Section Five To Dream Again – the Nature of Movements
Introduction
At its best, Christianity is a lay movement. Wherever Christianity is growing around the world, whether in South America, Asia, Africa or in Eastern Europe this single characteristic is the most significant element in that growth. That does not mean that there is no leadership, professional or volunteer but it does mean that the goal of leadership is to empower and release the whole body of Christ in such a way that the creation of movement is the result. Mobilisation and multiplication not attraction and addition are the hallmarks of this kind of people movement.
But perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of these various people movements is that in many situations there was little sign of dramatic growth thirty or forty years ago. More than this, if you had talked to any of the long term leaders who were in the field a single generation ago, they would have reported to you that the work was hard, the people unreceptive and the churches lethargic. Few if any would have predicted the outbreak of movement.
That reality is bound to cause us to ask, what is it that causes the generation and growth of movement? Before we address that question it is vital to be clear what we mean by movement.
1. What is a movement?
Not a fad or a fashion. We are not talking about a transient fad or fashion that is here today and disappears tomorrow. Movements do have times of growth and decline but we are talking about something which has a degree of longevity that at least lasts beyond a single generation.
Not a pressure group, campaign or cause. We are not describing a campaign or even a cause which is focussed around a single issue and which ends with the accomplishment of particular goals or outcomes.
A way of looking at the world. Rather we are talking about a change in the way people look at the world such that significant numbers of people are drawn to passionate commitment to a cause which is both significant enough to change their personal world and produces a determination to impact the whole world. Movements, especially spiritual movements, not only change a person’s worldview but have a shaping energy sufficient to impact and change whole cultures. What are the key stages in the development of movements?
2. Components of a movement
Energy - The Divine spark. Movements that impact whole cultures begin with individuals or small groups of people who are somehow transformed by a spiritual encounter that dramatically changes their personal lives. The occurrence of such encounters is probably more widespread than we sometimes imagine. Almost certainly, in every culture and in every generation some people have experiences of this kind. They cannot be planned for, predicted or arranged through a programme but they almost certainly happen unexpectedly and spontaneously.
Conceptualisation - an interpretative framework. For a movement to develop out of such personal experiences it is necessary for someone to offer an explanation of these spiritual encounters to allow others to be part of that experience. They may not themselves have the same experiences but an interpretative framework can allow people to identify with those experiences. Peter did just that on the day of Pentecost. He did not say to the crowd, “this is just one of those things”. Instead he explained that this is that which was promised in the prophecy of Joel. Having been offered such an explanation, and a clear way to identify with the experience, through belief in Jesus, repentance and baptism, others were able to join the movement whether or not they had experienced exactly the same thing that had just taken place. Later, Peter did something of the same when the Holy Spirit descended on gentiles. He offered an explanation, or interpretative framework that allowed that new group of gentiles to identify with the broader Christian movement. Movements are engendered when the initial participants begin to see a wider significance in that which they have experienced.
Mobilisation - the multiplication of many. The capacity to mobilise people such that the interpretive framework can be understood and explained by others represents the moment of take-off for a movement. It is vital that movement not depend on the explanation of the experts or professionals. If it does then multiplication is replaced by mere addition and dynamic growth is not possible. Movements have to be highly transportable and they are only transportable when every member can transmit the core explanation without help from an expert.
Organisation –giving power, permanence and purpose. Formal structures sometimes receive a bad press in relation to movements. There are many who see structure as the antithesis of movement. But in reality the creation of organisation actually adds power to the otherwise undirected energy of the initial movement. Of course, structures without creative energy do cause movements to plateau and then decline and it is often that phase of organisational life that people observe as the death knell of movement. But creative energy well harnessed to organisational skill represents the period of most rapid growth and impact for any movement.
3. Recovering roots
The implication of the above could be that it is always best to begin with nothing. Certainly there are those who are sufficiently disenchanted with existing structures that they simply do not have the heart or the vision or the will to renew that which already exists. That can be a matter of call and gift. Some are not called or able to renew existing structures and have no alternative but to strike out afresh. But it is not inevitable for movements to ossify or to decline to the point of death. It is undeniably true that some movements or denominations are not renewed and do die. But there are sufficient examples of the renewal of movements to believe that decline and death are not inevitable outcomes.
We have paid attention above to what happens on the left hand side of the bell curve. It is also necessary to consider what might happen on the right hand side of the bell curve. Unless there is a significant intervention from gifted leadership, the usual pattern of movements or organisations features the following steps.
