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Christians Called to Pray

by mark baker  
5/10/2008 / Christian Living

Over the centuries, there have been many great revivals and moves of God. Yet, before each great move of God, there was always a move to prayer. The Lord will raise up many to pray and seek after Him. Right now men and women of God are being called to begin to pray and seek His face. There is an expectancy in my spirit, I have sensed it, and many others sense it as well. Many of the leaders of the Christian faith are sensing it and calling God's people to a time of prayer. I would like to encourage you to listen to your spirit and pray as the Word of God tells us to pray. I believe we are in the end times, and on the verge of ushering in the Second Coming of Christ. The time is short and we have a lot to do.

1 Timothy 2:1. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2. for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In today's political climate, many are turned away by all the negativity and are disgusted with everything that is going on. So much so, that they just want to throw up their hands, close their eyes, and hope things will just get better by themselves. It just doesn't work that way. As Christians, we have an obligation to do our part, not only to pray, but to get out and vote and be a part of the political process. We have been given this great freedom and responsibility, and we should take this responsibility seriously. It really is a privilege to have the freedom to be a part of this process. You may think that your one little vote will not make a difference, but it does. We can make a difference if we will follow after God. If we won't, we certainly have no right to complain. I also believe we will be held accountable for our actions or lack thereof. Obedience to God's will always makes a difference, even if it is just in the small things.

Please think about this, even if your vote didn't makes a difference, you will be judged according to your actions, not what others are doing or have done, or even the final outcome. We can't control others, but we certainly can control ourselves. Don't focus on what the others are doing. Regardless, do the right thing in the sight of God, and in the end, you will be blessed because of your obedience, in spite of the outcome. However, together, we can make a difference.

Many Christians in the past have lapsed into complacency and in the end have lost their nation to the godless. History is full of such examples. I don't want that to be said of us, do you? It doesn't have to be that way, but we have a part to play in this. I don't want to be one of the ones who sat back and did nothing to stop the oncoming tide that is surely coming and has already started.

In 1st Timothy, Paul is writing to Timothy, but this is written by the unction of the Holy Spirit to all the saints of God. He said first of all that, 1.supplications, 2.prayers, 3.intercessions, 4.and giving of thanks be made for all men. Why is Paul saying we should pray these four things and for all whom are in authority? This is God's will so that we that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. It is good in His sight, and because He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Through out history, every time war breaks out, evangelism seems to take a back seat. It is time for God's people to rise up and make a stand. We are being called by the Holy Spirit to begin a time of aggressive spiritual warfare. We are being called to stand against the tide of fear and darkness that would try to sweep across our land and the world. This is so we can live in peace, and because of this, the Gospel can be spread throughout the earth. We have a job to do, let us not back down now! We should not be complacent bystanders, we are children of God, and He is calling us to pray now!

You might ask why doesn't God just do something? Many people believe God is all-powerful and that He can do what ever He wants. It is true, God is all-powerful, but He will not override the will of man, and throughout the Bible you will see that in a great many cases He will not move without our asking.

After 9-11, I heard a leading journalist ask Billy Graham's daughter how could a loving God allow something like this to happen, and many people out of ignorance to God's Word are asking the same question. He allows it to happen because He is a righteous judge. How can you judge somebody if you are pulling all the strings like a puppet master? The answer to that is you can't, and He doesn't.

Through out the Word of God we are told to ask. It seems God will do very little if we won't ask Him.

-- Young's Bible
James 4:2. ye desire, and ye have not; ye murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain; ye fight and war, and ye have not, because of your not asking;

Matthew 6:8. "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

James is saying we have not because we did not ask! Jesus said in the book of Matthew;
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
The implication here is, although God knows before we ask, we still have to ask. It says before you ask, whether you ask or not, the Father still knows. Whether you receive or not is dependent on asking, and I might add asking and receiving by faith, for that is the only way we can receive anything from God.

John 16:24. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25. "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26. "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27. "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

Jesus said some very powerful things in these passages of Scripture. However, there are two things I want to point out. First, we are to ask and receive so that we can have fullness of joy. Secondly, we are to ask the Father in Jesus name. He wants us to have joy, He wants us to live in peace, and he wants us to ask in the name of Jesus, the name that is above every name.

Our country is at a crucial turning point in its history. You can see the godless trying to destroy the very foundations of our freedom and turn this country into a socialistic state.
It is time for the body of Christ to rise up, and take their place as the light of this world. We are called to such a time as this. We are the ones who can turn the tide through the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Ro. 8:26. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Starting with verse 26, we see that the Word is talking about the saints interceding to bring God's will to pass.

