 We are in Holy Week, honoring the last week of our Lord and Saviors Jesus Christ life before being crucified on the cross. Before Christ was sent to the cross and crucified He was beaten with fists and whipped. He took all of this upon Himself for all of the sins of all people who believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. The whips used were made of braided leather, with pottery shards and sharp stones affixed to the ends, which tore open, the flesh of the prisoner with each cruel swing of the whip When we picture this terrible, inhumane form of physical punishment we recoil in horror. Yet the physical pain and agony were not all Jesus suffered. He also had to undergo the mental anguish brought on by the wrath of his Father, who punished Him for the sinfulness of mankind, carried out in spite of God’s repeated warnings, which Jesus had willingly taken upon Himself. He paid the total price for all of our transgressions. Isaiah 53:5 says, But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. The word “healed” as translated from both Hebrew and Greek can mean either spiritual or physical healing. As God did for us in deliverance from sin, He has also done for us in physical healing and we are to believe and receive just as much for that wholeness (healing) in Him, in each of our lives. It is important to note healing in the case of a Christian is a direct and sovereign act of God's gracious power, as all God's blessings to man, are independent and subject to an all-wise Heavenly Father. This is the reason why Matthew declares Isaiah's prophecy that Christ would bear `our sicknesses' and carry our `sorrows' (Isa. 53:4) was fulfilled in Christ's ministry of physical healing (Matt. 8:17), not in His atoning death on the cross. Christ's miracles of healing served to confirm Him as the Redeemer and were signs of the spiritual healing He came to bring. At the same time they were pledges also of the ultimate full deliverance of those who are redeemed not only from sin, but from every evil consequence of it in the body as well as the soul. In this sense not only did Christ atone for our physical sicknesses but our spiritual sickness. The fullness of healing will take place at the resurrection and this is a direct benefit of Christ dying on the Cross. We have not yet received the redemption of our bodies, as this will be dealt with at the resurrection, not before. Any healing we receive before the resurrection is the blessings of Gods grace, which are a foretaste of the immortal bodies we will receive. Perfect health and healing for eighty plus years resulting in an eventual, peaceful step into eternity when the Lord calls us home is likely the hope and desire of every Christian. This was not what happened for every saint in the New Testament nor is it for many today in spite of modern medicine. We cannot say that in this life as a believer there would be no sick believers because they would all be walking in the full provision of physical health provided in the death of Christ on the cross. In such a case, there would be no need to call the elders to pray for the sick (James 5:14-16) or for the operation of the gift of healing. Death and disease will be a part of the human condition until that time when we receive resurrection bodies that are immune to such frailties. When we ask for healing, we need to submit to God's sovereign will. He may have a purpose in allowing our illness as not all sicknesses come from Satan, nor are they all contrary to the will of God. I reason that some sickness is the result of another problem, and the Lord will often reveal the root cause of the problem and we are to pray for that root. Romans 8:26 confirms this, it says, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words," For an example of a root, it has been said that diabetes, many times can be cause or activated by emotional shock, such as sudden death in the family, injury, financial loss, anything that seriously affects us emotionally. But God has left us His Word as provision to our problems and sickness regardless and we must put His Word into action with prayer. I know personally the power praying God Word and his healing. He has healed my body and restored me from sickness and disease. But it was a process of prayer, supplication and speaking the Word over my body. Once I discovered the root cause of the symptom, I knew the actions to take and the specific Word to pray over my body and spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the very Word we decide to pray, which will give us Victory in Jesus and we must decree the Word as it applies to the sickness, physical or spiritual, through prayer…because by "His stripes we are healed". Enter into the Sanctuary for Intercession. Intercession PrayerOur Lord Jesus, I come to You now according to Your Word and Father and I know that Your Word is true. Lord, Your Word says that if I abide in You and Your Words abide in me I will ask You what I desire and it shall be done for me and by this my Father is glorified that I will bear much fruit.