Plateau and the beginning of decline. There is a delicate balance required in the harnessing of creative energy to organisational skill. All too frequently, organisational skill will dominate over time at the expense of creative energy. As that takes place the watchword becomes “consolidation”. In other words, the message goes out that we need a more stable organisation following a period of rapid growth so that gains are consolidated. That is a valid argument provided that the consolidation genuinely clears ground for another period of chaotic growth to take place. However, the likelihood is that the bringing of order signals that the creative people who disrupt order are no longer able to survive within the organisation and have already left.
Decline and Conflict. As decline sets in, organisations will generally polarise around two groups – the traditionalists and the radicals. These two groups have very different solutions to the problem of decline. The traditionalists wish to emphasise a return to the way we used to do things believing that this will restore growth. The radicals emphasise the need to adopt new methods and solutions for a new day. They are both wrong.
Division and Death. Growing conflict will lead to some kind of division with either the radicals or the conservatives departing. The outcome of such division is usually the death of the organisation. The death may be long and lingering or much more rapid but in either case the organisation ceases to be effective in terms of its original life and vision.
The alternative scenario, difficult though it may be to achieve, is to attempt a process of renewal. Such processes can be accomplished at any point in the decline of an organisation although clearly the greater the decline the more difficult the process of recovery. Renewal can come when creative leadership circumvents the conflict of traditionalists and radicals by asking a different question. The question that needs to be addressed is that of core purpose. Why was this organisation / movement founded? What was its original genius? What was it that God entrusted to the initial participants? What was the Divine deposit that was originally gifted and can that be recast in the present context?
The recasting of the original Divine deposit in a new interpretative framework can allow movement to be rekindled. Such a rekindling assumes a situation in which people are encountering God and coming to faith. If the new vision (interpretative framework) makes sense to these new believers and becomes once again transportable, then movement can be reignited.
4. Stimulating Movements
The rekindling of vision is an art more than a science but the following principles will help.
Realism necessary. Renewing organisations is hard work and history and time tend to be against you. The renewal process requires the presence of creative people who are easily crushed by rigid structures and who tend not to have the patience for the long haul. You may need to protect some of these creative people by developing areas of experimentation where the normal rules of the organisation do not apply.
Spiritual passion. The key issue at the beginning phase of renewal is not large numbers but passion and creativity. A small team with high levels of energy is worth much more than high levels of resource.
Look to the margins. It is very rare for organisations to be renewed from the centre. If you happen to be at the centre, then look to the margins of your organisation for signs of life and nurture them. Give those on the margins permission, encouragement and legitimacy such that eventually the centre can be redefined in terms of the life that exists on the edge.
Live the dream. It is vital to create the kind of teams that manifest in their working relationships something of the dream that they advocate. By living out what you seek to become you establish healthy DNA for the future.
Spiritual strength. The desire to do something different requires that leaders understand what they are up against. Organisations can have a life of their own, a personality that is bigger than the sum total of the individuals involved. Bringing change to organisations requires the spiritual strength to address that developed organisational personality.
Leadership is the key. The recruitment and training of more leaders than you can ever use yourself is the key to the growth of movements. The lack of leadership development operates as the glass ceiling on the growth of every organisation. Developing innovative leadership training systems must be a high priority.
Kingdom focus. The line between the Kingdom of God and personal empire is all too fine a line on occasion. Keep a strong Kingdom focus if you want to attract and keep those who have the capacity to generate movement.
Cheating history. To turn an organisation around so that it becomes again a movement is to cheat history. Be audacious enough to declare that this is what you are daring to do.
5. Achieving much without the many
The Tipping Point. The key to producing movement lies with the principle of multiplication. It is astonishing what can be produced from a very small initial base once multiplication is embedded in a movement. It is an observable reality that the world is constantly changed by committed minorities and not by apathetic majorities. The process by which small groups of people become mainstream influencers is well described in a book that describes the formation of secular movements, called The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell.
