Spiritual Survival!

"Victory Elements' - Disarming the darkness.

(Spiritual Survival Handbook: (Part Message) Chapter 8:

"God disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross of Christ."Colossians 2:15
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In Mainland China during 2002, Pastor Li De Xian and his wife Zhao Xia refused to be silenced. "Christ was the first to suffer," Pastor Li De Xian said. We just follow him. There are many thorns, but we are just injured a little on our feet. This suffering is very little."

Despite continual pressure from the Public Security Bureau, Pastor Li refuses to miss a service unless he is in prison or change his message of salvation through Jesus Christ. He has been arrested so many times during the past two years that he has lost count. During one recent detention, jailers tied his arms and legs together and chained his arms and legs to a bedpost for three days. When they finally released him from this torture, he was forced to work on an assembly line in the prison factory putting bulbs into strings of Christmas lights to send to America.

"Don't feel sorry for us," Zhao Xia says of their lifestyle. "At least we are constantly reminded that we are in a spiritual war. We know for whom we are fighting. We know who the enemy is. And we are fighting. Perhaps we should pray for you Christians outside of China. In your leisure, in your affluence, in your freedom, sometimes you no longer realize that you are in spiritual warfare."

As members of Gods army living in enemy terrain, Christians are daily involved in a spiritual war between Gods kingdom of light and Satans kingdom of darkness. We are Christs foot soldiers and Jesus is the Captain of God's Army. As our Captain, He goes before us and with us as we do our part in taking dominion over and neutralizing the forces of darkness. As we do the practical with Gods anointing, the Lord does the supernatural.

The fearless confidence Pastor Li posesses is available to every Christian as we recognize the magnitude of Christs victory over Satan. Through Christs death and resurrection, the devils teeth and claws were pulled out. In spite of this, Satan presents himself as undefeated. He goes about "roaring" as a lion attempting to intimidate the soldiers in God's Army in to believing he can chew us up, spit us out, and shred us to pieces. The truth is Jesus crushed the Devil's authority over every Christian.

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He (Jesus) is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. Colossians 2:10
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1. What is a satanic attack?

It is a deliberate and calculated assault by the devil with the intent to ultimately destroy or at least to cause harm spiritually, physically, mentally, materially, and emotionally. One of the focus of every attack is to cause us to doubt. Our thoughts are where our spiritual battles are either won or lost, so whatever the evil one is lying to you about, reject it. Then replace it with scriptural truths.

While Jesus lived on earth, he was not immune from Satans attacks. Jesus experienced spiritual battles on many occasions during his life. The first attack recorded came after his baptism:

Mark 1:12-13, "The Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness. He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him."Luke 4:1-13, "Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness, where the Devil tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry.

Then the Devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread."
But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, `People need more than bread for their life.'"

Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.The Devil told him, "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them--because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say, `You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.'"

Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, `He orders his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.'

"Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, `Do not test the Lord your God.'

When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Just as Jesus used the powerful Word of God to defeat the Devi's attacks, we can do the same. For every spiritual attack there is a scripture which helps resist temptation and win the battle. In addition to using scripture, we need to keep from talking about how the devil is attacking us. By keeping our focus and speech on the Lordship of Jesus, the evil one is deprived of the attention his pride and ego craves.

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When you do the practical, God faithfully does the supernatural.
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2. Where are spiritual battlefields?

Within our thoughts. Our thought life is rich soil for spiritual battles. This is where we either win or lose every battle.

"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith." 1 Peter 5:8-93.

Are there character traits soldiers in God's army need to develop?

Yes. The following traits are powerful in advancing God's Kingdom on earth by overthrowing the kingdom of darkness:

Alertness: Be aware of spiritual events and respond with the right actions.
Discipline: A learned lifestyle that is imposed from within one's self.
Confidence: Lack of insecurity due to the fact physical and spiritual abilities are not dependent on a soldier alone, but dependent on God for His resources and strength to flow through them.
Wisdom: Practical application of knowledge and discernment in moral and spiritual matters within daily activities.Endurance: Able to persevere regardless of the physical and spiritual obstacles encountered.
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You may want to measure yourself by your aspirations instead of your performance, but the conduct of your life is the only real proof of the sincerity of your heart.
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4. What is spiritual armor?

It consists of invisible spiritual weapons supplied by the Holy Spirit to be used in defending one self from Satans attacks and used in advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. Each piece of spiritual armor needs only to be put on once.

It has been reported by a national deliverance ministry that demons see spiritual weapons.

Ephesians 6:14-17, "Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

A prepared soldier never lets his or her guard down. Every day spiritual preparedness is required for whatever confronts them. Before going into spiritual battle, ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your spiritual armor.

Without the Holy Spirits anointing, you end up relying on your own natural strength. The anointing keeps your armor working properly and free of holes.

The Devil also uses the 4 D's of discouragement, disillusionment, depression, and deception to knock us down and distract us from focusing on the path to victory.

If you fall for this tactic, refocus, get up, and grab your sword and shield.

6. What is the anointing?

It is the supernatural manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which enables us to function beyond our natural abilities within our work, our relationships, and our ministries. It can be seen through the operation of our spiritual gifts and our ability to stand firm by faith in the face of trials. If we want this anointing, we need to simply ask for it and voluntary surrender our plans and desires in exchange for Gods. This produces more room for the Holy Spirit to reside within us.

Through surrender to Father God our intellect, emotions, and physical abilities become available to the Holy Spirit for achieving His purposes. Under His control our natural gifts are elevated to their highest potential. Surrender is the pivotal element to the increase of the anointing. Our surrender indicates a fight has taken place. Surrender frees us from our futile efforts to depend on ourselves.The anointing is maintained and grows by living a consistent holy lifestyle of worship and walking in love.

This is the price tag for the anointing ... choosing to forgive rather than take revenge or allow bitterness to find a home in our hearts ... choosing to praise and worship the Lord rather than complaining or doubting.

This lifestyle keeps our armor working properly and free of holes. Sin creates holes in our armor giving the devil the ability to hook on to our minds, bodies, or souls. By standing guard against sin and being filled with the Holy Spirit nothing can stop us from winning our spiritual battles.
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* Due to length the remaining points of 6 - 13 have not been included in this post - It is strongly recommended when you have time that you use the link at the bottom of this message to complete the study.

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A mind filled with doubt can't focus on the path to victory
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13. What are the spiritual weapons of mass destruction used in obtaining victory for spiritual battles?

Gods spiritual weapons are not wimpy. They disperse and annihilate evil forces. They cause shifts in the spiritual realm. They dethrone wicked regional powers. When these mighty supernatural weapons are used, the forces of evil cringe and retreat.

In spite of this, the devil tries to convince us we are powerless and to ultimately give up, but the truth is God has given His children these five powerful spiritual weapons of mass destruction to defeat the devil's assaults.

~ The name of Jesus. Psalm 44:5, "Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes." While Jesus was on earth, everything he accomplished was through Father God's authority. As Christ's Dragon Slayers on earth, every spiritual victory we obtain is through the authority we exercise in His name.

The name of Jesus is powerful over the enemy of our soul as it represents the victory that redeemed us from Satan's ownership; it brings hope to the hopeless; and peace to the confused. When we call on the name of Jesus during a spiritual battle his very presence is manifested causing evil forces to scatter.

~ The scriptures. Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep." The whole universe was created through the spoken Word of God. When a verse is spoken and mixed with faith it accomplishes what it states it can.

As sons of God, our spoken words carry great power and authority. When we speak the Word of God into a spiritual battle it sends the evil forces running with their tails tucked like a submissive dog.

~ The blood Jesus shed on the cross. Revelation 12:11, "They have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die." The Devil fears the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ above every other power. Why? The hordes of hell don't want even a drop of Christ's blood to touch them. The blood of Jesus Christ is the most powerful element on earth.

It resurrects the dead, heals the sick, redeems sinners, and sets captives free from demonic bondage.

Spiritually applying Christs blood to a situation reverses it from a negative into a positive, meets the physical and financial need, and breaks off demonic bondage.

When we take communion in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, it brings spiritual nourishment, a deeper identification with Christ, and the anointing we need to defeat the devil.

~The power of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4, "The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world."

~Trust in Jesus. Ephesians 6:16, "In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan." Another powerful step in response to a spiritual attack is worshipping God.

14. How does worship help in spiritual warfare?

Worship keeps our hearts focused on resting and trusting in the Lord to supernaturally fight for us as he accomplishes what we can't. Deuteronomy 1:30, "The LORD your God is going before you. He will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22, "Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the LORD your God will fight for you." When God steps into our battles we can count on them to always be won.

As we worship, the Holy Spirit scatters our enemies. In 2 Chronicles 20:14-24 is recorded an account of when praise and worship led the people of God into a victorious battle against their enemies. As a choir of people marched in front of the Israeli army, God began to ambush their enemy. Before the day was done, not one member of the enemy forces was left alive.

