Category: Prayers

How to Receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

It does little good to know all about a subject and never personally experience it. It is one thing to generally believe that God’s promises are real and true and quite another to personally receive one. Many believe that God heals, but fewer have received a supernatural healing. Many, even the devil, believe that Jesus died to save sinners, but fewer receive that salvation personally by faith.

If we keep truth at arm’s length and make it purely objective, we may be able to safely distance ourselves from the costs associated with obedience, but we will also rob ourselves of the joy of receiving something from God.

Faith is like breathing. It must be “inhaled” or received and “exhaled” or acted upon. God wants us to believe his promises are true, receive them for ourselves, and then act out our faith. For example, when Jesus told the centurion that his servant had been healed, that man believed Jesus’ words and acted appropriately by returning home.

And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.  Matthew 8:13 (NASB95) —

What we do after saying that we believe reveals whether we were just spouting empty words or truly believed in our hearts.

To receive the baptism in the Spirit requires that we accept the truth of God’s Word, receive his promise by faith, and act as if we believe he gave it to us.

Can I Be Sure This Promise Is for Me Today?

In the first sermon recorded after the initial outpouring of the Spirit, the apostle Peter made it clear that the baptism in the Spirit is for all God’s children for all time.

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39 (NASB)

A contextual reading of this section of Acts makes it plain that the “promise” means the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Peter explained what their speaking in tongues meant: it evidenced the outpouring or baptism in the Spirit, which was prophesied by Joel and later promised by John the Baptist and Jesus himself. Peter made it clear that God makes the baptism in the Spirit available to every person who would ever come to Christ – those present with Peter, their children, the Gentiles (those “far off”), and everyone else throughout time who will respond to the Gospel (“as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”).

Jesus also made it clear that every child of God can receive this gift. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask him.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:13 (NASB)

Jesus died as the Lamb of God to provide us with forgiveness and reconciliation to the Father. He rose and ascended to heaven to become the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and pour out the Spirit upon his church. Because of this, we can be sure this amazing gift is for us.

Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.  Acts 2:33 (NASB95)

If we believe what is written above is true, we are faced with a decision. Will I receive this promise for myself by faith or not?

Will I value what Jesus died to give me or remain fearful or indifferent? I hope each of us will treasure and pursue what cost our Lord so much to provide for us!

Steps to Receive

Since the baptism in the Spirit is received by faith, we must be convinced that God has given it to us, receive it, and act as if we believe he has. That is how faith works. Paul asked the Galatian church the following telling question.

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2 (NASB)

The answer of course is that we must receive all of God’s promises by faith. We can never earn them. Here are four easy steps to receive the baptism in the Spirit.

  1. Believe that God will do what he says.

If we grasp that God has provided all believers with the privilege of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the next step is for us to believe that God is always faithful to his promises.

God’s complete trustworthiness is the foundation of all faith.

This is a simple concept; yet many people get hung up at this point. They may think, maybe it is not for me? God will bless everyone else, but not me. Such thinking is sinful unbelief from which we must repent. Cast that lie away and start believing God.

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 (NASB)
  1. Ask and receive with simple faith as a child.
"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11  "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12  "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:10-13 (NASB)

Children do not suspect devious motives in the giver or concoct complicated reasons a promise might not come true. When an adult makes a promise, a child expects it to happen. To God, we are all little children. We may have been disappointed many times by people who did not keep their promises to us, but God is not like that. If as a child we experienced adults lying to us and failing to follow through on their word, we must not let those memories and any attached lies about God to block us from trusting our heavenly Father.

As a child, believe, ask, and receive.

If something in our minds whispers that this is not going to happen for me, repent of that unbelief.

...You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 (NASB)

If I extend my hand to offer someone a hundred-dollar bill, what will that person need to do? Would it be enough to say thank you without making any effort to come forward to receive it? If we want the money, we will act. Similarly, we receive the baptism in the Spirit by asking the Lord to baptize us and then by actively receiving.

Faith receives before it sees any outward visible evidence. Faith depends on the promises and character of God alone. It knows that God will keep his word and that his promises are true.

Faith does not doubt. It does not struggle with wondering if God will keep his end of the deal. It receives and moves on, just as when the Roman Centurion believed Jesus healed his servant and returned home. (Luke 7:10)

  1. Give thanks.

After receiving a gift, grateful people say, “Thank you.” After we ask for and receive the baptism in the Spirit by faith, we should begin to thank and praise God.

Thanksgiving demonstrates faith.

