I Give Thee Thanks

                            When I ponder the magnificence of who You are,
                             It gives me pause and stirs within a deep reflection.
                            Your goodness exceeds the depth of my comprehension,
                            And surpasses all knowledge regarding Your perfection.


                            Beautiful both in who You are and in what You do,
                            Exalted above all things Your hands have created;
                            Enthroned and elevated o'er the heavens and the earth,
                            Encircled by a myriad of angels - captivated.


                            When I ponder the things on the Cross You accomplished,
                            Motivated solely by Your all-consuming love;
                            You removed sin, guilt, God's wrath, and alienation,
                            While You extended grace, becoming my Beloved.


                            You also freed me from curses and captivity,
                            Defeating every foe and abominable power.
                            You died in my place, lifted me up, gave me favor,
                            So that in Your Name wicked oppressors would cower.


                            When I ponder how important You are to me,
                            And all You have sacrificed that I might live with You,
                            There are no amount of words, or songs, or praise
                            That could adequately convey my gratitude.


                            Your presence in my life and fellowshipping with You,
                            Is more meaningful than anything this world has to offer,
                            Worshipping You in reverence and awe brings a light to my soul
                            And a faith that could literally walk on the water.


                            When I ponder the incalculable number of blessings
                            You have graciously and generously poured out to me,
                            I am eternally grateful and beholden to You,
                            Filled with appreciation that wells up immeasurably.


                           You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing,
                           And continue to bless my life in numberless ways;
                           From the very moment I awaken each morning,
                           Til the second I close my eyes at night- offering praise.


                            When I ponder all of this and remember how great Thou art,
                             I realize that there is none other to be found in Your ranks.
                             You are the One who is worthy and holy and honorable;
                             Deserving of adoration- Oh God, I give Thee thanks!



                 "Greater love has no one than this, than He lay down His life for His friends."
                                                                 John 15:13

Oaks of Righteousness

"They may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
                                                                                                                                       (Isaiah 61:3)



The timing in which this scripture was penned was during Israel's "Year of Jubilee".  This message was given through the prophet, Isaiah, to a broken and hurting people that were left waiting and longing for God's promises to be fulfilled.  God's merciful heart was revealed and His intent was certain- His children would rebuild, repair, and restore the devastation in their land with God's assistance, as well as the abundance of His provision.

Later, Jesus applied this same passage to Himself in the fourth chapter of Luke.  His meaning was also clear- for those of us who are in Christ, we, too, are living in a spiritual "Year of Jubilee".  This means that Jesus has set us free from bondage, our spiritual debt has been paid-in-full, and we are living in the "acceptable year of the Lord".  We are sons and daughters of the King, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and clothed in garments of righteousness.

God was very intentional when He declared to them that they would be called "oaks of righteousness".  The unfortunate part of this was that they did not feel very strong or distinguished.  It was even possible that they questioned if they were even in right standing with God because of the ravages of war they had experienced.  In spite of this, God delivered His merciful message to a people that desperately needed to hear it. He assured them that help was on the way!

In the book of Genesis, we find another story that references oak trees.  This is the story of Abraham and Sarah, who are found nestled among the "oaks of Mamre".  For many years they had waited and longed for the fulfillment of God's promise that they would bear a child.  The more time that lapsed, the harder it was to hold onto God's promise.  At this critical point in their faith journey, at the "oaks of Mamre", God appeared and told them His promise was about to be fulfilled.

Later, in Abraham's story, when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, God provides he ram as a substitute.  The Hebrew word ayil can be translated both as "oaks" and as "ram".  In Abraham's story, the ram is evidence of God's provision and mercy.

The word ayil refers to both strength and power.  It can also mean a "pillar", which refers to a strong leader.  The interesting aspect of this meaning is that it is God who brings the strength and power.  In the example of the oak tree, it is something that occurs over a very long period of time.

The more adverse the conditions surrounding an oak tree, the stronger it gets.  It can range in size from the height of a shrub to towering above a hundred feet tall.  Regardless of its' height, it has a root structure that mirrors that which we see.  In other words, if the oak tree is fifty feet tall, its' roots will extend fifty feet into the soil.  This is because it has to go deep to find the water and nutrients it needs to survive.

