I battled with depression after the death of my father. My depression was so severe that I would shut out the world for three days and stay in bed.
You may know what I am talking about, or know someone who is currently struggling with depression.
I have written a short ebook that explains how I found myself from happy-go-lucky Christian one moment to depressed loser very shortly. I was not living the victorious Christian life.
Jesus turned my life around step by step and I will show you how.
Jesus has given us keys to the kingdom. I learned what that meant the hard way. There are keys to victory in Jesus and I will share what i have learned with you.
This all started with the verse of the day on YouVersion. I used to groan in prayer early in my walk with God and many found it strange. Groaning intercession is biblical. I read an article that highlights the Prevailing Prince of Prayer that was interceding for Charles Finney during the greatest revival in American History. His name is Daniel Nash.
Are you looking for ways to pray more effectively? Do you want to learn about "groaning intercession" and how it can help you pray more effectively? In this blog post, we will explore what "groaning intercession" is and how it can help us pray more effectively.
Why is "groaning intercession" important, and how can it help me pray more effectively?
1) For believers in Jesus Christ who want to learn more about prayer, "groaning intercession" is important because it is a way to communicate with God on a deeper level. It is a way to express our needs and desires to God, and to ask for His help and guidance. "Groaning intercession" can help us pray more effectively because it allows us to be more honest and authentic in our communication with God.
2) For those who are interested in revival and the work of Charles Finney and Daniel Nash, "groaning intercession" is important because it is a way to cry out to God for His intervention. It is a way to plead with God to bring about change and revival in our hearts, minds, and souls. "Groaning intercession" can help us be more effective in our prayers because it allows us to be more desperate and earnest in our communication with God.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Praying for a specific area or community before an evangelistic event
2. Praying fervently and continually during the event
3. Praying for guidance and direction afterwards
1. Praying for a specific area or community before an evangelistic event
Praying for a specific area or community before an evangelistic event: It is important to pray for a specific area or community before holding an evangelistic event. This allows God to prepare the hearts of those who will be attending and to open their hearts to the message that will be shared. To do this, find a quiet place where you can focus on prayer. Spend time asking God to work in the hearts of those who will be attending the event. Pray that they would be open to hearing the gospel and that they would be receptive to the message that will be shared. Pray also for the event itself, that it would run smoothly and that God would be glorified through it.
It is also important to pray for the event itself, that it would run smoothly and that God would be glorified through it. Pray also for the evangelists who will be sharing the gospel message, that they would be bold and clear in their sharing, and that God would use them to reach many people for His kingdom.
2. Praying fervently and continually during the event
Daniel Nash was a powerful intercessor who paved the way for revivalist Charles Finney. Nash would enter a town ahead of Finney and begin fervently praying for God to move in the community. He would often find two or three people to enter into a covenant of prayer with him. This prayer ministry was crucial in preparing the community for Finney's meetings and seeing powerful conversions take place.
Nash's prayer ministry was not only crucial in preparing the community for Finney's meetings, but also in seeing powerful conversions take place. Nash's prayers would often bring about dramatic changes in the community, with people coming to Christ in droves. It was clear that Nash's prayers were having a profound effect on the town, and that God was using him mightily to bring about revival.
3. Praying for guidance and direction afterwards
Today we're going to be talking about Romans 826 is what inspired it. It was the verse of the day on you version. I'm going to read it to you and then we're going to go for it. Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Well, here I am finding myself just getting this verse thrown into my lap, and, you know, my passion is for us to have a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. I actually know a little bit about this groaning intercession. And what's interesting is when I got saved, I had stumbled across a mentor, and I'm not really sure when I started groaning. I don't remember when it started. It was just a natural part of prayer. I felt like I was travailing in the Spirit. One of the things that happens in effectual prayer, there's this point where it's a breakthrough. You sense that, "okay, I prayed it through".
So what does this mean for us? First of all, we need to be careful not to pray for things that we think we need, but rather to ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Secondly, we need to be patient in our prayer life and trust that God is working even when we don't see results right away.
Prayer is an important part of the Christian life, and "groaning intercession" is a way to pray more effectively. "Groaning intercession" allows us to be more honest and authentic in our communication with God, and it can help us be more effective in our prayers. If you're a believer in Jesus Christ who wants to learn more about prayer and how it can be used more effectively in evangelism, this blog post is for you.
I’d love to hear how you apply The power of groaning intercession to get prayerful evangelism.. Leave me a comment on how it went for you or drop any questions you want me to answer!
Hey everyone, Conrad here from ConradRocks.Net! Welcome back to another thought-provoking exploration into the depths of our faith and our walk with the Lord Jesus. Today, a powerful verse from Proverbs really jumped out at me during my quiet time, and I felt compelled to share my reflections with you all. It's Proverbs 20:27: "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly."
Understanding Our Inner Candle
This verse, "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," is truly profound. Think about it. Our very spirit, the essence of who we are, is likened to a candle lit by God. This isn't just about intellectual understanding; it’s about a deep, internal illumination that God Himself provides. This candle isn't meant to sit idly by. No, it has a purpose: "searching all the inward parts of the belly." This speaks to the Holy Spirit's work within us, probing our thoughts, our motives, and the deepest recesses of our being.
Living here in South Mississippi, down on the Gulf Coast, we've had our fair share of rain lately. It got me thinking about something seemingly unrelated: mowing the lawn. You see, you can read all the manuals, watch all the YouTube videos about how to mow, but until you actually get out there and do it, you don't truly know what it entails. You learn about the sweat, the right clothes, the physical exertion. The theory becomes real through experience. This, in many ways, mirrors our spiritual journey.
