Powerful praying is the forerunner of vitality in preaching. Who can deny that the remarkable power of John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield in preaching was due to their mighty praying? An unknown writer penned these words: “Pentecost was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer, and not the result of...
Intercessory prayer is God’s way to extend His kingdom and defeat Satan. God’s kingdom advances as the devices of the devil are dismantled. It takes time for Christ’s rule and reign to replace the powers of darkness. Satan’s hold must be broken. Donald Bloesch says, “Prayer is needed as a continuous violent action of the...
Some people fast to burn calories. Others fast to break chains. Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Andrew Murray put it like this: “Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible; fasting the other, with which we let loose and cast...
Understanding and Overcoming Hurt Hurt is a universal experience, but its impact runs deep—especially when it festers into bitterness. To find freedom, we must understand how hurt works and how God’s grace can lead us to healing. The Nature of Hurt and Bitterness Hurt is proportional to intimacy. The closer the relationship, the deeper the...
This type of heartfelt praying only occurs with the enabling of the Holy Spirit. It normally begins with an impression to pray for a known need or, occasionally, an unknown need. A sense of heaviness overwhelms your spirit. Sometimes, there is a specific object, such as praying for revival. It may involve a specific location,...
Richard Sibbes wrote, “It is atheism to pray and not to wait in hope. A sincere Christian will pray, wait, strengthen his heart with the promises, and never leave praying and looking up till God gives him a gracious answer.” The primary point of intensified intercession is that it is far more than a conversational tone....