We Are The People

Luke 1:5-9 “⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  ⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”

God was about to do something fresh and new in Israel and He found a man who would be used of Him to usher in a blessing that would change a nation.  We need men and women like Zacharias and Elizabeth in America today.

If you know the story you understand that this couple unable to have children were blessed to become the parents of the one we call “John the Baptist”, the one who preceded Jesus Christ’s coming to be the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world.

It is interesting that Zacharias was working at the time God spoke to his heart through an angel concerning the miracle birth of his son.  It seems that God delights in speaking to man as he works.  Moses was keeping Jethro’s flock when God spoke through the burning bush.  David was tending his father’s sheep, Gideon was threshing wheat.  Work is sacred.  Before the Adamic fall in the Garden of Eden the first man was given work to do:  name the animals and care for the Garden.

In America today we have many people unemployed and struggling at their work because of ineffective economic policies.  People are discontented and in that state a person finds themselves in a place where it is hard to hear from God – even when He desires to do something in their life and even in the nation.

Tonight as we pray for our cities and nation we will focus on the workplace of America.  It is a place where God can show tangible blessing as people honor the Lord with hard work and a desire to be a blessing.

Prayer Focus #1:  Pray that governmental policies state, local and national be such that businesses will desire to expand creating new job opportunities and good working conditions conducive to employees hearing from God words that will bless employers and employees alike.

Prayer Focus #2:  Pray that a good work ethic and loyalty be restored to the workplace.  It seems the many disruptions created by social media and coffee breaks, etc. have resulted in less than 8 hour work days.  Productivity creates opportunities for the worker and the potential for additional employees being hired.  This will result in more people in places where they can hear God like Zacharias did in our Gospel text.

Prayer Focus #3:  Pray that people will desire to hear from God as they work.  Zacharias was burning incense when he was supposed to be working.  Burning incense is a type of prayer intercession rising unto the Lord.  Prayer is a privilege.  The Apostle Paul taught us to “Pray without Ceasing”.  Prayer is two way – we talk to God and we hear from Him.