Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.09
Did you know that intercessory
prayer is the greatest school of
00:00:02.12\00:00:05.70
training to become Christlike?
00:00:05.73\00:00:07.75
Please join us today on
Pressing Into His Presence.
00:00:07.78\00:00:11.99
We'll be discussing this and
why intercessory prayer is also
00:00:12.02\00:00:16.22
the highest calling to ministry.
00:00:16.25\00:00:18.47
Welcome to
Pressing Into His Presence.
00:00:40.34\00:00:42.67
This series on
prayer is something that is
00:00:42.70\00:00:46.30
just so special to me.
00:00:46.61\00:00:47.64
And our hope is that you are
reaping the benefit of a more
00:00:47.67\00:00:52.50
intimate prayer life with God
as we go through this teaching.
00:00:52.53\00:00:57.12
This series was taken
from a book that I was
00:00:57.15\00:01:00.58
privileged to write, also titled
Pressing Into His Presence.
00:01:00.61\00:01:04.04
And we have been sharing how
God led me into a deeper level
00:01:04.07\00:01:08.92
of prayer, and
totally, and I mean totally
00:01:08.95\00:01:12.54
changed my life because of it.
00:01:12.57\00:01:14.07
Today we're going
to begin on Chapter 8.
00:01:14.10\00:01:18.44
Now from time to time it
seems beneficial to make a quick
00:01:18.47\00:01:22.54
review of our progress.
00:01:22.57\00:01:25.29
So let's do that now.
00:01:25.32\00:01:27.10
So far we have considered how
God taught me to begin my prayer
00:01:27.13\00:01:32.06
with praise, and He
prescribed praise for the
00:01:32.09\00:01:35.23
benefit of our faith.
00:01:35.26\00:01:36.42
We've learned how confession
is the clearing house of our
00:01:36.45\00:01:39.86
conscience, and how God
hears, and God forgives.
00:01:39.89\00:01:43.81
And one great reward
of confession is that
00:01:43.84\00:01:48.31
it clears our conscience.
00:01:48.34\00:01:51.02
It gives us
confidence before the Lord.
00:01:51.05\00:01:54.14
We've reflected on the
five steps of repentance,
00:01:54.17\00:01:57.17
and why it is only by
His power that we can turn
00:01:57.20\00:02:00.69
away from our sins.
00:02:00.72\00:02:01.77
Repentance is a gift from God.
00:02:01.80\00:02:04.51
And we've learned now to
come before Him with clean
00:02:04.54\00:02:08.35
hands and a pure heart.
00:02:08.38\00:02:09.80
We've talked about the
transforming power of His Word,
00:02:09.83\00:02:14.69
and how to take His promises
and make them our confession
00:02:14.72\00:02:18.30
during prayer, declaring
that we agree with God's wisdom.
00:02:18.33\00:02:22.38
Confessing His Word is our life
source, and it causes His way of
00:02:22.41\00:02:28.71
thinking to become
our way of thinking.
00:02:28.74\00:02:31.34
And for the last two
programs we have focused
00:02:31.37\00:02:34.30
on intercessory prayer;
the part that this plays
00:02:34.33\00:02:39.05
in His plan of salvation.
00:02:39.08\00:02:40.56
So today we'll continue the
teaching on intercessory prayer
00:02:40.59\00:02:43.76
and see how this
practice actually makes
00:02:43.79\00:02:46.57
us more Christlike.
00:02:46.60\00:02:48.22
We've also been considering,
as a matter of observation only,
00:02:48.25\00:02:53.24
how this type of
prayer relates to each
00:02:53.27\00:02:56.20
section of the Sanctuary.
00:02:56.23\00:02:58.71
And we've seen that as
we intercede for others,
00:02:58.74\00:03:02.77
we symbolically stand in
the holy place before the
00:03:02.80\00:03:07.51
golden altar of incense.
00:03:07.54\00:03:10.53
And earlier we took note
that our prayers rise before the
00:03:10.56\00:03:15.43
King of kings, and as they do,
Christ adds His prayer to ours,
00:03:15.46\00:03:21.14
and presents them to the Father.
