Patterned After Christ

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Galatians 2:20 (KJV) - “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

1 Timothy 4:11-13(KJV) - ^“These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) - “Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, but He is also our pattern. The Bible teaches that we are to imitate Him –

Prayer

·       Everything that they have built that is not according to the pattern of Christ, let it be pulled down.

·        Father, we thank You for sending Jesus as our perfect example to follow.

·       May the eye of the men of courage be open to see and observe all You have commanded them.

Think as He Thought

Philippians 2:1-7 (NLV) – “Are you strong because you belong to Christ? Does His love comfort you? Do you have joy by being as one in sharing the Holy Spirit? Do you have loving-kindness and pity for each other? Then give me true joy by thinking the same thoughts. Keep having the same love. Be as one in thoughts and actions.  Nothing should be done because of pride or thinking about yourself. Think of other people as more important than yourself. Do not always be thinking about your own plans only. Be happy to know what other people are doing. Think as Christ Jesus thought.  Jesus has always been as God is. But He did not hold to His rights as God. He put aside everything that belonged to Him and made Himself the same as a servant who is owned by someone. He became human by being born as a man.”

·         Christ was not proud.

·         Jesus was humble, meek and gentle.

·         He was submissive.

·         He was obedient to God’s will.

Prayer

·       Father, let the men of courage have the mind of Christ and think as Jesus thought - humble, meek and gentle, totally submissive and obedient to Your will always.

·       Father, may they never hold on to their rights but put it aside and wear the cloak of servants.

Love As Jesus Loved

John 13:34 (NKJ) - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

John 15:12 (NKJ) - "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Ephesians 5:2 (NKJ) – “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.”

Prayer

·      Lord, we pray that they will love You with all their heart and You will be their first love.

·      Father, we pray that the men of courage will walk and continue in the love of Christ.

Speak as He Spoke

Words reflect the real personality of a person (1Timothy 4:11-13)

·        Jesus spoke with certainty (John 14:6).

·        He spoke with authority (Luke 4:36).

·        He spoke with boldness (John 7:25-26).

·        He spoke with wisdom (Luke 21:15)

·        He spoke with grace (John 8:4-11; Colossians 4:6)

Prayer

·      Father, as Jesus spoke with certainty, authority, boldness, grace and wisdom, cause the men of courage to speak words which none will be able to gainsay, contradict or resist.

Do the Same Works as Christ

John 14:12 (NKJ) - ”Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

John 20:21 (NKJ) – “Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Luke 6:40 (NKJ) - "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”

Acts 10:38 (KJV) – “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJ) – “Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Titus 2:7 (KJV) - "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity.”

Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit.

He was full of good works.

Prayer

·        Father, let their lives be patterned after the life of Christ.


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Men of Courage

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John 12:27-29

Verse 27 - “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour”.

Jesus came to the epic of His service to God and knew it.

·       Please Lord, without further doubts in their hearts, please make our men to know and to move in to the reason why You have called them in this particular generation.

Verse 28 – “Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

·      Father God, please glorify Jesus in the hearts of our men. Help them to have a deep grasp of the fact that You have given Him a name above all names.

Hebrews 1:3 – “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…”

·      Please Lord, help our men be the radiance of Your glory just as You were of Your Father.

Verse 29 – “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him”.

·      Lord, please take away those obstacles that will not allow Your word to take root in the heart.

·      Take away blindness that will not allow revelation. Take away deafness from the ears of men in our generation, for how can one hear the voice of God and he will say 'it thundered?'

Mark 14:48,15:1 – “Very early in the morning…,They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor”.

·       Make our men willing sufferers for the cause of Christ. Let their main purpose be to obey, honour and show men Christ.

THE MAN MOSES

Exodus 33:19 – 23 (ESV)
“And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Deuteronomy 9:  An intercessor.

·       Make our men committed intercessors.

·       Let a deep and reverential fear of God come upon our men in order to separate themselves totally unto God, like Moses who would not allow mourning for his nephews.

