|
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Not Exempt from Warning
Carter Conlon The apostle Peter gave a word of warning to the people of God: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). This kind of message can be especially hard to embrace in times of peace. God’s people may easily grow complacent and forget that they live in the midst of a society that can suddenly, even violently, become opposed to Christ and his followers. “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). In other words, if the world accepts you, it means that you are one of its own. But when you make the choice to leave a fallen world and embrace the value system of God’s holy Word, your life, your conversation, your heart, and your motives all change. After speaking of the fiery trial, Peter went on to say, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15). Before you consider yourself exempt from this warning, remember that we must put away all forms of racism and other cultural issues that are bitterly dividing our society today. We must learn to forgive and not allow this spirit of murder and hatred to get hold of us. Second, we are to be givers instead of takers. Next, we must separate ourselves from evil. Get out of that relationship, leave that club, put that book down, get off that Internet site! It is time to separate ourselves from the things that are weakening and blinding us. And, lastly, we must not live as a busybody in other people’s matters — and that includes gossiping and being critical. Let us live in a way that the love of Christ might be known through us. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Moving Ever Closer to Jesus
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) The Lord is preparing to pour out his Spirit on his people in these last days and I know you want to have a part in it. In order for this to happen, we must move ever closer to him — in our worship, obedience and diligence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Multitudes of Christians allot hours for indulging in sports, movies, shopping, pleasures of all kinds, but they devote to God an ever-diminishing amount of time, resulting in laziness of spirit. But God’s grace toward us is boundless. Jesus assures us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). The message here is clear: Devote more of yourself to him and he will pour out his glory on you. God longs to do for us “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). This is why he wants a people who have a ravenous appetite for him. He wants to fill you with his awesome presence, beyond anything you have experienced in your lifetime. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). “We urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The Greek word for abound means to exceed, excel — to have enough and to spare, over and above, excessive, exceedingly abundantly above, beyond measure. Paul is saying, “God’s glory in your life is going to exceed the little moments you have had up until now. Your prayers are no longer going to be just asking a blessing over your meals. You are going to pray morning, noon and night.” |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Lord, Why?
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) It is not a sin for a believer to ask why; even our Lord asked this question as he hung in pain on the cross (see Matthew 27:46). We may sometimes cry out, “Lord, why are you putting me through this? I know it does not come from your hand, but still you are allowing the devil to harass me. When will it ever end?” The secular demands an explanation for all the pain and suffering in life. They say, “I simply can’t believe in your God; I must have more love than he does because if I had the power, I would stop all this suffering.” I am not going to attempt to answer why there is famine, flooding, disease and destruction but I do know that as the world questions, I can respond, “He is weeping over what humankind has done.” In my opinion, no person other than Jesus has suffered so much as Paul, in so many ways at the hands of so many people. At the very point of his conversion, Paul was forewarned of the sufferings he would face: “But the Lord said … ‘I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake’” (Acts 9:15-16). Jesus himself was declaring here, “I’m going to show Paul how greatly he will suffer for my name’s sake.” Likewise, if you have set your heart wholly on Christ, determined to know him intimately, you will experience hard times and afflictions that cold, carnal Christians know nothing about. David writes, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). While God did not bother to explain anything to Paul or bring an end to his sufferings, he revealed to him how he would make it through each trial with victory: “[Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9). You don’t need to understand it all — God’s grace is all you will ever need. Trust in the Lord always.... |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Do We Have Compassionate Hearts?
Nicky Cruz If we want to reach people for Jesus, let’s take a lesson from the apostle Paul. He knew how to reach people with the message of salvation. While in Athens, Paul became distressed over the huge number of people worshiping idols and false gods. He knew how deeply embedded these rituals were in their culture and he realized that in order to reach them, he needed to gain their trust. He spent time with the people, learning about their values and beliefs and absorbing their culture. Paul was living out the very philosophy of evangelism that he wrote about in his letter to the church at Corinth: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). When a group of philosophers heard him preaching about Jesus on the streets and in the synagogue, they took him to a meeting to argue with him. They were armed and ready for a fight but Paul wisely laid aside his hostility and used the Athenians’ hunger for spiritual knowledge to his favor. Surrounded by the sculptured images of the many gods they worshiped, he began by commending them for their interest in seeking the truth: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23). Instead of insulting their intelligence, Paul used their hunger for knowledge to his advantage. He complimented them on their diligent searching, and when he had their attention, he shared the truth of Jesus. Through this tactful approach, Paul was able to break down the barriers and reach many hardened people for Christ. God needs people who are willing to embrace sinners and gently guide them to the truth of his Word — compassionate hearts with a compelling message. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Unshakeable Confidence in God
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Most Christians are familiar with this verse: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We see here that our high priest, Jesus, feels our sufferings along with us. In other words, the Lord is personally touched by all pain, confusion and despair that we feel. There is nothing we experience that he has not endured also, in one way or another. Because we have such a great high priest, we are instructed, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16). We are being told, “Your savior knows exactly what you are going through and he knows how to minister his grace to you.” We have heard most of the theological definitions of grace: unmerited favor; the goodness of God; his special love. But when trials come, we have a choice of how we will react. In the book of Job, we see that Job’s wife became embittered at the unspeakable tragedy they were suffering. She foolishly blamed God and urged Job, “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). She was saying, in essence, “Why would the Lord bring down such unthinkable tragedy on this godly family?” But even in his great grief and anguish, this godly man declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Job was saying, “It doesn’t matter if these boils take me to my grave, I’ll never give up my confidence that he knows what he is doing. Even though I don’t understand anything about any of this, I know God has some eternal purpose.” Beloved, your present sufferings are producing something precious in your life as you are being formed into a grace giver. __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
“Where Are You?”
