PROVIDENCE

Providence
By Alice Smith
 
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward" (Hebrews 10:35, KJV).
 
As I boarded the airplane that evening I was really weary. The weekend of ministry had been extra hard for some reason, and I felt a head cold coming on. I dropped into the seat for the ride home and dozed off almost immediately. Somewhere in my subconscious, I was still aware of the plane takeoff and the smooth sailing in the sky. The flight attendants had already served everyone and now the overhead lights were off.
 
I must have been asleep for most of the trip, when the jolt of the plane woke me. The turbulence was some of the worst I had ever experienced. My window seat allowed me to look outside, but there was no visibility, only thick, dark clouds. It was quite unsettling as the plane lurched up and down and from side to side. I strained to see the ground but to no avail.

It seemed like an eternity before the captain came on the intercom. His deep, soothing voice was comforting. "This is your captain speaking. Folks, there is no reason to worry; the haze is thick and the turbulence is rather bad, but ground control has us on their radar and they will help us make a safe landing. We will be landing soon."
 
Although the plane continued to rock, and it wasn't a comfortable experience, the control room below could see the big picture. They could land the plane safely. At that moment the Lord reminded me that even though at times the circumstances of our lives become tumultuous and hinder our visibility, the heavenly Father always sees the big picture.  Not to worry, He has us on His radar. We often strain to see in the natural something that God is doing only in the spiritual.
 
Experiences like this have taught me several things. The relationship we maintain with the Father and the atmosphere produced by that relationship are very important. Religious rules and regulations won't carry us when the going gets rough. We need an intimate and close fellowship with God. Our relationship is found in a deep abiding faith as we rest in the arms of a good and faithful Father.
 
Secondly, if we expect to be prepared to face life's trials we must maintain a meaningful relationship with the Father. When the bottom drops out and we are rocked by trauma, there isn't time to build a trusting relationship with God. At those times we need to rest in the relationship we've already developed with Him.
 
Life can be exceedingly challenging at times. Yet prayer should be our first response to a challenge. In our desperate cry for help with life's twists and turns, the Lord is drawing us to listen to His voice. This isn't a step into the dark; it is a step into the light of faith in Him.
 
This walk of faith insists that we silence our busy and fretful hearts, preparing us to hear God's voice. Once we hear and obey Him, this is confirmation that the new nature of Christ is at work in us. Now we just need to step out and trust Him. To the degree that we learn the voice of our heavenly Father and desire to understand His ways, to that same degree we will also hear His voice and walk in His ways. Our personality, intelligence or talents have little to do with it.
 
The next time you find yourself in the haze of life's turbulence, and there is no clear view, draw close to the heart of God. There you will find peace. He has you on His radar screen and you can trust Him to bring you safely home.
 
Please pray about giving a consistent monthly love offering for 2008. Eddie has received three prophetic words that he is to take a six month sabbatical. And we are stepping out to obey God. We are confident that the providence of God will sustain us in the potential turbulence of the next six months. God is faithful.
 
Please stand with us in financial support so Eddie's body can rest. He's never done this before, and without the faithful support of you, it will make it harder for him to fully rest. We would appreciate if you would donate securely online
[http://www.usprayercenter.org/] www.usprayercenter.org
 

HOW I FOUND A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

How I Found a Virtuous Woman
By Eddie Smith
 
Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life (Prov. 31:10-12, KJV).
 
The summer of 1970 was a lonely time for me, living in motels, moving from town to town, city to city as a single, itinerant evangelist in my twenties. Every night when the revival services concluded, I was off to a late-night meal and then to a lonely motel room.
    Because of my travel schedule, I rarely spent time at my small apartment in South Houston. For the most part, it was only a place to hang my clothes and stash boxes of my unsold record albums. It, too, was a lonely spot.
 
The Encounter
    Walking into the old auditorium of First Baptist Church that Sunday night, then located in downtown Houston, little did I know how my life was about to be changed. I was there to sing for a citywide youth rally, where I would be sharing the stage with a sharp contemporary Christian singing group from Houston Baptist University called "Implosion." They were directed by Pete Sanchez, who would later write the classic worship chorus “I Exalt Thee” and appear on several Hosanna Integrity worship albums.
    As the former director of The Spurrlows, a nationally-known contemporary musical group at the time, I immediately found myself interested in Implosion’s work from a technical standpoint. Impressed by their sharp visual presentation and tight vocal harmonies, I was really into the concert. That is, until I caught sight of Pete’s lead soprano—a slight, cute blonde with a magnificent voice. The rest of the evening, my thoughts were only about her.
    Following the service, I stopped a member of the group to ask about her and whether she was married. He assured me that Alice Day wasn’t married, although she had several admirers waiting in the wings.
    Mentally unplugging for the evening, I took refuge in my usual late-night burger and milkshake and made my way to the lonely solitude of my South Houston apartment. (To this day my heart goes out to singles. To remain single requires a grace gift from the Lord!)
 
An Unexpected Bonus!
    On the schedule for the following night was ministry at Pulpit in the Shadows, a street ministry designed to reach out to drug addicts and to the homeless. Parking my car near Pulpit in the Shadows and locking all the doors, I worked my way through an odorous crowd of hippies and winos to get inside the run-down, white-framed, abandoned church building. Body odors mixed with the pungent, acrid smell of marijuana smoke was almost stifling.
    My ears pricked up when I heard the familiar sounds of musicians warming up and instruments being tuned. Suddenly, my heart did a back flip! There vocalizing on stage was the same beautiful, blonde soprano. Immediately I knew that this week was going to be different!
    After the service, everyone was challenged to pair up and go into the streets to witness for Christ. Here was my chance! Fighting my way through the crowd to the place where Alice Day was standing, I introduced myself to her. I handed her a stack of gospel tracts and invited her to go out witnessing with me.
    She declined. My heart sank, but I wouldn’t be deterred. So I asked, “Can we go for coffee when this is over?”
Again, she declined. Disappointed, I left solo.
 
If at First You Don’t Succeed . . .
    On Tuesday, the second night of the three-day meeting, I approached Alice again with the same offer at the close of the service. This time she agreed to go. We went together into the streets of downtown Houston, passing out tracts, sharing the gospel message and praying for the people. The power of prayer was evident that night, as several people trusted Christ as their Savior. It was an awesome evening! God blended our gifts and skills together in a powerful way.
    Now I had been a soul winner since elementary school, faithfully sharing my faith through high school, the Navy and college. During the late 1960s, at the height of the hippie revolution, I had worked two years on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. We witnessed in bars, nightclubs, strip joints, psychedelic “trip” rooms, X-rated movie theaters and biker hangouts.
    With the exception of my own mother, a faithful and strong witness, I had never met a woman as bold as Alice. This woman was fearless! She witnessed to everything that moved. And if it didn’t move, she stuck a gospel tract on it!
There was something special about her. She possessed an intense passion for the Lord and compassion for the lost. Prayer was important to her—more important to her than it was to me and to most other Christians I had known. That night she shared with me about her life and her call to the ministry. Once more I invited her to go with me to get something to eat. Again, she declined!
 
