The Power of Intercession (excerpt)
Filed under: Godly Principles, Inspirational Articles, Prayers
Current Mood:
Anointed
The following is an excerpt from The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian, Page 37. I pray this blesses you and reminds you that prayer works and is the answer! God bless you!
*Read and Consider*
Exodus 32:1-14
“Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.” (Exodus 32:14)
Can prayer change God’s mind? God was angry with the Israelite’s disobedience, corruption, and rebellion, and He spoke to Moses of His intent to destroy them. Moses, however, sought God’s favor and pleased with the Lord to spare the very people He had miraculously brought out of Egypt. Exodus 32:14 says the Lord “relented,” which means He decided not to do as He had planned. Did Moses actually change the mind of God?
Scripture speaks again and again of the power of intercession. The power is not in us as human beings, of course, or in the order or frequency of the words we speak. The power comes solely from God, the One who hears us. “The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful” (James 5:16).
Intercession is empowered when it is based on the promises of God. You can pray for another person, but if what you’re asking is not consistent with or contradicts His promises, your prayers won’t be effective. When your prayers for another are in line with His Word, God will respond. This is another good reason to read the Bible daily.
Base your prayers on the truth of God’s Word. As Moses did, you can pray God’s Word back to Him, reminding Him of what He has promised. You can stand before God “in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30) and intercede for the lives of others, and for your nation. Intercession is a precious privilege. Who knows what a difference your prayers can make?
*
Lord, help me to have a greater knowledge of Your Word so that I will always pray in alignment with Your will. I know the power I have in prayer is Your power working through me. Help me to never get in the way of what You want to do in response to my prayers. Help me to make a major difference in the lives of my family, friends, and neighbors when I pray.
Excerpt from The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian, Page 37
Darkness In Disguise
I was talking to a friend just the other day and she was telling me how she has become disgusted and disillusioned. She was talking about her faith and what she has seen in so many “so-called” Christians. You see she had befriended a couple who were “Ministers” in a large church and being the trusting soul that she is she thought that if her and her family became friends with these people that it would encourage better behavior in herself and her family. Her initial assumptions were correct if these people were indeed model Christians but….
Too many of us out there are “perpetrating a fraud” when it comes to the outward appearance of our “Christian Walk.” We act like we got it all together but we don’t. People ask how we are doing, and we say things like; “I am blessed and highly favored” or “Child you know I’m blessed” when the truth of the matter is: we are “darkness disguised as being the light.” Let me tell you first that I know that I don’t have it all together, day by day the Lord is continuing to teach me and guide me in ways I never thought or imaged. Every day I sin and I fall short of the Lords Glory. I am a sinner saved by Grace. As long as I recognize this, I am still a child of the light.
Did you know that the Devil is in your church? He may be in the pulpit, sitting in the deacons section (you know he is in the choir); he could even be sitting right next to you. “Darkness in disguise of the light.” All the time roaming, looking to see what he can get into or to who he can devour. The Bible tells us that: “…the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy,” so it is natural for the “Thief” (the Devil) to be in the church. Those outside of the church already belong to him, so the church is fertile ground for the devil. The church therefore is a place for the devil to find fresh meat.
The Bible tells us that we are the light of the world, yet we enjoy associating with the darkness. Christians, we need to take a new stand. The Bible says: “Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.” Come out from among them (the darkness), they mean you no good.
The Scriptures tell us that one day that Jesus will come and all the angels with HIM and HE will sit on HIS glorious throne. Before HIM will be gathered all the nations, and HE will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and HE will place the sheep at HIS right hand, but the goats at the left. JESUS will say to those at HIS right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of MY Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Then the Lord will say to those at HIS left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’
I cannot speak for anyone but myself, I want to be on the right, I want to be with the sheep and with the light on the right not with the goats and the darkness on the left. We were created to be light. The Bible says: “For you are all sons (and daughters) of light and sons (and daughters) of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”
Therefore be a child of the ‘Light’ Brothers and Sisters, I urge you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with humbleness and meekness, with patience and tolerance for each other in love.
The Reward Greatly Exceeds the Cost, But Yes, It Will Cost!
Filed under: Biblical Teachings, Godly Principles, What Does the Bible Say About That?
