Fast Fridays: 30 Minutes for God: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
Line 43: Line 43:
We then reviewed personal stories of intercession and prayer to God on behalf of others. It is real, and it is powerful.
We then reviewed personal stories of intercession and prayer to God on behalf of others. It is real, and it is powerful.


Finally, we discussed Justin's document (not posted here) on “Travaileth Prayer”. I shared the document with participants and these observations on "travail":<blockquote>A first question is, what is a “Travaileth Prayer”?  From the word “travail,” which is French for “work,” but in English carries the connotation of suffering in work.
Finally, we discussed Justin's document (not posted here) on “Travaileth Prayer”. I shared the document with participants and these observations on "travail":<blockquote><small>A first question is, what is a “Travaileth Prayer”?  From the word “travail,” which is French for “work,” but in English carries the connotation of suffering in work.


We find the word “travail” in Scripture frequently in the KJV translation, especially in the Old Testament. It appears only once in the Gospels, in John 16:21:
We find the word “travail” in Scripture frequently in the KJV translation, especially in the Old Testament. It appears only once in the Gospels, in John 16:21:
Line 59: Line 59:
As does Job 39:1:
As does Job 39:1:


''Do you know when mountain goats are born,''
''Do you know when mountain goats are born,'' ''or watch for the birth pangs of deer''
 
''or watch for the birth pangs of deer''


In the OT, the coming of the Messiah is illustrated frequently through birth pains. So God wants us to associate ''travail'' with birth, both literally and figuratively, and, as always, towards the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  This is why in John 16:21, Jesus refers to the “hour” of birth which brings pain and subsequent joy.
In the OT, the coming of the Messiah is illustrated frequently through birth pains. So God wants us to associate ''travail'' with birth, both literally and figuratively, and, as always, towards the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  This is why in John 16:21, Jesus refers to the “hour” of birth which brings pain and subsequent joy.


What Justin has wonderfully done here is to bring up this notion of travail and the pains and joys of birth as we pray, with St. Paul’s  teachings, for our friends and family to open their hearts and minds to the Lord.</blockquote>We also discussed briefly something that David had emailed after the prior week about how one's struggles with the devil is not external but an internal fight. And so it has been from the beginning of the fallen world, when Adam, priest, prophet and king, fails his duty as king by allowing the serpent into the garden in the first place.
What Justin has wonderfully done here is to bring up this notion of travail and the pains and joys of birth as we pray, with St. Paul’s  teachings, for our friends and family to open their hearts and minds to the Lord.</blockquote></small>
We also discussed briefly something that David had emailed after the prior week about how one's struggles with the devil is not external but an internal fight. And so it has been from the beginning of the fallen world, when Adam, priest, prophet and king, fails his duty as king by allowing the serpent into the garden in the first place.


== Friday, Aug 30: Staying faithful in a sinful world ==
== Friday, Aug 30: Staying faithful in a sinful world ==