Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 150 | Wed 14 Mar 2012
LAOS: CHRISTIANS THREATENED -- RECANT OR LEAVE
By Elizabeth Kendal
Laos is a Communist-ruled South-east Asian state known for its abysmal human rights record, particularly its appalling prison conditions and systematic use of torture. Christians in this poor, landlocked nation face intensive persecution. Generally the religious persecution occurs outside the main cities, targets the already marginalised and persecuted ethnic minorities and is committed by belligerent and corrupt local officials. In Laos, religious liberty exists in theory but not in practice. Article 30 of the Laos Constitution states: 'Lao citizens have the right and freedom to believe or not to believe in religions.' However, the Prime Minister's 2002 Decree on Religious Practice (Decree 92) renders religious liberty illusory by mandating that religious activities first be approved by the village, district and regional authorities.
Furthermore, Decree 92 and Article 9 of the Constitution prohibit activities that could cause 'chaos' or 'social division'. Lao Communists oppose the growth of Protestant Christianity amongst the ethnic minorities, viewing it as part of a US conspiracy to destroy social cohesion and challenge Communist rule. Meanwhile, ethnic minority groups with a tradition of ancestor worship oppose Christianity, fearing reprisals from offended ancestral spirits. Denial of services (educational, medical, sanitation), imprisonments, forced renunciations of faith (using threats and torture) and expulsions are the main means employed against Christians by Communist officials determined to maintain control over a harmonious society. In January 2010 eleven Christian families consisting of 48 believers were expelled at gunpoint from Katin village in Ta-Oih district, Saravan Province, southern Laos, simply on account of their faith. Over the course of the year several other families, moved by the Christians' witness, decided to follow Christ and were also expelled. These believers have suffered greatly, losing everything they owned, with some even dying in the bush. They are slowly re-establishing themselves but life is hard.
On 2 March 2012 Khamla, the only known Christian in the whole of Viengphuka district in Luang Namtha Province, was summoned to meet with Lao officials at their headquarters. Khamla had recently converted to Christianity after being miraculously healed from a long-term disease in answer to the prayers of believers from another district. After rebuking and interrogating Khamla, the authorities gave him an ultimatum: recant or leave Dongvieng village by 7 March. Local authorities are reportedly determined to keep Christianity out of Viengphuka district. No update on Khamla is available.
On 18 February local authorities in Pakoo district of Luangprabang Province issued an expulsion order against ten Christian families. The families, comprising some 65 believers, were given until 18 March to either recant their faith or leave Hueygong village. Eight of the ten families became Christian only three months ago, but without the permission of the Pakoo district chief, a district religious affairs official and the secretary of the Communist party's regional branch. Head of religious affairs of Luangprabang Province, Mr Bousee Chantuma, has reportedly intervened and is seeking a reversal of the expulsion order on the grounds that it is illegal as provincial religious affairs are supposed to be under his jurisdiction. Whether he is protesting injustice or procedural irregularity is unclear. Not all officials are prepared to use force against Christians who stand their ground. In mid-January local authorities threatened to expel 14 Christian families, comprising over 80 believers, from Hueysell village in Ngoi district, also in Luangprabang Province, unless they recanted their faith. Standing firm in faith, the believers held their ground and while the authorities continue to threaten and intimidate, as yet they have not used force against them.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --
* bless his faithful Church in Laos, protecting them wherever they are, meeting all their spiritual, emotional and physical needs.
* redeem this suffering, using the arising witness to fan flickers of faith into a revival that transforms communities: may there be a spiritual awakening in Laos that liberates tribal animists driven by fear of ancestral spirits; Lao Buddhists driven by fear into legalism and ritual; and spiritually empty Communists driven by atheism into meaninglessness, selfishness and cruelty.
* bring unity and solidarity to the body of Christ in Laos, so that registered (state-approved) religious groups will not be ashamed of those who are suffering on account of Christ's name. May they have strength and courage from the Holy Spirit to support their brothers and sisters who are suffering. 'By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' (John 13:35 ESV)
To see this RLPB with hyperlinks go to http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
CHRISTIANS IN LAOS THREATENED -- RECANT OR LEAVE
Whilst religious liberty is enshrined in the Laos constitution, it is restricted by prohibitions in Article 9 and Decree 92 that forbid anything that could cause social division. Virtually all religious activity must be approved by village, district and regional civic (often animist) and political (Communist) officials. Christians refusing to recant their faith are routinely punished by denial of services and eventually expulsion from their village. Khalma, a new believer, has been told to recant or leave Dongvieng village, while 10 Christian families (65 believers) have been ordered to recant or leave Hueygong village by Sunday 18 March. Other Christian families in other villages are similarly at risk. Some who have already been expelled after refusing to recant are struggling to survive. Please pray for the Church in Laos.
--------------------
We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.
For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal's blog 'Religious Liberty Monitoring' <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>;.
Previous RLPBs may be viewed at <http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/>;.
This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email to <join-rlpb@hub.xc.org>.
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How important is prayer in the life of the church? Perhaps this is most accurately answered by
evaluating the amount of time actually given to
prayer when we gather."
"Time = Commitment"
In his classic book, Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders wrote, "Mastering the art of prayer, like anything else, takes time. The time we give it will be the true measure of its importance to us. We always find the time for important things." [i]
Sanders' conclusion is clear. Time, not words, ideals, or good intentions is the real evidence of our commitment to something. This is true in all other matters of relationship. Our commitment to caring for our family is measured ultimately in time. Our desire to have a good marriage is ultimately linked to time. Our commitment to developing a vital relationship with God is measured in time.
Clearly, this idea is relevant to our personal life and urges us to allocate significant time to our pursuit of Christ in prayer. However, in this devotion, I want to think of the priority of prayer in the life of the church with specific application to our corporate gatherings. How important is prayer in the life of the church? Perhaps this is most accurately answered by evaluating the amount of time actually given to prayer when we gather.
The Average Sunday Gathering
Think of the Sunday services you attend. Typically, time allocations look something like this:
- Teaching – 45%
- Singing – 30%
- Announcements – 10%
- Prayer – 10%*
* These prayer components are usually seen in the brief opening prayer, closing prayer, prayer for the offering, and perhaps a snippet of prayer interspersed in the singing.
The Average Leadership Conference
Recently I attended a national pastors’ conference where the sessions looked something like this:
- Teaching (Preaching & Seminars) – 80%
- Singing – 15%
- Announcements - 3%
- Prayer – 2%
I found it odd that in a gathering designed to encourage church leaders, show them models of ministry, and equip them for effective leadership – so little time was given to the vital engagement of praying together.