The title of the book has begun to enter the vocabulary of politicians and social campaigners on both sides of the Atlantic. Although using very different words, the author describes the operation of key influencers that in Christian terms would be thought of as apostles and evangelists – those who cast the vision, build networks and offer convincing advocacy. At a certain point, a new idea, ideology or even product reaches a tipping point such that it becomes the new orthodoxy. The many enter the scene at a fairly late stage in the process. It is the few that lay the groundwork to allow the many to enter later. The process of multiplication or the production of a tipping point has actually been given a mathematical formulation which Gladwell refers to in his book. He offers an astonishing illustration in relation to the developments of movements by sighting a flu epidemic:
“Tipping Points are moments of great sensitivity. Changes made right at the Tipping Point can have enormous consequences. Our Canadian flu became an epidemic when the number of New Yorkers running into a flu carrier jumped from 50 to 55 a day. But had that same small change happened in the opposite direction, if the number had dropped from 50 to 45, that change would have pushed the number of flu victims down to 478 within a week. And within a few weeks more at that rate, the Canadian flu would have vanished from Manhattan entirely.” (1)
Transportable Movements. Those kinds of statistics indicate precisely why movements need to become transportable in order to achieve significance. Multiple contacts are vital elements in producing tipping points. The church planting teams that operate in the Ukraine are instructed to make 350 contacts each. They recognise that in terms of impact, large numbers of people must be contacted to produce initial momentum. It is for precisely that reason that church planting as an activity often becomes the point of leverage for the development of movement.
6. Time of opportunity
We are living between ages. Living as we do between the close of modernity and the rise of something new we need to remember that the future is still open. In particular it is open to spiritual nourishing.
The consumer narrative is weaker than it seems. The following quotation is taken from one of the leading books on marketing. It is widely regarded by the marketing industry as something of a handbook on understanding marketing and advertising.
“For the first time in human history, a shared mythos has broken down, and commercial messages are now taking the place of shared sacred stories. We know in our hearts that a profession designed to sell products cannot fill this gap. If we take the time to think of how many people are finding the only meaning they have in their lives from consumption of various sorts, we do not feel proud; we feel sad, or even outraged” (2)
Unanswered longing. There are many pointers in our culture to the existence of just a longing for the place of valid sacred reality. The challenge for the contemporary church is whether it can meet that unanswered longing.
What might it take to produce a Christian movement amongst young people in the Western world?
Reading: Starke and Finke, How the Upstart Sects Won America. This article is found in your reader.
Footnotes:
1. Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Difference, Abacus, 2000, p. 261.
2. Mark and Pearson, The Hero and the Outlaw, McGraw-Hill, 2001, p. 359
This paper is chapter 5 of Martin Robinson’s excellent book,
'Invading Secular Space: Strategies for Tomorrow's Church',
which can be ordered at http://www.togetherinmission.org/shop.php.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Praying With/For Insight
Praying With Insight
“What does ‘praying with insight’ mean? It means praying from the perspective of knowledge or understanding regarding the circumstances of the person or situation you are praying for. Insight is the power to see below the surface of a situation, to discern the inner nature or truth of something that is not immediately apparent. Although asking questions and doing research often sheds light on a situation, true insight is essentially a spiritual quality. As such it has its source in God: ‘I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation’ (Psalm 119:99)”
Dear Intercessors,
It is a wonderful thing to know that when we pray, God gives us insight into our situation. We do not beat around in the dark or pray non-relevant, empty prayers, but we can be assured that God will give us wisdom in our prayers if we ask for it. Our prayers can be potent with the insight of God and with a razer-sharp Holy Spirit-inspired ability to see into the spiritual realm for how to best pray in a given situation. Intercessors should be the wisest people on earth, because they are coming to the God of all wisdom with their requests. We read in Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God will lead and direct our intercession if we choose to ask Him to give us insight and wisdom. Gaining wisdom for intercession is more precious than rubies.
“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 8:10-11)
I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you begin a time of prayer. He will help you to see below surface of a situation and discern the truth. Many times I have prayed prayers spontaneously that I later realized were prayers that were initiated by the Holy Spirit, with His insight and wisdom that was beyond my own understanding. I believe that God gives true spiritual insight, but we need to give Him time in order to obtain this type of insight that is beyond our comprehension and that is supernatural. All of us can grow in this area. We are going to need this for the end-times prayer movement. Our God is wiser than all enemy attacks, and He knows the end from the beginning. We are going to need God’s insight as to how to pray as judgments increasingly come upon the earth. He wants to give us quickness in intellect, a readiness in apprehension and dexterity in action. He longs that we are able to judge what is most proper and useful in every prayer situation. He wants us to be wise and insightful in our prayers. We need to be ones who cry out for insight and discernment on a regular basis.
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-6)
The Power of Asking for Insight and Discernment
“Similar to insight in source and meaning is discernment, the ability to comprehend that which is obscure, to distinguish or discriminate (in the positive sense) between good and evil, true and false, right and wrong, especially where (on the surface at least) the differences are very subtle. ‘And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent…’ (Philippines 1:9-10)”
There is power in seeking God for insight, wisdom and discernment. God wants us to be sharp-sighted with the ability to perceive the difference between right and wrong. Webster’s Dictionary says that the word “insight” means “sight or view of the interior of anything; deep inspection or view, thorough knowledge or skill.” God wants to make us into skillful prayer warriors with the ability to see into the inner depths of the things that we are praying for. He wants to give us a deep view and understanding of how to pray. He wants us to approve of that which is excellent and pray accordingly. Wisdom is: “properly having knowledge, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false, between what is fit and proper, and what is improper.” As intercessors, we want to be wise in act, effect and practice. Look at the power of asking for insight in the following examples:
· Solomon asking for wisdom - “’So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right an wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (I Kings 3:9-12)
· We learn the fear of the Lord - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom ad discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)
· Wisdom will be given - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:5-7)
· God reveals His secret counsel - “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
Ways to Pray that Enhance Insight
There are various ways that we can pray that will enhance our ability for insight and wisdom. You may have been involved in some of these ways yourself such as prayerwalking. Prayerwalking is praying on site with insight. It helps you to pray with insight as you see the situation before you when you walk and pray. I have done this numerous times in my own neighborhood. I find that it is a tremendous way to pray with insight because you see the needs around you with your eyes. Praying on-site, such as on a prayer journey with a group, is also insightful praying which helps you to identify with your surroundings. I remember being on a prayer journey in Spain with a large group. God gave us such insight together as we would pray in various cities. He led us into identificational repentance over sins that occurred in those places 100’s of years earlier. We needed to actually be praying on that very location to receive the insight that the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal.
Prayer watches are extended times of prayer when we can tap into the heart of God as we are waiting, watching and praying for several hours. God is able to give us great insight because we are giving Him undistracted time. We read in Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Prayer and fasting is also very beneficial in receiving wisdom, insight and divine revelation from God. It helps us to walk in humility, breaks our selfish ambition and pride, helps us to see God’s priorities and makes us more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to get involved in all of these ways of praying because they will help enhance wisdom, discernment and understanding in your life. Other key verses are: Psalm 59:9, 119:125. Proverbs 10:13, 14:33, 16:21, 17:24a.
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.” (Proverbs 3:21)
Sometimes we just do not know how to pray. I am encouraged in heart by Colossians 2:2-3 which says, “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Therefore, He will give us His wisdom as we pray and ask for it. He is our teacher. Psalm 51:6 says, “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”
“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” (Proverbs 4:7-8)
My prayer for you is that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your prayers. I pray that He will guide you supernaturally in your prayer life and that you will be an example of insight, discernment and wisdom to others. I pray that your prayers will be powerful because they are prayers filled with Godly insight that sees below the surface. I pray that you will be discerning and will keep wisdom in view (Proverbs 17:24a). I pray that your heart may be enlightened with hope and power to believe.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17-23)
Intercessors Arise Prayer Requests and Opportunities
· Pray for the development of the new Intercessors Arise International website and the International School of Prayer - Please pray for creativity and wisdom with God’s anointing, presence, and power in every aspect of the development of this website and school of prayer.
· Pray for the release of two Intercessors Arise books - The first book is called Intercessors Arise: A Mentoring Manual Designed to Release Your Potential in Prayer and Intercession and will be published as an e-book very soon. We need approximately $10,000 to publish these two books on intercession in paperback in order to distribute them widely and spread the vision of intercession to other nations. If you would like to contribute financially towards the publishing of these two books, go to the Elijah Company, Inc. web site www.elijahcompany.org, see “contact us” and look at the bottom marked “PayPal donate”. There you will be able to use a credit card through our Pay Pal account. Make a note “For Intercessors Arise”. Intercessors Arise is part of the Elijah Company, Inc. You can also give by sending a check to Elijah Company, Inc., P. O. Box 64016, Virginia Beach, VA 23467-4016.
· Encourage others to receive these Intercessors Arise weekly training e-mails - Please pass this e-mail on to 5 people. They can subscribe by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to intercessorsarise-international-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. If anyone is interested in 24-7 day and night prayer, they can subscribe to our monthly e-mail called 24-7 Prayer Arise by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to 24-7prayerarise-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. You can also e-mail me at deb@intercessorsarise.org.
· Missionary Training Camp - May 18-21, 2006 - This will be held at Living Waters Farm in Virginia. The training camps are intensive days that prepare missionary candidates by teaching the steps to get to the field. For more information see www.elijahcompany.org, call 757-226-3507 or write to elijah@elijahcompany.org. This is also good for intercessors and those needing refreshing in their spiritual walks.
· Campo de Gibraltar House of Prayer - November, 2006 - The Elijah Company, Inc. will be hosting a 24/7 House of Prayer in the Campo de Gibraltar. This is a spiritually strategic area located along the southern tip of Spain, near the Rock of Gibraltar, twenty-three miles from Morocco. We will join with and minister to local churches to seek the outpouring of God’s presence in the area, give practical experience to those pursuing disciplines in prayer and/or a prayer ministry, offer practical training for missions, worship, evangelism and prayer in both English and Spanish, plus offer opportunities for outreach in the countries of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar. For requirements, dates and costs, write to elijah@elijahcompany.org.
“Insight, discernment, wisdom - all are critical qualities for effective prayer. God has called us to be a people of prayer and our churches to be houses of prayer. He has invited us to join Him in His redemptive plan for the world. God gives insight because whenever He gets ready to move, He reveals His plans to those who are seeking Him.” Quotes by Jim Goll
Together in the Harvest,
Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org
“What does ‘praying with insight’ mean? It means praying from the perspective of knowledge or understanding regarding the circumstances of the person or situation you are praying for. Insight is the power to see below the surface of a situation, to discern the inner nature or truth of something that is not immediately apparent. Although asking questions and doing research often sheds light on a situation, true insight is essentially a spiritual quality. As such it has its source in God: ‘I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation’ (Psalm 119:99)”
Dear Intercessors,
It is a wonderful thing to know that when we pray, God gives us insight into our situation. We do not beat around in the dark or pray non-relevant, empty prayers, but we can be assured that God will give us wisdom in our prayers if we ask for it. Our prayers can be potent with the insight of God and with a razer-sharp Holy Spirit-inspired ability to see into the spiritual realm for how to best pray in a given situation. Intercessors should be the wisest people on earth, because they are coming to the God of all wisdom with their requests. We read in Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God will lead and direct our intercession if we choose to ask Him to give us insight and wisdom. Gaining wisdom for intercession is more precious than rubies.
“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 8:10-11)
I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you begin a time of prayer. He will help you to see below surface of a situation and discern the truth. Many times I have prayed prayers spontaneously that I later realized were prayers that were initiated by the Holy Spirit, with His insight and wisdom that was beyond my own understanding. I believe that God gives true spiritual insight, but we need to give Him time in order to obtain this type of insight that is beyond our comprehension and that is supernatural. All of us can grow in this area. We are going to need this for the end-times prayer movement. Our God is wiser than all enemy attacks, and He knows the end from the beginning. We are going to need God’s insight as to how to pray as judgments increasingly come upon the earth. He wants to give us quickness in intellect, a readiness in apprehension and dexterity in action. He longs that we are able to judge what is most proper and useful in every prayer situation. He wants us to be wise and insightful in our prayers. We need to be ones who cry out for insight and discernment on a regular basis.
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:1-6)
The Power of Asking for Insight and Discernment
“Similar to insight in source and meaning is discernment, the ability to comprehend that which is obscure, to distinguish or discriminate (in the positive sense) between good and evil, true and false, right and wrong, especially where (on the surface at least) the differences are very subtle. ‘And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent…’ (Philippines 1:9-10)”
There is power in seeking God for insight, wisdom and discernment. God wants us to be sharp-sighted with the ability to perceive the difference between right and wrong. Webster’s Dictionary says that the word “insight” means “sight or view of the interior of anything; deep inspection or view, thorough knowledge or skill.” God wants to make us into skillful prayer warriors with the ability to see into the inner depths of the things that we are praying for. He wants to give us a deep view and understanding of how to pray. He wants us to approve of that which is excellent and pray accordingly. Wisdom is: “properly having knowledge, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false, between what is fit and proper, and what is improper.” As intercessors, we want to be wise in act, effect and practice. Look at the power of asking for insight in the following examples:
· Solomon asking for wisdom - “’So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right an wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (I Kings 3:9-12)
· We learn the fear of the Lord - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom ad discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)
· Wisdom will be given - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:5-7)
· God reveals His secret counsel - “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
Ways to Pray that Enhance Insight
There are various ways that we can pray that will enhance our ability for insight and wisdom. You may have been involved in some of these ways yourself such as prayerwalking. Prayerwalking is praying on site with insight. It helps you to pray with insight as you see the situation before you when you walk and pray. I have done this numerous times in my own neighborhood. I find that it is a tremendous way to pray with insight because you see the needs around you with your eyes. Praying on-site, such as on a prayer journey with a group, is also insightful praying which helps you to identify with your surroundings. I remember being on a prayer journey in Spain with a large group. God gave us such insight together as we would pray in various cities. He led us into identificational repentance over sins that occurred in those places 100’s of years earlier. We needed to actually be praying on that very location to receive the insight that the Holy Spirit wanted to reveal.
