The people on our hearts for prayer

          When the priests went into the holy place to worship God they were to put on a "breastplate of judgment."  In this breastplate were twelve precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the children of Israel. A beautiful picture is given in Exodus 28:29-30,

 

                        And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.

 

          The priests were reminded that they were continually bearing the names of people upon their hearts before the Lord. This certainly is the way prayer should be made by believers. To really get our prayers answered we should have names of individuals upon our heart. It is not enough for us to pray vaguely and generally, "Lord, save everybody" or "God, bless everyone." Often in church we pray, "Lord, if there is an unsaved person here, save him today." Week in and week out, many churches never see one person come to know Christ as personal Savior.

 

          What a difference when in a church the believers have the names of individuals upon their hearts and pray specifically, "God, save Bill and Joe." They see them come, one after another, confessing Christ as their personal Savior.

 

          We need to pray for believers too. It is one thing to pray for God to heal all the sick and to bless all the missionaries, but it is far different to pray for individuals by name. Many missionaries, delivered in a time of deep need or distress, learned later that someone had prayed very specifically for them at the exact moment of deepest need. This is true intercession. We must be specific in praying and bear the names of individuals before the Lord. ABC Sumner

1:5 "A wise man will hear and will increase learning...and attain unto wise counsel"

The end of the month is upon us. Enter the drawing once a day, daily. Many do and most win. Order "Your Ticket to Heaven" 1-877-872-2871. Go to www.sumnerwemp.com You must down load the series on Marriage. a multitude have told how these saved their marriage or transform their marriage. GOD DID IT. ABC Sumner

"A Great big thank you for your inspirational e-mails."

 

What then should cause us to pray? very important question

What, then, should cause us to pray today? What should make the incense ascend from our hearts? Too many people claim they need to get inside an ornate church,with soft music, to put themselves"in an atmosphere and mood for prayer." External means to prompt prayer are nothing more than"strange fire." One motivation to cause incense to arise from our hearts is a look at the wondrous cross of Calvary. Fire, or prompting, from God for what the Lord Jesus has done for us, should make us pray. We do not need the external means and methods of man; we simply need to keep close to Calvary. stay in love with Jesus..

 

Paul said he wanted to glory in nothing "save in the cross of our Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:14). If we do glory in the cross--not just a metal ornament about our necks or a statue with the image of Christ upon it--and with the eye of faith look back at Calvary and see what the Lord Jesus did for us, we will have all the burden, all the urge, we need to pray.

 

The words of my all time favorite song says it best. "When I survey the won-drous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride"

 

Perhaps this is why the Lord's Supper is so important for us today. Jesus said, "This do in remembrance of me" (Lk. 22:19b). As we partake of the Lord's Supper we are reminded of His death, sufferings, and the shedding of His blood, and we do show His death until He comes. When we come to the Lord's table and there truly remember His death, we have a hunger to pray. The incense is ascending up from our heart at that time, and this is a delight to God.

 

Prayer that is prompted by anything else is "strange incense," and God says it brings forth death; it is an abomination to Him. As believers, we should be careful not to lean on external means to motivate prayer. It may be strange fire that comes forth, and, instead of our getting our prayers answered, we might receive God's chastening.

 

Pro 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction

Enter the drawing once a day, daily. Many do and most win. Order "Your Ticket to Heaven" 1-877-872-2871. Almost daily, I hear an unusual story of God using it. I get no royalties. Go to www.sumnerwemp.com get blessed, read articles there, the one on prayer especially. ABC Sumner

 

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional, (Spiritually)