Heroes Of Faith Part III

                                                   SARAH: The Mother of Many Nations 

Living by Faith is not a blind leap, but a steady walk with God, taking hold of His invisible yet powerful hand. It is seeing life and all its circumstances, as well as the complex challenges, through the eyes of God. It is taking God at His Word and believing in His promises.

During my study, I discovered the story of an incredible woman of God who served in the White House for 24 Years and Prayed Regularly for the Presidents of the USA.      

Emma Daniel Gray was raised by her grandfather, a former slave who had been sold three times. She died on June 8, 2009, at the age of 95. There was a big story about her in The Washington Post because, for 24 years, she was the woman who cleaned the office of the President of the United States. She served six presidents till she retired in 1979.

Her official title was "Charwoman." Mrs. Gray was a devout Christian. She would stand and pray over the President's chair each time she dusted it, her cleaning supplies in one hand, the other on the chair. She prayed for his safety and that he would receive the gift of wisdom. While reflecting on the way she lived life, her pastor said, "She saw life through the eyes of promise is the way I'd put it. You can always look around and find reasons to be unhappy, but you couldn't be around her and not know what she believed."[1] What a powerful intercessor!

That is precisely what God's people do: see life through the eyes of promise—and pray accordingly. In our series on Heroes of Faith, we learned about Abraham, who, despite all odds, trusted God. His belief in God was credited to him as righteousness, earning him the title "The Father of Many Nations." We will learn about his wife, Sarai, who, like many of us, had her weaknesses and doubts. However, despite all odds and ridicule, she lived her life through the eyes of promise. God called her SARAH: The Mother of Many Nations. Hebrews 11:11-16

I. Who was Sarai in the Bible?

"Sarai began her life in the pagan world of Ur, located in the land of the Chaldeans, which is now part of the area known as Iraq. She was the half-sister, as well as the wife, of Abram. Sarai and Abram had the same father but different mothers (Gen 20:12). In those days, genetics were purer than they are today, and intermarriage was not detrimental to the offspring of unions between relatives. Additionally, since people spent their lives clustered together in family units, it was natural to choose mates from within their own tribes and families.[2]

The name Sarai means princess. She was a very beautiful woman. (Gen 12:11). At age 65, while she was presented to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and at age 90 to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, Abraham introduced her as his sister to save himself from being killed. (Gen 20:12).

Sarai had a problem, as stated in Gen 11:30: "Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children." What does Sarah's barrenness have to do with God's plan of redemption? Carol Kaminiski notes in CASKET/EMPTY, "All three of the patriarchs' wives, Sarah(Gen 11:30), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), and Rachel (Gen 29:31), were barren, given the promise of God to Abraham that he would have many children. Their barrenness establishes that the promise made by God can only be fulfilled by God. He alone can bring forth life out of Sarah's barren womb."[3]

Barrenness in the OT was considered a curse from God. You can only imagine the struggle and rejection that Abraham and Sarah may have endured. Paul picks up their struggle in Rom 4:19-21, "Without weakening in his Faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his Faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

 

II. Sarah Is A Model Of Faith & Doubt

Our politicians are great at making promises during their campaigns, but once in office, they often struggle to keep all the bold promises they made. However, it is not like that with our God; our God is a promise-making God, but He also keeps His promises. All the promises in the Bible are "Yeah and Amen." God has a pretty good track record of keeping His promises.

God has no problems with our problems, but with our solutions, even then, he can handle them. How did that play out in the lives of Abraham and Sarah? They had a problem; they couldn't have children. They were very old and had long since passed the childbearing stage. It was not a problem for God. He said to Abraham, 'You should no longer call your wife Sarai; her name will be Sarah.' I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." (Gen 17:15-16).

Abraham might have thought it was hilarious, so he fell facedown laughing and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?' Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? The LORD said to Abraham, 'Next year, your wife will have a son.' Upon hearing the message from the tent, Sarah laughed to herself and thought, "After I am worn out and my Lord is old, I now have this pleasure? The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh?

And confronted her, doubting and said, Is anything too hard for the LORD. Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I didn't laugh," but he said, "Yes, you did laugh." Gen 18:10-15. One year seemed like an eternity to Sarah, and she was growing increasingly impatient. She took matters into her own hands. She sent her Egyptian maid servant, Hagar, to Abraham, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. By that one act of impatience, Sarah ignited a feud between Jews and the sons of Ishmael for over 4,000 years. She made mistakes, like all of us, but because of her Faith in God, as noted in Hebrews 11:11-12, Sarah truly became the Mother of Many Nations.