0 Comments
 As a married woman of nine years I do not understand firsthand the struggle an unmarried person. However, I was single once and I have many friends that are single. I've had conversations at length about the challenges faced in singleness in our society. In our conversations I can sense their frustration in trying to discern "God's will" for their life concerning marriage. The Bible is clear the will for a married person, it seems self-evident. The Bible instructs him to be a faithful and loving spouse, and to raise his children in godliness. Much of a man's life becomes centered on these activities. Providing for the family, as God directs, becomes his priority. However, for a person who is single, this question seems much more ambiguous. The question of a Christian staying single and what the Bible says about believers never marrying is often misunderstood. Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:7-8: “I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.” Notice that he says some have the gift of singleness and some the gift of marriage. Here Paul made a choice to remain single as devoted his entire life to spreading the Word of God. Paul, did not have to worry about the extra problems and stresses that come with marriage and/or family. He devoted his entire life to spreading the Word of God. On the other hand, some people do better as a team, serving God as a couple and a family. This choice is up to the believer to remain single or be married, but both kinds of people are equally important. And if the believer chooses to remain single, it should not be viewed as a curse or an indication that there is “something wrong” with the single man or woman. While most people marry, and while the Bible seems to indicate that it is God’s will for most people to marry, a single Christian is in no sense a “second class” Christian. As 1 Corinthians 7 indicates, singleness is, if anything, a higher calling. But when deciding what your marital status should be, with everything else in life, you should ask God, "What is Your will for my life". We should seek wisdom concerning His plan. Following God’s plan, whether that be marriage or singleness, will result in the productivity and joy that God desires for you. We may try to discern the hidden meaning of Bible passages, or seek direction in prayer and the leading of our heart, but without any clear guidance. We tend to think God has hidden His will for our lives, that it's a great mystery and its up to us to uncover it. Often in our haste to discover His purpose for us we try to formulate a plan and we make the choice to enter into an unordained relationship seeking physical and/or emotional needs. Speaking from the perspective of a married person, you should make sure and be sure that the covenant relationship that you enter into is ordained and is in the will of God for your life. Entering into relationship outside God's plan for you can lead to a life filled with pain, unhappiness, loneliness, abuse and despair which may eventually lead to divorce or death. When we seek a mate we should make sure that it is not just a good choice, but God’s choice. And to find God's choice we should seek Him for the answer. God wants the best for us and that includes having the best mate. If we seek God and ask him to reveal His will concerning our best for marriage, He will respond. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Enter into Intercession to pray for "God's Plan for Marriage for You". Intercession PrayerUnto You, O Lord, do I bring my desire to find a godly spouse. Lord I trust in, lean on, rely on and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or be disappointed; let not my enemies, the spirit of rejection, hurt, inferiority, or unworthiness triumph over me. Heavenly Father, it is written, "For I know the thoughts and the plans that I have for you", says the Lord. "thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give me hope and an expected end". Heavenly Father, I am looking for your plan, Your answer for my life. It is my desire to be married. But I must be sure in my decision that I am living as You intend and that I am accepting whatever situation You have put me into. According to Your Word, marriage will bring extra problems that I may not need to face at this time in my life.  I had a conversation with some long time friends that are married a few weeks ago about marriage and that conversation got me to thinking about my marriage, marriage in general and everything that entails having a marriage, the good, bad and the ugly. My parents were married for over 20 years and divorced when I was eighteen. My husband and I have been married this year in July for 9 years and I have been with him for a total of 19 years. Surviving my parents divorce and with 9 years of marriage and 19 years of a relationship I must say that I have seen my fair share of the good, bad and the ugly. I know that marriage has it's good times as well as it's bad and that it is not easy to maintain or survive a marriage during the difficulties times especially in our society. I know the only way we have survived the ebbs and flows of this journey called marriage is because we have a third person in this marriage with us. Marriage has become a negative term in this culture and society. We no longer look at marriage with anticipation and joy, but with fear. People are scared that if they get married then there is the possibility of getting divorced. No, marriage does not guarantee a lifelong relationship, but neither does any relationship. Marriage was designed to be a lifelong relationship, a commitment and a covenant. The only reason it is not is because we have made it that way. We too often look for any easy way out. If we feel unhappy, then just leave. If you feel unfulfilled, then leave. If your husband