Hebrews 11:26 – “Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt”.

·       Lord, please help our men to shun the treasures of Egypt.

·       Make them meek Lord.

·       Lord, increase the thirst for You in Your men like Moses asked for more of You saying ''Show me Your Glory''.

·       Let our men be consistent and persistent with You Lord
Exodus 3:1-22 - Moses encountered God at the burning bush where God called Moses to be the saviour of His people.

·       Let our men hear the clear voice of our Lord Jesus telling them about the lost world.

Exodus 33:11 - The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

·       Let our men find your presence and rest.

·       Lord, please provide Jethros for our men, men capable of climbing mountains to be with the Lord Jesus.

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Jacob

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·        A battle has been declared

Genesis 3:15 (KJV) – “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”.

·        The Call & God’s Proclamation to Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV) – “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”.

Genesis 12:7-8 (KJV) – “And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord”.

·        A decree has gone forth concerning the descendants of Abraham in Egypt

Genesis 15:12-13 (AMP) – “When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him. God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years”.

·        The call of Isaac, God tells Abraham where the seed shall be called from.

Genesis 21:12 (KJV) – “And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called”.

·        The Prophecy that went before the birth of  Jacob

Genesis 25:21-26 (KJV) – “And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob…”

·        Jacob steals Esau’s Birth right / blessings

Genesis 27:35-36 (KJV): These verses tell us of how Jacob with the help of his mother deceived Isaac to take Esau’s blessings.

·        The result? Hatred from Esau. Brethren, you cannot help God in His work. You only prolong its manifestation when you try to do this.

Genesis 27:41 (KJV) – “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob”.

The Call of Jacob who was on the run for his life from Esau his brother

Genesis 28:12-22 (KJV) – “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel (brethren this is the same place Abraham had his encounter with God) but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee”.

So if the Lord does not give him anything, he will not give to the Lord (Trade by Barter? You give me then I give you).

·        The result? 

Genesis 47:7-9 (KJV) – “And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, the days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage”.

These will not be our portion or that of our men of courage in Jesus name, Amen.

Jacob ended up a miserable man, fulfilling the call of God for his life in sorrow.

·        What sort of man was Jacob?

·      He was easily persuaded because of lack of vision and focus. Genesis 27:11-14.

·       An intelligent man who was a pretender, lacked wisdom, a cheat, cunning in his ways and a supplanter. Genesis 27:35-36.

·      He did not have a mind of his own / procrastinate a lot. He danced to Rebekah, Rachael and Laban’s tunes. He did not care to seek God in all things.

·      He was prayer less ( a prayer less Christian is a powerless Christian). Genesis 28:1-4.

·      He could perceive spiritual things but lacked courage and understanding of them. Genesis 28:12-22.

·      He took the call of God over his life for granted. He took it for what to eat, what to wear; perishable things. Genesis 28:20-22.

·      He was too forward, not sensitive to culture (at the well, thinking he could marry the younger before the older).

·      He wasted 14 years of his life serving for a woman (Rachael). His love for her jeopardised his destiny to the extent that he could be hired with his son’s mandrakes for sex. Genesis 30:16.

·      He was spiritually careless. His daughter Dinah was defiled under his watch and Rachael was able to steal her father’s idols.

·      The spirit of fear was his master and not God (he was not living for God but himself).

·      All the things Jacob acquired in the flesh were all stumbling blocks to him.

Are you a man with a call of God over your life? Or do your men of courage have a call over their lives? You need to go and study the life of Jacob and learn from it.

·        The God of mercy and compassion looked upon Jacob and he arose

Genesis 31:3-4 (KJV) – “And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock”.

Genesis 31:17-18 (KJV) - “Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan”.

Brethren we want to rise on behalf of our men of courage by praying the following:

·       Lord our Father, You know our weaknesses, our fears and You know our cares; please help us this morning in Jesus name.

·     You are the potter; we are the clay, break us and mould us - this is what we pray.