The Average Church Week
If you look at the average calendar of activities at a church you might find a pattern like this:
- Bible studies – 30%
- Social activities – 40%
- Singing/worship – 20%
- Prayer gatherings (or prayer time within other existing gatherings) – 10%
The Average Small Group
When we gather in homes for mid-week connection, it can often look like this:
- Social time – 15%
- Bible Study/Discussion – 60%
- Sharing about personal needs – 15%
- Prayer – 10%
The Average Leadership Team Meeting
When the leaders gather, the allocation of time can vary. However, overall you might find a pattern very much like this:
- Planning/discussion/problem solving – 80%
- Biblical study – 15%
- Prayer time – 5%
As I consult with churches about their prayer culture, one of the key points of evaluation is the amount of time actually given to prayer in the leadership gatherings. Beyond this, we often evaluate the time spent “praying about things” (requests, etc.) vs. time spent “seeking the Lord” (a worship-based approach). This factor is a core determiner for a growing prayer culture in a church.
Early Church Pattern
We cannot know for certain, but it is helpful to evaluate the pattern of the early church in terms of their time given to prayer.
We do know that before the church was launched, the disciples gathered for 10 days for united prayer in the upper room leading up to Pentecost. We do know that prayer was one of the four vital components that defined the daily pattern of the gathered church. Acts 2:42 explains, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Perhaps this was a 25% allocation of time to prayer.
When the early church faced persecution they did not gather to plan their defense or spend hours strategizing an appeal to the government. Rather, the Bible says, “they raised their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24), which represents an instinctive allocation of precious time at a strategic moment.
Refusing to become absorbed in designing an enhanced program to feed the widows, the Apostles directed the church to find seven wise, spiritual, and respected men to handle that task. The leaders declared their vital time allocation in these words: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). Perhaps you could argue that this was a 50% allocation of time to the priority of praying together.
In Acts 12:5, Peter was put in jail, "but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." It seems clear that this is an allocation of many hours to the priority of collective prayer.
Acts 13:2 describes the vital time allocation of the church leaders in Antioch where it says, "they ministered to the Lord and fasted." It is clear they spent hours and even days in this focus as they waited on the Holy Spirit for clear direction.
The Power of Time Invested
Sanders is right. The real value we place on something will be seen in the actual time we give to it. I am not suggesting some legalistic discipline of watching the clock in order to be sure we are proving how disciplined we are to focus on prayer. Rather, this raises the deeper issue of our heartfelt delight in seeking God, evidenced in our desire to give Him time. This is not a matter of the clock, but a matter of the heart.
When we give substantive time to prayer, things change. We behold His glory and are transformed into the image of Christ. We discover a deep and authentic unity. We are in a place to know the clear direction of the Holy Spirit. We experience supernatural enablement to accomplish the mission of the Gospel. The fruit of our ministry effort is produced by the Holy Spirit, not human talent or cleverness. The outcome of our ministry rises to God’s glory as it is all done in God’s power, by God’s direction.
Does your church, leadership conference, small group, or staff team desire any of these powerful benefits? Then give more of your heart-felt, worship-based time and attention to seeking God’s face. He will be honored, you will be blessed, and His mission will be advanced in His power, for His glory.
[i] J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership. Chicago: Moody Press. 2007. P.
Copyright © 2012 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.
Please pray on March 11, 2012, for Japan. The following came in our IPC mailbox.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you very much for your prayer and support for JEA and
Japanese churches. I just wanted to let you know we are calling
for Global Prayer chain for Japan on March 11th, which marks
the one year memorial day of the Great East Japan Earthquake
Disaster.
I am sending the brief report and prayer request leaflet.
I would appreciate it if you could circulate these through your
networks and pray these prayers together with us on March 11th.
This prayer chain will certainly encourage those young Japanese
church leaders who are involved with disaster relief work.
The idea of Prayer chain is simple. When you pray for Japan
on March 11th, just send an e-mail to adminoffice@jeanet.org
or twitter to @JEA_office. It would make a chain of e-mails
and twitters throughout the day around the globe.
Thanks again for your prayer and support.
sincerely in Christ,
*******************************
Japan Evangelical Association
General Secretary
KENICHI SHINAGAWA
e-mail : adminoffice@jeanet.org
Faith grows only whenit is exercised and tested. One of the reason we do not have greater spiritual strength is that we do not give God opportunity to reveal His power on our behalf. He will help us every time of need, if we will place our entire faith in him; but we must give Him that opportunity.
Too often we fail to honor God by our requests. By the smallnest of our requests, we show our lock of raith. We receive so little because we ask so little. often the reason His people have no greter strength than they do is that they do not give the Lord the
opportunity for revealing His power on there behalf. The Bible repeatedly stresses the importance of our asking.
POWAY, CA -- On January 2, 2012, Moms In Touch International changed the ministry name to Moms in Prayer International.
The new name clearly reflects the vision of the ministry, gathering mothers around the world to pray for children and schools. While groups meet to pray in more than 130 countries, the name “Moms In Touch” has been hard to translate, resulting in countries using a variety of other names, including Moms in Prayer. The 27-year-old ministry expects the new name to foster more unity and clarity of purpose.
The ministry remains the same. Only the name has changed.
“We believe God will use the name Moms in Prayer to advance the ministry in even greater ways, heightening the awareness of prayer for children and schools to the next generation of moms,” says Founder/President Fern Nichols in a Moms in Prayer Blog about the name change.
In 1984, as Nichols fearfully sent her two eldest children off to public junior high, she asked God to bring her one other mom to pray with her for their children and school. From the cry of one mom’s heart, God grew the prayer ministry to include groups in every state in the USA and in countries throughout the world, such as Pakistan, Russia, Chile and Mongolia.
The prayer ministry has one goal – to gather women together to pray scripturally and specifically for children and schools. Women around the world meet regularly (usually weekly), spending an hour praying through the Four Steps of Prayer: praising God for who He is, silently confessing any sins, thanking God for what He has done, and interceding on behalf of children, teachers and school staff.
The key ministry Booklet, available in 49 languages/versions, explains the biblical principle of the Four Steps of Prayer, praying in one accord, agreement prayer and how to facilitate a powerful hour of prayer that not only impacts the lives of the children and school staff being prayed for, but also changes the lives of the moms, as they develop an intimate prayer relationship with our Heavenly Father.
For more information about Moms in Prayer International, visit www.MomsInPrayer.org. For questions about the name change, please visit Name Change FAQs.
Our About Us section includes a Bio about Fern Nichols and our ministry Fact Sheet. A demonstration video of a Moms in Prayer group is also available online.