The opposite is either silent passivity or doubtful complaining. Some people refuse to believe before seeing because they are afraid of getting their hopes up, only to be let down. Should we only praise God after he “comes through” for us or when we grasp that he is always faithful to his promises and will surely do what he said? Real faith acts before it ever sees the confirmation or fulfillment of what it believes because it is convinced that God is true.

The kind of praise and worship that gives God the most honor is what comes from people who exalt God’s faithfulness before they ever see the fulfillment of what was promised.

Faith knows and overflows. Only faith filled (faithful) people give thanks. Let’s show our faith by our praise.

  1. Speak in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is a supernatural overflow of the Spirit. Our mouths speak out of the abundance of the Spirit’s filling of our hearts. The sure evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is speaking in tongues. At this point the one wishing to experience this confirming gift should take a step of faith and begin speaking, trusting that the Holy Spirit will give the words.

Who Baptizes Us?

The Bible teaches us that baptizing people in the Holy Spirit is the personal ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist announced this ministry to the world.

As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Matthew 3:11 (NASB95)

Our Lord often uses the agency of people laying hands on us to accomplish this baptism because Jesus desires for us to share in his ministry. The apostles often laid hands on individuals prior to their receiving this baptism.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.  Acts 8:14–17 (NASB95)

At other times, the Spirit fell upon people without human agency, such as at Pentecost and when Peter preached to Cornelius.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,  Acts 10:44–46 (NASB95)
Prayer to Receive the Baptism in the Spirit

Jesus, I believe you died and rose again to save me and baptize me in the Spirit. You said that if we ask, you will certainly give us this wonderful promise. I ask you right now to baptize me in the Spirit and fill me to overflowing. I receive this promise by faith and give you thanks for your faithfulness to keep your promises. Holy Spirit, fill me up. Help me now to pray in tongues. I will open my mouth to speak with the expectation that you will give me the words. Amen.

Prayer to Minister the Baptism in the Spirit

Jesus, I believe you died and rose again to save us and baptize us in the Spirit. You said that if we ask, you will certainly give us this wonderful promise. I ask you right now to baptize all those present in the Spirit and fill them to overflowing. We receive this promise by faith and give you thanks for your faithfulness to keep your promises. Holy Spirit, fill them up. Help them now to pray in tongues. Let them open their mouths to speak with the expectation that you will give them the words. Amen.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Do you have any questions?
  • Are you ready to receive?

 

If you want to know more about the baptism and the gifts of the Spirit, consider reading Pastor Pete's comprehensive book, Promise of the Father.
Promise of the Father

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The World’s Greatest Short Prayer

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37  For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.Luke 1:35-38 (ESV)

We honor Mary because she was willing to embrace God’s will for her life, even though it cost her immensely. She experienced the suffering associated with people, including her fiance at first, thinking she was a “loose” woman who got pregnant outside of marriage. The Roman Catholic Church added non-biblical status to Mary, claiming that she was born without a sin nature through what is called the Immaculate Conception. This would make her the equal of Jesus. The RCC also claims that she was taken directly up to heaven upon her death, which is called the Assumption. These erroneous doctrines make Mary a kind of super-human Mother of God, an undisguised attempt to elevate her into a type of deity on the par with Diana of the Ephesians, a pagan goddess. But in reality Mary was a simple girl whose life was intersected by a strange and fabulous call to be, not the Mother of God, but the mother of the human side of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah King. Jesus’ divine nature came directly from the Holy Spirit, who overshadowed Mary and conceived the God-Man in Mary’s womb.

Whenever we may be confronted by circumstances that are confusing or painful, or if God asks us to do something that seems strange and that will cost us, we are well to remember Mary’s simple yet profound response when this happened to her. “Let it be to me according to your word.” I encourage you to pray the following 10-word prayer. It may be the most life-impacting declaration you ever make.

Prayer

Jesus, you are my Lord. Glorify yourself through me. Amen!

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Prayer for God’s Intervention in Government and the Public Arena

Lord, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. 9 Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me. 10 Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape. 11 Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent. 12 But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor. 13 Surely righteous people are praising your name; the godly will live in your presence. Psalms 140:7-13 (NLT)

King David, a man who knew and understood God’s heart, was not timid about asking for God to intervene in behalf of God’s people and for the sake of righteousness.

While it is very important for us to realize that sometimes God allows his people to suffer at the hands of tyrannical rulers, it is never a good thing for evil to triumph.

When we pray for divine judgment, it is vital that we temper our prayers with mercy because we all need it. We should always be careful to forgive and pray “for” our enemies that they might be saved. In addition, we can and should pray according to basic principles of righteousness, asking God to intervene in behalf of his people against wickedness in government and in the public arena. Only God knows who among our enemies is capable of repenting and who is not. Let him be the final arbiter of justice and mercy.

