Tag: prayer

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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.

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Divine Call for Intercessors

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 8/8/2023 | 7:00 PM

A harvest of souls and spiritual renewal (revival), has always been preceded by, and maintained through, intercessory prayer.[1]

Once the wheels of intercession are set in motion, cause and effect drive that assembly into a season of reaping and multiplication.

There has never been an accidental revival, or an unintentional renewal.

All growth in a Church follows four principles:

  1. Prayer
  2. Preaching
  3. Praise
  4. Personal Evangelism

Tonight, I want to cover that first principle, PRAYER, and specifically The Divine Call for Intercessors in this hour.

1 Kings 18:41-46 

(41)  And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.  (42)  So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,  (43)  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.  (44)  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.  (45)  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.  (46)  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

James 5:17-18

(17)  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18)  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 

(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.

Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Intercession is one of the most needed ministries of the last days.

The Church will reach its full level of harvesting power when the intercessors stand in the gap.

Intercessory prayer occurs when we are in perfect agreement and alignment with God, because God is praying through the intercessor.

It is not you praying, but God. You are the channel, conduit, tributary God flows through.

All He requires is that He finds a willing and available vessel.

A Divine Call for Intercessors

Romans 8:26-27 

(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.

  • 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.”[2]
    • A.D. Urshan to Anthony Mangun: “Hold your belly and groan.”

Those who answer the Divine Call have crucified themselves with Christ:

Galatians 2:20, “(20)  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:22-25, “(22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24)  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Notice three things (F.J. Ellis):

  1. It took a crucified body to save and redeem man.
  2. It took a crucified body to reveal God’s resurrection power.
  3. It will take a crucified body (the Church) to consistently pray to the Lord of the harvest.

Prayer is the passionate hope of Jesus.

It was his prayer request to us.

He did not seek for musicians, big buildings, or new programs (those all have their place); But, Jesus simply had one request, “Pray.”

This glimpse in the heart of Jesus Christ heart reveals to us the answer to the need and dilemma of our day.

He is calling you to pray

Matthew 6:5-13

(5)  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  • Not “if,” but “when.”
  • Not for show or vainglory

(6)  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

  • The true intercessor who responds to the Divine Call will pray in private.

(7)  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

(8)  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

  • We are not to simply repeat this prayer verbatim, but it is a guide to us of to pray.
  • When we simply repeat “The Lord’s Prayer” we run the risk of devolving our time of intercession to vain repetition.

(9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(11)  Give us this day our daily bread.

(12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

(13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Do you want to align yourself with the will and purpose of God?

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

1 Timothy 2:1-4, “(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.

  • “…first of all…prayers…”
  • “Who will have all men to be saved…”
  • Truth is essential, but prayer is the means by which Heaven is made accessible to mankind

2 Chronicles 7:1

(1)  Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

  • Prayer brought the fire of God.
  • It it was not until Solomon prayed that the fire fell.

2 Chronicles 7:14

(14)  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

  • God is divinely committed to the prayer of His people.
  • His eyes and ears are open to their call (prayer):
    • “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalms 34:15-18).

What happens in intercession?

Intercession is a divine burden that drives you to seek the will of God and pray until the answer comes, or there is a release in the Holy Ghost.

Back to our text:[3] 1 Kings 18:41-46

  • Verse 41 – Elijah heard the voice of God and prophetically spoke the will of God.
  • Verse 42 – The prophet then got on his face alone before God on top of Carmel. Because he knew the will of God, he went to prayer and would not quit praying until it came to pass.
  • Verse 43 – He sent his servant to look toward the sea. He saw nothing. The reality of the invisible did not stop Elijah. He not only kept praying, but also told his servant to go again seven times….until it happens.
    • First he saw a little cloud like a man’s hand
    • Then came a great rain.
    • James 5:16-18, “(16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  (17)  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  (18)  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Don’t be surprised when the level of spiritual warfare you face increases as you answer The Divine Call to Intercede:

Matthew 4:1-11

Mark 1:12-13, “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”

[1] Primary Source: F. J. Ellis. Intercession-Key of Spiritual Warfare. (n.d.)

