Tuesday, March 21, 2017

#99 Levels of Intensity: Level 1- Asking


Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Scripture suggests several levels of intensity in prevailing prayer. In order to help you prevail, the Holy Spirit may lead you to use any of these levels of prayer.

   Some prevailing prayer is very brief. Thank God, often we prevail in a few moments of intercession. These times are not necessarily predictable. (Google image, man praying)
  
    In many emergencies, when we have been living the life of an intercessor, we will be able to pray the prayer of faith in a moment of need or in the short space of time available.

   Thank God also that when there are needs that require the united prayer of prayer partners, a local church, or even larger groups, the Holy Spirit can guide you to take the necessary steps.

   Similarly, when a need is not met by simple asking, the Spirit may lead you step by step into very intensive forms of prayer.

LEVEL ONE: ASKING

      Asking is the most simple, most basic form of prayer. A new believer, a small child, a seriously ill person—anyone can ask. Intercession and prevailing prayer begin with asking.

   God always hears when we ask. Jesus Himself commanded us to ask and assured us our asking would be answered.

   "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
    (Matt. 21:22)

   God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13).

   "I will do whatever you ask in my name....You may ask me 
    for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

   "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever
     you wish, and it will be given you" (15:7).

   This confidence is not surprising, for Jesus assures us God our Father knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matt.6:8). Far more than any human father can do for his children, our heavenly Father can and will give good gifts to us if we ask (7:9-11).

   Asking is the level where most all intercession begins. We ask when we seek and when we knock. We ask when we agree in prayer (Matt. 18:19).

   We ask when we intensify our intercession by fasting. We ask when we carry a prayer burden, when we wrestle in prayer, and when we engage in prayer warfare. It is always the right time to ask God, for He loves to be asked.

   Abraham asked God for a son, and heir (Gen. 15:2). Moses asked God to heal Miriam of her leprosy (Num. 12:13). Nehemiah prayed repeated brief prayers of asking and received God's answers (Neh. 1:4; 4:9).

   Elijah, on Mount Carmel, had only begun to ask God when God sent fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-38). Hezekiah asked God to heal his people, and God did ( 2 Chron. 30:18-20). Peter and John asked that the Samaritan converts be filled with the Holy Spirit, and God answered (Acts 8:15-17).

   God may lead you to ask for things you had not thought about. Amy Carmichael was a missionary to India whom God greatly used in prayer and faith.

   God at times impressed her to ask for things for which she saw no immediate need. But when she asked, God provided, and they proved of great value in her ministry. God knows the things we need even before we ask Him (Matt. 6:8).

  Praise God, often we can prevail in prayer by merely asking. Always we can claim the promises given for those who ask. Asking is the foundation of all prevailing in prayer.

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana (With Jean's impressions added)


Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#99 Levels of Intensity: Level 1 - Asking
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

(pp. 171 -173) Zondervan





Praying man


Let's pray-

   Father, we've all used the most simple and basic form of prayer, which is to ask for Your help.
   As asking is the level where most all intercession begins, we are then assured by Jesus that our Father already knows what we need even before we ask anything of Him. 
   We are invited to come to Him in humility and trust, and to claim the promises given for those who will ask, and know that He will answer us in due time.
   We're grateful You hear us, Father. We come now, asking to become people who understand our privilege to simply ask for Your help and guidance, even in the smallest details of life.
   We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 


Today's Bible verses-

(Matt. 7:7, 8 NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (v. 8) For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

(John 16:24 NIV) "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

(Ps. 139:23 KJV) "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me."

Today's quotes-

~ K. P. Yohannan- "Our humility before God is absolutely necessary for any work God wants to do in our hearts. Knowing this, God arranges for us a classroom where we can practice humility, such as in our workplace, church and family. 
   We may encounter an impatient boss, an unfriendly coworker or a hard-to-love Christian brother or sister. Let us not reject this training in humility, for it's the foundation for every other eternal value God seeks to incorporate into our character." (Taken from his GFA World magazine, March 2017, p.23)


~ David McCasland- "Today, as we face choices of many kinds, we can trust out Father to guide us in His way. He has promised to care for us. He will always give us what we need." (ODB 3/17/17)


Today's popular post-

C. Peter Wagner continues his 
message today, Carlos Annacondia 
was a committed Christian owner 
of a prosperous nuts and bolts factory 
in Quilmes on the outskirts of Buenos 
Aires when God called him into 
evangelistic ministry.





Upcoming posts-


#100 Level 2 of Prevailing Prayer - Seeking
23rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Giving God the Time of Day
25th- Saturday's post by Leah Meahl

#101 Level 3 of Prevailing Prayer- Knocking
28th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#102 Jesus Said We Would Fast
30th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel


Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of recent posts)
Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.
Or email me at jowildflowers@gmail.com




31-day Devotional 
+ Jean's testimony

[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you] 

Sample verses from p. 108-


Lord God, May Our
Hearts Come to Know

"Our lives to You we want to give
So that we may be sure
To see the way that we do live
Will help us to endure.

It's true You'll guide us as we try

To find what pleases You.
We are to learn You are close by
To help us our life through."

(Published by Lighthouse Publishing 
                        of the Carolinas. Used by permission).

 A great gift for someone who may need help 
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some helpful advice.


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