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Christians who fail to pray don’t realize the danger they are in. You may argue, “So what if some Christians don’t pray? They are still believers — forgiven and going to heaven.” Our heavenly Father realizes we live in a busy age, with many demands on our time and energy, and Christians are as caught up in busyness and activities as anyone else. Yet, I cannot believe God takes lightly our rejection of our access to him, which cost his only Son his very life. It pained the Father to send Jesus to be mocked and crucified so that we would be able to come to him freely. But day after day passes and many of his children do not approach him until they attend church on Sunday. When Adam hid from the Lord in the Garden of Eden, God asked him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Of course, God knew where Adam was but he was really asking Adam why he had neglected having fellowship with him. Christians who fail to appropriate their access to the Father end up in the condition of the church in Sardis. The Lord instructed John, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write … ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead’” (Revelation 3:1). Jesus is saying, “You may be a good person who will do anything for anybody, but an element of death has crept into your life because of your negligence. Something of the world has defiled you.” What is the defilement referred to here? Lack of prayer! The believers in Sardis had not been watching in prayer, waiting on the Lord and seeking him as they once had. They had grown careless but the Lord tells them in Revelation 3:4: “A few of you are worthy and you don’t want to lose my presence.” Quickly now, go to the secret closet of prayer. He has provided you with access to him and he promises to meet your every need. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Learn to Stand on God’s Word
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Conversion experiences are often emotional because they are new and incredibly special. How marvelous to be freed from sin and bondage and launched into a whole new life in Christ. Our early spiritual growth is like a child learning to walk. It is exciting when a baby takes his first steps and there is lots of encouragement and cheering. But soon after he begins to walk, he is no longer the center of attention, and when he begins pulling over plants and making messes all over the house, he is disciplined, albeit gently, and things are not so exciting anymore. Your spiritual growth is similar. When you were a babe in the Lord, you felt God giving you special attention and those around you encouraged you tirelessly. However, you are not to remain a child forever. Part of the maturing process involves living by faith and you must learn to stand on God’s Word. Imagine how lost you would be if your salvation actually rested on your feelings. Paul urges us, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13). You are never to rely on past emotional experiences. What matters today is that you trust his promises. “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). Peter makes it clear that we obtain Christ’s nature by appropriating God’s covenant promises, and not by any other means. He does bring renewal and fresh anointing to our lives, but we are to maintain a life of faith that he will keep his promises to us. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy … be glory and majesty” (Jude 24-25). |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
“Jesus, How Deep Is Your Love for Him?”
Philip Whitney A Song About Love https://i2.wp.com/bibleanswersforyou...15%2C254&ssl=1 While listening to some “oldies but goodies” last night one song stuck me. Do the lyrics below sound like a good question for Jesus to ask us? They are from a well-known love song released in 1977 by the Bee Gees. In this song, one is asking another, “How Deep Is Your Love?” The one asking doesn’t say, “I need to know,” but, “I need to learn.” There is obviously a loving relationship, but one of the two needs to learn how deep is the love of the other. This person needs to see the other ACT in love, not just hear words. For us, it’s Jesus. “How deep is your love, how deep is your love From a faith perspective, I see Jesus asking us “how deep is our love,” stating it’s important because we live in a messed-up world. Although a coincidence, it is appropriate the question is asked three times as Jesus asked Peter after His resurrection. Let’s look at our love of Jesus and what Jesus desires.How deep is your love? I really need to learn ‘Cause we’re living in a world of fools Breaking us down when they all should let us be We belong to you and me” Loving Jesus, A Measure of Spiritual Maturity Let me submit to you that to fully love Jesus as He desires is a measure of the maturity of one’s faith. For me, it took time as my faith grew and I drew closer to Christ. When just a “babe” in the faith, being honest with myself, my love of Jesus was not what He calls for. In Matthew 10:37 Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Whoa! To me, this is one of the toughest of Jesus’ teachings. Do you love Jesus more than your parents and children? If not, that’s OK, but you need to strive to put your faith higher on your list of priorities. In the beginning, I could not answer “yes” to that question but today, my love of Jesus is far above any love I share with anything in my life. For me it took time, and when you get there it is a wonderful thing. What helped me was thinking about and viewing clips of the crucifixion from various movies. Doing so reminds me of the incredible love of God, through His Son’s death for you and me. He bought us with His blood and putting our love of Him above all else should be easy. https://i2.wp.com/bibleanswersforyou...25%2C216&ssl=1 Read the Word to Love Jesus More Reading His Word. Early in the Bible in Genesis 20:4-5, we learn, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” We all understand jealousy. When the person we love gives too much attention to another, we feel that jealousy and get angry. When God sees us putting others or other things before Him, He too becomes jealous and in the extreme of hatred, He becomes angry and disciplines. https://i2.wp.com/bibleanswersforyou...86%2C274&ssl=1 We Must Love Jesus More In Matthew Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day (judgment), ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Can you imagine how devastating it would be to hear our Lord say, “away from me?” Know Jesus, Not Just Know About Him We must KNOW Jesus, not just know about Him. The people depicted in this scripture are people who attend church, volunteer their time, give to the church and do wonderful things. But works will never get us to heaven. We must have a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. A daily devotional is good, but surely, we can honor our God beyond that. Being in the Word is heads down reading the Bible and letting it speak to you. Worship to love Jesus More Worship and Adore Him. Do you attend church to give or receive? Often hear people say, including myself in the past, “worship at church is the spiritual feeding I badly need.” Now getting fed is good and occurs in the church, but it should not be the primary focus when attending a church service. Attending a service is not to receive, but to give. Go to worship and give praise to God for who He is and what He has done. When singing a hymn, we internalize the words and direct our voice heavenward, turning the lyrics into praise to God. If your pastor, in His message, says something that really moves you, it is good that it moves you, but it is more important to thank God for the words you just heard. Make worship, worship. https://i0.wp.com/bibleanswersforyou...09%2C272&ssl=1 Pray to Love Jesus More Pray Without Ceasing. How can we have a relationship with God and express our love to him if we do not pray? It’s simple, no communication = no relationship. Keep a list in your Bible. If you haven’t heard about the status of a person or situation, let that serve to prompt you to find out. Take advantage of as many situations you can to pray. My favorite is while in the car, where we spend so much time. It has been said, “Everyone needs one hour of prayer every day, except on the busy days – then we need two hours.” That makes a lot of sense. When experiencing a trial, do we pray more or less? More, of course. If we face a busy day, spend a little extra time with God. To me, we all should pray for an absolute minimum of twice per day. The minute you wake up and at night when we go to bed. Those are times when you can take a few minutes to clear your mind, relax and focus on one thing – God and how much you love Him. We have many opportunities in a day to pray and we should lovingly devote that time to God. Loving Jesus Should Be Our Life. https://i1.wp.com/bibleanswersforyou...52%2C301&ssl=1 We All Fall Short – So Always Strive Toward the Goal. I wonder if many of you feel a touch badly right now as I do. We all have times when we fall short. But, we are only talking about two things that are very easy to do, read and pray, and a change in your approach to worship. This is not being on a diet to lose fifty pounds. It is simply committing our time, and not a vast amount of it, to let God speak to us through His Word and we speak to Him through prayer and then praise Him while in His house. These are fundamentals of following Jesus and need to become a necessity to us, just like food, water, and shelter are. In the love of Jesus Christ, Philip P.S. (Prayer Suggestion) If you haven’t already, embrace Jesus today. Pray to Him, with a burdened heart, confessing you are a sinner and asking Him to forgive you of those sins. Tell Him, with His help, you will turn away from those sins and seek to be more like Him. Lastly, ask Jesus to come into your heart and give Him control of your life. Amen (if you prayed from your heart, you are now a child of God and your destiny is Heaven) |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Called to Fellowship With Jesus
Jim Cymbala Do you know a father who is no longer speaking to his son? Perhaps they were close once but harsh words were spoken during an argument and they haven’t spoken since. Or perhaps you know a married couple who rarely communicate and do not enjoy each other’s company. These individuals have a relationship but they do not have fellowship with each other. As Christians we have a relationship with God — he is our Father and we are his children — but that does not mean we necessarily have the kind of fellowship with him that he planned for us. The writings of great Christian leaders from a hundred years ago or earlier place a strong emphasis on two-way fellowship between the Lord and his people — spending time in his presence just listening for his voice. Our best model for this is Jesus, who “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). Although the Son of God, Jesus found it necessary to spend time alone with the Father in prayer, to discern what God wanted him to do. He listened to his Father for guidance and for the very subject matter of his teaching: “These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 14:24). It was while communing with the Father that Jesus was directed to pick twelve men to be his followers. “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13-15). We note that the first reason Mark gives for appointing the Twelve was so that they might be with him. When Jesus called someone, fellowship came before ministry. When we neglect our fellowship with him we become weakened; we have less faith, less grace, and more stress. There is something about being with Jesus, being in God’s presence, that helps us have more peace and joy. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Please take the time to listen......Could it be our time? We can only hope and pray with much anticipation.
