Friday, 22 September 2017
The Recruiting of an Intercessor
One of the scriptures that touched my heart compelling me to pray for others is the following. The chapter reads much like today's news - tragedy, crime, death, corruption... it is the story of a people who are far from God and who do not live well. In the midst of a perverse society,
God's desire is to try to find somebody who will help. God desired somebody who would stand in the gap - somebody who would pray and intervene for the society. He could not find someone. That is like a tug at my heart. God was reaching towards us to restore relationship even though we deserve judgement; He offers mercy but can find no person who will connect with Him in prayer.
Ezekiel 22: 30 I sought for a man among them who would build up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
Pray - It is so easy to say but sometimes we don't do it because we may believe we must be in a special chair or devote so much effort towards it. The truth is that even a quick prayer can change a situation. I was totally affected by Frank Peretti's books. Although they were fiction, they helped me to visualize angels going to God and coming from God intersecting human lives to protect us, keep us, and to answer prayer. They literally battle the enemies of God and man.
Many Christians know it is true but in our daily life become absorbed in the daily routines and duties etc.
Only believers can pray with faith. Whatever is not of faith is sin. Prayer with faith is a connection that brings results. James 5: 16 Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.
Prayer with faith brings changes in the spiritual realm that releases blessings in the physical realm.
Reasons to pray: pray for someone to come to know Christ.
Pray for someone to receive healing.
Pray for someone to receive a miracle.
Pray for a release of finances.
I highly recommend you devote part of each day to prayer but even if it is a short, quick prayer, please pray Christian. Your prayer can mean the difference between an angel being released to help someone or nothing changing.
Isaiah 6: 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Then I said, “Here am I. Send me.”
I am using the scripture that also compels me - God is seeking for one to share the gospel, one to pray, one to impact the generation. You could be that one. Commit to Him a simple prayer.
Holy Spirit, use me to pray in my day, throughout my day. Releases angels as I pray. Use me in intercessory prayer. Amen.
Saturday, 25 February 2017
The Gospel of Salvation
Matthew 14: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
John 4: 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen! I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit that leads to eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this is the saying true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap a crop for which you did not labor. And you have benefited from their labor.”
One of the last commandments of Jesus was for his disciples (his church) to preach the gospel to every person on the planet. There have been obedient servants for about 2, 000 years sharing Christ, some at the risk of death. The good news that Jesus is our Saviour is important not only so that we can get to heaven but so that we can tell others about Jesus so that they too many become Christians.
The Good News
Jesus almost never gave prayer requests but once of his prayer requests was that we pray for labourers (Luke 10: 2) who would go preach the good news. The good news is that our sins have been forgiven. Our good news is that the curse of death is taken off us. The good news is we don't have to be in bondage to sin or any addictions. The good news is Jesus saves, heals and delivers. His holy life, death for our sins and resurrection brought us redemption. Jesus is coming back as He promised he would. Others do not know Him. Please pray that God would use you to share the gospel with others.
Salvation
Acts 4: 12 There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Deliverance
Mark 3: 15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Healing
Mark 16: 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
It is important for us as Christians to remind ourselves of the fundamentals of our faith so that we can effectively share Christ with people. There is nothing that God cannot do. God wants to use us (the Body of Christ) on the earth to share the good news. We will only do this if we ourselves believe it. May God reveal Himself to you as Saviour, Healer, Deliverer so that you may share the gospel with others. May God give you divine opportunities to talk with people and point them to Jesus: Saviour, Healer, Deliverer - The LORD Jesus Christ - soon coming King. You don't have to be extraordinary to speak of what God can do for others. You could share of what God has done for you personally.You could give a tract or a book or a cd. You could invite someone to a Bible study. May God use you.
John 4: 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen! I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit that leads to eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this is the saying true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap a crop for which you did not labor. And you have benefited from their labor.”
