Here's your June 2013 Trail Mix. May it spiritually nourish and bless you!

Years ago, I worked as a field supervisor, and then program manager, for the old federal/state funded CETA [California Employment Training Act] Program. We recruited folks that were chronically unemployed or underemployed and had no where to go in life, but up. Through CETA, we matched these folks up with training courses and employers who were willing to train them to fill jobs at their place of business. It was so gratifying to prepare these folks to be gainfully employed, again and have their dignity back with a paycheck in hand!

The Family of God is comparable to the old CETA Program. It takes folks from this life, lost in their sin nature and nowhere to go but up, into the Family of God by way of their personal remorse, confession of faith, and act of repentance, which bring them to the place of being born-again! Once the child of God enters the Family of God through their personal confession of faith, they begin a life long, spiritual On-the-Job-Training-Program for the Kingdom. Training them for the day they will be wedded to the Heavenly Groom [Jesus] and enter the Kingdom as the bride of Christ, sitting in judgement of the angels, who in this life, have charge over us (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Because we are in a spiritual form of OJT for the Kingdom, one important part of our training is in the arena of prayer. It is imperative to understand the importance of developing a solid prayer life in our relationship with God; and it is mandatory that we grow in our knowledge of, and the use of prayer, through faith, which equates to having total confidence in what we hope for, and assurance in that we cannot see!

With that said, let's examine some profound statements, from some prominent men in the church, about the power of prayer!
"Prayer may just be the most powerful tool mankind has." - Ted Dekker
"Prayer is our most formidable weapon" - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the mighty arm of God" - Charles Finney
"We can do nothing without prayer." - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer puts God's work in his hands-and keeps it there." - E. M. Bounds
"Prayer, like faith, obtains promises, enlarges their operation, and adds to the measure of their results." - E. M. Bounds
"Wherever the Church is aroused and the world's wickedness arrested, somebody has been praying." - A. T. Pierson,
Finally, and never forget this: "Satan trembles when we pray...The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayer less studies, prayer less work, and prayer less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, BUT TREMBLES WHEN WE PRAY!" - Samuel Chadwick
From where I stand, prayer is merely talking to the Father as His child. It should be something each of us wholeheartedly welcome and enjoy participating in. And, it should be done, as Paul said, "without ceasing!" I have discovered over the years that talking to God is the most productive part, or parts, of each day I live. In fact, I look forward to talking with Him. And in contrast to when I was younger, I now look forward to talking to Him, as many times as possible, in order to break through walls, climb out of pits, and get over the mountains I come face-to-face with!

Prayer serves to draw me closer to Him; and it reassures me that no matter where I am on the Narrow Path, He is merely a word away. I grow more confident with each chat, that whatsoever my needs; He is not only willing, but going to provide a way....after we talk! And at times, I view prayer to the act of bathing, because when I finish my chats I come away, fresh and alive; knowing that I have drawn closer to him in prayer.

Finally, prayer allows me to do something for others. Something each of us has been asked and expected to do. It is our responsibility, as a church, to lift up those around us, in prayer. It is so gratifying and spiritually uplifting to exit prayer knowing that during my many daily interludes with the Father, I have unselfishly taken the needs of my brothers and sisters to Him, and on their behalf, agreed with them for Him to meet their needs and not leave them alone in their battles. More importantly, I am more confident than ever, that He is going to make a way for them as He does for me.

Truly I am learning as Paul tells me (Romans 12:15), to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

May 2013 - TRAIL MIX, Enjoy!

As we traverse the Narrow Path, we often like to refer to ourselves as Christians, born-again believers, Baptist, Catholics, Methodists, non-denominational, Assemblies of God, Charismatic, spirit-filled, or simply believers in God [if I omitted your particular denomination, I am sorry, I only have so much room to write].

However, if I am interpreting Jesus correctly in John 20:21-23 (RSV), where Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" he was deputizing* each of us to go forth into the world and be his proxies with the full spiritual power of authority of heaven to do his work, in His name, to a lost and hungry world.

This is an amazing directive, and it places upon the shoulders of all believers the spiritual mantle of authority to carry things out, here on earth, in His name for His glory.

Think about this....when you say, I am calling the local Sheriff's Department to report a crime, who shows up? The elected Sheriff himself, or a sworn deputy? The elected official is not going to be available for a large area of people, so that official deputizes as many men and women as needed to represent them and do the work of enforcing the law of that particular county. Try telling the deputy that stops you for breaking a traffic law, or when they have a warrant for your arrest that you will only surrender to, or accept the ticket from the "Man" himself?

You will be in handcuffs before you finish your statement, and the sad thing is, you may never see the Sheriff himself, because the deputy was sworn to uphold the laws and do the work of that person, giving them full power to act in the Sheriff's name, no matter what the circumstances may be.

That brings me to this month's Trail Mix. Jesus told you and I, that while we sojourn this Narrow Path, we are to traverse it as if he were himself traveling across it. Meaning that you and I have ALL His power to do his bidding to enforce his divine will in His stead. And that bidding is accomplished through prayer. Prayer is the main job of the church. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLV), Paul reminds the church that they are to," Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus."

And we are being entrusted with this ultimate power of prayer because as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:3 (NLV), in heaven, God will trust us to take charge over, and judge the angels [who, by the way, have no need to pray, because prayer is a gift given only to mankind]. I consider the fact that we are deputized t do the bidding of the church while here on earth, to be a form of on-the-job-training!" We are learning with each step we take on the Narrow Path, so why are you standing around complaining or wringing our hands over the difficulties that beset you?

Do you not realize that he promised to not only be with you on the path, but as He said, we have the very presence of His spirit within us while he is in heaven building and preparing our condominiums? Child of God, you were deputized for a reason, and that was to grow in your authority to take full control over these things you come personally with along the path, in Jesus's name. And by taking full control in His name, we are enforcing the heavenly principles here on earth, as they are in heaven [like in the Lord's prayer - pray: that our Father in Heaven shall permit his will do be done here on earth as it is done in heaven]!

Does this mean that we can have anything our heart desires? No! However, it does mean that we will always have what is allowable within his perfect, and sometimes permissible will, for our life and the life of those we pray for! Now, that is one awesome truth and a promise for the ages! Selah!!!

Shalom,

Pastor Paul

*Credit for the teaching of "deputizing" the church goes to Dr. Paul E. Billheimer and his best-selling book, "Destine for the Throne!"

Hi, sister A.H.! Thank you very much.

Philippians 4:19
New Living Translation (©2007)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

http://bible.cc/philippians/4-19.htm