Mid-East Prophecy Update – September 9th, 2018 |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
God Restores What Satan Steals
Gary Wilkerson In our desire for God’s favor, we must never forget that Satan constantly seeks to steal from us. In fact, the enemy of our soul attacks most fiercely when we are facing trials. But the Bible tells us in numerous ways that God restores what Satan steals — and not only that, he multiplies it. In Old Testament times, if a thief was caught stealing something, he had to replace it sevenfold. That’s a picture of God’s justice. Yet in the New Testament, God promises to do even more. In various passages, he says he will restore what is taken from us thirtyfold or even a hundredfold. That goes beyond justice; it points to his bountiful grace. In our deepest trials, when everything is turning from bad to worse, it’s hard to imagine anything wonderful ever happening again. There is such a disparity between what we know of our loving God and the very real circumstances we face. But the problem is we can’t see God at work. And yet the Bible tells us that our minds can’t fathom what God has prepared for us. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). A lot of Christians wonder whether God will ever answer their prayers — to repair a lifeless marriage, to bring back a prodigal child, to rescue an addicted sibling, to save a lost parent. In fact, sometimes after they pray, things seem to get worse instead of better. They tell themselves, “At one time Jesus worked miracles in my life, but now he seems absent. Why should I keep believing for an answer?” I want to tell every struggling Christian, “Hold on! The Lord isn’t idle during your trials. He is actually storing up great blessings for you.” Because you are his child, his favor is not lifted from you — even during your pain and problems. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
“As One Having Authority”
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) After Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, his listeners sat in awe. Scripture says, “The people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29). The Greek word for authority in this verse means “with mastery, power, as one in control.” Jesus’ listeners were saying, in essence, “This man speaks as if he knows what he is talking about.” Note, the verse does not say that Christ spoke “with authority” but rather “as one having authority.” It is one thing to speak with what we think of as authority — in loud, boisterous tones — but quite another to speak with spiritual authority. The authority Jesus wielded shook up the entire religious system. Jewish leaders kept coming to him demanding, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). But Jesus knew he didn’t have to answer the devil’s questions. If ever the church of Jesus Christ needed his power and authority, the time is now. The devil has brought his own false Christs into God’s house — weak, godless preachers who speak as angels of light and turn churches into feel-good comfort zones where sin is never mentioned and people’s consciences are dulled. As a result, the church is filled with hurting, withered people who do not know how to challenge Satan’s invasion into their lives. When the disciples were helpless against the enemy, Jesus told them that power over Satan came only by prayer and fasting. Why is this so? I believe it is because the Lord wants time to work on our inner man. He wants our hearts completely attuned to him. Beloved, righteousness is believing that what God says is true and then committing your life to it. It’s that simple. As you learn to grow in your hidden man and trust his word to you in every crisis, you will be given all spiritual authority. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Are We Willing to Have Our Faith Refined? David Wilkerson (1931-2011)Beloved, God is searching for a people who will trust him fully. The Lord did not save us so we could bask endlessly in his goodness, mercy and glory. He had an eternal purpose in choosing each one of us and that purpose goes beyond blessings, fellowship and revelation. The fact is, God still reaches out to lost humankind, searching for a believing people he can shape into his greatest evangelistic tool. God was searching for such a people in Gideon’s day. When Gideon issued a call for volunteers to fight the Midianites, thousands of Israelites responded. But the Lord told Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands … Proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart’” (Judges 7:2-3). God was telling Gideon, “If anybody is afraid, tell him to go home now. I will not allow my army to be infected by fear.” God was actually turning away volunteers for his army; at one point, some 22,000 doubters were sent home. Gideon eventually reduced the number of volunteers to 10,000 but God told him there were still too many and the Lord finally settled on 300 battle-tested soldiers. This ought to tell us something. As the Lord seeks gospel messengers he can send out to the world, he is not going to recruit churches whose pews are filled with fearful, doubting, untested people. He will not look for powerful, efficient religious organizations or highly educated seminarians. God uses organizations and the highly educated, of course, but in themselves none of these has the resources needed to be God’s tried and tested messengers. So, what is needed to reach a lost and hurting world? God is seeking those who are willing to be tested, tried by fire, those whose faith he can refine and bring forth as pure gold. __________________ A man who stands for nothing, will fall for anything. Jesus Is My Lord and Savior.If you don't believe The TRUTH, then you'll believe the lies. I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
A Place of Perfect Rest
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) There exists a place in Christ where there is no anxiety about the future, no fear of calamity, affliction or unemployment. And there is no fear of falling or losing one’s soul. This place of total confidence in God’s faithfulness is called a place of perfect rest by the writer of Hebrews. Such perfect rest was offered to Israel, but the people’s doubt and unbelief kept them out of God’s rest: “Those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:6). The Israelites lived in constant fear and dread, always waiting for the next crisis to happen. As a result, they were desolated in their trials. If Israel had entered into God’s rest, his work in his people would have been complete. But because they didn’t, the Lord continues to search in every generation for a people who will enter: “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (4:9). God is telling us, “This offer of rest is for you today! There still exists a place in me where all doubt and fear no longer exist, a place where you’ll be prepared for whatever may come.” Thus, his Word urges, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1). Today, multitudes of God’s people know nothing of this rest in Christ. As they hear the awful reports of tragedies, calamities, and deaths, they are filled with fear and dread. Their constant prayer is, “Oh, God, please don’t take one of my loved ones. I could never handle the grief.” Yet, if you are at rest in the Lord, you won’t succumb to such fear. You will not panic or fall apart when you’re hit with some unexpected crisis. And you won’t lose hope, accusing God of bringing on your troubles. Yes, you will endure pain that is common to every human being but you will be at rest in your soul, because you know God is in control of everything concerning you. ______ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
