Program 5: Prayer: Breath of the Soul

Learn how to pray effectively and start getting answers to your prayers!

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

Part 1

Miles Robey: Greetings to our listening audience. Thanks for tuning in. I’m your host, Miles Robey.

Dave Wright: And I’m Dave Wright. We’re glad you could join us.

Miles: When I was at university, I read something that has always stayed with me. I don’t remember which author said it, but it was a good thought. It said: If we could pray aright, we could live aright.

Dave: Huh. That’s good. And it’s true. There is incredible power in prayer.

Miles: There is! And yet, too often, prayer is seen as the measure of last resort.

Dave: It’s true. Maybe you’ve heard the joke about the church that was facing really dire circumstances. They’d tried everything and nothing was working. Finally, an elderly parishioner said: “Well, we’ve tried everything else. We might as well pray about it.”

Then, someone else said: “Oh, no! Has it really come to that?”

Miles: Yeah, that about sums up most people’s attitude to prayer, and yet, prayer should be the very first thing we do! So today, we’re going to be talking about prayer.

Dave: Before we get into that, though, I just want to clarify one point for those who may be joining us for the first time. On WLC Radio, we like to use the actual, personal name for the Creator. It’s in Scripture, in the original Hebrew, but it doesn’t appear in most modern translations of the Bible. The sacred name has been hidden by the use of the titles, “God” and “Lord.”

Miles: You know, a few years ago, I had a brand new realization: I didn’t know God’s name! I mean, He’s God, but that’s obviously not a personal name. Like you said, it’s just a title.

Dave: Right. It’s a privilege to know and be able to use the personal name of the All-Mighty. After careful study of the original Hebrew glyphs, we believe the actual, personal name of God is “Yahuwah” or, Yah. And the name of the Son is very similar.

Miles: He was named for His Dad!

Dave: I like that! Yeah. The name of the Father is Yahuwah, and the name of the Son is Yahushua. So that’s what you’ll hear us using on the show. When we read Bible verses or other quotes that refer to the Creator, we will also substitute His real name in place of the titles most people use since they don’t know His true name.

Miles: Very good.

Okay. Today Dave’s going to be talking to us about prayer.

• WHAT it is and why’s it’s even necessary when you’re speaking to the One who knows all.
• WHEN to pray, and, in the second half of our program, we’ll discuss
• HOW to pray.

Because, really, there are fewer things more important to a vital Christian walk than prayer.

Dave: That’s right.

You know, Miles we recently signed our youngest up for swimming lessons.

Miles: Oh, yeah? How’s that going?

Dave: Weeellll. . . . It’s going all right. She didn’t like the first lesson, though.

Miles: Why’s that?

Dave: Well, the first thing the kids are taught is to put their face under the water and hold their breath.

Miles: I take it she didn’t like that very much.

Dave: No! She’s doing better. She doesn’t have a problem with it now, but at first, it was kind of scary for her.

Miles: Well, yeah. Breath is important. I’ve heard of some people, with training, able to hold their breath for several minutes at a time. It’s pretty amazing, really. Freedivers can hold their breath while moving about underwater and they can do it for several minutes!

Dave: There’s no way I could do that!

Miles: I’d probably pass out underwater and drown.

Dave: Yeah, me, too. But it just goes to show how important air is to our physical bodies. It is said you can go three weeks without food, three days without water, but only three minutes without air. And some who have survived longer without air, may have survived, but they suffered brain damage doing it.

Miles: Just goes to show how important air is to our physical bodies.

Dave: Yes. And prayer is as important to our spiritual lives as is oxygen to our physical bodies.

One author wrote: “Prayer is the breath of the soul.” And, it really is. Without it, our spiritual lives wither and die.

Miles: Well, let me ask you something, Dave. The other evening as we were gathering for family worship, one of the kids asked me, “Why do we need to pray when the Father already knows what we need and what we’re going to say?”

Dave: What did you say?

Miles: Well, I wasn’t quite sure what to say. Just, basically, that prayer lets us be in touch with Him, personally. But I thought it was a good question. Maybe you can answer it for us.

Dave: First of all, you’ve got a smart kid. He’s obviously thinking, and that’s good. It’s a fair question. After all, in the sixty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, Yahuwah assures us: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Miles: Exactly! So obviously, the point of prayer is not to tell Yahuwah what you need because He already knows!

