Intercessor Thoughts about Evangelistic Types of Events and Other Events

About 1-2 years ago, Several Pastors came together and established a loose organization know to us as One in Christ. It is a consortium of churches interested in reaching out to our community sharing Christ. Any monies collected over costs incurred go to helping several local charities in our community region.

Working with One in Christ, there was a vision put forward by one of our churches. It was for ‘Convoy of Hope’ to come to our town. That vision was first shared at one of our Evangelical Ministerial Fellowship meetings—then it took about a year for that vision to come about.

To bring the vision about, it also took some personal contact between leaders. When the vision was first presented, there was considerable apprehension at first--when the ‘Convoy of Hope’ was first presented. We were not ready for it--Relationships had to be built. Those with the vision took that step to build those relationships. Once that was done, the work moved forward. Part of building that relationship was sharing one's heart. God used that behind the scene work to help us move forward.

While these events are wonderful events, they are visionary led. I want to make a personal note here to encourage long term maintenance of wonderful action like the ‘Convoy of Hope’ and other community activities. We need to have periodic times where leaders will take time to listen to intercessors-(this assumes the development of a team of intercessors with a purpose of covering events like the Convoy of Hope and other community events) and even more work on building relationships needs to be done with leaders and intercessors.

As much as intercessors want to see pastors working together, they-- themselves --- find it hard –except for special events—to stay working together themselves. They need pastors who will encourage them to do so.

Intercessors need Pastors and Pastors need intercessors. If the two--Pastors and Intercessors-- can understand that, then the door is opened for encouragement that can come from a relationship between the two—perhaps revival, and action like the Convoy of Hope and other events can continue for many years—Especially those focused on Isaiah 58 type ministering.

Leaders, are you willing to take personal time with the Lord and be willing to listen --even to intercessors?

Invitation to the Online Course 'Praying Together Course" on Pray!Network

Praying Together Course

A Prayer Course is on Praying Together being offered on Pray!Network starting Feb 2012. You must be a member of the Pray!Network to participate. For an invite to join Pray!Network, please contact Lewis Turner at Prayer@Wheatlandministries.com, and mention the prayer course title: 'Praying Together Course' in your subject line.

The course can be found in the following group of Pray!Network titled: Praying Together Course


Praying Together Course---Abstract:

Praying Together is a course designed to help one to grow in prayer starting a personal level. Then the course encourages us to move into joining together with others in prayer. The course examines scriptures, and some of the issues involved in joining with others in prayer. In addition, the course provides training to parents helping them praying for and together with their children.

Syllabus

Lesson Plans                                                                               

Introduction to Praying Together

Lesson 1 Class Purpose, Prayer Basics, and Foundation

Lesson 2 Prayer, Tying into God’s Purpose Using Keys

      Found in the Scriptures to Help Us Pray

Lesson 3 What Does Prayer Involve, and Why Can it Be

     Difficult

Lesson 4 Head Prayer? Or Heart Prayer

Lesson 5 Preparing Yourself for a Prayer Partner

Lesson 6 Person Preparation Before Prayer with a Prayer Partner

Lesson 7 Finding a Prayer Partner

Lesson 8 Encouraging People to Pray

Lesson 9 Developing Relationships and Prayer

Lesson 10 Group Praying

Lesson 11 Group Praying Formats

Lesson 12 Attributes and Power of a Praying Church

Lesson 13 Developing a Prayer Culture in a Church

-End of Class Survey-

Recommended Reading:

Praying Together by Stormie O’Martian/Jack Hayford, Harvest House Publishers

Praying With the One You Love, Art Hunt, Multnomah Publishers, I               

                             

Basic Instructions for Praying Together Course

Welcome to some basic instructions and helps for the class ‘Praying Together Course'. The course is designed as an online conducted with a lesson and provides opportunity of Peer to Peer contribution. The Teacher/Facilitator will be also commenting and asking individuals follow-up questions.

