Pastoral Letter 84

Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,

I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Dear sisters and brothers, we are getting closer and closer to the end of the lockdown with the percentage of fully vaccinated people nearing 60%. This is promising and gives us hope that we will be able to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day together at the end of November, as well as the Advent season. But there are some questions and so many things to be clarified. We will wait and see what instructions the UCA NSW/ACT Synod will put in place before we open our doors.

The good news is that this week the number of cases in NSW is less than what they were in the previous weeks. Hopefully we have passed the peak and things will get better in the coming few weeks. Let us keep praying with a positive mind and look for the good to come. Please let us know if you have been fully vaccinated for our records. Thanks for those who have already informed us that they are fully vaccinated. This will help us to plan ahead. We need this information before the church Council meets next Wednesday to look into few important matters, which include the Life and Witness Consultation process for the Lower North Shore Zone Uniting Churches.

We should be grateful to God that the recent earthquake in Victoria did not result in the loss of lives, but only some damage to buildings. Please remember those who have been affected by this earthquake.

It has been almost 18 months since the installation of the beehive on our premises. Now, apparently it is time to split the hive, which will be done on Monday. This is necessary to create more colonies and help the stingless bees. Thanks to Dr. Judy Friedlander, Founder & CEO of Planting Seeds, and the team for their services. I hope we will have some honey to taste, which is produced on our premises.

I want to pass on that Margaret Cant is in respite care, at Elizabeth Jenkins Place, Collaroy, close to the family apartment at Dee Why. This is an aged care facility, run by the Salvation Army, with a very caring culture, and plenty of stimulating activities in a homely environment. According to David, Margaret seems to be quite at home there, helping to look after some of the less able residents. Under the current Health Directives visits to aged care facilities are restricted even to carers, but hopefully when things ease in the next few weeks more interaction should be possible.  Meanwhile David visits several times a week and if you would like to send Margaret any news, cards or messages, call or text David on his mobile or send a note, and he will be happy to pass them on.

David sincerely thanks me and the friends from St. Andrew’s and elsewhere, who have been so supportive of their family in recent challenging times.

Lebanon continues to face a desperate situation and deepening economic and financial crisis, an economy in the brink of collapse and a currency in free fall. The suffering people need our prayers and support. If you are happy and willing to support, you can make a donation in response to the AMAA’s appeal for the Lebanon Emergency Relief (see the attached flyer for information). Please pray and if you can, donate.

As the lockdown goes on, please pray and join the rest of the members on Sunday morning for worship from home following the attached Order of Service, light a candle, sing along to the hymns chosen and read the Bible Readings and the Message.

Continue to pray. Here are some prayer points for this week:

1. Pray for tomorrow’s service and join in prayer with all the churches, praise, and worship God.

2. Pray for those who are under stress because of the COVID-19 restrictions and are struggling financially.

3. Pray for Lebanon as people are in desperation.

4. Pray for Margaret, David, and the family, as they go through an uncharted territory due to Margaret’s heath situation.

Please let me know if you or anyone else has prayer points.

Krikor

MESSAGE

The Power of Prayer

James 5:17-18

The story is told of a time when a great Scottish preacher prayed in the morning service for rain. As he went to church in the afternoon his daughter said: “Here is the umbrella, Papa”. “What do we need it for?” he asked. “You prayed for rain this morning. Don’t you expect God to send it?” his daughter replied. They carried the umbrella, and while they came home, they were glad to take shelter under it from the drenching storm.

Such should be our faith when we pray, just like that little child’s – with no doubt, and expecting an answer. If we need something we should be ready to make our petition to God with expectation.

Prayer is simply a communication with the man upstairs. The omnipotent God, who is in control, will provide us with our needs according to His will.

Prayer is the secret of power, the spiritual power that we need to face everything in life. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.

