Shocking! Absolutely shocking! The condition of our modern day prayer life stuns the Lord. With tears and heart felt words the Lord whispers to your and me, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." (Ezekiel 22:30) All of us from time to time wish that our families, friends, and society changed their wayward habits. We even daydream about great adventures into the realm of faith. But, often our apathy or ignorance dictates our future.
Ignorance about prayer is no excuse for a fruitless life. A prayerless saint drops their guard when the going gets tough. The weapon that Satan destroys first is prayer. If the saints cease praying all hell breaks lose. The battle field levels and many warriors fall. Are you ready to stop this carnage? Are you ready to fight? If so, where do you and I begin?
Attend your church prayer meeting. Come prepared with a list of friends, unsaved family members and enemies. Pay attention to other’s requests. Start asking the Lord for a mighty movement of His spirit. If nothing happens, keep asking. Because, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) Everyone needs prayer. Everyone needs deliverance from God’s wrath.
Make an appointment with Jesus. Show up on time and ready to fight. Christ often waits upon our serious pursuit of spiritual matters. The shallowness of our requests slaps the savior in the face. Jesus often escaped to the hillside to communion with His father. Christ never forgot his assignment.
Faithfulness is the first step into the battlefield of prayer. Satan never gives up our loved ones and friends without a fight. Neither should you. Learn to fight! Learn you weapon of prayer! Because sooner or later, your loved ones and friends will encounter this: "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord God" (Ezekiel 22: 31)
Remember this, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a biblical scholar to enter the battle? It doesn’t take a pastor or deacon. Christ looks for anyone with a persistent attitude and a long prayer list.
Copyright 2008 Patricia Charlton
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Ultimate Trailblazer
If you and I desire a humble place of honor, we must understand the ultimate trailblazer – Jesus Christ. Trailblazers leave maps with a set of instructions to guide those that follow in their footsteps. So, it is with Jesus Christ.
Before Christ accepted his father’s assignment Jesus did this: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2: 7) This is the first qualification for a spiritual trailblazer. Did you get it? You and I must lay aside our pride of life and accomplishments and become a servant to the Most High.
Not only was Christ a servant, but Jesus also did this: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 8) Humility demands obedience to our authority figure. Only God the Father has the master plan for Christ’s life and anyone’s life. Even thou Jesus Christ still retained his power, he did this: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me." (John 5: 30) When you and I serve the Lord in our fleshly power, we insult the Most High God. Humility waits for orders and responses in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A humble trailblazer practices this mind set: "If any men (women) desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant to all." (Matthew 27: 64) Jesus always placed others before himself - especially his Father’s wishes.
If there is one thing that Christ demonstrates about humility, it was this: training others for service. None has or ever will have a ministry like Jesus Christ. With only twelve spiritually dense disciples and no writing agent, publisher, television or radio show, the world somehow hears about the continuing work of Jesus Christ. Even thou his earthly ministry was limited to several years, the message about redemption lives on in the lives of future disciples. Humility trusts God and instills in others the ability to forward a heavenly kingdom. Never at anytime did Christ over ride His Fathers orders.
A test for an ultimate trailblazing assignment involves the ability to turn over a fruitful ministry into the hands of another. If the Holy Spirit gave that command, could you turn over the ministry you lead to someone else. Jesus did! Christ primary purpose on earth was training his future spiritual trailblazers for the cross and a ministry of redemption.
In closing, I feel pressed in my spirit to mention that God waits and longs to send more trailblazers into uncharted areas in the worldly darkness. Where are the instructors with lessons on servanthood, on obedience, and endurance? Where are the spiritual trailblazers with flaming swords of righteousness? Christ endured many hardships so that you and I find the straight path into the presence of a Holy God.
Before Christ accepted his father’s assignment Jesus did this: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2: 7) This is the first qualification for a spiritual trailblazer. Did you get it? You and I must lay aside our pride of life and accomplishments and become a servant to the Most High.
Not only was Christ a servant, but Jesus also did this: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 8) Humility demands obedience to our authority figure. Only God the Father has the master plan for Christ’s life and anyone’s life. Even thou Jesus Christ still retained his power, he did this: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me." (John 5: 30) When you and I serve the Lord in our fleshly power, we insult the Most High God. Humility waits for orders and responses in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A humble trailblazer practices this mind set: "If any men (women) desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant to all." (Matthew 27: 64) Jesus always placed others before himself - especially his Father’s wishes.
If there is one thing that Christ demonstrates about humility, it was this: training others for service. None has or ever will have a ministry like Jesus Christ. With only twelve spiritually dense disciples and no writing agent, publisher, television or radio show, the world somehow hears about the continuing work of Jesus Christ. Even thou his earthly ministry was limited to several years, the message about redemption lives on in the lives of future disciples. Humility trusts God and instills in others the ability to forward a heavenly kingdom. Never at anytime did Christ over ride His Fathers orders.
A test for an ultimate trailblazing assignment involves the ability to turn over a fruitful ministry into the hands of another. If the Holy Spirit gave that command, could you turn over the ministry you lead to someone else. Jesus did! Christ primary purpose on earth was training his future spiritual trailblazers for the cross and a ministry of redemption.
In closing, I feel pressed in my spirit to mention that God waits and longs to send more trailblazers into uncharted areas in the worldly darkness. Where are the instructors with lessons on servanthood, on obedience, and endurance? Where are the spiritual trailblazers with flaming swords of righteousness? Christ endured many hardships so that you and I find the straight path into the presence of a Holy God.
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