Friday, January 20, 2012

The Authority Position of STANDING


I've asked my prayer mentor and friend, Marilyn Wishart to write this week's blog! Thanks Marilyn!


    “having done all, stand…” Eph. 6:13.

There is great spiritual authority available to those who know where they have positioned themselves and that this specific place belongs to them. There is also great rest and assurance in being in that place and remaining.

But how do you get there when the battle areas can be so fierce, debilitating and emotional?

First, you need your promise from the Bible for the situation you are praying about. Then you apply faith by believing in the promise for yourself and your situation. Make the promise into a declaration after you have prayed it. Then rest on God’s faithfulness to bring it about, and an aspect of His character around that word. You can now lean into Him and rest in who He is and that He is working.

The declaration places the stake in the ground, positioning you in where you are to stand. You may not know how God will do it but you believe He is with you and He is working in the situation for His purposes and yours. Whether the struggle or battle still rages is immaterial; what your emotions say is immaterial; your position is in standing. You are at rest in whom God is and that He is faithful to His word (promise). This becomes your promised land that you are already occupying even though you do not see change at this present time. You can and should reaffirm your declaration many times especially when it is hard for you to believe. There will always be temptations to give in to the old behaviours but remember that stake in the ground. You are still standing. You will grow to be fully persuaded that God is working in this process. This position, as you are standing gives you authority- kingdom authority- the Kingdom of God being established in your position. As your faith takes root your authority increases whether you feel it or not, or even know it or not at times. Now you can pray for others in similar situations in faith, releasing hope to them and equipping them because you are strong in your faith. You will find that God will add new weapons, truth from His word, godly principles from the Holy Spirit in your particular faith stand because you have been faithful and persistent. Your territory is expanding, radiating out to new influence areas in others lives, and situations you cannot imagine. God is releasing His glory and His kingdom on earth through you. You are at peace in Him. Do you still pray into your situation? Yes! The new weapons are used in prayer and with new declarations, and faith holds your emotions steady.

A personal example - A standing place for me is the promise in Isaiah 59:21 for my family - the active living presence of God in every member of my extended family. My rest is in God who keeps His covenant based on this verse, regardless of what I see or hear. I have done all in prayer and declaration and I am standing. This is my position and my territory in the spirit and here I remain.

Marilyn Wishart.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Called to Prayer Conference.





Called to Prayer Conference.
With Marilyn Wishart and Pam Dyck. 

February 24-25
Join us for a weekend of discovery of the joy of prayer! 

Friday night 7 – 9:30 pm.
Session 1   What is the call to Prayer?
Session 2   Types of Intercessors
Session 3   Activation excerise...

Sat. 9a.m. – 4:30 pm.
Session 4    Strategies of Battle and How to endure in prayer.
Session 5    Warfare Praying in Psalms – staying God focused when we prayed
Session 6    Activation exercise

Lunch  12:30 – 2:00

Session  7    Individual and Corporate Prayer
Session  8    Prayer Shields – praying for those in spheres of influence
Session  9    Activation exercise

Being hosted at:
Central Heights Church
1661 McCallum Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 3M4

Room 3003 / 3004 
Enter and park at the  Southside entrance
(Please do not call the their office for info)
Call 604-855-9423 ( River Community Church) for info.

Costs: $30 per person
            $50 for couples
            $15 for students

Pay now or e-mail to register and then pay at the event.
NOTE: No cheques. Debit and credit card machine will be available at the event.



Choose to Purchase

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hitting the Mark...

Do you ever feel like you just don't know HOW to pray in a certain situation or for a certain situation? I know that I have often felt like that!  It's during these times, I pray the best ( and shortest) prayer that my prayer mentor and friend, Agnes, taught me to pray - and it goes like this......' Oh God, help!'...Best prayer ever...and always gets results! Why? Because I know He hears me - the Word tells us that! 

There's another thing you can do, if you are wondering how to pray about something - GO TO THE WORD!....There was a real movement a number of years ago, that taught us how to pray the scriptures.  Many people have forgotten that, but I think it's good to be refreshed in it!  When we pray according to the Word - we can be confident of 'hitting the mark'.

