Mt 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Even though this was meant for Jerusalem, I have often thought of this passage as one that really shows the heart of God.
I am thinking of the song, “The love of God is greater far” – Frederick Lehman
The love of God is greater far
Then tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Our prayers are spoke about in John’s vision, in Revelations, as incense before the throne of God.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
THINK OF IT, OUR PRAYERS ARE HAND DELIVERED TO GOD BY THE ANGELS!!!
- I believe that the Bible puts the ultimate importance to pray. In fact, it was the first thing that He spoke of when he answered Solomon’s prayer in the dedication of the Temple.
2 Chronicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place.
ABOVE ALL, GOD WANTS YOU TO PRAY.
It is interesting the process of coming to God in our praying.
- Humble ourselves – Kana – to bow, Bend the knee, bring down low in to subjection.
- You cannot even begin to approach God in arrogance
- Pray – palah – to judge; to intercede,
- Not just saying a prayer but focusing and interceding. Sometimes we just say words. God knows the difference. God forgive us for what we have called prayer.
- Seek my face – baqash – to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); to strive after.
- Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Energeo – to be active, efficient:–do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work
- And turn – shoob – to turn back
- Turn. We may think that we do not have anything to turn away from. To repent for. But I have found that, no matter how righteous we may think we are, we must truly pray and seek God’s face until our prayers become that burning incense at the throne of God. Until we seek His face and follow our prayers in to the throne of God, we just do not know truly what we are in the light of His glory..
Here is the experience my heart longs for.
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isaiah was interceding for Judah. PRAYING. His prayers became a burning incense before the throne and he followed his prayers in to the throne room. He saw the glory and government of heaven. But here was his reaction:
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
And here is what heaven did:
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Then and only then was Isaiah activated:
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
We must get over ourselves.
We must truly humble ourselves to the point that only what He wants matters. Surrendering our will as Christ did. (Not my will, Father)
Praying to the point of seeking His face until we disappear in Him.
Anything less is just self – righteousness.