Post by nicfos on Jul 28, 2006 3:47:29 GMT -5
1. Pillar Of Prayer
Acts 12:1-5"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Three specific names were mentioned in this chapter. Peter, James and John. There's nothing in the Word by accident! Every word and name has a purpose and meaning. Why were their names mentioned? What significance is it that these three were mentioned?
Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars?"
This was Paul's testimony of the three mentioned names. Paul saw them as pillars in the church. We know it is the pillars that hold up the building. If you remove the pillars, the Apostles then the building will collapse. Now you get an even clearer picture of this attack that came against the Early Church.
Acts 12:1-5"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also."
This was no haphazzard attack of the enemy. This was more than just Herod doing a popular thing against believers. This was a calculated and pre-meditated act of satan to destroy the church. In killing James, he removed one pillar and in going after Peter he was endeavoring to remove another pillar. Satan was after the destruction of the church.
"Remove the pillars and I can destroy the church", satan thought. However look at the way the Early Church responded to an onslaught against them.
Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
The Early Church saw "unceasing prayer" as the response to the attacks of satan. Prayer is a major pillar in the church. The Word and prayer are the two major pillars in the church.The Blood, the Name, the things of the Spirit are also pillars but they are revealed by the Word and by the Holy Spirit in prayer. That's why we see the devotions of the church to these two pillars.
Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The Apostles knew the secret to success was by prayer and the Word. Prayerlessness is why we have lost our efficacity.
The Prayer Meeting is the least attended service all over the world. Many church leaderships rely on gimmicks and guest ministers to bring revival to their churches. Revival may come with some ministers but when they leave, the revival may also leave. What we spend lots of money to obtain can be accessed freely in prayer.
The church stopped the attacks of satan though prayer. Unceasing and continued prayer. Are you willing to pay the price to pray? Are you willing to raise back up the pillar of prayer? Are you willing to stop the attacks of the devil? Pray and God will intervene.
Acts 12:7 "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands."
Word Of Wisdom
Praise God for the Apostles, Prophets, for the Apostolic anointing, For He has set them in the Church.
Eph. 4:11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),
[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
Praise the Lord for continuing to Bless them, guide them, encourage them, establish and strengthen them.
==============================================================
Pray for the Christians in Iran, North Korea, and India;
The Lord will redeem them from the hand of the wicked, deliver [/b]them from the hand of the terrible Government.
Psalm 27 THE LORD is their Light and Salvation. The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of their lives.
When the wicked, even their enemies and foes, came upon them their enemies will stumble and fall.
5 For in the day of trouble He will hide them in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide them; He will set them high upon a rock.
The Lord is their Redeemer, refuge and strength.
Give them not up to the will of their adversaries,
=============================================================
"Revival Is The Result Of A Price Paid"
The diary of David Brainerd, early missionary to the American Indians, tells of the price paid for revival in terms like these: “wrestling earnestly in prayer,” “pleading for souls,” “interceding fervently,” days of “fasting and prayer,” “an agony of prayer.”
So fierce was the battle that at times David Brainerd was tempted to give up his mission to the Indians. Then when hope was at lowest ebb, God sent a gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Drunken powwows turned into fervent services of worship. Pagan darkness and superstition changed to brotherly love and humble, holy living.
“I longed to live to God, and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life in His service, and for His glory,” wrote David Brainerd on his 24th birthday. It was the year 1742 and he was studying with a pastor in preparation for the work of the ministry. He realized his own inadequacy to serve the Lord acceptably. Time was set aside daily for secret prayer and some whole days were given to fasting and prayer, that the Lord might bestow upon him the grace needed to serve Him. Hours, too, were given to intercession for souls and for the enlargement of Christ’s Kingdom in the world.