Prayer

Lord, I pray for my government, as Paul commanded us. I pray that you will work through our leaders to provide just government to our nation. Lord, you are sovereign in power and overflowing in mercy. You know that evil people are scheming and working to accomplish their plans at the expense of those who love your name because they hate you and your rule.

Do not let their evil plans succeed. Work things so that their plans turn out to be a blessing for your people and for your glory instead. Let the plans of evil people backfire. Do something creative and entirely unexpected by the perpetrators of evil. Let truth prevail and liars be exposed. Uncover the hidden things of darkness so that truth wins.

In the midst of your judgments, have mercy on us and all those who are willing to repent. Open our enemies’ hearts to believe the Gospel. Strengthen those of your people who are suffering persecution for your sake around the world. Have mercy on the persecutors. Bring justice to the poor and oppressed. Let your people always be praising you, no matter what. Amen.

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Prayer When I Am Afraid

Fear is both natural and spiritual. Natural fear is a built in response to danger put into us by the Creator. It alerts us and prepares us to fight or take flight, so to speak. Spiritual fear is something different. Instead of working to our advantage, it works to destroy us.

Spiritual fear is the opposite of faith.

In fact, it works to destroy faith, propel us to take actions that will harm us, or simply weakens us, so that we sink into hopelessness, despondency, and despair. We have all felt fear. Some of us may be feeling fearful at this moment. Here are some insights that will help you. The prayer will come at the end.

Learning to Be Still

Fear churns up the soul, creating panic and motivating us to do something rash or to give up and do nothing at all. This might be called believing we are powerless.

The opposite of fear is quiet confidence in God. 

When we are afraid, one of the best things we can do is become still in God’s presence, reminding ourselves of who he is, what he has promised, how he has helped us in the past, and how much we can trust him to faithful now and in the future.

A great example from the Bible is when King Jehoshaphat was afraid when a huge army came against his kingdom.

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4  So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help. 5  Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD. 6  He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7  O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8  Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9  They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ 10  “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11  Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12  O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” 2 Chronicles 20:3-12 (NLT)

God spoke through Jahaziel the prophet in response to the king’s prayer with these reassuring and faith building words.

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16  Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17  But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” 18  Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:15-18 (NLT)

Jehoshaphat’s response was as important as the prophecy.

God’s promises make no difference in our lives if we do not believe them.

Being still before God opens our hearts to be able to hear his voice, and when we hear him, we make the choice to believe him or not.

Faith in God’s promises and character is the antidote to fear.

And, yes, God did just as he said he would by defeating Judah’s enemies without the king’s army even having to fight. What will God do for us?

Be Still Because I Will…

The psalmist succinctly states this powerful truth.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV)

We can have peace because God is good and will keep his promises.

He will glorify himself. He is our fortress in times of trouble!

Now this is not to say that he will not require us to do something. Faith takes whatever action is necessary. It is never passive. As we listen to God, he will instruct us what to do.

Prayer

Lord, I am afraid and need your help. Your word says that you rule over all things, and I believe it. You are Lord over me and my circumstances. I believe Romans 8:28, that you are working all things out for my good and your glory. I now choose to quiet my soul in your presence, O God, and ask you to speak to my heart, so that I can be encouraged in my faith. I claim what Isaiah the prophet said so long ago:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)

I rebuke and renounce fear. You have given me the Spirit of faith, not fear. (2 Corinthians 4:13 and 2 Timothy 1:7) I ask you to remove all fear from my heart. Cause praise and faith to well up inside me. I give you thanks because you are faithful and true. You are loving and powerful. You will never abandon me. Holy Spirit be my Helper and Comforter! Thank you, Lord, for working this situation for my good. I thank you in advance. Now I wait to see how you will do it. Amen.

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Proclamation versus Petition

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; Isaiah 61:1 (NASB)

 

Insight

There is a big difference between a petition and a proclamation. A petition entreats someone in power to grant a favor. A proclamation is an announcement that something has already been done. Both are important types of prayer, and it is important to know the difference and when to use each.

Most people who pray use petitions. They often have a list of things to ask God to do for them or others. The Bible tells us that when we ask for things in accordance to God’s will, he will hear us and answer our prayer.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)

A proclamation is more like a prophecy. It is an announcement or a faith declaration of what God has done or certainly will do.

Rather than ask him to do something, we declare that he has already done it and/or that it will certainly come to pass.

