By Gary Yendall
Suppose you have entered a high class restaurant. The hostess has seated you and the server has introduced themselves. They ask if you would like something to drink and you reply, “I don’t know. Maybe a glass of water”
The server gives you a menu and advises they will be back shortly with your drink. The server gets busy with other customers but eventually comes back. Then they ask if you are ready to order. A thought goes through your head … “Where is my water?”
Who is to blame?
Whose fault is it that you didn’t get your water? Yours or the server? You were not specific … remember you said “I might have a glass of water” .. and the server can’t read your mind.
Specific in prayer
Prayer is like that. We think we are praying and yet we are not specific yet we expect God to know what we want or to read our mind. We get disappointed when we think we have prayed and the prayer is not answered or doesn’t work. Were we specific in our prayer? For example, I have broken my arm and it is causing a lot of pain. I want the pain gone. My prayer goes something like this, “God, my arm is broken. Fix it” or “Jesus, fix my arm, it is broken” or “I have been a good person and I shouldn’t have to put up with this.” There are so many examples.
Blind men specific in their request
Matthew 20: 30-34 talks about two blind who shouted out to Jesus as he walked by. They yelled, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” It sounds good but what would mercy look like to them. They did get Jesus’ attention though and he asked them “What do you want me to do for you?” This caused the blind men to be specific and they replied. “Lord, we want our sight.” It was then that they were healed.
What did Jesus tell us to do?
There are so many examples of unspecific prayers in the life of believers. Why don’t we do what Jesus told us to do? He said, “Your do it” Matthew 10:9 says, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleans those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give”
Jesus has given us authority as we see in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall harm you.”
Jesus has given us his authority. You have all the power of the Holy Spirit. Use it! This authority belongs to the believer, when we use it in Jesus’ name. Why can’t we get this through our heads! We have the power and authority to everything Jesus did and more. John 14:12 says “… Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do: and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.” We have the authority and yet we refuse to use it.
A gift that can change the world!
Think of it. Jesus commanded a storm to be calm and it was. He commanded demons to come out with one word, and they did. He commanded people to be healed, and they were. Jesus said he could call on an army if he chose. He commanded Peter to walk on water, and he did. He commanded Lazarus to come forth, and he did after being in the grave for four days.
All of these things and more he gave to us … and we fail to use them. Was Jesus a liar or are we just too stupid to see the value of what Jesus did for us?
Authority of an army commander
Suppose we were in an army and the commander told one of us to take over. He has given us permission to use his name and rank. What would we do? Lives would depend on us. We could use our authority to save lives or we could use the same authority and destroy the enemy. Would we refuse to use the authority and do nothing? What would you do?
Running away
We are taught today to run away. Let the “leaders” do it. They have all the power. They are anointed. You are only a lowly person, who has no power, no knowledge, you are nothing! Don’t waste God’s time. Let the elite do it!
Jesus came for you
People, Jesus came for you. He gave his authority and power to you. Everything he did, he did for you. He even sent the Holy Spirit for you. He wanted you to learn, to gain strength, power and to learn how to use the authority you were given
Fellowship with the holy Spirit
To do all this, the Holy Spirit wants fellowship with you. He wants to be your friend. Holy Spirit wants to walk with you, talk with you. He wants to carry on a conversation with you. It is not about prayer, he wants a relationship with you. The Holy Spirit will take all the time you want. He wants to be your friend in a way you have never had a friend before.
If you make the effort, you will experience a life that I can’t describe here. I have spent over 40 years having the privilege of calling the Holy Spirit friend. I have learned to trust him with my life!
Why prayers don’t work
When you pray, tell me, can you describe your prayer five minutes later? Most people can’t! Then how will you know if and when God has answered your pray? If you are in prayer constantly, do you keep track of your prayers? Who is going to make sure your prayers are answered? Jesus gave us everything we need to get prayers answered. Are we using it?
Why do we always depend on others when we have the answer right in our hands. We need to learn to be self-sufficient. Look at your hands. Picture the power that is in them. Power to change the world. Look beyond what is in your head. Look at the picture Jesus had. He has given it to you. Will you accept it?
You have the answer … if you follow him.