Is Prayer Your Steering Wheel or Your Spare Tire? -- Loyal OK Peace UCC

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Hopefully every car or pickup in our parking lot has a steering wheel and a spare tire. And hopefully each of us are involved in a consistent prayer life… not just using prayer to get us out of tight spots. Corrie ten Boom, who spent many years as a prisoner in a German prison camp, is the person who asked this question. "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

Prayer – effective prayer – involves spending time with God in communication. Sometimes we confuse that with giving God a list of complaints, recommendations and assignments. Before we get into today’s message from Revelation, I would like to pause for a few minutes and think about who we are in Christ.

First, mankind is God’s ultimate creation. After he created man and woman he rested from his work!

Because of sin, man’s relationship with God was severely strained, but through Jesus Christ that rift has been healed. We can walk and talk freely with God at any time. He is always there for us. Nothing that you or I can do to make God love us any more than He loves us today. But love does not guarantee a life that pleases God. Each of us must develop a personal relationship with Him that is experienced on a daily basis.

Also, we are instructed to have the mind (attitude) that Christ had. Paul talked about it in Philippians 2: 3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." I used this verse in a message last week in the nursing homes and one elderly lady responded by saying, "Now, I’m not so sure that I want to do that!" One thing for sure about her, you will always know what she is thinking, for she blurts it out all the time!

However, her point is well taken! Do you in fact see others as better than yourself? It is a choice! And do we follow Matthew 7:12? "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Make sure that you give others the same allowance that you hope they will give you for your aches, pains, forgetfulness, poor attitude… all those things that we all do!

Revelation 13:1-10

And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

He who has an ear, let him hear.

If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

In my research for this message I found Spurgeon’s comments on Revelation. He wrote, "I do not claim to have a great understanding of these word pictures. And when I read what one commentator says, they only successfully disprove what the previous person said." Trust me, his comments make a lot of sense! We will continue to pursue the principles and leave the details in God’s capable hands!

As John’s vision continued, he saw a wild beast rise up out of the sea. Henry Swete writes, “The sea represents the agitated surface of unregenerate humanity – especially the restless national and social life out of which the great historical movements of the world arise.”

In chapter 12 Satan tried to destroy Christ, then the Church. Since that failed, he now seeks to create a false religion. We have to admit that Satan is a persistent fellow. Anger and hate makes us persistent!

This appearance of the beast rising out of the sea is the same figure as Daniel's fourth beast (Dan. 7:7, 24-27). It represents a revival of the ancient Roman Empire, only greatly expanded. (In chapter 17 the scarlet woman sits upon this beast and is said to have seven heads which are seven mountains, a clear allusion to Rome.)

This revived western confederacy combines the characteristics of the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Macedonian empires. One of the heads is wounded, obviously fatally; yet the wound has been healed (v. 3) and the head is miraculously revived. As the chapter proceeds, the description of the beast becomes more personal. The Antichrist himself will sit at the helm of this coalition.

Satan often works through earthly authority. When he uses human rulers, they generally manifest great pride and even claim to be God. The early Roman emperors often claimed to be God. Some called themselves "Sons of God" while others simply put the word "God" on their crown. Nero called himself "The Savior of the World." Domitian was the reigning emperor when John wrote the Revelation. He insisted on being called "Our Lord and Our God."

One author noted that To worship such human authorities--political or religious--is to worship Satan and to face eternal punishment. But to refuse to obey such earthly powers is to face economic loss and persecution, but it is also to gain eternal rewards.

God's people often endure the results of having evil leadership. We need to show faith and patience instead of discouragement and fear! Evil powers may amaze us with their authority and signs, but eventually they lose all of their power. God is still in charge although we may be tempted to doubt at times!

John used symbols and number systems known to his readers to identify the specific beast to which he referred. Although we do not have a sure key to his identification system, it is generally felt that the four beasts of Daniel represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek and Roman empires. Satan motivates the persecuting emperors. "And the dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority."

Although this vision seems to be of a distant past and concern another part of the world, the implications for us are awesome. In recent years we have seen a tremendous move against Christianity in the United States. Hopefully some of this will slow down as we return to prayer. Certainly the economic slowdown and job layoffs around the country will remind us that God is our source, not the government.

Also, political power groups may actually take over governments. When they do that, they oppose God. The Bible states that God is the one who raises us governments and rulers! Eventually everyone will submit to God’s authority. (Philippians 2:9-11) Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Political power is not sufficient reason for a person to be worshiped. Patient endurance may be the disciple's only course of action when government authorities exercise beastly power under Satan's control.

The beast rising out of the sea is often identified as the antichrist and the man of lawlessness. The dragon of Rev. 12 is identified as Satan and he is the one giving power and authority to the beast. The beast out of the sea has a second beast (13:11-17) who promotes it as the object of worship by the use of oppressive measures. The middle figure of the trio of dragon, beast from the sea, and beast from the earth corresponds to antichrist.

The apostle, standing on the shore, describes the savage beast rise out of the sea as a tyrannical, idolatrous, persecuting power that springs up out of the troubles which took place. It was a frightful monster! It appears to represent the powers that are hostile to the church. The first beast then began to oppress and persecute the righteous for righteousness' sake, but they suffered most under the fourth beast of Daniel, (the Roman Empire,) which has afflicted the saints with many cruel persecutions. The source of its power was the dragon.

It was set up by the devil, and supported by him. The world admired its power, policy and success. They paid honor and subjected themselves to the devil and his people. However, the devil's power and success are limited. God allows the devil permission to do many things that do not make sense to us. But He still sets limits. Christ always has a chosen remnant, people redeemed by His blood. Their names are recorded in His book, sealed by His Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist may overcome our body, and take away our natural lives, they cannot conquer our soul!

Perseverance in the faith of the gospel and true worship of God, in this great hour of trial and temptation, which would deceive all but the elect, is the character of those registered in the Book of Life. This powerful motive and encouragement to constancy, is the great design of the whole Revelation.

Revelation 13:10 offers a challenge. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Remember that the Christians of today will be raptured before the Tribulation begins. Those who are saved later will face persecution – and death. There are some questions as to how this verse should be translated. Some scholars think a better translation is "If anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he will be killed."

My thought is this: Many will suffer for the cause of Christ. Some will die, some will be imprisoned, and some will be tortured. Jesus suffered tremendously in order to pay for our salvation. Should we be willing to do less? I think not!

Next week we will get into the Mark of the Beast – the 666. Just remember that old song. "Be not dismayed what e're betide. God will take care of you!"

Do we get everything we pray for? Generally, not, because we do not always know how to pray – or what to pray for. But… there is a way to pray that will assure us of success with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Prayer is more than a "spare tire." Let it steer you where Jesus Christ wants you to go!