Prayer is the theme of the year at my church, The Church of Divine Guidance in Los Angeles. Our Bible studies and most of our sermons are about prayer. I led a study from the book Prayer: Does It Make A Difference? by Philip Yancey, and we talked a lot about intersession even going so far as to say we are to intercede for our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Our current study is from the book, Prayer Warrior: The Power Of Praying Your Way To Victory, by Stormie Omartian. In our first session we learned that being a prayer warrior means praying for, or interceding for others.
We have a Prayer Line each Thursday night and we intercede for each other, our congregation, the Church, youth, marriages, the nation and people with specific prayer requests.
I read something several days ago that was a real eye opener for me, with regard to intercession. In it the writer, Robert Morris, said that intercession builds bridges between God and the people for whom we pray. He reminds us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us so that we can intercede for others.
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Here is some of what he writes in “Intercessory Prayer: How to Build a Bridge and Intercede for Others” in his book Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Our current study is from the book, Prayer Warrior: The Power Of Praying Your Way To Victory, by Stormie Omartian. In our first session we learned that being a prayer warrior means praying for, or interceding for others.
We have a Prayer Line each Thursday night and we intercede for each other, our congregation, the Church, youth, marriages, the nation and people with specific prayer requests.
I read something several days ago that was a real eye opener for me, with regard to intercession. In it the writer, Robert Morris, said that intercession builds bridges between God and the people for whom we pray. He reminds us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us so that we can intercede for others.
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Here is some of what he writes in “Intercessory Prayer: How to Build a Bridge and Intercede for Others” in his book Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results
Prayer is the theme of the year at my church, The Church of Divine Guidance in Los Angeles. Our Bible studies and most of our sermons are about prayer. I led a study from the book Prayer: Does It Make A Difference? by Philip Yancey, and we talked a lot about intersession even going so far as to say we are to intercede for our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Our current study is from the book, Prayer Warrior: The Power Of Praying Your Way To Victory, by Stormie Omartian. In our first session we learned that being a prayer warrior means praying for, or interceding for others.
We have a Prayer Line each Thursday night and we intercede for each other, our congregation, the Church, youth, marriages, the nation and people with specific prayer requests.
I read something several days ago that was a real eye opener for me, with regard to intercession. In it the writer, Robert Morris, said that intercession builds bridges between God and the people for whom we pray. He reminds us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us so that we can intercede for others.
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Here is some of what he writes in “Intercessory Prayer: How to Build a Bridge and Intercede for Others” in his book Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results
Scripture tells us that when we say prayers of intercession, we are building bridges between God and the people for whom we pray.
Remember, this isn’t just a prayer, it’s a deliberate action. It isn’t just saying words, it’s a construction project. In 1 Timothy 2:1–2, Paul
writes:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
Because Jesus has done the work of intercession and still intercedes for us with the Father, and because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us as well, helping us unburden ourselves, we can now intercede for others. The Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit have built bridges to God that we may cross over, so that we, too, can be in that bridge-building business. We have the incredible privilege of building a span from heaven to earth, from God to the person for whom we are praying.
First, you take hold of God.
When the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him how to pray, He told them, essentially,
The first thing you do is to honor God. You say, Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Matthew 6:9)
You take hold of God by acknowledging who He is and by thanking Him and praising Him for all He has done.
Jesus Himself said it: “Pray always, and don’t give up.”
The reason any of us can do this — is because Jesus has first made a bridge for us and an intersection for us.
You and I can’t begin to imagine what that cost Him.
Not long ago I read a story in a history book. After World War I, the United States government allocated funds to help care for the orphans in Europe. At one of the orphanages, an emaciated man brought in a very thin little girl. He said, “I would like for you to take care of my little girl, please.”
They asked him if the girl was his daughter, and he said yes. “We’re so sorry,” they told him, “but our rules and policies are such that we can’t take in any children who have a living parent.”
“But I was in prison camps during the war,” he protested. “And now I’m too sick to work. Her mother’s gone. She will die if you don’t take care of her!”
