Scripture: 1Thessalonians 5 v 16 to 22: "Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil."
As intercessors we are always on watch. The Lord alerts us to pray day and night for all sorts of known and unknown things, but as Paul writes we do not beat the air in our warfare. We have to know what we are fighting and how best to pray and intercede. Most of the work is done by the Holy Spirit we are just instruments in His hands fully yielded to His will.
This morning I awoke to news from a friend of mine that his son had attempted to commit suicide, He had cut his arm and they were on their way to the hospital. Please pray. I alerted a prayer partner who was a long time friend of the victim, had prayed and counselled with him many times, as he was an addict.
I was surprised to receive texts from him saying that the whole day yesterday he had been under severe demonic attack that he thought he was going mad. Demons were on all sides trying to demonize him. He realised that he had been interceding for his friend. The day before this the Holy Spirit had given me discernment to pray for an unknown man who was suicidal and I was to pray against his death.
When we shared these things we knew that the Lord's will was to save our friend from a terrible fate. We had already met the need before it happened. That is how God outwits Satan and gives His child another opportunity to be set free. We heard just now that our friend has stabilized and will be home later today. A true prayer miracle where only God knew what was happening but through His love and mercy caused us to be an instrument of prayer in His hands. He alone gets the glory!
We are all required to yield or submit to God's will whenever He needs us to stand in the gap or pray for others. There are many needs that we can help with if we are willing to be used in whatever way the Lord lays on our hearts. The thing is to be obedient to the Lord. He may impress a verse of scripture on our mind or it jumps out of the page into our face. Read it and ask the Lord to show you what to do concerning the verse. it may be ....Lay hands on the sick and they will be healed.
That happened to me years ago when a mother and two daughters arrived at my door. Their father had died of a kidney disease and both girls had been diagnosed with the same incurable ailment. The younger daughter would not come in the house and stayed in the car outside but I laid hands on her big sister and prayed for healing. A month later they were retested and both girls were found to be free of this disease. The Lord graciously touched both of them when only one had hands laid on her. He is the Healer. we are just instruments He uses when convenient and available.
Sometimes we obey the Lord to the uttermost but the result is different from the request we make. He knows the heart of the situation and may take the one opportunity to save that soul for eternity, rather than risk losing it to unforeseen circumstances that only He knows. Rather eternity in Heaven than the alternative.
I had a recent visitor who lost her faith when her husband died and the Lord had not answered her prayers for him. I met her through strange circumstances and had only to deliver a message to her from Jesus. He wanted her to know He had not let her down. She did not believe me and I have not seen her since. She lives on my street!
We only have to obey the Lord and leave the outcome to Him. He is God. He is in full control. His ways are higher than our ways. They are far above our understanding. We get glimpses of the wonders of Heaven but God has the whole universe displayed before Him. He chooses to make Himself known and receives worship and praise in return.
In these last days we will see many prayer miracles when the Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh. I have felt that the pandemic was an alert to the world that the end is nigh. It was followed by the still ongoing revival that started at Asbury College in Kentucky USA earlier this year. It has spread to other places in America and to other countries. Our Father is not willing for any to perish but He will not allow sin and demons into Heaven.
We must conquer the enemy in and around us using the weapons He has given us. We need the full power of the Holy Spirit to operate the gifts correctly. We need fellowship with other Christians to stay in line with God's will for us. We need a vibrant relationship with Jesus to know and understand what is required of us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father Thank You for saving that man's life today. We pray for him to be made whole in his mind and emotions, and that he would be set free of all addictions. We pray for all who love You to line up for spiritual duty. That they may give, pray, forgive and love till it hurts. In Jesus' name. Amen.