#86 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Amos - Burden Bearer)

 

“O Lord God, forgive, I pray!
Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!”
 So the Lord relented concerning this.
“It shall not be,” said the Lord."

(Amos 7:5-6)

The Message (MSG)

In reviewing the life of Amos the prophet, one could say had much in common with Habakkuk, in that he too was faced with a nation, which had turned their back on God.  Much like the people during Josiah, Nehemiah and Jeremiah’s time one would conclude that many nations, like Judah thinks there charitable deeds or works will prevent God from passing judgment upon them. Let us say just, as Jesus’ said to Satan during His wilderness experience, “Thought shall not tempt the Lord you God.” (Luke 4:12 ) in other words, ‘Don’t put His mercy to the test’.  Let us not make the mistake of thinking that God will contend with us forever; that He will continue to look away while we blatantly commit abdominal acts of trespass against His righteousness. It’s not just America but nations the world over, which have sold future generation into bondage; because, of their own lust for self gratification and moments of fleeting ecstasy. 

Amos knew that God would not delay His Judgment much longer and knew he had to do something to get God’s attention. Why does it require, some catastrophic event to get a nation to pray and repent? When a nation gets to the point where not even the threat of destruction, will turn them from their wicked ways… then we’re in trouble.  Don’t get me wrong we are not the forerunners, when it comes to nations suffering immense moral decline. Likewise we are not the only nation, which has turned its back on the very Godly principles, which it was founded upon. What now is the church going to do in such a time as this? What should we say to these things? Knowing that these are perilous times we now live in, what should be our stance? There are those who would say, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelations 22:20) judge the wickedness of the earth! 

So what is our destiny considering the course we’re choosing to embark upon? When we consider other nations which have gone before us in the same path which we ourselves are taking, knowing full well that they met their doom in disgrace and divine judgment of God.  Pastor John MacArthur in a sermon he preached from the book of Isaiah 6, saw as it were a mirror reflection between America and the nation of Israel in its decline; to which he wrote: 

It’s time, I think, for us to begin to sing the funeral song…for our own nation, because we are guilty of the very same sins. Grasping materialism, drunken pleasure seeking, defiant sinfulness, moral perversion, arrogant conceit, and corrupt leadership mark our own nation. They are as thoroughly endemic and systemic in the life of America as ever they could’ve been in the life of Israel. And we, too, have had immense spiritual privilege, though we are not a covenant people, though we have not been given our land, as it were, by divine covenant and divine mandate. We have, nonetheless, had great foundations built on the Christian faith from which we have turned. We had in the early years of this nation a commitment to the Word of God. We have abandoned that with alacrity, with eagerness. We want nothing to do with God. We don’t want Him intruding into our lives. And we, therefore, as Israel of old, stand under God’s punishment.

(MacArthur, John - Warning to a Nation in Crisis. 2010)

I might add that many feel the same way as Dr. MacArthur regarding the paths we are choosing to follow; whose end most definitely will be destruction, should we choose not to repent and cry to our God for His mercy and forgiveness. We as intercessors must continue to stand in the Gap for our nations crying out, “Lord God, forgive us and cleans us from our unrighteousness and restore us!” let’s take a look at the three visions of destruction, which Amos saw was facing the children of Israel:

This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the second crop was coming up. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the LORD relented. “This will not happen,” the LORD said. This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. 5 Then I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”  So the LORD relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign LORD said.  This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.” Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 

For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, and prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, “‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the house of Isaac.’ “Therefore this is what the LORD says: “‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will certainly go into exile, away from their native land.’” (Amos 7:1-17 NIV)

Can you hear the voice of the intercessor crying out to God…“’Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small’!” pleading with God to spear the people; not to destroy them?  Each time God showed Amos another vision of destruction his reply was the same... “Please Don’t Lord God!” We as intercessor can know the plans of God before He brings them to pass, but this is our opportunity to stand in the gap and plead with the Lord God to turn away for His Judgment against the people.  In this chapter of Amos we see a parallel in the visions to the judgment s,which God brought upon Egypt on the behalf of Israel.  What is more distressing is this, God promise not to put upon them the things, which He had put on the Egyptians. “He said, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” Yet because of their rebellion God was preparing to send the judgment of Egypt upon them.  I wonder what promise are we causing God to revoke; because of our wickedness? 

