How to Change Your World
Through Prayer
Jeremiah 33:3
W. Clyde Martin
While traveling on a long stretch of interstate highway to a scheduled Prayer Conference where I was to speak on the assigned subject of Life Changing Power of Prayer, I heard a very pleasant voice of a country singer coming from my radio. I recognized the voice of the celebrated guitarist the late Chet Atkins. The words he sang “make the world go away” captured my thinking as I reflected on my text for the coming conference when I would speak on the subject “How to Turn Your World Around”. The negative request of the song “Make the World Go Away” seems to enhance the need for my message to be forceful to reach the hearts of many who are unhappy in their present little world. This message is about changing your surrounding through prayer.
The 33rd Chapter of Jeremiah is where we find the big promise of God to show us “great and mighty things.” God gives His servant Jeremiah a very unique invitation to call upon Him. He gives this invitation with the promise that when called upon, He would do things that the prophet had not even thought of.
Is This Promise For You?
Our first interest in this most unique promise is whether or not it is an invitation that we as 21st century believers can claim. Jeremiah had a very unusual relationship and fellowship with God; therefore the thought is that this might have been a special invitation given only to this special servant. Yet, one does not study God’s word for long until we understand the truth that all of God’s word is for all of His children. For this reason we are encouraged to “search the scriptures” that we may find salvation and claim the promises of old. “He is no respector of persons.”
Being able with confidence to claim this verse (Jer. 33:3) in a personal way opens up untold possibilities for we who serve and worship our Lord. With this promise we can move from mediocrity to greatness!
Circumstances Surrounding Jeremiah
Several circumstances surrounding Jeremiah at the time God gave this invitation may be important to laying claim to this promise. Jeremiah was in prison at the time. God had just given some unusual instructions to Jeremiah. God told him to purchase a piece of property that would be given to Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon. God was giving a test of obedience to His servant on the face of human unreasonableness. However, God reaffirmed His power to Jeremiah – “Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (32:27)
Conditions Required
O’ my dear saint of God, if we can but lay hold of the tremendous secret of this promise by increasing our faith, our entire existence will be changed.
If we can lay claim to this promise our world would be turned around. The claiming of this promise can literally blow us out of the rut we are in and cause us to move smoothly toward new horizons of happiness that we never dreamed of.
Unquestionable Faith
Most of you in this congregation are men and women of faith. Some are of little faith. Some strong with fundamental faith, but most fall in the category of mediocrity; floundering in the faith in stressful, unhappy days. Some potentially spiritual giants are living as midgets, relying on the helping hands of fellow members for encouragement. Some in this greatly congregation need to move up on the front line of battle in full armour, and fight the battle of faith.
By unquestionable faith Enoch accomplished three things (Hebrews 11:5-6).
1) He Walked with God
“Enoch walked with God and he was not – for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)
There are two times that God takes His children home. When God’s love cannot allow Him to see His child suffer any longer; He calls them home. And when He just loves to have you around and he says, “come home with me and live at my house.”
Enoch’s walk with God was no secret; all who knew him, knew him as a man who pleased God. He was one who prophesized the Second Coming of Christ with a warning of judgment to come.
Enoch got in step with God. He was steadfast in his growth of God’s grace. Step by step in obedience he walked daily with God.
By walking with God, meant that he could no longer go his own way. He literally died to himself, sought God’s way and forsake this world’s satanic system.
2) Enoch walked with God and he was not. One day Enoch vanished – simply disappeared. I often wonder of those who must have grieved over the loss of Enoch.
One day we shall simply disappear. How much will you be missed? How will you be remembered?
Unlike Elisha who was taken up in a whirlwind before witnesses. Unlike when Jesus was taken up before the eyes of disciples who witnessed the event of this going back to the Father’s throne….Enoch simply disappeared without witnesses. He did not see death, and was not found. Friends and enemies may have searched for him. Enemies probably searched for him to prove his translation was a hoax. Unbelievers may have searched for him to prove the Bible untrue.
3) Friends may have searched for his body but to no avail. The proof of God’s word is in the words: “for God took him.”
Enoch was taken by God because God wanted him, he was pleasant to God. Enoch’s translation is typical of the rapture that is soon coming. Enoch was raptured and like all believers someday, he was given a new glorified body. (I Thess. 4:16,17)
Turn Your World Around With Unquestionable Faith.
(W. Clyde Martin is editor of THE PRAYER LIFE monthly online magazine. The duplication of all article is encouraged. To respond to this article please email wclydemartin@webtv.net)
