INTELLIGENT PRAYING

 

 

   For this they willingly are ignorant of, . . .

II Peter 3:5a

       

            Intelligent praying often requires intelligence gathering and a willingness to remain informed. As some would say on the Street, “Catch my drift?”  

            Such intelligence gathering refers to knowing where the speaker is “coming from,”  what they’re about, and what is their perspective on life.  For someone with a heart for God, “Catching my drift” (or that of society) might refer to the moral slide of society, as it “drifts” away from God. Not catching the drift of current events is what Peter was warning his reader about in the above passage.  There is an inherent danger of over spiritualizing, or of only seeing history going around and round in circles forever—without noting the purposeful targeting of men’s souls for a particular set-up of events: creating an atmosphere (as we shall see) that can actually stifle the gospel, and make the rise of perdition inevitable.

      Ah, some have already caught the “drift” of this discussion—the danger of living in society without any absolute road markers—so that, for example, society might issue a movie about Harry Potter (who lives in the burning stench of witches and wizards who manipulate the world of  mortals) while at the same time releasing a “good” movie about a Lord of the Rings (who sinks in the simple quick sands of good and bad witches) —while having the Church actually praise the second movie . . . and ignore its ability to throw God out of the “ring” altogether(!)—for  God is not present in the second movie at all, since a wicked force (or evil pit) ultimately solves the problem of the ring.

      In other words, here the intelligence gatherer  recognizes that wickedness is being used to cast out evil.  Evil is defeated, they’re telling us, not by obeying God—but by following the rules of Darkness. Yet, there is a difference between magic. . . . and miracles.  Magic is rooted in a drift of the occult world that grows fat in the increasing darkness. Magic manipulates the Night.  Miracles are acts of God, as He changes natural law, momentarily, to demonstrate His amazing grace, within His own glorious Light (James 1:17).  Miracles are to glorify God.

 

Again, there is a distinct disadvantage to not being able to read the signs of the times.  Eventually

 the “drift” reaches to the throat, seeking to drown us with indifference and apathy. Eventually, we may drift with the tide away from God, along with the rest—so that we abandon all further “intelligence gathering” of God’s good intentions for our world, today.

     

      Having stated the above, it soon becomes obvious that intelligence gathering is serious business.  There is a danger involved, and some real tension.  Such agents are in foreign territory.  They live within a culture that is at ease, and perfectly content to protect its agenda from foreign interference.  You are the intruder.  You are on foreign soil.  You are not at home.  —In this sense, every true born again Christian is called to “intelligence gathering.”  We are on foreign soil; we are not at Home, and our ultimate allegiance is to a higher Kingdom.

     If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

   For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

      In other words, we are called to “gather intelligence” regarding the drift of our society and world.  Many are so at ease, with the world about us, however, that they are reluctant to even consider this!  Such an attitude underlies much of the church’s “ho-hum” attitude towards the fire of the prophets, today.  It is obvious that persons who cannot see a distinction between the Kingdom of God, and the powers of the Dark, will have little interest in the dangers projected by prophecy.   After all, God wants us happy!  Doesn’t Scripture say that we are to be anxious for nothing?

      Yes it does.  But read the rest of the passage, and this will bring us to our main point—What we should be doing with the “intelligence” gathered.  Our answer is key to success, or failure, within God’s Kingdom.  Let us read this next passage very carefully!

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6,7

      Did you notice something?  Paul does not say that anxiety will not come our way, but how to deal with it.  What is strongly implied is that when anxiety arises, we are to start to pray.  When things begin to disturb us, in other words, our immediate reaction should be to carry the matter to God.  In this sense, such intelligence gathering results in more than simply observing trends: it prompts us to change the society in which we live—through effective intercession . . .  and spiritual intervention.

      Does not Scripture admonish us to have nothing to do with ungodliness, but to speak out against it (Eph. 5:11)?—and this is within the direct context of being Spirit filled (vs. 18)!  Why, pray tell, do we not see more of this within Charismatic circles, today?

      I know, I’ve just crossed the line from between being a “nice Christian” to being a threat to the status quo (in the spirit world)!

 

      The good news is that, for the real Christian, standing up for the Lord is never a real problem.  For, when our “intelligence gathering” brings us to a point of personal distress (as it should, for even the weakest of believers – II Pet. 2:7) our solution is to . . . go back to the Lord in prayer and pray, and pray, and pray—until God answers. 

      It is within the above context, that the following quote to a young minister makes incredibly good sense.  Please note what it does, and does not, say:

    I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

    For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

   For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

   Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

I Timothy 2:1-4

      Paul has seen the drift within society, and instructs us on how to combat it. To an evangelical (which I am, as well) this may seem somewhat disturbing.  First of all, Paul has moved this type of prayer to the head of the list, for he says that “first of all” prayer should be offered for government (vss. 1,2). . . so that people may be saved (vs. 4)!