Someone has written: “Prayer is the simplest of acts. It is simply speaking to God. It needs neither learning nor wisdom nor book knowledge to begin it. It needs nothing but heart and will. The weakest infant can cry when he is hungry. The poorest beggar can hold out his hands for alms and does not wait to find words. The most ignored man will find something to say to God, if he only has a mind. “

Charles Spurgeon: “Prayers are the believer’s weapons of war. When the battle is too hard for us, we call in our great ally, who, as it were lies in ambush until faith gives the signal by crying out, ARISE o LORD!“

Who has to pray?

According to our reading the one who is in trouble and the one who is happy. Prayer is not only for difficult times, but for all times good and bad.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. Elijah was passionate in prayer; he prayed with faith.

What makes an ordinary person a powerful weapon in the hands of God?  Prayer.

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Ask – Believe – Receive – Faith and Prayer are inseparable.

Elijah knew rain was coming. He believed that the rain would come, though he did not see any signs.

Jesus said to Thomas: “Blessed is the man who doesn’t have to see to believe. Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Elijah was a man who believed the promises of God. He believed them so much that he was willing to claim them and live in them.

There are promises in the Bible that are either conditional or unconditional. If I am going to claim a conditional promise, then I must meet all the conditions. Matt. 21:22 says: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

If that promise is going to work for me, then I must pray in absolute faith. It is conditional. However, Psalm 119:105 says: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light for my path.” It’s an unconditional promise and is given without strings attached.

We read in 1 Kings chapters 17 and 18, Elijah was confident that God will answer, and his confidence was based on:

The Word of God – In 1 Kings 18:1, God told Elijah to confront Ahab and He would send the rain. Elijah did as he was commanded, and he knew the rain was coming. Elijah believed God when God said something.

The Will of God – In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah had been God’s instrument to bring the drought upon the nation. Elijah knew that the drought had been sent because of the idolatry of the people. The rain had stopped because the people were worshiping Baal and not Jehovah. Now, the Baal prophets were dead, the people had repented and had returned to the Lord God. Elijah knew it was time for the rains to return. Elijah prayed and believed in the word of God. Deut. 11:13-17 simply says: “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied”.

When God’s will had been revealed about a matter, it is settled already. It will be done! Some may ask: “Why bother to pray about it?” Because, God’s promises are not given to restrict our prayer life, but to energize it! When God reveals His will in a matter, we have direction, purpose and power in prayer. We can pray specifically about a situation with the confidence that God will do as He has purposed and willed.

Elijah knew that he could trust God to send the rain because of all that he had already seen the Lord do. He has seen the Lord work many miracles before and there was no reason to think that God could not continue to move in power and glory. He had already witnessed the faithfulness of God at the brook.

Elijah was a Prayer Warrior and as such he had the following characteristics:

He was Humble – He bowed himself before the presence of the Lord as an intercessor before the Lord! God will honour the person who comes into his presence humbly.

He was Specific – James 5:17-18 tells us that Elijah was very specific in his prayer life. He did not waste time on generalities, but he prayed in faith specifically naming the things that needed to be done. God honours this kind of praying.

He was Earnest – Elijah was sincere about his prayer, James tells us in 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. He prayed with fervency. His soul was moved with the need of the people. He felt the pressure of the thing he prayed for! The church should regain the desire for fervent prayer!

He was Persistent – Seven times the servant is told to go and look toward the sea. Seven times there is nothing there. Yet, Elijah kept praying and kept believing. He was persistent! Sometimes, like Elijah, we will experience delays in answers to our prayers. There are times when God will answer prayer immediately. However, there are times when the answer is delayed. When those times come, God would have us continue faithful in prayer, waiting on His answer. Let us learn to be patient!

He was Expectant – Elijah kept praying and kept sending his servant to look to the sea. Why? Because he was operating in faith in the promise of God. He knew the rains were coming. He was expecting big things from God. Elijah was expecting big things from a big God. (1 Kings 18: 41, 43)

If we are ever going to see real success in our prayer lives, we must learn to pray with expectations. We must pray and believe that God will do what He has promised to do, Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Expectation means to wait for something in suspense, to wait in hope. It means to continually remain in one place – maybe permanently- to receive something, you have faith that it will come to pass. Jesus commanded the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. They assembled together in the upper room, to pray in one accord and supplication.