The gospel is such a proclamation. We do not tell people that they should petition God to forgive their sins, as if Christ had not already perfectly and completely accomplished this. Rather, we announce that if people put their faith and allegiance in Christ, their sins will be forgiven. Christians do not need to petition God to raise them from the dead one day. Instead, we boldly declare that he will do that for each person who trusts in him.

I remember once I was on a trip to West Africa with a friend to visit missionaries and participate in a church conference. I had a large sum of money to give our friends there that many believers had contributed. We unwittingly got caught in an Air France strike and were told that we would not be able to get through for over a week. My friend began to petition God and engage in what he called spiritual warfare, rebuking the devil’s attempts to thwart our trip. I had just read an inspirational book about how God works all things for good (Romans 8:28). God had elevated my faith so that I believed nothing would be able to stop us from getting through. I began to praise God for working our situation out for good and declared his victory over our circumstances. Within a few hours we were on board a plane for our destination, a true miracle.

When God shows us that something has already been done, it is time to make faith proclamations as our preferred form of prayer. Such prayers act as prophetic declarations that release God’s power and authority to accomplish his declared will.

When our faith and God’s promises link together, amazing things take place.

Prayer

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB) 

Rejoice always, 17  pray without ceasing, 18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

Abba Father, I praise you and believe that you are working all things out for good in my life because I love you and am called according to your purpose. I surrender myself once more to your will and plan for my life. May I bring you glory and pleasure by trusting and praising you at all times. Praise you, Father, because you chose me before you created the world, and you appointed me to be transformed into the image of your Son, which you are accomplishing each day. Thank you, Father, that you made me a part of your family. You reconciled me to yourself and gave me a right standing before you through your Son. Thank you that have appointed me to share in Jesus’ glory.

And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV)

As King Jehoshaphat of old, I declare that you have already won the victory. (Fill in the blank for your particular situation.) It is done. I rest in you and your promises. I let go of all striving and worry. (Psalm 46:10) Now I will watch and wait for what you will do. Amen.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (ESV)
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Prayer of Praise When the World Has Gone Crazy

"This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33  "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34  "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35  UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."' 36  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:32-36 (NASB)

The Gospel is the true story of how God reclaimed for himself authority and dominion over his creation. The Bible teaches that Father God is the Creator who made all things through the agency of his Son and the Holy Spirit.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3 (NASB)

In addition, God sustains his creation moment by moment; otherwise, it would fold up like a cheap tent.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 (NASB)

Adam and Eve gave to Satan the authority and dominion God has invested in them, opening the door for satanic oppression to warp and destroy God’s beautiful masterpiece. Only by sending his own Son as the Lamb of God could Father God regain dominion over his creation and reverse the horrible process of death and destruction sin introduced. Jesus willingly offered his life as a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins. In so doing, he liberated us from the shackles of death.

Three days later he rose victoriously from the tomb as Lord of lords and King of kings. All authority and power was put in his hands. Forty days later, he ascended into heaven, where he sits upon his Father’s throne, waiting for his enemies to be thoroughly and finally defeated through the agency of his church. On Pentecost, as Lord of the Harvest, Jesus poured out his Spirit upon his disciples to equip, empower, and embolden them to spread the Good News of his reign to all the earth, making disciples as they went. The kingdom of God began to spread throughout the earth as leaven does in a lump of dough.

Still Jesus waits in heaven for his enemies to be made his footstool. What remains? What is our responsibility in the matter? God’s initial command to his newly created first couple is still in effect.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:27-28 (NASB)

We have been given a dual responsibility: we are to multiply and rule in the natural realm and the spiritual. Just as we realize that we must reproduce children in the natural, we must also do so in the spiritual through the preaching of the gospel. Just as we nurture and prepare our children to become responsible adults, we must also disciple people to be responsible reproducing followers of Christ. Just as we realize we must take dominion in natural areas of life, we must do so spiritually. We are to be involved in government, not politics per se. The government is upon Christ’s shoulders, and we are his representatives. Jesus is coming back for a dynamic involved church, not one that is defeated and passively letting the world go to hell in a hand basket. (Romans 16:20)

We can know for a fact that all things are working toward God’s glory, which shall fill the earth. We who know God are also assured that things are working out for our good. (Romans 8:28) Therefore, we are always able to praise God as we participate in his end game for the ages.

