Message
Prayer Changes Things
October 20, 2013
The small town was in the middle of their United Way Fund drive when a volunteer worker saw that the name of a most successful businessman was missing from the contribution list. The man was making at least $600-thousand a year, so the volunteer thought, “Why not call him up?” So, he calls the man.
“Sir, according to our research you haven’t made a contribution to the United Way this year, would you like to do so?”
The man responds as if surprised, “A contribution? Does your research show I have an invalid mother who requires expensive surgery once a year just to stay alive?”
The volunteer is feeling embarrassed and replies, “Well, no sir, I’m….”
Interrupting the worker the man continues, “And does your research show that my sister’s husband was killed in a car accident? She has three kids and no means of support!”
Now the worker is quite embarrassed and says, “Oh, I’m terribly sorry…”
“Does your research show that my brother broke his neck on the job and now requires a full-time nurse to have any kind of normal life?”
Now the volunteer is humiliated at this point. “I’m so sorry sir, please forgive me…”
“The gall of you people,” the man spouts, “I don’t give them anything so why should I give to you?”
There are remarkably insensitive, selfish and negative people in the world today, as well as in Bible times. The Teacher knew this and spoke a parable that relates to prayer, using this human character trait. The passage is Luke 18:1 through 8 that refers to a judge who had no empathy for God or his fellow man, and acted accordingly. This self-righteous man loved his power and control over others and believed he reached his position with his own skill and without help from anybody else. You might say he fit the description of a self-righteous man.
As the parable relates, the judge was being bothered by a widow who kept asking him to avenge an accusation against her. But, he was too busy and really didn't care about her. The problem for the judge was not the injustice being carried out against the widow; he was bugged by her persistence and couldn't dismiss her since it was his job to see that justice was done. Obviously, she had no political favors to exchange nor could she advance his self esteem. Finally, just to get her to go away, he decided to do what an honestly-righteous man would do; take care of her business that only he could accomplish.
Yeshua was making a point about prayer with this parable. First, let’s consider what the first hearers of this story would think.
A judge in Bible times was keenly aware of religion since the Law by which he judged was from the Torah. There was no law of the land such as the likes of the U.S. Constitution, so adjudicating religious law is what judges did. For Jesus to relate in this parable that the judge was one who cared less about God and his fellow man was a person way out of character since the very Law was careful to instruct society on how widows and orphans were to be treated. Obviously, this judge was a strange one, much like self-righteous people today. Remember that a Pharisee could be a judge and we know there were disagreements between followers of Messiah and the Temple. What makes this judge really different is that the Temple served as the courthouse for the Jews in Christ’s time, and such a non-responsive judge would be so out of place. How could he not care about God while serving in the temple? Surely nothing of the kind happens today!
The other person described in this story was a widow. Surviving a husband’s death was a serious issue in those days. Widows had a very difficult time meeting financial needs, and Bible stories often include the word “widow” to indicate hard times ahead. Miracles happened around and to widows, proving that God does see and care about people in need after tragedy. For example, there are three miracles described in First and Second Kings plus Luke 7:11 through 17 that restore sons to widows so the family can survive. In other cases, widows had to use whatever resource they had to stay alive and provide for their children. Several rules that were a part of Jewish life were meant to provide protection widows, even though, and obviously, they were not always followed. First Kings 17 is where you find a well-known example of how the Law applies to those charged with caring for a widow. Elijah follows the rules and is an excellent example, unlike the judge described in the story.
Since the point of the parable was persistence in prayer and God’s eagerness to hear us, we need to look at the act of prayer in context.
If you grew up in a praying family, you likely include prayer in your daily life, but in general, our society is not much into prayer. This means persistence and prayer are rarely used in the same sentence. The term “prayer warrior” seems to describe very few. The pervasive idea that God has nothing to do with life, nor is involved in our individual lives, continues to grow. That old-time religion is just that—old time. Still, we know that prayers are said by many who will not openly admit to communicating with God, such as students who pray every time tests are passed out in school, but have no interest in personally knowing God. Asking God to bail you out when study was replaced by laziness is not likely a prayer to be answered. The example of prayer the Master is referring to in Luke 18 is the prayer of supplication. To “supplicate” means to ask earnestly and humbly, such as, “God, please let me pass this test.”
