Prayer Summary for August 11

Shared…

The following excerpt is taken from The Holy Spirit in the Now II by Oral Roberts:

You Can Become More Than You Are

We are men but we are not mere men.
We are human but we are not mere humans.
We are God-gifted humans. We are now in a position to become not only achievers but overachievers.

Some time ago, I ran across a report that some doctors released. In this report they said that people, as a general rule, feel good only 20 percent of the time…that they feel bad 80 percent of the time. The report said that the typical human being – however strong he may appear outwardly – struggles all the time with feelings of inferiority. That is, within himself he is saying:

“I really can’t do this.”
“I can’t make my grades as a student.”
“I can’t put my business over.”
“I can’t make my marriage work.”
“I can’t love my parents…I can’t relate to them.”
“I don’t understand my child.”
“I can’t do my job.”

There are feelings of inadequacy that seem to want to build in us…to live in us. As a result we are always in conflict with what we are…what we feel we are… and with what God can make us to become. There’s a conflict there.

The Bible says that Jesus has given gifts to men. He gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to men, dividing them as He will. Turn now to Hebrews 2:4…

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost (Spirit), according to his own will.

Notice that the writer of Hebrews says that God has given US gifts of the Holy Spirit. Honestly and frankly, it’s hard to believe that. I think that most people find it’s virtually impossible to believe that they are given a gift of the Holy Spirit. They seem to think it’s for someone else. Particularly, they believe that these gifts were given to people 2,000 years ago but today it isn’t so… or it isn’t so for them at least. It’s hard to individualize or personalize to the point that you know God has given a gift in your life. Now isn’t that true? And the more difficult your life is, the more needs you have, the harder it is to believe the Holy Spirit gives gifts to men today.

In the original Greek, in which our New Testament was written, the word gift is charisma. Charisma is a favor or gift of God.

I want to make a comment on that term charisma as it is used in a contemporary sense. The contemporary use of it is exactly opposite to its real meaning. For example, if we have a public figure who is extraordinarily handsome, articulate, or able and strong, we say, “Hey, he has charisma.” Or, “He’s a great charismatic leader.” This term was used particularly in regard to the late President Kennedy. Many said, “He’s a charismatic leader.” That is true. He had a lot of charisma but that’s not the sense in which it’s used in this reference.

The word charisma, as it is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, means grace or favor, and the emphasis is NOT upon the person who has it but upon the GIFT itself. That the Holy Spirit will work in the person is the important thing.

But there are gifts of the Holy Spirit. When you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit you receive this communication ability—this prayer language of the Spirit—between your heart and God. Now beyond that, there are very special gifts of the Holy Spirit and they are enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12:1–11:

(1) Now about the spiritual gifts (the special endowments of supernatural energy), brethren, I do not want you to be misinformed. (2) You know that when you were heathen, you were led off after idols that could not speak [habitually] as impulse directed and whenever the occasion might arise. (3) Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. (4) Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same. (5) And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served]. (6) And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all. (7) But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit. (8) To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; (9) To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; (10) To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. (11) All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.

A gift of the Spirit—there are nine of them listed here—is just simply Jesus Christ manifesting part of Himself to a person. This is not something special you get from outside. It’s inside you where Jesus is.

Notice that…

THE HOLY SPIRIT BROUGHT JESUS TO THE EARTH BUT JESUS BROUGHT THE HOLY SPIRIT BACK TO US.

The Holy Spirit brought Jesus to the earth, brought Him here as a man, raised Him from the dead, and enabled Him to be glorified in heaven. But it is the glorified Jesus who now prays the Father to send us the Holy Spirit. See? It’s in reverse. On the one side, the Holy Spirit manifests Jesus and now it is Jesus manifesting the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit’s work is to take of Jesus’ wisdom and knowledge and healing and faith and this communication ability to reach God directly—to take all of that and manifest it through you.

Prayed…

You are working in and through us today, Lord
The power of Your Holy Spirit is resident on the inside of us
We will trust in You, and we will not walk in our own strength, but we will walk with You
Your favor is going before us and preparing a way
We magnify and worship You, Lord
It is all about You, none of us and all of You
We lift You up today, and thank You for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding
You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Jesus, You are everything we need
We glorify and magnify You, today
Father, You are so wonderful and greatly to be praised
Lifting up and giving glory to Your name, Jesus!
Father, we know that You are the way-maker
You are all we want and need; You are our everything!
Hear our cry; we are hungry and thirsty for more of You
Jesus, You and You alone are the answer
Spirit, fall afresh all over this nation
We are making room for You today, Lord
Yielding to You and to Your precious Holy Spirit
You are worthy of all of our praise today!
Going, moving, and turning in the right way
We are cooperating with the move of Your Spirit, Lord
Give us access to the right ways and plans, Father God
Reconnected, rejuvenated, recharged, and restored in Jesus’ name!
Everything is possible in and through You
Calling for momentum in the body of Christ today!
Every gift and every resource would be provided to do the will of the Father
Great changes and great increases are on the horizon
Things are being leveled out, and pathways are being made smooth
There is no other name but the name of Jesus!
You are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise today, Lord
Glory to the Lamb of God!

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