makes you mad, you can just leave." We live in a fast-food society. We want things easy and we want it now. No way we want to do anything that requires effort. We go into marriage thinking that we will have the perfect little marriage and the perfect little family in the cookie-cutter house and we will never argue and get angry. Wrong! We need to know what we are actually agreeing to. We are agreeing to stay with our spouse when things are the worst they have ever been. When they make you angry and call you names and hurt your feelings. Marriage is not a continuous date. You now get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know first-hand the dangers of weak commitment in marriage. After my husband and I were newly married, we would throw the big "D" and "S" word around. I made choices and decisions that threatened the covenant of my marriage because of my attitude, insecurities and because I felt as though Yolanda was lost in this relationship. But we had to decide if we wanted to be married and if we did than divorce and separation was not an option, we were then forced to work things out. And working it out has not been an easy road. I went into surgery to battle issues with my fertility twice since we have been together, losing two grandfathers, a father and an aunt in the span of four years. In between all of this there was job losses, which brought on money problems, confusion, miscommunication and interference from unwanted life situations. But through it all I have had to remember that I love him and I vowed to sustain through all of the good and bad times. I know that we could not have remained together without our third cord, God. I really don't know how in the world people do it without Christ, though. He has become the center of our home, and we still have days that we could really could hurt each other but with Christ as the umpire we have no choice but to see each other through His eyes. Hence, the key to surviving is seeing marriage and each other through God's eyes, hearing each other with God's ears, lifting each other with God's hands, encouraging each other with God's Words, and loving each other with God's heart. Marriage is about choosing each day, each minute, to honor God with our words and actions, and in turn, we honor our spouses. Marriage was created by God for our good, for the good of our society, and for His plan to be fulfilled. It’s about companionship, pleasure, responsibility, commitment, romance, raising the next generation—the whole package. It’s the most difficult and yet the most fulfilling relationship we experience during our time on earth. And that’s why it’s worth fighting for. So, today on this Intercession Tuesday I want us to pray for troubled marriages or just marriages in general. That God will bring restoration and healing. Let's speak life and death to the issues now affecting the restoration of your marriage, and release the awesome power of God as He works to restore strengthen and heal marriages. Intercession PrayerHeavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that you will hear my prayer, for I come on the authority of your Word. I pray and confess your Word over my marriage and as I do, I use my faith, believing that Your Word will come to pass. I stand in the gap for my spouse against the devil and his demons until the salvation of God is manifested in his or her life. I confess that we will let all bitterness, indignation, wrath, rage, bad temper, resentment, abuse, evil speaking, malice, spite, ill will be banished from us. I pray that we have become helpful, kind, tenderhearted, compassionate, understanding, responsible, forgiving readily and freely as You Father, forgave me. I ask Lord that they and we walk in love, esteeming and delighting one another as Christ loved us and gave Himself up as a sacrificial offering so that I could become a sweet fragrance. |
IntercessionPrayer is the expression of man’s dependence upon God and his confidence in Him. When God answers prayer, He magnifies His faithfulness. Prayer is releasing the energies of God and asking God to do what we cannot do. Prayer is the breathing and panting of the Spirit after God. Prayer is a soul struggle. It is the hardest work God has given His children, but it is their most important work. If you have a Archives
August 2015
CategoriesAll A Prayer Of Praise & Thanksgiving Back To School Includes Prayer Back To School Prayers Be Thankful! Blessings Are Found In Obedience Blessings Follow Obedience Break The Cycle Broken And Blessed Can You Change Your DNA? Command Your Blessings Control Yourself Decree & Declare: By His Stripes…. Fear Is A Liar Freedom To Gain Access To The Open Door Get Your House In Order! Give Me Your Wisdom Heal My Grieving Heart Help I Ask That You Help Me Lord! I Declare And I Decree I Need Your Help It's A Good Thing To Give Thanks. Life Hurts. Time Passes. He Heals. Living Single: Seeking God's Will ForMarriage Loosed & Lifted: The Spirit Of Infirmity Lord Marriage: The Good Bad And The Ugly New Season Peace In The Midst Of His Will Pick Up Your Sword Plug Into God's Power Power Of Your Spoken Word Pray Pray Against Deception And Manipulation Pray Blessings! Pray For The President Of The United States Praying Big & Audacious Prayers For Your Child Praying For Families So That They Can Withstand Pray The Door Shut! Prosperity In TheBody Purpose In Betrayal Self Control For An Uncontrollably Blessed Future! Soul And Spirit Prosperity Speak Prosperity The Battle? Yours. Your Weapon? The Sword Of The Spirit The Power Of Affirmation The Power Of Praying Wife Throwing Shade Want The Blessed Life? It's Found In Obedience When You Come To The End Of Yourself! Where God Guides…He Provides Work And Enjoy The Journey In The Wait You Can't Afford To Stop Praying |
Search by typing & pressing enter
RSS Feed