Love that makes a scene

Opening story of Ray Chilcoat

God even made a scene for us, the fact the he sent his Son to earth to die for our benefit is part of God making a scene for us.

Romans 12:20 ESV

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

This passage is often taken out of context. The whole passage of is dealing with “A living sacrifice”, “gifts of grace”, “and ‘marks of a true christian”.

In this last section of marks for a true christian is where we are taught about love.

The context of is the idea of the blessing of provision for your enemy. Feeding your enemy, giving your enemy a drink, is this idea of the blessing of provision… the last part heaping burning coals on his head had nothing to do with retribution but on the provision of your enemy on their journey home. In other words you are to bless your enemies coming and bless your enemies going… giving coals to your enemy was to provide warmth and fire for cooking on your enemies journey.

For us to become a House of Prayer for all nations to come in and pray we need to learn to love others for their benefit, putting their needs and concerns ahead of ours. We need to learn how to seriously pray for others and how to make a scene through prayer on their behalf.

How many people have never had someone stand up for them and make a scene for them so that they could see how valuable they are in God’s eyes… if we the church are not seeing people, valuing people, and honoring people the way God does—WHO WILL?

Luke 11:1–13 ESV

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

IMPUDENCE—Contemptuous Boldness

For us to become a House of Prayer for all nations to come in and pray we need to learn to love others for their benefit, putting their needs and concerns ahead of ours. We need to learn how to seriously pray for others and how to make a scene through prayer on their behalf.

We are being taught by Jesus how to pray and more importantly the eagerness of God to respond to our need through prayer.

“Response” and “Answer” are different.

God will always respond to us when we pray but his response may not be an answer.

His response to us when we pray is his interest in us, his heart for us, and he draws close to us when we prayer. God has an eagerness to hear his children pray.