THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES BATTLE FOR US WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY

 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For  we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.”—Romans 8:26

 

The Scripture tells us that Jesus was friends with Lazarus and his sister, Mary and Martha.  In fact, Jesus spent times with them in their home and eating with them.  However, Jesus was in another town when word reached Him that Lazarus was sick and that his sister’s wanted Him to come and see their brother.  When Jesus arrived Mary came out to meet him, she fell down at his feet crying and saying that her brother would not have died if He had been there.  Then we read a most amazing statement, “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33 emphasis added).  The word “groaned” as translated here expresses that Jesus was deeply moved, but not necessarily with sorrow.  It was more of a groan of anger at Satan who had caused all the grief and sorrow that He was seeing around Him.  Jesus came to,  “…destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14), and He was grieved to see the pain His enemy had inflicted on those He loved.

 

This is the type of groaning that the Holy Spirit does for us that Paul wrote about in Romans 8:26.  It is not just the Holy Spirit sympathizing with us, but it is the Holy Spirit doing battle for us when we do not know how to pray.  In the case of Lazarus, the Holy Spirit used Jesus to do battle against death and for Lazarus to be released from the grave.

 

Everyone who has the Holy Spirit in them either has, or will have this experience.  The groaning of the Holy Spirit is not just grief but righteous anger and resistance against Satan’s devices in our lives.  Many times Christians do not discern this because they think that they are just grieved over their situation, but the Holy Spirit is moving them into intercession with Him against their common enemy, Satan.

 

Although the groaning of the Holy Spirit inside of you is not uttered, you can react to it with audible groans or physical movement of some kind, like someone who is grieving.  There is nothing wrong with this as long as you do not confuse your reaction with the Holy Spirit’s action.  Notice in Romans 8:26 that you are responding to the Holy Spirit’s silent groaning inside of you.  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered”. 

 

The genuine groaning in the Spirit is priceless and always produces good fruit in your life, so when this happens, just flow with the Holy Spirit. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for the Holy Spirit in my life.  Together Lord, we are doing big business with you—kingdom business, in Jesus Name. Amen.

GLEAN FROM YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS

“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.”—Proverbs 19:20

 

There are times that you will hear God speaking to you through your spiritual leaders and fellow believers at your local church.  In the mobile communication of the world today, it is easy to dismiss our local church as a place to hear God speaking to us.  For many people, the local church is a place to serve God; but, they get so busy serving God that they forget that this is the one of the places where God has chosen for them to hear His voice.  At the flick of the wrist, you can go from source-to-source searching for a “fresh” word from God, or, in many countries of the world, you can search out the next “big” conference, the next speaker, etc. as a way to hear God.  However, God has placed in the church, in our field, spiritual leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teacher) to glean from.  They equip and edify the body of Christ.     

 

The book of Ruth demonstrates to us how an ordinary person heard God through the instructions of her family member.  Ruth was instructed by her mother-in-law to glean in a field that belonged to a fellow member of their family, Boaz.  Ruth’s obedience to glean in her family member’s field brought deliverance to her situation and established the royal bloodline through which Jesus was born.

 

Prayer—Lord, today I purpose in my heart to hear you speaking to me from those you have placed in my life.  Help me not be so busy serving that I forget to hear and follow your instructions to me, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

THE SEEDS OF GREATNESS ARE IN YOU

“But in every great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”—2 Timothy 2:20-21

 

Millions of people the world over feel insignificant and feel like their life holds no special meaning.  I have heard people say, “I am just ordinary, why would God be interested in using me?  Today, I want to encourage you that God has a very different picture in mind for you.  He says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). 

 

The good news is that we are all special in God’s eyes, and He has a wonderful plan for each one of us.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, He sets us apart for a very sacred purpose.  We now belong to Him, and that means we are not here on this earth to live as we please.  As God’s children, we exist to bring glory and honor to Him by becoming more and more like His Son in our character, conduct and conversation.  It is not a matter of following a list of rules, but of letting Christ live His life through us. 

 

The Bible calls this sanctification.  It is a process whereby the Lord continually changes His followers through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.  I am not saying that we will become sinless, but the more we yield to the Spirit’s leadership, the more we will find ourselves victorious over sin.  As our old attitudes and habits are replaced with godly ones, we will become useful servants in the household of God.  We become that vessel of honor which is prepared for every good work and that is useful for the Master. 