  • God is Creator and sovereign over his creation.
  • God is Sustainer. Everything and everyone depend on his power to uphold us. Therefore, nothing can happen that he does not allow. He can pull the plug on evil at any moment he desires. Evil does not nor ever will have the upper hand.
  • Jesus is Redeemer. Those who put their trust in him are safe.
  • Jesus is Lord. When Jesus rose from the dead, he assumed authority over all creation. Every knee will bow to him and confess his lordship. All of history is moving toward that climactic event called the Last Judgment. All things must bow the knee as history moves irreversibly toward God’s will for his Son to be glorified. We can count on that.
  • We are destined to co-reign with Christ, both here and in the final state of things. We are to be active, not passive, filled with faith, not fear, giving praise, not complaining.
  • All things are also working for our good; so, we are able to praise him even when, especially when, we cannot see yet how that will come to pass. This gives God much glory and us much joy.

Prayer

Lord, I give you thanks and praise that you are my Creator God. I am here because you willed it so. I praise you that you sustain your creation moment by moment. The reason I have my breath is because of you. It is so easy for you to control the outcomes of world events since you are the Sustainer. If you remove your support, no one can continue. We are totally dependent on you, despite our bravado and blustering. Thank you, Jesus for dying for me so that I might be forgiven and receive eternal life. Thank you that I am part of the family of God and my destiny is to rule and reign with you. Thank you that you conquered death for our sake so that we no longer have to fear. Thank you, Jesus, that when you rose from the dead you took command over all things, even though it does not yet appear to be so. It is so. Everything is aligning with your ultimate will. Every person eventually will acknowledge your lordship and rule. I do so now. Thank you, Jesus that you are working all things out for our good and your glory.

I pray for my government, as Paul commanded us. I pray that you will work through our leaders to provide just government to our nation. Help me to be involved at whatever level you choose. Lord, you are sovereign in power and overflowing in mercy. You know that evil people are scheming and working to accomplish their plans at the expense of those who love your name because they hate you and your rule. Don’t let their evil plans succeed. Work things out to be a blessing for your people and for your glory instead. Let the plans of evil people backfire on them. Let truth prevail and liars be exposed. Uncover the hidden things of darkness so that truth wins and your Son is glorified. In the midst of your judgments, have mercy on those who are willing to repent. Open their eyes to believe the Gospel. Strengthen those of your people who are suffering persecution for your sake around the world. Have mercy on the persecutors. Bring justice to the poor and oppressed. Let your people always be praising you. Amen.

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Prayer Asking God to Lift the Fog of Deception about Abortion

Jesus rightly described Satan as the Father of lies in whom there is no truth.

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46  Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47  Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:43-47 (ESV)

From the beginning of human history, we have shown a disturbing propensity for believing lies instead of God’s truth.

Satan convinced Eve that the simple command not to eat from the forbidden tree was overridden by several nice sounding arguments, the first being that it would not result in her death. The second was that it would make her like God, knowing good and evil for herself, and the third was that it looked appealing to her senses. Pride fueled her desire to be like God. The lust for that and wanting to “know” for herself what the fruit tasted like overcame any fear of God’s punishment she might have had. The rest is our sad history.

Today when I hear or read arguments supporting abortion, I am reminded of Eve’s folly. God’s simple command prohibits the shedding of innocent blood, or we will die.

And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. 6  If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Genesis 9:5-6 (NLT)

I believe the sin of legalized abortion poses the most serious threat of our encountering God’s judgment upon the nation. Racism is indeed a very terrible evil, but our government does not sanction it. When it rears its ugly head, it is because of the sin and wickedness in human beings, which no law on the books can nullify. However, abortion has been enshrined in our legal code by lawless Supreme Court justices. Not only does our government now condone abortion, it pays for women to kill their own babies. Truly this is a national horror of the greatest magnitude.

The arguments supporting abortion are manifold, but I have tried to reduce them to four. I have to warn you ahead of time that I am not going to nuance things to death, as the devil does.

  • The mother has the right to do with her body as she chooses. This argument is based on the presumption that the child in the womb is not really a child, but a “fetus,” an inconsequential, unfeeling, and inhuman blob of tissue. This is reminiscent of the argument used by slave owners to oppress their “property,” which was regarded as sub-human. It is a clever round-about way to sidestep God’s clear command. It’s a lie from the pit of hell, which any honest person knows. The basic right of the mother to “do as she chooses” does not include murdering another human being.
  • It is more humane to kill a baby in the womb than to allow it to be born into an unloving environment. This clever argument justifies murder on the basis that it might prevent suffering down the road. It believes that a certain atrocity is better than the possibility of one.
  • Babies in the womb who are the result of rape or incest or have physical abnormalities should not be allowed to live. I have known people whose lives began because of sexual abuse, and they were not less human or valuable than I. I know families who love and care for Down Syndrome babies, claiming that those children were or are an amazing gift from God. This lie from the devil devalues life based on our preconception of its relative worth, without considering that all life is a gift from God and inherently valuable. Usually the abortion argument starts here and moves toward absolute freedom to kill babies inside and out of the womb. That is why the lie must be stopped here.