In the spring of 1743 Brainerd received his assignment to minister to the Indians, and he made the journey by horseback into the wilderness where they lived. He sought to be fully submitted to God whatever miseries and sufferings he might meet. Living conditions were primitive. For a time he lived in the home of a settler, where his bed was a little heap of straw in a log room without any floor. Later he lived in a wigwam while his own little hut amongst the Indians was being built. Humble though the hut was, he appreciated it as a place where he could be alone to commune with the Lord.
The Lord was his great comforter in this lonesome wilderness. Only with his interpreter could he speak English. Sometimes he longed for Christian fellowship, for someone with whom he could share the distress and discouragement that he went through these early months among the Indians.
His diary of these days is much taken up with his efforts in prayer. He yearned, he wrote, to “follow after holiness, that I may be fully conformed to God … I longed after holiness, humility and meekness.” He struggled to persevere in prayer for himself and for those to whom he had come to minister.
Passion For Christ’s Kingdom And God’s Glory
“I poured out my soul for all the world, friends and enemies,” he wrote. “My soul was concerned, not so much for souls as such, but rather for Christ’s Kingdom, that it might appear in the world, that God might be known to be God, in the whole earth.”
He was helped in prayer by the example of Elijah. “My soul was much moved, observing the faith, zeal, and power of that holy man,” he recorded in his diary, “how he wrestled with God in prayer, etc. My soul then cried with Elisha, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah!’ (2 Kings 2:14). O I longed for more faith! My soul breathed after God, and pleaded with Him, that a double portion of that Spirit which was given to Elijah might ‘rest’ on me (2 Kings 2:15). And that which was divinely refreshing and strengthening to my soul was, I saw that God is the same that He was in the days of Elijah!
“I was enabled to wrestle with God by prayer, in a more affectionate, fervent, humble, intense, and importunate manner than I have for many months past. Nothing seemed too hard for God to perform; nothing too great for me to hope for from Him. I had for many months entirely lost all hope of being made instrumental of doing any special service for God in the world; it has appeared entirely impossible, that one so vile should be thus employed for God. But at this time God was pleased to revive this hope.”
At other times he recorded concerning his prayer life: “I love to live alone in my own little cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer … My soul was sundry times in prayer enlarged for God’s church and people. O that Zion might become the ‘joy of the whole earth!’ (Ps. 48:2) … My soul confided in God for myself and for His Zion; trusted in divine power and grace, that He would do glorious things in His church on earth, for His own glory … My soul was ardent in prayer, was enabled to wrestle ardently for myself, for Christian friends, and for the church of God; and felt more desire to see the power of God in the conversion of souls than I have done for a long season. Blessed be God for this season of fasting and prayer! May His goodness always abide with me, and draw my soul to Him!”
He often felt weak in body and already had signs of tuberculosis. Sometimes he lacked nourishing food. He had to go or send 10 or 15 miles for bread and sometimes it became moldy or sour before he could eat it. He obtained Indian meal and made fried cakes. “Yet I felt contented with my circumstances, and sweetly resigned to God,” was his reaction to this. “I blessed God as much for my present circumstances as if I had been a king.”
He traveled many miles through the woods seeking out Indians to whom he could minister. He rejoiced in God’s care for him during these journeys: “I have often been exposed to cold and hunger in the wilderness, where the comforts of life were not to be had, have frequently been lost in the woods, and sometimes obliged to ride much of the night, and once lay out in the woods a ll night; yet blessed be God, He has preserved me!”
Brainerd was invited, and even urged, to become pastor of churches in settlements where living conditions would have been more pleasant and comfortable. But he chose to continue his mission to the Indian people.
“O I longed to fill up the remaining moments all for God!” he wrote.
For about a year he labored and prayed at the first Indian settlement to which he was assigned. There were no apparent converts, although through his studied, careful preaching, backed by hours of prayer, several came to him with tears in their eyes, asking what the y should do to be saved.
Through The Wilderness To A New Settlement
To reach his next assignment, he had to travel about 100 miles by horseback through desolate country where there were few settlements. “My heart sometimes was ready to sink with the thoughts of my work, and going alone in the wilderness, I knew not where,” he confided in his diary, “but still it was comfortable to think that others of God’s children had ‘wandered about … in dens and caves of the earth’ (Heb. 11:37,38) and Abraham, when he was called to go forth, ‘went out, not knowing whither he went’ (Heb. 11:8). O that I might follow after God!”
The Indians at the new location were quite scattered and showed little interest in Christianity. He recorded his thoughts in his diary: “To an eye of reason every thing that respects the conversion of the Heathen is as dark as midnight; and yet I cannot but hope in God for the accomplishment of something glorious among them …
“In prayer my soul was enlarged, and my faith drawn into sensible exercise; was enabled to cry to God for my poor Indians, and though the work of their conversion appeared impossible with man, yet with God I saw all things were possible. My faith was much strengthened, by observing the wonderful assistance God afforded His servants Nehemiah and Ezra, in reforming His people and re-establishing His ancient c hurch. I was much assisted in prayer for my dear Christian friends, and for others whom I apprehended to be Christless, but was more especially concerned for the poor heathen, and those of my own charge. I was enabled to be instant in prayer for them and hoped that God would bow the heavens and come down for their salvation.
“It seemed to me that there could no impediment sufficient to obstruct that glorious work, seeing the living God, as I strongly hope, was engaged for it. I continued in a solemn frame, lifting up my heart to God for assistance and grace, that I might be more mortified to this present world, that my whole soul might be taken up continually in concern for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. Earnestly desired that God would purge me more, that I might be as a chosen vessel to bear His name among the heathen. …
“My soul was very solemn in reading God’s Word, especially the ninth chapter of Daniel. I saw how God had called out His servants to prayer, and made them wrestle with Him when He designed to bestow any great mercy on His church. And alas! I was ashamed of myself to think of my dullness and inactivity when there seemed to be so much to do for the upbuilding of Zion. O how does Zion lie waste! I longed that the church of God might be enlarged, and was enabled to pray, I think, in faith. My soul seemed sensibly to confide in God, and was enabled to wrestle with Him …”
Guarding The Spirit Of Prayer
When Brainerd recognized that the spirit of prayer was upon him he “was watchful, tender, and jealous of my own heart, lest I should admit carelessness and vain thoughts, and grieve the blessed Spirit, so that He should withdraw His sweet, kind and tender influences.” He was afraid of every idle thought which might grieve the Spirit.
“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ,” his diary records.
He prayed urgently for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Indian people. He longed to see the power of God manifested among them. Some days he retired 5 or 6 times for prayer. As he traveled on horseback he prayed. Sometimes he had wakeful nights because of pain or weariness. These times he prayed as able and meditated on Scriptures. “My soul so much delighted to continue instant in prayer, at this blessed season,” he wrote once in his diary, “that I had no desire for my necessary food.”
After laboring for about a year at the second location with seemingly little results, he moved on to a third location. He found the families here scattered, but he gathered 7 or 8 women and children together and preached to them. After hearing him once, these women traveled here and there to gather others to come together to hear him preach again. About 30 gathered, and they soon showed concern for their souls. Not many months before they had objected to preachings on Christianity, but now God had prepared their hearts. They wanted him to preach to them twice a day.
===========================================================
"For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us".Isaiah 33:22.
Psalm 82. says that God is part of the judicial system.
God attends the courts. "God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods".v. 1. The word gods means "the judges." When the judges get together in court, God is there whether they recognize Him or not.
God admonishes the judges.
"How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?".v. 2.
The judges think they are trying others, but God is trying them.
"They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable".v. 5.
God judges the judges!
God acquits the afflicted. God will make everything right.
"Defend the poor and fatherless;Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked...Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.: Vs.4,8.
Are you troubled by a legal case?
Believe it is solved by your personal saviour,advocate and judge!