 

Being special to the Lord has nothing to do with what kind of work that you do, or how intelligent or successful you.  It is based upon whose you are. You are valuable because God created you and the seeds of greatness are in you.  It is God who sanctifies (sets you apart) you by His truth through His Word, and you are a sent one into the world (John 17:17-19).  

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that I am special in Your eyes.  Help me to see myself as special, and to know and understand Your plan for my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

USE YOUR TONGUE TO PRODUCE LIFE

“And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.”—Psalm 35:28

 

In a day of slipping moral values and standards, this devotion highlights the importance of choosing words that produce life and reflects who we are: followers of Christ living out his pure standard of thought and speech in a polluted culture. 

 

I grew up in a non-Christian home where expletives were part of our everyday language.  In my efforts to be a “tom-boy”, I took pride in my ability to vent language that was only meant for “the men” to speak.  When I became a Christian, the process of sanctification began and the Holy Spirit illuminated certain scriptures to me concerning my tongue and my language.  Although our world may be a place where we are continually bombarded with crude, explicit language on television, in the movies, at shopping malls, or in the workplace, the Scripture is clear that the tongue of a Christian is to be used to produce life.

 

I have highlighted some scriptures for you today that can be used for meditation, reflection and positive confession to change your world.  Remember that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).  In Ephesians 4: 20-32, the Apostle Paul emphasized the fact that we are to “put off” the old un-regenerated man and “put on” the new man.  In order for us to change a bad habit, we must replace the behavior.  Look at verses 25-32 and contrast the kinds of words we are to “put off” and “put on.”  And then meditate, reflect and confess the following scriptures to help produce life in your world.

 

“My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit” (Job 27:4).

“Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:13)

“And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long” (Psalm 35:28).

“The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice” (Psalm 37:30).

“You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues” (Psalm 31:20).

“My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt” (Psalm 71:24).

“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18).

 “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23).

 “For He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10).

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for helping me retrain my heart, my mind, and my tongue into thinking and speaking what is right and good in Your sight and the sight of people.  Lord, I desire truth to abide in my inward most parts and I ask You to help me speak those things that produce life in my world, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS IS JESUS’ DEATH

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will,  He hears us.”—1 John 5:14"

 

The foundation for answered prayer is to realize that the only reason you can expect any blessing from God is that Jesus died to provide that blessing.

 

You see thousands of people pray but never stop to see if what they ask for is provided by Christ’s death.  For example, a person wants healing, “because she or he has suffered so much,” or “because she or he has been a good, sincere person,” or “because she or he have been faithful to the church,” or for some similar reason.”   I believe that the real foundation for healing by faith is:  Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sickness. Certainly he carried our diseases and suffered our pains; and with his stripes we are healed.---

 

To get your prayers answered, depend entirely on the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ.  In His death for us, Christ provided every blessing that can be desired or required.  When you pray, look first to the cross where the price was paid for the blessing you seek.  Understand that since Christ died to provide the blessing, it belongs to you and He wants you to have it.  Therefore, claim it, boldly. 

 

Everything that we can require or desire Jesus provided at the cross.  There are no exceptions in Christ’s redemptive work.  God’s redemptive will is proven by Christ’s death on the cross.  All of this means that every blessing provided by the death of Christ on the cross is included in our redemption, and there can be no exceptions.  They are all for whoever will.

 

The very foundation for receiving answers to your prayers is to base your faith on the fact that Christ died to provide that for which you are asking.    Genesis 2:4, according to the Scofield Bible and Commentary, reveals the Seven Redemptive Names of Jehovah.  Jehovah-tsidkenu—God is our Righteousness.  Jehovah-shalom, God is our peace.  Jehovah-raah—God is our Guide or Shepherd.  Jehovah-rapha.  God is our physician/ healer.  Jehovah-jireh, God is our provider or source.   Jehovah-shammah—God is ever present.  Jehovah-nissi—God is our victory.  God’s redemptive will is proven by Christ’s death on the cross.  All of this means that every blessing provided by the death of Christ on the cross is included in our redemption, and there can be no exceptions.  They are all for whosoever will. 