And I Thought I Didn’t Have a Prayer . . .
    Arriving early Wednesday night, I waited impatiently until time for us to hit the streets again. Alice agreed to join me once more and we were off! The experience was even more dynamic than the night before. God’s Holy Spirit was on us! The effect of our ministry together was simply greater than the sum of its parts. It was obvious to me that God was doing something special!
    Later that night when we returned to Pulpit in the Shadows, again I suggested that we go out for coffee. Again she refused.
    “Alice, you need to get to know me,” I blurted out presumptuously. “I’m going to marry you!” Why I said that I cannot explain.
    Obviously jolted by my statement, yet eminently unflappable, she bravely smiled and said, “Okay, let’s go eat.”
    Dr. J. Vernon McGee, the late teacher and host of “Through the Bible,” once said on his radio program, “I asked my wife to marry me on our second date. I waited till then because I didn’t want her to think I was in a hurry.”
    The next six weeks were like a whirlwind as I traveled the eastern seaboard ministering in citywide evangelistic crusades. Every night from my hotel room, I would spend at least an hour on the phone with Alice at her apartment in Houston. We talked about every facet of our lives, shared our life dreams with each other and prayed for God’s will.
    Alice’s friends had told me of her deep commitment to the Lord. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Day of Lake Jackson, Texas, sixty miles south of Houston, were longtime members of the First Baptist Church. Martha, Alice’s mother, had taught Sunday School and faithfully served the Lord for decades. Before going to be with the Lord, Mr. Day was a beloved football coach. A football stadium in Lake Jackson was posthumously named after him.
    Alice had been saved and had surrendered to the ministry at age 15. From the time she was saved, she began praying for her husband-to-be. I had begun to think I didn’t have a prayer with her. Yet before we had ever met, she had been praying for me! Jim Bob Griffin, her former youth pastor, said she had a beautiful testimony. She was a treasure!
    She was learning how to be an intercessor when I met her, although what that meant was not clear to me then. What was clear to me was her pattern of cutting short our dates for yet another prayer meeting.
    Many dinners together, dozens of roses, reams of correspondence and several lengthy long-distance phone bills later, we were married. We didn’t have a beautiful church wedding, which we still regret. Because of my schedule, we were married “on the run” between revival meetings.
    That was then.
 
    Yesterday in Colorado Springs I watched with pride as she walked the aisle in cap and gown to receive her doctor’s degree. She has worked long and hard for it, while writing several books, traveling hundreds of thousands of miles, and being a faithful productive wife and loving mother and grandmother.
 
A virtuous woman indeed! Congratulations Sweetheart!

GOD'S PROMISE

God’s Promise
 
“Your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matt. 6:32-33).
 
Read that verse carefully. There are some salient points we need to consider.
 
1. God already knows all your needs. Mention your needs to him. No need to explain things to an omnipresent God.
 
2. He will give you all you need from day to day. Begin now to praise him for it, even though you can’t see it.
 
3. But remember, God’s promises are conditional. You must do your part, if you expect God to do his part. What’s your part?
 
    a. Live for him.
    b. Make his Kingdom your primary concern.
 
The label on God's prescription for worry reads, "...in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).
 
Wow! We don't have to wrestle, capture, or force anything or anyone. We simply pray thankful believing prayers, and Jesus keeps our hearts and minds with God's peace. What an amazing prescription!
 
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
 
When we pray thankful prayers, Christ gives us his peace, and we are no longer troubled or afraid. So, God’s antidote for worry or anxiety is to pray with thanksgiving.

WHEN PRAYER BECOMES A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

When Prayer Becomes a Matter of Life and Death
By Eddie Smith

One morning my wife, Alice, went shopping for building supplies for a
project I
was working on. Being an intercessor and not a construction worker, she
was
largely unfamiliar with these items and spent a considerable amount of
time in
the hardware store looking for them.

Alice was finally standing in the checkout line when, suddenly, she had
a brief
vision. In her mind's eye--a closed vision--she saw a man standing in
my
office point a gun at me.

Immediately she grabbed her purse, abandoned her cart with the items
she had
worked so hard to find, and ran to the car. Alice began to intercede,
even as
she drove home. Once home, she rushed inside to her prayer closet,
where
she began crying out to the Lord.

She has since been asked, "Alice, why didn't you call the office and
ask if
Eddie was alright?"

"It was time to pray, not take a survey," she replies.

Alice prayed for 45 minutes until the burden and the sense of urgency
subsided.
Only then did she call the office and ask, "Eddie, are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine." I answered. "Why do you ask?"

She told me about her vision and how she had entered into prayer.

"Oh that," I explained. "He just got saved."

That morning I had had a counseling session with a medical doctor who
was in
ill health, separated from his wife, addicted to narcotics and
suicidal. After I led
him to Christ--and through some significant deliverance--he explained
how he
had loaded a pistol that morning and placed it on his kitchen counter,
intending
to bring it to my office and first kill me, then himself. For some
"unexplained
reason," he absentmindedly left the pistol on the kitchen counter.

Yes, begin married to an intercessor definitely has its advantages!

KEYS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER

Keys to Effective Prayer
Alice Smith
 
She was the cutest "weenie dog" that ever was. Schotze (German for Little Treasure) was our family's delight. As a puppy she would get excited when the kids wandered through the house. With her ears pinned back, and her high pitched squeal, short-legged Schotze would run wildly from room to room trying to get their attention for some fun. In a word, she was adorable.

And smart? I've never seen a dog as smart as our Schotze. We taught her to roll over, sit up, go outside, and even speak. Really! Bryan, our second son, was convinced that he'd taught her to say his name, "Bryan," in a puppy voice. And you know what? It really did sound like she was saying his name! Okay, it sorta sounded like his name.
 
Eddie cut a hole in the brick wall and created a doggie door for Schotze, so any time night or day she could go out of the house to chase the squirrels in the yard, or stay inside the house in the den to sit near the fireplace. She had instant access. Anytime I would return home and enter the back door, our little Schotze would dance and twirl around and around in sheer delight. She loved us and longed to be in our presence. Well, you may think this is a strange analogy, but my intimate relationship with Jesus brings this kind of joy to me too. Experiencing his presence in prayer transcends any words available in the English language.

Some Christians seem to experience a much closer intimacy with God than others. Some appear to enjoy a reverent familiarity with the Lord that is foreign to others. Is it a matter of favoritism on God's part? No. The Lord doesn't have favorites, but he does have intimates. And Jesus invites you to be one of them. What are the benefits of this close fellowship with Jesus Christ? 

My intimate experiences with the Lord have grown and changed through the years. So will yours. Jesus can't reveal everything to us at once; we grow closer to him over time. One of the joys of knowing Christ is the depth of communion we can experience. To be invited to constantly commune with Christ is such a privilege.

Communion reminds us of the Lord's Supper. It sounds rather formal and somber. Of course you can, as some do, experience a personal "Lord’s Supper." But I'm referring not to the ordinance, per se. There is so much more beyond that. I'm referring to the intimate fellowship we can have with Christ. Let me share with you, from my heart, several insights I have gleaned.
 
1. Relax in prayer. Don't struggle to perform. Relax and be yourself. Laugh, celebrate, praise and enjoy this marvelous, yet mysterious covenant relationship you have with Jesus.

2. Don't feel worthy? Don't take yourself so seriously. We all "blow it" at times. Loosen up.

3. Don't limit your communion relationship to prayer. Include devotional reading, Bible reading, praise and worship in your prayer times. Sing to him, brag on him; enjoy him.

4. You can't lead another to a level deeper of intimacy that you've not experienced. Develop your intimate relationship with Christ first before trying to lead others.

5. Do as I do, involve the Lord in your every day conversation. Assume his constant presence with you. Ask him to minister to people around you. Tell the Lord how much you appreciate revelation and counsel regarding the day to day situations in which you find yourself. Hey, you can ask Jesus to help you find a parking spot too!