00:03:21.17\00:03:23.11
It is His intercession
that results in the release
00:03:23.14\00:03:27.26
of God's blessings.
00:03:27.29\00:03:28.32
We observed that pleading for
the perishing is accomplished
00:03:28.35\00:03:33.59
with the great energy that
is supplied by the Holy Spirit.
00:03:33.62\00:03:38.07
Our approach in
prayer is not to be ever
00:03:38.10\00:03:42.82
one of casual indifference.
00:03:42.85\00:03:45.33
We are to pray
earnestly, and in faith.
00:03:45.36\00:03:49.22
Still, it is not our eloquence
or our favor, our fervor
00:03:49.25\00:03:55.12
I should say, in
which we are to trust.
00:03:55.15\00:03:57.71
Rather, we place our trust
in God who longs to bless man.
00:03:57.74\00:04:04.04
And He waits on
those He created as agents
00:04:04.07\00:04:08.60
of freewill to ask.
00:04:08.63\00:04:10.97
Let's review the seven points
that I promised to present
00:04:11.00\00:04:14.83
on intercessory prayer.
00:04:14.86\00:04:16.15
This is... we'll just
go through these quickly.
00:04:16.18\00:04:19.11
First our role as intercessors
is part of God's plan to bring
00:04:19.14\00:04:25.70
blessings from heaven.
00:04:25.73\00:04:26.96
We were created to be
co-intercessors with Christ.
00:04:26.99\00:04:30.91
Intercessory prayer is the
highest calling to ministry.
00:04:30.94\00:04:35.52
We're conformed to
the image of Jesus through
00:04:35.55\00:04:38.89
intercessory prayer.
00:04:38.92\00:04:40.84
5. Intercessory prayer
is our duty as a Christian.
00:04:40.87\00:04:45.74
6. Neglecting the call to
intercession may be the reason
00:04:45.77\00:04:49.53
that God's work on
earth isn't done. And finally
00:04:49.56\00:04:53.10
7. Intercessors
are doubly blessed.
00:04:53.13\00:04:57.89
So far we have examined
our role as intercessors,
00:04:57.92\00:05:02.72
and why it's part of
God's plan to bring His
00:05:02.75\00:05:05.45
blessings from heaven.
00:05:05.48\00:05:06.87
Today we'll briefly
consider how we were created,
00:05:06.90\00:05:10.79
and equipped for intercession,
and why this is the highest
00:05:10.82\00:05:15.00
calling to ministry.
00:05:15.03\00:05:16.38
If you're
following along in the book,
00:05:16.41\00:05:18.55
Pressing Into His
Presence, today we're
00:05:18.58\00:05:21.00
beginning on Chapter 8.
00:05:21.03\00:05:22.38
Human beings were
created in the image of God.
00:05:22.41\00:05:29.11
But that holy image was marred
in mankind after Adam and Eve's
00:05:29.14\00:05:33.84
fall to temptation
in the garden of Eden.
00:05:33.87\00:05:36.17
But God was ready to rescue,
and recreate the human species
00:05:36.20\00:05:41.79
through His Calvary
plan, and the indescribable
00:05:41.82\00:05:45.12
gift of salvation.
00:05:45.15\00:05:46.47
When we accept Christ as
our Savior we are born again,
00:05:46.50\00:05:51.41
recreated in His image.
00:05:51.44\00:05:55.39
Psalms 24:1 says this:
00:05:55.42\00:05:59.05
God is the
rightful owner of the earth.
00:06:07.87\00:06:12.12
But Jesus explains in
the parable of the vineyard
00:06:12.15\00:06:14.88
found in Matthew 21,
that our Heavenly Father has
00:06:14.91\00:06:18.82
leased the earth to man.
00:06:19.44\00:06:20.72
He's given it over to
mankind for development.
00:06:20.75\00:06:24.14
This echo's the teaching of
Psalms 115:15, 16. And it says:
00:06:24.17\00:06:32.05
The bottom line is that God
made man in His image so that
00:06:45.14\00:06:54.24
we could be co-laborers.
00:06:54.27\00:06:57.13
Let me repeat that.