One of the meanings of intercession is to 'strike the mark'...and that is a phrase that is derived from a Hebrew term ' PAGA'. (Dutch Sheets does a great teaching about this in his book, ' Intercessory Prayer.') Paga means 'to meet'; and it is often referred to as the 'violent part of intercession'. ( check out Benni Johnson's book on the Happy Intercessor'. ) Don't you just LOVE that...?!! I do..and I must admit it's probably because there is something of a 'warrior' inside of me!  I love praying, but I'd never do well in a group that didn't get loud once in a while!  I can always tell when I'm 'hitting the mark'...Something in me winds up, or amps up..and I can feel the strength and power of heaven behind me when I pray! My husband just thinks I get louder....but it's much more than that! It's an authority that comes and yes...it does tend to come with more volume -altho not always!  For those who think we ought to always pray quietly...remember this:

Heb. 5:7  During the days of Jesus' life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death...AND HE WAS HEARD because of his reverent submission!'....

So, while it's not the volume that made Him heard, but his heart towards God's will - even Jesus was LOUD when the need was great! His prayers were aimed at God...

 Another scripture is Job. 36:32 which  is often used to describe a 'paga' meeting...' He covers His hands with lightening and commands it to strike ( the mark).'  I love it!...What a picture of power!

BUT the point of all this, is 'hitting the mark'....  Even the very term 'hitting the mark', is an offensive term. We push through, press on...press in! In order to pray prayers that 'hit the mark' tho, we must be on a quest to know God's heart, and the only way we can do that with certainty, is to know His heart! Where do we go to find His heart? Go to the Word!

As intercessors we NEED to be focused in our prayers and in our intercession. We can't be aiming all over the place....- it's like that picture my husband had of people in a room all painting different portions of a wall, but with no real plan. Intercession requires us to 'hit the mark'. God wants to give us plans and strategies, so that we can pray effectively! Bulls eye!! We want bulls eye prays! Dead center!... We can hit that mark, hit the center,  through knowing God's heart.   We can know His heart, but knowing His word.  

Next week...let's talk about how to pray the Word!..another 'hit the mark' way to pray!

Monday, January 9, 2012

We've spent time talking about how to ruin a prayer meeting. Now I'm going to address my comments to  those that have another train of thought when it comes to a Prayer Meeting. These are people who think a Corporate prayer meeting should involve everyone...should be fun, energetic and bring results! so...
 So....here is how to MAKE a Corporate Prayer Meeting successful in THREE points...
We have nine ways to ruin a prayer meeting...or 3 ways to get a good one going: you chose!
  Top 3 ways to make a Corporate prayer Meeting successful:

 1.: being in harmony – all our voices together being raised in prayer,
2.      multiplying our strength: –recognizing that our strength is multiplied when we pray together...and
3.       3. Having a common goal when we pray: letting our prayers work  together for a common good – not only protecting those we love, but bring VICTORY against the enemy!
Seems to me that making a good corporate prayer meeting happen is a lot less work that working to make one boring!! ( 3 steps vs. 9 ).
  ..... they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer:Act.4:24
  #1: to make a Corporate Prayer meeting work is: to actually BE corporate - Working as one – with one aim – one focus – as a group – not as individuals.
 Become a Symphony of Prayer. Corporate can mean, harmony or harmonizing – every voice needs to do it’s part... One Heart, One Mind.
. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer:Act.4:24
 Now apparently these people believe that Prayer meeting is not a time for back-row, anonymous, or secret believers. Gather everyone in a tight-knit group,  making their petitions and prayers KNOWN!
 Remember: these people believe that: · True corporate prayer is when individuals get together to pray as a group,   not, a group getting together to pray as individuals. Corporate prayer has as it's ultimate aim to be as it were, a single voice rising to the throne of God.
 Here's a couple of Scriptures:
Phil.2: 2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.
* remember The opposite of being in agreement or unity is DISHARMONY: : Matt. 12:25, and Luke 11:1725And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
Ps.133 : 1-3 speaks about what harmony is... -it's like oil, it's precious AND it's in that place that the Lord commands a blessing!
 #2  :  to make a Corporate prayer meeting successful is for Prayer Warriors pray in agreement, the power generated is multiplied tenfold  ( Where 2 or 3 are gathered!)..
Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.”Lev.26:8
Matt: 18: 19 ( Amp.)Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [a]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
* This verse is actually in context of dealing with offenses and discipline, but one of the commentaries says  “ these are principles that need to be practised everywhere under all circumstances..” .so we are going to use it as an example of what happens when we agree – whether it's about discipline or about prayer..- if we agree, Christ is in the midst!
And the Harper Study Bible (RSV, Zondervan 1979) on p.185, states the following in its notes for Leviticus 26:8  "In spiritual things the law which governs is not that of arithmetic progression but an accumulative effect as the numbers rise. Symbolically, five will chase one hundred but one hundred will chase ten thousand.  Especially in prayer may it be said that the power generated will be proportionately greater as more people pray. Thus the more of God's people who...pray together the more significant will be the results."
 Some examples:
In 1987 Alliance, Nebraska had the highest per capita incidence of drug use in America, but a group of concerned pastors banded together and prayed 15 months.  During an evangelistic series of 9.5 weeks nearly 10 percent of the population of Alliance was converted.
    Max Lucado recounts how he formed four prayer teams of 30 members each to pray for the church.  In six months the church broke attendance records twice, finished over budget, and grew!
 Another Example:
The NYC noon prayer meetings, started with one guy who tacked up posters asking if anyone else wanted to pray – together!!
Alarmed by the spiritual state of affairs, a Dutch Reformed layman named Jeremiah Lamphier tacked up notices in New York City calling for a weekly prayer meeting on Wednesdays from noon till one. The first week, only six showed up and none of them before 12:30.
 The next week, though, the attendance jumped to twenty.3 Then they nearly doubled again. About that time Wall Street crashed. The ensuing financial panic arrested the country‟s attention and turned hearts toward more heavenly things. So great and so immediate were the changes that in less than six months time, more than 10,000 business men were meeting daily in New York to pray during the noon hour. That movement leapt to every single major city in America. The response of God to His people was that 1,000,000 Americans out of a population of 30,000,000 were converted in two years. At the height of revival, perhaps 50,000 a week were being converted.
 Praying together....in one accord..and with one purpose...seems to work!  Which leads us to..... 
Point # 3 to make a Corporate Prayer Meeting Successful: Work as a Group..with one goal – one purpose – to BE a Team...
 Soldiers overlapped their shields around their group  . Roman tacticians, in Paul's day, developed a unique defensive tactic called the testudo, or tortoise. In this maneuver each soldier overlapped their shields around their group and above their heads forming a 'tortoise' shell of protection. This is a strong illustration of what unified praying is all about.( I also use this example when teaching on Prayer shields! Check out my other blog for more info on this!) Working together, does GREAT things! 
In the Prayer of Agreement, or unified praying, two or more Prayer Warriors act and think as in one accord for whomever they are interceding for. The function of this type of praying is to enclose their prayer objective(s) in heavenly protective custody.
Phil1:27 Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.


