Sunday, January 29, 2012

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 29

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 29
GOD IS INTERCESSOR


We have all prayed for someone else, at one point or another. That is called Intercession...i.e. pleading their cause before God.


If and when God answers our prayers to the benefit of that person, it is His Will. If He does the opposite, it is still the Will of God! His Will and His Ways are perfect, whether we like it or not. But we press on.


In the Old Testament, believers had to go to the synagogue and have the priests pray for them. Since Christ, we now have direct access to the Throne of Grace and can press into and pray ourselves.

Even so, Romans 8:26-27 says "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Emphasis mine).



Therefore, this is how it works: we immediately know in the Spirit man or woman, if our prayers are meeting with agreement with Holy Spirit! Trust me! We do!  If a christian is walking the Spirit-filled life, she or he will be sensitive to Holy Spirit's promptings and, if we are really fortunate, He allows us to have prophetic insight into whether the person you just prayed for will be healed or have a broken heart mended or whatever the issue is!


This is the dynamic power God gave us as He revealed in John 1:12! We pray in the Spirit, Who IS God and then transmits to Father God, in Jesus' Name!

There is a stunning example of Jesus interceding for Simon Peter in Luke 22:31-32a "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Emphasis mine)



Here is God the Intercessor, in the Person of Jesus Christ! Notice Jesus did not pray for Satan to leave Peter alone! He prayed that Peter's Faith does not fail! So what happened not too long after that? Well, Peter boasted about his loyalty to Christ...and then denied Him thrice with curses! So, friends, you and I must be careful about the things we do and say when engaging in spiritual warfare....which is what is actually happening, depending on the level of Intercession. 


Jesus' High Priestly prayer is the perfect living example of God as our Intercessor...or Prayer Warrior Advocate! I urge you to read John Chapter 17, by clicking here. In this chapter, Jesus first prayed for Himself (verses 1-5). Then He prayed for His disciples (verses 6-19). Jesus then prayed for all believers until the End of Time (verses 20-26).

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You, oh Most Holy and High God, that You are God and seated on the Throne. Father, I love, adore, praise, worship, magnify, glorify and lift up Your Mighty Name above all Names this day, which You have anointed to live fully in the Spirit - man for You...and You alone, in Jesus' Name.



I thank You most Holy Father for sending Your Spirit to live in us - all who believe in Your Son as the Lord of Heaven. I thank You that You gave Holy Spirit instructions to lift up our prayers and intercessions on behalf of others in a such way, that those prayers will be acceptable unto You.


I thank You that Jesus is our Intercessor and Prayer Advocate before the Throne! Lord, with Christ praying that our Faith not fail, how can it?! Lord, when Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He prayed that the glory You have Him, may now be ours! He prayed for unity between us believers and You, Almighty Abba in Heaven! Therefore, Lord I pray, in response, for Your church worldwide to stay on our knees, in one accord, until He comes!


He prayed for that unity to be so dynamic and powerful - that the World will see the Power of the Testimony of You living in and through us and therefore, come to know you and the Wonder of the Most High God. Therefore Lord, make me a living Bible to those with whom I come into contact.


He prayed and still prays that You, Father, continue to love us as You love Him! Lord I receive that Grace and Love! Thank you, Father.


Lord, Jesus used the word love or loved five times in three verses, Lord. He used the word know or known five times in the same three verses.  Lord, for Your Glory, I accept that unconditional love You gave Your Son, when He prayed this, and which He passed on to us, because You so freely gave it to Him before the world even began! We now KNOW that Love and respond in complete awe, amazement and submission to Your will, oh God.


Father, I gave Holy Spirit permission to cleanse from within that I may be ready to intercede for someone else as Christ did, for us,  in John 17 and still continues to, until He comes in glory, some day soon, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, amen.


TOMORROW: GOD IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

(image by google images)


2 comments:

Caroline Gavin said...

Powerful - and beautifully written - message!

Thank you, Bernie, for unveiling the sacred Names of the LORD! The more we understand His Names, the more we understand His character...and the deeper we grow in love with HIM!

May God bless you and your ministry. I am grateful to co-labor with you in Christ!

The Bernie Lutchman Blog said...

Caroline, you have blessed me more than you know by this comment on the Word and Work the Lord has given me, in this special season! This is a labor of love for me and I thank you so much for seeing the Hand of the Spirit in this, in Jesus' Name!

There is so much more to learn about Him and I look forward to doing so and as you said, co-laboring with you, in this amazing lifetime enterprise - That the World may know Him better! God bless you big time, as well!!

:-))
Bernie