"Let Them Lead Me"

Before we discover the identity of the "them", we need to establish a couple of cogent facts, and then three meanings of this clause.

This comment by David, nine hundred years before Christ, directly infers two significant facts. One is that each of us is "moving"...even if we bodily and physically stop and stand, we continue on our life's unstopable journey. Even if we are asleep in bed in unconscious slumber, we are still unknowingly but continually moving on to a destination. DAvid recognized this. Also inferred is that David wanted a leader. It is as though he was walking in the dark... at least, as it concerned what was a head, and that he could not see ahead.

Three meanings: One, it was a prayer. It parallels an aspect of the so-called Lord's Prayer where Jesus said we should pray, "Lead us not into temptation". Okay, so the opposite is also prayed, "Lead us away from temptation and into wherever You want to go, and whatever You have planned for me." Two, it was a request. This is a continually paramount truth that God forces no person. He leads who will follow. He leads who wants to be led. Three, it was a choice. Knowing David from his writings, I would classify this as a yearning choice; an earnest choice; a hungering choice; yes, a passionate choice.

NOW, what are the "them"? (let them lead me). The Bible being its own best commentary, there are two
identities: (SEE Psalm 43:3 "Oh send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me into Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles".)

Both "light" and "truth" are elements of illumination, of revelation, of uncovering and opening, and David was passionate and direct in his insistance that his God would shine into his mind and heart and soul the ideas, the thinking, the logic and the meanings of HIS ways.

I have no question that God answered David's prayer...that day, and throughout his earthly journey with God...and He does the same today for those hearts who question and hunger and seek Him today!

It's OK For God To TALK To Us.

It is NOT OK for us to see Him. He refused to allow Moses (SEE Exodus 33:20) to look upon His face, but the reason was not that He did not want Moses to have a warm, close, personal relationship with Him, or that He was unwilling to share Who He was with him. God refused only because His heavenly glory could not be tolerated by a mortal. This is primarily why those of us who believe in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, will have to have glorified bodies to exist in His heaven and His presence.

B-U-T- this does not refrain Him from communicating with us. Most of the 33rd chapter of Exodus describes a rather lengthy dialogue between God and Moses. I have long admired Moses...for a good, many reasons, but primarily because of this dialogue that tells us as much about God as it does Moses. God was willing to stand right there in the presence of a mere mortal, and both listen and reply to Moses' objections! Did you catch this? Moses strongly objected to God's propositions...and God not only listened to his logic, but granted what he...Moses...proposed! Unbelievable! Amazingly fascinating!

God said in essence, "Moses, I am going to do this". And Moses said, "NO, God, You cannot do this,
and here are my reasons why". Essentially, Moses' logic was that God's honor was at stake, and that if He went ahead and wiped Israel off from the face of the earth, the nations would not believe that He could do what He said He could do for and through Israel.

The Bible says (SEE Numbers 12:3) that Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth, but this humility was in his self-esteem and low opinion of himself. He was courageous in his intercessions for other people...and he was a fighter in defense of God's honor...and he was eminently brave when he knew he was talking to His God!

WE cannot see God either, but He talks with us, and wants to talk to us, and is more than willing for us to trade ideas and thoughts with Him.

Intercessory Prayer Is Hard!

Anyone who is presently practicing, or has ever engaged in, intercessory prayer knows this is true. But Why?

1. Because of its nature. It is a selfless endeavor. It is nearly 100% in the behalf of other persons and their needs. For this to be a consistent, constant activity of a Christian, his or her heart must be emptied of self, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Because it requires constant self-discipline. It requires a consistent time commitment. A regular time and place, but when schedules or activities are changed, it can be...and will be...engaged in at any time and in any circumstances. (The prophet Habakkuk demonstrates this self-discipline. [SEE Habakkuk 2:1]: "I will stand upon my watch; I will set me upon my prayer place; I will wait and see what He will say to me...".)

3. Because it gets us out of the arena of the flesh and into the realm of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 10:3 & 4: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our (spiritual)
warfare are not carnal (fleshly), but mighty through God to the pulling down of (spiritual, satanic)
strongholds".

4. Because of numbers 2 and 3, it engages the forces of Satan in spiritual warfare. SATAN HATES
INTERCESSORS, AND CONSTANTLY TARGETS THEM. Because of this, intercession requires strong, courageous hearts and a total confidence in God.

