Pastor Ray shared…
Holy Spirit, we welcome Your presence today. We thank You for everything You do for us, and for restoration, for revelation, answers, and direction. You lead us and we believe for that today. By faith, we believe You will lead us to do and say and pray today. Thank You.
I found this, this morning. It’s something from E. M. Bounds about prayer. It’s about prayer from the heart and it’s based on Psalm 37:3. Let me read the two scriptures before that.
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God). 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
You know, you hear people coming against the Lord and the things that we know the Word stands for. You want them to… I don’t know. You just want them to “be still.” Here the Word makes it clear that we are not to fret because of evil doers or be envious of those who do whatever, come against righteousness. Here it says they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. But we “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass” (Ps. 37:1–5 Amp.).
There are a couple of great points in this message.
E. M. Bounds
There isn’t any place where trust goes so readily and richly as in the prayer closet. It’s unfolding in development a rapid and wholesome when they are kept regularly and well. In other words, when we just keep praying. We’re consistent. When these appointments are sincere, trust grows increasingly. That’s the way it should be. We should trust Him more today than we did yesterday. We should be continually increasing in Him. So the eye and the presence of God give active life to trust, just like the eye and the presence of the Son make fruit and flower grow and all things glad and bright with a fuller life. Faith and trust in the Lord form the keynote and the foundation of prayer. Primarily, it is not trust in the Word of God but rather trust in the person of God. I like that. So, yes, we do trust Him and what the Word says. I like how he specifies that it’s not just the Word, but it’s Him, the person of God. Trust in the person of God must precede trust in the Word of God. You believe in God, believe also in Me (John 14:1) is the demand our Lord makes on the personal trust of His disciples. The person of Jesus Christ must be central to the eye of trust. Jesus sought to impress this great truth on Martha when her brother lay dead in their home at Bethany. Martha stated her belief in the resurrection of her brother. “Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24) Jesus lifts up her trust above the mere fact of the resurrection to His own person by saying, I am the resurrection and the life. So trust in historical fact or a mere record may be a very passive thing but trust in a person strengthens the quality. It bears fruit and it supplies it with love. The trust which supplies prayer centers on a person. So trust goes even further than this. The trust which inspires our prayer must not only be one of the person of God and of Christ but in their ability and willingness to grant the thing we pray for. It’s not only trust in the Lord, Psalm 37, but also for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. So the trust which our Lord taught as a condition of effective prayer is not from the head but the heart. It is trust which does not doubt. Such trust has the divine assurance that it will be honored with large and satisfying answers. The strong promise or our Lord brings faith down to the present and counts on a present answer. I like that too. Do we believe without a doubt? When we pray, do we believe that we will receive the things we asked for, not on a future day but right then and right there. That would be now. There are some things, of course, that shall come to pass in the days and weeks and months to come, but there are other things that we must as a necessity really require that it be today. Now. This is the teaching of this inspiring scripture how we need to pray. Lord, increase our faith until doubt is gone and absolute trust claims the promised blessings as its very own. This is no easy condition. It’s only reached after many failures or much praying or many waitings and much trial of faith. May our faith increase until we realize and receive all the fullness that there is in the name of Jesus which guarantees to do so much. [end]
Pastor Ray continues…
We’ve got a guarantee, right? Because we know the Word is true. And we know the Lord. That’s why it’s so important. Yesterday there was such a presence right at the beginning and so we entered on in and spent the time. I felt like we spent the time necessary to lift us, change things, restore things… just strengthen us to do what we’re called to do which is continually contend for God’s will and plan. Someone in another state messaged after prayer and said that they were so lifted up and thanked God for the Internet. That that same presence could go on out over the Internet and manifest in another state and do what needed to be done for her. She said she was lifted up and encouraged. That’s what He does. Thank You, Lord.
First of all, today we’ll lift up our leaders. Then we’ll pray for a little bit. I want us to pray for Living Word. I want us to focus in on this church and then also Maranatha Christian Academy. I’d like to focus in on what He’s called us to do. Not be so concerned about what some other ministry does, but that we would focus in on and do what God has called us to do. And then be faithful to it.
“First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, 2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, 4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).
