True Intercession, Consequences and Words

 

Read:  Numbers 14

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”  Numbers 14:9b

 

24 But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.  Numbers 14:24

 

30 Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.  Numbers 14:30

 

O:  We left Chapter 13 with the Children of Israel feeling small like grasshoppers.  Chapter 14 opens up with them crying and weeping like little children who are scared to face something they never have faced before.  They retaliate against their “parents” Aaron and Moshe (Moses).  Like little children sometimes do, they said they wanted “new parents”.  They began to talk about going back to Egypt – to what they have always known.

 

Then God comes on the scene in verses 11-12 and says this, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?  I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.’”

 

God was not angered with the people when they were crying and fearful.  We all have a choice when fear hits us.  We are human, yes, and we may cry and pitch a fit, but then we need to get up and cry out to the One who can assail our fears.  We need to take our concerns to God Almighty.  “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7 and “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

 

But when they started talking about going back to Egypt, back into bondage and slavery, God came on the scene and was ready to make a new people out of Moses.  So Moses interceded for the people.  Note how Moses interceded.  Yes it was for the people, but also to protect God’s character.  When we are praying and interceding for others it must be with the right or godly motives.  Sometimes when I have interceded and prayed for people it has been like a little child tattling on their brother or sister.  The prayer might look something like this, “Dear LORD, You see the way that person treated me, God You know that was wrong, please stand up for me.”  At other times I might storm into the throne room of God and just start listing off everything “that person” is doing that shouldn’t be done.  “They did this wrong, and that wrong, ohhhhh and you know they are this way and things will never change ….”  On and on we go like a little child tattling.

 

This week as I was praying God reminded me about Moses and Jesus and how they prayed.  What did Jesus pray from the cross?  “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.”  Moses as we see here today prayed for God’s character to be protected.  Moses knew the people were wrong, but he asked to spare them for the sake of God’s name.  At other times Moses prayed like this, “But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."  Exodus 32:32  Now I don’t know about you, but how hard would it be to pray, LORD, please forgive so and so’s sin, and if you don’t then blot me out of the Book of Life?  Let’s be truthful here, even for the people I love the most it would be difficult for me to be willing to give up heaven and eternity with Christ for the sin of another person.  But God sent His Son to die for the sins of each one of us.  Jesus prayed from the cross, forgive them.  My heart broke when God reminded me of these things and what the heart of a true intercessor looks like.  He or she literally stands in the gap for others.  They have a “blot me out too” type of heart and they don’t come tattling, but lifting up and supporting those who they are bringing to Christ.  They have a heart that wants to protect God’s name and character and wants God to receive ALL the glory when those prayers are answered.

 

There is so much in this chapter!  This is probably only one of about three or four things I think the LORD could teach us here today.  The other two things I will mention briefly for the sake of time.

 

1)      Be careful about the words you speak.  God judged the people by their own words.  They cried out to Moses and said they were going to die in the wilderness and that was their judgment.  Our words have power!  I could go into great detail and give lots of examples through Scripture of this, but again for the sake of time I will not do that here today.

2)    In the last paragraph the Children of Israel (again like little children) went against their Papa’s words and did what they wanted to do.  I have a strong willed child.  They on occasion after I have said no will go about trying to do what they want to do and I can promise you that most of the time it ends badly for them!  And most of the time it is the natural consequences they suffer as a result of their actions.  Here God told the people “No”, but they refused to listen.  They got up with the intent of taking the Promised Land in their own power and failed miserably!  I, as my mother would assure you, was also a strong willed child.  It has taken me a llllloooooonnnnngggggg time to get to the place in my life where I can be at rest and not try to “buck the system” so to speak.  Let’s use the wisdom of the LORD and be patient and follow closely after Him so we do not have to suffer unnecessary consequences.

 

A:  So what kind of intercessor are you?  Does this explanation of prayer change the way you will pray for and intercede for others in the future?  Have you ever seen the power of words in your life?  Are you or do you know others who are strong willed?  I’d love to hear your comments on Numbers 14 and what God is teaching you through these readings.

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, I ask You to teach us through Your Word and to grow us up into all Truth.  Do not let our hearts be deceived by the evil one.  Thank You for times when You open up our hearts and minds to truths that are new to us.  I praise You that You are compassionate and forgiving.  God we know that even though You forgive us there are consequences for our actions.  Father I pray that we could limit those consequences by following close to You and that we would not be tempted to go astray.  Protect us and guide us today.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

I pray we would all go out from here with the Spirit of Moses', Joshua and Caleb! 

