The Ministry of Intercession

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Andrew Murray’s classic on Intercession can be found online at

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29296/29296-h/29296-h.htm

To spur you to pray, we are going to post the day by day helps from the end of the book .  Enjoy.  Pray along.

First Day

what to pray.— The Power of the Holy Spirit

“I bow my knees unto the Father, that He would grant you that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit.”—Eph. iii. 16.

“Wait for the promise of the Father.”—Acts i. 4.

“The fuller manifestation of the grace and energy of the Blessed Spirit of God, in the removal of all that is contrary to God’s revealed will, so that we grieve not the Holy Spirit, but that He may work in mightier power in the Church, for the exaltation of Christ and the blessing of souls.”

God has one promise to and through His exalted Son; our Lord has one gift to His Church; the Church has one need; all prayer unites in the one petition—the power of the Holy Spirit. Make it your one prayer.

Finding Prayer Effective

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downloadOver the last 31 days, we have posted a series of missives penned by Andrew Murray in 1898.  Amazingly they coincide quite well with our current needs.  It seems prudent to go another 31 days.  You may have missed one, or there may be another item come to mind when you find yourself on a day.  Join with me.

This will take us into the church season of Lent, which starts on March 6th.  Maybe you will join with me on a fast.  There are several ways to fast and pray.  Here are a few.  Never take a physical fast without talking to a doctor or intimately knowing your physical condition.

  1. Abstain from a food you like.  Candy and cake and donuts and pastries.
  2. Abstain from all starches and sugars.  Potatoes, pasta, bread, sweets.
  3. Abstain from meat.  Go vegetarian.
  4. Soup fast.  Only use liquids.  This will be my chosen fast.
  5. Abstain totally one or two selected days a week.  Maybe Tuesday and Friday can be your fast days.
  6. Abstain totally from food.  I do not recommend this without a review by your doctor first.  And I do not recommend over a week long.  Some fast for five days and then eat on two and then fast again for five days.

Fasting get’s your attention.  It subjects the body to the spirit and brings us in line to God’s voice and will.

Before you fast, get a fix in your mind as to why you are fasting.  Two years ago, I fasted for a child in a threatening condition.  After six weeks on a soup fast, she was healed and is doing great.  It was a specific fast until the answer was delivered.

Maybe you want to fast for a break in career or job or finances or an addiction or a painful habit you wish to break pattern.  Maybe you are seeking God for an answer in a specific situation.

For me, I am going on a soup fast for 31 days for the team at our church to see miracles in their ministry and for a few specific items to be accomplished for others.  I expect the answers will appear before the fast is over, but it is set for a season and I will continue in it for the full 31 days.

Blessings, Pastor Phil

Healed

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Healed. Whole. Saved. Secured. Stable. Strong. Provided. Energized

Each nuance of these words impacts my heart this morning. I like them all as declarations in Jesus.

The word for salvation, the state of being saved, original Greek carries a broad meaning. Wisdom and well being body, soul, mind, will, emotions, spirit, relationships, and provisions. Sozo, the Greek word used, means it is well with all aspects of life.

Jesus spends His ministry on earth the same today as in the first century a.d. He heals the body and mind, casts out demons, preaches and teaches, prays, and mentors disciples. That is as the Bible writers reveal and that is as He is now. Once He walked bodily among us, now He walks through us into this broken, fractured, flailing world. He is the same.

Declare yourself in agreement with His word and testimony. He carried our sins and sickness no matter where they occur. He restores us in all aspects to His original design of perfect unity with Him and provision in all aspects of life. I will agree with Him totally in all my thinking and testimony. What I experience does not set my belief. His words and the testimony of His actions set my belief.

Let us pray:

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord , You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord , you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” Lord , by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
Psalms 30:2‭-‬7 NKJV

Hope Under Ice

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During winter ice, I made a long drive home. The distance is no longer. The ice and fog and tired body made it seem three times longer. Thoughts of tree damage to repair lengthen the drive. A sore hip stretched it into the uncomfortable. But the drive took no longer.

Along the way, the beauty of the ice in the trees painted peace in my heart. Acres and acres of bright, crystal, smooth ice on limbs is soothing. Beauty soothes the soul. During a parked moment on the highway due to construction, I snapped a few beauties.

Romans 15:4 tells me what is written is for building hope. This ice, this journey of faith is an inscription of the Lord on my life’s landscape for patience and comfort. He wrote it into my script for good.

How is He doing that for you? What icy moment is there to bring a work of patience and comfort and a result of hope? An illness? A job blip? A relationship struggle? A car repair? Will you allow Him ability to script hope with it?

The ice is beautiful, treacherous, and brings hope. It melts. The sun shines. Damaged trees will be trimmed. I make it home. And I am stronger for the next storm. Hope rises from the story and experience. It is written on my life. In this world we will have trouble, blip, interference, stoppage, slowdown. There is an icy beauty in each of them. There is a learning to be had. There is hope of the sun that will surely shine.