Dave: That’s right. The purpose for prayer is for us. We need prayer, even if the Father doesn’t. The same person that said “Prayer is the breath of the soul” went on to state:

“Prayer is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on Yahuwah. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor.”

Miles: Wow, I don’t think most people realize how vital prayer is to a victorious Christian walk.

Dave: They really don’t. Prayer is communication with the Most High. Now. Knowing your love of words, I looked up the definition of communication. Here … read it for us, would you please?

Miles: Sure! It says: “Communication is the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.”

Dave: What leaps out at you about that definition?

Miles: Well. . .it’s a two-way street. It can’t be done by one person.

Dave: That’s it exactly. The very act of communicating requires at least one other individual for there to be an exchange. In fact, one of the definitions of “prayer” is: “An act of communion with God.”

Miles: And communication is vital for understanding and love.

Dave: Oh, absolutely. Any married couple will tell you that. In fact, a study published in 2012 by Fox News in the United States stated that the number one reason for divorce was not infidelity. It wasn’t money issues—although that’s a big factor.

Miles: Let me guess: it was a breakdown in communication.

Dave: That’s it! In fact, I did a little digging online and discovered that, repeatedly, communication problems was listed as the number one cause for divorce in study, after study, after study.

Miles: Without open communication, there’s not going to be that soul-intimacy that’s the goal of every marriage.

Dave: And, to have an intimate relationship with Yahuwah, we need that same level of communication. Isaiah 54 even says: “For thy Maker is thine husband; Yahuwah of hosts is his name.”

Our Maker wants to have an intimate relationship with us and that requires communication.

Miles: Let me get this straight. What you’re saying is, if we don’t set aside time to communicate with Yahuwah, our relationship with Him will break down and lack intimacy just like what will happen if we suddenly stop communicating with our spouses.

Dave: You got it. The importance of prayer is not found in the transfer of information from your heart to the ears of Yahuwah. Prayer is important because it is what we need. Yahuwah loves us already. But our sense of closeness to Yahuwah, our trust in His promises, our faith in His love, are all linked to maintaining our part of a close relationship with Him.

Miles: I can see that. We can’t just assume that, because Yah knows everything, we don’t need to pray.

Dave: Well, think about it in terms of the parent/child relationship.

Miles: All right. Say more.

Dave: When my first child was born, I felt a roiling mixture of emotions. There was joy and excitement, of course. There was a healthy dose of fear—

Miles: Oh, yeah! I remember feeling all those, too.

Dave: Looking at that scrunched little red face that my wife and I had created, there was this overwhelming feeling of love and awe. Wow! We’d brought this life into the world!

Miles: You can’t put it into words.

Dave: You really can’t. But here’s the thing: a normal, emotionally healthy parent already loves his or her child. BUT, the infant does not yet love the parent. Not really.

Studies have shown that even very young babies are attracted to the mother’s face; they’re drawn by the sound of her voice. This is where love begins. But an infant also lacks a more mature understanding. A newborn baby does not automatically feel for the parent the same depth of emotion the parent feels for the child.

It takes time for love to develop in the heart of the child. You could say, it takes life experience for the child to learn to love.

As her needs for food, a clean diaper, sleep and comfort are met in response to her cries, she begins, through experience, to trust that Mummy and Daddy will always be there to provide for her needs. As she grows, she will begin to recognize the love and care her parents are giving her. With this experience, the trust the child has in the parents deepens into gratitude. Gratitude, in turn, awakens love.

Miles: That’s very insightful. Gratitude does awaken love. I remember once as a kid in school. One of the faculty members was an older woman. She worked in the front office. None of us really liked her as she was very strict and really quite crotchety. At least, that’s how she came across.

Dave: I think we all had a few teachers like that! And it can be scary to kids who are under that adult’s control.

Miles: You’re right. Our dislike probably stemmed a great deal from the fact that we were all a bit afraid of her. Anyway, one day, I got called out of class. My mum had been in a car accident. She was pretty badly hurt. My dad was out of town on business but headed back when he heard. I was upset.

Dave: Naturally! It leaves you feeling shaken when the main people you rely on, your parents, are suddenly vulnerable.

