Posted by RLIC Admin on September 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
INTERCEDING FOR THE NATION
“Prayer for the Nation’s is an inescapable duty and obligation of every Believer in order to thwart and avert the works of the enemy, to advance the Gospel and to ensure the prosperity and well-being of Nation’s”
TEXT: 1Timothy 2:1-4; Psalm 8:1-2, 110:1-6, Jeremiah 51:20-23.
INTRODUCTION:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the king of kings and the Lord of lord. He is the ruler of the earth’s rulers and the Governor over the earth’s governments. He is the head of all principalities and powers as stated in Colossians 2:10. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, or principalities, or powers all things were created by him and for Him” – Colossians 1:16;“………..The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will“ – Daniel 4:25b. Christ’s authority over all earthly governments is made available in His name to the Church. As Moses stretched forth his rod on God’s behalf over Egypt, so the Church by her prayers stretches forth Christ’s authority over the nations and their rulers. By this authority we may then determine the destinies of nations and governments. As the people in charge, the Lord expects us to constantly make use of our authority “to root out, to pull down, to destroy, to throw down, to build and to plant” – Jeremiah 51:20-23. Hallelujah, we are the Prophets unto the Nations and Kingdoms.
A. BASIS FOR PRAYERS OVER THE NATIONS:
1. We are kingdom of priests. Daniel 7:14, 18, 22, 27; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10.
2. We are joint-heirs with Christ. Every Christian has a dual citizenship. By natural birth he is subject to the laws of his earthly government, and by spiritual birth, through faith in Christ he’s also a citizen of God’s heavenly kingdom. Philippians 3:3, 14. As a citizen of the heavenly kingdom, the Christian is subject to its law, just as he is entitled to share in it’s authority. Ephesians 2:4-6, 1:20-21, Galatians 4:6-7.
3. God has set us over the nations as their spiritual rulers – Jeremiah 1:5, 10; 51:20-23; Romans 5:17
4. Believers are God’s spiritual law enforcement agents. Psalm 149:5-9, 11:16; Matthew 16:19, 18:18. We are concerned with the word ‘BIND’ in these passages. One translation of the passages Matthew18:18 (Amp) states: “Whatsoever ye shall prohibit or allow, declare illegal and unlawful on earth, shall be prohibited, disallowed, and declared illegal and unlawful in heaven”. So we are responsible for all that take place on earth. Unlike Natural law enforcement agents who are limited in their operations by geographical demarcation of nations, the Spiritual law enforcement agents is unlimited in his operations of binding and loosing, since there is no geographical demarcation in the spirit realm.
5. We are the Temple of the living God. – “a house of prayer for the nations” Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Isaiah 56:7; Luke 19:45-46; 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
6. The Church is the “salt of the earth”. Matthew 5:6.
First of all, salt gives flavour. Food which in itself is unappetizing becomes tasty and acceptable when seasoned with salt. As Christians, our ambition (in living and prayers) is to give flavour to the earth. Our presence makes the earth acceptable to God. Our presence commends the earth to God’s mercy and grace.
Secondly, salt preserves or restrains corruption. Our presence on the earth as Christ’s disciples operates like salt in a spoiling meat. The process of sin’s corruption is already at work in all spheres of man’s endeavours – social, moral, religion and political. We cannot abolish the corruption that is already there, but we can hold it in check (through our lives, and prayers and intercession) long enough for God’s purpose, grace and mercy to be fully worked out.
7. We are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:4-6, Ephesians 5:8-13. Prayer makes the light of our lives shine brighter and shinning light drives out darkness. Light is a symbol of development and exaltation and righteousness to a nation – Proverbs 14:34. This can bring in the hands of God’s grace and mercies.
B. RELEASING THE POWER OF GOD
The scripture teaches and shows certain means by which God’s power is released into a person, thing, circumstance or situation.
a. Prophetic utterance – Jeremiah 1:10; Ephesians 3:7-12; 1 Kings 17:1. In all
Earth’s affairs the last word is with God. At times however, God causes this word to be spoken through the lips of a believer.
b. Such a word may also be spoken in authoritative ministry of the word. 2 Kings 2:22 (19-22); Matthew 8:5-13; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians1:18; Isaiah 44:24-26, Romans 10:8-10.
c. Also in a prayer closet of petition or in intercession. Number 16:28-33; Joshua 10:12-14; 1Timothy 2:1. This is a type of prayer of command or authoritative praying Matthew 11:22-23. As God’s word given in an instance by the Holy Spirit, they would just be as effective in the believer’s mouth as they would have been in the mouth of God Himself. Isaiah 44:24-26.
