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Receiving God’s Great Grace

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 It is important before we begin that we deal with the common question, “Can we, or should we mix, religion and politics?”  Many of us were brought up being taught that these two parts of our lives should not intersect, that they should remain separated in our thoughts and actions.  Discussing either one of these topics at a social gathering or even the dinner table has traditionally been taboo, much less discussing them at the same time. 

Let me be clear about this from the start.  The answer to the question “Can we, or should we, mix religion and politics” is YES; not just yes, but we MUST!  If our religion and spiritual convictions do not lead us and guide us in our actions and behavior, then our religion is dormant, weak, and insignificant in our lives. 

 James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

 James 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

 Paul states in I Timothy that one of the primary things that we should pray for, intercede for, is our government officials.

 I Tim. 2:1-4, “1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

 Paul gives us five reasons for praying for our government, or mixing our spiritual lives and political lives.

1. That Christians may lead quiet and peaceable lives

2. That Christians may live godly, righteous lives, full of holy fear

3. It is right, good, and acceptable in the sight of God

4. That people may saved

5. That people may come to a knowledge of truth

 Intercession for our government and its officials is not just an option, but it is one of the key ingredients if revival is going to sweep this nation.  When we fully shift into governmental intercession we will fully shift the government! 

 II.               Teach Us How To Pray

 When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He taught them first who to pray to – the Father.

 Luke 11:2, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The word “Father” that Jesus used in Luke 11 is the Hebrew word “Abba”.  This word is most often understood as a little child’s word “Daddy”, making it primarily used in the context of personal intimacy with God.  Though this is true, the word “Father” has a much wider use. 

The first mention in the Hebrew Bible of the idea of God as the Father is found in the story of Moses and Pharaoh. 

Ex. 4:22-23, “22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘…Israel is My son, My firstborn.  23…let My son go that he may serve me.’”

So when Jesus is telling these young Jewish men to pray to the Father, He’s telling them to appeal to the One who brought Israel out of the bondage of an oppressive and evil government.  He was encouraging them to, as N.T. Wright puts it, “hold on to the hope of liberty.”

 So the first word in the prayer of Jesus was one that carried with it revolution, not just intimacy! 

III.           Prayers for Our Government

 Here are just a few examples of prayers from the scriptures that are good to pray for our nation, government, and leaders.

 II Chron. 7:14, “… if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Psalm 2:10-12, “10 “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” 

 Psalm 72:1-2, “1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s son.  2 [That] he will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.”

 Joel 2:28, “…I [the Lord] will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Col. 1:9-11, “9 …that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;”

Here is a little bit about her:

Julie Meyer is a longtime and beloved worship leader and songwriter at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. She is a prophetic singer who carries the glory and the presence of God as an abandoned worshipper. Her passion is His presence as she trumpets the message of the Bridegroom searching for His Bride!

Knowing her King and Bridegroom through the lens of the scripture and prophetic experiences has led her to write many spontaneous choruses and worship songs. Her worship leading and prophetic songs have inspired many to lean into their Beloved. Julie has recorded several CD’s and is the author of the book; ‘Invitation To Encounter: A Journey in Dreams.’

Her 3 sons, Isaac and twins Jesse and Joe, all serve and play on worship teams at the House of Prayer and Julie helps her husband Walt with homegroups and youth gatherings that support the growing community at the Missions Base. Julie and her family reside in Kansas City, MO.

Also, here is a link to her website:

http://www.juliemeyer.com/

I hope you’ll put this on you schedule and invite everyone you know!

I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and the delight of worshiping Him.

A worshiper can work with eternal quality in his work.  But a worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay, and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire.

I fear that there are many professing Christians who do not want to hear such statements about “busy schedule,” but it is the truth.  God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us – to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever!

It is then, out of our deep worship, that we do His work…

…I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.

These words from Tozer, though written decades ago, have prophetic timeliness today.

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of our God.  The holy place of the tabernacle of the most high.  God is in the  midst of her, she shall not be moved.;  God shall help her,  just at the break of dawn.  ( Ps. 46:4,5)

When an individual believer embraces these truths, and then incorporates them into their personal life, they will reap the blessings associated with them. When a corporate body embraces these principles together, there is a spiritual synergy that takes place that will both transform that church, and create a pathway of blessing out of (actually under) its doors to the world surrounding it.

The River Flowing from the Temple
 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under  the right side of the temple, south  of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.… And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; there will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ezek. 47:1-9)

The foundations and principles are the same, but the impact of embracing them as a group will be enhanced, because of the multiplied work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. The natural picture that the Lord uses to illustrate this spiritual principle is that of rain.  We know that the vapors on the face of the earth rise up into the skies above us. When sufficient quantities collect together, clouds form. At a certain point, called saturation (the presence in air of the most water possible under existent pressure and temperature), it rains back down on the face of the earth. This rain is literally that which sustains life on earth.