5. Because it is a lonely, solitary battle. Few Christians stay with it. Many believe in it...and try it...most often when there is a crises in their lives...but other things crowd it out.

6. Because results are seldom seen. This is another reason why most Christians "try it", and then soon give up. We are a "results oriented" people. We want to "see".
True intercession is more an activity of the Holy Spirit within than of human effort...BUT there is much waiting on God at His throne of grace before an aligning of our spirits and wills occurs.

7. Because there are few examples, and little preaching, about it. Most Christians are honest enough to not recommend it if they are not practicing it.

8. Because there is no recognition or record keeping on intercessory prayer. It is NOT a practice heard or written about much. EXCEPT what comes from the Lord above, there is little encouragement.

Praying Ground

It seems like we have great preoccupation with ground or real estate, and place high value on it. It could be classified in terms of "yardage", "mileage", and "acreage".

Billions of dollars are spent by millions of individuals to gain a few yards of ground. Records are painfully sought and high prices awarded for those desired yards of ground.

When it comes to mileage covered, we are a world in motion. No society has ever been as mobile as ours. Our shrinking globe is a grid of networking transportation. Going has easily replaced doing as modern man's pleasure activity. The many miles driven or the great amount of ground covered and viewed has become important in our lives today.

And acreage may be the greatest motivator of all time - past and present. We crave some ground to call our own. Ownership is a powerful force. A tiny, fifty by 100 feet plot of ground can consume a person and become his or her master.

There is another type of ground that has even higher potential and superior value that is generally depreciated and forgotten. It is praying ground. The relationship towards God is somewhat like that of spoiled children towards their parents. The only time the parents are important or sought out is when they need money or other assistance. How sad!

There are so many valuable aspects of praying ground that it should attract multitudes to acquire it. The truth is that there are miles of elbow room on praying ground. The area is unlimited - you can use all you want, and it is free.

Praying ground is where our eyes are opened. The blindfold of the flesh is removed and we can see as God sees. Limitations are reclassified as possibilities. Hope is reborn and courage renewed. Anything becomes possible on praying ground.

Praying ground is where chains are broken and captives are freed. The mightiest, most binding, addictive, habitual shackles of demons and men are shed as a tattered garment on praying ground. The "inevitable" is arrested and the irresistible is neutralized.

On praying ground we see through kinder eyes. Personal hurts and pain, and loss, and criticism become mere inconveniences when viewed beside the cross. Hard passions are softened. Vengeance is submerged in a sea of forgiveness, and hatchets are buried all over the place!

Mountains of disappointment are left there, along with disagreements and disillusionments. Piles of doubts and fear and quickly discarded.

Praying ground is where transformations occur. Sighs are turned to singing, and confusion is changed to peace. The fearful become fighters, and the losers face the rising sun, for here is failure's graveyard.

Rebirth and regeneration are characteristics of praying ground.

The message and music of praying ground is: God is our adequacy. He is enough. Don't give up, and don't cave is. But if you have, you can start again - on praying ground!

A Prayer at a Public High School

The need for prayer can surface at about any place, and in any circumstance - even in a public high school.

They have become the favorite "whipping boy" in the American political arena. Liberal political activists are determined to prohibit God from our educational system. But, as smoke and mists rise to meet the sun, so people instinctively turn to God in prayer when difficulties arise.The high school play cast had frequently and vigorously practiced, and it was "show time" - six evening performances and two Saturday matinees. Excitement was high for both students and their families and friends. Before each performance "the jitters" were openly evidenced, but one young lady seemed unusually controlled, and, at least, outwardly confident.

Another was just the opposite - vigorously gestulating, marching about, obviously upset and very vocal about it all to anyone who would listen. The contrast between the two was marked.

Eventually the vocal one stopped in front of the calm one and asked, "Hillary, how can you be so quiet and calm? Aren't you nervous at all?"

"Sure I am", she replied.

"Well, what do you do to calm down then?"

"I just pray and ask the Lord to help me," was the short answer.

"Well, I need something to help me," her anxious friend said. "Would you say a prayer for me?"

Quietly but briefly, but right in the middle of chaotic jitters, Hillary prayed for her friend. Though unspoken, the act was not lost to onlookers, particularly when the anxiety was softened and, in its place, quiet self-assurance.

On the final night - the last performance to a overflow audience - both anticipation and tension were high.

Just before curtain time, Hillary's friend said to all, "Hillary's prayer really helped me to calm down the other night. Let's have her pray for all of us." And with an assenting nod from teachers and aides, that is just what Hillary did!