My friend, pastor and author, Dutch Sheets explains communion this way. "Second  Corinthians 13:14 says, 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship a/the Holy Spirit, be with you all.' The word fellowship here is koinonia and is rich with meaning, as can be seen in the following definitions: The word koinonia implies that the Holy Spirit wants intimacy with us. This very word is used in 1 Corinthians 10: 16 to describe the Lord's Table, the bread and the wine. This is appropriate since it is the Lord's shed blood and broken body that brings us into covenantal, intimate communion with Him."

"The Holy Spirit wants to commune with us. He has much to say if we learn to listen. He is the means to all revelation from God. He is the Teacher. He is a part of the Godhead we're to be in relationship with. Let him fellowship and commune with you. At times his fellowship with you requires no speaking. Some communion is heart to heart. At times I crawl up to God for a look. Just knowing he is looking back is enough. At other times he shares his heart while I'm gazing.

"There is an amazing picture of this sort of intimacy reflected in the following scriptures: The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant (Ps. 25:14, italics mine)."

"The words "secret" and "intimacy" are translated from the same root Hebrew word cowd, which means "couch, cushion, or pillow." Dutch Sheets, Watchman Prayer." (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2000), p. 153-154.   
 
The picture is one of two intimate friends laughing and talking at lunch in a crowded restaurant, oblivious to their surroundings, lost in their conversation. Or it reminds me of my teen slumber parties. Late at night, we girls would put on our PJ’s, grab our pillows, and sit in a circle to talk, laugh, and tell stories. The Lord longs for this same kind of "snuggle-close" friendship.

DREAMERS & VISIONARIES

Dreamers and Visionaries
By Eddie Smith
 
When there are tasks to be done and problems to be solved, Creators; like writers, designers, musicians, and artists are dreamers and visionaries conceptualize unseen solutions to problems. They see things before they exist. They begin with a purpose, and then approach everything single-mindedly. Whatever they do should relate to that purpose.
    They work instinctively, don't particularly like structure, and are often frustrated by directions.
    Creators are “pregnant” with an idea until their concept becomes a reality. During this process, they impart a bit of themselves in the product. Our mighty God is The Creator; and he answers prayer creatively.
 
For example, we hired a company to extend the patio on our home. It was little more than a small slab of concrete at the time. When the designer came in he sat down at our dining table and pulled out his portfolio (collection of past projects he’d designed) and his pen and paper. After opening pleasantries I said, “Let me explain what we’d like to do with our patio.”
    He grabbed his pen and paper and said, “I think I know what you want. You’d like to extend it in this direction and shape.”
    We said, “Yes, that’s a good idea, and…”
    He interrupted, “Then you want to…”
    In five minutes he had designed the complete project—without our help, I might add. He didn’t need our instructions or ideas. He’s paid to create.
 
When we pray, as many do, with "problem-solving" in mind, we most often overlook God's plan. Rather than make our plea and submit to Creator God and his plans for the solution, we want to instruct him in our praying. Such requests frustrate a creator!
    Job tried instructing God. And in Job 38, God said, "Job, why are you instructing me? Where were you when I created the world? I didn't need your help then. And I don't need your instructions now."
    Think about this.  When you pray, “God, please let me get that job,” you are praying, “God, please do for me the thing I have already decided is best for me.  I’ve done all the thinking, all you have to do, God, is copy me, I have it lined out: give me the job.” In so doing, you are appealing to God's productive side, rather than his cre­ative side. You’re elevating “problem solving” above God’s higher purposes. You’re instructing him as to what you want and how you want it, rather than trusting the Creator to demonstrate his power by accomplishing his purpose in your matter.
    Can you see how this prayer in itself transgresses the creative nature of God?  You aren’t asking him to activate his unique plan for you.  You are asking him to produce for you what you have already decided is best. So you are not praying to God as Creator. You are overlooking the fact that he wants to do things in you and for you that are “…exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Eph. 3:20, KJV), or as Jeremiah wrote, “… marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own” (Jer. 33:3b, MSG ). 
    Now think about this: why are you giving God instructions?  Why are you trying to engage God in your plans and purposes, instead of recognizing that he has plans and purposes and a will for you—plans that are far bigger than you realize!
    Since God’s response will be above what you can ask or think, something that you could never figure out on your own, then what good are your instructions? Resist the urge to explain things to your omniscient God when you pray. Fight the urge to give him directions as to how you want Him to solve your problems. Ask Him to show you the big picture! Learn what God does, and why and how he does it. Most of His intervention in history has been as a creator.
 

TO WHOM DO WE PRAY?

To Whom Do We Pray?
By Eddie Smith
 
The Bible is God's revelation of himself to us. In the study of Scripture there is what some call, "the law of first-mention." Simply stated, the first mention of a thing in Scripture carries special significance. God first refers to himself in Scripture in Genesis 1:1 where He said, "In the beginning God created...." The Hebrew word used here for created means "to create something out of nothing." God isn't into duplication. He is a creator. God's middle name isn't Xerox (copier). Creativity is central to both how God sees and solves our problems.
 
God sees himself and wants us to see Him as "Creator." He is the only true creator. Every other "creation" is merely a rearrangement of what God has already produced. Neither Satan nor man can truly create. The following story makes my point.
 
A group of scientists got together and decided that man had evolved to the point that he no longer needed God. They chose one of their brightest to take the message to God that they were done with Him.
 
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've arrived at the point that we can create life in a test tube, clone animals, and do many miraculous things. We've decided that we no longer need you. So why don't you just move along and mind your own business?"
 
God listened patiently to the man. When he finished talking, God said, "Very well. What do you say we have a `man-making' contest?"
 
The scientist replied, "Sure, why not?"
 
God added, "And we'll do it just as I did with Adam in the Garden of Eden."
 
"No problem," the self-assured scientist replied as he bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
 
God held out His hand and abruptly stopped him. "No sir," God said. "You get your own dirt."
 
Or as renowned scientist, the late Carl Sagan, said in Cosmos, "In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." God did!
 
We should assume that when we make a request of God in prayer, He will answer us creatively. We can also expect His answer to be "exceeding, abundantly, above all we can ask or think." So, perhaps we should be careful not to instruct Him when we pray. More and more I find myself praying, "Okay Father. Surprise me!" 

HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL

How to Know God's Will
(Plus a Little-Known Secret!)
By Eddie Smith
 
How you can know God’s will:
1. Abide in him. John 15:7 tells us that knowing the will of God is a result of “abiding in him, and his words abiding in us.” It is to live as a branch, attached to the Vine (Jesus), so that his life is our life, his thoughts are our thoughts, and Etc.
    How do we know if we are “abiding in him” in this way? Quite simply this: a healthy branch, attached to a vine, receives nourishment from it and bears fruit!
 
2. Allow his words (His Word) to abide in you. You can’t know God any better than you know his Word. The purposes of God are gold to be mined from the promises of God.
 
3. Spend time in his presence. It’s hard to know the heart of a friend with whom you spend little time.
 
4. Ask him. Yes! We’re talking about prayer, right? Then pray that God will reveal his will to you. Sometimes he will. He will show you what he’s doing and what he’s planned for you.
    The idea of asking God to reveal his will isn’t new. Moses knew God’s ways. We’re told in Exodus 33:13 that he asked God to show him his ways. King David also prayed to know God’s ways. In Psalm 25:4, (MSG) he prayed, “Show me how you work, GOD; School me in your ways.”
 
5. Ask him for multiple confirmations. Scripture teaches the value of two or three witnesses to confirm a thing. (See Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1.)
    So, ask God to provide unmistakable, multiple confirmations. There’s nothing wrong with that. After all, it was his suggestion.
 
A Little Known Secret of Life!!
 
