Thursday, January 14, 2016

#8 Prevailing Prayer—The Need of the Church





Wesley L. Duewel: "The great need of our world, our nation, and our churches is people who know how to prevail in prayer.

Moments of pious wishes blandly expressed to God once or twice a day will bring little change on earth or among the people.

Kind thoughts expressed to Him in five or six sentences after reading a paragraph or two of mildly religious sentiments once a day from some devotional writing, will not bring the kingdom of God to earth or shake the gates of hell and repel the attacks of evil on our culture and our v civilization.


Results, not beautiful words, are the test of prevailing prayer. Results, not mere sanctimonious devotional moments, as the hallmark of the true intercessor.

We need great answers to prayer, changed lives and situations—answers that bear upon them the stamp of the divine.

We need mighty demonstrations of the reality and concern of God and of His activity and power, which will force the world to recognize that God is truly God, that God is sovereign, and that God is involved in His world today.

We need mighty answers to prayer that will bring new life to the church and new strength, faith, and courage to faint believers that will silence, dumbfound, and convict evil men; and that will thwart, defeat, and drive back the assaults of Satan.

The vast majority of Christians know very little about prevailing prayer, wrestling in prayer, or prayer warfare. We have seen too few demonstrations of prevailing prayer. We have known too few prayer warriors who had intercessory power with God and with people.

We have met too few Elijah-type intercessors who were just like us, yet whose prayer lives were powerful and effective (James 5:16-18).

Intercession is more than an occasional heartwarming, emotional love to God, more than expressions of good will on our knees when we think of the sick and the suffering among our friends.

Prayer is more than a cry of earnest desire when suddenly faced with a crisis need."


#8 Prevailing PrayerThe Need of the Church
by Wesley L. Duewel
(p. 20, 21) Zondervan 



Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana


(Google image and my emphasis added)



    Father, help us in our quest to better understand how to pray prevailing prayers that will bring new life to our church and new strength, faith, and courage to faint believers.
    Quicken us to believe and expect Your Holy Spirit to enable us to know the reality and concern of God and of His activity and power, which will force those among us to recognize that God is truly God.
    I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Matt. 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

Today’s quote: "Try something new this year: Instead of writing down all you can do to like yourself better by the end of the year, ask the Lord to Help you start a revolution in your life, transforming you from the inside out. Make this your daily prayer;  "Lord, make me hunger for You. Make me want to want You more than anything else."

Replace your list of goals with a blank page you offer to God. Allow Him to reshape your thoughts, character, and behavior. Then as He brings about changes in you, record them in a list to review at year's end."  Dr. Charles F. Stanley (taken from pp. 42, 43 of IN TOUCH Daily Readings for Devoted Living Jan. 2016)

Some thoughts today: When the Lord starts to meddle with your thoughts, habits and attitudes be cooperative, so you can benefit and become more and more like Him.

~ God doesn't answer to anyone. He alone is God. Allow Him to sit on the throne of your heart. As we surrender to Him, we begin a life-long opportunity of excitement, drama and mystery. His plan for us is individually fashioned.

~ Our wills need to be submissive to God. As we daily expect His best for us, we'll find out what part of the Great Commission will become ours.  We'll not be disappointed if we obey Him each day.


16th- Saturday’s post by Jean Oathout-
What are Godly Decisions? Part 2

17th- Sunday evening's post by Lisa Buffaloe-
Celebrate!

19th- Tuesday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
#9  God's Priority Work for You

21st- Thursday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
#10  God is Searching for People to Prevail


A popular post: The Gift of Exorcism C. Peter Wagner tells us that "Demonization is now being recognized as a spiritual problem more and more in churches across the theological spectrum.

Even in those churches that have had a long ministry history of casting out demons, certain people are regularly called upon..."



The power of prayer!




1 comment: