Tag: daily living

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Determined to Meet the Challenge

Text: Hebrews 11:32-12:2

(32)  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33)  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34)  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35)  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36)  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38)  (Of whom the world was not worthy🙂 they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39)  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (12:1)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I got called out, to a street fight when I was 15 years old.

Two brothers and their cousin took offense at my breaking up their three way fight and they turned on me and challenged me to take on all three – at the same time.

Being less cautious than I should have been, I accepted, because I knew my best friend, Tony Huff, would stand with me.

On that fateful day, Tony and I met the trio of trouble at a road construction site about two blocks from my home.

We were Determined to Meet the Challenge.

We were not necessarily equipped to meet the challenge, but we were determined.

I don’t think I’ll forget the moment when we were through talking and about to square off, 2 against 3, my fists raised, my adrenaline pumping and my best friend beside me…

When all the sudden I heard running feet coming down the alley.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a wave of brown hair and a flash of blue denim skirt and a voice saying, “Stephen Eugene Kuntzman, Anthony Douglas Huff, you come here right now.”

Too our everlasting embarrassment, Momma had heard about the rumble and she was there to stop it.

But we were determined.

That youthful rumble ended in embarrassment, but it taught me a lesson about determination.

Life eventually brings real battles where “Momma” cannot step in to save you and in those challenging moments, you can look to a much greater cloud of witnesses who stood their ground.

Determined to Meet the Challenge

Life is full of challenges, struggles, trials, tough decisions, unpleasant conversations, disappointments, losses,

And even when you have done everything correctly to meet those challenges head-on there is no promise that you’ll succeed in the moment.

In faith you come to the battle, but you are not guaranteed the outcome you believed for, hoped in, dreamed about, and prayed over will come to pass.

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.[1]

And we know we can do all things through Christ because He is the source of our strength.[2]

And we understand that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.[3]

But what do you do when ALL YOU HAVE BELIEVED FOR CRUMBLES BEFORE YOUR EYES?

Are you determined to meet the challenge?

It’s 1968, the Olympics are being hosted in Mexico City, and John Stephen Akhwari, a runner from Tanzania, cements his Olympic legacy not by winning, but by finishing last. Despite falling, injuring his knee and shoulder, and suffering from altitude cramps, he kept meeting the challenge. By the time he entered the stadium, the sun had set, the medal ceremony was over, and a small crowd remained. 75 started the race, but only 57 finished, and that final competitor to cross the line was Akhwari. Battered, bruised, injured and bandaged he was asked why he didn’t just quit. He replied, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish it.”[4]

He was Determined to Meet the Challenge.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy, his son in the Gospel: “(2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  (5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  (6)  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”[5]

The challenges of life and leadership are not easy,

But after 43 years, Bishop Moore and First Lady Moore have proven their determination, their grit, strength of character, and faith in God.

You are surrounded by their witness of faith.

God chose this man and woman to represent Him to you and to this city.

Moreover, God has been using them to teach, train, mold, edify, and love you so that you can do the work of the ministry.

And at the same time, He has filled their lives with challenges that reveal His hand and purpose in their life.

But, as Søren Kierkegaard wrote: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

When God Wants to Drill a Man[6]

By: Angela Morgan[7]

When God wants to drill a manWatch His methods, watch His ways!And he lifts beseeching hands!
And thrill a manHow He ruthlessly perfectsHow He bends but never breaks
And skill a man,  Whom He royally elects!When his good He undertakes;
When God wants to mold a manHow He hammers him and hurts him,How He uses whom He chooses
To play the noblest part;  And with mighty blows converts himAnd with every purpose fuses him;
When He yearns with all His heartInto trial shapes of clay whichBy every act induces him  
To create so great and bold a manOnly God understands;  To try His splendour out–  
That all the world shall be amazed,While his tortured heart is cryingGod knows what He’s about!

We’ve all been there, haven’t we?

We have all experienced God ruthlessly perfecting, hammering, and chiseling, and smoothing our rough edges as He molds us for a noble purpose.

We have all asked Jesus, “Why?”

