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Essential Keys to Prayer!
Prayer is a misunderstood subject. It is simply the way that we communicate and fellowship with God. It is the process where the will of God becomes one with our heart, mind, and spirit. God desires a relationship with us more than anything else. In this booklet, you will learn the basics of prayer and how to use this powerful tool.
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The Lamb of God
“Behold, the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).
We are just a few weeks from Passover, which will be Thursday night April 21st. You will start to see some Passover-related devotionals to help you relate Passover to your daily life. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he proclaimed that Christ was the Lamb which would take away our sins. When John said this, many people do not realize that the Jewish people listening to him would have immediately thought about Passover. Understanding the Passover Story will help us understand Jesus Christ as our Lamb.
Jacob and his sons moved down to Egypt at the end of the book of Genesis. While they were there, they prospered. As time passed, a Pharaoh came to power that did not remember the children of Israel and the kind things that Joseph had done for them. This ruler enslaved them and treated them cruelly.
The Israelites cried out to the Lord in their bondage. The Lord answered their prayers by raising up for them a deliverer named Moses. The Lord gave him a message of hope and deliverance for the people of God. His assignment was first to tell the people that God was going to save them. Secondly, he had to deliver this word to Pharaoh: “Let my people go!” When they approached Pharaoh with this message, he stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go. God used Moses and Aaron to release 10 plagues on Egypt so that Pharaoh would free them.
The tenth plague, much more devastating than the ones before it, would take the life of every first born in the land of Egypt. This included both humans and animals. To prevent this plague from falling on the Israelites, God gave them instructions in Exodus 12. Each man of his house was to kill a one-year old male lamb and place the blood on the tops and sides of the doorposts of their homes. They were to eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. When the death angel came through the land, everyone who did this was passed over for judgment. All of the Egyptians, including Pharaoh, lost his firstborn. Heartbroken, he let the people leave Egypt.
This story from the Old Testament emphasizes something important for us today: we need the blood of Jesus. Egypt is used as a symbol for sin in the Bible. To leave a life of sin, we need the blood of the Lamb of God. Christ’s blood allows us to be passed over from God’s wrath just as the blood of the Passover Lamb allowed Israel to be passed over by the Death Angel. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9).
Four days before Passover, the Lamb was chosen and examined for defects. Just before His crucifixion, Christ was arrested and examined by the High Priest, Herod, and Pilate (Luke 22:66-23:25, John 18). Isaiah 53 is an entire chapter prophesying the coming of the Messiah to die for mankind. In verse 7, God said, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” This verse came to pass just as was prophesied in the Old Testament!
Matthew 27:12-14 reads, “When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.” Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Christ’s death! Christ was found to be innocent in the eyes of men. Despite His innocence, He was condemned to death for our sakes. Jesus refused to try and defend His own innocence. Like a lamb is silent in its slaughter, so was Christ.
Let’s take time to remember and thank the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, for laying down His life for us. His blood on our hearts and minds wipes away our sins so we can leave a life of sin and live a new life for Him.
“That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw” Exodus 5:6-7 (NIV)
While the devil has a hand in frustrating us during this time of the year, God uses it for His purpose. He uses this time period to build God’s character in us. The Israelites really had to trust God and His servants Moses and Aaron during this time. The Word of the Lord came before the tough times.
Remember that the Barley harvest occurs during the Passover Season. You are going to reap a spiritual harvest during Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (April 21st at sunset through April 29th at sunset in 2016). Satan is trying to disrupt the harvest (Galatians 6:7-9). We must hang onto the Word of the Lord.
They people did not mock Moses when he first received the Word of the Lord. They worshipped God (Exodus 4:18-31). When the time of bricks without straw came, they were very upset with Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:17-21). When they left Egypt, they were joyful (Exodus 15:1-19, Num. 33:3). Their frustration was forgotten. Prayerfully consider how you are being refined to be used more by God. Our refinement and pruning is so we can produce more fruit for His Kingdom.
Another aspect of this “pre-Passover” time period is the devil trying to cause disunity in the body. When the time of making bricks without straw came, the people rebelled against Moses and Aaron. “When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, ‘May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.’” (Exodus 5:20-21). They argued. Be discerning of the attack of the enemy to get you to rebel against authority or betray the brethren as did Judas.
The devil will press you to sin during this time of the year. Stay in the Word, in the Work of God, and focused on God. In I Corinthians 5:1-8, just before Passover started, there was sin in the camp. This was an example of Satan pressing someone to give in to sin. This sin also brought disunity to the camp because unfortunately, some people actually cheered on the sin (I Cor. 5:2). In John 14:30, Jesus said, “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me…” The devil is going to look at the things inside of you and try to bring them out. Keep your hands clean. Stay in a mindset of repentance. Don’t give in to the devil.
