"The Ministry of Intercession" - Day 5

Andrew Murray splits up each of these 31 days into two sections: "What to pray" and "How to pray."

What to Pray: That God's People May Be Kept from the World. 

Read John 17.11, 15-16.

The issue of influence is central to intercession. I wonder if a byproduct of every revival, personal or corporate, is an influence shift. The individual or church goes from being influenced by the host culture to being an influence? Comfortablility and familiarity with our surroundings shifts to comfortability and familiarity with the Kingdom? 

Intercession will always result in the increasing discomfort in the status quo or in the values of self-centeredness (liberal or conservative). Intercession results in acclimating to the kingdom of God.

Where have you acclimated to the host culture's values and idols, probably inadvertently? What influences you? 

Jesus prayed in John 17 that the Father would not take us out of the world, but protect us from evil. We can join Jesus in that prayer.

How to Pray: Having Confidence before God.

Read 1 John 3.21-22.

Lord, You are our only confidence. Apart from your holiness, given us by grace, and received by faith, we would lack any confidence. Where there is condemnation in Your church, bring conviction and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Where there is confidence in anything but You, root it out! Plant the good seed of the Gospel in the wounded ground of our heart.