Dave shared…
Last night, a couple things came to me about prayer.
Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus and we thank You for Your grace. It is sufficient for us every single day and moment of life. No matter challenges we face, Your grace is greater. We can overcome. Because of Your great love and mercy for us. For Your compassion, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for us. We’re so grateful for that. Life without You is not life. Thank You for help in our time of need. Thank You for the victory we have in a world that is up and down. We have the ability to walk before You with joy. Today is the day You have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We can have faith in You. We trust You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that leads us not into temptation but delivers us from all evil. We thank You for that. You not only saw the redemption through Jesus Christ but You also saw the need for the Holy Spirit to help us and You sent the comforter. He encourages us. Thank You, Father, for every provision You make in Jesus’ name.
Last night, I was thinking about the President and how important it is for us to cover him in prayer. Not just the President but the lawmakers and all those in authority. No matter who you are of what you think about the President, if you’re a believer and if you’ve covered under the blood, He’s your president. Some might say, “I didn’t vote for him.” It doesn’t matter. You live in this country, if you’re an American, he’s your President. Just like when Barack Obama was in office, it was important to pray for him because he was our President.
But this scripture came to me in 1st Timothy 2:1. It says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority…” Kings could be considered a president. All those in authority would be considered Senators and Congressmen and local authorities here in Minnesota. “…that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” How many want to please the Savior? That would be my heart, to please the Lord. “…who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I like that word “all” in this particular scripture. Because it doesn’t matter who you are. If you’re a human being, you’re considered “all” whether you believe this way or that way. And God wants us to pray for all of those. Every person. Do you know that everyone of us in this room at one point, we’re not on the right side of the law? Every one of us here in this room were at one point in our lives on the other side of God’s team. You know what I’m saying? When you received Jesus, then you got on God’s team. Now you are God’s creation and you are made in His image, but the Bible talks about having a Father. And we have a Father through the blood of Jesus Christ, which is God the Father. He’s our father. We serve and honor Him. But at one time in our lives, we were all in that place when we were not in that place. We just need to recognize that. When the scripture says here that it pleases God and He wants all people to be saved. Even the ones who are hateful and spiteful. Man, you’re like, “Man, we can do without that one.” Right? Every person in this place at some point somebody thought bad about you. And we could do without that person. Because to suggest that you as an individual have never insulted or offended somebody is ridiculous. We’ve all offended people. Right? Some people get offended just by the way you dress. Some people get offended because you’re happy. Some people get offended because you’re not like them. The Bible says marvel not if the world looks at you in a negative way. You should not be thinking, “Why are they mad at me?” The natural tendency of the flesh is selfish. We all have the potential to be selfish. Can I hear an amen? I think that, that’s important because if you don’t know that you’re capable of being this person, then why do you need Jesus? The Lord has been bringing to my remembrance that you as an individual without God is not what you want to be. When you look at yourself circumspectly and you say to yourself, “I’m perfect. Everybody loves me. There’s nothing I can do wrong.” You’re deceived. I’ve seen people like that. Everybody around them looks at them and says, “That person lives in a world that nobody else lives in.” Because their stuff does stink. Everybody in life faces challenges that can be difficult. And the number one thing that we all have we need to recognize the need for Christ in our lives. How many here needs the Lord? You need to know you need the Lord. We all need to know that.
I heard a testimony about a young minister, right out of theological school, he goes to the guy has been in the ministry like brother Hagin or brother Copeland, similar to that. They’re walking along the side of a lake talking. The young man said, “How can I know God the way you know God?” Gosh, every one of us has desired to know God in a deep way, so that when we pray we hear His voice. And the voice of a stranger, we will not follow. That we have a confidence that we hear His voice so that when we live, we live with that in our hearts. That God Himself will manifest Himself in our lives. He’ll provide, bring peace, joy… all things we have need of. The young man asked, “Can you tell me how to know God. What is the secret?” The older grabs the younger by the neck and pulled him over to the lake and put him underneath the water. He held him there and then lifted him up and the guy took a gasp of air, then he pushed him down back in the water. His legs are flailing and pretty soon he’s becoming weaker and then he pulls up and grasps another breath of air. Then the older tells the younger, “When you want God the way you wanted that air, you will know God this way.”
