God’s will but injurious to ourselves.' (Ref 1)

We all do struggle with praying as noted by Andrew Murray. Don Moen also experienced the distance from God as he struggled to find the inspiration to write songs. He said that in that struggle, God led him to write this song 'I will Sing, I will Pray'

Lord you seem so far away

A million miles or more

It feels today

And though I haven't lost my faith

I must confess right now

That it's hard for me to pray

But I don't know what to say

And I don't know where to start

But as you give the grace

With all that's in my heart

I will sing

I will praise

Even in my darkest time

Through the sorrow and the pain

I will sing

I will praise

Lift my hands to honor you

Because your word is true

I will sing

Lord is hard for me to see

All the thought and plans you have for me

But I will put my trust in you

Knowing that you died to set me free (oh thank God you died)

But I don't know what to say (what to say)

And I don't know where to start (where to start)

But as you give the grace

With all that's in my heart

I will sing

I will praise

Even in my darkest time

Through the sorrow and the pain

I will sing

I will praise

Lift my hands to honor you

Because your word is true (say it again)

The Puritans put it very simply, 'Pray until you pray.' This means get on with it, keep on the habit and routine of praying. Do not hurry. Take our time. Just put prayer to practice. Somewhere, somehow, the Holy Spirit will come to meet us and prayer will soon gets hold of us. 

Pray until you pray.

Lionel

Ref 1: J Oswald Sanders Praying in the Spirit 2004https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/praying-in-the-spirit/

Ref 2: John Piper, How do we pray in the Spirit? 2021 

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-do-we-pray-in-the-spirit

Somebody's Praying For Me

 
'I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.... that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.' 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Intercession is a Christian privilege. The word “intercessor” has roots in Greek, and the Greek meaning is “to meet with, come between." When we pray an intercessory prayer for someone, we stand in the gap between that person and God, we make representations on behalf of a beloved friend or family member to God

There is a small group of intercessors in Charis Methodist Church who have been meeting weekly for many years to pray for the church and its members. These Christians will receive prayer requests and commit the items to God. 

Recently both Pat and I experienced the power of this intercession and the effects it has on our faith when these dedicated prayer warriors prayed for Pat as she undergoes chemotherapy for lymphoma. To be sure we do not know yet how and when God will answer this intercession but we are sure that we are blessed. Our hearts are warmed by the ministry. 

One of the ladies will telephone Pat prior to any major treatment and pray with her. When she prays, I feel that she is praying as naturally as birds sing; so sincere, full of faith and with quiet passion.

In these days on the social media, the WhatsApp Chatgroups are also the places where Christians in small groups, bible studies, choir and praise groups are interceding for one another. Recently several choir members were down with the Covid-19 infection, the Choir WhatsApp chatgroup became abuzz with short messages of intercessory prayers. There are so many friends and family praying for us that we feel the grace of God upon us. We are very encouraged and uplifted, knowing how  fervently they are praying.

The power of intercession is not just about the results nor the effectiveness of the prayer. It is really about how much love is put into the prayer. A dramatic example of 'standing in the gap' intercession is found in the healing of the paralysed man told in the Gospels. 

'A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing a paralysed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, "Son your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5

This paralysed man had no way to reach Jesus by himself. His four friends helped him and they went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus. They lowered him from the roof. They interceded for this man in a dramatic fashion. Eventually Jesus not only healed the paralysis but he noted and commended the faith of the four men. 

What does this teach us about intercessory prayer? It is not the prayer itself, not the content or even the words that were uttered that matter. What really matters is the fervency of the heart. 

To this end, we realise that Jesus Christ is our ultimate intercessor. Jesus Christ is the one who stands between and pleads the case for us all. He paid the ultimate price, He sacrificed His life.

'For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all people' 1 Timothy 2:5-6

We thank God for the many who are praying for us. There is a wonderful song, 'Somebody's Praying For Me' written by Don Moen. In one of the introductions to this song, Don Moen quoted from the Epistle of James,

'The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.' James 5:16

Don Moen said, "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman makes all the difference in the world. You are here today because someone prayed for you and we must continue to pray for one another during these times."  