My husband had a picture one day, while in the midst of prayer meeting, where everyone was praying all over the map - no single focus on the prayer.  He suddenly saw the group he was with, in a room , that they had been given the task to paint.  Everyone had picked up paint brushes and rollers, and at the starting gun ( so to speak), everyone started painting whatever area they were standing in front. At the end of the time, there were bits and pieces of the walls done, but no one wall was completely done.  Then he saw the vision start over, but this time, the group acted as one, and they all painted on one wall at a time and when the time was over, the whole room was done. The same time it had taken to paint bits and pieces.....when their energy become 'focused', they got the whole room done.  That picture has changed how my husbands prays!

Imagine: the people of God...coming together like that, to pray....defeating the enemy – working together to be victorious even when outnumbered? The strength of prayer warriors working together!
Imagine...a house being packed full of praying friends....

Imagine a symphony of prayer going up....each voice making it contribution....creating a harmonious sound of prayer that releases the commanded blessing of God
Imagine...chasing ten thousand...

 Imagine...a house of prayer – united – full of eager, excited followers of Christ ...
Imagine a prayer meeting full of enthusiastic, excited, prayer people, flowing in unity, praying with focus, surrounding those issues and people we love, with heavenly protection....J

Just imagine what Corporate prayer could be....






Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Nine Great Ways to Ruin a Prayer Meeting

I love praying. I love being with people who love to pray! I understand tho, that sometimes prayer meetings have become boring! So..I wrote this message and shared in our church last year. It's definitely meant to be 'tongue and cheek'...but at the same time, hopefully, helps us laugh at ways we've come to prayer meetings and NOT prayed!...So read on...The title is ' Nine Great Ways to Ruin a Prayer Meeting'..I hope you like it! ** any resemblance to people you know, is purely accidental!
Corporate Prayer
 9 easy ways to ruin a Corporate Prayer meeting...
or
3 easy ways to make it successful

Obviously most of you here probably already know about prayer, or have been in lots of prayer meeting – or at least enough, that you don’t want to hear me teach you (again), on what a good prayer meeting is. SO...I’ve decided to start this message with 9 great ways to ruin a Corporate Prayer meeting – just in case you were tired of making a corporate prayer meeting exciting, i thought I’d give you some tips on how to make it boring.

The  9  easy ways to ruin a prayer meeting are: in no particular order..