Here is a little-known secret:  Even if God doesn’t reveal the knowledge of his will, pray that he will keep you in the center of it. Is that possible? Absolutely.
    The pilot of an airplane doesn’t have to be able to see the airstrip, or even know exactly where he is, as long as he is in radio contact with the tower, and the tower has him on their radar. If so, they know his altitude, location, direction and speed of travel, and will guide him to a safe landing.
    If you don’t know “where you are today” in the context of God’s will (his plan for your life) don’t press him for “the knowledge” of his will. Sometimes the Lord withholds the knowledge to teach us to walk by faith.
    Just as the pilot listens to the tower operator’s instructions and places his faith in him or her; God asks us to do the same at times. Oddly, we may not know where we are, or where we’re going, and we can still stay in the center of his will.
    As Jesus told his disciples before teaching them the model prayer, “…your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matt. 6:8, KJV).
    So, resist the urge to explain things to God who knows everything. Fight the urge to instruct him, or to explain how you want The Creator to solve your problem

A BIGGER VIEW OF FATHER GOD

A Bigger View of Father God
By Eddie Smith
In 1957, when I was in high school, my father was pastor of First Baptist Church in McAllen , Texas , a beautiful border city. I recently found an old 1957 Texas Baptist Annual that listed church statistics of that year. Curious, I looked up First Baptist, McAllen.
To my amazement, I discovered that Dad's church averaged over seven hundred people in Sunday school attendance that year, in a town where non-Catholics comprised only 3 percent of the population. That's considered a large church by today's standards. But for that time and place, his was a mega church!
Interestingly, when I was a child, although I knew he was a wonderful dad, it never dawned on me that he was a particularly successful pastor.
Then I thought about our four children. It wasn't until they were adults that they began to grasp that Mom and Dad are more than Mom and Dad. They began to understand that we are people with dreams, responsibilities, demanding roles, and levels of influence outside of the family. As children they assumed, as we all did, that Mom and Dad's world revolved primarily around them.

During our first few years of life, we related to our parents according to who they were to us. We had tunnel vision. As preschool children, we knew our fathers only in their role as "Daddy." Caring for our needs was their only role in life--wasn't it? We were blissfully unaware that our daddy was an attorney, a doctor, a factory worker, a farmer, a manager or that he held any other position or had any responsibility other than to meet our needs.
In time, our view began to broaden. If you had siblings, you began to realize that your parents were their parents too. Gradually your parents' other roles began to register with you.
You discovered that they shared a relationship with each other that hardly included you--they were husband and wife. Who knew?! And, although differently for each of us, we eventually discovered that our parents had relationships, roles, and responsibilities outside the home that were not newly acquired; they'd had these all along. We were simply becoming aware of them.
The same is true with our heavenly Father and our relationship to Him through prayer. Most of us realized the importance of prayer in a time of need. If you've been praying since childhood, you came to God as you were instructed by your parents, teachers, and pastors. You likely learned to pray when you were fearful, or when you wanted something. Prayer was little more than that.
If you came to God for the first time as an adult, perhaps you learned to pray as a result of the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a job loss. Adults typically come to God in prayer because they have a need. It isn't wrong to pray in these circumstances; God is here to meet our needs. But that isn't where our prayers should stop. There's much more!
It's time for us to climb to the summit, look over the crest of this mountain, and view the vast horizon. From here, we can see things beyond--the expanse of eternity lies before us. We can get a great view of God's kingdom, our place, and the place of prayer in it!
Daddy has called us into partnership--to joint-venture with Him in the family business--extending His kingdom on the earth! And prayer is one of our primary tools! Let's not just sit here. Let's get to work!

SPIRITUAL DREAMS

Hi all,
There is a lot of material available about dreams, including many ministries teaching about interpreting dreams. I've seen people stand in line for 2 hours for the chance to tell their dream to the visiting minister and have it interpreted, and many books have been written detailing keys to understand the symbolism often associated with spiritual dreams, both in the Christian and non-Christian world.
 
That said, I thought it might be good to share some things the Bible actually says about spiritual dreams; oddly enough the guidelines the Word lays out are often overlooked in the rush to interpretation.
 
I was in a flowering field full of spiders...
There is a difference between a dream born of too much pizza the night previous, and a dream in which the Lord is trying to communicate. People worry about the meaning of their dream(s) because they don't want to miss any spiritual significance just in case it WAS God, sometimes the result being the turning of undigested pepperoni into a message from God.
 
This brings us to the first point:  When it is a spiritual dream you will know it, as did every person mentioned in the Bible who had a spiritual dream. It stays in your spirit, and even if the subject is fearful, because it was in the Lord no fear will be accompanying it. 
 
I was staying with a pastor and his family for several days. Over breakfast the day after I arrived the pastor and his wife told me a spiritual dream she had 6 days earlier that neither she nor he understood. She had dreams in the ensuing 6 days, but none of them spiritual.
 
The pastor's wife told me the dream, and immediately the Father gave me the interpretation. If you have a dream and wonder if it is spiritual or merely natural, set the dream aside and don't worry about it. If you try to interpret a dream that isn't from the Lord or try to make it into something spiritual to gain insight, you can get off and into trouble.
   
Not a mystery for long
This is the 2nd point. In every case of spiritual dream or "night vision", either the dreamer immediately understood the dream, or someone was available within a very short time to give them the interpretation, such as when I visited this pastor and his wife within a week of her dream. 
 
When Joseph relays his dreams to his father and brothers in Genesis 37, he understands exactly what the symbolism means, as do they. And when Pharaoh has his dreams, Joseph is available to give the interpretation. The same could be said of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar's dreams.
  
Attention getter
This brings the 3rd point that is straight from the oldest book in the Bible, in one of my favorite passages in the Bible: Job 33: 13-18: God uses dreams to warn or instruct a person. "God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon man, in slumbering's upon the bed; then he opens the ears of men and seals their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his plans, and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit..."
 
In every instance of a spiritual dream in the Bible the person was either foretold an event, as in Joseph being shown he would be a ruler, or warned of something future like the baker and butler's dreams - one restored, the other executed.
 
Other examples of warning or instruction include when the Lord came by night in a dream to Abimelech and told him "You're a dead man" for taking Sarah (Gen 20:3). And in Acts 18:9 when the Lord appeared to Paul "at night in a vision" to tell him to stay in Corinth for he had many people there.
 
I awoke quickly from a dream that featured me in a foreign country sitting in the passenger seat of a van driving down a dark mountain road. In the dream I looked at the driver and realized I didn't know him, and looked to the seat behind me and saw people I realized I knew only lightly, and in the seat behind them were people I didn't know at all. Suddenly we came to a curve in the road, the van skidded on the gravel, and we flipped, landing on the van's right side with my arm lightly pinned under the van and a rock as it was stuck outside the window. I pulled my arm out glad to see it was unhurt, and looked around in the darkness only to be greeted by silence. I was the least hurt of us all, I was in a foreign country, and we were no where close to civilization. Then I woke up. Though tragic in nature, there was no spirit of fear attached.
 
That dream happened July 7, 1986. I awoke, realized immediately it's spiritual importance, quickly took authority over the enemy forbidding him from causing that dream to come to pass, and asked the Father to send his angels to keep it from happening. Then I forgot about it and went back to sleep.
 
On October 1, 1986 I was in Mexico ministering in a village in the mountains about 2 hours from Saltillo, called Laguna de Sanchez, centered around a large dried up lake bed. That evening was my first open vision with the Lord, and the first time he appeared to me to teach me (The subject that night was how to hear the Father's voice and understand visions and the discerning of spirits) At about 9:20 pm we were loading up in the van to go back to Saltillo, and as I put my hand on the passenger side door my dream of July came flooding back - I hadn't thought of it since that July - as Yogi Berra said, "It was Deja vu all over again".
 