Scripture translators took five Greek words to the single English word “prayer.” One means a petition or request, “deh’-ay-sis.” Still another insinuates an interview-type or intercession prayer. A third, and the prayer for healing is “yoo-khay’” which means well favored, grateful, thankful and including a vow. Then numbers four and five are quite similar but relate to prayer vocalized in worship, and prayers said aloud with multiplied earnestness. Supplication is implied in every Greek and Aramaic word we call prayer.
Perhaps you too have asked a question in prayer, such as; God, how do you hear us all? There are scientists who have asked the same question with attempts to equate prayer with scientific results. But then we have to ask; how can science and the spirit world merge to determine a result? Science wants to explain action of the Spirit, but there is no measure to do so since most scientists are attempting to disprove spirit anyway. The physical and spiritual worlds are not the same, yet we believe what happens in the spirit can change the physical world. That’s the rub; scientists want to explain prayer in physical terms.
My mother kept a small plaque on her kitchen wall every day I can remember. The words displayed were, “Prayer Changes Things.” The same is the lesson learned from Luke 18. Only Messiah tells us that God is very quick to hear, and perfect in His answer to every prayer, including timing. And timing was the issue in the parable. This judge who didn’t care about God or man finally answered the widow’s petition because she kept asking. Since God does care about you and loves you, will He not be quick to answer your prayer to Him, unlike the insensitive judge?
The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a case involving prayers to open city council meetings, and whether or not such prayers are Constitutional. After thousands of years, prayer is now being challenged as if it is a legal issue. You would think somebody is trying to control thought or expressions of thanks or petitions to God for positive outcome. Oh wait, they are! But why would there be objection to bringing our spirits together for a beneficial result before a meeting? To request a negative is to curse another person, a gathering or result. Such action would bring quick and loud objection, but another way to enlist a curse is to ban the use of prayer. I doubt such argument will be heard in the Supreme Court, but it should.
If I were the defense attorney in this case, there are several questions I would ask the opposing lawyer. Here are some;
Since you believe prayer to be ineffective, then why do you want to ban it? Does this mean if you don’t like green cars they should be illegal to drive on the street? And if a green car was on the other side approaching you, do you have the right to crash into it just because you don’t agree with green paint? Do we not live in a nation founded on individual freedom to make choices as long as they do not harm our neighbor? Where is the harm in an opening prayer? So if you believe that prayer to one God or another is not agreeable to you, where do you get the authority to even request that such prayer be silenced? This suit makes as much sense as asking that green paint be illegal because you don’t like it. What makes you the prayer police, or what makes you the color police?
Another question for the anti-prayer movement is; if prayer is not effective as you say, then why would you try to stop it? What difference does it make anyway? If you think prayer at a city council meeting is foolish, why not come into the room when the prayer is over instead of forcing all others to think as you do? Do you think that a prayer for positive outcome is a curse upon you?
Addressing the justices I would ask; if prayer appears foolish to you, then why not let those foolish believers appear as crazy as you think they are by letting them openly pray? Here’s your chance to show the world that you are right and they are wrong. Won’t the rest of the world come to your way of thinking by giving people enough of the proverbial “rope” to hang their ideas about prayer? Perhaps you stop other people from doing foolish things to keep them from being embarrassed. Oh, you don’t worry about that? Then why do you want to ban prayer?
If the anti-prayer group leader were on the stand I would ask; are you trying to prove there is no God by objecting to others ability to communicate with Him? By your objection, you are saying that there just might be something to prayer and that God just might exist, and if those who pray come to love you, such result would be embarrassing? With your objection to prayer are you attempting to stop love from happening among humanity, since God is the source of love?