One of the last commandments of Jesus was for his disciples (his church) to preach the gospel to every person on the planet. There have been obedient servants for about 2, 000 years sharing Christ, some at the risk of death. The good news that Jesus is our Saviour is important not only so that we can get to heaven but so that we can tell others about Jesus so that they too many become Christians.
The Good News
Jesus almost never gave prayer requests but once of his prayer requests was that we pray for labourers (Luke 10: 2) who would go preach the good news. The good news is that our sins have been forgiven. Our good news is that the curse of death is taken off us. The good news is we don't have to be in bondage to sin or any addictions. The good news is Jesus saves, heals and delivers. His holy life, death for our sins and resurrection brought us redemption. Jesus is coming back as He promised he would. Others do not know Him. Please pray that God would use you to share the gospel with others.
Salvation
Acts 4: 12 There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Deliverance
Mark 3: 15 and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Healing
Mark 16: 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
It is important for us as Christians to remind ourselves of the fundamentals of our faith so that we can effectively share Christ with people. There is nothing that God cannot do. God wants to use us (the Body of Christ) on the earth to share the good news. We will only do this if we ourselves believe it. May God reveal Himself to you as Saviour, Healer, Deliverer so that you may share the gospel with others. May God give you divine opportunities to talk with people and point them to Jesus: Saviour, Healer, Deliverer - The LORD Jesus Christ - soon coming King. You don't have to be extraordinary to speak of what God can do for others. You could share of what God has done for you personally.You could give a tract or a book or a cd. You could invite someone to a Bible study. May God use you.
Saturday, 11 February 2017
It is the Holy Spirit that Quickens
John 6: 63 It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.
Within the first several weeks of being a Christian, I remember hearing preaching that pierced my inner most being and I knew God was directly speaking to me through the preacher. I didn't realize what was going on. A pastor prays and prepares a message and trust God to use it to feed the congregation. As a pastor draws from the Holy Spirit, and obeys His promptings, the sheep are nourished. It isn't simply hearing an encouraging thought for the day.
Sheep Hear the Voice of God
Jesus said " My sheep hear my voice". I believe He means literally as well as encouragement that is general. God wants to talk to us directly. As we press in to know God and speak to Him about the things of our lives, He shares His heart with us. Most often with me it has been through the RHEMA word of God or living Word. The Rhema Word of God is God the Holy Spirit breathing on the scriptures in such as way that we know the word of God directly applies to our lives in the moment because it is the very answer to pray we have been seeking God for.
The RHEMA Word
The RHEMA Word (Greek) is God breathed revelation of scripture. I cannot describe how special it is. It is a direct answer to prayer through God speaking scripture - or quickening a scripture to us in such a way that we know without a doubt it is certain - God has given us the answer to prayer. It can come from the pastor; it can come from a Christian friend or someone at the church. Sometimes, it comes by God quickening the Word as we read the scriptures. It's as though we can feel God speaking directly to us. If you have not experienced this, pray and ask God to speak to you as you read your Bible or as you go to church.
1.Pray believing God will speak to you.especially (should you need a prayer answered)
2. Expect God to speak to you.
3. As the Word comes, receive it in your spirit - by saying thank you God for your Word.
4. Believe the Word and confess it and pray it over your life until you see it manifest in your life.
5. Thank God for angels released to bring the Word to come to pass.
Only the Holy Spirit can quicken. The flesh profits nothing. The Holy Spirit inspired people to write the Scriptures so that God could make His will known to us. The Holy Spirit can give us revelation and knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God as we read it. The Holy Spirit can quicken the Word of God to us so strongly that it brings faith into our spirits as God answers prayer.
May God give you discerning of spirits strongly so that you know the Holy Spirit quickening the Word of God to you. Amen.
Within the first several weeks of being a Christian, I remember hearing preaching that pierced my inner most being and I knew God was directly speaking to me through the preacher. I didn't realize what was going on. A pastor prays and prepares a message and trust God to use it to feed the congregation. As a pastor draws from the Holy Spirit, and obeys His promptings, the sheep are nourished. It isn't simply hearing an encouraging thought for the day.
