Intercession for Society: Friday, October 19

Here's our journal entry for our prayer meeting Friday night, October 19:

After a time of worship, the Lord challenged us through a brief prophetic word saying, "Get yourselvess ready, because I'm ready."

We turned our attention to Joel 2:18-32. It is promise in the last days of the Lord restoring what was lost as one aspect of his outpouring upon all flesh. If you're not familiar with it, it is worth reading (or re-reading). We observed that along with the revival God brings to His Church, He sends a restoration to society. In fact, there really is no true revival WITHOUT it spilling out into the marketplace and affecting society. Culture will either embrace it or spurn it, but it will not continue unaffected with business as usual. We interceded for society for change and a return to justice.

There was quite a bit of travail going on. Those who were doing so were exhorted to offer to the others some sense of why they were travailing. We encouraged clarification so that all present could appreciate that nature of intercession. Jeremiah 31:15-16 was offered; a calling for God's children to return to the Lord. Romans 8:18-22 was also suggested. Finally, Isaiah 42:14 was also considered. The context of Isaiah is that the Lord's sons and daughters are to refuse to be kept silenced, often the result of agreeing with surrounding culture or the majority mindset. No longer! Like a woman in childbirth we should warfare to declare the rejection of worldly influence and instead turn our hearts completely back to Him.

A word of encouragement then came forth, "God is going to do something good." Then a brief prophetic word, "The days ahead will be unsual. our lives will change, but it will be in Me. I'm coming soon." Then it was repeated for emphasis, "The days ahead will be unsual. our lives will change, but it will be in Me. I'm coming soon."

Still another prophetic word came: "You will work together. My spirit will come and say 'go together.' You will work together. I will send you on operations. And you will say, 'yes, I see it. I see it clearly.' And the Lord will say, 'get up and go.' And you will say, 'yes, I see it clearly.'"

One of the aching symptoms that the Church in our area desperately needs revival, is how barren our churches are of seeing people experiencing the New Birth. The Holy Spirit brought us to Isaiah 49:19-23. "Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people..." What an amazing turn-about! According to these verses, even those young new believers are going to feel overcrowded by each other. Further, God was going to use inflential people to come into the kindgom to help steward all of these new believers in their new life in Christ. So we interceded for an outpouring in culture in addition to praying for an outpouring in our churches. We prayed for the next day's elections as so many key state-wide offices were up for grabs. We noted that having the right leadership could foster the transformation in society God was wanting to produce. We also prayed for John and Joy Monger of Prayer Lake whose ministry reaches so many in the Body of Christ in our area.

As a final plea to the Lord for His Sovereign intervention, Jeremiah was 8:18-22 was read.

Burning Before His Throne

Will LaPointe sent this brief article from the Elijah List website to be shared with all of you through our Firelight blog site. It tracks very closely to one of the things we prayed about at our last gathering. Wonderful! Thanks, Will! :

September 30, 2007

Bob Sorge:

"BURNING BEFORE HIS THRONE MEANS STANDING IN THE ALL-CONSUMING FIRE"

"His 'consuming fire' will burn away all from your life, until all that's left is love itself."

My prayer life was transformed when I discovered that prayer is the glorious adventure of an unfolding, growing, reciprocating relationship with the living God of the universe. Nothing excels the glory of burning with holy longing before a burning God who blazes with fiery passions for weak but lovesick worshipers.

I didn't stumble or wander accidentally into this discovery; it was a divine set-up. I was ambushed. In my case, a personal trial has been used by God to totally rewrite my spiritual DNA, redirect the course of my life, and bring me to the threshold of a relationship that I always longed for but didn't know how to find. The calamity made me absolutely desperate for God. I began to scour God's Word like a starving man trying to stay alive. It wasn't the fiery trial that changed me; it was the desperate pursuit of God in the trial that changed me.

There are two Scriptures that define my place before God in my present season. The first is Deuteronomy 10:8, "At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day." I now see my primary calling as being that of standing before God and ministering to Him. No great agenda, no mighty ambitions, no rush to move on to the next thing. I just stand before Him and love Him.

The second Scripture is Revelation 4:5, "Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." When I saw the phrase, "burning before the throne," my heart cried out, "Lord, I want those same words to characterize my life. I too want to stand before You and burn before Your throne!"

