2-- About Intercessory Prayer And Divine Healing

Testimony About Intercessory Prayer Back in either late 1974 or early 1975 I read the book "Reese Howells-- Intercessor". Before I did, I just prayed seldom and usually just the Lord's prayer. After reading the first half of that book, I felt that I should stop reading fiction books and do a lot of intercessory prayer in relation to news events and my observations in church and in school. I should have kept a diary or a notebook. I also learned to pray for myself properly too, but I still prefer to pray for others, many whom I will never know. I believe that God has answered most (if not all) of my prayers for the positive (maybe in different forms than those desired). I believe that God does say no to a lot of selfish prayers or wait. Whenever I hear or read of a tragedy, I pray for the survivors, friends, relatives, and especially for any true Christians involved in the help after. Tragedy influences people to either turn to God or get more committed to Him, or to become resentful of Him. When people are in peaceful situations, like in much of the USA and Europe, they are just in survival modes and if they go to church they are just religious. So whenever I can, I encourage and even exhort individuals to do intercessory (unselfish) praying. If we do, we are rewarded with divine peace and many times divine joy eventually. It is one of the best uses of time. Romans 8:23-28 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have {and} enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God's sons). For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees? But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience {and} composure. So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid {and} bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer {nor} how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication {and} pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings {and} groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes {and} pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to {and} in harmony with God's will. We are assured {and} know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together {and} are [fitting into a plan] for good to {and} for those who love God and are called according to [His] design {and} purpose.” What is Jesus Christ coming back for? Where and how well is His bride, the church of believers in Him? Looking around at, reading about, listening to, and being involved in various ministries, I do wonder about this question. I know a lot of dogmatic Christian leaders are going to be made unexpectedly ashamed (if I read my Bible right) about warnings to teachers and "masters". I have heard and seen very few examples of agapéo love and I have heard and seen a lot of examples of hatred, lying, name calling, gossiping, speculating, unconstructive criticizing, condemnation, strife, fraud, deceit, taking advantage, man-pleasing, etc. in Christian churches and schools. I have met only a few individuals who are really striving for Biblical holiness and who are not ashamed of being properly old-fashioned. Are we all going to be influenced to compromise to the ways of the world in order to remain employed even in “Christian” service ministries? I will not! (I wrote this in March 1975.) Yes, I absolutely believe in miracles. I have had some in my life, but none of them were in "healing" or "word of faith" services or because of James 5:14. I just have simply asked God directly for help. He is so wonderful and knows exactly how much we each can take in health, relationship, and situation challenges. But Romans 8:28, Psalm 37, Philippians 4:4-8, and Proverbs 3:5-6 have kept me going onward towards Christ-likeness and doing the Great Commission. Our wonderful God uses the meek, the weak, the not-so-smart to confound and challenge the confident, strong (100% healthy), and smart. No matter what challenges we are confronted with, we can always find something to be thankful for, so we can always "rejoice in the Lord" and do intercessory prayer for others. Miracles are done by God to encourage such-- for increasing faith in and love for Him and unselfishness.