The Week of February 22, 2009

MONDAY—EVANGELISTIC PRAYER

Chronological Reading: Numbers 16-18 + Mark 3
Monday, February 23, 2009

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Oh, Freedom’s Master:
Cleared from guilt! Led out of prison! No more in manacles like a slave. Deliver __________ and __________ now from the bondage of sin! After all Savior, your blood has already purchased a full and free redemption for them.
Romans  6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord if they only knew! They have a right to approach your throne for this gift right NOW. No flames of vengeance await any sinner who seeks the Savior. Justice cannot smite those who have been pardoned by your blood.
Their disabilities are taken away. They were once forbidden to see your face, but now they can speak to you. One time they cringed in fear of death and hell, but now there is no punishment if their guilt is forgiven.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
If they believe they are not condemned and they cannot be punished. More than that, all the privileges they could have enjoyed if they had never sinned are now theirs as soon as they are justified.
Lord, grant them faith in the death of your Son! All the love and acceptance that perfect obedience could have obtained will then belong to them. Help them see that Jesus kept the law for them. He was perfectly obedient on their behalf. All his merits can be imputed to their account—just give them faith in you.
There is a great debt of love and gratitude I owe both to you and to them to tell them. Help me discharge that today for Jesus’ sake and glory. Amen.

TUESDAY—CORPORATE PRAYER MINISTRY

Chronological Reading: Numbers 19-21 + Mark 4:1-20
Friday, February 24, 2009

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Gracious God and Loving Lord:
We might have been in your prison, driven from your presence for our sins. But now we come before your throne by prayer, even invited into your secret chamber for a personal audience. Our thankfulness should ascend into joy. We are recipients of such great grace when allowed to pray corporately!
Lamentations 3:29  He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
Knee, make sure you bend; head, make sure you bow; heart, make sure that you worship in his presence. Let us place our faces on the floor and our mouths in the dust. Your throne holds sway in all the worlds. Heaven obeys you cheerfully; hell trembles at you fearfully; the earth yields to you even unwillingly. We put our shoes from off our feet to address such an all-consuming God.
Job 25:5-6  Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
In lowliness we draw near to you. You are our friend, but it cannot be an unsanctified relationship. Boldness there must be, for we are your children, but it cannot be impertinence. We are still on earth and you are in heaven. We are still worms and you are God, even as we pray to be fruitful in your mission.
We repent of not bowing as we should before your Eternal Majesty. Holy Spirit, put us in a right frame of mind to pray. We want every one of our prayers to have the proper approach—it is a throne of grace, but still it is a throne.
You are majestic. If need be, we should sit in silence before you.
1 Samuel 3:9 Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.

WEDNESDAY—REVIVAL PRAYING

Chronological Reading: Numbers 22-24 + Mark 4:21-41
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Deuteronomy 10:21  He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Holy Father and Everlasting God:
WE PRAISE YOU for giving Jesus Christ your only Son to be born a man. By the operation of the Holy Ghost he was without spot of sin so he could make us all clean from sin.
WE PRAISE YOU for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Savior, because he is the very Passover Lamb that was offered for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he restored us to life everlasting. It will be shown at the resurrection.
WE PRAISE YOU for your most dearly beloved Son who, after his glorious resurrection, appeared to all his apostles, and in their sight ascended up to heaven. He has gone to a throne, but also departed to prepare a place for us! That way, where he is, we can be also, and reign with him in glory.
WE PRAISE YOU through Jesus Christ our Lord, according to whose promise the Holy Ghost came down at Pentecost with a sudden sound of a rushing, mighty wind. In the likeness of fiery tongues he descended on the apostles, to teach them and lead them into all truth. He gave them both the gift of foreign languages, and also boldness to speak them with fervent and constant zeal, thereby preaching the gospel to all nations and generations. By preaching people are brought out of darkness and error, and into the clear light and true knowledge of you and your Son.
You are one God, one Lord; not only one person, but three persons in one substance. That which I believe of the glory of the Father I believe also of the Holy Ghost and the Son. In his name I ask for revival; he is my praise! Amen.