Please visit www.ipcprayer.org to read the newsletter and sign up for future mailings at http://ipcprayer.org/index.cfm?&menuid=70.
In this issue...
INTERNATIONAL PRAYER CONNECTIONS
March 2012
“Globalizing Prayer, Transforming our World”
IN THIS EDITION
- Praying Effectively…Through Times of Challenge
- World Prayer Assembly - Launch of “My Home” Project in Indonesia
- Time to Register for the World Prayer Assembly While There Is Still Room!
- Prayer Focus: 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting National Campaign Pakistan
- Iranian Peril Needs to be Averted Through Our Prayers
- MEXICO—Believers Afraid as Violence Spreads to More Mexican Cities
- Pray for Mexico’s Presidential Election and the Cartel War
- USA Healthcare Law Before the Supreme Court
- Calling for Prayers for the Election of the New Chief Executive of HKSAR on March 25
- Battle Against Human Trafficking in Mexico and the USA
- India National Summit on Church and Mission
- Global Day of Prayer for Burma
- Prayer Requested for Zambia
- Watchmen on the Walls for North Africa
- Crucial International Initiatives Needing Prayer Support
- Call to Prayer for the World Prayer Assembly (WPA), May 14-18, 2012
- IPC Events Calendar
- The IPC Website
- About International Prayer Connect (IPC)
- Donating to IPC through PayPal
- Contacting the IPC Office
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 149 | Wed 07 Mar 2012
NORTHERN NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM PLOT TO 'END THE CHRISTIAN PRESENCE'
(plus SUDAN UPDATE)
By Elizabeth Kendal
Evidence indicates Boko Haram, the Nigerian al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, has transformed numerous suburban homes across the north of Nigeria into bomb-making factories. Several militants have been killed recently in Maiduguri, Damaturu and Kaduna when bombs exploded accidentally. Boko Haram's targets include schools, police stations, banks, government buildings and churches. Apart from these strategic bombings, the militants also roam the streets killing people randomly. Bauchi State Police Commissioner Aduba Ikechukwu says these militants are well armed, carrying sophisticated weapons including machine guns, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Boko Haram's aim is to make Nigeria ungovernable so they might extract concessions towards the Islamisation of Nigeria. Al-Qaeda supports Boko Haram as a way of furthering its own goal of establishing a sanctuary and base of operations in Northern Nigeria from where it can launch jihad into West Africa.
On Sunday 4 March Egypt-based news website Bikya Masr spoke by phone to a spokesman from Boko Haram who told them that Boko Haram is preparing to launch a 'war' against Christians. He said the campaign, which will involve numerous co-ordinated attacks, is part of a 'plan to eradicate Christians from certain parts of the country'. He also boasted that the government 'cannot be prepared for what is to come'. Such a threat indicates that Boko Haram may be preparing to launch a wave of co-ordinated suicide bombings targeting Christians. The Boko Haram spokesman told Mikya Masr, 'We will create so much effort to end the Christian presence in our push to have a proper Islamic state that the Christians won't be able to stay.'
On Tuesday 6 March the same Boko Haram spokesman told Bikya Masr that the group also plans to 'strike fear into the Christians of the power of Islam by kidnapping their women'. According to the spokesman, the kidnapped Christian women will not be harmed, 'but we [Boko Haram] will demand as ransom that the families leave our Islamic areas'.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --
* protect and deliver his threatened children. 'For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.' (Psalm 27:5 ESV)
* humble and frustrate those who plot against his Church. 'Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.' (Psalm 28: 4 ESV)
* redeem these dark days of suffering, to bring awakening to many Muslims and revival to the Church. For only then -- after they come to the LORD -- 'they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks . . .' (from Isaiah 2:2-4 ESV).
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
BOKO HARAM PLOT TO 'END THE CHRISTIAN PRESENCE' IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
The al-Qaeda-linked Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram has declared it is plotting to 'end the Christian presence' in much of Northern Nigeria. According to a spokesman, the group is preparing to launch a 'war', a campaign of terror, against Christians through co-ordinated bombings and kidnapping Christian women. The women reportedly will be held for ransom and returned only to Christian families who leave the region. The goal is to eradicate Christians completely so that a 'proper Islamic state' might be established. The authorities say Boko Haram is well armed with sophisticated weaponry and munitions. This new threat against Christians is very direct and indicates very dangerous days lie ahead. Please pray that God will shield his people and rise up in defence of his Church. May God be glorified.
----------------------------------------------
" WATCHING SUDAN (Updating RLPBs 147 &148)
The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF; also known as the Kauda Alliance) is an alliance of rebel groups from Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. On 26 February the SRF defeated Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) troops at the strategic garrison town of Jau near the South Sudan border (see RLPB 148). The victory has theoretically opened the Kauda Valley for the Nuba refugees fleeing from genocide. The SRF is appealing for a no-fly zone to be established so that much-needed humanitarian aid can be delivered. On Saturday 3 March Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir declared that the SAF would 'purge South Kordofan' of 'traitors'. To that end he ordered the reopening of all Popular Defense Forces (PDF) camps across the nation. [The PDF are Arab-Islamic paramilitaries or 'mujahideen'.] He arrogantly predicted that SAF troops would soon perform thanksgiving prayers in the town of Kauda. On 6 March the pro-Khartoum Sudan Vision reported that up to 80,000 paramilitary troops are ready to die in 'defence of the country and its Islamic belief'. Persevere in prayer for our imperilled brothers and sisters fleeing from genocide in Sudan. Psalm 10:16-18.
---------------------------------------
To see this RLPB with hyperlinks go to http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au
---------------------------------------
We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.
For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal's blog 'Religious Liberty Monitoring' <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>;.
Previous RLPBs may be viewed also at <http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/>;.
This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email to
<join-rlpb@hub.xc.org>.
"If crises or grocery lists are the motivation for our prayers, we will be woefully inconsistent. Ultimately our prayers should not be spurred simply by our circumstances, but by His character."
"He is Worthy! We Are Needy!"
Peter Lord, one of my heroes and mentors in prayer, often says, “Most Christians pray out of crisis or from a grocery list.” His wisdom reveals not only the reality of our prayer behavior, but the flaw in our mindset and motivation in prayer.
Crisis and Grocery List
Crisis praying is certainly focused in the right direction. When we are in urgent situations we should look to the Lord. Psalm 34:6 says, “This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” However, when the primary and sporadic motivation of our heart for prayer is triggered by the pain of our circumstances, we have reduced God to a heavenly rescue squad that exists chiefly for our emergencies.
Grocery list prayer, while very common, is an approach to God that stems from our persuasion that prayer exists for us to inform Him about our problems, hoping He will order the universe according to our expectations. These expectations are usually rooted in our desire to avoid suffering or difficulty. God is reduced to a heavenly vending machine that exists for our temporal satisfaction.
The Model Prayer
Over the years I have taught on the model prayer Jesus prescribed in Matthew 6:9-13 (often described as “The Lord’s Prayer”). Sometimes the series has been deep and thorough, taking 10-12 weeks to complete. On other occasions, I have reduced the teaching to a one-sermon summary. Recently, I was asked to teach on this model prayer at a church in Calgary and was impressed that the prayer can be reduced to two primary ideas: 1) He is worthy, and 2) We are needy.
He is Worthy
The model prayer is essentially divided into two parts. The first segment is entirely Godward in focus. When we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are exalting God. We are declaring His worth. As John MacArthur notes, "This is a prayer that in every phase and every petition, beginning and closing and all in between focuses on God. His person, His attributes, and His wonderful works are the thrust of this prayer.”
We Are Needy
The second segment is a declaration of God as our source. We recognize and declare that we are needy. In prayer we resolve that we trust Him for our physical, relational, and moral needs. “Give us this day our daily bread (physical), and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (relational), and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (moral)."
Consistent Motivation
Every believer has experienced the confluence of positive surges and negative declines in prayer. Our motivation can wane and wander into the weeds. If crises or grocery lists are the motivation for our prayers, we will be woefully inconsistent. Ultimately our prayers should not be spurred simply by our circumstances, but by His character.
Jesus wants us to experience consistency in our spiritual pursuit in prayer. A daily conviction that He is worthy and we are needy provides a pure and passionate motivation in prayer. One person may make a seven-figure income, live in a multi-million dollar home, and have perfect health – but He is still worthy and that person is still needy. Another person may be jobless, homeless, and friendless. God is still worthy and that person is still needy. One person is young, another is old. One person is a seasoned Christian while another is a brand new believer. He is still worthy and we are still needy. The motivation never changes.
The Ultimate Purpose
As we mature, we advance to fully embrace the ultimate aim of all of our prayers, fueling the depth of our motivation. The model prayer says it clearly: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Prayer exists to advance His kingdom through our lives, exhibit His power in our lives, and extol His glory in everything.
When Paul wrote his epistles from prison he relied on “prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19). His heart passion was clear when he wrote, “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (vv. 20-21). This is the motivation of a clear-headed, pure-hearted, and eternally-focused Christ follower.
Motivation for a Lifetime and Beyond
So when you wake up tomorrow morning feeling weary and discouraged, remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray. When you come home from a hard day at work, exhausted and frustrated – and you are not in the mood to attend the prayer meeting – remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray. When things are going smoothly and life is feeling problem-free, remember: He is worthy and you are needy. Pray.
One day when we stand in His presence among the saints of all the ages and myriads of worshiping angels, we will still declare that He is worthy. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:12). We will even then continue to rejoice that we encountered Him when we were needy. “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). All things will consummate in His glory. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13).
With all this in mind, let’s pray the right way, for the right reason, and for the right purpose. We will be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to live as true disciples in this world as we consistently grow to know Him and make Him known.
Copyright © 2012 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.
dear in Christ greetings you our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am pastor\ funder at-
'' light of life prayer centre fellowship church ''
this church ministry is I start in 2008 by faith in Christ.
when I star this ministry that time only 2 members in church .
the we are pray to god with tears to lost souls in our villages .
then god given us good Reply. God Grace our church is growing .
Now We Have no spaces in our church .
so we are need one big prayer Room.
can you pray.
we are plan with pray make a one prayer Room.
but we have finical problem .
because our church is full independent .
yes i know you will be pray.
my humble request if possible can you join this ministry with partnership only glory to god and grow the God's ministry in India some time without teem work we are a not a win. because bible say " without Action faith is dead" { James 2:17 }
I hope God will open good way because this ministry is not a my ministry but its only God's Ministry.
thank you and god bless you.
" if we are faith full with God any time, then god also faith full with us any. ''
with love with prayer your brother in Christ pastor John .
{ pastorarjunjohn@yahoo.in }
1 Hour non-denominational Holy Ghost prayer meeting, every Friday
wherever you are---because Prayer knows no boundaries!
March 2 , 2012 PERSONAL PRAYER PROGRAM:
Romans 13: That I may love my neighbor as myself
wherever you are---because Prayer knows no boundaries!
March 2 , 2012 PERSONAL PRAYER PROGRAM:
Romans 13: That I may love my neighbor as myself
1. All I need is you Jesus
2. Be glorified Lord in my life
3. I praise you Lord for thou have done great things
4. When I think of your goodness Lord and all you have done for me, all I can say is thank you Lord
5. Thy throne Lord Jesus is forever and ever. All honor, glory and power belong to you
6. Father, I subject everything concerning my life to your authority in Jesus name.
7. Let anything in me resisting the power of God be broken and be remolded according to your will Lord
8. Lord give me the grace to love my neighbor as myself
9. I cast off every works of darkness from my life. I put on the armor of light in Jesus name.
10. I command every physical and spiritual strife in my life to cease today in Jesus name.
11. I declare that it shall be well with me and mine in the name of Jesus.
12. I terminate every journey taking me away from eternal life in Jesus name.
13. I thank you Lord for answered prayers.
COURTESY: LAMB OF GOD EVANGELICAL MINISTRY
Website:http://www.logem.org/>Email:<topcrestt@yahoo.com
http://www.logem.org/%3EEmail:%3Ctopcrestt@yahoo.com Phone: 234
803 403 3938 Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to
reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to
your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only
that you keep The LOGEM website, email contact info, and author contact
information intact
Website:http://www.logem.org/>Email:<topcrestt@yahoo.com
http://www.logem.org/%3EEmail:%3Ctopcrestt@yahoo.com Phone: 234
803 403 3938 Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to
reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to
your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only
that you keep The LOGEM website, email contact info, and author contact
information intact
I want to talk with you about spiritual warfare. Before we proceed, however, I have two concerns. The first is our need for wisdom. There is an old European proverb worth heeding. It reads: “Age and treachery will always defeat youth and zeal.” Before we engage in spiritual warfare, we should know this about Satan: he is an ancient and extremely treacherous foe. On the other hand, the strength of most Christians lies primarily in idealism and untested fervor. It is not long, usually five to ten years in the ministry, and most zeal has waned. Without warning, the minister’s call has deteriorated from a walk of vision to a mere job.