Sheep Hear the Voice of God
Jesus said " My sheep hear my voice". I believe He means literally as well as encouragement that is general. God wants to talk to us directly. As we press in to know God and speak to Him about the things of our lives, He shares His heart with us. Most often with me it has been through the RHEMA word of God or living Word. The Rhema Word of God is God the Holy Spirit breathing on the scriptures in such as way that we know the word of God directly applies to our lives in the moment because it is the very answer to pray we have been seeking God for.
The RHEMA Word
The RHEMA Word (Greek) is God breathed revelation of scripture. I cannot describe how special it is. It is a direct answer to prayer through God speaking scripture - or quickening a scripture to us in such a way that we know without a doubt it is certain - God has given us the answer to prayer. It can come from the pastor; it can come from a Christian friend or someone at the church. Sometimes, it comes by God quickening the Word as we read the scriptures. It's as though we can feel God speaking directly to us. If you have not experienced this, pray and ask God to speak to you as you read your Bible or as you go to church.
1.Pray believing God will speak to you.especially (should you need a prayer answered)
2. Expect God to speak to you.
3. As the Word comes, receive it in your spirit - by saying thank you God for your Word.
4. Believe the Word and confess it and pray it over your life until you see it manifest in your life.
5. Thank God for angels released to bring the Word to come to pass.
Only the Holy Spirit can quicken. The flesh profits nothing. The Holy Spirit inspired people to write the Scriptures so that God could make His will known to us. The Holy Spirit can give us revelation and knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God as we read it. The Holy Spirit can quicken the Word of God to us so strongly that it brings faith into our spirits as God answers prayer.
May God give you discerning of spirits strongly so that you know the Holy Spirit quickening the Word of God to you. Amen.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
John 11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Jesus knew that his friend Lazarus had died and was buried. He had been buried for more than 3 days. The Jewish system of burial rights, includes anointing of the body but does not include draining of the blood or insides. This is gross but the point is - there is no possible way that the body hadn't started rotting. Jesus came late. His friends Mary and Martha greeted Him and both exclaimed - that if He had come sooner, Lazurus could have been healed. They were in grief for their brother (and bread winner) as well a horror of knowing Jesus could have prevented their brother`s death but didn`t. Their faith included Jesus healing and doing miracles because they followed His ministry and saw the miracles.
Jesus gave them the answer they needed but it was hard for them to receive.
He stood and proclaimed Ì AM the Resurrection and the life`. He was telling them He was eternal God. He could do all things. He could resurrect their brother. They could not understand.
Jesus asked them to lead him to the place Lazarus had been buried. He commanded that the stone be rolled away from the grave. A crowd of people followed to see what might occur. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave. His Word was so powerful that He spoke life into a rotting corpse.
His Word was so mighty that it healed the man of whatever disease he had before he died.
His Word was so strong that it cause the man wrapped in graves clothes like a mummy to come hopping to the front of the grave.
Jesus commanded that people unwrap Lazarus. The women, the crowd, all the disciples were in amazement at what they had witnessed. Could this be true? Did Jesus really bring a man back from the dead? The answer was live in their face - Lazarus resurrected from the dead - completely whole.
There are countries in Africa that have documented cases of Resurrection from the dead. Their are testimonies of people with near death experiences and who have physically died but came back to life.In those places, faith is all the people have. They do not have much money but they do have faith. They literally believe Jesus`Words true today as they were the day He spoke them to Mary and Martha.
Physical
I have a special friend and we actually have a pact. If I die, she is going to pray for my resurrection from the dead. If she dies, I am going to pray for her resurrection from the dead. We are not joking. We actually believe we are suppose to live as long as possible for the glory of God on this earth. We both believe literally that Jesus raises corpses - and gives them resurrection life.