Current Mood: Anointed
One of the many things I love about God is that, contrary to the satan, God let’s you know up front that following Him will cost you; whereas satan will play up or exaggerate the fun you’ll have sinning but neglect to give you the fine print i.e. price you will pay.
As a 41 year young woman, mother of 4 and a sold-out follower of Christ, I have learned that what seems like 5 minutes of harmless fun (sin) can cost you 15 years of hard grief and suffering. The lust in your heart and satan using it against you, will convince you that you can sin and get away with it; however, the Bible makes it very clear that when sin is finished, it will produce one thing and one thing only: DEATH (James 1:13-16).
In the Scripture below, Jesus let’s you know the price for following Him. But before you read and get freaked out, let me let you know the rewards are GREATER than the sacrifice. The principle of sow and reap still applies (harvest is always greater and longer than the seed). With that said, if you are sowing your life unto God, do you really think your harvest will not be greater and longer than that which you’ve sown?
Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV)
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:25-33 (MSG)
25-27One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
28-30″Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
31-32″Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?
33″Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.
A FEW Scriptures on the Rewards- Both NOW and in the Future (Eternity)
Mark 10:28-31; John 10:10, 28-30; I Corinthians 2:9; I Thesalonians 4:13-18; Revelations 21:1-7; 22:12-14
We’re in the red
Current Mood: Anointed & Blessed & 
Convicted & 
Esctatic & 
Faith-filled & 
Filled with Praise!!! & 
Happy & On Fire 4 God!
Happy Holidays
Wow, where has time gone? It has been a rough year for everybody and I know that alot of people are glad to see this year go in hopes of a better year in 2012. It’s Thanksgiving time and of course we are all ready for the food, family and fun that comes along with Thanksgiving. However, there is something else that brings anticipation to some, we see commercials about it, we hear other people talking about it and then sit back and watch what happens. We all know what I am speaking of….the infamous BLACK FRIDAY.
I can say that I have never took part in Black Friday, however I have heard the stories. I have always wondered what it looked like in the parking lot of a mall at 12 midnight when stores are about to open. Well this year I got a first hand look at what it looked like. I was picking my son up from work at a mall theater, I drove into the parking lot and there I was met by headlights of cars pulling up…some people had already started to form a line outside of the major stores. They had pillows, blankets and books to camp out until the clock struck 12 midnight. I was amazed, almost to the point of slowing down just so I could see. I wondered to myself…Is this right? Could it be me standing in that line? the more I thought it out, my answer was still the same.
This is year is different for me, in the sense that I have no job and no income coming in and I have two children so I have learned a lesson through the year and that lesson is just to be thankful and love those around you and be grateful for them. I know Santa is the kid in all of us and that is what kids understand. However, due to this economy we are in, it has forced me to see things differently. I have also taught my kids to do the same. It is important that we understand the times that we are living in. There are so many people that are going without right now…without clothes, without food, without shelter, without jobs that it just make you want to cry. Most of these big businesses that we support on Black Friday are in the same situation that most individuals are. Suprising isn’t it? Yes, they too are in the red (financially), and has struggled throughout the year just to keep their doors opened. Black Friday is their “Checkmate” day. Your money that is spent moves them from one status to the other…from red (financial loss), back to the black status. We don’t think about it this way because we as a society are too busy trying to get the deal they promised. Once they have the television home, or the set of kitchen appliances…that man on the corner is still homeless, that child is still hungry. And the list of agencies that can help has run out of money to even attempt to help them. This is the society in which we live.
For those of us who actually get what this time of year really mean, we are never in the red, as long as we stay in the word and believe in our hearts we will always show a positive balance. I know there are alot of people who wish that they could participate or even get their kids Christmas but don’t have the funds to do so. It is ok, because what they do have is the love of God and they are closely wrapped in his arms during this time of year. Most people equate Christmas with money and gifts, with some of the gifts being expensive in nature. When Jesus was born and lay in the manger the three wisemen bought gifts to their new born King. Each gift represented something:
Gold: Jesus would be King
Frankincense: An aromatic gum from trees, used in worship
Myrrh: An aromatic resin that would be used to annoint his body
All three of these gifts had a purpose. So while out shopping this year I challenge each of you to purchase gifts with meaning. I challenge each of you to stay in your financial lane, I challenge each of you to stay in God’s word and strengthen your relationship with God because when you do that you never have to worry about being in the red. God knows our every need.
