THE CALL TO PRAYER

 

Rev. Elmer Manzo
Kipling Ave. Baptist Church
Etobicoke, Ontario

THE MONTH OF MAY was set aside to be the Global Prayer month. It is a call to all Christians around the world to unite in prayer. Why is this so? The faith of Christians are tested more than ever by the many problems brought about by the worldwide economic debacle, the rising poverty index seen in the many industrialized nations, the closure of many companies that rendered millions without jobs, the break-up of many families, and rebellious children against parents and authorities. The sad part is that many of our young people are hooked to drugs. Addiction to drugs is one of the causes of gang wars that have killed many youths before they reach 22 years of age.

Besides all these, many countries are reeling with fear from the effect of terrorism. Everyday, we see many people die as a result of terrorist’s act. We read in newspapers the threat of nuclear proliferation from Korea, Pakistan, and Iran creating fear in their area of hegemony. Civil war continues in countries like Rwanda, Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon Shri lanka, Israel, and Palestinians. The moral compass of countries that have rejected the Biblical mandate for righteousness had given way to rampant infidelity, the rise of sexual activities among teens & pre-teens resulting in many unwanted pregnancies that relegates helpless babies to Abortuaries. The increase of social diseases like HIV/AIDS, etc. has literally decimated a lot of parents especially in Africa leaving thousands of orphans.

There is also the rise of activities in the spiritual realm. More and more people are indulging in witchcraft and voodoo, in which the film industry cashes on the popularity of such practice. Satan and his cohorts are busy destroying the faith of many students who are in universities. Many of them are marginalized by atheistic professors. Our children become vulnerable in the abundance of sex portrayals in the websites and television. The demonic activities especially infused fanaticism from religious organizations that marginalize those from other faiths because they are not part of their religious system is worsening. We read how many Christians around the world are persecuted, unjustly imprisoned and killed simply because they are Christians. There is also the increase in satanic worship and many activities involving witchcraft.

What can we as Christians do in the midst of all these troubles? Surely, we can do a lot of things like active participation in the political arena voting only those who promote righteousness for the country, or lobby amongst the elected public officials in the government, or making people aware of the various advocacy program that is available to people in need. But the greatest force that Christians can do to offset a lot of the maladies I have mentioned is PRAYER. Prayer with faith can change things. It is the power that moves the hands of God into action. I thank God for millions of people around the world that participated in the Global Day of Prayer last May 31, 2009. This activity literally fulfills what the Word of God says:”From the rising of the sun to the setting down, the name of the Lord is praised” (Malachi 1:11).

Now that we are in the month of June, shall we also stop praying? No. I believe we need to keep on the momen-tum of prayer. In the Kingdom building, Church Leaders need more than ever the prayer of the saints for guidance and wisdom from God as they carry the brunt of responsibilities. We hear churches that are fragmented by division, thereby, lessening the church’s effectiveness in the community. More than this, Satan attacks the pastor and his family to neutralize him and if possible, making him ineffective instrument of God. God has commanded us to pray always, to pray everywhere, and to pray in everything, because God will always answer, everywhere, and in everything. Below is the statement of E.M. Bound:

“God has plainly and with directness committed himself to answer prayer. If we fulfill the conditions of prayer, the answer is bound to come. The laws of nature are not so invariable and so inexorable as the promised answer to pray. The ordinance of nature might fail, the ordinances of grace can never fail. There but are no limitations, no adverse conditions, no weakness, no inability, which can or will hinder the answer to prayer. God’s doing for us when we pray has no limitations, is not hedged about, by provisos in himself, or in peculiar circumstances of any particular case. If we really pray, God masters and defies all things and is above all conditions.”

Because of this, I would encourage all of us to indulge in the business of prayer. Prayer is an activity that all churches must continue to do. The Lord has told us that prayer is the mightiest factor He has put into our hands. If we want to win the world for Christ, let us PRAY unceasingly.