Til Heaven Invades Earth – Cindy Trimm - Christian diet

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CONTENTSPrologueIntroduction

PARTONE:THECOURTOFHEAVEN1AdvocacyBeforetheThrone

UnderstandingtheJudiciaryofHeaven2TheKingWeServe

InsideInformationontheSupremeJudge3DressedforSuccess

ClothedinRighteousness4“What’sNext,Papa?”

TheAdventureofPrayerintheSpirit

PARTTWO:THEDISCIPLINEOFINTERCESSION5FirstofAll

ThoseinAuthority6BrothersandSistersinChains

TacklingWorldIssuesinPrayer7InWordandDeed

ThePowerofAligningYourWordsWithHis8LetJusticeRollDown

LetFreedomRing

AppendixA:OrganizationsforJusticeandFreedom

AppendixB:AnExampleofaPrayerGuideforPrayingtheDisciple’sPrayer

Notes

Thepeopleofthelandhaveusedoppressions,committedrobbery,andmistreatedthepoorandneedy;and

theywrongfullyoppressthestranger.SoIsoughtforamanamongthemwhowouldmakeawall,andstandinthegapbeforeMeonbehalfoftheland,thatIshouldnotdestroyit;butIfoundnoone.

—EZEKIEL22:29–30

ThentheKingwillsay...“Enter,youwhoareblessedbymyFather!Takewhat’scomingtoyou

inthiskingdom.It’sbeenreadyforyousincetheworld’sfoundation.Andhere’swhy:

Iwashungryandyoufedme,Iwasthirstyandyougavemeadrink,

Iwashomelessandyougavemearoom,Iwasshiveringandyougavemeclothes,

Iwassickandyoustoppedtovisit,Iwasinprisonandyoucametome.”

Thenthose“sheep”aregoingtosay,“Master,whatareyoutalkingabout?Whendidweeverseeyouhungryandfeedyou,thirstyandgiveyouadrink?Andwhendidweeverseeyousickorinprisonandcometo

you?”ThentheKingwillsay,“I’mtellingthesolemntruth:Wheneveryoudidoneofthesethingstosomeoneoverlookedorignored,thatwasme—youdidittome.”

—MATTHEW25:34–40,THEMESSAGE

PROLOGUELetusthereforecomeboldlytothethroneofgrace,thatwemayobtainmercyand

findgracetohelpintimeofneed.

HEBREWS4:16

ASSHESTOODat thethresholdof the innercourt thatday,sheknewshewasonestepawayfromdeath.Toenterthepresenceofthekingwithoutbeingsummonedwasviewedastheequivalentof

anassassinationattempt.Todosowastobeexecutedonsight,savethatthekinghadfavoronyouandextendedhisscepter,signifyinghissovereignpermissionforyoutocomebeforehimandmakeapetition.Estherknewfullwellthedangerofwhatshewasdoingthatday—butevenmore,sheknew

ifshedidn’t,herpeopleweremarkedforgenocide.Someonehadtostandup.Someonehadtospeakout.Someonehadtogotothekingandaskforjustice—eveniftheydidn’tsurvivetheattempt.But Esther was no fool either. She would not come into the throne room rashly, making

demandsorshoutingprotests.Shewasnotgoingtointimidatethekingintoseeingthingsherway.Whatsheneededtodowaspresenthercasewithwisdomanddecorum.So,first,shepreparedherselffortheaudience,fastingforthreedaysandnightsbeforeshe

wouldstepbefore theking.Shewasnotalone inpreparing for thiscriticalaudience.Manyothers, including her cousin, her closest relative, joined her in praying and fasting fromwherevertheywere.Asthetimeapproached,sheconsideredcarefullywhatshewouldwearandhowshewould

adornherself—clothingherselfinthefinestrobesandapplyingthecosmeticsandperfumesheknew His Royal Highness would like best. After all, she was the king’s bride. She wasintimatelyfamiliarwithwhatpleasedhimmostandwhatdisturbedhimthemostdeeply.Sheknewhowheadministeredjustice,theinequitiesanddiscriminationsthattouchedhisheart,andthethingsthatpleasedhimmost.Sheknew,intheend,itwasn’taboutwhatshewanted.Itwasaboutwhathewanted,whathewouldallow,andwhathecouldn’tstandtoseehappen.Itwas about asking him to step in to use his sovereignty to rightwhatwaswrong despitewhateverotherjurisdictionsorauthoritiesstoodinthoseplaces.She also knew it would demand patience. The king was not one to be rushed or do

somethingaccordingtoanyothertimetablebuthisown.So,ifheextendedthesceptertoher,shewouldnotmakeherrequest there,butshewould invitehimtodinewithher,notonce,even,buttwice,beforeshewouldmakeherentreaty.Shewouldlavishherattentionandloveonthekingfirst,beforeeventhinkingofaskingforanything,lettinghimknowitwasnotwhathecoulddothatshecherished,butwhohewastoher.Then, lastly, she wouldn’t ask only for deliverance, but she would also ask for the

empoweringofthepeopleabouttofaceattack.Rescueiswonderful,butstrengthtofendforanddefendoneselfwasevenbetter.Shewouldn’taskforasolutionthatwouldindebtthemtosomeone else, but for the power to resolve the challenges they were about to face forthemselves.Shewouldaskthattheybegiventhearmstheyneededtodefeatthefoesabouttoopposethem.Theirdeliverancewouldbebytheirownhandsthroughtheblessingoftheking.Withherstrategyinplace,dressedastheroyalbride,Esthersteppedfromthecomfortof

herownquartersintothepresenceoftheking.Onewayortheother,sheknewitwouldcosthereverything—itwasjusticeordeath.Butashercousinhadqueried,“Whoknowswhetheryouhavenotattainedroyaltyforsuchatimeasthis?”(Esther4:14,NAS).

INTRODUCTIONTheyseekMedaybydayanddelighttoknowMyways....TheyaskMeforjustdecisions,

theydelightinthenearnessofGod.

ISAIAH58:2,NAS

ICAN THINK OF few better pictures of intercession than the story of Esther. She stood, in aforeignland,beforeherking,forthesakeofherpeople.Bydoingso,sheliterallyplacedherlifeonthelineforthebenefitofothers.AsJesusdescribedsuchresolve,“Greaterlovehasnoonethanthis,thantolaydownone’slifeforhisfriends”(John15:13).Thoughwegobeforeafar more just King than Esther did, I think there is much to learn about the anatomy ofintercessoryprayerfromthepictureofEstherstandingbeforethethroneofjudgment.Thereismuchwecantakefromherattitudeandpreparationthatwillmakeourprayersforothersmoreeffective.IntercessoryprayerisacallofdutyforeveryChristianonourplanet.Likemilitaryservice,

itdemandstraining,sacrifice,anddiscipline.Thatisnottosaythatitisalifewithoutjoy—farfromit,infact—butitisadutythatischallengingenoughthatfewreallydaretoembraceitaswe should. It is often a lonely endeavor that gets us little recognition from anywhere butheaven,andthereforealmostanythingelseinourliveswilldistractusfromitunlesswearesincerely determined. As Christian practices go, we love church attendance, praise andworship, Bible studies, missions’ trips, hearing special speakers, attending conferences,weekendretreats,Biblestudies,andevenweeklyprayermeetings.Thereisnoquestionthatgatheringtogetherisagreatwaytotakesomeofthedifficultyoutofthepracticeofprayer.However,anhourortwoaweekreallydoesn’tcutit.Ifyoudon’tbelieveme,justlookattheworld aroundus today. Things are theway they are because no one is standingbefore thethroneofheaventoaskthatitbeotherwise.“Thekingdomofheavensuffersviolence,andtheviolent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). Where are our prayer warriors who will violentlyopposetheviolencebeingdonetothevulnerableandinnocentineverycommunity,city,andnationaroundtheearth?This verse isn’t talking about starting a revolution or rioting in the streets demanding

change.Weknowchangecanbewon thatway—just lookat theMiddleEastafter theArabSpring—butthosenationsarenowsufferingfromgovernmentsjustasoppressiveandcorrupt,ifnotmoreso, thanwhattheyhadbefore.Theyenforcedchange,but itwasneither lastingchange nor change for the better. No, this speaks of a people who will go boldly into thethrone roomofheavenwitha relentlessdo-or-dieattitude like theoneEstherhad.We“laydownourlives”notsomuchbybeingwillingtodie,butbybeingwhatsaintsofthepastcalled“livingmartyrs.”Therearepeoplewholiveaccordingtotheprotocolsofheavenratherthanlivingtrappedbythetemptationsoftheearth.No,thesepeopledon’tallliveinmonasteriesornunneries,noraretheyallonthemissionfieldlivinginamudhut,norortheyallworkinginachurch.ThoughIhavethegreatestrespectforpeoplewhodoallofthesethings—whogatherinweeklyprayermeetingsinordertobethe“prayingheartofthechurch,”orwhorisktheirlivestakingthegospelofJesusChristtothefarthestreachesoftheplanet—notallofusarecalledtothatkindoflife,thoughIdobelieveallofusarecalledtointercession.WhatdoImeanbythat?WhatImeanisthatlivingmartyrslooklikeanyoneelseyoumight

seewalkingdownthestreetofanytownorcity,butratherthanlivingbythedictatesoftheirworkplaces and consumer culture, they live by the heartbeat of heaven. They are greatworkers, and they often have nice things, but their nice things don’t have them. Theiractivitiesduringtheirfreehoursarenotdictatedbythetelevisionschedule,what’sonatthemovies,wherethesalesare,orseasonalsportsevents.Sure,theymayenjoythosethings,butthese people put first things first, living by the principle ofMatthew 6:33: “Seek first thekingdomofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddedtoyou.”TheyareallabouttheprioritiesofthekingdomofGodbeforethepleasuresofthisworld.TheyenjoylifeaccordingtoGod’sguidelinesanddictates—andtheycertainlyaren’tshyaboutsacrificingan hour or two a day of their “me” time to lay themselves before God and ask for theempowermentofothers that theymightbeable toovercomewhatever it is theyare facing.

TheapostlePauldescribeditthisway:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are notworthy to becomparedwiththeglorythatistoberevealedtous.Fortheanxiouslongingofthecreationwaitseagerlyfortherevealingofthesons[anddaughters]ofGod.Forthecreationwassubjectedtofutility,notwillingly,butbecauseofHimwhosubjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from itsslaverytocorruptionintothefreedomofthegloryofthechildrenofGod.Forwe know that thewhole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirthtogetheruntilnow....InthesamewaytheSpiritalsohelpsourweakness;forwedonotknowhow

toprayasweshould,buttheSpiritHimselfintercedesforuswithgroaningstoodeepforwords;andHewhosearchestheheartsknowswhatthemindoftheSpiritis,becauseHeintercedesforthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.Andweknow thatGod causes all things towork together forgood to thosewholoveGod,tothosewhoarecalledaccordingtoHispurpose.

—ROMANS8:18–22,26–28,NAS,EMPHASISADDED

WhatPaul issayinghereisthattheearthitselfgroansbecauseofthecorruptionthathascomewithafallenworld—sinhasconsequences.Ourplanetandourbodiesweren’tdesignedtoendureit.Sincorruptsorexploitsalmosteverythingittouches,anditisatwo-edgedblade—whileit’struethathewholivesbythesword(sin)diesbythesword(sin),beforehedoes,hewillcutalotofotherpeoplefirst.Thisisthejusticethatintercessorsviolentlydemand—thatevilbeconfrontedasitwaswhenJesusconfrontedPaulontheroadtoDamascus.Itmustbestopped,butheartsmustalsobetransformed.Whatwillsaveourplanet?Themanifestationof thesonsanddaughtersofGod.Whenwe

becomethechildrenofGodwhoweareeachcalledtobe—pluggedintoandledbytheHolySpirit, maturing into the fully functioning tripartite beings we were designed to become—thingswillchangeforthebetter.ThekingdomofGodwillbemanifest—notonthewholeearthat first, perhaps, but at least in those placeswherewehave influence.Wemust come intoagreementwiththeprayersandburdensGodHimselfcarriesforourworld.AndwhoisitthatknowswhatthemindofGodisregardingeveryproblemfacingtheworldtoday?“He[theHolySpirit]intercedesforthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod”(Rom.8:27,NAS).Intercessoryprayerisnotallaboutcorrectlywordingourpetitionssothattheypersuadea

passive God into action. God is a proactive God—He isn’t sitting on His hands waiting forsomeonetotalkHimintodoinggoodontheearth.However,atthesametimeHehasdecreedthat every individual has the right to exercise freewill.He is not going to violateHis ownwordtointerveneontheearthoreveninaperson’slife.Hewantsthebestforallofus,buteachofusmustfirstinviteHiminsothatHecandothatworkofgrace.Thesameistruefortheearth.GodmustbeinvitedintomanifestHiskingdominwhateverareaswetouch.God knowswhat our needs are beforewe even ask, evenwhenwepray for others. Thus

intercessionisnotjustaboutpleadingacauseandgettinganswers.Wedon’tjustgetanswersto our prayers—we become answers. We gain knowledge and insight into solutions. Webecomeawareofministriesororganizationsthataddressthesameissuesweareprayingfor,andweempowerthem.Wegrowindeterminationandstrengthtoseeourbattlesthroughtotheend.OurheartsbecomeknittogetherwithGod’shearttoestablishHisdesiresupontheearth—Hisblessings,Hisdivinehealing,Hisways,Hiswisdom,Hiskingdom.Atthesametimewegrowandtouchthelivesofothers,infectingthemwiththesenseofpurposeandmissionwithwhichGodhasinfectedus.The underlying purpose of all prayer is to become our authentic selves. We do that by

puttingasidelife’sdistractionsanddailydemandstospendtimewithGodgettingHisplanforour lives,Hisplan forhowwecan impactourcommunities,andHisplan forhowwemighthealthenationsofourworld.ItisaboutpresentingtheissuesoftheworldtotheFatherandlettingHimteachushowtobepartofthesolution.ItisabouttakingourplacesaschildrenofGodtostandupfornotonlythehumanbeingswhodon’tknowHimyetandthosebrothersand sisters in need of His blessings in their lives, but also the oppressed, the hungry, theenslaved, the exploited, the poor, and the underprivileged. Ifwe are truly going tomake adifferenceconcerningsuchissues,wedon’tneedmore“good”ideas—weneedGodanswers.AndrewMurray described intercession this way in his bookWith Christ in the School of

Prayer:

ItisinintercessionthattheChurchistofindandwielditshighestpower,that

eachmemberoftheChurchistoprovehisdescentfromIsrael[Jacob],whoasaprincehadpowerwithGodandwithmen,andprevailed....I feel sure that as long as we look on prayer chiefly as the means of

maintainingourownChristianlife,weshallnotknowfullywhatitismeanttobe.Butwhenwelearntoregarditasthehighestpartoftheworkentrustedtous,therootandstrengthofallotherwork,weshallseethatthereisnothingthatwesoneedtostudyandpracticeastheartofprayingaright....ItisonlywhentheChurchgivesherselfuptothisholyworkofintercessionthatwecanexpectthepowerofChristtomanifestitselfinherbehalf.1

Ifthisistrue—andIbelievethatitis—thereisnotrue,lastingchangethathappensupontheearththatisnotbirthedoutofprayer.Andbecauseofthis,thereisnoChristianactivitythatthe devil fights harder, or our flesh will resist with more distractions, than true, intimateintercession. When we step before our King, we know He will extend His scepter todemonstrateHis favor upon us, butwe are not just there for ourselves. This isn’t a game.ThereisatimetocomebeforethethroneofGodjusttobewithHim—toclimbintothelapofour“Daddy.”ButtherearealsotimeswhentheprincesandprincessesofGodcomebeforetheFather with formal requests as emissaries of those who cannot or will not speak forthemselves.Estherwasthequeen,thewifeofKingAhasuerus,yetthatdayshedidnotcomeas a wife to a husband but as an ambassador to a king. It didn’t change their intimaterelationship,butwhatitdidwassay,“Iknowweknoweachother,butatthesametime,Iamwilling to risk the relationship—to risk death itself—to come before you today on behalf ofsomeoneelse.”AsPaulprayed:

ForIcouldwishthatImyselfwereaccursedfromChristformybrethren,mycountrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain theadoption, theglory, the covenants, thegivingof the law, the serviceofGod,andthepromises;ofwhomarethefathersandfromwhom,accordingtotheflesh,Christcame,whoisoverall,theeternallyblessedGod.Amen.

—ROMANS9:3–5

No,PauldidnotbecomeseparatedfromChristbecauseofhislongingtoseethepeopleofIsrael come to knowHim as he did. But hewaswilling to put himself on the line.HewaswillingtotesthisrelationshipwithGodbyaskingforahardthing—somethingfarmorethanjust“Godblessmeandmylovedones.”We, the body of Christ on the earth, must understand intercessory prayer and must

intercedeforthenationsifwearetohavetheimpactupontheearththatGodhascalledustohave.Wemust transform ourselves into more than just “Christians.”Wemust become thechildrenofGodHespecificallyintendedustobe.Wemustbecomeourauthenticselves.WemustbewillingtolaydownthisworldforthesakeofthosewhoneedHim—eventhosewhomakethemselvesourenemies.Welive inwhatcanbeconsideredthegreatestageoftheearth.WeareclosertoChrist’s

returnthananyothergenerationbeforeus.WhatwillHecatchusinthemiddleofwhenHereturns? Will we be praying, walking out the plans He gave us when we were in prayer,workingonsomeworld-changinginventionorprogram,orsimplysittingonourtalentsburieddeepinthegroundbecausewewerecomplacentorafraid?Ican’tspeakforyou,butIknowwhatIwillbedoing!

Whothenisafaithfulandwiseservant,whomhismastermaderuleroverhishousehold,togivethemfoodindueseason?Blessedisthatservantwhomhismaster,whenhecomes,willfindsodoing.Assuredly,Isaytoyouthathewillmakehim ruler over all his goods.But if that evil servant says inhis heart,“Mymaster is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat his fellow servants,andtoeatanddrinkwiththedrunkards,themasterofthatservantwillcomeonadaywhenheisnotlookingforhimandatanhourthatheisnotawareof,andwillcuthimintwoandappointhimhisportionwiththehypocrites.Thereshallbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.

—MATTHEW24:45–51

PARTONE

THECOURTOFHEAVENThebedrockofourChristianfaithistheunmerited,fathomlessmarveloftheloveofGodexhibitedontheCrossofCalvary,alovewenevercanandnevershallmerit.Paulsaysthisisthereasonwearemorethanconquerorsinallthesethings,super-victors,

withajoywewouldnothavebutfortheverythingswhichlookasiftheyaregoingtooverwhelmus....

WhenweprayonthegroundofRedemption,GodcreatessomethingHecancreateinno

otherwaythanthroughintercessoryprayer.1

OSWALDCHAMBERS

TheoneconcernofthedevilistokeepChristiansfrompraying.Hefearsnothingfromprayer-less

studies,prayer-lesswork,andprayer-lessreligion.Helaughsatourtoil,mocksatourwisdom,buttrembleswhenwepray.2

SAMUELCHADWICK

ONE

ADVOCACYBEFORETHETHRONE

UnderstandingtheJudiciaryofHeaven

PutMeinremembrance,letusargueourcasetogether;stateyourcause,thatyoumaybeprovedright.

ISAIAH43:26,NAS

Itisalsoofthegreatestimportanceforthesoultogotoprayerwithcourage.1

MADAMEJEANNEGUYON

ONEOFTHEmostfamouspicturesofthetwentiethcenturywasthatofthe“UnknownRebel”—oftenreferredtoas“TankMan”—whostooddefiantlyinfrontofacolumnofChineseType59tanksthedayafterthebrutalclearingofstudentprotestorsfromTiananmenSquareonJune4,1989.Youhaveprobablyseenthepicture; ifnot,simplysearchingfor“TankMan”ontheInternet will bring up several versions of it, and even some video. According to officialchannels,nooneeverfoundoutwhothismanwasorwhateverhappenedtohim.Formanythepicturebecameasymbolofthepowerofnonviolentprotest.Oneordinaryman,carryingwhatlookedtobehisgroceries,standingresolutelyinfrontofacolumnoftanks,anyoneofwhichcouldeasilyrolloverhim,butbecauseofthehumanityoftheleadtankdriver,ratherthan rolling over him, the entire column stood at a standstill. When the man cut off theattemptsofthetankstodrivearoundhim,hemovedbacktostandbeforetheleadtankagain,andthecolumnwasforcedagaintoahalt.ItwasasifthecourageofthatonemanwasabletostoptheentireChineseArmy.Hadonlythisbeenthecasethedaybefore—ifonlysomeonehadbeen able to stand between the army and stop them on that day—then the thousands ofcausalitiesthatresultedfromthatcrackdownwouldhavebeenspared.The cornerstone scripture on intercession paints a very similar picture. I like how The

Messageparaphrasesit:

Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused,outsidersarekickedaroundatwill,withnoaccesstojustice.I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the

defensesofthecity,totakeastandformeandstandinthegaptoprotectthislandsoIwouldn’thavetodestroyit.Icouldn’tfindanyone.Notone.

—EZEKIEL22:29–30,THEMESSAGE

Soundsalotliketheagewelivein,doesn’tit?If youwere to look back through history, corruption like this only changedwith times of

greatsocietalawakening.IsraelsawitunderprayingkingslikeDavid,Hezekiah,andJosiah.The Great Awakening of the 1700s was birthed in the 24/7 prayer of the Moravians atHerrnhutandinthemethodicaldevotionofJohnandCharlesWesleyandGeorgeWhitefield.Typicalofhisattitudeaboutprayer,JohnWesleyoncesaid,“Ipraytwohourseverymorning.ThatisifIdon’thavealottodo.IfIhavealottodothatday,thenIpraythreehours.”TheSecondGreat Awakeningwas grounded in prayer aswell, especially from intercessors likeDanielNashandAbelClary,whowerepivotaltothesuccessofCharlesFinney’sministry.Of“Father”Nash,Finneywouldlaterwrite:

I have seen Christians who would be in an agony [of prayer], when theministerwasgoingintothepulpit,forfearhismindshouldbeinacloud,orhisheartcold,orheshouldhavenounction,andsoablessingshouldnotcome.Ihavelaboredwithamanofthissort.HewouldprayuntilhegotanassuranceinhismindthatGodwouldbewithmeinpreaching,andsometimeshewouldprayhimself ill. I have known the timewhenhehas been in darkness for aseason,whilethepeopleweregathering,andhismindwasfullofanxiety,andhewouldgoagainandagaintopray,tillfinallyhewouldcomeintotheroomwithaplacidface,andsay,“TheLordhascome,andhewillbewithus.”AndIdonotknowthatIeverfoundhimmistaken.2

WithDanielNashgoingbeforehim intoeach towntopraybeforeFinneyarrived there topreach, Finney’s ministry reached its height in Rochester, New York, in 1830. The entirecommunity transformed because of its excitement about knowing God. Businesses closedwhenchurchmeetingswerebeingheldbecausetherewouldbenoonearoundtoshop.Barsandtheatersclosedbecauseofthelackofpatronage—formerpatronschoseinsteadtoattendprayer meetings or Bible studies. Crime rates plummeted and charitable work flourished.Though Rochester was home to only about ten thousand people at the time, one hundredthousandwereaddedtochurchesinthecityandsurroundingarea.Whereweareluckytodaytosee20percentof theconvertsstayfaithful tochurchattendanceafterarevivalmeeting,more than80percentof thosewhomadedecision to follow JesusduringFinney’smeetingspursuedGodfortherestoftheirlives.3

Many also contrast what happened in England during the Great Awakening and whathappened in France during the same period. With economic, social, and governmentalproblemsbeingquitesimilar,EnglandsawagreatrevivalandFranceabloodyrevolution.It’seasyto feel likeyouareaccomplishingnothingwhenyoubowyourkneetoprayforothers,but the truth is, there isnogreaterpoweronearth thansomeonewhowill kneel inprayerwith the resolve of that unknown rebel standing before those tanks. To stand in the spiritbetweenevilandthoseitwouldcrushishowthekingdomofGodchangestheworldaroundus.ItwasatthecenterofWilliamWilberforce’sworktoendslaveryintheBritishEmpire.Itwas at the center of George Washington Carver’s inventive genius to deliver southernsharecroppersfromabsolutepoverty.Itwasatthecornerstoneofthecivilrightsmovement.Itisonethingtostandinnonviolentprotestandmarchagainstoppression,butonlywhenthatresolveismixedwithprayerdosocietiesactuallytransform.Justthinkofanyorganizationorministrythathastouchedtheworldforgood,andyouwill

seeprayerat the foundationof it.TheSalvationArmyof the late1800sgrew fromasinglemissioninLondontohavingpostsaroundtheworldinameretwoorthreedecadesbecausethe Salvationists practiced “knee drills”—prayer meetings—with military discipline. WhenGeneralWilliamBoothoncereceivedwordthatanoverseaspostwasstrugglingtoestablishitself, he responded with a simple two-word telegram: “Try tears.” When the Salvationiststhere took theattitudeofpleading for thepeopleof thenationwhowere suffering to theirprayermeetings,thingsbegantochangedramatically.4Thereisalevelofpraiseandprayerthatisdeeplybeneficialtousasindividuals.Itkeepsus

onthepathGodhascalledustoandhelpsusexperiencetheblessingsandsuccessthatGodwantsforus.Thiskindofprayeriswonderfulandindispensableinourlives.Initwedofromtimetotimeprayforothers—especiallyour lovedones, friends,andcoworkers—thepeoplewhotouchourlives.Wewill layourpetitionsatthefootofthecrossontheirbehalf.Thisisintercession,anditiswonderful,butitisnotthelevelofintercessionIamtalkingabout.Iamtalkingaboutaregular,systematic,strategicdefenseonbehalfofindividualsorentirepeoplegroups suffering from the forces of darkness. I am talking about a prepared, enduring,unswervingdeterminationtoseefreedomwonforpeoplewemaynevermeet.Itisnotaboutindividualrequestsforindividualpeople—thoughthatwillhappenintheprocess.Itisaboutlayingdownyourlifeforaperiodoftime(hours,days,weekends,perhaps)tocallonheavento invade earth. It is to lay siege to institutions of darkness— poverty, slavery, oppression,hunger, crime, drug abuse, domestic violence, war, access to clean water, widowhood andorphanedhearts,divorce,younameit—andpleadfordeliveranceinthecourtofheaven.

