Inter where? Intercessory....what? (Empower Me! Prayer Series 12 of 15)

Intercession?  What is that?

Intercession is defined as an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person, a prayer to God on behalf of another.

An intercessor is one who takes the place of another while praying for God.  

While praying for others, an intercessor (someone praying for someone else, on their behalf) may be praying for someone lost, or someone sick, or someone in despair, or someone who needs direction in an area to move forward.  

An intercessor can change the lives of one person or a whole nation just by taking the time to pray guided by the Holy Spirit with understanding of God's Word (His Will) in every situation.  

"...and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  James 5:16

http://www.heartsonfire-ministries.org/prayer/

By being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will help us pray out God's will in situations in the lives of others, whether we know the other person or not.  

After a while, you will begin to notice that people will come to mind, and you will have an urge, a need to pray for that person.  You may not even know their name.  As you obey and begin to pray according to God's Word a life is changed, a situation altered, a sickness healed, a life spared, and the enemy hindered.

If you are a Christian parent you will know what this is like.  I have heard countless stories where a mother or father knew to stop what they were doing and pray for their child.  As they did, miracles happened.  

The same is true of those who choose to intercede for others. 

Therefore......And.....(Empower Me! Prayer Series 11 of 15)

"Therefore....."

"When you see a 'therefore' in the bible, stop and see what it is there for."  Kenneth Hagin

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  Mark 11:23-24  

When you pray believe that you have what you prayed for.  Notice this says, right at the moment that you are praying, BELIEVE that you received what you have prayed for.  

"But I don't see it, I don't have it.  I need to keep praying for it." you may think.  We walk by faith, not by sight.  God's Word says to BELIEVE you have received WHEN you are praying for it, at that moment.  

When you pray, and when you believe that you have received as you pray, faith begins to work.  If you believe you have the answer you do not ask for it again.  Rather, thank Him for giving you the answer to your prayer.

He continued on to say "AND"...

Jesus did not stop with verse 24 in Mark 11.  He continued on to say "AND"...

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  Mark 11:24-25 

Why?  Because prayer and your faith will not work in unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness allows the devil to enter in and play with your mind, even causing guilt and condemnation that draws you away from your Heavenly Father.  

Unforgiving is defined as "Not willing to gorgive or excuse people's faults or wrongdoings."  This means forgiveness is a choice. We make a conscious choice to forgive others.  

"But, you don't know what they did, I can't forgive that."  According to the definition and according to God's Word, you can forgive them.  It is as much of a choice as it is to choose to love someone.  

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  Col 3:13

Why is this so important in prayer?

His Word is clear.  To be in willing obedience to God, we must make the decision to forgive, otherwise we are not forgiven of our sins.  

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land."  Isaiah 1:19

According to Isaiah choosing not to forgive (being unwilling and disobedient) prevents us from receiving "the good of the land."  This prevents us from receiving the desires of our hearts that we pray.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  Mark 11:24-25

What's In the Name? (Empower Me! Prayer Series 10 of 15)

 Where do we learn how to talk to God?  The same place we learn about His character, His likes, His dislikes, what pleases and displeases Him.  In His Word.

There is one thing I want to point out in the Word before we go further into the Word on prayer.  

The bible is divided into two covenants, the Old Covenant (before Christ died on the cross and rose again for us), and the New Covenant (after Christ died on the cross and rose again.)  This is very important, because many people go to scriptures like the Lord's prayer to learn to pray.  There is nothing wrong with praying what is in the Lord's prayer, however, if you will note, it was a prayer example prayed before Christ had died.  

When people prayed before Christ died, they did not have the Holy Spirit within them, which did not happen until Christ died and rose again.  It was not until Jesus died that the curtain (veil) that separated the Holy of Holies from man (Mk 15:38, Mt 27:51, Lk 23:45). It was not until then that we could become temples of the Holy Spirit. You will see this in Acts 1 while the disciples were in the upper room and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Prayer before this event, was not guided prayer by the Holy Spirit directly to the Father.  Rather there were rules of the Law to follow, sacrifices to be made, and a representative (the priest) just to talk to God and get right with Him.  

In Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  And He did.  But this is not the New Covenant Church praying, it is the Old Covenant Church.  Jesus had not yet died and rose again.  The Holy Spirit was not given to them to renew their spirit and dwell within them, they had no authority over satan yet.  Why?  Because man hand not yet been bought and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ at that time.  

You will notice that they did not yet pray IN THE NAME OF JESUS in that prayer.  Why?  He had not yet paid the price for sin of mankind.  We did not yet have authority in the name.  

 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.  (24)  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.  John 16:23-24

At the end of His ministry, just before he died on the cross, Jesus changed the way they were to pray.

 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.  John 14:13-14

By praying "In the name of Jesus" we are going to the Father with authority given to us by Jesus.  Through faith and by grace we are saved (Eph 2:8), we receive a new spirit man making us an adopted child of God, and we can boldly go before the throne of God in prayer "in the name of Jesus Christ.

Friends, Family, and Foe (Empower Me! Prayer Series 9 of 15)

How to pray for the lost: friends, family, and others in  your sphere of influence.

We pray for ourselves.  We pray for the sick.  We pray for our church.  We pray for our nation.  We pray for the unreached people of other nations.  We pray for the lost, in general.  

Do you pray for the lost people you know?  Do you pray for your family members who do not know Christ?  Do you pray for friends and coworkers/schoolmates who are lost?  Do you pray for your enemies who are lost?  This is our circle of influence, the people we regularly come in contact with in our daily lives.  Often we overlook these people because we know them so well, we know their sins, their mistakes.  