After the victories, we have the opportunity to build spiritual memorials. Memorials serve as a reminder to others and ourselves of God's faithfulness and his ability to deliver.
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A Misfit looks for victory and refuses to settle for anything less in reaching his goals
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15. What are spiritual memorials?

They are reminders of the victories we have won. With every spiritual victory, we can erect a monument to our victories as a spiritual landmark - a memorial. It can be an object established in memory of a person or an event worthy to be remembered. Memorials serve as a reminder to us and others of Gods faithfulness and his ability to deliver.

An Old Testament example, Joshua 4:1-9, is the time Joshua was instructed by the Lord to build a memorial out of twelve stones from the Jordan River as a reminder to the people of Gods victorious deliverance.

King David created his memorials through the writing of his Psalms. Thousand of years later these meaningful psalms continue to bring comfort and encouragement.

For us, a memorial can be an object that has special meaning such as a notation in our Bibles with the date of the answered prayer or just a memory we recall when giving our testimonies to others. Which ever itis, we are to celebrate our victories and build a memorial to God's glory. These memorials won't only be for our own encouragement in the future, but also to build up the faith of others and the generations to come as they face their spiritual battles.

As you face future spiritual battles, remind yourself of this truth: Spiritual battles are won through the words of "Yes" to God and "No" to Satan.

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Lord,Expose the evil ones working in my life. Bring what is hidden in darkness into Your holy light. I ask for strength and wisdom to release into Your care all that is uncovered. Keep me daily alert to the devils tactics and to resist from falling into his traps. Amen.
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Victory consists of getting up just one time more than we've fallen down.
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Spiritual Warfare Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise and worship You. I cover myself with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as my protection. I pray that the blessed Holy Spirit would enable me during this time of prayer. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan that would hinder my prayers. I address myself only to the True and Living God. I reject any involvement of Satan in my thoughts and words. Satan, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence with all your demons. I command every work of darkness to be subject to the name of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I recognize that You are worthy to receive all glory, honor, and praise. I am thankful that You have loved me from past eternity. That You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that Jesus came as my representative and that through Him You have completely forgiven me; You have adopted me into your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life; You have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, so I am now justified. I am thankful that in Him, you have made me complete, and thatYou have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and strength.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see how great You are and how complete Your provision is for me this day. I am thankful that the victory the Lord Jesus Christ won for me on the Cross and in His resurrection has been given to me seating me with the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenlies. I recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under myfeet. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the spiritual Armor You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace, and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life.
I put on this Armor and live in complete dependence on You. I refuse in this day to believe my feelings. I hold up the Shield of Faith against all the accusations, distortions, and insinuations that Satan would put into my mind. I claim the fullness of the will of God for my life today.

I am thankful, Heavenly Father, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge God, and to bring every thought into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in my own life today I tear down the strongholds of Satan and smash the plans of Satan that have been formed against me. I tear down the strongholds of Satan against my mind, and I surrender my mind to You, blessed Holy Spirit.
I affirm, Heavenly Father, that You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. I break and smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my emotions today and I give my emotions to you. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my will today, I give my will to You and choose to make the right decisions of faith. I smash the strongholds of Satan formed against my body today, I give my body to You recognizing that I am your temple. I rejoice in Your mercy and goodness.

I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers triumphing over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the Word of God is true. I choose to live today in the light of God's Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live inobedience to You and in fellowship with Yourself.

Open my eyes and show me the areas of my life that do not please You. Work in me to cleanse me from all areas in my life that would give Satan a foothold against me. I do in every way stand in all that it means to be Your adopted child. I welcome all the ministry of the Holy Spirit into my life. By faith and in dependence on You, I put off my fleshly works. I stand in all the victory of the resurrection and the provision He has made for me to live above sin.Today I put off all forms of selfishness and put on love. I put off all forms of fear and put on courage. I put off all forms of weakness and put on strength. I put off all forms of lust and put on righteousness, purity, and honesty. I am trusting You to show me how to make this practical in my daily life.

I stand in the victory of the ascension and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, where all the principalities and powers were made subject to Him. I claim my place in Christ as victorious with Him over all the enemies of my soul. I completely surrender myself to You, Heavenly Father, as a living sacrifice. I choose not to be conformed to this world. I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I pray that You would show me Your will and enable me to walk in all the fullness of Your will today. Blessed Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fill me. Come into my life, break down every idol and cast out every foe.

I am thankful that You have made a provision, so that today I can live filled with the Spirit of God with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, and self-control in my life. I recognize that this is Your will for me. I therefore reject and resist all the endeavors of Satan to rob me of the will of God.

Heavenly Father, I pray that now and through this day You would strengthen and enlighten me. Show me the way Satan is hindering, tempting, lying, and distorting the truth in my life. Enable me to be the kind of person that would please You. Enable me to be aggressive in prayer and in trusting you. Enable me to be aggressive mentally, to think about and practice Your Word, and to give You Your rightful place in my life.

Again, I pray that You, blessed Holy Spirit, would bring all the work of the crucifixion, all the work of the resurrection, all the work of the glorification, and all the work of Pentecost into my life today. I surrender myself to You. I refuse to be discouraged. For You are the God of all hope. You have proven Your power by resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead, and I claim in every way this victory over all the satanic forces in my life. I pray this all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with thanks giving. Amen.
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Copyright (c) 1999-2007 Spiritual Survival Handbook by Rev. K. A. Brown. All rights reserved. "Spiritual Survival Handbook Chapter 8 used with permission: Copyright (c) 1999-2007 Spiritual Survival Handbook by Rev. K. A. Brown. All rights reserved. To view complete 'Spiritual Handbook please go to the following link: http://www.spiritualsurvival.org

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF GOD

I believe it is time to be praying for all our loved ones - the prodigals & those God has laid on our hearts - may this encourage you to pray earnestly!
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UNLEASHING THE POWER OF GOD

I pray it blesses all who read these words as it did those who heard them on Jan 24th 2007 here in my home church. God Bless Rev Ron Morrow
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"If we schedule a banquet, we can pack the church. But when we schedule a prayer meeting, we' are fortunate if a dozen people show up."I listened intently as the silver-haired pastor of one of the largest churches in America sat in his office and poured out his heart. As we talked, this humble, heavy-hearted servant of God reflected on those days earlier in this century when he was frequently privileged to witness the outpouring of Gods Spirit in genuine revival.

The secret to those extraordinary movements of God was not to be found in the methods, the music, the promotion, or the preaching. There have been many revivals without great preaching, singing, or promotion. But there has never been a mighty revival without mighty praying.

Prayer is to revival what labor is to childbirth. The woman who expects to have a child must endure labor pains and travail for a period of time prior to the joy of seeing that baby born. Likewise, there will be no revival apart from our willingness to agonize through the labor pains of prevailing prayer.

Prayer moves the hand of God to defeat the attacks of Satan against the Kingdom of Christ. The reality of this truth moved Samuel Chadwick to write: "The one concern of the Devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."

Prayer unleashes the limitless, supernatural power of God into our circumstances. The marvelous promises of the Lord Jesus regarding the power of prayer stagger the imagination.

"If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14). "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

"All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).

Throughout history, Gods children have tested these promises and proven them to be true without exception. The pattern is generally the same: In the midst of dark and desperate days, Gods people humble themselves and cry out to Him for deliverance; in accordance with His promises, God hears from heaven, extends mercy, and moves to meet the needs of His children; as a result, His name is glorified among the lost. Without exception, when Gods people have united in specific prayer, He has heard, answered, provided, delivered, empowered, conquered--whatever was needed.

The glorious outpouring of Gods Spirit at Pentecost was birthed in a ten-day prayer meeting. The vibrant band of believers that "turned the world upside down" had no doubt about the priority or the power of prayer. In response to prayer, they enjoyed one of the greatest harvests of souls that the world has ever known. Demons, dungeons, disease, and disbelief were no match for the supernatural power of Christ that was released as a result of those first century prayer meetings.

Such mighty answers to prayer were not limited to the early church. Twenty centuries of church history are punctuated with accounts of divine intervention in response to united, fervent prayer. Although the earthly applause and recognition in times of spiritual awakening may be granted to the gifted orators and personalities who occupy the pulpits, I believe that heavenss headlines highlight those humble men and women who devote themselves to the ministry of intercession. Think, for example, of the great revival years ago in Lewis, the largest island of the Outer Hebrides . Students of revival will associate the name of Duncan Campbell with that gracious visitation.

Few, however, are familiar with Peggy and Christine Smith. Peggy was blind; her sister, Christine, was crippled with arthritis. Though little-known by men, they were well-known by God. Unable to leave their cottage even to attend church, these two godly elderly ladies sought God unceasingly until He opened the windows of Heaven and poured out a mighty manifestation of His power that engulfed the entire island of Lewis .