It typically takes at least twenty years for an oak tree to bear fruit (in the form of an acorn).  In the Torah, God established laws to protect fruit trees and to help them grow.  No one was allowed to eat of them for the first five years and the Israelites were never allowed to cut them down, even in times of war (Deuteronomy 20:19-20).  God, Himself, protects these trees as if they were defenseless people.

Symbolizing life, trees are one of God's magnificent creations that parallel humanity.  They are tall and majestic and strong and their branches reach upward toward heaven.  They have character and provide shelter for many animals and birds.  They are rooted and grounded and cared for by the Master Gardner.

Part of our calling is for us to be "oaks of righteousness".  There will be seasons when God is establishing our root system (which no one else can see).  In these times, we remember how God hid Elijah and Moses and John the Baptist during their times of preparation. This is the tie to really learn who our source of nourishment and sustenance is and how to abide in Him.

There will also be seasons when we are bearing fruit that is not yet ready to be consumed.  It is in this season that we old fast to the promises and exhortations of our God.  As tender fledglings, we focus on Jesus and allow Him to develop our character.  We endure the winds of affliction in order to become more and more transformed into the image of Christ.

When we finally become mature and bear the fruit we were created to bear, we remember that it is solely for His glory and the extension of His Kingdom.  We are the planting of the Lord and the display of His splendor.  Oaks of righteousness are the living representation of the testimony of God's mercy and provision and exist to point others to do the same.

Oaks of righteousness become places of refuge for those who need to be comforted.  They give out what they have first received from Christ.  The Spirit of the Lord rests upon those who give life and truth and love to help others grow into their inheritance in God.  These are those that God calls His "Oaks of Righteousness".


"It is God's work, it is a tree that God has planted.  It could not grow like that if anybody else had planted it.  This man is a man of God's making, his joy is a joy of God's giving."
                                                                                      Charles H. Spurgeon       

The Reveal

"And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for Him unto salvation."
                                                                                     (Hebrews 9:27-28)



We are currently living in between two epic events: the first and second Advent of Christ.  While many believers in the Old Testament did not understand that the coming of Christ would occur in two separate events, we are blessed to know that we have one Messiah who fulfills two separate roles.  The purpose of the first Advent was to become the sacrifice for all sins: past, present, and future and to destroy the works of Satan.  The purpose of the second Advent is to award salvation to those who eagerly await it.

The first Advent of Christ is now an historical fact.  When Jesus lived on this earth for thirty-three years, He fulfilled many of the prophecies found in Scripture, but not all of them.  Born as a helpless infant, He entered our world in meekness and humility.  Jesus was rejected by His own (the Jewish people) and He completed His mission as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).  He became the Savior of sinners and yet the government remained in the hands of men.

At the Cross, Jesus defeated sin, which became our doctrine of atonement.  This is the very heartbeat of Christianity and it literally means "reconciliation [to God]".  Through the atonement that Jesus provided for us, we are: regenerated, redeemed, reconciled, justified, forgiven, and adopted by God.

Additionally, we are told that the first coming of Christ defeated the works of Satan.  The apostle, John, writes, "[But] he who commits sin [who practices evil doing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]" (1 John 3:8).

The second Advent of Christ will be completely different from the first- the Lamb becomes the Lion of Judah.  Our focus shifts from the Cross of Calvary to the Crown of Christ.  Jesus will appear the second time, completely apart from sin, in power and authority.  He will appear in the clouds, with the armies of heaven, to rule and reign forever.

All of the prophecies concerning Christ that have not previously been fulfilled will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.  Our Conquering King will come with the government in His hands and on is shoulder.  This time, He will be received by the Jewish people who will claim Him as their own Messiah.  Instead of coming as the Savior of sinners, Jesus will come as the Judge of sinners.  Jude tells us that Jesus will "execute judgment upon all and will convict all the impious (unholy ones) of all their ungodly deeds" (Jude, v.15).