He was Answered – v. 44 – On the seventh trip, the servant saw a little cloud rising out of the sea. When this news is brought to Elijah, the prophet knew that God’s answer had come. His prayers had prevailed, and God was sending the rains.

We serve a God who still answers the prayers of His children, who know that praying is not a waste of time. God honours the prayers of His people, because the prayers of His people honour Him.

2 Chron. 7:14 says: If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

The church must be a praying church if it wants to see the power of God released. It should be a House of Prayer. Matthew 21:13 And He said to them: “It is written, ’My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ’den of thieves.’ “

Prayer is a privilege.

Some people think of prayer as a duty, and it is.

Some people think of prayer as a stewardship, and it is.

Some people think of prayer as a necessity, and it is.

But prayer is also a priceless privilege. With prayer we talk with the eternal loving Father. It is not just a monologue; it is also listening for the still small voice of God who loves us with a perfect love and with a perfect wisdom.

Prayer is a private affair. It is a personal and confidential conversation. For sure He does not forbid public prayer which we should do.

Prayer is personal experience. God is personal. He inclines His ears to listen to us.

Prayer can be a productive experience. If we pray with a trusting and obedient attitude, God reveals Himself to us and be with us with grace, mercy and guidance.

In today’s modern world, sometimes it is hard for us to realize the Power of Prayer. After all, man has accomplished so much that often we look for solutions to life’s problems in the natural world before even seeking God. It is often said that “Prayer Changes Things!” We should also add, “Prayer Changes Us!”

• It is true that our prayers will change things around us but sometimes our prayers change us. To make it more personal, “Prayer Changes Me!” At times, after prayer, our situation even remains the same – but we come through it different.

We have often wished that every prayer that we prayed would be answered and wished that our prayers would be answered instantly.

We have no doubt prayed about some things, hoping for prayer to fix it.

• When we’re sick – we pray for God to heal us.

• When we’re poor – we pray for God to provide.

• When we’ve been wronged – we pray for God to make it right.

• When we’re confused – we pray to God for clarity.

• All of those prayers are good prayers.

• God calls on us to trust Him in such moments to Move- to Work – and to Act on our behalf.

• But still, prayer doesn’t “fix” all of the situations we encounter in this life.

We sometimes place a burden on prayer that prayer was never meant to handle. We treat prayer like a magic formula. We treat prayer like there is a genie in the bottle. We treat prayer like we have been granted three wishes.

What if, instead of expecting prayer to “fix” all of our negative circumstances, we trusted instead that God designed prayer to change the variables.

• Prayer changes all of the variables at work in any given situation, making possible either a miraculous and instantaneous deliverance or the slow, progressive change and growth necessary for overcoming adversity

Prayer doesn’t fix everything, but it changes everything.

• Prayer isn’t a magic formula that instantly and easily fixes everything, but prayer is definitely powerful enough to change the variables of any situation to which we apply its power.

James really understood the power of prayer. Prayer was a part of his everyday life, and he took it for granted that it would be a part of the life of every Christian.

• You cannot really be a good Christian and not pray, and you can be a Christian and not pray.

• Prayer is the pipeline of communication between God and His people, God and those who love Him.

It doesn’t matter how much we have managed to convince ourselves to believe in what we are praying for, that is not faith; it’s presumptuous.

• There is no weapon in the believer’s spiritual armoury, however, as powerful as prayer.

• In fact, fervent prayer is not merely one thing that we can do in a time of crisis – it is undoubtedly the best thing that we can do.

James says: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”.

In other words, is capable of producing results.

• Far from an exercise in futility, fervent prayer is a powerful God-given resource with a capacity to produce incredible results

• It would not be incorrect to interpret the thought expressed in this text by saying “Fervent prayer accomplishes much”.

A Poem by William Cowper:

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw.

Prayer gives exercise to faith and love,

Prayer brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian’s armour bright.

And Satan trembles when he sees

the weakest saint upon his knees.

Prayer doesn’t fix everything, but it changes everything.

That’s the power of prayer and how much we need that today in our world and our lives.

Amen!