As we discussed last time, your time will seem as if it is disappearing. It is good to prioritize your life during this time. You are going to have to figure out what are the most important things to accomplish and what are the least important things to accomplish. You may have to push some things out into the future. Some commitments in life are firm commitments. This means we have an obligation to do them. This would include items like work, paying bills, being a parent, etc. Other commitments are not as firm. Have you discussed doing something between now and Passover, but you have not firmly made plans to do so? These are the things you want to consider delaying. God is teaching us about prioritizing during this time of the year.
Because of all these events, you may find yourself being a little impatient or edgy. Keep your cool and do not lash out. The Israelites did not know when the time of making bricks without straw would end. We do! Passover is not that far away!
Making Bricks without Straw (Part 1 of 2)
“That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw” Exodus 5:6-7 (NIV)
As you study the Bible, you will discover that there is a yearly cycle of events that are centered on the Feasts of Leviticus 23. When certain events happen in the Bible, notice the time period in which those events occur. For instance, when an event in the Bible occurs in the early spring, it shows us that we can expect a similar event to happen in our lives in the early spring. The timing of these Biblical events helps us learn what kind of events to expect in our lives during the year.
When Moses first approached Pharaoh and told him to let the Israelites leave Egypt, the king harshly retaliated. He commanded the slave drivers to force the Israelites to make bricks without straw. As we come near the season of Passover, this same event will occur in your life. This is something I have noticed every year as we approach Passover. In this two-part series, we want to equip you to get through this time period.
Here is the full quote:
Exodus 5:6-9, 13-14, 17-18
6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” 14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” 17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”
Straw was a vital ingredient to make bricks solid and consistent. Without the straw, the bricks would not hold together. They would crumble and fall apart. These verses contain a vital revelation for the month or so before Passover. It is the time of making your bricks without straw.
During this period, the tasks that usually took 30 minutes will now take 1 hour. You are going to lose the “consistency” of your life. You will have to work harder to get the same results, just as the Israelites had to work even harder to make the same number of bricks. The king did not lower his demand despite the harsh command. You will still have the same number of things to do, but you will find it harder to get things done. You will experience this in your family, finances, and job. At times you will find this frustrating.
In the Passover story, Pharaoh is a picture and type of Satan. You can see from the verses above how cruel he treated the Israelites. He accused them of being lazy, despite the fact that they worked just as hard as or harder than before. If you have feelings of unworthiness and condemnation, do not lose heart. This season will pass. The devil wants you to give up the race of your faith and give in to sin. You will feel like you are not getting anything accomplished. Do not fear or worry; this is all a part of the process of being freed during the Passover Season. This attack of the enemy will make getting to Passover just that much more enjoyable!
We will finish this two-part series next time.
We have a new free booklet download! It is titled “Passover Preparation”.
The Passover of 2016 will be my 10th Passover. Much of the revelation and preparation I share with you is based upon experience and practice. In this booklet, we will also look at the events that happened in the Bible around the Passover season. There are specific types of warfare as well. The Biblical examples serve as a template for the experiences we can expect.
Passover is an exciting festival packed with rich meaning for Christians. In this booklet, we are going to bring out the significance of it in the life of believers today. You will learn about the Passover and how to celebrate it.
Click HERE to download it or visit our “Free Booklets” page.
“I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12 (NIV)
When Paul first received the revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it required him to change his life. He went from persecuting the church on a large scale to promoting Jesus Christ on a scale that few in history have ever done. Paul had to minister to the very people that he was persecuting!
Revelation from God often makes us act in ways that we cannot imagine ourselves doing. God does this to get us out of our comfort zone so that we will rely on him and not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). While revelation is something that we cannot force or make happen on our own, how do we receive it?
While we cannot force revelation, we can put ourselves in a mindset where we can better receive revelation when it comes. I think that God is trying to talk to us a lot more than we recognize. First of all, simply be aware that we can receive revelation. We have to realize and accept that God still speaks to us today, but that he speaks to each of us in a unique way. How He speaks to us matches who He made us to be. You may receive a deep conviction from God, hear Him in your thoughts, or have God speak through a life experience. For example, God often spoke to the prophet Jeremiah through a personal experience (see Jeremiah 13:1-14 as an example).
Secondly, we seek God. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jesus said in Luke 11:9-10, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” If we seek God, He will speak to us. It may not be in the way that he speaks to others, but it will be in a way where we cannot deny that He is trying to get our attention.
Third, be prepared to move when the revelation manifests. When God made humans, He made us out of dust. That means we are made out of matter and we can change. God never changes. Revelation is how an unchangeable God beckons changeable man to further pursue His unchangeable nature. It is a calling to intimacy
God also made us with the desire for Him. When we stay in a stagnant situation spiritually, we begin to lose restraint because God made us with the capacity to change. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Revelation is God’s way of speaking to mankind to show us His will. Revelation is given by God so that we can flow in the supernatural.
“I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12 (NIV)
In each of our lives, there are times when we need a special word of encouragement to help us. You may feel like you are going through the motions or going through a valley in your life. You need something out of the ordinary to encourage you to keep going. You need a revelation.
Paul said in Galatians 1:11-12 that the gospel is not something made up by people; instead, it is something received through revelation. In the Greek language, this word for revelation is apokalupsis, and it means an unveiling. In other words, the gospel was not something man could fabricate. The gospel was something that God had to literally reveal or manifest to him.
This apokalupsis or unveiling changed Paul’s life forever. Paul was instantly changed from a man that persecuted the Church into someone who promoted it! This revelation from God was so powerful that Paul was willing to risk his life over and over again. In our lives, we need revelation because it moves us from inaction towards action. It changes our lives forever. This revelation enabled Paul to help other people as well. Paul wrote about one-half of the New Testament. Think about the countless people that have been touched the past two thousand years because of the revelation given to Paul. This revelation was so strong that it outlived Paul reached into the future (and into our time today).
In Deuteronomy 29:29 God said, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” Revelation is something that stirs us to obey God’s Word. It expands our understanding of the Word of God and motivates us to act. Let’s use a practical example.
Let’s say that you have been Spirit-Filled for most of your life. You have always believed in the Bible and the gifts of the Spirit. But one day, while reading your Bible, you discover that Paul said, “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…” (Ephesians 6:18). You may have read over that verse a hundred times, but this one time it especially stuck with you. Now, you see the need to pray in the Spirit more often. You also see that there are different kinds of prayers that are prayed with your prayer language. This revelation will change your life and change the lives of others around you.
Revelation from God causes us to change our normal routine and adopt something unfamiliar, just as the revelation Paul received radically changed his life.
We will continue this next time!
A Tribute to Dr. T.L. Lowery
Honesty – Integrity – Daring – Bold – Sincere – Meek – Humble – Uncompromising – Servant’s Heart – Never Ashamed of the Gospel – Dedicated – Loyal – Passionate
These are just some of the many words that describe the recently passed Thomas Lanier (TL) Lowery. I was very blessed to spend some time visiting with Dr. Lowery, and in our visits he made a tremendous impact on my life.
Called to preach in his teens, TL Lowery has been an Apostolic voice spanning generations. In the mid-1900s, he led a tent crusade campaign across the country praying for thousands to be healed and leading many more thousands to salvation. He was a pioneer, clearing the path for Pentecostals around the world to have a smoother path today. The impact he has had on Pentecostal ministries around the world is invaluable.
He was known for bold, fiery preaching and an uncompromising message of repentance. With sermon titles such as “Qualifications for the Rapture”, he held the standard of holiness throughout the span of his ministry.
Dr. Lowery was also a gifted writer, as he authored many books. One of his most well-known was “Walking in the Supernatural”. It was a book that epitomized his ministry. He was world renowned for supernatural manifestations in his meetings.
He had a deep voice and an exceptional way with words. Due to this, he was one of most quotable human beings who ever graced the earth. Everyone wanted to imitate TL’s voice (including myself). Everyone has a favorite story about TL. There will never be another like him.
He loved God and he loved serving God just as much as anyone I have ever known. He also loved donuts more than anyone I have ever known! The man could eat some donuts!
In his journey on this earth, he was accompanied by his wonderful wife, Mildred. She provided priceless companionship, support, and prayers for him. She preceded him in death.
Though he is gone from this life, we know that he received a warm welcome into the gates of Heaven with the words, “Well done thy good and faithful servant”.
He will be dearly missed. He was a true saint and precious jewel of the Kingdom of God.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Dr. Lowery in their time of loss.
Living in the Now
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
As humans, there are three things we are worried about: 1) our past, 2) our present, and 3) our future. There are things we have done in our past that we are not proud of. Sometimes we are afraid that our past actions will come back to haunt us. When it comes to the present, we are concerned with the decisions we should make now. We have bills that must be paid and obligations to meet. Lastly, we are concerned about the future. We think about how our needs will be met in the future. We have children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents that may need our help.