I have discovered who I am. I am a holy one (not because of who I am, but because of where I am) who stands before the throne of The Holy One, gazes upon His beauty and majesty, the fire that flows from His throne (see Daniel 7:10) flowing into my heart, setting me ablaze with the same fiery passions that kindle God's heart, and now my love flows back to Him like a volcanic eruption as my heart responds to the love He is now igniting in my heart (see Romans 5:5).

I will burn before Him for eternity. I will always stand here. By His grace, I shall never be moved. May nothing of this world or of hell's assault ever deter me from this holy stand before His throne. I've tasted of the ultimate privilege of burning before His throne, and I'm ruined for anything less.

Simply Stand

There are seasons when God calls us to simply stand. We might prefer the adrenalin of chasing down a great cause, but sometimes God calls us to stop all activity and just stand. Sometimes He gives us no choice. Occasionally, circumstances will constrain us beyond our ability to steer a different course, and we become prisoners to the chains that bind us to God's will. Incapable of extricating ourselves and moving on to the next thing, all we can do is stand and burn in holy love for our King.

It is commonly said, "Don't just stand there, do something!" When circumstances in our lives are careening out of control, the great temptation--when you don't know what to do--is to do something. "God can't steer a stationary vehicle," they say, "So start moving out on something, and let God direct your course."

That may be the way to go in some situations, but the Lord has been leading me in a different path. He inverted that common saying and gave it to me this way, "Don't just do something, stand there!" It came like this: "When you don't know what to do, don't just do something! Wait on Me, stand before Me, minister to Me, until. Until I speak. When I speak to you, then you can move out in response. But until I speak, just stand there."

I've been gripped recently by the phrase, "the fire never says, 'Enough!'" (Proverbs 30:16). There is a fire in God that is never satisfied; and there's a fire in me, placed there by God, that is never satisfied. The fire in me is constantly reaching out for more of God; and the fire in Him responds by desiring more of me in return. Eternity will be the unending adventure of ever giving more of our hearts in fiery love to Him, as He eternally unfolds more of His glorious beauty to us.

Do something dangerous. Get alone with God! His "consuming fire" will burn away all from your life, until all that's left is love itself. This is our God, "Who makes...His ministers a flame of fire" (Hebrews 1:7).

He'll make you one, too, if you'll let Him.

Bob SorgeOasis House MinistriesEmail: oasisdesk@aol.com

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,Albany, OR 97321
http://www.elijahlist.com/
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Prayer Journal: Friday, September 21

Following are the notes taken from our prayer meeting last night:

Prophetic intercession: The Church does not need to be afraid of the fire of God, but instead we should run into it. He will make Himself known to us and be with us in the fiery furnace.

Revelation 5:11-14 was read by one and later in the evening confirmed by another.

Prophetic word: The Bride of Christ was to cease feasting on “junk” food, instead of the pure food which is the Word of God. Follow-up prayer: Help us, Lord to eat food from the King’s table and to discern the difference between “food” which is clean from that which is unclean.

Scripture reading: Jeremiah 2:13 was read and then prayed a prayer of repentance that as a Church, we’ve committed two evils in turning aside from the simple truth of God’s Word and the message of repentance and the cross and in exchange, dug for ourselves cisterns to hold stagnant, dead water which can never sustain us. Another prayed that we return and dig up the wells that the enemy had filled up and we would restore those wells until none are left unstopped.

Observation made: Some would ask, “Where is the God of Elijah?” but the real question is, “Where are the Elijah’s of God?” Follow-up prayer: Lord, raise them up!

Repentance: A pastor in our meeting stood in proxy for ministers in general repenting for turning aside from being the clear voice of God in the earth and succumbing to seeking the approval of men instead. His presenting himself in this way was confirmed by another member.

Scripture reading: John 7:37, 38 was read and then a follow-up prayer: Lord, let your pure Word dwell in us and may it flow out of your people to the lost.

Scripture reading: Isaiah 54:7, 8

In a reference back to the earlier Jeremiah 2 prayers, a brief vision was shared. Big name preachers had huge wads of money caught in their throats and it was choking them. A large hand (God) was stretching every neck and wringing the money out of each throat, forcing them to regurgitate it so as to disperse those funds to ministries which would be faithful to put it to the uses the Lord intended. It was very painful to the “hot shot” preachers but it would save them ultimately from death and likewise be a blessing to those who would rightly put those offerings to kingdom use.

Another shared that it as though the Church is about to be resurrected, but with that, we must also be loosed from the grave clothes which will restrain us unless they are loosed.