The following section is written to give some technical basics on the ‘Praying Together Course’—ie facts that will help when actually on Pray!Network.

Some of you have been regular users of facebook and other social networks. Pray!Network is a private social network, set up by Nav Press. NavPress in the past published a specialty magazine called Pray, which is no longer being published. Pray!Network has been a followup to their publication. The network started last spring and now has about 2500 members from all over the world, including some of the major prayer leaders in the United States. A Person has to be a member of Pray!Network to participate. That can be accomplished by contacting me at Prayer@Wheatlandministries.com. I will then follow the network procedures and see that you are extended an invitation to join. Generally, this takes only a few days, but at times may be a bit longer.

Where to find the course and how to participate:

Once you have been invited to join, you will be provided a link to www.Pray!Network.org or you can choose to go to it’s location the web location of Pray!Network. You will have to sign in, so a user name and a password are needed. Don't forget them.

The course is being offered in a group titled ‘Praying Together Course’. Near the top of the web page, just under what I will call the network title block, there is a menu bar. One of the words on that menu will have the word ‘groups’. Click on it. It will take you to the section where you can find all the groups in the network.

Once you get to the section containing the groups, look for the picture used for this group, the ‘Praying Together Course’. It has a light yellow background. There are three pages of groups currently on the network, so you may have to page through them to find it. Once you find it, click on it. The membership is open to all so you do not have to wait for approval to join the group. As the group leader and facilitator of the course, I encourage you to join.

When you start participating you will find the format contains a section that has discussion questions. This is where the class lessons will be presented. Then there is another section just below it to use for comments. Just type your comments to the reflection questions in the comment block and when finished, click reply. It is that easy.

Here is a diagram:

Discussion Question
Lesson Material just below and right after the Discussion Question
Then a section open for comments by those in the class.

Notes: Sorry—you will not hear me lecture on this course. I will present the lesson by posting it after identifying the lesson, providing a lesson in outline form and adding some reflective questions to think about after the lesson. – It should help you learn the material. I encourage obtaining the texts and reading the lessons. Taking time to read and study the lesson, and take time to comment on some of the reflective questions. This is designed to be a 'Peer-to Peer' course with comments and follow-up questios from the teacher/facilitator. There is much to be learned and gleamed that may help you in your personal time with the Lord and in praying with others.

Oh—another thing, don’t jump for glee, but there are no written papers due from the students in this course.

The course is ideal for leaders who are already teaching Sunday School and do not have time at church to take a class due to their activities. You can also take it at you own pace.

Initially, it is envisioned that a class will be presented each week for about 18 weeks. We make take a little more time between classes, if there is a lot of discussion on an area, allowing for time to allow the discussion to come to a reasonable end before moving on.

My role as a leader is, after having written the lesson material, is to be a facilitator and to help others discover for themselves, truths that are in God’s word concerning prayer. I will work to help us stay on course.

This class has been presented twice in a classroom, and now it is a challenge to present the class in this manner. I am looking forward to the Lord guiding the course. It is His course.

Remembering Christ's Birth at Christmas

To Remember Christ’s Birth,
It doesn’t matter which Day it is.
To Remember about the Angels who sang that day;
To Remember the purpose for which Christ came;
To Remember the Love Christ showed us,
Especially when He died for you and me.
To Remember how He rose again –Love conquering death.
To Remember He wants us to accept that Love and to believe in Him.
To Remember to show that Love to others-not just on Christmas day - but always.
That is what Christmas is about.

Today, Let us Celebrate Jesus’ birth with Carols
May we from our heart believe in Him.
May we from today forward -- show and share the Love
Jesus has for all of us.

An Encouragement to Pray for Our Veterans

Veterans have given of themselves to serve our country. Some were physically hurt during their tour of duty. Some were psychologically hurt in Vietnam by the actions in our country. There has been some healing here—but scars remain. Some have what is called Post Traumatic Syndrome. Some of our pastors are veterans—and that includes some of you and others are Veterans too. I too am a Veteran and share this request as a Veteran.

