Title: Prayer changes all things../Matthew 17
Content Prayer changes all things and makes history / Matthew 17
You are a watchman of prayer.
Do you know prayer? Prayer is not an accessory of the saints, but vitality and life itself. Therefore, the moment you give up prayer, you lose your spiritual life. The moment you know the taste of prayer, your quality of life will change. All the people who have moved the history of mankind are people of prayer. In God's right hand, there are those who pray. The greatest power that moves the church is the power of prayer. Therefore, prayer is the greatest weapon to make the church the church and to protect the church from the powers of the devil and Satan.
About 2500 years ago from now. King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire, who conquered Babylon, which destroyed Assyria, and was on the verge of establishing the Persian Empire later, was the king who commanded the world, ruling 127 degrees from India to Cush. But there was a man who controlled that King Ahasuerus, and that person was Esther, the Jewish queen. Esther's beautiful beauty completely captivated the king. But even more surprising is the fact that there is a spiritual remote that controls Queen Esther. That was his uncle Morthergae. Mordecai is the gatekeeper of Shushan Palace, but he is a praying man in the right hand of God who actually controls the Persian Empire. Although there are many people in the Persian Empire, God used Mordergae, a man of prayer.
This is the case of change in today's text. A week before this event, the Lord had a special retreat in Caesarea Philippi. At that time, the Lord conducted a public opinion poll that concluded the three years of public life. At that time, the people’s view of the Messiah was like this. Also known as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Then Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), and the Lord said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. your Father who is” (Matthew 16:17). The Lord was saying that he would build his body, the church, upon his confession of faith. A week after this happened, the Lord had a special prayer meeting on Mt. Transfiguration. When such a prayer movement takes place at our altar today, an amazing work will happen.
First: Let's go up to the Garden of Prayer.
Verse to read☞ "Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and went up by themselves to a high mountain" (1).
You must join the class that sets you apart. Six days later refers to the time after the Caesarea Philippian Assemblies. The Lord took the disciples to Mount Hermon, undressed them in the mountain Gishun, left the nine disciples to rest in a valley near a nearby village, and took Peter and James and John separately and ascended a high mountain. The Lord wants them to be partners in prayer. Although we are physically tired, life itself with the Lord is joy and glory. This is the grace and blessing of being set apart. Only those who are set apart can conquer the highlands.
All the forefathers of faith were established separately. There were many people in Ur of the Chaldeans, but God called Abraham and set him apart (Genesis 12:1). Although there were many people in Egypt, God called Moses, who was in Pharaoh's palace, and set them apart (Exodus 2:15). Although there were many people in the church in Antioch, God told Paul and Barna to be separate (Acts 13:2). Those who have been called and set apart by God are entrusted with a special mission in order to use them honorably. The salvation of Christianity is the choice to set us apart from the world, and to set ourselves apart in the church is a call to entrust a special mission. God is pleased with your participation in the class that sets you apart in the service of the body of the Lord, the Church. I especially want them to be servants who participate in prayer groups.
Second: Praying opens your eyes.
Verse to read: “He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then they saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus” (2-3).
All people of faith are people with open eyes. When Moses arrived in the Wilderness of Paran, he sent twelve spies to Canaan. At that time, the eyes of those with worldly eyes and those of faith who opened their eyes to the covenant were like heaven and earth. “If the Lord awakens and is pleased with us, he will bring us into the land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 14:8). I saw the same thing at the same time, in the same place, but my perspective changed completely according to my faith in the covenant. You must open your eyes to see the great and mysterious things of God.
Third: Praying opens your ears.
Reading ☞ “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” A shining cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (4-5)
We must open our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. Open your ears to hear what you hear. The disciples who had their spiritual eyes open were moved. Excited to the point of ecstasy, Peter specifies the dedication of the tabernacle. It is a great devotion for Peter to build the Tabernacles, and it is a martyr's determination and determination. At that time, God stopped Peter's vow and in a sudden moment he heard a voice from heaven. We must first hear the gospel before our devotion and loyalty. You must first hear the gospel to have a correct understanding for ministry.
Are you deaf? First, we must hear the gospel. The Lord wants us to listen to the gospel before our devotion and loyalty. The Lord doesn't want any loyalty or devotion done without an open ear to the gospel. So, when the Lord visited the house of Lazarus Bethany, he valued Mary, who listened to the Lord, more precious than Martha, who was busy serving for hospitality. The Lord wants us to have these ears open too. Because faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17).
Fourth: When we pray, our hearts overflow with joy.
Reading ☞ "When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were very afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said to them, "Get up, do not be afraid." (6-7)
Do you have joy in your heart? It is the power of the devil and Satan that gives you anxiety, nervousness, fear and terror in your heart. The powers of the devil and Satan always close the door of our hearts before the gospel. When the door of the heart is firmly closed, it means that the state of the mind is dark. A dark heart is a spiritual state dominated by the devil and Satan. When the door of the heart is closed, it speaks of a dark state. It is proof that Satan's authority is lurking there. Are you feeling empty and anxious right now? It is evidence that Satan's authority is encamped.
Please accept Jesus as your Savior. The Lord will drive away anxiety, fear and fear from your heart and give you the gift of peace. That is why the resurrected Lord closed the door and appeared to the disciples, who were gripped by anxiety, restlessness, and fear, saying, "Peace be with you" (John 20:19). Therefore, there is no way to overcome the anxiety, nervousness, and fear that reside within us without the saints praying and being filled with the Holy Spirit. That's why Paul said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7).
Fifth: When you pray, you become a person of Jesus.
Verse to read: “The disciples lifted up their eyes and saw, and they saw no one except Jesus” (8).
Let's look to Jesus. After the ardent prayer, when I lifted my eyes, all the visions that had just appeared have disappeared and only Jesus is visible. Moses of the law was also alive, and Elijah of the prophets was also alive. They were all ministers and tools to lift up Jesus. As long as the Lord exists, Moses and Elijah have no meaning. Only Jesus is the master of life. Therefore, those who have Jesus are those who own the whole world. On the other hand, if you lose Jesus, you have lost the world. The Lord is the master of history. That's why we call history "he is story". He came to the center of history and saved secular history.
Prayer changes all things and makes history happen. In other words, the Acts of the Apostles is the Acts of Prayer, that is, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. When they prayed earnestly, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and then they became witnesses of Jesus. If you want to be a man of Jesus, you must be a man of prayer.
Dear saints!
You are a watchman of prayer. Let's go up to the prayer garden. Your eyes should be open. Your ears should be open. Your heart should be filled with peace. Let's be Jesus.