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Bringing Back the Merchandise
Bringing Back the Merchandise
"If I wished to humble anyone, I should question him about his prayers. I know nothing to compare with this topic for its sorrowful self-confessions."
Dean C.J. Vaughan
Story of Rabbi Dov Ber
I read an interesting story recently about a well known Rabbi. He had a friend in another town who also dedicated his life to studying Torah. Once a year, this friend would take a trip to a certain town to trade. This is how he supported his lifestyle of Torah study.
On this man’s annual journey, he decided to stop and visit his Rabbi friend who led a Yeshiva (school). He arrived as the Rabbi and his students were saying their prayers. He noticed that the yeshiva students finished first. The Rabbi, however, took about an hour to finish his praying. The students waited patiently, silently for that entire hour as the Rabbi finished.
Afterwards, the friend asked the Rabbi why he took so long to say his prayers, making his students sit idle while he finished. The Rabbi answered his question indirectly. He asked his friend what he was doing in town and his friend explained he was on his way to another town to trade, just as he did every year. The Rabbi said, "Surely, it would take a lot less time if you only went in your mind! I have a great suggestion for you. Why don’t you just imagine the trip there, the trading, and the trip back with the merchandise instead of actually making the trip? After all, this would allow you a lot more time to learn."
The friend looked at the Rabbi as though he had lost his mind, and responded, "Of course I can’t do that! I’ve got to bring back real merchandise; imaginary goods cannot be sold!"
"Ah," said the Rabbi, "now you can understand why it takes me so much longer to pray! I can’t just imagine making the trip. I’ve got to bring back the merchandise and that takes much longer!"
Making the Connection with God
Whenever the topic of prayer is brought up, most Christians’ eyes will glaze over. They start to yawn and glance at their watches. Fortunately for me, prayer has always been a subject I have been passionate about. You’ll see from the previous articles I have written, that no matter what the subject is, the emphasis eventually comes around to prayer. When there is nothing else that, humanly, we can do, we can always pray! I was called to prayer almost from the moment I turned my life over to the Lord Jesus, and it remains to this day the consistent calling in which I walk, no matter what other ministry hat I may wear!
Yet, I want to make public confession today that I know I don’t walk in the depth of prayer that I could or should. I know many others of you out there feel the same. It is difficult on a daily basis to make that time to meet with the Head CEO of the Universe and transact that necessary business in the spirit called prayer. Many complain they have no time. But I would argue that there are those of us who have the time, and still don’t do enough of it. You can have time and no energy; and even if you have energy and time, you can have no desire.
"When I go to prayer," confessed an eminent Christian, "I find my heart so loath to go to God, and when it is with Him, so loath to stay." *
I have always been a great lover of corporate prayer. There is nothing as dynamic and sweet as God’s children gathering together and "dwelling together in unity" through prayer. By praying together, we receive encouragement, and it seems easier to enter the presence of God. Going to corporate prayer meetings, whether with two or two hundred, has become easy for me. You can go in tired out, done in, worn down to the last tread on your spiritual tire, and leave transformed, refreshed, and ready for the next battle. But the rubber reallymeets the road at the challengeof daily, personal prayer: that "alone time" with God without which no believer, whether babe or prophet, can thrive.
I confess, this is often a struggle, especially as I recognize the need not to pray perfunctorily, or as a mere half hearted pretense. I can’t just imagine I go into the holy of holies, I’ve got to make that connection with God and bring back the merchandise. Imaginary merchandise won’t do–I need the real thing. I need real answers: for myself, my loved ones, and the dying world around me.
The Torah (the first five books of the Bible) tells us in detail about the ministry of the high priest. Once a year, he was required to enter the holy of holies, incense in hand, and make petition for Israel. This was called the Day of Atonement. It was vitally necessary that he follow the proper protocol and make connection with the Divine. By doing so, he was ensuring that Israel’s sins would be forgiven by the Almighty, and their names would remain written in the Book of Life for another year. Souls hung in the balance, as the divinely appointed mediator approached the mercy seat on their behalf. If he did not make the real trip, he couldn’t come back with the merchandise.