 

Be strong and courageous and trusting in the Almighty!

Angels and Answered Prayers

 

Read Exodus 40:34-38; Psalms 15; and Acts 12

 

S.O.A.P.

 

S:  “And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands.” (Acts 12:7)

 

O:  A lot happens in this chapter of Acts; James the brother of John is killed, Peter was rescued from Herod, Herod is struck down and Paul and Barnabas return with John Mark from their first missionary journey, but what mostly caught my attention was the story of Peter. 

 

One of the first things I notice is Peter was sleeping.  This probably catches my eye because I do not always sleep well, but when I do I can really get into a DEEP sleep.  About fifteen years ago I was a volunteer firefighter and EMT.  I loved everything about that job and I did not even mind getting woken up in the night to go and help someone in need.  But one night I had my radio beside my bed and my husband tells me that it went off and I did not hear the radio and the alert.  He was down the hall in the office and came and apparently woke me up and told me about the call.  I said ok and apparently laid back down and went back to sleep.  The next morning when he conveyed all of this to me I did not remember a thing. 

 

Now that I’m older and have children I do not unfortunately sleep quite as deeply!  But back to Peter …   

 

Peter wasn’t up thinking about his problems or worrying about his court date that was about to take place in the morning.  He certainly could have been.  One of his best friends, James, had been killed and Peter was probably about to join him.  James and Peter and John had been apart of the inner-inner circle with Jesus.  They were the ones who got to go up and see the transfiguration.  They were the ones closest to him in the garden praying before the crucifixion.

 

But Peter was not worried, he was sleeping so soundly and so deeply (even with the bright light of the angel right beside Peter) that the angel had to “smack” him on the side (in his ribs) to get him up.  The verse in the KJV says after he smote him that the angel “raised him up”. 

 

Even after all of this Peter still thought he was just dreaming (vs 9).

 

Finally after passing all the guards and the city gates the angel leaves Peter and Peter for the first time realizes what has been done for him and he proceeds to John Mark’s mother’s house where a group was assembled in the night keeping vigil and praying for Peter.  So Peter knocks and the girl who comes to the door is so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she doesn’t even open the door, she runs back to the group and tells them that Peter is here on the porch, but they didn’t believe her.  I do not know if any of you have kids (or animals) that do this, but when the doorbell rings in our house my kids (and dogs) go crazy.  The kids start jumping up and down screaming names of people they think are at the door; they just get excited!  I imagine Rhoda did the same.  She heard the knock and got close enough to the door to hear Peter and began jumping up and down, “Peter’s here, Peter’s here!”

 

Why is it when we pray, even in full faith, that when the answer comes that we still doubt that it could be possible?  Acts says Rhoda kept persisting until they finally open the door and saw Peter with their own eyes and verse 16 says they were AMAZED.  That word in Greek is “existemi” which means they were caught off guard, thrown into wonderment, astounded, beside one’s self or literally “out of (ex) standing (histemi)”. 

 

Does the way God answer your prayers ever just “knock you off your feet”?  There are times I catch myself in the middle of something happening and I realize that this was something I prayed for and just am amazed!

 

A:  Think back over times when God has answered some of your very specific prayers and thank Him for that and be amazed at God all over again!  Then continue in prayer for the things you are still seeking Him for.

 

P:  Lord, the song, “I stand, I stand in awe of You, Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You!” comes to mind this morning as I think about Peter and Rhoda and John Mark’s mother and the others that you just blew away with the way You heard and answered their prayers that night while Peter was sleeping soundly in the prison.  God I pray we too would be knocked off our feet by the way You hear and answer our prayers.  I am also reminded again how important it is to keep those night watches and stand in the gap for others, others who may not have any idea you are praying for them, but then who knows what our prayers can do for another person.  Keep us as Psalms 15 says clean and walking rightly with You so that as we follow Your direction that we can be used as vessels in accordance with what You are doing and as we pray in accordance with Your will we can know that our prayers will be answered.  Thank you LORD for hearing and answering us.  In Your Mighty Name and through Christ we pray Amen & Amen.

Intercessory Prayer

□ Ex. 32; Acts 8:1-25

S:  Exodus 32:30 Then the next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 So Moses returned to the Lord, and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin [against You], and have made themselves a god of gold. 32 Yet now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written (kill me)!”

