Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:55:40 -0400WeeblyThu, 14 Mar 2024 14:10:09 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-pray-for-our-nationREAD EXODUS 32-34.

God bless America, land that I love, stand behind her and guide her with a light from above … THE LAND OF THE FREE, THE HOME OF THE BRAVE. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As I travel the world, I am increasingly aware of the blessings that God has placed on my country. Many express their longings for a nation like ours where there is religious freedom for one and all. In America, a person is free to be a believer or is free to be a non-believer, even an atheist. I know that is true. God has blessed our nation.
As I listened, I did not want to believe what I was hearing. In responding to the Muslim’s Ramadan, President George W. Bush said that he believes “in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That’s what I believe.” Then, in meeting with the Dalai Lama a month later, Bush called him “His holiness” and a great spiritual leader. Congress followed suit by awarding the Buddhist the Congressional Medal of Honor—the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian.
Further, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressured Israel to divide the city of Jerusalem in a “land for peace” deal. Then California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law bills designed to teach homosexuality as normal in his state’s public schools. A school board in Maine voted to give birth control pills to sixth graders.
After 9/11, President Bush bent over backwards to promote other gods at the expense of his own Christianity. I wish this troubling behavior were not true, but it is. Through its leadership, the United States is on a fast track in turning against God. It is time for the Christians to wake up and pray.
Daniel prayed for his nation in Daniel 10. He was reading Scripture (Jeremiah’s books) and believed what he read. As he reflected on why Israel was in bondage, he began to confess specific sins and ask for God’s mercy. He identified with the sins when he said “we” when he had done none of the things. We need God’s mercy. We need a spiritual awakening. We must ask Him.
I believe President Bush has been one of the most prayed for presidents in history. Continue to pray that his leadership will turn us toward God, not away from him. The hour is late.
]]>Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:38:00 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-why-the-prayer-seminar-ministry​READ EXODUS 28-31. Why the prayer seminar ministry?


1. To encourage believers to know Jesus more clearly, to love Him more dearly, and to follow Him more nearly (from a Prayer by Richard of Chichester)
2. To awaken interest in His Word
3. To clarify how to walk in the Spirit
4. To ground the believer in Biblical teaching on prayer
5. To challenge believers to witness
6. To raise the banner of faithful stewardship in everything
7. To bring God glory, to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ, and to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading


Since 1980, I have been going up and down the land sharing insights and illumination the Lord has given to me in the crucible of experience in the area of the Christian life. Although we term the ministry as a prayer seminar, someone often comments that it is far more than a prayer seminar. In fact, some have encouraged me to change the name since the idea of teaching six hours on prayer turns people off. There is no doubt that this may be true. At this point, the Lord has not led me to change the title of the seminar. At the same time, a person will never become a prayer warrior who is not in the Word, who does not walk in the Spirit, who does not witness, and who does not conduct himself as a faithful steward of all that God has given him. Pray for each prayer seminar that our objectives will be met. Pray for the Lord to open doors!
I am eager to share as often and as widely as possible. One way to achieve this goal is to through prayer seminars and I am ready to do them. Further, extensive time has been invested in writing books that flesh out many of the points made in the prayer seminar. A few weeks ago, someone wrote asking if the prayer seminars are still available. For many years, we were able to keep thousands updated through the Reflector, which we no longer produce. Therefore, we need your help in telling churches, leaders, and pastors about the availability of the prayer seminars. Yes, pray for the Lord to open doors but TELL A FRIEND!


TESTIMONIES
This seminar has been a special blessing in my life. I have been taught how to pray in a more meaningful way. My life will never be the same.


I have learned to be humble and to serve in my Galilee (Jamaica), to be disciplined and meet the Lord daily during my appointment with Him. I have learned the value of having a place to pray that is free from interruptions as possible (my closet). I have learned to be disciplined in prayer.