Although God relented from the visions He had sent to Amos, it did not mean that He would not bring judgment upon Israel, just that it would not be as devastating as He had previously planned. What I would like for us to focus on however, is the heart of Amos the intercessor, how his intense love and concern for the children of Israel was not abated; because of their treatment of him.  Often times the very people we are sent to pray and stand in the gap for may not understand what our assignment is on their behalf. As a result they may even tell us to leave, stop praying and prophesying over them. They may remove you from their mist even by force. But we as intercessors must not respond in the flesh, rather in the spirit. Jesus when he was being crucified for the sins of humanity cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!” when have you had to pray this very prayer? “Father God do not judge them on my behalf, hold this not to their charge!" I have been there and trust me you don’t want to go there, but if you do just know that even then God will answer your prayer; but it doesn’t mean that judgment want still come…but He will be merciful on your behalf. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are so merciful and true, as we lift up our nations and their leadership and the people, we ask you to please relent and turn away for massive destruction which you may be planning to bring. We know that You are Gracious and Kind and that you do not wish that any should parish in their sins; but come to repentance and be saved. (Ezekiel 18:23) Father God, turn us from or sin and bring us back to You! Break the hold of immorality, which holds many captive today to the addictions, obsessions and possession, which torment us daily. Break the shackles and chains, which keep us imprison in the wickedness of our body and minds.  Come and heal us and heal our lands… we pray, in Jesus’ name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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#85 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Job - The Persecuted One)

 

 “Oh, that someone would mediate between

God and me, as a person mediates

between friends."

(Job 16:21)

The Message (MSG) 

No doubt many of you are familiar with the story of Job, but have you ever looked at the story of Job in light of his intercession? Whenever you hear the name ‘Job’ is it intercessor that comes to your mind or ‘one who suffered greatly,’ however long before job entered into this season of suffering he was an intercessor. “When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.” (Job 1:5) Job never left anything up to chance he would pray and intercede for his children in the event that they in a drunken stupor might have said something against God. Job wasn’t a selfish man even though he was wealthy, he gave to the poor and needy,  it is said that Job did good to all the people in the village.  

Was this the only account of Job interceding for someone? No, let us take a look at, (Job 16:21 “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out,  tears to God; And he contended with God so that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbor.” Even in the mist of suffering Job still acknowledges the agreement of heaven and earth in this passage, “My Intercessor is my friend…” it is astounding how Job makes reference to Christ in this passage the Greatest Intercessor who ever lives to make intercession on behalf of us all.  This is one of many references Job makes regarding Jesus Christ. So this would lead us to believe, that not only was Job an intercessor he was also prophetic as well, which is not uncommon with true intercessors.  

Something else which bares pointing out is the fact that although no one stood in the gap for Job during this time of suffering, it was he Job who ended up being the one to intercede for his so call friends. “My anger is stirred up,  against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has So now take  seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede  for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Now the one that was accused falsely is not the one who must stand in the gap for them.  

Beloved when you being tested and tried because of your life as an intercessor, learn from the life of a fellow intercessor, Job, that though things may get hard, and many may not stand with you there is an intercessor who ever makes intercession on behalf of us all…Jesus!!!

My Prayer: Father, we cannot say that we love to be tested and tried. Father, none of us like to suffer, however when trial and suffering does come we thank You that we have an advocate in the heavens one Jesus Christ who ever lives to make intercession for each of us. So that when the enemy comes in, like a flood He will lift up a standard against him. Thank for the example of the Life of Job, because we know that just because we are being persecuted it does not mean that we have sinned against you. Help us to stand when testing’s and trials come so that we can bring glory to Your Name. Thank You Father in Jesus’ name we pray Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#84 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Habakkuk - Embrace” or “Wrestle)

“God, how long do I have to cry out for help
before you listen?  How many times do I have to yell,

“Help! Murder! Police!” before you come to the rescue?"

