When I saw the hurt that it caused my parents, who had poured their lives into us and raised us to be Godly children, teaching us His principles and Biblical truth’s, and the amount of damage that it did to my siblings, I became very bitter at them and at God for letting it happen.

One thing I had noticed though about one year before this all happened was that my three older sisters had started getting into contemporary Christian music. This soon led to country music, and then it just progressed further and further. My parents did not know about this.

After it all happened I started to stray from the Lord and to listen to music that I knew in my spirit was wrong but my mind was able to rationalize away. As I started this downhill slide I would look around and see my friends who were not Christians and would say to myself, “Well, I will never be like them,” or “I will never listen to the kind of music that they do.” And so I continued down this road worshiping the lust of the flesh and satisfying my lustful desires for whatever I wanted to hear and what made ME feel good. However, the entire time I was doing it behind my parents back and keeping up a “good Christian young man” front for the rest of the world to see.

It all really hit me one day how far I had fallen when I told one of my friends who was not a Christian that I liked a certain song, and they responded, “that song is
terrible.” Right then I realized that I was down just as low as anyone else, even though I did read the Bible and I did sing the hymns and I could talk about the Bible with anyone that wanted to. It all didn’t matter because I had an unclean spirit in me that I had received from this music.

So about three years went by and I got a job working at a place that played the wrong kind of music all day and the people there were really nice but they were SO godless that it drug me down even farther than I was before. However, I still did not take any action to change anything, letting my mind rationalize away any pricks that I would get from my conscience about the lifestyle that I was living.

After working for one year there, I quit my job and went on a Journey to The Heart. There I was able to confess a lot of things and clean my life up. However, even though I didn’t listen to that music anymore and I had turned my life around, the words of all those songs would still come to my mind whenever I would see or hear anything that would remind me of them. This was a huge stronghold in my life, and the devil used it over and over again to attack me whenever I would try to do anything for God’s kingdom.

I told Mr. Gothard about my problem, and asked his advice on what to do to remove those words from my heart and mind. He said to write them out and then to find Scriptures that contradict the hidden messages and phrases in the songs.

So I wrote them out and went over them with him, listening as he pointed out to me all of the Scriptures that conflicted with the messages that each song was giving. As I saw how wrong these songs were and how they were feeding the unclean spirit I had, I felt a whole new freedom and joy as they left my heart and were replaced with the truths of Scripture.

If you are having the same struggle I am, I would encourage you to write out those lyrics. Then search the Scriptures and find the verses which reveal the lies hidden in the worldly messages of the songs. It will open your eyes to the damage they are having on your life, but it will also give you a tremendous freedom as you win the victory over this mighty stronghold!

- Eddie

Saturday wasn’t going to work after all — some of us had a wedding to attend, and some of us were otherwise committed with appointments. Sunday morning found us in church, and the afternoon and evening were additionally called for by two separate hospitality invitations. Monday was likewise packed to the brim with pressing projects, but . . . there really never is a convenient time to witness. With this truth in mind, our little group of six headed out on Monday afternoon to a local famers’ market, wondering how many people might be there in the 90 degree heat. We agreed to set aside 45 minutes to an hour for initiating conversations about the Gospel, prayed together that the Lord would multiply our efforts for the small amount of time we had, and broke off in pairs.

Melodie and I spotted a woman and two girls sitting at a picnic table. Walking up to the woman, we smiled and said,
"Hello! Are you having a nice day?" She smiled back and indicated she was. I continued, "My friend and I are doing a little survey, and we wondered if we could ask you a few questions?"
"Oh, I do not speak English . . ." she said with a thick accent.
Turning to the young girl beside me, I asked, "Do you?" Her English was perfectly understandable, and she agreed to interpret for us.
Melodie began, "In the last six months, has your interest in God increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?"
"Definitely increased!" the girl to our right exclaimed. She repeated the question to her mother, and her mother agreed.
"Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? If so, why?"
"I am a Christian," the girl replied, "and my sister is a Christian," she pointed to the younger girl in front of her, "and my dad is a Christian, but Mom is not."
"You are not a Christian?" I asked the woman directly.
"No," she shook her head.
"What do you believe?" I inquired.
"I am a Muslim. I am from Indonesia."

