About a week ago, I asked people to pray for the publication of Seven Portraits In Prayer, One Day at a Time. It is a seven-week, morning and evening, daily devotional look at some events from the Bible that actually gives us pictures, or "portraits" in prayer.
Thursday, in answer to your prayers, God (and Southwestern Seminary) actually freed me up to do just that, and I am hoping to complete this book soon and submit it for publication. Please continue to join me in prayer and as an encouragement to you, here is another unedited page from my book, seeking again partners and intercessors in prayer.
Albert Barnes wrote that when Moses raised the rod of God on the hill above where Joshua
was battling below, “The act represents the efficacy of intercessory
prayer—offered doubtless by Moses—a point of great moment to the Israelites at
that time and to the Church in all ages.” (Barnes Notes, The Bible Commentary,
page 47). Joshua needed the intercession of Moses. Moses needed the help and support
of Aaron and Hur. And you and I need the prayers of others and they need ours.
Do you wonder what happened to Hur? The last time Hur is mentioned, he and Aaron were called to watch over Israel while Moses and Joshua went to Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Aaron participated in the idolatrous acts of Israel in making the golden calf, sheepishly saying, “I cast it (the gold) into the fire, and this calf came out,” (Exodus 24:13-15, 32:19-24).
But Hur is never heard from again in Scripture. The Jewish Talmud claimed that Hur tried to stop the wickedness of the people and they allegedly stoned him to death. If so, Hur died a sacrificial death, and Aaron would live a sacrificial life (read Leviticus 10:1-7). The point is, Aaron and Hur, in life and possibly death, were sacrificially partners with Moses.
After the victory, Moses built an altar to God and called it “Jehovah Nissi”, which means “God-is-my-banner”. A banner gave encouragement to the warriors in battle. As Moses stood with his arms lifted and the rod of God in his hands, it was a rallying banner which gave strength to the battle below.
When we pray for others, especially those in a battle, we raise a banner
in the spiritual realm, giving encouragement, even if they do not know we are
praying for them. As partners in prayer, we need to sacrificially pray for
others.
Prayer requires sacrifice. Prayer releases the power of God. Prayer
transports our requests to a spiritual realm in heaven, to the very throne of
Grace itself (Hebrews 4:16). Like Moses holding the rod of God, you hold the
presence of God in your prayers. When you uphold others in prayer, you are
Aaron and Hur to them.
Do you want something extraordinary to happen for your loved ones, your circumstances, your work, your ministry, your church, your country, your world? It begins with extraordinary prayer and may require partners in prayer. Will you join your heart together with mine in prayer? If so, we will see the power of God unfold.
Pray this
prayer to God: “Thank you
God, for my partners in prayer. Some who have prayed for me are now in your
presence. Others who will pray for me, I do not even know, and may not even be
born yet. I need You, but I also need others to pray for me. Help me to be the
prayer partner I need to be. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
