November 2010 by The Joshua Group

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

november 2010 THIS MONTH

PRAYER MATTERS MAGAZINE is a premier online publication that educates, empowers and engages Christians around the world. It challenges readers to take responsibility to advance the Kingdom of God. The mission of PMM is to equip individuals to become more effective in prayer, fasting and spiritual warfare.

04 THE PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS 07 Q & A 09 PRAYING FOR GOVERNMENTS

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13 THE MATRIX OF INTERCESSION 17 CALENDAR

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18 RECOMMENDED READING

THE PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS

“...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” ~Philippians 2:9-11

PRAYING FOR GOVERNMENTS

09 THE MATRIX OF INTERCESSION 1

Prayer Matters Magazine 3 November 2010

NOVEMBER| frontline

“We are one family”

PEOPLE OF PRAYER Recently, I had the honor of sitting on the Steering Committee of a major evangelistic crusade held in Seattle, Washington, USA. Since 1990, Pastor Greg Laurie has put on large-scale evangelistic outreaches throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. More than 4,219,000 people have attended a Harvest event in person, and more than 350,300 people have registered decisions of faith in Jesus Christ. This year in Seattle, over five thousand gave their lives over to Christ.

My responsibility was to help with the coordination of the intercessory prayer team for the event. Over 300 local churches were involved in virtually every aspect of the crusade. Thousands of volunteers came together to work hand in hand to make the event a success. As hundreds gathered for prayer over the last few months, I couldn’t help but be moved by the unity of the masses. When people come together in agreement to pray for the lost, all denominational differences seem to dissipate. I saw all ages and ethnicity bow down before our Lord to call out for His mercy and grace. I prayed with so many people, and although I knew almost none of them, because of our common Father, I felt as if I knew them all. When Christians unite in prayer with one mind, there is absolutely nothing that can stop the move of God from taking place. Let’s set aside our theological differences and lean on the one thing that we all can agree upon - Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord. v RICK THORP, Publisher

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The Prayer of Forgiveness

By Kim Butts

“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” Scripture is very clear that sin is a hindrance to answered prayer. Isaiah 59:2 states, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” In Psalm 66:18 we read, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened…” One of the most pervasive, tenacious sins in the Christian culture today is unforgiveness. It is disobedience to Christ, and it renders our prayers ineffective and powerless. Many times, an unforgiving spirit

comes from a heart filled with pride. We often feel justified in our unforgiveness because of the wrong done to us. Or, the sin against us was so grievous in our own mind and heart that we cannot possibly forgive. Probably the most common stumbling block in this area is when we say that we have forgiven someone outwardly, while still harboring the resentment or anger in our hearts. Jesus effectively illustrates God’s viewpoint on this matter in Matthew 18:23-35 when the king’s servant, who had been forgiven his debt, turned around and refused to forgive the debt of a fellow servant. The king turned his anger towards the man, threw him in jail and ordered him to pay back all that he

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NOVEMBER | 2010 owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).

tongue they speak deceit” (Psalm 5:9). “Two important things happen,” Moore states, “when we learn to pray honestly about the person who has hurt us:

If you are struggling with your prayer life, could an unforgiving spirit be one area that is keeping you from effectively touching the heart of God with your prayers? From time to time, each of us must take a deep look into the dark places of our hearts, asking the Lord to reveal our sin to us. We can find healing from the sin of unforgiveness in the Scripture, for when we truly understand how strongly God feels about forgiveness, we can seek to be more like Christ in our response to those we need to forgive.

• 1. We pour the hurt out rather than allowing it to remain and turn bitter.