Miles: That was me! Well, it was the last class period of the day. My mum was in hospital; my dad was still in route to get back, and this lady I didn’t like, this lady I was a bit scared of, was so kind to me! She drove me to the hospital where my mum was in surgery. She bought me a soft drink and helped distract me by telling me about a time she’d been very afraid for her mum, and how it had all turned out well. She stayed right there with me until my dad got there.

When I was feeling scared and vulnerable, she was a rock to lean on. And I’ll tell you, Dave, my estimation of her underwent a night and day change!

Dave: I’m sure!

Miles: She didn’t really change, but my view of her changed. Her kindness to me at a time when I needed security and assurance, made me feel so grateful! And, feeling grateful, I viewed her in a whole new light. I popped into the office to tell her when my mum got out of hospital. And every so often after that, I’d stop by to say hi. The other kids were still leery of her, but to me, I now saw her as my friend.

Dave: Her kindness awakened gratitude.

Miles: It did. It really did.

Dave: That’s exactly how it works with Yahuwah. He’s our divine Father. He understands the process in the growing parent/child relationship. In fact, you can see it in Scripture.

Miles: Really? Where?

Dave: In the experience of the Children of Israel in the Wilderness. You think about it, and you’ll realize that their journey to the Promised Land was one long series of emergencies, followed by deliverances. First, it was even getting out of Egypt. Then it was getting trapped at the Red Sea. Next it was, what? They went to Mara where the water was bitter?

Miles: Yeah, I think that’s what it was. So Yah told Moses to throw the branches of a tree into the water and He turned the water sweet for them.

Dave: Right! And that sort of thing happened over, and over, and over again throughout their 40 years in the wilderness. It was the Father’s plan that, as they were brought into danger and difficulties from which, in their own power they had no escape, they would:

• Cry to Him for help; and,
• He would provide deliverance.

He wanted to provide an environment in which their faith, gratitude and love would grow as they learned to know and trust Him. This He did repeatedly, from dividing the waters of the sea, to turning bad water into good, to providing 40 years of manna and water in a dry and desolate land. As the people repeatedly experienced deliverances in answer to prayer, their faith, gratitude and love would grow.

And, you know? The same is true today. Yahuwah knows all the details of your life. He knows your hidden struggles and He has prepared the very means necessary to provide you with strength, courage, wisdom – whatever you need!

Miles: But it’s necessary that you put this into words in prayer.

Dave: Yes. Listen to this statement I read recently. It says: “Prayer is the opening of the heart to Yahuwah as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to Yahuwah what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring Yahuwah down to us, but brings us up to Him.”

Miles: That’s beautiful. It’s so easy, in our humanness, to forget that we can’t reach Yah in our own efforts. Even prayer, the privilege to go directly to the Father–not through Mary or some saint—but to go to Him for ourselves, is such a gift. I like that quote. Through prayer, Yahuwah draws us close to Him.

Dave: And that privilege is always open to us! Remember what Paul said: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of Yahuwah for you.”

Miles: Okay, but how do you do that. You obviously can’t be praying every single moment of every day. We have to work, we have to talk to people. Just how are you to “pray without ceasing”?

Dave: We pray all the time by living in an attitude of prayer. The French philosopher, Jaques Ellul said: “Prayer is not a discourse. It is a form of life, the life with Yah. That is why it is not confined to the moment of verbal statement." You don’t have to unroll a little prayer rug to pray. You don’t even have to kneel. Praying without ceasing means your heart is constantly open heavenward.

Someone cuts you off in traffic. You dart a prayer heavenward: “Whew! Thank you for helping me stop in time so I didn’t rear end him.”

You slip on the ice and fall. Your first thought is to Yah: “That was close! Thanks so much that I didn’t break a bone.”

You’re confronted with a situation and you don’t know what to do or what to say. You very first thought is an instantaneous prayer for help.

Through prayer, you step into the very throne room of Heaven. And you don’t have to wait your turn! You ask for help, guidance, you give thanks, and your prayer is immediately heard and answered.

Miles: That’s really good. And I can see how staying in that constant attitude of prayer, speaking to the Father as you’re walking down the street, telling Him what you’re grateful for, will help you maintain a constant attitude of gratitude. And that gratitude is so important because it is what awakens love. And that love, in turn, increases our faith and trust.