Praise the Lord for dedicated, young Christians in our high schools whose testimonies are telling for Christ!

Yuks from Yakima: Hand It Over!

Note: This is the fourth of a four-part series of true, church-related humor. These are true, unembellished stories that occurred while we were pastoring the Yakima, Washington Wesleyan Church.

Brother Curt Heath moved dirt - the old fashioned way with a team of horses and a scraper...sometimes called a fresno. It took a good man to drive the team and hold the scraper in the dirt, and when full, it went to a dirt pile or a low spot to be leveled, tripped and dumped. As I say, it took a good, strong man to operate a fresno day in and day out.

Brother Heath's business was to move dirt, even such big jobs as digging excavations for basements which required many days of backbreaking labor. Smaller jobs were used to fill in (pun intended) for the smaller, less lucrative ones.

Brother Curt got saved! really saved! and when he did - as is usual - he started to read the Bible. Buying a New Testament for a dollar, he learned to read from its pages during his lunch time. It was a struggle, but without any formal education, God helped him to learn to read from his New Testament. His face would shine as he would tell this story during church testimony times!

On a certain day, after sweating and toiling by both man and beasts, he was pleasantly contemplating what would be for dinner that evening when a neighbor man saw him and hollered at him. Stopping the team and waiting for the neighbor to come over, they exchanged pleasantries and then he asked Curt of he would have time to move a small mound of dirt sometime, and pointed in its direction.

"No time like the present," he said, and in an hour or so had it level and smooth. "How about $2.75?" That seemed about right for both men, and soon Curt was home, had the team fed and put way, and then a hot bath.

At the dinner table his wife, Carey asked him, "Curt, did you have any extra work today?"

When he remembered the small job for the neighbor, he told her that he had.

"How much did you make?", she asked.

He questionedly replied that it was two dollars and seventy-five cents.

"Hand it over" she said. "It's mine."

And he did...when he heard her story.

With him having a New Testament, she began to pray and ask God for a Bible that she saw in a downtown store window. The price was more than she had...$2.75! Exactly what was extra that day!

There are so many touching aspects to this true story. One is how God answers prayer...often to the penny. Another is how many Bibles most of us have. Another is the hunger that new converts (and those who truly love God) have for the Word. Another is how willing Brother Heath was to surrender his hard-earned money when he saw that God was in it.

More next week!

Expensive Exercise

Many Spirit-filled Christians do not realize that there are five (5) "spiritual senses" which are as active and operative as any of the five physical ones. Allow me to list them.

Body senses: ("soma" Gr.)

• Sight
• Smell
• Hearing
• Taste
• Touch

Soul senses: ("psyche")

• Imagination
• Conscience
• Memory
• Reason
• Affections

Spirit senses: ("pneuma")

• Faith
• Hope
• Reverence
• Prayer
• Worship

Until a person is born again, the spirit part of him/her is dead. (SEE Ephesians 2:1) . After salvation, with the body we (that is, the soul, the real us), touches our physical world. With the spirit we (that is, the soul), touches God and the spiritual world. As we physically exercise by the five physical senses, we spiritually exercise with the five spiritual ones.

In each event, the more we "exercise" any of the senses, the stronger (or weaker, as the case may be) we become. Strong Christians are that way because they spiritually exercise more.

This week's discussion addresses only one of a Christian's spiritual exercises - that of prayer - and especially, intercessory prayer.

According to 1 Timothy 2:1-8, there are four levels of prayer, and anyone interested may have this complete study, "Paul's Recipe For Prayer", gratis by requesting it from: W. L. Boone, P.O. Box 2487, Orofino, ID 83544, or, e-mail: lesboone @ juno.com. [No spaces.]

Intercessory prayer differs from other kinds in that it is in behalf of other persons or interests other than ones own. Intercessory prayer is an expensive exercise, for the cost to God exceeds any human concept of value. Intercessory prayer is at the expense of the sacrificial, intermedial blood of our Jesus.

Each thought, each breath, each heart-cry, each sigh, each tear, and every yearning prayer of intercession draws on the redemptive resources deposited by Jesus at Calvary.

The throne of grace referred to in Hebrews 4:16 widely opened to all believers when the veil of the temple was split from top to bottom, providing constant and instant access through Jesus' death.