Beth Moore, in her excellent book, Praying God’s Word, has a chapter devoted to “Overcoming Unforgiveness.” Using Scripture, she has a three-fold way to become more like Christ in this area. First, she has an extensive section of scriptural prayers which ask God to do a deep work in us that we might forgive as He forgives us. Next, she recommends praying “about” the person or persons we need to forgive. In essence, she says, we are “tattling” on the person to God. We express how we feel about what that person has done through venting our anger, our exasperation, etc. This was the very way that David dealt with those who were persecuting him. As you read through the Psalms, you will see clearly how David talked “about” those persons to God. He did not hold back from expressing his displeasure: “Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their 5

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• 2. We articulate our own feelings, thereby placing them in view before our own eyes as well as God’s. This way, we also get a chance to see if something seems ridiculous, out of proportion, or right on target. Our prayers can sometimes help us gain a little insight into our own hearts.” If we pour out our grievances to God, we won’t be as likely to pour them out to others, which could then cause them to stum-

ble too. Praying “about” those who wrong us saves us from compounding our sin by

NOVEMBER | 2010 turning it into gossip, or causing others to harbor the same resentments we do. Moore says, “Envision your heart like a pitcher...Praying about the person we need to forgive is the means by which we tip that pitcher heavenward and slowly begin to pour our negative feelings and frustrations out to God. As we pour out, a wonderful thing happens: we make room for God to pour in. Our omniscient God knows that a heart heals when a heart changes. Until we make room for fresh contents that change our hearts, we will never be healed from the injury and subsequent feelings of unforgiveness.” The third area of prayer is to pray “for” those whom we need to forgive. Most of us are already aware that we need to do this; however, we often stubbornly hang onto our “right” not to. If we are to be like Christ, we relinquish our “rights” and take on humility, being obedient to the Lord, who says in Mark 11:25, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~Matthew 18:20-21

If unforgiveness has been a hindrance to your prayer life in the past, remember that Satan will attack you in this area again – until your victory is firmly established in the strength of Christ Jesus. “If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:7-11). v Article was used by permission of Harvest Prayer Ministries. www.harvestprayer.com

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Q NOVEMBER | q and a

What is the Prayer of Jabez?

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Prayer Matters Magazine 3 October 2010

A NOVEMBER | q and a

The Prayer of Jabez comes from the Bible. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, we read:

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”

The prayer is composed of four parts. First, Jabez asks God to bless him. Second, he asks God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. Third, he prays that God will be with him and stay close. Lastly, Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain. v

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Praying For Governments

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NRSV) There are five reasons given here for praying for governments: 1. That Christians may lead a quiet and peaceable life. 2. That Christians may be able to have godliness and dignity 9â&#x20AC;&#x192;

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by John Edmiston

3. It is right and acceptable in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes. 4. That people may be able to be saved. 5. That people may be able to come to a knowledge of the truth When governments are favorable to Christianity as they are in the Pacific Island nations of Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea the Christians are able to live quite and peaceable lives, their pursuit of godliness is respected and they are not humiliated in anyway for their faith. They can have dignity. God sees this as good and acceptable.. In these countries it is easy to spread the gospel and for people to come to know the truth about God, themselves and the world around them.

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Substantial nation-wide or city-wide revivals are reasonably common.

be given discernment of right and wrong that comes from God).

In contrast Albania was, for many years, {3} May the mountains yield prosperity for the most atheistic and anti-Christian the people, and the hills, in righteousness. country on earth. Christians were actively -Pray that the government may have a persecuted and humiliated, they could not prosperity that reaches “the people” not pursue godliness, live in dignity or spread just the leadership. the gospel. Albanians did not come to a knowledge of the truth about God them- {4} May he defend the cause of the poor of selves or the world around them. This situ- the people, give deliverance to the needy, ation is not God’s will. A whole generation and crush the oppressor. -Pray that the of Albanians did not receive salvation as a government defends the just cause of the result. The country is now as economically needy. Pray that it has the moral fortitude bankrupt as it was spiritually bankrupt. to crush the oppressor and stand up to the powerful who are wicked. Pray that it will The difference between Albania and Tonga support programs that bring deliverance is the difference that intercessory prayer to the needy. can make to a nation. The Pacific Island nations were founded on missionary ef- {5} May he live while the sun endures, and fort and have active prayer groups praying as long as the moon, throughout all generfor their government. In Papua New Guin- ations. -Pray for the personal health and ea “Operation Brukim Skru” (Operation prosperity of those in government. Bended Knee) has 100,000 people praying for the PNG government (out of a popu- {6} May he be like rain that falls on the lation of only 3.5 million). Wherever you mown grass, like showers that water the are in the world you can transform your earth. -Pray that the government is renation through prayer. freshing to the people and a source of goodness, blessing and growth. How To Pray For Your Government Lets look at David’s prayer for the govern- {7} In his days may righteousness flourish ment of his newly crowned son - Solomon. and peace abound, until the moon is no more. -Pray for enduring peace and stabil(Psalms 72 NRSV) Give the king your justice, ity and a well-founded and lasting moral O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. order. {2} May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. -Pray that {8} May he have dominion from sea to the government will be just and that it will sea, and from the River to the ends of the November 2010 4 Prayer Matters Magazine