Our enemy, Satan the devil, wants us to live in constant worry about yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The problem is that when we live in fear, shame, and worry, our right now passes us by. We let it go by without living every moment with purpose and drive.
The most important moment of your life is now! In the first century, the Jewish people were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. When Jesus came, some recognized Him as the Messiah. Everyone else was still focused on the future. They were still waiting on the Messiah. The Messiah was in front of them, yet so many missed Him. They failed to recognize the time of God’s coming to them (Luke 19:44). The miracles of Christ were all overlooked because Jesus did not fit their mold. He did not fit their way of doing things. They had their own mindset of what tomorrow would bring, and they missed the now!
The beautiful thing about the one true God is that He can take care of the three things we worry about. He takes care of our past by forgiving our sins and wiping them away. He provides for our future by making us precious promises in His Word and then fulfilling them. This provision allows us to live in the now – the present. Through His Spirit, every moment of our lives can be purpose driven. This allows us to make the most of our life here on earth.
Are we just letting time pass us by? Are we living in worry?
Living in concern can quench the Spirit’s burn.
It is easy to look back and think we should have done something differently. Hind sight is always 20/20. God redeems our past by giving us a message for Now. Our past failures become our present message. Perhaps you lived a life as a drug addict; that was your past. Jesus wipes away your past mistakes. This gives you an eternal, future hope. In doing this for you, He gives you a message for now. Your present message will help others overcome.
Jesus urges us to live in the right now – the present. The past is the past. The future is in His hands. I encourage you to give your past to Him, believe in Him for your future, and live purposefully and passionately in the Now.
“3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV)
There is a stern warning from the Apostle Paul in the New Testament about a form of godliness. What is a form of godliness? It is important we understand this error so that we can avoid the danger it poses to us.
A form of Godliness is a way of life that appears to be Godly. It gives the appearance that you represent God and are living for Him. We can go to church once a week in nice clothes, open our Bibles when the preacher reads the verses, raise our hands during service when we feel the moment is right, and still have a form of Godliness. In the moment, everything felt right. The environment was right. The music was anointed. The sermon was exactly what we needed to hear. However, did we really change?
We can look pious with our church programs, padded seating, large buildings, polished sermons, and other smooth looking features. It looks alive, thriving, and growing. It has the appearance that God is in it. Jesus addressed one of the churches in the book of Revelation and said, “1b I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God….” (Revelation 3:1b-2).
We can have a reputation around town of being alive spiritually (and even appear that way), but it does not mean the life of God is present. We can have a spiritual experience in these places when He is absent. We can fool ourselves. When Jesus addressed the church of Sardis, He addressed how their deeds were unfinished or incomplete. In other words, they stopped their pursuit of Christ. They thought they had enough.
What distinguishes a form of Godliness from the power of God? A form of Godliness can suppress bad behaviors. You can actually stop cussing, be free from alcoholism, stop smoking, and cease other behaviors but still operate in a form of Godliness. Remember, a form of Godliness gives the appearance of God. You will seem like a person who has it all together; you may seem as a person of great character. And you will feel good about yourself because you are around other people who seem that way.
The motivation behind these things goes back to the cunning nature of the snake. Satan has us convinced that if we can look good enough outwardly that we don’t really have to live for God. The top sins in the church today are pornography and adultery.
What is the power of God? The power of God is the power to change your life. Where a form of Godliness can suppress sinful behavior, the power of God transforms the source of the behavior. This is true change.
Don’t misunderstand me; we must still learn to stop committing sinful behavior. However, we must learn to let God inside the deepest part of our heart, mind, and soul to HEAL us from the root cause! Bitterness, unforgiveness, vanity, hatred, and many other conditions can cause sin. We must learn to deal with the inner man or woman.
Matthew 15:18-19
“18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
To see true change, we must allow God to enter into every part of our lives and EXPOSE the works of darkness. This will require CHANGE on our part so that our works become complete. It will be extremely uncomfortable and you will feel the wretchedness of sin! The outward work itself, if not accompanied by the inward change, is incomplete.
In America, we have so many religious freedoms that protect our right to worship God. We are free to worship God in any church (as of this moment). With this great freedom comes a great responsibility to pursue God under this covering. Consider the items that a form of Godliness is listed next to: slander, pride, and lovers of self. The appearance of Christ versus actually letting Christ live through you is two different things.
The danger of this form that it makes us feel secure in our minds, but in God’s mind we are not. We are playing Church.
“22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25)
Examine your emotions and minds and allow God to truly change you.
Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. 