The Unspoken Cries of a Broken Heart
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Psalm 56 is meant for those who have been wounded — whether by family, friends, or the words and actions of the ungodly. It is a word for those who love the Lord yet who shed tears and carry burdens that seem to grow heavier by the day. Some believers wake up every day under a cloud of fear and despair. They may feel crushed and frightened because of financial problems. Others face serious health battles and insufferable pain while still others grieve over family members who are in deep trouble, perhaps in rebellion against the Lord. Hear the blessed Word of God directed to you in your hour of need:
These are anointed words from the Spirit of God. The Lord knows all about your struggles and pain. He knows every detail of your situation, and he hears even the unspoken cries of your broken heart. Heed the words we have been given: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Your cries and prayers have been heard by the Lord and even now he is doing his secret, behind-the-scenes work of deliverance. Until you see the answer, he will give you mercy and strength. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Convinced
Gary Wilkerson “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38). Paul gives us a helpful word to cling to here: convinced. It is the key to being freed from every doubt about God’s favor toward us. Even when we have lingering doubts, God’s grace flows freely to heal us. It happened for the disciple Thomas, who doubted his friends when they said Jesus was alive. Thomas represents a lot of Christians today. They once believed in Christ and rejoiced as they saw God transforming lives. But then came a lingering trial that dragged on for years. These Christians still go to church and hear sermons about God’s goodness. But something inside them has died and they can’t resurrect it. The lingering disappointment of their long, dismal setback has beaten them down too far. Is this you? Jesus wants to come to you just as he did to Thomas. He wants to show you his scars from the worst possible trial. He wants the power of his resurrection to raise you to life in a way you could never do for yourself. He comes to convince you of his eternal Word — to demonstrate through his resurrection that nothing will ever derail you from his kingdom purpose: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:39). Because of Jesus’ loving grace, Thomas believed again and became one of the most impactful of all the disciples. Jesus withheld nothing from Thomas when his friend needed to believe again. Jesus also calls you his friend, and he has withheld nothing to keep you in his love. He brings resurrection life to you in the midst of your trial and, like Thomas, you will see his glory again and be amazed. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
God-Given Burdens
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Have you been challenged to step out in a new direction that demands supernatural faith? Do you need God to work a miracle in your life so that you can realize your dream? In God’s eyes, true faith has nothing to do with the size of a work you aim to accomplish. Rather, it has to do with the focus and direction of your life. You see, God isn’t as concerned with your grand vision as he is with who you are becoming. Indeed, no work, regardless of how great, is of any value to the Lord unless the lesser, hidden matters of faith are being done. “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12). Jesus is saying to his disciples, “You say you want a revelation, something to enable you to do greater things. Yet, how can you be entrusted with that kind of faith if you’re not reliable with the things others have given you?” Jesus’ words must have left his disciples scratching their heads. The Master knew they didn’t own anything and they had forsaken all to be his disciples. So what does Jesus mean when he says, “that which is another man’s” (16:12)? He is speaking of our bodies and souls, which he purchased with his own blood. “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus is telling us, “Your body doesn’t belong to you anymore, and if you don’t take care of that body — if you don’t allow me to look inside you, deal with your sin, and sanctify you — how can you expect me to entrust you with something greater? I want you to step back and look at what you’ve done with the things I have already given to you.” I thank the Lord for heaven-sent visions and God-given burdens. Yet, many burdened believers don't realize that before a dream can be brought to pass, God often does years of stripping and breaking. Jesus wants us to just bring our faith, he will bring about a true vision. __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Can We be with Christ Apart from His Body?
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) The apostle Paul instructs us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). In another place he says more specifically, “The body is one and has many members, but all the members … are one body, so also is Christ” (12:12). Paul is telling us, in essence, “Take a look at your own body. You have hands, feet, eyes, ears. You’re not just an isolated brain, unattached to the other members.” It is the same with Christ. He is not just a head; he has a body and we comprise its members. We are connected to Jesus, our head, but we are also joined to each other. Paul drives this point home, saying, “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Simply put, we are all fed by the same food: Christ, the manna from heaven. “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). Some Christians do not want to be connected to other members of the body. They commune with Jesus but they deliberately isolate themselves from other believers. But a body cannot be comprised of just a single member and Christ’s body cannot be made up of a head alone. We simply cannot be one with Christ without being one with his body. Believers are knit together not only by their need for Jesus, but by their need for each other. Paul states, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’” (1 Corinthians 12:21). Our head says we are all important, even necessary, to the functioning of his body. This is especially true of members who may be bruised and hurting. The Lord himself says, “I have need of you. You are a vital member of my body and absolutely necessary for it to function.” __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Are You Ready for the Coming Tsunami?