III. A message from Sarah to the Daughters of Sarah.

Although Abraham and Sarah lived over 5,000 years ago, the Father and the Mother of Many Nations still speak to their many sons and daughters of Faith. Abraham would say, 'Against all hope, have hope in God; in due time, He will fulfill His promises.' Sarah would say, 'Don't be impatient and take matters into your own hands; It is too risky! Have Faith in God!

Apostle Peter uses the examples of the holy women of the past, particularly Sarah, to teach wives and women in general what truly matters. I Peter 3:1-6, "What matters is not your outer appearance, the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes, but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, un-anxious and un-intimidated." (The Message).

Peter's primary focus is not on women's hairstyles (taking about hairstyles would be a risky business). Neither was it to have the wives address their husbands, "Lord," as Sarah called Abraham, my Lord. It was all about what was truly fitting for women who follow Christ.

The world places a great deal of emphasis on external beauty. Young girls in particular struggle to match up with the models they see on Instagram, in films, and in magazines.

Whereas God is delighted with the inner beauty, as it reads in 1 Peter 3:3, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of greater worth in God's sight." (NIV). Many women in the first century, and even now, generally don't like the idea of submission and obedience to their husbands. So, Peter gives them the holy women, in particular Sarah, as examples. He goes on to say, "You are the daughters of Sarah if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." As the children of Abraham & Sarah by Faith, let us follow their example of living by Faith and avoiding their mistakes.

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Patricia Sullivan, "'Christian Lady' Cleaned for 6 Presidents," The Washington Post (6-21-09)

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Sarah.html

[3] Carol Kaminski, CASKET? EMPTY  Page 30

Heroes Of Faith: Abraham: Father Of Many Nations PartII

                                                                  HEROES OF FAITH

Abraham: Father Of Many Nations Part II

 

Sometimes we use religious terms haphazardly and interchangeably. Take, for example, the words "grace," "repentance," "faith," and salvation." But the distinctions are necessary for us to understand. Maybe an image from a movie can help us. 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the Indiana Jones franchise.

In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, there is a legendary scene where Indiana (Harrison Ford) is hanging by a single hand on the edge of a chasm. With the other hand, he is reaching out to a goblet that supposedly once held the blood of Christ. As the tips of his hand graze the edge of the goblet, he grunts, "I can just about reach it."

'Above him is his Father (Sean Connery), who reaches out pleading, "Junior, take my hand! Take my hand!" Finally, his Father tells him to "Let it go," and Indiana reaches up to take his Father's hand. Let me explain these biblical words using this movie scene. When Indiana's Father reaches down to offer rescue, that's an act of grace. When Indiana lets go of his pursuit, that's repentance. And when he reaches back up for his Father to take his hand, that's Faith. When his Father lifts him up from the chasm, that's salvation."[1]

Similarly, in our lives, we need to repent of our vain pursuits and let go of the temporal for the eternal by receiving God's gracious love. By Faith, we take hold of our heavenly Father's hand, which will lead us to eternal salvation. In our series on Heroes of Faith, we will learn about ordinary men and women who had to set aside their earthly pursuits in search of eternal rewards. One such hero of Faith is Abraham: Father of Many Nations. Hebrews 11:8-19

II. The Call of Abram (Gen 12:1-3)

Gen 12:1-3, "The Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your Father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

God called Abram to leave what was familiar and comfortable and go to an unknown country that God would show him. The call had some promises and a provision. God will lead him to his destination. He will make his name great. God will bless him and bless those who bless Abram, and curse those who curse him. Through Abram, all people will be blessed.

Similarly, God called us to leave our country and family and move to the USA twenty years ago, along with our three young daughters. We were in our 40s when we made that move. Coming to the US was like walking on uncharted waters. At times, we wonder what we are doing here. It has been both challenging and rewarding. We will continue to follow Him all our lives.