The second Advent of Christ is referred to as the Glorious Appearing (Titus 2:13).  And, glorious it will be! Jesus will take an upside down world and He will turn it right side up.  It is at this time that everything will be redeemed.  Isaiah tells us that, "[The Lord God says], 'And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away'" (Isaiah 51:11).

It is at this time that Satan will be dethroned.  Since the Cross, he has been under the authority of Christ but God allowed him to still be the "god of this age".  He has yet to be chained and thrown into the lake of fire, but his time for that is soon to come!

At Jesus' Second Coming, all curses will be reversed.  In addition to that, all nations will be freed from the bondage of sin and corruption.  When Jesus rules, all of creation will be transformed.

When this world is reborn, Jesus will be the King and we will be a kingdom of priests that reign with Him.  We will have rulership to carry out His commands.  Peace will have its' perfect order throughout the world.  The condition that Christ gives to us is that we endure and not deny Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

In an increasingly hostile environment, this will require intentionality and the power of the Holy Spirit.  As the hostility increases so will the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit because He will never leave us in a position where we are not equipped to do His will and walk in victory.  As we transition into epic times, we have before us the most exciting moments of history ever to be experienced!

We are not to focus on the evil that is advancing, but, rather on what God is doing in the midst of it.  Remember, we all have a date with deity in our future.  Those who have been redeemed by the Lamb will rule and reign with the Lion of Judah.  When this happens, we will no longer have an advocate or defender for us because the evidence is all in.  Heaven does not exist for "good" people or religious people.  Heaven only exists for forgiven people that have a relationship with the One who "died for [all] our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3).

The first Advent of Jesus occurred in an obscure, remote setting.  But, His Second Advent will be Jesus' big Reveal!  He will come with the clouds and "every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:7). Some will be thrilled and others will lament and mourn at the sight of Him.  The time to be excited is now!  Are you awaiting the ultimate Reveal?


"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.  Its' rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself.  He wore a robe dipped in blood, and is title  was the Word of God.  The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses.  From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations.  He will rule them with an iron rod.  He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.  On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords."
                                    (Revelation 10:11-16)


   

In The Garden

"And when He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation.'  And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.'  And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit" (Luke 22:40-43).

The two most important decisions pertaining to all mankind occurred in a garden: the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane.  Both of these gardens illustrate the importance of one decision made.  The decision to sin (made in the garden of Eden) was ill-advised, while the decision to bear that sin (made in the garden of Gethsemane) would forever bring redemption to a broken world.

The consequences of both these decisions continue to manifest in the world around us.  The garden of Eden was the place where: Adam sinned, Adam hid, and the sword of God was drawn.  It was God's mercy that refused to let Adam and Eve live in an unending place of sin and separation from God.

In the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus submitted His will to His Father, we see how love conquers over the depth of man's depravity.  It is here that: Jesus conquers, Jesus boldly presents His body as a sacrifice, and the sword of God is sheathed.  Once again, it is God's love and mercy that bring he eternal provision of a life spent with God.

While it is true that our feet may never tread in the place where the garden of Eden existed or traverse through the olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane, it is also quite likely that our spiritual journeys will include a stop at both of these gardens. Symbolically, our garden of Eden comes when we are presented with the truth of the Gospel and the person of Christ.  We make a decision whether we will choose to follow Jesus, commune with Him, and obey Him.  This is the first step of our journey

Once we have accepted Christ and have walked with Him for awhile, we will quite likely encounter our individual garden of Gethsemane.  The characteristics of this garden will include: feeling overwhelmed, feeling like your life makes no sense, feeling like your problems are too great to bear, and feeling like you cannot go on another day.

While it was God's cup of wrath from which Jesus recoiled, each one of us have places in our hearts and lives that we believe are too big for us to handle.  And, without Christ, they probably are.  This is where a clash of wills can begin.  However, God sees the greater good.  He sees the positive consequences that will occur when we submit to His will and not our own.

