Power of prayer
Numbers 20:10~13 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (12)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #433 Nearer, Still Nearer (#490 in previous version)
God liberated the Israelites from Egypt, but forced them to wander for 40 years when it was possible to reach Canaan in about 10 days. This was God’s method of instilling faith in a people who had fallen into unbelief and self-satisfaction. The reason too that He led the Israelites to cross both the Red Sea and the Jordan River was to have the Israelites enjoy the power of prayer and the fact that God was alive. What were the powers of prayer that the Israelites realized through the three feast days?
1. Prayer of the Passover
Passover is the day when the Israelites were saved by the blood of Jesus even when they were enslaved in the midst of the darkness in Egypt. The Israelites who held on to the covenant were liberated from the forces of darkness. Likewise, if we believe in God now, God will work right now with the Holy Spirit. If you have the tendency to fall into sundry conflicts in your heart, or find yourself wavering in your reality, pray holding on to the covenant of the Passover through which God destroyed the forces of Satan and start anew.
2. Prayer of the Pentecost
The Israelites had no water or food as they walked the wilderness; they thought death was the most certain consequence. God allowed the Israelites to reap harvest within 50 days to give the Israelites renewed faith. This is the Pentecost. In every peril, when the Israelites prayed with the covenant of the Pentecost, God provided with manna and quail. In this way, God completely provided for them and led them.
3. Prayer of the Feast of Ingathering
The Feast of Ingathering refers to the day that the Israelites harvested and stored grain. This feast day also signifies the background of heaven toward which we must all strive. This is the complete guarantee that whenever we pray, the Holy Spirit of the Lord works in our lives and sends His angels in order to be with us with the background of heaven. It is only when we believe this truth that we will receive prayer answers. We must restore prayer while holding on to the work of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of the throne of heaven.
- Passover refers to salvation, Pentecost to the power of the Christian walk of faith, and the Feast of Ingathering to the background of heaven. Hold on to this covenant and experience the power of prayer. Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2011.12.18