A DAILY PATTERN FOR PRAYER & BIBLE READING

Chronological Reading: Numbers 25-27 + Mark 5:1-21
Thursday, February 26, 2009

1 Samuel 18:30 David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

ANGELS your march oppose, who still in strength excel,
Your secret, sworn, eternal foes, countless, invisible.
With rage that never ends, their hellish arts they try;
Legions of dire malicious fiends, and spirits enthroned on high.

On earth the usurpers reign, exert their baneful power,
O’er the poor fallen sons of men they tyrannize their hour:
But shall believers fear? But shall believers fly?
Or see the bloody cross appear, and all their power defy?

Jesus’ tremendous Name puts all our foes to flight:
Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb, a Lion is in fight.
By all hell’s host withstood, we all hell’s host o’erthrow;
And conquering them, through Jesus’ blood, we still to conquer go.

Our Captain leads us on; He beckons from the skies,
And reaches out a starry crown, and bids us take the prize:
“Be faithful unto death; partake My victory;
And thou shalt wear this glorious wreath, and thou shalt reign with Me.”

—Charles Wesley, 1749

FRIDAY—FOCUS ON CHRIST’S PRAYER LIFE

Chronological Reading: Numbers 28-30 + Mark 5:22-43
Tuesday, February 27, 2009

Matthew 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Father in Heaven:

There is a childlike Spirit that makes me recognize and love you as Father.
Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Spiritual adoption is a sweet compound made of three things: faith lets me know you, joy lets me rejoice in you, and fear that makes me tremble to displease you. At the same moment I have a confident affection and trustfulness that relies on you, and casts itself completely on you. It knows by the infallible witness of the Holy Ghost that the God of heaven and earth is the Father of my heart.
Let me pray today, and walk away in the Spirit of adoption. When the winds of trouble blow and the waves of adversity rise, when my ship is reeling toward the rocks, may it be sweet to me to say, “My Father,” for your strong hand is on the helm. There is music, there is eloquence, and there is the essence of heaven in that word, Father. It is a symphony in two syllables. Let me say it with an unfailing tongue through an understanding of the word of God and your grace.
So I come to you this week. When I talk to my Father I need not be afraid. You alone will not misunderstand me. If I slur my words out of place, you still recognize their meaning. My prayers may be broken things, but you can put them together and hear them out.
What a beginning to a prayer full of faults—and a prayer, perhaps, in which I will ask for what I know not. Lord, read my meaning as well as my desires! Let me draw near this week as a child to his father, and declare my needs and my sorrows in the language that you teach. For so I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SATURDAY—IN THE PSALMS

Chronological Reading: Numbers 31-33 + Mark 6:1-28
Saturday, February 28, 2009

Psalm 69:16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

My Savior:
You wept much in secret for my sins. No doubt you frequently endured suffering and anguish of soul on my account. It was the lonely “mountain deserts” that saw you in your repeated agonizing. If their depths could be disclosed they would astonish me indeed.
Teach me to lean on prayer as my aid in every trial. Your prayers were well-timed and always accepted. If you made your appeal to the rich mercy of God, so much more must I. Much more must I.
No characteristic of yours is more comforting than mercy. When my anxiety multiplies, I prize your mercies more than ever. My haters sometimes outnumber my hairs, but your mercies cannot be counted. Each one is available as a powerful argument for deliverance when I pray in faith.
My soul gains strength when I meditate on the importance and sufficiency of your mercy. One smile from heaven will stop all the rage of hell. And I need it the most Lord, when I feel the most alone.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
If Jesus suffered, so will I. I may be trodden-down like mud today, but I will ride the mountaintop before long. Even now I am raised-up and made to sit together with you (Eph 2:6).
Give me sunshine after the rain of this week. You alone did deliver, so you alone deserve praise. And as having a grateful heart, let me look for others to join me tomorrow in rejoicing. Bring us help to worship, in Jesus’ name! Amen.