World War III: 201 2 ? - Jack Van Impe Ministries

— certainly not in what I wouldconsider an “effectual fervent”way.As long as I’m confessing, Imust admit there have even beentimes when someone would askme to pray about a circumstanceor situation in their lives, and I’dpromise that I would. But beforeI actually got around to it, timepassed! Sometimes I wouldn’tremember to pray until I sawthose acquaintances again, orsomeone else mentioned theirproblem or need. Has this everhappened to you?You can write this down andunderscore it for emphasis — ifyou have the opportunity to say“God bless you” to someone,you also have the responsibilityto pray for that person and askGod to bless him or her andsupply every need! That is whywhenever someone approachesJack and me with a burden andprayer request, we will step offto the side with that person andimmediately go before God’sthrone in prayer.Give of yourself bysharing your timeWhat can you do to be ablessing? You may not feel thatyou are a great intercessor —you may have limited financialresources and very modestmeans. But it may well be thatyou can give the most preciousgift of all, some of your time.You see, our lives are made upof seconds, minutes, hours,and days. So when we give aportion of time to another, we aregiving part of our very being ...something we can never get back.The Bible says, Bear ye oneanother’s burdens, and so fulfillthe law of Christ (Galatians6:2). What if you just droppedby to share a cup of tea and anhour’s conversation with a lonelyfriend? What if you did somechores or ran some errands for ashut-in? Would that be a blessingand lift a burden? Absolutely!The tangible touch!I don’t believe you can say“God bless you” to someone inobvious need and mean it if youdon’t do something real andpractical to meet his or her need.“God hasno handson earthbut ours!”That’s not just my idea — theapostle John has something tosay about that. But whoso haththis world’s good, and seeth hisbrother have need, and shuttethup his bowels of compassionfrom him, how dwelleth the loveof God in him? … Let us notlove in word, neither in tongue;but in deed and in truth (1 John3:17, 18).The beloved cartoonist,Charles Schulz, once drew aPeanuts cartoon strip thatillustrated the lesson of faithversus works described in James2:15-16. In the first panel, CharlieBrown, bundled up in a heavyJanuary–February 2011 | Perhaps Today | 13coat, boots, mittens, a hat, andscarf, passes by the dog, Snoopy,shivering in the wind and cold ofa snowstorm.“Be of good cheer, Snoopy,”says Charlie Brown. “Be warmedand fed.” The next panel showsLucy passing by Snoopy. Sheis also bundled up in warmclothing from head to toe. “Yes,Snoopy,” she says, “Stay warmand be of good cheer.” In thethird panel, Charlie and Lucy goinside their warm houses out ofthe howling wind and blowingsnow of the blizzard. In the lastpanel, a shivering, miserableSnoopy hugs his body and lookswoefully at the closed door ofCharlie Brown’s house.The apostle James alsoreminds us of our failures. Hesaid, If a brother or sister benaked, and destitute of dailyfood, and one of you sayunto them, Depart in peace,be ye warmed and filled;notwithstanding ye give themnot those things which areneedful to the body; what doth itprofit? (James 2:15-16).God has no hands onearth but oursThere is no need to ever say,“I wish I knew what I could