Prayer watches are extended times of prayer when we can tap into the heart of God as we are waiting, watching and praying for several hours. God is able to give us great insight because we are giving Him undistracted time. We read in Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Prayer and fasting is also very beneficial in receiving wisdom, insight and divine revelation from God. It helps us to walk in humility, breaks our selfish ambition and pride, helps us to see God’s priorities and makes us more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to get involved in all of these ways of praying because they will help enhance wisdom, discernment and understanding in your life. Other key verses are: Psalm 59:9, 119:125. Proverbs 10:13, 14:33, 16:21, 17:24a.
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.” (Proverbs 3:21)
Sometimes we just do not know how to pray. I am encouraged in heart by Colossians 2:2-3 which says, “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Therefore, He will give us His wisdom as we pray and ask for it. He is our teacher. Psalm 51:6 says, “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”
“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” (Proverbs 4:7-8)
My prayer for you is that God will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your prayers. I pray that He will guide you supernaturally in your prayer life and that you will be an example of insight, discernment and wisdom to others. I pray that your prayers will be powerful because they are prayers filled with Godly insight that sees below the surface. I pray that you will be discerning and will keep wisdom in view (Proverbs 17:24a). I pray that your heart may be enlightened with hope and power to believe.
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:17-23)
Intercessors Arise Prayer Requests and Opportunities
· Pray for the development of the new Intercessors Arise International website and the International School of Prayer - Please pray for creativity and wisdom with God’s anointing, presence, and power in every aspect of the development of this website and school of prayer.
· Pray for the release of two Intercessors Arise books - The first book is called Intercessors Arise: A Mentoring Manual Designed to Release Your Potential in Prayer and Intercession and will be published as an e-book very soon. We need approximately $10,000 to publish these two books on intercession in paperback in order to distribute them widely and spread the vision of intercession to other nations. If you would like to contribute financially towards the publishing of these two books, go to the Elijah Company, Inc. web site www.elijahcompany.org, see “contact us” and look at the bottom marked “PayPal donate”. There you will be able to use a credit card through our Pay Pal account. Make a note “For Intercessors Arise”. Intercessors Arise is part of the Elijah Company, Inc. You can also give by sending a check to Elijah Company, Inc., P. O. Box 64016, Virginia Beach, VA 23467-4016.
· Encourage others to receive these Intercessors Arise weekly training e-mails - Please pass this e-mail on to 5 people. They can subscribe by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to intercessorsarise-international-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. If anyone is interested in 24-7 day and night prayer, they can subscribe to our monthly e-mail called 24-7 Prayer Arise by clicking and sending a blank e-mail to 24-7prayerarise-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org. You can also e-mail me at deb@intercessorsarise.org.
· Missionary Training Camp - May 18-21, 2006 - This will be held at Living Waters Farm in Virginia. The training camps are intensive days that prepare missionary candidates by teaching the steps to get to the field. For more information see www.elijahcompany.org, call 757-226-3507 or write to elijah@elijahcompany.org. This is also good for intercessors and those needing refreshing in their spiritual walks.
· Campo de Gibraltar House of Prayer - November, 2006 - The Elijah Company, Inc. will be hosting a 24/7 House of Prayer in the Campo de Gibraltar. This is a spiritually strategic area located along the southern tip of Spain, near the Rock of Gibraltar, twenty-three miles from Morocco. We will join with and minister to local churches to seek the outpouring of God’s presence in the area, give practical experience to those pursuing disciplines in prayer and/or a prayer ministry, offer practical training for missions, worship, evangelism and prayer in both English and Spanish, plus offer opportunities for outreach in the countries of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar. For requirements, dates and costs, write to elijah@elijahcompany.org.
“Insight, discernment, wisdom - all are critical qualities for effective prayer. God has called us to be a people of prayer and our churches to be houses of prayer. He has invited us to join Him in His redemptive plan for the world. God gives insight because whenever He gets ready to move, He reveals His plans to those who are seeking Him.” Quotes by Jim Goll
Together in the Harvest,
Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org
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