What occurred was that zeal, by itself, challenged the treachery of hell and lost. The brightness of youthful dreams dimmed under the dark cloud of relentless satanic assault. Under the weight of growing frustrations and discouragement, compromise increased, and with it came iniquity and spiritual bondage.
Yet, the real villain was not sin but ignorance. We put the devil in a doctrinal box and expected him to stay there. He did not. He undermined relationships, and our love grew cautious. He resisted us in prayer, and our faith turned weak. Disillusionment set in. After spending much time with struggling pastors, I have seen a common trend in most: They failed to discern the assault of the devil. They stood unprotected against an ancient, treacherous foe.
Jesus prepared His disciples for everything, including spiritual warfare. They watched Him cast out demons; they clearly knew the devil was real. In fact, He sent them forth to also deliver people from demons. But before He sent them out, He charged them to become wise “as serpents” yet innocent and harmless “as doves” (Matt. 10:16). This fusion of divine wisdom and Christlike innocence is the taproot of all spiritual victory. Indeed, we can defeat the enemy, but wisdom must precede warfare and virtue must come before victory.
Consequently, my goal is to train the church in wisdom and call the church to innocence. We will not disregard what we have previously learned; we will still live by faith. But we must learn the ways of God, which means we must think with wisdom. And we must pursue purity of heart, that we may see God and gain discernment. Indeed, it is the lack of discernment that has left us vulnerable to satanic attack.
Of my second concern, let me say that there are no shortcuts to successful warfare, only ways to make it longer and more perilous. One way of peril is to enter battle blinded by presumption. When it comes to waging war effectively, consider carefulness to be the essence of victory.
Whatever lofty spiritual plane you imagine that you are on, remember: Adam was in Paradise when he fell. Before your increased knowledge and religious experiences make you overly self-confident, recall that Solomon wrote three books of Scripture; he actually gazed upon the glory of God, yet he fell. Yes, even in your deepest worship of the Almighty, do not forget in long ages past Lucifer himself was once in Heaven pouring out praise to God.
We each know of many who have fallen. Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold. Do not presume it cannot happen to you. Our enemy has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years. Our experience, on the other hand, spans but a brief moment. It is wisdom to recognize that we do not know all there is to know concerning warfare.
Therefore, be bold but never brash or arrogant in your prayer life. Use your spiritual authority administratively, compassionately, but never presumptuously. Multitudes of well-meaning but ignorant Christians have approached the field of spiritual battle with flippant attitudes and have suffered greatly for it. Study several books and seek confirmation from the Lord for your strategies. As it is written, “Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance” (Prov. 20:18).
Thus, our purpose here is to help equip you for battle in three primary areas: the mind, the church and the heavenly places. There are other fields or subcategories of spiritual warfare; however, these are where most of us will face conflict.
One last note. A few of you will be instrumental in actually turning your cities toward God. Our prayer is that the truth of God’s grace will empower you for that goal and that others will join in that grace to see an enduring move of God accomplished. The promise of the Spirit speaks thus: “There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom” (Eccl. 9:14–15).
While many are predicting the destruction of our nation and the collapse of our cities, they have not considered the power of Christ in you. But remember, “Wisdom is better than strength . . . wisdom is better than weapons of war” (Eccl. 9:16, 18).
Introduction to The Three Battlegrounds
Dear HPN pray-ers,
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! We’ve sent this out a day early this month just to tell you we love you and hope that you have a wonderful day today! We want to pray this month for God’s love to touch all of the people mentioned below, especially the couples! And don’t forget to watch the Academy Awards on the 26th!
SUMMARY:
• We are praising God for two dear couples from the HPN community• We praise the Lord for the top two Doritos Super Bowl commercials
• We are so thankful for TWO former Victoria’s Secret models
• All is going well in the growing film center and HPN Chapter - Atlanta
• Pray for this year’s Academy Awards, hosted by Billy Crystal
• Pray for Whitney Houston's family
• This past Sunday, Feb. 12th was the 54th annual Grammys!
• In production is a new one hour TV Pilot, “American Bible Challenge”
• Pray for the nation’s Media and Entertainment industry on Sunday
• Pray for the Christians in Hollywood, to find strength in the Lord
• Let’s pray for these people to find the unconditional love of Jesus…
• Pray the Boys as they produce the “Faith in Film Lounge”
• Pray for our HPN Local Chapter Directors and industry members…
• Pray for the many great upcoming events in our industry!
PRAISES:
• We are praising God for two dear couples from the HPN community in Hollywood who have gone through serious health and death issues and are just now coming out on the other side. Please pray for Gloria who just had successful cancer surgery and is home, recovering with her new husband Chris. May the cancer be gone and never return. The second couple, Chris and Jenn, have recently lost two dear friends to unexpected deaths and then Chris survived a life threatening bacterial infection. He is home recovering and asking the Lord to continue healing, renewing, lifting Jenn’s spirits, and refreshing them both with new hope. May both of these couples experience God’s love.
• We praise the Lord for the top two Doritos Super Bowl commercials that were both made by talented Christians! #1 spot was “Man’s Best Friend” (read about it HERE. “Man’s Best Friend” won a million dollars as the Super Bowl Doritos prize winner. #2 spot was,” Sling Baby,”(read about it HERE.) “Sling Baby” was the million-dollar Doritos Facebook contest winner. “Sling Baby was written, directed and produced by HPN members and friends. Let’s pray for Director Kevin and his whole team to make wise choices with their winnings, their careers and their faith.
• God is AMAZING: We are so thankful for a former Victoria’s Secret model Nicole Weider, whom we prayed for last month, and her commitment to the Lord. Continue to pray for Nicole and her husband Eric as she works and ministers in the modeling community. This month we praise God for a recent ex-Victoria’s Secret model Kylie Bisutti and her husband Mike, and her choice to honor the Lord by not modeling for Victoria Secret any longer. Keep praying for Nicole and Kylie as they seek Him and serve as role models for young girls all over the world. For Kylie’s story click HERE.
• “All is going well in the Atlanta Chapter as the film/TV industry continues to boom in our state. We recently launched our Facebook page and also just had our first 15 Minute prayer conference call for 2012. We started doing the conference call in June of 2011 and it has taken our chapter to a new level. We're still praying for more participants to join us on the call, however! Thanks for your prayers for us” - CassandraUPDATES:
• It’s time for the OSCARS! Please pray for the producers, celebrities, studio executives, writers, directors, financiers and crews of all the films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards. Hosted for the 9th time by Billy Crystal, this year’s Oscars are airing on Sunday, February 26th at 5pm PST on ABC, Quite a few of this years’ films celebrate stories of faith, truth, hope and redemption. This is the biggest day of the year to pray for the Hollywood Film business!! For more information on the show and the nominees, click HERE.
