Blessing: Beloved ones! May the blessing of
making fervent and steadfast prayers to the Most High God be granted to you
through today's message. Amen.
The
statement that “Prayer is the greatest power in the world” struck a
certain pastor like a thunderbolt. If this news is true, then it is the
greatest truth in the world. If enough of us pray frequently enough, we can
make every person in the world look toward God and hear His voice. We can
change the world, he said. What he said is true—prayer holds infinite power in
the world. Prayer has been proven powerful thousands of times over. If
enough people pray sufficiently, we can save the world. With sufficient prayer,
we can achieve what was said above.
That same pastor, with great
enthusiasm, said: “If every Christian prays for just one minute a day, that’s
enough. The world can be saved.” But I believe that alone is not enough.
Can the sun shining for just one minute a day keep all living beings alive?
Life is dependent on the sun’s rays. Out of the millions of rays, did just one
create life? Among the millions of raindrops, did only one reach the roots of
the trees? Out of millions of seeds, is it only few that grows into a tree?
1.
Among Millions, Only One Sparkles Like a Diamond
In
the Kimberley diamond mines, among countless tons of gravel, not even one in
millions turns out to be a diamond. It is said that if every egg laid by the
fish called Conger eel were to hatch and every eel survived with enough
food, they could fill the vast space between here and the sun within just two
years. Such is the abundance and complexity of creation.
Out
of all that we write and say, only a few words truly inspire people to
take action and do good. Therefore, when we pray for someone, even if we feel
our prayers haven't directly impacted them, it is enough to believe that somewhere,
at some point, our prayer might reach someone, somehow. That alone is
sufficient.
The
truth is this: as Jesus Christ said, if we pray persistently without giving
up, we can truly bring transformation to the world. But weak, doubtful
prayers bear withered fruits. Praying just one minute a day will not
save us.
2.
The Lame Shall Walk
With
heartfelt faith, when some people pray, miraculous healings occur
frequently. One woman suffered for seven years with severe pain due to a
congenital spinal deformity. For the last two years, she had become unable to
walk and was in unbearable agony. Though she and her husband sought help from
the hospital, the doctors said: “We will assist as much as possible, but we
cannot guarantee full recovery. If you're willing, you can come on a given
date.”
As
there were still two weeks left for their hospital visit, they decided to
attend a prayer fellowship in the meantime. Upon arriving, the fellowship
members, one after another and in groups, began to fervently pray for her
condition.
On
Sunday morning, it was announced that Glen Clark would be preaching on
the topic "The Sufferings of Job." The woman suffering from
spinal deformity dearly loved the Book of Job. Hoping that her pain would ease
enough to allow her to listen to the message, she sat with prayerful
expectation.
As Glen Clark taught, toward the end of
the message, he quoted Job 13:15: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in
Him.” At that moment, she suddenly felt a gentle hand rest on her head and
slowly move down toward her spine. As the hand moved gently, she sensed its
motion descending. When it reached the exact spot of her affliction, the intense,
unbearable pain vanished instantly. She was completely healed. She stood up
and walked out on her own. A few hours later, she was seen running
along the road.
This
incident revealed something significant: when all those praying are united
in spirit and purpose, such miraculous events become more likely. It
clearly shows that prayer offered by a large group in unity carries great
power, while an individual’s prayer alone
may carry limited strength.
When,
during worship, we pray that everyone listening would join in heartfelt prayer,
suddenly the whole gathering is filled with strong, joyful, fervent voices
lifted in prayer from all directions. When a congregation prays with perseverance
and unity, it feels as if an invisible hand is lifting us up. Tears
spring to our eyes. In that moment, we are empowered to preach with more
passion and deeper thoughts than what we had prepared in our written
sermons. What unfolds will not feel ordinary, but as a living testimony.
3.
Pray While Reading:
While
reading newspapers, when some of you come across the names of world leaders,
pause for a moment and say, “Lord! Grant this person a hunger for You. Amen,”
or utter the leader's name along with the infinitely powerful name of Jesus.
Doing so won’t delay your reading, but even if you pause for just a second to
associate that name with Jesus, it will be enough. If this becomes a habit, it
can result in the unseen pouring out of a hundredfold blessings upon the world.
Dr.
Frank Laubach was a leading scholar in the field of education. Representing the
World Literacy Movement of the North American Foreign Missions Conference, he
visited every mission field around the world and implemented his method of education everywhere. During that time, he
even extended his support to our Indian government.
5.
A Gentle Smile:
Even
when things do not go as we expect, even if friends turn into betrayers—what
remains for you to lose? Smile gently and move forward. Life may be filled with
obstacles and poor health, causing constant delays. If people mock you, just
smile and take the next step forward.
Even
if you work with all your strength and do not achieve what you aimed for, even
if those who are supposed to help you refuse to assist, smile gently and walk
ahead. Life can change. This test is necessary before you reach rest and
greater joy. So smile and move forward. There’s no need to sit down and sigh
one day. Just smile and keep moving forward.
6.
Laziness: Laziness is a sin before God. One
should not live off the wealth earned by others. According to God’s intent,
every person must work hard and earn their own food through the sweat of their
brow. If one remains idle and does no work, going against God's will—neglecting
the use of body, mind, and soul—such a person becomes unfruitful.
Therefore, a person must work to maintain a healthy body. Laziness leads to
sorrow, misconduct, and straying from the right path. It is the root cause of
grief. Though health, strength, and blessings come through hard work, it is
sinful to depend on the wealth earned by others. Laziness hinders social,
labor, and political progress. A genuine friendship cannot develop between
those who work hard and those who are idle. There is no place for laziness
either in the struggle for freedom or in preserving that freedom. India has
attained political freedom, but not everything that makes life joyful came with
that freedom. We were only freed from British rule. Socially and economically,
our nation has yet to achieve complete freedom. All people of India must
abandon laziness and work for the upliftment of the nation. Laziness is like a
destructive insect.
Prayer: O Father, who declared, "I am
with you always"— We thank You for granting us the tool of prayer, by
which we, as humans, can converse with You. On this day, through Your Word,
teach us with wisdom and steadfastness how to truly pray. We ask this in Your
Holy Name. Amen.
This
message was preached by Father Devadasu Ayyagaru in May 1939 in Rajahmundry. ..
https://www.thebiblemission.in
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