More than two centuries earlier, a little-known pastor in rural Epworth , England , knelt in his study and pled with God to send revival to his nation. As he frequently requested his wife to keep their 17 children from interrupting his prayer time, Samuel Wesley probably never imagined that the answer to his prayers was running up and down the hall outside that study. God raised up two of those children, John and Charles, to shake a continent for Christ.

Charles Grandison Finney stands as a giant in the records of revival in America . Only eternity will reveal how much of the spiritual fruit of his ministry was the result of the prayers of Abel Clery and Brother Nash. Day and night, isolated in dark, damp accommodations, these two prayer partners battled the forces of darkness as Charles Finney preached. In community after community, the fire of God fell in response to their earnest, prevailing prayer. And still today, God answers prayer! Space would not permit me to recount the literally hundreds of miraculous answers to prayer this ministry has experienced in church after church across America .

Specially-called times of extraordinary prayer have resulted in satanic strongholds being torn down, the bonds of sin and selfishness broken, and the glory of God dramatically released into hearts, homes, churches, and communities. With all my heart, I believe that God is able to turn the heart of this nation back to Himself. It is nothing for the omnipotent God of the universe to bring that hardened skeptic to repentance and faith, to reconcile that marriage that has been devastated by bitterness and unfaithfulness, to change or replace godless, humanistic legislators and civic authorities with God-fearing rulers, or to rekindle fresh love, devotion, and power in lifeless, backslidden churches.

But God has committed Himself to move in response to mens humility, dependence, and faith expressed through prayer. The unspeakable blessings of revival are reserved for those who wait for God in prayer (Isaiah 64:4). But the sin of prayerlessness ties the hands of God and limits His power. With a grieving heart, the ancient prophet cried out, "There is none that calleth upon Thy name; that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee . . . " (Isaiah 64:7).

God is so eager to pour out His reviving presence that He is diligently seeking for intercessors. "I sought for a man among them that . . . should stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30). Our generation has tried every conceivable way to experience spiritual reality. The need of the hour is not for more or better preaching, promotion, entertainment, programs, organizations, seminars, conferences, television and radio broadcasts, techniques or methods.

We are engaged in a battle "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

The battle cannot be won with weapons and strategies designed and engineered by men. This battle must be waged and won in the prayer closet. Casual praying will not suffice. We must pray fervently. Oh, that God would endue us with the spirit of the Weeping Prophet: "Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven . . . Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord . . . " (Lamentations 3:48-50; 2:19).

Intermittent, sporadic praying will not do. If our generation is to experience genuine revival, we must pray persistently. Prayer must become as vital and natural a part of our lives as breathing. We must pray when we can feel the presence of God, and we must pray when the gates of heaven seem to be locked against us. Like the needy widow in Jesus' parable, we must knock relentlessly on the door of heaven, until God hears and answers. We must pray when it is convenient, and we must pray when great sacrifice is required. We must pray when we are strong, and we must pray when we feel that we have no strength left to pray. We must pray when we have time to pray; and we must pray when the demands on our schedules seem more than we can bear.

Listen to the words of Samuel Chadwick, a man who lived his life before the throne of God: "There is no power like that of prevailing prayer--of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweat of blood. Always there is the cost of passion unto blood.

Such prayer prevails. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God."

Dear friend, you may be a pastor, a teacher, a housewife, a factory-worker, a student, a businessman. Regardless of the way that you are serving God, will you respond to His call to pursue a life of prayer?

With humility, with boldness, with hearts made clean by the blood of Jesus, with reverence, adoration, tender love, and faith, let us draw near to God; let us press close and feel His heart; let us earnestly intercede on behalf of His church and His world; and let us cling to Him until He floods every crevice of our dark, sin-sick world with the glorious, healing light of His presence
Used With Permission: Rev Ronald Morrow

When overwhelmed in Spiritual Warfare

Many of the intercessors are involved in spiritual warfare if this is your first visit you will find some useful articles in the April archive that may encourage, refresh & remind you -

The battle is the Lords - He is the Captain - With Him on our side we will win if we keep the focus on Him.

May the message & scriptures below encourage you to press the battle to the gate. Please go direct to the site (link at end of message) for the full message & useful resources.

Spiritual Warfare (Part Message)

In Christian teaching, spiritual warfare should not be separated from the Christ-given mission to make disciples of all nations. We are in a spiritual battle for the eternal souls of all humanity. Not simply securing a place in heaven after death, but redeeming this lifetime by yielding our lives to the work of our Lord Jesus Christ continued in us and through us. Our enemy, the devil, fights against us every moment.

Summary: Christians have victory in spiritual warfare by counting ourselves as dead ...crucified with Christ... and that the life we live is not our own, but Christ living through us. Our lives should manifest Jesus Christ as He continues His work in this world through us ... destroying the works of the devil.

Do not focus on the problem; focus on the solution. Be aware of the problem, but more aware of the purposes, promises, and presence of God.

If you are a professing Christian, but you are nevertheless overwhelmed by spiritual battles there are several possible reasons:

1. You've never truly been "born again". Examine your faith. (2 Cor 13:5; 1 John 5:5)

2. You have unconfessed sin in your life. Confess it. (Psalm 51; I John 1:9;James 5:16)

3. You're trying to live the Christian walk on your own strength. Lean on God. (1 Cor 1:25; 2 Cor 12:9-10)

4. You're doing God's will, ready to bear much fruit, and the devil's trying to make you quit. Don't quit. (Gal 6:9; 2 Tim 2:3)

5. Often, since none of us are perfect, eg: a saint who lives by grace some combination of items 2 - 4

* When Bomber pilots start getting surface-to-air flak, they know assuredly that they have arrived at the target. Likewise, the harder our enemy resists, the more likely that you've found a "high-value" target.

*Why then do Christians (myself included), once they get into an escalating spiritual battle, run for the hills? Is it a sense of entitlement to live in the land of the big PX (Post Exchange shopping mall)?

Some points to remember in the midst of battle:

* You can always ask for help.

* Fight as a member of a team.

* Resting one soldier, or team, while another one fights.

* Be aware of the situation. - The battle's not about you, but to keep you from doing your small part in accomplishing God's will.

* If you quit... the enemy wins. Faith overcomes the world.

* If you have already quit... stand up, put on the armor of God, re-establish communications with God and your fellow soldiers, sharpen your skills with the Sword of the Lord, ask for forgiveness and new instructions, and finally... get back into the fight!

* We are called to suffer hardships as good soldiers of Christ:

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Tim 2:1-4 NKJV)

* ...what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish... (Phil 3:7-8 NKJV)

* Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV)

* ...so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer... (2 Thess 1:4-6 NKJV)

* Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV)

*...time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Heb 11:32-34 NKJV)

* Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14 NKJV)

Scripture References:

* ...the battle is the LORD's... (1 Sam 17:47 KJV)

* ".the enemy. is the devil." (Matt 13:37-39 KJV)

* "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matt 12:30 NKJV)

* We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds... break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God... conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT)

* Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:11-12 NKJV)

* ...they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. (1 Chr 5:20 NKJV)

* ...they cried, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!" And every man stood in his place all around... (Judg 7:20-21 NKJV)

* ...who through faith subdued kingdoms... became valiant in battle... (Heb 11:33-34 NKJV)

* For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight... I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:6-7 NKJV)

* ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:37-39 NKJV)

* ...what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be Mydisciple. (Luke 14:31-33 NKJV)

* For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8-9 KJV)

* ...now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, * and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom 13:11-14 NKJV)

* Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev 12:10-11 NKJV)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:19-20 NKJV)

Source: Battle Focused Ministries: Their goal - equipping the saints for spiritual warfare: Link: http://www.battlefocused.org/

Fiery Trials - Faith Testing

...That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. ... (1 Pet 1:5-9).

I have noted many are going through some trials - if you are asking why? In the July archive there is a message Why does God allow suffering? which may give some answers. I also pray these two messages below will bless you today & remind you that what ever you are going through you are not alone.

Refiners Fire - (Author Unknown)

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures,and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapterof Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse.

And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. Malachi 3:3

One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to Visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

After some thought she said, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?

Oh,yes madam, replied the silversmith; I must sit with my eye steadily fixedon the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them.

Their trials do not come at random; the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that he only knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver.
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Fiery Furnace

Followers of Jesus Christ often end up in the fiery furnace of affliction.

It happens by God's great plan and because of His mercy. To some people the idea of a God who allows us to endure trials seems foreign, but it is infact for our own good.

James 1:2-4 NIV Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Trials teach us how to persevere. Even many non-Christians will acknowledgethat the troubles of life can build character.

With God's help we learn to develop godly character.

We do not walk through the furnace alone. God does not just throw us in, walk away and hope for the best. He sits with us as a refiner and monitors everything.