 

The legal basis for answered prayer is because you are God’s child and that Jesus submitted to suffered and died so that you or for whom you are praying can receive the answer. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Jesus paid the full-penalty and provided every blessing so that whatsoever things that I ask according to Your will, it will be done for me, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

LOVE IS THE POWER THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8

 

There is an idiom that says, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  This means that it is easier to persuade people if you are nice to them rather than being confrontational.   God does not force people to receive Him, but it is His goodness that draws people to Him.  “… that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). 

 

The first of four things to know how love will change your life is:

 

love sees the possibilities.    God sees beyond where you are now.  Love sees beyond the wreckage in your life. The Lord sees you where you should and could be.  Love believes the very best for you.  “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.  But because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) . 

 

Love never gives up.   The times in your life when things look hopeless and there seems to be no way out, ask your Heavenly Father for help He will abundantly show mercy and help.  “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).   Rely upon God’s love and mercy in your life instead of your own human understanding.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

 

love always pays the price.  Christ’s love for you has paid the price for the change in your life.  “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…” (1 John 3:16).  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s own life for his friends” (John 15:13).

 

love always wins.   When you comprehend that God is not working against you and that He is working for you, it will change your life.  “What then say we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies, also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:  ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, not 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” (Romans 8:31-39).

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your “love force” is working a change in my life, and drawing me closer to You, in Jesus Name. Amen.

RECOGNIZE DWARFS THAT POSE AS GIANTS

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”—Philippians 4:13

 

When I was a teenager, I went to a traveling carnival that advertised, among many other things, a man who was over seven feet tall and could lift over 400 lbs.   I will never forget how big this man was.  It was quite an experience to see him.

 

Goliath was a giant that was twice as tall as David (I Samuel 17).  David probably weighted no more than the coat of mail that Goliath wore, but he was bigger on the inside than Goliath was on the outside.  We too, often evaluate things only in physical terms.  Physically, Goliath was a giant; but in trusting God, he was a dwarf.  David was the giant in faith, and that was what won the battle.  Anyone who is strong in believing God is a giant in the spiritual realm, and able to do great exploits. 

 

We overestimate and over-emphasize the problems that confront us because we forget who we are in Jesus Christ.  David was God’s anointed king, but Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lord’s because He slew the greatest giant mankind has ever faced: sin.  Everyone born of God is a spiritual giant with power and authority far greater than anything we encounter from the enemy, the world, or our flesh, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:4).

 

Ask God to open your eyes to who you are in the spirit.  You will find that you are a giant who will no longer be intimidated by dwarfs that the enemy has posed as giants!  The truth is that you are anointed and powerful as David and even more today because you have the Holy Spirit living inside you.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that the greater one dwells in me and no longer will I be intimidated by “dwarfs.”  I speak to my mountain and command it to come down in the authority and Name of Jesus.  I know to whom I belong and I refuse to give place to the devil any longer, in Jesus Name. Amen. 

 

 

EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION STATUS

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’)”—Galatians 3:13

 

We can understand from our scripture reading for today that Christ has already redeemed us.  The verb tense “has” shows us that redemption is a past tense occurrence.  Christ has already suffered the penalty for the curse of the law (see Deuteronomy 28 for details of the curse).   

 

The root word of “redemption” is “redeem” and it means to buy back - to get back – to free from what harms – to free from captivity by payment of a ransom – to free from the consequences of sin – to restore humankind to the place and position they had before sin entered – in other words to reestablish God’s original idea.

 

We, as God’s people, must recognize that when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior that are sinful nature is changed from death to life; however, the habits that we had before our salvation experience has not been redeemed—they must be changed.  For example, someone could have the habit of lying before they were “born again” they will continue to have that habit after their salvation experience until the habit attitude is changed.  “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). 

 

We exercise our redemption status when we believe more in grace than we do sin.  Habit attitudes can only be changed through the knowledge of redemption.  That is why I say that Redemption is a matter of the cross.

 

Today, reflect on the habits in your life.  Make sure that the message of REDEMPTION is applied to every habit.

 

Prayer—Father, I thank You for Your grace and the knowledge of redemption in my life to change every habit that does not reflect the message of the cross, in Jesus Name. Amen.

HAVE YOUR HEART ANCHORED IN PEACE

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10

 

Nations around the world are in turmoil.  For some the turmoil is political, for others it is economical, and some are experiencing turmoil due to the changing global weather patterns that bring economic and human devastation.  The scope and scale of global turmoil is hard to phantom; however, Paul wrote in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pang together until now.”   Matthew Henry writes in his commentary concerning this verse that the miseries of the human race are brought on because of sin and these sins have brought woes and turmoil to the earth.  The only hope for people that there is help is found in the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus told the early disciples that they would experience problems and that they could have peace in the midst of the turmoil, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Many years ago, I heard an observation about Christian life that makes a lot of sense.  We all are either heading into, going through or coming out of a trial in our lives.  No one gets through life without a struggle because the refining of our hearts is done through fire.  True lasting peace can only come through Jesus Christ.  It does not come through some person, some thing, some possession, some job, some vacation, some event, or some arranged peace between political allies.  It can only come through a personal relationship through Jesus Christ.  All these other ways are only an illusion—a mirage, and will soon fade because they are not real. 

 

Have you ever been through a difficult time in your life and were able to have a peace that you could not explain?  I have experienced this.  My husband went in for minor surgery and was in the operating room being put to sleep when the doctor’s thought that he had a heart attack.  I was notified what had happened, and that they were trying to stabilize him.  I immediately had a sense of peace, it was like a bubble surrounded me, and no report could sway me that he was not alright.   Had I not been a Christian I would have been petrified of what I was being told.  Instead, God gave me a promise in His Word and I rested in that promise, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  I refused to be swayed and said, “My husband’s heart is not troubled it is at peace.”   Years later, my husband’s heart is still at peace with no trace or evidence of a heart attack.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

 

God’s peace is available to anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  Peace is a promise to every believer and it is your Heavenly Father’s desire for you to have peace, not only through a difficult time, but in your every day life.  His peace is to be the constant state of being for the Christian and is not dedicated by circumstance—good or bad.   Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 145:27).   This is what our Heavenly Father wants for His children—that they walk in peace even in the midst of the storm in their every day lives.

 

This does not mean that sometimes we might feel fear or anxiety; but, for the person of peace, the Holy Spirit’s presence quickly calms the fear and anxiety, and then that person begins to feel the power of the Holy Spirit speaking calm and assurance to their heart. 

 

A deep genuine God-given peace can be the norm for the believer.  It is what God desires for you and me.  God does not desire that your soul be in turmoil, but hat your heart be anchored in peace.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you that my heart is fixed, trusting in You.  I thank You for the Peace that passes all understanding to keep my mind stable and focused upon You.  Holy Spirit I ask You to strengthen and help me to keep my eyes upon Jesus and not the turmoil around me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

PEACE CAUSES US TO EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”—John 14:27

 

The Bible meaning of peace in both Hebrew and Greek is to be well, to be happy, to be healthy, to be prosperous, to be restful, to be safe, to be whole, to be secure, to be quiet, and set at one again with God.  I like to think of peace as:  The state of being in which we were designed to be in harmony with God.

 

Isaiah 48:17-18 tells us how we can experience the presence of God in our lives.  “Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you be the way you should go.  Oh, that you had heeded my commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’”  We see in this scripture that peace is equated to “heeding” God’s commandments.  “Heeding” implies to pay attention.  God’s commandments were given to guide mankind in ways of peace and doing what is right and to protect them from sin and suffering.  Paying attention to God’s laws means:  following them, practicing them and being guided by them.  When we follow God’s instructions, our peace will be “like a river.”  This is God’s promise to us.  If we are not experiencing peace like a river, we need to check up on ourselves to see if we are heeding His word. 

 

I encourage you today to be aware of the presence of God in your life, and to allow the peace of God—the harmony between you and God to rule and reign in your heart.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding ruling and reigning in my heart.  Father I ask for Your help in paying attention to Your Word so that I experience Your presence in my life, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

GOD RESTORES HOPE

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God.”—Psalm 42:11

 

Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment.  I have known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation.  Some time later, however, they were in a much better place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions.  The reason?  They never gave up.  Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.

 

Nehemiah is a good example.  He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble.  After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved.  Though pain flooded his soul, he did not allow himself to stay in that low place.  Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God seeking direction.

 

Sadness in the presence of royalty was a punishable death.  But the Lord answered Nehemiah’s prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant’s sad countenance and then to ask what he could do to help.  This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people.

