Focus: Tell The Master!

Text: Mk.1:30

"But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her."

Does God hear and answer prayer? Has He ever answered your prayer? The Scripture tells us with all emphasis and authority that God answers prayer. From book to book we read of God responding to the prayers of those who prayed to Him and called upon His name. Stories of answered prayers abound in the Bible. In fact those who truly pray can testify to the fact that God answers prayer. 

God cannot demand that we pray to Him and not be willing to answer. Our challenge is on praying, not on God answering prayer. God is always in His audience chamber to attend to the needs of His people and to put in their hands instructions and directions for daily living and productive activity. The Scripture says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb.4:16). God says, "They shall not be ashamed that wait for me" (Isa.49:23). Peter declares, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Act.2:21). 

Prayer works because God works with our prayers. God applies His infinite wisdom, exerts His glorious influence, and exercises His omnipotence through our prayers. We cannot wait on God in vain. Grace and mercy flow from the throne of grace to those who boldly approach it and make their requests known. 

We may fail to notice God's activity and observe His movement, but He is never silent, unconcerned or indifferent to our prayers.

People came to tell Master Jesus that Peter's mother in-law was sick of high fever. Luke reports, "Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her" (Lk.4:38). Mark says that they told Jesus about it. Luke says that the people besought Jesus for her. The people brought the Master's attention to it. They interceded for her. They solicited Christ for her healing. Then Master Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever. 

Master Jesus can take care of curable and incurable diseases. Doctor Jesus heals with a word of mouth. His word has curative properties in it. His words are medicinal to our souls and bodies. He takes care of headaches and heartaches. He handles broken bones and broken hearts. He repairs broken and damaged lives. Every part of our body was made by Him and is known to Him. God is looking for intercessors - those who call on Him for the good of others. 

Intercessors are burden-bearers. They bring before the Master the needs and pains of others, longing and praying for their deliverance.

John tells us the story of Lazarus: "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick" (Jh.11:1-3). Mary and Martha interceded for their brother. They sent messengers to the Master Jesus to invite Him to come. They said, 'The man you love is sick.' Jesus Christ was their family friend. The bond of friendship existed between Him and them. In fact Mary had once demonstrated her love for the Lord Jesus Christ by lavishing a costly fragrant oil on Him. Now one of them was sick and dying, and they called on Him on their brother's behalf. By the time Christ arrived at the house, Lazarus was already dead for days. Nevertheless, the power of love was at work at the gravesite. The Master of all circumstances took care of the situation and brought Lazarus back to life. His sisters called and Master Jesus responded.

Child of God, talk to the Master! Tell Him of your needs and those of others! Pray for the needs of the church, physical, material and spiritual! Call upon God for the nations of the world! Intercede for those in Satan's chains and sin's bondage, for their deliverance! Let's tell the Master!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter