By Tonia Shroyer – Senior Pastor
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NKJV
It seems like the country is in turmoil every day. When one crisis is resolved, another one comes forward. We could spend every day being distracted and reacting to all that is pushing in around us.
BUT GOD revealed how we should think.
“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NIV
We can be discerning by the Holy Spirit and choose to settle ourselves with the peace that Jesus Christ promised his disciples.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 NKJV
We are called to follow after our ‘top general’ Jesus Christ, and he is a man of intercession.
“…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV
Take Up the Call
Will we intercede for our family, faith, and government? I’m not talking about only praying for wants and needs to be met, but specifically asking God and the Lord Jesus Christ for their divine intervention, with a pointed focus on destroying the works of the enemy, like Jesus in 1 John 3:8.
“I [God] looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NIV
Focused intercession involves setting aside time to come to God with an inspired specific request in full battle mode. It means to stand in the gap with the intent of destroying spiritual strategies devised by the enemy.
Photo courtesy of pikist
We are relentless. We will not back up, nor will we be pushed down. We rise again and again in our minds to stand against the wiles of the devil with the Word we have hid in our heart.
As God told Abraham in Genesis 22:
“…in blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:17-18 NKJV
There is a refreshing that comes when we obey His direction. This is the word of the Lord He gave me for you, as we were heading into this last part of 2020:
You are blessed with my anointing because I have decreed it to be so. You are my seed and I will not let you fall to the ground. I will plant you where I have purpose and direction for you to grow and be fed. I may scatter you to the far corners of the earth for my heart is for all people.
Do not be pigeon-holed in your thoughts against others, but expect My presence that lives within you to reveal the gold that I have melted into their DNA. It’s awaiting a catalyst of kindness to spark their ear to my Spirit as I wait to enter their hearts.
Disciple yourself with My Word as My voice gives direction to your intent. You have not failed me. You cannot afford to faint in your mind about how I see you and what I know you to be capable of. Your strength comes from Me and nothing else. Come back to My living waters more than you are now. Dehydration will steal your joy and peace.
Drink from the true well of My son. He is a lifeline that I established that will not wither and die. His words are true and just, as I am a continual well for him. Draw from him again and again, for he knows my ways and thoughts and brings the gentleness of My love and touch to you.
Isn’t our Father wonderful in how He takes care of us collectively and individually?! There will never be a shortage of anything that He needs us to have when we bring ourselves back to His feet again and again.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
What a friend we have in Jesus that he wants us to help him be about our Father’s business! We’re working together with him to build and plant, not tear apart and destroy. Thank you, Jesus, for always choosing the Father first!
To see and hear an expanded version of this message, watch Pastor Tonia’s teaching “Will You Intercede?