 

“And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxexes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the kings said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.’ So I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, ‘May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?’ Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if you servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’ Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him). ‘How long will your journey be? And when will you return?’ So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.’ And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me” (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

 

The Lord can take impossible situation—no matter what it is—and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.

 

Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do?  Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair?  Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God’s help.  He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life.

 

 Prayer—Father I repent for allowing negative emotions cutting me off from your best for me, and I ask You to restore hope in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen

TURN HELPLESS SITUATIONS AROUND BY REMEMBERING YOUR SUCCESSES.

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."—1 Corinthians 15:57

 

Yesterday, we saw what King Jehoshaphat did in a seemingly hopeless situation. Today, I want to extract another principle from that same scripture as we learn how to handle helplessness.   

 

“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?  And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying,  ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’  And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.  O our God, will You not judge them?  For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:5-12).

 

In verses 5-12, Jehoshaphat is still focused on the Lord, which should also be our first response to fear.  Yet notice what he does in this prayer.  He is not looking forward, stating his fears of what might happen.  Instead, he is remembering the past, recounting their success by looking at the times in Israel’s history when God brought them through similar “helpless” situations.

How often has the Lord done a mighty work on your behalf when all seemed lost?  He is actively involved in our lives today.  Sadly, we frequently thank Him in the moment but then forget what He has done for us.  Later, when we are fearful again, it’s hard to remember how He has already proven Himself in our lives.  This is why every believer should keep a journal, a written record of the Lord’s faithfulness.  During times of helplessness, we want encouragement not just about how God has worked in history or in the world, but about how He’s worked in our own lives.

It may take some time to establish the discipline of journaling, but the rewards are tremendous. You may say, “Well, I don’t have time for that.”  Friend, you need to make the time.  When you record blessings, you begin to view God’s work from a new perspective.  You will start to see how He is weaving the individual “threads” of your life to create a beautiful tapestry for His glory.

Prayer—Father I thank You for helping me recount the times that You have given me the victory, and when I remember them it encourages me to see You at work in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

SEEK THE PERFECT HELP IN A HELPLESS SITUATION

“And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, because they trust in Him.”—Psalm 37:40

 

Have you ever felt totally helpless?  Can you remember facing a situation or emergency in which you were powerless?  It’s a sobering experience for anyone.  Even people who claim to be wholly dependent on God, still like to feel as if they have some control over their circumstances.

Jehoshaphat faced a moment like that.  “It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.  Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi).   And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.   So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20: 1-4).

 

 The good king was confronted with dangerous news. Three different armies had joined forces to destroy Israel.  As he listened to the report, “a great multitude” of attackers were already on their way. What was the king’s response?  Verse 3 tells us he was “afraid.”  That makes perfect sense.  He no doubt felt powerless.  But, even in that moment of helplessness, he knew exactly what to do.  Scripture does not say, "Jehoshaphat was afraid and ran away” or “he was afraid but charged headlong into battle.”  No, the Bible tells us that “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord”.  That was the perfect response to a helpless situation. The king knew this was not the time to give up, nor was it the time to take action motivated by fear. Instead, he did the only wise thing he could: he prayed. More than that, he called on others to pray.  And suddenly, the entire situation changed, because God had been brought into a hopeless situation.

When we feel helpless, the first word out of our mouth should be “Father.” From then on, helplessness is not an issue, because God—the Perfect Help will provide what we need.

 

Prayer—Father I turn my attention to You in the time of trouble and I put my trust in Your Word.  Father Your Word says that You uphold all things by the Word of Your power and I trust You to uphold me in this hour.  Lord I need Your help in this __________________situation.  I ask that You wake up skilled intercessors to pray in my behalf and together we will see the Salvation of our Lord, in Jesus Name.  Amen. 

 

 

A MAJOR ATTACK: DISTRACTIONS

“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”—1 Corinthians 7:35

 

Driver distraction has become epidemic, as drivers focus on calling, texting, and selecting radio stations, eating and the like.  Maybe you are just engaged in deep conversation with someone else in the car or just looking at a beautiful sunset.  Whatever the reason, driver distraction, in the United States, was cited as the cause in sixteen percent of all traffic fatalities in 2010 which killed more than five thousand people.