When Jesus entered the garden of Gethsemane, eight of his disciples stood at a distance while three disciples (Peter, James, and John) stayed to pray with him.  Even the three closest to Jesus couldn't stay awake to help Him pray... Jesus' anguish began to overwhelm Him, proving that God truly became incarnate. John Calvin writes, "Those who imagine that the Son of God was exempt from human passions do not truly and sincerely acknowledge Him to be a man."  Despite Jesus' profound grief and undisputed humanity, He still did not sin (1 Peter 2:22).

Jesus did not question God's wisdom when He asked for God's cup of wrath to be removed from Him.  Instead, He submitted to God's will while honestly admitting the dread He felt for what was going to happen.  John Calvin also addresses the fact that Jesus trembles in Gethsemane "because He has before His eyes the dreadful tribunal of God, and the Judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because our sins, the load of which is laid upon Him, presses Him down with their enormous weight."

Today, our gardens of Gethsemane may look very different than Jesus' did.  nd yet, when we face the deep sorrows of: dying loved ones, illnesses, broken marriages, children on dark paths, lost jobs, etc., we are still faced with an anguish that is consuming.  In addition to our own Gethsemanes, we may also be invited in to pray in another persons garden of Gethsemane.

More than likely, this garden is a lonely one.  However, we are never alone.  Hebrews tells us, "This High Priest of ours [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it" (Hebrews 4:15-16). 

The ultimate triumph that occurred at Calvary was first accomplished among the twisted olive trees in Gethsemane.  The word Gethsemane literally means "olive press".  Just as the olives are completely pressed to make oil, so was Jesus "crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus' submission accomplished great things!  When we surrender to God, we relinquish all our rights to Him. At times we will be pressed and even feel crushed.  As we continue to lay down our will, our dreams, our rights, and our goals, we begin to see that Jesus is a wise and beneficent Lord who desperately longs to bless us!

       "The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender."

                            William Booth, founder of Salvation Army

The Power Of Persistence

"After many days, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, show yourself to
 Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.'  So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.  Now the famine
 was severe in Samaria...  Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the
 earth and put his face between his knees and said to his servant, 'Go up now, look toward the sea.'
 And he went up and looked and said, 'There is nothing.'  Elijah said, 'Go again seven times.'  And at
 the seventh time the servant said, 'A cloud as small as a man's hand is arising out of the sea...'
 In a little while, the heavens were black with wind-swept clouds, and there was a great rain."
                                                                                                                       (1 Kings 18:1-2; 42-45)




The drought and famine had lasted three long years when God brought the promise of rain to Elijah.  This was the moment when Elijah would have to choose what he would do with this promise from the Lord.  Would he focus on the dire circumstances that surrounded him or would he continue to "pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1)?

Time continued to pass and still there was no rain.  Yet, Elijah persisted in his faith and expectant prayers that God would fulfill His promises.  After the seventh time of praying and looking for the rain, a small cloud finally appeared in the sky.  And after that, the deluge of rain ensued.

Elijah believed that God would do what He said He would do.  In addition to that belief, there were three things that Elijah understood about his role in God's plan:  that God's power was within him, that God's power would be released through his prayers, and that God would add His holy fire to Elijah's prayers in order to accomplish His purposes.

So he persisted.  And persisted.  And persisted.  He built himself "up in his most holy faith" (Jude 1:20), and he waited for God's timing.

Elijah understood that God was "able to do abundantly more than all [he] could ask or think according to the power that was at work within [him]" (Ephesians 3:20).

In this scripture, the Greek word for the word according is kata.  Kata means "to measure out".  This means that we are responsible for measuring out God's unlimited power and resources into the circumstances He has given into our hands.

We do this through our prayers.  As God's children, we have access to all the power and authority we will ever need to live victorious lives in Christ.  The book of Ephesians tells us that God "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (given by the Holy Spirit) in the heavenly realm!" (Ephesians 1:3). 

We receive our power from heaven and then release it on this earth.  When we truly understand who God is and who we are in Him, we will rise up and release that same power and authority into our circumstances.  Then, in faith and with expectancy, we stand strong until we see God move on our behalf. 

