This is that...2.11.18
2018 THE GLORIOUS CHURCH
God and the closing of this age are moving us into position as the glorious Body of Christ. We are being strengthened with might by the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill individual and corporate assignments. It’s a magnificent work!
THE CHURCH IS GOD’S HOUSE...OF PRAYER!
Do you remember when Jesus got angry and brought correction to Israel because they had strayed from their assignment?
“Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
What’s happening here?
Over time, the hearts of the children of Israel turned away from God. Without Him, their hearts grew cold and hard, producing spiritual deafness— unable to hear Him. Paul warns Believers that they can have the same experience, becoming “dull of hearing.” (Hebrews 5:11-14)
That means revelation knowledge is coming forth from anointed Pastors/Teachers but their teaching and, more specifically, God’s Word has become cold and valueless, not penetrating into the heart of the believer.
Why? Something else has taken up residency.
The world and all its flashy carnal ways must not consume our thoughts. Just like a fly getting caught in a sticky fly trap, some Christians are being enticed back into sinful ways as a “dog returns to his own vomit.” Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.
For them, prayer—the connection to Father and the spiritual realm—is broken.
FOCUS
Determined people of prayer abide in Jesus (the Word) every moment, every day. They know who they are and are pressing in to fulfill their assignment: Prayer and walking in the Spirit. They live in two realms.
Why pray for the lost?
Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for you and me to be saved. That blood is on the mercy seat in heaven and continues to speak.
(See Hebrews 12:24 & 9:12)
What does the blood say?
“Man is redeemed!”
That’s right. Unsaved family members, unsaved neighbors, unsaved co-workers have been redeemed by Jesus’ blood.
“Well, why aren’t they saved?”
God has set the rule: Each man has the right to choose.
THE CALL TO PRAY
This is exactly the point of why God has called us.
Unsaved, rebellious mankind needs prayer, someone who will give of his heart to intercede for those who are blatantly disobedient and blinded to truth by the deceptions of a liar and thief. ( 2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Saul of Tarsus was vehemently against Jesus Christ and all of His followers. Certainly prayer was going up for him.
What happened? Jesus met Saul while he was on his way to do great harm to Believers in Damascus:
“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ “And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’
“Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” (See Acts 9:1-9)
RELIGIOUS TRADITION
Saul is a picture of mankind under the black cloak of deception. He did not know who Jesus was even though he had studied the Old Testament scriptures under Gamaliel.
LOVE FOR THE LOST
The Church was praying for Saul of Taurus. This kind of love with perseverance is not resident in the heart of natural man. We only experience love for the lost through Jesus.
It’s His love in our hearts that pleads for the redemption of man. There is no greater love than His love.
A TWO EDGED SWORD
As The Church sends out prayers for the lost and for our enemies, something is returning into our hearts — Christ ... in you the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
This is that...which the re-born Apostle said:
“... that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)
2018 THE GLORIOUS CHURCH
God and the closing of this age are moving us into position as the glorious Body of Christ. We are being strengthened with might by the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill individual and corporate assignments. It’s a magnificent work!
THE CHURCH IS GOD’S HOUSE...OF PRAYER!
Do you remember when Jesus got angry and brought correction to Israel because they had strayed from their assignment?
“Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
What’s happening here?
Over time, the hearts of the children of Israel turned away from God. Without Him, their hearts grew cold and hard, producing spiritual deafness— unable to hear Him. Paul warns Believers that they can have the same experience, becoming “dull of hearing.” (Hebrews 5:11-14)
That means revelation knowledge is coming forth from anointed Pastors/Teachers but their teaching and, more specifically, God’s Word has become cold and valueless, not penetrating into the heart of the believer.
Why? Something else has taken up residency.
The world and all its flashy carnal ways must not consume our thoughts. Just like a fly getting caught in a sticky fly trap, some Christians are being enticed back into sinful ways as a “dog returns to his own vomit.” Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.
For them, prayer—the connection to Father and the spiritual realm—is broken.
FOCUS
Determined people of prayer abide in Jesus (the Word) every moment, every day. They know who they are and are pressing in to fulfill their assignment: Prayer and walking in the Spirit. They live in two realms.
Why pray for the lost?
Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for you and me to be saved. That blood is on the mercy seat in heaven and continues to speak.
(See Hebrews 12:24 & 9:12)
What does the blood say?
“Man is redeemed!”
That’s right. Unsaved family members, unsaved neighbors, unsaved co-workers have been redeemed by Jesus’ blood.
“Well, why aren’t they saved?”
God has set the rule: Each man has the right to choose.
THE CALL TO PRAY
This is exactly the point of why God has called us.
Unsaved, rebellious mankind needs prayer, someone who will give of his heart to intercede for those who are blatantly disobedient and blinded to truth by the deceptions of a liar and thief. ( 2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Saul of Tarsus was vehemently against Jesus Christ and all of His followers. Certainly prayer was going up for him.
What happened? Jesus met Saul while he was on his way to do great harm to Believers in Damascus:
“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ “And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’
“Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” (See Acts 9:1-9)
RELIGIOUS TRADITION
Saul is a picture of mankind under the black cloak of deception. He did not know who Jesus was even though he had studied the Old Testament scriptures under Gamaliel.
LOVE FOR THE LOST
The Church was praying for Saul of Taurus. This kind of love with perseverance is not resident in the heart of natural man. We only experience love for the lost through Jesus.
It’s His love in our hearts that pleads for the redemption of man. There is no greater love than His love.
A TWO EDGED SWORD
As The Church sends out prayers for the lost and for our enemies, something is returning into our hearts — Christ ... in you the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
This is that...which the re-born Apostle said:
“... that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)