"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men."
-1 Corinthians 12:4-5 (NLT)-
Good morning, afternoon or evening - wherever you are!
This post is about a movement we must make. If you pray, if you don't pray, if you've never prayed, if you pray every day...this post is for you.
God told us to "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Malachi 3:10, ESV).
God's Holy Spirit is not contained to just one area. He does not just live in Montana or New York or Paris or Israel. No, God's Spirit is wholly and fully alive in each one of us who has accepted and received Jesus Christ as our Savior. That means, if you're reading this, and you have that - you have a duty to pray for your brothers and sisters in every nation on this earth. If you don't, pray anyway and pray that you would come to know Jesus so that you might also share in our inheritance as his people.
Today, we are going to pray together at 5 p.m. Wherever you are, in whatever country, at 5:00 p.m., pray for delivery from Jehovah in Jesus' name for each Spirit-filled Christian in every nation on earth. Remember, God had not revealed his holy name, Jehovah, until he showed Moses how to lead the Israelites out of captivity and into liberty and freedom.
Earlier this week, the news showed a clip from the refugee camps in Turkey; specifically the hundreds of children who had lost their parents and are now orphans with brutal injuries. I cried. Imagine yourself at 2 or 3 years old on up, and imagine everything being taken from you, including your parents. Imagine living in a strange place with nothing but fright and fear for coverings. It is an injustice too heavy and too grieving to bear. These children need our prayers. These people need our prayers. They need God to act in a mighty and powerful way on their behalf.
Guess who can pray as intercessory for them? Us. Because we know Jesus and He is our Advocate.
We are each given different gifts: message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different languages, interpretation of languages (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, NIV).
Think of what would happen if we actually tapped into those gifts we are given and asked God how he wants to use us this week to help the refugees in those camps.
Healers: you have a special gift because it comes in many forms. Do not be afraid. When God moves in you, it can be through burning heat within, tears, a cool fresh breeze, an aching for whoever is hurting, praying fervently specifically for your gift to be shared with for whom you are praying. The list goes on. Embrace it, and ask God how you can be used for these people.
Leadership: Many examples in the Bible will help you understand how you are to lead. Jesus is the greatest leader of all. Wash their feet, humble yourselves, speak wisely, listen intently, pray before you act, treat others as you would want to be treated. Just because you are in a position of power and authority does not mean you use it to selfishly gain status or recognition. Remember whom you come from.
Medical: Your wisdom and knowledge of the human body: mind, emotions, will, physical, is needed in countries whom don't have such education. Esteem to do what's right. Have courage to make tough calls. Volunteer your time. Educate those around you, even in simple terms so they might help too. Listen.
Teachers: You have the phenomenal ability to transfer learned information from yourself to others. Teach goodness, and righteousness. Teach humility and compassion; love for others, love of yourself. Teach transparent relationships. Teach faith over fear. Teach gentleness and expectations of worthy living. We all were made for something more than we can ever imagine. You have the responsibility to pass that on; to encourage and believe in those whom come under your teaching. Use your voice. Use your actions. Use your faith to guide and lead others into understanding and knowledge.
Faithful Followers: faith is essential in this movement. We cannot move without our faith. It is what enables us to stretch, dare and move. God cannot use us if he calls us or directs or guides or leads us in some way to help and we do not have faith, "the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see" (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).
Do you remember how they all were qualified by God? Obedience. And how did they get to increase in their faith and therefore obey when he directed them? Prayer. It all starts with prayer. We must pray without ceasing, diligently, watchfully and earnestly.
Remember, Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV):
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise."
When we are truly broken, we pray with an honesty and an earnestness about us that even surprises ourselves. We are able to lay everything at his feet. Prayer warriors, this one especially goes out to you this week. Please pray for these refugees. Please pray for those across the world who are in camps we've not even heard about on the news or in the newspapers. Our faith must carry us in prayer for these people; for our brothers and sisters whom we don't even know.
Throughout Hebrews 11, Paul reminds us and teaches us about those "greats" throughout history regarding their faith. Keep this close today:
"...They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16, NLT)
and
When you're thinking and praying to our God, our Jehovah, remember why Moses was so precious to God:
"It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt. He was not afraid of the king. Moses kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27, NLT).
When you're thinking of how to best pray for those who are hurting right now across the world, keep this close:
"Continue to love each other with true Christian love.
Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself.
Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies...
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.
Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God."
(Hebrews 13:1-3, 8, 15-16, NLT).
"And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him." (Hebrews 13:20, NLT).
Everyone: we can do this. We can give five, ten, fifteen, thirty minutes of our time to pray today at 5:00 p.m. for refugees across the world. As Mother Theresa of Calcutta said, "Love has a hem to her garment that reaches the very dust. It sweeps the streets and lanes, and because it can, it must."
We have Love living within us. Because we can, we must.
Pray this today at 5:00 p.m. (wherever you are!). Those of you in larger countries: China, Brazil, Russia, United Kingdom, India - please pass this prayer onto other blogs, to your families, to your friends, to organizations who move in the name of Jesus. Those of you in smaller countries, please rejoice with your villages, townships, and families and friends. Those of you who are alone in your efforts, praise God. You are known by your faith. Thank Him that you know Him. Pray this in humility, and with an earnest and fervent heart. Fast for six days: whether it be a food, an attitude, an opinion, a bad word, a bad habit. Fast something that will take great diligence for you to withstand not doing, saying, thinking or eating. Pray for the next six days on your own accord or with this prayer again: unceasingly!
Pray with us:
"Heavenly Father, you are our Abba, our Mighty to Save, our God Almighty, our Alpha and Omega. We come to you in your name of Jehovah, eternal and everlasting. We praise you that you gave us your different names throughout the Bible so that we might know you deeper and more intimately as we study your Word. Thank you that you are a God who saves. Thank you that we can confidently say, "The Lord is my refuge and my rock. He is my salvation. Of whom shall I be afraid?"
Abba, we know that praying with praise rebukes all negativity, traps and footholds. We thank you that anything that is not in line with your Truth, we can say, "The Lord rebuke you!" just as Archangel Michael did. Thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit, from whom we can hear and be lead of how to pray, what to say in prayer, and for whom to pray.
Thank you, Jehovah, that you are mighty to save. Thank you that you gave us the example of freedom and liberation all those years ago with Moses and the Israelites. Thank you that we can depend on examples like that of old and still use your Truth today.
Father, we are a hurting people today. Just as your Word says, we hurt and are in sorrow because our brothers and sisters are also hurting and share much sorrow today. We come to you with broken spirits, with thanksgiving, and with praise, asking that you do a mighty work for these people, these refugees, in their land. They have been displaced God, and though we are to be like nomads and treat our time on earth as foreigners, these people did not go to these camps through your leadership. Instead, they are suffering Lord.
We come boldly to your throne, with Jesus knowing our heart's intentions and as our Advocate, asking you Father to have mercy upon them. We are asking you to lead them into your Kingdom, to place godly people around them who know you, who will pray with them and teach them about You.
We ask that you deliver them from their personal darkness and fears. For Your perfect love casts out all fear. Father, they desperately need your Presence. Please fill them with You.
Jesus, these children are alone and afraid; many without hope. You taught us to not hinder the little children, but to let them come to you. Please Jesus, make a way for the children to come to you, to know you, to put their confidence and hope in you, as many of us did when we were children. They are too precious to be left out. We pray for your hand of favor upon them.
God, to those of us who have gifts who can serve you in some way in this time of need, please move us. We are coming to you with reckless abandon and with complete expectation that you will move in us and through us; that our faith will please you; that our obedience will qualify us to help accomplish a great mission for you.
Lord, many of us have left behind lives we know were not filled with You. Many of us can share our stories for why we live the way we do; from what you have saved us; about what we believe. Use us.
We lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross, realizing and recognizing that we are not at war with human flesh and blood, but of that in the unseen worlds in the darkness. We rejoice because Jesus has overcome the darkness, and being in Him, in your adopted family, we have overcome the darkness too. So, we are not afraid. We do not despair. We proclaim your righteousness, and your love.
Thank you for a wake up call that tells us we are not our own; we were bought for a high price and we offer our lives as a willing sacrifice. Lord, our brothers and sisters need you. Please work through us, move through us to help them. Even if you call us just to pray each day, please Holy Spirit, give us the words to say. Father, open up the storehouse. Pour blessings upon these refugee camps just as you promised. Let us give the world an opportunity to see your grace and love. The victory belongs to you.
In Jesus' name we pray and ask all these things with complete thanksgiving. Amen."
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