THERIGHTTYPEOFPRAYERFORTHERIGHTTIME

In his book The Art of Prayer Kenneth Hagin delineates several different kinds of prayermentionedintheScripturesandstates:

The most effective prayer is the prayer the Holy Spirit inspires which isneededat themoment—whether it is theprayerofagreement, theprayeroffaith, the prayer of praise andworship, or some other type of prayer.Oftendifferentkindsofprayerwillworktogethermuchlikethefingersonahand.5

Suchdifferenttypesofprayerhaveatendencytooverlap,synchronize,andsynergize,yetatthesametimeitishelpfultobeabletoidentifyeachandunderstandtheiruniquepurposeandparameters. This isn’t to be legalistic or dogmatic, nor is it something youwill use in yourprayersalongthelinesofsaying,“Now,Lord,Iwanttogoovermyprayersofpetition.”ButastheSpiritofGodleadsandguidesyouinprayer,ithelpstounderstandwhatsomethingisandwhatitisn’t,andwhenitistimetomakeourrequestsandwhenitistimetobegratefulfortheiranswers,eveniftheyhaven’tmanifestedinthenaturalworldyet.SoratherthandelineatingeachspecifictypeofprayermentionedintheBible,let’sthinkof

themissomeoverarchingcategories.HerearethemainonesI thinkweshouldconsiderastheyareusedinorwithintercession:

1.Petitionsandsupplications

2.Consecrationanddedication(orwhatIliketocall“release”prayers)

3.Theprayerofagreement

4.Praise,worship,thanksgiving

Intercession itself isreallyanyprayerthatweprayforothers,ormoredistinctly, it isanyprayerwherewegobeforethethroneofGodonbehalfofanotherwhocannotgoonbehalfofhimself for reasons of not knowing God, not being in right relationship with Him, or notunderstanding his rightful place in prayer before the Father. InThe Art of Prayer KennethHagindefined intercession as “standing in thegap in prayer betweena person or persons,who have provoked judgment upon themselves through their wrongdoing, and the actualexecution of that judgment.”6 Prayer general Cindy Jacobs describes it this way: “Trueintercessionisactuallytwofold.OneaspectisaskingGodfordivineintervention;theotherisdestroyingtheworksofSatan.”7DickEastmanofEveryHomeforChristdescribeditthisway:“An intercessor is a man or woman—or child— who fights on behalf of others. As such,intercessionistheactivitythatidentifiesusmostwithChrist.TobeanintercessoristobelikeJesus because that is what Jesus is like. He ever lives to intercede.”8 In other words, thepersonwhointercedesisthepersonwhostepsinfrontofthetankofcomingcalamitytostopitbeforeitrunsoversomeonewecareabout—evenifitissomeonewehavenevermet.Andbecause faith works through love, as we see in Galatians 5:6, love has to be involved forwhomeverwepray.Iwouldaddtothesedefinitionsthatintercessioncanalsobemadeonbehalfoftheinnocent

whoarefacingcalamityfornoactionoftheirown.Thuswehavetherighttostandinprayerfor the unbornwho are threatened by abortion, childrenwho suffer domestic violence andotherformsofabuse,thosekidnappedandtraffickedinthesextradeindustry,orotherslikethem.WhenwecometoGodontheirbehalves,wecomewithheartfeltandearnestsupplications,

or individual requests for specific things that we humbly submit to God. To make asupplicationislikepresentingapetitiontoagoverningbody,expressingthewillofthepeoplesigningitforactionorintervention.Thisdoesn’tmeanwehavetogooutandgetabunchofsignatures, for as many have said, “One plus God equals a majority.” We are, in essence,praying“theprayerofagreement”accordingtoMatthew18:19–20withGodHimself ratherthananotherperson.

Iftwoofyouagreeonearthconcerninganythingthattheyask,itwillbedonefor them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gatheredtogetherinMyname,Iamthereinthemidstofthem.

One of the things aboutmaking a petition or supplication is that just as when we comebeforeahumangoverningbody,themorespecificandwelldefinedourrequest,thebetteritwillbereceived.Vagueprayershaveawayofreceivingvagueanswers,oratleastanswersthatwearenot

sure were specifically given to what we prayed for because, honestly, we didn’t pray foranythingspecifically.Before I go more into that point, let me next touch on the prayers of consecration and

dedication, for they have similar issues involved. The prayer of consecration is usually theprayerofanindividualsettinghimselfapartfromhisownpersonaldesirestoacceptthewillofGodforhislife.Itisa“Yes,Lord”prayer,anditisbestexemplifiedbyJesus’sprayerintheGardenofGethsemane:

[Jesus]saidtothedisciples,“SitherewhileIgoandprayoverthere.”AndHetook with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to besorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul isexceedinglysorrowful,eventodeath.StayhereandwatchwithMe.”HewentalittlefartherandfellonHisface,andprayed,saying,“OMyFather, if it ispossible,letthiscuppassfromMe;nevertheless,notasIwill,butasYouwill.”

—MATTHEW26:36–39

IntheprayerofconsecrationtheindividualisgivinguphisorherownwilltoacceptthewillandplanofGod.Akintothisistheprayerofdedication,inwhichwearededicatingorreleasingsomething

intoGod’shandsandoutofourown.Weareinessencesaying,“God,Iamnotgoingtoworryor fret anymore about this issue. I amgiving it to You. I am leaving it at the foot of Yourthrone.IamnotgoingtotouchitagaininmythoughtlifeexcepttopraiseandthankYouthatit is inYourhandsand is takencareof.” It isprayingaccordingto1Peter5:7:“CastingallyourcareuponHim,forHecaresforyou.”Thisisaprayerbestdoneforthepeopleclosesttouswhomwehavesuchatendencytofretoverandworryabouttothepointthatwegetinthe

wayofourownprayersbeingansweredbecausefearandworryhaveawayofeatingawayatthefaithwehavethatthingswilleverchangeforthem.WhatIwantyoutoseeaboutprayersofpetitionandsupplicationsaswellastheprayerof

consecrationanddedication is that theyare specific innature, and theydiscern thewill ofGod in the situations forwhich they are being prayed. Toomany think that intercession issimplyaddingnamestotheendofyourprayersbeforebedtimeaswedidaschildren,“. . .andLord,blessAuntHattieandUncleReuben.BlessMommyandDaddy,andmysistersandbrotherstoo.PleasetakecareofalloftheorphansinAfricaandthepeoplewhoarehungry.Amen.”Whilethatisagoodplacetostart,weneedtospendenoughtimeinintercessiontoallowGodtodirectusinthespecificsofwhatweshouldbepetitioningheaventobedoneforeachofthesepeopleorgroups.Neitherisitsimplypraying,“Lord,Thywillbedone,”asifthatwereasproperaclosingto

prayeras“Amen”—asifbyprayingthatwehavecoveredanythingwemighthavemissedthatwe should havementioned. The only time that phrase is used in prayer is by Jesus in Hisprayer of consecration to the Father’s will of going to the cross. It was prayed with JesusknowingfullwellwhatthewillofGodwas.Inorderforustopray,“Thywillbedone,”wehavetoknowwhatthatwillisaswell.Thusintercessionisnotjustprayerforothers;itisspendingtimewithGod(inprayerand

studyingHisWord)tolearnHiswillforthoseforwhomweareprayingandthenliftingthatwill back up to God as a petition or supplication. It is the sense in which we “contendtogether”(Isa.43:26)withGodinpresentingourintercessionsbeforethecourtofheaven.Once we lay our prayers before the Father, praise, worship, and thanksgiving take over.

Though sometimes, depending on the prayer and how specific the things are that we arepraying for,wewill bring the samematters beforeGod again and again like the persistentwidow before the unjust judge (Luke 18:2–8), most things we will pray for once and thensimplypraiseandthankGodthattheyaretakencareoffromthenonout.(Thisinessenceistheprayeroffaith:toprayforsomethingandbelieveitistakencareofatthatmoment.)Inaprayerofdedication,wearelayingourconcernatHisfeetandthentrustGodtotakeitfromthere.Themorespecificourprayers,themorewecantrustGodforspecificanswers.Onceweperceiveinthespiritthattheyhavebeentakencareofinheaven,wehavebuttothankGodandpraiseHimfortheirmanifestationsupontheearth.Forlargermatters(likethosewewilldiscuss inchapter6),wewillcometoGodformore incrementalandstrategicsupplicationsthat we will learn over time and will develop with Him. All of this is prayer in the SpiritworkingtogetherwithGodasweintercede.ItisthedivinepartnershipHedesires.Afterall,HisaskingustopraythatHiswillbedoneontheearthasitisinheavenisnotjust

amatterofsemantics—itisalegalprecedentforhowGoddesignatedauthorityoverourworldandourlives.

YOUHAVEJURISDICTION

JohnWesley once said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer. . . . Every new victorywhichasoulgainsistheeffectofanewprayer.”9Ibelievethisisbecauseonewaytolookatintercession is in terms of presenting a case before a court. A lot of people emphasize thesovereignty of God—and there is no question that our King is sovereign—but they seem toforgetwhatDavidsaidpropheticallyaboutGod:“YouhavemagnifiedYourwordaboveallYourname” (Ps. 138:2). If there is one thing that trumps the sovereignty of God, it is Hisfaithfulness.God is not a liar.ByHis verynature, if there is one thingHeholds aboveHisabilitytodoanythingontheearth,itisthepromisesHehasmadeandtheauthorityHehasgiven.IntheveryfirstchapteroftheBiblewearetoldthataftercreatingtheearth,theFather,the

Son,andtheHolySpirithadaconversationtogether,saying:

Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them havedominionoverthefishofthesea,overthebirdsoftheair,andoverthecattle,overalltheearthandovereverycreepingthingthatcreepsontheearth.

—GENESIS1:26,EMPHASISADDED

This tells us thatGod gavedominion—or–jurisdiction—of the earth over to humanity.Hesaid,“Thisisyours.Youtakecareofit.Iwillgiveyouahandbookfordoingthatlateron,butfornow,let’swalkandtalktogetherinthecoolofeachdayandtalkoverwhatyouaregoingtodowiththisplanetIhavegivenyou.Ifyouneedhelp,justask,butitisyourstomanageand

prosperasyouseefit.”Now,let’sexplorethisalittlebit.Ihaveseveralfriendswhohaveteenagechildrenwhohave

turnedsixteenandgottentheirlicenses.Supposethoseparentssaid,“Honey,Iamsoproudofyou. You have earned the right to drive, your grades are good, you are growing into aresponsible adult, and you have saved up somemoney from your summer job to get a car.Well,wehavedecidedthatinsteadofyoubuyingyourowncar,wearegoingtobuyoneforyou.Itwillbeyourcarthough.Youwillneedtotakecareofit.Youwillneedtobuyyourowngasandpayforitsmaintenance.Youwillhavetobuytheinsuranceforit.Butwearegivingittoyou.It’syours.”Now,ifthoseparentswerereallygivingtheirchildthatcar,woulditreallybetheson’sor

daughter’scariftheyneverletthemdriveit?Iftheysaid,“We’llputitinthegarageandyoucanlookatitanytimeyouwant—it’syoursafterall—butwe’llhangontothekeys.Carsaredangerousafterall.Youcouldhurtyourselforsomeoneelse,sowewillhangonto it. Ifyouneedtogosomewhere,wewillbegladtodriveyou.Butit’syourcar!Enjoyit!”Thatyoungpersonmightownthecarandevenhavehisorhernameontheregistration,but

doeshehavedominionoverthecar?No,ofcoursenot.Theparentsarestill incontrol.Theparentsaremakingthedecisions.Inessence,theyhaven’treallygiventhechildthecaratall.Itisstilltheparent’scar.ButthatisnotwhatGoddid.Hegavehumanitythedominionovertheearthandtherefore

declaredtheearthhumanity’sjurisdiction.Hesaid,“Look!Imadeallofthis,anditisMinetogive,soIamgiving it toyouandputtingyouincharge.It isyourstodowithasyouwouldlike. It is yours to care for andnurture.Andyouknowwhat?Because it is yours, I amnotgoing to step in to do things unless I am asked. That iswhatdominionmeans, after all. ItmeansIamgivingyoutheauthorityoverit.Iwon’tstepintodoanythingonyourturfunlessyouaskMe,orunless Iabsolutelyhave to intervene foryoursakeor thesakeof theentireplanet—anditwillhavetobearealemergencyforMetostepinlikethat.YouhaveMyword.”This is oversimplified, but the church must realize that although God is the ultimate,

sovereignauthority,Hehasgivenusresponsibilityforourlivesandourworld.Hehasgivenusownershipandfreewill—thepowertochoosewhattodowithwhatHehasgivenus.Withthatauthoritycomesresponsibility.Thechoiceswemakestand.Theyhaveeternalconsequences.We have what we have today because of choices that were made. Our children and theirchildrenwillbeimpactedbythechoicesyouandImake—whetherwechoosetoact,ornottoact,toprayornottopray.Wemustembracetheresponsibilitywe’vebeengiven.GodisboundbyHisownwordnottointerveneeverytimeweactirresponsibly—orevenunresponsively.IfHesteppedinandchangedthingseverytimewemadeabaddecision,ornodecisionatall,thenHewouldn’thavereallygivenusdominion,wouldHe?Theproblemis,itdidn’ttakeAdamandEvelongtofumbletheirauthorityandgiveitoverto

SatanbydisobeyingGod.Godhadgiven themonecommandment tokeep inorder tohangontotheirauthority,andSatantrickedthemintoviolatingtheirlease.Andtherewasanotherissue.Theearthlyecosystemwasbuiltonobedienceanddoingwhat

wasright,notondisobedienceandwrongchoices.Theearthprosperedandgave lifewhenrighteousnesswasdone,butitsufferedundersin.Sinbroughtcorruption.Theearthgroanedandwarpedundersin.Theveryatmosphereitselfchanged.SomeChristianscientistshavesuggestedthatatCreationtheearthwaswrappedinalayer

of water vapor high in the stratosphere that would have caused the entire earth to besomewhatofagiantgreenhouse,causingtemperaturestobeuniformthroughouttheearthnomattertheseason.ItwouldhavemeantnoWeatherChannelwouldhaveeverbeenneeded—everydaywouldbe“sunnywithahighofseventy-twodegrees,”evenatthepoles.Thismoistatmospherewouldhavebeenatropicalparadise,plantsneedingnothingbutthemoisturethatwasalreadyintheairtowaterthem.However, because sin threatened to choke the earth to death, this water canopy “tore,”

resultinginthegreatFlood.Itwasthefirsttimeanyonehadeverseenrain,letalonestormsand the hurricane-force winds that must have resulted from the rapid changes intemperatures. These scientists hold that once that canopy of water vapor broke, the poleswouldhavefrozeninseconds,causingtheanimalstheretoinstantlyfreeze,asitisbelievedtohavehappenedtothewoollymammothfoundfrozenwholeinSiberia.WeatherhasneverbeenthesameaftertheFlood,usheringineverythingfromgentlesnowstohurricanes.Theearth’scrustbegantoshiftandbuckle,causingearthquakesandtsunamis.TheseIbelievetobethefutilityandgroansPaulspokeofinRomans8:

Forthecreationwassubjectedtofutility,notwillingly,butbecauseofHimwhosubjecteditinhope;becausethecreationitselfalsowillbedeliveredfromthebondageofcorruptionintothegloriouslibertyofthechildrenofGod.Forweknow that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together

untilnow.

—ROMANS8:20–22

Theonlyansweratthattimeforsinwasretribution:“...lifeforlife,eyeforeye,toothfortooth,handforhand,footforfoot,burnforburn,woundforwound,stripeforstripe”(Exod.21:23–25).Thisiswherethesystemofanimalsacrificecamein—sinrequireddeath,andsincethelifeofacreatureisintheblood,bloodhadtobeshedtocoversin:“Forthelifeofthefleshisintheblood,andIhavegivenittoyouuponthealtartomakeatonementforyoursouls;forit is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11). It was a messy business,indeed.ButJesusChristchangedallofthat.ThroughHisownbloodHepaidthepriceofsinonce

andforall,withonecaveat.Freewillstillreigned.HerefusedtotakebackthejurisdictionHehadgiventohumanitythroughAdamandEve.ThoughoursinispaidforthroughthebloodandgraceofJesusChrist,ifwedon’tacceptHissacrificeonourbehalf,itdoesn’tdousorourplanetanygood.JesusgaveHislifeforusanddemandsthatwegiveupoursinful,selfishlivesforHim.ItisonlybydoingsothatweenterintothekingdomofGodasitwasintendedfromthebeginning.WeareaskedtogiveupoursinfullifesoGodcanfilluswithHiseternallife,asScripturesays:

ThisishowmuchGodlovedtheworld:HegavehisSon,hisoneandonlySon.Andthisiswhy:sothatnooneneedbedestroyed;bybelievinginhim,anyonecanhaveawholeandlasting life.Goddidn’tgotoall thetroubleofsendinghisSonmerelytopointanaccusingfinger,tellingtheworldhowbaditwas.He came to help, to put theworld right again. Anyonewho trusts in him isacquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under thedeathsentencewithoutknowingit.Andwhy?Becauseofthatperson’sfailuretobelieveintheone-of-a-kindSonofGodwhenintroducedtohim.

—JOHN3:16–18,THEMESSAGE

WhenAdamandEvesinned,theylosttheirjurisdictionoverthethingsoftheearthtoSatan,ormorecorrectlystated,perhaps,tosin.Wheresinreigned,Satan,theenemyofoursouls,theadversary,hadhisway.AsPaulexplainedit,“Justasthroughoneman[Adam]sinenteredtheworld,anddeaththroughsin,andthusdeathspreadtoallmen,becauseallsinned”(Rom.5:12).However,hewentontosayinthefollowingverses:

(For if by theoneman’soffensedeath reigned through theone,muchmorethose who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness willreignin lifethroughtheOne,JesusChrist.)Therefore,asthroughoneman’soffensejudgmentcametoallmen,resultingincondemnation,evensothroughoneMan’srighteousactthefreegiftcametoallmen,resultinginjustificationoflife.Forasbyoneman’sdisobediencemanyweremadesinners,soalsobyoneMan’sobediencemanywillbemaderighteous.

—ROMANS5:17–19

GodcouldnotchangetherulesHehadsetupat thebeginningwithoutviolatingHisownword; however, above thatwordwasHis law.Hehad the legal right to step in sovereignlybecauseHislawallowedHimtodosowithoutviolatingHiswordorHispromises.ThusJesuscameandgavethekeysofthekingdombacktohumanitythroughthosewhowould“believeinthe one-of-a-kindSon ofGodwhen introduced to him” (John3:18, THEMESSAGE). The earththus groans for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God because that is itssalvation! When we become who God designed and called us to be, kingdoms shift—theupside-downworldgetsturnedrightsideup!However,havinglegaljurisdictionmeansnothingifitisnotenforced.Whilewearetrulyin

charge,Satanrunsaroundwithforgeddocuments,lyingtoeveryone,sayinghestillis.Heactslike a tough guy—a roaring lion. “Your adversary the devilwalks about like a roaring lion,seekingwhomhemaydevour”(1Pet.5:8,emphasisadded).Butwhileheacts like it,he, infact,isnolion,andheisnotinchargeofanythingontheearth.Wehavebuttoresisthimandhe will be forced to flee (v. 9). That is why his main tools are deception, ignorance, andmisunderstanding.Hecanonlygethiswaybytrickingothersintoexercisingtheirauthorityto

dowhathewants.Sadlyheisverysuccessfulatthis.Why? Because far too few stand up before the throne of heaven and call him out as an

imposter and a fake. We acquiesce our authority and jurisdiction because it is eitherinconvenient to pray that much, we have been fooled ourselves about our true power andauthority,wearetrappedinthetraditionsofmenintoemptyexpressionsofourreligionandcallings,orwedon’tknowthe“lawofGod”—theBible—HisholyhandbooktousandHisfinalwordoneverymatterthatneedstobedecided.Wethenbecomeasuselessasalawyerwhodoesn’tknowthelaw.Legal systems in theWesternworld, however, are based on the patterns of the Bible for

decidingjusticeandissuingfairsentences.Asbestaswehavebeenabletodo,wehavetriedtoimitateinourcourtroomswhathappensbeforethejudgmentthroneofGod.Becauseofthatwe can look to our legal systems as one model for interceding for others. Charles Finneytrainedasalawyerbeforehebecameapreacher,andthattrainingwascrucialtohisrevivals.Hewouldarguethecaseforpeople’ssalvationbeforethemasifhewereanadvocateandtheywerethejurywhohadtodecidetheirowncases.Iamsurehedidthesameinprayer,takingaboldness based in the knowledge of theBible toGod to arguewith such conviction for thesouls of others that he even sometimes surprised himself with demands so insistent hewonderedthathewasn’tbeingoverlyconfidentorevenborderingonbeingdisrespectful.Ashedescribedit:

I found myself so much exercised, and so borne down with the weight ofimmortal souls, that Iwas constrained to praywithout ceasing.Someofmyexperiences, indeed, alarmed me. A spirit of importunity sometimes cameuponme so that Iwould say toGod thathehadmadeapromise to answerprayer, and I could not, and would not, be denied. I felt so certain that hewouldhearme,andthatfaithfulnesstohispromises,andtohimself,renderedit impossible that he should not hear and answer, that frequently I foundmyselfsayingtohim,“IhopethoudostnotthinkthatIcanbedenied.Icomewiththy faithfulpromises inmyhand,andIcannotbedenied.” Icannot tellhowabsurdunbelief looked tome,andhowcertain itwas, inmymind, thatGodwouldanswerprayer—thoseprayersthat,fromdaytoday,andfromhourtohour, I foundmyselfoffering insuchagonyandfaith. Ihadno ideaoftheshape the answer would take, the locality in which the prayers would beanswered,ortheexacttimeoftheanswer.Myimpressionwasthattheanswerwasnear,evenatthedoor.10

This,my friends, iswhat intercession isallabout. It ispleading forothers in thecourtofheavenbasedontheverylawsandWordGodhasgivenustoarguebeforeHimandcallforHiskingdomtomanifestupontheearth.It isacallofdutyforeveryChristian,andit isourrightaschildrenof theKing.Hewillnotstep inwhereHeisnot invited,andeventhenHemustbeinvitedinsuchawaythatthereisnodoubt,nosecondguessing,nowavering.Brothersandsisters,it istimeforustostandupinthecourtofheavenforthepeoplesof

thisearth—especiallyforthosewhodon’tyetknowhowtostandupforthemselves.Butifweare to successfully argueour cases,wehave to know the law—wehave to takeGodatHisWordandgrabHispromiseswithbothhands.It’stimeforustogotolawschool.

TWO

THEKINGWESERVEInsideInformationontheSupremeJudge

Youcancountonit.Fromnowon,whateveryourequestalongthelinesofwhoIamandwhatIamdoing,I’lldoit.That’showtheFatherwillbeseenforwhoheisintheSon.Imeanit.Whateveryourequestinthisway,I’lldo.