How would you respond if God calls you to go to a place where you know nothing about? That was precisely what God told Abram to do. In vs four we read, "Abram went as the Lord had told him." It was absolutely a faith Journey. The author of Hebrews writes, "By Faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, he obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

 

That's how it often works. God may call you to a particular place, a job, or a ministry in which to get involved. At first, He will not give you all the details. But by Faith, as you take one step of obedience and move in the direction of God, He will show you the following steps, and things will become clearer as you go. That kind of faith journey requires absolute dependence on God. Abram's faith journey was not easy, but he remained steadfast and obedient to God.

II. The Testing of Abram's Faith

Abram journeyed, taking his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his possessions and people they had acquired to the land of Canaan. God appeared to him at Shechem and said," To your offspring or Seed I will give this land." From there, he moves to Bethel, where he pitches a tent, builds an altar, and calls upon the name of the LORD. (12:9). His Faith Journey continued!

Due to a famine in the land, Abram travels to Egypt, where he instructs his wife, Sarai, to lie and claim she is his sister, to spare his own life. From Egypt, he moves on to the Negev, where his nephew separates from him and lives near Sodom. At some point, Abram rescues Lot with his home-grown army from the hands of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Lord blessed Abram, and he became a wealthy man. However, one problem was that they didn't have children because Sarai was barren. The word of the LORD comes to him again in a vision, saying, "Don't be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward." Abram, in frustration with God, might have said, "Great! You promised you would give this land to my offspring, but we have no children. God took him out of the tent and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be. Abram believed the LORD and credited it to him as righteousness." (15:1-6).

Out of impatience and to shortcut God's plan, Sarah sends her Egyptian slave Hagar to sleep with Abram. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. God blesses Ishmael, but the promise will be fulfilled through the son of Sarai. God changes Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "Father of many nations," and Sarai's name to Sarah, meaning "mother of nations." As promised, God gives Abraham and Sarah a son, and they named him Issac. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Issac. When he was about to offer His son on Mount Moriah, the LORD provided a ram in the place of Issac. Hence, the LORD was called Jehovah Jireh: "The Lord will Provide."

III. Takeaways from the Life Of Abraham

What are the takeaways from one of the Patriarchs and the heroes of Faith? Where do you and I fit into the grand plan of God, initiated through the lineage of Abraham? First, as his name suggests, Abraham became the Father of many nations (people). Approximately 3.9 billion people claim Abraham as their Father, which includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, and the Bahá'ís (through Abraham's other wife, Keturah, Genesis 25:1-2).[2]

In one sense, people of these Abrahamic religions are our brothers and sisters, yet many of them do not know Jesus as their savior, so let's pray for their salvation. Second, against all odds, Abraham lived a Nomadic life, like a stranger in a foreign country. He sought a city built by God and yearned for a better country, one that was heavenly. Although he was very wealthy when he died, all he had in his name was a burial site — a cave in a field he had purchased from the Hittites, so that he could bury Sarah when she died. (Gen 23:12-20).

Third, what enabled Abraham to endure hardships and ultimately become righteous in God's eyes? It was not the works that he had done, but his unwavering Faith in God. What does this all mean for us today? "For it is by grace you have been saved, through Faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8-9

Fourth, all those who belong to Christ by Faith become Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:29. In other words, we become the recipients of God's blessings as well as of the responsibility of becoming a blessing to all nations (people). As Abraham lets us journey with an unwavering faith, fixing our eyes upon the author and the finisher of our Faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Source: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Lucasfilm, 1984), rated PG, written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, directed by Steven Spielberg.

 

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions#:~:text=Demographics,-See%20also:%20Abrahamic&text=Christianity%20is%20the%20largest%20Abrahamic,and%20nearly%20two%20million%20adherents.

 

Heroes Of Faith, Abraham: Father Of Many Nations Part I

                                                                   HEROES OF FAITH

Abraham: Father Of Many Nations Part I

 

Christian Faith is in Crisis in the Western World, even more so here in the USA. A new report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University reveals a significant decline in Christian Faith, a rise in non-Christian faiths and "no-faith" segments, and widespread confusion about moral truth. George Barna found that the percentage of Americans identifying as Christians fell from 72% in 2020 to 66% in 2025, a loss of about 15 million adults. At the same time, non-Christian faiths are experiencing growth, with Buddhism increasing by 56%, Judaism by 21%, and Islam by 12%. In total, non-Christian faiths have expanded by 39% since the start of the decade, outnumbering Catholics, the largest single religious group in the country.