The high priestly ministry is an illustration of our priestly ministry as believers and intercessors. If we truly want to stand in the gap for others, shake the world, and see answers to our prayers, we’ve got to take the time to make the actual trip into the presence of God. As I read the book of Esther again recently in observation of Purim (the Feast of Esther), I was struck that she did not immediately rush to the king with her request for the lives of her people, which were being threatened by the wicked Haman. Instead, she invited the king, not to just one, but two, banquets held in his honor. Many times, we rush into God’s throne room, hand extended, begging for something from Him. How much more inclined would He be to give us what we need, if we ministered to Him first, inviting Him to our banquet of worship and adoration before we make our requests? This is what I mean by making the effort to do what is necessary to bring back the merchandise.
True Prayer is Hard Work
Both our Lord and his bondslave Paul made clear that true prayer is not pleasant dreamy reverie. "All vital praying makes a drain on a man’s vitality. True intercession is a sacrifice, bleeding sacrifice,"wrote J.H.Jowett. *
Many a seasoned prayer warrior knows that real intercession is hard work. If you do not believe me, take a look at what the word of God has to say about it:
He [Jesus] offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears. Hebrews 5:7
Epaphras...laboring earnestly for you in his prayers. Colossians 4:12
I would that you knew how great conflict I have for you. Colossians 2:1
The word for "wrestling," "conflict," is that from which our "agonize" is derived. It is used of a man toiling at his work until utterly weary (Col. 1:29), or competing in the arena for the coveted prize (I Cor. 9:25). It describes the soldier battling for his life (I Timothy 6:12), or a man struggling to deliver his friend from danger (John 18:36).
From these and other considerations it is clear that true praying is a strenuous spiritual exercise...*
This can certainly be one reason why we humans are reluctant to enter that realm of prayer at times. Our reluctance can also sometimes stem from being conscious of iniquity in our own heart. (For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. I John 3:20-22) At other times, it may be infirmity of the body. (The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41) Sometimes, we face the very real opposition of the adversary who will oppress us in any way to keep us from praying. (For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers, rulers of darkness, wicked spirits in the heavenlies...Ephesians 6:12)
Praying in the Spirit
Whatever the reason for our failure, the Holy Spirit is there to help us with our weaknesses and infirmities. We do not pray in our own power or strength, thanks be to God! (Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26) Did you know that the Holy Spirit’s assistance in prayer is mentioned more frequently in scripture than any of His other offices? This should be an encouragement to us. We don’t do our praying in the flesh, but in the Spirit. This is effective, fervent prayer:
Both Paul and Jesus teach that effective prayer is "praying in the Spirit." The phrase has been interpreted as praying along the same lines, about the same things, in the same name as the Holy Spirit." *
Also, praying in the Spirit can mean praying in the realm of the Spirit. This is a deeper level of praying that utilizes the body, demands the cooperation of the mind, but moves in the supernatural realm of the Spirit. That kind of prayer transacts its business in the heavenly realm.*
Praying in the Spirit can also mean praying in the power and energy of the Spirit. (Give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; pray on every occasion in the power of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18 NEB) For the superhuman task of prayer, supernatural power is needed. The Holy Spirit supplies this in abundance. After all, He is the Spirit of prayer and He lives in us, ready at a moment’s notice to strengthen us, teach us, help us, comfort us, lead us.
Praying According to God’s Will
What is the surest way of bringing back the merchandise? Praying according to His will.
And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (I John 5:14)
How do we know what His will is? Romans 8:27 tells us:
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The Holy Spirit knows the will of the Father and reveals it unto us. Yeshua taught:
When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you. (John 16:13-14)
Like anyone else, including the Psalmist David, I have my times when I simply speak out of my soul to God, from my own longings and desires and perspective. I call this just being honest with God. He already knows what is in our hearts, even if it’s not so perfect, but He wants us to talk to Him and express ourselves freely at times, as we would to a dear friend. We need our Friend. But I do not always pray this way, nor should any saint. There are many other forms of prayer other than the lamentation and complaint!