Webster’s Dictionary describes distraction as an act of separation or drawing apart and something that diverts attention.  It is a process when our focus or attention is diverted from the task at hand.

In First Corinthians, Paul admonishes us “attend upon the Lord without distraction.”  Like focusing on our driving, Christians need to be spiritually focused.  When we are distracted while driving we can have an automobile wreck, so too, when we are spiritually distracted, we are in danger of having a spiritual wreck. 

The major attack against intercessors is the spirit of distraction.  Distractions do not just happen by chance. They are strategic assignments sent by the enemy and his agents to break our focus.  If the enemy breaks your focus he can break your flow.  Intercessors must have spiritual continuity or the ability to continue without wandering off course.  We have been given the power to bind and loose, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).  Intercessors need to bind and loose the spirit of distraction when they pray.

 

Distractions that attack the mind hinder the ability to move on and completion never takes place.  This creates loose ends. When a person has too many loose ends in their life their discernment is eventually blocked.  “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).   Vigorously, renewing our minds with the Word of God helps us to stay focused on God and His ways, and when the enemy attacks, we are then well able to overcome him with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through You to the pulling down of strongholds.  Today, by the authority that is in the name of Jesus, I pull down distractions and hindrances in my life that pull me away from my walk with You.  I loose them and their evil effects and bind them from my life, in the name of Jesus.  Father I thank You for helping me and cleansing me by the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep my focus single, in Jesus Name.  Amen. 

 

 

SEE DIFFICULTIES AND BATTLES BASED ON SCRIPTURAL TRUTH

“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 Timothy 2: 1-4

 

Today's passage is from Paul's letter to Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man—and, by extension, every believer—to face difficulty as a good soldier. The military term "soldier" implies that we are in a battle.  And in fact, the combat started before Adam and Eve's lifetime

 

We see the first evidence when almighty God, who had created all the celestial beings, nevertheless allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter known as "demons") to rebel against Him. They established their own kingdom and waged war with the Lord.

 

Later we see this strife extend to all humankind.  In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted humankind to violate God's command by eating forbidden fruit.  Their disobedience corrupted humankind's innocence, and ever since, all human beings have been born with a nature bent away from the Lord—and with a profound need for a Savior.

 

Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict: by means of scripture. God's Word gives us everything we need to win—from offensive and defensive weapons (Ephesians 6: 10 -17) to the proper perspective on our adversaries' real identity: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12).

 

As Christians, when we encounter difficulties, problems and battles, our assurance of victory is based on the scriptural truth that we belong to God and that He is mightier than all evil—no matter what it seems like; victory is ours!   ^“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Jesus is the model that I look to when I stand my ground against the forces of evil.  I thank You that the weapons that I have are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds and that I am assured of victory because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

EARLY RISERS COMMAND THE MORNING

 “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”—Proverbs 8:1

 

The believer’s source of power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  We build ourselves up in faith when we confess the Word of God and pray in the Holy Spirit.  “But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).  Satan has been defeated through the cross.  Principalities and powers have been spoiled, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).  We are enforcing this victory through our prayers, and this honor has been given to all His saints.  Prayer is commanded and not a suggestion.  Jesus said, “When you pray…” (Luke 11:2).  We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, to take the sword of the spirit, and pray with all manner of prayer (Ephesians 6). 

 

Early Risers, 3 a.m. – 6 a.m., through prayer command the morning, facilitate the purposes of God and cancel the plans of the enemy and frustrate him.  The following are some scriptures that have changed my life and ministry when I began to confess and pray them. 

“Lord, You awaken me morning by morning. You waken my ear to hear as the learned’ (Isaiah 50:4).

“Lord, Your going forth is prepared as the morning, and I pray that You will come as the rain, the latter and former rain upon the earth” (Hosea 6:3).

“Lord, You visit me every morning” (Job 7:18).

“I receive Your lovingkindness every morning” (Psalm 143:8).

“Lord make the outgoings of the morning to rejoice” (Psalm 65:8).

“Let Your light break forth in my life as the morning’ (Psalm 58:8).

“I will have dominion over the devil in the morning” (Psalm 49:14).

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?” (Job 28:12-13).

