From Dutch Sheets:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37 NASB)
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14 NASB)
“Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NASB)
Today, I want to encourage you as you pray - for prodigals, unsaved individuals, the miracle you need, even the saving of America. And since people are already thinking about Christmas, I thought I’d do so with a passage that has to do with the birth of Christ.
Luke 1:37, shown above, was the angel's response to Mary‘s question of how she, as a virgin, could possibly have a baby. The angel told her Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Christ. (v. 35) He then mentioned Elizabeth being pregnant with John the Baptist. (v. 36) Then he made the powerful statement in verse 37, “With God, nothing is impossible.”
A more literal and accurate translation of this verse is, “For no word spoken by God is without power.” Just let that sink in. The angel was saying, “The words I’m speaking to you are God’s words. Therefore, they have the power to perform this miracle. No word spoken by Him is without power.” What a statement.
Whether it be an angel speaking God’s words, as it was here, a prophet (Isaiah 55:11), or an intercessor walking and talking with God, no word God has spoken is without power. This is why I often put Scripture references in the prayers at the end of the posts, as I did yesterday. I want you to know which verses the prayer is based on so you can be confident in its power, and also to equip you as you continue praying and declaring God’s Words. There is no more powerful prayer, or weapon against satan, than speaking God’s Word. As you pray for your prodigal, speak the Word. Use verses Holy Spirit gives you personally, of course; you can begin by using the references I gave in yesterday’s prayer.
The other two verses above (Hebrews 4:14 and 10:23) encourage us to hold firmly to our “confession” of faith. Confession is the Greek word homologia, which simply means to “say the same.”(1) “Confessing” our faith in God is “saying what He says” - literally. This is how our faith is released: by saying what God says. This is how His power is released from us: by saying what God says, which is never without power. Don’t overcomplicate it; just say what God says. Say what He says about salvation. Say what He says about overcoming demonic strongholds. Say what He says about your needs being met. Say what He says about your body. Say what He says about our nation.
Say what God says!
Both of these two verses in Hebrews also tell us to “hold firmly” to “saying what He says.” (The KJV uses the phrase “hold fast.”) Each verse uses a different word, however, when telling us to hold firmly to what God says. The first verse (Hebrews 4:14) uses krateo; (2) the other (10:23) uses katecho.(3)Though they sound similar, these are completely different words. The first (krateo) is from a word meaning strength or might; this is telling us that regardless of how much effort it requires, we must be determined to keep saying what God says. Why? Because no word He has spoken is without power!
“Holding firm” in the second verse (katecho) is from a word simply meaning “to hold” something. This form of the word, however, adds intensity to the meaning: don’t let go! Hold on! Don’t let go of saying what God says. Grab His word, say it, say it again, and keep on saying it!
By using both of these words, Holy Spirit is telling us: “Hold on, keep on holding on; hold on with all of your might and strength to what God says!” Why? Because no words spoken by God are without power!!! When you say what He says, you are releasing His power!
The verse in Hebrews 4:14 actually occurs in the context of prayer. Two verses later (v.16), we are told to come boldly to the throne of grace, where we will receive mercy and grace in our times of need. So, “As you pray,” God is saying, “hold on to saying what I say - with all your might and strength - which will release the power of My Words and promises.
And finally, Hebrews 10:23 above tells us to do this “without wavering.” This is a figurative use of the Greek word aklines,(4) which literally means “not leaning.” The concept of the root word, klino,(5) is “to slant, slope, or lean.” The prefix “a" in Greek makes it a negative - “without leaning” or “don’t lean.” The point is: stand upright! Be firm! Don’t let anything knock you off balance! If you’re leaning, you won’t be able to stay on target as you press toward the finish line. You will get off course; you’ll waver. Hold on to what God says; keep saying it, and this will keep you on course. . . WHILE IT RELEASES HIS POWER!
Take some time and look up verses that relate to the issue for which you are praying, whether that be a prodigal or a nation. Holy Spirit will lead you to various verses. Perhaps even get a friend or two to do the same, then combine your lists and the insights He gives. Then begin saying them. Declare them over your situation/s daily. This will release the awesome power of God.
For today’s prayer, let’s do something different. Use the verses I shared in yesterday’s prayer and declare what God leads you to decree from them. Here they are once again:
Pray with me:
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6 NASB)
“But when he [the prodigal son] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!” (Luke 15:17 NASB)
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13 NASB)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NASB)
“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38 NASB)
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)
Our decree:
No word spoken by God is without power!
_____________________________
- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), reference no. 3671.
- Ibid., ref. no. 2902.
- Ibid., ref. no. 2722.
- Ibid., ref. no. 186.
- Ibid., ref. no. 2827.
No comments:
Post a Comment