REQUESTS:
"Please pray for the family, friends and fans of Whitney Houston, who passed away this past Saturday at the age of 48. Whitney had struggled with substance abuse for many years on and off and the day before the Grammy's it became too much. Whitney, who grew up singing her her church, sang her last song, Thursday night at a club. She got up and for just under a minute, sang "Jesus Loves Me." Two days later she was gone. May we lift up those closest to her and those who loved her and ask the Lord to point them to Him in their grief. The rollercoaster life of great fame and then no work became too much for her, as happens so often with celebrities all over the world. For more info, click HERE.
• This past Sunday, Feb. 12th was the 54th annual Grammys! It’s the evening when the world celebrates America’s leading songwriters, lyricists and musicians at its televised awards ceremony. Please pray for the musicians who won awards, and now wonder if that’s all there is. Please pray for those who didn’t win and wonder if they have any significance. This is the most difficult night for artists in the music world, just like the Oscar’s is the most difficult night for actors in the film world. They all need our prayers to discover God’s love, His comfort, and their true identity in Him. For the results of the evening, click HERE.• A new one hour TV Pilot about the Bible is now in production on GSN - the Game Show Network. It is entitled “The American Bible Challenge.” Let’s pray for Producers Tom Forman and Michael Davies (Executive producer of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") as they create this show, “celebrating the Bible in our society and culture.” The contestants play to earn money to support their faith communities! May the show represent positive, intelligent Christians and reflect the truth and beauty of the Bible. For more information on the show, click HERE. To learn what a TV Pilot is, click HERE.
• Please pray for the nation’s Media and Entertainment industry on Sunday, February 26th – the day of the Oscars! Would you join us in praying for God’s blessing on Mastermedia International’s call to begin an annual, national prayer movement to pray on the day of the Academy Awards for the people, projects and the issues coming out of Hollywood that impact the world? You could start it at your church! One idea is to ask your pastor to commission the artists in your church as prophets in our culture, and to bless and encourage artists to seek God as they pursue their career in arts, news media and entertainment. For more ideas on ways to pray that day, click HERE.
• Pray that Christians in Hollywood will find strength in the Lord, to withstand the pressure, competition, loneliness, temptation to compromise, and the frustration from trying to make a living as a creative person in Hollywood. We believe that Hollywood is not only the most influential mission field, but it is also one of the most difficult marketplace work environments. An HPN member published an article describing her life as a young actress in Hollywood. Would you pray for Grace and other young entertainment professionals as you read THIS article?
• Let’s pray for these people to find the unconditional love of Jesus and that He will transform their hearts and their lives this Valentines Day:
• Liam Neeson needs our prayers as he struggles with his faith that got shaken in 2009 when his wife died unexpectedly in a skiing accident. He is now even considering becoming a Muslim. Read more HERE.
• Rich Ross, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, since 2009, is leading the world’s most famous movie studio at a time where they are in production with the least number of feature films in decades. May the Lord reveal Himself as the God of Love, to Mr. Ross. Read all about him HERE.
• McCauley Culkin, the famous star of the “Home Alone” series and also known for suing his parents for spending all of his millions, is now 31 and not looking well. He has a sad past, and unhappy story and needs to experience the powerful love of Jesus in his life. Read more HERE.
• Pray for the couples and marriages in Hollywood and ask God to fill them up and transform them with His love: Angelina and Brad, David and Victoria Beckham and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. This month’s HPN Teen Prayer Calendar has these and other couples listed HERE.
• Please pray Mary and Dieter Boy as they produce the “Faith in Film Lounge”during the 62nd Berlin Film Festival, "Berlinale," on Wednesday, Feb. 15th in the Sony Center, Berlin. It’s open to all in the Film Industry who are visiting the “Berlinale.” For more info., email: m.a.bochert@gmx.de. The “Berlinale” is the world's largest film festival, taking place Feb. 9-19, 2012. It is eleven days of films, films, more films and prizes! Our HPN LCDs are actively involved. May the Lord bless their efforts and give them great strength, vision and fruitfulness during this time. For details click HERE.
REQUESTS FROM OUR GLOBAL HPN LOCAL CHAPTERS AND FROM HPN MEMBERS:
• Click HERE to read and pray for this month's prayer requests from HPN leaders and members.
LOTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS:
• Kathy L. Young and Kevin Deegan are starting a Bible Study for entertainment industry professionals who desire to be better equipped to answer God’s call in Hollywood. If you are local, join them on Sun. evenings (7 to 9 pm), Feb 19-April 29 as they explore James McDonald’s highly relevant study, “Gripped by the Greatness of God,” an 8-week study into the book of Isaiah. For more info. go to: www.hope4hollywoodstudy.wordpress.com or email Kathy at: coach4crossroads@yahoo.com
• Join HPN on Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 7:30pm for a prayer walk around the Kodak Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. We would love to have you pray with us. For more information email Caren at caren@hpnemail.org. If you aren't in LA that evening, join thousands of other pray-ers from home! We want to see God touch the lives of the top industry professionals that week-end!
• Saturday, March 3rd, is “Change Agent”, a One Day Seminar for Business, Arts & Entertainment and Media professionals. Authors, pray-ers, and speakers Os Hillman and Roh Burhoff want to empower creative industry professionals to live out all that God has for us, at Radiance International in Hollywood. For more information click HERE.
• THE CRY HOLLYWOOD, on March 15th at Universal Studios is a prayer gathering to call on God to move more miraculously in the Entertainment Industry. If you would like to join in praying for our industry, come from 12pm to 9pm at the Gibson Amphitheater, Universal Studios ~ To intercede over Hollywood, to connect and unify the body of Christ and reach out to all of those in media and entertainment. For more information and to register, go to: www.thecryhollywood.com
That’s it for this month. Remember that your prayers make a difference in freeing hearts and changing culture!
With love,
Karen and Caren
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TIP OF THE MONTH:
The 10 Biggest Myths About Hollywood: http://philcooke.com/hollywood_myths/
VERSE OF THE MONTH:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, Philippians 2:2-4
A record deal doesn't make you an artist; you make yourself an artist. ~Lady Gaga
QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
Do you shop at Ralphs or Krogers? If so, you can donate money to HPN just by shopping! If you sign up HERE , you can automatically have a % of your bill go directly to HPN, without any cost to you! Would you be willing to help us out without even thinking about it? Thanks SO MUCH!As we pray through Seek God for the City - -
Lord, remind us that prayer is more than a spiritual discipline and certainly not a "last resort;" it is an essential component of our relationship with you, our savior and our God. A privilege and a joy but also a critical responsibility. A weapon of warfare against your enemy and a tool for blessing for our neighbors and the nations. Today, as multitudes pray in unity, fill us with your Spirit, guide our prayers into agreement with the mind of Christ, and bring forth fruit from those prayers that magnifies and multiplies the glory of God in each of our Jerusalems and Judeas, include our Samarias, and the world. We seek this in the name of the one who did for us what we could not do for ourself; Jesus.