We see confirmation of that fact in the trials and testing God allowed the nation of Israel to go through. He allowed them to go through the fire, but closely monitored everything.

A refiner must monitor temperature and timing to end up with just the right finished product. If the temperature is too hot or the time is too long he risks loosing his metal. Too cold or not in the fire long enough and too many impurities remain.

Malachi 3:2-4 NIV - But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiners fire or a launderers soap. He will sit as arefiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will beacceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

When we go into trials it is not an accident. It is at God's appointed time.

He chooses it for our benefit.

Daniel 11:35 NIV Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time

The whole concept is shown fully in the historical account of the three Jewish young men literally cast into a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar only to come out unscathed.

(Read all of Daniel 3, it is a fascinating story of faith and of God's faithfulness)

Daniel 3:24-25 NIV Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire? They replied, Certainly, O king. He said, Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.

Even the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar could see that there in the midst of the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked God's representative. They were never alone. God walked with them before the furnace. God walked with them in the furnace. God walked with them after they came out. He does the same for you and I when we face trials.

Until next time, rejoice in the trials of life. They come in God's timing. They bring us closer to God and we do not walk through them alone.

Used With Permission 2001-2006 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin, Gleanings From The Word Ministries International http:/gleaningsfromtheword.com

The Father's Song To You

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. (Psalm 92:1)

Do you have a favorite song? Do you have favorite people you love to hear sing those songs? Do you have favorite songs you love to sing? Do you have moments you love to sing?

I am sure most of you had positive answers & some precious memories. I have found that when I have chores I am not so fond of such as dishes to wash or ironing to do that when I start singing songs to the Lord that the task is so much more enjoyable. I also find listening to praise music is so relaxing & before long I find myself & the family singing along with the music.

Whilst I was growing up my home was full of singing and some of my fondest memories are of my mother singing lullabies & songs to us during the day & on occasions at bedtime as a special treat my dad would sit on my bed and at my request sing one of my favorite songs. So it is no surprise that I also sang songs to my own children and hopefully they will continue to do the same when they have their own families.

I pray today stories will bless you and encourage you to sing out praises to Abba and those you are with. May you find a new song on your lips! To those of you who perhaps do not have special memories I pray the 'Fathers song' (see link below) will bless you and become your own precious song.
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Dear Friend,
We should never allow our past mistakes to keep us from starting afresh and accomplishing every goal that God has placed within our hearts. We must see ourselves as redeemed and forgiven children of the Lord who were once lost, but now are found. Just because we fell short in the past does not mean we cannot succeed now and in the future to come.

We must remember what the Bible declares in Psalm 40:3 "And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

God is able to put a new song in our mouth leading us on the right path that leads to life and happiness in Him. Trust Him with your life because God is able to do extraordinary things with the most ordinary of people. (Psalm 51:8-13) (1 Peter 2:9-10) (Ephesians 3:20-21)

I hope this message speaks to your heart to never give up on yourself because a new beginning is available each day that you awake.

THEY ARE PLAYING YOUR SONG - Author: Alan Cohen

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavour and purpose. When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.

When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the childss song to him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the childs song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the persons bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.

When I have shared this story in my lectures, a fair amount of people in the audience come to tears. There is something inside each of us that knows we have a song, and we wish those we love would recognize it and support us to sing it.

In some of my seminars I ask people to verbalize to a partner the one phrase they wish their parents had said to them as a child. Then the partner lovingly whispers it in their ear. This exercise goes very deep, and many significant insights start to click.

How we all long to be loved, acknowledged, and accepted for who we are!

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the centre of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them. The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behaviour is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.

A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

If you do not give your song a voice, you will feel lost, alone, and confused. If you express it, you will come to life. We attract people on a similar wavelength so we can support each other to sing aloud. Sometimes we attract people who challenge us by telling us that we cannot or should not sing our song in public. Yet these people help us too, for they stimulate us to find greater courage to sing it.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't.

In the end, we should all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warble at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you'll find your way home.

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Isaiah 43:18-19 "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Psalm 28:6-8 "Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strengthof His anointed."

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Used with permission: Dwayne Savaya Gods Work Ministry http://www.Godswork.org
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Introducing a New Father's Song

In Zephaniah 3:17 the Bible says... The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. NIV Bible

Have you ever wondered what the Father's song sounds like?

I am pleased to share with you that Michael Mulroy from the UK has asked the same question and in response he has recently arranged and recorded a new 11 minute musical piece that features all of the words of the Father's Love Letter sung by Dan Shiells. If you want to listen or download the Father's Love Letter in song, go to www.fathersloveletter.com/song.html

Author: Barry Adams'Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2006' contact: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/
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PRAYING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

PRAYING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT - By Dr. Joseph Winger

It was one long flight I'll never forget. I had been looking forward to a restful in-flight nap. But instead of snoozing, I was captivated by conversation with the man sitting next to me. He relayed one tragic story after another about growing up as a Christian in atheistic Albania.

Our hearts were immediately connected. Because one of this mans languages was modern Greek, I asked him if he had ever used one of my favorite Greek words sunantilambanomai.

Now, let me explain the reason for that odd request. Earlier that week, I had been thinking about the Holy Spirit and prayer. That long Greek word is the word the apostle Paul chose to explaine that the Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers. "In the same way the Spirit also helps [sunantilambanomai] our weakness; for we do not know how to pray" (Romans 8:26).

"Yes," he said. "We use that word for helping someone." I asked him to give me an example. He quickly replied, "If a person were carrying a heavy box, I would go over and help them. We would carry it together." He further explained that the emphasis was on an action where two people were doing something together. With that revelation, I could barely contain my joy. I remember struggling to restrain myself from shouting. I sure did not want to cause a scene and attract an air marshal!

I then asked him if he thought the apostle Paul meant that when we pray the Holy Spirit does it with us. He nodded and confidently said, "Yes."

At that moment, I saw for the first time that prayer was never intended to be an activity that I do all alone--the Holy Spirit wants to help me pray more effectively. Too often we work hard to figure out the "right formula"to make our intercession successful. A better approach would be to begin our prayers with a humble admission of our inability to pray on target and then ask for the Holy Spirit's help. That would require us to listen more and give God fewer directions.

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

We see the Holy Spirit's activity with prayer even in the Old Testament. The foundation for all of our spiritual undertakings is, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6).

This is certainly true of prayer. Our praying requires the Holy Spirit and not purely human might, power and effort.

Zechariah further links the Holy Spirit with prayer: "And I will pour out.the Spirit of grace and of supplication" (Zechariah 12:10).

Jack Hayford explains how the Holy Spirit helps our praying in terms of one of the Old Testament definitions of the word "intercession."

"Lexicons show the root idea of this word to be, 'to light upon by chance, to meet accidentally.' So it expresses a fortuitous and unplanned encounter of parties. That definition seems pointless unless we take into consideration Gods strategy for prayer. The [Holy Spirit] is active in bringing to mind people or circumstances we ought to pray for, and giving rise to prayer that exactly hits the mark. That is, God Himself knows where hearts cry for His intervention, and theHoly Spirit prompts prayer to release the working of His hand for them."(Jack Hayford, Prayer is Invading the Impossible [New York: BallentineBooks, 1983], 123-124.)

We can all testify of how God brought someone to mind at the precise moment they needed intercession. The person was either experiencing a victorious breakthrough or an urgent need. The Holy Spirit brought them to mind and helped our prayers to "hit the mark!"

How the Holy Spirit Helps Us to Pray

The New Testament portrays each person of the Trinity as deeply involved in the experience of prayer: we approach the Father through the Son, empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul exhorts us to "pray in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18).

Jude speaks of"building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"(Jude 20). "Praying in the Spirit" has been interpreted differently depending on a persons background and theology. Charismatic and Pentecostal churches believe these verses refer to praying in tongues (I Corinthians 14:14-15). A widely accepted interpretation explained here by Frank Gaebeleinis to pray while guided by the Spirit of God: "Because all believers have the Spirit, they are to pray according to the Spirit's will (set forth in the written Word of God, and made known by inner promptings) to accomplishGod's work by God's power." (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, p. 395).

Just how does the Holy Spirit help us to pray?

Here are six ways :He helps our praying to be more powerful and effective:When I am weak, the Spirit supplies my inner man with spiritual vitality:"strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians3:16).

When I am struggling with my identity, the Holy Spirit confirms to me the reality of my adoption by the Father: "The Spirit Himself bears witness withour spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16).

When I feel far from God, the Holy Spirit ushers me into the Fathers presence: "we have access to the Father by one Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18).''

When I am confused about how best to pray, the Holy Spirit gives insight:"For to us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (I Corinthians 2:10).

When I am battling unbelief and negativity, the Holy Spirit fills my life with praise: "filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns" (Ephesians 5:18-19).