Let us pray:

Father, your will be done in my life. In my storms teach me patience. Comfort me. Assure me You are with me. Console me. Let me find a sliver of sunshine on a rainy day. Let hope rise stronger with each interference that I might shine like the Son to my world, my family, my friends, and my mirror. In the quiet parked moments, let me see Jesus. Let me see the beauty. Let my soul say, “It is well. Trek on.”

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.15.4.NKJV

Stepping Out

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Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:38 niv

A good shepherd knows a good path and takes his charges on it. Where are the good shepherds? Are you one?

The call to make disciples is for each Christian. Each is called in some measure to lead others in a good way deeper to a love in Jesus and love for others. That means in a way we all are called to shepherding.

Shepherds take the best path for the sheep not the shepherd. Right? A shepherd is all about the sheep. He does not eat the grass. But he takes the sheep to the best grass. He raises them to be great sheep. Healthy sheep. Cooperative sheep.

They are raised in a hillside or field fit for sheep. It is most uncomfortable for the shepherd. He would rather be in a house with a couch. But he walks the field for the sheep. He sits on the rock or wet grass. He endures the rain. It is about the sheep.

In Jesus, we are servants. I ask for a servant heart. I ask for others to walk alongside and serve. We serve each other. That is the picture of a healthy congregation.

The God of small miracles walked with us this week. Soup was great. Service to others was great. Joy serving was great. Painting was great. Office was great. Puppet stage building was great. Class assistance was great. All of the these servings are great. People served each other and the community. That is a congregation. That is a kingdom of servants.

Pray for each to serve in a way that grows them and others.

Father, here are your people. So many give of time, talent, and treasure. They serve. Bless them beyond measures of mankind. Encourage their hearts and lives and families. Call them into greater service and love and reward in all they do.

Reserves

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In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11 NIV

Morning Moment

Reserves in the insurance industry are the monies set aside to pay claims. A company with low reserves could be on big trouble if too many claims came at once. A company with adequate reserves is hedged against hard days. They have a future.

How are your reserves in Jesus doing?

In Jesus, we invest in reserves. Our personal devotional time, fellowship in church, Bible study, praise, and service to the local church and to others build reserves. In all of this we are depositing faith actions of life against death actions of self ideologies and the world. The world will press us. Evil will tempt us. Our natural desires will drag us. The reserves of Life in Jesus defend and build us.

Worldview is Bought

Buy a lie. Live a lie. Buy a truth. Live a truth. Simple. Reckon, count, add up, deposit in your reserves that you are alive to God and dead to sin and live a Jesus worldview. Reckon, count, subtract, extract from your reserves that you are dead to God and destined to sin and mistaken living and self rule and live a normal world view. Choose. Break the lie pattern. Buy the truth. Invest in your future.

Faith Actions

Faith actions depend on God for results while moving forward. Our actions come from the deep well of belief. Faith is active and obedient. That is why Jesus responds to a woman this way.

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:27‭-‬28 NIV

To say we believe in Christ, yet live against His wishes is a dangerous position. Do we really believe? We live what we believe. I can scratch my way into heaven through grace and forgiveness. I can live in joy and fulfillment through grace and forgiveness and faith and hope and love. Obedience emanates from a life lived in the love of Jesus. To say I love Jesus and live against His wishes is a dangerous gamble. My actions are based in death. I am counting myself dead.

Turn the Tables

Go ahead. Switch gears. Turn the tables. Put on Jesus, the Christ. Live in faith. Drop the self fulfillment cycle of destruction and doubt. Build reserves.

Let us pray:

Father, here I am. This is Your child. I have been bought with a great price. Let the words of my mouth and the testimony of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Let me forsake all others and cling only to You. Let my heart lock in and live with Your heart. Build in me solid reserves against hard days that I might find only joy and peace and fulfillment in You in this life and the next.

my people – my place – my time

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Morning Moment
In a conversation with the Father concerning futures, this verse in Haggai is relevant to me. Many versions attempt translation. Most vary in how they see it. Consider that tremendous scholars struggle with this verse. To apply a verse is to extract meaning alongside the Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Walk with me a moment into application to your future.

1. The Father is consistent and works by principles. His ways are consistent. His intentions toward us are consistent and for good.
2. There is a timing to delivery of every promise of God.
3. All the promises of God are positive in Jesus.
4. Relationship and obedience are important in accessing the full extent of a promise of the Father.

The present season will be more splendid than past glories, and in this place and time I will give my people prosperity and peace. The Lord almighty has spoken. Haggai 2:9

You will not find a version that says exactly these words. They ar e my application version. The words are spoken first literally applying to the second temple to be built in Jersusalem after years of captivity. The Father wants to give you glory in your life after captivity, pain, addiction, anger, grief and loss. It is His heart. Will you let Him? Can you believe He can give greatness to you? Even after such hardnness of life. Then walk with me.