Prayed…
Father, we lift up over the United States of America. We pray for the President, vice President, all those in positions of authority, politically and spiritually. We believe exactly what You said here to do, to lift these leaders up before You. We please the blood of Jesus over each of them, calling forth Your blessing, Your direction, the leadership of Your Spirit. We pray for those in positions of authority that are men and women that have given their lives to You, Lord, that they would be lifted up and have even greater influence than those that are not. Those that have trusted in You… that rely on You… being led by Your Spirit… that they would be brought up in greater influence would be given to them… rising up from one degree of glory to another and that’s our prayer for the United States… that we begin to come into unity, the “united” states of America. We pray for the governors, the states, the cities, both big and small, in Jesus’ name. We pray the church bells will begin to ring again for a mighty revivals to break out in state to state and state. What has begun, we believe it’s going to increase as it moves into the last great awakening. Hallelujah! That many who are asleep will wake up, suddenly be changed and begin to move into the light and they too will move from one degree of glory to another. Thank You, Father. We know that’s what we need more than anything. An awakening. We lift it up. We desire it. So that men and women and children would begin to come in by the droves, by the thousands and thousands and thousands… come to You… we magnify Your name and worship You… we believe for Your presence to move across this nation from the north to the south to the east and to the west… the works that have already started, the fires that have already begun to burn, the move of Your precious Holy Spirit… thank You for moving in our nation… an outpouring… momentum… churches changed in an instant… going one way one day and changing completely the next… we yearn for more of Your presence… that the church be united under You… things that were broken, be healed and restored… where some were so asleep, be awakened in Jesus’ name… for the outpouring… for greater fire and hunger and thirst… some will be moved out and others will be moved in… thank You for our President… for boldness and courage… thank You for Your presence in the White House… more coming to You… many, many paradigm shifts… changing and being made new… awakened to You…
Let’s now pray for this ministry. Barb, I would like you to take the mic. Let’s believe for a greater manifestation of His presence here in this building and the other two, of course, I keep believing for an increase. To be bigger than the days of old when the priests could not even enter because of the presence of God. Lord, we’ve believing You for a greater presence here. Barb, go ahead and lead out in prayer for this church.
Barb…
I wanted to first share something. I heard this testimony while listening to this minister that travels all around the world. He was in this country at this church and the pastor said I want you to meet somebody. He brought this guy and he used to be the number-one guy in al-Qaeda. He said you can ask him questions but don’t ask about certain things. The man said “You have to hear how he got saved.” The guy said his job in this country to go not the United States, a country I’m not going to say where. He was supposed to go and blow up Christian churches, schools and any other Christian related buildings. One day he went to this church and it was really late and the building looked dark. So he jimmied the lock, got inside the church and he didn’t think anybody was there because it was all dark. But he didn’t realize there was a prayer meeting going on. They were just all in the dark. He said in al-Qaeda, all the leaders are witches. And they use the Muslim people as a cover. He said he was in the building and he could hear them praying. Because he is so open to the spiritual things, he saw words coming out of the pastor’s mouth. He could see words in big white letter floating in the air. The words went this way and then they went this way. And then they hit him in the side of the head like a baseball bat! So what’s coming out of your mouth is affecting people everywhere. Anyway, he hit him in the side of the head like a baseball bat. He forgot who he was and what he was there to do. He ran out of the building. He got home and for two days he was so freaked out that he didn’t eat or sleep. And the third say, he went to eat and Jesus appeared to him and he got saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. You hear people say about them, “They’re so bad, they’ll never get saved.” No! God can do anything. And He uses people like you who are willing to open their mouths and pray. Anyway, he gets radically saved and now works for the government in this country. Because he is so spiritually aware, he will be in certain areas of the country and he can just spot the people that are out to do evil. So he’ll go up to them and say, “I know who you are and what you’re here to do,” and then he starts yelling at them in tongues. And they freak out and run away! So he’s like a Holy Ghost secret agent! But you think there are people just can’t turn. Some say the people in our government are not going to change. That’s not true! Believe that when you pray and the words that you speak that they are going. How many other people need to be hit upside the head with a Holy Ghost baseball bat? Ha, ha, ha. So believe that your words are doing that because they are even though we may not see them. It was an incredible testimony. Anyway, we’ll pray for all the people here that need to be hit upside the head with the Holy Ghost in a good way, to turn them on the right path, that the Holy Ghost would move them to where they need to be and they’ll walk in the right way. They get the right plan for their lives.