00:06:57.16\00:06:58.81
Because sometimes it's hard to
distinguish what you're saying.
00:06:58.88\00:07:02.46
Co-laborers, to labor together.
00:07:02.49\00:07:05.98
He created us so that we
could be co-laborers with Him
00:07:06.01\00:07:10.48
on the earth; giving us
stewardship over this planet.
00:07:10.51\00:07:14.31
And His completed creation
on earth contained the full
00:07:14.34\00:07:19.04
potential for man to develop
computers, and space shuttles,
00:07:19.07\00:07:24.42
and smart phones. The Creator
gave mankind creative talents,
00:07:24.45\00:07:30.65
commanding us to work six days,
and then to rest on the seventh,
00:07:30.68\00:07:36.48
the Holy Sabbath. As
God's re-created children,
00:07:36.51\00:07:41.48
our destiny is to
become like Christ.
00:07:41.51\00:07:46.04
One of my favorite Scripture
promises is Romans 8:28, 29,
00:07:46.07\00:07:51.16
that shows us our
hope and our destiny.
00:07:51.19\00:07:54.46
Verse 28 says that we know all
things work together for good
00:07:54.49\00:07:58.42
for those who love God,
and those who are called
00:07:58.45\00:08:02.63
according to His purpose.
00:08:02.66\00:08:04.24
That's our hope. He's
going to work everything out
00:08:04.27\00:08:07.73
together for our good.
00:08:07.76\00:08:08.90
But you can't separate
verse 28 from verse 29.
00:08:08.93\00:08:12.92
Because verse 29 explains
how God works all things
00:08:12.95\00:08:16.99
together for our good.
00:08:17.02\00:08:18.29
Verse 29 says, For whom
He foreknew He predestined
00:08:18.32\00:08:23.08
to be conformed to
the image of His Son,
00:08:23.11\00:08:25.96
that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren.
00:08:25.99\00:08:29.30
That's our destiny; to become
conformed to the image of Jesus.
00:08:29.33\00:08:36.22
So together it means that our
hope is that God will work out
00:08:36.25\00:08:41.92
all things, everything
that happens in our lives.
00:08:41.95\00:08:45.57
He works it together to conform
us to the image of Jesus,
00:08:45.60\00:08:50.68
which we were predestined
to become as a child of God.
00:08:50.71\00:08:56.08
A great illustration of this is
Joseph, the son of the patriarch
00:08:56.11\00:09:02.64
Jacob and Rachel, who was sold
into slavery by his brothers.
00:09:02.67\00:09:07.07
And their
intent was purely evil.
00:09:07.10\00:09:10.13
Although Joseph suffered
greatly, and he must certainly
00:09:10.16\00:09:14.02
have been perplexed
by the circumstances,
00:09:14.05\00:09:16.14
God meant it for his good.
00:09:16.17\00:09:19.31
Joseph developed
humility, he developed patience,
00:09:19.34\00:09:24.76
and he learned to be
totally dependent upon God.
00:09:24.79\00:09:29.17
And he came out of
his trials with more
00:09:29.20\00:09:32.24
Chris like characteristics.
00:09:32.27\00:09:34.08
Likewise God works all things
together for us to make us more
00:09:34.11\00:09:39.74
like Jesus Christ.
00:09:39.77\00:09:41.09
When we were adopted
by our Heavenly Father,
00:09:41.12\00:09:44.51
we became more than faithful
co-laborers for the Lord.
00:09:44.54\00:09:51.18
We also became co-heirs
with Christ, as Paul points out
00:09:51.21\00:09:57.99
in Romans 8:15-17. Here he says:
00:09:58.02\00:10:04.08
You know, God's plan of
salvation does not offer us a
00:10:35.24\00:10:39.62
life free from trials and
suffering in this present world.
00:10:39.65\00:10:43.40
But we will inherit eternal
life in God's kingdom of glory,
00:10:43.43\00:10:48.25
sharing in the victory
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:10:48.28\00:10:51.70
if we share in His
sufferings against temptations
00:10:51.73\00:10:54.99
and the powers of darkness.