I told the interpreter with us, Dora, quickly about the dream, and she said she had a similar dream just 2 days before. We quickly forbade Satan from bringing it to pass, asked the Father for angelic protection, and did what was for me up to that point in time one of the biggest steps of faith I'd taken; got into the van. It was all laid out exactly as seen in the dream. The driver was a Mexican man from the village, behind me were the missionary Carl, and Dora, and behind them was the driver's wife and kids.
 
The good news is that the visitation with the Lord and an angel from earlier that night continued. Immediately upon leaving I saw first one, then two, then three angels out front of the van traveling with us, and asked Dora to look out front as well. Immediately the Lord opened her eyes and she saw them too, as did the missionary. Dora and I were able to tell the exact curve in our dreams where we wrecked, and were relieved when we passed that curve without incident. (The full story is in my E-book, Pursuing the Seasons of God)
 
Wisdom in business, which is point #4
We all know that Joseph peeled the bark on sticks to make them appear spotted, and then set them before the animals as they were brought together so they would conceive spotted calves, lambs, and kids. But did you know he received that seemingly foolish instruction in a dream? The event is told in Genesis 30, but explaining his actions in 31:10 he says this: "At the time the livestock conceived I saw in a dream, and behold I saw the rams and cattle were streaked, speckled, and spotted. And the angel of the Lord said to me..."
 
That dream is why, in the previous chapter (30) Jacob chose the spotted, streaked and speckled animals, and peeled the bark - and the Lord caused the instructions in that dream to be the catalyst that launched his financial independence from Laban, building over the next 6 years. (31:38)
 
It would not be out of place to say that Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams were also business related, for it led to the nation storing grain for a yet-as-seen famine and resulting in Pharaoh owning all the land and people too. And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream in which he asked for wisdom, which led to the building of a nation. (I Kings 3: 5-15) 
 
Careful what you say
Another element to a dream's use of warning a person is the warning of what to say or not say before a meeting. In Genesis 31:24, after Jacob had been blessed with all the animals being born spotted, streaked or speckled, the Lord warned Laban of his meeting with Jacob: "Take heed that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad". In other words, watch your attitude and treat him right.
 
A student came to me one fall day disturbed about a dream she had the night before about her boss, for later this day she was to talk to him about a raise. In the dream she saw her boss showing favoritism towards another employee and giving her a raise, while refusing to acknowledge her own hard work or rewarding her with a raise. She saw the boss was moving in lust towards the other woman and the dream ended with her not getting a raise and no real conclusion.  
 
I advised her the dream was similar to Laban's in 31:24 above. Though she had knowledge of the true motives of her boss, she needed to weigh out whether she wanted to stay in that job with that pay and with that knowledge, or move on. She wasn't in a financial position to quit and try to find another job, and the hours fit around her school schedule nicely, so she had a lot to consider.
 
I helped her process the word of knowledge the Lord gave her about her boss, and she ended up talking to him as planned, but measuring her words with him as Laban did with Jacob. She didn't get a raise, but she was able to be an effective intercessor at work, which ended up lasting until February the next year. At that time the Lord rewarded her for her faithfulness with a new job, new boss, and raise within the same company, and she continued there through the rest of the school year.
 
The enemy's dreams
Certainly Satan can cause dreams too, but that is not the subject today. Through fear and unsettled past experiences he can enter into our sleep, for our spirit man never sleeps, and often does spiritual battle as our bodies recharge in slumber. But I've found it's often like when I first started moving in the discerning of spirits: When the Father first started opening my eyes to the spirit realm it seemed all I saw was demons. Then one day I heard Kenneth Hagin say of his experiences; that he had to get his attention off the enemy and purposely set those aside to concentrate on the Lord and his realm. From that point on he saw mainly angels and the Lord, with demons being seen primarily for the purpose of ministry or in intercessory prayer.
 
You can do that in your dreams too by prayer and where your focus is in your waking hours to the things of God instead of the enemy. Become consumed with fellowship with the Father and your dreams will change to the point his realm has the preeminence.
 
And finally
One of the signs of the end times, which Peter said started on the day of Pentecost and continues to this day, is that people will have spiritual visions and dreams; Acts 2:17.
 
Because it is clear that as far back as Job, who lived somewhere between Noah and Abraham, through Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament, people had spiritual dreams, we have to ask why Peter mentions spiritual visions and dreams being a sign of the end times on the day of Pentecost? It's clear God has been giving people spiritual dreams since the beginning, so why mention them in that context?
 
The answer is the fullness of Peter's quote: "...in the last days, says God: I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams, and on my servants and handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy..."
 
In the days of the Old Testament God dealt nearly exclusively with prophets, priests, and kings in terms of giving direction, warning, and instruction; some of those coming through dreams. In the last days he is saying ALL people, ALL ages, both men and women, boys and girls, will be having visions and dreams given by the Holy Spirit no matter their station or call in life.
 
The few dreams listed in the New Testament are also greater and more plain in revelation, often involving the Lord or an angel coming with a message rather than encrypted symbols as in the Old Testament. And that brings me back to my observation of people standing in line for hours to have their dream interpreted.
 
The Biblical points made above are constant throughout the Old and New Testaments: If it's spiritual in nature you will know it and immediately understand it, or very shortly thereafter someone will be available to interpret. It will be a warning, instruction, or foretelling, and it often is for your wisdom in the very near future.
 
That which we take for granted in our day; that any one of us of any gender or age have had or may one day have a spiritual dream, was not known before Pentecost. What a day we live in, to have the Holy Spirit within, able to speak to us in any number of ways, one of those ways being spiritual dreams!
 
Some thoughts today,
Blessings,
John Fenn
www.ifaithhome.org
www.cwowi.org

DOA SYAFAAT BAGI JEPANG

MARI BERDOA BAGI BANGSA JEPANG
(21-27 April 2008)

Jepang merupakan campuran antara keterbukaan dan ketidakpedulian. Kuasa-kuasa kegelapan yang berhubungan dengan penyembahan berhala dalam kuil-kuil dan pemujaan terhadap para nenek moyang di rumah tidak pernah ditantang secara meyakinkan oleh gereja. Peperangan rohani sangat terasa dalam garis-garis depan berhadapan dengan:
a.Kehidupan sosial. Orang Jepang yang merupakan pekerja keras, berlaku sopan dan penuh kesungguhan. Mereka terlalu sibuk untuk memperhatikan berita Injil dan kurang mengerti tentang apa yang benar dan salah atau memahami arti dosa, karena mereka tidak mengenal Allah sebagai Sang Pencipta. Banyak yang melihat bahwa agama itu bermanfaat, namun hanya 30% menganut suatu agama tertentu, tetapi hanya 10% yang percaya adanya Allah yang dapat dikenal secara pribadi. Doakan agar Roh Kudus menyadarkan bangsa ini akan dosanya.
b.Kebangkitan kembali ajaran Shinto nasionalis yang memusuhi segala sesuatu yang tidak berbau Jepang. Doakan orang-orang Kristen untuk tetap teguh dalam Yesus dan tidak gugur imannya di bawah tekanan, seperti yang terjadi pada orang Kristen selama Perang Dunia ke II.
c.Agama-agama baru. Pertumbuhan sekte seperti Sokka Gakkai dan agama-agama lainnya pada tahun 50-an dan 60-an, maupun perkembangan sekte Kristen seperti Moonies, Saksi Yehova dan Mormon, merupakan tantangan lain bagi kaum Injili yang bertumbuh dengan lambat. Rata-rata ada 100 agama baru bertumbuh dan muncul setiap tahun – berpijak pada okultisme, penyembahan pada makhluk-makhluk asing dari angkasa dsb. Berdoa bagi segala bentuk penipuan dari roh-roh jahat ini.
d.Kaum muda yang berbalik dari nilai dan etika kerja orangtua mereka, dan kini lebih suka berpaling pada kesenangan materialistis, obat bius dan harta benda daripada berpaling kepada Allah yang hidup. Doakan agar goncangan ekonomi, ketidakstabilan dan ketakutan akan masa depan dapat menyebabkan banyak orang untuk tidak merasa puas terhadap dirinya sendiri.
e.Pengaruh orang Kristen Jepang pada umumnya sedikit sekali terhadap pusat-pusat pemerintahan mereka. Kurangnya saksi-saksi Kristus yang memancarkan terang Injil dalam bidang politik, keuangan dan industri merupakan hal yang perlu diperhatikan. Namun demikian, kekristenan mempunyai daya tarik dan pengaruh social dan moral yang jauh lebih besar darpada keberadaannya yang relatif kecil.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS

How to Make Your Prayer Requests
By Eddie Smith
 
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:6-7).
 
Pray without anxiety
 
Here Paul warns us not to pray anxiety-ridden, worry-filled prayers. Instead, we are to pray faith-filled prayers, and make our petitions (requests of God), with thanksgiving. Gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. Either gratitude will displace anxiety, or anxiety will supersede gratitude.
 
    An anxious person is double-minded. He believes in prayer, and believes that God answers prayer, but he’s not certain he can trust God to answer his prayer.
 
    Prayer with thanksgiving is an expression of our faith. When we step out in faith we defeat unbelief and anxiety. Praise in prayer is the door that allows thanksgiving and faith to meet. Matthew 13:58 tells us that Jesus couldn't do many mighty works in Nazareth because of the people's unbelief (lack of faith).
 
Pray according to God's will--His purposes. 
 
    It’s not enough for us to know God's will, His purposes, and His ways, we must shape our prayers accordingly. Remember, He will answer according to His will. 
 
    For example, a wife's anxious (although sincere) prayer for God to save her lost husband might sound like this: "Oh Lord, I'm begging you to save my husband. He's such a good man...." Whoa, hold on! Jesus didn't die on the cross for "good men." He came to seek and to save lost sinners. In this prayer, the wife is suggesting to God that, because her husband is decent, even good (in a natural sense), he deserves to be saved. 
 
    She’ll never persuade God to save her husband because He owes it to him. Scripture clearly teaches that God will be a debtor to no one. 
 
    You might think the following prayer is better, but is it? "Oh Lord, the kids need a saved daddy, and I need a saved husband. Please save him."
 
    While true enough, this isn't the highest motive from which to pray. It isn't wrong per se; but like the first prayer, she’s missing the point. God saves people for His own glory. Evangelism isn't as much about saving people from hell as it is saving people for heaven. It's more about filling the Father's house with children. It’s ultimately about the Father’s heart.
 
    What about this one? "God, Mary and Jane have saved husbands. When are you going to save my husband?" 
 
    Perhaps this is the least effective prayer. Why? She's is whining to God about her circumstances. The interpretation of this prayer is, "God, it's all about me and what I want." As we’ve seen, God doesn’t “owe” her husband, nor does he “owe” her. That’s why we call it “grace.”
 
    She wants is to see her husband saved. God wants to see him saved too. He’s not willing that any should perish. God loves her and her husband. While it's true that God loves us, it is His plan, His purpose, and His glory that move Him to answer our prayer and solve our problems.  (See 1 John 5:14.)
 
    Then how should she pray for her lost spouse?
 
    She might pray: "Lord, I thank you that Jesus died for my husband’s sins. Like me, he deserves nothing from you, Lord. Today I thank you for extending your grace and mercy to him, as you have to me. I thank you that you are saving my husband for your own glory. Establish your kingdom in his heart and glorify your name in his life. Fill him with all that you are, so he can accomplish the purpose for which you have given him life."
 
    Similar prayers can be prayed for the salvation of a wife, relatives or friends, for wayward children, financial needs, or any other issues you may face. Carefully craft your prayers around the purposes of God and load them with praise and thanksgiving. Like a spiritual attorney, you are pleading your case before Judge Jehovah. Wisely prepare your case before you plead it. This is no time to be running into heaven’s courtroom, praying hit-or-miss prayers. God is at work extending His kingdom. Lives are hanging in the balance.

 
    Too often our prayers are focused on either our problem or our perceived solution. God wants us to focus on Him! When we focus on Him, our hearts are kept in perfect peace, as promised in Philippians 4:7. Our focus on God is evidence that we are walking by faith and leaving both the problem and the solution to Him.
 
    What problem are you facing today? Rather than pray frantic, anxiety-ridden prayers for a solution, why don’t you submit your problem to God and His purposes in faith-filled prayer? God wants to do more than simply solve your problem. He wants to demonstrate His miraculous, creative power for His own glory--in the matter. Thank Him in advance for doing so! Praise Him. He inhabits your praise!

MOHON DUKUNGAN DOA

Touching the WORLD with the WORD Pray for the Village heads kidney problem
Dear Prayer warriors
Yesterday I had Very interesting meeting with a Township head Mr.
Samy . A area where our Lords Kingdom has not been established Souls
are perishing with out hearing the word of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
and it is time to preach Gosple in that area.Samy means God. He is
the head of the Town and He has to decide on all village functions He
is the person to take the honour of the Hindu customary Functions. He
has given me audience. He is hardly 50 years old now he is having
some kidney problem. With restraint I said brother if you accept
Jesus Christ will heal you We are ready to pray for you. Immediately
he replied all Gods are same and I don't have anything against any
God. But I patiently said there only one God and He is our Lord Jesus
Christ. If you accept him and ask Him with true faith He will deliver
you from the illness. He has accepted but not in full he asked me to
pray. I had prayed for Him and put the cross on his fore head thrice.
My humble request is please join with us in prayer for this village
heads kidney problem and If Our Living God and Saviour of the world
touches him and relieve him from His Sickness I am sure more people
will accept Lord as their Saviour. I am asking our Living God and
saviour of the world that Mr. Samy Should get complete recovery that
the doctors tesing him should be surprised how he has Got healed and
He should witness our Lords presence. Yesterday we have given the
work of constructing a church in the area. We humbly request you and
also ask your friends and your Church members to join together with
us in Prayer so that the total village will accept our Lord.
Please pray for our Mosjos Mission Church and its projects for the
poorest of the poor people the Narikuravars (the Gypsies).
May God Bless you abundantly,
yours in His Dedicated Service,
Pastor.Moses Justin Nirmal Kumar
Phone Home: 091 44 24404938 Phone: 091 44 244 51632
Mosjos Mission Church
456/16,Moses Avenue, First Main Road, Kamaraj Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,
Chennai-600041, Tamilnadu, India..
"Rev.MosesJustin Nirmal Kumar"

TENACITY IN PRAYER

Tenacity in Prayer
By Alice Smith
 
"And He also spoke a parable to them to teach it is always right to pray,
and not to faint" (Luke 18:1).
 
I grew up along the Gulf Coast of Texas and have always loved to fish. So several years ago, when our family went on vacation to Puerto Vallerta, Mexico, one of my expectations was to go deep-sea fishing. Eddie arranged the deal with two Hispanic men on their well-equipped private boat.
 
