THIS PRESENT TIME #26
Prayer Warriors 9.17.23

James 5:16b
NIV - The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
NLT - The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.


Intercession

1. Some say it is a common responsibility of all Christians.


2. Some say it is a special calling (perhaps as Watchmen).


3. Some confuse it with the characteristic of cynics and critics.


4. Some Intercessors can easily identify a problem, but do not ever identify with the problem.

· While Intercession is the responsibility of all Believers, there does appear to be those who are specially gifted with insight, perseverance, and compassion to pray effectively and quantitatively for needs and situations.

· An Intercessor is one who pursues a lack or dysfunction to its solution.

· An Intercessor stands in the gap, so that there is a pathway to connect what is and what ought to be.

· A faithful intercessor is overcoming the tendency to allow passivity.


I. Think About Adversity

A. Hebrews 12:2 - He is the author and finisher/the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.


B. We want protection, not perfection.


C. We are often more interested in God’s Healing than in His Inhabiting.


D. Christ will empower you to overcome trouble and adversity. He will protect and care for you, but He will not do that by putting us in a harmless world free of problems. He will perfect virtue in us by developing character and by requiring faith. This creates the shelter of a transformed life.


E. He Hideth My Soul in the Cleft of The Rock


F. He will force us into situations we think are demonic in order to look problems in the eyes and be strong in faith. (Matthew 14:22-33)



II. Think About Worship

A. David was first a worshipper of God.


B. “He did not pursue his enemies without first pursuing God.” Francis Frangipane



III. Think About Steadfastness

A. “The quality of being firm and unwavering.”


B. “Chesed” - GOD’S RESOLUTE LOVING-KINDNESS, MERCY, AND FAITHFULNESS AT THE VERY CORE OF HIS CHARACTER AND ACTIONS.


C. Stedfast describes the person who doesn’t focus on the darkness of the difficulty, the gloom of the circumstances, nor the discouragement of your feelings which say, “God doesn’t care about me.” Guidelines 11-27-2015


D. Connect this to the idea of persistence.


E. David said, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and I did not turn back until they were consumed.” Psalm 18:37


F. The curse of Passivity


G. “You should have kept striking the ground with the arrows!” Elisha, 2 Kings 13:18,19


H. “Passivity is not horrible in and of itself, but it creates a psychological prison that holds us hostage to our other sins.” Francis Frangipane

I. In 2 Samuel 11:1, we see the effect of passivity on David.


J. The condition of our soul is often reflected in our physical realm. Things that are visible often come from things that are invisible. (Hebrews 11:3)


K. I think it can be said that an attitude of passivity introduced David to his temptation.


L. A spirit of passivity can be used to disarm you — and temptation follows it quickly.



Next Steps

1. At what point in our lives do we feel paralyzed or suffocated?


2. Ask God for discernment:

• Are my issues spiritual?

• Are my issues psychological?

• Are my issues emotional/situational?

• Are my issues physical?

It is God’s delight to give wisdom to His children.

1 Chronicles 12:31-33 ESV Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 . 33Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help Davidwith singleness of purpose.

• They understood the times and what was a stake.

• They knew what needed to be done.

• They knew they were part of a much larger team.


3. Repent of domination, manipulation, and control.


Next Week - “Keep Your Eye on The Almond Tree”