00:10:55.02\00:10:57.47
Our share in His
inheritance carries fundamental
00:10:57.50\00:11:01.95
responsibilities at
the family business.
00:11:01.98\00:11:04.37
God works to save souls, and
we must be about our Father's
00:11:04.40\00:11:09.16
business until Christ returns.
00:11:09.19\00:11:11.85
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians
5:18-20, that we are ambassadors
00:11:11.88\00:11:18.91
for Christ, co-laborers in
the spreading of the gospel,
00:11:18.94\00:11:23.38
and trusted with the
ministry of reconciliation.
00:11:23.41\00:11:27.95
As co-laborers, and
co-heirs, we were also recreated
00:11:27.98\00:11:34.00
to be co-intercessors
with Christ, who serves as our
00:11:34.03\00:11:40.03
great intercessor in Heaven.
00:11:40.06\00:11:41.93
Our duty, as children of God,
is to participate in the family
00:11:41.96\00:11:46.50
business by making
intercessions for all men.
00:11:46.53\00:11:51.55
Let me read 1 Timothy
2:1-4 where Paul gives this
00:11:51.58\00:11:57.10
instruction to Timothy. He says:
00:11:57.13\00:11:59.64
Prayers of Godly
intercessors fill the Bible.
00:12:30.49\00:12:35.10
I think of Abraham, Daniel,
and Paul, just to name a few,
00:12:35.13\00:12:40.67
who labored fervently
in prayer for humanity.
00:12:40.70\00:12:43.76
But intercessory prayer in
not consigned to a few special
00:12:43.79\00:12:49.23
servants of the Lord.
00:12:49.26\00:12:51.16
It is the duty, and it is
the great privilege of God's
00:12:51.19\00:12:55.10
children; all of God's children.
00:12:55.13\00:12:57.19
We are to continue earnestly
in prayer, with vigilance,
00:12:57.22\00:13:01.86
pleading God's
promises over the perishing.
00:13:01.89\00:13:05.34
This makes us like the watchmen
on the wall, as God describes
00:13:05.37\00:13:11.00
in Isaiah 62:6, 7.
00:13:11.03\00:13:15.17
These are the
words of the Lords.
00:13:15.20\00:13:17.46
Here God is saying,
Remember My promises.
00:13:45.83\00:13:50.41
Have faith in them.
00:13:50.44\00:13:51.47
Don't keep silent.
00:13:51.50\00:13:52.53
Pray them back to Me until
I've answered your prayers.
00:13:52.56\00:13:55.75
When the people of God
were carried away as captives
00:13:55.78\00:13:58.96
from Jerusalem to Babylon,
He instructed them to make
00:13:58.99\00:14:02.54
a pleasant life
there; to have children
00:14:02.57\00:14:05.39
increase their numbers.
00:14:05.42\00:14:06.64
But He also exhorted the
captives to pray on behalf;
00:14:06.67\00:14:13.19
to intercede on behalf
of Babylon, their captors.
00:14:13.22\00:14:17.66
Listen to this.
This is Jeremiah 20:4-7.
00:14:17.69\00:14:22.32
And God says seek the peace of
the city where I have caused you
00:14:22.35\00:14:26.69
to be carried away captive.
00:14:26.72\00:14:28.45
Pray to the Lord for it.
00:14:28.48\00:14:30.64
In other words intercede.
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.23
For in it, in its
peace, you will have peace.
00:14:32.26\00:14:36.99
The eyes of the Lord should not
have to roam the earth in search
00:14:37.02\00:14:42.22
of someone who will intercede
for a land filled with sinners.
00:14:42.25\00:14:46.42
But listen to
this sorrowful note.
00:14:46.45\00:14:50.57
There's just kind of an
accent in the words of the Lord
00:14:50.60\00:14:54.55
found here. This is
Ezekiel 22: 29-31. It says:
00:14:54.58\00:15:01.59
This is God speaking.
00:15:03.21\00:15:04.88
In other words intercede.
00:15:25.48\00:15:28.31
Isn't that amazing?
00:15:48.69\00:15:52.02
He's looking for someone to
stand in the gap to intercede,
00:15:52.05\00:15:55.29
and He can't find anybody.