By Jonathan C. Brentner On September 28, 2018, many residents of Palu, Indonesia gathered on the beach to celebrate the town’s anniversary. Despite the rumblings of earthquakes, which occurred often in their part of the world, it seemed like a normal day to the people joining in the happy festivities. Due to a failure in the tsunami warning system, the people on the beach were unaware that a tidal wave at least ten feet high was headed their direction at a speed of 500 miles per hour (according to one disaster official in the area). Videos of what happened next can be found everywhere on social media. The current death toll in the city of Palu is well over 1,000 and expected to climb higher. As T.W. Tramm points out on his website, this tsunami provides a graphic picture of what is coming to this world in the not too distant future. Those on the beach that day typify many today who go about their lives ignorant of the many warnings contained in Scripture. Jesus compared His appearing to the days of Noah and issued this warning along with that, “and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24:39). Do you see why the tsunami is an apt picture of this, of what Christ said about what would happen in the last days? The signs of the approaching tribulation flash like gigantic neon signs all around us, yet most people ignore the signs and go on with life like those on the beach in Palu unaware of the approaching tsunami. Sadly, most Christians are also unaware of what is approaching the world at breakneck speed. Here are just a few indicators of this:
While we cannot know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return for His church, we can and should recognize its season. And, all the biblical signs point to this current time as that season. Are you ready???? __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Sins that God Has Chosen to Forget
Nicky Cruz Satan lives in the past. He is the prince of what once was, the king of regret and guilt. He lives to keep us there, to remind us of what we have done and how horrible we have been. His mind is consumed by thoughts of past victories; of the times he caused us to sin, to stumble, to fall for his lies. Because in his heart he knows that the past is all he has. When salvation comes, Satan’s hold is over and his only hope is to make us think we are still captive. He can no longer have our souls, but he can make us miserable and ineffective as God’s children. Don’t let him do it. Don’t let him fill your mind with doubt and confusion, with thoughts of past sins — sins that God has chosen to forget. Sins that we need to forget before we can truly move forward. It is not enough that we accept Jesus and ask for his forgiveness; we must also reject who we once were and completely embrace the new day — the day of our salvation. The day of a renewed heart, mind, and soul. It is important to note that there is a huge difference between the masses who follow Christ and those few followers who live each day with a burning passion for Jesus! They have done more than accept salvation; they have embraced a completely new future. They have chosen to forgive themselves and look forward. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Do not let Satan fill your mind with doubt and confusion, with thoughts of past sins — sins that God has chosen to forget. He gives you a new heart, one that has no past, only a bright and glorious future. __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Finding Our Life in God
Gary Wilkerson We hear a lot about the favor of God these days, which is a good thing. Without the favor of the Lord, we would not be able to breathe, stand or find true life anywhere. Our loving, compassionate God looks to bless us with his amazing favor. Sadly, today the teaching of God’s favor is being twisted by some. They use it as a means to gain material, physical and emotional blessings from God. That’s tragic — because it reduces the Lord to just another American commodity. They tell you to invest a little church attendance here, sow a bit of financial seed there, claim the power of your tongue to confess your way into the life you dream of, and — bingo! — you are favored. But that is not God’s way. He cares for us much more than that. If we get everything we dream of, that’s not favor, that’s lust. True favor is not found in the blessing itself, it’s found in the One who does the blessing — our loving heavenly Father. Seeking him, not things, is the hunger that dwells in the core of every human heart. We were made to find our life in him. God is jealous, in a righteous way: He will not allow himself to be used as a means of fulfilling our lusts and self-gain. He will destroy all the idols we set up in our hearts so that he alone stands as our greatest desire. This doesn’t mean we should not want to see God’s blessings flow in our lives. Out of his loving grace and kindness, our Father delights to give good gifts to his children. Some leaders have twisted biblical doctrines in the so-called prosperity movement but that does not mean the idea of God’s favor should be thrown out. Rather, it should be rescued! God loves to bless us because he is amazingly good. I encourage you to seek him first and watch how he pours out his favor on you. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Shutting Our Eyes To The Needy
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) When the Lord touches someone and he is driven to his knees, he becomes intimate with Christ. He enters into a place of rest and begins to minister to Christ with new passion and a greater love. This servant also becomes more aware of the coming Day of Judgment when he knows that God will ask him one great question: “How did you portray Christ to a lost world?” This is the single criterion for how we will be judged on that day. It doesn’t matter if we have been shut in with God like Moses, received great revelations like Daniel, been sanctified like Paul, or preached boldly like Peter. Everyone will be judged by this single standard: how did your life express who Jesus is and what he is like? One of the last messages Jesus spoke to his disciples before his crucifixion is contained in Matthew 25. Christ’s words gave them a new attitude of love and concern for the poor and this same message caused me to make changes in my life and ministry. That passage of Scripture is: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me’” (Matthew 25:34-36). Of course, no one can be saved by good works alone, but we will be judged by whether we live only for ourselves and shut our eyes to the needs of the poor and helpless. The Lord doesn’t expect you to do it all, but he expects you to be personally committed to hands-on involvement in at least one area of need. When you have a desire to obey his command, the Holy Spirit will show you the way. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Faith Grows in God’s Presence
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Jesus asked a question in Luke 18:8: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” I have always wondered at this question. What could the Lord mean? As I look around at the Church today, I think no other generation has been more focused on faith than ours. Everyone seems to be talking about faith; seminars and conferences on faith are held across the country; books on the subject line the shelves of Christian bookstores. We have faith preachers, faith teachers, faith movements, even faith churches. Yet, sadly, what most people consider faith today isn’t faith all and God will reject much of what is being called and practiced as faith. He simply won’t accept it. Why? Because it is corrupted faith. Many preachers today totally humanize the topic of faith, describing it as if it exists only for personal gain or to meet self-needs. “If you can dream it, you can have it.” This is earthbound, materialistic, and rooted in this world. My message to those who truly love Jesus and want to live by faith in a way that pleases him is this: All true faith is born out of intimacy with Christ. In fact, if your faith doesn’t come out of such intimacy, it isn’t faith at all in his sight. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Hebrew 11:1-2). Several people of faith are mentioned in Hebrews 11 and we find a common denominator in their lives. Each had a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord. We see Abel (11:4); Enoch (11:5); Noah (11:7); and Abraham (11:8). All these men died in faith — the world simply was not their home. Does your heart yearn for a closer walk with the Lord? Is there a growing dissatisfaction within you with the things of this world? Then seek the Lord himself! Spend time in his presence and your faith will grow. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Listening to the Father’s Voice
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Jesus lived his life on earth wholly dependent on the heavenly Father. Our Savior did nothing and said nothing until he first consulted with his Father in glory. And he performed no miracles except those the Father instructed him to. He declared, “As My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And … the Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:28-29). Christ makes it very clear that the practice of total dependence, always listening to his Father’s voice, was part of his daily walk. We see this in a scene from the Gospel of John where Jesus saw a crippled man lying near the pool of Bethesda. Jesus turned to the man and commanded him to pick up his bed and walk — and immediately the man was made whole and walked away healed. The Jewish leaders were enraged because in their minds, Jesus had broken the Sabbath by healing the man. But Jesus answered, “I only did what my Father told me to do.” He explained, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does” (John 5:19-20). Jesus stated very plainly, “My Father taught me everything I’m supposed to do.” Jesus, in his flesh, had to rely on a daily inner working of the Father’s voice to direct him. He had to hear his Father’s voice hour by hour, miracle by miracle, one day at a time. How was Jesus able to hear the still, small voice of his Father? The Bible shows us it happened through prayer. Again and again, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. He learned to hear the Father’s voice while on his knees. I encourage you to spend time with Jesus in a secret place of prayer. Sit quietly in his presence and you will receive truth that only Christ can impart through his blessed Holy Spirit. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Since God withholds forgiveness, can we? | When & How to Forgive | GotQuestions.org
When and how to forgive someone, that’s the question. Since God can withhold forgiveness, can we? What does forgiveness mean and are we expected to forgive and forget even if there is no confession and repentance? In this video, Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch answers those questions looking at forgiveness in the Bible, steps to forgiveness, and what the Bible says about forgiving others. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Are You Guilty of Ignoring God?