During the prayer seminar, God has taught me that prayerlessness is a sin. He has brought it out more forcefully after many months of conviction. Because of laziness, I have not been praying as I ought to, and I am now more knowledgeable to pray for my unsaved loved ones.
]]>Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:16:54 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-why-revival-tarries​Why revival tarries. By Henry Blackaby.
Ezekiel 18:31b-32 is the heart cry of God to His covenant people, Israel: “ ‘…why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore, turn and live!’” God had just reminded His people that if “a righteous man turns away from his righteousness … and dies … it is because of the iniquity that he has done that he dies” (vv 24-26).
Like the “house of Israel,” God’s people continue to sin against God in our day and live without any awareness of the consequences. We seem to be totally indifferent to any judgment whatsoever, as if that only happened in the Old Testament. But, of course, that’s just not true. It was to the people of God in Rome that Paul wrote: “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” For anyone who sins and continues to sin without repentance—especially God’s people—it leads to “death.”
And did Jesus not warn God’s people that they must repent or perish? Read the accounts in Matthew 4:17, Luke 13:1-9, and Luke 17:20-36. Repentance among God’s people requires an immediate turning that changes our heart, will, and actions. Repentance requires a changed lifestyle. Therefore, we must heed Christ’s warming for our own generation. We must posses a wholehearted desire to return to God.
Many of us today are aware that America is in desperate need for revival, but we haven’t made the connection. While we see the spiritual darkness around us, we do not recognize that the greater problem is with the light! Light dispels darkness! Jesus said that His disciples are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). When the light of Christ is dimmed by our sin, the darkness flourishes. But when we repent, His light shines in us and through us to a watching world; people “see” and God is glorified!
For now, however, America continues to move steadily closer to God’s judgment. And there remains a prevailing carelessness among God’s people concerning this activity of God.
Revival tarries because God’s people will not repent, and we see no reason to do so. So, even if we recognize that the times are urgent and the spiritual climate is dark, and even if we cry unto God for a mighty revival, without our repentance He will refuse to hear us because we keep iniquity in our hearts.
We must, therefore, heed His call: “’…Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:7b). We must repent and return to Him in holiness, love, and obedience, or the nation will sure perish under the judgment of our sin! (2 Peter 3:9).
]]>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:57:38 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-concept-of-god​READ EXODUS 25-27.

"All things being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or that nation holds. No nation can rise higher than its concept of God."
—A. W. Tozer
How big is your God?
Study 1 Kings 8:22-62
Solomon’s Dedication Prayer for his temple followed by his exhortation and blessing toward his people is a passage that never grows old to the believer who wants to praise God the Father, more meaningfully. Solomon began praying standing with hands spread toward Heaven before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the congregation of the Israelites (v 22). Isn’t that a beautiful position to praise God? At some point, however, we see him kneeling as he talked with God (v 54). It is not too difficult to imagine the glimpse of God’s greatness and majesty that came to Solomon.
Listen to some of the king’s declarations: “Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee . . . There has not failed one Word of all [Your] good promise. The Lord is God and . . . there is none else” (vv 27, 56, 60).
How big is your God? J. B. Phillips (Your God is Too Small) accused Christians of cutting the infinite God revealed in Scripture down to puny human dimensions and then to pray like God is weak, finite, and even fickle in keeping His promises. In the light of His greatness, there is no problem too big for God; neither is there any circumstance that is too complex for Him.
Meditate on what you know about God. Then, spend some time in reading 1 Kings 8:22-62 in the light of your understanding? You will be surprised at the difference this will make in your thoughts. In good times or bad times (when trouble comes), let’s focus on God’s sovereign hands at work in our lives and trust Him completely.]]>Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:54:25 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-book-the-upper-room-discourseREAD EXODUS 21-24.


A large portion of the narrative in the Four Gospels centers on the last week of Christ on earth. Certainly, the serious Bible student treads carefully through these accounts.
Truly, there is a sense of being on holy ground. What are the thoughts going through the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ as He prepares for His exodus? What are the thoughts going through the minds of the Eleven as they conceptualize life without the presence of the one person who has changed their lives and given them an excitement never known before? There is a section of Scripture that provides answers to these questions.