JOHN14:12–14,THEMESSAGE

TherootoffaithistheknowledgeofaPerson.1

OSWALDCHAMBERS

EVERY LEGAL SYSTEM is based on the authority of its government and the rule of law. Thekingdom of heaven is no different. However, if the rulers of the government are corrupt,things will go differently. Law will be perverted and corrupted. There are also jurisdictionissues—you don’t go to the DMV if your house has been broken into, you don’t request abuildingpermit from thestate legislature,andyoudon’tcall the IRS to suggestanew law.Every branch, bureau, agency, and administration has its responsibilities, jurisdiction, andlimitations. In essence, we can’t expect government officials to do what they haven’t beendesignatedtodo.Asitiswithhumanbeings,weareluckytogetpoliticianstodowhattheypromisedwhentheywereelected,letalonegotheextramileforus.Therearealwaysformstobefilledoutandbureaucracytobenavigatedtogetwhatisrightfullyours.Ifyoudon’tknowthesystem,chancesareyouwillnevergetevenwhatisdesignatedforyou.While the kingdom of heaven is certainly different, James tells us that, “You do not have

becauseyoudonotask.Youaskanddonotreceive,becauseyouaskamiss” (James4:2–3).Amissheremeansinthewrongwayorwiththewrongmotives.Selfishdesiresbasedonourownlusts—toindulgeourselvesorcorruptournatures—don’tevengetahearinginheaven.ItisnotinthenatureofGodtogiveusthingsthatwilldestroyusintheshortorlongrun.Hisnatureistobless,nottocurse,asJames1:17tellsus:“Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfromabove,andcomesdownfromtheFatheroflights,withwhomthereisnovariationorshadowofturning.”Thereareno“mixedblessings”withGod.However,atthesametime,manydon’tevenaskinthefirstplacebecausetheyhavebeen

deceivedaboutwhoGodreallyis.TheyareafraidofHimortheyonlyseetheextremejusticesideofHim. (“God’s justice” is another issue thatwewill discuss inmoredetail inanotherchapter—itisnotwhatmostpeoplethinkitis.)Likethestewardwhohidhistalent,theythink,“Lord,Iknewyoutobeahardman,reapingwhereyouhavenotsown,andgatheringwhereyouhavenotscatteredseed.AndIwasafraid,andwentandhidyourtalent intheground”(Matt.25:24–25).Ratherthaninvestingtheirtimeinprayertoaddressthethingsthattearattheirhearts, theybury theirhurts in thegroundandhide theirheads in thesand, ignoringwhat ishappeningon thenightlynews— thingsweshouldbe invitingGod todo somethingabout.ButthisisnothowJesustaughtustopray,norisitwhoGodrevealedHimselftobeinthe

Scriptures.EvenintheOldTestamentGodwasnotjustaboutjudgment.HerevealedHimselfto be very different. In fact, He gave Israel names to call Him that represented who Hewantedtobetothem.

GODMOSTHIGH

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; andblessedbeGodMostHigh,whohasdeliveredyourenemies intoyourhand.”Andhegavehimatitheofall.

—GENESIS14:19–20

Andhe[thedemon]criedoutwithaloudvoiceandsaid,“WhathaveItodowithYou,Jesus,SonoftheMostHighGod?IimploreYoubyGodthatYoudonottormentme.”

—MARK5:7

TheHebrew term for “GodMost High” isEl Elyon, which first appears in this passage inGenesis14.Thestoryhereisquitenoteworthy,andIbelieveitgivesagoodpictureofwherethisnameofGodcomesfrom.Inabattle in theValleyofSiddim thearmiesofSodomandGomorrah retreatedbeforea

strongerfoe,leavingtheircampandgoods.Thevalleywasfilledwithasphaltpits,andmanyfell into them in their flight; some were captured. Among the captured was Lot, Abram’snephew,whowaslivinginSodomatthattimeandthuspartofitsarmy.WhenAbramheardthathisnephewhadbeentakencaptive,hemountedarescuemission.Asaresult,herescuednotonlyLotandhisgoodsbutalsotheothercaptivesandthegoodsofthekingsofSodomandGomorrah.

Returningfromthisvictory,AbramismetbyoneofthemostmysteriousfiguresinthepagesoftheBible:Melchizedek,kingofSalem,andthepriestofGodMostHigh.MelchizedekmeetsAbramwithbreadandwine,theelementsofthecovenantmealthatJesuscommemoratedattheLastSupperandthatweusetorememberHiminCommunion.ItisasacramentalpartofGod’scuttingofcovenantwithAbram(alsoknownasa“testament”—thusthe“OldTestament”ofthiscovenantwithAbramandthe“NewTestament”ofourcovenantwithGodthroughJesusChristare reflected in this).WhoexactlyMelchizedekwas isnot revealedanywhereelse inGenesis.Infact,thisistheonlymentionofhimintheentireBibleexceptforabriefreferenceinPsalm110andinHebrews5and6wherethewriterquotesPsalm110andspeaksofJesusasbeing“HighPriest‘accordingtotheorderofMelchizedek’”(Heb.5:10).SomeevenbelievethatMelchizedekisJesusmanifestingHimselftoAbrahamasrepresentativeofthecovenantHewouldonedaycutinHisownblood.(ThisisalsothefirstplaceintheBiblethatthetitheismentionedasAbrahamtithestoMelchizedekofallthespoilshetookinthebattle.)Melchizedek is priest of “GodMostHigh,” ofEl Elyon, andmeets Abram so that Abram

might acknowledge that the strengthwithwhich he defeated this armywas God’s, not hisown.Melchizedekcallshim“AbramofGodMostHigh”sothathewouldknowitwasGod,theGodaboveallothergodsandKingaboveallotherkings,whowonthevictoryforhimthatday—avictorythatAbramandhisservantswonbutthealliedforcesoffivekingscouldnot.Thisnametellsusthatthereisnopower,principality,authority,or“god”thatisgreaterthan

theGodofAbraham, Isaac,and Jacob.Through thekingofSalem,orshalom, “peace,”GodproclaimsHismight to Abram, and Abram bows to that strength, tithing toHis priest andpartakinginthecovenantmealwithHisrepresentative.InitGodletsusknow,“ThereisnooneliketheLORDourGod”(Exod.8:10).

GODALMIGHTY

WhenAbramwasninety-nineyearsold,theLORDappearedtoAbramandsaidtohim,“IamAlmightyGod;walkbeforeMeandbeblameless.”

—GENESIS17:1

“IamtheAlphaandtheOmega,theBeginningandtheEnd,”saystheLord,“whoisandwhowasandwhoistocome,theAlmighty.”

—REVELATION1:8

A fewchapters laterGodappears toAbrahamagainandannouncesHimself asElShaddai,“GodAlmighty.”Inthiscase,however,GodisnotonlydeclaringHimselfaboveallothergods,andthusabletodefeatthemandthosewhofollowthem,butHeisalsoannouncingthatHeistheGodofcreationandabovecreation’snatural laws.WhereAbram’swife,Sarai,hasbeenbarren,GodwillbringforthasonforAbram,thatAbram’slinewouldcontinue.HeisnotjustGodMostHigh;HeisalsoGodAlmighty—thereisnothingHedoesnothavethepowertodoortochange.

THEEVERLASTINGGOD

ThenAbrahamplantedatamarisktreeinBeersheba,andtherecalledonthenameoftheLORD,theEverlastingGod.

—GENESIS21:33

JesusChrististhesameyesterday,today,andforever.

—HEBREWS13:8

InGenesis21wemeetGodastheEternalandEverlastingOne:ElOlam,GodEverlasting.HeistheGodwhodoesnotchange,whohasalwaysbeenandwillalwaysbe.ItistheprecursortothenameJehovah,“IAM,”theGodwhoisineverymomentpast,present,andfuture—theGodwhoseesall,knowsall,andcandowhateverHeseesfittodowithoutlimitation.

THELORD’SPROVISIONSHALLBESEEN

AndAbrahamcalledthenameoftheplace,The-Lord-Will-Provide;asitissaidtothisday,“IntheMountofTheLorditshallbeprovided.”

—GENESIS22:14

Godisabletomakeallgraceaboundtowardyou,thatyou,alwayshavingallsufficiencyinallthings,mayhaveanabundanceforeverygoodwork.

—2CORINTHIANS9:8

Andasifpowerandauthorityweren’tenough,GodgoesontotelluswhatHeistousinmorespecific terms. The next is in Genesis 22, as part of the story of God calling Abraham tosacrifice his heir, Isaac, on the mountaintop. Abraham takes Isaac to the mountaintopbelievingthatevenifhehastogosofarastokillIsaac,“Godwasabletoraisehimup,evenfrom the dead” (Heb. 11:19) if necessary to keep His promise that “through Isaac yourdescendants shall benamed” (Gen. 21:12,NAS).However, instead of bringing Isaac back tolife,God staysAbraham’s hand and shows him a ram caught in a thicket to be used as anofferinginstead.At that instantAbrahamlooks toheavenandcalls thatplaceby thenameGod inspires in

himatthatmoment:JehovahJireh,“TheGodWhoProvides,”orasmanyparaphraseit,“GodMyProvider.”Inthemidstofthewilderness,whenAbrahamhadaneed,Godprovideditforhim.IsthereanyreasontothinkGodisanylessofaprovidertoday?

GODHEALS

IfyoudiligentlyheedthevoiceoftheLORDyourGodanddowhat isright inHissight,giveeartoHiscommandmentsandkeepallHisstatutes,IwillputnoneofthediseasesonyouwhichIhavebroughtontheEgyptians.ForIamtheLORDwhohealsyou.

—EXODUS15:26

WhoHimselfboreoursinsinHisownbodyonthetree,thatwe,havingdiedtosins,mightliveforrighteousness—bywhosestripesyouwerehealed.

—1PETER2:24

Exodus15:26declaresGodtobeJehovahRophe,“TheGodWhoHealsUs.”GoddoesnotputdiseaseonHischildrentoteachthemthings.Thatisludicrous!HeisalovingFather.Iftherewasafatherwhowasadoctorandhadaccesstopetridishesofthepoliovirus,whatwouldyouthinkofhimifheusedthatvirusonhissonbecausetheboywouldneversitdownanddohishomework?Youwouldthinkhewasamonster,wouldn’tyou?Notalovingfather!Well,ifthat is true, then the samegoes for our heavenlyFather.We live in enemy territorywherediseaseisaweapontheenemyusestoopenfireuponhumanity.CertainlyGodcanteachandstrengthenyou throughyoursickness,butHe isnot the inflictorof illnessanymore thanaphysicianwouldmakeyousickinorderforyoutoseektreatment.Certainlysicknessanddiseaseareintheworldtodaybecauseofsin,andsometimesdisease

comes as a direct result of our sin—smoking leads to lung cancer, promiscuity can lead tosexuallytransmittedinfections,gluttonyisdirectlyconnectedtoheartdisease,andworrycancontributetohighbloodpressure—butothertimesillnesstakesholdregardlessofourchoicesorwhetherornotwe“deserve”it.Take,forexample,themanbornblindwhomJesusisaskedabout in John 9:2: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus’sanswer?

Neitherthismannorhisparentssinned,butthattheworksofGodshouldberevealedinhim.ImustworktheworksofHimwhosentMewhileitisday;thenightiscomingwhennoonecanwork.AslongasIamintheworld,Iamthelightoftheworld.

—JOHN9:3–5

Inotherwords,hisblindnesswasn’tthedirectresultofsin—andIdonotbelieveJesuswassayinghewasbornblindjustsothatHecouldcomebyonedayandhealhim,tothegloryofGod. I think the punctuation is in the wrong place. (In the original Greek they didn’t usepunctuation;moderntranslatorsinsertedperiodsandcommastomakeiteasiertoread.)Thispassagereadsverydifferentlyifyouputaperiodafter“sinned”insteadofacommaandthenacommaaftertheword“him”attheendofthatsentence.Itwouldthenread:“Neitherthismannorhisparentssinned.ButthattheworksofGodshouldberevealedinhim,ImustworktheworksofHimwhosentMe.” Jesus isn’tconcernedwithcauseandeffecthere—becausethere isn’tany—butHe isconcernedwithhealing!God isnot theonewhoputsdiseasesonpeople,butwhenwecometoHiminfaith,abidinginHisSpiritandHisWordabidinginus,thenHeisJehovahRophe,“TheGodWhoHealsUs.”

GODMYBANNER

Mosesbuiltanaltarandcalleditsname,The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;forhesaid,“Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek fromgenerationtogeneration.”

—EXODUS17:15–16

ThanksbetoGod,whogivesusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist.

—1CORINTHIANS15:57

When troopsmarched into battle in these ancient times, the armywould always carry thebanners—ortoday,theflags—ofthenationandtheunitsbeforeeachdivision.Itsignifiedwhotheywereandwhat they stood for.Theydidn’t stand forapieceof cloth,but thatpieceofclothrepresentedwhotheywereasapeople.Bannerstellastory—thecolors,stripes,stars,orotheremblemsallhavemeanings.Theyaresoimportantthatweremembergreatmomentsof carrying our flags into battle, like the monument of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jimaduring World War II, or we remember the scene from the movie Glory when DenzelWashingtonpicksuptheUnionflagafterthebearerdropsitandralliesthetroopstorenewtheirassaultonFortWagner.JehovahNissi, “The Lord IsMyBanner,” signifies the battlewe have against evil on this

earthandthatdoinggoodisourmissioninthenameofJesusChrist—thisisourbattlecry.InthedaysofTheSalvationArmytheymarchedunderabannerdisplayingthewords“BloodandFire,”symbolizingthat theyweregoingto triumphbythebloodof Jesusandthe fireof theHolySpirit.Aswefacetheproblemsofourdayandintercedeforthosewhocan’tordon’tknowhowto

prayforthemselves,weneedtorememberthebannerunderwhichweapproachthethrone—theverynameofGodHimself.

THELORDWHOSANCTIFIES

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “SurelyMy Sabbaths you shallkeep, for it isasignbetweenMeandyouthroughoutyourgenerations, thatyoumayknowthatIamtheLORDwhosanctifiesyou.”

—EXODUS31:13

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me Hisprisoner,butsharewithme in thesufferings for thegospelaccordingto thepower of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, notaccording to ourworks, but according toHis ownpurpose andgracewhichwasgiventousinChristJesusbeforetimebegan.

—2TIMOTHY1:8–9

For centuries and even today theHebrew people have been set aside from the rest of theworldbytheirobservanceoftheSabbath—theperiodstartingatsundownonFridayeveningand ending at sundown on Saturday. It was a time to rest, yes, but it also began with aceremonyofblessingduringwhichtheparents,particularlythefather,spokeablessingover

hischildren.I recently heard a story of anup-and-coming youngwoman in a law firmwho, nomatter

whatwashappeningortheworkloadthatneededtobedonebeforethefollowingweek, leftwork a little early onFriday afternoon. Thiswomanwas a go-getter and very polished andpolite,soitwasasurprisetohercolleaguesastheyponderedbigissuesthatshewouldsimplypackupandleave,eveninthemiddleofimportantFridayafternoonmeetings.Onedayoneofhercoworkersaskedheraboutthispractice.Sheanswered,“IhavetoleaveearlybecauseIhavetodrivetwohourstomyparents’houseforourSabbathmeal.”“Areyouthatreligious?”theotherasked. “Oh, it isnotabout religion. Idon’tgooutofduty. Igo tohearmy fatherspeak his blessings over me. Every Friday night he takes me in his arms and speaks hisblessingsovermeforthatweek.Ican’tgowithoutthose.IwouldnotbethepersonIamtodaywithouthearingthoseblessingsspokenovermeeachweek.”Theword sanctification signifies a “setting apart of something for a special purpose.” It

denotesseparatingsomethingoutasspecial.TheGreekwordfor“church”isecclesia,whichmeans,“thecalled-outones.”Wehavebeencalledoutof thetroublesand limitationsof theworldtobeusedforgood,ascatalystsofpositivechange,andasapeoplelookingtoestablishthecityofGodontheearth.“TheGodWhoSanctifies,”JehovahM’kaddesh, istheGodwhohascalledusoutofthechaosoftheworldsystemtomanifestHisgraceandtransformationalpower.

THELORDISPEACE

SoGideonbuiltanaltartheretotheLORD,andcalleditThe-Lord-Is-Peace.

—JUDGES6:24

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, withthanksgiving,letyourrequestsbemadeknowntoGod;andthepeaceofGod,whichsurpassesallunderstanding,willguardyourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus.

—PHILIPPIANS4:6–7

JehovahShalom,“TheLordIsPeace,”isoursuretyintimeoftroubleorconflict.Manythinkofpeace treaties when they think of the word peace: an agreement to cease fire and endhostilitiesbetweendifferentgroups.However, theHebrewwordshalommeansmuchmore.AccordingtoVine’sCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestamentWords,shalomrepresentsa:

. . . relationship . . .ofharmonyandwholeness,which is theoppositeof thestateofstrifeandwar....Shalomasaharmoniousstateofthesoulandmindencouragesthedevelopmentofthefacultiesandpowers.Thestateofbeingatease is experiencedbothexternally and internally. . . .Shalomalso signifies“peace,”indicativeofaprosperousrelationshipbetweentwoormoreparties.2

It is not just a peace where there is an absence of open conflict, but shalom is also arelationshipofgenuinegoodwillandbrotherlylovetowardtheotherparty.Itisanattitudeofbeing sneaky in trying to bless the other, no matter what. It is another word that isindispensable in discussing the attitudes of one toward another in covenant relationships.Wouldonlythatmoreofourmarriageswerebasedonthiskindofpeaceratherthansimplynonconfrontationalcoexistence!

THELORDOFHOSTS

ThismanwentupfromhiscityyearlytoworshipandsacrificetotheLORDofhostsinShiloh.

—1SAMUEL1:3

OrdoyouthinkthatIcannotnowpraytoMyFather,andHewillprovideMewithmorethantwelvelegionsofangels?

—MATTHEW26:53

Jehovah Sabaoth, or “The Lord of Hosts,” signifies the legions of angels God has at Hisdisposal to do His will. Unlike the devil, with whom a third of the angels fell when theyfollowedhim,Godisacreator—soifHeneedsmoreangels,Hecanalwayscreatethem,whileSatanhasnosuchpower.Inotherwords,ifGodneedstosendanangeltoperformacertaintaskinresponsetoyourprayers,Hewillneverlackthe“staff”togetthejobdone.

THELORDMYSHEPHERD

TheLORDismyshepherd;Ishallnotwant.Hemakesmetoliedowningreenpastures;Heleadsmebesidethestillwaters.Herestoresmysoul;HeleadsmeinthepathsofrighteousnessForHisname’ssake.Yea,thoughIwalkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,Iwillfearnoevil;ForYouarewithme;YourrodandYourstaff,theycomfortme.Youprepareatablebeforemeinthepresenceofmyenemies;Youanointmyheadwithoil;Mycuprunsover.SurelygoodnessandmercyshallfollowmeAllthedaysofmylife;AndIwilldwellinthehouseoftheLORDForever.

—PSALM23:1–6

Whenhebringsouthisownsheep,hegoesbeforethem;andthesheepfollowhim,fortheyknowhisvoice.

—JOHN10:4

David’s picture inPsalm23 of “TheLordMyShepherd”—JehovahRohi—is one of themostpoignantinScripture.ItrepresentstheGodwhoguidesyouandleadsyoutogreenpastures,stillwaters,andouttheothersideofthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath.Hearrangesthingssothatyourenemiesholdbanquets inyourhonor,anointsyouwithHisHolySpirit,andsendsgoodnessandmercyinhotpursuitofyou.ThroughprayeryougettoknowHisvoiceandthusHisguidance.AsOswaldChambersdescribedit:“WhenyouarerightlyrelatedtoGod,itisalifeoffreedomandlibertyanddelight,youareGod’swill,andallyourcommonsensedecisionsareHiswillforyouunlessHechecks.”3ItisaradicalrelationshipwithGodthatonlycomesthroughfriendshipwithGodatthe levelofAbraham,Moses,David,orPaul—all individualsdedicatedtointercessoryprayer.

GODOURRIGHTEOUSNESS

InHisdaysJudahwillbesaved,AndIsraelwilldwellsafely;NowthisisHisnamebywhichHewillbecalled:THELORDOURRIGHTEOUSNESS.

—JEREMIAH23:6

ForHemadeHimwhoknewnosintobesinforus,thatwemightbecometherighteousnessofGodinHim.

—2CORINTHIANS5:21

Thewordrighteoushasgottenabadrapovertheyears.Toomanynowbelieveitisdefinedbyalistofthingsweareagainstratherthanastateofbeing.Ithasbeenhijackedbythe“doersanddon’ters”oftheworldandturnedintojustificationofhatredforthemarginalizedoreventhewealthy.Ithasbecomethepropertyofpolitics,hiddenbelowthesurface,butepitomizedineveryspeech,book,orbroadcastabouthowourside is“right”andtheotherside isnot.This“right-eous-ness” isusedtimeandagaintodivide,manipulate,andexploit.Webecomecogsinanotherpieceofmachinerywheresomeoneelseispushingthebuttons.However, the true power of the word righteous is not in relationship to facts, truths, or

platforms,but it is inrelationship tootherpeopleandtoGod. Its foundationalprecept is inbeingrightwithGod—thequalityofbeinginrightrelationshipwithHimisrighteousness.Theproblemwefaceisthatitiseasiertobeinlinewith—or“right”with—astaticprinciplethanitistoberightwithalivingGod.Principlesofrightandwrongarelikelightswitches—theyareeitheronoroff;thingsareeithergoodorbad.Whilesinisbadandcorruptstheindividual,agoodGodhasthepowertolookatwhatisintheperson’slifeandoffertoforgiveitandbringthepersonbackinto“rightstanding”—backintorelationship.Itistheextensionofthescepterbythehighestjudgeinthelandtothepersonwhoentersthethroneroomwithoutpermission.It isn’t that He is blind to the offense, but in the face of the offense He chooses to grantpardonbecausethedebtoftheoffensehasalreadybeenpaid.There is no better example of “The Lord Our Righteousness”—Jehovah Tsidkenu in the

Hebrewlanguage—thanJesusChrist,whotookoursinuponHimself“thatwemightbecometherighteousnessofGodinHim”(2Cor.5:21).Thecurtainthatdividedtheholyofholieswasripped from top tobottom to show thatwewereno longer separated from thepresenceofGod.Jesus’ssacrificeonthecrossthrewopenthethroneroomofGodtoanywhowouldenter.RelationshipwithourFatherwasrestored.Butourrighteousnessisnotbaseduponourowndeeds,behavior,orbelievingtherightthings—itisbasedonwhatJesusdid.OnlyinHimarewerighteousandabletoenterthecourtofheaventopleadourcasebeforetheultimateKingand judge. Thus God is our righteousness; He Himself is the reason we can approach thethrone,andHeistheultimaterightanswertowhateverquestionisbeingasked.

THELORDISPRESENT

Allthewayaroundshallbeeighteenthousandcubits;andthenameofthecityfromthatdayshallbe:THELORDISTHERE.

—EZEKIEL48:35

Letyourconductbewithoutcovetousness;becontentwithsuchthingsasyouhave.ForHeHimselfhassaid,“Iwillneverleaveyounorforsakeyou.”Sowemayboldlysay:“TheLORD ismyhelper; Iwillnot fear.Whatcanmando tome?”

—HEBREWS13:5–6

ThenameJehovahShammahspeaksnotjustofGod’somnipresencebutalsoHisproximitytoeveryquestionathand.Theabovepassage inEzekiel speaksofa futurecity thatwouldbenamed“TheLordIsThere”torepresentthatthepresenceofGodwouldalwaysbeinthatcity.However,centurieslaterAugustinetooktheterm“CityofGod”torepresentnotaplacebutapeople.Hecontrastedthe“CityofGod”upontheearthwiththe“CityofMan”toexpresstheways of God versus the ways of the world. Thus it was the people who welcomed andembracedthepresenceofGodversusthosewhorejecteditandwantedtogotheirownway.WhileinGod’spresencethereishealing,freedom,andwholeness,toooftenweforgetitis

alsoaplaceof conviction,heartbreak,and refining. Justasanathlete “feels theburn” thatcutsawaythefatandbuildsmuscle,sobeinginthepresenceofGodburnsawaythecancerofsintobuildourspiritualaptitudesandabilities.Goingintothatplaceofintercessionissimilartogoingtothegymforourhumanspirits.Thereisaplacewhereyou“feeltheburn”anditfeelsgood,butatthesametimeyouknowthereare“unwantedpounds”thatarebeingburnedawayintheprocess.Intheprocesswe:

. . . layasideeveryweight,andthesinwhichsoeasilyensnaresus,and. . .run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, theauthor and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Himenduredthecross,despisingtheshame,andhassatdownattherighthandof

thethroneofGod.

—HEBREWS12:1–2

IfwewouldbutdevelopasenseofthepresenceofGodwithusatalltimes,whereverwego,wewouldinfactbecomeradicalagentsofGod’schange.Certainlymostofusknowwhatitisliketobe inchurchandfeel thepresenceofGod,butwhatabout inourworkplaces, inourhomes, or walking through our communities? God is no less there than He is at church.Perhaps it is not what God is doing that needs to change, but what we are doing. This iscertainlyoneareawherewehavetotakeGodatHisname.