And He is often silent, but you can count on this – God knows what He’s about!

“..weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”[8]

When your faith is challenged, questioned, ATTACKED, or injured, you will face a moment of choice between meeting the challenge or stepping aside.

And if you have determined to meet the challenge, you will often face the same choice again and again and again.

The challenge is bigger than you are, it is more important than you can sometimes grasp. It is eternal in scope:

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”[9]

That’s faith! The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.[10]

And without it, without FAITH, it’s impossible to please God.[11]

Do you know how I know that this Man of God and His wife have pleased God?

They are still here. They haven’t quit. They’ve kept the faith.

They decided a long time ago that they were determined to meet the challenge.

It no longer matters what the challenge is, after 43 years they have dealt with all kinds of challenges from the pew, from the pulpit, from the world, and from the enemy:

  • Moral Bankruptcy
  • Spiritual Apathy
  • Physical Sickness
  • Social Injustice
  • Financial Challenges
  • Demonic Influence
  • Mental Instability
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Death

Life has thrown every obstacle in their pastoral path, but they are still standing, still determined, still standing in the gap for you.

Most of you have taken their example and followed suit, but some ran when challenges arrived.

The trying of your faith revealed a weakness, a brokenness that you can’t seem to get over.

You have been beating yourself up for so long that you don’t even know how you made it here today.

You are not as lost as you think.

Jesus is searching for you even in your cloudy and dark day:  (11)  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (12)  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (16)  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.[12]

The Lord God is not resisting, rejecting or denying you…He is searching for even one lost, broken, scattered sheep.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.”[13]

Paul and James wrote about enduring the persecutions, hardness and afflictions that challenge all believers and ministers of the Gospel.

They could only write about such things because they had experienced them.

Is it possible that they were determined to meet the challenge, but sometimes, like Peter on the night of our Lord’s crucifixion found themselves not as strong as they professed?

Did mercy come to them and now their voices of grace and experience encourages us to stand tall, firm, resolute?

Now, to our text: Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The cloud of witnesses – our heroes of Hebrews, our elders, your Bishop and First Lady are looking towards you today.

They surround you, they compass you, watching to see if you can lay aside that which has hindered you.

Can you receive the baton of determination, faith, and endurance?

Will you run with patience the race set before you?

Are you Determined to Meet the Challenge?

Look to Jesus: “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

Jesus demonstrated determination by deliberately marching toward Jerusalem. He knew that betrayal, torture, and crucifixion were waiting for Him.

He was determined to face the agony of the cross and to bear your sins on it.

He refused fear, even when facing intense physical and spiritual pain. Jesus looked past the temporal and focused on the ultimate eternal victory.

He disregarded the humiliation and pushed through the suffering for the sake of the final goal:

“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”[14]

That joy was you.

Conclusion:

We are surrounded by a massive cloud of witnesses—from the heroes of Hebrews to 43 years of pastoral grit.

Jesus did not stop at Gethsemane,

Akhwari did not stop on the marathon track,

Bishop Moore and Lady Moore have not stopped through 43 years of challenges.

Lay aside the weights that hold you down and turn away from your sins.

Stop beating yourself up over past falls and failures.

Jesus is here binding your wounds today.

Stand up, square your shoulders, and be

Determined to Meet the Challenge.

[1] Good News Bible.

[2] Philippians 4:13

[3] Romans 8:28

[4] Source: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/marathon-man-akhwari-demonstrates-superhuman-spirit

[5] 2 Timothy 4:1-8 

[6] https://marbaniang.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/origin-of-the-poem-when-god-wants-to-drill-a-man/

[7] Believed to be an anonymously “Christianized” form of her 1918 poem When Nature Wants a Man.

[8] Ps. 30:5

[9] 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

[10] Hebrews 11:1

[11] Hebrews 11:6

[12] Ezekiel 34:11-12, 16

[13] Proverbs 24:16

[14] Hebrews 12:2

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Bible Preaching

The City of Light

Text: Matthew 5:13-16, “(13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The City of Light

We are an elevated city.
The Mount of Beatitudes rises from the Sea of Galilee not far from
Capernaum.
Jesus likely pointed out across the water city on top of a hill there.