The Upper Room Discourse. The account known as the Upper Room Discourse, set forth by John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is full of useful information. How thrilling it is to take time to study five chapters every believer should master—John 13,14,15,16, and 17. Since 1977, this portion of Scripture has been a blessing to my own understanding of what it means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing the provisions He has made to help me be the person that He wants me to be, and do the things He wants me to do has made a tremendous difference in my life as I have attempted to appropriate each of them in daily living. In fact, my own life and ministry, since that time, have centered around three of the major subjects He shared—the Word of God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
Focus on Jesus. Why does this passage rivet our attention? For many years, I felt the final instructions Jesus gave them prior to His leaving were the reason. The more I linger and cogitate over the content of the Upper Room Discourse, the more I am inclined to believe the appeal is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Seeing his heart and mind causes us to love Him even more. Attention throughout the five chapters is focused on Jesus Himself. The others who were present are seen in the light of their relationship with Him. What better way to study this passage than to turn our eyes upon Jesus and see Him as He beautifully manifests the Father's presence. There are few incidents in the gospel story that so perfectly and fully reveal His character and His love.
Special instruction. Having completed His public ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ devoted Himself for a brief period to His own inner circle. He was, according to the passage, with “His own”—the world shut out. The voices of His foes that were so persistent during His ministry were now silent. The sound of curious and questioning crowds had receded. This key passage contains the last words of Jesus before He left the earth—final words of instruction to the disciples, a farewell message, to prepare them for life without His physical presence. You can imagine, therefore, how important these words are. For over three years, there was intimate fellowship between Jesus and His disciples. He loved them and they loved Him. What a shock it was to their hearts when He announced that He was leaving. What a comfort it was to understand that He was not going to leave them orphans, but would continue to provide for their needs!
Relevancy to us. Believers, today, have the same need for the information He shared. As we study together this material, I encourage each reader to be willing to put forth the effort and exercise the discipline that will be required to benefit maximally from these studies. As I prepared the studies, an ongoing prayer was in my heart, that readers who know Christ will be strengthened by the studies and that we would all draw closer to the One who gave Himself completely that we might have eternal life.
My prayer is that this study will help each reader understand more clearly the nature of the conflict between the believer and the world and to realize more fully the provisions that God, through His Word, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, has made for our assistance as we move through our own journey on the earth. I encourage you to be alert to any word that will enable you to know the Father more fully and intimately. Look for truths you can apply to your own life both now and in the future. Are there promises and principles that you can incorporate into your own walk with the Lord? Allow the Holy Spirit to plant His word into your mind to the end that He can later bring the truths alive, as you need them.
Remember, Jesus concluded His time with the disciples with the true Lord’s Prayer (John 17), in which He prayed for us, as well as Himself and His immediate disciples. We can be sure that His intention is for us to sit with them in the Upper Room, see His words and actions, and gain strength for the journey which lies ahead of us applying His teaching to our lives.
Further, this passage provides a glimpse of our eternal home in a very special way. I hope that our study will motivate us to be good stewards during our sojourn on this earth and look forward to the time we come face to face with the One who not only has prepared a place for us, but has called us to Himself.
May the studies be used by the Holy Spirit to bring renewal and revival to each reader as our hearts are turned once again to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Revival fervor is characterized by genuine worship, remorse over sin, repentance and confession. Then comes joy in the Lord and a desire to come into full obedience to God's Word.
Our Teacher. It is amazing that we can ask the Author of the Book for help as we read. You and I could
start our time of Bible study with a prayer such as the psalmist did when he said, “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5). A favorite prayer for me is one that is at the top of my Bible study note form: “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psalm 119:18).
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit, who would come after He returned to the Father, would “teach you all things” (John 14:26). The Spirit’s teaching would open their understanding to aspects of Christ’s instruction that had remained beyond their comprehension. In addition, Jesus told them that the Spirit would bring to their remembrance things He had said to them. Thus, they would be able to recall His truths as they proclaimed His word. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher as well. Let us listen attentively as He opens our minds either to teach new truth or remind us of truths we have already learned to the end that we might obey Him fully.
The Holy Spirit abides in us (John 14:17, 1 John 2:26-27). Because we have received the Holy Spirit, we do not need any one to teach us independent of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we do not need Christian teachers. God has made specific provision for such teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Rather, it means that the Christian does not need any teaching apart from what is found in the Word of God as to the truth of God. With the Word of God in our hands and the Spirit of God in our hearts, we have all that we need for instruction in the truth of God.
Remember that we are instructed to be separated from the world and to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). We can accomplish these two things through praying about everything (Philippians 4:6-7) and meditating on the Word of God (Psalm 1:2). You will be in my prayers as you read because I constantly ask God to speak to the readers through the words He gives to me that He might have glory in a reader’s response. May you be refreshed]]>Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:41:17 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-book-spiritual-warfareREAD EXODUS 19-20.
All of us have some knowledge of spiritual warfare—either from personal experience/observation or from something we've read in the Bible or heard in a sermon. We simply have not systematized what we know.
My interest in the subject has grown steadily during the years I have conducted prayer seminars around the world. Although I include basic, foundational teaching on spiritual warfare in a seminar, it became obvious that providing a sane, sensible, scriptural, systematic study would answer a need in the body of Christ to whom I minister.
As is always true, the benefits that accrue to the one who researches and writes under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are enormous.
My wish is to share, in simple language, what I have learned. My desire is that the believer who studies with me will come to see that Satan has already been defeated and has no place to stand unless he is given a place. I want to lay out the provisions God has made for His children and how to implement them. My hope is that those who learn from these studies will share with others for the furtherance of the gospel.
There is much I did not know about the war in which we are all engaged. As I prepared these studies, however, I found I knew more than I knew that I knew. I built on that foundation precept by precept. I believe you will find the same as you study in a spirit of humbleness (dependence upon God, not self) and submission to God's will in your life. Remember that the Holy Spirit who came to live in you the moment you trusted Christ, is your Instructor (John 14:26). Ask for God's wisdom (James 1:5).
It is my hope that the twelve studies that follow will not only provide basic knowledge, but will motivate you to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and to put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-12). As you implement what you learn, you will carry these truths with you into your prayer life—where the battle will be fought (Ephesians 6:1).]]>Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:24:54 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-book-notes-from-my-bible​READ EXODUS 16-18.