·     Lord, do not let our years be like Jacob’s; old, few but full of evil and sorrow.

·     Lord Jesus, help us! Holy Spirit of God help us!

·     Lord Jesus, help us not to ignore or take the visitations of God for granted.

·    Lord Jesus, remove foolishness from our lives and thinking.

·    By Your power, mercy and grace over our lives, we will not fulfil our destiny in sorrow like Jacob in Jesus name.

·    Let every Jacob in our lives become Israel from today in Jesus name.

·      Our journey of life will not be prolonged more than You have planned for it O Lord in Jesus name (The Israelites in the wilderness).

·      Take us back to our Bethel O Lord and help us fulfil Your purpose for our lives in Jesus name.

·       Lord, help us to walk with You like Jesus did.

·       Lord, help us to trust You with our lives in Jesus name.

·       Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers for in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Mordecai

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The Book of Esther

Mordecai’s lineage was mentioned, up to his great grandfather. Esther 2:5-6 (TLB) – “Now there was a certain Jew at the palace named Mordecai (son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite). He had been captured when Jerusalem was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and had been exiled to Babylon along with King Jeconiah of Judah and many others”.

He had been taken into exile by the Babylonian king.

The Man Mordecai

·       Mordecai was passionate about the laws of the God of Israel. Esther 3:2 (TLB) – “Now all the king’s officials bowed before him in deep reverence whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow”.

In his devotion, he would not bow to any other, but the God of Israel, not even Haman.

·      He was a “travailer”, he cried out when the decree to kill and destroy his people was made. He was already on exile is Susa which would not have been a pleasant experience for him. So he would have been seeking/crying to God for deliverance and maybe return to Israel.

·       He was diligent in bringing up Esther as his own daughter. He brought her up such that she obeyed all that he instructed her. Her character won the favour of Hegai (the eunuch who prepared the maidens) and eventually she became queen (2:9).  

“Hegai, who was responsible for the harem, was very much impressed with her and did his best to make her happy; he ordered a special menu for her, favored her for the beauty treatments, gave her seven girls from the palace as her maids, and gave her the most luxurious apartment in the harem”. Also in 2:15, she harkened to Hegai.

She also obeyed Mordecai by not revealing her identity as a Jew. In Chapter 2:10 – “Esther hadn’t told anyone that she was a Jewess, for Mordecai had said not to”. He was involved in her life, his oversight was never abandoned.

He was also diligent even at his duty post (the king’s gate); so much that he uncovered a plot against the king. 2:21-23.

·       He was humble, and trusted in God’s own reward and not man. After the plot to kill the king was confirmed, he did not go seeking for rewards from the king after the conspirators had been killed; he continued his usual work at the king’s gate. He also obeyed Esther’s instruction to him to fast and pray along with her; he was not proud. 6:1-3; after the book or remembrance was opened and Mordecai rewarded for his past deeds to the king (he was publicly rewarded) – 6:11 – 12a (TLB) – "So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, and mounted him on the king’s own steed, and led him through the streets of the city, shouting, “This is the way the king honors those he delights in.” Afterwards Mordecai returned to his job…”

After all the commendations, he went back to his duty post. Compare Matthew 6 (giving, praying and fasting – doing for man’s praises and doing for God’s rewards).

·      He was yielded to be used by God – he got a copy of the decree of Haman which he showed Esther. Then he asked her to make an appeal to the king. He further pressed Esther in 4:13-14 (TLB)  – “This was Mordecai’s reply to Esther: “Do you think you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed?  If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; what’s more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this?”

In 9:20-25 (TLB) – “Mordecai wrote a history of all these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the king’s provinces, encouraging them to declare an annual holiday on the last two days of the month, to celebrate with feasting, gladness, and the giving of gifts these historic days when the Jews were saved from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned to gladness and their mourning into happiness”. So the Jews adopted Mordecai’s suggestion and began this annual custom.”