NOVEMBER | 2010 earth. {9} May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust. {10} May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. {11} May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. -Pray that it may be a powerful and well honored government because it has served God well. Pray that it may not be humiliated by powerful nations but instead may be honored by all.

people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field. -Pray for an abundance of basic necessities and food. For people to “blossom” and grow, for the nation to experience God’s “shalom” - blessedness and prosperity. {17} May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed in him; may they pronounce him happy. -Pray for a good international reputation.

{12} For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no help- {18} Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, er. {13} He has pity on the weak and the who alone does wondrous things. {19} Blessneedy, and saves the lives of the needy. {14} ed be his glorious name forever; may his glory From oppression and violence he redeems fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen. {20} their life; and precious is their blood in The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended. his sight. -Pray that the government may -Praise God who alone does wondrous consider every human life to be precious things for the transformation that He can and have the needy “on their agenda”. Pray work in your nation. Pray on the basis of that it may be the helper of the helpless. God’s glory being enhanced through godly That the government may consider itself a governments. Claim the promise that His servant of the needs of the people and de- glory will fill the earth and this includes spise no-one. your nation and every city, state and county within it. {15} Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayer be made for him Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, continually, and blessings invoked for him and Thanksgivings all day long. -Pray for the spiritual protec- (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NRSV) First of all, then, I tion and blessing of the government - that urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, “prayer may be made for him continually”. and thanksgivings be made for everyone, {2} Pray for the personal salvation and contin- for kings and all who are in high positions, so uing sanctification of those in power. Pray that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in for their protection from the snares of the all godliness and dignity. Devil - especially greed, sexual temptation and pride. Supplication indicates an earnest heartfelt prayer for God’s extra-ordinary author{16} May there be abundance of grain in the ity to be used in a particular matter. It is land; may it wave on the tops of the moun- asking for an extraordinary move of God. tains; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may Something “outside the normal channels”.

Prayer Matters Magazine 3 November 2010

NOVEMBER | 2010 It is “special pleading”. This may include asking God to send a revival, stop the passage of ungodly legislation , protection from invasion or war, or to act in a mighty way for the good of His gospel. Prayers is the normal word for petitions and includes the everyday requests for the health, prosperity and wisdom of the government. “Intercessions” comes from the Greek “deesis” meaning “to chance upon” or “to have an audience with a king”. Hence “to have the good fortune to have an audience with a King”, in this case it is the King of Kings. We are to take the kings to their King!

thanks for in things. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. If we appreciate a good government and its good actions they are likely to be repeated and become strongholds of goodness and prosperity. Thank God today for what He is doing through your government - feeding the hungry, healing the sick, punishing the wicked, setting standards for housing and infrastructure, building highways and communication networks, administering justice, educating your children, defending your liberty. What To Do About Discouragement With The Government There are two things to do about discouragement 1. Start believing in a God who can do all things. 2. Get together with other positive like-minded Christians to pray for your government. When we try and tackle national level change alone we can end up like Elijah fleeing to a cave and crying out “I alone am left...”. Companionship such as he later experienced with Elisha and the school of the prophets got things going again.