Although I mention this hoping it will release in you some desire to believe for more of Christ and more in His resurrection manifestation of glory - in no way would I not also seek medical help. This is not a contradiction to faith. In fact those people would be key witnesses in the actual physical death and revival of human life. In no way would I not do everything earthly possible to get help. In no way would I not pray for a miracle.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ can raise the dead?
Most Christians would nod in agreement believing that I am talking about judgement day and the hope of our faith for eternal life.I am talking about literal resurrection. Someone died - someone was resurrected from the dead.
We are not only to believe for it in the future but to pray for it in the present. Should you be with someone and believe that person is dying prematurely, Speak in the name of Jesus Christ who is LORD - who was raised from the dead and is alive seated on the Throne in Heaven - speak Resurrection life over that person. Don`t trust your own human limit of faith. In fact I encourage you to even say - I do not pray in my own faith alone but in the faith of Christ who lives within me.
If this overwhelms you because it seems to be so much - start praying in the Holy Spit; pray in tongues and pray for the gift of faith to rise up strong.
To help build your faith - research a bit on the present day resurrections from the dead in China and Africa. They are well documented and proven. Study Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake and other pioneers of the Charismatic and Pentecostal gospel within the last century. They too have documented cases of resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life - Literally.
Jesus knew that his friend Lazarus had died and was buried. He had been buried for more than 3 days. The Jewish system of burial rights, includes anointing of the body but does not include draining of the blood or insides. This is gross but the point is - there is no possible way that the body hadn't started rotting. Jesus came late. His friends Mary and Martha greeted Him and both exclaimed - that if He had come sooner, Lazurus could have been healed. They were in grief for their brother (and bread winner) as well a horror of knowing Jesus could have prevented their brother`s death but didn`t. Their faith included Jesus healing and doing miracles because they followed His ministry and saw the miracles.
Jesus gave them the answer they needed but it was hard for them to receive.
He stood and proclaimed Ì AM the Resurrection and the life`. He was telling them He was eternal God. He could do all things. He could resurrect their brother. They could not understand.
Jesus asked them to lead him to the place Lazarus had been buried. He commanded that the stone be rolled away from the grave. A crowd of people followed to see what might occur. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave. His Word was so powerful that He spoke life into a rotting corpse.
His Word was so mighty that it healed the man of whatever disease he had before he died.
His Word was so strong that it cause the man wrapped in graves clothes like a mummy to come hopping to the front of the grave.
Jesus commanded that people unwrap Lazarus. The women, the crowd, all the disciples were in amazement at what they had witnessed. Could this be true? Did Jesus really bring a man back from the dead? The answer was live in their face - Lazarus resurrected from the dead - completely whole.
There are countries in Africa that have documented cases of Resurrection from the dead. Their are testimonies of people with near death experiences and who have physically died but came back to life.In those places, faith is all the people have. They do not have much money but they do have faith. They literally believe Jesus`Words true today as they were the day He spoke them to Mary and Martha.
Physical
I have a special friend and we actually have a pact. If I die, she is going to pray for my resurrection from the dead. If she dies, I am going to pray for her resurrection from the dead. We are not joking. We actually believe we are suppose to live as long as possible for the glory of God on this earth. We both believe literally that Jesus raises corpses - and gives them resurrection life.
Although I mention this hoping it will release in you some desire to believe for more of Christ and more in His resurrection manifestation of glory - in no way would I not also seek medical help. This is not a contradiction to faith. In fact those people would be key witnesses in the actual physical death and revival of human life. In no way would I not do everything earthly possible to get help. In no way would I not pray for a miracle.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ can raise the dead?
Most Christians would nod in agreement believing that I am talking about judgement day and the hope of our faith for eternal life.I am talking about literal resurrection. Someone died - someone was resurrected from the dead.
