“This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ” John 15:8
Have you ever been in a financial crisis or any other crisis; or know of someone else that has gone down this road? Where this crisis kept turning and turning for the worst. There was prayer, and God answered the prayer, yet the crisis kept happening? Until that one moment that God completely turned it around and things were made, right? Do you hide and act like someone else during these times? Or are you authentic?
Are you making room for God’s power?
God doesn’t want us to act like someone we aren’t when we are going through hard things. He wants us to be honest and have integrity.
WE need to prioritize our lives to know, believe, and practice the Word of God. We need to stretch our faith. We need to be a people that pray.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:9-11. What are the insights from this passage? Look at the words trust and deliver. Trust comes from the Greek word Peitho. It means to persuade, to induce one by words to believe, to make friends of, to win one’s favor. Deliver comes from the Greek word rhoumai. It means to draw to one’s self, to rescue, to deliver.
Read Romans 15: 30. Look at the word “strive together.” Its Greek word is sunagonizomai. Do you see an American word in the middle of this Greek word? It is “agonize.” There are times in our prayers where we are praying deeply for someone. We agonize the person in prayer. When was the last time you agonized someone in prayer? Do you think that that is enough, or could it be more?
Intercessory prayer is when you are praying on behalf of someone else. Has there been a time when you have interceded for someone, and you saw God move? Read Philippians 1:3-6. What are the insights from Paul about the act of intercession? Can you think of someone that you often pray for with joy? Why does praying for this person bring you joy?
Read John 11:41-42. What confidence did Jesus have when He prayed? How different would your prayer life be if you decided to believe with unwavering confidence that your Heavenly Father hears you?
The bible says that Jesus always lives to intercede for us. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to God’s will. He is continually doing this for us. Read John 16:26-27. What did Christ tell His disciples?
Let’s press on to new levels of praying.
For the fifth part of your life, how would you characterize this time in your life? What is the biggest blessing about this time frame? What were the biggest challenges? Did God reveal himself in this challenge?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thank you that we can intercede for others and rejoice through it.
In Jesus Name
Amen