The book of Revelation tells us that God adds holy fire to our prayers.  In the fifth chapter, we are told that incense is added to the golden bowls in heaven, which are filled with the prayers of believers.  Then we are told that an "angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,

went up before God and out of the angel's hand.  Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightening and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:3-5).

If ever there were a time when the world needed God's fire, it is today.  We need God's fire to burn brightly within us.  Just as God is a consuming fire, we, too, can burn brightly for His glory.  Even while we wait.  Even when life is hard.

There are many believers today who are being tried and tested in their faith.  There is a special promise that God gives through the prophet, Zechariah, for such testing. God says, "I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call on My Name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is my God'" (Zechariah 13:9).

Persistence brings God's blessing to our lives.  The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) describes the difficulties believers will face in the last days.  Despite injustices, this parable teaches that prayer is a matter of faith and that as we wait on God's deliverance it will be our persistent prayers that sustain us.  Power is released from heaven when we persist!


"We can do nothing without prayer.  All things can be done by importunate prayer.  It surmounts or removes all obstacles, overcomes every resisting force and gains its ends in the face of invincible hindrances."
                                                                                                                                         E.M. Bounds

The Power of Proclamation

"Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.'  And Gideon said to him, 'Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?   And where are all His wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, "Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?"  But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of the Midian.'  And the Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of the Midian; do I not send you?'"
                                                                                                                       (Judges 6:11-14)




When the angel appeared to Gideon, his faith was not strong because of the distresses that Israel was experiencing.  His knees were wobbly and he could not reconcile the assurances God was speaking to him.  Circumstances and past experiences clouded the vision of this man of God.

Gideon's wavering response did not deter the angel.  God proclaimed to Gideon that: He was with him, Gideon was a mighty man of valor, and that Gideon would deliver the Israelites from the hands of their enemy (the Midianites).  This proclamation began to set the wheels in motion...

As believers, God has given us tremendous power to proclaim His Word.  We carry both the privilege and the responsibility of doing so.  The book of Proverbs tells us that "life and death are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).   As we proclaim God's Word, we are releasing God's creative and transforming power into the situations we are facing.

There are two related words in the New Testament that are used:  one is "to confess" and the other is "to proclaim".  Confession is stating words that line up with the Word of God, which then brings the full backing and authority of Jesus.  This is because God is always ready to back up His Word when we pray in accordance with God's will.

Proclamation is a confession made aggressive.  It means: "to announce, to declare, to decree, to pronounce, and to herald."  This is an area of spiritual development that changes the heart of man and releases a change in the spiritual realm.

This is a form of spiritual warfare.  Proclamation is the most effective way to release God's power into a situation.  When we echo prophetic promises and blessings we should stand with the expectation of supernatural intervention.  Unwavering faith, combined with proclamation from God's Word and the Holy Spirit will bring powerful results (in God's timing, of course).

Please note that this is not advocating a recent "name it and claim it" theology.  It is simply seeking God's guidance and wisdom relating to us and coming into agreement with what God shows us and then heralding those truths.  It is commanding light into dark places by the power and authority of God's Word.

Let's look at the example we find in David's life.  When Goliath began to taunt David, he said "'Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?'  And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field'" (1 Samuel 17:43-44).

David stood firm against Goliath's taunts and he made a proclamation over the curse that had been spoken.  David said, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.  And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear.  For the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hand" (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

David's proclamation set the stage for the victory that was to follow.  Like David, we are also to take hold of God's Word and exercise the authority He has given to us.  As we memorize and meditate and declare Scripture over our circumstances, it will build our faith, shatter our negative thinking, and prepare a path for victory.

Here are some practical declarations we can use:

Health and Strength

Psalm 29:11
"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace."

Proverbs 4:20-23
"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."

Protection and Guidance

Psalm 121:7-8
"The Lord will keep me from all harm, He will watch over my life; the Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore."

Nahum 1:7
"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him."

God's Assistance

2 Chronicles 20:6
"O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God wo is in heaven?  You rule over the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand you."

Family

Joshua 24:15
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Wisdom

Job 12:13
"With God are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding."

