Thirty-six days ago we were informed by the news of the horrific massacre in Las Vegas by a lone gunman leaving fifty-eight dead. Now again, this last Sunday another senseless act of violence, this time it was against those who were gathered to worship God just like most us do every Sunday morning. And again as before we are probably hearing and maybe even being asked many of the same questions that were asked by so many just over a month ago. Why were so many innocent lives taken in a senseless act of violence? Does God really care? If He does care, why did He allow this to take place? If God is all knowing, all-powerful, loving God, why did He not prevent this from happening? After this event some are now asking, does God really care about what is going on? Now churches are being targeted.
For some unbiblical reason some Christians think that when a person receives Christ Jesus as their Savior from sin and Lord of their lives, that they have some kind of spiritual exemption from the consequences of sin, evil and death that always has been part of the reality of life in this world.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:45
Just looking in the book of Acts, there are multiple events recorded of Christians experiencing the results of evil and even death. Below are just three examples.
Acts 5:40b, The apostles were arrested then flogged. “They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
Acts 6:12, Steven was arrested and stoned to death, Acts 7:57-58a, At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.
Acts 12:1a, “King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church” and “had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword”, Acts 12:2
There are many more incidences of persecution, arrests, beatings and even deaths of Christians recorded in Acts.
What is important to also notice the two examples in Acts of the churches reaction when evil happens.
Peter and John were arrested, threatened and released, in Acts 4:23-24 we have a good example of how the Church reacted. “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said…”
The church did not run or go into hiding nor asked God avenge them from the ruling Jewish authorities threats, they prayed. Verses twenty-nine and thirty tells us how they prayed. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” As a result of their prayers God immediately responded and with impacting results. Acts 4:31, After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
In Acts 12:2 the apostle Peter was arrested. Verse four tells us that, “Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.” Herod probably had the same intention to put Peter to death as he did the apostle James, Acts 12:1-2, “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.” How did the church react to Peter’s arrest? We can only assume that the church was praying for Peter’s release when he arrived at Mary’s house. Acts 1212b, “…he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
Why do Christian’s pray when evil adversity happens? Because we know who God is and what He can do. The power of prayer is not because of the words prayed, but because of who God is and the faith in Him of those who are praying.
If you might have seen on the news that immediately after the incident in Texas, people started to pray. Obviously, most but not all, who were praying near or around the Texas shooting scene were Christians. Why do Christians pray right after something bad like this happens? Why is there always memorial prayer services with people with lit candles, or as with this incident in Texas, holding up their cell phones with the camera light lit?
Why do Christians around the United Sates and the world who do not know anyone personally that was directly impacted by the tragedy, pray for the victim’s families and others who were affected?
When Christians pray, they do not do so as helpless little mice full of fear and desperation, or as poor hopeless victims of the circumstances. We pray because we are taught from the scriptures to do so. 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.”
Even after the horrible acts of evil are over with, Christians pray with an experiential knowledge knowing that God acts in situations that can only be explained by those who have been praying as Jesus taught us to pray, Matthew 6:10, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth (which means, in any situation) as it is in heaven.”
We might not know personally those who are left behind. We do know they will need the peace and healing that only God can give. Ephesians 6:18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pastor John