"You are a Muslim!" I exclaimed. I was thrilled! "Are you participating in Ramadan?"
"Yes!"
"Well I believe the Lord has brought us together, then, because just this very day – the 1st day of Ramadan – we have begun a month of prayer for Muslims around the world." {Ramadan is the time that Muslims set aside to fast and pray, focusing on seeking God.}
"I don’t know a lot about what Muslims believe; could you tell me?" I asked honestly.
"Allah . . . believe in Allah . . . and Yesus. But Yesus –" she struggled to find the right words, "not God."
"You do not believe Jesus is God?"
"No. He good man; not God." She held her hand up and put her index and middle finger together to indicate she believed in God as the higher one (she pointed to her middle finger) and Jesus as the lower (she pointed to her index finger).
"You believe Jesus is the Son of God?" Melodie asked.
"Yes, but not God." she confirmed.
"Well, Jesus claimed to be God in the Bible," I added. "So either He was who He said He was, or He was a liar — but good men do not lie."
"Jesus said, ‘I and my Father are one.’ (John 10:30) In John 14:6, Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’"

Taking a pen and paper, I drew a triangle to give her a visual image of the Trinity, writing, ‘God’ at one point, ‘Jesus’ at another, and ‘Holy Spirit’ on the last, to communicate that though Jesus is indeed the Son of God, He also is God. We believe in one triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Melodie used an egg as an illustration. An egg has three parts: the shell, the yolk, and the white, and yet, it is one egg.

In broken English, she expressed she had things to say, but was somewhat frustrated with the language barrier; we reassured her we were in no rush, and she could take her time. She had a bag of green beans in front of her that she had been snapping. Continuing to work with her hands, her daughter translated for her, and we learned that she was fine with her husband and daughters being Christians (though as we talked some with her daughter, we were not convinced that her daughter truly understood the Gospel), and fine with them reading the Bible, but she herself did not believe.

"I read the Bible. I sleep with the Bible." The woman used the word, "Confused . . . " and that got my attention.
"I don’t know who to pray to. Read the Bible, and I read Koran. Pray to Jesus or Allah? But if I’m wrong, that’s just the way it is."
I paraphrased James 4:14 for her, "What do we profit, if we gain the whole world, but then go to hell?" (interpereting through her 12-or-so-year-old resulted in a very simplified vocabulary. ) Hebrews 11:6 says, " . . . He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
"You and I are both sinners," I stated. "The punishment of sin is death; we do not deserve Heaven; we cannot earn it. But because of God’s love for us, 2,000 years ago He became a man, the man Christ Jesus. He lived a perfect life, and, though He did not deserve to die, He chose to take our punishment upon Himself, so the justice of God could be satisfied. He is perfectly just, and justice demands sin be punished," but because God is also wholly loving, He made a means of salvation from the consequences of our own failures; we must only believe, turning from those things He hates. I pulled out my Bible and showed her I Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

"I dream about Jesus," she said with conviction, and yet perplexity. With her hands she began to motion that in her dreams, He was shining. "Always bright, always smiling . . . and then –" it took her a while to explain that, "He disappears." We got the impression she dreamt often about Him, and it was always the same: radiant, and with invitation, but then gone.
This was uniquely significant to us, as just a week and a half earlier at a local prayer meeting, a missionary from the Middle East had emphasized how common it has been for many Muslims to report of dreaming of this same, "bright, shining man." It really seems that in some cases, God has been working through dreams to draw Muslims towards the Lord.
After about half an hour of talking with her, a van pulled up and she said she had to go, that she was actually on her way to a Bible study at a Baptist church. We encouraged her, saying that studying the Bible was wonderful, and then asked her name. After praying with her, she smiled gratefully and shook our hands before leaving.

Afterwards, we marveled at God’s timing. I have never knowingly witnessed with a Muslim before, and yet on the very first day of Ramadan, after specifically setting aside time to daily pray for Muslims, our paths crossed with one who clearly is being drawn by the Lord! Please pray for our new Muslim friend, and join the host of Christians all over the world who are praying through Ramadan for Muslims. For a day-to-day guide on how to pray specifically for them, you can sign up for the daily emails here (http://www.30-days.net/resources/email/)  and/or order a prayer guide here (http://www.30-days.net/muslims/featured/welcome-to-the-2011-prayer-event/). In fact, you may want to order some for your church family, and encourage others with testimonies (http://www.30-days.net/category/testimony/) of Muslims coming to faith in Jesus. And please, be bold in sharing your faith! I myself know very little about the Muslim faith, and it may feel intimidating to talk with them about the Gospel, but if we have been saved, we know enough to start talking. There is not a doubt in my mind that very many of you would have been much more equipped to talk with Muslims about Jesus than I, and yet — God uses weak, inexperienced, willing people to share mind-boggling truths. In fact, the more weak we are, the more glory God receives, because any and all victory can only be attributed to Him.

“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth,
and teach thee what thou shalt say.” - Exodus 4:12

~ Emily Schuurmans

1. Form a Group of Two or Three

2. Be in One Accord

3. Pray Out Loud

4. Use the Names of Jesus

5. Disable Satan

6. Use Precise “Rhemas” of Scripture

7. Have a “Heart Belief”

“Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:23)

When we use the right name of Jesus and pray the precise rhemas of Scripture, we can be confident that God will answer. Without this confidence, we will be like a wave of the sea cast to and fro with the wind. “Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:7).