Dave: That’s right. Charles Spurgeon, the great 19^th century preacher, wrote:

"If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Saviour."

Miles: Amen. Praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks.

Stay tuned, folks! When we return, Dave is going to tell us about the science of prayer. How to pray effectually.

We’ll be right back.

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Part 2:

Miles: Welcome back! This is Miles Robey. In our last segment, Dave Wright was talking about the importance of prayer. Prayer, it’s been said, is the breath of the soul.

Dave: That’s right, Miles. Without it, our spiritual life withers and dies, just as our physical life can’t survive without oxygen.

Miles: You know my love of words…

Dave: I do!

Miles: Well, there’s a pun I like. It goes: “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.”

Dave: Weak as in lacking strength, rather than week as in the calendar. That’s good.

Miles: Sums it up, doesn’t it? So, tell us, then, how do we pray? And I don’t mean just folding our hands, bowing our heads, and addressing our words to the Most High. What I mean is, how do we pray effectively?

I have to admit, sometimes it can feel like my prayers are just ricocheting around the room. It can feel like they never quite pass the ceiling, let alone make their way to Heaven!

On the other hand, there are people I know, a small handful, that really get results with their prayers! When they pray, things happen. So, obviously, there’s a right way and a wrong way to pray. Can you tell us what the right way is?

Dave: Well, I’m not sure I feel comfortable with the concept of there being a wrong way to pray. We pray to a prayer-hearing God. And Yahuwah delights to answer our prayers. However, I would agree that there is certainly a science to prayer. And it’s important we learn it.

Miles: Fair enough. So what’s the science of prayer?

Dave: Well, I like to think of the acronym ACTS. A-C-T-S. Basically, there are four steps:

1. Acknowledge

2. Confess

3. give Thanks, and

4. Supplicate

Acknowledgment is the very first thing you do. You are acknowledging WHO you are praying to: Yahuwah, the All-Mighty Ruler of the Universe, the first and the last, the source of all life, happiness and goodness – your loving Father.

Miles: That’s beautiful! That would really encourage you, wouldn’t it? To start off, first thing, acknowledging who and what He is.

Dave: Exactly. Andrew Murray, minister, writer and one of the founders of South African General Mission, said:

“Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship Yah in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Yahushua and expect great things!”

Miles: That kind of puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?

Dave: And the bigger the mountain before you, the scarier the problem, the more dangerous the situation confronting you, the more you need to have faith in Him! Reminding yourself the very first thing, of His omnipotent might, His limitless goodness, and His infinite love, will awaken gratitude in your heart.

That gratitude, in turn, will call forth love which will increase your confidence in Him! It’s beautiful!

Miles: It really is. So, then, what’s the next step. First we acknowledge . . .

Dave: Yes, and then we confess. It’s important that confession comes right after acknowledgment. Confession does several important things. When we confess our sins—

Miles: “—He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Dave: Yes. First John 1:9. That’s good. But notice that what Yah does is two fold. He forgives us (and that’s what most people focus one) but He also does one more thing: He cleanses us.

When we confess our wrongs, it opens the way to receive the needed blessing. And, coming right after acknowledging His goodness and love, it isn’t discouraging! It’s actually comforting. Like it says in the psalms: “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. But the mercy of Yahuwah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children.”

Miles: And that’s exactly what Yahushua revealed of the Father. In describing the Saviour, Isaiah said: “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench.” So many people believe in “telling it like it is.” They even pride themselves on their rude bluntness. But Yahushua always tempered His words with kindness.

Dave: That’s right. And by making confession a part of our daily prayers, right after acknowledging Yah’s grandeur, might, and love, it’s actually comforting. Not only is the way cleared to receive a blessing, but the reminder of how small and weak we are, and yet how precious we are in His sight . . . that can’t help but make you feel loved, and wanted, and cherished.

Miles: Is there anything He wouldn’t do for the apple of His eye?

Dave: No! There’s not! And far from grinding you down and leaving you discouraged, confessing your nothingness in contrast to His everything-ness, is strengthening!

Miles: Well, yeah. It inspires confidence that someone who loves you so much, will absolutely do what He has said.