I was lost in a desert land

So dry and thirsty

But God was there where he'd always been

Giving grace and mercy

So hard to sing and hard to pray

Yet I knew His word was true

And then one day my faith returned

And suddenly I knew

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's knocking on heaven's door

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord

I knew it had to be

Somebody down on their knees

Somebody praying for me

I've been spared by so many prayers

How many times I could not say

What a difference a prayer can make When it's offered up in faith

God has always made a way

When I didn't know what to do

Just when I needed a miracle

That's when your prayers broke through

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's knocking on heaven's door

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord well I knew it had to be

Somebody down on their knees

Somebody praying for me

Now I know that friend was you

You were the gift God gave me

'Cause when you prayed

His love broke through

It was your prayer that saved me

Thank you for praying for me

Thank you for knocking on heaven's door

Thank you for praying for me

Thank you for lifting me up to the Lord now I can clearly see

That you were the one on your knees

So thank you for praying for me

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's knocking on heaven's door

Somebody's praying for me

Somebody's lifting me up to the Lord well I knew it had to be

Somebody down on their knees

Somebody praying for me

Lionel

Facing God

Facing God

'Then if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.' 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

How many of us dare to face God? On the day of reckoning, many of us will have tremendous trepidation even fear when we have to stand before God. What will be our attitude? What posture can we take? 

Some of us have entered into the presence of God through prayer, some through meditation and others through our interaction with nature and creation. Almost all of us do so with genuine humility and contrition. However in the three chapters of the Book of Habakkuk we see a dialogue between a prophet, a holy man, with God in a confrontational manner with some air of defiance. Habakkuk questioned God.

'How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds." Habakkuk 1:2-3

There is much anxiety and perplexity in Habakkuk crying out, overwhelmed by unanswered questions. He was living in Jerusalem at the end of the 7th Century BC in an age of moral decline and spiritual decline. There was an impending doom as the Babylonians' conquest of Israel and the sacking of Jerusalem was imminent. Yet God seemed remote and did not take any action. Habakkuk complained, "Why aren't you intervening, God?"

This 'to your face' dialogue went on over the two chapters with God delivering a series of woes and rebukes. Finally Habakkuk changed his tone and learnt to keep silent in the presence of God.

'The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before him.' Habakkuk 2:20

Jonathan Lamb in his 30-day devotional on Habakkuk wrote 'The word silent is onomatopoetic in Hebrew, like our word, hush: be silent, stop all the arguments, all the arrogant assertions of human power, the efforts of human glory, the petty ambitions. It is a call for reverence, because the one who is speaking is the Lord of the Universe.' (Ref 1) 

When we face God, stand in His presence, do we realise that we are facing the God of the Universe? 

In a sermon on 19 Feb 2023, Rev Peace Choi of Charis Methodist Church made 3 points on Habakkuk's final humility in relating to God even in the face of impending doom and disaster. There was a change of tone in Habakkuk's approach; this time a more humble approach to God, not confrontational. When we face difficulties, perplexities and problems,  

• Plea for God's mercy, be humble enough to plea for God's help.
• Recollect God's goodness

'Lord, I have heard to your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.' Habakkuk 3:1-2

'But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary, my cry to Him reached His ears.' Psalm 18:6 

• Proclaim God's greatness
• Recollect God's glory, what He has done in your life.

'His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise. He stood and shook the earth; He looked and made the nations tremble.' Habakkuk 3:3a,4 and 6a 

• Pledge to God's praise
• Recollect God's provision

'Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my saviour. The sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.' Habakkuk 3:18-19

In the face of God, a penitent Habakkuk accepted that the will of God will prevail,

'Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.' Habakkuk 3:17-18

How do we face God? When we face life's uncertainties, when everything is stripped away, can we respond to God with a prayerful expectancy? This prayer-hymn, 'If My People Will Pray' composed Jimmy and Carol Owens will help. 