Mordecai and Esther made it a decree that the Israelites should always remember this time of great relief from their enemies. 9:32 (TLB) – “So the commandment of Esther confirmed these dates, and it was recorded as law.”

Prayers

Ø Thank You Father for Your men of courage. Thank You for Your persistent help in their lives, that is equipping them for the labour for souls. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that is present to help them in all their ways.

Ø  Lord, please continue to give Your men of courage insights and strategies as they deploy to nations with the message of Jesus Christ. Give them insights, access, just like Mordecai. Make them sensitive, attentive to Your specific leading. And let them make haste in obedience to Your instructions.

Ø Lord, they are Your men of courage – please give them courage to press in the labour at hand, let faith in You not fail.

Ø Lord, help Your men to make disciples as they go along, according to Your own pattern. 1 Chronicles 28:19 (MSG) - “Here are the blueprints for the whole project as God gave me to understand it,” David said.”

Ø Matthew 7:20 – 21 (TLB) – “Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit produced. “Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven.”  A tree and its fruit. Esther manifested what was inside of her; what she was “feed on”, Mordecai therefore produced in Esther, what was in him. He discipled her. John 15:2 (KJV) – “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” The good fruit in Esther’s life further brought much fruit – the salvation of all the Jews from destruction and plunder! Lord, help Your men even as they go in obedience to make disciples, fill then up completely with the life of Jesus.

Ø Lord, keep Your men humble even as You do great things in and through them. Father, help them not to be carried away, let them not forget that it is You that is at work in them and deserves the glory. Protect them from the error of satan, pride!

Ø Lord, all that represents “Haman” (laws, persecution, distractions, gifts, hardships, illness, etc, this is not physical but spiritual) in the way and life of Your men of courage, Father, cause ALL such to be hanged quickly in the mighty name of Jesus.

Ø Lord, help Your men of courage to continue in obedience to You as they go along. Mordecai maintained his stand to obey You by not bowing to Haman. Mordecai’s life of obedience was not sudden, it was a lifestyle that eventually produced an “Esther” that prevented the total destruction of God’s people. Lord, help Your men of courage!

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Arising In Continuous Obedience

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The lineage of Solomon – Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 12 – 20

Paul and the Ephesians’ Church– Acts 19, Ephesians, Revelations 2:1-4

 Gleaning

·         The revelation of the Word

·         Choice to obey that revelation

·         Choice to press on, continue in obedience

Solomon; Rehoboam; Abijah; Asa; Jehoshaphat – a type of men of courage

There is a history of great victories in battle against their enemies, and then afterwards, there is record of abandonment or incomplete obedience to God, that usually opens the door again to the attack from the enemies, continued disobedience – a vicious cycle.

Asa – 2 Chronicles 14:2-3 – He did what was right in the eyes of God. He removed the high places and commanded the people to seek the Lord (v.4-5). The removal of the high places was evident for the people to see, so he wasn’t just playing lip service. Asa also sought the Lord and He gave them victory over the Cushites (v.8-13)

When the prophet spoke the word of God to Asa in 2 Chronicles 15: 1-7, he harkened in obedience. He continued to seek God earnestly. However in Verse 17 – although he did not remove the high places, his heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.

 2 Chronicles 16:7-10

When our hearts are lacking in total obedience, we are at risk of destruction. Imagine after Asa’s seeking the Lord earlier, his refusal to remove all the high places was a kind of “open door” that eventually got him into trouble at the end of his life.

Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 17: 1-6. V.6 says he removed the high places. He was discerning – in 2 Chronicles 18:6, he insisted on a real prophet from God for he knew those of Ahab were not genuine. He respectfully stood his ground before Ahab. Strangely, Jehoshaphat still went to the battle, but God spared his life. He was reprimanded in Chapter 19 and subsequently re-established his obedience to God in the appointment of judges. God even gave them victory in a war that followed.