Dave: And that brings us to the next step: Thanksgiving. That attitude of gratitude we spoke about before is so important. After acknowledging who and what the Father is to you, after confessing who and what you are to Him, you return thanks for everything He has done for you.

Miles: In the last segment, we talked a bit about Paul’s admonition to, as he put it, “In everything give thanks.” But you have to admit: some situations are almost impossible to find something to be grateful for.

Dave: That may be true, but there is always something for which to be grateful. Let me tell you a little story from my family history that will demonstrate. In the 1930s, my great-uncle was working as an accountant in the Philippines. When World War 2 came to the islands, he and his family were interred in a Japanese concentration camp.

My great-uncle was given the job of working in the prisoner’s kitchen, helping prepare meals from what little food was available. Now, you’d think, wouldn’t you, that there’d be absolutely nothing for which he could be grateful!

Miles: Well, yeah. Can’t see much to be grateful about in that situation!

Dave: But there was! Dysentery was frequently a high cause of death in concentration camps. By working in the kitchen, my great-uncle was able to make charcoal. This could be used for purifying water, for treating diarrhea and infections. While there obviously is nothing good about being in a concentration camp, he still could be grateful that he had the opportunity to work in the kitchen where he could burn the food to make charcoal for medicinal uses. He was able to help a lot of people in the camp, and he and his entire family survived.

You see, when you always look for something for which to be grateful, your eyes will be opened to perceive opportunities you otherwise would miss.

Miles: I can see that! That’s cool.

Dave: Okay. In this environment, than, after ACKNOWLEDGING Yah’s goodness, might, and love; after CONFESSING our sins and our unworthiness—which clears the way for the needed blessing and, at the same time reassures us of His love; after returning THANKS for His love and all the ways He shows His love, we are finally ready to SUPPLICATE, or ask for what we need.

Miles: You now, it’s fascinating studying the science of prayer because I can really see, when it’s laid out like this, how it really builds on itself, and by the time you are ready to ask for what you need, your faith has been strengthened. Your confidence is strong in Yah; in His love and His very willingness to hear and answer your prayer!

Dave: It really is. And don’t forget what the apostle James said. He wrote: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Yah, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith…nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Faith is so important. It’s vital. And that’s why I like to end by claiming a promise.

Scripture is full of promises. You cannot encounter a situation for which there is no promise to meet your need. In Philippians, Paul wrote: “My Yah shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory.”

Okay. We have needs. Your needs may be different than my needs, but we all have them. Yahuwah loves us soooo much that He has made sure to provide a promise in Scripture to meet every need!

Miles: Our part is to acquaint ourselves with what He has made available. How can you claim a promise if you don’t know it’s there?

Dave: Good point! I know we’re going to have to close soon, but I want to add just one more thing: Don’t rush through prayer. Prayer isn’t something that can be rushed.

Now, obviously, in an emergency, it is always appropriate to dart a prayer heavenward. Walking down the street, in between interactions with others, you can always have a quick chat with the Father. But for deep prayer, for intercessory prayer, for prayer where you are actually spending time with Him, it can’t be rushed.

Miles: It’s true. But too often we do. When life gets busy, our prayer life is usually what takes the first hit.

Dave: It does. You know who Corrie ten Boom was.

Miles: The Dutch Holocaust survivor? Yeah. She and her family helped Jews escape the Nazis before being arrested and eventually sent to the Ravensbrük concentration camp.

Dave: Right. She said: “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.”

Miles: Unfortunately, that’s true! I’ve seen it in my own life.

Dave: I think we all have. Anyway, prayer is not something that can be rushed. In speaking of prayer, the apostle James encouraged believers to “Pray one for another, because the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Notice: it’s the effectual prayer that availeth much. If we would see answers to our prayers we can’t rush through life with the only prayers we pray being the grace said before meals.

Miles: This reminds me of something Frank Laubach said. Laubach was a missionary to the Philippines in. . . I don’t know. Early part of the twentieth century? Anyway, he said “Prayer at its highest is a two-way conversation—and for me the most important part is listening to Yah’s replies.”

Did you catch that? Listening to Yah’s replies!

Dave: Yes! And we can’t do that if we’re in a rush and treat our prayer life as a wish list read off to Santa Claus as fast as possible.