The glory of today may differ than the glory of yesterday. Have you had greatness that you no longer see? The Father is more concerned with your heart than your actions. Greatness and goodness and glory are not measured in dollars and things but heart and influence. He wills His kingdom to come. His kingdom is not of this world. What greatness and glory does He wish to do through you? Greatness in family? Friendships? Fellowship? Faith?

As a young man, I witnessed and participated in great moves of the Holy Spirit personally and in the local churches. I still do, but differently. In my life I have been a part of building a 5000 member congregation multiculturally, seeing a city-wide move in fathering, building a mission feeding 20,000 meals a month and more. That was then. This is now. It would take the rest of my life just to tell you the miracles of the past of my life. What could be a greater glory? A stronger prosperity? A deeper peace?

Yet, He wishes to do greater, more, and exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or think. He moves to give greater presence in our present.

I have also lived through pains of rejection, misunderstandings, mistakes and messes while living in the moves. Maybe, you have had disappointments? He looks to give you greater good.

These are exciting days. Churches are failing. Families are a mess. Violence is rampant. Anger seethes. Depression prevails. In such a time, a move of the Holy Spirit will do much good. Believe for a greater glory. Believe for a deeper peace. Believe with me for a fresh prosperity of mind, heart, will, emotion, spirit, soul, body, relationships and provision.

Step into this moment of promise with me. Apply the verse to your life and family and city. For me and those joined with me in the local church, I say this:
Hope C : my people – my place – my time.

This is the people to whom I am joined in Jesus. Some are online and some are onsite. It is something new. Join a people that is a church.
This is the place He is happening for me. Take your place. Quit looking fir somewhere else. Enjoy this place and change it to look like His kingdom.
This is the moment, the hour, the time of His action and appearing in my life. Seize it.

What about you?

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New Endings

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Morning Moment
This is not a cabin day, but I love my cabin days. The smoke of the chiminea and fresh air along with birds of all colors and sizes stimulate me. My listening opens. The Holy Spirit gets through my cloud.
Today is a clear day; however. I hear His voice quite succinctly. He says, “Seek and you will find. Set a fresh course. Begin a new end.”
Opportunity to begin a new end shouts at us every day. Do you hear it?
Write out the positive proposition of your new end. Who do you propose to be? What will you give up? What will you take up? Who will be on the journey with you?
What loose ends need closure? Have you done a fearless moral inventory lately to breakaway from wrong directions and resolve pains you have given to others?

Let’s Pray
Father, thanks. You have done marvelous works with me. My portion in life is a great one. All You have done for me is good. Cause my mistakes to have crop failure. Let the bad seeds rot in the ground and the good ones flourish.

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Stand

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​The fire of life is a consuming agent meant to cleanse and strengthen.  It sure does not feel like it when you are in it. 
Oh, trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce, Or a trouble is what you make it. And it isn’t the fact that you’re hurt that counts, But only how did you take it.  Edmund Vance Cooke
A good friend and mentor reminded me this morning that when God is prepping us for good things, the enemy launches defensive attack to stop us.  Jesus knew this in the garden and prayed for us. In  my struggle to stay on top of issues instead of buried by them, I needed that loving reminder.  Maybe it can encourage you also.
When Jesus prayed for us in His last recorded prayer before his execution on the cross, He prayed ‘a full measure of joy’ along with a commission to live in this world “as it is not as we would have it” (Serenity Prayer – Niehbur).
He let us know that the systems of the world will hate us.  How true is that today? Education, government, politics, arts, even benevolence would like to crush the heart of a believer in Christ.  Even knowing that it is only the presence of that heart of genuine compassion birthed in Christ that is the eternal engine of dignity and hope in the very world that rejects Him. 
It is the heart of real Christianity that sees there is neither male nor female nor black nor white nor EU nor USA in God’s family.  There are just people for whom He died and lives and unites.  It is the real heart of Christians that treats all with dignity even in disagreement.  And it is that heart that is hated because it convicts and convinces of mistaken living and imperfect obdience.
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by  the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17:13‭-‬19 NIV
When you read this prayer, pray it over yourself and your leaders.  Pray in agreement with Jesus.
Father, I agree with Christ as He stands in front of You on my behalf right now. Fill us with the full measure of His joy  that is unspeakable and full of glory.  The joy that shines bright in the middle of a lost and distorted generation filled with violence and greed and self fulfillment.

Your word is a lamp to us, a light to our path in the dark.  We are hated for living Your word and heart. Days can be cold.  Never let our hearts get cold to reach out with hope and life in Jesus. No matter the rejection, the lack of gratefulness or persecution, never let us be bitter or cold.

We are not of the world any more than Jesus is  of the world.  My prayer is not that you take us out of the world but that you protect us from the evil one.  Sanctify us by  the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent Jesus into the world, you have sent us into the world. We accept and acknowledge our selection and calling as hard as it may be. For us Jesus sanctified Himself, that we too may be truly sanctified, equipped, and set out for this special task each and every day.
Stand strong, a generation separated from God needs you. You are loved and appreciated in the highest court of heaven by the King of the Universe.