INHISNAME

SowhydoesGodgiveusallthesedifferentnames?BecauseitisHisintenttobeallofthesethings to you andme—provision, presence, power,might, healing, guidance, right-standing,peace,help, sanctification, and victory.AndHe is the judgewhopresidesover the court ofheaven.Whenwe approachHim,Godwants us to seeHim forwhoHe is—understandHisidentity—andnotfocusonourownshortcomingsorneeds.Itenablesustotakeoureyesofftheproblemandfixtheminsteadonthesolution.Doyouorsomeoneyouknowneedfinancialhelp or guidance? Seek Jehovah Jireh. Do you or someone you know need healing? SeekJehovahRophe.Doyouknowsomeonewhoneedsavictoryintheirlives?SeekJehovahNissi.Afterall,itisGodweneedtogetaholdof,notjustwhatHecanprovide.I believe this is why Jesus told us to pray in His name—because His name carries the

authorityofHisFather,and,asHeput it,“HewhohasseenMehasseentheFather” (John14:9).ItisthroughJesuswearegiventherighttoapproachGod,forHeistheonewhomadeusrightwithGod.HewantsustobeHisfruitfulrepresentativesontheearth.AsHetoldHisdisciples:

Ichoseyouandappointedyouthatyoushouldgoandbearfruit,andthatyourfruitshouldremain,thatwhateveryouasktheFatherinMynameHemaygiveyou.

—JOHN15:16

If anything, get rid of any idea thatGod is a cantankerous oldman sitting onHis thronelookingforpeopletopunish.Godsimplyisn’tthatkindofajudge.Heislookingforpeopletovindicate.He is looking for people inwhomHe can showHimself strong.Faith is based atleastpartiallyonknowing“He isarewarderof thosewhodiligentlyseekHim”(Heb.11:6).Andletmetellyou,thatisexactlywhointercessorsare:diligentseekersofGod.So,nowthatyouknowwhoHeis,howshouldyou,asEstherdid,prepareyourselftoenter

intoHisthroneroom?

THREE

DRESSEDFORSUCCESSClothedinRighteousness

IwillgreatlyrejoiceintheLORD,mysoulshallbejoyfulinmyGod;forHehasclothedmewiththegarmentsofsalvation,Hehas

coveredmewiththerobeofrighteousness,asabridegroomdeckshimselfwithornaments,and

asabrideadornsherselfwithherjewels.

ISAIAH61:10

TheHolyGhostdoesnotflowthroughmethods,butthroughmen.Hedoesnotcome

onmachinery,butonmen.Hedoesnotanointplans,butmen—menofprayer.1

E.M.BOUNDS

OneplusGodequalsamajority.

AUTHORUNKNOWN

THEREISSOMETHINGtomakingaformalentrance.WhenEstherdressedtocomebeforeKingAhasuerus, she wasn’t just dressing up for a romantic dinner at home, as unusual as thatmightbe.No,shewaspreparingherselfasanambassadorabouttospeaktoakingonbehalfof her people. In preparation, she didn’t just pick out her best gown and make sure hermakeupwasright.Shefastedandprayedthreedaysbeforeshewentin.Shecameinwithaplanofaction.Shewaswillingtolavishsomuchtimeonthekingthathewouldaskherwhather petitionwas rather than having to present it herself. Shewas not going to be denied.Everywileshehadwouldbeemployedinseeingthatherpetitionwasgranted.Itisnothardtoseethatthisisverydifferentfromhowmostofusapproachprayertoday.

ThereisnoquestionthatGodwantsustocometoHimdaily,justasweare,butthereisalsosomething to be said for coming to prayer with a long-range plan and entering like adiplomatic ambassador or an attorney representing a client. Those who have the mostsuccessfulandfulfillingprayerlivesarenotthosewhoprayonlywhensomeproblemcomesup.Forthem,tobealiveistopray.ThegreatreformerMartinLuthersaiditthisway,“TobeaChristianwithout prayer is nomore possible than to be alivewithout breathing.”2 AndrewMurraywrote,“Prayeristhepulseoflife;byitthedoctorcantellwhatistheconditionoftheheart.”3PrayerisnotsomethingweaddontoourChristianity;itandScripturearetheprimaryrootsbywhichourChristianity is real.Howcanwehopetodo thewillofheaven ifwearenever incommunicationwith it?HowarewetoobeyGod ifwecannotdecipherwhatHe isspeakingtous?Intercessionisthedogged,persistenttypeofprayerthatcomesbeforetheFathertimeand

againuntilanassuranceoftheansweriswoninthespirit.Itisaformalpetitionthathasanofficial bearing. It canbe a continuedassault—praying and fasting through thenight—or itcanbeasiegeofheaventhathappensdayafterday,weekafterweek,yearafteryearuntilGodHimselfimpressesonyouthatthematteristakencareof,whetherithasmanifesteditselfinthenaturalyetornot.AccordingtoprayerwarriorReesHowells, intercession ismadeupof three things: (1)an

intense identificationwith those you are interceding for, (2) the agony of staying in prayeruntil thebattle iswonand releasecomes into the intercessor’s spirit, and (3) theauthoritythat is won when the “intercession is gained.”4 The highest example of this identificationcomesinhowJesuscametoearthasahumanbeing.Hewasbornavulnerable,fragileinfantandwentontopay forhumanity’ssinwitheveryblowandeverystripeof the lashHetookfrom the Roman soldiers, only then to face agony of the cross. At any timeHe could havecalled legionsofangels to rescueHim,butHedidnot.Therewasagreaterpurpose toHisincarnation.He stayed human to the very end— stayed in intercession—and suffered everywoundinourplaceuntil“itwasfinished.”Moses did the same thingwhenhe prayed, offeringhimself in the place of the people of

Israel,standingbetweenthemandthejudgmenttheydeserved:

ThenMosesreturnedtotheLORDandsaid,“Oh,thesepeoplehavecommittedagreatsin,andhavemadeforthemselvesagodofgold!Yetnow,ifYouwillforgivetheirsin—but ifnot, Ipray,blotmeoutofYourbookwhichYouhavewritten.”

—EXODUS32:31–32

NowthatJesushaspaidforsin,ourintercessionisinthespiritandtoagreewiththecrossthatthedebthasalreadybeenpaidforinfull.WehavebuttostanduntilthelightofChristbreaksthroughinanygivensituation.TheJesusofthecross—theJesuswhotooksinonheadfirst—isnotthesamepictureofJesus

thatwegetwhenHetells thedisciplesto let the littlechildrencometoHim:“Let the littlechildren come tome and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven”(Matt. 19:14, ESV). No, instead, this is a Jesus dreadful to evil and fully understanding thecorrupting power of sin. Oswald Chambers described this uncomfortable, uncompromisingChristinthisway:

There isanaspectof Jesusthatchills theheartofadiscipletothecoreandmakes the whole spiritual life gasp for breath. This strange Beingwith HisfacesetlikeaflintandHisstridingdeterminationstrikesterrorintome.Heis

nolongerCounselorandComrade,HeistakenupwithapointofviewIknownothing about, and I am amazed at Him. At first I was confident that Iunderstood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize there is adistancebetweenJesusChristandme;IcannolongerbefamiliarwithHim.He is ahead of me and He never turns round; I have no idea where He isgoing,andthegoalhasbecomestrangelyfaroff.Jesus Christ had to fathom every sin and every sorrow man could

experience,andthat iswhatmakesHimseemstrange.WhenweseeHiminthisaspectwedonotknowHim,wedonotrecognizeonefeatureofhis life,andwedonotknowhowtobeginto followHim.Heison infront,aLeaderwhoisverystrange,andwehavenocomradeshipwithHim.5

ThisdoesnotmeanourfriendshipwithChristinnullified,onlythatwedonotrecognizethisdreadfulSavior inournormal, everydayChristianity.This is a Jesus verydifferent from theoneweusuallyhearabout inchurch.This is theChristwho is jealous for thepeopleof theearth, the One who sits night and day beside the Father in heaven and intercedes for theearth.ThisistheChristweemulateinprayer—ourfacessetlikeflinttostandforothers,fearinspiringinourintensity,relentlessonthepowersofdarkness.D.L.Moodysaiditthisway,“PrayermeansthatIamtoberaisedupintofeeling,intounionanddesignwithHim;thatIamtoenterintoHiscounsel,andcarryoutHispurposefully.”6

THEARMOROFPRAYER

InthelastchapterofEphesiansPaulinstructsthatweneedtoenterintoprayerforothersasifgoingtobattle.Wearetobedressedinthearmorofourfaith.Hetellsus:

Finally,mybrethren,bestrongintheLordandinthepowerofHismight.PutonthewholearmorofGod,thatyoumaybeabletostandagainstthewilesofthedevil....ThereforetakeupthewholearmorofGod,thatyoumaybeabletowithstandintheevilday,andhavingdoneall,tostand.

—EPHESIANS6:10–11,13

Thenhegoesontodescribeeachofthedifferentcomponentsofthatarmor:

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on thebreastplateofrighteousness,andhavingshodyourfeetwiththepreparationofthegospelofpeace;aboveall,takingtheshieldoffaithwithwhichyouwillbeabletoquenchallthefierydartsofthewickedone.Andtakethehelmetofsalvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; prayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,beingwatchfultothisendwithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallthesaints.

—EPHESIANS6:14–18

Whenwecometoprayer,truthiswhatwearewrappedinandwhatholdsthepiecesofourarmor inplace.The truth thatweare rightwithGod through theatoningsacrificeof JesusChristiswhatprotectsourheartsfromdoubtandindecisiveness.Everywherewewalk,wearetorememberthatourpurposeistheshalompeacethatGodchoseasHisownname.Faithiswhatprotectsusfromthecounterattacksoftheenemyandbehindwhichwechargeforwardinthefaceoffear.TheswordwewieldisthepromisesoftheWordofGod,fortheyarethelawsandpreceptsofthekingdomofheavenbywhichwetellthecourtofheavenwehavearighttoreceivewhateverweareasking.Clad likethis,wearereadytofaceanybattlefrontandcalldownthelightofheaventomakechange.And,aswewrapourselvesinthesethings,westarttobecomejustwhoGodputusontheearthtobe:Hisrepresentativesontheearth,reflectionsinwordanddeedofHisSon.InthispassageinEphesiansPaulevenuseslanguagefromtheBookofIsaiahthatwasspokenaboutthecomingMessiah,Jesus:

ThentheLORDsawit,anditdispleasedHimThattherewasnojustice.Hesawthattherewasnoman,Andwonderedthattherewasnointercessor;

ThereforeHisownarmbroughtsalvationforHim;AndHisownrighteousness,itsustainedHim.ForHeputonrighteousnessasabreastplate,AndahelmetofsalvationonHishead;Heputonthegarmentsofvengeanceforclothing,Andwascladwithzealasacloak....“TheRedeemerwillcometoZion,AndtothosewhoturnfromtransgressioninJacob,”SaystheLORD.

—ISAIAH59:15–17,20

Asarule,wegrosslyunderestimatethepowerofourprayersforothers.Godcallsusintothe dance and dialogue of intercession, becauseHe is looking for partners on the earth toreachoutandsavethoseHelovesontheearth,standingbetweenthemandcatastrophe.HewantssonsanddaughtersontheearthafterthelikenessoftheincarnateChrist.Jesus,afterall,“alwayslivestomakeintercession”(Heb.7:25).IfwestrivetobelikeHim,shouldn’twealso be interceding? When we truly “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), we must also put onintercession, because that is what He does day and night. It is, after all, the foundationalpower for bringing change out of the spirit into our physicalworld. It is thework of everybeliever.ItisthekeytotheexpansionofthekingdomofGod.Anditisthefoundationofalifeworthliving.Notonly that,butyoucan’tmakesuchpetitionsofheavenwithoutresolveandwithout it

changing you. In his book With Christ in the School of Prayer Andrew Murray calledintercessoryprayer“faith’straining-school.”Hegoesontosay:

ThereourfriendshipwithmenandwithGodistested.Thereitisseenwhethermyfriendshipwiththeneedyissoreal,thatIwilltaketimeandsacrificemyrest,will go even atmidnight and not cease until I have obtained for themwhatIneed.ThereitisseenwhethermyfriendshipwithGodissoclear,thatIcandependonHimnottoturnmeawayandthereforeprayonuntilHegives.Owhatadeepheavenlymysterythisisofperseveringprayer.TheGodwho

haspromised,wholongs,whosefixedpurposeitistogivetheblessing,holdsitback.ItistoHimamatterofsuchdeepimportancethatHisfriendsonearthshouldknowandfullytrusttheirrichFriendinheaven,thatHetrainsthem,intheschoolofanswerdelayed, to findouthowtheirperseverancereallydoesprevail,andwhatthemightypoweristheycanwieldinheaven,iftheydobutset themselvesto it.There isa faith thatsees thepromise,andembraces it,andyetdoesnot receive it (Heb.xi.13,39). It iswhen theanswer toprayerdoesnotcome,andthepromisewearemostfirmlytrustingappearstobeofnoneeffect,thatthetrialoffaith,morepreciousthanofgold,takesplace.Itisin this trial that the faith that has embraced the promise is purified andstrengthenedandpreparedinpersonal,holyfellowshipwiththelivingGod,toseethegloryofGod.Ittakesandholdsthepromiseuntil ithasreceivedthefulfillment of what it had claimed in a living truth in the unseen but livingGod.7

This isno trivialmatter.Even ifwecome to intercession thesamesecondwehearof theneedofanother,wemustputonthemind-setoffaiththatsaysourwordswilldomorethanjustsendvibrationsintotheair.WemustrecognizethatwehaveaplacebeforethethroneofGod and a right to be there. We must recognize there are promises of God that apply—spirituallawsthatcanbereliedupontobringhelpinthetimeofneed.Andyoumust,justasEstherdid,comewiththeresolvethatyouwillnotbedenied—afterall,youhaveGod’sWordonit.

FOUR

“WHAT’SNEXT,PAPA?”TheAdventureofPrayerintheSpirit

God’sSpiritbeckons.Therearethingstodoandplacestogo!ThisresurrectionlifeyoureceivedfromGodisnotatimid,grave-tendinglife.It’sadventurouslyexpectant,greetingGodwitha

childlike“What’snext,Papa?”God’sSpirittouchesourspiritsandconfirmswhowereallyare.

ROMANS8:14–16,THEMESSAGE

Godcanworkwondersifhecangetasuitableman.MencanworkwondersiftheycangetGodtoleadthem.Thefullendowmentofthe

spiritthatturnedtheworldupsidedownwouldbeeminentlyusefulintheselatterdays.MenwhocanstirthingsmightilyforGod,whose

spiritualrevolutionschangethewholeaspectofthings,aretheuniversalneedofthechurch.1

E.M.BOUNDS

INTHETHIRDandfourthchaptersof theBookofGalatiansPaul talksaboutwhat itmeanstogrowupinChrist,goingfromachildtutoredbythedosanddon’tsoftheScripturestowardan adult who lives in grace by faith as God’s own cherished son or daughter.We were inguardianshipoftheLawaswegrewup,butaswebecameadults,wefoundwecouldrelatetoGodforourselves,nottossingthelawsofGodasidebutinsteadbeingabletogostraighttotheirsourceinthepresenceofourFather.Whenachild isyoung,rightandwrongareveryblackandwhite;atthatstageoflifeitisreallyallourmindscancomprehend.Athingeitherisor it isn’t; the light is either on or it’s off. But aswe grow up, ourminds become open tonuances,andanunderstandingof theLawdeepensourperspectives. It isnot that theLawchanges,butwebegintounderstandthepurposeoftheLawandthespiritbehindit.Wecanplace it inrelationshipwithother lawsandderive fromthemasenseof livingbythemthatgoesbeyondwhattheyliterallytellustodoorwhattheyeachmeanontheirown.Insteadoflivingbyalegalcodeoffulfillingthe“letter”oftheLaw,webegintoplugintothe“spirit”ofwhatGodissayingtousthroughHisWord.AsPaulputit:

The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might bejustified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under aguardian,forinChristJesusyouareallsonsofGod,throughfaith.

—GALATIANS3:24–26,ESV

Sonsanddaughtersdiffer fromorphans in that theyknowtheirparentsandcanrelate tothem.Faith inwhatJesusdid—thatHeatonedforoursinandgaveus“rightstanding”withGodonceagainsothatwecouldbeinHispresenceandconversewithHimthroughprayer—puts us in connection with our Father. Grace covers the deficit between whatever badmistakeswehavemade in thepastandour relationshipwithGod.This is theplaceof truefreedom.OrasPaulgoesontosay:

Theheir,aslongasheisachild,isnodifferentfromaslave,thoughheistheownerofeverything,buthe isunderguardiansandmanagersuntil thedatesetbyhisfather.Inthesamewaywealso,whenwewerechildren[immature],wereenslavedtotheelementaryprinciplesoftheworld.Butwhenthefullnessoftimehadcome,GodsentforthhisSon...toredeemthosewhowereunderthelaw,sothatwemightreceiveadoptionassons.Andbecauseyouaresons,GodhassenttheSpiritofhisSonintoourhearts,crying,“Abba!Father!”Soyouarenolongeraslave,butason,andifason,thenanheirthroughGod.

—GALATIANS4:1–7,ESV

Whenweareimmature,welookatScriptureasabookofdosanddon’ts,andwelivebya“code” of Christianity. It is a religion, in that it is our own understanding ofwhat to do topursue God and how to act in order to please Him. Religion is thus humanity, in our ownwisdom,reachingouttowardGodthebestthatwecan.Inandofitselfthisisnotalwaysabadthing—itisonewaysincerepeoplepursueGodasbesttheycan—butifweneverallowGodtobreathe into our religion His way of reaching out toward humanity, it is often more of astumbling block than a help. For years John Wesley fumbled after God in just this way,creatinghisown“methods”forpursuingGodasheunderstoodfromchurchtraditionandtheBible,butthenonedaywhileattendingaMoraviansocietymeeting,wheretheywerereadingfrom Martin Luther’s preface to the Book of Romans, the revelation of God’s method ofreachingouttohumanitytouchedhisheart,andashedescribedit,hefelthis“heartstrangelywarmed.” As he expounded upon this feeling, “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, forsalvation;andanassurancewasgivenmethatHehadtakenawaymysins,evenmine,andsaved me from the law of sin and death.”2 Until that point John had lived under theguardianship of his disciplines in seeking God, but his lack of genuine connection was acontinual stumbling block.However,when his disciplined habitswere breathed on byGod,things changed quickly. Within a matter of a few years—months really— John was at thecenter of one of the greatest times of societal change theworld has ever experienced: theGreatAwakening.

IalsoreallylikehowEugenePetersonparaphrasesthelastcoupleofversesofthispassage:

You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own childrenbecause God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa!Father!”Doesn’tthatprivilegeofintimateconversationwithGodmakeitplainthatyouarenotaslave,butachild?Andifyouareachild,you’realsoanheir,withcompleteaccesstotheinheritance.

—GALATIANS4:6–7,THEMESSAGE

MaturingfromasimpleseekerofGodandfollowerofHisdirectives,webecomechildreninrelationship to Him who have the “privilege of intimate conversation with God” throughprayer.WecangotoHimandsay,“Dad,Ihaveaquestion,”or“Dad,canyouhelpmewiththisforaminute?”BeingrightwithHimallowsustoconversewithHimaboutthemostprivateorcomplexofissues.CanwereallyaffordtolaythatprivilegeasideandnotregularlyenterHisthroneroomwithwhateverconcernwemighthave?Shouldweneglectouraccesstoheavenandtheauthorityandprivilegesthatgowiththatforthedistractionsofthisworld?Thisistheresponsibilityofintercession,butitisalsojustthefirstglimpseoftherealadventureofit.

THETHREEWORKSOFGRACE

Grace isoneof themostpowerful concepts in theBible, andwhilemanyofushaveaverygood understanding of the first work of grace, not enough of us understand its other two.Many of us practice themwithout realizing it, but I think to understand all of grace is tounderstandintercession.ItisalsotobecatapultingintothetypeoflifeGodreallywantsforus—alifeoftransformation,power,andabundance.ThefirstworkofgraceiswhatwereceivewhenwecometoChrist inthefirstplace.It is

powerfulbeyondmeasure. Itdeliversus fromwhatevermesswehavegottenourselves intothathasforcedalienationfromGodandbackintorightstandingwithHim.Itisthisworkofgrace thatovercomesallof thesin inour livesandopens the linesbetweenusandheavenonce again. It delivers the sinner to the foot of the cross by nothing more than that weacceptedJesusasourLordandSavior,givingourlivestoHim.Itisgracethatsavesusfromourselvesandourbaddecisions.AsPaulputit:

Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith,andthatnotofyourselves;itisthegiftofGod,notofworks,lestanyoneshouldboast.

—EPHESIANS2:8–9

It is thiswork of grace that delivers us through thegate of the kingdomofGod intoHisrealm.Wehavecrossedthethresholdfromdarknessintolight.WehavesignedournamestothewritofadoptionHefreelyofferstobecomeHischild.Thisfirstworkofgraceismarvelousandpowerful,buttoofewrealizethatthisdeliverance

fromdarknessandseparationfromGodisnotallgracehastoofferus.ToomanyChristianslive in a cycle of this grace alone, stumbling back and forth between sin and salvation,darkness and light, separation fromGod and reunitingwithHim. I don’tmean losing yoursalvationandgettingitbackagain—whatIamsayingisthatwehavethistendencytofalloutofcommunionwithGodbecauseofourchoices,andthenreturntoHim,rededicateourlivestoHim,andreturn to relatingwithHimonceagain.However, then,becauseweknow littleelse,wethenstumbleback intosinagain, feelseparatedfromHimandpowerless,until thenexttimewefeeltheemotionalsurgeofHisloveandpresencetothengiveourselvestoHimonemoretime.Itisacyclethedevilloves—Christianwhoare“saved”inaneternalsensebutwhodoverylittledamagetohiskingdomontheearth.Soldierswithpowerfulweaponsbutnoammunition.Apeoplewithbigdreams,butnoplan

ofactiontoaccomplishthem.Apeoplewhoarerighteousintheeyesofheavenbutwhofailtoexerciseheaven’sauthorityupontheearth.ButifwelookatthenextverseinthispassageongraceinEphesians,weseethenextwork

ofgrace:

ForweareHisworkmanship, created inChrist Jesus forgoodworks,whichGodpreparedbeforehandthatweshouldwalkinthem.

—EPHESIANS2:10

Yousee,thesecondworkofgraceistheabilitytobecomewhoGoddesignedustobe.Vine’sExpositoryDictionaryaddsthisdefinitionofgracetothesavinggracethatdeliversusfromsinbackintorelationshipwithGod.Accordingtoit,graceisalso:

...thespiritualstateofthosewhohaveexperienceditsexercise,whether(1)a state of “grace,” . . . or (2) a proof thereof in practical effects, deeds of“grace,” . . . (the sum of earthly blessings); the power and equipment forministry.3

Whenitsaysministryhere,itisnotjusttalkingaboutpastors,missionaries,andthosewhoworkfull-timeforachurchor“ministry”;itmeansanythingthatistheworkofmanifestingthekingdomofheavenontheearth.ItisthesecondworkofgracethatenableseveryChristiantodoGod’swill.IntheNewLivingTranslationthe“workmanship”inEphesians2:10isinsteadtranslated“masterpiece.”Ithinkthatsaysalot.

WeareGod’smasterpiece.HehascreatedusanewinChristJesus,sowecandothegoodthingsheplannedforuslongago.

—EPHESIANS2:10,NLT

This talks about us as a “masterpiece” created by God to perform a great work He hadplannedforustoaccomplishfromthebeginningoftime.TheBookofRomansisfullofreferencestothis.Lookatthisexample:

Goddecidedonthiscourseofactioninfullviewofthepublic—tosettheworldintheclearwithhimself throughthesacrificeof Jesus, finally takingcareofthesinshehadsopatientlyendured.Thisisnotonlyclear,butit’snow—thisiscurrenthistory!Godsetsthingsright.Healsomakesitpossibleforustoliveinhisrightness.

—ROMANS3:25–26,THEMESSAGE

Bothofthefirsttwoworksareillustratedinthispassage:

1.Godsetsthingsright.

2.HemakesitpossibleforustoliveinHisrightness.