The apostle Paul wrote that we are to keep alert in our praying with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

When I become sluggish in prayer, praising and thanking God actually wakes me up and keeps me focused. When I am tempted to disobey and thus hinder my prayer life, the Holy Spirit helps me to walk in Gods ways (Ezekiel 36:27) and manifest--the fruit of the Spirit-- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness(Galatians 5:22). It is by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of our flesh (Romans 8:13).

An obedient life lays a firm foundation for confident, productive intercession (I John 3: 21-22). I am forever grateful for the Holy Spirits invaluable help with prayer. In fact, my life is a testimony to being pulled out of numerous critical situations because someone prayed by the Holy Spirits insights.

The most memorable time was when my daughter forcefully announced to my family that I needed prayer right then. She went into intercession asking God to protect me. At that precise moment I was two time zones away in a situation where a man was trying to rob me and possibly hurt me seriously. The amazing thing is that my daughter was only four years old. Holy Spirit helped a child to"hit the mark" with her intercession, and I am here today to proclaim that our God is faithful!'

Richard Foster eloquently summarizes the Holy Spirits help in prayer as:"When we stumble over our words, the Spirit straightens out the syntax. Whenwe pray with muddy motives, the Spirit purifies the stream.The point is that we do not have to have everything perfect when we pray. The Spirit reshapes, refines, and reinterprets our feeble, ego-driven prayers.

"WOW! With that kind of help, who would ever want to pray alone?

A Model Prayer From Abba

"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. 7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. 11 Give us our food for today, 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Mth 5: 1-15)

MODEL PRAYER:

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Math 6: NLT)

KEY THOUGHT: Much has been written about Jesus' model prayer. Rather than something to be blindly recited, this is a short guide for disciples on how to pray.

The prayer easily divides into two parts: first, we recognize the estimable greatness of God, and then we recognize our dependency upon him. As the previous verses indicate, God is our Father whom we can approach freely as Father, while at the same time revering his holiness.

The first three petitions ask God to accomplish his ultimate will in our world and reveal his holy purposes to all people.

The second three acknowledge our need for sustenance, forgiveness, and strength to face the rigors of daily spiritual and physical life.

Bottom line, prayer doesn't need to be eloquent, but reverent of God, penitent before God, and dependent upon God while approaching him with confidence as children of God.

TODAY'S PRAYER: Holy and tender Father, I pray that you exert your power in our world and work your will in irrefutable and glorious ways. I trust you to fill my daily needs as I depend upon your mercy and grace to forgive me and empower me to forgive. May my life be used in your service to accomplish your will. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

What Jesus Did! is a 365-day devotional through the book of Mathew. Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web http://www.heartlight.org/
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A VISION FOR THE KINGDOM

Matthew 6:5-15 - When asked by his disciples how they should pray? Jesus gave us these words.

I used to think this was just a small prayer, a sample of what kind of stuff we could bring to God. Surely there must be bigger - better prayers. But after studying this for a while - I realized - no, this is THE PRAYER!

It encompasses all of life. You and I need to pray better - not just more - but better. I have been asking myself - why I do not pray like I play. If I were not an ordained minister would I pray at all?

Maybe you are asking those same questions too. As an introduction we are going to notice three aspects about this prayer: it is short, it is simple, and it is guaranteed.

It is short.
The Lords prayer is exactly 57 Greek words (just 52 English words). Men have written huge volumes on prayer; lectured for hours. Jesus took about 40 seconds. Some have tried to say that Jesus point is do not pray long. But it would be curious if he taught it, because he sure did not live it. We know that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying and that He spent all night in prayer in Gethsemane.

So how much should we pray? Some of us have this knee-jerk reaction to spiritual disciplines, do not get too deep on me, just tell me what I need to do; give me the standard and I will do it.

In verses 7-8 here, Jesus warns us against praying many words thinking you will impress God by your many words as the pagans do. There is something more important than words, and that is your heart. Do not pray to impress God or others (v.5-6), real prayer can be simple and straightforward.

Ok you say - so my prayer should be short and I should do it in my closet, right?

Well not necessarily. The Biblical example is to labor in prayer and Paul instructs us, pray continually.

Some of Jesus most fascinating parables are about working hard in prayer: the widow who wears out the unjust judge with her requests for mercy - the man who knocks on his friends door at midnight. There is also a great saying of Jesus that men of violence take the kingdom by force. I don't think He is referring to some religious jihad, rather to strong men who labor in faith, work and prayer.

The key is motivation not length. There is no quota for length of prayer! Pray as much as you need - it is for your benefit and about your relationship. Asking how much you should pray is like asking how much should I talk to my wife?

There is no extra righteousness to be won by long prayers - and no righteousness to lose by short prayers. This is what I do not like about some programs for spiritual disciplines - they can reduce a prayer life to a 30 -minute quiet time. I have heard stories of people who come to faith and start praying all the time until they get discipled by some well-meaning person who tells them they need to have a structured 30 - minute quiet time in the morning. So the active imagination of faith gets whittled down to a timeclock duty and they end up hardly praying at all!

There is a freedom in prayer that is dictated by love - not by length.

It is simple.
The beauty of the Lords Prayer is that in its simplicity is its majesty.

It mentions only a few things, but it pertains to everything. It is like the old saying, It is shallow enough for a child to wade in - and deep enough to drown an elephant in.

The Christian faith is both the easiest thing in the world to grasp - but also the most difficult. It is all about putting your trust in someone else!

Prayer is the same, both the easiest and hardest, because it involves us putting our trust in someone else. In one sense prayer is talking to God without having to look in His face, but when you realize that all of your life is lived coram deo before the face of God - you realize you are before His face!

Experiencing the Lords Prayer is a little bit like an experience I recently had with maps. Last year I went to British Columbia. Now I thought it was just a small place north of Washington. My map has the United States in the center of it and then just a small bit of Canada at the top of the map and little of Mexico at the bottom. But I saw a Canadian map while I was in BC. On that map Canada is huge and the US is just a sliver of land at the bottom. I also realize that from the US/ Canada border up to the Yukon is as long as the US/Canada border all the way down to Mexico. And the diversity of scenery and the people I met in Canada!

The kingdom of God is a greater concept that we ever imagined. Our maps tend to have the kingdom of man in the center with Gods kingdom on the periphery. The Lords Prayer helps reorient our spiritual geography.

Now, the vision for the kingdom of God has to be huge to sustain 2,000 years (actually all of human history). One of the insights of the book Good to Great is that an effective company has an easy mission statement but is committed to it. That is the vision we get here, simple but powerful and transformative.

It is guaranteed.
Here is something to chew on: Everything in this prayer is going to happen, whether you pray it or not. God is going to be praised- by His children or by the rocks. His kingdom is going to come. His will is going to be done - He is the unstoppable force. He is going to provide for His children. He is going to forgive all those for whom Christ died. He is going to keep His people from [ultimate] harm. It is going to happen.

The most popular view of Christianity is that we are losing. Can you not see? The culture war is being lost. Look at television - look at the teen pregnancy rate - we are fighting a losing battle. But lets be good sports about it.

NO- Jesus says in Revelation, To him who overcomes I'll give the manna - the right to the tree of life…

As my old seminary professor once said, You do not get the good sportsmanship award if you are a follower of Jesus. You get the trophy of victory. You get the right to rule on the throne of Jesus like He rules on His Fathers throne today.

Do you know what the meaning of the Ascension is? It is not that Jesus is reigning for the first time as the 2nd person of the Trinity He has always reigned with the Father and the Spirit. The significance is that at the ascension He began to reign as a man on the throne. He has fulfilled the original command to Adam to rule the earth.

This goal of Gods kingdom is the highest goal you can have. It puts all your other goals in perspective, it gives all of your pursuits and struggles meaning. The Lords Prayer orients us to the kingdom of God , which is coming and is here. Too often, we forget and only focus on the kingdom of man.

But the kingdom of God will endure forever, eventually on earth as it does in heaven. Isaiah 9:6-7 is a familiar passage which talks about the 1st & 2nd Comings of Christ.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

Friends do you want to see Jesus reign? Then pray His prayer.

It is a prayer He loves to answer. These are the areas He cares deeply about. These are not the only words you can pray. But, they are the focal point for how we think about Gods kingdom and priorities.

Author: Ronald Morrow (c) 2006

God Has A Plan For You!

Luke 18:7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Reflective Thought: "Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado
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"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God has a plan for your life. He brought you into this world to fulfil that plan. It is the best plan that anyone could ever make for you. It is a plan that will bring Him the greatest glory and you the greatest good. From the beginning of this calendar year until its end, God is working out His plan.

As you follow God's plan for your life, you do so by faith. It is important to remember that He is the Guide and you are the follower. He does not need to bring you into His planning room as a consultant to help Him decide what is best for your life. God has called you to trust Him and to take the next step of obedience according to His will.

