Sermon Devotional: The Prayers that Shake Heaven and Earth
Sermon Title: The Prayers that Shake Heaven and Earth
Scripture: Revelation 8:1-5 (ESV)
In our sermon series on the book of Revelation, we have noted timeless themes that provided comfort to the first century recipients of the Apostle John’s letter and provide the same comfort and encouragement to us today, including the sovereignty of God, His protection for believers, the certainty of final justice, the promises of God’s mercy and salvation for those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb. But in our text today we come to a powerful theme, consistent through God’s Word, that we might not have expected here in Revelation – the power of prayer.
Remember back in chapter 6, the martyrs prayed to God pleading, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (6:10). For these martyrs, the waiting seemed long though they knew the certainty of final judgment was secure. God responded telling them “not yet.” Now here in chapter 8, we have the prayers of the saints – all believers – rising like incense before God and ushering in the end of the world and the beginning of eternity. God hears their prayers, smells the aroma of their prayers, and says, “Yes.” The time has come.
This should encourage us to never doubt that our prayers matter. God is sovereign and is in full control of all events past, present and future. His will be done! But God asks us to be participants in His work in the world through our hands, our hearts, and our prayers. When we pray, we can trust God is all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving. His timing is perfect and He perceives the beginning and the end, while we do not. The omnipotent God of the universe certainly did not have to invite us into His work in the world through prayer, but He did.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10). Heaven is where there is no resistance to the rule and reign of God. Your will here as it is there! That prayer will never be in vain. It rises like incense before God. And at some point, Jesus is coming back. His Kingdom will come!
Therefore, let’s pray today for His Kingdom to come. Pray also today for the great variety of things in your life, and other’s lives, with confidence that God hears, that our prayers are like incense rising before Him, and that He acts in response to our prayers with His wisdom and His power and His love. And finally, let’s pray the final prayer in Revelation (22:20) as the ultimate intercessory prayer – “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Consider—
╬ Imagine an aroma that takes you back to a relished, comforting memory – like the smell of the June forest or fresh-baked bread. Every prayer you pray rises to the Father and is a sweet aroma because of the purification of Christ our Lord. The Lord hears your prayers; the Father smells your prayers! He is acting and He will act upon them according to His will and His perfect timing.
╬ For the martyrs before the throne, the waiting seemed long though the certainty of final judgment was secure. In your prayer life, are there specific burdens or “how long?” type burdens that you have become weary of bringing before the Lord? Like the white-robed martyrs, waiting is hard requiring patience and trust. Ask the Lord to renew your trust and bring these “how long” prayers to the Lord today.
╬ Father, thank you for inviting us to pray. Hallowed be your name today in all we are and all we do. Hallowed be your name today in our city and church and the places where we work. May your kingdom come, your will be done in our lives today as it is in heaven. We want all people to know the glory of your name. May the Spirit enable our lives to draw men and women to yourself. Amen, Come, Lord Jesus! It is in His name we pray.
Scripture: Revelation 8:1-5 (ESV)
And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:3-5
In our sermon series on the book of Revelation, we have noted timeless themes that provided comfort to the first century recipients of the Apostle John’s letter and provide the same comfort and encouragement to us today, including the sovereignty of God, His protection for believers, the certainty of final justice, the promises of God’s mercy and salvation for those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb. But in our text today we come to a powerful theme, consistent through God’s Word, that we might not have expected here in Revelation – the power of prayer.
Remember back in chapter 6, the martyrs prayed to God pleading, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (6:10). For these martyrs, the waiting seemed long though they knew the certainty of final judgment was secure. God responded telling them “not yet.” Now here in chapter 8, we have the prayers of the saints – all believers – rising like incense before God and ushering in the end of the world and the beginning of eternity. God hears their prayers, smells the aroma of their prayers, and says, “Yes.” The time has come.
This should encourage us to never doubt that our prayers matter. God is sovereign and is in full control of all events past, present and future. His will be done! But God asks us to be participants in His work in the world through our hands, our hearts, and our prayers. When we pray, we can trust God is all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving. His timing is perfect and He perceives the beginning and the end, while we do not. The omnipotent God of the universe certainly did not have to invite us into His work in the world through prayer, but He did.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10). Heaven is where there is no resistance to the rule and reign of God. Your will here as it is there! That prayer will never be in vain. It rises like incense before God. And at some point, Jesus is coming back. His Kingdom will come!
Therefore, let’s pray today for His Kingdom to come. Pray also today for the great variety of things in your life, and other’s lives, with confidence that God hears, that our prayers are like incense rising before Him, and that He acts in response to our prayers with His wisdom and His power and His love. And finally, let’s pray the final prayer in Revelation (22:20) as the ultimate intercessory prayer – “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Consider—
╬ Imagine an aroma that takes you back to a relished, comforting memory – like the smell of the June forest or fresh-baked bread. Every prayer you pray rises to the Father and is a sweet aroma because of the purification of Christ our Lord. The Lord hears your prayers; the Father smells your prayers! He is acting and He will act upon them according to His will and His perfect timing.
╬ For the martyrs before the throne, the waiting seemed long though the certainty of final judgment was secure. In your prayer life, are there specific burdens or “how long?” type burdens that you have become weary of bringing before the Lord? Like the white-robed martyrs, waiting is hard requiring patience and trust. Ask the Lord to renew your trust and bring these “how long” prayers to the Lord today.
╬ Father, thank you for inviting us to pray. Hallowed be your name today in all we are and all we do. Hallowed be your name today in our city and church and the places where we work. May your kingdom come, your will be done in our lives today as it is in heaven. We want all people to know the glory of your name. May the Spirit enable our lives to draw men and women to yourself. Amen, Come, Lord Jesus! It is in His name we pray.