 

The purpose of the Morning Prayer is to take hold of the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it.  Pray that the wicked, those who will never receive Jesus, (fatally wicked) will be shaken out of the earth.  It is important to pray that the wickedness be shaken out of your city, a shaking out of witchcraft, perversion and false doctrine.  Commanding the Morning Prayer sets the day against the powers of hell and against the powers of darkness.   Instead of the day being set against you, you set the anointing of God against every curse, spell, jinx, hex, overcome every vex, and all wickedness that would come your way and you destroy it in the name of Jesus. 

 

“Let Your judgments come upon the enemy morning by morning” (Isaiah 28:19).  God brings His judgment to light.  In the morning, we declare that God brings his judgment and justice in the earth.  Injustice does not change because we complain it changes because we declare the justice of God’s kingdom.  Therefore prayer is setting His kingdom and His justice in place.

 

When we rise up early and command the morning in prayer, God takes hold of the ends of the earth and shakes the wicked out of it and sets His justice and judgment in order.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that I am assured that when I seek You early I shall find You.  I purpose in my heart to get under the anointing of the early riser and that the first fruit of my morning is holy; therefore my entire day will be holy.  As I command the morning and capture the day, time is being redeemed. I degree and declare a new day, a new season and a fresh anointing, in the name of Jesus. Amen.   

 

 

ALLOW THE PROPHETIC VOICE TO SPEAK IN YOUR CRISIS SITUATION

“Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.” —Proverbs   4:10

 

During my childhood years, my mother would often remind my siblings and me to shut the door when we were running in and out of the house.  My mother is now in heaven, put I can recall her voice calling out, “shut the door…were you born in a barn?”  

 

The Bible tells us of a woman in 2 Kings 4:1 – 7 who was in a crisis situation in her life.  Her husband had died, and her two sons were about to be taken away from her because she could not pay her debts. She had no where to go, and no one had came to help her in her crisis except someone that she recognized heard from God, the prophet Elisha.  Elisha had asked the woman what was in her house that could be used as a seed for the answer to her crisis.  She replied that she had a jar of oil.  Elisha instructed the woman to borrow as many vessels as she could from everyone she knew.  Furthermore, she and her sons were to go into her house, shut the door and fill all of the jars.  Her container of oil flowed to fill all the jars, and then ceased flowing when the last jar was filled.  The abundance of oil that God supplied met her need in the paying of her debts.

 

The prophetic voice in her crisis situation told her to shut the door to her home.  We can only speculate as to why the prophet told her to shut the door.  But, it is possible that she was to shut the door to distractions and possible intrusions that would have gotten her to abandon the instructions given by the prophet.  To hear the voice of God in a crisis situation deliberately purpose in your heart to shut out the world’s noise and confusion.

Prayer—Lord, I purpose in my heart to shut out the outside influences in my life; so that, I can hear your instructions clearly and plainly.  Lord will You please speak to me in a way that I can understand and obey what You instruct me to do, in Jesus Name.  Amen.      

 

YOU ARE ASSURED TO BLOSSOM AS THE ROSE

“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,
And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose”—Isaiah 35:1

 

Human history began in the garden, but mankind’s sin turned it into a desert.  Toil, pain and death came as a result of mankind’s disobedience.  However, through the obedience of Jesus Christ many will be made righteous, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).  God’s heart is not for mankind to be separated from Him, but to have sinners repent and believers to be encouraged.  His desire is for the dry places in our lives to rejoice and blossom as the rose.

 

While there are many varieties of roses they all need care to produce the fragrant blossoms they are known for.  Without water, roses and humans cannot survive.  Scripture tells us that we need “spiritual” water, too, “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26).   Fertilizing and pruning are also apart of the care for roses to cause them to thrive.  Likewise, the Holy Spirit in our lives produces the power in our lives.  “But You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).  Jesus said that the Father prunes us so that we can produce more fruit, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit’ (John 15:2).

 

We see a beautiful picture of the children of Israel digging for water in the dessert, in Numbers        21: 16-18.  While standing on burning sand, and digging the well with their staff of promise, they sang a praise of faith and tapped into a stream that ran “unseen” below the surface and the dry desert blossomed. 

 

In what area of your life do you need to just “sing out praise” to the Lord?  What area is dry, barren, parched, unfruitful or desolate?  Remember, complaining always brings about a dry desert while praising always brings about life and blossoming.