(Habakkuk 1:1)

The Message (MSG) 

Although we could liken each of our great Intercessors of the Bible, to a modern day intercessor for me Habakkuk seems the most likely candidate for understanding what we face in our cities, nations and countries today.  There are only two or three accounts where I would say that the intercessor had to engage in a literal wrestling match with God in order to gain peace over a situation.  Habakkuk reminds me of Jacob wrestling with the angel and Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, wrestling, agonizing over a matter with God in an effort to hear some alternative verdict. 

 

As I reflect on his prayer to God I can’t but help reflect upon the state and condition of my own country and homeland America, “Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place. Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4)  Day after day night after night to look upon the sinful state and condition of affairs around us, man has no value for a human life weather born or unborn. “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)   This we see even this very day as our own Supreme Court debates whether or not marriage is a union between a man and a woman or between two men or two women.  Today we see people questioning that, which is moral, righteous and true; holding it in question because of one’s lifestyle or genetic make-up. What does on believe or what must we do or say to all these things.  

If we take a stand for righteousness then we are thought to be unloving and cruel.  If we declare what thus says the Lord then we are threaten with discrimination lawsuits. Does one hold their peace? These were some of the same things Habakkuk was facing in his day. Injustice, immorality, no respect for life human or animal, mankind’s cruelty is at a all time high, yet they are not through. Habakkuk confronts God with questions, “God, you’re from eternity, aren’t you? Holy God, we aren’t going to die, are we? God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline? But you can’t be serious! You can’t condone evil! So why don’t you do something about this? Why are you silent now? This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous and you stand around and watch!” (Habakkuk 1:12-13)

How often do we pray and ask God to step in and change things and it seems that He hesitates before he acts, how long have we prayed turn us back to You Lord God, and had to wait yet longer. For Habakkuk it would seem God had turned a deaf ear to his prayers but then again he would not have been the only one. After all God closed his ears to the prayers of Jeremiah in fact He told him don’t even waist you time praying to me for this people.

He could not understand why God had not intervened in the matter and turned it around. But don’t worry, when someone start to wondering about the Love of God, the Compassion of the Father, be assured He has to speak. “What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint…”

But we must always remember that when it seems that God is doing nothing, you can believe He is up to something. “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. This is what God tells Habakkuk, “You would not believe if you were told.”  We as intercessor have to remember that in spite of how bad things look God has a plan and the day of reckoning will come for the wicked and the unjust; but in the mean time we continue to pray.

My Prayer: Father, we know that Your eyes are shut and Your ears and not deaf to the things going on down here in the Earth, as we lift up our voices in prayer hear us Lord God and make hast and move. Just as Habakkuk prayed and ask you how much longer we sometimes find ourselves asking the same question, but however long it takes we will continue to believe that You have the answer and You will respond to our prayers.  We give you praise and thanksgiving  Father in Jesus’ name we pray Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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#83 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

Jabez, Hannah and Jonah -

(Personal Prayer’s That Changed Nations)

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory,”

“No my lord," she replies. "I am a tormented woman.”

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me..."

(Jonah 1:2a; 1 Samuel 2; Isaiah 64:6)

The Message (MSG)

By now each of us should understand what it means to intercede, mediate or stand in the gap for others. In this lesson we will cover three individual prayers’s which had amazing impact upon the lives of other.  How many times have we prayed and asked God for something which we felt was for personal reason?  How many times have we asked in pray that we could be financially Blessed?  Now there’s no doubt that a prayer like this would indeed bless the one praying, but should God truly grant their request they would not only have their needs met, but would have plenty left over with which to bless many others.  So what would have appeared to be a selfish prayer really was a prayer to be a blessing to others financially.

