"For whatever things were written before
were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
Romans 15:4
_______________________________________________________________
Dear Saints Who Pray,
SEPARATION: WHEN ADAM LEFT THE GARDEN
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24
THE LOSS OF GLORY
I don’t think it is possible to know the depth of sorrow and regret that Adam and Eve experienced after the curse was released in their lives and upon the earth. Imagine going from living in extreme glory and in a moment being enveloped and plunged into darkness of spirit and soul. Yet, even in sin God had the plan of redemption: “the Seed of a woman,” (Genesis 3:15), Jesus Christ, would bring man into even greater glory: the fullness of fellowship as God would become one with His creation for eternity.
ICHABOD
When the Philistines stole the Ark of God, the daughter-in-law of Eli the prophet named her child Ichabod, which means “The glory has departed from Israel.” 1 Samuel 4:21
THE CHURCH 2014
It’s amazing to see in our generation some denominations turning away from what the bible declares right and wrong. Nevertheless, the truths written in scripture will stand firm throughout eternity and not even the smallest letter shall be removed from the written Word of God. Matthew 5:18
We should not be shaken over these things. The scriptures have already warned us.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Read 2 Timothy Chapter 3.
THE FOUR-FOLD ASSIGNMENT OF THE WORD
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
Doctrine: principles, precepts, teaching as with authority, policy taught or advocated
Reproof: admonition, censure, rebuke, the act of reproving
Correction: restoration to an upright position, referring to improvement of life or character, discipline, rectification, punishment intended to reform
Instruction: training, teaching, education, guidance, to inform, enlighten
The born again child of God will always be receiving one or all of these administrations of God’s Word. Why? Transformation!
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
We behold God’s glory as we study the scriptures and allow them to change us. This is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yielding to Him always produces fruit and brings the blessing.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
LETTING THE WORD GO: LETTING THE GLORY DEPART
If a Believer lets his study time in the Word slip away because of distractions, cares and seeking after other things, what will be the result? The desire for study will decrease and stubbornness toward correction will increase.
Thoughts of “I’ve heard all that already” and “I know all that” are signs of “dullness of hearing,” which means revelation knowledge is coming forth but you’re not getting it! Hebrews 5:11
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him …” Hebrews 2:1-3
CONSEQUENCES OF HARDENED GROUND
In Matthew Chapter13 and Mark Chapter 4, Jesus is telling His disciples that the mysteries of the Kingdom of God would be revealed to them. He then went on to describe the hearts of four different kinds of people who heard God’s Word being preached.
Wayside: the Word did not enter their heart because they did not understand what it meant, and so, Satan snatched it from them.
Stony: they received God’s Word with joy but had no root in themselves. When tribulation or persecution arose for the Word’s sake, they wavered and stumbled.
Thorny: they received the word but it was choked in their heart by the domination of cares, worries, desires for other things, deceitfulness of riches.
What do these people have in common?
Either The Word is not getting into their heart or it is not being retained in their heart where it can grow up and bear fruit in their lives and for God’s Kingdom.
Rewards of Good Ground: He who hears The Word, understands and keeps it, and is willing to do whatever it says on a daily basis will bear fruit.
Did you know that those who were once good ground can turn back and travel the other way? Thorny, stony, wayside …
“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39
LIFE ON THE ROCK: IT’S A DAILY THING
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 3:15
The thief and enemy of God is out to remove first your study time and then all the scriptures from your life so that your heart will become hardened.
We can see what effect this has had on certain denominations…entire groups of God’s people blindly following wrong doctrine because they don’t study for themselves and know the truth. No root in themselves!
Check your heart and your desires often. What if Jesus returns today?
COMMITMENT AND BEING PLANTED
“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15
The more we know should be the more we grow, not the more we go…from church to church not being able to sustain relationships and being committed to the Pastor. The Holy Spirit will work through your Pastor to bring you the Four-Fold Ministry of The Word: doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction.
Jesus was always submitted to His Father. See Matthew 11:29. Yielding to God and being planted in a Word-teaching church has a lot to do with your destiny and you feeling secure and settled, planted and rooted in the house of the Lord.
How does The Glorious Church become complete, fully equipped for every good work?
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
CONTAINERS OF THE GLORY
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:33
_______________________________________________________
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE
Interceding for:
The Church The Lost Elected Leaders
OCCUPY TIL HE RETURNS!