And here is the one that I heard most recently. It was supposedly promulgated by “Christian” thinkers, which makes it even more abominable.

“WE BELIEVE A BIBLICALLY SHAPED COMMITMENT TO THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE COMPELS US TO A CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE THAT AFFIRMS THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE FROM BEGINNING TO END…Poverty kills millions every year. So does lack of healthcare and smoking. Racism kills. Unless we quickly make major changes, devastating climate change will kill tens of millions. Poverty, lack of accessible health care services, smoking, racism and climate change are all pro-life issues…For these reasons, we believe that on balance, Joe Biden’s policies are more consistent with the biblically shaped ethic of life than those of Donald Trump.” (From article by Samuel Sey, “Pro-Life Evangelicals for Abortion?“)

Let me see if I can simplify this satanic argument.

  • It is okay to overlook killing babies in the womb if it will result in our government adopting policies that might benefit people who are still alive. This is merely a re-issue of the lie in the garden. It first denies, by refusing to address, God’s warning that killing babies will bring his judgment down on our heads.  Just because God has delayed judgment upon our sins does not mean his warning is groundless. (Matthew 23:35) The article gives some really “good” reasons to give abortionists a pass. It proposes that the party of abortion will relieve the following ills of society: poverty, poor healthcare, smoking, racism, and climate change. Folks, you cannot make this stuff up. It reminds me of a story my mother told me about a woman who had appendicitis and was bleeding from her womb after childbirth. The doctor told his nurse to apply pressure to stop the bleeding, but she protested that it might burst the appendix. The doctor calmly told her that the possibility of bursting the appendix did not overcome the certainly of her bleeding to death if no pressure were applied. The certainty of God’s judging our nation because we kill babies is a much stronger rationale than the possibility of climate change killing us. Sadly, all the arguments made above are purely political, the assumption being that the Democratic Party has the best solution for poverty, healthcare, smoking, racism, and climate change. There is no proof that any of that is true, but there is 100% proof that abortion is evil and God will judge the shedding of innocent blood.

When we justify a known evil by trying to avoid possible evils, we have entered the fog of deception.

That is where our nation is right now, even the church, and unless God blows away the fog, the judgment that is already upon us will consume us. That is why we must pray.

Prayer

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14  He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (NLT)

Father in heaven, we come to you on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood (Hebrews 12:24), which cries out to you for mercy. We recognize that the innocent blood of over sixty million aborted babies cries out to you for judgment. We stand in the gap for our nation, asking you to once again have mercy upon us. Forgive our many sins, especially that of being ashamed of you. Our nation has removed prayer and the teaching of the Bible from our schools in an effort to be more enlightened, but it was a descent into darkness. Forgive us for legalizing pornography and abortion, but criminalizing going to church during a pandemic. Forgive us for loving money more than you, for thinking we are smarter than the Bible, and even more moral than you. Forgive us for ramming homosexuality, transgenderism, and other forms of perversion down the throats of American youth, many of whom have never known a time when it was not okay for a man to use a woman’s bathroom. Truth has fallen in the streets (Isaiah 59:14) and in the halls of Congress and the Supreme Court. Professing ourselves to be wise, we have become fools of the worst sort (Romans 1:22). In America, because of our heritage, we should know better. Lord, we are a nation birthed on the ideals of Scripture, but we have sadly strayed far, far away. We ask you to blow away the fog of deception. Restore to America a love for the truth, the truth of God, the truth of the Bible, the truth of the everlasting gospel. Our hope, Lord, is that you loved us even when we were your enemies (Romans 5:8). Jesus, you died for us when we did not love you at all. You first loved us, that we might eventually love you back (1 John 4:19). Today, in many ways, America acts like your enemy, Lord. Thank you for loving us anyway. Keep us from utter destruction. Pour out your Spirit upon us. Turn us back to you. Let there be a sweeping revival across our land that brings millions to Christ. Do it, Lord, quickly, before mercy comes to an end for us. Amen.

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Prayer for God to Turn the Tables on His Enemies

But they do not know the LORD’s thoughts or understand his plan. These nations don’t know that he is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor. Micah 4:12 (NLT)

Satan and his followers are never able to anticipate God’s creative responses to their strategies. Evil may be clever and cunning, but it always lacks wisdom. This is its undoing.