We are not only to believe for it in the future but to pray for it in the present. Should you be with someone and believe that person is dying prematurely, Speak in the name of Jesus Christ who is LORD - who was raised from the dead and is alive seated on the Throne in Heaven - speak Resurrection life over that person. Don`t trust your own human limit of faith. In fact I encourage you to even say - I do not pray in my own faith alone but in the faith of Christ who lives within me.
If this overwhelms you because it seems to be so much - start praying in the Holy Spit; pray in tongues and pray for the gift of faith to rise up strong.
To help build your faith - research a bit on the present day resurrections from the dead in China and Africa. They are well documented and proven. Study Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake and other pioneers of the Charismatic and Pentecostal gospel within the last century. They too have documented cases of resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life - Literally.
Saturday, 4 June 2016
Do All You Do as Unto God
Colossians 3: 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be
You make a difference. You matter. What you do matters. Your words can be used to build up and encourage or they can be words that bring death. Do you really want to make a difference for God with your life? Do you want to impact the earth during your life span? Do whatever you do faithfully as unto the LORD.
You may not believe you are valuable but you are. Jesus Christ gave his life for you. You are worth much to God. He chose you, placed you in your mother's womb. God created you on purpose. He placed within you gfts and talents. He designed you your personality, the unique things about you are all bits of God's glory poured on you that you might make a difference with your life.
Psalm 139: 13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be
No two people are the same. If you give your best - it may not be the same as someone else. You may not have the same measure of talent or training in that area but you most certainly have your porion. Use your education and training. Use all opportunities to get as much skill and knowledge and education while you live. anything you acquire becomes a strength that God can use you in. If you will use what you have, God can give you more. If you will give your personal best, you will impact a sphere of influence around you - this includes the people taught you directly connect with but also those who observe you.
There are always observers. No matter how insignificant it seems to hold a door for someone as an act of kindness or to help someone carry groceries or whether or not you give a special effort to help someone at your job, there are people you may not even know about who observe. Most certainly in the realm of the supernatural, your actions, your words are noticed by angels.
1. Determine to get all the education and training you can in areas of your talents or interests.
2. Practice and improve. Make a commitment to yourself and to God that you will keep learning and self - improving for God's glory.
3. Give your best personal effort as much as possible. Aim for excellence.
4. Apologize for any wrong word or action immediately. Keep your heart pure.
5. Pray each day that God will help you develop your talents and gifts so He can use you in your job, in your school, in your interactions with people in society.
6. Use opportunities to show genuine love and compassion for others; you will impact them with your love. Jesus is our role model.
7. Even if the tasks you are given seem small - such as sorting papers or organizing things, do it so that is the best possible. Whatever you do, do it with all your effort so as to show excellence.
You will impact your generation by doing your daily tasks with zeal and passion. You will show forth the glory of God by giving your personal best in your words and actions. Your life is a witness of God's light in your life. You can choose to do whatever you can do with all your being or to do nothing. You determine the effect by your effort.
Do you want to impact your generation? Live wholly unto God and do all you do as though you are personally serving God.
Sunday, 29 May 2016
Different types of Pastors
Ephesians 4: 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Those of us in North american Church may know the ministry gifts but we may not have had opportunity to see them functioning together. Seeing the ministry gifts operating together is a beautiful, magnificent glorious pleasure. Most churches that I have been to do not have all of the ministry gifts in leadership. O it would be awesome if they were altogether!
Mostly we know Pastors who teach us and who lead us in the sacraments (water baptism, communion, marriage, baby dedication, burial etc) and care for us personally. The truth is most pastors have a teaching ministry. Some Pastors have a strong prophetic anointing.
I have been privileged to receive much from a Pastor who was a Prophet. He would be teaching and preaching a sermon and be moved on by God with a word of wisdom, or word of knowledge and he would call out people and pray over them. These pastors preach sermons that reach into the depths of your being - not just you but all the congregation.