Acts 8:24 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”

O:  I find it interesting that Aaron in verse 5 said after he had made the golden calf that the next day would be a feast to the LORD.  I wonder if Aaron really thought he would be worshipping the One True God or what his thinking was in making this statement.

The one thing I find in both passages is the thought of intercessory prayer as seen in Exodus 32:30-32 and Acts 8:24.  Matthew Henry says this:  “Pray to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings.”

In Acts 8 the apostles encountered a man who wanted to use religion to further himself in this life.  This account reminds us that earthly wealth cannot “purchase the pardon of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and/or eternal life.”  “Our hearts are what they are in the sight of God, who cannot be deceived. And if they are not right in his sight, our religion is vain, and will stand us in no stead.”  You see it is so easy to deceive ourselves.  Scripture tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9)  We must pray for godly wisdom and understanding.  We must not only intercede for others, but also ourselves!

“May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God.” ~ Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

A:  Be ready and willing to spend time in intercessory prayer!!

P:  Dear Jesus, May our minds and hearts be right before you.  You alone know the intentions and the secret things of our hearts, even things that may be hidden from us.  It is so easy to deceive ourselves.  Give us godly friends who will keep us accountable to You and to speak truth into our lives and give us hearts open to listen.  Help us to always be intercessing for ourselves and those we care about that we and they might be pardoned of sin and inhabited more and more by Your Holy Spirit.  Amen & Amen 

 

 

Love & Blessings,

  Michelle L. Kirkbride

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Sanctification

□ Ex. 29:44-46; Acts 7

Theme:  Sanctification and in Acts - Stephen's defense. (1-50) Stephen reproves the Jews for the death of Christ. (51-53) The martyrdom of Stephen. (54-60)

S:  ⁴⁶ They shall know [from personal experience] and acknowledge that I am the Lord their God who brought them out …

But they didn’t according to Acts 7:43 “You also took along the tabernacle (portable temple) of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha …”  They thought they could have God + Moloch, but God is a jealous God.  He is not going to share the center stage (or backstage for that matter) with any other person or thing in your life.  It is Christ alone!

Stephen calls them out on it in verse ⁵¹ “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.”

O:  I find it interesting that Stephen spent several minutes recounting the history of Israel to these well learned men of the council.  Matthew Henry points out that one of Stephen’s points in doing this was to reflect back on their very poor beginnings.  They took a lot of pride in being Jewish and Stephen points out that it was all God and had nothing to do with them.

Matthew Henry writes this in reflection of Verses 17-29 “Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times …”  I was discussing this with my children yesterday about Moses.  He was preserved from infancy for a special plan and purpose.  God takes care of his servants.  But it did take EIGHTY YEARS!  for Moses to be prepared and for God’s timing to be perfect. 

In regards to the temple Matthew Henry points this out, “… none of our services can profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of Christ, the broken and spiritual heart is his most valued temple.”  The leaders of that day (and even in to this day) loved the idea of the temple and the ordinances.  One of my prayers is that “doing” church would not become more important to us then “being” a church body and Christ’s servant.

“Stephen died as much in a hurry as ever any man did, yet, when he died, the words used are, he fell asleep; he applied himself to his dying work with as much composure as if he had been going to sleep. He shall awake again in the morning of the resurrection, to be received into the presence of the Lord, where is fullness of joy, and to share the pleasures that are at his right hand, for evermore.” ~ Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Acts 7

A:  Application #1) to submit daily to the Holy Spirit, 2) to know from personal experience the LORD who brings me out and sanctifies me daily, 3) to not mix other “gods” with my service to Jesus, 4) to be patient to wait on God’s perfect timing and to prepare me fully for the works He has for me to do (Ephesians 2:10) and lastly 5) to be careful not to put church and “doing” above God, who is the head of the church.

P:  Dear Jesus, I know You are my Deliverer; the One who has redeemed me.  May I remember on a daily basis that You are the One who is in the process of making me more like Christ each day.  It is nothing I can do on my own except to be willing to listen and obey You.  May I not resist the Holy Spirit’s work in my life, but to become a daily sacrifice willing to do the things that You ask me to do.  May I be careful to not bring along my own “gods” as I seek to worship You each day, but to always remember it is Christ Alone!  Thank You for the good works that You have prepared for me to do according to Ephesians 2:10; some I feel I have already accomplished and some I look forward to doing and being used of You.  Thank You for being present in my life.  In Jesus’ Saving Name I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Love & Blessings,

  Michelle L. Kirkbride

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