I believe the difference between the form of Christianity that stumbles back and forthbetweenthewaysofthisworldandregainingfellowshipwithGodandtheformofChristianitythatisactivelyworkingHisgoodupontheearthisaconsistent,disciplinedprayerlife.Howare we to do God’s will without downloading His plans and strategies from heaven on aregularbasis?HowarewetobeHisrepresentativesontheearthwithoutdailybuildingHischaracteristics into our lives in the “workout room” of the Holy Spirit?Wemust have Hiswisdom,attributes,andknowledgeofHisspecificwill foranysituation ifweare toseeHisplanswalkedoutintheworldaroundus.CharlesFinneytalkedaboutthisfunctionofprayerasameansintothemindofChrist:

Themorewepray,themoreshallwebeenlightened,forsurelytheyaremostenlightenedwhopraymost. Ifwegono farther indivine things thanhumanreasoncancarryus,wegetlittleindeedfromGod.Themoremenpray,themoretheywill loveprayer,andthemorewill they

enjoyGod.Ontheotherhand,themorewepray—inrealprayer—themorewillGoddelightinus.ObservethiswhichIsay:Delight;themorewillGodtrulyDELIGHTinus.Thisisnotmerelytheloveofbenevolence,forGodisbenevolenttoall;but

HedelightsinHisprayingchildreninthesenseofhavingcomplacencyintheircharacter. The Bible often speaks of the great interest which God takes inthosewholivenearHiminmuchprayer.Thisisnaturallyandnecessarilythecase.WhyshouldnotGoddelightinthosewhodelightinHim?Themorewepray,themoreGodlovestomanifesttoothersthatHedelights

in us, and hears our prayers. If His children live lives ofmuch prayer, Goddelights tohonour them,asanencouragement toothers topray.Theycomeinto a position in whichHe can bless them and canmakeHis blessings onthemresult ingoodtoothers—thusdoublygratifyingthebenevolenceofHisheart.4

So,ifyouwerethinkingofthisonacontinuum,thefirstactofprayertakesyoufromwhereyouwere insinbeforeknowingGodback intorelationship—or“rightstanding”—withHim.Thesecondworkofgrace is for thepersonback inrelationshipwithHimtocommunewithHiminprayer,getHisplansandstrategiesforhisorherlife,andwalkthemoutontheearth.ThismeansgoingfromtheplaceofreunitingwithHimthroughsalvationtowardfulfillingHispurpose for your life. This secondwork is the path of holiness beforeGod.Webecome theperson God always intended us to be: perfect—think “mature, grown up”—in His sight,walkingoutHiswill,expandingHiskingdom.Sowhatisthethirdworkofgrace?ThatisthegraceofGodweextendtoothers.Forsome,

thatmeansweofferthemthegracethatfirstsavedus.Forothers,thatmeanshelpingthemfrom thegatewayof the kingdomofGod toward theheart of it—helping them realize theirpurposesandwalkinthem.Italsomeanswelivealifeofgrace,constantlyextendinggrace,just as Jesus did when He walked the earth. We are not easily offended—which is one ofSatan’smostpowerfulstumblingblocks—weeasilygotheextramilewhenwefeelledto,andwe live in the shalom peace of partnershipwithGod and others.Wedon’t get preoccupiedwith titles or positions, we honor all people as works in progress along the way towardbecoming “God’s masterpieces,” and we are living, breathing gospel letters to the peoplearoundus,writtenbyGod’sownhand.Thisisthelifeofanintercessorwhonotonlypracticesthese things in a “prayer closet” but also walks them out continually throughout the day,effectively“prayingwithoutceasing.”AsJohnWesleydescribedthis:

God’scommandtopraywithoutceasingisfoundedonthenecessitywehaveofhisgracetopreservethelifeofGodinthesoul,whichcannomoresubsistonemomentwithoutit,thanthebodycanwithoutair.Whetherwethinkof,orspeakto,God,whetherweactorsufferforhim,all

is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire ofpleasinghim.All thataChristiandoes,even ineatingandsleeping, isprayer,when it is

doneinsimplicity,accordingtotheorderofGod,withouteitheraddingtoordiminishingfromitbyhisownchoice.Prayer continues in the desire of the heart, though the understanding be

employedonoutwardthings.Insoulsfilledwithlove,thedesiretopleaseGodisacontinualprayer.AsthefurioushatewhichtheDevilbearsusistermedtheroaringofalion,

soourvehementlovemaybetermed,cryingafterGod.5

Thus I believe the highest form of living for God is birthed in intercession, prayingconstantlyforthethingsGodhasputonourheartsforourselvesandothers,butalsowithaneverexpectantopennesstoGodthatsaysconstantly,“What’snext,Papa?”ItistheGod-lifeasJesusHimselfdescribedit:

EmbracethisGod-life.Reallyembraceit,andnothingwillbetoomuchforyou.Thismountain, for instance: Just say, “Go jump in the lake”—no shufflingorshilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’swhy I urge you to pray forabsolutelyeverything,rangingfromsmalltolarge.IncludeeverythingasyouembracethisGod-life,andyou’llgetGod’severything.

—MARK11:22–24,THEMESSAGE

Ibelievethissets thestage forourentering into thepresenceofGodto intercede justasEstherdidbeforeherkingandhusband.Nowthatwebetterunderstandhowtoenterin,whatwillbeourplanofattackoncewegetthere?

PARTTWO

THEDISCIPLINEOFINTERCESSION

Prayerhasfailed.Weareonslipperyground.Onlyintercessionwillavail.Godiscallingfor

intercessors—menandwomenwhowilllaytheirlivesonthealtartofightthedevil,asreallyastheywouldhavetofightontheWesternFront.1

—REESHOWELLS,

inanaddresstothestudentbodyonMarch29,1936,asHitlerbegan

toflexhismilitarypower

FIVE

FIRSTOFALLThoseinAuthority

ThefirstthingIwantyoutodoispray.Prayeverywayyouknowhow,foreveryoneyouknow.Prayespeciallyforrulersandtheirgovernmentsto

rulewellsowecanbequietlyaboutourbusinessoflivingsimply,inhumblecontemplation.This

isthewayourSaviorGodwantsustolive.

1TIMOTHY2:1–3,THEMESSAGE

Scripturecallsustoprayformanythings:forallsaints;forallmen;forkingsandallrulers;forallwhoareinadversity;forthesendingforth

oflabourers;forthosewholabourinthegospel;forallconverts;forbelieverswhohavefallen

intosin;foroneanotherinourownimmediatecircles.TheChurchisnowsomuchlargerthan

whentheNewTestamentwaswritten;thenumberofformsofworkandworkersissomuchgreater;theneedsoftheChurchandtheworldaresomuchbetterknown,thatweneedtotaketimeandthoughttoseewhereprayerisneeded,

andtowhatourheartismostdrawnout.1

ANDREWMURRAY

THERE IS NO question that entering into deep intercession does not happen without adisciplinedprayer life. Prayingwithout ceasingdoesnot completely cover this.While therewillbetimeswewillenterintercessiononaspur-of-the-momentprompting,mostintercessionwilltakeplaceintimesofregular,premeditated,habitualprayer.Withprayersuchanimportantpartofourfaith,itissomewhatsurprisinghowlittleactual

instructionwegetonprayerintheScriptures.Ithinkabigpartofthisisthattheschoolofprayer isprayer itself.AsCharlesSpurgeononcesaid,“Prayuntilyoucanreallypray.”It issomethingyoulearntodobydoingmorethanbybeinginstructedindoing.Youlearntowalkthe“way”or“path”ofprayerasIdiscussedinthesecondchapterofmybookTheArtofWarforSpiritualBattle.WhileIstillbelieveinstructiononprayercanbeveryvaluable—orelse,ofcourse,Iwouldn’twritebooksonthetopic—Ithinktheinstructionmakeslittlesenseuntilyouhavearegular,dedicatedtimeofprayeryoupracticeinyourdailylife.At the same time, the Scriptures do have some rather important things to say about the

practiceofprayer.IntheGospelsJesusgivesustheLord’sPrayer—whichiswhatwecallit,butinfact,itisreallythe“disciple’sprayer”asHegivesittousforourprayerlives,notforHis.2Whilerepeatingthatprayerfrommemoryisgood,Ithinkitisevenbettertouseitasanoutline for Holy Spirit–led prayer. In that light we enter prayer with praise and worship,“hallowing”thenameoftheFather.Orasthepsalmistdescribedit:

EnterintoHisgateswiththanksgiving,AndintoHiscourtswithpraise.

—PSALM100:4

Thesecondpartofthatprayertellsustopray:

Yourkingdomcome.YourwillbedoneOnearthasitisinheaven.

—MATTHEW6:10

I believe it is this part of our regular prayer times that Paul discusses and explains in 1Timothy:

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the propheciespreviously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the goodwarfare,havingfaithandagoodconscience....ThereforeIexhortfirstofallthatsupplications,prayers,intercessions,and

givingof thanksbemade forallmen, forkingsandallwhoare inauthority,thatwemayleadaquietandpeaceablelifeinallgodlinessandreverence.ForthisisgoodandacceptableinthesightofGodourSavior,whodesiresallmentobesavedandtocometotheknowledgeofthetruth.

—1TIMOTHY1:18–19;2:1–4

IfinditquiteinterestingthatPaulandJesusagreethatourfirstpriorityinprayerisnottogo through our prayer list of personal sins, needs, and concerns, but to first take a globalperspectiveofprayingforgovernments,economies,andoursocieties,ormorespecifically,thepeoplewhoimpactthemthemost.Weareinstructedtoprayforpresidents,kings,andotherleaders,“thatwemayleadaquietandpeaceable life inallgodlinessandreverence.”Whenourleadershipisright,thehindrancestothemanifestationofthekingdomofGodontheeartharegreatlyreduced.Greatthingshappenwhenweliveinagodlysocietygovernedbygodlyleaders.In the United States we have fallen into the trap of thinking that our power to vote is

greaterthanourpower inprayer.Toomanysavetheirseasonofprayer forelectionseason,praying thatwewill get the rightpeopleorparty intooffice; thenwe judge the successorfailureofourprayersbasedonwhetherourcandidateswonornot.Iftheydid,wecelebrate;iftheydidn’t,wethinkourprayersfailed.However,didyouknowtherewereChristiansinthe

otherpartywhowereprayingfortheircandidatesinthesameway?Ouropinionisoftenthattheyweresimplywrongormisunderstoodthetrueissues,butIthinkweareallmissingthepointifwefeelthatway.Whileprayingatelectiontimesisagoodthing,wearemakingabigmistake if that is theonly timewearepraying forourgovernment.The truth is,weshouldactuallybeprayingmorebetweenelectionsthanweprayforthem.NotethatPauldoesn’ttellusheretopraythattherightpeoplecomeintoleadership.The

reason for this is, no matter who is elected, regardless of their character, their politicalprinciples, or their religious beliefs, they are going to face challenging decisions, vyinginfluencesfromdiverse,conflictingfactions,andtemptationsgreaterthannormalcitizenswilleveryface.AsSpider-Mansays,“Withgreatpowercomesgreatresponsibility.”3Ontheotherhand, as Lord John Acton put it, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corruptsabsolutely.Greatmenarealmostalwaysbadmen.”4Whetherweelect“good”peopleornot,whetherweelectthe“right”peopleornot,theyaregoingtofacecorruptinginfluences.Theydon’tneedourprayersasmuch toget themelectedas theydo tokeep them—orget themonto—therightpathsthatwillallowallintheirgovernanceto“leadaquietandpeaceablelifeinallgodlinessandreverence.”Thisissoimportant,GodeventoldusHimself:

IfMypeoplewhoarecalledbyMynamewillhumblethemselves,andprayandseekMyface,andturnfromtheirwickedways,thenIwillhearfromheaven,andwillforgivetheirsinandhealtheirland.

—2CHRONICLES7:14

Becauseofthis,Godputsprayerforourgovernmentleadersatthetopofourprayerlists,then for our spiritual leaders, and only then for our families, friends, and loved ones. Thisoverarchingapproachalsohelpsusloveothersfirstaswell,makingprayingforthecommongoodapriorityafterseekingGod.

PRESIDENTS,KINGS,ANDALLWHOAREINAUTHORITY

ForthisreasonIhavefounditagoodideatokeepaprayer listwithmeatall timesthat isbotheasytoaccessandeasytoupdate.ThismaybeasheetyouhavetypedupandprintedoffofyourcomputerandslippedintoyourBibleorprayerjournal,afileonyoursmartphoneortablet,apageinyourplanner,orsomeothermethodthatworkswithhoweveryouorganizeyourself.(ThisisalsoagreatplacetorecordscripturesyouarestandingonorthatGodhasgivenyoutoprayforothers.)ThendoalittleresearchontheInternetandfindthenamesofthefollowingpeopleandtheirspouses:

•Yourpresident,primeminister,ortop-rankingofficial

•Membersoftheircabinet,ministries,oradvisors

•Yourvicepresident

•Headsofyourcongressionalbranchesorparliamentaryhouses

•Congressmen,senators,orMPsfromyourstate,province,district,orcounty

•Thegovernororheadofyourstate,province,orterritory

•Therepresentativesforyourareatoyourstateorlocalcongressionalassembly

•Yourcountycommissionersorleadership

•Themayorofyourcity,town,orvillage

Onceyouhavethis,starttothinkofpastorsandchurchesinyourareaandaddthemtoyourlist. Are their ministries or nonprofit organizations that you give to regularly (like TrimmInternational )? Add them to your list, as well as the names of the leaders of thoseorganizations.Putyourownpastorandspouseatthetopofthatlist.ThenspendsometimeinprayerandaskGodifthereisanyoneelseyoushouldhaveonthatlist.Once you have this, pull it out whenever you have your regular time of prayer or in

downtimeslikeridingthebusorsubway,duringyourbreaksatwork,whenyouarestandinginline,orothertimeslikethat.Therewillbetimesyousimplyreadthroughthislisttoraisethemupbeforethethrone,butalsobeopentoGodleadingyouintospecifictimesofprayer

foreachofthesepeople.Then,asyouwatchthenews,readyournewspaper,orcheckouttheInternetsitesthatkeep

youup-to-datewithwhatishappeningintheworld,watchforissuesorconcernsyoucanaddto this list or that people on your prayer list are struggling with. I firmly believe thatChristians have very little business watching or reading the news as anything other thansomethingthatwilltiedirectlyintowhattheyareprayingfor(except,ofcourse,forthingsliketheweatherorsportsscores).Thereshouldbeverylittlepainandsufferingweexperienceonthisearththatwedon’tatleastliftuptoGodmomentarilyandsaysomethingalongthelinesof,“God,reachouttothosepeopleandhelpthemthroughbeingpresentwiththem.”Scripturetellsus:

Theking’sheartisinthehandoftheLORD,Liketheriversofwater;HeturnsitwhereverHewishes.

—PROVERBS21:1

AndIbelievethatgoesforanyoneinaleadershippositionanywhere.LiftthemuptoGod.HoldthembeforeGodandaskHemakethemaccountable.PraythatGodspeakstothemandgivesthemwisdom.Findscripturestowriteinbytheirnames,andpraythemeveryday.Or,ifnothing else, sit and listen to the Spirit and askHimwhat you should be praying for thatpersonandtheirfamilies.Oh,thatwewerepeopleofsuchcontinualprayer!Whatadifferenceitwouldmakeforournations,communities,andworld!

ABURDENTOPRAYORABURDENOFGUILT?

Now, as I begin to address this issue of regular prayer, there is something else I need todiscusswithyou,andthatisthatattacksyouwillsufferbecauseyouhavethecouragetopray.Thereisnothingmoredangeroustothekingdomofdarknessthenaprayingchurch.Becauseofthat,thereisnotacticSatanwon’tusetokeepyoufrompraying.Andnotonlythat,whenyou are not praying, he will make you feel guilty for that! He wants to push you to oneextreme or the other—anything to make your prayer life ineffective and burdensome ortroublesometoyou.WeneedtorememberthatJesussaid:

CometoMe,allyouwholaborandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.TakeMyyokeuponyouandlearnfromMe,forIamgentleandlowlyinheart,andyouwill find rest for your souls.ForMyyoke is easyandMyburden islight.

—MATTHEW11:28–30

WhenwegotoGodinprayer,thereisacertainamountofsquirmingourearthlynatureswilldobecauseprayermakes littlesensetothenaturalmindandeven lesstoourdesirestobecomfortable,engaged,andentertained.Evencleaningthekitchenorvacuuminglooksbetterthanspendingtimepraying!Itwilltakesomedisciplinetogetstartedandmakeitaregularpartofyourdailypractice.Andyourcalendarwill fillupto try topushtimeforprayerout.Thingswillcomeupthatneedyour“immediateattention”justasyougetreadytospendsometimeinprayer.Don’tletyourselfgetsidetracked.AsOswaldChamberscautioned:

BewareofoutstrippingGodbyyourverylongingtodoHiswill.WerunaheadofHiminathousandandoneactivities,consequentlywegetsoburdenedwithpersonsandwithdifficultiesthatwedonotworshipGod,wedonotintercede.If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in theworshippingattitude,itwillproducenotonlyhardnesstowardGodbutdespairinourownsouls.Godcontinually introducesustopeopleforwhomwehavenoaffinity,andunlessweareworshippingGod,themostnaturalthingtodoistotreatthemheartlessly,togivethematext likethe jabofaspear,or leavethemwitharapped-outcounselofGodandgo.AheartlessChristianmustbeaterriblegrieftoOurLord.5

Atthesametime,ifyoumissaprayertime,don’tletguiltcondemnyouordiscourageyou.Don’t feel likeyouhavetospendallyourdayall thetime inprayeroryouarenotpleasing

God.Ifthedevilcan’tkeepyoufrompraying,hewilltrytoburnyououtonit.HewilltrytomakeyoufeelsoguiltythatyoubecomeconvincedyouareasubparChristiananddon’thaveenoughfaithforGodtoansweryourprayers.Prayermaybealittledifficultatfirst—asintheformingofanynewhabityouknowwillbe

goodforyouinthelongrun—butitshouldneverbeanoverwhelmingburden.Inthehistoryofprayer I am sure therehavebeenone-wordprayersmore effective thanhours of prayer atother times. Ifallyou feelyouhave topray isa fewminutes, thenpray those fewminutes.ThinkaboutGodthroughoutyourday,andthrowuplittlebreathprayers.Startwhereyouare,andgrowinprayer.Praywithothers.Gotoprayerroomsorprayermeetings,andletthejoyofbeingtogetherwithotherslightentheresistancetoprayer.Butwhereveryouare,growinprayer.Greatmenandwomenofprayerhavealwaysprayed,buteachperson’sprayerjourneyis different. John “Praying” Hyde prayed through the night, night after night, and sawhundredscometoknowJesus,butSmithWigglesworth,whooperatedpowerfullyinthegiftofhealing,wasreportedtohaveoncescoffedatanyonewhoprayedmorethantwentyminutesat a time but then caught himself to comment, “But I doubt I ever go more than twentyminuteswithoutpraying!”Allthattosay,don’tletprayerbecomeaburdentoyou.Ifyouarefaithfulinit,therewillbe

timesGodjoinsyouinitandHispresencewillbesotangibleyouareafraidtomoveforfearitwillleave.Thereisajoyinpraying,andthereisajoyinseeingyourprayersanswered.Thereisacomforttoothersforyoutospendtimeprayingthattheymayneverrealizethissideofheaven.Don’t let thingskeepyoufromprayer,butat thesametimedon’t letcondemnationburyyouinguiltthatsomethingaboutyourprayersisn’treallygoodenough.Afterall,forusasChristians,itisnotaboutthetimewespendinprayerorthefervencywithwhichwepray;itisabouttheGodtowhomwepray.ItisaboutconnectingwithHimandaskingHimintoourjurisdictions toestablishHiskingdom.Neverget sidetracked from that trueaim,andeverymomentyouspend inprayerwillhave itsownuniquevalueandchangeeventhetimesyouaren’tpraying.ThatisthegraceGodofferstous.Praywiththatgrace,bothforyourselfandforothers.

Godisabletomakeallgraceaboundtowardyou,thatyou,alwayshavingallsufficiencyinallthings,mayhaveanabundanceforeverygoodwork.

—2CORINTHIANS9:8

SIX

BROTHERSANDSISTERSINCHAINSTacklingWorldIssuesinPrayer

Realreligion,thekindthatpassesmusterbeforeGodtheFather,isthis:Reachouttothehomelessandlovelessintheirplight,andguard

againstcorruptionfromthegodlessworld.

JAMES1:27,THEMESSAGE

WhatisthereasonthatmanythousandsofChristianworkersintheworldhavenotagreaterinfluence?Nothingsavethis—theprayerlessnessoftheirservice.InthemidstofalltheirzealinthestudyandintheworkoftheChurch,ofall

theirfaithfulnessinpreachingandconversationwiththepeople,theylackthatceaselessprayer,whichhasattachedtoitthesurepromiseoftheSpiritandthepowerfromonhigh.Itis

nothingbutthesinofprayerlessnesswhichisthecauseofthelackofapowerfulspirituallife!1

ANDREWMURRAY

YOUDON’THAVEtolookfarinourworldtodaytofindheart-wrenchingissuesthatneedGod’slight. While I believe that a good portion of intercession is for those in our immediatecommunitiesandourownnations,theworldtodayiswrackedbyinjustice,persecution,andexploitation. With modern communication technology virtually turning the world into aneighborhood,itishardnottobetouchedbytheplightofthosehalfaworldaway,especiallyiftheyarechildren.LetmegiveyousomeexamplessoyoucanseewhatImean.

HUMANTRAFFICKING

Theworldcrimesyndicatesthattrafficdrugsandgunshavefoundanewboonintraffickinghumanbeings—either intoslaveryorprostitution.Whiledrugsorgunsareusuallysoldonlyonce, women or children trapped in prostitution can be sold several times a day. It isestimatedthattherearemoreslavesonearthtodaythaninthehistoryoftheworld,anumbersomewherearound27million.Themajorityofthesearewomenandchildrensoldforsexualservices,mostundertheageofeighteen.2Rightnowthiscrimeagainsthumanityisperpetratedoneverycontinentontheearth.Ifyou

liveinabigcity,chancesarethereissextraffickinginyourarea,butitisequallyprevalentatruraltruckstopsorinsuburbanhomesneatlytuckedawayinniceneighborhoods.FromtimetotimeyouwillhearofrestaurantsthathavebeenshutdonebecausetheirentirelaborforcewasimportedfromtheFarEastandworkedasslavesinthekitchen.Slavers prey particularly on the unattached. In Eastern Europe as changing economies

forcedparentstolookforworkinothercountries,thenewcultureof“orphans”becameripepickinggroundsfortraffickerswhocutdealswithorphanagedirectorstokidnapyounggirlsand import them intoareaswhereprostitution is legal—showing that legalizingprostitutionhas the opposite effect ofwhat is intended.Where sex is sold and regulated legally, illegalprostitutionalwaysthrives,especiallytheexploitationofchildren.3InextremelypoorareassuchasSoutheastAsiaorSouthAmericaitisnotuncommonfora

poor family to “sell” their children intoprostitution in the larger cities in order to create astream of income for themselves. In such areas girls and boys rescued from slavers andreturnedhomeoftengetsoldbacktoslaversagain.The nation of Sweden recently took a revolutionary stance in labeling prostitution as a

humanrightsviolation—acrimeagainst thedignityofwomenasawholeand individuals inparticular,whethertheychosetobeprostitutesornot.Inthislight,theyviewsexworkersasbeing exploited—so if a woman is arrested for prostitution, they offer rescue rather thanpunishment,whiletheyhaveseverepenaltiesforpimpsandthoselookingtohireprostitutes.ThishasmadeSwedenanditsneighboringnationsratherunattractivetotraffickers;whileinareassuchasAmsterdamandBangkoktheindustryisstillthriving.Thisisanissuethatneedsrevolutionaryideas,becauseinsomeareasitdemandsthatcore

culturalvaluesbeaddressedandtransformed.Iffathersandmotherscanthinkitacceptabletoselltheirchildren,thansomethingiswrongatadeep,fundamentallevel.However,thereismoreandmoreattentionbeingdrawntotheseissues,andorganizations

aroundtheworldarestartingtoaddresstheminveryrealways.Mostoftheseorganizationsfocus on three main areas: raising awareness, strategic intervention (by preventingkidnapping or recruitment), and restoration (by rescuing and rehabilitating victims). All oftheseeffortsneedourprayersandsupport.OnerevolutionaryideaIsawrecentlywastheeffortsofanabolitionistorganizationcalled

NotForSalewhodecidedtoaddressthetemptationtosellchildrenintoslaveryintheAmazonregion. They felt that if they could create a viable, lasting source of income, many of thereasons for giving in to slavers would be eliminated. So, after a series of meetings withbusiness leaders and other interested parties, the organization came up with the idea ofcreatingateathatcouldbeharvestedfromtheAmazonforeststosellinAmericanhealthfoodstoresandonlinecalledREBBL(whichstandsfor“roots,extracts,berries,bark,andleaves”).You can find outmore about it on the company’swebsite at rebbltonic.com, or onNotForSale’swebsiteatwww.notforsalecampaign.org.OneofthethingsIfindremarkableaboutthisendeavoristhatinaveryfoundationalway,

Not For Sale isn’t simply keeping children out of slavery but is addressing the culture ofexploitation all together with a sustainable solution. Not only are they addressing theprevention,intervention,andrestorationneededtostopthedestructionofhumantrafficking,

but they are also eliminating the need by empowering communities to pursue alternativeeconomicopportunities.Ilikehowonepastorfromapersecutednationputit:“Idonotprayforalighterloadbutforastrongerback.”JustasEsther,ratherthanprayingforrescue,madearequest thatwouldenableherpeople tosave themselves,NotForSale isdoing thatwiththeirREBBLteacompany.Toooften,whenwewanttohelptheneedy,wethinklikecharityorganizationsratherthan

innovators.Icertainlyneverwanttostopsomeonefromgivingtothoseinneed,butwemustalso thinkabouthowtogivea“handup”rather thana“handout.”As theoldsayinggoes,“Giveamanafishandhewilleatforaday;teachhimtofishandhewilleatforalifetime.”Asweapproach issues likethis,weshouldkeep inmindtheneedtoempowerpeopleto findaway out of their desperate situation themselves rather than simply providing a means ofkeepingthemalivebuttrappedinthecycleofexploitation.TooseldomdowerealizethatGoddoesn’t just intervenewithHisconsolingpresenceormiracle-workingpower,butwith ideasforalternativesolutionsandremarkable innovations thatwill transformcultures.WhileGodwillhealsicknessanddiseasesupernaturally,medicineandtherapiestohealthesickorrepairinjuries also come from God’s inspiration. You don’t have to look far to find examples ofextraordinarymedicalbreakthroughsthatcamefromdevotedChristianslookingtohelpandhealthosewhoneededitmost.Asarule,Ihavefoundhumanideascanhelpforamoment,butGodideascanprovidepermanentsolutionsandempowerpeoplebacktoaplaceofself-determinationanddignity.

