It was only very recently that I put out an appeal to facebook contacts for people to stand with me in prayer and within a couple of days I have a list of 19 intercessors!
What a fantastic position we are in. If I wanted an audience with the prime minister I would struggle to get even close yet every one of us have 24-7 access to the most powerful being in {or outside of} the universe. God is the one who we as sinful human beings should have the least right to approach yet He has designated a special place for us to approach Him. It is called 'the throne of grace'.
Not only do we have this amazing access to the all powerful God but He has made us a part of His kingdom and His kingdom purposes. He actually expects us to play our part and PRAY! There are simply things that will not happen unless we approach the throne of grace for them and they will happen if we do so.
Not only that but the scriptures encourage us to BOLDLY approach the throne of grace {a.v} or as the N.I.V puts it 'with confidence.' What causes us to have such confidence in approaching not to mention petitioning a God so awesome that 'even the stars are not pure in his sight? It is the blood of Jesus! If God was prepared to watch His only Son shed His blood and die to redeem us to Himself then we can have a GREAT confidence to come before Him in prayer and petition.
Our prayers make a difference. They make a difference to ministry. They make a difference to evangelism. They make a difference to the eternal destiny of people we may have never met or will meet {this side of eternity of course}. When the children of Israel were in battle it is written that Moses held up a staff. As he grew tired he began to lower the staff and the enemy began to prevail. Then two of Moses servants stood with him to hold him up and Israel prevailed again. What a fantastic picture of intercession. My friends, it is not about me or my strength. When you pray it is about God's power being made manifest. It is about winning the war, defeating spiritual adversaries. It is about the kingdom of God being ESTABLISHED {people being saved} and EXPANDED {people becoming more Christlike}. There are politicians sitting in the Romanian parliament that do not have the favour and influence you have!
Our God is omnipresent. That means it makes no differnce if there are thousands of miles between us. As God leads you by the hand in prayer he leads me by the hand in ministry, in witness, in evangelism. Intercessions is almost like a linking of hands {with God in the middle} and with God in the middle distance becomes irrelevant.
So I encourage you to pray. Pray because you are in a great and blessed position to pray. Pray because a way has been made by the very blood of the Son of God for you to come to Him. Pray because God has made you an important part of His kingdom purposes. Pray because battles are won or lost on the basis of those who choose to stand by those who minister. Pray because you know one day you will meet face to face with those whose lives are eternally changed because you were faithful to stand in the gap for them. For people you've never met but will meet one day.
Above all, pray according to the purposes of God. Pray that God's name would be hallowed, revered and respected. Pray for His kingdom to be established and extended. Pray that His will would become clear and would be done. Pray that the word of God in heaven would be heard on earth, agreed with in faith and acted out.
I look forward to bringing a report back to England with me of the good and blessed things that God has done. May God bless you abundantly for your faithfulness.
shalom...steve
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