"For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us". Isaiah 33:22.[/b]
Acts 12:1-5"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Three specific names were mentioned in this chapter. Peter, James and John. There's nothing in the Word by accident! Every word and name has a purpose and meaning. Why were their names mentioned? What significance is it that these three were mentioned?
Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars?"
This was Paul's testimony of the three mentioned names. Paul saw them as pillars in the church. We know it is the pillars that hold up the building. If you remove the pillars, the Apostles then the building will collapse. Now you get an even clearer picture of this attack that came against the Early Church.
Acts 12:1-5"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also."
This was no haphazzard attack of the enemy. This was more than just Herod doing a popular thing against believers. This was a calculated and pre-meditated act of satan to destroy the church. In killing James, he removed one pillar and in going after Peter he was endeavoring to remove another pillar. Satan was after the destruction of the church.
"Remove the pillars and I can destroy the church", satan thought. However look at the way the Early Church responded to an onslaught against them.
Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
The Early Church saw "unceasing prayer" as the response to the attacks of satan. Prayer is a major pillar in the church. The Word and prayer are the two major pillars in the church.The Blood, the Name, the things of the Spirit are also pillars but they are revealed by the Word and by the Holy Spirit in prayer. That's why we see the devotions of the church to these two pillars.
Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The Apostles knew the secret to success was by prayer and the Word. Prayerlessness is why we have lost our efficacity.
The Prayer Meeting is the least attended service all over the world. Many church leaderships rely on gimmicks and guest ministers to bring revival to their churches. Revival may come with some ministers but when they leave, the revival may also leave. What we spend lots of money to obtain can be accessed freely in prayer.
The church stopped the attacks of satan though prayer. Unceasing and continued prayer. Are you willing to pay the price to pray? Are you willing to raise back up the pillar of prayer? Are you willing to stop the attacks of the devil? Pray and God will intervene.
Acts 12:7 "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands."
Word Of Wisdom
Praise God for the Apostles, Prophets, for the Apostolic anointing, For He has set them in the Church.
Eph. 4:11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),
[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
Praise the Lord for continuing to Bless them, guide them, encourage them, establish and strengthen them.
==============================================================
Pray for the Christians in Iran, North Korea, and India;
The Lord will redeem them from the hand of the wicked, deliver [/b]them from the hand of the terrible Government.
Psalm 27 THE LORD is their Light and Salvation. The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of their lives.
When the wicked, even their enemies and foes, came upon them their enemies will stumble and fall.
5 For in the day of trouble He will hide them in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide them; He will set them high upon a rock.
The Lord is their Redeemer, refuge and strength.
Give them not up to the will of their adversaries,
=============================================================
"Revival Is The Result Of A Price Paid"
The diary of David Brainerd, early missionary to the American Indians, tells of the price paid for revival in terms like these: “wrestling earnestly in prayer,” “pleading for souls,” “interceding fervently,” days of “fasting and prayer,” “an agony of prayer.”
So fierce was the battle that at times David Brainerd was tempted to give up his mission to the Indians. Then when hope was at lowest ebb, God sent a gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Drunken powwows turned into fervent services of worship. Pagan darkness and superstition changed to brotherly love and humble, holy living.
“I longed to live to God, and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life in His service, and for His glory,” wrote David Brainerd on his 24th birthday. It was the year 1742 and he was studying with a pastor in preparation for the work of the ministry. He realized his own inadequacy to serve the Lord acceptably. Time was set aside daily for secret prayer and some whole days were given to fasting and prayer, that the Lord might bestow upon him the grace needed to serve Him. Hours, too, were given to intercession for souls and for the enlargement of Christ’s Kingdom in the world.