RELIGIOUSPERSECUTION

The twentieth century saw more Christians die for their faith as gave their lives in all ofChristian history combined.4 A large reason for that was the rise of Communism andSocialism, which declared religion an “opiate of the people” and tried to “cleanse” theirnationsbypurgingthemofJewsandChristians.Thissubsidedsomewhatinthelatterhalfofthepreviouscentury,butasthetwenty-firstcenturyhasdawned,weareseeingthenumbersriseagain,mainlyintheArabworld.TheArabSpringthathappenednotlongagohopedfordemocracy and more freedom, but the aftermath is thwarting those hopes, especially forChristiansinthoseareaswhoareseeingrisingpersecutionbecauseextremefundamentalistIslamicgroupsaregainingcontrol.TobeopenaboutyourChristianitynowinsuchareasistoriskhavingyourhomesetonfireoryourfamilybeaten.Itisestimatedthatroughly150,000losetheir liveseachyearasaresultofbeingexposedasChristians.5That ismorethan400peopleeverysingleday!Manytimesthatnumberareharassedorimprisoned.AsIwritethis,aworldpleaisgoingupforapastorimprisonedinIranwhoisondeathrow

forsharinghisfaith.Amothersits inprisoninPakistan—whereshehasbeenforoverthreeyearsnow—awaitingexecutionafterbeingaccusedofblaspheming theprophetMuhammadbecauseofherfaithinJesus.Andthesearejustthestoriesthathavecaughttheattentionofthe press. Others live in fear of police or mobs raiding their church gatherings or prayermeetings.AroundtheworldcourageousbrothersandsistersknowwhatitmeanstotakeupthecrossandfollowJesus,forbysodoingtheyrisktheirliveseveryday.IurgeyoutocheckoutthewebsitesoforganizationssuchasOpenDoorsorTheVoiceofthe

Martyrsandsubscribetotheirnewslettersandprayerwatchlists.Sharethestoriesyoufindtherewithothers,andencouragethemtopray.StandwiththesebrothersandsistersinChristtobestrongintheirfaithandforGodtoguidethemandleadthemastheyshareHistruth.Getinvolvedwithorganizationsfightingforthehumanrighttopracticethefaithoftheirownconvictions,forinsuchafreearenathereisnodoubtthegospelofJesusChristwillprevail.

POVERTYANDHUNGER

Todayinourworld,despitethetechnologywehaveandtheabundanceofourplanet,roughly80percentofpeopleonearthliveonlessthantendollarsaday.6Thatismorethanfivebillionpeople.Onaverage,achilddieseveryfoursecondsfrommalnutritionorapreventabledisease—roughlytwenty-onethousandchildreneachday.7Thatisnotevencountingthosewhodieasbystanders inwar zones or because of natural disasters,which always hit the poorest andmostvulnerablethehardest.Over780millionintheworlddon’thaveaccesstocleanwater,8andevenmorelackaccesstobasichealthcareoradecenteducation.Somelookatpovertyandsay,“Well,Jesustoldusthepoorwouldalwaysbewithus.”And

thatistrue,butatthesametimeGodalsotoldIsrael:

TheremustbenopoorpeopleamongyoubecauseGOD isgoing toblessyoulavishlyinthislandthatGOD,yourGod,isgivingyouasaninheritance,your

veryownland.ButonlyifyoulistenobedientlytotheVoiceofGOD,yourGod,diligentlyobservingeverycommandmentthatIcommandyoutoday.

—DEUTERONOMY15:4–5,THEMESSAGE

Aspart of a society thatGodhas so richlyblessed, it seemsbarbaricnot tobedisturbedtherearechildrengoingtobedfamishedeachnightandotherswhowon’twakeupthenextmorningforreasonsthatareeasilypreventable.Atthesametime,thesenumbersaredropping.Inthelasttwentyyearsextremepovertyhas

beencutinhalf.9IntheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)AfricanRegiondeathratesduetomalariahavebeenreducedby33percentsincetheyear2000.10Wehavethemedications,wehave the technology, and change is happening. The trouble is, it is just not happening fastenoughtosavethechildrenwhowillneedlesslydietoday.Oneofthebiggestthingsinthewayofkeepingthesenumbersonadownwardspiralisthe

global economic crisis we have faced in the last half decade. The money to keep theseprogramsgoingisasmallpercentageofwhatitwasadecadeago,andyetinthescramblefortheUnitedStatestobalanceitsnationalbudget,thisneededmoneyiscontinuallybeingcut(onemore reason for us to pray for our leaders).Government corruption,mismanagement,and inefficiency challenge the implementation of the programs already in place. Corporategreed would rather funnel money into already overflowing coffers than allow it to flow tothosewhoneeditmost.Arewegoingtosimplyfloatalonggettingsweptup inthepoliticalfinger-pointingthatfeedsthechaos,orarewewillingtocutacrosspartypoliticsandbepartofthesolutionourworldneeds?And,ofcourse, it isnotjustaboutpolitics.Thereareotherorganizationsdoinggoodwhoneedourfinancialsupportandprayers.Ifcurrenttrendscontinue,wecouldseeanendofextremepovertybefore2030—thatmeans

sometime inour lifetimes.But tokeepthischangeonapositive track,wemustbe involvedandvoiceoursupportinthehallwaysofbothearthlyandcelestialgovernments.

SHALOMINTHEHOLYLAND

Scriptureplainlytellsus:

PrayforthepeaceofJerusalem:“Maytheyprosperwholoveyou.”

—PSALM122:6

AndGodtoldAbraham:

Iwillblessthosewhoblessyou,AndIwillcursehimwhocursesyou;Andinyouallthefamiliesoftheearthshallbeblessed.

—GENESIS12:3

Because of this, there is no question that praying for peace in Israel is somethingwe allneed to add to our intercessory prayer list. Since Israel became a nation again in 1948—arather significant prophetic event in and of itself—therehas beenunrest between the JewsandtheArabsintheregionoverhavinganationtocalltheirown.ControlofJerusalemhasbeenat thecenterof this strugglesince the Israelis tookback fullownershipof it in1967.From recent events as well, it doesn’t look as if thingswill settle down or therewill be apeacefulsolutiontotheproblemsbetweentheArabsandtheJewsanytimesoon.Regardless,weneedtokeepJerusalem,Israel,andthePalestinianscontinuallyinourprayersandatthetopofourprayerlistofthenationsweprayforregularly.

WHERESHOULDWEFOCUS?

And,ofcourse,therearemanyotherissuesjustasimportant—justasthreateningtolifeandfreedom— some even in our own homes. Issues of domestic violence, drug abuse, incest,murder, rape, and other crimes—orphans createdbywar andAIDS, childrenbeingused assoldiers,corporateandpoliticalcorruption,terrorism,andsoon,andsoon.Itwouldbeeasyforsomucheviltooverwhelmus—andwhymanysticktheirheadsinthesandandpreferto

beentertainedordistracted.They’dratherwatchEntertainmentTonightthanbetroubledbylearningmoreabouttheconflictsintheMiddleEast.InsomewaysIcan’tblamethem,butonthe other hand, since we are the ones equipped by heaven, are we really responsibleChristiansifwespenddaysonendwithoutintercedinginprayer?As someone once said, “True love is talkingwith God about people; it’s not talkingwith

people about God.” The call to love others as Christ loved us (John 15:12) has to start inprayerforothers.Butwedon’thavetotakeontheworld—Jesusalreadydidthatforus,andHewon!Ourpart is not towinanewvictoryover evil; it is to enter into the victory Jesusalreadywon.Weare,inessence,whenweputonourprayerarmor,puttingonChrist’sarmorand enteringwithHim into intercession. As John “Praying”Hyde described, this joining inwiththeintercessionofJesus:

...affectsourFather,forHelooksuponChrist’sprayer-lifeinus,andanswersaccordingly. So that the answer is far “above all we can ask or think.” . . .Christ’s prayer life enters into us, andHeprays in us. This is prayer in theHolySpirit.Onlythuscanwepraywithoutceasing....Nomoreworkingupalife of prayer and failing constantly. Jesus enters the boat, and the toilingceases,andweareatthelandwhitherwewouldbe.Now,weneedtobestillbeforeHim, soas tohearHisvoiceandallowHim topray inus—nay,allowHimtopour intooursoulsHisoverflowing lifeof intercession,whichmeansliterally:facetofacemeetingwithGod—realunionandcommunion.11

Ourtaskisnottoworry.Yes,wearetobemovedbythethingsweseeandacttocounteractthem as best we can, but wemust trust Jesus to lead us in prayer.We need to disciplineourselvestotaketimetopray,toprepareourselvestoenterthecourtroomofheavenwithournotesready,ourpetitionpointslisted,andourscripturalpromisesathand,butoncewegetinthere,weneedtorealizewearenotthesmartones;Jesusis.WeneedtofollowHislead.WeneedtolistentowhatHeisprayingandfollowthatlineofthought.WearetoopenourselvestotheleadershipandprayersoftheHolySpiritandfocuswhereHedirectsus.ChancesaretherewillbetimesHewillgiveyouonethingtopraythroughuntilyoureceiveananswerinyour spirit and know it is accomplished, and other times you go through your list and justspendtimeworshippingGod.Asyoudothis,youwillbegintofindthatyouthinkaboutthesethingsmoreoften,notwith

an “oh,howawful!”attitudebuta step-by-stepprocessofhow towalkout theanswers fortheseproblemsasGodplantsideasandnurturestheminyourhumanspirit.Youwillfindyouhaveanattitudeofbeingpartof thesolution rather thanpartof theproblem.Youwill findyourselfprayingthroughoutthedayandinwhateveryouaredoing.This isthe lifeGodhascalledusto,andIbelieveitisthelifereallyworthliving—thelifewhereyourwordsandyourdeedsalwaysagree.

SEVEN

INWORDANDDEEDThePowerofAligningYourWordsWithHis

IfyouabideinMe,andMywordsabideinyou,youwillaskwhatyoudesire,anditshallbedoneforyou.BythisMyFatherisglorified,thatyoubearmuchfruit;soyouwillbeMydisciples.

JOHN15:7–8

Sheermuscleandwillpowerdon’tmakeanythinghappen.EverywordI’vespokentoyouisaSpirit-word,andsoitislife-making.

JOHN6:63,THEMESSAGE

THERE HAS BEEN a great deal written about the power of the spoken word over ourenvironments and in the realm of the Spirit. If you have read any ofmy books—especiallyCommandingYourMorning—youwillbefamiliarwithmanyoftheseideas(andifyouhaven’tread thatbook, Iwould suggest that youdo). In a very real sense, ourwords can shift theatmospherearoundus.Thatisthepowerofintercessoryprayer—andwhenwebegintospeakinourdailylivesthethingsthatweprayinprivate,changehappens.Weneedtorealizethatinaverytangibleway,ourwords—allofourwordstakenasawhole—shapeourrealities.Havingtaughtthis forsometime,though,andinvariousplaces, Ihaveseenpeoplemake

twocriticalmistakes inunderstanding this truth.The first is they think they can speakoutwhat they want to see happen but not truly surrender themselves to what is written inScripture.Therefore they arenot able to combinewhat they are sayingwithgenuine faith.Thiswouldrequirethemto investmoretimestudyingGod’sWordsothatmoreofHistruthmightbeexpressedinwhattheyaresaying.Secondly,theybelievetheycanspeakonewayinprayerandanotherwayintheirday-to-daylife,andtheircasualdoubt,negativity,andunbeliefwon’taffectwhattheyaretryingtostandinfaithtoseehappen.ThisisnothowGodintendedit.Look,forexample,attheBookofJames,whichaddresses

thisissuefromfronttoback.Jameswarnsusthatthepowerofthetonguecantooeasilybeused in thewrongway:“The tongue is sosetamongourmembers that itdefiles thewholebody,andsetsonfirethecourseofnature”(James3:6).Hewarnsthatweshouldbe“swifttohear,slowtospeak,slowtowrath” (James1:19)because,since the tongue issopotent,weshouldneverspeakrashlyorinanger.Why?Becausewhatwesaymatters.Whatwesayeitheredifiesorpoisonsreality.Atthesametime,hetellsusthatthetonguehasgreatpower:“Ifyoucouldfindsomeonewhosespeechwasperfectlytrue,you’dhaveaperfectperson,inperfectcontroloflife”(James3:2,THEMESSAGE).Now I know some of you have hang-ups about the word perfect. We have all heard the

phrase“Nobody’sperfect”somanytimesthat itseemsweshouldbeabletoreferenceitbychapterandverse.It’sintheBookofProverbssomewhere,isn’tit?Wehaveassociatedthatwordwithbrasharrogance,unattainablestandards,orunreasonableexpectations.ButhereinJamesthewordmeans“complete”or“mature.”1Inotherwords,someonewhocontrolstheirtongueisagrown-up.Theyaren’truledbythewhimsofchildhoodoradolescence.Theydon’tthrowtempertantrumsonthefloor.Theyarepeoplewithanaimandapurpose,focusedonwhat is before them and aligning theirwords and their behaviors accordingly. This doesn’tmake them stiff or humorless either. Itmakes them intentional. They enjoy life. They enjoytheirwork.Theyenjoytheirfamily.Theyenjoytheirchurch.Theyarethetypeofpeoplewhoaregoingsomewhere—theyhappentolife;lifedoesn’tjusthappentothem.These are the type of people who don’t throw out words as if they are some magical

incantationthatwillbringthemwhattheywant.Theyusewhattheysaytosettheircourse.AsJamesputit:

Abit in themouthofahorsecontrols thewholehorse.Asmall rudderonahuge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of thestrongestwinds.Awordoutofyourmouthmayseemofnoaccount,butitcanaccomplishnearlyanything—ordestroyit!

—JAMES3:3–5,THEMESSAGE

Sayingwhatwewant—findingtheBiblepromisesthatsupportourdesiresorwhatweareintercedingforandrepeatingthemoverandover—isrelativelyeasy.Anyonecandothat.Andwhilethatisagoodthingtodo,itisjustthebeginning.Ifyoupullthebridleinonedirection,buttherestof thehorsedoesnotgo inthatdirection,whatgood is thebit?Ifyouturntherudder,buttheship’scoursestaysthesame,whatgoodistryingtosteer?No,itisonlywhentherestofourbeingturnstofollowwherewearedirectingbyusingthebitortherudderthatweactuallychangeourlivesorthelivesofothersthroughourprayers.Noticethatthewindsoflifestillblow,butwhenweuseourtongueastherudderofouractionsandattitudes,thewindsdon’tcontrolwherewearegoing;ourwordsdo.AsiswrittenelsewhereintheBookofJames,whenwestarttosteerourlivesbyourwords,

we are slower to speak because we weigh everything that comes out of ourmouthsmoreconscientiously.Wewanttosaythingsthattrulyrepresentwhatwemeanandsteerusintherightdirection.Weavoid speakingwords that contradict our faith or ourprayers.Wedon’t

belittleothersorspitvenomatthemwiththesamemouthsweusetopraiseGod.AsScripturesays,“Doesaspringsendforthfreshwaterandbitterfromthesameopening?Canafigtree,mybrethren,bearolives,oragrapevinebearfigs?”(James3:11–12).Notonly that,butmost importantofall,ouractionsandattitudesbegin toalignwith the

directionourwordsareplottingout.Webecome“perfect”inwordanddeedasbothlineuptoaccomplishwhatwehavebeenput on theearth todo.Webecome “integrous”at themostfundamentalmeaningoftheword:thereisa100percentalignmentbetweenwhoweareontheinsideandwhoweareontheoutside.Likesteeloranotheralloywithhighintegrity,wearepureinmotiveandactionthroughandthrough—andfromthatcomesgreatstrength.Words are a spiritual force. They are containers shaped by our thoughts, intentions, and

meaning— tools that chisel our lives and the lives of those around us into masterpieces.However,asculptorwhodoesn’tunderstandhis tools, theirpurposes,andhowtouse themwillnotcreateanythingworthyofdisplay.InthesamewaywemuststudylanguageandtheWordofGodtobeabletopicktherightwordfortherightoccasion.Wemustbothcontrolandunderstandwhatiscomingoutofourmouths.Youdon’tuseamallettosmoothedgesandyoucan’trefinedetailwitha jackhammer. It is thesamewhetherwespeaktoGodor tohumanbeings.Thewordswechooseinpublicorinourprayerclosetsmattermorethanyou’dthink.Prayersworkwonders,ortheycancreateblundersifwedon’tunderstandthepowerofthe

spokenword.WearenottryingtotalkGodintodoingthingsHeknowsarebadideasorthatwerebirthedoutofselfishness.Prayerisnotmanipulation—andneithershouldourspeechbe,evenifwearetryingtopersuadeourcoworkersorconvincechildrenofsomeaim.WhenwegotoGodinprayer,weareremindingHimofHisnaturewithpraise,celebratingHispromiseswith our petitions, and embracing His love as we speak on behalf of others. We are nottwisting things so thatwe canget our ownway.WearepartneringwithHim in seeingHiskingdommanifest.Then,whenwe“leave”prayer,wegooutintotheworldandspeakthesameway.Wedon’t

contradict the faith we expressed in prayer with doubt expressed to others. This is oneexpressionof“prayingwithoutceasing”—whatwesaytoothersthroughoutthedayisinlinewithwhatwespoketoGodabout inprivate.Andthenouractionsandattitudes followsuit.Ourwholebeingfocusesinonourgoalsandpurposeswithlaser-likeprecision.Notonlythat,butwealsobegintoaffect theatmospherewhereverwego. It is likewewalkaround inanever-enlarging cloud of the kingdom of God, and the more places we go and the moreconsistentweareinaligningourwordsandactionswiththeWordandwillofGod,thebiggerthatcloudgrowsaroundusandoverthoseweinteractwitheachday.Whenhowwelive,whoweare,andwhatwesayalllineup,itisapowerfulforceforgood.

AsE.M.BoundsputitinhisbookTheNecessityofPrayer:

Prayerisbasedoncharacter.WhatwearewithGodgaugesourinfluencewithHim. It was the inner character, not the outward seeming, of such men asAbraham,Job,David,Mosesandallothers,whohadsuchgreatinfluencewithGod in thedaysofold.And, today, it isnot somuchourwords, aswhatwereallyare,whichweighswithGod.Conductaffectscharacter,ofcourse,andcountsformuchinourpraying.Atthesametime,characteraffectsconducttoa fargreaterextent,andhasasuperior influenceoverprayer.Our inner lifenotonlygivescolourtoourpraying,butbody,aswell.Badlivingmeansbadpraying and, in the end, no praying at all. We pray feebly because we livefeebly.Thestreamofprayercannotrisehigherthanthefountainofliving.Theforce of the inner chamber ismade up of the energy which flows from theconfluent streams of living. And the weakness of living grows out of theshallownessandshoddinessofcharacter.Feeblenessoflivingreflectsitsdebilityandlangourintheprayinghours.We

simplycannottalktoGod,strongly, intimately,andconfidentlyunlesswearelivingforHim,faithfullyandtruly.Theprayer-closetcannotbecomesanctifieduntoGod,whenthe life isalien toHispreceptsandpurpose.Wemust learnthis lesson well—that righteous character and Christlike conduct give us apeculiarandpreferentialstandinginprayerbeforeGod.2

WORDSCREATEOURWORLD

Allofourwordsbeginwith thoughts resulting fromnucleicacidsandbiochemical impulsesfiringbetweensynapsisinourbrains.Thesebuilddendriteclusters—orbranchingpathways—thatcreateparadigms—orframeworkswithinwhichwedefinetheelementsandexperiencesofourworld.Asweprocessinformation,ourthoughtsproducevibrationsinourvocalcordsthat findexpressionthroughthephenomenaofspeech.Toseepermanentchange,youmust

haveapermanentparadigmshift.Youdon’tcreateapath througha forestby takinganewrouteeachtimetocrossit.Youhavetobeconsistentinyourwords,prayers,andactions.Aswearefocusedandintentionalinthoughtandspeech,wepermanentlyalterourperceptionsandourhabits,andthusalignouractionswithwhatwearebelievingforinprayer,creatingalifestyleofgodlinessandpower.Hebrews11:3tellsus,“Byfaithweunderstandthattheworldswereframedbythewordof

God,sothatthethingswhichareseenwerenotmadeofthingswhicharevisible.”James2:17states, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works [actions], is dead.” Your expectations,thoughts,andbeliefsmanifestinyourspeechandchangethethingsaroundyou.Thoughitistoalesserdegree,itisthesameprinciplebywhichGodspoketheworldintobeinginGenesischapter 1.He formed ideas ofwhatHewanted, infused thosemeanings intowords, spokethemintothenothingness,andtheuniverseweliveintodaywasformed.HeistheGodwho“calls intobeing thatwhichdoesnot exist” (Rom.4:17,NAS). This is theway that thoughtsbecome things. You are, literally, creating reality by your prayers and yourwords. You aredoing iteverydaywith the thoughtsyouare thinking, thewordsyouarespeaking,and theprayersthat,asaresult,youarepraying.Whileitremainstruethatthekeytoseeingeverythingistofirstbelieveit,thereis,infact,

scientificevidencetosupporttheconceptthatyourwordsshapeyourownworld.Seeingdoesnotalwaysproducebelieving,butbelievingwillproduceseeing.Someofthebestscientificevidencebehindtheconceptthatyoucreateyourownrealitycan

beseenthroughthestudyofelectrons.Electronsareamaincomponent(someevensaytheyare the “building blocks”) of allmatter. Electrons are not particles that sometimes becomewaves, nor are they waves that sometimes become particles. Instead, in a stimulus-freeenvironment,electronsexistinastateofpotentialuntiltheyareinteractedwith.Electronsareinasenseeverythingandnothing,waveandparticleatthesametime.Theyareinastateofpotential until you or something else observes/interacts with them. Observation is not themost important thing, however, that dictates the form electrons take. The expectation(thought)oftheobserveris.This is one conclusion that has been drawn as the result of the “double-slit experiment.”