Satan did not anticipate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus and his complete smashing triumph over sin and death. Haman did not foresee how God would turn the tables on him as he plotted the death of all the Jews in Persia.

Haman is a picture of what happens to those who go after God’s beloved people. Persecuting and murdering believers will always bring down God’s judgment and wrath upon the perpetrators. Haman, a top man in the kingdom of Persia, hated all Jews on account of one seemingly obnoxious citizen – Mordecai. Mordecai, a Jew, was not intimidated by Haman and refused to show obeisance to him, which infuriated the Persian noble. In his rage, he had a very large gallows constructed to either hang or impale Mordecai as a public example. He also convinced the king to issue a decree authorizing the killing of all Jews and the confiscation of their property.

What Haman did not foresee was that God had placed Queen Esther in her prominent place of favor with the king for such a time as that. Haman was unaware that Mordecai had previously saved the king’s life by exposing a plot to kill him. Haman could not know ahead of time that the king would be unable to sleep and have the historical annals of the kingdom read to him, bringing to his remembrance what Mordecai had done, with the effect that King Ahasuerus determined to greatly honor him. Haman did not realize that Queen Esther and Mordecai were related and that she would petition the king to eradicate the man who set in action the plan to kill her, Mordecai, and all the Jews. Haman could never have imagined that he would be put to death on the very gallows he constructed for Mordecai and that the Jews would be gloriously saved and elevated in status. God turned the tables completely. We can ask him to do it again.

If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead. Proverbs 26:27 (NLT)

God justly promises that he will judge evildoers and reverse the plans of those who lay traps for others. We can pray in accordance with this promised justice. We can come before the King of Kings and ask him to work on our behalf.

But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole.  Esther 9:25 (NLT)

And let’s remember to pray for mercy on our enemies as they encounter God’s justice.

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  Matthew 5:43-44 (NLT)

But just because we ask God to be merciful to our enemies does not mean we passively allow evil to dominate us. We are to pray for justice as well as mercy. God is merciful and just.

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10  They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Revelation 6:9-10 (NLT)

Prayer

Father in heaven who judges justly and shows mercy, you have been merciful to me, even when I was your enemy. I ask you to extend that same mercy to those who are working against your people and your kingdom by bringing them to repentance. Nothing is too difficult for you. I also ask that you bring to nothing their strategies and plans for evil and harm. Let every evil plot backfire. Let those who seek to ensnare and harm your people and our nation fall into the trap they set. Let them come to their senses when they realize that you are fighting against them. Let them surrender to Jesus the Lord before it is too late for them. I ask you to sovereignly protect your people and our nation. Amen.

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Prayer when Facing Death

Unless we die suddenly and unexpectedly, this is a prayer we will all need to pray someday. Perhaps you know someone right now who could use encouragement and strength as he or she faces death. Whether this is for you, the reader, or someone you care about, please take these words to heart.

Death is the final enemy, the last struggle, and the threshold into a greater reality. Jesus promised us that, if we believe in him, we will actually never die! Dying is not death.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Martha, Lazarus’ sister, responded to Jesus that she believed, but she was only thinking of the distant future, which is what most of us do. We postpone the inevitable as long as we can, missing out on the glorious reality that Jesus is the Resurrection right now! Eternal life is right now and will never end! Physical death ends the body and soul life we have known and loved, but our spirits will seamlessly transition immediately into God’s presence, and one day our bodies will also be resurrected!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4  And you know the way to where I am going.” 5  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6 (ESV)

Physical death will bring us to the point of our greatest weakness, when we will have to rely 100% on our Savior and his promises. Either he is truly the Lord of life and death, or we are in big trouble. But the Bible clearly teaches us that God is sovereignly and ultimately in charge of our lives while we are breathing oxygen and our physical deaths, as well as our transition into his manifest presence. The problem is that we, in a similar way as Martha above, have doubts lurking in our hearts. We believe, but not as surely and strongly as we should. This is where we need the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that the Spirit lives inside and through us and will never, ever leave or forsake us. Most assuredly he will not bail on us when we are facing and experiencing physical death.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18 (ESV)

Many people fear being abandoned at death. The popular concept of ghosts is that they are disembodied spirits wandering hopelessly in a kind of tormented limbo-like existence. Jesus made it clear that no such thing will ever happen to us. One can only imagine what “ghosts” really are, but most likely they are demonic spirits posing as ghosts to deceive and enslave gullible humans.

