Prayer for Others - Kingdom style!

This morning while I was praying for a friend, I was beginning to list the reasons why my friend deserves Divine Intervention when the Holy Spirit stopped me.

He showed me this: by our standards, if we were to list them all, no one would deserve His Favor. But, by His standards, everyone does.

Have you ever prayed for someone and began to list things like "he/she loves You, he/she is a good moral person, he/she gives to the poor", etc? We think that our good deeds, or intentions move God.

How does God decide who deserves His favor? According to John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

According to this passage, and others, we merely have to exist for Him to demonstrate His love toward us, and bring the fullness of all that the word "salvation" means!

Check out this verse: Rom 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

There is no pre-qualification for God to act on our behalf! So why do we think that there would be for Him to show His favor toward others?

My conclusion: let us pray one for another, not based on whether or not they deserve anything, because by our standards "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God!" But let us pray for others from His viewpoint, if they exist, they have purpose, and that purpose is found in Him. They deserve God's best - just because!

So I changed my prayer for my friend, I am declaring that the Kingdom of God come to him, "on earth as it is in Heaven!"

Raise The Bar!

Here is a re post of an article I wrote last year, August 19, 2009 - Enjoy!

Sunday morning at church, I was overcome by the response of many to my greeting “How are you doing?”. The response overwhelmingly was “Hanging in there!” So many people, mostly male, are “just hanging in there!”

One young man in the bathroom, bless his heart, recieved a discourse from me. I turned and said “Hanging in there? You were designed for more! Grab that rope and start climbing!”

So for the last few days I have been thinking about this post. Actually, it began about a week ago while in the prayer tower before church. A small group of people meet about 9:00 to pray for the activities of the day, and this particular Sunday I heard the familiar voice of the Holy Spirit saying “Its time to take it up a notch!”

Here’s a verse that I quote from often, it is the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. These are His words:

Matt 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

This was His message, He spoke this everywhere He went! So let me dissect this for you one more time. The word “Repent” is a greek word, μετανοέω metanoeō. Here is what it means, taken from Strong’s Lexicon:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

So lets put this together. he was saying, literally, “Change your mind! Change it for the better! The Kingdom of God is here!”

He would tell the people this, then prove it with signs and actions, healing and deliverance.

So this is my thought for you today, especially if you are “Just Hanging in there!” Raise your bar, climb the rope, change your mind, because there is something better! God has designed you for so much better!

John 1:12-13: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Whether or not you know it, if you have received Him, you are a child of God! Don’t let your circumstance define you, you are not a loser! You are a winner!

If everyone around you is living in depression, you be the one to bring them out! Realize who you are! And spread the word! His word! Change your mind! His Kingdom is here!

You don’t know what His Kingdom is? Worried about what you will eat, drink, wear, drive, live, etc? Check out His Kingdom, seek it with all your heart! Everything you need will come to you! Re-read Matthew 6, but this time, BELIEVE what you read!

Raise the bar, climb the rope! You’re destiny, purpose and potential is for more, lots more!

Strategic, Preemptive Prayer, and Life!

Here is a verse that was on my mind as I was contemplating this subject:

Matt 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

And this verse:

Matt 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."

The word for "suffers violence" means to inflict violence, not suffering in the sense that it is in pain. Inflicting on whom? The kingdom of this world. The violent ones are the ones who are the disciples of Jesus, changing this world to look like the Kingdom of Heaven!

One night a few weeks ago, I heard these words in my sleep; "Strategic, Preemptive Prayer". God brought to my mind in the days that followed the above verses, and is continually showing me what they mean.

Jesus said that "from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of God is violently active, and the violent are taking action!" Think about what was happening when He spoke those words, (Matt 11:5) The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Every miracle that Jesus performed was pounding on satan's territory, this world's idea of how things must be. Jesus was the first "violent one" that was inflicting violent change through the changed lives He left in His wake. Every change, where it was a physical healing, or spiritual eyes opened to His Kingdom, was a glimpse of the way He intended for life to be, free of sickness, pain, darkness, hopelessness! I believe with all my heart this is what Jesus means when He tells us to pray "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven!" We accomplish it through a process of continually "seeking first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness"!

