David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 10:1-16

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

It was a cold rainy night in Brooklyn, New York as people lined up outside the converted theatre which is home to the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Pastor David Schultz and I went past the people in line waiting in the rain(!) to get in for the Tuesday night prayer service. We had an appointment with Jim Cymbala, the founder of this remarkable church where prayer is their chief mission tool. And boy did we pray that night!

But first, let me share a bit about our visit with Cymbala. He is a dedicated servant of Jesus, and a pray-er extraordinaire. His story of his lost/prodigal daughter’s return to the faith, church, and their home is remarkable and heart-warming. It brought tears to my eyes when I learned of it. I’ve included a video of this story below. But this is just one example – albeit a very personal one to him. There are countless other stories of God answering prayers to reclaim lost and wandering people back into the Body of Christ.

But this is nothing new. When the Temple was dedicated 3000 years ago Solomon prayed,

“Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake ⁴² (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, ⁴³ hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. – 1 Kings 8:41-43

And a thousand years later Cornelius is praying and God sends Peter to reach into new people’s hearts and cross new boundaries, bringing the foreigners into his kingdom. Peter is in prayer when he receives the vision of common and unclean animals and is commanded to rise and eat. The church will be in prayer when they are told to set aside Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. Jesus calls his disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into the harvest.

I totally get it when we’re driven to our knees because of an urgent personal need. I understand when people reach out to God for help in finding a job or house, or conceiving a child. I’ve prayed for God’s peace and wisdom when I’ve faced a difficult decision. I’ve prayed for people to be healed. All these are good and honorable prayers. God promises to hear such prayers offered in faith and in Jesus’ name.

Jesus taught us to pray for all these things. He also taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come. And in that prayer raised our eyes beyond the urgent needs of the moment to the eternal needs of all people. When we pray Thy kingdom come, we’re praying that people are brought to faith in Jesus, that his gracious reign and rule would take root in our hearts and in the hearts of others. That prayer is much aligned with the mission of God. I believe it to be a truly worthy prayer.

Click here to see Jim Cymbala describe the return of his daughter – an answer to fervent prayer.

https://vimeo.com/74900964