Sadly, at the end of his life, verse 33 says the high places were not removed and also made an alliance with King Ahaziah who was guilty of wickedness (verse 35)


Paul; The Church in Ephesus – a type of men of courage

This was post Calvary – the “producer”, the “old man”, sin’s very source had been killed at the Cross and buried. The “New man”, “New-Life-Producer”, has been given.

Paul - Acts 19 – Paul in Ephesus, spoke boldly and persuasively in the synagogue for three months, and then had discipleship meetings with them for two years. Verses 8 -11.

Ephesus was known as the “guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven – Acts 19:35b. Idol worship was popular in the city.

But Paul obediently took Jesus, the complete Gospel and there was commotion in the kingdom of darkness. There was a riot in Ephesus and Paul eventually left. But the seeds had been sown, not in disobedience, but total obedience. There were disciples in Ephesus.

The Church in Ephesus – Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In Chapter 1:17, Paul wrote that he prayed that they may know the Lord “better”. The letter reminded them of the life that they once lived and encouraged them to continue in the new life, the Christ life. The end of the letter in Chapter 6, there is the popular “armour of God” charge to the Church. He also asked them to pray for him for courage to speak the mystery of the Gospel boldly and fearlessly.

Revelations 2:1-7 – verse 4 shows that something had happened, there was a discontinuation in their walk in obedience that Paul had commended them about earlier. Jesus was calling them to return to Him, the Way, their first love.

Prayers

v  Thank God for His men of courage, He has been helping them deliberately. Thank Him for the nations in Europe and other nations that doors have opened to them to present Jesus (Poland, Italy, Romania, France, Germany, etc.)

v  Even as the Lord presented the burden to us regarding the June referendum that will determine the UK in Europe, as His men of courage enter Europe, Lord, cause Your work through them to be deliberate with “casting seed”, presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples.

v  For us heartcryers, that God will find us faithfully travailing for His men of courage; that they will keep at and fulfil His mission through them in Europe and the nations.

v  Help Your men of courage to pay attention to Your Word and instructions to them, so that that they do not fall into error. 2 Chronicles 15: 1- 4 (NIV) -  “The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake You”.

v  Give our men continuous humility and reverence for You Lord! Even after great victories and revivals, Lord keep them humble and obedient, not proud or forgetting what You have done in and through them.

v  O Father, cause Your men to be consistent in their walk and obedience to You! Remove the errors that we saw in Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat, let every “high place in their hearts be removed TOTALLY”. Lord, let the Cross be ever before them!

v  2 Chronicles 12: 7 - 8 – the Lord had to teach His people a lesson even though He had shown mercy. Lord, please help Your men of courage to always obey you, knowing that even though You show mercy, there are repercussions on even other people (the e.g. of David who caused 70,000 men to die because of his disobedience in taking a census). The disobedience of not removing all the high places continued in the era of the kings that followed.

v  Lord, like the apostle Paul, let Your men of courage be consistent in their obedience. Paul never looked back after Jesus encountered him! Just as there was no mention of Paul abandoning God’s instruction, let Your men be consistent. Paul was desperately obedient, consistent to God!

v  As Your men of courage go into Europe, Europe that in the past brought the Gospel to many nations, let the nations respond to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just like the church at Ephesus did. Paul was consistent and deliberate in Ephesus, but the people of Ephesus did not continue right. And let them be consistent, no more abandoning their first love.

v  At the end of Paul’s life, he declared that he had finished the tasks, mission that God had given him. Unlike Jehoshaphat and other kings, there is no record of disobedience in Paul’s life. He had encountered the Man of Calvary; he was not and did not go back. Lord, give Your men of courage the passion to accomplish Your tasks through them.

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Jesus' Men Drawing Other Men Unto The Master

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Friday 11.30am -12.25pm (UK time)

Matthew 14:22-33

Verse 29 –  “He said, “Come!” ….”

Verse 30 – “But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink.’ “Save me, Lord!”  he shouted”.