In the spring of 1743 Brainerd received his assignment to minister to the Indians, and he made the journey by horseback into the wilderness where they lived. He sought to be fully submitted to God whatever miseries and sufferings he might meet. Living conditions were primitive. For a time he lived in the home of a settler, where his bed was a little heap of straw in a log room without any floor. Later he lived in a wigwam while his own little hut amongst the Indians was being built. Humble though the hut was, he appreciated it as a place where he could be alone to commune with the Lord.
The Lord was his great comforter in this lonesome wilderness. Only with his interpreter could he speak English. Sometimes he longed for Christian fellowship, for someone with whom he could share the distress and discouragement that he went through these early months among the Indians.
His diary of these days is much taken up with his efforts in prayer. He yearned, he wrote, to “follow after holiness, that I may be fully conformed to God … I longed after holiness, humility and meekness.” He struggled to persevere in prayer for himself and for those to whom he had come to minister.
Passion For Christ’s Kingdom And God’s Glory
“I poured out my soul for all the world, friends and enemies,” he wrote. “My soul was concerned, not so much for souls as such, but rather for Christ’s Kingdom, that it might appear in the world, that God might be known to be God, in the whole earth.”
He was helped in prayer by the example of Elijah. “My soul was much moved, observing the faith, zeal, and power of that holy man,” he recorded in his diary, “how he wrestled with God in prayer, etc. My soul then cried with Elisha, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah!’ (2 Kings 2:14). O I longed for more faith! My soul breathed after God, and pleaded with Him, that a double portion of that Spirit which was given to Elijah might ‘rest’ on me (2 Kings 2:15). And that which was divinely refreshing and strengthening to my soul was, I saw that God is the same that He was in the days of Elijah!
“I was enabled to wrestle with God by prayer, in a more affectionate, fervent, humble, intense, and importunate manner than I have for many months past. Nothing seemed too hard for God to perform; nothing too great for me to hope for from Him. I had for many months entirely lost all hope of being made instrumental of doing any special service for God in the world; it has appeared entirely impossible, that one so vile should be thus employed for God. But at this time God was pleased to revive this hope.”
At other times he recorded concerning his prayer life: “I love to live alone in my own little cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer … My soul was sundry times in prayer enlarged for God’s church and people. O that Zion might become the ‘joy of the whole earth!’ (Ps. 48:2) … My soul confided in God for myself and for His Zion; trusted in divine power and grace, that He would do glorious things in His church on earth, for His own glory … My soul was ardent in prayer, was enabled to wrestle ardently for myself, for Christian friends, and for the church of God; and felt more desire to see the power of God in the conversion of souls than I have done for a long season. Blessed be God for this season of fasting and prayer! May His goodness always abide with me, and draw my soul to Him!”
He often felt weak in body and already had signs of tuberculosis. Sometimes he lacked nourishing food. He had to go or send 10 or 15 miles for bread and sometimes it became moldy or sour before he could eat it. He obtained Indian meal and made fried cakes. “Yet I felt contented with my circumstances, and sweetly resigned to God,” was his reaction to this. “I blessed God as much for my present circumstances as if I had been a king.”
He traveled many miles through the woods seeking out Indians to whom he could minister. He rejoiced in God’s care for him during these journeys: “I have often been exposed to cold and hunger in the wilderness, where the comforts of life were not to be had, have frequently been lost in the woods, and sometimes obliged to ride much of the night, and once lay out in the woods a ll night; yet blessed be God, He has preserved me!”
Brainerd was invited, and even urged, to become pastor of churches in settlements where living conditions would have been more pleasant and comfortable. But he chose to continue his mission to the Indian people.
“O I longed to fill up the remaining moments all for God!” he wrote.
For about a year he labored and prayed at the first Indian settlement to which he was assigned. There were no apparent converts, although through his studied, careful preaching, backed by hours of prayer, several came to him with tears in their eyes, asking what the y should do to be saved.
