What I Need Most from My Web Friends
By David J. Stewart
Earnestly Pray for Me Personally, and for My Labors in the Lord
I've received many e-mail lately from people, asking how they can help me with my ministry, or personally. More than anything else in the world, I ask for your prayers. I believe the Bible is God's Word--and the Bible teaches power through prayer. Many people today seek God's power through televangelists, charismatic experiences, multi-point programs, idols, good luck charms, meditation, charitable donations, self-improvement, chants, and other schemes.
As Simon the former sorcerer found out in Acts 8:18--you can't buy God's power! It is not merchandise. God is not a genie at our disposal. God is a Person, who loves us, and sent His Son to die for our sins. God's power comes through prayer.
In James 5:17-18 we read that Elijah was "a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly" and God answered his prayers. God is encouraging us to pray, and reminding us that Elijah was no different from us. Elijah prayed sincerely, and God answered. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words says concerning the word "earnestly" in James 5:17...
In Jas. 5:17 the dative case of the noun proseuche is translated "earnestly" (KJV), in connection with the corresponding verb, lit., "he prayed with prayer" (RV, "fervently"), implying persevering continuance in prayer with fervor... (ISBN: 0-7852-1160-8, pg. 191).
Thus, I desperately ask for your sincere prayers on a continual basis, i.e., persevering continuance in prayer with fervor.
Please don't misunderstand James 5:17. You don't have to believe that God is going to answer your prayer to get the answer, you just need to have enough faith to SINCERELY KEEP ASKING as Elijah did. In Acts Chapter 12, a group of believers gathered to pray for Peter's release from prison, and the Lord worked a miracle; thus, answering their prayer. When Peter came to the place where they were gathered together praying, Rhoda answered the door. She ran to tell everyone that Peter was at the door and they said... "Thou art mad" (Acts 12:15). They literally called her crazy! Why was it so crazy that God answered their prayers? They had so little faith that they didn't even think God was listening to them; but, they had just enough faith TO PRAY. Prayer is faith. This is a fascinating portion of Scripture. Even the smallest amount of sincere faith can cause great things to happen in the Lord.
Again, I desperately ask for your sincere prayers on a continual basis, i.e., persevering continuance in prayer with fervor. Please make time to pray daily. If you truly want to help me with this ministry, or personally, then this is what I ask from you with all my heart. I know God answers prayer, and that the prayers of His saints will effectuate God's blessing and power. There are dead churches and ministries all over the world, that speak the lingo, and put on a good show; but they are powerless, serving the Lord in their own strength. The Apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 12:10, "for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Thus, I want to be weak, and unable, and unqualified, and an underachiever--because then Jesus Christ gets all the glory. I'm just a hell-deserving sinner, nothing more, who is so blessed to have Jesus Christ as my Savior, who wonderfully lives within my soul. Without Jesus Christ I am nothing, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Galatians 6:3). If there is anything great to be done for God in this life, it will be the Spirit of God that does it, and not us. Zechariah 4:6 declares, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
PLEASE PRAY for God's Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts through this ministry of love--for lost souls to come to Jesus Christ for salvation, for believers to be inspired to serve God, for lives to be changed for the Lord, for more labourers to be sent forth into the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38), for God to bring swift judgment upon those leaders within our government who are hardened evil criminals, for God to help those government leaders (such as congressman Ron Paul) who are true Americans and loyal to the American people, for believers to awake to righteousness and join the spiritual battle, for preachers to start preaching against sin again, for believers to aggressively contend for the faith, for false religions to be exposed, for THE TRUTH to get out! We are living in a prayerless generation. Remember, God ONLY answers KNEE-MAIL.
I ask for your prayers--for me personally, and for this international ministry. I never dreamed this website would reach so many people for the Lord. I don't want to go it alone without the prayers of other believers, lest my work be in vain. I am only a man with a website, but God is able and willing to do great things THROUGH PRAYER.