In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. (Pr. 16:15)

That is primarily a physical picture. Now, I would like to share just a few specific points related to what I feel the Lord has revealed to me concerning this spiritual principle, and the application of those particulars to corporate praise in the house of God. God makes a promise in Isaiah, chapter 60, which states that He will, “glorify the house of His glory.”  This is a reflection of the same principle that as described previously. The difference is one of measure. The inevitable end of this will most certainly permeate the whole creation in the end.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14)

This Living Water, pouring out of its overflowing vessels (we who are the church) is pictured in a number of places in the Old Testament.  My hope here is not to provide any sort of exhaustive Biblical description, but to illustrate the principle, and plead with you to intercede for its fulfillment in your local body.  

And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. (Ezek. 47:9)

The question then becomes this: Will our church be a part of those that help usher this in, or will we be a part of that segment of His body that hinders its coming to fruition? The Spirit of God with the angels are making a clarion call to the Bride of Christ to position herself for this opportunity in this final hour. I believe that the eyes of many, many Christians are being opened to this truth at this time.  The Lord asks us to create a place for Him in order that He might honor this promise.  It is not the first time He has done this. And just as before, so it is now up to us to respond or refuse. He has done His part…will we do ours?

For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the LORD, “that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’ (Jer. 13:11)

  If we want to see this happen in our local fellowships, I believe we must intercede for our churches to receive a revelation of this calling, form a vision of it in their leadership, and have the wisdom to implement it in the normal fabric of our worship.

Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone. (Zec. 10:1)

To facilitate this paradigm in our local church body will require the leadership of the church to not only allow this to happen, but as the scripture commands…”let it…” 

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. (Ps. 68:1-4)

The most amazing phenomenon occurs when a church “lets God arise.”  The enemies who are scattered are often some of the very ones who have been sharing the pews of that fellowship for years. This is because of a number of different reasons that I will not take the time to elaborate on at this time (as in, the scoffing spirit that was described earlier).  Sufficient to say that this will be part of the cost for those who are desperate enough for God in their midst, and should not be used as a cause to retreat back into the safety of the status-quo of the past (spiritual Egypt).

The river of God is truly a living scriptural reality. Created with more than one purpose, parallel, and paradigm. It is given to the children of God. Regardless of its form, the River of God will always produce His Life in those it touches (Ezek. 47:9) ! When it is perceived and expressed as an internal component of a believer’s anatomy, it will bring joy to the one it issues out of, and life to the one it overflows upon. Even so, it is not recognized with the physical eye, discerned solely by our intellect, or encountered independently by an act of the will of man. Because it is part of the inheritance of the saints, it must be recognized intellectually via revelation given by the Father, discerned and understood by His Holy Spirit in our spirit, and activated in our lives through our faith, which we who are in Jesus possess.

There are those “thirsty ones” who are like that in the body of Christ, i.e. “…their tongues fail for thirst.” They may not be able to verbalize it appropriately, but they know in their hearts that they are not experiencing the relationship  with God that He intended.  He says to you:

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring  you back from your captivity;…(Jer. 29:13,14a)

Perhaps it is because of the conviction we hold concerning the free gift of salvation that causes us to pay so little attention to scriptures as this one, I’m not sure.  Fasting, the perseverance of the saints, and suffering for Christ’s sake are simply not embraced by much of the evangelical church in this day.  Even so, I  know that in my generation there has been a clarion call by many in the pulpit for the need of the church to become desperate for God’s presence and power to return.  A national pastor from a war-torn part of the world said that he had to learn that revival will come by desperation or devestation.  Then he said, “I encourage you to choose the former.”

DESPERATE:   1 a : having lost hope {A desperate spirit crying for relief.}  b : giving no ground for hope {With no fresh water in the life-boat, the outlook was desperate.}   2 a :  moved by despair {Not willing to endure another beating, the prisoners ran for the fence knowing they may have been shot down..} b : involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration {From the window of the burning building, the young girl made a desperate leap for the ladder.} 3 : suffering extreme need or anxiety {The Tsunami victims became desperate  for food and shelter.} 4 : involving extreme danger or possible disaster {Life in Baghdad today is a desperate situation.}  5 : of extreme intensity {At the height of the birthing process, mothers can experience extreme pain.}  6 : Shocking; outrageous  {At the sight of the doctor performing a partial-birth abortion, the woman recoiled in outrageous sorrow and anger}

DESPERATE??????????????

Speaking of such matters often offends those walking under the influence of a religious spirit.  Yet, even if that is not the case, it can be a daunting task to get past our tradition, culture or personality and come to the place of being willing to give God our abandoned praise.  I heard a young man struggling one evening in an attempt to glorify God in a way that he thought would be worthy of the Lord. As I tried to encourage him to put words to his feelings he muttered, “Well, I don’t know how, but I can see it.” I told him to just shout out what it was that he was seeing.  With a smile that I thought would surely break his face he shouted out, “Jesus, I see You in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!” I know that there were those around that young man that snickered at his outburst…I do not believe the Father did so.  This is not about the manner of expression that we produce as we attempt to offer our Savior the glory of which He is worthy! It is about whether or not we are willing to offer it to Him (Selah). How much glory do you believe God deserves?  How much value? How much worth? Give Him what you believe that is, and I promise you…He will respond to you!!!