00:15:55.32\00:15:57.04
But perhaps the most powerful
Scripture regarding the ministry
00:15:57.07\00:16:02.23
of intercessory
prayer, is found in Isaiah 59.
00:16:02.26\00:16:06.69
We're going to read
verses 14-16. Listen to this:
00:16:06.72\00:16:12.34
Can you imagine? God wondered.
00:16:44.88\00:16:49.76
He was amazed that there
was no man to stand in the gap
00:16:49.79\00:16:54.73
and intercede. He wondered why
no one loved the people enough
00:16:54.76\00:17:00.70
to intercede on their behalf.
00:17:00.73\00:17:02.42
He wondered that no
one had enough faith
00:17:02.45\00:17:05.71
in His power to deliver.
00:17:05.74\00:17:08.07
Is God searching in amazement
for intercessors today?
00:17:08.10\00:17:13.33
Is His holy heart filled with
woeful wonder as He searches
00:17:13.36\00:17:20.29
for someone to stand in the gap?
00:17:20.32\00:17:22.34
I pray not! I pray we will take
seriously this call, His call,
00:17:22.37\00:17:28.99
to intercede on
behalf of others.
00:17:29.02\00:17:31.21
Let our hearts understand
we are sinning against the Lord
00:17:31.24\00:17:35.59
when we do not
carry out our duty as
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.47
co-intercessors with Christ.
00:17:38.50\00:17:40.30
Consider these words from 1
Samuel 12:23. Samuel writes:
00:17:40.33\00:17:48.61
Huh, let us take
notice and take action.
00:17:59.64\00:18:04.13
Our lack of intercessory prayer
not only grieves the Lord,
00:18:04.16\00:18:08.34
but it is
actually a sin against Him.
00:18:08.37\00:18:10.99
We are destined to
develop the same essence of love
00:18:11.02\00:18:14.66
that defines God the
Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
00:18:14.69\00:18:17.88
We are destined to
develop the same attitude of
00:18:17.91\00:18:21.79
self-sacrificing love.
00:18:21.82\00:18:23.77
And when we become calloused
to the needs of others,
00:18:23.80\00:18:27.45
we are being
defined by selfishness.
00:18:27.48\00:18:30.17
We're no longer being led
by the Spirit of the Lord.
00:18:30.20\00:18:34.58
Intercessory prayer is
more than our duty before God,
00:18:34.61\00:18:40.34
it is our great
privilege to take part in this
00:18:40.37\00:18:45.70
most important ministry.
00:18:45.73\00:18:47.94
Some time ago a precious 93 year
old saint called me at 3ABN.
00:18:47.97\00:18:55.40
And my managerial duties
in programming development
00:18:55.43\00:18:59.29
don't normally permit me the
leisure of taking such calls.
00:18:59.32\00:19:03.57
But I believe this
was a divine appointment.
00:19:03.60\00:19:06.64
She encouraged me on
a day that I needed it.
00:19:06.67\00:19:10.11
And I, in turn, encouraged
her on a day that she needed it.
00:19:10.14\00:19:14.91
Sharing her stories of her
once active ministerial life,
00:19:14.94\00:19:19.53
she finally told me of her
present homebound condition.
00:19:19.56\00:19:24.77
She'd been a missionary.
00:19:24.80\00:19:26.48
Now she was old
and in a wheelchair.
00:19:26.51\00:19:28.62
And she sighed and said, Oh, I'm
no use to my Lord any longer.
00:19:28.65\00:19:34.86
It depresses me. And when I
asked her how she spent her time
00:19:34.89\00:19:39.05
she described her
prayer efforts for others
00:19:39.08\00:19:42.18
throughout the entire day.
00:19:42.21\00:19:43.61
And I said, Congratulations!
00:19:43.64\00:19:46.54
You have graduated to the
highest calling of ministry.
00:19:46.57\00:19:51.92
The highest level!
00:19:51.95\00:19:53.32
And she said, What?
00:19:53.35\00:19:55.66
And I told her, When
Christ hands out His rewards,
00:19:55.69\00:19:58.74
I believe He's going to call
on you to step forth before many
00:19:58.77\00:20:02.38
of the televangelists.
