Swifter,
Sooner
by Cathy Vinson |
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In this day, God seems to be communicating a word to the validity of an army
of helpers. These helpers are the pray-ers. People alone and in tiny to large groupings
are sensing the spirit of supplication..."And I will pour upon the house of
David...the spirit of grace and supplication" (Zech 12:10). Peter Wagner has termed
this the Prayer Movement witnessed worldwide.
Is this new or a phenomenom right there in Scriptures from the Church's beginnings?
"Pray oncerning us...this I beseech you TO DO..." (Heb 13:18,19).
Prayer is a doing (poieo - to make, to do). Just like an unmade bed is apparent, so are
"undone" prayers, especially in light of a willing Heaven to intervene. God uses
prayer to "bring down" Heaven. "To [pray what they desired] aroused their
whole being into action. It brought them into
contact with Him, and awakened their expectation. To pray is to enter into God's presence,
to claim and secure His attention, to request. Prayer is to commit our need to His
faithfulness, and to leave it there. It is in so doing that we become fully conscious of
what we are seeking." (Andrew
Murray)
"...that I may be restored to you the sooner" (Heb 13:19).
What is insinuated? The writer is clearly saying the helps of prayer will ALTER his
circumstance. He will be restored back to them soonER, swiftER, quickER than without.
Consider such altering in the following passages:
"I beseech you...that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that
I may be delivered...that I may come to you with joy" ( Rom 15:30-32).
"In Whom we trust will also deliver us, you also helping together by prayer for
us" (2 Cor 1:10-11).
"Praying with all prayer...for all saints; and for me..that I may open my mouth
boldly..." (Eph 6:18).
"I know that this [trouble] shall turn to my salvation through your prayer"
(Phil 1:19).
"Continue in prayer...that God would open to us a door" (Col 2:2-4).
"I trust that through your prayers I shall be delivered unto you" (Phil 22).
"I trust..." Paul trusted there were helpers out there. In such a day there was
the assumption that the doing of prayer was continually happening. And God foretold there
would be the role of benefactors in society: "You shall be called, the repairer of
the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in" (Is 58:12).
Experiences able to be altered lie at our fingertips...sooner, bolder, swifter, more open,
turning to deliverance...The greatest love and aid we can give to those we love is to
bring down Heaven. Will we answer the call to become such helpers?
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