If My people

which are called by My name
shall humble themselves,
shall humble themselves
and pray.

If My people
which are called by My name
shall seek My face
and turn from their wicked ways

Then will I hear from heaven
then will I hear from heaven,
Then will I hear
and will forgive
forgive their sin.

If My people
which are called by My name
shall humble themselves,
shall humble themselves
and pray.

I will forgive their sin,
I will forgive their sin,
I will forgive their sin,
and heal their land.

Lionel

Ref 1: Jonathan Lamb with Elizabeth McQuoid, 30 Day Devotional - Habakkuk Inter-Varsity Press, 2018

God Answers Prayers

'I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.' Psalm 34:4-5 (NLT)

Two recent experiences taught me some truths to the reality of this often used phrase, God answers prayer

We went on a family holiday, mission trip and spiritual retreat to Thailand. My brother-in-law John was most keen to go on this trip. He wanted so much to see the mission work in Phrao. But the night before, John spotted a fever of 41 degrees centigrade. He was devastated; so were we because a drop-out from the trip would have spoilt the entire holiday. We all resorted to prayer for him that his condition would not be so severe as to have him opt out of the trip. Early next morning John saw his General Practitioner. The ART for Covid-19 was negative, so was the test for Dengue and the GP cleared him to go on vacation. God answered our petition positively and the entire 8 of us with John had a wonderful 16 days of family vacation and bonding.

Our next experience was not answered by God in the manner we had hoped for. Pat's friend, developed severe lung infection on vacation in Europe. Her cough went on for couple of months. We prayed for healing, however she developed respiratory failure and had to be on respiratory support for several weeks. We kept a prayer vigil for her recovery. Pat would write prayer responses which her daughter would read to the mother. Sadly she died. God chose not to answer our prayers the way we wanted, which is for recovery. But several days before she died, she chose in one of her more lucid moments, to be baptised. A professing Christian for many years, her more recent baptism anchored her faith. We knew then that God had answered our prayers in a far better manner that we had hoped for; Pat's friend had a home-coming and stood before her Lord Jesus Christ.

We can sometimes lose interest and faithfulness in prayer because we treat prayers to God as in going to an ATM to draw out cash. We expect always to have God answer our prayers in the way we wished for. Some even believe that if we persistently badger God, He will answer. They use this passage as justification.

'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.' Matthew 7:7-8

Hence, some believe that if they are very persistent in praying, they will get what they want. They simply lack faith, if they don't, and they should pray even more. They fail to read the following verses wisely,

'Which of you, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who asks Him!' Matthew 7:9-11

These verses tell us that God will always answer our prayers, not in the ways we wanted but in ways that is best for us. Sometimes, what is best is a 'No' as an answer or sometimes it is 'Wait' for God's good timing. Simply put, God knows what's best.

What Jesus is teaching us in the passage in the Sermon on the Mount is not to treat God as an automated answering machine nor attempt to placate God with our offerings in order that our prayers will be answered. We need not pester God into getting our way. More than a practice of prayer, Jesus is trying to establish a special relationship between us and God through our faithfulness in prayer  

So whether, answered positively or negatively, God answers prayers for our good. Build a prayer relationship with Him and as this song emphatically puts it, 'God Answers Prayer'

Have you ever talk to God above?

Tell Him that you need a friend to love

Pray in Jesus name believing

That God answers prayer

Have you told him all your cares and woes?

Ev'ry tiny little fear He knows. 

You can know He'll always hear

And He will answer prayer.

You can whisper in a crowd to Him

You can cry when you're alone to Him

You don't have to pray out loud to Him;

He knows your thoughts

On a lofty mountain peak, He's there.

In a meadow by a stream, He's there

Anywhere on earth you go,

He's been there from the start.

Find the answer in His Word; it's true.

You'll be strong because He walks with you

By His faithfulness He'll change you, too

God answers prayer.

Lionel