Speaker: Bro. Bobby Rodriguez, Elder, The Lord's Flock Catholic Charismatic Community

" When Things Seem Impossible "

The Holy Bible abounds with examples of situations when things seem impossible.

The Healing of a Boy with a Demon (Mark 9:14-29) is an example. The healing of a boy possessed by a mute spirit seemed impossible. Even the disciples of Jesus were unable to drive the demon out. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the boy. He said “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” (Mark 9:23).

In a similar amount of this boy's healing (Matthew 17:14-20), the value of faith was underscored . “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (verse 20).

Multiplication of the Loaves (John 6:1-14) is another example. The feeding of 5,000 men (plus women and children) seemed impossible. Christ's disciples tried to solve the situation through their own ideas and worldly means. They were not successful and it was Jesus who performed the miracle – with five barley loaves and two fish.

Jesus, with all his miracles, did amazing feats of compassion and sympathy to prove who He was – and is. [“ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)]. It is the very same Christ who fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, who will provide us with miracles when things seem impossible.

In our current political and economic crisis, many are proposing human solutions: snap election, military junta, people power, impeachment, resignation, “Cha-cha”! Let us propose instead prayer power! Let us pray, listen to God, and obey him!

During difficult times, do not look upon your circumstances from a worldly perspective. When all hope seems lost, don't ask “What am I going to do?” In a spirit of faith, simply ask: “Lord, what are You going to do?”

The Lord tells us to cast all our cares upon him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). He asks us to have faith and wait patiently for him in order to know his grace and experience his love and miraculous touch.

When things seem impossible, use the power of prayer.

Does Prayer Influence God?

Prayer is the primary means of talking to God. Through prayer, we petition the Lord and trust him for his answer. We learn to listen to God and to wait for his answer.

Prayer is a spiritual act of worship. We put God in his proper place of honor. When we pray to him, we acknowledge that He is God – that He is truly “high and exalted, living eternally, whose name is the Holy One.” (Isaiah 57:15).

God alone deserves glory and we ascribe honor to him when we “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We maintain a God-ward attitude throughout the day and ask him to govern every detail of our life.

In prayer, our motives and the condition of our hearts are very important. Simply waiting to “get our way” is not the spirit of prayer that honors God.

The Lord longs for an intimate relationship with us. The best way to become closer to God is by spending time in prayers.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).

Those who ask will receive answers. Those who seek will find. Those who knock will find the door opened for them. This is God's acrostic: A-S-K: Ask, Seek, Knock.

The Lord wants us to pray to him not only because prayer honors him, but because prayer helps us grow in him. Moreover, prayer enables us to connect with his work in our world. Anytime, we can pray for anyone anywhere on earth with confidence that the Lord of the universe will hear and answer us.

Through prayer, we get involved in God's mission. We are able to participate in the expansion of God's kingdom.

The Lord bids us to pray in order that we can build our faith in him. God enjoys helping us along with our faith as we learn his Word, practice his presence, and stay close to him until his thoughts become our thoughts.

God also loves to answer our prayers and to see us become bolder in our walk in the Spirit and in our witnessing.

God remains faithful for He cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13). He is watching to fulfill his word. (Jeremiah 1:12).

Does prayer influence God? Of course. In fact, we have our assurance of answered prayers.

Our Assurance of Answered Prayers

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (John 16:23). We can be assured that God will answer our prayers in Jesus' name because of the following:

1) Association with God: After salvation, we have a new relationship with God through his son, Jesus. Through Christ, we can have intimacy with God the Father.

2) Access to God: We can come to God's throne of grace with boldness and confidence. Jesus' death and resurrection cleared the way for us to have access to God the Father.

3) Authority of Jesus: Because of the shed blood of Jesus, his believers are co-heirs with him (Romans 8:17). We are delegated Jesus' authority and we have the right to pray in Christ's name.

4) Agreement with Jesus: To pray in Christ's name, we not only must have his authority but his agreement as well. Our prayer must be within God's will, in keeping with the character of God and his Word.

5) Assurance: Asking in Jesus' name (John 14:14) means praying in confidence. Jesus would give us what we ask as long as we are in association and in agreement with him.

A Life Changing Prayer

The prayer that the Apostle Paul offered for the church in Colossae ( Colossians 1:9-14) is a powerful model of a life-changing prayer that can impact us and those whom we lift to the Father. How?

1) We pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of God's will. – The first major step in knowing God's will is knowing his Word that provides guidance in every situation. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) We ask God to make clear his perfect will for every decision we make.

2) We pray that we may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. – First Corinthians 3:10-15 tells us to be careful how we build upon a foundation that is Jesus Christ. We should walk in the Spirit, worthy of the Lord.

3) We pray that we may bear fruit in every good work. – When Christ is the center of our life, then our character, conduct, and conversation should bear fruit into his kingdom. When we ask the Holy Spirit for assistance, it is an indication of sincere desire to live for the Lord and to obey his Word.

4) We prayer that we may increase in the knowledge of God. – Our heavenly Father's perpetual intention is to mold us into the likeness of his Son. We should know more about Jesus and draw closer to him. We catch a greater vision of God and as a result, we will love him more.

5) We pray that we may be strengthened and sustained with the power of God. – Everytime we attempt to do something in our own strength, our church is weakened. Our successful efforts come not by power or might, but by the Holy Spirit (Zecharias 4:6). God's supernatural strength and wisdom are necessary if we are to prevail in our evil world. His peace and presence are required if we are to live victoriously.

6) We pray that we may give thanks for Christ's salvation for us. – We have qualified as saints of God because He has qualified us. He chose us (John 15:16). He sent his Son to die for us (John 3:16). He gave us the gift of life. He forgave us. He redeemed us. He reconciled us. He justified us. He is sanctifying us. And He will glorify us.

L et us do our part to thankfully obey him and live for him every single day of our life!