National Day of Prayer

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2005 Sermons Archive

2004 Sermons Archive

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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 05.05.05
(Various texts)

9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead. 10 Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. "No more crying," he said. "There's life in him yet." 11 Then Paul got up and served the Master's Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left--Paul going one way,
12 the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

Act 20:9-12 MSG

Do you think Eutychus ever forgave Paul for healing him? “Paul, I was in heaven… why did you bring me back?!?!”
Many of you have heard Carmen’s song “Lazarus,” where Jesus raised His dead friend after four days in the tomb. (see John 11)
Do you think Lazarus ever forgave Jesus? “Jesus, I was in heaven… why did you bring me back?!?!”

But, Paul’s raising of Eutychus is interesting to me because of Paul’s own view of life and death; a view I’ve come to understand and appreciate through my own experience with cancer.

Last Thursday they found something on my latest CT scan… How am I to feel?

Paul said to the Philippians:

21 For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, 24 but it is better for you that I live. 25 I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith. Philippians 1:21-25 NLT

Here’s what I’ve come to very strongly believe about physical healing, or the lack thereof in this earthly life:

IF GOD AND HIS KINGDOM CAN BEST BE SERVED BY A MIRACULOUS PHYSICAL HEALING IN MY LIFE, THEN SO BE IT.

BUT, IF GOD AND HIS KINGDOM CAN BEST BE SERVED BY MY SICKNESS AND/OR DEATH, THEN SO BE IT.

We American Christians place too high a value on quality and quantity of life on this earth.

Our primary prayer when sickness comes to us should never be, “Oh, God, please heal me!”
Our primary prayer should be, “Oh God, please use me during this tough chapter of life to bring about Your purposes.”

One of my cousins in Nebraska committed her life to the Lord and is growing in Him since she first found out about my cancer in 2002.

I see that as an answer to a prayer I prayed (even before cancer) that God would use me in life or death, however, so that others might find eternal life with God.

THAT’S THE TRUE HEALING JESUS BRINGS!

“Instead of concluding it is best to be wherever God wants us to be, we have decided that wherever it is best for us to be is where God wants us. Actually, God’s will for us is less about our comfort than it is about our contribution. God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance. God created us so that our lives would count, not so we can count the days of our lives.”

Becky called me at the office just before I came tonight. She shared how one of the missionaries I was with in Mozambique has been imprisoned for hitting and killing two girls with his car.

How should we pray?

“…Thy will be done….”