 

Prayer—Father, will You please show me the dry, barren, parched, unfruitful, desolate places in my life and prune the needed areas?  Lord, will You please send me the washing of the water of Your Word to produce life in the desert?  Holy Spirit thank You for Your empowerment helping me to be blossom and produce more fruit, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

BEARING FRUIT IS THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”—John 15:16

The Bible tells us to bear fruit. "Bearing fruit" is mentioned 106 times in the Old Testament.  It is also mentioned 70 times in the New Testament and of the 27 Epistles’, "bearing fruit" can be found in 24 of them. The remaining three have the concept of bearing fruit within the message.

In the beginning when God created man and woman, He told them to be fruitful and multiply.  As you read through the scriptures, you can see over and over again God’s theme of bearing fruit.  Everything that God created was to bear fruit.  Jesus even told us that we should bear fruit.  When we try to act like a Christian by going to church, and saying all the right things, but our lives are not bearing the fruit as a disciple of Christ, we are being a phony.  In a way, we are like the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Matthew 21:18-19, “In the early dawn the next morning, as He was coming back to the city, He was hungry.  And as He saw one single leafy fig tree above the roadside, He went to it but He found nothing but leaves on it [seeing that in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves].  And He said to it, never again shall fruit grow on you! And the fig tree withered up at once.”  Jesus was hungry and saw the green leaves; as the fig tree was suppose to bear fruit at the same that the green leaves appeared.   He supposed that He would find something to eat, but the tree was not bearing fruit—it was a phony. 

If our lives revolve around the church, carry our Bibles every where, sit by ourselves at lunch at work to read our Bibles, but never have time to help anybody, or show kindness, we are like the fig tree with leaves but no fruit.  People with a spiritual outward appearance but no fruit are hard to get along with because of their selfish nature; there is not an outward expression of their inward belief—no fruit in their lives. 

 

Fruitfulness is the mark of our genuineness as a believer in Christ.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 -20, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.   Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Jesus Himself tells us that we will know people by their fruit.  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33).  

 

We are the tree and whether we bear good fruit or not demonstrates the genuineness of our faith.  Jesus Christ changes our life.  Salvation is not a reformation, it is a transformation.  The tested and true believer will bear some fruit.  If your life has not changed at all, I must warn you—see if you are truly in the faith.  There was a popular saying some years ago, no fruit—no root. 

 

Fruitfulness is the measure of your walk with the Lord.  It is always good to examine our lives and see if there are any changes that need to be made.  Answer these questions honestly to yourself and see if there is room for adjustments.  Is there any evidence of fruit in my life?  Is there any pro-activity in my life?  Does anyone see me as different? 

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to show me any areas in my life that I need to make adjustments so that I may bear much fruit for You.  Lord, I submit myself anew to You today for a fresh revelation of Your life in me so that I can demonstrate Your love to others, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

STEP INTO OBEDIENCE

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.”—Deuteronomy 28:1

 

There are times that our heavenly Father requires us to take a step of obedience.  He requires us to step out of our “safety-zone” and into our step of obedience.  While doing so may create uncertainty in our lives, there are some things of which we can be confident.  Let’s look at what happened when Jesus required His disciples to take a step of obedience.

 

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:22-33). 

 

Jesus required His disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side.  It seemed to them that they were going by themselves.  There are times that it seems as though God is stretching us.   And through our obedience, we may have feelings of doubt, indecision and fear, even as the disciples did when they were in the boat and the winds were blowing very hard and thought they were seeing a ghost.  However I want to encourage you to see these as opportunities to trust the Lord, instead of, being seized with fear. 

 

When you trust the Lord, you can count on His presence being with you for He has said, “…I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  The relationship that we have with our heavenly Father is permanent through Jesus Christ.  Our Father’s love for us is deep and abiding, and His promises are sure.  When He calls us to venture outside of our comfort zone, we can obey because He is right there by our side. 

 

 When it seems as though we are not going to make it, the Holy Spirit makes us stronger to be victorious.  When we falter, He strengthens us.  When we stumble, He steadies us, and when we fall, He picks us up. 

 

I want to encourage you today that when the Lord requires you to step out in obedience that you can: Rely on His presence and His power to equip you. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that as I step our in obedience to You that You will never leave me or forsake me.  And that I can rely on Your presence and power to equip me, in Jesus Name. Amen.