Since November 1983, as a feature of the Reflector, I have shared Notes from My Bible-the harvest of forty-seven years of walking with God gathering flowers from many gardens. Clearly understand that these are not original. During the course of my study, I have tried to gather "nuggets" and make note of them. I have found this to be a useful habit which preserves for use many apt sayings and seed thoughts that would have otherwise been forgotten.
Someone has said that there are two kinds of reading-"reading on a sofa and reading with a pencil in hand." I long ago learned to read with a pen or pencil in my hand. Scarcely a day has passed since 1977 that I have not entered some note or notes into my Bible. I never read a book without taking notes for preservation one way or another.
You will grow more deeply interested in your Bible day by day if you will make notes in the margins and on blank leaves of your Bible. Staying in the Word daily is so very important that my advice to believers is that if there are days when you have to choose how to use your time-either praying or reading the Bible-to read the Bible. It is far more important for you to hear what God has to say to you than for God to hear what you have to say to Him. Think about that for a moment. Do you really believe that God speaks out of His Word? It is doubtful that any person will ever become a prayer warrior who does not get into the Word of God on a daily basis. Taking notes will help and you will be surprised at how your prayer life will be strengthened when you develop a working knowledge of the Word of God!]]>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:10:50 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-book-the-model-prayerREAD EXODUS 13-15.
Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. The Lord Jesus Christ has given us a pattern for powerful praying in the Model Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13).
Power in prayer is available for anyone, anytime, anywhere, who agrees with the pattern and follows the principles laid out in all circumstances.
Thee are nine movements for effective praying which we will study in detail to the end that our praying will reflect the pattern given by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount in His answer to the one disciple's request: "Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1). You already know the prayer; now note the movements:
1. "Our Father which art in Heaven"
2. "Hallowed be Thy name"
3. "Thy Kingdom come"
4. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"
5. "Give us this day our daily bread"
6. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive others"
7. "Lead us not into temptation"
8. "Deliver us from evil"
9. "For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.”
Both Martin Luther (1483-1546) and John Wesley (1703-1791) stressed the importance of following the pattern. Luther said, "The Lord's Prayer is the highest, noblest, and best prayer; all other prayers shall be suspected which do not have or contain the content and meaning of this prayer."
A disciple is a learner. If followed in a spirit of spiritual exploration, these very practical studies will lead believers into exceedingly rich and powerful communication with the Heavenly Father in a "Sweet Hour of Prayer." The Model Prayer is an appropriate place to begin for those who want to learn to pray. The prayer is so comprehensive that Archbishop William Temple said: "It is the prayer you will offer if you love God with your whole heart."
As this book goes out, my sincere prayer is that the readers will be blessed and strengthened by reading and studying this material as I was in preparing it. The preparation has made a tremendous difference in my own
understanding of prayer. I believe the same will be true of those who are ready to move upward and onward to newer vistas in their own daily time with God.
This book is meant as practical help for people who want to grow in prayer. Study may be on an individual basis or in a group.
]]>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:30:09 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-book-intercession-prayer-as-workREAD EXODUS 11-12.
Prayer is the work that must come before all other work in the Lord's service. The sovereign God has ordained prayer as the tool to get His work done. God works only in concert with the praying of His people.
Few Christians are prayed for regularly by anyone after they become Christians. You can pretty well say to a new convert, "I'm glad you came to Christ. I hope everything goes well for you. But you are on your own now."
In Isaiah's day, God looked down from Heaven and saw all the people living in Israel and Judah—and "wondered that there were no intercessors" (Isaiah 59:16).
