We need to pray for one another - 26th January 2009
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." 6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' 8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
Luke 13: 1 – 9 [NIV]
The text above shows that whether we are Christians or not we are sinners. We need to constantly confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, for the bible tells us all have fallen short of God’s glory. Through the blood of Jesus which washes us clean, we are able to commune with our Father again. Thanks be to God.
As Christians we have Jesus as our carer. He intercedes for us daily. However, we also need to pray for ourselves and for one another as Moses went up the mountain and prayed for Joshua and the Israelites to win the battle with the Amelekites. Exodus 17: 8 – 13
In the passage above Jesus tells us that both those people killed whilst making sacrifices (probably worshipping God) and those killed by natural disasters needed someone to intercede for them. Unless someone who cared stepped in, the vine would have been cut down by the Gardener (vs. 6-9 above). We also need to intercede for one another.
I am sure that if it wasn’t for that praying brother, sister, mum, grandma, father or pastor most of us would have perished in our sins. Now let me show you something that will probably shock you:
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. Isaiah 43 vs. 3-4 [NIV]
Thanks to a sister in Christ who showed me this scripture at a small group meeting some 10 years ago. I have since explored and discovered the truth of this scripture for myself. I have learnt that God talks to people about the future in dreams (i.e. if we care enough to believe this and learn to “listen” to our dreams).
Each time I have dreamt something really evil happening to a loved one or the world, I have learnt to intercede for them or the situation immediately. If I don’t, things usually happen as they were shown in the dream. And whenever I pray for them I am always surprised to read in the newspaper or to hear on TV that the same thing took place but in some other place. Now do not misinterpret me, as Satan often uses misinterpretation and a spirit of judging others to distract us from learning the truth meant to help save you and your loved ones in these troubled times. I could give many testimonies of how God warned me in dreams and saved a loved one or myself. God says he will not do anything without first letting his prophets know and in Christ, we are all prophets (priests) Amos 3 v 7; 1 Peter 2 v 9 | 