An Apostolic Pastor is a mighty miracle working dynamite of faith. This type of Pastor teaches with an authority rarely discerned. The person is a Pastor of Pastors. He or she has an anointing to gather people, organize efforts, care for churches - plural - churches. In denominations they are sometimes called Leaders or Overseers but the truth is they care for all the churches in their sphere of influence and can effectively rally people for the purposes of Christ. Signs and wonders are evident when an Apostle is preaching. Demonstrations of God's glory follow the preached word. also, many people decide to commit themselves to ministry because of them. They are so excited about God - other people are inspired and ignited for service.
An Evangelistic Pastor will always be leading his or her sheep into Missionary endeavors. This person will often give salvation calls at church and also be able to gather people for missionary trips. I had one pastor who used to take the youth group on missionary trips regularly during March break or during summer. During their youth service - often he would assign the teenagers places throughout the city to pray. He would sometimes take the youth group to preach downtown on Friday nights -witnessing to people lined up going to bars or the movies. This pastor's heart was to share Christ and train and equip others to share Christ with as many people as possible.
Each pastor has a heart for the sheep. He or she cares for the people in the congregation and as the scripture teaches would lay down his or her life for the sheep. This person prays for the church; gives spiritual nourishment to the church; builds it; cares about all different kinds of people and knows he or she answers only to God. This compels him or her to live an excellent life of service. All pastors are servants of Jehovah. They are people oriented - they care about people.
Knowing your Pastors giftings may be something you didn't realize before. pray for your pastor. pray for his or her giftings to be developed. pray for his or her influence and that he or she will train, equip and build up the Body of Christ. In this way, not only will you be knowing the gifting - this is a key to receiving the blessings of the giftings, but you will also be praying blessing, protection and encouragement on someone who has given his or her life to serve God.
Those of us in North american Church may know the ministry gifts but we may not have had opportunity to see them functioning together. Seeing the ministry gifts operating together is a beautiful, magnificent glorious pleasure. Most churches that I have been to do not have all of the ministry gifts in leadership. O it would be awesome if they were altogether!
Mostly we know Pastors who teach us and who lead us in the sacraments (water baptism, communion, marriage, baby dedication, burial etc) and care for us personally. The truth is most pastors have a teaching ministry. Some Pastors have a strong prophetic anointing.
I have been privileged to receive much from a Pastor who was a Prophet. He would be teaching and preaching a sermon and be moved on by God with a word of wisdom, or word of knowledge and he would call out people and pray over them. These pastors preach sermons that reach into the depths of your being - not just you but all the congregation.
An Apostolic Pastor is a mighty miracle working dynamite of faith. This type of Pastor teaches with an authority rarely discerned. The person is a Pastor of Pastors. He or she has an anointing to gather people, organize efforts, care for churches - plural - churches. In denominations they are sometimes called Leaders or Overseers but the truth is they care for all the churches in their sphere of influence and can effectively rally people for the purposes of Christ. Signs and wonders are evident when an Apostle is preaching. Demonstrations of God's glory follow the preached word. also, many people decide to commit themselves to ministry because of them. They are so excited about God - other people are inspired and ignited for service.
An Evangelistic Pastor will always be leading his or her sheep into Missionary endeavors. This person will often give salvation calls at church and also be able to gather people for missionary trips. I had one pastor who used to take the youth group on missionary trips regularly during March break or during summer. During their youth service - often he would assign the teenagers places throughout the city to pray. He would sometimes take the youth group to preach downtown on Friday nights -witnessing to people lined up going to bars or the movies. This pastor's heart was to share Christ and train and equip others to share Christ with as many people as possible.
Each pastor has a heart for the sheep. He or she cares for the people in the congregation and as the scripture teaches would lay down his or her life for the sheep. This person prays for the church; gives spiritual nourishment to the church; builds it; cares about all different kinds of people and knows he or she answers only to God. This compels him or her to live an excellent life of service. All pastors are servants of Jehovah. They are people oriented - they care about people.