Head Knowledge vs. Experiential Knowledge of the Spiritual
We can accumulate vast amounts of spiritual knowledge. We can read the Bible cover to cover, attend countless sermons, and engage in theological discussions. This is like reading about an apple – we can be told its taste, its texture, its health benefits, but until we actually bite into one, we don't truly know the experience. It’s the same with the things of the spirit. We can read that Jesus is Lord, that God is a spirit, and that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."), but until we actively engage in that spiritual relationship, it remains largely head knowledge.
Think about the Apostle Paul before his encounter on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He was a Pharisee, deeply knowledgeable in the scriptures. He had the text memorized! Yet, prior to that life-altering event, he didn't possess the spirit in the same way. As I often emphasize, my passion is for you to develop a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. Even the devil knows the scriptures and can quote them (Matthew 4:6: "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."). Knowing the text isn't enough; we need the spirit.
Paul's Transformation: An Encounter with the Spirit
Paul's experience in Acts 9 is a powerful testament to this truth. His encounter with the living Jesus on that road completely transformed him. He went from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the most influential apostles. In Galatians 1:16-17, he speaks of not conferring with flesh and blood, but going away into Arabia to be taught directly by the Lord. He was being guided by the Spirit of Truth, just as Jesus promised (John 16:13: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.").
In Romans 8:9, Paul makes a profound statement: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." This isn't just theological jargon; it's a stark reality. Having the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us is fundamental to belonging to Him. Paul, who once had the scriptures memorized but lacked this vital spiritual connection, understood this deeply.
The Necessity of Seeking the Spirit
We can be sincere in our faith, genuinely desiring a relationship with God, yet still be sincerely wrong in how we pursue it. Simply reading about a spiritual relationship isn't the same as having one. We need to actively and earnestly seek the Spirit of God. If our hearts are open and our consciences aren't hardened towards Him, we will break through. Sometimes, like with Paul being knocked off his horse, God may use dramatic means to get our attention and draw us closer.
I often wonder if Paul had someone praying for him, a grandmother perhaps. It reminds me of the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Even as he was heading back towards his father, his heart and mind were still processing his past actions. Similarly, as we turn towards God, our inner "candle," our spirit, begins to search our inward parts.
Jesus: The Way, Our Compass Heading
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). I like to think of "the way" as a compass heading. We may not have a detailed road map to heaven, but we have a direction – Jesus. When God spoke to the prophets, He often gave them a direction, not a detailed plan. Genesis 12:1 says, "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." It was a call to move in a specific direction, trusting in God's guidance.
Joseph's dreams (Genesis 37) weren't a step-by-step guide, but a vision, a compass heading that sustained him through trials in the pit and in prison, ultimately leading him to the palace. Our relationship with Jesus is similar. We get up from the "slop with the pigs," so to speak, and start heading in His direction. As we do, the "candle of the Lord" within us illuminates our inward parts.
The Fire of the Spirit: Purification and Guidance
The candle is fire, and Jesus baptizes with fire (Luke 3:16: "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."). As we spiritually seek God, this fire within us, though it may feel like it burns our flesh (our old nature), ultimately purifies our spirit. When we allow the spirit to lead, drawing near to God, our flesh comes under subjection.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must diligently seek Him in spirit and in truth. God, the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9: "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"), desires a deep, spiritual connection with us that goes beyond mere Bible reading.
Before his transformation, Paul, under the tutelage of Gamaliel, was engaged in intellectual wrestling with the scriptures. While theological understanding has its place, it cannot replace the experiential knowledge that comes from a genuine encounter with the Spirit
of Truth. As we work in the "field," like tasting the apple or mowing the lawn, those manuals and videos start to make real sense. The knowledge transitions from the head to the heart, becoming experiential.
The Groanings of the Spirit: Inward Revelation
The passage about the candle searching the belly truly comes alive when you begin to sense things in your gut – a deep knowing, a conviction about truth. We see this exemplified when Jesus groaned within Himself before raising Lazarus (John 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"). There was power emanating from His innermost being.
We also learn about "groanings which cannot be uttered" in Romans 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." There's a deep, spiritual communication happening within our "inward parts," that belly region that once nourished us physically as infants. It's from this place that rivers of living water will flow (John 7:38: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."). We begin to recognize that "gut feeling," that check in our spirit when danger approaches or when we are about to go against our conscience. I know I've experienced that physical manifestation of internal conflict, that churning in the stomach.
Lighting and Tending the Inner Flame
Once we have that initial spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus, that inner candle is lit. Perhaps God starts the fire, as He did with Paul, but we, like the priests in the Old Testament, have a responsibility to tend to that flame, to keep it burning. This spiritual connection becomes like the word of the Lord, which not only burns within us but also acts as "a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
Conclusion and Call to Action
My friends, I encourage you to move beyond just reading about the spiritual life and actively pursue a deep, experiential relationship with Jesus. Let the candle of the Lord within you search and illuminate your path. Dig deeper into the Word, seek the Holy Spirit with all your heart, and allow Him to guide you into all truth. The supernatural realm becomes tangible when we connect with God on a spiritual level.
I want to give a shoutout to holyfirejapan.com and Stephen Barrett for the awesome work they are doing in ministry. Also, a big thank you to Christa Dupri Sparks for your support of this podcast! Your shares, ratings, and comments truly help get this message out to more people.
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