 

Another alarming concern is the rejection of Absolute Moral Truth. One of the most significant outcomes of this spiritual shift is the growing national rejection of absolute moral truth—a foundation that has long been associated with the biblical worldview. The research found that 66% of American adults reject or doubt the existence of absolute moral truth. Instead, most Americans determine right and wrong based on personal feelings, circumstances, or public opinion. This trend extends across religious boundaries.

 

"Two out of three adults believe truth is conditional, and more than four out of five Americans are comfortable drawing from multiple sources or bases of truth," Barna explained. "Even people who generally believe the Bible or the God of the Bible are the most reliable sources of moral truth admit that it is common for them to make their moral choices based on feelings, laws, traditions, peer pressure, social standards, science, or ease."

 

Barna continued, "With a minority of Americans believing that the God of the Bible is real and reliable, and an even smaller number reading the Bible during a typical month, it's no wonder there is such moral turbulence in our culture. Everyone becomes their own arbiter of truth, and without absolutes, there is little sense that there is a 'right' answer to discover, or to have ideas about how to figure it out if there were such a definitive reality."[1]

 

What do these findings mean for the future of the Church in the USA? These findings imply that our core biblical principles are being challenged. Our Faith in God is being shaken. These trends point us to the end times, before our Lord returns. In the midst of these changing trends, how can born-again Christians hold and continue to grow in their Faith? We will explore the answer in our Fall Series: Heroes of Faith. Our first Hero is Abraham: Hebrews 11:8-19.

I. What is Biblical Faith and Why Live by Faith?

Before we study several biblical heroes and heroines of Faith, let us examine what Faith is and why God wants us to live by Faith in Him, as well as the basis of our Faith. But first, what Faith is not? It is not a blind leap of Faith, as the World sometimes thinks, nor is it presumptuous. Faith in God is not irrational or illogical, as skeptics sometimes try to ridicule those who live by trusting in God. Here is what Biblical Faith looks like.

Hebrews 11:1-2, "Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for and Assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Biblical Faith is closely tied to confidence and Assurance. Our confidence is in God, who is all-powerful, gracious, loving, merciful, generous, and absolutely reliable and trustworthy. That confidence assures us that God will grant what we hope for in His own way and timing. Sometimes we receive what we hope for immediately, while at other times it may take some time, and yet in some cases, we may never receive it during our lifetime. Regardless of whether we receive or not, we live our lives trusting in Him.

II. Why does God want us to live by Faith?

First, God wants us to live by Faith in Him to prove to the World and to us that He is real. When we refer to God, we typically mean Jesus Christ, as many people often have misconceptions about who God truly is. Though all things in the universe, on the earth, and underneath the earth, both visible and invisible things have been created by and for God, many say in their hearts that there is no God; the Bible calls them fools or morally deficient. (Ps14:1).

Why were they morally deficient? It is not that God was hidden from them. Indeed, since the creation of the World, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people have no excuse. Although they knew God, they didn't glorify Him because their hearts had become darkened.

If the first reason is to prove to the World and us that God is real, the second reason is to see our Faith increased. Think about the process God designed for us to go through as infants. Our little Avila Joy is three months old and brings such Joy to all of us. How about if she never grows and remains small all her life? She is very active, moving her hands and legs, which helps her muscles develop. Soon, she will stand up, walk, and run.

Similarly, that's how it works in our faith Journey. Jesus invites us on a spiritual journey by saying, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Being like little children means trusting God for both the small and the big things in life. Romans 12:3 says, Each of us has been given a measure of Faith.

Faith is a gift from God, but it must grow through use. The key difference between Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) and the rest of us is that he is committed to increasing strength and muscle mass through exercise. No Pain! No Gain! Similarly, Faith increases as we exercise. The disciples asked Jesus to increase their Faith (Luke 17:5).

Jesus could have imparted Faith to them miraculously, but He didn't. They had to go through the same process as we do. Faith is a gift from God, but for our Faith to increase, it must be used and tested. In YWAM, thousands of Missionaries have learned to trust God for their food, drink, clothing, medicines, etc. The third reason why we should live by Faith is that it pleases God. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb11:6

In Hebrews 11, we find several people who, despite all odds, learned to trust God. By their Faith, they earned a good reputation. (Heb 11:2). And God was so pleased with them that He was not ashamed to be called their God. How is your Faith today? Is God ashamed of you? Let me introduce you to one of such Heroes of Faith: Abraham.

