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The root of war
“We have only to open our eyes and look about us to see what our sins are doing to the world, and have done. But we cannot see. We are the ones to whom it is said by the prophets of God: ‘Hearing hear, and understand not; and see the vision, and know it not.” Thomas Merton, Seven Storey Mountain…
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Lessons on intercession from Daniel
The more I walk through Daniel the more I see it as a master class on intercession. Years ago I tried to develop a series called “Living in Babylon” based on Daniel. I taught on Daniel, blogged on Daniel, did podcasts on Daniel. And more than ever I am convinced we need his example. American Christians need his example. As…
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Daniel and the impossible work of intercession
I am still working my through Daniel in my meditations on intercession. My life has had a little more busyness and slight chaos to it, so I haven’t reflected very well or written much. What I am trying to do at this point in my walk through Daniel is not lose hope. Seriously.
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This is the mess… and we need intercessors
Given the lack of confessional ecclesiastical structures in Evangelical churches, there was no way of meaningfully testing prophetic pulpit pronunciations by the laity, so they continued to follow leaders simply because they were leaders. This proved particularly concerning for Jon Ward because of Bethel Church’s approach to politics. “Bethel leaders,” writes Ward, “viewed the world in Manichean terms, as a…
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Intercession — don’t lose focus
Daniel 7 is a chapter that keeps unfolding to me every time I walk through it with any amount of attentiveness. It is significant to the time of Jesus because this is what the Jewish people are pondering and anticipating when Jesus arrives. It is also helpful because it keeps me grounded. I get consumed… consumed… with the stuff going…
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An intercession for the American Church
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace to take to heart the grave dangers we are in through our many divisions. Deliver your Church from all enmity and prejudice, and everything that hinders us from godly union. As there is one Body and one Spirit, one hope of…
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The tests
Daniel 3 is the test of allegiance. It is not about being delivered from the fire. It is about the willingness to go through the fire. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were all tested. (I won’t use the Babylonian names forced on them.) They had survived in Babylon by learning the culture (rather than be summarily executed) and contributing to the…
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The confidence
My last post reflected on Daniel 2 and the expectation he had that God would speak. The expectation Daniel carried keeps me in thought and prayer. This isn’t something meant for a just a “chosen few.” As believers, we can live in the power of expectation.
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The expectation
My walk in prayer and meditation lately has been a challenge regarding intercession. The challenge isn’t just intercession, but being ready, having the fire of the Spirit and the work of the Cross being effective in my life. Intercession takes me to Daniel. As I am reading Daniel 2, which is the story of Nebuchadnezzar having a dream and refusing…
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The wilderness
For the past several weeks my study has taken me through some character studies as I look at what the Lord is asking of me in the way of prayer and intercession. My meanderings have pointed me in the direction of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and Paul. It’s all just at the beginning. My challenge is to follow through. It’s…
Tag: Prayer