1.                  Don’t pray. Come out to a corporate prayer meeting – sit with your arms crossed and don’t open your mouth.
 Remember that body language has it’s own message, so feel free to position yourself in such a way that while not being out rightly in opposition to whoever has decided to call this meeting – you can gently let them know you are not going to be cajoled into praying out loud. After all, you can pray in your head...and God CAN hear your heart and your thoughts...so WHY should you pray out loud just because someone told you to.

Stay silent...it will definitely bring about the desired effect in at least some of the others present, and hopefully they will too, get a sense that they should be quiet also.

 Remember, come as a spectator, not as a participant – let your only contribution be, that you are adding another body to the numbers – which hopefully will shrink soon – this way you’re guaranteed to be guilt free when you hear the meeting as shut down. After all, you did your part.

2.            Come prepared to pray as if you were in your personal prayer closet.

 This particularly good for those that don’t like to pray with others – you can pray all by yourself, for the entire meeting. If someone else should jump in and pray something else, just pick up where you left off . Remember that you have had hours of practice at home alone, and this is everyone’s chance to be in agreement with you.

Plus, don’t downplay the fact that you have ALOT of things to share, and you might not come next week, so it’s always best to pray everything you know in one go....you’ll never know when you might get a chance again.

3.            Focus on your needs, and the needs of the others present.
It is true, that some people come to corporate prayer meetings, wanting to pray about „the bigger picture‟. Well,  that’s so over-rated. We all know that God is in charge and can take care of the church...but if we don’t focus people to pray for US who else will?!

Definitely keep the flow of prayer focused on individual needs and ministry- when else will all these people be together again – so better use them now.

Remember also, if you are at all prophetic or a burden bearer, you owe it to the Lord and the group, to function in your gift, and let them know that you are aware of the needs in the room – and get the personal ministry started as soon as possible.

People may ask you to wait til the corporate prayer meeting is over to start personal prayer...but remind them that God wouldn’t have shown you the need in the room, if He didn’t want us to pray about it right then – and just redirect the prayer to the need or needs that you’re aware of. I’m sure everyone will pray for the bigger picture another time.
4.                  Teach while you pray.
This is often a personal favorite for many of us who feel they don’t get asked to share their knowledge often enough with others, or in church.
Take advantage of the corporate prayer meeting to explain your prayers to the group and the revelation God gave to you about them. After all, God already knows what He showed you, but the group needs to hear.   AND..make sure you remember important details, such the exact time, place, day of the month and year, as well as where you were, what you were wearing, the house you were in at the time, and it’s color scheme, plus what you ate for dinner on that night,  and who you were with,  WHEN you got this particular revelation – those details could change how a person hears or receives the revelation you are about to share. The more irrelevant details you share, the better!
Don’t forget too, that while YOU have had revelation from God, it’s your job to make sure the others also now get that revelation.
Teaching while you pray, can also be an effective tool in getting a message across to others in the room, that you disagree with them, the way they pray, or just them as a person . Don’t believe the teaching that you should go and talk to them in private, when dealing  with it publicly is so much more effective and time efficient; you can teach, get a message across AND rebuke someone all at the same time – definitely a time management skill .
5.            Silence is golden.
 While many teachers on corporate prayer will tell you that verbal agreement is important – that is only true if you wanting to encourage those that are praying! Remember that verbalizing agreement is only going to encourage others, as well as possibly draw you into the prayers, cause you to concentrate more..and possibly excite you, and those around you.

So...keep as quiet as possible, it will help the meeting to end faster..and hopefully quiet down those otherwise irritating people, who just keep praying outloud !
Long periods of silence are essential to intimidate those people who feel they need to pray without ceasing or pray outloud!  It also helps turn the prayer meeting into more a listening prayer experience, than intercession.  Intercession is all about praying on behalf of others, and  if we can keep people focused on themselves, or on what God is saying to them, it will help cut down on those ones who want to actually interceed and pray in agreement with the others present – such an irritating habit!
Again...verbalizing any type of encouragement ( such as 'yes', 'amen'..'good'..or clapping  ) , will just keep these people praying!
6.            Use Wooden prayers, or "fill in the gap‟ prayers.
While many people try to encourage us to just pray what’s on our heart – heck those prayers can get really carried away and passionate. Remember we are hoping to be in and out in an hour...so keep control of the prayer – don’t let it get out of hand. Written out, prayers by rote can keep things on track and stop those "Holy Spirit " prayer people who are wanting to be led by the Spirit, or just start praying out whatever they sense God is telling them. Controlling the prayers will enable us to keep to a timetable.
7.            Let the prayer meeting drag on.