00:20:02.41\00:20:04.23
Can't you just see the
expression on their faces,
00:20:04.26\00:20:07.39
I said? And it was evident
that my comment shocked her.
00:20:07.42\00:20:11.59
In further explanation, I
told her that I was convinced
00:20:11.62\00:20:16.21
intercessory prayer is the
highest calling to ministry
00:20:16.24\00:20:20.78
that exists. Why? Because it
is the ministry of our risen,
00:20:20.81\00:20:27.05
and exalted Savior.
00:20:27.08\00:20:28.53
Let's look at several
Scriptures that describe
00:20:28.56\00:20:34.07
Christ's heavenly ministries.
00:20:34.10\00:20:36.23
And we're going to begin
with Hebrews 7:24, 25. It says:
00:20:36.26\00:20:44.83
Speaking of Jesus.
00:20:45.52\00:20:46.93
Christ lives to make
intercession for you.
00:21:06.24\00:21:10.02
The apostle John describes
Jesus as our advocate who is
00:21:10.05\00:21:15.70
interceding with the
Father on our behalf.
00:21:15.73\00:21:18.82
In 1 John 2:1 he says:
00:21:18.85\00:21:21.45
Now Paul further
gives us this promise in
00:21:46.50\00:21:51.78
Romans 8:34, and he says:
00:21:51.81\00:21:54.97
Who is he who condemns?
00:21:55.00\00:21:57.30
It is Christ who died,
and furthermore is also risen,
00:21:57.33\00:22:02.65
who is even at
the right hand of God,
00:22:02.68\00:22:05.80
who also makes
intercession for us.
00:22:05.83\00:22:11.23
The risen and exalted Christ
lives to pray for His people.
00:22:11.26\00:22:19.86
It is because He died for our
sins, and rose to return to the
00:22:19.89\00:22:25.13
Father, that He now can
exercise His right of becoming
00:22:25.16\00:22:29.38
our advocate, and ever lives
to make intercession for us.
00:22:29.41\00:22:34.90
Our greatest
safeguard is that He is alive,
00:22:34.93\00:22:39.52
and He is constantly
interceding on our behalf.
00:22:39.55\00:22:44.00
It gives me such joy to
know that He is in Heaven
00:22:44.03\00:22:50.23
praying for me,
watching over me,
00:22:50.26\00:22:53.42
and interceding on my behalf.
00:22:53.45\00:22:56.17
His glorious intercession is the
highest expression of ministry.
00:22:56.20\00:23:02.33
And He invites us to
be His prayer partners.
00:23:02.36\00:23:06.72
If you take a moment and
think about this, could there be
00:23:06.75\00:23:10.75
a higher calling to ministry?
00:23:10.78\00:23:14.53
Of course action is vital.
00:23:14.56\00:23:17.64
But no matter what deeds
we do on behalf of His cause,
00:23:17.67\00:23:21.32
we should always accompany
our actions with seasons of
00:23:21.35\00:23:27.64
intercession to release
God's power for those we serve.
00:23:27.68\00:23:32.95
Sometimes we wonder why, if
Christ is interceding on our
00:23:32.98\00:23:38.43
behalf, why our payers
may seem not to be answered.
00:23:38.46\00:23:43.62
Often because He does see
the end from the beginning,
00:23:43.65\00:23:48.13
He actually has answered,
and His answer was, No.
00:23:48.16\00:23:53.66
I can certainly look back on
the times in my past when I just
00:23:53.69\00:24:00.23
thank God that He answered,
what I considered unanswered
00:24:00.26\00:24:06.12
prayers, was that He said, No.
00:24:06.15\00:24:08.51
I'm so glad because otherwise
my life could have been in a
00:24:08.54\00:24:14.34
completely different direction.
00:24:14.38\00:24:16.05
You know, sometimes we
ask with the wrong purpose,
00:24:16.08\00:24:20.50
or with selfish motives.
00:24:20.54\00:24:22.69
And at other times His
answer is, Not right now.
00:24:22.72\00:24:27.61
God's timing is perfect, and we
must learn to trust His wisdom.