When we intercede, we bow on the holiest of heaven's places; we kneel in the most sacred territory of God's realm; we pray in a vaulted aura of hushed, glorified ambiance attended by millions of angelic beings (SEE Daniel 7:9 & 10). Intercessors do what angels cannot! It is a strictly human right and effort!

And angels are awestruck by such incredible authority entrusted - and restricted - to humankind! And they wonder why we waste and misuse it!

Intercessory prayer is the greatest earthly power, and is restricted and assigned to Spirit-filled believers only. Does any reader wonder why it is so severely contested by the powers of darkness? Do we question why Satan will place every barrier and hindrance in our way to keep us from using it?

An intercessor's greatest encouragement comes from our Helper, God's Holy Spirit, Who is the Prompter, the Director, and the Energizer in the art of intercession. "Thank You, Lord!"

We Can "Control" God

Not in the sense that we tell Him what to do... or change His mind... but there are things we can do that guarantee a response from Him.

Moses did. Jonathan did. David did. Daniel did. Elijah did. Hezekiah did. In fact, many, if not all, biblical personages did.

The woman with the issue of blood did when she touched the hem of Jesus' garment. His healing virtue was "on demand" to her trusting request. As best as we can tell from the reading in Matthew 9:20, there was no deciding, Divine permission that occurred in the transfer of healing virtue from Jesus to this woman's need.

I realize that this is poor grammar, but God does not do nothing in a great many, personal ventures into His grace and power. We "control" God when we surrender to Him. We "control" God when we line up our wills with His will. He does not do nothing when we do.

God does something when we yield to Him, and when we obey Him, and when we get on His side of any issue or matter, and when we yearn to see things His way, and when we search and pry into His nature and heart and thoughts and attitudes.

God does something when we love Him, and when we set ourselves to sit at His feet and hear His words.

This is an irrefutable fact as (SEE Luke 10:4) Mary discovered when she chose to sit at Jesus' feet and hear what He had to say. The weeping woman (SEE Mark 14:9) "controlled" Jesus with her contrite brokenness as she lovingly poured her expensive perfume upon His feet. Her love drew a concentrated, personal, immediate, Divine response as others who watched missed it!

For most of my ministry this verse from Isaiah 57:15 has had a prominent place on my study walls: I dwell...with the person who has a contrite and humble spirit...", and another from Isaiah 66:2: "...to this person will I look, even to him who is of a poor (one who claims nothing) and contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word".

There are "automatic" responses from God anytime we enter His presence via His throne of grace. He is there! He is never not there! He is never unreachable, or untouchable, or unavailable. There are no office hours at the throne of grace. Admittance and advocacy are assured through the death of our Savior on His cross of Calvary. If and when we go there, He is there!

"Is There a Prayer Meeting Tonight?"

This question came to a Portland, Oregon pastor on Wednesday two afternoons ago, and, Thank The Lord!, that pastor could answer in the affirmative. Few can anymore, for regularly scheduled, mid-week prayer meetings have just about vanished from the American church scene these days.

I promise you that "Mrs. Prayer Meeting" has just about died in most of our churches, for there are very few professed Christians who want them, or attend them. Why would this man be calling to ask a pastor friend of mine if there were a prayer meeting at his church on Wednesday night?

It was because he had just got right with God!! And wanted to be in prayer meeting. He wanted to go to church! He wanted to be in a prayer meeting!

Turn the clock back about thirty years ago in our church when another man prayed through to a definite conversion victory in Jesus. Juan Alphonso Ramos came to repentance after mistreating his wife under the influence of alcohol. At that time, in addition to two Sunday services and a mid-week prayer meeting, we had a men's prayer meeting every Saturday night in the pastor's study. Juan came to them all, and after he attended the first Saturday night men's prayer meeting, he waited until all of the other men had gone, and asked me, "Pastor, doesn't the church have any more services?"

I have used this true illustration all through my ministry, for it reveals just how hungry new Christians are to hear the words of the Lord, and pray, and be around other Christians. Juan was not only daily employed, but was a mid manager of 200 people in a prominent electronics company, and yet, with all of the heavy demands of his excellent job, he wanted more church services, and especially more prayer meetings.

All through my ministry I have told this true story, because of the sadness in my pastor's heart that there are so few older, experienced Christians who demonstrate this hunger. Those who walk close to God still do! If we stay close to Him and His word, that hunger is still there! And whether thiry years past, or a week ago, when people really pray through and find God, they want to know "if there is a prayer meeting tonight?"