~

This is the final article in a series on seven keys to praying with power. It was based on an IBLP publication. Feel free to download the PDF.

1. Form a Group of Two or Three

2. Be in One Accord

3. Pray Out Loud

4. Use the Names of Jesus

5. Disable Satan

~

6. Use Precise “Rhemas” of Scripture

“If ye abide in me, and my words [rhemas] abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” (John 15:7-8)

In the New Testament, the Greek words logos and rhema are both translated word. However, they are not synonyms for the same idea, but each have precise Biblical meanings, as do all words in Scripture. Logos is generally used to refer to the totality of the Word of God as well as the person of Jesus Christ, Who is the living Logos.

Scripture generally uses the Greek word rhema to refer to the spoken word given by a living voice and is used to describe particular messages that were given to individuals for their personal application. (For further information and Biblical examples of logos and rhema, visit www.billgothard.com.)

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words states the following on page 683. “The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,’ (Eph. 6:17); here, the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.”

Jesus overcame Satan by quoting precise commands from the Old Testament. The first was, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [rhema] that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) When Jesus used this precise rhema, Satan had to flee.

~

What “rhemas” has God given you from His Word this week that you can enjoy praying back to Him?

2. Be in One Accord

3. Pray Out Loud

4. Use the Names of Jesus

~

5. Disable Satan

“No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (Mark 3:27)

We are called to the great works of preaching the good news of salvation, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. (See Luke 4:18) However, this will never happen until we disable Satan by asking God to rebuke him in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In prayer, we are not wrestling with people but with principalities, and powers, and we must come boldly into the throne of God with our armor, and resist the devil so he will flee from us. (See James 4:7.)

2. Be in One Accord

3. Pray Out Loud

~

4. Use the Names of Jesus

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

The name of Jesus is powerful. The disciples affirmed this when they prayed that healing signs and wonders would be done in the name of “thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:27). The name of Jesus includes more than just the word “Jesus.” He has many appropriate titles. For example, when we pray for the salvation of a person, we should use the name “Jesus our Redeemer” or “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

We should begin our prayer with His name “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name,” and we should end it with praise to God’s Kingdom, power, and glory. (See Matthew 6:9-13.)

~

Remember the sheet in your Journey binder that listed the names of God? Take it out and use it as you commune with God during your quiet time this morning!

2. Be in One Accord

~

3. Pray Out Loud

“They lifted up their voice to God with one accord… And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:24,31).

The power of praying out loud with one accord was demonstrated in the early church. It is based on the truth that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21) and on the principle that faith must be expressed by the words of our mouth and the beliefs of our heart. (See Romans 10:8-13.)

Crying out to God with our voice is also the means of achieving effectual fervent prayer by a group, and experiencing the results promised in Psalm 50:15 “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

~

Have you ever cried out to God “in the day of trouble” and saw Him answer your cry in a supernatural way?

~

2. Be in One Accord

“If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

To be in one accord is to have “the same passion.” Powerful prayer must be fervent because “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

To be in one accord means that each one loves Jesus with all his or her heart, soul, mind, and strength. It also means that their are no competing affections with things of the world. (See James 4:1-5.)

~

What are the greatest hindrances in your life that keep you from loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength? What is God leading you to do about them?

Tune in next Sunday (or Monday, if we’re late again! Ooops. Sorry about that!) for the next key to praying with power.

Do you sometimes feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling?

Do you have a problem falling asleep when you pray?

Every Sunday morning for the next seven weeks, we will explore one aspect of powerful prayer that can completely transform your prayer life. Enjoy!

~

Key #1: Form a Group of Two or Three

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Powerful prayer is a function of the Body of Christ. His Body is made up of different parts, but each part must function in harmony with each other under the headship of Christ. Jesus is also the head of the Church; which when functioning properly is so dynamic that even the gates of hell cannot resist giving up those who are trapped and destined for eternal destruction. (Matthew 6:18)

Church does not happen only when a group of believers meet Sunday morning or Sunday evening. Church “happens” whenever two or three believers gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to edify one another and to advance the Kingdom of God.

~

Have you formed a prayer group of two or three? Who do you have in it? Leave a comment and check back next Sunday for another key to praying with power!

Jotham is not a very well-known king of Judah, but his success ranks right up there with Josiah, Uzziah, and Hezekiah. Scripture does not leave his secret up to speculation!

In this powerful message from Dr. Roger Magnuson, delivered at a 2010 Regional ATI Conference, discover the key to Jotham’s might that is mentioned in II Chronicles 27:6. The Greek word for ways in this verse means “journey” and this important truth can be applied to the life of anyone who is “living the journey!”

[See post to watch Flash video]

Runtime: 55:51

If you would like to purchase this message on DVD, please contact IBLP Publication Orders at 1-800-398-1290.