God has said, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

Here are some ways that God is working out His plan:
He is your Shepherd - He is leading you
He is your Provider - He is taking care of you
He is your Strength - He is enabling you
He is your Counsellor - He is speaking to you
He is your Shield - He is protecting you.
He is your Comfort - He is encouraging you.
He is your Father - He is blessing you.

Author: Roy Lessin, Co-Founder, DaySpring Cards
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Reflective Prayer: In both good times and bad, Lord, be close by me to help me keep my head about me. Do not let me be swept up in temporary situations, losing sight of Your hand on my life, but let me always feel Your guiding presence. Amen.

Are You Discouraged?

We need to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has given His assurance that the new life to come will overshadow any trial or hardship that is thrown our way and the Joy from this will last for eternity. The trials in our life are only temporary and will one day be gone never to return again. Read: (Rev 21:3-4)
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Reflective Prayer: This message was being prepared for next weeks sermon, but as I began reading the replies from the last sermon I mailed out and receiving the prayer requests from people who are under satanic or spiritual attacks this moment I knew that something needed to be done this week. Please remember to intercede for those you know who are intercessors, or simply ask the Father who you should pray for?
Those on the front lines of this Spiritual War The Warriors, The Watchmen and the intercessors are increasingly being singled out and attacked by the enemy. Once again if you know any of these people please remember to pray for them.

When You Come to The End of Yourself!

As we read the words of David in Psalm 38, we find this godly, righteous man at the end of himself. He was downcast and discouraged, and his struggle had drained him of all strength. Listen to his distraught cry:

"I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me, I as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs (Psalm 38:6, 8, 10, 13-14).

As I read this psalm, I imagine David slumped in despair. Perhaps what troubled him most was that he could not understand why he was suddenly cast down so low. This man hungered for the Lord, pouring out his heart daily in prayer. He revered Gods word, writing psalms that extolled his glory. But now, in his depressed state, all he could do was cry, Lord, I am at the end of my rope. And I have no idea why it is happening!

Like many discouraged Christians today, David tried to figure out why he felt so empty and broken in spirit. He probably relived every failure, sin and foolish deed in his life. At some point he must have thought, Oh, Lord, have all my reckless acts left me so wounded that I am beyond hope?

Finally, David reasoned that God must have been chastening him.
He cried, O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me (verses 1-4).

Let me point out here that David is not just writing about his own condition in this psalm. He is describing something that all devoted lovers of Jesus face at some point in their lifetime. He is talking about being under a demonic attack from a plaguing spirit of discouragement!

This kind of discouraging spirit comes straight from the bowels of hell. And the time comes when every dedicated believer is overwhelmed by this sudden and unexpected experience. No Christian brings it on himself, nor does the Lord send it. Such an attack usually has nothing to do with any specific sin or failing by the believer.

Very simply, the spirit of discouragement is Satans most potent weapon against Gods elect. Most often, he uses it to try to convince us we have brought Gods wrath upon ourselves by not measuring up to his holy standards. But the apostle Paul urges us not fall prey to the devils snare: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Paul is saying, You have to see your discouragement for what it really is!

Its a demonic weapon an arrow that Satan shoots at you from his quiver to get you to doubt yourself. He knows he cant tempt you to turn away from Jesus. So he swamps you with vicious lies to make you think you will never be good enough to serve Christ. He wants to get you so downcast that you’ll want to throw in the towel!

Ask Yourself If Davids Heart-Cry Is Your Own Cry whenever you are overwhelmed by the Spirit of Discouragement.

Feebleness, soreness, brokenness, troubles, disquietness, mourning all of these things bowed Davids spirit low. He felt dry and empty, without direction, as if he had learned nothing over the years.

As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me (Psalm 38:10).

David is saying I have lost my spiritual understanding. My vision and revelation of the Lord have left me. I can not reach God as I used to!

I know just how David felt. I have led evangelistic crusades in which thousands at a time have come to Christ. And I have helped lead multitudes of drug addicts and alcoholics to deliverance in Jesus. My life has been full of such rich blessings. But often, within days of these events, I became overwhelmed with discouragement. I ended up thinking, Lord; my life has been a complete waste. I have not accomplished anything for you!

That is the work of Satans spirit of discouragement. It makes us a target for the powers of hell within moments of our greatest spiritual victory!

This heavy, demonic spirit laid David so low; he was dumbfounded in Gods presence. He said, but I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs (verses 13-14).

The Hebrew meaning of this last phrase is a man who has no more answers or arguments left. David was saying, Lord, I am too down and discouraged to even lift my hand up to you. I can not pray, because I am too confused to speak. I am drained and empty. I have nothing to say.

Davids trial was not at all unique. I have read many biographies of devout men and women whom the Lord used mightily, and every one of these people struggled through the same kind of crippling discouragement.

The great British preacher C.H. Spurgeon led multitudes to Christ through his powerful sermons. But he suffered awful bouts with melancholy. He often felt as if he had accomplished nothing in his life. He once lamented, I have got the blackest heart in Britain. Frequently he would go into his garden, raise his hands to God and cry, Lord, I have never desired you more, yet my spirit has never been so low. Why is this happening?

David voiced the universal cry of the righteous soul that endures an attack of discouragement: I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me (verse 17). The word halt here in Hebrew means fall. David was telling God, I am not going to make it, Lord. I am at my absolute end and I am about to fall!

God Will Always Be Tender With Us in Our Helpless Condition But We Are Never to Allow Unbelief to Settle in Our Hearts!

We can talk to God all we want about our feelings of failure. We can tell him about our despair over our sins and foolish mistakes. But we are never to entertain the thought that he has abandoned us. This is a serious accusation, and our Lord does not take it lightly.

We see his immediate response to this kind of accusation in Numbers: (Israel) journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread; and the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died (Numbers 21:4-6).

When the Bible tells me my loving heavenly father sent fiery serpents upon his own people, and that they died from the snake bites, I can not ignore the very clear message: God will not allow such unbelief among his elect! After all that our precious Lord has done for us, the most hurtful accusation we can make against him is that he has neglected us. We are to beware of such unbelief, especially in our difficult times.

David is our example of someone who kept his faith. Even at his lowest point, David would not allow himself to wallow in unbelief. He cried, for in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God (Psalm 38:15).

If you are enduring an attack from a demonic spirit of discouragement, I suggest you do these three things:

1. Do Not Try to Maneuver Your Way Out of It.

Do not try to escape the attack through your own wits. You are no match for the demonic spirit you are up against. The battle is far beyond your human skill or physical power to wage. Nor can you merely talk it out with friends, or try to overcome it through books, seminars or counselors. The conflict is in the spiritual realm, and it has to be fought in the spirit.

In his time of discouragement, David could not figure out why he was so cast down. He asked, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? (Psalm 42:5).

Yet his questions were not doubts about God. David actually begins the psalm by expressing his deep thirst for the Lord:
As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (verses 1-2).

In the midst of his discouragement, David cried out for a revelation of the Lord. He was saying, God, there has never been a time when I have loved you more. I thirst for you like the running deer who pants for water. So why am I so cast down? Why am I suffering such overwhelming discouragement?

Of course, at times David experienced despair and depression because of his sin. He endured the Lords chastening for his pride when he numbered his fighting men, which was against Gods law. And he felt the pain of Gods rod when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged to have her husband murdered. His heart broke with dejection over the judgment he brought on his family because of these sins.

So, too, many believers today are discouraged because of their sins. Some are depressed because the Holy Spirit has wanted to bring them into victory, but they resist. They have chosen the way of the flesh, and that always leads to pain and discouragement.

However, I am addressing repentant believers here those who seek God with all their hearts. These faithful servants are gripped by a different kind of discouragement. This kind comes upon them suddenly, out of nowhere, for no apparent reason. And it totally dumbfounds them. If this is true of you, you can be absolutely sure you are under attack. Satan has sent a cloud of discouragement to overwhelm you. And he has his reasons for doing so!

You see, discouragement is the devils most devastating tool in his attacks on Spirit-hungry saints.

It has been the enemyies weapon of choice for centuries against Gods elect. And from the day you became serious about the things of God determining in your heart to know Christ in his fullness Satan has sought to discourage you. He has watched you dig deeper into Gods word every day. He has seen you changing, growing, and overcoming all worldliness. So he has made you a target for heavy attack.

And you had better believe that attack will come! Right now you may be able to praise God loudly in church, saying, This is the greatest day of joy I have ever had! But watch out for what comes tomorrow. Satan will use his most powerful weapon discouragement to try to bring you down.

However, when the attack comes, do not think it is unusual. God allows this kind of fiery testing with all his saints.

Peter writes, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you (1 Peter 4:12). Discouragement is a trial Gods people have endured for centuries!

2. Go to Prayer, Giving the Holy Spirit Time to Do His Work!

When you are under attack from the enemies spirit of discouragement, you will not feel like praying. But you must still go to the secret place and be in Jesus presence. You do not need to worry about trying to pray your way out of despair. This is the time for Gods Spirit to go to work in you.
It is his job to lift you out of the pit.