When Jabez prayed to the Lord one would think that he was only thinking of himself when he prayed, “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.” But the truth is that he was asking God to make him a blessing, to cause him to no longer bring pain, that in doing that He would enlarge his territory so that He could impact more lives, once he had been made a blessing instead of a curse. “…So that I will be free from causing pain,” let me cause joy instead.

We’ve covered in previous lessons the importance of being called by name, which for Jabez was, “borne in pain.” What do you do when you have a name, which forever speaks of pain? Well for Jabez, he prayed unto the Lord God or a (Higher Court of Appeal) and requested a legal name meaning change so to speak. “And God granted his request,” and by doing so made Jabez a blessing not just for himself but for many others. Afterwards he could live out the rest of his days being a blessing to everyone around him and not a curse. 

Then there was Hannah whose name meant, “God has graced me with a son,” isn’t it interesting that even before God had cause Hannah to conceive her first child, her name meant that God was going to bless her with a child.  Yet she wept year after year and grew weary in waiting on God to bless her womb. How often do we like Hannah grow weary waiting on the promise of God for our lives? How often do we find ourselves weeping and asking God why He has not manifested the blessing yet? 

Every year when Elkanah went to Shiloh to worship the Lord he would take his wives with him, Hanna (who had no children) and Peninnah (who had children) But Peninnah, Hannah’s  rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.” Hannah’s husband loved her much more that he did Peninnah; no doubt this was why she tormented Hannah so much, out of jealousy. Once Hannah had enough she prayed to the Lord and made a vow, to give her first born child back to the Lord all the days of his life.  No doubt this was what God was waiting for as well as for the timing to be right, for he knew that Hannah’s first child would be a prophet unto Lord. 

Hannah prayed – “If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me by giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.”  And Hannah kept her vow unto the Lord, just as He kept His promise to her. She not only had Samuel but the Lord blessed her womb and she had other children as well. Hannah’s prayer and longing for a child not only brought a blessing to her but it also brought one of the most powerful respected prophets to Israel as well.   

How could anyone forget about Jonah, whose name is said to mean “Dove or Peace?”  Is it any wonder that God called him to deliver the message of destruction to the people of Nineveh? Jonah 2:9 Jonah however made a classic mistake, which was he was too familiar with the Lord God.  Jonah did not refuse to go to Nineveh because he felt they deserved to be destroyed but because he felt he knew the Lord God; “Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back at home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!”

Something to remember is this we as intercessors should never second guess God, nor should we become angry when He does what He will’s in any given situation; because He is God!  We are His servants, working together with Him to accomplish His will in this earth. Not our own. Even if we think or in fact know what God will do or say we must still follow through with whatever He, God has instructed us to do.  

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we look at the lives of these three people we realize that when we pray, even if it is our own personal prayer we are still praying your will into this earth. Whether it’s to bless us with wealth and prosperity or children we know that whatever we have belongs to you just as we do, and we give it back to be used in your service. So we like Jabez ask you to make us a blessing and enlarge our territory so that our lives can affect more people. Like Hannah we ask that you give us children not just natural but spiritual as well and that they will serve you all the days of their lives. Help us to go when you say go and stay when you say stay, knowing you heart and that you are a gracious and loving God who is forgiving and might to save. Thank you for all thy many blessings in Jesus’ name Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#82 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Jeremiah - Elevated I of the Lord)

 

“I wish my head were a well of water
and my eyes fountains of tears
So I could weep day and night
for casualties among my dear, dear people."

(Jeremiah 9:1)

The Message (MSG) 

Jeremiah was often known as the “Weeping Prophet” because he often weeded loudly and in public for his people the children of Israel.  Jeremiah was called to be a prophet during the time when King Josiah reigned over Judah. Initially all of the good efforts of King Josiah to bring the people back to God were all physical or outward works. The removed every pagan alters and idol of worship, which were visible however, the people still had not returned to God in their hearts. “The people of Judah have lived evil lives while I’ve stood by and watched.” The people were going through the motion however their hearts were not in it…they were not doing it from their hearts, just out of a sense of duty.  