Can you imagine if a group of people decided that this is the way to pray, and to live their lives? Think about it, praying people that declare His Kingdom in every area of society; Government, Education, Economy and Business, Media, Arts and Entertainment, Religion, and Family! What if a group of people were not satisfied to see a sick person anywhere? (This has happened in the past, where hospitals were emptied because of healing)People praying for the sick in department stores and gas stations! Just imagine if a group became so bold as to declare an entire region "Cancer Free!" It is happening in parts of the US now. What about unemployment, declaring a region so blessed that everyone who lives there has a job, and righteousness in the practice of those businesses! Imagine Government seeking Righteous solutions to the problems of their people, instead of greed for power? Imagine children growing up learning about who they are in relation to a loving God, instead of humanism?

Jesus said that He would give the keys to the Kingdom to such people, and the gates of hell would not prevail against such people! What about you? Are you willing to become one of the "violent ones" Jesus spoke about?

In order to do this, you must learn to live in response to the Holy Spirit, not in reaction to darkness! Its time we stop reacting to evil, and respond to the call of Jesus, declare it with me! "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!"

http://stragicprayerteam.org

Another Gospel?

Here is the verse that is going through me this morning:

Galatians 1:9 "As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."

And this one from Romans 12:2 :"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The word I am concentrating on is "prove", which means to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy, the example given is a coin collector comparing the real coin to a potential counterfeit.

In light of the first verse, we should compare what we are hearing purported to be the gospel to that which we received and know to be accurate, that would be the gospel that Jesus gave.

In order to do this accurately, we need to shed the religious "translations" or traditions of His Gospel and look at the pure word for what it says, no tradition, no twisting or misrepresenting. According to Paul, the only way to do this is to have a renewed mind, the kind that transforms you. Paul wrote much about the transformation that a follower of Christ should experience.

What sorts of "gospel" are we receiving today from our pulpits? It seems that much time and effort is based on "salvation" with the goal of going to heaven when we die. So the gospel has become not much more than an insurance policy of sorts, powerless for this world, all the focus on a life to come!

What is the Gospel that Jesus taught that is different from what we are hearing from our pulpits today? A few verses:

Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Repent: metanoeō, to change one's mind for better. Change the way you think! (Sound's like Paul saying "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!")

Luke 4:18,19: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Matt 6:9,10 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."

Matt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Do you get the idea? Jesus was obsessed with bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, not vice-versa. Re-read the Gospels, especially the direct words of Jesus. Then as Paul says, compare them with what you hear from your pulpit. If the gospel that you are hearing is different from the Gospel that Jesus presented, run, run like mad from that place, because:

Matt 12:36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."

Am I Really A Disciple of the Kingdom?

Matthew 7: 24 "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;"



Remember this one? It also describes a foolish man. But notice that it doesn't say only"hears" but also "does" them. This really hits home to someone who is "seeking first the Kingdom of God".

It's the part that says "does them" that I am thinking about. Does what, exactly? The sayings of Jesus?

Then in John 14:21 Jesus said this; "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me." Keeps them, does them? What does that look like in action?



Do you remember the "Parable of the Sower?" You can find it in Matthew 13, the explanation of it in verses 18-23. Have I let the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches allow me to become unfruitful? In verse19, we know the seed is the "Word of the Kingdom". So the question is; what does "keeps them", "does them" and "fruitful" look like?



The answer to that should be found in Jesus' sayings and instructions. Many will look at Matthew chapters 5-7 as some nice teachings of a great teacher, but what if they are more than teachings, but instructions for living in the Kingdom Jesus spoke about? Why not look at some direct instructions Jesus gave His disciples?



Matthew chapter 10 begins some instructions that Jesus gave His disciples before He sent them out by themselves. Here is a sample: "As you go, preach, saying 'the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand'. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."



Is it possible that we as "disciples of Jesus" are living below what Jesus asked? Are we preaching "another gospel" when all we talk about is what happens after death? Is all our talk about "going to heaven when we die" short of Jesus' commands, His "word of the Kingdom", making disciples of the nations?



Consider Luke 4:18,19. "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

To be a proper disciple of Christ would be to do the works He did, to obey His word, to make known His works, not by speech only, but by action, displaying the Kingdom in everything we do!



Am I really a disciple? I would say that I have a lot of work to do.

King David Surrendered to a Greater King!

Here is a story that has been on my mind: 2Sa 6:16 "Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart."

So here is the story. The Ark of the Lord had not been in the Capitol city for some time. David looked up scripture to see how it was properly moved, and had it moved in a glorious procession. David danced wildly before the Lord, as the Ark was placed in its resting place.

In David's day, when one King would defeat another King, the victorious king would have what was called a "Triumph". The conquered king would be forced to dance wildly in front of the conquering king, naked, leading what we would call a parade. People would line the street to make fun of the conquered king, and honor the victorious one.