The word translated "helps" is a compound Greek word literally meaning helps -- 3 Gk. words Romanized "sunantilambanomai" Pronounced soon-an-tee-lam-ban'-om-ahee
Strong's literal translation, joins in to help . co-operate (assist): Or to take hold with us together against our infirmities.

Let's look at what the Word is saying. It's talking about the saints interceding with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit to overcome everything that is contrary to the will of God.
It takes our cooperation with the help of the Holy Spirit to bring this to pass.

The body of Christ is being called to a ministry of intercession. When we are working in cooperation with the Holy Spirit according to the will of God, then, with the direction and assistance of the Holy Spirit we can intercede for His perfect will. Our weakness is simply that we do not know what to pray. Without the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, we will most assuredly pray amiss.

How do we pray God's perfect plan into existence? We get it with groanings, which can not be uttered. We get it when we are making intercession for all the saints according to the will of God. This is what vs.27 is talking about, fulfilling the will of God here on the earth. Then, His will is fulfilled, through the Holy Spirit taking hold together with us against our weaknesses.

We are the called of God. We are the salt and preservative of this planet. If we will not cooperate with Him to bring His will to pass, who will? Don't just assume someone else is going to do all the praying, we all have a part and stake in the outcome. There is a plan that God has ordained for each one of us to fulfill, but it takes our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to bring it to pass. Its God's plan not ours, and we will never fulfill His plan doing our own things, in our own way. It will never happen.

I really believe we are at a pivotal point in the history of our country and the world. Now is the time for the body of Christ to rise up in prayer. We need to stand up and begin to intercede with the cooperation "help" of the Holy Spirit, in order to see this happen. We have been given the spiritual tools and direction of the Holy Spirit; we can do it together with His "help".

Lets look at another Scripture also in line with what I believe the Spirit is saying.

2 Chronicles 7:14. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

We are the ones called, we are the ones who must humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from all unrighteousness, then, I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins and heal their land.

I urge you to get before God and seek His face, and pray for the peace of our nation and for the world as well. I realize as the end time is coming many things must come to pass, but there is a great harvest of souls to be won before that happens. It is up to us to be obedient and do what the Lord is calling us to do. We must pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.

Below is a prayer that I believe is a good starting point, but allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and help you pray God's will into existence. Together as the body of Christ, we can flip this nation for the Kingdom of God. Will you join me in prayer?


Prayer For This Nation

Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up our president, and we ask for you to give him supernatural knowledge and the wisdom and understanding to use that knowledge properly, that our nation may be at peace both at home and around the world.

We pray for the Congress. We thank you for this great republic, that is based on democratic ideals, where all power is not given to just our president, but that there is a system of checks and balances. We pray for wisdom and understanding for our leaders, so they may make good decisions that will cause our country to prosper both spiritually as well as economically. We pray that Your hand will be upon them and guide them in their decisions for this nation. We pray for the election of Godly people. We thank you Father that even in this time of seeming confusion, your hand is upon this country, so that peace will be maintained and your Gospel will be proclaimed here and throughout the earth. We pray for all the lawmakers in our country. We pray for your wisdom to be upon them to make Godly decisions. We pray all appointees will be ordained of you, and your hand will be upon them, and nothing will prevent them from coming to the office You have ordained of them.

We thank you that the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous, so in this day, the Gospel can be proclaimed throughout the Earth. Dear Heavenly Father we pray that the Lord of the harvest send laborers into the harvest, so that there will be a great harvest of souls on the earth in these last days. We pray for all municipalities and all governments both state and federal, who oversee the laws of this country, that justice will be carried out so we may live peaceably.

Father, we pray for the healing of this nation. Cleanse us and forgive us for turning away from You. We, your children, turn to you and ask for mercy. We ask forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus name. We pray that you will use this nation in the furtherance of your kingdom so that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout the Earth. We seek to fulfill this great commission by declaring your Word with all boldness, and Your Word will be confirmed with accompanying signs and wonders, and we thank you for the great harvest in Jesus holy name. Amen!

I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God's call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979. The Lord has called me to teach. My desire is to help all that are seeking the truth to come into a deeper understanding of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Olive Branch Ministries is an outgrowth of that desire.
Please feel free to visit us for more free studies and resources to help you on your journey.
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us

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