III. Abram's Family Background ( An Idolator and an Immigrant)

            From our Sunday school lessons, we have learned about this biblical character, Abraham. Before he was called Abraham, his name was Abram, which means exalted father. His lineage traces back to Shem, one of Noah's sons. His timeline was from 2100 to 1450 B.C. Abram's father was Terah. Terah was 70 years old before he had his three sons, Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

After Haran's death, Terah uprooted his family from their home in Ur of the Chaldeans and set out for the land of Canaan. For unknown reasons, Terah never made it to their destination but stopped and settled in Harran instead. This is where Terah died at age 205.[2] Human migration to other places in search of better living may have begun around that time.

After Terah's death, and following a call from God (which we will discuss later), Abraham himself relocated to Egypt due to a famine in the Negev. (Gen 12:10). What was Abram's family trade? According to Jewish tradition, "Terah was an idolater. Terah also made and sold idols, as the Midrash Genesis Rabbah 38 explains."[3]

Abram's ancestors were idol worshippers. Joshua 24:2, Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods." Terah and his family were idol-worshipers, and that means God spoke to Abraham before he even knew God. For now, it is a blessing to know that God can call anyone, regardless of their family background and former religious affinity and ideology, to live a life of Faith in Him and to be a part of His great plan. But the question is, how will we respond to God's Call?

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2025/05/01/awvi-2025-report-5-americans-abandon-christianity-moral-truth barna/#:~:text=The%20latest%20report%20from%20the,of%20about%2015%20million%20adults.

 

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/Terah-in-the-Bible.html#:~:text=Answer,the%20end%20of%20his%20days.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_and_the_Idol_Shop

Prayer: A Hallmark of A Christian

                                                 PRAYER: A HALLMARK OF A CHRISTIAN

Robert Morgan writes that as the 25^th President, William McKinley, lay dying from an assassin's bullet in Buffalo, New York, on September 14, 1901, the Lord's Prayer was on his lips. Prayer had been a lifelong practice that guided McKinley through his political career and into the presidency. McKinley had been born into a devout Christian home fifty-eight years prior and was born again at the age of fourteen. According to his pastor, A. D. Morton, young McKinley stood up during a youth meeting and said, "I have sinned; I want to be a Christian ... I give myself to the Savior who has done so much for me."

McKinley's mother, a woman of deep Prayer, taught him to pray by example and encouragement, but his greatest lessons in Prayer were forged under the pressures of his duties as President of the United States. One of his most significant decisions arose in 1898 regarding the status of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

One day, a delegation of church leaders visited the White House, and McKinley informed them of his decision to resolve the crisis in the Philippines. "The truth is, I didn't want the Philippines," he said. "I did not know what to do. I sought counsel from all sides, including Democrats and Republicans, but received little help. I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night.

And one night late it came to me this way." McKinley relayed the strategy that developed in his mind as he prayed: that the Philippines should be taken seriously and helped, that the United States should "by God's grace do the very best we could by them as our fellow-men for whom Christ died." McKinley added, "And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept soundly."[1] He concluded his last address to the people in Buffalo, New York, with this Prayer: "Our earnest prayer is that God will graciously vouchsafe prosperity, happiness, and peace to all our neighbors, and like blessings to all the peoples and powers of earth."[2] Our country and the world would be different if the current presidents and prime ministers followed the example of the 25^th president, McKinley, whose life and death were guided by Prayer.

 

The Apostle Paul began his new life in Christ and continued throughout his life, even unto death in Prayer. As we conclude our In Him sermon series, we will examine the Apostle Paul's final remarks to the believers in Colosse and how they will impact us as we determine to live Christ-like lives in this world. Colossians 4:2-6 Paul's parting words to the Colossian believers were, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Col 4:2. A faithful Christian doesn't live his life independently on his own terms; instead, he is prayer-dependent. Let us explore further: Prayer - A Hallmark Of A Christian.

 

I. Prayer is a Hallmark of a True Christian

The apostle Paul began his letter to the Colossians by letting his heart be known to them. His heart was filled with thanksgiving and Prayer as he heard their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for God's people. Praying for Colossians was not a one-time thing; Paul continued to do so to some extent, as he said, "We have not stopped praying for you." (Col 1:9). What was Paul Praying for? For God to fill them with the knowledge of his will through all the Spiritual wisdom and understanding.