Matthew 6:31-32
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
The Power Of Gratitude
Filed under: Biblical Teachings, Family Life, Godly Principles, Healing, Inspirational Articles, Miracles, Prayers, Testimonies
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)
We are all familiar with this wonderful passage of scripture where the Bible tells us; “Be careful for nothing; but in every-thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (KJV) However the New Living Translation gives this Scripture greater meaning as it is written in a more modern vernacular.
Gods’ Word for us is that we are to “REJOICE” in everything letting the World see that even though they don’t believe as we do, that we are and will be considerate of them as well. We are to rejoice, not worrying about anything but praying for everything. I believe that sometimes Christians forget that God has our back. We forget that when God puts us on a path or gives us an assignment that God will be there with us until its completion. After all doesn’t the Bible say; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble?” Ps. 46:1 (KJV)
The NLT version of the Bible says therefore; “tell God what you need and thank HIM for all that he has done.” Let me ask you a question? When God has done something for you, do you forget to say: “Thank you?” Not just the big things but the (so-called) small things as well. Do we forget that without HIS “Grace and Mercy,” we might have passed away in our sleep? Without HIS wonderful hedge of protection over us we could have been hit by a car, murdered, robbed or so many other misfortunate events could have happened to us. But HIS grace and HIS mercy protected you from all ‘hurt, harm and danger.’
On October 20, 2011 my oldest son who will be forty two years old November 21st was stabbed twice in his chest in New York City, once in this lung and once in his heart. He expired once in the ambulance and twice on the operating table in the hospital. My son and I haven’t had a relationship for several years; however he contacted me October 19, this is something that I’d been praying for, for many years. When I went to see him in the hospital, he had tubes coming out of him in several places including his chest and a ventilator was helping him breathe. I wasn’t overly worried, that is not to say I don’t love my son because I do, if I could have traded places with him I would have gladly done so. Unless you have children you may not understand that when we see our children, even though they are grown, even though they have beards or children of their own, we still see them as the little babies we used to care for (at least I do).
To make a long story short, I wasn’t overly worried because, I KNOW GOD. You see, God would not have put my son back into my life and then take him away. God is not cruel like that. God doesn’t give you something and then snatch it away in cruelty, that’s what the devil does. So I knew deep down inside that my son was going to be alright. That my friends, that is the power of Gratitude in action. When we are grateful and give God thanks, the Bible says; “we will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything that we can understand.” And that; “His Peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus.”
Now you might be saying; “This isn’t about you, it’s about your son.” I disagree; God is great enough and powerful enough to take care of me, my son, you, your problems, Israel, Zambia and the problems of the entire world all at the same time. We must remember; to give God thanks in all things, and God will reward us with HIS Peace. By the way, my son was released from the hospital in a record eight days. His life was spared by a loving caring God…
Relationship with the One leads to the one
Current Mood: Blessed
When will it be my turn? I find that many women begin asking this question as they witness their peers getting married and starting families. I must also include the men, as there are many men who have a desire to get married and start a family. Though, it seems women bear the brunt of this pressure. As Christians, it is our job to set the example on starting a family…the right way.
Through my personal experiences, I found that building a solid relationship with Christ opens the door for all other opportunities. Right relationships included. When we build a solid foundation in our relationship with the Lord, we give Him the opportunity to work on us and develop us.
“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.” – Luke 6:47-48.
The times when we become desperate are the times when we must diligently seek the Lord. Seek His Wisdom, His Power and His Holiness. So many times we make the mistake of falling in love with the idea of being married that we choose the wrong one. Therefore, it is imperative that we step back and allow God to choose for us.
Being of the mentality of wanting to get married, rather than desiring authenticity in our relationships, opens the door for disappointment. And when relationships fail to prosper we fall into this abyss of confusion, second guessing ourselves and questioning what went wrong. But who is more authentic than God! From these broken relationships God has a chance to heal us and build us. God can point out our miscues and through his Word, give us pointed advice on how to empower and ameliorate ourselves.
