Ronnie W. Rogers - If Only You Would Ask: Praying Gods Conditional Promises

Praying Gods Conditional Promises

Ronnie W. Rogers

Foreword by Mark H. Ballard

I t was a Sunday morning in 2011 , nearly two years after I resigned from serving as the Senior Pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Londonderry, NH. Cindy and I had stepped out in faith and obedience to the Lord's call to launch a Baptist College in New England. While Cindy helped our son, Benjamin, get ready to go to church on my last day as the pastor, I added up the money in my savings account, my checking account, and all the money in my pocket. The total came to forty-seven dollars. Of course, we also had enough food in the refrigerator and cabinets to last a little more than a week and a tank full of gas in the truck. There was no promise of ever receiving a paycheck again, but we had the assurance that our Lord would never call us to do something and then let us starve. So, trusting in his provision, we simply made our requests known unto him. Day after day, our amazing Lord faithfully provided.

For nearly two years, we watched as the Lord repeatedly came through time after time. Sometimes he would move on someone's heart to fill the gas tank of our truck. Sometimes we would open the door to the truck and find a couple of bags of groceries. Occasionally someone would hand me some cash and say, This money is not for the college, but for you, Cindy, and Ben. Other times it was a gift card, or someone would take us out to dinner. No matter how the Lord provided day by day, it was always clear that it came from the Father's hand. Like David, we learned to say, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Ps :, KJV). We would pray, asking the Lord to provide, and he did! It was an amazing journey.

Yet, on this particular Sunday in 2011 , it seemed as though the provision had come to an end. I had an assignment to preach at Exeter Community Church in Exeter, NH. We lived fifty-six miles away in Allenstown, NH. I had no money. Our vehicle got twelve to fifteen miles to the gallon, and the gas tank had less than one gallon in it.

All evening on Friday and all day on Saturday, I expected that at any moment, the Lord would send someone by the house to give us some money. This would allow me to put gas in the tank and keep my preaching appointment on Sunday. No one came by Friday evening. We stayed home all day Saturday, waiting on the Lord to provide the gas needed the following day. When we went to bed on Saturday night, we were still waiting. Nothing came.

I looked up at the clock, and it was time to leave for Exeter. I thought, if there was some way I could drive the fifty-six miles, maybe someone at the church would give me enough cash to gas up and get home. I knew there was no way to go fifty-six miles when the gas I had would not even get me ten miles down the road. The moment of truth had arrived. Did I really believe that I could pray, asking God to get us to Exeter and that he would respond to my prayer? Or, should I call the pastor, apologize, and stay home? If I did go, should I take Cindy and Ben? What if we ran out on the way, and I had to walk for help? Maybe I should have them stay home.

Walking out to the car, I half expected someone to show up and provide the money. No one came. Cindy, Ben, and I got into the truck. I turned the key, and the motor fired up. I didn't tell Cindy that we could not go more than ten miles on the gas we had. There was no reason for both of us to worry. Then it dawned on me I shouldn't worry either. So, I prayed silently. Father, you gave me this preaching assignment, for which I am grateful. However, you and I both know that I don't even have enough gas to get three-fifths of the way to Exeter. Lord, you promised to meet our needs. Please do something to get us to Exeter. Help me to trust you and just drive.

I pulled out of the driveway and started down the road. We passed the mile mark, then the five-mile mark. Soon, we passed ten miles. I expected the motor to die at any moment. I began to worry. I returned to silent prayer. Lord, you caused the widow's oil and flour to never run out when she provided a meal for Elijah. Surely, you can cause me not to run out of gas. Please get us to Exeter. Soon we crossed the fifteen-mile mark. Before long, twenty miles had gone by, then thirty, then forty. As we neared the church, I began to believe that we would make it. Soon we turned into the parking lot where the church met.

I dropped Cindy off at the front door and parked in the back of the lot. After shutting off the key, I paused to thank Jesus for doing what was impossible. I then said, You did an amazing thing to get us here. Now, please let the church give me a stipend for preaching and cause them to give it in cash, lead someone to give me cash, or offer to fill my gas tank. With that settled, Ben and I walked to the front of the building and entered just in time for the service to begin.

After a wonderful time of singing, prayer, and Scripture reading, the pastor introduced me to share a report about the progress toward launching Northeastern Baptist College, scheduled to open in 2013 . After a brief update, I led the congregation in prayer and then preached the morning message. Following the worship service, the pastor told us that the church had prepared a meal to share with us. We ate, fellowshipped, and answered additional questions about launching the college in 2013 . Soon, everyone began to leave, but no one gave me a cash gift, and no one offered to fill the gas tank.

We made our way out to the truck, and just as I was getting in, the pastor came out to the parking lot waving at me. As he stepped to the driver's side window, he handed me an envelope. My heart leaped as I anticipated the Lord had answered my prayers. We visited a moment, and he turned to leave. I reached into my pocket, where I had put the envelope. As I opened it, I could see there was no cash. Instead, there was a check for fifty dollars. There was no place I could cash this check on a Sunday. I bowed my head again and asked the Lord to provide a way for me to get home. I turned the key, and to my amazement, the truck started. I pulled up to the door, picked up Cindy, and started home.