Luke 19:10 says, "...to seek and to save that which was lost."  If this was important to Jesus, how much more important the lost should be to us.  What can we do everyday to save those around us.  We can pray.  We can pray that the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.  My favorite prayer for the lost is based on Ephesians 1:17-19:

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding[a] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power "  

Do you remember Lydia? 

"Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us"

Spend time today, praying for the lost within your sphere of influence.  Pray that their heart be open.  Pray that they receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  Pray that their eyes and hearts be opened.  Pray that they come to know that God loves them so much that He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, so whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)



Who do you know does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?  Family?  Friends?  Coworkers?  Classmates?  Today, right now, write down their names.  Begin to pray for them.  

A few may only require a prayer or two.  However, many will require persistence in your prayers.  Do not quit.  Do not give up.  Their life depends on it.

Why pray? I'm not into that religious stuff. (Empower Me! Prayer Series 8 of 15)

Why pray?  I'm not into that religious stuff for show.  I want a real God, with real answers, and a real experience.

As a young child, there were many things my dad asked or told me to do, and I just did them because he said so.  I did not know why, but I knew to obey.  As I got older, I learned that everything my dad asked was for a good reason, and he would never ask me to do anything that was not in my (or my families) best interest.

As an adult, I have come to know God (my heavenly Father), as a child knows his/her dad.  As my Father, everything He has asked me to do (or not to do) has been for my benefit, or the benefit of the family (the body of Christ, my fellow believers).

What does my Father say about prayer?

• "Pray for those who persecute you" –Matthew 5:44 (NIV) [1]
• "And when you pray …" –Matthew 6:5
• "This, then, is how you should pray …" –Matthew 6:9
• "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –Romans 12:12
• "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –Ephesians 6:18
• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." –Philippians 4:6
• "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." –Colossians 4:2
• "Pray continually" -1 Thessalonians 5:17
• "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone …" -1 Timothy 2:1

Why do I pray?  Because my DADDY (God) says so.  He loves me, and wants the best for me.  I trust Him, and know He is God.  

Prayer is not just a religious act.  It is talking and getting to know the One Who created you.  It is getting to know who God is:  What does He like?  What does He hate?  What does He want for me?  Why?  What pleases Him?  What makes Him happy?  Why does my Father love me?  Why does He take the time to do what He does for me?  

Prayer (and God's Word, which He will reveal to you) changes my world, questions answered that only God can share with you.  Talk to Him today.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:15-16 

Fear Or Faith? That Is the Question.

Fear Or Faith? That Is the Question.

Why we do not pray.

There are two main reasons we do not pray to God.  The first reason being fear.  We fear we are not good enough to talk to God.  He seems to distant and all-powerful to talk to.  Often times we fear what others will think if they hear us or see us pray (fear of acceptance).  Maybe you did something in your past and you are afraid that God won't hear you, you fear you are not good enough or deserving;  after all God is so busy why would he have time for little ole you?  Maybe you are not sure you really want the answer, and you fear you will get the answer to your prayer?

What is fear?

 ¹fear

 

 

 

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fear)

 verb \ˈfir\: to be afraid of (something or someone): to expect or worry about (something bad or unpleasant): to be afraid and worried

What is faith?

Faith (defined by God's Word, the Bible)  "faith is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." Heb. 11:1 AMP

Let's look at what the bible says about Fear.  

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV

"And the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them."  Deut 31:16 NKJV

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  Rom 8:15

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[a] 6 So we may boldly say:“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”  Heb 13:5-6 NKJV

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”  ! Pet 3:13-14 NKJV

http://teachinglifewaylessons.blogspot.com/
2006_06_01_archive.html

Maybe you have prayed and prayed, but you have not received the answer you wanted for your prayer?  You feel defeated, and don't know what to do.  Maybe you are sick and it doesn't seem to have an end.  Maybe your relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend is failing. Maybe you cannot seem to get ahead in school.  

According to God's Word, we must have faith, not fear. Fear is of the devil and meant to harm you, it is of death and the curse (Deut 28, Deut 30:19).  However, we have a better promise through Christ Jesus who came so that we might choose to have life and be blessed in that life (John 10:10).  It is our choice to choose LIFE over death. The devil will have you believe that it is out of your control, but I am here to tell you that it is YOUR CHOICE!  CHOOSE LIFE!  

How do we choose faith?  

God's Word never fails.  Spiritually speaking you must choose faith over fear.  (James 4:7).  Jesus whipped the devil over 2000 years ago.  He is a defeated liar set out to deceive you.  Put him in His place and choose to submit yourself to God.  This is faith in action. Everything we do in life is through faith or fear (simply put, the lack of faith).  

Think about this quote, "The devil cannot prevail in your life apart from fear any more than God can prevail in your life apart from faith."  Kenneth Copeland.  

Compare it to Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for...."  The opposite of this is "Fear is the substance of things not hoped for..."  What does this mean for you and me?  We can choose faith.  




We can choose the path to the promises of God, His blessings through faith, just as we can choose the path to not receive those promises, His blessings, through fear.  I choose faith.  How about you?

Resist the devil.  Repent of fear, take authority over it (meditate and study the scriptures in this message until they are firmly set in your heart and you believe them), allow the power of God to move you forward in His will (His Word) in your life.  We call this "walking by faith, not by sight".  God told us to 'FEAR NOT" more than 60 times in the bible.   Choose to "fear not"!

 II Peter 1:3-4 tells us:  [God’s] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What does this mean for your prayer life?  (Did you think I forgot about our topic - prayer?)

It means that when we pray we pray with boldness.  We pray knowing God wants us to have faith.  We pray knowing that His Word is true and we will receive the answers to our prayers according to His Word.  We pray knowing that the enemy is a defeated liar and we can choose to believe God.

Tomorrow...The second and final reason we do not pray to God.