C. PRAYING EFFECTIVELY FOR OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.
1. Know your exalted position and delegated authority in Christ. Ephesians 2:6. For they that do not know their God shall be strong and do exploited; but they that do no know their God shall be weak and they shall be exploited. Daniel 11:32b.
2. Know why God requires us to pray for all men and for those in authority. 1Timothy 2:1-4.
3. Have a good understanding of our governmental set-up and its rulers; be fully up to date with the nation’s problems and sudden developments. An ignorant and unlearned believer cannot prayer effectively. Isaiah 5:13, Hosea 4:6.
4. Prayer for the nations is a prayer of identification. Not exoneration. Daniel 9:1-19, Ezekiel 9:1-11, 10:1; 2Chronicle 7:14.
5. Make it a habit to both pray with the knowledge and in the Spirit for our nation and other nations. 1 Corinthians 14:15; Daniel 9:1-2; Ephesians 6:18.
6. Guide and guard your speech and confessions as regards your prayers for the nations and the happening. Romans 10:8-10, Hebrews 3:14, 10:23, 1 John 5:14-15.
7. Refuse to be discouraged if you do not see immediate results of your prayers or even if the contrary happens. God will ultimately answer prayers of faith and importunity. Luke 11:8, James 5:16, Mark 11:22-23, Philippians 4:6-7.
8. Take note of revelations, and visions and burdens of nation and international concern that God may give you. Note them, analyse or interpret them and pray about them, then wait and watch for results. Habakkuk 2:1-4. Nehemiah 1:1-3, 4-11.
9. Take out time to wait upon the Lord in fasting and prayers on issues that are very critical and do demands a wrestle with the Lord until answer comes from Him. Daniel 9:3, Nehemiah 1:3-4.
10. You can also pray more definitely with the use of good and update map of those nations and of the world with card keys to itemize the nations and indicate their problems, similarly be current through the news media (Satellite, Radio, Television, Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, etc) to obtain specific information to give a prayer awareness of an area.
Compiled By Revd Chukie MORSI
Filed under Prayer Life School · Tagged with believer's, effective, effectual, etc, fasting, flavour, gospel, government, interceding, kingdom, nation, new media, power of God, prayer of authority, prayer of command, preserves, rule, salt of the earth, spiritual forces, spiritual rulers
Posted by RLIC Admin on June 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
TOPIC: BELIEVERS’ FELLOWSHIP
TEXT: Psalm 133; Genesis 49:10; Acts 2:44-47, 1 Peter3:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3; Matthew 5:21-26; 1 Corinthians 6:1-12; Matthew 18:15-20.
MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25.
INTRODUCTION: We have concluded in our last study series about act of the “True Worship” of God, we shall be considering in this new series “Believers Fellowship” another act of being in Church. When we come together we don’t only come to worship the triune God – God our Father in the name of Jesus by the Holy Spirit – but also to fellowship with each other in the faith of our God and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, you become a member of a family, God’s family. Hence you are to share intimately with other members of the same family, particularly in a locality. This gathering together of the believers is referred to in the Bible as the Church, the Assembly of believers, and the fellowship of the brethren. The Church is a local and universal body of born again and spirit-filled believers in Christ Jesus having a Shepherd (Head/Leadership).
In Greek the word Fellowship is called KOINONIA meaning Communion, Fellowship, a sharing of something in common – Heb. 12:22 – 24, Psalm 122:1; Gen. 49:10b; 1 John 1:3. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer. It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot. This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things. Please open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that He may explain the Word of God to you – Psalm 122:1.