When you go to the Lord, be honest with him. Tell him how weak and helpless you feel. Let him know, Jesus, I am dry. I have no strength left. If I am ever going to get out of this depression, you are going to have to make it happen. In such low times, the Lord is very patient with us. He does not expect us to exert some intense, fervent effort in prayer. He knows our condition, and he sympathizes with us.

So, just sit in his presence and trust his Spirit to do in you what he has been sent to do. It does not matter how cast down you are he will never forsake you! We have the notion that every time we fail the Lord, the Holy Ghost flits away like a bird.

Some Puritan divines taught this. They believed that Gods Spirit leaves Christians for a season whenever has grieved with them. I could never understand or accept this doctrine. How could Gods Spirit abandon me when I need him most? If he leaves me whenever I fail and fall deep into discouragement, how could he be my comforter? That would not provide any comfort at all. In fact, it would leave me in Satans power!

Likewise, if the Holy Ghost is my souls sanctifier, how could he do this work if he flies in and out of my life every time I fail? How could I ever see my sin without the Spirits presence there to convict me of it? How could I know how to change if he was not there to guide and direct me?

Jesus promised us, I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (John 14:16, 18).

When the devils heavy spirit of discouragement settles over your life, you may be so distraught you can not even whisper a prayer. But even if you can not utter a word, you can talk to Jesus in your spirit. Just tell him softly, Lord, help me. This attack is too much for me. I can not do anything but sit here in faith. I trust your Spirit to drive it out of me.

The First Thing the Spirit Will Do When He Comes Is Expose All of Satans Lies!

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

I remember experiencing a particularly heavy attack of discouragement at a certain point in my life. It happened when I was as close to Jesus as at any other time. I was diligent about my prayer life, pouring my heart out daily to the Lord. And I spent hours searching his word, devouring both Testaments. I enjoyed sweet communion with the Lord and saw many of my prayers answered. As far as I knew, I was in Gods perfect will, doing everything he told me.

But one morning, as I was preparing a message for the following weeks sermon, something hit me. I was overcome by an intense despair. It came out of nowhere, weighing me down heavily. And it happened for no apparent reason. No matter how hard I tried, I could not shake it. As I sat at my desk with my Bible open, I tried to continue working on the sermon. But I could not get anywhere. Suddenly I was bombarded with doubts about my ability to put together a true message from the Lord. My mind was flooded with horrible thoughts that told me, You do not understand Pauls writings. You have not grasped the old man and new man concepts. You do not comprehend dying to sin when sin still exists. How dare you presume to preach Gods holy word? I sat there for three hours, determined to dig out a message. But nothing ever came.

By mid-morning, all the words on the pages of my Bible seemed to run together. My mind was confused, and my spirit was dull, unable to hear anything from the Lord. I sank deeper into despair, thinking, I am totally ignorant of Gods word. Yet I keep churning out sermon after sermon, week after week. I’m not really serving anybody. After all these years, I still do not understand the Bible. My light has gone out! I was convinced I had nothing to give the people in our church. So I closed the Bible and left my study.

As I walked around the house, my discouragement only grew. I tried to figure out why it had come upon me in the first place, but I did not have a clue. I did not have any financial troubles. I had no family crisis. I felt great physically. And I had no known sin. I did not have a single reason to feel the way I did.

Finally, I went into my prayer room and sat on the floor. I could not even muster up a word to say to the Lord. Instead, I cried out to him from my spirit: Lord, I do not know what to do. I feel so down I can not even reach out to you. Yet I know I have never loved you more than right now. Why is this happening? Please, God help me.

When the devil comes with his spirit of discouragement, he bombards you with one lie after another. He lies to you about your marriage, your family, your friendships, your calling, and your walk with the Lord. Then he begins to replay in your mind every sin, failure and foolish thing you have ever done. By the time he has finished, you are crying, Oh, God I will never make it!

This is just what the devil did to me. While in prayer, I endured his bombardment of hellish lies for about half an hour. That is when Gods still, small voice broke through to my spirit. He spoke to me words full of love and compassion: David, you are greatly loved. Do not worry my hand is upon you. You are under severe attack, but you do not have to fear. You do not need any strength of your own for this battle. I have everything you need.

The first thing the Holy Spirit does in such times is to bring to your remembrance all the precious promises of Jesus. And so he did with me. He flooded my soul with dozens of promises I knew from Gods word. And he assured me, Your life is not over. You do not know it, but you have not even started yet. The best is still ahead of you. My spirit soared within me. As I stood to my feet I thought, Why did I ever put up with any of this discouragement? It is not from my Lord!

That is the work of the Holy Spirit. He undoes the lies of the enemy and brings encouragement from on high!

3. Dare to Believe the Incredibly Good Things the Holy Spirit Is Going to Tell You!

Multitudes of Christians enter Gods presence every day expecting to be reproved by him. How that must grieve our Lord. When we go to prayer, we ought to be prepared to hear a good word from our loving father. But many believers rarely are. I lived that way for years. Every time I entered my prayer closet, I expected to hear a rebuke from the Lord. Thank God, he has taught me a better way.

On the other hand, there are entire denominations that avoid any mention of holy reproof. They say very little about sin because they want to preach only positive, upbeat messages. In the process, they ignore all the convicting, life-giving reproofs spoken by Christ and the New Testament writers. Such churches claim to preach a gospel of love, mercy and grace. But, sadly, they misuse Gods grace, turning it into a license to sin.

I realize I am not writing this message to that kind of people. Rather, I am speaking to overcoming Christians who avoid sin as one way of loving the Lord. I am speaking to those who enjoy intimacy with Christ because they hunger and thirst for him constantly. If this describes you, and you are downcast and depressed, please know its happening not because you have gotten easy on sin. It is happening because you are under attack for loving Jesus!

Be assured all who wait on the Lord will receive his glorious promises: Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him (Isaiah 64:4).

As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Let us take a closer look at two phrases from the passage in Corinthians:
1. the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (verse 9). Satan can attack you, flooding you with lies and discouraging words. But if you will simply wait on the Lord, his Spirit will come to you in the midst of the attack and drive out all the devils lies.

How? He will give you a revelation of all the good things God has prepared for you because you love him! Our Lord has a wonderful plan for every single child who loves him. And no satanic attack against his children can ever alter those plans.

God knows the sorrows, struggles and pain we may be facing today. But he also knows the glorious things he has laid out ahead of us. He knows the revelation we will receive, the usefulness we will enjoy, the fruit we will see, the joy and peace we will possess. He has a good word for all who love him!

2. God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit (verse 10). The Lord desires to show us his good word about what he has prepared for us. And his Spirit is the messenger who bears that good word. The Holy Ghost will give wings to our drooping spirits with Gods revelation to us and well fly like eagles out of Satans snare!

Listen to these wonderful words from Isaiah: Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:28-31).

That is the work of the Holy Spirit to encourage us. Our work is simply to trust him to fulfill what the father has sent him to do.

Go to your secret closet right now, even in your discouraged state, and quiet yourself before the Lord. Even if you do not have strength enough to speak, you can reach out to him in spirit.

Speak to him this prayer: Lord, I know your Spirit abides in me. And I know you have sent him to comfort me, strengthen me and reveal the mind of Christ to me. So, Holy Ghost, I turn to you right now in simple, childlike faith. Speak to my heart your words of comfort. I do not have any strength left. You’re going to have to lift me up and lead me.

The Spirit of Christ will not let you be deceived. He will show you the good things God has ahead for you. But you must dare to believe he will speak to you! You are not going to faint. You are going to come out of your trial more victorious, because your faith will have been tested and tried as gold. And you’ll see the Lord fulfill every promise he has made to you!

God Bless you all, Rev Ron Morrow - http://ronmorrowministries.

Why Does God Allow suffering?

So many people write to me & ask, "why does God allow suffering?" I cannot claim to be an expert on the subject and truthfully sometimes there are no answers to some of the awful things that happen daily in the World. Its also a fact of life people become sick and die - some sooner than others and we go through times of trials and grief! In these times all we can do is pray, "Lord I don't understand this - I give this to you and choose your ways".

Sometimes suffering is simply because of mans choices and sin and God has provided the remedy for this through His son Jesus (John 14:6).

In the scriptures it also shows sometimes as a Christian God allows suffering to produce fruit, to teach dependence, to rebuke sin, to refine our lives, to enlarge our ministry, or like Job to silence the devil, to make us more like Jesus so we can Glorify God.

I pray the articles below will answer some of these questions and enable you to find Joy in the midst of your situation.

Please know if you are going through trials, challenges or testing you are not alone, God loves you and cares & I am here to pray with you.

"Behold we count them happy which endured. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." (James 5:11) "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh 8:10)
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Why Does God Allow Suffering?