 The story took another diversion in this Verse 30. Why?

v  Because Peter began to see with the eyes of men, and not of the Master; even though Jesus had bid him to ‘come’.

v  Because Peter began to look around; meanwhile Jesus said ‘Come’.

v  Because Peter was no longer in connection with the Master at that moment.

v  Because in the twinkling of an eye, the human reasoning or human knowledge or intelligence took over.

v  Because he was no longer moving and allowing the Spirit of his Master to guide him.

v  Because flesh made him to see the greatness of the waves/storm which could engulf him, when He who made the waters had bid him to come.

v  Because Peter had forgotten that the waters are the works of His hands.

v  Because he was seeing the situation but not seeing Him who has all situations at hand.

v  Because Peter allowed doubt to take over. Doubt what or who? Doubt Jesus who had bid him to come?

v  … “He was terrified and began to sink”…. But he was not sinking earlier in verse 29. Why now?

Saving Grace that located Peter:

ü Thank God that he cried back to the One who bid him to come.

ü Thank God he did not try to swim (after all he was a fisherman). His skills could not save him.

ü Thank God he did not succumb to his strength which could not deliver him – “for by strength shall no man prevail.” [1 Samuel 2:9]

ü Thank God that he shouted unto the Lord to be saved.

Thanksgiving With Prayers

·      John 6:44a – ‘For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me…”.  Thank You Father as You have began to raise up and to draw Your Men of courage to Your Son, and thank You Jesus as You begin to draw other men (Peters) unto Your Kingdom through Your Men of courage.

·      Thank You for making Your Men to be channels for You, as You are the Source. Thank You for making Your light inside of them to shine and begin to dispel the darkness in all these nations that You are opening the doors for them.

·       Thank You for the light of Your Gospel-truth (the Good News) that is affecting the hearts of men and women, and thereby causing a hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness, and now there is the call for - more of Jesus in Poland; more of Jesus in Italy; more of Jesus in Romania; more of Jesus in Germany and France etc. And we are trusting You for more of Jesus in the global world.

·      John 12:32 – “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me.” Lord Jesus, as more grounds are being gained for You and unto You in these various nations, let the desire of the new converts (Peters) for the Living water not be temporary; let their thirst and the hunger for knowing God go beyond the ordinary, so that more men will be drawn into the Kingdom of God and they also will become witness of Jesus Christ.

·      Therefore Holy Spirit, help Your Men of courage and grant them the grace to labour on these new believers within those few days of ministration of the message of the Cross, so that they will personally have deeper encounter with Jesus until He becomes life and reality to them.

·       From the above scripture, Peter allowed his attention to be steered in two directions – (1.) Jesus (2.) Waters

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (TLB)

Please Lord, remove every foolish distractions – which can be in the form of head knowledge or intelligent quotient, good works, hindsight or foresight of the past, doubts (through question of ‘How can this be?’) religion and culture – let all mentioned be terminated at the place of the Cross. Let their attention be fixed – be reconnected – back unto Jesus. Even at the point of doubting the Truth, which may cause them to fall into temptation, Spirit of the Living God, help them to be wise to cry unto You like Peter shouted, “Save me Lord” so that they do not get drowned in the waters of unbelief.

·       Jesus said, “Why did you doubt me?” Doubt takes men away from the saving hands of the Master; doubt makes man to grieve the Holy Spirit and the things of God; doubt makes man to forget that all power is in the hand of God; doubt is an obstacle that drowns and destroys men.

Thou the Everlasting portion of every man that draws to Him, help all men to totally dispose of the natural life experience, so that we may come up to the supernatural that You are calling us into (as You called Peter). Daily, save us all by the Cross and at the Cross, so that we will not be found wanting. For we know that the nature of Christ in us, does not doubt. And so, rid us of all doubts and bring us into the manifestation of You completely, so that other nations will be able to proclaim that “Jesus is really the Son of God!”

Join this HeartCry Prayer- Every Friday 11.30am -12.25pm (UK time)