In that example, the thing that is important to understand is that it was the need for the air. That’s the point that the older was trying to teach the younger. And everyone has a need for God. A lot of young people raised as Christians they just want to live in the world and cast off Christianity. I suppose all of us at one point thought that way. I know I did. I thought that I was smarter than my mother or father. Surely all those people before me were not as smart as me. It seems like when we’re younger, we tend to think we’re smarter. As we get older, we recognize we’re not as smart as we thought we were. We recognize the need that “I don’t have it all.” But this desire to know God is the important thing in the process in the example I gave. So when you think of those who are lost and those who are fighting against what’s right and righteous, these are those people. They in themselves have looked into the mirror and they’re smarter than everybody else. The Bible says a fool says there is no God. And when you live as if there is no God, where does that put you? Look in the mirror and recognize that. Because when you recognize that, it’s the beginning of wisdom.
So when I was reading this scripture that we pray for kings and authorities that we might live a peaceful life in all godliness and holiness. And this is good and pleasing to God. He loves those as He loved us. He’ll save those as He saved us. So when I see those who lift their fists and hatred toward anything godly or Christian or they hate you because you’re a Christian, it’s a sad thing. But know this, that it’s that hatred is not toward you. It’s toward God. You just represent God. Perfection is not something that can be attained by the natural senses. Perfection can only be accomplished by His grace. How many in life have fallen? You get up and say, “What is the point?” every one of us falls within that category. While we were that person who was incapable of helping themselves can’t shut your own mouth to get out of your own way. Those are who we pray for. We are here for them. There was somebody that prayed for you and your salvation, to come to the knowledge of the truth of Jesus. So it’s a privilege for me when I see these shenanigans going on in Washington. It’s a privilege for me to lay my time down in my life to say I will pray for you because God loves you and He died for you. From this place is where we pray, with compassion. Not, “Well, I guess we have to pray for them. They’re horrible, but we’ll pray.” That’s not the way Jesus prays for us. The Bible says we have a high priest. He doesn’t look at us with disdain in our sin. No. Through the blood, God looks down from heaven and in compassion and mercy, He reaches down and brings salvation. The Bible said that it pleased God to bruise Jesus. What that means is that He loved us so much He was willing to pay the ultimate penalty to save you. You’re worth that much. For the salvation of your soul.
Last night, when I got up in the middle of the night and President Trump came to me. I saw the wickedness of the machinations of the devil trying to attack and destroy him. It’s him but it’s everything that is godly within this nation. All that we as Americans hold dear is what is being attacked. It doesn’t matter if you like him or not. Do you like being free? Okay, well then that’s what this is. I look at President Trump and I think God the Father really likes him. This is why I think He likes him. One of the things that God does not like is dishonest scales. One of the things that in the past or what we’ve known politicians to be are dishonest. And there’s one thing about Trump is this. He just tells it. He calls it out. He just spits it out there. You always know where he stands. There is no shadow of understanding there. He’s speaks exactly what he thinks. And most people would rather him not do that. But the truth is the truth, whether you like it or not. Deal with the truth! The truth will set you free. That’s my free perspective on that. A liberal person asked me that one time. “How could you stand the vulgarity. You’re a Christian, how can you stand…” and in my mind I’m thinking, “You know, if we want to talk about vulgar we could talk about ourselves.” Because the worst vulgarity is when somebody looks into your eyes and lies to your face. I’d rather you tell me you hate me than sit there and act like you don’t. At least I know where you’re at. I like that. Some don’t. That’s why I think the Lord loves him. Likes him. He loves him but kind of likes that edginess. Jesus loves him and died for him.
Barb shared…
I believe we can be a sweet fragrance to our worship in letting His glory come on us and just wash and cleanse us. We become that sweet smell. He does that. We don’t do it but He does it for us when we worship Him. When he was talking I was thinking about how he said Jesus prays for us. He’s up there interceding that we would fulfill the will of God. That’s what He prays for us, that wherever you are in Him that you would fulfill His plan for you. I believe that for the President as well, that God has a plan and He will use the people around him to influence him in the right way. Because he’s open. You see the people that God brings around him, that he allows into his life. And when you’re open like that, God can do amazing things. Thank You, Lord.