We need to take time to meditate at the same time we pray. Now, a lot of Christians are afraid of meditation. They equate it with New Age beliefs. But prayer and meditation have always gone hand in hand!

Prayer is speaking to Yah.

Meditation is waiting and listening to Him speak to you through the still, small voice. Charles Stanley is a Baptist minister in the United States. Now, I don’t agree with everything Stanley believes or teaches, but I like what he said about meditation. He said:

"The essence of meditation is a period of time set aside to contemplate Yahuwah, listen to Him, and allow Him to permeate our spirits."

Miles: We don’t hear this enough. In fact, the other day on-line, I saw a meme that said: “When you talk to God, you’re religious. When God talks to you, you’re psychotic.”

Dave: That’s funny . . . but it’s also sad.

Miles: It just goes to show what low expectations most people have of their prayers being answered.

Dave: And that’s the real tragedy, because Yah delights in answering our prayers.

One final important point: we have been invited to pray in Yahushua’s name. This means more than just a quick sign-off: “In Jesus name, amen.” Claim the promises in Yahushua’s name and claim the merits of His blood shed on Calvary to cover your sins. You do this and you WILL get answers!

Miles: Don’t go away folks. When we return, we’ll be answering your questions sent in to our Daily Mailbag. Stay tuned.

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Daily Mailbag:

Miles: Time now for our Daily Mailbag. Jerry, in Hong Kong, writes: “Yahushua paid the ultimate price. He was the ultimate sacrifice and is the reason why, after His death, blood sacrifices are no longer offered. So I’m confused. Why did Paul, in Acts 16, circumcise Timothy? And, later, he made vows that required sacrifices. Why would he do this when he knew the sacrificial requirements had been fulfilled at the cross?

Dave: Hmm. . .that’s a good question.

Miles: It certainly seems contradictory you have to admit.

Dave: Well, Jerry, the answer is found in understanding Paul’s motivation. The motivating factor in all his interactions was to draw people to the Father through the Saviour and he wasn’t interested in involving himself in what he viewed as petty non-issues.

Paul knew there was no salvational merit to be had in the rite of circumcision or any of the blood sacrifices. However, he wanted to stay focused on what was important: Yahushua and Him crucified. We can understand what motivated his actions when we read his instructions given elsewhere. In his letter to the Romans, Paul said: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” So, Paul didn’t want to involve himself in matters that, to him, were a waste of time. He knew Timothy could do a great work for Yah. By circumcising him, he sought to allay the prejudices of the Jews with whom Timothy would come into contact.

Miles: All right. That makes sense. Jerry’s other example, in Acts 21 is a bit different, wouldn’t you agree?

Dave: Let’s take a minute to explain what was happening in Acts 21. Paul had journeyed to Jerusalem and met the Christian leaders there. They were thrilled to hear of the spread of the gospel and shared with him that they, in turn, had been used by Yah to convert many of the Jews who, they said, were still very “zealous” for the law.

These Jews, the Christian leaders said, had been told that Paul had no respect for the law of Moses. Well, let’s read it here. Acts 21:21. Would you read that for us?

Miles: Acts 21:21 . . . the leaders are telling Paul: “They [the Jewish converts] have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.”

Dave: Okay. That was their concern. The leaders in Jerusalem were afraid that the Jewish converts would reject Paul because of the rumors they’d heard. So, they wanted to allay the prejudice against Paul that the Jewish converts had. They thought they had the perfect solution.

Here. Read verses 23 and 24. What was their solution?

Miles: “Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.”

In other words, they were telling Paul to go through the motions.

Dave: That’s exactly right. It may not seem the wisest thing to do to us, but Paul didn’t want needless controversy. He was willing to go through it if it would help smooth the waters.

In First Corinthians he spelled out the principles that motivated his actions in all things. He said: "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." And later he added: “I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

Miles: All right. That sounds good. But listen to what this all entailed. Verse 26 of Acts 21 says: “Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.”

This offering was a blood sacrifice! Do you think Paul did right by doing this? I mean, I understand his motivation and I think that’s good. But do you think he went too far here?

Dave: Well, I’ll give you my personal opinion as long as you understand that’s all it is. Scripture doesn’t say one way or another whether Paul did right. Proverbs says: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

It is my personal opinion that Paul was exercising human wisdom and made a mistake.