The next morning, very early, we arrived at the boat dock. As we stepped onto the boat, Eddie pointed out to me how expensive the rods and reels were. Since we would be fishing for sailfish or marlin, the rigs we used cost from $800 to $1,000 each. I was so nervous about losing the rig that my knuckles turned white as I held on tightly to the rod.
 
Soon,  however, the boat ride began to relax me. With the rhythm of the boat over the waves, I started to get sleepy. Twenty minutes later we arrived at just the right spot to fish. The captain told us we needed live bait, of which Eddie accommodated us by immediately catching several small tuna--perfect bait for big fish.
 
Two hours passed. We had paid for four hours, and now half of our time was gone. Except for Eddie's 6-inch tuna, we had caught nothing. I was beginning to worry. So I decided to pray. Jesus tells us to pray about everything, and I really wanted to catch a trophy-size fish. I told the captain and his friend that I was going to pray to Jesus that I would catch a big fish. He and his co-mate looked at me with disbelief. Hey, the world desperately needs to see non-religious attitudes among Christians, so I began to speak
with my eyes open and said, "Lord Jesus, you own all the fish in this huge ocean. I am asking you right now to let me catch a very big one. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Amen." It was humorous, because the men had removed their caps and bowed their heads. At the end of my prayer they repeated "amen" after me.
 
Less than three minutes later, a gorgeous sailfish leaped out of the water. His snout was long and slender, his fins fully extended. The beautiful blue fish struggled to free himself from my line. I was ecstatic! This sailfish was on my line and now I was in the fight to bring him in. Neither Eddie nor the men helped me with the line. But they carefully instructed me on how to reel the fish in. As soon as I engaged the fish in the fight, other party boats began to circle ours. I could almost feel the spite of the professional fishermen as they watched me from afar. (Smile.)
 
I screamed almost the entire 35 minutes it to took to tire the fish! The strength of that sailfish was tremendous--and indescribable. Two times I reeled the fish to the boat only to have it gain new energy and run. It was so difficult to release the line and allow the fish to run, for I knew it was going to require more tenacity and determination on my part to reel him in again. But I was determined to win the battle and land this fish. Finally, the fish tired. The third time I pulled the fish near the boat, it was too exhausted to resist. The fish was mine! We pulled this beauty into the boat—all 80 pounds of it and 8 feet, 1 inch long. Perhaps you're wondering why I'm telling you this fish story. Is it because I want to brag a little? Well, maybe. But there is another reason.
 
While I struggled with my line, I had seriously questioned my ability to catch the fish. Doubt flooded my mind. I was tired and thirsty. My arms ached. The strength of the fish was intense. People all around me were watching to see if I would stick with the fight. Although I had prayed to Jesus for this blessing, now my faith was being tested. Intercessory prayer is not unlike what I went through to catch that sailfish.

God gives us a burden. The load is heavy and the struggle is intense. It may be about your wayward child. Just like that fish, one minute your child appears to be repenting and then off he or she runs. You pray even more. You ask the Lord to answer your prayer and He has put you in the fight of your life. Jesus told us, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12).
 
Effective, prevailing prayer can require extreme effort. It is a fight, a spiritual violence that has you hanging on to the promises of God with white-knuckle intensity. Your child is running from God and doesn't want anything to do with Him. Just hang on to the rig! Don't let go. You might even see a small breakthrough; but until your child is in the boat of salvation and victory, you must remain engaged in the battle. It requires tenacity, determination, faith, and confidence in God and His Word to get the big fish into the boat.
 
This story applies to someone you know--a friend, a husband, a child, a parent. Keep fishing. Don't give up! Pray! Hang on to God's promises and some day you will land the big one!

BAGAIMANA MENJADI SEORANG MOBILISATOR DOA SYAFAAT

Bagaimana Menjadi Seorang Mobilisator Doa Syafaat Suku-suku Terabaikan

Bertekunlah dalam doa dan dalam pada itu berjaga-jagalah sambil mengucap syukur. Berdoa jugalah untuk kami, supaya Allah membuka pintu untuk pemberitaan kami, sehingga kami dapat berbicara tentang rahasia Kristus, yang karenanya aku dipenjarakan. Dengan demikian aku dapat menyatakannya, sebagaimana seharusnya. Kolose 4:2-4

Persyaratan utama: Seorang Mobilisator doa syafaat hidup dalam visi dan doa bagi suku terabaikan.
Kalau si mobilisator belum mendapat gaya hidup berdoa untuk suku-suku, ia tidak bisa mengerahkan orang lain. Seorang pendoa syafaat yang dengan penuh belas kasihan dan keprihatinan berseru kepada TUHAN dan menangisi suku-suku terabaikan menjadi seorang mobilisator (lihat juga Yehezkiel 9:4), karena ia tidak bisa tinggal seorang diri, tetapi dalam hatinya ada satu kerinduan untuk melibatkan orang Kristen lain dalam tugas yang mulia ini.

Mobilisasi doa syafaat terdiri dari empat aspek utama:
1. Menyadarkan - 2. Mencari informasi - 3. Menginspirasikan - 4. Melibatkan umat TUHAN secara praktis

1. Menyadarkan Umat Pendoa
a) Menjelaskan kepada umat Kristen lewat Firman-Nya tentang agenda TUHAN dan kerinduan TUHAN bahwa dalam Kerajaan-Nya akan semua suku bangsa dalam dunia ini terwakilkan.
b) Kalau suku-suku terabaikan tidak pernah mendengar Firman TUHAN bagaimana mereka bisa bertobat.
c) Setiap orang percaya sudah dipanggil menjadi imam dan berjuang sebagai seorang pendoa syafaat.
d) Kita sebagai orang Kristen memerlukan sasaran dan visi yang besar dan luas, yaitu bahwa akan ada gereja hidup dan misioner di mana saja di antara semua suku-suku terabaikan, wawasan ujung bumi.
e) Memberi keyakinan kepada orang Kristen bahwa dalam doa syafaat ada satu khasiat yang luar biasa.

2. Mencari informasi tentang realitas dari suku-suku terabaikan
a) Kumpulkan informasi tentang kehidupan, agama, adat, ekonomi, filsafat hidup mereka! Bagaimana jumlah populasi suku-suku terabaikan: ada yang terjangkau ada yang belum. Kristen dan gereja ada atau tidak di daerah tinggal mereka?
b) Banyak informasi tentang keberadaan suku-suku ada di terbitan-terbitan PJRN, karena itu seorang mobilisator ada cukup persediaan di rumahnya, supaya bisa diberikan kepada yang lain.
c) Si mobilisator membaca surat kabar dan majalah dengan peka, karena sering ada artikel tentang suku-suku di Indonesia, juga di TV ada seri daerah. Perlu kliping. Informasi ini langsung bisa menjadi pokok doa.
d) Malah ada buku-buku umum yang menceritakan tentang keadaan suku-suku, karena itu seorang mobilisator mencari buku-buku di toko dan di perpustakaan. Yang mempunyai hubungan dalam bidang akademis bisa mendapat skripsi, tesis dsbg. yang ditulis tentang suku tertentu.
e) Di INTERNET juga ada banyak informasi tentang suku-suku.
f) Surat-menyurat dengan hamba TUHAN yang melayani di lokasi.
g) Mencari berita tentang kemajuan dalam penginjilan di antara suku-suku terabaikan.