Outside of those times when my soul needs to cry out to God, I have developed the habit of praying the prayers of the Holy Spirit. I do not pray according to my own thoughts or feelings, or according to my limited human understanding, but according to the Word of God and the heart of the Holy Spirit. This requires the development of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, knowing His voice and being one with His heart. Oftentimes, I am surprised by what He prays through me–it often goes against what my soul feels or wants! But you see, His thoughts are higher than ours, His ways above our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) When you pray the prayers of the Holy Spirt as He leads you, and subject your own desires to the will of the Father, you will be astounded at how you pray; you will be amazed at how things change, and ultimately YOU will change because of it. When I go into intercessory prayer, I yield myself to the Holy Spirit-- spirit, soul and body, and I declare that I will pray the mind of the Spirit, and pray the purposes of God into the earth as He wills. If you read the passage on the gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 12, you will notice that they do not operate as man wills, but as the Holy Spirit directs. He is the divine orchestrator of the things of God. When we let our flesh get in the way, we can pray things into being that perhaps we don’t want to have!
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) That is, if you will let Him, the Lord will put in your heart His desires. Out of our hearts flow the issues of life, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Proverbs 4:23, Luke 6:45) Therefore, if His desires are in our heart, we will pray them out, and lo,the purposes and the will of the Lord for us and for others will come to pass through our prayer because He is praying His desires through us. His Word (or will) is guaranteed to come to pass, for it does not return void, but accomplishes what He pleases and prospers in the thing to which it is sent. (Isaiah 55:11) Therefore, as I John 5:14 says, we have the petitions we desired of Him, because we have prayed according to the will of God. It is so much better to get God’s plan, which is already blessed, and pray it into being, than it is to make up our own plan and pester God to bless it. The work of our own hands can never truly be blessed, but that which originates from Him automatically will be. How much easier is that!
To Sum it Up
Again, in light of all that we have discussed, how do we "bring back the merchandise?" First, we take the time to make the actual trip into the Holy of Holies and make genuine contact with God, from Whom all blessings flow. Then, we pray "in the Spirit," i.e. in the power of the Spirit, according to the Lord’s will as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God.
There is a dramatic story in the book of Numbers that illustrates the importance of intercessory prayer. A plague has broken out because of the rebellion of the Israelite people. In mercy, Moses intercedes as Aaron the high priest stands between the living and the dead, waving incense. Incense is a type or symbol of the prayers of the saints ( Revelation 5:8). Aaron is the high priest, the appointed mediator, or intercessor, between God and man, whose job is to "make atonement" for the people, or, bring about peace and reconciliation between them and Yahweh through his mediation. As Aaron obeyed the command of Moses, the Bible says that he stood between the dead and the living and the plague was stopped. (Numbers 16:48) Wow, our prayers have the power to halt death and restore life!
We are a kingdom of priests, or cohanim, before God. (Revelation 5:10, I Peter 2:9) It is our privilege and solemn duty to stand in the gap between God and man, the living and the dead, and plead for life. Jesus, our Faithful High Priest, is our example, who continually makes intercession for us at the right hand of the Father. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) He is the Head, we are the Body. We have the same intercessory calling as He does. He does it in Heaven, we complete his ministry on Earth. What an awesome thought! As Moses commanded Aaron to stand between the living and the dead, our Deliverer commands us to do the same, offering up prayers as incense before Him for those who are afflicted by sin, sickness, curses and death. And when we obey Him, what mighty miracles we will see, and what glory shall be brought to our Prince of Peace!
If you have grown tired of praying, or have lagged in your zeal because your promise seems to be delayed, lift up your eyes because Redemption is drawing nigh. I pray you will be encouraged in your prayer life by what I have shared, as you rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you and lead you. Do not grow weary in well doing, saint, for in due season you will reap if you faint not. (Galatians 6:9) Keep making those trips to the Holy of Holies, and you will surely come back with the merchandise!
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35-36)
*All quotes taken from:
Sanders, J. Oswald, Spiritual Leadership, 1967, 1980; Moody Press, Chicago, p. 125-127.
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