Believers are joined to the Spirit of God by an indissoluble fusion – spirit to spirit.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV)

This amazing union with God through the Spirit is a most precious secret of the New Covenant. It is what makes us children of God. It is why we have eternal life. It is the reason we are able to fellowship and communicate with our God. In fact, the Bible tells us that even while we are still living in these physical bodies, we are actually seated right now in the heavens in the spirit with Christ.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)

When our bodies die, our spirits will instantly be in heaven, which is where we are right now joined to Christ.

I know this is probably taxing your brain. Don’t try to figure this out. Simply believe. You are right now in heaven in Christ. His Spirit is joined to your spirit. You and I are one with our God. He lives in us and through us, and we in him. This will never change. It is true whether our physical bodies are alive or if they temporarily die. (Don’t forget we will be resurrected!)

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20  In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. John 14:19-20 (ESV)

The question is, do we really believe this? Is it settled in our hearts?

Death is an enemy. It is not part of God’s original design. It brings the first part of our existence as a human being to an end, but it is a conquered enemy that has lost its sting because our Lord rose from the dead and is the Resurrection living inside of us.

We all have the promise that Jesus will personally raise us from the dead.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:39-40 (ESV)

Paul was granted the amazing experience of going to heaven while he was still living in his physical body. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4) What he saw there convinced him that death is not to be feared. He wrote that death is actually gain.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:21-23 (ESV)

Paul experienced no ambivalence regarding death. He was eager to pass through the portal of physical death into God’s glorious presence.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV)

God wants to work in us a similar desire to pass into the heavenly realms. No, we are not in hurry to leave behind our loved ones and what we know, but we can have a genuine joyful expectation of what lies ahead on the other side of physical death. Jesus certainly lived (and died) that way. He was earnestly yearning to return to his Father and the heavenly glory that he had left behind.

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. John 14:28 (ESV)

Perhaps our greatest challenge is that we haven’t yet glimpsed what is on the other side. This is where we need help from the Holy Spirit, who is able to give us revelation about the hidden things of God.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (ESV)

The prayer that follows asks the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the glorious realities of eternal life in God’s presence that will continue from now to eternity. Physical death is merely a “bump in the road,” a gateway into glory, the door into an eternity spent with God!

Prayer

Lord, I am facing death and really need your help. Thank you for being patient with me. You know my struggles to truly believe. You struggled yourself in the Garden of Gethsemane, but you maintained your confidence in your heavenly Father and your determination to bring glory to him through life and death. That is what I want, too. Holy Spirit, you are the one called alongside to help me. Thank you that you will never abandon me. You will walk this walk with me and through me. I ask you now to strengthen me in my inner being, in my spirit, with your strength and power. (Ephesians 3:14-19) I ask you to reveal to me personally what I need to know from your word and through opening my spiritual understanding, so that I can gloriously, peacefully, joyfully, and lovingly pass through death into your manifest presence. Into your hands I commit my spirit. You gave me life, have sustained me all my days on earth, and will continue to be my Life and Source for eternity. Jesus, I believe you will be there for me when I take my last breath. You will welcome me into my new heavenly home, introduce me to your Abba, and reveal to me your fabulous glory! Help me to look forward to this as I should. Help me to be an example to all those who know me and observe my life. I want my death to bring glory to your name. I want to show others how to trust you in death; so that, when their time comes, they will be helped by remembering how you helped me. Glorify yourself through my life and through my death. I surrender to your will and care. In life and death I am more than a conqueror through you! Amen.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)
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Prayer for Wisdom

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,  12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,  14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:9-14 (ESV)

Life comes at us and requires that we make decisions that many times are beyond our ability to know what to do. This is by God’s design. It has been that way since the creation so that we can learn to rely on God instead of our own minds and ability to reason.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.  Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)

God has given us an amazing ability to reflect, analyze, and synthesize, but not to always be able to foresee the consequences of our actions or what is coming in the future. These limitations require us to seek the Lord and ask for His wisdom, which He is most willing to impart to us. James wrote:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  James 1:5 (ESV)

With this in mind, we should pray daily for an impartation of divine wisdom for what the day may hold for us. Below is a sample prayer. You can customize it to fit your situation and personality.

Prayer

Father, I acknowledge that I am dependent upon You and Your wisdom. I thank you that You created me this way so that I can learn to draw near to You each day and receive Your abundant supply. I ask you for wisdom and insight for this day. Help me to know what to do in every situation. Help me not to rely on my own understanding alone. Rather, let me judge and decide by what the Holy Spirit shows me. Thank You in advance for giving me all that I need. Amen!

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