Prayed…
Thank You, Father, for moving through this ministry… this school… You are moving through Maranatha, through the youth in this church… You are setting them on fire… gonna take over and step up into the call and anointing of the Holy Ghost… take their place in this body… they rise up that they overtake every adult in this church… move in the power of Your Spirit… part of signs and wonders… and miracles in this place… You have given them a voice… not only in this church but in this nation… that voice is being amplified… because it’s Your anointing that destroys every yoke… that powerful river of the Holy Spirit working in this church… in the staff… every person… with this ministry… thank You for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit… thank You for signs and wonders here… for Your anointing here… in this place… that we don’t have to go out and seek other places, Lord, but this well is fully stocked… that the well here is flowing… hasten to perform Your Word… we will not be passed over… You are moving… open eyes and ears… open hearts… divine impartation… the unction of the holy one rises up on the inside of every man, woman and child in this ministry… that unction rises up and will not be denied… there will be a yielding to that unction so they can do the work of God… change, change on every side… change of position… it’s time for cooperation… we call forth complete cooperation… unity in Jesus’ name… thank You, Lord… it’s time… it’s time… everybody getting on God’s page… it’s time to step over to God’s side… obey, obey, obey… no more resisting… but a laying down and a laying aside of our own desires, Father… angels, angels… even now, Lord, the ministering spirits… glory to God… You’re ministering spirits, here in this place, operating and assisting… thank You for increased awareness of the spiritual happenings … even in this place today… thank You for those You sent to assist us… go forth… into that school today… move through that school and touch those students… everything that you’ve been assigned to accomplish that… now… the glory of the Lord filling that place… students and teachers enveloped by the Spirit of God… wrapped up in the glorious light… Father, that new man that you’ve appointed there… that new man that’s carrying the Gospel there… in Jesus’ name… we lift him up … thank You, Father, that he pastors those kids and brings them up into that place… in the anointing and grace of God… Yes, Father, that Baltimore, Lord, that he sees into the spirit… he has discernment in Jesus’ name… He speaks words of wisdom… words of life… revelation… that he flows in prophecy… and all the gifts flow through him to that body… a powerhouse… signs… angels… yeah, hallelujah! … today, Father, divine impartation for every person here in this chapel… supernatural direction… thank You for unveiling those things that have seemingly been hidden… in the name of Jesus’ Christ… exposing things that need to be exposed… thank You for moving in situations that seem impossible… things that in the natural seem like cannot be changed… thank You for moving in those situations… moving in those relationships… in those work-related situations… we call those things to be resolved now… come into alignment… those oppressive spirits, we command you to leave… get out of those situations… we command that darkness to go… and the light to flow… into those places now and those situations… thank You that it is revealed that the truth comes forth… yes, You, Lord… You vindicate… You’re the one that turns things around… it’s by Your Spirit… not by might or power but by Your Spirit… thank You for bringing resolution there… for our good…
Prayer for Pastor Mac and Lynne…
Thank You for Pastor Mac and Lynne… for the sacrifices they have made for this ministry… we are grateful that You called them and they answered the call… we’re grateful that You allowed them to be over us and train us up and to encourage us and build us up by Your Spirit… we ask You for a special blessing… we stand in agreement with them with whatever they’re believing for… that they receive it… Yes, Father, those things personally… we agree with them in Jesus’ name… Father, strengthen them today by Your Spirit… in their physical bodies… in their minds… fire them up again, Lord… let Your power come upon them… let Your fire burn on the inside… just like it did in the beginning… that passion, that fire, that unquenchable fire… within them and upon them… now in Jesus’ name to finish the race… to finish strong… to continue to advance in the name of Jesus and not to draw back but to advance… to step into those places that You’ve prepared for them…
Pastor Ray shared…
I saw something in my heart while we were praying about this church. In my heart, I kept lifting up the base. This is the base. But the way I saw it, each… be it St. Paul, Rogers, or here, it was like … you see that picture of how you throw a rock in the lake and it ripples out all around it. But what I saw wasn’t ripples. It was like a vibration. And it wasn’t a small stone. It was like a boulder and the Word. The Word was causing a vibration and it was moving out from the base here. And what I saw was for the base right here, those that… and Pastor Mac encouraged this. When St. Paul began the work there, people were encouraged to leave here and to go there. It’s a good thing. The same with Rogers.
I saw way back when we moved from North Hennepin College into our first building, we had all the white chairs. And, believe me, there were a lot of empty white chairs. So many times, we’d just speak to the chairs and call them full. People left the base to go to St. Paul. People left to go to Rogers. Now it’s time for those places where those people sat to be filled up. And we need to have the overflow and we’ll call it like we’re calling the land of more than enough, we’ll call forth those to come every direction… like that vibration would begin to go way out from the base and begin to draw new people into this place. And it will be the Word and ministry of the Spirit that is moving out and drawing new people and families. Same with the school. It has a vision for increase. So we’re calling forth today the increase for those places, those seats in our sanctuary in every service—Saturday and both Sunday services—that they would be filled. We declare increase for every arena.