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.Job 2:3 (KJV)

There's an awful lot of suffering and pain going on in this world around us. Even Americans are not immune, although we cannot even begin to conceive of the kind of affliction people in some parts of the world are experiencing. Furthermore, suffering of some kind hits every kind and class: rich and poor, educated and uneducated, and--yes--righteous as well as unrighteous. In fact, I'm sometimes tempted to believe that the righteous suffer more than the unrighteous, despite a prevalent teaching today that Christians needn't suffer at all.

The Bible is filled with pain and suffering. Wars, persecutions, famines, and sickness are found from Genesis through Revelation, with both saint and sinner at the receiving end. In our opening text, God testifies that Job is a perfect and upright man; nevertheless, he bears the brunt of a satanic attack throughout the next forty chapters. The Word of God finds no fault with Job's faith (as some might today), but for some reason God has actually allowed the devil to move Him against His servant!

Now God doesn't enjoy human suffering, but He does allow it, and sometimes even instigates it (see Micah 4:6, Nahum 1:12). So let's not be afraid to face the issue, but rather, let's deal with it head-on. Let's not redefine suffering, as some have done; we all know what suffering is. Let's not try to read into the Scripture a bunch of our own little ideas, but let's believe what it clearly says Suffering is a fact of life, and God allows it, so let's examine some of the "whys and wherefores," and see if we can't learn something. We needn't blame the Lord for human suffering, but neither should we attribute a sort of humanistic sentimentality to Him, while denying that the Bible means what it clearly says. We do need a clearer understanding of His perspective on this important subject, so let's approach it with an open mind. Who knows, we may even come to understand what the psalmist meant when he said, "I know O Lord that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me," (Psalm 119:75).

Why does God allow suffering?

...1. God Allows Some People To Suffer In Order To Bring Them To The Brokenness And Humility Necessary To Their Salvation. This is one of the most common reasons for suffering and affliction in the biblical record. God often used calamities to get peoples' attention and bring them to repentance. Earthquakes, famines, and droughts were all brought on at times by the Lord in order to bring people to salvation, and save them from something much worse than physical suffering -- an eternity in Hell.
Psalm 119:67 says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word."Similar to this, only directed more toward the believer, is the "chastening of the Lord." Hebrews 12:6 says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Like any caring Father our God disciplines us when we get out of line -- not just to vent His wrath, but to redirect us to righteousness. Some people insist that the chastening of the Lord doesn't include physical discipline, but the use of the word "scourge" (to severely whip) seems conclusive to me. Verse eleven says, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

2. Affliction Makes Us Aware Of How Carnal We Really Are. It serves as a kind of shaking process that allows us to identify and eliminate some undesirable things in our character that might otherwise have remained hidden (Heb. 12:27). Suffering is a refining process that puts enough heat on us to bring the impurities to the surface. Anyone can act righteous under ideal circumstances, but a little pain or testing may bring out the very opposite. A nagging headache can make a real "bear" out of a person by the end of the day; smashing your thumb with a hammer can evoke a flow of words that seems very uncharacteristic, but is an accurate representation of what still lies undealt with in the heart. This deep down carnality must be uprooted and dealt with, and suffering is an effective way to do it.

3. God Allows Us To Suffer So That We May Learn Obedience. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered" (Heb. 5:8). In this case we're not talking about a lack of obedience being dealt with--the subject is Jesus Himself--but rather a proof of obedience. Submission to suffering, and even death, for the Lord's sake, is the very epitome of obedience and commitment to God (see also Phil. 2:8).

Suffering is a test and trial of our faith which Peter says is "more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire," (I Pet. 1:7). Whether we fail or pass the test, it is valuable: either to expose our carnality, or declare our faithfulness.

4. Suffering Brings Us Into Closer Fellowship With Jesus. This no doubt sounds like out-and-out heresy to some people, but look at what the Bible says... "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. . ." (Phil. 3:10), and in I Peter 4:13, "rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." Someone said Christ suffered so that we don't have to, but the Bible seems to encourage us to join Him in suffering, and rejoice in it as well.You see, the things that bring people into closer and more meaningful relationships are shared experiences and things held in common. You and I may have fellowship with one another because we have our Christian faith in common, but when we spend much time doing the same things, and perhaps go through some hard times together, suddenly our friendship becomes much deeper. So it is with Christ. His was a life of sorrow, acquainted with grief; and when we experience the same things our relationship with Him becomes deeper. I'm not advocating that we walk around being morose and negative all the time, but I am saying that we should appreciate some of the benefits of suffering. "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (I Pet. 2:21)

5. Suffering Is A Token And Confirmation Of Our Covenant Relationship With God. This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in Galatians 6:17 when he says, "From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." In ancient times, when you entered into a covenant--or sacred agreement--with someone, you would seal it in blood, leaving a scar for all to see. People would then think twice before troubling you; for they'd have to deal with your covenant-partner, too.Salvation is a covenant between man and God. Jesus sealed it in His own blood (and even His resurrection body bears the scars). There is also a sense in which we, too, must confirm the covenant by taking up our cross, living a life of personal sacrifice, and sometimes suffering in a very literal sense for the sake of our agreement with the Lord. It is a little like the Old Testament practice of circumcision, or like a wedding band, if you will. Suffering doesn't make you any more saved, but it can be symbol or token of your new covenant relationship with God.

6. If We Suffer With Christ, We Will Also Be Glorified Together With Him. This is the message of Romans 8:17-18, where Paul says, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." II Timothy 2:12 says, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." Apparently suffering in this life is a way of securing greater eternal glory in the life to come, of laying up treasure in heaven. One respected minister suggested that perhaps scars would be beauty marks in the next world, that we would retain ours in our resurrection bodies, even as Christ does His. In any case, there will be recognition and glory for those who have suffered with Christ. Some, recognizing this principle, have even been "tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." (Heb. 11:35)

7. Suffering Allows The Strength Of Christ To Flow Through Us More Freely. Look at what II Corinthians 12:9-l0 says about Paul's thorn in the flesh... "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness... Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."You can only be a fit vessel of Christ's strength and glory to the degree that your own human strength and confidence is broken. Earlier in II Corinthians Paul said, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels." The vessel is our humanity, and the treasure is the Holy Spirit within us. God desires to flow freely through us without being contaminated and diluted by the earthen vessel, without our pride and natural resources getting in the way. Physical infirmity and suffering is sometimes necessary to humble us enough for Christ's strength to come through. Our bodies, like Mary's alabaster box, must sometimes be broken before the ointment can be released as a blessing to others (Mark 14:3). This brings us right up to our next point...

8. Our Suffering Can Be Redemptive To Others. Colossians 1:24... "[I, Paul] now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church."Some suffering is actually the vehicle that imparts the redeeming grace of God to others. Paul's shipwreck and snake-bite in Acts 27 and 28 would qualify as an illustration of this. If he hadn't been cast upon that island and bitten by the viper, the revival that followed would never have occurred. If he hadn't been stoned in Lystra (Acts 14) perhaps the saints of that area wouldn't have been as strong.

As Christ suffered to procure salvation for us, we must sometimes suffer to propagate it. Any missionary can testify to the truth of this. Let's not flinch from it but gladly endure such suffering if called upon to do so.

9. God Allows Us To Suffer So That We May Comfort Others. "Blessed be God... Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (II Cor. 1:3,4)

This is pretty self-explanatory, but let's take a quick look at it. If I suffer the loss of a close family member, I am naturally more able to comfort and strengthen someone else in the same situation. It may be one of the most heart-rending things I ever go through, but afterwards I have a wealth of wisdom and experience which will aid me in ministering to others. I can say with authority that God didn't let me down and He won't forsake you, either. I can comfort others because I've been there, and been the recipient of His comfort.

10. Sometimes It's Just Too Deep For Us To Understand. This sounds like a pretty lame excuse for an argument, but it's probably the best reason we've given yet for our question, "why does God allow suffering?" Have you ever noticed the answer the Lord gave to Job? You can read about it in chapters 38-41 of that book. God's answer, in essence, is this: "What do you know about the stars, the clouds, the wild goats, the behemoth and leviathan? If you can't understand simple physical things like that, Job, how do you ever expect to understand an issue as complex as the suffering of the righteous?

"Look at the Job's answer and be content, "I uttered that which I understood not: things too wonderful for me which I knew not... wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:3,6)

And so we come to the conclusion of our little article. We've seen quite a few things about the subject of suffering, but there are many things that we didn't even touch upon, and many others that we cannot, in this life, begin to comprehend. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known" (I Cor. 13:12).

Until that day, it's a good idea to practice being heavenly-minded, and to remember above all--no matter what kind of affliction and contradiction you may face--that our God still loves you, that He's faithful, and that He'll never forsake you.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34: 19

Copyright (c) 1998 Kim Harrington, Masterbuilder Ministries.
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