DISCUSSION (Study Analysis):
1a. What does the bible mean by Believers’ Fellowship or Assembly of Believers?
i) It means Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16-22) Meaning Common Union, that is, something in Common and in Union – The act of sharing something in common. If we are to have fellowship, we must have something in common, and must be shared in true unity and union. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17.
ii) Partners (Luke 5:8-10) Meaning we are partner together in the same mindset of kingdom business in spite of our diversity (not in opposition). We are in partnership, working together for the same God as co-worker, all pulling together rather than pulling against each other.
iii) Contribution (Rom. 15:26-27) Meaning the act of giving to each other – spiritually, materially and financially etc. The early Church kind of fellowship contributed to each others need without any wanting in the midst. They gave liberally to each other – (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 2 Cor. 8:13-15)
iv) Partaker and Sharer Meaning to share with one another’s lives – is to rejoice with them, pray with them, mourn with them etc. Fellowship cannot be remote- it must be personal, caring, and loving. We partake with one another, we share with one another, we love one another in the deepest sense of the word (1Cor. 13:4-8a).
v) To Participate In and With Meaning to be part of them, to be one, even as the Father and the Son are one. (John 17:20-23).
NOTE: True Christian Fellowship, as outlined above, is a rare but beautiful thing. No wonder Apostle Paul counselled us to be “eager and willing to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
1b. The need for fellowship.
a) Hebrews 10:24-25; b) Psalm 133:2-3; c) Malachi 3:16; d) Acts 2:44; e) Psalms 119:63; f) Matthew 18:18-20; 5:21-26; g) 1 Corinthians 1:9.
2. What do we expect at a believers Fellowship:
a) Psalm 133:1-3: Divine love share; The Anointing of the Holy Spirit; and the Lord blessings.
b) Deut. 23:12-14, Obadiah 1:17-18, 2 Cor. 6:16: The Presence of God; The Power of God to save, deliver help and heal.
c) Acts 2:42-47, 4:31-35: The Holy Spirit and divers help.
d) Eph. 5:19-20, Col. 3:16-17, Heb. 3:12-14, 1 John 1:5-7: Fellowship, exhortation, etc.
e) 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Corinthians 14:26
3. With whom are we to Fellowship:
a) The Father – 1 John 1:3, Jn. 14:23, 17:21-23, 2 Cor. 6:18, Isa. 57:15.
b) The Son – 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Jn. 1:3, and Matt. 18:20, Jn. 14:23, 15:2-8.
c) The Holy Spirit – Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 13:14, Phil 2:1.
d) The Brethren – Acts 1:14, 2:1, 42, 47, Matt. 13:55-56, Eph. 5:15, 1Jn. 3:3-7.
4. Who not to fellowship with:
a) The Ungodly – Psalm 1:1.
b) Workers of Iniquity – Psalm 6:8, 26:5.
c) False Teachers – I Tim. 6:3-5.
d) The disorderly 2 Thess. 3:6.
e) Infidel, Idolaters, and fornicators – 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1
f) Unbelievers 2 Cor. 6:14.
g) The Devil – Eph. 5:11,
h) Fallen Angles (demons) – Rev. 8:12, 1 Cor. 10:20, Rev. 19:20b, Deut. 32:17, Psalm 106:37,
i) Worship of Holy Angels – Rev. 19:10, Rev 22:8-9, Heb. 1:13-14
NOTE: The act of fellowship has nothing to do with relating with Heathens but with the system and life styles which contradicts the Christian faith. For there is a very great difference in terms between in the act of relationship and fellowship considering them in the context of the scriptures.
5. What are the blessings of consistent fellowship with God and other believers: A) Psalm 119:165, b) Matt. 18:18-20, c) 1 Jn. 1:7, d) Rev. 3:20, e) Psalm 3:8, f) 125:1-2, g) Jn. 10:28, h) 2 Tim. 2:21, i) Rev. 3:21.
CONCLUSION: A separation and Isolation Christian is a contradiction in terms, we need the love and fellowship of one another for a stable spiritual growth and efficiency. Every believer needs the fellowship of other believer. It is here that we are built together as a holy habitation for God. A believer that does not fellowship with others misses a lot. This is why you should understand what the Bible says about believer fellowship, what you should expect during a believers fellowship and other things.
MEMORY VERSE: “Not forsaking the assemblies of ourselves together as the manner (habit) of some is, but exhorting (communing with) one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching”. Heb. 10:25.
Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI
Filed under Scripture Pasture · Tagged with angels, believer's, blessings, communion, contribution, devil, disprderly, etc, Father, fellowship, Holy Spirit, koinonia, partakers, participate, partners, sharer, Son, true, worship