Duringthisexperimentscientistsplacedanelectroncannoninastimulus-freechamber.Itwasthenaimedatawallwith twoslits in it.Recording the final landingpointsof theelectronsafter theypassedthroughtheslitswasanotherwall.Thecannon firedelectronsat the firstwalloneatatimebutveryrapidly,muchthesameasamachinegunfiresbullets.Ifamachinegunwere tobe fired at awallwith two slits, thebulletswouldproduceapatternof bulletholesonthesecondwallthatcorrespondstothediametersofthetwoslitsonthefirstwall.Thereforeitwaswidelythoughtthattheelectroncannonwouldcreatethesameresults.Theyshould,inasense,haveformedtworoughlyrectangularpatterns(aslightlylargeroutlineofeachslit)onthesecondwall.However, that is not what happened in the double-slit experiment. While some of the

electronsinthedouble-slitexperimenthitthefirstwallandwereabsorbedbyit,mostoftheelectrons insteadmade impressionsall over the secondwall, and these impressionsdidnotcorrespond with the slits at all; instead they formed wave patterns on the second wall.Scientists then positioned a photon emitter to fire a photon at each electron as it traveledtoward the two slits. They found that doing this changed the results of the double-slitexperiment.Whenthephotonscollidedwitheachelectronbeforetheypassedthroughoneofthetwoslits,theelectronsmadeitthroughoneofthetwoslitsonlytolandonthesecondwallin themachine-gun bullet pattern they expected to see the first time. This experiment hasbeenrepeatedseveraltimes,andtheresultschallengephysicistseventoday.Theexperimentboldlypoints to the truth that through interaction via observation andexpectation, you arecreatingtheveryformthatmattertakes.Allmatterthatyouseeinthisphysicaldimensionissimplyenergyvibratinginsuchaway

thatittakesonstaticproperties.Whenitdoesthis,youperceivethingsasbeingsolid.Matteris, however, totally unsubstantial. Nearly 99 percent of an atom (which makes up all thematterthereis)isactually“emptyspace.”Thatmeansthatthroughourpositiveconfessionsoffaithorexpectationswecaninfluencehowtheworldaroundustakesform.Prayer,inessence,isouropportunitytospeakthelanguageofchange.Thusintercessionbecomesalifestyle.As you pray and decree a thing, themeaning, purpose, and faith invested in yourwords

travel at a frequency affecting anything and everything that flows along its path at asubatomiclevel.Inthislight,thoughtsare,infact,things.Thoughtsaregivenvitalitybyyourbelief,attitudes,andemotions.Theyareactivatedbythelawoffocusedattention.Whateveryou give your consideration to—whatever you focus on—grows in terms of relevance,importance, and significance.Words, whether positive or negative, are a powerful, driving

force.Jesussaid,“ThewordsthatIspeaktoyouarespirit,andtheyarelife”(John6:63).Inordertoexpressitself,yourfaithmustattachitselftoanimageformedbyyourwordssothattheoutwardmanifestationhasapatternafterwhichtoform.How canwe develop the faith to shatter strongholds, overcome hardship, defy odds, and

believeGodfortheimpossible?HowcanwedevelopthecouragetobelievethatthethoughtsthatemanatefromthemindofGodwillmanifestinreality?Godknowstheendfromthebeginning,andifwewillspendtimeinprayerlisteningforHis

guidance,Hewillshareitwithus.Hisplansandpurposesfortheearthcancometopassonlythroughthosewithlegaljurisdictiononourplanet.Wearethekey.Butittakesfaith.Youmustdevelopthecourageandfaithtotaketherisktopullaway,pray,andthensitquietlyandwaitforGod to answer. This is howwe operate in the realm of faith. This is howwe bring ourthoughts,ideas,dreams,andvisionstopass.

ANIMPORTANTNOTE

AsweprayforothersinthiswayandspeakoutGod’sWordoverouratmospheres,weneedtoremember that just asGod respects the jurisdiction each of us has over our own lives andchoices,wemusthavethesamerespectforthoseweareprayingfor.Weshouldbeprayingthat God opens their eyes so that they can see the truth and make the right choices forthemselves (justasGoddoes foreachofuswhocallonHisname),not thatGodwillmakethoseweareprayingfordothisorthat.Afterall,JesushasalreadydoneeverythingHeneedstodotoseeaperson issaved—Christneverhastogobackto thecrossanddieagain—butonceHewasdone,Hedidn’tforcethatdecisiononanyone.HeleftittoeachofustodecideonourowntoacceptHisfreegiftofsalvationornot.InHisgreatloveHewillnotevenforceheavenuponanyofus.That iswhy it is important to remember that this isnotsomekindofmagical thinkingor

that speaking scriptures out over our situations is like something out of the Harry Potterseries.Wearenotmanipulatingpeople,atmospheres,oreventstogetwhatwewant;wearespeakingoutGod’swilloverthem,andHislawsandpromisestoenforcethatwill.Onceagain,intercessionisnotmanipulation;itisturningonthelightsothosestumblinginthedarkcanfinallyfindtheirwaystothedoorforthemselves.Remember,Estherdidn’t justpetitionthattheJewswouldbesaved—sherequestedtheybearmedandequippedtofendforthemselves.Intercessiontakesmentalstrengthandspiritualfortitude,whicharedevelopedinthesame

way your natural strength is. You must “exercise” regularly. You must meditate on themeaningof your andGod’swordsnight andday. Yourmind-set andbeliefsmust alignwithyourwordsandbehaviors.To takeyour thoughts to thenext level—to thecreationofwittyideas and innovative inventions—practice thinking in terms of possibilities over the nextseveralweeks.Believethebestandspeakaccordingtothosebeliefsuntilitbecomesahabit.When you believe you can influence theworld through prayer—when you are able to openyourmindtothemiraculousandexpectbetteroutcomes—thenyouwillbegintoseechangecometopass.Thiswilldriveyourwork,andGodwillshowyouanswersandblessthethingsyousetyourhandtodo.

Prayer is striking the winning blow at the concealed enemy. Service isgatheringuptheresultsofthatblowamongthemenweseeandtouch.3

—S.D.GORDON

God’sWordisanindispensableweapon.Inthesameway,prayerisessentialinthisongoingwarfare.Prayhardandlong.Prayforyourbrothersandsisters.Keepyoureyesopen.Keepeachother’sspiritsupsothatnoonefallsbehindordropsout.

—EPHESIANS6:17–18,THEMESSAGE

EIGHT

LETJUSTICEROLLDOWNLetFreedomRing

Butletjusticerolldownlikewatersandrighteousnesslikeanever-flowingstream.

AMOS5:24,NAS

Hewantsnotonlyusbuteveryonesaved,youknow,everyonetogettoknowthetruthwe’velearned:thatthere’soneGodandonlyone,andonePriest-MediatorbetweenGodand

us—Jesus,whoofferedhimselfinexchangeforeveryoneheldcaptivebysin,tosetthemallfree.

1TIMOTHY2:4–6,THEMESSAGE

WHENMARTINLUTHERKingJr.quotedAmos5:24inhis“IHaveaDream”speech,hedidnotdosolightly.TohimjusticewasacentralpartofthenatureofGod.I likehowIonceheardCornelWestdescribeit:“Justiceiswhat lovelookslikeinpublic.”Loveindeed—andnooneshouldbebetterexamplesofthatthanthoseofuswhofollowJesus.A lotofpeoplemistake justiceasretributionorrevenge.They thinkof takingsomeoneto

court and “getting even” for what that person took or damaged. Just look at some of thecourtroom reality shows that are on afternoonTV, and youwill see this quickly. People aretryingtogetevenforsomethingsomeonedidtothem.Christianityisdifferent,however.InChrist’sideal,noonewouldeverhavetotakesomeone

elsetocourt—wewouldbeabletoworkitoutonourownbetweenthetwoparties.

Agreewith your adversary quickly,while you are on thewaywith him, lestyouradversarydeliveryoutothejudge,thejudgehandyouovertotheofficer,andyouarethrownintoprison.Assuredly,Isaytoyou,youwillbynomeansgetoutoftheretillyouhavepaidthelastpenny.

—MATTHEW5:25–26

Furthermore,Godtellsus,“VengeanceisMine,Iwillrepay”(Rom.12:19).AndJesusputitthisway:“Blessthosewhocurseyou,andprayforthosewhospitefullyuseyou”(Luke6:28).Infact,Godseemstohaveaverydifferentpictureofjusticethanmanyofusdo.

JUSTICEISSERVED

Oneofthefirstactsofjusticeweseedoledoutafterthecrossisonapersecutoroftheearlychurch and at least an accomplice to murder. He was a legalist to his very bones andpersecutedthefollowersofJesuswithwhathethoughtwasaholyvengeance.Hisname?SaulofTarsus.The Book of Acts tells us that Saul stood by and held the coats of the men who stoned

Stephentodeathsothattheywouldn’tgetsplatteredwithblood.InActschapter9heisonhisway to Damascus with letters authorizing him to extradite in chains to Jerusalem anyChristianshefoundthere.Godlookeddownatthisbloodthirstyzealot,andyouknowwhatHesaw?AmanthatHisSonhadgivenHislifefor.Soratherthansenddownalightningbolttostrikehimdead,HesentJesus.SoJesusappearsbeforePaulwithsuchastrikingbrilliancethatitknockshimoffhishorse

andblindshim.There isnobeatingaroundthebusheither. Jesusgetsstraighttothepoint.“Saul, Saul,” He says (I imagine Him shaking His head), “why are you persecutingMe?”1(NoticethatJesusdoesn’task,“WhyareyoupersecutingMyfollowers?”ForHim,thisisverypersonal.)Saulresponds,“WhoareYou,Lord?”“IamJesus,whomyouarepersecuting.Itishardforyoutokickagainstthegoads.”Now,asabitofanaside,Ifindthataveryinterestingcomment:“Itishardtokickagainst

thegoads.”Agoadissomethingusedtohelpaherdofcattleorsheepknowtherightwaytogo.The“rightway,”ofcourse,isthedirectionthecowhandsorshepherdswanttheanimalstogo. It was Jesus’s way of telling Saul, as they would on the beaches of California, “Dude,you’regoing thewrongway!”Thisagain implies that theShepherdhadadifferentplan forthisparticularsheep’s life.Here Jesus is trying todirectSaulofTarsus tobecomePaul theapostle, and Saul is fighting Him with everything he has. Jesus tries to push him in onedirection,andSaulturnsandattackstheverypeopleJesussentintohislifetotrytohelphim.So, Jesus decides to corner himHimself.Once Jesus showsup in someone’s life, it has a

significantwayofchangingthings.Likeawiseman,onceJesusshowsup,Saulrealizeshismistakes.Heinstantlyconnectsall

thedots of his life—all the placesGodhas tried to reach out to himwith the truth, all thepeopleGodputinhislifetoteachhimaboutHistruenature—andrealizesitistimetochange.Now,inthatinstant,notthenextdayorthenextweek,Saulinstantlyhasachangeofheart.“Lord,whatdoYouwantmetodo?”Thoughheusesthesameword—“Lord”—inthetwotimeshespeakshere,Ithinkeachtime

meanssomethingverydifferent.Thefirsttimeheistalkingtoanauthority,likethelordofamanororestate;thesecondtimeheistalkingtohisLordandSavior.InaflashSaul’sheartis

changed. As he later described it: “Old things have passed away; behold, all things havebecomenew”(2Cor.5:17).Afterall,wasn’titSaul(Paul)whowrote,“IfyouconfesswithyourmouththeLordJesusandbelieveinyourheartthatGodhasraisedHimfromthedead,youwillbesaved”(Rom.10:9)?HeknewthepowerofproclaimingJesusasLord.ThenJesusanswered,“Ariseandgointothecity,andyouwillbetoldwhatyoumustdo.”NowJesusdidn’tjuststopSaulinhistracks.Hechangedhim.Hetookatoolinthehandof

the devil who was trying to wipe Christianity from the earth before it was even calledChristianity, and He turned it into the greatest proponent and catalyst for Christianity theworldhaseverknown.This istheguy,afterall,whowroteaboutthree-quartersoftheNewTestament!Andhedidn’tevenwalkwithJesus—hadhebeenthere,heprobablywouldhavebeenoneoftheonescryingout“CrucifyHim!CrucifyHim!”Inaworldwhereallsinhasbeenpaidforonceandforallthroughthecross,justiceisno

longerretribution.Godisn’tgoingtokillSaulforkillingStephen;insteadHeisgoingtoinfecthimwith the zealStephenhad.AndHe is going tomakehim ten times theevangelist thatStepheneverwas!Saul (Paul) knew the severity of this too. This is why he wrote the following—quoting

Proverbs25:21–22—aboutjusticeinthebookofRomans,thecornerstoneletterofeverythingheeverwrote:

“Ifyourenemyishungry,feedhim;Ifheisthirsty,givehimadrink;Forinsodoingyouwillheapcoalsoffireonhishead.”Donotbeovercomebyevil,butovercomeevilwithgood.

—ROMANS12:20–21

INTERCESSIONMEANSTRANSFORMATION

When we intercede for the persecuted, the oppressed, and the exploited, we need toremembertoprayaswellfortheirpersecutors,theiroppressors,andthosewhoareexploitingthem.Weneedtopraythatthefull“penalty”ofheavenrainsdownontheirheadsjustasitdidonSaulashewasonhiswaytoDamascus.Therewillbenostoppingthesecrimeswithoutachangeofheart forthecriminals. Ifyou

have readmybookThePrayerWarrior’sWay, it ispossible youwill remember the storyofJohnNewton,whobecameacriticalsupporteroftheabolitionistmovement inGreatBritainalong with William Wilberforce. Together with others these men fought to end slaverythroughouttheBritishEmpire,andtheysucceededsomethreedecadesbeforetheCivilWartore the United States apart over the same issue. Why was Newton’s help so significant?Becausehehadbeenthecaptainofaslaveship.Hehimselfhadperformedtheatrocitiestheywereworkingtoend.Heknewtheinhumanityofthetradebecauseithadthreatenedtotakehisveryhumanityfromhim.But,likePaul,JohnNewtonmetJesus,andeverythingchanged.Johnlearnedaboutthe“AmazingGrace”ofGodandwroteaboutitinwhatisperhapsthemosttranscendentandgreatesthymneverwritten.An interestingthingabout thatsong is that it isnotwrittenusingtheeight-notescalewe

are used to in the West, but the pentatonic (five-note) scale that is native to Africa andthroughoutAfricanAmerican spirituals.Youcan literallyplay the songonlyusing theblackkeysonapianokeyboard.ItisquitepossiblyamelodythatroseupthroughthedeckingofoneofNewton’sshipsastheslavesbelowsangandtriedtocheerthemselvesevenintheworstofconditions.Newtonuseditasthebackboneofhissongandabattlecryforsettingallslaves,everywhere,free.Foreveryslavesaved,thereisaslavesaved;butforeveryslaversaved,thousandsmightbe

saved!Wecannotneglecttoprayfortheperpetratorsaswellastheexploited.Wemustprayfor changed hearts on both sides of these crimes, for there is no advocate like a reformedcriminal.And people must be praying like this somewhere, for throughout the Arab world people

approachchurchesonalmostadailybasissayingtheyhadadreamthenightbeforeandtheywant to know, “Who is this Jesus?” This has even happened to terrorists. God is changinghearts.God is showing up in newways. AsCharles Finney expressed it in hisLectures onRevival:

O, for a praying church! I once knewaministerwhohad a revival fourteen

wintersinsuccession.Ididnotknowhowtoaccountforit,tillIsawoneofhismembersgetupinaprayermeeting,andmakeaconfession.“Brethren,”saidhe, “I have been long in the habit of praying every Saturday night till aftermidnight, for the descent of theHolyGhost among us. And now, brethren,”and he began to weep, “I confess that I have neglected it for two or threeweeks.”Thesecretwasout.Thatministerhadaprayingchurch....Now,willnotyou . . . throwyourselves into thiswork,andbear thisburden,andgiveyourselvestoprayer,tillGodshallpouroutHisblessinguponus?2

Brothers and sisters, we have work to do, but it is far from a work without rewards.Intercessoryprayer—andtheprocessofbecomingapartof theanswer to thoseprayers—isaboutasgreatanadventureasthereisonthisplanet.Embraceit.DaretoaskGodforgreatthings.Beconsistent in it.Learnandgrow.Andalways let theSpiritofGod leadyouatalltimes,for:

When theSpirit of truth comes, hewill guide you into all truth.Hewill notspeakonhisownbutwilltellyouwhathehasheard.Hewilltellyouaboutthefuture.Hewillbringmeglorybytellingyouwhateverhereceivesfromme.AllthatbelongstotheFatherismine;thisiswhyIsaid,“TheSpiritwilltellyouwhateverhereceivesfromme.”

—JOHN16:13–15,NLT

PULLINGITALLTOGETHER

Wemustbecomesuchapeopleofprayer.ItisimpossibletobeintruerelationshipwithGodandnothaveprayerandintercessionbeasignificantpartofyourlife.ItisthelifeJesuslivedwhenHewalkedtheearth.ItistheverychallengeJesuslaiddowntoHisowndisciples:

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.Greaterlovehasnoonethanthis,thantolaydownone’slifeforhisfriends.YouareMyfriendsifyoudowhateverIcommandyou.NolongerdoIcallyouservants, for a servant does not knowwhat hismaster is doing; but I havecalled you friends, for all things that I heard fromMy Father I have madeknowntoyou.

—JOHN15:12–15

WhileGodso lovedtheworldthatHegaveHisonlySon,HisonlySonso lovedtheworldthatHehasneverstoppedprayingforussincethemomentHereturnedtotheFather’srighthand. Ifwearegoing to loveasHe loved, then intercessionhas tobepart ofwhoweare.Jesusdidn’tjustchallenge,though;Healsomadeapromise.IfwejoinedHiminthisministry,wewouldn’tbeservantsblindlygoingalongandnotknowingtherightdecisionstomakeortherightthingstoaskoftheFather—wewouldbeHisfriends,likefaithfulAbraham,andwewould knowwhatGodwas up to on the earth. Forwhenwe joinwith the Spirit of God inprayer,wedon’tjuststandbeforethethroneofheaventopleadourcases;wegainaccesstogodlyinsightandrevelationofwhatandhowtopray.ButasIsaidearlier,theschoolofprayerisn’treallyfoundinbooks;itisfoundinpractice.

(ThoughIbelievebooks likethisonecanhelp!)You learnasyougo,anddepthofprayer isnevertoucheduntilyouarewillingto firstwadeout intotheshallows.Youneedaplanandstrategytotackleitfromdayone—babysteps.ThatiswhyIhaveincludedaprayeroutlineinAppendixBinthebackofthisbookeitherfor

youtouseasisorforyoutoadaptwithyourownScriptureversesandprompts.Whilemanyofmy other books have prayers in the back filledwith declarations anddecrees for you toproclaimoveryourownlife,Ifeltledtodosomethingdifferentwiththisbook.Sinceyouarenowpraying for others, you need reminders ofwhat to pray for, rather than statements torepeat,andpassagesthatwillencourageyourfaithandboldnessinprayerbeforethethroneofgraceandasyouasktheHolySpiritwhatyoushouldbepraying.Thenyouneedtodevelopyourprayerroutine.Go back to chapter 5 and work through the instructions there to find the names of

governmentofficials,localpastors,andsoforth.AddanyothernamesGodputsonyourheart.WritetheminAppendixB,orasIsuggestedbefore,createyourowncomputer,smartphone,or tablet document so it can be easily updated. Print it out and stick it in your purse,

briefcase,orBible,whereitwillbehandywheneveryoufeelledtopray.Nowdetermineatimeyouaregoingtoprayregularly,evenifitisjusttentofifteenminutes

eachmorning,atnoon,orbeforeyougotosleepatnight.(Daniel,whohadgreatsuccessinhissecularworld,prayedduringallthree!)ItisagoodideatostartonaSaturdaywhenyouarenotconstrainedbytimeorperhapsaSundaymorningrightafteryouwakeupandbeforeyoustartgettingreadyforchurch.Findaquietplace.Set theatmospherebyputtingonsomepraisemusic toplaysoftly in thebackgroundand

cutdownoutsidenoise,orturnontheliveWebfeedfromtheprayerroomattheInternationalHouseofPrayer inKansasCity through theirwebsiteatwww.ihopkc.org. It isalsogreat toplugintothiswhenIHOPpraysforspecifictopicsthatarealsoonyourheart—suchasinner-city missions and churches or sex trafficking. Again, check their website for when thesehappen.Ifyoufeelledto,singandpraiseGodforatime.Playaninstrumentinsteadofputtingonmusic.DowhateveryoufeelyoushoulddotoupliftyourLordandSaviorandwelcomeHispresence.ThenopentoAppendixB(oryouprayersheetorsmartphoneortabletdocument)andbegin

praying.Youmaywant tostartby justreadingoverandmeditatingonthescriptures in theoutlineandthenamesofGodandwhattheymean.AskGodaboutthem,thensitsilentlyandlistenforHisresponse.TellGodhowmuchyouappreciatewhoHeisandwhatHehasdoneforyou.Don’tbeinahurry.SimplysitandwelcomethepresenceofGod.Asyougettothesectionentitled“Petitions,Supplication,Intercessions,”readthroughthe

listandpraywhatevercomestomindforeachpersononebyone.Afteryouhaveprayedwhatyouknowtopray,asktheHolySpiritwhatHewouldhaveyoupray.AsPaulsaid,“Iwillpraywith the spirit, and I will also praywith the understanding [hismind]. I will singwith thespirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1 Cor. 14:15). About this process inintercession,OswaldChambersadvised:

It is not that we bring God into touch with our minds, but that we rouseourselvesuntilGodisabletoconveyHismindtousabouttheoneforwhomweintercede.IsJesusChristseeingofthetravailofHissoul inus?Hecannotunlesswe

aresoidentifiedwithHimselfthatwearerouseduptogetHisviewaboutthepeopleforwhomwepray.Maywelearntointercedesowhole-heartedlythatJesusChristwillbeabundantlysatisfiedwithusasintercessors.3

Repeatthisprocessforeverypersononthelist.WritedownnotesorScripturereferencesforthingsthatcometoyourmindasyoupray.Don’tjustquotethescriptures,butturnthemintoprayers,takingoutthepronounsandputtinginthenamesofthepeopleyouareprayingfor. For example, if youwere going to the Ephesians chapter 1 prayer for President BarakObama,itwouldgosomethinglikethis:

Ipray thatYou, theGodofourLord JesusChrist, theFatherofglory,wouldgive unto President Obama the spirit of wisdom and revelation in theknowledge of Your Son, Jesus; that the eyes of his understandingwould beenlightened; that thepresidentwouldknowwhat is thehopeofYourcallingforhis life,whataretherichesofthegloryofYourinheritanceinthesaints,and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward all of us whobelieve.4

Write—ortype—theseoutifyouneedtosothatyoucanreadthroughthemwordforwordandnotgetdistractedbyhavingtoreplacewordsorchangetheirwordingstofitonthefly.(You can also find resources, like the book Prayers That Avail Much, that are scripturalprayers for different topics that have blanks in them so you can easily insert names andpronouns.)Dothesameforthescripturesyoureadaspersonalpetitionsandforeachtopicfortherestoftheoutline,workingyourwaythroughtotheend.Asyoupreparetofinish,gobackintopraiseandworshipandthankGodthatHeisalreadyansweringyourprayers.Whenyousay“Amen,”rememberthatamenmeans,“Letitbeso,”not“good-byefornow.”

Youarenot“signingoff” tovisitwithGodagainthenextday;youaresigningyourprayerswithyourfaith.Itislikesigningyournametoaletteryouwerewritingacongressmanoronapetition. You are saying, “This is what I believe. This is why I believe it. These are thepromisesinYourWordforwhyitshouldcometopass.Letitbeso,inthenameofJesus.”WhileIthinkitisagoodideatogothroughtheentireoutlinethefirsttimeyoudothis,itis

toughinourmodernworldtospendthetimeitwouldtakeforthiseveryday,sohavesomegraceforyourself.AsIsaidbefore,Iwanttoyoutohaveaburdentopray(whattheyusedto

callthepromptingfromwithintheirheartsthattheyshouldprayforthisissueorthatperson),butIdon’twantprayertobeaburdenonyou—ayokeoflegalismorduty.Thereshouldbenoguiltformissingadayorfornothavingthetimetogothroughtheentireoutlineeachtimeyoulookat it.Pickandchoosefromitasyouseefit.Replacetheversesthatdon’tspeaktoyou.Skimsomeparts,andspendmoretimeinothersasyoufeelledbytheSpirit.LettheHolySpiritbeyourguideinthis—whatIhavegivenyouhereisjustaguidelinetouseasGodleadsyoutouseit.Whatis importantisthatyoudevelopalifestylewhereprayeriscentraltoeverythingyou

do.Moseswasknownasthehumblestmanwhowalkedtheearth,becausewheneverhefacedanissue,hewouldsimplyfalltohisfacerightwherehewasandstartpraying.Weshouldfeelfree to do the samewhenwemeet things throughout our days (though I think you shouldreallybeledbytheHolySpiritifyouaregoingtofalltoyourfaceinyourworkplaceoronthestreet to start praying!). We need to be a people willing to turn off the TV and spend aneveninginprayerandpraise.WeneedtoletGodknowweareavailablewhenHeneedsustointercede.Weneedtoletthedesiretopraygrowinuswithoutlettingitbecomealegalisticyokeofbondage.AsScripturetellsus,Jesusiswaitingtositandvisitwithusatalltimes:

Behold,Istandatthedoorandknock.IfanyonehearsMyvoiceandopensthedoor, Iwill come in tohimanddinewithhim, andhewithMe.TohimwhoovercomesIwillgranttositwithMeonMythrone,asIalsoovercameandsatdownwithMyFatheronHisthrone.

—REVELATION3:20–21

Asyoudevelopprayerinyourownlifeinthisway,lookforasmanyoutsidesupportsasyoucan.Arethereprayergroupsatyourchurchthatyoucanjoin,orisyourchurchopentoyouforming one? Meeting regularly with others to intercede, especially for specific topics orconcerns,isapowerfulsupportforalifeandcultureofprayer.Istherea24/7prayerroominyourcommunitywhereyoucansignupforashiftacoupletimesaweek?Itgreatlydecreasesdistractions to have a place to go and pray that is set aside for just that purpose. Again,perhapsyourchurchisopentocreatingsucharoomorisopenforpeopletogointothemainauditorium at certain hours of the day to pray. Pursue this particularly if you are havingtroublecarvingoutquiet,undisruptedtimeforprayerathome.Takeadvantageofwhateverresourcesstrengthenyourprayertimes,andasyougrow,createsuchresourcesforothersinyourareatosupportthecultureofprayerinyourcommunity.