Don’t believe the teaching that is out there that says an hour prayer meeting is a good idea. If you can let the meeting have a) no definite start time, or  b) end time..and  c)you let it go as long as you feel the anointing is present, (at least in you ) – you are guaranteed a longer than needed prayer meeting. This will be a non issue if you’ve managed to keep the other 6 points.
 Most people will come to a prayer meeting that starts on time and ends on time. So try to keep everyone waiting for the latest person...as well as keeping everyone extra long, will ensure many will not commit to coming out the next week.
This is particularly effective in keeping working people away, or those that need to get up early in the morning. These people have already come tired, so if you can draw the meeting out, you will be helping to send them the message that they will be even more tired when they go home.
Allowing the prayer time to be constantly disrupted with personal stories, teaching times, or explanations of dreams, visions or recent Prophetic words you received on the internet or ten years ago,  will also help use up the allotted prayer time and cause the hour to go longer. This particular tool can also help in lulling the already tired prayer warriors into a catatonic state, or cause them to begin to day dream or doze off in a short nap. This embarrassment alone (especially if snoring is involved) , should stop them from coming back.
8.            Don‟t pray specific or concrete prayers.
Keep things vague. Remember to give God as many ”outs” as possible for not answering your prayers – after all, He is God, and you wouldn’t want to take Him at His word, or declare something He’s promised or spoken – He may change His mind, and you wouldn’t want to cause Him to look bad – or make yourself look foolish !
Pray with as much uncertainty as possible, always injecting words like:’ maybe’ , ‘ if You’...’You don’t have to’......’This is probably a bad prayer’....or ...’This probably isn’t You but’ .....Those types of phrases and prayers, will certainly cause those in the group who continually keep praying out with ridiculous faith, to step back and take a hard realistic look at the growing possibility that we are wrong......God is probably not interested ..And we’re just lucky we’re still breathing!
Remind those people in your meeting  that keep pulling out or reading scriptures, that  they need to realize that no one can understand God, and that  we can’t take the bible literally AND besides  those promises were for then, not now! Some people make take numerous reminders of this, but persevere!
If you don’t take charge of the situation quickly, some of these incessant people who actually LOVE to pray may start declaring or standing on promises they think He’s spoken to them or to the church – which will just stir people up. Quickly jump in if that happens, and remind people that we don’t have to all excited or emotional AND that you don’t want people to be excited about things that may never happen. After all, let’s keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.
Praying vague prayers will help give God lots of room to not answer, and keep „us‟ from actually anticipating God to move on our behalf. People who get expectant or have anticipation of God to actually DO something, will become a disruptive force in a prayer meeting – which we wouldn’t want , right??

9.                  Last, but not least...because we are in no particular order
Keep things quiet and respectful. Displays of passion must be dealt with immediately or others may begin to be effected by them.
Remember that if we MUST pray out loud, it should be quiet, controlled, solemn voice. What is with these people who insist on getting emotional! We are PRAYING people – PRAYING!! Not having fun! This is serious business – remember that!
 While others may tell you that there are „’flows’ to a prayer meeting – times when things are quieter, and times when it should get louder – do not believe them. If you are a quiet personality, then you know, that it is the only way to pray..and in fact may be why God created prayer meetings – so that we could all be quiet and unemotional. I mean..it has worked in monasteries for centuries!
 Remind those that get excited ( and loud)  that God is not deaf..and they need to be quiet..or at least quieter – we wouldn’t want to give people the impression that prayer is fun or lively – let’s keep it serious people!
And what’s with those ones that want to cry when they pray? At all costs, deal with these ones. They are getting way too emotional and may end up causing other to get in touch with the heart or Love of God – this can absolutely ruin a well structured and quiet prayer meeting.  Besides that...it's just embarrassing and definitely NOT manly!
The Love of God can cause laughter, a release of joy, exuberance, passion, faith to move mountains, prophecy and the list goes on...AND it can also cause repentance, weeping – all of which can be noisy .
Sooooo...remind people that prayer is not about our emotions – God is not deaf . If they need a visual to help them, get them to picture praying in a library - that should keep the lid on things! Remember, if you let a prayer meeting get out of control and be lively or passionate, you are just going to keep attracting people who want to pray - and we wouldn’t want that, would we?
So...if we can follow those 9 points, I’m sure we can manage to keep corporate intercession from regaining a hold in our church, and many others. After all..we’re doing fine so far....and why fix what aint‟ broke, right?

** Next week:  3 ways to make a GREAT prayer meeting! Stay tuned!