Latest / The Daily Word / September 3 – Prayers Rise as Heaven Listens
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good morning friends. Welcome to the Daily Word podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and along with my wife Yolanda, I have the privilege of serving as the campus pastor for our Gastonia location. Thank you so much for taking some time to invest in God's Word today. Whether you're listening on your morning commute, enjoying a cup of coffee, or beginning your day with the Lord, my prayer is that this time encourages you. And draws you closer to Jesus. Each day as a church, we're reading through the Bible using the life journal reading plan. And today we'll focus on the New Testament passage. One of the things I've learned over the years is that God often speaks in the quiet moments when we simply slow down, turn down the noise, and listen. That's why I like to keep my time with Him simple: a Bible, a journal, a quiet space. A heart that's ready to hear. And a lot of times I'll use a trusted study resource to better understand the historical or the biblical context that I'm reading. But God's word is always our foundation. And the Holy Spirit is the main teacher. Now, just as a reminder, as we're reading, I'm going to be using the SOAP method: scripture, observation, application, and prayer. I've been using that framework for years and years, and it's a simple way to help move God's word from the page into my everyday life. So I want to encourage you if you haven't grabbed a life journal, whatever campus you attend, we should have some. Grab one. There is a reading plan in there, and it will help you to capture what God's speaking to your heart. Now, before I share today, let's pray. Let's just kind of prepare our hearts to receive. Father, thank you for this new day and for the privilege of opening your word. Quiet the distractions around us and the noise within us. Give us hearts that are teachable, minds that are attentive, and lives that are ready to obey whatever you reveal. Holy Spirit, illuminate the scriptures and help us not only understand them, but to live them out today. We ask this in Jesus' name. Everybody said, Amen. Well, friends, today's passage for September 3rd comes to us out of the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 8. I read the whole chapter, but I found myself coming back to verse 1. And I journaled on verse 1 and verse 4. They're connected. Let me read it to you. John writes, When he, that's Jesus, opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the angel's hand. Let me read verse one again. When he, that's Jesus, opened the seventh seal. There was silence in heaven for about a half an hour. That portion, verse one, just kept grabbing my attention. What is this silence in heaven about? I never really studied it, don't really know too much about it. But here's what I want to share with you. First and foremost: the title of my journal entry: Prayers Rise as Heaven Listens. Prayers rise as heaven listens. Listens. And this is my observation and some synthesized thoughts from a couple of different commentaries on Revelation chapter eight. Imagine a moment when all of creation holds its breath after the thunderous worship of countless angels, living creatures, and elders, declaring the Lamb worthy of all power, riches, wisdom. Strength, honor, glory, and blessing. That's Revelation five, eleven through fourteen. Heaven suddenly stills. Not emptiness, but expectation, not abandonment, but attentiveness. The Lord dwells in his holy temple, and the earth is summoned. To keep silence before him. That's Habakkuk 220. The silence in heaven isn't the silence of indifference. It's the reverent hush that precedes the day of the Lord when he has prepared a sacrifice and invited his guests. That comes from Zephaniah 1 7. All flesh must be silent because the Lord is aroused from his holy habitation. Zechariah 2. thirteen. When God moves, creation pauses to witness. Yet there's an intimacy here too. In stillness we know that He is God, exalted among the nations and in the earth. That's Psalm 46 ten. And Elijah learned that God's presence isn't always found in wind, earthquake or fire, but in a still small Voice. That's 1 Kings 19, 11 and 12. The silence creates space for listening. It's the moment before the answer arrives. The prayers rise, and heaven listens. But this silence isn't empty. Those who have come out of the great tribulation have washed their robes in the Lamb's blood, now stand before God's throne. Serving him day and night in his temple. That's Revelation seven nine through eight one. Their suffering has not been forgotten, their cries have not gone unheard. When the seventh seal opens, heaven stills because God is about to respond. The prayers of the persecuted whispered in darkness, cried out in anguish and Rise before the throne, and the Lord will fight for them while they hold their peace. It is good to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. That's Lamentation 326. That half hour of silence is God's answer taking shape. The judgment that follows isn't arbitrary wrath, it's the vindication. Of those who have called out for justice. Heaven falls silent because the God who hears the cry of the oppressed is about to act. The silence isn't the absence of God, it's the presence of God preparing to move on behalf of his people. Wow. How does this apply to my life? I wrote this: in my own suffering, in my own waiting. I must realize that silence before God's throne means he's listening and he is about to move on my behalf. This speaks to me because sometimes when I pray, I don't hear anything. Sometimes I don't hear a yes, a no, or even wait. Just silence. Moving forward, I will ask the Spirit to help me remember that. That sometimes when God is silent, it doesn't mean he is absent or uninterested. It means his response is on the way. I will pray in faith. I will wait in faith, trusting that my God's timing is always perfect. Friend, I hope that resonates with you. I hope that encourages you. Come on, would you pray with me? Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. Thank you for reminding me that when I pray and you are silent, that doesn't mean you are not listening, and it doesn't mean you will not respond in your perfect time. Help me to continue to develop a heart to pray and to intercede for your kingdom to come and your will be done on earth in my life. As it is in heaven. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Lakeshore family, thank you for joining me today on the Daily Word podcast. I pray you've been encouraged to stay in God's Word and walk closely with the Holy Spirit. God bless you, and we'll catch you again tomorrow.