Thanksgivings.....woops! Grumblers against governments take heed! We are to give thanks for them because they uphold justice and stop the world descending into anarchy and chaos. (Romans 13:1-7) We also need to give thanks for governments as we are to give

Do not give in. Praying for governments opens the doorway for revival and for the continued proclamation of the gospel. Praying for governments will mean that not just this year but for years to come you will be able to live a godly life in quietness and peace. Finally lets give it Paul’s priority...”first of all”(1 Timothy 2:1). About author John Edmiston

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The Matrix of Intercession

ecently a young woman who was develop mentally delayed, a Special Olympics athlete, who was getting ready to start her junior year at a local high school went missing. Prayers went up around the community and a search and rescue team proceeded to comb the area where she lived. Days slowly moved along without a solution but the prayers continued to go up. Then a week after she went missing her body was found and a young man of 18 was charged with

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aggravated first degree murder - the state's highest crime. Prayer played a part in this outcome. On the day that she was found, several times I kept feeling the presence of the Lord come over me and I prayed that everything hidden would be revealed. My heart broke for this young woman that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, and my spirit cried out that she would be found and brought to peace. That very day

NOVEMBER | 2010 her body was located, having been led to the scene of the crime by the young man charged with her murder. This is the work of the Matrix of Intercession. The Lord’s 'Matrix of Intercession' that continuously covers the earth. Since the year 2000 I have been aware of the Matrix of Intercession and of the Eyes of the Lord that truly “run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those who's hearts belong to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9. To understand how the Matrix works we must first understand the Intercession of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. And Romans 8:34: “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us”. We know through the Word that between our lives and God is the Intercession of Jesus Christ. The Throne of God is the power of the innocent blood of the Lamb that cries out daily, “Not Guilty!” on our behalf. But what is our part of prayer? Where do our prayers for our lives, families, friends and nation come into play? If the Intercession of Jesus Christ was all that was needed to change the direction of our families, friends, nations etc…then we would have never been instructed to prayer. Why pray if Jesus has it covered? But Jesus did teach us how to pray! In Matthew and Luke there is the example of prayer we call, ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. Take a look at the very first line in Matthew

6:9: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name”. He didn’t say My Father, He said Our Father! You are not praying alone. Let that settle down into your spirit. While you close your eyes or look up to heaven or lie on the floor prostrate in prayer, you and Jesus are making intercession. Your voice is crying out on earth and the voice of Jesus crying out in heaven. “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Now see the power of the Matrix... Agreement! The Body of Christ together, praying the will of the Father in agreement with heaven -and Jesus right there in the midst of them. Matthew 18:18-20 says, "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for

them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." And as the Son of Man was sent by our Father to do His will, so Jesus has sent us to co-labor with Him in agreement to manifest our Father’s will on earth as it is in heaven.

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NOVEMBER | 2010 Back to the story of the young woman who was missing. The Lord knew she was already with Him, but also knew that her family and friends were suffering and her body needed to be found and her murderer caught. Prayers went up and continued to build. The intercession of Jesus came into agreement with the many prayers that were being lifted up on the family’s behalf. The darkness that took her life was finally overcome by the light of revelation, and mercy and justice was found for her and her family. The role of the church is to make known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10-11). Think of the Matrix of Intercession as a woven web of electric powers lines intersecting across the globe continually fighting the powers of darkness as they try to abort the plans of God and annihilate His children. As the battle increases in areas requiring more agreement with heaven over a region, the Holy Spirit begins to stir within God’s children, releasing the manifold wisdom of God which Jesus will come into agreement with, resulting in heaven and earth touching and bringing forth our Father’s will on earth. That is the design but it doesn’t always work efficiently. We know that the Lord never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalms 121:3-4), but sometimes we miss the unction and leading of the Holy Spirit. Timing can be critical, and saying to the Lord, “I’ll be there in a minute”, is a minute too late. He has already moved on to someone who is more easily entreated. Lives are hanging in the balance. There have been times during a worship service that the Lord will show me a face or 15

