INTERCESSION Protecting the Walls I Timothy 2:1-4 Nehemiah 4-6 Judges 6 Isaiah 59:16 Introduction: One of the greatest needs in the Church today is an understanding of the ministry of intercession. This study is designed to heighten our awareness of what intercession is, and why it is needed. A poignant illustration...
Author: Bob Stone
Epaphras: the Warrior, Intercessor, Wrestler
In Colossians 4:12-
13, Paul gives us an example of the kind of prayer that is needed to impact our world and bring about spiritual revitalization in individuals and churches. In these two verses we have a description of the life of a mature and effective intercessor.
Few begin at this level, but this man certainly can be an inspiration of the potential and impact of an intercessor fully committed to this ministry. Verses 12-13 say, "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13] I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis."
The Praise Parade—Letting Revival Impact our Worship (from 1 Chronicles 13-16 and 2 Samuel 6)
I Chronicles 13-16 2 Samuel 6 Those of us who were rooting for the Seattle Mariners in 1997 will never forget their division championship win. Maybe your team has celebrated a “big win” some season, some game, some play. Can you imagine telling the winners of a divisional series or the World Series that they...
Sing for Joy—A Celebration of Worship from Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3
The word “worship” comes from an Old English word meaning “worth-ship.” It has two components: seeing what God is worth and giving what He’s worth. It’s about simply and honestly worshiping God with our whole being and life because He is worthy to be praised—Jn. 4:24; Matt. 2:2; Rev. 4:11; Job 23:12. But how do...
Stop and Give Thanks—a study of how a lack of thanksgiving can result in all kinds of trouble and sin in our lives
My wife, Nancy, and I had a miserable travel experience a few years ago. She and my granddaughter, Emily, went up to Canada to get Nancy’s mother for Thanksgiving. Because my neck was killing me, I prayed and felt it would be okay if Emily and Nancy went by themselves. I never like her going...
The Central Curriculum of Life—How Parents Can Bring Personal Revival Home to Our Children (a study of Deut. 6)
Training Principles for Parents, from Deuteronomy 6 The sixth chapter of Deuteronomy introduces what many have called the Magna Carta of the home,a passage of Scripture that summarizes in a few brief statements the great principles of the home, principles later developed in many other places in the Word of God. This passage is...
A Case Study: The Water Gate Renewal—a look at the significant revival of Nehemiah’s day Part Two
From these observations of the setting, we can now see Six Characteristics of Spiritual Renewal from Nehemiah 8-9. 1. Reverence and Love for the Reading of Scripture Chalk Prayer #3: We’re praying for a restoration of our love for and study of the Word. This experience is typical of those entering into spiritual renewal. It...
A Case Study: The Water Gate Renewal—a look at the significant revival of Nehemiah’s day Part One
I am continuing to read about some of the major revivals and revivalists/evangelists in history (especially this century). This week I read an article by David Smith about the revival that took place in Wales in the first part of this century. He writes: “As Christmas neared in 1904, the small Celtic country of Wales...
Private Repentance or Public Revelation—a study of Luke 12:1-12
Luke 12:1-12 Christian History magazine tells a number of stories that reveal St. Francis of Assisi’s intense and complex personality. I was particularly struck with how he dealt with temptation and repentance. Once he got sick after eating too much chicken. After regaining his strength of body, he entered the city of Assisi. When he...
A Spiritual Evaluation—Evaluating Ourselves and Our Churches by Jesus’ Evaluation of the 7 Churches in Revelation
Revelation 2 and 3
Part One: Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum
Introduction:
Think with me about some basic but intriguing questions.- What does Jesus think about us individually?
- Is there an evaluation of our spiritual lives only in eternity, or is it also done in the present?
- Does Jesus evaluate and judge a local church, or just its individual members?
- What if an angel from God delivered a letter from Jesus to our church; what would be affirmed and what would be criticized?