00:24:27.65\00:24:33.40
An interesting variation in
the timing of answered prayers
00:24:33.43\00:24:37.73
is presented in the Old
Testament book of Daniel.
00:24:37.76\00:24:41.67
On one occasion in Daniel 9:
20-22, Daniel received an answer
00:24:41.70\00:24:49.10
while he was praying.
00:24:49.13\00:24:50.58
Actually, while he was
praying the answer came.
00:24:50.61\00:24:54.29
And the response in another
prayer in Daniel 10:10-13,
00:24:54.32\00:25:01.67
he had fasted and prayed
for twenty-one days before
00:25:01.70\00:25:05.87
the angel came to deliver the
message and tell him that God
00:25:05.90\00:25:12.04
had actually heard him praying,
and that the answer was yes.
00:25:12.08\00:25:17.37
It's just that there was a
battle in the spiritual realms
00:25:17.40\00:25:22.66
that was delaying the answer.
00:25:22.70\00:25:25.24
Christ's ministry of
intercession is always
00:25:25.27\00:25:30.19
potent and productive.
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.86
We should frequently remind
ourselves that God is working
00:25:31.90\00:25:37.33
all things together for our
eternal benefit, to conform us
00:25:37.36\00:25:42.75
to the image of His Son.
00:25:42.78\00:25:44.67
I repeat myself: Our
destiny is to become like Jesus.
00:25:44.70\00:25:50.56
And when we are born
again God re-creates us,
00:25:50.60\00:25:56.20
and He restores us to
being co-laborers with Christ,
00:25:56.23\00:26:02.11
co-heirs with Christ, and
co-intercessors with Christ.
00:26:02.14\00:26:07.95
And a heart that is filled
with intercession is Christlike.
00:26:07.98\00:26:14.43
To pray unceasing; as we
pray with the mind and heart of
00:26:14.47\00:26:20.89
Christ, we become like Him.
00:26:20.92\00:26:22.89
And to pray unceasingly
for the perishing world,
00:26:22.93\00:26:27.32
is to resemble Christ's
relationship to mankind.
00:26:27.35\00:26:31.67
And we become more like Him
during these times of prayer.
00:26:31.71\00:26:34.59
Intercession is
our premier privilege.
00:26:34.63\00:26:39.30
It is our highest calling
to ministry, and the greatest
00:26:39.33\00:26:44.19
school of training
to become Christlike.
00:26:44.22\00:26:46.83
The intercessor holds a
place of infinite importance
00:26:46.86\00:26:51.71
in the kingdom of God.
00:26:51.75\00:26:53.09
God has bestowed this
powerful ministry upon us
00:26:53.13\00:26:58.52
to help Him with His
work in the salvation of men,
00:26:58.55\00:27:04.79
and for the glory of His name.
00:27:04.82\00:27:06.86
Well, I hope today that
God is touching your heart.
00:27:06.89\00:27:12.32
And I hope that you realize,
as I realize, my great need of
00:27:12.35\00:27:18.99
actually repenting and saying,
Lord, grant me repentance.
00:27:19.02\00:27:23.22
Because sometimes as
much as I pray, I realize that
00:27:23.25\00:27:26.74
I just don't pray enough.
00:27:26.78\00:27:28.05
And so we need
to pray for others.
00:27:28.08\00:27:31.56
We need to
realize this is ministry.
00:27:31.59\00:27:34.52
And if you are sitting at home
today and you can't get out of
00:27:34.55\00:27:38.20
a chair, you can still
have the highest calling
00:27:38.23\00:27:41.02
to ministry there is.
00:27:41.05\00:27:42.21
Please join us next time
when we will be considering
00:27:42.25\00:27:46.67
the unfinished work
of intercessory prayer,
00:27:46.71\00:27:51.94
and why we need to get
serious about it so God
00:27:51.97\00:27:55.87
can finish His work.
00:27:55.90\00:27:57.24
Now our prayer for you, as
always, is that the grace of our
00:27:57.27\00:28:03.48
Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, the love of the Father,
00:28:03.52\00:28:06.69
and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit, will be with you always.
00:28:06.73\00:28:11.51