Perhaps the justices would be impressed if you could simply come to court and prove that prayers are never answered. If that were the strategy, then how would you overcome the thousands of witnesses who would gladly testify that prayers are answered because they have been?
If I were the attorney arguing this case over public prayer, I would also ask; so sir, what are the monetary damages caused by these prayers? How much are you suing for? Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear a value being placed on prayer by those who have been healed, or lives changed, or addictions relieved? Could we call somebody back from heaven that is there because of prayer and ask them about the positive value, or a person who refused to pray, like the rich man who lifted up his eyes in torment begging for water to cool his tongue? Would that rich man give everything he ever owned on earth for the opportunity to pray a prayer of redemption now? If I called that rich man to the stand who ignored Lazarus as a witness in this case against prayer, some amazing testimony and advice would be given about when and how to pray. Remember how he told Abraham to send Lazarus back because his brothers would believe a man returning from the dead?
And somehow, the idea that a case involving prayer would be presented in the United States Supreme Court just sounds strange. Can a court made up of men and women, regardless of their position, robes or wisdom, judge such a case when God is the One who is the object of the communication? The real Supreme Court for this case is God Himself. The very idea that a man-made court decide the legitimacy of prayer is the closest thing to blasphemous I’ve ever heard. If we as humanity are to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, then Caesar, or government, should leave to God what is His.
So why are there questions now about this issue of prayer? It’s all about control. Those who don’t want you or anything else controlled by God will object to your communication with Him. But wait, if they don’t want anything controlled by God and accomplish that by banning prayer, they must believe He is in control, but they don’t believe in Him. What? Could it be that they don’t want anything governing their lives, but want to tell you want to do? Is this the reason this power struggle exists?
Just as my mother had the reminder on the wall that reads, “Prayer Changes Things,” so people who object to prayer don’t want prayer to change you or them. These objectors to prayer are the self righteous, whose actions are seen as “filthy rags” in the sight of God and man. Isaiah 64:6 puts it this way;
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
By taking communication with Almighty away from you, you are weaker and without God’s power, meaning you will rely on them for decisions in everyday life. Yet God is love, and removing love from the human equation and relationships means chaos in the world, and they would love to step in and take control to be the ones you would then worship.
You may be one to disagree with that little kitchen plaque that reads, “Prayer Changes Things,” but I challenge you to disagree with the fact that prayer changes the one who prays. And if the person praying is changed for the better, then why would the issue of prayer, public or private, be questioned at all? When we collectively pray and we all are changed for the better with one purpose for truth and love, who is hurt? What are the damages? Could it be that the only damage done by prayer is to negative and destructive people, causes and forces?
When prayer is offered on this program, you hear me request that you agree with me. Agreement means we petition our God together and that what is asked is a common need among us, just as we join in common praise and respect. Perhaps that is something else opponents to prayer are suggesting, that praise and respect should not go to God but to them.
The U.S. Supreme Court should be afraid to even take a case that could mean prayers cannot be voiced except in specific places. The purveyors of evil will use anything, even human authority, to subvert communication with Almighty God. They must be jealous of God since they want to take His place in your life.
First Thessalonians 5:17 reads, “Pray without ceasing.” These words from Paul are in a series of instructions intended to keep us in tune with God and His will for us. Staying in contact with God, or at least listening for His instructions is a part of the process.
Rest assured, the people wanting to ban public prayer are just like the man in the opening story who didn’t give to his desperately needy family, so he refused to give to the United Way. These people making the case for no prayer will not pray for you either and will do their best to convince you by law or persuasion that God should not be a part of your life. How empty their lives must be, and they do need our prayers. Will you allow your witness to be silenced by evil or purveyors of darkness, or will you be a champion for prayer? God is listening carefully right now and is anxious to respond to you.
His mercy endures forever. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.
©2013, J.Tilton