Just like King Josiah Jeremiah deeply grieved for his people and the condition they were in spiritually. As if that weren’t enough there were theologians, prophets and priest telling the people that they had nothing to fear from God, that they were exempt from being judged and destroyed. They were assuring the people that God would never destroy the Holy City Jerusalem and the Temple, His dwelling place. But Jeremiah was an earlier version of John the Baptist during Jesus time; Jeremiah was now that voice crying in the wilderness against the lie’s of the theologians.  

The contrast of Jeremiah true nature and that of the one he had to assume was very broad; he being a gentle and quite man, who by the hand of God had to become the voice of warning and doom. He had to become a public icon when he only wanted to live out his life in quite seclusion.  Jeremiah loved his people and it broke his heart to have to pronounce destruction upon them, he would in one breath declare the word of the Lord against the people and in another weep bitterly and plead for mercy for them from the Lord. "Jeremiah was no weeping willow; he was a stalwart oak of divine planting."  Although Jeremiah was a prophet he was also a great intercessor and so too are all the prophets. What is most unusual about Jeremiah however as an intercessor is that; at this time in the history of Israel God had literally had enough of their waywardness and backsliding; so much so that He told Jeremiah not to pray for them anymore… “And as for you, Jeremiah, I don’t want you praying for this people. Nothing! Not a word of petition. Indeed, I’m not going to listen to a single syllable of their crisis-prayers.” the people had utterly rejected God’s Law, there was no turning back judgment was come and nothing or not one could stop it.  

For me here is the true heart of an intercessor who knows the heart of God, even when God’s heart has turned against the one’s they are praying for. Jeremiah would not relent he would not stop praying for the people in spite of the fact that God said his prayer would go unanswered. “Then God said to me: “Jeremiah, even if Moses and Samuel stood here and made their case, I wouldn’t feel a thing for this people. Get them out of here. Tell them to get lost!” 

The most important thing to remember when praying for a people, it don’t give up believing that The Lord can turn them around.  Don’t relent in your pursuit for an answer for God, but be prepared to except His reply. There may be a time during intercession when the Lord may tell you, “Stop Praying,” what should you do?  Stop Praying, at least in the manner in which you were praying; this  would be a good time to inquire of the Lord as to why He wants you 'NOT' to pray? Just as He gave Jeremiah an answer He will give you one as well.  

My Prayer: Father, when we look at the state of our country and our people we like Jeremiah want to weep bitterly for their deliverance. Lord God only You can turn their hearts to You, only You can bring them to repentance.  Father before they get to the place of destruction please hear our prayer, hear our cries. Father we will not relent, we will not give up or cease praying for your mercy or grace over our people. Save them Lord God, Turn the Lord God merciful and true. Bring them back to You, tear down every idol and every false God which has been erected as a point of worship in their homes and hearts. Open their eyes to see the errors of their way so true repentance can be offered up to Your thrown. Father we know that Your will is that they be saved and turn from their wicked ways we too desire this in Jesus’ name  we pray Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#81 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Isaiah - Salvation of the Lord)

“But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousness are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind,
have taken us away."

(Isaiah 64:6)

The Message (MSG) 

Prophet Isaiah has always been one of my favorite prophets he and Jeremiah both like most who are called by God to do a great work felt themselves unsuited for the task. It was Jeremiah whom God told, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:  A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you.” (Jeremiah 1:5) From this passage we know that we are all called with a purpose by God even before we are conceived.  And then there is Isaiah who, “Saw the Lord high and lifted up and His train (glory) filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)  Even though he was terrified with the sight of what he saw he sees something else which I believe each of us sees once we enter the presence of a Holy God, he saw how unclean he truly was and not just him but even the children of Israel whom he lived among. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)

At the age of Nineteen I gave my life to the Lord and was born again, although I did not know or understand fully what that all meant one thing was certain because of that experience my life has never been the same.  Once I heard a song initialed, “Lord I’ll Go” and from that moment on it became like an anthem for my life. I had no idea that each time I song that song I was in fact prophesying my destiny, for twenty-five years later God called me into foreign missions.  I had no clue that this song I was singing was in fact the very words that Isaiah himself had spoken thousands of years earlier. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) What Isaiah was agreeing to do was become the voice of God to the children of Israel…well I did not see my willingness to go quite as large as that at the time however,  God already knew what He had called me to.