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

[3] F.J. Ellis

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Weapon of Prayer – E. M. Bounds

E. M. Bounds on the necessity of constant prayer, from his book The Weapon of Prayer:

GOD’S great plan for the redemption of mankind is as much bound up to prayer for its prosperity and success as when the decree creating the movement was issued from the Father, bearing on its frontage the imperative, universal and eternal condition, “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession.” In many places an alarming state of things has come to pass, in that the many who are enrolled in our churches are not praying men and women. Many of those occupying prominent positions in church life are not praying men. It is greatly to feared that much of the work of the Church is being done by those who are perfect strangers to the closet. Small wonder that the work does not succeed. While it may be true that many in the Church say prayers, it is equally true that their praying is of the stereotyped order. Their prayers may be charged with sentiment, but they are tame, timid, and without fire or force. Even this sort of praying is done by a few straggling men to be found at prayer-meetings. Those whose names are to be found bulking large in our great Church assemblies are not men noted for their praying habits. Yet the entire fabric of the work in which they are engaged has, perforce, to depend on the adequacy of prayer. This fact is similar to the crisis which would be created were a country to have to admit in the face of an invading foe that it cannot fight and have no knowledge of the weapons whereby war is to be waged. In all God’s plans for human redemption, He proposes that men pray. The men are to pray in every place, in the church, in the closet, in the home, on sacred days and on secular days. All things and everything are dependent on the measure of men’s praying. Prayer is the genius and mainspring of life. We pray as we live; we live as we pray. Life will never be finer than the quality of the closet. The mercury of life will rise only by the warmth of the closet. Persistent non-praying eventually will depress life below zero.

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Consider this...

Redeeming the Time

Ephesians 5:15-16, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

It is healthy for a soul to want to do more for God and to be in a perpetual state of personal improvement and spiritual maturity.  There are 168 hours in a week, and if you tithe your time to God as you do your monetary increase then that leaves you with nearly 17 hours a week that you can dedicate solely to God.

Assuming you are faithful in your church attendance, an average service is 2 hours, then you have 11 hours left to invest in your relationship with God in a week, and the real question becomes: “What do you do with these 11 hours of great Spiritual potential?”  Consider these suggestions:

1.      Pray.  You don’t have to start out praying an hour a day, but whatever time you invest in prayer will bring results.  Prayer is essential to growing in the Lord.  Learn to intercede, but don’t let intercession overwhelm you and rob you of joy.

2.      Read.  Read the Word of God.  Some people spend so much time studying and chasing down rabbit tracks in the Bible that they fail to simply read the Bible.  Pray, clear your mind, then read.  Let His written Word be as food to your spirit and absorb it. Remember: The greatest and final source of self-examination is the Word of God.

3.      Study.  This is the time to follow those rabbit trails. This is the time to look into the deeper meaning of the Scriptures. This is the time to search the Scriptures.

4.      Listen.  Invest time in active listening.  Many people talk to God in prayer, but ignore the richest half of prayer time — listening to what Jesus is saying to them.  He hears your prayer, but do you hear His?  Prayer is dialogue, not monologue.

5.      Fast.  You want to draw closer to God? Fast one day a week, one meal a day, or three days (typically, 3 days is what it takes to crucify the flesh). You can also fast by setting aside time spent on things that you enjoy (other than food), like the Internet, movies, Starbucks, chocolate, etc.

6.      Praise.  There needs to be some time in your week, or day, where you loudly and demonstratively praise God.  Dance before Him in secret prayer; sing in the Holy Ghost loudly as you’re sweeping the carpet; let tears of praise flow. We praise God for what He’s done. Shout! Clap! Jump! Sing! Extol!

7.     Worship.  Worship is different than praise.  Study the difference and then apply it to your life.  We worship God for who He is. Lie prostrate before God.

8.      Obey.  Whatever God tells you to do in His Word, in prayer, or by His messengers (Pastor, preachers, teachers…) do!  Remember: God will never ask/tell you to do something that violates His written Word.
Of course, there will be days when you feel like you’ve been with God all day, and others when He seems to be unavailable, but every day is full of potential investment opportunities in your relationship with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as you tithe your time to Him.

Original post on 9 March 2011 on https://thepillarandgroundoftruth.blogspot.com/2011/03/tithing-your-time.html