3 lessons we are learning about prayer and "God's profound timing."
Dear Nathan,
Regarding the e-mails about the 9 days of prayer:
Bear with me for a few minutes. Over a period of months, through various circumstances and every day things (such as photo albums), an idea came to mind. It grew to be more of a dream. Week after
week it expanded. It seemed almost senseless and impossible. And, what possible part was I to be
involved in this? The dream kept enlarging. This is useless! Then I remembered a book by Andrew Murray, The Ministry of Intercession, that I had read long, long ago. I sent for it and for weeks devoured it, with much underlining. Hope dawned...and I read my e-mail and your notes.
God's profound timing.
The Lord add fuel to the fire of the vision He is giving you and your people. The mountains you all
face (the reasons for the call to prayer) are indeed real, mindboggling and seemingly unconquerable.
The Lord led you into these situations for His purposes and for His glory. He will never leave you
until the work is done. He alone is the only source of all that you need. Only Him.
With much love,
Jack
Regarding the e-mails about the 9 days of prayer:
Bear with me for a few minutes. Over a period of months, through various circumstances and every day things (such as photo albums), an idea came to mind. It grew to be more of a dream. Week after
week it expanded. It seemed almost senseless and impossible. And, what possible part was I to be
involved in this? The dream kept enlarging. This is useless! Then I remembered a book by Andrew Murray, The Ministry of Intercession, that I had read long, long ago. I sent for it and for weeks devoured it, with much underlining. Hope dawned...and I read my e-mail and your notes.
God's profound timing.
The Lord add fuel to the fire of the vision He is giving you and your people. The mountains you all
face (the reasons for the call to prayer) are indeed real, mindboggling and seemingly unconquerable.
The Lord led you into these situations for His purposes and for His glory. He will never leave you
until the work is done. He alone is the only source of all that you need. Only Him.
With much love,
Jack
Someone ordered Murray's book for me at the same time (anonymously). Thanks to whoever did this! Here is from the introduction that I just read at lunch.
"In intercession, our King upon the throne finds His highest glory; in it we will find our glory, too. Through it, He continues His saving work and can do nothing without it; through it, alone we can do our work, and nothing a ails without it. In it, He ever receives from the Father the Holy Spirit and all spiritual blessings to impart; in it, we too are called to receive in ourselves the fullness of God's Spirit, with the power to impart spiritual blessings to others. The power of the church to truly bless rests on intercession:asking and receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men." (Andrew Murray, The Ministry of Intercession. Whitaker House 1982, page 10)
I believe God is teaching us some very particular and useful lessons during these days. Like Jack said, "God's profound timing."
1. Prayer is our working method. Instead of being on the agenda, prayer is becoming our agenda. Instead of praying for the work, prayer is becoming our work (World Mission Prayer League). Since Monday we have been actually asking God, "Who do you want us to visit? What, or to whom, are you calling us?" On Monday we waited and felt the Lord identify seven people to connect with. On Tuesday we heard two names. Some felt called to strengthen the fabric of fellowship at our church by inviting others over for dinner. Then we asked, "Who feels led to go to each one?" Now, instead of asking God to bless our ideas and agendas, we were joining Him in His.
2. Prayer draws us deeper in, and sends us farther out. Prayer is not escaping from the big bad world. Prayer is getting God's heart and resources to engage God's world. After identifying teams of visitors, we prayed over, anointed and commissioned the teams to go. Again, we came to the Lord and asked, "What is your heart for _________?" Words of Scripture and prophecy were spoken. I went with another man from Trinity to the man we volunteered to visit. After very little small talk, we said, "We were praying with 25 friends this morning and we asked the Lord to bring before us names of people we were to visit today. You were one of 7 names we identified. You are on our minds, but we believe you are also on the mind of God, and that He has something timely He wants you to know." We shared the Scripture and the word of prophecy spoken for this man, and it was absolute confirmation! Similar stories were shared by the others when we reported back the next morning. The Lord drew us deeper in, and sent us farther out.
3. Jesus actually wants to lead Trinity. Audacious. I knew it was true theoretically or theologically, but I didn't realize He wanted to practically set the tone, plan the agenda, provide the resources, call the shots, issue the challenge, deliver the grace. Jesus is Lord of Trinity!
We have three more days of prayer in this season. Join us if you can from 6-7am in the sanctuary.
Love in Jesus, beloved!
Nathan
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