Miles: Hey, we all make mistakes.

Dave: We do. As Paul himself said in Romans 3: “There is none righteous, no not one.” The Bible is an unerring record book of the deeds of both righteous and wicked men. It faithfully records their good deeds as well as their mistakes that we may learn from them.

Take, for example, David. He was a “man after Yah’s own heart” and yet he made plenty of mistakes. Scripture doesn’t censor it’s record, but records it all. The prophet Samuel – a man dedicated to Yah from the womb brought up sons who were not as consecrated to Yah as he was. That’s one of the reasons the Israelites gave for demanding a king. In First Samuel 8, they said: “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

And yet, Samuel was a righteous man. As was David. And Paul.

Miles: But we all make mistakes.

Dave: We do. And yet the Father doesn’t abandon us or even condemn us.

Miles: Amen. What assurance of divine love! Thank you, Jerry, for a great question, and thanks for writing.

We enjoy hearing from our listeners. If you’ve got questions or comments, we want to hear from you. Go to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We may not be able to address everything on air, but we’ll at least try to get it addressed in the Q&As on our website.

Daily Promise:

This is Elise O’Brien with your daily promise from Yah’s word.

Hummingbirds are nature’s helicopters! They can fly forward, backward, side-to-side, or even hover in mid-air! Their tiny wings beat in a figure-eight pattern over 4,200 beats per minute. The caloric intake required to sustain that amount of energy outflow is immense. Hummingbirds can eat up to 100% of their weight in nectar . . . in addition to eating thousands of tiny insects a day!

While this may not be a problem in tropical climates, it can be in North America where growing seasons can be less than 90 days! And yet, hummingbirds not only survive, but they thrive!

Scripture explains why. Yahushua said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Life can be scary sometimes. As economic conditions worsen, it can be hard to pay the bills, or even get enough to eat. But the Creator is in control. He is just waiting to answer the prayer of faith. So ask! And keep asking.

We’ve been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

Ending Points:

Miles: You know, Dave, earlier when we were talking about taking the time to listen to the Father when praying, it really struck me how seldom we do that; how seldom I do that! We rush through our prayers, if we take the time to pray at all, but never stop to actually listen for a response! It’s almost like we don’t expect an answer, so we don’t get one.

Dave: Also, I think, that often we have too narrow a concept of what it means to have Yah speak to us.

Miles: What do you mean?

Dave: Well, take the boy, Samuel. At a young age, he heard Yah’s voice. Scripture says Yah spoke to him and told him what was to befall the house of Eli. But that’s not the only way Yahuwah speaks to us. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that is usually not the way Yahuwah speaks to us.

Miles: That’s a good point. How many of us are going to go around and tell our mates: “Oh, yeah! This morning as I was enjoying a hot cuppa, the All-Mighty spoke to me! Shoulda heard what He had to say!”

Dave: Yeah, I can just picture it! But seriously, He will speak to us. In fact, He wants to! But we need to learn how He speaks to us, and it’s typically not through an audible voice.

Sometimes the voice will be only in our minds. You can tell when He’s speaking to you, because He’ll use words you don’t use to refer to yourself.

But often, there’s no voice at all! He can speak to use by bringing to our minds a Bible verse applicable to our situation, a promise. Even an inspiring quote by a modern author!

When we’re in difficulties, needing divine guidance, He can impress us with a course of action that we may not have thought of before. But in order for Him to do this, we have to take the time to stop. And listen.

Miles: Someone, I think it was one of the reformers, said that prayer was when he talked to Yah, but what was even more valuable was the time he spent on his knees AFTER praying, listening to what Yahuwah had to say to him.

Dave: The importance of prayer cannot be overemphasized. A few years ago, I read the inspiring story of a group of 40 Ukrainian families. In the early 1930s, just before Stalin’s Terror Famine that killed an estimated 7 to 10 million people, Yahuwah led this group of humble, praying believers out of the Ukraine and down into China.

Now, what was interesting to me was that, beyond the Urals, there was a man by the name of Ivan who was a wealthy farmer. Ivan didn’t have a group of fellow believers with him. However, he heard the rumors of what was coming and he and his wife prayed, and prayed, and prayed, seeking Yah’s face, asking for a way of escape.