Consider the people who live in the fifth house from your church building. Ask yourself if they have ever heard the name of Jesus in a saving sense one time. Are they going to Heaven when they die? Who is praying for them? The answer usually is "Nobody!" If you are not praying for your children, nobody else is. The need of the hour is intercessors!
Do you have the world on your heart, yet? Are you praying for those who are unreached with the Gospel? Are you praying for laborers? Are you praying for missionaries?
Most believers think that prayer is mostly prefix and suffix—what you do before you begin and finish work for the Lord. Actually prayer is the work that must undergird all other work—such as evangelism, teaching, or preaching.
Work implies spending energy. It is important to know that prayer itself requires energy and time. Prayer is work.
In order to become intercessors, it is important for a believer to understand biblical teachings that govern this aspect of praying. It is my hope that the twelve studies that follow will not only provide basic knowledge, but will motivate you to become an intercessor by providing practical suggestions.]]>Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:24:38 GMThttp://theprayerseminar.com/blog/consider-this-the-book-the-enablerBOOK: THE ENABLER. Just hours before He was crucified, the Lord Jesus Christ gathered His disciples together in an Upper Room in Jerusalem. One of the most intimate and remarkable records ever recorded in the annals of history is found in John 13-17. His love for the disciples bursts through as He expressed His concern for them and their future. Time was short and He had final instructions to give them prior to His exodus. The full impact of His imminent death weighed heavily on the disciples. And they looked like orphans (John 14:18).
Jesus knew that the disciples needed to understand clearly two major subjects in order for them to know how to live and minister after He returned to His Father in Heaven. The first subject was prayer that was to be made to the Father in His name—something no mortal had ever done before. In fact, He gave them a seven-fold invitation to come in His name. Once Jesus returned to the Father, the disciples could do something that they had never done before. They could come to the Father in His name, which means in His authority. He told them that if they asked anything in His name that the Father would be glorified in the Son, He would grant the request. Prayer is coming to the Father, through the Son. The only way to the Father is through the Son (John 14:6). This is true for salvation; it is equally true in prayer.
The second subject was the Holy Spirit who would be their “Enabler.” Once Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit would become to them what Jesus Himself had been. The Greek word that Jesus used for the Holy Spirit was Paraclete (literally the One called along side to help—the Helper). Jesus explained that it was necessary for Him to go back to the Father before their Helper would come. He told them when their “Enabler” came, He would be "in" them (John
14:16-17). The power needed to serve the Lord after Jesus returned to the Father would be provided by the Holy Spirit, the same kind of power that raised Jesus from the dead. Prayer is coming to the Father, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is God’s wonderful provision for us. God’s intention is for us to order our lives around prayer. We should pray about everything. We need to ask God’s hand to move in our own lives, which is called petition prayer. We need to ask God’s hand to move in the lives of others, which is called intercessory prayer. When we ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will become our interpreter and provide the power needed to bring our words in a correct way to the Father. He is our “Enabler.”
In our day, it is vitally important that believers understand the two subjects. Most Christians acknowledge that their prayer lives are unsatisfactory. At the same time, few Christians understand the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives and how He works. The fact is that one will never have a sustained, meaningful prayer life apart from living the Spirit-filled life.
A considerable portion of my six-hour prayer seminar deals with the Holy Spirit. In this book, I have reduced to writing the basic teaching provided in the prayer seminar. Dr. Robert Witty (1906-2007), my friend and founder of Luther Rice Seminary, has written an intriguing treatise putting the truths related to the Holy Spirit into shoe leather. It is always helpful to see how biblical teachings play out in the lives of folks who seek the truth. Understanding the Holy Spirit will make a difference in your life provided you make application of the truths presented. My prayer is that you will learn all that you can about the Holy Spirit and apply what you learn to your daily walk.
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