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Every Christian knows that God doesn’t dwell in manmade temples or buildings. Instead, our Lord has chosen to live in human vessels — that is, in the hearts and bodies of his people. Every believer can boast with confidence, “God lives in me.” Of course, the Lord is everywhere, but according to his Word, the blood-cleansed heart is his permanent dwelling. When did God begin to abide in us? He did so when we first gave our heart to Jesus. At that moment, Christ’s abiding presence filled our being. He testifies, “I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you … If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:20, 23). Do you remember the day you were saved? Do you recall the feelings you experienced — the pledges you made to Jesus, promising to forsake all others and follow him? Jesus saw it happening eons ago in eternity — and he delighted in you. He knew you were going to receive him, even before you were formed in your mother’s womb. “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16). Before you were even a seed, God knew all about you, and his son, Jesus, delighted in knowing you would grow up to be his habitation. He rejoiced at the thought of opening his Word to you: “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Are you fulfilling his expectation of spending a lifetime with you? Is your intimacy with him increasing or are you guilty of ignoring him? God yearns over you and he has plans for you. Let the Lord make this the first day of a new beginning for you. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
I rarely post on your thread Tarfoot , but sometimes the power of prayer does not work my friend.
As I have told you before, I can never understand why the great power above us all lets so many good innocent people in our world suffer so much? With all the great Storms/Earthquakes/Hurricanes that have been increasing in the past couple of years. Where is God to help his people, no matter which path/faith they choose to follow HIM\ I agree with what you said years ago that what will happen will repeat a history of Biblical proportions,, It is happening! There is no Noah's ark big enough to save us atm Tarfoot. Mankind through greed and search of power is destroying our beautiful world and its life within... & there is no book of prayer that warns of it. !!!! Nostradamos & Dr Hawking came close. But world leaders never learned from either of them. NOTE: The greedy uncaring leaders of any country cannot take the money or power they have achieved with them to their grave BUT 1 day they will have to pay the final price. Simple as that. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
The True Source of Our Power
Carter Conlon When Satan came down into the Garden of Eden, he came with a hatred for God that manifested every time he tried to bring to ruin that which was closest to the heart of the Lord: mankind. The devil ended up sowing a thought into the human race that would bring man to his own destruction — the idea that we can become as God in ourselves. After Satan tempted Adam and Eve, God said to him, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every best of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:14-15). This is the first time in the Bible that we see the redemptive plan of God. Obviously, God was not caught by surprise in the Garden of Eden. He knew that humankind would be created in His image, would subsequently fail, and then would have to be redeemed. So God was essentially telling Satan, “Lest you should exalt yourself, know that I have a plan. You are going to live to conquer and devour those created in my image all the days of your life. I will put an act of opposition between you and the woman — but from the seed of a woman I am going to raise up the One who will actively oppose you and defeat you.” The One from the seed of the woman was Christ. And as we know the story today, Jesus would be raised from the dead and would tread upon the devil’s imagination that he has the right to captivate those who have been created in the image of God, not just for time but for all eternity. It is vital to remember that we have power over the devil — and the true source of our power is in prayer. It always has been, and it always will be. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Biggest Discovery Ever Made! Blood of Jesus Tested in Laboratory the Results will Blow your Mind
|
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Fifteen Minutes Everyday
Gary Wilkerson “I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land” (Ezekiel 22:30). God says he is looking for someone who is willing to “stand in the gap,” that wide, empty place where something is missing. Evangelism, worship, teaching, preaching, good works, Sunday school, and youth ministry are well covered, but your church’s “gap” may be prayer. The Lord calls his church to stand in the gap, no matter what the outcome might be. If you pray only to get success in your own life, you are just like the Pharisees — and Jesus called them hypocrites or pretenders. You may pretend to stand in the gap for somebody else but really you want something for yourself. If you don’t get what you want from God after fifteen minutes, you quit praying. The prayer meeting and seeking his face are no longer a part of your life — and you doubt that God will answer prayer. God seeks persistent, faithful, heart-felt prayer. Standing in the gap in the secret place with God for fifteen minutes each day is a good start. You will find those fifteen minutes turn to twenty and then thirty. Don’t worry about how long you pray, just stay consistent. The Bible clearly tells us he wants us to be filled with his love and power — and this only happens when we go into the secret place with him. If you are doing good works just to be seen by men, that is all you will see and your life will become consumed with questions: “Did they see me? Do they appreciate what I’ve done? Am I accepted? Am I loved?” When you are standing in the gap and serving him, it will not matter what others say and you won’t be looking for that pat on the back. The Father’s eyes are on you and he is saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Why Does God Allow Evil? | Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?
|
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Stopping the Devil at Your Heart’s Door
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) One of the great tragedies of the Church in this generation, and one of God’s greatest griefs, is that so many Christians are not truly happy. They put on a good front — singing, clapping, smiling and praising. But lurking just beneath the surface is loneliness and deep misery. These Christians are hot, then suddenly cold. They cannot cope with fear, and depression runs over them like a steamroller. One week they are high, the next week low. Many times their marriages follow that pattern as well. One day all is well between a husband and wife, and the next day they are miserable. Some days they cannot even talk to one another. They explain, “Well, that’s just the way marriage is supposed to be. You can’t expect to stay happy and loving all the time.” Believers caught in this up-and-down cycle should heed the words of Paul to Timothy. He encouraged the young man to help others come to their senses and “escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26), or, as the King James Version puts it, “taken captive by him at his will.” This describes many believers perfectly: Because they give him access, Satan moves in and out of their lives at his own will. They exercise no authority to stop the devil at their heart’s door and he flaunts his hold of them. “You have no power of Christ in you to stop me,” Satan says. “You are my captive and will do as I wish.” This lack of victory in Christ is appalling! Jesus did not die so that you continue to live under the power of Satan after you have given your heart to him. Be careful not get caught in this trap. Instead, set your heart on firmly walking with God and claiming his promises. Determine to seek him with all your might and he will fill your heart with true, lasting joy. __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
How Do We Develop Trust in God?
