December 30, 2009
Dear Friend,
Having served in children's ministry for over 12 years I thought an object lesson would suit the occasion. I had been invited to speak on prayer and fasting at a women's ministry event; this time I brought with me a portable grill, complete with charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid (at the time it seemed like a good idea!).
I set my grill up on a table, identifying it as the prayer altar, and began to explain to the ladies that the Word of God and Prayer are inseparable - "The power of the one is dependent upon the presence of the other." Placing the charcoal inside the grill I pointed out that the black coal represented each person, and the sin in our lives. We come to Jesus first in repentance to be forgiven of our sin, and washed white as snow; but then we must come daily to confess our sins.
"Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy,
cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
and to present to Himself as a radiant church, without stain
or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
(Ephesians 5:25-27)
At this point I began to pour the lighter fluid, representing the Word of God, over the people (err, charcoal) illustrating how the Word washes over us, purifiying us and making us holy as we study and meditate upon His precepts. Then I picked up the matchstick. The matchstick represents prayer. Prayer is God's activation agent. It is the instrument He uses to activate the power of the Word in our lives. But it cannot be activated until it is directed to the One Who holds the power. The flint on the matchstick box represents the object of power - God. When our prayers (matchstick) are directed to God (flint) a flame ignites, and when that flame is combined with the Word of God, which has been absorbed into the lives of diligent students of the Word (the lighter fluid on the charcoal), a fire is started! The more Word we take in (lighter fluid) the more fuel we have to keep the fire burning, and the more we pray the more intense the flame becomes, wafting to heaven like incense, and bringing greater light and the warmth of God's love to the world!
There is no greater priority than prayer - because there is no higher pursuit than an intimate and abiding relationship with the Lord. It is through the prayers of His people that the power of God is unleashed in the world. When we neglect the important duties of the Word of God and prayer our light will dwindle and eventually the flame will go out. At this point I had stepped away from the prayer altar to continue with the message, only to realize that the eyes of many of the women were growing wider as they seemed preoccupied with what was going on behind me. It was then that I turned to see that the flame had gotten out of control and was sending off sparks. My intent was to illustrate the power of prayer, not to actually start a fire and burn down the church. The fire was put out, and the message I was trying to get across was validated.
The reality is we spend far too much time trying to put out fires rather than start them. We find ourselves on the defensive side trying to solve problems, endlessly attempting to ward off the attacks of the enemy, instead of on the offensive side blazing a pathway, leading the charge, and causing the enemy to retreat. All because we've subscribed to the wrong battle plan. We are in the midst of a spiritual battle, but we are trying to fight it without using spiritual weapons (reference Ephesians 6:10-18). We've been told this isn't a flesh and blood battle, but we fall daily into the trap of finger pointing, playing the blame game, and malicious talk (reference Isaiah 58:9b); and all this just within the walls of the church.
We have lost our power in the church - and I'm not talking about the electricity. The truth is we have every piece of electronic and technical equipment plugged into, and hanging off of, the walls of our church in our attempts to reach the world for Christ, but we've neglected to plug into the ultimate source of our power - Christ Himself!
Before you get too upset, there is a remnant of faithful intercessors who have kept the altar fire embers burning all these years, some of them are in your church, and some of you reading this email are those faithful few who are standing in the gap for the rest of us who haven't quite recognized the ground we are giving up when we don't pray. The truth is without the light eminating from the prayer altar we are simply stumbling around in this dark world with our defenses down, having to tolerate every kind of evil that as been let loose in this nation. The enemy has gained precious ground while much of the church has been slumbering; he has come in like a thief and stolen our marriages, the innocence of our children, the faith of once strong believers, the lives of the unborn, the impact of the Church in the world, and every other liberty and freedom that once blazed like a torch in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
All hope is not lost, however, for the Lord is looking for brave warriors who will come out from hiding in the winepress (reference Judges 6:11-12); who despite the size of the giant will step onto the battlefield (reference 1 Samuel 17:32-51); who regardless of the cost will take up their cross and follow Christ (reference Matthew 10:38; 16:24); and who are willing to lay down their lives for their friends in prayer. The greatest service we can offer, the greatest gift we can give, and the greatest way we can express our love for God and towards one another is to pray.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command."
(John 15:13-14)
The greatest needs of the world are met when individuals encounter the living God and experience the depths of His love in an intimate and abiding relationship with the Lord. As His children we hold the key that will unlock the door that will flood the world with the light of His salvation, forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love. As we begin to prioritize our plans for the New Year before us, may we resolve to seek first the Kingdom of God, setting aside all other pursuits to pursue the One Who holds our future in His hands.
If this is your desire we invite you to join with hundreds of other believers across the country who are surrendering the first 40 days of the New Year to walk the path of the Debtor, by continuing the Lord's great labor of love. We will take up the cross of Christ, motivated by love to meet the needs of others, and beginning where all great works (and revivals) have begun - in the place of prayer!
These next 40 days are a sacrifice of total commitment, in fasting and prayer, to touch the heart of God by sharing His heart with others in the most powerful way possible - through prayer! May this journey take us to the depths of God's love, transforming our hearts in the process, and touching the lives of others who are in need of His great love!
To begin your journey visit
www.trumpetandtorch.org . Click on "The Year of the Tithe" and sign up on the next page (under
REGISTER for the JOURNEY (if you are already a registered member of Trumpet and Torch you do not need to sign up again to receive these emails)) to receive the 40 days of prayer and fasting devotionals via email beginning January 1st. Prepare for your journey by reading the links on The Year of the Tithe webpage (
DEBTOR - an introduction to the 40 day journey;
The Year of the Tithe - an introduction to the new year; The
Call to Fast & Pray - why the time is now;
Preparing for the Fast - everyone can join us these next 40 days;
LOGOS - if you would like to let others know about this journey on your own ministry webpage or blog).
If you are not led to fast at this time please join us in prayer for the next 40 days, and consider joining us on February 9th for the final day of our prayer and fasting journey for a 24 hour corporate fast as we pray for our family, Church, and nation. Further details will arrive via email.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to His power
that is at work in us, to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Blessings for the Journey,
Traci Alexander
Trumpet and Torch Ministries
Psalm 27:4, 13-14