Prayed…
We lift the President up. You picked him. You created that miracle that he would be in office. We prayed before the election and asked You to send somebody that could lead this country in the right direction. We prayed and asked for this individual and You selected him. If we have a problem with it, then we have a problem with You. If that’s Your man, that’s my man. You see something I don’t see. I pray that you let all America see what You see in him. I pray that You open they eyes throughout the nation to let Americans see the truth, to see what You see in that man. Those who have been on the side watching that you bring to light, your wisdom. We pray for the cabinet members, for grace for them. Everyone in his environment, wife, family, all those influencers around him that you send supernatural anointing and grace upon them. To speak words of life of peace and encouragement. Build him up to a place where these things fall off of him. Obstacles, we commit them into Your hands. Signs and wonders follow those who believe.
Father, You said that You thwart the plans of the wicked… Father, we lift up every plan that those that stand against the President, You have a way to thwart every plan… that You uproot those plans… that You cause those plans to fall apart… everything they try to form against the person that you have called to this office, does not prosper… we ask today that You reach those people that are working hard against your plan and purpose. That you send your ministering angels… to do the work that is necessary… to bring those people into alignment … that they would no longer work against you because that’s what they’re going… that they would no longer work against you and your plan… but they would come into that revelation and knowledge of the truth and come into alignment with your purpose and plan… that they would not be lost… not be cast aside… be brought in… into the kingdom… in the name of Jesus… it’s your heart, Father, to reach them… in the place they are in… you have the ability to reach them… we ask for that today… go into the highways and byways… send your ministers there… into the dark places that your people are activated by the Holy Ghost to reach out… open their eyes to see those around them and to minister by the anointing of the Holy Ghost to set those people free from that darkness… it’s your light… that they need to set them free… from the bondage of the enemy… of the way of life they’re walking in… so they can experience the freedom that we experience… that they can be full of joy… yes, Father, even in the Senate… light for the Senators… light for those representatives… allow them to see the error of their ways… that there would come a place of unity… not be separation and division in the Congress… there would come a place of unity… that they could accomplish great things together… a united body… nothing is impossible with You, Father… I don’t care what side of the aisle they’re on, Father, I thank you that you can bring them right together… that they can come together … I thank you that you are even now bringing different parts of your body together… connect the different streams of ministry… as it comes together in your church so it is reflected in our nation and government… I thank you for the work you are doing… thank You, Jesus!… all the different streams and flows… that we can experience all that you have… all that is available in your body… all the gifts… that we would no longer be separated into factions… thank You, Father… that we become the example of unity to this nation… signs and wonders…
Barb shared…
Sometimes we just have to step out and ask God for things even if it is beyond what we think. “That’s kind of strange.” But I just felt in my heart we need to just ask for a sign that God would give a sign that President Trump has His stamp of approval. So that the people in this nation and around the world would know that he’s approved by God.
Prayed…
So Father, we ask for a sign that people would recognize and see that he is approved of You… as the President. That he is approved, that they see it… I thank You for doing that, Lord… that it is so clear it becomes so clear in Jesus’ name… Yes, Father… it’s not that he does everything right all the time, Father… but he does have a heart after You… we thank You for it…
We thank you for bringing this revelation forth… for those who are not in the body of Christ… thank you for their salvation… for those souls… putting politics aside… we pray for them all, for their salvation… for their souls…
Barb shared…
I wanted to say when he was sharing earlier, he talked about when he was in a rebellious way, not wanting to follow after God. And God sent someone to him and gave him a word. And we need to be those people. I wanted to say don’t forget who you are when you leave the chapel. You’re filled with the Holy Ghost and power and wherever you go, you can have an impact if you’re open to being used by Him. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Wherever you go. Grocery store, McDonalds. Even in regular conversation that you’ll notice the anointing. All of a sudden you’ll sense the anointing. Go with that. It’s something that person needs to hear to be set free. Be aware when you’re out, that you’re not just racing through to get your chicken. That you’re aware of the people around you because God wants to use you. That’s how we’re going to reach the world. Each of us with our sphere of influence. Don’t forget who you are when you leave this place. He has a call for you right where you are. Like him, it turned his life around. He was going one way and God turned him a different way. Just one word from someone who took the time out of their schedule and followed the Holy Ghost and talked to “that young guy.”