This is exactly what David did. As a king, he was telling his kingdom that he was conquered by a greater King, the King of Kings. His wife was embarrassed, not because of the lack of clothes he was wearing, as she told him, but because her husband the king was surrendering his kingdom to another!

This is why God held David in such esteem! When David would sin, he was quick to repent, and get his life back in right-standing (righteousness) with his God, and his King! If only we could learn to live as surrendered to God as David was, not worrying about what anyone else thinks, but worship and declare that our God is truly King! And as Jesus would later say in Matthew 14, "I do and say what the Father tells me!"

Does Something Seem Fishy to You?

I woke up this morning with the story of Jonah on my mind. The story in my mind follows more of the "Veggitales" version, complete with the "Pirates that don't do anything!"

If you remember the story, Jonah was told by God to deliver a message to the city of Nineveh, a message of destruction if they didn't turn from their wicked ways. Jonah didn't want to deliver the message, he thought the people deserved what was coming, so he bought a trip on a ship going the opposite direction. God sent a storm, the sailors ended up tossing Jonah overboard, the seas calmed, and Jonah was swallowed whole by a large fish. He stayed in the belly of that fish for three days, until he repented and accepted God's assignment.

My thought this morning: How many "Christians" are complaining about a storm, or what seems to be a great fish that has swallowed them? Is it possible that God has given them a message for a lost and dying world?

How many people do you know that call themselves "Christian" that are waiting for the rapture to take them out of this world, this "mess" that we seem to be in? Every time they want to escape, God keeps brining them back to the same place. Why? They haven't accepted their assignment, they think this world deserves what is happening to them!

What we need to do is "repent", change our minds and the way we think! God sent us here for a purpose, and to escape would be aborting the plan of God for our lives, and this world!!!!

The message He gave us is simple. It is the same message that Jesus gave: (Matt 4:17) Change the way you think, change your minds, the kingdom of God is at your fingertips! The message for us is two-fold, (Matt 6:10) declare this: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN! And (Matt 6:33) Keep on seeking first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness!

Let's resolve ourselves to unpack our bags and accept the assignment that God has given us, declare to this world that God has a plan, His Kingdom, His ways of doing things, His righteousness!

Simply put, change the way you think! The Kingdom of God is here!

The Struggle of Two Kingdoms

In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught us to pray "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven." Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." There is a struggle of two kingdoms, and it seems that so few recognize it. I want to share with you some things the Lord is showing me.

In Matthew 6:34 Jesus says ""No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." In Romans 8:5 - 6 Paul writes "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Mammon is defined as riches, avarice, and worldly gain personified as a false god in the New Testament.

There is a true war between the two. Once you begin to delve into mammon, identify as fleshly desire for wealth, power, greed, and anything opposite of the true nature of God, you can see the two kingdoms at war throughout the Bible. Cain and Able, Esau and Jacob, Jesus and the religious leaders, and much much more!

As I contemplate this, I remember my past experiences with multi-level marketing, presented to me by Christians using the motivation of obtaining wealth for the Kingdom of God. But the currency of the Kingdom is not earthly wealth, but faith. I am not saying that God wants us to be poor, nor rich, but I am saying that point is moot. A person can be rich by the world's standard, but does that mean he is blessed by God's standards? If a person is poor, does that mean that he is neglected by God and faithless by God's standards?

Motivation. What motivates me? Is it a desire to be rich or wealthy by the world's standards, no matter the reason? Or is it to fulfill the desires of Jesus? What are His desires? The phrase "on earth as it is in Heaven" rings in my ears. I have been re-reading His words over and over again. Mammon, fleshly desires, Romans 8:7-8 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Could it be that the Great Commission of Jesus to " Go into all the world and make disciples ..." should mean to be disciples of His message of the Kingdom of God, to chose His Kingdom over mammon, and teach them what it means to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness", rather than just merely praying a sinner's prayer that isn't even mentioned in the Bible?

I encourage you to read Romans chapter 8, and consider verse 19: "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Look at creation and its actions, earthquakes and tsunami's and odd behavior. All creation is moaning, groaning, eagerly awaiting for us to reveal the nature of God in us!

Would you pray with me for God to open our blinded eyes, to see the rule of mammon in us, and once we see it, get rid of it? Its not easy, and it hurts, but it is the desire of Christ that we are not ruled by the Kingdom of this world.

"Heavenly Father, Abba, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, IN ME as it is in heaven!"