Knowing your Pastors giftings may be something you didn't realize before. pray for your pastor. pray for his or her giftings to be developed. pray for his or her influence and that he or she will train, equip and build up the Body of Christ. In this way, not only will you be knowing the gifting - this is a key to receiving the blessings of the giftings, but you will also be praying blessing, protection and encouragement on someone who has given his or her life to serve God.
Saturday, 21 May 2016
Praying Spiritual Prayers for loved ones
Ephesians 1: 18 that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 20 which He performed in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
The Apostle Paul is expressing his deepest spiritual prayers for the Church at Ephesus. He doesn't pray about things natural but things of spiritual substance. He cares that they have understanding of the Word of God and the glorious hope of the callings of God for their lives. He gets them to focus on spiritual things, not the natural things or present day concerns.
First he points them in the direction of knowing there is much more of Christ to know. He encourages them that they might build themselves up spiritually. To meditate on the glory of Christ - the riches of the glory of Christ - higher, wider, deeper, above and beyond what can be imagined, he successfully gets them focussed on the Omnipotent God who can do all things. This raises their faith level.
Next he gets them to pray for more revelation on the greatness of God. He prays "according to the might of God" not according to their own imaginations only. It is important that we pray according to the measure of Christ who lives in us. If we only pray to receive according to our faith, we may not receive much. But if we pray to receive according to Jesus Christ who lives in us, we exponentially multiply what is possible for us to believe.
Finally, he gets them to focus on Jesus - seated on the throne in heaven - ruling and reigning above all earthly and heavenly powers. The final scene is Jesus Christ in triumphant glory.This is not in the future only but in the present. Jesus finished it all by His resurrection from the dead and ascension into Heaven. Jesus paid the price by shedding his blood that we might have eternal life and be blessed on the earth with all spiritual and natural blessings.
He encourages the Church through his actual prayers but also in sharing them with them; his prayers are that they would know the limitless glory of God. His prayers show his concern for them spiritually as a spiritual mentor would do. His telling them what he is praying for them, would release faith in their hearts to believe for it in their lives.
Some of the most profound things we can pray for others are found in the prayers of the Apostle Paul for the churches. We should pray these things for ourselves but also for others. Those we are closest to - we should care that they grown in the knowledge of Christ so that they might teach others also.
The Apostle Paul is expressing his deepest spiritual prayers for the Church at Ephesus. He doesn't pray about things natural but things of spiritual substance. He cares that they have understanding of the Word of God and the glorious hope of the callings of God for their lives. He gets them to focus on spiritual things, not the natural things or present day concerns.
First he points them in the direction of knowing there is much more of Christ to know. He encourages them that they might build themselves up spiritually. To meditate on the glory of Christ - the riches of the glory of Christ - higher, wider, deeper, above and beyond what can be imagined, he successfully gets them focussed on the Omnipotent God who can do all things. This raises their faith level.
Next he gets them to pray for more revelation on the greatness of God. He prays "according to the might of God" not according to their own imaginations only. It is important that we pray according to the measure of Christ who lives in us. If we only pray to receive according to our faith, we may not receive much. But if we pray to receive according to Jesus Christ who lives in us, we exponentially multiply what is possible for us to believe.
Finally, he gets them to focus on Jesus - seated on the throne in heaven - ruling and reigning above all earthly and heavenly powers. The final scene is Jesus Christ in triumphant glory.This is not in the future only but in the present. Jesus finished it all by His resurrection from the dead and ascension into Heaven. Jesus paid the price by shedding his blood that we might have eternal life and be blessed on the earth with all spiritual and natural blessings.
He encourages the Church through his actual prayers but also in sharing them with them; his prayers are that they would know the limitless glory of God. His prayers show his concern for them spiritually as a spiritual mentor would do. His telling them what he is praying for them, would release faith in their hearts to believe for it in their lives.
Some of the most profound things we can pray for others are found in the prayers of the Apostle Paul for the churches. We should pray these things for ourselves but also for others. Those we are closest to - we should care that they grown in the knowledge of Christ so that they might teach others also.
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