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Inner~View #40: Prayer Society Revolutionizes Congregation
Praying Pastor interviewed Pastor David Hoffman ofFoothills Christian Church- Click on photo for Foothills website
- Click headline for 39 additional "Inner~Views"
- Call 619-442-7728 (Sylvia) to order this book $10 + shipping)
Praying Pastor ~ David, your story is compelling - Tell us how the Lord revealed that "prayer is the single most important activity in the Christian life" ...
Pastor David ~ I had planted a church with my brother and we had been working extremely hard for approximately 7 years with little results. One morning in my devotion I read 1 Corinthians 4:20, “The Kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”
It was like a light went on in my spirit. What we needed to be successful for Christ was first and foremost the power of God. I also saw that the Kingdom of God was simply the presence and the power of the King. Where Jesus’ power is His kingdom advances. Without God’s power we really can’t accomplish much (John 15:5). Also, I came to see that if we don’t pray for God’s presence and power in general we’re living without it, we ministering without it. As James said, “You have not because you ask not.” Therefore, pray becomes of utmost importance for any believer.
Praying Pastor ~ You have the heart of a pastor but you ask "why are we failing to win America for Christ?" with the passion of an evangelist. What is the correlation of prayer and our ineffective evangelism?
Pastor David ~ We’ve looked to programs, systems and people to show us how to win the lost, not to God. Each local is different, if we want to win the lost we need to get down our knees and ask God for wisdom on how to do it. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t use ideas that work, only that first we need revelation and vision from God. We need God’s presence and power to show up when we speak to the lost, this happens when we pray.
Pastor David ~ Our Prayer Society was started as a way to challenge Christians to pray. In our church we had 1050 people sign up for the latest six month pledge commitment. For six months they pledge to do the following:
1. Pray a minimum of 2.50 hours each week.
2. Attend church regularly.
3. Support the church’s ministry through my tithes.
4. Strive for holiness and obedience to God in my daily life.
5. Pray regularly through prayer lists which will be compiled at the church every two weeks.
Within the first two years of our Prayer Society the church doubled and our facility was too small; after three years we reached our goal of ministering to 1000 children and youth a week. People began to purchase my sermon c.d.’s at a rate we had never seen before. In all areas of ministry the measurable results were astounding.
In the last 14 years our church has grown from a small church of 150 to an average attendance of 2500, 60 ministries, 124 small groups, 24 Bible clubs in our local public schools, 4 youth centers a K-8 school and a high school. We minister to 5500-6000 children and youth a week and 250 college age men and women. Since we started praying, 4 out of 5 City Council members are Christians and 4 out of 5 High School Board Members are Christians. All this in the State of California; hardly what you would call part of the Bible belt!
Pastor David ~ As Pastors, we need an anointing from the Holy Spirit to preach, teach, counsel and lead effectively and the way we get this anointing is through prayer. James says if we ask for wisdom we will get it. Prayer and the anointing it brings will help any pastor be more productive, discerning and effective.
Prayer must come first! If I know I have a busy day, a difficult day I know I must spend time in prayer. Why? Because I want God’s anointing and influence manifested in my life.
Pastor David ~We, as Pastors, are the gate-keepers, the watchmen of our cities. There may be times that if we work together we can accomplish great things for God. I’ve found working with other Pastors brings synergy to the cause of Christ in a community. We sponsor a periodic luncheon here at the church to facilitate Pastors getting to know one another. It’s been a tremendous blessing.
Praying Pastor ~ David, please write a prayer for pastors to personally discover how prayer will change their world...
Pastor David ~ Dear Lord Jesus,
Let your power and presence be felt from the pulpit of your Pastors here in America. Convict your servants that in their own strength can do very little. Fill church leaders with great hope for the future if they rely on you. Make all of us depend on you so as to reach our full potential in your kingdom. Come Lord Jesus and remind your leaders that you house shall be a house of prayer
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How many parents have sat with their children after an ordeal of some sort and said something to the effect, "I hope you learned something from that"? We don't want our children to miss the lessons, the opportunity for growth and maturity.
In the same way, our Father in heaven wants us to learn and grow from the trials He brings to our lives. That's part of the "joy" of which James speaks when he urges us to consider it all joy when we encounter trials of various kinds.
When our goal is merely to survive the hardships of our lives, we miss out on the sanctifying lessons our God has for us. Through trials we learn of the glories of our God, the strength of His grace, the comfort of His presence, and the competitors for our heart.
The key is to expect and look for these blessings that would not have come to us apart from the storm.
I want to commend a resource I wrote to help in that endeavor, The Prayer of Jehoshaphat: Seeing Beyond Life's Storms. You can find a description at the bottom.
I read a comment from a pastor's blog that affirmed for me the benefit of the book and how God has used it: "The Prayer of Jehoshaphat is finally a book on prayer that truly SPOKE to me. I'm not saying there aren't other good books on prayer...but this one reached deep down into my soul. I feel better prepared on why to pray, how to pray, what to pray. I was so encouraged TO pray because of how the author presents God's heart of grace toward us in Christ. I was encouraged to not be distracted by what seems to be an 'experience' that contradicts the promises of God and to keep focusing on those promises and God's character. I was encouraged to pray expectantly and to pray big prayers again.”
Description: The Prayer of Jehoshaphat develops King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 to give us focus, stability, strength, courage and direction in times of great distress. In the overwhelming circumstances that enter our lives, it directs us to take hold of the hand of our God who leads us from the point of crisis to gather up His blessings for us deposited by the storm. Each chapter can serve as a workstation where we bring others or linger ourselves with God, wrestling with the perspective brought to bear on our need, as we follow the movement from bleakness to blessing.
The vehicle in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, “If you love God, pray. Anyone can honk.” The humor of it was lost on me since I was having one of those dreaded days when I not only felt bad physically, but everything was going wrong. I actually felt more like honking than talking to God. Maybe you’ve never had one of those days. Maybe I’m the only one who ever has a day like that. Nevertheless, I resisted the urge to honk, mostly fearing that the driver might be someone who knew me. Then I prayed and ask God to forgive me for not really wanting a conversation with Him at that time. Then I remember what I had taught for many years, namely that prayer is not dependent on our feelings, but on God’s desire to hear from us. Just as earthly parents love hearing from their children, even in bad times, so God loves to hear from His children, however we are feeling at the time. I figure since God made everything, He made those things that make for bad days, and thus He understands why I sometimes have a bad day. But bad days are no excuse for failing to communicate with the God who had Paul encourage us to, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Since I can’t drive around with eyes closed, or writing in a prayer journal, or concentrating on some prayer acrostic, this verse must mean to be in a continual attitude of prayer . . . even when you feel like honking.