Quesnall wrote, “The Christian life is something very high and sublime, to which we cannot arrive without pains: while it withdraws us from the earth, and carries us nearer heaven, it places us in view, and as a mark, to the malice of carnal men.”
We rise as an example to a world looking for something real to follow.
Jesus said, “If I be lifted up…”
“I am the Light of the world…”

You are the temple of the Holy Ghost
When we are together we become a city of light for the whole world to see.
Diffusing to the world the Light of Jesus Christ.

Apostolic Life Cathedral is the City of Light

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Chosen Struggle

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Bible Teaching

Look for the Rainbow

Stephen Kuntzman | 9/21/2025 | 10am

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Bible Teaching

When Roots Spring Up – Harold Hoffman

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Bible Teaching

The Cure for the Common Cold

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 10/27/2024 | 10:00 AM

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Bible Teaching

Faith’s Report

Text: Hebrews 10:35-11:2

“(35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  (36)  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  (37)  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  (38)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  (39)  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.” 

 There is a repayment of the faith invested in the things of God.

 Patience is faith waiting in the hallway of the hospital to hear the good report that the promised child has been born.

 A great amount of faith is tested in the waiting room of life. A promise is given and now we watch and pray, but that is sometimes a mistake.  

 You see, while we wait for the promise to come, we are also preparing our home and ourselves for the due date.

 This is why Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, and Amazon sell so much baby items. 

 People are not just waiting around twiddling their thumbs: 

• They are painting the nursery room either blue or pink – male or female

• They are shopping for rockers, baby beds, basinets, diaper bags, bottles, car seats, etc.

• They are deciding if they should breast feed the promise, or feed it a bottle

• They are worrying about cost and hoping two nickels can somehow make 50 cents.

• But, most importantly, they are preparing for the day when the promise arrives.

 It time to make a plan for arrival time. 

Faith’s Report is that everyone who lives by faith will receive a good report.

 Good Report = “to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): – charge, give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.”

 The just who live by faith overcome the accuser by: 

Revelation 12:10-11, “(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

There is much power in faith. In fact, faith is involved in our justification:

Romans 5:1-2, “(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Peace with God starts with faith in God.

Jeff Arnold said, “Faith is focus on God, fear is focus on your problems.”

Faith’s Report is the the obtaining of a good report through trust in God’s promise that propels an action on our part…an active faith. If observed from that point-of-view, trust can be seen as a step beyond faith.

 Hebrews 11:39-12:2, “(39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (12:1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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Bible Teaching

Lunch Time

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/11/2024 | 10:00 AM
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Bible Teaching

The Missed Ministry

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/20/24 | 7:00 PM

Isaiah 6:1-8

(1)  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4)  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5)  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (6)  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7)  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (8)  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

The Missed Ministry

Romans 8:26-28

(26)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

(27)  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

(28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  • The Holy Spirit’s Intercession means God is present with us for the purpose of aiding and directing us as an advocate does in a courtroom. The Spirit is willing to intercede for anyone, or to aid or assist in any manner.
  • He often uses your prayer of intercession to help someone else. Sometimes you know who and what, other times you don’t
  • “…According to the will of God…”
  • The Spirit is given according to His will, and the purpose of God’s will is to grant His aid to all who truly love Him.
  • The desires which He puts in your heart  while praying are those which are according to His will – what God wishes to exist.
  • Because you are praying His will then He will also guard you in those prayers.
  • This doesn’t mean that you are infallible, or never make an improper petition, never have a selfish desire, or that your motives are always pure; but the Holy Ghost has a general superintendence over your mind, and as long as you yield yourself to His direction then you will not be led into error.
  • You are most safe when you yield yourself completely to the influence of the Holy Spirit.[1]

1 Timothy 2:1-6

(1)  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

(2)  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

(3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

(4)  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

(5)  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

(6)  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

  • Just as Jesus is the ultimate model of intercession, we are to follow that level of sacrificial intercession – He gave Himself a ransom (the redemption price for the captive).[2]

Uncle Mark’s notes: Man’s Intercession[3]

WHAT IS INTERCESSION?