Prayer Matters Magazine 3 November 2010

a scene that is not at all familiar to me, but I feel the immediate need to intercede until I feel it lift. It can happen anywhere, for anyone, not only in a worship or prayer service. Remember, you are the temple of God and His Spirit dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). As you make yourself easily available to His leading, the Lord will use you more and more in the Matrix of His Intercession over the earth and its inhabitants. 2 Timothy 1:9 tells us that the Father has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. What a privilege it is to be called with a holy calling older than time itself and according to the very purpose and grace of God. As the Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth looking to show Himself strong on behalf of those who's hearts belong to Him, will you join Him? Will you answer His call for agreement to change a life, region and nation? Will you join His Matrix of Intercession? Deborah Cozzetti is Founder and President of ROAR Ministries, in Puyallup, Washington. Deborah is strong in prophetic intercession, worship and teaching the prophetic word. ROAR Ministries believes in being a voice in the community and with that, Deborah helped to start a local school district coalition named Franklin Pierce YOUTH FIRST! in 2001 and was chair for the first two years of operation. She currently is co-chair but stepped down as chair in 2003-2004 to help start a nonprofit organization on behalf of homeless and displaced youth in her county. In February of 2004, ‘Youth Resources’ became a recognized nonprofit organization. Deborah has been the Executive Director of Youth Resources since 2004. Under “Dabar Ministries”, a writing ministry, Deborah teaches the Word of God, declaring the heart & truth of the Lord and destroying the false spirit of this age. www.roarministries.com

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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” ~Matthew 7:7-8

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EVENTS | calendar

o vember

November 1-7 | Bend, OR CELEBRATION FALL CONFERENCE Shawn Boltz www.celebrationbend.com November 4-7 | West Haven, CT NEW ENGLAND AFLAME Chuck Pierce, Dennis Cramer, Brian Simmons, Corey Russell www.yourgateway.com November 4-7 | Fargo, ND FIRE IN THE NORTH James Goll, Munday Maritn, Jim Samuelson www.throneroomministries.us November 5-7 | Seattle WA SEATTLE HARVEST Pastor Greg Laurie; Bands MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Jeremy Camp, The Katinas, Kutless and more www.seattle.harvest.org November 11-22 | Ealing, UK EUROPEAN GATHERING Bishop Bill Hamon, Sharon Stone www.cieurope.org

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events

November 9-14 | Honolulu, HI TRANSFORM OUR WORLD Ed Silvoso, Francis Oda, Vaughn McLaughlin, Brian Burton, Jay Swallow and others www.harvestevan.org November 19-20 | Phoenix, AZ THE SPIRIT OF REVIVAL Patricia King, Robert Liardon www.extremeprophetic.com November 20-21 | Deland, FL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE James Ryle www.delandlighthouse.org

BOOKS For these and other Spirit-led books, go to www.arsenalbooks.com

Say Goodbye to Powerless Christianity

Che’ Ahn

This book tells the story of a good man, a spiritual man, a cautious man, an obedient and faithful pastor. Then life’s bottom falls out. His marriage hits the rocks; his vision for the nations is quenched; he finds himself as an itinerate minister struggling to pay the bills. Then God performed a miracle, and God restored all and more. Now he oversees 5,000 churches in 35 nations, is healed of life’s wounds, enjoys a fulfilling mutually purposed marriage, and walks in apostolic power of signs, wonders, and miracles. He has gone from a good vision to a great destiny, which includes transforming cities and nations and bringing lasting reformation.

The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit Lester Sumral

The purpose of this study is to define the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit and to reveal their operations in the Body of Christ today. If God’s Holy Spirit is to function fully in our lives, we must have an open heart and a consuming desire to know all we can about the nature and role of the Holy Spirit--His gifts and His ministries to the Body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit can destroy any force the devil might use against Christians. You are a candidate for the gifts of revelation, power, and inspiration. They will function anywhere - right where you are now.

November 2010 4 Prayer Matters Magazine

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