Influencing Heaven

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

In July 2007 I had to have emergency heart by-pass grafting surgery. One of my sons (Zach) and his wife (Stephanie) work in the medical field, and with great diligence exercised all their influence to get me the best doctors, best nurses, and best care takers that the hospital had to offer to insure the best outcome possible (humanly speaking). I watched them quickly put everything together with little to no difficulty because each one with whom they spoke had the utmost love and respect for them. Out of mutual love and respect with Zach and Stephanie each doctor, each nurse, and each health care specialist was more than eager to respond. They did not refer to me by name; I was “Zach’s dad!” That was all that needed to be said. They all treated me like royalty. The President of America could not have received better care. I was “Zach’s dad!” I wish I could name each and everyone but space does not allot it.

With profound admiration I watched their love and willingness to pull collectively to achieve a common purpose. This provoked thoughts and questions of just what kind of influence ought believers to have with the Lord Jesus and with the heavenly Father. James wrote: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) The word “availeth” carries the idea that the one praying has advantages or benefits with the One to Whom he is praying. The word “righteous” indicates that he is in a right state of relationship with the Son and the Father. Therefore, the one who has benefits and an advantage with Jesus is the one who has purposely given himself to develop his spiritual life to conform to the image and commands of Jesus the Christ. Under the Lordship of Christ the righteous find that he has influence with his Lord, and his Lord unhesitatingly exercises His influence with the Father. This exercise of influence comes full circle unifying the Father, the Son and the believer with a bond of love and willingness for a common purpose. The pinnacle of purpose is to bring all honor and glory to the Father in all things. Singularity of the believer is lost in the unifying.

Just what could be accomplished in the cause of Christ if every believer strived to have such a fellowship with the Lord as to gain the advantage of His influence before the heavenly Father? Would it not shake the very foundations of His churches and the world?