CONTINUED CALL TO PRAY - Hampshire county

December, 2013

Psalm 109:4, "I give myself unto prayer"
Colossians 4:2, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving"

At the close of a year and then upon the beginning of a New Year it is an opportunity to evaluate.  We should ponder what we was able to do and what we left undone.  No greater words of regret for a wasted life than, 'what might have been'.  So this gives us a moment to answer the question about where we are and where we are going.  Circumstances of life are always happening around us in our homes, churches and county.  We have seen times of rejoicing, and times of sorrow; times of victory and times of defeat; times of advancement and times of losing ground.  What does this past year say about you?  What will the next year say about you?

At the heart of all this for the church and each personal Christian is our prayer life.  The prayer life is what enables us to walk in Spirit and prevail over the circumstances of our life.  The failure in our prayer life is what allows for defeats, greater tragedies and for Satan to advance in our homes, county and nation.  At the heart of this spiritual battle is Satan coming against the church and our own personal walk with Christ.  Show me the church getting on fire for the cause of Christ, and I will show you where the devil will douse a bucket of water on that fire.  Show me a Christian that resolves in a New Year to do better and be better in service for their Lord and I will show you the devil putting up road blocks and stumbling obstacles to keep them and trip them up from their holy vow.  It is the prayer life that suffers the most because of Satan's attacks.  We lose heart, we lose focus, we have weak faith.

With all the tragedies that befall our county, our families, and our own life, one would think we would be the most active in prayer for God's help and mercy.  But the truth is, that most only think of prayer and are active in prayer when tragedy really hits.  When the doctor gives the news, 'that's its cancer' - we give ourselves to prayer;  when our families are in strife and trouble - 'I need to pray';  when our churches are weak and at odds - 'we need to pray'.  The truth is, that it is trials and troubles that force God's Own people to consider their prayer life.  It will be revealed in heaven how many strife's, trials and assaults of our enemy we could have prevented had we been in prayer all along. 

It is a sad statement for our own county, that too many of our churches go week after week with no hour of prayer.  Simply doing what we have always done, because that's what we do is not sufficient.  We sing 'Sweet Hour of Prayer' and in honesty, we couldn't answer when the last time we prayed an hour.  Out of 52 weeks last year, how much corporate praying did your church do each week?  How much prayer did you do for Your Lord's Kingdom?  And with no prayer, there is no power by God's hand.  Now many will immediately answer with, 'but we have the numbers'.  The ball games have numbers; the bars have numbers; the concerts and suppers have numbers. So what about numbers?  Is there Spiritual life and power within? 

"The Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear is heavy that He cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."  Brethren, we can't go on like this!  Drugs are ravaging our loved ones;  almost an entire younger generation is being raised in our county without any knowledge of God or His Word;  too many homes are dealing with tragedies of death and dying without hope and the presence of Christ.  Out of a population of 24,000 (rounded off estimate) we only have 2,500 people in church on any given Sunday morning.  Barely 10% are active in church and faithful in serving; and yet we wonder why God is absent from our schools, our homes and our county?  Is it not because our sins have hid His face from us and He will not hear our prayers? 

Then what shall we do?  Let us repent and cry out to Him for mercy.  He is merciful and longsuffering; He is willing that none should perish.  Let us go to His throne together and seek His face for help. 

Brethren, we have kept weekly prayer meetings at Zoar and Fox's Hollow beseeching you to join us on behalf of our county.  During times of death and dying, cancer, tragedies, calamities, drug and alcohol usage, physical and emotional abuse in homes and to our kids we have prayed; praying for the 90 churches in our county, praying for revival to come to Christ's churches here; praying against the sin, the lostness, the blindness of men's souls, we have continued.  'When evil comes in like a flood' and evil has come to our county, then 'God raises a standard against it', this standard is the prayer meeting.  Brethren let's return to where our power in God is at, let's return to prayer - corporately, individually and let us be obedient as we have been instructed, 'continue in prayer'. 

8 SPIRITUAL ASSUALTS BY SATAN THAT THE CHURCH MUST DEAL WITH

Novemer, 2013

8 Passages to Consider in the assualt by Satan, our enemy, that the church should recognize and deal with in the power of prayer.  Failure to understand these things allows for the enemy to continue to prevail and gain victory over the church. 