Through The Wilderness To A New Settlement
To reach his next assignment, he had to travel about 100 miles by horseback through desolate country where there were few settlements. “My heart sometimes was ready to sink with the thoughts of my work, and going alone in the wilderness, I knew not where,” he confided in his diary, “but still it was comfortable to think that others of God’s children had ‘wandered about … in dens and caves of the earth’ (Heb. 11:37,38) and Abraham, when he was called to go forth, ‘went out, not knowing whither he went’ (Heb. 11:8). O that I might follow after God!”
The Indians at the new location were quite scattered and showed little interest in Christianity. He recorded his thoughts in his diary: “To an eye of reason every thing that respects the conversion of the Heathen is as dark as midnight; and yet I cannot but hope in God for the accomplishment of something glorious among them …
“In prayer my soul was enlarged, and my faith drawn into sensible exercise; was enabled to cry to God for my poor Indians, and though the work of their conversion appeared impossible with man, yet with God I saw all things were possible. My faith was much strengthened, by observing the wonderful assistance God afforded His servants Nehemiah and Ezra, in reforming His people and re-establishing His ancient c hurch. I was much assisted in prayer for my dear Christian friends, and for others whom I apprehended to be Christless, but was more especially concerned for the poor heathen, and those of my own charge. I was enabled to be instant in prayer for them and hoped that God would bow the heavens and come down for their salvation.
“It seemed to me that there could no impediment sufficient to obstruct that glorious work, seeing the living God, as I strongly hope, was engaged for it. I continued in a solemn frame, lifting up my heart to God for assistance and grace, that I might be more mortified to this present world, that my whole soul might be taken up continually in concern for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. Earnestly desired that God would purge me more, that I might be as a chosen vessel to bear His name among the heathen. …
“My soul was very solemn in reading God’s Word, especially the ninth chapter of Daniel. I saw how God had called out His servants to prayer, and made them wrestle with Him when He designed to bestow any great mercy on His church. And alas! I was ashamed of myself to think of my dullness and inactivity when there seemed to be so much to do for the upbuilding of Zion. O how does Zion lie waste! I longed that the church of God might be enlarged, and was enabled to pray, I think, in faith. My soul seemed sensibly to confide in God, and was enabled to wrestle with Him …”
Guarding The Spirit Of Prayer
When Brainerd recognized that the spirit of prayer was upon him he “was watchful, tender, and jealous of my own heart, lest I should admit carelessness and vain thoughts, and grieve the blessed Spirit, so that He should withdraw His sweet, kind and tender influences.” He was afraid of every idle thought which might grieve the Spirit.
“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ,” his diary records.
He prayed urgently for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Indian people. He longed to see the power of God manifested among them. Some days he retired 5 or 6 times for prayer. As he traveled on horseback he prayed. Sometimes he had wakeful nights because of pain or weariness. These times he prayed as able and meditated on Scriptures. “My soul so much delighted to continue instant in prayer, at this blessed season,” he wrote once in his diary, “that I had no desire for my necessary food.”
After laboring for about a year at the second location with seemingly little results, he moved on to a third location. He found the families here scattered, but he gathered 7 or 8 women and children together and preached to them. After hearing him once, these women traveled here and there to gather others to come together to hear him preach again. About 30 gathered, and they soon showed concern for their souls. Not many months before they had objected to preachings on Christianity, but now God had prepared their hearts. They wanted him to preach to them twice a day.
===========================================================
"For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us".Isaiah 33:22.
Psalm 82. says that God is part of the judicial system.
God attends the courts. "God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods".v. 1. The word gods means "the judges." When the judges get together in court, God is there whether they recognize Him or not.
God admonishes the judges.
"How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?".v. 2.
The judges think they are trying others, but God is trying them.
"They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable".v. 5.
God judges the judges!
God acquits the afflicted. God will make everything right.
"Defend the poor and fatherless;Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked...Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.: Vs.4,8.
Are you troubled by a legal case?
Believe it is solved by your personal saviour,advocate and judge!
"For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us". Isaiah 33:22.[/b]