So that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. That they might be strengthened so that they may have great endurance and patience,  and give joyful thanks to the Father. Paul's Prayer can be a model prayer for all believers. (Col 1:9-12)

After praying for them fervently and continually, he wanted Prayer to become a daily part of the believers' lives, so he gave them this instruction: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." The Greek word for devotion means to endure, to tarry, continue steadfastly with someone, to cleave faithfully to someone. In this case of Prayer, we are called to commitment, steadfastness, faithfulness, waiting patiently, and endurance.

Prayer is a hallmark of true Christians. A hallmark is a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature. Hallmark also refers to purity, or genuineness. In that sense, Prayer to God is one of the characteristics of a true and genuine Christian. After Jesus ascended to heaven, Prayer became a regular feature among the 120 disciples of Christ. As instructed, they all joined together constantly in Prayer, along with the women, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers in the upper room. (Acts 1:14). As a result of their fervent Prayers, God poured out the Holy Spirit, and a three-thousand-member Church community began. The early Church members devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, and Prayer. Acts 2:42.

What distinguished the early Christians from the rest of the people was their devotion to Prayer. We see similar devotion to Prayer in other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Wilma and I lived in Hyderabad, closer to a Mosque where we used to hear calls to Prayer five times a day. When the call goes out, all Muslims are mandated to pray.

We saw similar devotion among the Hindus as well. Unfortunately, we don't see similar devotion among many Western Christians. Many of us are too lazy to pray. How can we call ourselves Christians when we seldom or never pray?

II. Cultivating a Consistent and Lasting Prayer Life.

How can we cultivate a consistent and lasting Prayer Life? First, we have to understand what Prayer is all about. Some of us grew up in homes where we learned to say grace during three meals, and that is the only Prayer we may have ever known. Others grew up in Churches where only the pastor or the priest did all the prayers.

Because of such a lack of understanding and wrong models, even some born-again Christians find it difficult to pray to God. At Hope Church, we believe that all Christians can and must pray, as Prayer is our lifeline. Therefore, we encourage our members to learn and grow in both their private and corporate prayer lives. Here is how Praying to God began in the Bible.

Genesis 2:25-26, Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth. Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord." The verse does not claim that Prayer began for the first time, but collective worship and Prayer became a defining characteristic of humanity. The name Enosh carries man's vulnerability and mortal condition. By naming his son Enosh, Seth highlights human weakness in contrast to God's sovereignty. The Hebrew word Qara meant to cry out, to proclaim, to praise and celebrate, and another prominent use was to call upon God's name.

Prayer is nothing but crying out to or calling on God. What and when do we call on God for? Consider these biblical examples that called on God often in desperation. God saw the suffering and the oppression of the Israelites in the hands of the Egyptians. God said, "I have heard them crying out, so I have come down to rescue them." He sent out a deliverer. Ex 3:7-10.

When people cried out for food and water, Moses prayed to God, and He sent them Manna, Quail, and water, taking care of them for 40 years in the wilderness. God heard the cries of Abraham and Sarah and gave them a son, Issac, through whom the blessings came to all of us.

Another childless mother, Hannah, was distraught in her spirit. Year after year, she pleaded with God for a child. At times, without words, she prayed in her heart. Seeing her moving lips but not hearing her voice, the chief priest Eli rebuked her for being drunk. Hearing her cries, God granted her a child, Samuel, who became one of the greatest prophets of Israel.

In the OT, when people were in critical and chronic need, they called out to God. Several Psalms are prayers of David, who learned to cry out to God in his desperation. Psalm 34:6-7, "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."

Jesus was a great example of someone who prayed fervently to God, especially during times of anguish. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." Hebrews 5:7. If Jesus, being the Son of God, prayed fervently, are we his followers to do anything less? The way we can cultivate and grow in our prayer life is not by listening to or reading about it, but by getting down on our knees and crying out to God. This is the foundation of a consistent and lasting prayer life. Praying in Jesus' name opens the doors of heaven and ushers us into the presence of Almighty God, who hears and answers our prayers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Robert Morgan, Worry Less, Live More (Thomas Nelson, 2017), pages 49-50

[2] https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/president-mckinleys-last-public-utterance-the-people-buffalo-new-york 9-10-2025