Miles: That’s interesting that he could see what was coming. He didn’t bury his head in the sand.

Dave: Right. There’s always a warning to those who will look, and listen, and pray. Anyway, Ivan and his wife could tell things were going to get very difficult in Russia, but they weren’t sure what to do. This was back in the days, and in an area, where there weren’t any road maps. How could they know where to go, or even if they should? I don’t know how long they prayed, but eventually, one evening Ivan was impressed to hitch their farm wagon to their milch cow. Load in some food, and take his wife and their young children and drive out that very night!

Now, remember. Ivan was a wealthy farmer for there and then. He had some expensive horses and a nice comfortable buggy. But he was strongly impressed to leave them in the barn, in their stalls. Leave the lantern burning on the kitchen table, and just GO.

So that’s what they did.

Miles: That had to have taken incredible faith, to leave everything, hitch your wagon to your cow, and just go in the middle of the night.

Dave: Oh, it did! But Yah always knows best. What Ivan didn’t know at that time and only learned later, was that word had come down he was to be arrested. Stalin’s government did that to wealthy farmers. It was a way of taking over their farms, land, wealth—whatever they wanted.

Miles: Hm. So many innocent lives were lost.

Dave: So, word came down that the local soldiers were to go arrest him that very night. Of course, when they got there, there was nothing to be seen. The horses were still in the stalls; the lantern still burning on the kitchen table. It looked like the family had just stepped out for a bit and would be right back. So the soldiers waited for them to return.

Now what is interesting, and what Ivan only learned later, was the immense wisdom of Yahuwah in impressing him to hitch the farm wagon to the cow, rather than the expensive horses to the buggy.

Miles: What was that? Why did Yah have him do that?

Dave: Well, a wagon being drawn by a cow has a different sound than that of a buggy being drawn by two prancing horses. When Ivan and his family drove through town after dark, none of the soldiers came out to investigate. If they had, they would have arrested Ivan on the spot. As it was, hearing the wagon pulled slowly by the plodding cow, they assumed it was just a family of gypsies passing through.

And, as the young family traveled, the cow, being a milch cow, was able to provide the children with milk to drink. Ivan traveled that entire summer, always being led by the Spirit of Yah, further and further south. Finally, right on the border with China, he was arrested. Some soldiers down there conscripted him and put him and his family with other prisoners, working on some project. A short time later, a wildfire swept through, burning everything in its path. The guards ran, the prisoners ran. Ivan and his wife grabbed their children and ran, trying to escape the fire.

Afterward, they were so upset! They’d lost everything! Even the few possessions they’d had managed to bring with them in the wagon.

Miles: I’m sure! After all that, to be left with only the clothes on their backs and with winter coming, I’m sure they were afraid they’d all freeze to death, if not starve first.

Dave: Yes! And RIGHT then, just as they were weeping and asking the Father, WHY? Why had He allowed this to happen, the word of Yah came to them that they were in China! They’d escaped! He’d led them out and to safety!

Miles: He’d used the fire to get them separated from the soldiers and over the border where they would be safe!

Dave: That’s right! And a short time later, Yahuwah led them to where the other 40 families had been led out earlier, so they could help Ivan’s family. It’s an incredible story to read, how, in answer to prayer, Ivan was led step, by step, by step.

Miles: He’d have to be. As you said, in those days, there weren’t any maps. He could only be led by being told to go to the next town in line. Then the next. And the next.

Will: And that’s exactly how it was done until Ivan and his family were safely out of Russia and away from Stalin’s purges.

My point in telling this story is to emphasize, yet again, the importance of prayer. If Ivan hadn’t prayed and asked for guidance, if he hadn’t listened to the impressions of Yah’s spirit, he would have been arrested and sent to Siberia with so many other wealthy farmers. His wife and children, like so many others, would likely have starved to death.

But he DID pray, and he DID listen, and Yah ANSWERED his prayers.

And that’s my point. We need to know, every one of us for ourselves that Yahuwah answers prayer. We need to know how to pray and we need to know how to listen for His answer.

Miles: You’re absolutely right. And now is the time to learn that. Now is the time to become personally acquainted with Yahuwah. Now is the time to learn how to pray and to make faith and trust a habit.

Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.