When this young man took the time to peer deep inside of himself, searching for the truth concerning his God’s value…he found it.  A more accurate description would be that he found Him, and when he did, the discovery was an awesome experience. The manner in which he gave his offering of praise was wholly scriptural, and it brought an equally scriptural response.

 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised….(Ps. 48:1)

 The LORD is to be “greatly” praised!  Why…because He is GREAT! The Hebrew text used a word that sounded like “meh-ode.’”  It is defined as possessing the following qualities: 1) Exceedingly, i.e. with much substance  2) With might, force, abundance 3) Muchness, with force, abundance, exceedingly a. force, might b. exceedingly, great, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)

As time went on, that same young man lost the joy he possessed that evening. His comment to me typified what many Christians are suffering at this very hour. Although these are not his exact words, he said something like, “I know it was real and it was good, but when I went back to my church, and tried to do that…it just felt too weird.” 

If His river is full…and His river is in us…then, we are full…Yes?  If not, I suspect there may be a number of possible reasons why that is not true at any particular time in our life. I would like to share one of the reasons that I have discovered that it is not the case…sometimes.  It relates to the quality of our worship (specifically in praise) that we offer the Lord.

As we walk through this Christian life, we are given opportunities to allow our circumstances to be used for building within us a habitation for God’s glory. By our thoughts and words (Rm. 15:6); By the demonstration of right attitudes towards one another (Rm. 15:7-9); By good works and true righteousness (Isa. 60:21; Mt. 5:16); By a grateful response once we recognize the impartation of God’s gifts in us (Lk. 13:10-13); By the  correct use of those miraculous gifts for another’s edification(Acts 3,4); By having an honorable lifestyle (I Pet. 2:11,12); By being willing to endure the reproach of others (I Pet. 4:14-16); And even by our death (Jn. 21:15-19)

God may use any or all of these things to prepare within us a heart that is able to glorify Him more fully then we thought possible.  Even so, it is possible to practice these principles and still miss a primary avenue of  giving God the kind of glory that He desires.  As with our other studies, let’s narrow the funnel of giving God glory to that which relates to worship as praise. This avenue of opportunity is not only available to us…it is absolutely essential!!!

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; (Ps. 50:23a)

In the Father’s heart, we were eternally designed to reflect His glory.  In fact, we are to actually become the very praise which is to bring Him the glory He desires!! …that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”(Eph. 1:1-14). 

All true praise glorifies God. There is a level of praise that is according to that which is  “due unto His name.”  In Psalm 66:1,2, there is a command which says we are to “make His praise…glorious.” The Hebrew word is KAW-BODE’ in its original form, and it carries with it the idea of that which has weight, or is copious…Is that how you would describe the kind of praise you offer unto God.  Consider the definition of the word copious:  1 a : yielding something abundantly  b : plentiful in number  2 a : full of thought, information, or matter b : profuse or exuberant in words, expression, or style 3 : present in large quantity : taking place on a large scale and full of splendor…a : great brightness or luster :brilliancy b : magnificence, pomp 2 : something splendid.   Remember His command: Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; (Ps. 29:2a)

(…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water…)

There has been a growing hunger in the hearts of many Christians today for God’s life in them to be more than they have known in the past.  That’s really good news!!!  The acknowledgement of our spiritual poverty and need is truly the gateway into a place that will enable you to receive the desire in your heart.

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blesed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.”  “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground.”  (Lk. 6:20,21 & Isa. 44:3)

These qualities: recognition of our spiritual poverty, plus hunger and thirst for more of God and His righteousness will often serve as the catalysts that drive us deeper into God. At the core of worshipping God in spirit and truth is the attitude of heart which we possess. This matter of the heart, is truly one of Father’s highest priorities:

“The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst  of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water,  and the dry land springs of water. (Isa. 41:17,18)

It is from this posture that a child of God will have the opportunity to successfully invite the Lord’smanifest presence in them. Then, from that position, we can more fully appreciate His worth.  Without this quality,  it is so terribly difficult to obey this command: “give unto the Lord  the glory due unto His name“  (Ps. 96:7-9).

The Father has given us the ability to give Him that which He places a supreme value upon…His “due glory.”  If and when we will give it to Him out of a thankful heart, and a prepared spirit, His Spirit will more fully  flow in us…as a river. Glorifying God in this way does not happen automatically because you are a Christian, and yet it is possible to  accomplish, because He has placed inside of us  that which supplies the requirement.

…But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life……..(Jn. 4:14)