October 28, 2011
DAY 23: Well-Timed Times to Pray
Jesus comforting a frustrated man.
There are two Greek words for "time." One is chronos, which is time in general; the general "time in which anything is done."  The other word, kairos, is the strategic or "right time; the opportune point of time at which something should be done." 
A window of opportunity would be kairos time.

A well-timed attack in war would be kairos time.

When someone is in danger or about to be attacked by Satan, that is a kairos time.

Is it possible that much successful persecution against the Church could be stopped or rendered unfruitful if we were alert and interceded against it?

Often we forget the instruction to not lean on our own understanding, and fail to acknowledge Him in our intercession (see Proverbs 3:5, 6). We do not wait for or listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, usually to our own hurt. We forget that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" (Ephes. 6:12, KJV) and that the "weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Cor. 10:4, KJV). We are so afraid of becoming demon conscious (putting an overemphasis on them) that we become demon unconscious.
 
Sometimes our quest for balance gets us out of balance.

Ephes. 6:18, the context of which is spiritual warfare, says that we are to "be on the alert...for all the saints" and "pray at all (kairos) times in the Spirit." He is not telling us here to pray all the time, which would be chronos, but to pray at all strategic times (kairos). In other words, we are in a war and if we are alert He will warn us of the well-timed attacks (kairos) of the enemy, so we can create a boundary (paga) of protection by praying.

A friend of Dutch Sheets in Dallas several years ago who experienced an interesting answer to prayer in a kairos situation. She had gone early one morning to visit her son and daughter-in-law. The son worked an all-night shift so, awaiting his return from work, his wife and mother visited for awhile. As time wore on and the son didn't arrive, Mom began to feel uneasy. Something didn't seem right.

Thinking that perhaps he was still at work, they called his place of employment, "No," they were told, "he has already left."

Becoming more alarmed the mother said, "I'm concerned. Let's drive toward his place of work."

She had assumed her son had left work at his normal time and should have been home by then when, in fact, he had left just moments before their call. But the Lord was directing even in that because, though he was not in any danger yet, the Holy Spirit knew a kairos moment was coming for this young man, and He wanted this praying mother there when it happened.

As Mom and daughter-in-law drove toward his workplace on a busy Dallas parkway, they saw him coming from the other direction on his motorcycle, traveling around 40 to 50 miles per hour. As they watched, he fell asleep and veered off the road, hit the curb and flew 40 or 50 feet through the air. He was not even wearing a helmet.

As the boy was moving through the air, Mom was praying, "Jesus, protect my son!" She continued to pray as they turned around and drove back to him. A crowd had already gathered around him, and they ran to the scene wondering what they would find.

They found a miracle! No injuries-no bones broken, no lacerations, no internal injuries. Just a dazed young man wondering what had happened.

Paga happened...Kairos paga happened! Boundaries happened. A mother picked up on the warning from the Holy Spirit and was therefore in the right place at the right time.

Does this mean that if you weren't there praying when someone you loved had an accident, you're to blame for their injury or death? Of course not. If we all played that guessing game, it would drive us insane. It simply means we must be alert, and when warnings do come from the Holy Spirit, we must respond by praying-building some boundaries.

Shalom,

Rev. Obadiah Swen

Pastor, BWOC-VA
Prayer This Week
Oct. 17 - Oct. 22, 2011

·    GOD'S HEALING TOUCH to all who suffer from physical, emotional, or psychological
     sickness, disease or concerns that could prevent them from fully responding to the
     gospel of Christ. Mark 16: 17-20

·   GOD'S POWER to touch each person's heart to respond to Him with honor,
    thanksgiving, and praise. Romans 1:16, Acts 8: 4-8

·    GOD'S BLESSINGS poured out on the churches, individuals and families who are a
     godly influence in their community. Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 62: 1-3.
40 Days of Intercession

COMMUNITY WIDE PRAYER WALK OR PRAYER DRIVE:

During the 3rd week of the campaign there will be an opportunity to join other prayer partners in a community wide prayer walk or prayer drive.
 
Perhaps the activities of prayer walking and prayer driving are new to you. Both activities can be defined as "praying on-site with insight."
 
 
On-site praying is simply praying in the very places where you expect your prayers to be answered. It is a deliberate and planned time of focused prayer. Be prepared to join God in the phenomenal way He is working around you before, during, and after the 40 Days of Intercession Campaign!
 
Ask God to "open your eyes spiritually" to let you see His plans through His eyes.
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If God is all-powerful, why does he need us to pray?

If we pray and nothing happens, does this mean that God isn't listening?

If you have  ever felt that your prayers don't count, Intercessory Prayer will show  you just how vital your prayers are.

Pastor Dutch Sheets will inspire  and give you the courage to pray for the impossible and help you find  persistence to see your prayers to completion.