Someone else had a vision of two men who represented pastors. They stood back to back with each other, possibly one protecting the other. A golden thread began to encircle them which at first appeared to be a good thing but later, as the thread continued wrapping them, proved to have them so bound so as to be unable to move! God’s Spirit intended to have them free, yet their freedom was turned to bondage. (The meaning was not quite apparent, however, perhaps it was a picture of ministries protecting each other from outside forces. That is good until ministries try to shield each other from God’s probing.)

Scripture reading: Proverbs 13:12: Follow-up prayer: For too long, the Church as been weighed down waiting for the day the Lord would have His way in the earth. However, now, Lord, let this be the hour when you no longer restrain yourself, but show forth your glory in the earth.

Scripture reading: Jeremiah 12:5: We are to be prepared for the hour we’re coming into.

Prayer: That we would be bearers of Your glory in the earth. Cleanse us for that purpose.

Is A Stirring Going On?

Last week, I was talking with a friend of mine and conversation soon turned toward spiritual matters. I don’t even recall what the phone call was originally about. But soon, Andy was commenting how relieved he was to report that it seemed to him that God has suddenly begun to move in church services in our area. I was all ears!

You see, he and I had talked in times past of how stale most church services seemed to be regardless of which church one considered. While some preachers are more entertaining than others, that’s not the same as having God magnified in a service. Andy said, “Boy it seems like, here lately, everyone I talk to has mentioned that God seems to be stirring at their churches.” Hmm.

“About how long would you say this stirring of God’s Spirit has been going on?” I asked him. “Well,” he pondered, “I’d say about a month or so.” Excitedly, I told him that’s exactly when I noticed at our own church that things seemed to be changing. I told him that I am convinced that something broke in our nation on 7/7/07 at The Call, and additionally that I was part of a prayer meeting that has met a few times since them praying for God to transform area churches.

But I MUST report that we had a truly sovereign service Sunday morning! Not long after our communion service but before our worship service had ended, the atmosphere seemed to turn to a real reverence of the Lord. Just then, a godly woman from our congregation began to weep aloud while speaking prophetically in tongues. That, in and of itself, is highly unusual to have happen. Another woman began travailing in prayer. A few were already prostrate before the Lord. Soon, Pastor brought the interpretation. It was a call to lay “self” down and pursue the Lord. Pastor then opened the altars for any to respond as they felt prompted. Immediately, not less than 85% of the congregation had filled the front of the church! But more amazing still was that there were as many flat on their faces as were kneeling with faces to the ground. But EVERYONE in the house seemed to be desperately seeking God! The fear of the Lord seemed to be evident in the sanctuary. It was truly a holy hour!

There was no preaching and people were free to linger as long as they wished.

I hope you’re seeing a stirring where you are. Let’s continue to press in and believe God to transform the churches in our part of Louisiana! God’s people are so hungry for His sovereign move and He is so desiring to flood our lives with His transforming grace!

Lou Engles' Call to Repentance

In preparing for The Call: Nashville, Lou Engles provided some vision for the condition of the Church in America, the source of that condition, and how he believes we as the Church might pray to truly turn back to the LORD. Below are portions of what was found at his website for "The Call." It is provided here, in a condensed form, in hopes that it might be instructive to our prayers for the Church in our area:

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord...he who has clean hands and a pure heart," Psalm 24:3-4. The hill of Lord is the place of the throne, and the place of spiritual authority. Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart can stand on that hill and exercise that authority.

Revelation 2:18-23 and 26 says, "And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
And I gave her time to repent of her immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Verse 26, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations". It is only when the Church is found faithful in moral purity to her bridegroom, God, that she can gain spiritual authority over nations.

The Church cannot bind the spirit of Jezebel dominating the nation if the spirit of Jezebel binds the Church. Only to those who have overcome this spirit, the Scripture says, will be given authority over the nations.

(From a dream Lou Engles had)…"Neither you nor the Church of America has any power to awaken this nation or Bill Clinton because it sleeps in the same bed!"

The dream and the Scripture confirm each other. The Church cannot bind the spirit of Jezebel dominating the nation if the spirit of Jezebel binds the Church. Only to those who have overcome this spirit, the Scripture says, will be given authority over the nations.

This truth makes the present moment with fallen leaders more profound and pronounced. I am not pointing the finger at a fallen brother. I mourn for any of them and for my generation that has been assaulted with the spirit of Jezebel and lives under the shame of their bondage, which defiles imaginations and causes nightmarish inward moral battles. Maybe all our leaders who have fallen are a sign and a symbol of the whole Church of the nation. From the head to the feet we are sick, bruised, and beaten up, and we are being exposed publicly.