The Lord God tells Isaiah that He was so disappointed with the children of Israel that He had latterly left them to their own devices. Here is when Isaiah prayed to God on behalf of his people.  Just as many of the in great intercessors we have covered in this series Isaiah did not say, “Lord, look at these stupid people of Yours how rebellious they are...”  Just like a true intercessor and prayer warrior, Isaiah identified with the people this great nation.  He lifts them up to the Lord.  Not speaking of how great ‘their’ sins, are but rather how great ‘our’ sins are. “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.  And there is no one who calls on Thy name, who arouses himself to take hold of Thee; for Thou hast hidden Thy face from us, and hast delivered us into the power of our iniquities.” (Isaiah 64:8)

Isaiah asks the Lord to ‘rend the heavens and come down,’ Lord come down and act in judgment in behalf of Your people.  This was a serious pray as well as far reaching one.  Lord God don’t just come down and deliver Your people but also bring judgment upon those who have oppress Your people. Isaiah was primarily praying for situations and concerns which existed right then and there; however it would seem that these problems did not remain from that time forward.  Isaiah intercession regarding the idolatry of the people seemed to be a result of their captivity by Babylon.

The Lord made Isaiah a promise that no matter what happened He would preserve Himself a remnant. “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry.  Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty.  Behold, My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame.  14 “Behold, My servants shall shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you shall cry out with a heavy heart, And you shall wail with a broken spirit.  15 “And you will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, And the Lord God  will slay you.  But My servants will be called by another name.  16 “Because he who is blessed in the earth shall be blessed by the God of truth;  And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth;  Because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My sight!”  What an awesome mighty and powerful God we serve! God declares that all will see what He is going to do to the nations when he comes down and judge them.  Therefore the only response the nations could give was that of fear and trembling in the presence of this great God and at the work of His mighty hand.

God hears and answers Isaiah’s prayer and delivers his people but not only that but made them some amazing promises as well, “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Shall be thought accursed. “And they shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” What a mighty and merciful God we serve.!

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, as thank you for the example of Isaiah and that of Your faithfulness in the mist of trouble. Thank You that even though we may sin terribly you are merciful and loving and will forgive us our sin, when we turn to you and repent.  Thank you Father we pray in Jesus’ name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#80  (Personal Prayer Exam)

“The prayer of a person living right with God

is something powerful to be reckoned with.”

 (James 5:16)

The Message (MSG) 

For today’s lesson I would like for you to do a self-exam or your prayer life. Take two sheets of paper and write the following on each:  

The first sheet will have a list of some of your most challenging problems being faced right now. Number your paper 1 – 10 unless you need more numbers then make it however many your need more or less:  

1.    

2.        

3.        

4.        

5.        

6.        

7.       

8.       

9.      

10.   

The second sheet will have a list of the some of the negative words and thoughts you’ve spoken or heard in your spirit regarding whether or not God can or will help you solve these problems you’ve listed on the first sheet. Number you paper just as you did for the first list: 

1.        

2.        

3.        

4.        

5.        

6.        

7.     

8.       

9.     

10.    

Now on a third sheet of paper make yet another list this time make a list containing reason why you should be confident about God answering your prayers and helping you solve your problems. Number the sheet just as you did earlier but this time give scriptures to support your answers.

1.        

2.        

3.        

4.        

5.        

6.        

7.        

8.        

9.        

10.    

Lastly once you are done with all three list review list 1 and 2 weighing the pros and cons of prayer. Then read you third list which confirms why you should have no fear of praying to God. Why you should be confident about whether or not He will answer your prayer and come to your aid when you have problems or needs. Once you are truly confident about God’s answering your prayer; leave me a comment which includes your prayer list of problems we will stand together in agreement for your answer.  

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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Morning by Morning