  • The Spirit maketh intercession. The Holy Spirit of God.
  • Intercession = “interceded in behalf of,” to  make petition, plead with
  • It is the will and mind of God being revealed.
  • With groanings = too deep for words. It is travail of the Spirit of God.
    • “To sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly…“grief, groan, grudge, sigh.”[4]
    • A.D. Urshan to Anthony Mangun: “Hold your belly and groan.”

DEFINITION OF AN INTERCESSOR: “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him” (Isaiah 59:16).

An intercessor is one who stands and prays for someone else by lifting them up and carrying their burden.

 Isaiah 63:5, “And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold.”

HOW TO SPOT if you are an INTERCESSOR:

  • You PRAY LONG and OFTEN.
  • You SEE PRAYER AS A HIGHER PRIORITY.
  • You are quick to pray for others.
  • You RARELY MISS A PRAYER MEETING.
  • You DERIVE THE GREATEST FULFILLMENT FROM PRAYING.
  • You ARE SENSITIVE TO THE TRAUMAS AND MORAL DECAY IN SOCIETY AND CONSIDER PRAYER TO BE A PRIMARY ANSWER.
  • You are ANOINTED WHEN you PRAY ALOUD.
  • You CARRY GOD’S BURDEN AND EXPERIENCE TRAVAIL.
  • You DEVELOP PRAYER STRATEGIES, ORGANIZING PRAYER.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS “THE MISSED MINISTRY”

A DIVERSE MINISTRY

GOD’S ANOINTING WILL DIFFER FROM INTERCESSOR TO INTERCESSOR, AS WILL THEIR METHODS OF PRAYING:

  • SOME PRAY THROUGH LISTS.
  • OTHERS FIND LISTS TOO RESTRICTIVE.
  • SOME PRAY PROPHETICALLY, THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE SPIRIT.
    • ONCE IN THEIR PRAYER CLOSET, THEY JUST PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, THEN LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DRIVE.
  • SOME PRAY FOR PASTORS, CHURCH LEADERS, GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, ETC.
  • SOME PRAY FOR CRISIS – AS GOD ASSIGNS THEM
  • SOME FOCUS ON LOST SOULS.

INTERCESSION IS NOT GENDER BASED.

HOWEVER, THE INTERCESSOR’S GENDER, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, TALENTS, NATURAL INTERESTS, AND ASSIGNMENTS FROM THE LORD WILL SHAPE THEIR INTERCESSORY STYLE.

THE HIDDEN MINISTRY

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO UNDERSTAND PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS A MINISTRY THAT USUALY OCCURS IN THE CLOSET (IN SECRET).

TRUE INTERCESSORS ARE CONTENT TO REMAIN NAMELESS, FACELESS SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH.

INTERCESSORS KNOW THEY CAN REACH HIGHER FROM THEIR KNEES THAN FROM A STANDING POSITION.

THEY SHUN THE LIMELIGHT AND HAVE NO INTEREST IN ACCLAIM.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE LORD WHO HEARS THEM IN SECRET WILL REWARD THEM OPENLY.

Would you rather be known of God, or known of Man?

A POWERFUL MINISTRY

GOD HAS CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO HIS PRAYING PEOPLE.

HE MOVES IN ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYER.

HE ANSWERS PRAYING PEOPLE.

GOD IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POWERFUL DIVINE INTERVENTION AS HE ACTIVATES THE GREATEST PRAYER MOVEMENT THE TRI-STATE HAS EVER KNOWN.

A SELFLESS MINISTRY WHO WILL SPEND LESS TIME PRAYING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR NEEDS, FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

A LIFESTYLE OF CONTINUAL “SPIRITUAL PREGNANCY”

PREGNANT WITH A BURDEN TO SEE THE GREAT COMMISSION FULFILLED.

Rachel to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die.”

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalms 126:5-6).