You can read other postings by Dr. Dan Crawford at www.discipleallnations.org/blog.
Do you ever have trouble praying? Maybe you don’t know what to say. Or what you do say sounds like you pushed the replay button. You even get bored with your prayers. Or maybe the problem is motivation. You have the best intentions but actually getting around to prayer is a different matter.
God has an answer. It’s called corporate prayer. Corporate prayer is where you gather with other believers around the throne of grace to pray together.
The genius of corporate prayer is that where you don’t have the words, others have them for you. They lead you in prayer, often in ways you would not even have thought. Sometimes they express things that are on your mind. As you pray along with them in your heart and utter the “amen” of agreement, their prayers becomes yours. You have prayed.
Often what happens in these situations is you find yourself opening up, warming to the task. Before you know it, you have said something out loud. The prayers of others have not only led you, they have emboldened you. As they have drawn you into the wonder of God’s presence, you become eager to speak up. You express something to God in the way of praise or thanks, maybe pray for another’s need. You hear someone in the group say “amen” out loud. You have actually led others in prayer, blessing them with words to say!
Then there is the matter of motivation. Your best-laid plans to pray can often be waylaid by disaster or simple distraction. Another day has gone by and with it the opportunity for concentrated prayer. Sure, you pray on the go, conversing with God throughout the day. But you still know how important it is for concentrated time with your Lord.
While praying without ceasing is akin to breathing in new life with Christ as we livecorum deo, and while the prayer closet is something to be practiced for focused prayer in communion with God, corporate prayer can be a big help for cultivating prayer. It can be a setting for the discipline of prayer as it is for training in praying.
If you plan to gather with a bunch of friends to watch TV, what will you do when you get there? You’ll watch TV. When you get together with other believers for the express purpose of prayer, what will you end up doing? You’ll end up praying. Your mind might wander now and then, but if the activity going on is prayer, you’ll get back into it. Certainly, you will pray more than if you stayed away.
So corporate prayer leads us in prayer and leads us to prayer. It is stimulating others to love and good deeds at its best (Heb. 10:24-25).
There’s something else about corporate prayer. God seems to have a special design for it. It helps you to pray but it does more than that. It carries with it a power and purpose at God’s design.
In teaching His disciples about church discipline, Jesus made a remarkable statement: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Mt. 18:20) “Two or three” brings to the fore a corporate dimension. Our Lord is applying the general principle of His promised presence for those gathered in His name, in this case to the specific circumstance of church discipline.
To apply the general principle to corporate prayer: because we gather in the name of Jesus, He says He will be with us. But isn’t Jesus with us in our private prayer closet? Certainly He is. He is with us always. But here our Lord impresses something about His presence with those assembled shoulder-to-shoulder for the work of His kingdom. That work has to do with making disciples (including our own spiritual formation) and building His church.
I’m not sure we can pin down all this means for Jesus to be with us in some special way, but it has got to mean something remarkable. Jesus, to whom all authority has been given, who rules on high for His church, who beckons us to ask in His name and, through James, chastises us that we do not have because we do not ask, assures us of His personal presence in the endeavor. Talk about an encouragement for gathering with fellow believers in expectant prayer!
God has provided many helps to our prayer. The psalms give us words, expanding the range of our prayers, enlarging our view of God, engaging us in holy communion. The Spirit inhabits our prayers and fosters expression even beyond the limitations of vocabulary and deficiencies of our own wisdom. Corporate prayer finds a distinct contribution among the provisions of our God to rouse us to pray.
This article first appeared at The Worldview Church website.
Perry Noble
A few weeks ago, I put out a tweet that said the following…
“Covering laziness in prayer is not a spiritual discipline.”
It was retweeted several times; however, there were also a few people who said that the statement was confusing and asked for an explanation. So here goes…
I believe that many people in the Body of Christ use prayer as an excuse for inactivity and laziness.
Yes, I am ALL ABOUT PRAYER! I’ve seen Jesus do things through the power of prayer that would make a Methodist shout.
However, there are some things that we simply cannot “cover in prayer” and hope they will get better. Nope, we’ve got to take action!!! Things such as…
If you need to lose weight, you are not going to “pray the pounds away!” It’s just not going to happen!!! You are going to have to get your butt up off the couch and exercise. You are going to have to stop slamming cookies in your mouth. You are going to have to stop drinking 10 sodas a day! You can pray all you want…but if you do not put action with your prayer, it’s NOT going to help!
If your marriage is in trouble and is on edge, then you are not going to “pray it back into a great place.” You are going to have to start paying attention to your wife…and turn the TV off. You are going to have to pursue her…and NOT just when you want something from her. You are going to have to stop being a jerk. And ladies, you are going to have to stop gossiping about your husband to your friends. You are going to have to stop telling your children their father is a loser.
Read Page 2 >>
Turn Around
By Rick Ezell
"Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19 NASB).
How often have you stopped at a gas station to ask for direction only to have the attendant say, "You're going in the wrong direction. You've got to turn around." To turn around is to repent.
Repentance finds its origin not in religion, but from a culture where people were essentially nomadic and lived in a world with no maps or street signs. It's easy to get lost walking through the desert where everything basically looks the same. One could walk and walk and eventually come to the realization they were going in the wrong direction. Turning around, they would head in the opposite direction. That's repentance.
Repentance does not mean to feel sorry, or to cry over, or to blame someone else for the wrongs in one's life. Repentance is the act of changing the direction in which the heart is inclined. It is a spiritual "about-face." It is a change of mind that calls for a change of way.
Repentance is the decision to turn from selfish desires and seek God. It is a genuine, sincere regret that creates sorrow and moves us to admit wrong and desire to do better. It is the becoming aware of the awesome love of God that motivates you to change. No one is happier than the one who has sincerely repented of wrong.
Sammy Tippet wrote, "If we are to experience the manifest presence of God's glory, we must repent. When Isaiah saw the glory of God in the Temple, he was driven to brokenness, confession, and repentance. Too many in the West desire to know the manifest love of God without the manifest holiness of God. We have lost the message of repentance."
God desires change. That's his main business. We make the first move.
Copyright 2012, Rick Ezell.
