Prayer Blog-August 27
Mark Barbee

Heroes of the Faith Series

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

Allow me to use this old saying to illustrate a spiritual reality.  It’s important to praise the Lord with our spirit and trust Him in faith.  It’s also important to have the ammunition of facts to support our faith.

Apologetics is the art of giving reasons for our faith, as Peter said in I Peter 3:15, “Always be ready to give an answer (apologia in Greek) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.  There are several types of apologetics.

Josh McDowell spoke at Ohio State University when I was a student there in the 70’s (yes, I’m dating myself).  He was a young man just working on his first book—Evidence That Demands a Verdict.  He gave me encouragement then and has ever since.  Josh’s topic then was fulfilled prophecy, but his books cover all types of apologetics.

I always encourage people to find their favorite area of evidence and share it with others.  It may be prophecy, or creation science, or the resurrection, or philosophical proofs for our faith.  These are only some of the possible subjects.  Other recent apologists have included Ravi Zacharias, who just graduated to glory, and Lee Strobel.

Of course, most of us have a personal experience of the Lord in our lives which may be the best apologetic of all.  His transforming power and faithfulness are still things we can praise him for and share with others.  A friend of mine used to say that an argument from a skeptic is no match for personal experience with Jesus.  But sometimes some extra ammunition helps us all.

Another book I’ll recommend is I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist by Geisler and Turek.  They explore the difficulties of believing in a world without God.  It’s another great approach.

Lord, thank you for the many reasons we can give for the hope that lives within us.  Ultimately it is faith that saves us, but it is encouraging to share the “ammunition” with one another.  Help us to be ready to share our faith with others and provide us opportunities to do just that.  Thank you for many skeptics that have become believers, such as Josh McDowell.  Thank you for their faithful ministry over many years.  Your love is overwhelming and so is your truth.  Help us to do our part to study so that we can better share.  We know that we can’t win people with arguments, so we pray you will create hunger within them and soften their hearts.

Lord, remind us of your providence in our lives, those times when you came through for us.  When you gave us courage or peace.  When you made a way when there seemed to be no way.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God will make a way, when there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me

He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way,

He will make a way.  Don Moen

 

Join us for prayer at the church on Saturdays in September at 10 AM in the Clubhouse/Chapel.  There is much to pray for in these trying times.  Starts September 5.