The throne of Christ today and until the end of the age is an intercessory throne. Christ is ruling by intercession. He is defeating Satan, driving him back, ousting him, making him flee from where he has been illegally squatting and refusing to vacate. (Google image, Warfare prayer ).
He is doing so primarily by His own nonstop intercession, in partnership with the prayer of His people and backed by His own heavenly angels.
The New Testament not only applies to prayer the intense terminology of the great Greek games (wrestling, agonizing, contending), it also uses military terminology (arm, armor, armed, fight, warfare, weapons).
The whole Christian life and service is seen as warfare. It is "the good fight of the faith" (1 Tim. 6:12). You are to "put on the full armor," take your stand against the devil's schemes," "stand your ground," have your armor in place, and "Take up the shield of faith" and "the sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:11-17).
The final and climactic verse of this passage describes the actual fighting: "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying....Pray...Pray" (Eph. 6:18-20).
We are the church militant, the church alive on earth's battlefield and at war. This situation will continue till Christ returns. The heart of the whole Christian warfare, the strategy for all Christian victory, and the battleground for all Christian advance is prayer.
The early church advanced through prayer. They drove back Satan, battle by battle, through prayer.
"Their prayers and their faith carried all before them. They were like an army of invincible warriors. Nothing could stand before them.... The church, says one, is resistless for the purpose of her great mission when armed with the power of prayer. The whole power of imperial Rome, the
mistress of the world, proved unable to resist the power and influence of their intensified prayers."
(Finney, Principles of Prayer, 39).
The New Testament not only applies to prayer the intense terminology of the great Greek games (wrestling, agonizing, contending), it also uses military terminology (arm, armor, armed, fight, warfare, weapons).
The whole Christian life and service is seen as warfare. It is "the good fight of the faith" (1 Tim. 6:12). You are to "put on the full armor," take your stand against the devil's schemes," "stand your ground," have your armor in place, and "Take up the shield of faith" and "the sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:11-17).
The final and climactic verse of this passage describes the actual fighting: "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying....Pray...Pray" (Eph. 6:18-20).
We are the church militant, the church alive on earth's battlefield and at war. This situation will continue till Christ returns. The heart of the whole Christian warfare, the strategy for all Christian victory, and the battleground for all Christian advance is prayer.
The early church advanced through prayer. They drove back Satan, battle by battle, through prayer.
"Their prayers and their faith carried all before them. They were like an army of invincible warriors. Nothing could stand before them.... The church, says one, is resistless for the purpose of her great mission when armed with the power of prayer. The whole power of imperial Rome, themistress of the world, proved unable to resist the power and influence of their intensified prayers."
(Finney, Principles of Prayer, 39).
They prayed, and the place where they were meeting was visibly shaken. They prayed, and the earthquake rocked the prison walls. What a divine amen to their prayers!
Prayer was their weapon in every situation. They were using it not primarily for defense but as an offensive attack on Satan and his strongholds.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Prayer-
Father, help us understand that the heart of Christian warfare, and the strategy for all Christian victory, and the battleground for all Christian advancement is prayer.
The early church advanced through their prayer, driving back Satan's evil forces coming against them.
May our efforts to advance Christ's kingdom become resistless, armed with the power of prayer, realizing that it is our weapon in every situation.
May we use it as an offensive attack on Satan and his strongholds.
I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, for His glory. Amen.
Today's quotes-
~ Larry Lea- "When you pray instead of worrying; when you experience faith rising in your heart and God's words of direction come to you as a result of prayer; and when you begin to praise God on the basis of who He is and what He will do in your circumstances—something happens. God will move on your behalf!" (Taken from p. 125 of his book: THE WEAPONS OF YOUR WARFARE Equipping Yourself to Defeat the Enemy).
Today's questions-
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| Prayer worker |
Father, help us understand that the heart of Christian warfare, and the strategy for all Christian victory, and the battleground for all Christian advancement is prayer.
The early church advanced through their prayer, driving back Satan's evil forces coming against them.
May our efforts to advance Christ's kingdom become resistless, armed with the power of prayer, realizing that it is our weapon in every situation.
May we use it as an offensive attack on Satan and his strongholds.
I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, for His glory. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
(Ezekiel 28:22 b KJV) "..and they shall know that I am the LORD."
(Ez. 38:23 KJV) "Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD."
(2 Chron. 6:14 KJV) "And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepeth covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts."
(Ez. 38:23 KJV) "Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD."
(2 Chron. 6:14 KJV) "And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepeth covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts."
~ Paul E. Miller- "How boring life would be if prayer worked like magic. There'd be no relationship with God, no victory over little pockets of evil."
~ Larry Lea- "When you pray instead of worrying; when you experience faith rising in your heart and God's words of direction come to you as a result of prayer; and when you begin to praise God on the basis of who He is and what He will do in your circumstances—something happens. God will move on your behalf!" (Taken from p. 125 of his book: THE WEAPONS OF YOUR WARFARE Equipping Yourself to Defeat the Enemy).
Will you be willing to become a holy prayer warrior? Do you see that God's desire is for you to cry out to Him on the behalf of friends, your family as well as for those who attend your church? How about asking Him to move mightily in your services?
God can give you times and places to actually cry out to Him when you're alone in your car; maybe on your way to work might be a perfect place and time. How about going on a long walk?
Allow His Holy Spirit to help you be effective. Give Him opportunity to reveal the burdens He's carrying, and get in agreement with Him on them.
If you're willing to be used in this type of prayer warfare, be assured that you'll find time and space, as God will see to it! He needs you to pray, my friend.
God can give you times and places to actually cry out to Him when you're alone in your car; maybe on your way to work might be a perfect place and time. How about going on a long walk?
Allow His Holy Spirit to help you be effective. Give Him opportunity to reveal the burdens He's carrying, and get in agreement with Him on them.
If you're willing to be used in this type of prayer warfare, be assured that you'll find time and space, as God will see to it! He needs you to pray, my friend.
Upcoming posts-
God is Able
July 1st- Saturday's post by The Herald Times
#125 Our Strategic Role
4th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#126 Forward on Your Knees
6th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
The Power of Your Story
8th- Saturday's post by Sharon Jaynes
No posts now, until the 25th, when I've
returned from a writers conference
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| #32- 7 x 9" frame with design. Real flower cluster. (See Jean's Crafts) |
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. 27-
We Are to Put
God First in Life
"The Lord wants us to serve others
For our real happiness.
One's selfishness is what smothers
As it can bring distress.
May we remember God's right way
Is for our very best.
It won't be easy to obey
But by it we'll be blessed."
(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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