3. Menginspirasikan rekan sekerja Allah
a) Si mobilisator menceritakan tentang tantangan suku-suku terabaikan di mana saja ada kesempatan.
b) Ia memasukkan berita tentang suku-suku dalam pembicaraan pribadi, PA, khotbah, dan penulisan artikel.
c) Ia mengirim berita hangat tentang suku-suku lewat surat dan e-mail, termasuk kemajuan dalam penginjilan.
d) Ia menyiapkan cetakan/photocopy tentang keadaan suku dan pokok doa dan doa syukur dari mereka.
e) Visi dan inspirasi ini bisa dibagikan di berbagai seminar, pelatihan, atau pertemuan khusus.
f) Ia mempunyai kreativitas untuk meneruskan beban buat suku-suku terabaikan, sampai orang Kristen lain tertarik oleh tantangan ilahi ini. Kalau hati kita penuh, mulut kita akan meluap!

4. Melibatkan Umat Allah secara praktis
Sesudah seorang mobilisator sudah menyadarkan umat Kristen, mencari informasi dan menginspirasikan rekan sekerja TUHAN, sekarang ini perlu langkah-langkah secara praktis.
a) Memobilisasi doa dimulai dalam bentuk yang paling kecil, yaitu keluarga sendiri dan sanak saudara.
b) Sesudah itu di sel-sel dan persekutuan doa selain doa pergumulan peserta/keluarga dan gereja dimasukkan juga pokok-pokok doa suku-suku.
c) Informasi tentang suku-suku terabaikan diedarkan di antara anggota gereja lewat warta gereja atau bahan photocopy, agar seluruh jemaat menjadi pendoa syafaat suku-suku.
d) Menyelenggarakan satu hari doa dan puasa buat suku-suku terabaikan.
e) Hari Minggu dalam kebaktian bagus kalau suku-suku terabaikan juga ikut didoakan.
f) Secara kongkrit diadopsi satu suku/rumpun atau lebih: Memulai dengan mendoakan, mempeduli, melayani, memelihara, merawat mereka.
g) Kita tidak bisa mengerjakan seluruhnya sendiri, karena itu barisan pendoa syafaat harus diperlebar. Untuk itu sangat diperlukan satu usaha dari pihak kita yang kongkret:
aa. Membagikan/mengedarkan buku, brosur dan leaflet tentang pentingnya berdoa syafaat ke mana-mana, supaya Kristen yang lain digerakkan berdoa syafaat buat suku-suku. Membagikan juga ceramah-ceramah tentang doa syafaat STA. Masalah sering orang Kristen tidak sadar tentang tugas yang belum terselesaikan.
bb. Profil doa PJRN, buku doa, peta suku-suku dan bahan pokok doa lain, termasuk video dan power point, diedarkan seluas-luasnya antara orang Kristen di Indonesia, lewat ini jauh lebih banyak orang akan ikut berdoa syafaat. Perlu kreativitas, bagaimana cara, supaya lebih banyak orang Kristen mendapat bahan ini. Perlu juga membuat bahan sendiri, atau photocopy bahan pokok doa.
cc. Mengadakan Kebaktian/Seminar/Retreat/Lokakarya/Ceramah khusus tentang doa syafaat berdasarkan Alkitab secara jemaat, kota, dan regional, supaya orang Kristen ditantang dan juga lewat ini mendapat petunjuk tentang doa syafaat, khusus untuk suku-suku terabaikan.
dd. Mengadakan acara khusus: hari doa STA, malam doa STA, santapan pagi dengan doa syafaat STA.
ee. Ajak orang Kristen lain, lalu berdoa bersama dengan mereka. Cara ini paling efektif untuk merekrut orang lain menjadi pejuang doa, karena lewat berdoa bersama dengan orang Kristen lain, mereka akan belajar berdoa dan mendapat semangat dan inspirasi untuk terjun ke ladang doa syafaat.
ff. Mobilisasi: Sesuai kemampuan: memobilisasi dan merekrut pendoa baru sekota, sedaerah, seyayasan, seperguruan tinggi, atau sesinode gereja (misalnya: anggota Baptis dengan gereja Baptis di tempat lain) atau di antara kawan-kawan yang sudah tersebar di Indonesia.
gg. Mendirikan kelompok doa rumpun suku sebanyak mungkin. Supaya suku bangsa akan bisa bertemu dengan TUHAN diperlukan banyak Persekutuan Doa yang dengan orang setiawan mau mendoakan penginjilan antara mereka-mereka yang masih terabaikan. Karena itu, dirikan persekutuan-persekutuan doa khusus yang memfokuskan terhadap rumpun suku. Jangan ragu tentang hal ini. Yesus mau dimintakan dalam iman, berulang kali IA berkata, "Jadilah kepadamu menurut imanmu." (Matius 9:29) (Lihat juga Filipi 4:6).

Perencanaan Seorang Mobilisator Doa Syafaat
Mendirikan satu Persekutuan Doa Suku-suku Terabaikan (STA)

a) Persekutuan doa STA, mau memusatkan PD ini dalam gereja sendiri atau antargereja? Apakah Persekutuan doa STA khusus untuk anak muda, orang dewasa atau hamba TUHAN, ataukah untuk siapa saja?
b) Berapa sering diadakan persekutuan doa STA? Sekali seminggu, sekali dua minggu, sekali sebulan?
c) Mau diadakan di mana? Di rumah sendiri? di gereja? di tempat khusus lain?
d) Undangan: Harus dipikirkan siapa diundang - dari gereja sendiri, dari keluarga dan kawan sendiri, mau menjalankan undangan sekota/sedaerah?
e) Undangan: Cara mana mau dipakai: undangan secara tertulis dan dialamatkan kepada perorangan, undangan cetakan yang dibagi-bagikan, lewat telpon, e-mail, fax, kunjungan, warta gereja, iklan di majalah gereja, poster?
f) Mau mendoakan satu rumpun saja, atau satu daerah tertentu (seperti Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra), atau semua STA di Indonesia, malah dunia?
g) Pokok-pokok doa: Dari mana dapat pokok doa yang akan didoakan dalam persekutuan doa STA? Mau menulis setiap kali pokok doa sendiri, ataukah mau memakai bahan dari PJRN dan badan lain? Pokok doa perlu dipergandakan, agar semua peserta diberikan secara tertulis.
h) Mau surat-menyurat dengan tenaga di lapangan, dengan PJRN untuk minta tambahan pokok doa, dengan badan P.I.? Siapa akan menjalankan surat-menyurat ini?
i) Fasilitas yang ada atau akan dicari: Peta Indonesia, peta rumpun, peta dunia, buku-buku tentang STA, OHP, power point, video tentang STA dll.
j) Kreativitas: Membuat kalender, kartu Natal, gambar, brosur, kipas angin dll., semua dengan nama suku-suku dan pokok doa singkat secara umum di dalamnya.

Tantangan kita:
Apakah kita mendengar teriakan 127 suku yang masih terabaikan? Mereka mencari dengan berbagai cara kekudusan dan jalan masuk surga, tetapi mereka tidak ketemu, karena tidak mengetahui pintu dan jalan!

( Apa lagi kita harapkan? Mengapa kita masih menunggu? Lewat doa syafaat kita dan lewat mereka yang kita merekrut kita melibatkan diri dalam penginjilan di antara suku-suku di Indonesia dan kita akan melihat buah kekal! Mari kita menjadi orang yang mau mengasingkan sebagian dari waktu kita yang berharga khusus untuk mendoakan dan menggumuli penginjilan ini, supaya lebih banyak orang di antara suku-suku terabaikan akan mengerti keselamatan dalam Kristus dan masuk ke dalam KERAJAAN TUHAN.

Mazmur 126:5.6, Orang-orang yang menabur dengan mencucurkan air mata, akan menuai dengan bersorak-sorai. Orang yang berjalan maju dengan menangis sambil menabur benih, pasti pulang dengan sorak-sorai sambil membawa berkas-berkasnya.