The officials felt compassion for the distressed man but told him their hands were tied. There was nothing they could do.
Finally the man said, “Do you mean to tell me that if I were dead, you would take care of my little girl, and she could have food and clothes and a home?”
“Yes,” they replied.
With that, the man picked up the little girl, hugged her and kissed her, and then put her hand in the hand of the man at the desk. “I will arrange it,” he said. He walked out of the orphanage and sacrificed his own life.
Somewhere in eternity, the day came when Jesus said to the Father, “Do You mean that if I die, those people on earth can live and have a home with You forever?”
And the Father said, “Yes.”
With that, Jesus put our hands in the Father’s hand, walked out of Heaven, was born on earth, and died on the cross and paid for our sins. In so doing, He made a bridge for us so that we could have a relationship with a holy God.
If you have never done so, you need to walk across the bridge that Jesus provided for you at the cost of His own blood, His own life.
Then, remembering that Jesus built that bridge for you (and with the Spirit’s help), you can begin to intercede for others, so that their paths will intersect with the path of God and they will walk with Him forever.
Excerpted with permission from Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results by Robert Morris, copyright Robert Morris.
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Our current study is from the book, Prayer Warrior: The Power Of Praying Your Way To Victory, by Stormie Omartian. In our first session we learned that being a prayer warrior means praying for, or interceding for others.
We have a Prayer Line each Thursday night and we intercede for each other, our congregation, the Church, youth, marriages, the nation and people with specific prayer requests.
I read something several days ago that was a real eye opener for me, with regard to intercession. In it the writer, Robert Morris, said that intercession builds bridges between God and the people for whom we pray. He reminds us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us so that we can intercede for others.
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Here is some of what he writes in “Intercessory Prayer: How to Build a Bridge and Intercede for Others” in his book Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results
Scripture tells us that when we say prayers of intercession, we are building bridges between God and the people for whom we pray.
Remember, this isn’t just a prayer, it’s a deliberate action. It isn’t just saying words, it’s a construction project. In 1 Timothy 2:1–2, Paul
writes:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
Because Jesus has done the work of intercession and still intercedes for us with the Father, and because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us as well, helping us unburden ourselves, we can now intercede for others. The Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit have built bridges to God that we may cross over, so that we, too, can be in that bridge-building business. We have the incredible privilege of building a span from heaven to earth, from God to the person for whom we are praying.
First, you take hold of God.
When the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him how to pray, He told them, essentially,
The first thing you do is to honor God. You say, Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (Matthew 6:9)
You take hold of God by acknowledging who He is and by thanking Him and praising Him for all He has done.
Jesus Himself said it: “Pray always, and don’t give up.”
The reason any of us can do this — is because Jesus has first made a bridge for us and an intersection for us.
You and I can’t begin to imagine what that cost Him.
Not long ago I read a story in a history book. After World War I, the United States government allocated funds to help care for the orphans in Europe. At one of the orphanages, an emaciated man brought in a very thin little girl. He said, “I would like for you to take care of my little girl, please.”
They asked him if the girl was his daughter, and he said yes. “We’re so sorry,” they told him, “but our rules and policies are such that we can’t take in any children who have a living parent.”
“But I was in prison camps during the war,” he protested. “And now I’m too sick to work. Her mother’s gone. She will die if you don’t take care of her!”
The officials felt compassion for the distressed man but told him their hands were tied. There was nothing they could do.
Finally the man said, “Do you mean to tell me that if I were dead, you would take care of my little girl, and she could have food and clothes and a home?”
“Yes,” they replied.
With that, the man picked up the little girl, hugged her and kissed her, and then put her hand in the hand of the man at the desk. “I will arrange it,” he said. He walked out of the orphanage and sacrificed his own life.
Somewhere in eternity, the day came when Jesus said to the Father, “Do You mean that if I die, those people on earth can live and have a home with You forever?”
And the Father said, “Yes.”