      Wait a minute Paul.  Shouldn’t we be praying for the Lord to send laborers into the harvest, as Christ commanded us (Matt. 9:38)?  Yes, and Paul includes this in verse seven, where he notes his calling to preach the gospel.  Yet, the apostle states that first this type of praying is to be pursued, if Kingdom of God is to effectively advance.  Why?  Let us look at the text, again.

 

      Now we may also begin to notice that this most urgent request does not even include a request for freedom to declare the gospel (as in Col. 4:3,4, for example).  Again, why is this???  What on earth is so urgent about this request, that Paul places it at the absolute top of the list?

 

Why did the apostle Paul make this request?  Because he understood something that many of us do not, today.  There is an environment, and an atmosphere, where the gospel can not be spread effectively.  Within this environment, even freedom to preach will not guarantee salvation to the hearers.  Worst of all, if people do respond within this environment, they will become reprobate: hardened against truly walking with God.  Consider the extreme situation, for example, of attempting to preach to the revelers assembled to engage in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.  There, the rule of the day is unbridled license and lust.  The revelers leave their rooms, and hit the streets, fully intent upon cutting loose of all restraint and moral restriction.  The very first goal and challenge, of a true evangelist within such an environment, would be to sober up the persons being spoken to.  They must understand the gravity of what is being offered by the gospel, in order to be saved. 

      This holds not only for obvious rebellion, but for religious antagonism to holiness, as well.  This was a major reason for John the Baptist being sent out before the Messiah (Jesus).  His mission was to prepare the way of the Lord.  Do you remember what John said, when the people responded to the heavy anointing on his life?  Did he simply open his arms to welcome them?

      No, his first task was to sober them up.

   Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

   Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Luke 3:7,8

      His instruction to bring forth the fruits of repentance is a command to seriously listen to what he is saying.  John is demanding that they offer much more than an emotional response.  He’s saying, “Listen, I’m not here to entertain you.  This is serious business!  Go home, think about it, and then examine your life (with personal ‘intelligence gathering’) to make the changes necessary to demonstrate your commitment to follow the Lord, in truth.”

 

      Please notice, again, that there is a very specific shopping list that the apostle Paul presents to us within his “most urgent” prayer for an atmosphere of revival.  He says that we are to pray for government, and society so that, “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (vs. 2).

      How different this is, from the Mardi Gras environment (or most “prime time” viewing . . .)!  And how impossible it is, to have true quietness of soul, without coming to terms with the Lord!  For “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:18).  Such an environment, any stable government with a viable justice system, may supply.  If we have “freedom” but have no sobriety or (worst) have no love for the truth, then that atmosphere is not conducive to the spread of the gospel.  (At this point, some should begin to be alarmed by trends within the U.S.—if not concerned already!)

      Further, note that Paul’s request for “godliness” is pivotal in all of this.  Its Greek roots point to a heart that is “pious” and “well reverent” (Strong’s G2095 and G4576). There is a particular danger that Paul is concerned about, which undercuts the ability of the gospel to take root. It is a lack of sobriety, and the fear of God.

 

David’s choir master (Asaph) saw this, and

  decried its abandonment.  Notice how he praises the righteous (who deny themselves, and live for God – Ps. 50:5, Matt. 16:24, Mk. 8:34, Lk. 9:23) —while warning the careless about even approaching God.

  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

Psalm 50:16,17

 

      Above, when he chides the would-be convert for “taking my covenant in thy mouth”—this may very easily be likened to making a careless profession of faith. For all of biblical faith involves entering into covenant with the living God.  A covenant is a contract of the soul, akin to marriage (Eph. 5:25-27).  Yet, here, the Lord clearly states that He has no interest in these persons approaching Him, without first being careful about how they approach Him: with reverence.

        Again, these conditions are not automatically guaranteed by “freedom” at all.  They are most abundant within a time of trial and trouble (as occurred after the 9/11 tragedy).  A careful harvesting of souls must always be prayerfully engaged in, mindful of the possible loss of the window of opportunity, when sobriety may again be lost within our society . . . and churches.

        The apostle Paul clearly warned that the day would come when most people in the world would no longer be able to endure sound doctrine (II Tim. 4:3).  The local church would become a circus, with little (if any) of the real fragrance of Heaven.  In these, and other, cases professionals trained in the latest psychology and manipulative principles infiltrate the church with a secular mindset and “science falsely so-called” (I Tim. 6:20).  This profane and secular atmosphere also stifles the atmosphere of Heaven and reduces the Christian experience to mere entertainment and intellectual exercise.  From there, it is only a short step into the lap of Antichrist (the consummate secularist: declaring himself, and humankind, to be God—II Thes. 2:4).

        Prophecy is given that we may avoid “drifting” with society at large. Let us be diligent in our “intelligence gathering” and cry out with an intelligent, urgent, and persistent burden to the Lord in prayer: for our country, our world . . . and for our churches.

        The Night is coming, and so is the Morning.

†

 

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