We must control our desire to rush things. Patience is a virtue and no one better demonstrates this than Ruth. Ruth lost the only life she knew, though her patience caused God to move on her behalf and grant her a new husband. Ruth completely humbles herself, works in the field among the other workers and collects scraps. Through her patience and humble spirit, she is granted the right one. The one God has for her.
Says Boaz: “…I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown.” – Ruth 4:10
It is so important to remember that only God knows who our true “soulmate” is. He knows us better than we know ourselves and only has our best interests in His heart. This is precisely the reason why we must build a strong relationship with Him, because to know God is to know ourselves.
“Now seek the Lord your God with all your heart.” – 1Chronicles 22:19
Marriage: God’s Ordnance For Mankind
While I may not be an expert on marriage and relationships, I do understand clearly what is said by the Word of God concerning the relationship between male and female. I was asked a question just yesterday by the wife of a good friend who was being inundated with comments by non Christians and probably Christians also, about the plight of another young woman. It seems that the woman in question was 28 years old with 8 children; her husband has been accused of abusing one or more of these children and the children were taken away from them. Her and her husband (as was told by the news) had abducted the children from children’s services and were on the run. What was said to my friends’ wife was: “That’s God’s fault for allowing her to have so many children.” My friends’ wife said that she was having a hard time answering these questions, that she needed some ammunition to help her in her defense of our Lord.
Let me first say that when God made humanity, HE told mankind (Adam and Eve); ‘be fruitful and multiply.’ God did not make man and woman to have sex outside of marriage, but we know that mankind has been disobedient since the ‘Garden.’ When we are disobedient to God, are our human bodies suppose to stop responding in the way that God created them? God gave us free will and with that free will, we are free to sin and disobey and we are free to live in obedience and righteousness, the choice belongs to us.
Probably one of the most important doctrines of marriage is mentioned in the book of Ephesians 5:33 without this I do not believe any marriage will work, it says: “Each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (NLT).” What is most profound about this Scripture is that the Bible does not tell the wife to love her husband. It is assumed that if a woman gives herself to a man that she will love him, she is told instead to respect him because respect to a man is the most important thing that you could give him. The Bible is actually looking at it from the prospective of the opposite individual. If the man loves his wife he will not only respect her but he is willing to die for her. When a wife loves her husband she is giving him her love with all her heart.
Marriage is Gods’ Ordinance for mankind, why do we intentionally interpret the rules and regulations of marriage in a way that pleases us instead of being in obedience to God? Nowhere in the Bible does it say that either husband or wife is to be controlling, manipulative or abusive. Yet so many of us claim to be Bible believing Christians and we instead are seen as tyrants or bullies to our spouses. We can love other Christians, we can even love non-Christians but we have trouble showing real love toward each other. Gods’ people were saved to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, but too often we cannot be distinguished from those who do not know God.
Marriage is God’s wonderful way of providing relationships for mankind. It is His way of allowing us to be fruitful and multiplying. When God created Eve, He did so because it was not good for man to be by himself. Marriage is God’s way of saying to humanity; “I love you.” All we need to do is love Him back…
About the Author
Name: Naima, aka "MsLadyNi"
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Web Site: http://www.naimawilliams.org
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Bio: This fiery yet humble servant of God ministers under an authentic prophetic anointing yet has a teaching ministry style. She also has a deep, genuine passion for the building up and edifying the body of Christ. Since her membership of Shekinah Glory Outreach Ministries International in Chesapeake, VA, under the pastorate of Bishop A. Ray Rouson, she’s faithfully served as a part of the street team ministry, a Sunday school teacher, an Associate Minister, and later the Director of Evangelism. She also spearheaded their Online Outreach Ministry and served as its President and Editor in Chief. During her tenure at SGOMI, she also became certified by Christian International Apostolic Network founded Dr. Bill Hamon, to teach how to properly minister in the prophetic based upon Scripture. Additionally, she also served on the prophetic team at Destiny Spirit Apostolic Network under the pastorate of Apostle Astern. She served in these capacities until the Lord called her to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia in July 2010. To read more about Naima, click "About" then "Who's Naima" located on the top horizontal menu. You can also visit her official website at www.NaimaWilliams.org and her eJournal at www.NaimaWilliams.com/blog! Be sure to connect to her through MySpace and Facebook!
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