With that, Jesus put our hands in the Father’s hand, walked out of Heaven, was born on earth, and died on the cross and paid for our sins. In so doing, He made a bridge for us so that we could have a relationship with a holy God.
If you have never done so, you need to walk across the bridge that Jesus provided for you at the cost of His own blood, His own life.
Then, remembering that Jesus built that bridge for you (and with the Spirit’s help), you can begin to intercede for others, so that their paths will intersect with the path of God and they will walk with Him forever.
Excerpted with permission from Why Keep Praying When You Don’t See Results by Robert Morris, copyright Robert Morris.
Intercede Because We Are Not Independent
In our culture today independence is important as we tout our freedom, but unless we have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior we're not really free, and the Bible says that, if we have accepted Jesus then we are not truly independent (This July 4th Celebrate Your Independence In Christ).
Read this devotional from InTouch Ministries Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanley
The Need for Friendship
2 Timothy 4:9-22 (NLT) 9 Timothy, please come as soon as you can.10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
Independence is a prized attribute in our culture, but biblically, it isn't a worthy aspiration. Nowhere in Scripture will you find the erroneous quote, "God helps those who help themselves." The very fact that the Lord formed the church--a community of believers--should tell us that He did not create people for self-sufficiency or isolation.
When we place faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us so we can have a fulfilling relationship with the Lord and satisfying friendships with one another. In God's design, a close, committed biblical friendship between two believers serves to build both toward Christlikeness. Look at any of the saints in Scripture, and you will find evidence of reliance upon a close friend or confidante for support. Paul, in particular, spoke freely and often of his dependence upon dear companions and encouraged others to form intimate partnerships as well (2 Tim. 2:22).
It's interesting to me that our modern culture seems to be headed in the opposite direction. The farther our nation drifts from God, the more pervasive our self-sufficient attitude becomes. Neighbors treat each other with suspicion instead of congeniality, and that mindset has invaded the church as well. We're hesitant to give to others, which in turn makes us reluctant to receive.
Scripture tells us to love one another, bear our brothers' burdens, and confess our sins to fellow believers (John 13:34 ; Gal. 6:2; James 5:16). In other words, we're to give ourselves away to others and receive from them in return. That's how church members can stimulate one another to Christlikeness.
Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2016 All Rights Reserved.
In our culture today independence is important as we tout our freedom, but unless we have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior we're not really free, and the Bible says that, if we have accepted Jesus then we are not truly independent (This July 4th Celebrate Your Independence In Christ).
Read this devotional from InTouch Ministries Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanley
The Need for Friendship
2 Timothy 4:9-22 (NLT) 9 Timothy, please come as soon as you can.10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
Independence is a prized attribute in our culture, but biblically, it isn't a worthy aspiration. Nowhere in Scripture will you find the erroneous quote, "God helps those who help themselves." The very fact that the Lord formed the church--a community of believers--should tell us that He did not create people for self-sufficiency or isolation.
When we place faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us so we can have a fulfilling relationship with the Lord and satisfying friendships with one another. In God's design, a close, committed biblical friendship between two believers serves to build both toward Christlikeness. Look at any of the saints in Scripture, and you will find evidence of reliance upon a close friend or confidante for support. Paul, in particular, spoke freely and often of his dependence upon dear companions and encouraged others to form intimate partnerships as well (2 Tim. 2:22).
It's interesting to me that our modern culture seems to be headed in the opposite direction. The farther our nation drifts from God, the more pervasive our self-sufficient attitude becomes. Neighbors treat each other with suspicion instead of congeniality, and that mindset has invaded the church as well. We're hesitant to give to others, which in turn makes us reluctant to receive.
Scripture tells us to love one another, bear our brothers' burdens, and confess our sins to fellow believers (John 13:34 ; Gal. 6:2; James 5:16). In other words, we're to give ourselves away to others and receive from them in return. That's how church members can stimulate one another to Christlikeness.
Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2016 All Rights Reserved.
RSS Feed