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) To enter into God’s rest, we must renounce our own efforts. Faith alone admits us into this perfect rest: “For we who have believed do enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:3). Simply put, we are to set our hearts to believe that God is faithful to deliver us in every circumstance, no matter how impossible it may seem. “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (4:10). When we are at rest in Christ, we no longer try to put on a brave face in times of trouble. We don’t pump up some phony acceptance of our crisis and we don’t worry that we might cave in to fear and begin questioning God’s love. In short, our “works mentality” ceases and we simply trust the Lord. How do we develop such trust? We seek the Lord in prayer, meditate on his Word, and walk in obedience. You may object, “But these are all works.” I disagree. They are all acts of faith. As we observe these disciplines, we are trusting that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, building up a reservoir of strength for our time of need. We may not feel God’s strengthening going on inside us, or feel his power being built up in us. But when our next trial comes, these heavenly resources will become manifest in us. In fact, this is the foremost reason I seek the Lord diligently — fasting, praying, studying, looking to obey his commandments through the power of the Holy Spirit. As long as you are serving the Lord, the devil will never give you rest. You will face intense warfare, surprise attacks, and in spite of all your past victories, you will always need heaven’s resources to help you endure. Determine to be a soldier who is fully prepared for the battlefield. When the enemy suddenly comes at you, you are going to need all available ammunition. You will want to have reserves to draw on; you will have won the battle on your knees before God, prior to the conflict. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
The Secret and Surprising Ways Christians Worship in North Korea
October 25, 2018 by Lindy Lowry in Asia, Stories of Persecution When Lee Joo-Chan was young, he knew his parents were different. Everybody called them “Communist parents” because they took care of the sick, the poor and the needy. He also remembers seeing his parents read from a secret book at night. He knows now it was part of their worship. “They would whisper the words, and I knew it was their source of wisdom. I also knew that if I ever talked about this to someone else, our family would be taken away.” Thirty years later in China, Lee would finally discover his family’s secret faith. Now a pastor in South Korea, Lee is incredibly thankful for his courageous parents who risked their lives to worship and follow Jesus–and tell their son about their faith. His parents are not alone in their boldness. Today, hundreds of thousands of Christians in North Korea’s underground church estimated at 300,000, also find secret ways to worship Jesus and follow Him. In fact, because of the hardships and oppression they face, these believers often seek God intensely and risk their lives to worship Jesus—not unlike the early church that drew an ichthys in the ground with their feet as a symbol of their faith and secretly met together in catacombs. In North Korea, there are also several kinds of underground church communities. The casual meeting An Open Doors field rep explains: “You see someone outside, you know that other person is a brother, you look at each other. That’s all. That’s your entire service.” Home gatherings Typically, this kind of church is hosted by a family who have one or more children. The family’s house is rarely, if ever, ideal for public gatherings. It usually has just one bedroom and a small living room. And, even if a group of people can cram into the small space, they must be vigilant about keeping the noise down. Neighbors easily pick up when something is going on as houses in North Korea are built close together and the walls of the structures are often thin.” It’s best when these families live near the woods so they can hide their copy of the Bible if they have one. Our field rep describes what worship is like for a local believer, not unlike Lee Joo-Chan remembers: “It’s after midnight. The two youngest children are sleeping. You sneak out, dig up your Bible and bring it back inside. The curtains are pulled and very, very softly do you read to your wife and 16-year-old son. You’ve only recently shared the gospel with him. Now he’s old enough and wise enough not to accidentally betray you. Of course, he didn’t understand the gospel at first, but you’re teaching him. You’ve been praying for years that he’d be ready.” “You read the Bible in the dark, you pray, the words are hardly audible. Do you sing in whispers? When you’re in a bold mood.” Prison camps Believe it or not, North Korean Christians find ways to worship in the country’s notorious prison camps. There, a believer may be locked up with 40 others prisoners in a confined, uncomfortable space. There are usually wooden floors with many cracks that fill the room with ice-cold air in the winter and sweltering hot air in the summer. Lice and bugs get in too. But, our field rep says, there’s often “one brave Christian who shares the gospel with others and prays, knowing that she will be punished for that.” In one of the darkest places on earth, North Korean prison camp survivor Hea-Woo chose to do something so radical, and so dangerous, but so Christlike. In the prison, God gave her a heart to tell her fellow prisoners about Jesus. And so, right there in the middle of a North Korean labor camp, a secret fellowship church began. Hea Woo recalls how God used her: “The Bible verses that I’d recall from memory gave the others hope. They also saw the Spirit at work in me. I stood out among the other prisoners because I helped them. Sometimes I shared my rice with the sick. Occasionally, I washed their clothes, too. “God used me to lead five people to faith. I tried to teach them the little I knew about Jesus. I didn’t have access to a Bible in the camp. But on Sundays and at Christmas, we met together out of the view of the guards. Usually, that was in the toilet. There we held a short service. I taught them the Bible verses and songs that I knew. We sang almost inaudibly so that no one would hear us.” In all three of these types of worship gatherings, our field rep assures us there are people “risking their lives to distribute aid and support to and inside North Korea.” “God has called us to do this work. The North Korean Christians are far more dedicated than us. In a sense, they are spiritually much stronger than we are. There are so many unknown heroes in North Korea, and they are able to withstand torture.” Praying With North Korea’s Secret Worshipers Father, we come to You now, interceding for our brothers and sisters in North Korea. We thank you for these secret worshipers and their boldness to follow You in in the face of persecution few of us can fathom. We ask that You would protect them as they find ways to worship You and catch glimpses that they’re not alone. Give them the prudent courage to read and speak Scripture and the discernment for when to be silent. We pray for those who can only look at someone and know that they follow Christ like they do. We pray for these secret house gatherings and ask that You would give them beautiful moments together, that they would find both joy and solace in Your Scripture. Give believers supernatural ability to memorize Your Word and impart it. And God, we pray now with the Christian prisoners, that they would find each other and be able to discreetly gather to hear Your Word, and that they would find ways to minister to those prisoners who don’t know You–drawing their cellmates to You. We ask right now, Father, that You would raise up the next generation of Hea Woos both inside and outside prison walls. And finally, Lord, we plead for the freedom of our persecuted family in North Korea–that they would one day be able to read Your Word and gather freely to worship without fear. In Your Son’s name, we ask these things… Amen. Code:
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/the-secret-and-surprising-ways-christians-worship-in-north-korea/?utm_source=General+Subscription&utm_campaign=01410be3b4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_26_05_42&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_df4a07f94a-01410be3b4-176883149 |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
God is Available All the Time
Gary Wilkerson Jesus sits at the right hand of God and “He is always living to make petition to God and to intercede with Him” (Hebrews 7:25). Isaiah 56:7 says, “There is joy for him in the house of prayer.” Let me ask you some personal questions:
Fathers, do you pray for your children that they don’t fall into temptation? Wives, do you pray for your husbands, that God’s hand will be upon him? Children, young people, teenagers, are you seeking the Lord’s face so that you won’t be swayed by the temptations of the world? Single persons, do you take some of the time in your busy days and schedule a “usual” time when you cry out to God? Jesus’ own life was a model of what he wanted to see established in his disciples (and this means us, because we are his disciples). If we are honest, many of us must admit that we don’t have “usual” times of prayer. Sometimes we may go days without a consistent time and place of prayer where we can openly and transparently commune with God away from the distractions of the world. The lover of your soul covets time alone with you. He wants you to praise and exalt him — day in and day out. Unless you schedule significant time to be alone with God, the busyness of life will keep you from meeting with him. God doesn’t care what time of day you meet with Him — after all, he is available all the time! Make this time a priority because it will be the most important time in your life. Make a commitment to the Father and then say “no” to everything else. Don't close your door to prayer...... |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Jesus, the Source of All Joy
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Isaiah 16:6 vividly describes what happens to a proud nation that falls under God’s judgment: “We have heard of the pride of Moab … of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so.” Throughout Scripture, the nation of Moab serves as a symbol representing all self-reliant people who turn their backs on God and fall under his judgment. In biblical times, harvest was always a time of great celebration, yet after judgment fell on Moab, there were no shouts of “Harvest!” ringing through the streets. Any trace of joy in Moab became a thing of the past and a cloud of sadness and grief hung over the society. Let’s consider the landscape in America today. What do you see and hear? Our proud, haughty nation has fallen under God’s divine wrath and there is a great deal of fear. When destruction hit the Twin Towers in New York City, the cry was, “This is going to change our nation forever,” and that was true. The innocence, joy and gladness that many Americans once knew are gone forever and will never be recaptured. What we need to know is that Jesus Christ alone is the source of all joy. The Psalmist says of him, “God … has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (45:7). The oil mentioned in this psalm represents the Holy Spirit. The writer is saying, “Only those who press in to a closer walk with Jesus will obtain the joy of his Spirit.” We who know Christ’s righteousness are not to live as those who are without hope. We have been blessed with both the love and the fear of God and he is saying to us, “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing” (Isaiah 51:11). In other words, “I’m going to have a people who return to me with trust, faith and confidence. They’ll take their eyes off their conditions and the calamities surrounding them and get back their song of joy.” __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Spoiling the Entire Batch
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) Ole such a beautiful passage of scripture by the Apostle Paul. “May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever” (Hebrews 13:20-21). What a joy to be around people who have about them the aroma of having been with Jesus and are living this kind of Christ-life. Like Paul, these saints have a longing to be in the presence of Christ. They possess a hunger to obtain more and more intimacy with him and they exude his love and holiness. Such people thoroughly enjoy life but they also avoid all foolish conversation. They live wholly separated from the things of this world and God’s favor is evident in their lives and their families. Some may be poor in material things but their lives are fully blessed by the Lord. Don’t get me wrong; these believers go through seasons of severe trials and testing but, like Paul, although they may be cast down, they are not destroyed. And they never quit! They are determined to finish their walk of faith and ministry in a way that is pleasing to God. But Satan is determined to put things in your life that hinder your entering into the abundance of Christ’s blessing. Paul recognized this and said to the Galatians, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:7-9). In other words, “What is in your life that keeps you from going on in the full blessing of Christ?” This is a good warning for us today. Many Christians who once were mightily used of God have allowed something to creep into their lives and they have made peace with that compromise. Be careful that you do not allow a single sin to serve as a little leaven that spoils the entire batch. __________________ |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
What Does Your Heart Long For?
Gary Wilkerson The heart of God was greatly pleased when Moses said to him, “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). Every earthly parent knows the constant pleading of children’s voices asking for things, but nothing warms the parent’s heart like hearing a child say, “I love you!” When Moses voiced his desire, God readily granted his request, as far as he could allow it. “He said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live” (33:20). God’s unapproachable light is too fierce for humans to experience fully; his holiness is all consuming, but he did want Moses to experience his glory in part. The Lord told him, in effect, “I can’t show you my face but I can show you the effects of my presence and the trail of goodness I leave behind” (see 33:21-23). In order to protect Moses, God said, “So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock … while I pass by” (33:22). This verse tells us everything about God’s amazing grace in the Old Testament. Even before the cross — before Christ shed his blood for our salvation — God hid Moses in his grace “in the cleft of the rock.” As Paul explains, “That Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Scripture says Moses’ face was transformed by God’s glory — a change so powerful he had to “put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome” (2 Corinthians 3:13). Today we don’t have to hide in a crevice as Moses did; God’s glory has been revealed fully in Jesus and anyone who encounters him experiences the same transformation — a change so profound the whole world sees it and is awed. What does your heart long for? You may be blessed with many earthly blessings, but there is much more to know of our great God. I urge you to ask God to show you his glory, which is readily available to you. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Why Do Those Forgiven Mistreat Their Brothers?
David Wilkerson (1931-2011) “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15-16). Jesus forgave us out of his goodness and mercy and, likewise, he says we are to be loving and merciful toward our brothers and sisters. Paul refers to Jesus’ command, saying, “Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13). He then expounds on how we pursue obedience to this command: “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; if anyone has a complaint against another … above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (3:12-14). What does it mean to “bear with one another” or, as it reads in the King James Version, to be “forbearing”? The Greek word means “to put up with, to tolerate.” This suggests enduring things we don’t like. We are being told to tolerate the failures of others, to put up with ways we do not understand. At an overseas conference where I was scheduled to speak, several prominent ministers warned me against cooperating with a particular minister, claiming he was into bizarre worship and other things they considered foolish. Yet, when I met that pastor, I saw Christ in him; he was a kind, loving, gentle man of prayer. I realized that these ministers refused to “bear with” a brother in Christ merely because they had differences in style. Why do servants of God, who have been forgiven so much personally, mistreat their brethren and refuse to fellowship with them? I believe it can be traced back to a struggle to understand and accept God’s mercy and goodness, a trap all of us can fall into if we are not careful. We must diligently seek to trust the Lord for patience, mercy and love toward others. |
re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Quote:
They are such brave and long suffering people. One day that evil tyrant that controls them will have to pay the price for what he has / and continues to do to them. & No amount of the money he has stolen from his people, will help him. Thank you for posting this Tarfoot. So very sad that the North Korean people will never be able to read your post. God Bless them and you my friend.. & Please read this PLEA for HELP from one prisoner in 1 of China's notorious forced Labour Camps, that managed to smuggle out years ago... > in a box of Halloween decorations: .. SOS Found in Halloween Decorations From Chinese.... , |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 07:13. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
SEO by vBSEO 3.5.2