1.  Hebrews 2:1, 'Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

--the things which we have heard is instructions by Christ and the Holy Ghost;  Have we given more earnest heed to the things which we have heard?  Have we let them slip?  Have we had ears but cannot hear?  Have we been listening to the wrong voice of instruction?  Have we been preoccupied by the things of this world and let slip the things of eternity?  It is most needful to keep before us the key priorities of Christ teachings through His Word.
The attack of Satan here is a common one mentioned in Scripture, 'which we have heard'; Satan closes the ears.  How often is it presented, 'having ears to hear but cannot hear'.  And a responsiblity upon us is that we would counter this deafness by crying out to Him that made the ears to hear and is able to open the ears of the deaf.  "They are not hearing Your Word O Lord.  Satan has blocked their ability, open the ears to hear Lord." 
The other area of interest is 'lest at any time we should let them slip'.  Is it not Satan's objective to take away from us the passion, the love, the zeal in serving, doing and obeying our Lord?  Yet, is it nt our own testimony, the churches and the proof of our nation, that because Satan distracted and robbed us of our priorities we have let slip that which never should have slipped away.  It is a wrestling match to hold on to that which is right and good and faithful unto our Lord.   

2.  Luke 11:42, "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God:  these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

--things done and not done;  A voice of warning to the Pharisees from Christ, 'Woe unto you'.  When God pronounces woe, we should immediately set up and take notice of the charge being brought.  they tithed mint and rue and all manner of herbs; yet this was not what God wanted.  Yet, men will justify what they deem worthy, rather than worry if God is pleased or accepting.  The rejected and neglected the important things of judgment and the love of God.  and then the words, 'these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.'  Done the right and rejected the wrong. 

3.  II Corinthians 10:4 - 5, "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) v. 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

--capturing every thought of one's own self and praying for the thoughts of others unto the perfect obedience of Christ; I am more and more prone to believe that this is the real battle, a battle for the thoughts and minds;  for in this lays the very crux of where a soul determins its eternity.  We have Paul stating to Christians, 'let this mind be in you which was in Christ'.  And we have Paul warning us of Satans control over the minds in II Cor.4, 'Satan has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should sine unto them.' 

4.  II Timothy 3:5, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away."

--the practice of religous actions denies the true Presence of the Holy One in heart, mind and soul;
Having a form of godliness is religion.  Religion in centuries ago, was the term for Christianity.  Jonathan Edward and many others of his day even up til the mid 1800's could use that term religion and it was known and accepted that it was in regards to Chrsitianity.  But not today.  Today religion is not pure and undefiled;  religion is lies, half-truths, cults and falsehoods.  Religion is anti-Christian; it is anti-Christ.  Old Oliver B. Greene, an old Independent Baptist, who died in the 1970's used to say, in which I agree, 'Religion has sent more people to hell than anything else.'  It is a form of godliness, not a heart transfomration which is required for 'old things to pass away and all things to become new.' 

5.  I Timothy 5:14, ". . .give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully"

--Satan accuses the brethren continaully;  we are not to give him ammunition to charge us and speak against us, the body of Christ and our Lord with reproach;  OUr labor is to maintain in our personal walk of holiness with and for the Lord.  In this, we keep ourselves from reproach by our enemy.  No greater shame, than for Satan to boast against us and our failing flesh.  the image here is that of zechariah 3, 'Joshua the high preist standing before the angel fo the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. . .'  For our enemy is always attacking the servants of the Lord.  He already possesses and owns the souls of sin and lostness, he targets the beloved of the Lord.  And when we are un-Christlike, Satan is able to speak reproachfully against us. 
'give none occasion' - that means not one;  we are so prone in this day and age to compromise, to think that sin is permissible or okay.  The argument goes, 'Well, we are all sinners.  Everyone sins and its okay to sin every now and then.'  What an argument and thought from hell!

6.  Revelation 2:20 - 24, "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  v. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  v. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  v. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which seareth the reins and hearts:  and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.  v. 24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden."

--we have here the warning, 'which have not known the depths of Satan';  seduced by a false prophetess Jezebel, they commit fornication/adutlery; allow her to continue to preach and teach false doctrine, continuing to bring harm to the body by her lies and deception;

7.  I John 5:18, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."

--the wicked one to touch us not;  it is one thing for him to talk with us, as he did with Satan;  but how much worse, when he stretches forth his hand to touch us like he did with Job; 

8.  I Peter 1:13 - 15, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end fo the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ:  v. 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  v. 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of converstaion;"

--'not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance'; why is it that today within the church body there is so many that are following, practicing and returning to 'former lusts'?  It is a wide epidemic of those who were raised in the church to fall away and do great sin and harm to their lives and the witness of the church. 