Why don’t we ask God to be close to all our Veterans and their families and to Bless them with a knowledge of His Word. That the Lord may be especially close to those who have survived battle and give them an understanding of His protection to them during the battles. Also, thank God for their service to this Nation. In Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN!!!

May we through God’s help show the Love of Christ to all of our veterans – a love that lifts up Christ. Christ said that if He be lifted up He would draw all men to Himself!! John 12: 32 It was love that made Jesus go to the Cross and on the Cross was He was literally lifted up. When we show the Love of Christ to them -- What a way to reach them for Christ!

Precepts of Prayer

1. Foundation of prayer is based on God’s love. I John 4:8 says “God is love.” If God’s is love, then our prayers should be based on God’s love.

Why? The greatest two commandments are: To love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Matt 22:38.

Prayer should reflect that love.

Let’s briefly look at this concept further. These two commandments are relational. God’s desire for us is that we operate in His love, which is His law is based on love- that love for others will bring kingdom action. ‘By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love one to another’ John 13:35. When we show that love, we are lifting up Jesus. Lifting up Jesus is lifting up God’s love. When Jesus is lifted up, a wonderful thing happens. He draws men to Himself. John 12:32 says ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ That is a wonderful promise.

Because of the Love Christ showed to us on the Cross, that love has made a relationship with God possible and can help our prayers. Therefore, if we want to see of God’s love, then we must let God’s love must be a motivating factor behind each prayer we pray. When we do, prayer is an act of love which lifts up Christ, and we will se many people drawn to Christ.

2. Humility: Humility is an area that many of us often overlook, and it is one the Lord keeps reminding us about. Humility for many people might be compared to penance or contriteness. However, humility is much more, and penance and contriteness are only one part of humility. In addition, humility also includes confession, cleaning of issues, and learning to submit to Christ. Humility also includes building up, and serving. I would encourage studying the resource on humility at www.wheatlandministries.blogspot.com and also II Chronicles 7:14.

3. Forgiveness: In Matt 6:12, 14, & 15, and Mark 11:25 the Lord instructed us to forgive when we pray. Why? Unforgiveness is sin, and sin can block our prayers. If we want to see our prayers be effective, we must clear sin and forgive. Justification of our position is an excuse not to forgive. Christ said to forgive.

Note: To many people, forgiveness means letting people off the hook. This concept of forgiveness is not completely true. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow (Hos 10:13). There are consequences to sin. Therefore I do not believe that forgiveness let’s us off the hook of consequences. If you smoke all your life and ask the Lord for forgiveness, He will forgive, but you may still develop lung cancer because the smoke was detrimental to you. The consequences are still there.

If forgiveness is not letting off the hook, then what is it? It is the releasing from the bondage of sin. Prov 5:22. The sin still occurred, but we choose not to bring it up again. That is what Christ did when He removes our sin (Transgressions) as far as the East is from the West. Ps 103:12,

There is another attitude I have seen which people have about forgiving. People often tell me that they equate forgiving with forgetting. When you forgive, you will not forget, but with true forgiveness there is a releasing from the bondage of the offense. Releasing from the bondage reduces the urge to bring up the past item that was forgiven. Fortunately there is a way that that urge can be further reduced if it keeps coming up. That way is to bless the other person personally, or in prayer. A good source of prayers that contain blessings are Paul’s prayers found in Eph 1 and 3. As you further study scriptures, look for blessings that can be prayed. Use them as appropriate and as the Lord leads you. They will help reduce the urge to bring up past issues. I have to admit, I do not understand how or why it works, but blessing others does work. You may find more about blessing others in RT Kendal’s book “Total Forgiveness”.

4. Praying continually: In I Thes 5:17 it says to pray continually. There are many ways that we can stay or be in a mindset or attitude of praying through out the day. What ever works that helps you remember to pray, needs to be encouraged. Above all ask the Lord to help you encourage to continually pray.