Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- Scripture biographies are selective and very condensed. the mighty examples of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and elsewhere in God's Word may not only bless you, they may sometimes cause you to wonder if perhaps these people belonged to some elite class of saints who lived on a higher level of humanity than the rest of us mortals. Do you at times suspect that there may be very few such saints of God living today? (Google image, Who Was Elijah?)
There are two passages of Scripture with which God wants to challenge and encourage you. "The promise is for you" (Acts 2:39, and "Elijah was a man just like you" (James 5:17). Every precious word in the Bible about these heroes and heroines of sacred history is absolutely true. But it is also absolutely true that each of those persons was human like you.
The Bible does not camouflage the fact that every out-standing character recorded had one or more weaknesses, disappointed God on one or more occasions, and had need to appropriate God's grace and help.
The only perfect person who ever lived was Jesus. He alone never sinned in thought, word, or deed. But He fully understands and sympathizes with you—not only because of His infinite, divine knowledge, but also because He by choice experienced all of life's temptations, hardships, and problems. Jesus understands you.
And Jesus prepared the plan of salvation for you. He planned for prayer partnership with you and prayer ministry by you. His tremendous plan is made to order for you; it is your size. It is for a human being just like you.
Did any human being ever a accomplish as much through intercession as Moses? He wrote the beginning books of the Bible. He had no Scripture promises to lean upon until God gave them to him and he put them into writing. Moses is an example of love, patience, prayer, and obedience.
He brought an idolatrous, stubborn, doubting nation out of slavery and into nationhood; out of idolatry into worship of Jehovah alone; out of Egypt, through forty years of desert wanderings, to the entrance of Canaan. Moses came to know God as no other human being ever did (Deut. 34:10).
Moses had one of the best-trained minds and was probably the most experienced world leader of his time, but he was an ex-criminal. He faced family problems, repeated rebellions, and occasions when his life was in danger. He repeatedly exhausted his resources. He came to the end of himself again and again.
He often faced situations in which he did not know what to do next. At least once, in the latter part of his ministry, he greatly disappointed God. In spite of his brilliant role, his family was jealous of him. Aaron, his brother-helper, failed him, his wife failed to understand or support him and his children were never heard of again. Moses was a normal human being just like you. But Moses knew how to pray!
Elijah was a normal human being also. Elijah got weary and discouraged, and he was ready to give up. He became so despondent he longed to die. He had neither wife or brother to encourage or comfort him. He was lonely, despised, betrayed, and unappreciated. He was no great success in any way except as a prophet. Elijah in fact, had a sinful human nature. But Elijah stands out in history for his powerful prayers.
David was unrespected and unappreciated as a youth. His father-in-law became his enemy and spent much of his time trying to find and kill David. His wife Michal did not understand his love for the Lord. Some of his chief helpers had no spiritual interests.
On one occasion David sinned a tragic sin, though afterward he truly repented. But God was able to count David His close companion and call him "a man after my own heart (Acts 13:22). Why? Because of David's prayer life. David was a man just like you, except for his constant communion with God and his life of prayer.
What about Peter? How truly human he was—sincere, outspoken, with a mouth that kept getting him into trouble. Only minutes after making his great confession of Jesus, he received the sternest rebuke ever given to one of the disciples. Yet Peter was one of Jesus' closest prayer partners. If Peter, the outspoken fisherman, could become a man of prayer, so can you.
Or take Paul as an example. Paul was a rugged, determined man of steel. He toiled, endured, and suffered almost beyond human comprehension. He loved his converts and the churches he founded with a tender, intense, and godly jealousy. He was undoubtedly uncompromising and very demanding of his helpers and co-workers. I doubt you would have wanted to be on his team.
But what Christian ever left such a trail of blessing? He worked harder than all others, suffered more than all others, and probably loved more intensely than all the other early church leaders. What a man of God! But, oh how human! True, in may respects Paul was certainly not like you; yet perhaps in others, you might see yourself in Paul.
He was the greatest missionary who ever lived, the greatest theologian of the Christian church, and the greatest church planter who ever lived. Paul could never have accomplished all he did, suffered all he did, and built the church of Christ as he did had he not been mighty in prevailing intercession. Paul prayed day and night. He prayed for long lists of believers. He wept and prayed for his churches. He fasted and prayed for every church he founded or visited.
God's history may well reveal that Paul accomplished as much or more through his prayers as he did through his personal evangelism and preaching. His writings were born of prayer and were filled with prayer. Paul was just like you except for his massive, unceasing prayer warfare. If ever any Christian fought and won prayer battles, it was Paul!
Father, As we read about the mighty examples of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and elsewhere in Your word, we are blessed, though they sometimes cause us to think that they were on a higher level of humanity than the rest of us, for they accomplished a lot.
Your Word tells the truth that these people had weaknesses and disappointed You on one or more occasions, and had to ask for grace and help. You've given us Scriptures to let us know that You want us to be encouraged to believe that Your promises are for us, and that Elijah was a man just like us.
Then there was Jesus, the only perfect person who ever lived! His life was sinless in His thoughts, words and deeds. He fully understands and sympathizes with us because by choice He experienced all of life's temptations, hardships and problems.
Today's Bible verses-
~ Faithfulness is described as:
- steadfast in affection or allegiance
- firm in adherence to promises or in observation of duty
- having or showing true and constant support or loyalty
- deserving trust
Today's guest post-
 | Don’t Miss 6 Compelling Benefits of PrayerKaren Girl Friday |
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| Tigers by Jeff Jett used by permission |
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