The Difference Prayer Makes

The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God. Revelation 8:4


Does prayer have any real impact on our world? Or is it merely a private conversation with God?

When a New Jersey couple learned that a man had been released form prison and had move into their area, they started praying for him. Then they paid him a visit and opened their home to a weekly breakfast for ex-offenders like him. Now, 22 years later, the area's most despised men have one place to go where they are welcomed and treated respecfully.

What would happen if we followed literally Jesus' command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? What if we became known for approaching heaven on behalf of outcasts and disagreeable people?

In a scene recorded in the book of Revelation, the apostle John foresees a direct linkage between the visible and invisible worlds. At a climatic moment in hostory, heaven is quiet. Seven angels stands with seven trumpets, waiting. Silence reigns, as if all heaven is listening on tiptoe. Then an angel collects the prayers of God's people onl earth - all the accumulated prayers of praise, lament, abandonment, despair, petition - mixes them with incense, and presents them before the throne of God (8:1-4). The silence finally breaks when the fragrant prayers are hurled down to earth: setting off a storm of "thunderings, lightning, and an earthquake" (v.5).

The message is clear. The prayer are essential agents in the final victory over evil, suffering, and death. - Philip Yancey


God's work is done by those who pray.

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Revelation 8:1-5

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumphet were given to them.

Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

The smoke of the incense, with the prayer of the saints, went up before God our of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake.

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