TODAY, GOD IS RECRUITING AN ARMY OF INTERCESSORS  

ALL OF US HAVE BEEN DRAFTED.

IT’S TIME WE REPORTED FOR DUTY!

LET PRAYER BECOMES AS MUCH A PART OF YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AS BREATHING IS TO YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE.

YOU MUST FIND YOUR RHYTHM IN PRAYER.

YOUR PERSONALITY, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WILL DETERMINE IT.

PRAYERS CAN BE WRITTEN, SPOKEN, SILENT.

TRY TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

Paul’s description of ceaseless prayer:

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-25).

Apostolic Life Cathedral is now to the point where we need intercessors to say with Isaiah of old, “Here am I; send me.”

THE HIDDEN MINISTRY

You’re Going to Miss Me When I’m Gone

Back in the late 1980’s, my uncle, Mark Kuntzman, was living in Moore, OK. He shared with me a story that told to him by his pastor when he lived there, and this is recollection of the story his pastor told him:

For 7 years the Church I was pastoring had been in a season of unprecedented growth and revival. I had not changed anything in my approach to pastoring, or leadership, but everything we did flourished and bloomed. It was as if we were sitting under an open heaven and God’s blessings and His favor fell on our Church. The saints were in unity, converts were being added to the church nearly every week, and we were positively impacting our community.

One day I was called to the bedside of a beloved elder saint who was about to make his journey to be with our Savior. After we had spoken and prayed, I stood to shake his hand and say, “goodbye,” but he held tightly onto my hand, looked me steadily in the eyes and said, “Pastor, you’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” I said to him, “I know that, brother,” but he shook his head and simply said to me one more time, “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.”

Well, that saint of God passed shortly after, and we held his home going service, he went to be with Jesus, and life went on.

6 months later it seemed as if my legs were cut out from under me. There was division in the church, services were dry, attendance was low, conversions were at a standstill, finances were scarce, and I was losing patience in the struggle. So, one Sunday, to my shame, I got up in the pulpit and took my aggravation out on those sweet saints of the Church, and I felt good about it.

When that Sunday service was over, the widow of the beloved elder came to me and asked to speak privately with my wife and I. So, we went to my office, and as I turned to hear what she wanted to say she asked, “Pastor, do you remember my husband’s last words to you before he died.” I answered, “Yes, he told that I would miss him when he was gone.”

She agreed and then said, “I’m going to tell you why he said that. When my husband retired from his career he was praying one day and told the Lord that he wanted his retirement years to be spent doing something productive for Jesus and for his pastor and his church. So, every day, Monday through Friday, my husband would rise up and get dressed, drink his coffee and eat his breakfast, then he’d walk to his favorite chair, sit down and pray for you, for our Church, and for our community. At noon, my husband would take a lunchbreak and sometimes a short nap, but by 1:30, or 2:00, he would go back sit down in his favorite chair and pray until 5:00 PM for you, our church and our community. He did that every week for seven years until he died.”

Then she said to me with tears on her cheeks, “Pastor, that’s what he meant when he held onto your hand, looked you in the eyes, and said, ‘You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.’”

What is the missed ministry? Intercessory Prayer, The Ministry of Intercession, Intercessors.

Come on, Intercessors! Apostolic Life Cathedral needs you: elder, student, hyphen, man, woman, boy, girl, etc.

[1] Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible.  Romans 8:27. paraphrased

[2] Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. 1 Timothy 2:6. Paraphrased.

[3] Mark F. Kuntzman. Man’s Intercession. Nov. 13, 2007.

[4] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. G4726 & G4727.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Standing Tall On Your Knees

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/21/2024 | 10 am

Daniel 6:1-28
(1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
(2)  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
(3)  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4)  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5)  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
(6)  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
(7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8)  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(9)  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
(10)  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
(11)  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
(12)  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(13)  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
(14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15)  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
(16)  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(17)  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
(18)  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
(19)  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
(20)  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
(21)  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
(22)  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
(23)  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
(24)  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(25)  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
(26)  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(27)  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28)  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.