Copyright © 2013 – 2014 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org
SEPARATION: WHEN ADAM LEFT THE GARDEN
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24
THE LOSS OF GLORY
I don’t think it is possible to know the depth of sorrow and regret that Adam and Eve experienced after the curse was released in their lives and upon the earth. Imagine going from living in extreme glory and in a moment being enveloped and plunged into darkness of spirit and soul. Yet, even in sin God had the plan of redemption: “the Seed of a woman,” (Genesis 3:15), Jesus Christ, would bring man into even greater glory: the fullness of fellowship as God would become one with His creation for eternity.
ICHABOD
When the Philistines stole the Ark of God, the daughter-in-law of Eli the prophet named her child Ichabod, which means “The glory has departed from Israel.” 1 Samuel 4:21
THE CHURCH 2014
It’s amazing to see in our generation some denominations turning away from what the bible declares right and wrong. Nevertheless, the truths written in scripture will stand firm throughout eternity and not even the smallest letter shall be removed from the written Word of God. Matthew 5:18
We should not be shaken over these things. The scriptures have already warned us.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Read 2 Timothy Chapter 3.
THE FOUR-FOLD ASSIGNMENT OF THE WORD
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
- doctrine,
- for reproof,
- for correction,
- for instruction in righteousness,
- that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:13-17
Doctrine: principles, precepts, teaching as with authority, policy taught or advocated
Reproof: admonition, censure, rebuke, the act of reproving
Correction: restoration to an upright position, referring to improvement of life or character, discipline, rectification, punishment intended to reform
Instruction: training, teaching, education, guidance, to inform, enlighten
The born again child of God will always be receiving one or all of these administrations of God’s Word. Why? Transformation!
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
We behold God’s glory as we study the scriptures and allow them to change us. This is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yielding to Him always produces fruit and brings the blessing.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
LETTING THE WORD GO: LETTING THE GLORY DEPART
If a Believer lets his study time in the Word slip away because of distractions, cares and seeking after other things, what will be the result? The desire for study will decrease and stubbornness toward correction will increase.
Thoughts of “I’ve heard all that already” and “I know all that” are signs of “dullness of hearing,” which means revelation knowledge is coming forth but you’re not getting it! Hebrews 5:11
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him …” Hebrews 2:1-3
CONSEQUENCES OF HARDENED GROUND
In Matthew Chapter13 and Mark Chapter 4, Jesus is telling His disciples that the mysteries of the Kingdom of God would be revealed to them. He then went on to describe the hearts of four different kinds of people who heard God’s Word being preached.
Wayside: the Word did not enter their heart because they did not understand what it meant, and so, Satan snatched it from them.
Stony: they received God’s Word with joy but had no root in themselves. When tribulation or persecution arose for the Word’s sake, they wavered and stumbled.
Thorny: they received the word but it was choked in their heart by the domination of cares, worries, desires for other things, deceitfulness of riches.
What do these people have in common?
Either The Word is not getting into their heart or it is not being retained in their heart where it can grow up and bear fruit in their lives and for God’s Kingdom.
Rewards of Good Ground: He who hears The Word, understands and keeps it, and is willing to do whatever it says on a daily basis will bear fruit.
Did you know that those who were once good ground can turn back and travel the other way? Thorny, stony, wayside …
“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39
LIFE ON THE ROCK: IT’S A DAILY THING
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 3:15
The thief and enemy of God is out to remove first your study time and then all the scriptures from your life so that your heart will become hardened.
We can see what effect this has had on certain denominations…entire groups of God’s people blindly following wrong doctrine because they don’t study for themselves and know the truth. No root in themselves!
Check your heart and your desires often. What if Jesus returns today?
COMMITMENT AND BEING PLANTED
“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15
The more we know should be the more we grow, not the more we go…from church to church not being able to sustain relationships and being committed to the Pastor. The Holy Spirit will work through your Pastor to bring you the Four-Fold Ministry of The Word: doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction.
Jesus was always submitted to His Father. See Matthew 11:29. Yielding to God and being planted in a Word-teaching church has a lot to do with your destiny and you feeling secure and settled, planted and rooted in the house of the Lord.
How does The Glorious Church become complete, fully equipped for every good work?
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
CONTAINERS OF THE GLORY
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:33
_______________________________________________________
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE
Interceding for:
The Church The Lost Elected Leaders
OCCUPY TIL HE RETURNS!
Copyright © 2013 – 2014 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org