GODHASEXTENDEDHISSCEPTERTOYOU

WhenEstherdid finallymakeher entrybeforeKingAhasuerus, herpreparationwasnot invain.Thekingextendedhissceptertoherandhonoredherrequesttocomeanddinewithher.Esthersetalavishtablebeforeherkingandwasgladtoconversewithhim,showingnohintthat sheneeded to rush through things so shecouldget to somethingelseor that shewasconcernedwithdoinganythingotherthanbeinginhispresence.Whenheaskedherforherpetitionat theendof thetimetogether,she invitedhimtoanothereveningwithher. Itwasspendingtimewithhimthatshewantedtoshowwasimportant,notjustgettingananswertowhateverherpetitionwas.When she did finally present her petition, the king not only granted it once, but twice,

extending the right to the Jewish people to arm themselves, defend themselves, and thenmake a spoil of their enemies, making sure it would be a long time before they werechallengedagain.Thelifeofprayerisalifeofstandingforandwithothers,justasJesusisdoingatthisvery

minute.WefocusonempoweringothersandseeingGod’skingdomestablishedintheirlives.WereachoutwiththepowerandwisdomofGodtoliftpeopleoutofthetrapsevilhassetforthem and find satisfaction and fulfillment in the presence ofGod. This is the life of seeingGod’sjusticerolldown,changingtheheartsoftheabusersandhealingtheabused.DonotletitbesaidofourgenerationthatwhenGodlookedforsomeonetostandinthegap

foranissue,Hecouldfindnoonewillingdoit.AllthosewhosaywebelongtoChristshouldbewillingtostandintheplace—andneedtodosoregularly.GodHimselfissuedtheinvitationinJeremiah33:3:“CalltoMe,andIwillansweryou,andshowyougreatandmightythings,whichyoudonotknow.”Oh,thereissomuchtoaccomplish,buttherearealsosomanyresourcesavailabletousif

wewouldtrustGodtorevealthemtous.PursueHiminprayerandliftupthenationstoHimthatHiswillmightbedoneinthemjustastheyareinheaven.Justicealwaysbeginswitha

peoplewhowillstandforitandnotbedenied.EnterbeforeourKinganddemandHisjusticeberealized.Theworld,afterall, iswaiting for thesonsanddaughtersofGod tomanifest.Maywebe

thatpeopleforaworldthatstillsoneedsourSavior.

APPENDIXA

ORGANIZATIONSFORJUSTICEANDFREEDOM

THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS are just a few ofmany. The ones I have listed are those thatfriends, staff members, or partners have suggested from the organizations they support. IurgeyoutocheckouttheirwebsitesordoageneralsearchonissuesthattouchyourheartandseewhereGodinspiresyoutoconnect,help,andpray.

HelpingorphansRiver’sPromisewww.riverspromise.org888.285.4669

WorldVisionwww.worldvision.org888.511.6443

PovertyandAIDSOnewww.one.org202.495.2700

TheneedyandhomelessTheSalvationArmywww.salvationarmyusa.orgPutinyourzipcodetofindtheirfacilitiesinyourarea.

Theprayerroommovement24-7Prayerwww.24-7prayer.comhttp://24-7prayer.us816.931.2841

TheInternationalHouseofPrayerwww.ihopkc.org816.763.0200

ReligiousfreedomOpenDoorswww.opendoorsusa.org888.524.2535(888-5-BIBLE-5)

TheVoiceoftheMartyrswww.persecution.com877.337.0302

SlaveryandsextraffickingExodusCrywww.exoduscry.com816.398.7490

iEmpathizewww.iempathize.com303.625.4074

Love146www.Love146.org203.772.4420

NotForSalewww.notforsalecampaign.org650.560.9990

APPENDIXB

ANEXAMPLEOFAPRAYERGUIDEFORPRAYINGTHE

DISCIPLE’SPRAYERPRAISE

“OurFatherwhoartinheaven...”WeareHischildrenbyvirtueof:

•Hisblood

ButnowinChristJesusyouwhooncewerefaroffhavebeenbroughtnearbythebloodofChrist.

—EPHESIANS2:13

•HisSpirit

ForthelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChristJesushasmademefreefromthelawofsinanddeath. . . .Forasmanyasare ledby theSpiritofGod, thesearesonsofGod.

—ROMANS8:2,14

•Ourfaith

ForyouareallsonsofGodthroughfaithinChristJesus.

—GALATIANS3:26

“HallowedbeYourname.”Hisnamesarecovenantnames:

•ElElyon:TheGodMostHigh

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; andblessedbeGodMostHigh,whohasdeliveredyourenemies intoyourhand.”Andhegavehimatitheofall.

—GENESIS14:19–20

Andhe[thedemon]criedoutwithaloudvoiceandsaid,“WhathaveItodowithYou,Jesus,SonoftheMostHighGod?IimploreYoubyGodthatYoudonottormentme.”

—MARK5:7

•ElShaddai:GodAlmighty

WhenAbramwasninety-nineyearsold,theLORDappearedtoAbramandsaidtohim,“IamAlmightyGod;walkbeforeMeandbeblameless.”

—GENESIS17:1

“IamtheAlphaandtheOmega,theBeginningandtheEnd,”saystheLord,

“whoisandwhowasandwhoistocome,theAlmighty.”

—REVELATION1:8

•ElOlam:TheEverlastingGod

ThenAbrahamplantedatamarisktreeinBeersheba,andtherecalledonthenameoftheLORD,theEverlastingGod.

—GENESIS21:33

JesusChrististhesameyesterday,today,andforever.

—HEBREWS13:8

•JehovahJireh:TheLord’sProvisionShallBeSeen

AndAbrahamcalledthenameoftheplace,The-Lord-Will-Provide;asitissaidtothisday,“IntheMountofTheLORDitshallbeprovided.”

—GENESIS22:14

Godisabletomakeallgraceaboundtowardyou,thatyou,alwayshavingallsufficiencyinallthings,mayhaveanabundanceforeverygoodwork.

—2CORINTHIANS9:8

•JehovahRophe:GodHeals

IfyoudiligentlyheedthevoiceoftheLORDyourGodanddowhat isright inHissight,giveeartoHiscommandmentsandkeepallHisstatutes,IwillputnoneofthediseasesonyouwhichIhavebroughtontheEgyptians.ForIamtheLORDwhohealsyou.

—EXODUS15:26

WhoHimselfboreoursinsinHisownbodyonthetree,thatwe,havingdiedtosins,mightliveforrighteousness—bywhosestripesyouwerehealed.

—1PETER2:24

•JehovahNissi:GodMyBanner

Mosesbuiltanaltarandcalleditsname,The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;forhesaid,“Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek fromgenerationtogeneration.”

—EXODUS17:15–16

ThanksbetoGod,whogivesusthevictorythroughourLordJesusChrist.

—1CORINTHIANS15:57

•JehovahM’kaddesh:TheLordWhoSanctifies

Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “SurelyMy Sabbaths you shallkeep, for it isasignbetweenMeandyouthroughoutyourgenerations, thatyoumayknowthatIamtheLORDwhosanctifiesyou.”

—EXODUS31:13

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me Hisprisoner,butsharewithme in thesufferings for thegospelaccordingto thepower of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, notaccording to ourworks, but according toHis ownpurpose andgracewhichwasgiventousinChristJesusbeforetimebegan.

—2TIMOTHY1:8–9

•JehovahShalom:TheLordIsPeace

SoGideonbuiltanaltartheretotheLORD,andcalleditThe-LORD-Is-Peace.

—JUDGES6:24

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, withthanksgiving,letyourrequestsbemadeknowntoGod;andthepeaceofGod,whichsurpassesallunderstanding,willguardyourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus.

—PHILIPPIANS4:6–7

•JehovahSabaoth:TheLordofHosts

ThismanwentupfromhiscityyearlytoworshipandsacrificetotheLORDofhostsinShiloh.

—1SAMUEL1:3

OrdoyouthinkthatIcannotnowpraytoMyFather,andHewillprovideMewithmorethantwelvelegionsofangels?

—MATTHEW26:53

•JehovahRohi:TheLordMyShepherd

TheLORDismyshepherd;Ishallnotwant.Hemakesmetoliedowningreenpastures;He leadsmebesidethestillwaters.Herestoresmysoul;He leadsme in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,Iwillfearnoevil;forYouarewithme;YourrodandYourstaff,theycomfortme.Youprepareatablebeforemeinthepresenceofmyenemies;Youanointmyheadwithoil;mycuprunsover.Surelygoodnessandmercyshall followmeall thedaysofmy life;andIwilldwellinthehouseoftheLordforever.

—PSALM23:1–6

Whenhebringsouthisownsheep,hegoesbeforethem;andthesheepfollowhim,fortheyknowhisvoice.

—JOHN10:4

•JehovahTsidkenu:GodOurRighteousness

InHisdays Judahwillbe saved,and Israelwilldwell safely;now this isHisnamebywhichHewillbecalled:THELORDOURRIGHTEOUSNESS.

—JEREMIAH23:6

ForHemadeHimwhoknewnosintobesinforus,thatwemightbecometherighteousnessofGodinHim.

—2CORINTHIANS5:21

•JehovahShammah:TheLordIsPresent

Allthewayaroundshallbeeighteenthousandcubits;andthenameofthecityfromthatdayshallbe:THELORDISTHERE.

—EZEKIEL48:35

Letyourconductbewithoutcovetousness;becontentwithsuchthingsasyouhave.ForHeHimselfhassaid,“Iwillneverleaveyounorforsakeyou.”Sowemayboldlysay:“TheLORD ismyhelper; Iwillnot fear.Whatcanmando tome?”

—HEBREWS13:5–6

SANCTIFICATION,SUPPLICATIONS,INTERCESSIONS

“Yourkingdomcome.Yourwillbedoneonearthasitisinheaven.”

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, andgivingof thanksbemade forallmen, forkingsandallwhoare inauthority,thatwemayleadaquietandpeaceablelifeinallgodlinessandreverence.ForthisisgoodandacceptableinthesightofGodourSavior.

—1TIMOTHY2:1–3

•Thegovernment1

•Presidentandspouse

Theking’sheartisinthehandoftheLORD,liketheriversofwater;HeturnsitwhereverHewishes.

—PROVERBS21:1

•Vicepresidentandspouse

•Congress

•Statesenators

•Districtrepresentatives

•Stateofficials,police,governmentworkers

•Governor

•Senatortothestateassembly

•Representativetothestateassembly

•Countycommissioners

•Mayor

•Pastorsinyourarea

•Otherministriesororganizations

•Yourfamily

•Yourfriends

•Othersyoufeelledtoprayfor

•PeaceinIsrael

PERSONALPETITIONS

“Giveusthisdayourdailybread.”

•Finances:putGodfirst

SeekfirstthekingdomofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddedtoyou.

—MATTHEW6:33

Beloved,Ipraythatyoumayprosperinallthingsandbeinhealth,justasyour

soulprospers.

—3JOHN2

MyGodshallsupplyallyourneedaccordingtoHisriches inglorybyChristJesus.

—PHILIPPIANS4:19

•Tithing

“Bringallthetithesintothestorehouse,thattheremaybefoodinMyhouse,andtryMenowinthis,”saystheLORDofhosts,“ifIwillnotopenforyouthewindowsofheavenandpourout foryousuchblessingthattherewillnotberoomenoughtoreceiveit.“AndIwillrebukethedevourerforyoursakes,sothathewillnotdestroythe

fruitofyourground,norshall thevinefail tobearfruit foryou inthefield,”saystheLORDofhosts;“andallnationswillcallyoublessed,foryouwillbeadelightfulland,”saystheLORDofhosts.

—MALACHI3:10–12

•Giving

But this I say: Hewho sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he whosowsbountifullywillalsoreapbountifully.Soleteachonegiveashepurposesinhisheart,notgrudginglyorofnecessity;forGodlovesacheerfulgiver.AndGodisabletomakeallgraceaboundtowardyou,thatyou,alwayshavingallsufficiencyinallthings,mayhaveanabundanceforeverygoodwork.

—2CORINTHIANS9:6–8

TheLORDwillcommandtheblessingonyouinyourstorehousesandinalltowhichyousetyourhand,andHewillblessyouinthelandwhichtheLORDyourGodisgivingyou.

—DEUTERONOMY28:8

Godlinesswithcontentmentisgreatgain.

—1TIMOTHY6:6

Makesure thatyourcharacter is free fromthe loveofmoney,beingcontentwithwhatyouhave;forHeHimselfhassaid,“Iwillneverdesertyou,norwillIeverforsakeyou,”sothatweconfidentlysay,“TheLordismyhelper,Iwillnotbeafraid.Whatwillmandotome?”

—HEBREWS13:5–6,NAS

•Healthandhealing

ButHewaswoundedforourtransgressions,Hewasbruisedforouriniquities;the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we arehealed.Allwelikesheephavegoneastray;wehaveturned,everyone,tohisownway;andtheLordhaslaidonHimtheiniquityofusall.

—ISAIAH53:5–6

ButiftheSpiritofHimwhoraisedJesusfromthedeaddwellsinyou,HewhoraisedChrist from thedeadwill alsogive life toyourmortalbodies through

HisSpiritwhodwellsinyou.

—ROMANS8:11

Myson,giveattentiontomywords;inclineyoureartomysayings.Donotletthemdepartfromyoureyes;keeptheminthemidstofyourheart;fortheyarelifetothosewhofindthem,andhealthtoalltheirflesh.Keepyourheartwithalldiligence,foroutofitspringtheissuesoflife.

—PROVERBS4:20–23

SANCTIFICATION

“Andforgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors.”

•Askforgiveness.

WhoeverhasbeenbornofGoddoesnotsin,forHisseedremainsinhim;andhecannotsin,becausehehasbeenbornofGod.

—1JOHN3:9

•Forgiveandreleaseothers

•Setyourwilltowalkinforgivenessthroughouttheday

“Anddonotleadusintotemptation,butdeliverusfromtheevilone.”

•PutonthefullarmorofGod(Eph.6:14–17).

»Loinsgirtaboutwithtruth

»Breastplateofrighteousness

»Feetshodwiththereadinessofthegospelofpeace

»Shieldoffaith

»Helmetofsalvation

»SwordoftheSpiritwhichistheWordofGod

•Prayahedgeofprotection.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under theshadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and myfortress;myGod,inHimIwilltrust.”...“BecausehehassethisloveuponMe,thereforeIwilldeliverhim;Iwillset

himonhigh,becausehehasknownMyname.HeshallcalluponMe,andIwillanswerhim; Iwill bewithhim in trouble; Iwill deliverhimandhonorhim.WithlonglifeIwillsatisfyhim,andshowhimMysalvation.”

—PSALM91:1–2,14–16

PRAISE“ForYoursisthekingdomandthepowerandthegloryforever.”

•ThankHimfortheanswerstoyourprayers.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anythingaccordingtoHiswill,Hehearsus.AndifweknowthatHehearsus,whateverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatwehaveaskedofHim.

—1JOHN5:14–15

Therefore I say toyou,whatever thingsyouaskwhenyoupray,believe thatyoureceivethem,andyouwillhavethem.

—MARK11:24

“Amen.”

NOTESINTRODUCTION

1.AndrewMurray,WithChristintheSchoolofPrayer(London:JamesNisbetandCompany,1887),vi–vii.ViewedatGoogleBooks.

PARTONETHECOURTOFHEAVEN

1. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald ChambersPublications;MarshallPickering,1986),March7,December13.

2. Goodreads.com, “Samuel Chadwick Quotes,” http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1148687.Samuel_Chadwick(accessedApril22,2013).

CHAPTER1ADVOCACYBEFORETHETHRONE

1.MadameGuyon,AShortMethodofPrayerandOtherWritings(Peabody,MA:HendricksonPublishers,Inc.,2005),18.2.CharlesG.Finney,LecturesonRevivalsofReligion(NewYork:Leavitt,LordandCompany,1835),218.ViewedatGoogle

Books.3.J.PaulReno,“PrevailingPrinceofPrayer(DanielNash),”1989,http://hopefaithprayer.com/prayernew/prevailing-prince-

of-prayer-daniel-nash-j-paul-reno/(accessedApril22,2013).4.AsreferencedinLeonardRavenhill,WhyRevivalTarries(Bloomington,MN:BethanyHouse,2004),53.ViewedatGoogle

Books.5.KennethHagin,TheArtofPrayer(Tulsa,OK:FaithLibraryPublications,1992),13.6.Ibid.7.CindyJacobs,PossessingtheGatesoftheEnemy(GrandRapids,MI:ChosenBooks,2009),59.ViewedatGoogleBooks.8.DickEastman,LoveonItsKnees(Tarrytown,NY:ChosenBooks,1989),21,asquotedinJacobs,PossessingtheGatesof

theEnemy,57.ViewedatGoogleBooks.9. JohnWesley,APlainAccountofChristianPerfection, inTheWorksof theRev. JohnWesley, vol. 8 (NewYork: J.& J.

Harper,1827),60.ViewedatGoogleBooks.10.CharlesG.Finney,MemoirsofRev.CharlesG.Finney(NewYork:A.S.BarnesandCompany,1876),142–143.Viewed

atGoogleBooks.

CHAPTER2THEKINGWESERVE

1.OswaldChambers,MyUtmostforHisHighest(NewYork:Dodd,MeadandCompany,1985),March19.2.W.E.Vine,MerrillF.Unger,andWilliamWhite Jr.,Vine’sCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestament

Words,vol.2(Nashville:ThomasNelson,1996),s.v.“peace;shalom.”3.Chambers,MyUtmostforHisHighest,March20.

CHAPTER3DRESSEDFORSUCCESS

1.EdwardM.Bounds,PowerThroughPrayer(Chicago:MoodyPublishers,2009),18.ViewedatGoogleBooks.2.QuotationsBook.com,QuotesbyMartinLuther(N.p.:N.d.,),1.ViewedatGoogleBooks.3.AndrewMurray,ThePrayerLife(N.p.:ReadaClassic.com,2011),9.4. Norman Grubb,ReesHowells, Intercessor (Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 1952), 83–86. Viewed at Google

Books.5.Chambers,MyUtmostforHisHighest,March15.6.D.L.Moody,PrevailingPrayer:WhatHindersIt?(Chicago:FlemingH.Revell,1884),102.ViewedatGoogleBooks.7.Murray,WithChristintheSchoolofPrayer,59–60.ViewedatGoogleBooks.

CHAPTER4“WHAT’SNEXT,PAPA?”

1.Bounds,PowerThroughPrayer,112.ViewedatGoogleBooks.2. John Wesley, The Journal of John Wesley, Christian Classics Ethereal Library,

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.vi.ii.xvi.html(accessedApril24,2013).3.Vine,Unger,andWhite,Vine’sCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestamentWords,s.v.“grace.”4.CharlesG.Finney,Power,Passion,andPrayer(Alachua,FL:Bridge-Logos,2004),177–178.ViewedatGoogleBooks.5.Wesley,APlainAccountofChristianPerfection,61.ViewedatGoogleBooks.

PARTTWOTHEDISCIPLINEOFINTERCESSION

1.Grubb,ReesHowells,Intercessor,212.ViewedatGoogleBooks.

CHAPTER5FIRSTOFALL

1.AndrewMurray,TheMinistryofIntercession(London:JamesNisbetandCo.,Ltd.,1898),203.ViewedatGoogleBooks.2.Formoreonprayingthe“disciple’sprayer”asanoutlineforyourownHolySpirit–ledprayertimes,seemybookThe

PrayerWarrior’sWay,whichgoesintomuchmoredepthonthatsubjectthanwehavespacetodiscusshere.3.Spider-Man,directedbySamRaimi(2002;Hollywood,CA:ColumbiaPictures,2002),DVD.4.AsquotedinH.JohnLyke,WhatWouldOurFoundingFathersSay?(Bloomington,IN:iUniverse,2012),130.Viewedat

GoogleBooks.5.Chambers,MyUtmostforHisHighest,April1.

CHAPTER6BROTHERSANDSISTERSINCHAINS

1.AndrewMurray,ThePrayerLife(Chicago:MoodyPublishers,1941),chapter1.ViewedatGoogleBooks.2.SusanLlewelynLeach,“SlaveryIsNotDead,JustLessRecognizable,”ChristianScienceMonitor,September1,2004,

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0901/p16s01-wogi.html (accessedApril25,2013);StephanieHanes, “HumanTrafficking:AMisunderstood Global Scourge,” Christian Science Monitor, September 9, 2012, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2012/0909/Human-trafficking-a-misunderstood-global-scourge(accessedApril25,2013).

3. Helen Mees, “Does Legalizing Prostitution Work?”, Project Syndicate, February 3, 2009,http://www.policyinnovations.org/ideas/commentary/data/000107(accessedApril25,2013);RachelLloyd,“LegalityLeadstoMore Trafficking,” New York Times, April 19, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/19/is-legalized-prostitution-safer/legalizing-prostitution-leads-to-more-trafficking(accessedApril25,2013).

4.SuzanneEller,“MoreChristiansHaveBeenKilledforTheirFaithinthe20thCenturyThanHaveBeenMartyredintheTotalHistoryofChristianity,”ASSISTNewsService,September21,2001,http://www.assistnews.net/strategic/s0109069.htm(accessedApril25,2013).

5. UCANews.com, “Persecution Kills 150,000 Christians Every Year,” September 12, 2012,http://www.ucanews.com/news/persecution-kills-150000-christians-every-year/60090(accessedApril25,2013).

6.ShaohuaChenandMartinRavallion,“TheDevelopingWorldIsPoorerThanWeThought,butNoLessSuccessfulintheFightAgainstPoverty,”WorldBank,August2008,asreferencedinAnupShah,“PovertyFactsandStats,”GlobalIssues.org,January7,2013,http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats(accessedApril25,2013).

7. Anup Shah, “Today, Around 21,000 Children Died Around the World,” GlobalIssues.org, September 24, 2011,http://www.globalissues.org/article/715/today-21000.children-died-around-the-world(accessedApril25,2013).

8. NBCNews.com. “Today Is World Water Day; More Than 780 Million People Don’t Have Access to Clean Water,”PHOTOBlog, March 22, 2012, http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/22/10813804-today-is-world-water-day-more-than-780-million-people-dont-have-access-to-clean-water?lite(accessedApril25,2013).

9.MichaelElliott, “Bono:FightPoverty to ‘ZeroZone,’”March17,2013,http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/17/opinion/elliott-bono-ted-poverty(accessedApril25,2013).

10. World Health Organization, “Malaria: Fact Sheet No. 94,” March 2013,http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/(accessedApril25,2013).

11.E.G.Carre,ed.,PrayingHyde:TheLifeStoryofJohnHyde(Alachua,FL:BridgeLogos,1982),32.ViewedatGoogleBooks.

CHAPTER7INWORDANDDEED

1.Vine,Unger,andWhite,Vine’sCompleteExpositoryDictionaryofOldandNewTestamentWords,s.v.“perfect.”2.E.M.Bounds,TheNecessityofPrayer, chapter8, “PrayerandCharacterandConduct,”viewedatChristianClassics

EtherealLibrary,http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bounds/necessity.ix.html(accessedApril30,2013).3.S.D.Gordon,QuietTalksonPrayer(NewYork:FlemingH.RevellCompany,1904),19.

CHAPTER8LETJUSTICEROLLDOWN

1.ThefollowingdialogueistakenfromActs9:4–6.2.Finney,LecturesonRevivalsofReligion,96.ViewedatGoogleBooks.3.Chambers,MyUtmostforHisHighest,March31.4.PrayerbasedonEphesians1:17–19.

APPENDIXBANEXAMPLEOFAPRAYERGUIDEFORPRAYINGTHEDISCIPLE’SPRAYER

1. See www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet, www.senate.gov, and www.house.gov for names of nationalgovernmentofficials.

TableofContentsPrologueIntroductionPARTONE:THECOURTOFHEAVEN

1AdvocacyBeforetheThroneUnderstandingtheJudiciaryofHeaven

2TheKingWeServeInsideInformationontheSupremeJudge

3DressedforSuccessClothedinRighteousness

4“What’sNext,Papa?”TheAdventureofPrayerintheSpirit

PARTTWO:THEDISCIPLINEOFINTERCESSION5FirstofAll

ThoseinAuthority6BrothersandSistersinChains

TacklingWorldIssuesinPrayer7InWordandDeed

ThePowerofAligningYourWordsWithHis8LetJusticeRollDown

LetFreedomRingAppendixA:OrganizationsforJusticeandFreedomAppendixB:AnExampleofaPrayerGuideforPrayingtheDisciple’sPrayerNotes