Began:  November 28, 2013
UPdated:  December 3
December 4
December 6
December 7
December 8
Finished: 

PREVAILING PRAYER

Prevailing Prayer

December, 2013

Genesis 32:28, "And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:  for as a prince hast thou power with God, and with men, and hast prevailed."

A two fold issue faces the church in North America today.  The first issue is to get the church to understand the clear command, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'.  Far too long evangelical Christianity has been remiss in this most holy work of prayer.  Prayer is not an option.  Prayer is not haphazard.  Prayer is not just for those who have time.  Prayer is for all the body of Christ to be engaged in.  Our dilema in the United States, in our homes, in our churches, yea in our own hearts is due directly to our lack of prayer.  Yea, due to lack of prevailing prayer!

The second issue at hand that deals with prayer is that if we are doing it, if we are praying, then are we prevailing?  Jacob wrestled with the angel and he was not to be denied.  He could not afford to simply know that God had heard his prayer.  Thus, as so often we defend ourselves by saysing, 'but we are praying'.  Wonderful, glad you are; but is it enough?  Jacob received the word from the Lord, 'you have prevailed with God and man.'  Brethren, is this not the place we are to be in this most desperate hour.  We must prevail in the heavens, before the holy throne of our Lord.  And we must prevail through prayer in the hearts, minds and souls of men.  Anything less than this confirms a defeated position that surrenders the day and soul to hell and Satan.  We must prevail!

the prayer of faith confirms this prevailing spirit of prayer.  The prayer of faith is taken from James 5:15, "And the prayer of faith. . . ."  and it accomplishes the very thing prayed for.  Two examples of this in regards to revival:

1.)  in the 1949 Hebrides revival, Duncan Campbell tells this account of 'when God came down';  two elderly sisters praying for God to move upn their community; a deacon organizing a prayer meeting in the barn for revival upon their church and families.  Church attendance was shrinking, young people had forsaken the church and embraced the world, countless were lost, or religious and without any assurance of knowing that they was God's Own children.  God's Spirit of prayer moved them to that same desperation as Jacob, they would not be denied.  And with assurance came their answer that God not only heard their prayer but would answer it.  The two sisters immediately sent word to their local parrish priest and told him that he was to call for a church meeting.  The local deacon had receive the same assurance as they prayed in the barn.  They made preparations for Duncan Campbell to be there, unbeknownst to Duncan campbell.  And then in the middle of a conference, God's Holy spirit spoke to him and told him to leave the conference and go to the Isaland.  After doubting what was happening, he knew he must obey and did so.  Upon arriving by boat to the Island, a lad was at the docks and said, 'we have been expecting you'.  And after that service that lasted that night from 9 pm til 11 pm, upon the benediction, the deacon turnign his face to the heavens and said, 'Lord, did you no say You would pour water on the dry and thirsty'?  And with that word and prayer of faith, 'God came down' and the revival began.  duncan Campbell said years later of this revival, 'we know nothing of backsliding on these isles'.  Brethren, is that not prevailing?  Is this not God?  Is this not where we must strive to be? 

2.) the biography of JO Fraser, 'Beyond the Ranges'  confirms that when he arrived among the area of Burma that Christianity was almost next to nothing.  There was much ancestor worship and much demonic work in the false religions.  But on one paticular day of praying, God granted him the confidence that he would see 1,000's of tribesman coming to Christ in that land.  And within 5 years he saw that very thing.  He claimed and held onto that by faith that the God Who cannot lie had promised and He would make it happen.

Brethren it is our obedience to Christ to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.  OUr labors are strengthened by being much alone with Him.  Andrew Murray, 'Alone with God, will make one wholly for God.'  And as we pray alone with Him, He is more than desiring and willing to accomplish all that we are asking. 

So let us ponder and consider these two great issues at hand - are we praying? and if we are praying are we prevailing? 

Are we praying? 
It is a needful question to ask.  It is an imperative question to ask.  And if we answer honestly, 'No.  I know I should be; I know I should be praying more than I am.'  Then let us realize the importance of confessing our sin of praylessness and repent of this and make our love of the Lord to be much in prayer with Him.