Standing In His Presence

Benjamin Hoogterp

Tag: Prayer

In The Beginning

In the beginning, man walked with God, and God walked with man. There was no separation. Union and harmony existed between the two, though they were distinct.  Sin came and changed all that, but that is what getting back to union is all about.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 4:26

So, in the beginning, prayer not, as we understand today, part of the package.  Man began to call upon the Lord after the time of Adam, after the fall, and after the time of Abel’s more righteous sacrifice.

Beyond Tomorrow

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well;

Ezekiel 33:32a NIV

The hand of the Lord is raising up a prayer army across the nation.  As the psalmist wrote, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1).  Warriors, champions, and men and women of renown are being raised up all across the planet, preparing for a great showdown in this day and age.

Prayer is Power

The Gospel is power.  It is not mere words, but they are the “Words of Life” (John 6:68).

If we don’t understand that the Gospel is about affecting a change on a condemned and dying world, we will have very little traction to keep us in our prayer rooms.

Some may say God will do this or that, and who can stop the will of God? But, the scripture is clear, the prayer of the righteous CHANGES things!  Things that wouldn’t have happened will, because someone prayed.  Things that would have happened, won’t, because someone labored and moved the heavens.  This is the Gospel.  This is the charge.

Light and Easy

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:30

When it comes to prayer, the burden of the Lord, intercession, and prayer houses, to our souls, it can seem like anything but an easy yoke.  Getting tired, frustrated, discouraged, and even occasionally burn out can attempt to rob us of the simple joy of following Jesus.

But, the simple truth of the Gospel remains the same.  As we allow Him in and “dig deep” (Luke 6:48) into our hearts, and uncover what is the hindrance, what is the blockage, or what is the distraction from the Truth of who He is, the light of His love and presence continue increase and abound.

Reverence

When it comes to our service to the Lord, nothing is of more importance than our heart attitude towards Him.  We can be doing everything quite wrongly, but simply because we have a heart that desires to follow after Him, He will see to it that the rest comes in order eventually.  Surely, it is more important that we are going in the right direction than whether we are here or there on that road.  Further is always better, but the one will produce the other, after a while.

We can all too easily become enamored by forms and models.  It was the prophet Ezekiel that indicted the house of Israel, saying that their hearts weren’t in what they were singing.  “Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.” Ezekiel 33:32.

Fervent Prayers That Availeth

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 KJV (portion)

Oh the excitement of writing about prayer…I asked the Lord what shall I say? I could write about this and that and another.. and as my mind was filling with the joy of all the treasures of prayer, I heard the small voice say “fervent”.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  To be fervent means to show great warmth or intensity of spirit.  When we begin to converse with God the warmth of the spirit and the fire of the Lord begin to stir the passions of  His desires through us.

What a wonderful gift the Lord gives to us that we could share in the passions of His heart. That our yielding to the call of prayer could change the heart of one or change the destiny of a nation or simply draw us personally into the deep chambers of the Lord to experience the intimacy of the most High.

Keep On Asking

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:22

Sometimes, all we can do is ask.  Sometimes, all we can do is keep on asking.  Sometimes.

Asking can seem like such a small thing.  Yet, it is what He asked us to do.  There is something about a submissive spirit, and trusting and yielding spirit, that is required to ask someone in authority over you for something you need.  They could tell you no.  They could condemn or ridicule you for your lack of ability in yourself.  They could ignore you like you just don’t matter.  They wound you in so many ways, because the place of asking is the place of opening up your vulnerability.

When the Lord Builds the house…

Beyond a doubt, God is raising up a prayer movement across the Earth.  From Europe, to America, to Australia, to China, prayer houses are springing up world wide, and 24/7 incense is being offered upon the altars of the hearts of thousands of passionate worshipers.  Forms can vary from region to region, from house to house, but one thing is constant, that the Lord Jesus is lifted up, worshiped, and adored.

Devotion, Adoration, Intimacy, Contemplation, and “The Secret Place” are becoming more common terms throughout the body of Christ.  Seemingly without any direct motivating factor, songs of intimacy, of passion, and love are spreading throughout the Earth.

Of course, it is not by accident.  Although the eyes of flesh cannot  see it, the very fact that there has been prayer, praise, and worship 24 hours a day, seasoned with fasting and sacrifice, 365 days a year now for over 12 years now in Kansas City is for sure one of the driving forces.  The invisible, yet very real movement of the Spirit, energized by night-and-day prayer of those at IHOP-KC, as well as those throughout the world, are changing the face of the church as we speak.

We do not need to see it, but like a strong wind on a clear day, we can tell the weather is changing, we can see it in the trees and watch the leaves move in the wind.

All because of prayer.  For sure, the Lord is doing something in the Earth.

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