Above the baptistry of Peniel Baptist Church in Greenville, there is a sign that states “Prayer Changes Things.” I remember when a deacon made it.
It is not a professionally made sign. It is made out of a 1X8, approximately six feet long, painted with flat black paint. The silver, metal letters, used in the 1960’s to show the street address of a house, were bought at the local hardware store and nailed to the board.
The message of the sign was used as we prepared for the rpring revival of 1967. It never has been taken down, except for the purpose of painting or remodeling the church’s auditorium.
I wish I could say the adoption of the sign’s message caused Peniel Baptist Church to grow until it is now one of the largest and influential fellowships in the state. However, I cannot. I am not saying it is not a great church, because it is. Although the numbers are not large when it meets to worship, it is great because the folks who make up that congregation believe “Prayer Changes Things.”
I was baptized it that church. I remember being on my knees at the altar praying for direction in my life and interceding for others. When I surrendered to preach, they prayed for me. My wife and I exchanged our marriage vows at that altar, and they began praying for us as a couple. They still pray for my ministry, my family and the churches the Lord has allowed me to pastor. My mother-in-law is still a member of it.
I will not know until I get to heaven how influential they have been in my life and ministry through their intercessory prayers for me. To this day, prayer is a priority for the members of Peniel Baptist Church.
In our lesson, we find King Solomon standing before the altar of the recently built temple, hands lifted heavenward as he dedicates this building to the Lord. In 1 Kings 8:22-24, as he begins this act of dedication, he affirms the faithfulness of the Lord in keeping his promises. Solomon states the Lord had fulfilled his promise he had made with his mouth to David with his hand.
In Luke 19:45-46, Jesus emphasized that the temple was to be a “house of prayer” by quoting Isaiah 56:7. When the people of God realize the Lord’s uniqueness and his faithfulness in keeping his promises, they should be motivated to pray unceasingly.
In 8:27-30, Solomon expresses his awe in that the God of the universe, who cannot be contained in the “highest heaven,” has the capacity to show his presence in the “temple I have built.” Not only can God occupy this temple, he also hears the prayers of his people from heaven and forgives them of their sin. The writer of Hebrews shares with believers they can have confidence in Jesus, the High Priest, who “has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). That is why we can come confidently to the Lord and ask him to hear our prayers.
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Solomon asked the Lord to respond graciously when his people turned to him in prayerful confession and repentance (8:38, 39). In 2 Chronicles 7:14, in response to Solomon’s prayer to dedicate the temple, the Lord responded with one of the most recognizable texts of the Old Testament, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
It is God’s desire to have a relationship with his people and meet their needs as they come to him in humility, confession and open hearts. We can pray to the Lord about anything that afflicts us because he responds by forgiving and acting to help us.
In 8:41-43, Solomon appealed for the Lord to also hear the prayers of non-Israelites who came to the temple to pray. He was aware of the Lord’s promise to Abraham concerning all the earth’s people groups.
In Genesis 12:3, God promised Abraham, “… all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” After the time of Solomon, the Lord would confirm this promise again through Isaiah: “Foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, … These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer … for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:6-7). Through this, we see God’s heart in having a relationship with individuals from all nations.
Jesus revealed this throughout his ministry on earth. After his crucifixion and resurrection, he commissioned his followers to carry out the mission of God Solomon had pointed to in his prayer when he commissioned them, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
At this time of the year as we give mission offerings to reach the world, we first begin by praying for these people groups God loves so much.
Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple should help every believer to appreciate God’s gift of prayer and should be an encouragement to strengthen the discipline of his daily prayer life. All believers need to be reminded that this gift is the way through which God works mightily to build his character in them. Basically, he is saying, “Prayer Changes Things!” I believe it because I have experienced it!
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