Hosea 2:10 says, "Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers..." We are like eunuchs in Jezebel's palace whimpering our prayers, and even with our great churches and powerful spiritual programs, the nation remains unchanged. More than all this, we have crushed the Lord's heart with our spiritual adultery, we have left our first Love, and have gone after our Baals as in the time of Jezebel. But I believe that God wants to allure us into the wilderness and speak tenderly to us and make this Valley of Achor (the place of exposure of hidden sin) a door of hope. "In that day...you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call Me, 'My Master'" (see Hosea 2:14-16).

I believe that in this moment in time, if we respond in repentance, we could release the greatest revival of confession of sin and a cleansing by the blood of Jesus that could draw us back into marital faithfulness with our Bridegroom, God. I believe a great spiritual awakening could be at hand which could even affect the elections of 2008 and overthrow Jezebel's death-march in this nation.

Night Watches in Louisiana

I was contacted yesterday by Roger & Charlotte Merschbrock, Apostolic Coordinators with LAGAPN (Louisiana Global Apostolic Prayer Network). I agreed to be put on their email list. They try to maintain contact with groups involved in intercession. The following was included in today's newsletter that I thought I'd pass along:

We are beginning to receive words about “Night Watches” that are coming forth. We will be helping to facilitate Night Watches in Louisiana by connecting with the various corporate watches, giving and receiving revelation and information, and releasing that information to the rest of the state. If you are beginning a corporate night watch in your area, we would like to know about it; if you need more information about night watches, please don’t hesitate to email us at pray@prayerfocusministries.com. For those of you in the Baton Rouge area, New Life Church, Pastors David & Terry Ellis are beginning a First Friday of the Month Watch at their church from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM on Sept. 7th. For directions to their church go to their website: http://www.newlifechurchofbr.org/

Praying Isaiah 30

At our first meeting, and then again at our most recent, the Holy Spirit directed us to Isaiah 30. I was meditating on it this morning and was struck by how sobering it was. So much could be said about this chapter, and indeed the succeeding 5 chapters, but my focus started at verse 18.

It reads, Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! To which we might respond, "Yes Lord, that's what we want to hear." It continues in v19 in a much similar tone: O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Isn't that what we want to know? Isn't that praiseworthy? We like to camp a while at such scriptures.

But it is the next verse that is so crucial. We are almost amazed to read at v20, which begins: Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction... what's that? While we may find it to be out of character for the Lord to put us on a diet of adversity and affliction, it isn't. Why would "the good Lord" want to do a thing like that to us? What did he just now get through saying? Well, we shouldn't be so surprised. It is very much like him to do such a thing. It is part of his process for bringing much needed discipline into our lives. It is the process by which he turns flabby into fit, wishful into watchful, victims into victors, and wimps into warriors.

Verse 20 continues magnificently (as in the NASB), ...He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Wow! Isn't that powerful?! Saints, when your find yourself on a diet of adversity and affliction, LOOK UP, open your eyes! You are about to behold the LORD your Redeemer in a whole new light and with fresh love and appreciation!

And in that refinded condition, v21 tells us Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,"This is the way; walk in it." Nothing is so precious as divine direction--especially when you really don't know where you're going. Notice that regardless of what path we might be taking at the time, in that refined, disciplined condition, we'll hear that clear, unmistakable voice of the Lord directing us how to make the correct course adjustment.

Finally, here's what the Lord instructs us we'll be able to do as a result. And this next verse is precisely where God gave us laser focus at our last prayer meeting. V22: Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstural cloth and say to them, "Away with you!" Now if you don't realize it already, we have idols in our lives that need to be thrown out! God said so then and he is saying so ever so forcefully, "Church! Remove the idols from your lives and worship him and him alone!" It is perhaps the clarion call of the hour for the Church. We have adapted so much of the world into our worship and church government that we can hardly recognize a church service from an Amway meeting. We've preached success principles over sanctification. We're familiar with wholistic, but not holiness. We've elevated superstars rather than servants.

And idolatry has filled the house. But these verses tell me that all of the discipline and chastening the Lord has been dishing out to so many of his choicest saints has been with a divine purpose. He has been readying us to clean out all of our idols--to throw them out like "a menstrual cloth" (can it get any clearer than that?) and to embrace him above all else!

Its time for the Church to clean house!!