Testing and Trials

Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends its roots out by the stream, and does not fear when the heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Spiritual Conflict

Psalm 35:1-3
"Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!  Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers!  Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation!'"

Peace

Isaiah 26:3
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."



"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it  (Isaiah 55:10-11). 
    

Purpose and Power in Prayer

"Effective prayer is prayer that attains what it seeks.  It is prayer that moves God, effecting its end."
                                                                   Charles Finney




During the nineteenth century, Charles Finney's ministry surged across the American terrain like an unrestrained tsunami.  He is widely acknowledged today as one of America's foremost evangelists and its greatest revivalist.  It was Finney that marched this country out of the eighteenth century and facilitated the conversion of more than a half a million people without the assistance of technology or mass communication.

Finney's revivals sparked the Second Great Awakening and are largely responsible for the country being called a Christian nation.  He rallied the country around the Bible and the power of prayer.  His style of evangelism has influenced many, including Dwight L. Moody and Billy Graham.

When asked about the secrets of success regarding his ministry, Charles Finney attributed his effectiveness to prayer.  He was very deliberate in how he prayed, what he prayed, and co-laboring with the Holy Spirit in his prayer.  These ingredients are what gave him both the strategy and the power to see a mighty move of God.

Faith was an essential ingredient in Finney's prayer life, as was the Word of God.  When the Scriptures tell us that "whoever believes in Me [Jesus] will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.  Whatever you ask in My Name, this will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it" (John 14:12-14), Finney took God at His Word.

He believed there are two major mistakes we make when we pray: we pray too small and we pray too generally.  Specific answers require praying with specificity.  Mighty moves of God require big faith and knowing how big God is.  We do not have to fight for our victory; we are already fighting from a position of victory.

Too often in our lives we pray from a defensive position instead of an offensive one.  During these days in which we live we need to be aggressive in our prayers- for our families, our communities, and our nation.  We are definitely in a war and that requires committed warriors who are submitted and obedient to the will of God.

The caveat to being a warrior is that we also must be immersed in God's love.  Belligerence is not God's way.  Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

Charles Finney describes such an encounter  He said, "The Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul.  I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me.  Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it any other way.  It seemed like the very breath of God..."

Truly experiencing God's love transforms our prayers from being a needs based endeavor into becoming relationally based communication with God.  As we acknowledge that God's power and authority is far above our own, we know that we can fully trust and depend on Him to meet our needs.  When our hearts become aligned to the very heartbeat of Christ, we understand that all things important are related to His kingdom, His power, and His glory.  In other words, it becomes all about Him.

America desperately needs a prayer revival.  This revival will first start in the lives of individual believers.  Leonard Ravenhill, author of Why Revival Tarries, expounds on this precept.  He says, "God can move mountains but prayer moves God."

One of the prayers that Charles Finney prayed daily was that God would lead him to the person who was the nearest to death so that he could lead them to the Cross.  Daily, God honored this prayer.  Almost daily, Finney saw new converts added to God's kingdom.

We have been given authority to pray big prayers.  Our responsibility is to rule this earth through prayer.  Oswald Chambers said, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work."

God has an agenda for every aspect of our lives and for every person in our lives.  He calls us to lay hold of His promises and to persist until we see the answers materialize or until we see Jesus face to face.  The rest is up to Him.

We all should have several things and people for which we are standing in the gap.  Our strength comes from our joy which comes from our prayer.  This is what strengthens our inner man with might and gives us both purpose and power in our prayer!


Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to put on holiness, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience...  forgiving one another and binding us in love which brings perfect harmony.  Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and help us to be thankful.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing us in all wisdom.  Help our actions (word and deed) to be in Christ Jesus as we give thanks to the Father through Him ( Colossians 3:12-17).

Put Your Spirit upon us and Your Words within us and our offspring from this time forth and forevermore (Isaiah 59:21).

Help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and to go forth making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Help us to observe all that You have commanded us to do and to teach others to do the same.  Thank you that You are with us always. (Matthew 28:19-20).

We give You all the praise, glory, and honor in Jesus' Name (1 Peter 1:7).  Amen.