Breakthrough
Intimacy and Involvement •Message 3
Brian Heasley • International Prayer Director • 24-7 Prayer
January 15, 2024 • 6:30 pm
Intimacy and involvement
Breath in.
Breath out.
When you get on an aeroplane they always say this one line in the safety talk, put your own mask on first before you try to put anyone else’s mask on.
The churches and organisations that I see around the world that are truly making an affective kingdom difference practice both Intimacy and Involvement.
They pray and they engage
Where I find the most burnout is in Christians and organisation that are sold out to change the world make a measurable difference in the life of the poor but who don’t pray.
- Moses and Aaron Numbers 16:42–50 (NIV)
But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD said to Moses, “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown. Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started.” So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.
The leader who neglects to pray must be very careless about his ministry. He cannot have comprehended his calling. He cannot have computed the value of a soul, or estimated the meaning of eternity. C.H.Spurgeon
- Hudson Taylor Would that God would make hell so real to us that we cannot rest; heaven so real that we must have men there.
Isaiah 62:6–7 (NIV) I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
A great preacher called Henry Martyn had this one lament about his first year in ministry he judged he had dedicated too much time to public ministrations, and too little to private communion with God.
Jesus comprehended His calling, that is why He was often found in prayer, He took Himself away to a quiet place, He climbed mountains, He fasted, He poured out His heart in the garden. He knew the necessity of prayer.
- The early church Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(From the room to market place)
- Listen to the Ahems!!!! (Acts 3:1 –10)
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:4-6 (NIV)
- A puritan non conformist scholar and pastor called Joseph Alleine, who was imprisoned on a number of occasions in the 1600’s for his faith said this: Though I am apt to be unsettled and quickly set of the hinges, yet, methinks, I am like a bird out of the nest. I am never quiet till I am in my old way of communion with God; like the needle in the compass, that is restless till it be turned towards the pole. I can say, through grace, with the church, with my soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me have I sought thee early. My heart is early and late with God;‘tis the business and delight of my life to seek Him.
Highlight “Tis the business and delight of my life…”
You should never be short of themes for prayer.
There always sick amongst us, there are those who don’t yet know Jesus, there are those who are going through trials and hard times, there is your family, your friends, your town, your neighbours, your nation, other nations, watch the news, read a news paper.
Paint it, write it down, speak it out, dance it, do it quietly, do it loudly, speak in tongues.
The priestly garments
Exodus 28:11–12 (NIV) Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.
We need to carry people on our shoulders in prayer
Exodus 28:29 (NIV) “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.”
What’s the difference between the heart and the shoulders? Over the heart and on the shoulders? Your shoulders are strong and can take it, your heart is soft and feels it.
If you solely carry people on your shoulders it is just a function, if you carry them on your heart as well it is a life long call.
Let my heart be broken with the things that break God’s heart. Bob Pierce
This is so when people ask you to pray for them you keep your word, you get to be a part in a secret history. You can say to people with assurance I will pray for you
Keep a journal, use it as God speaks to you from the Bible, use it as He speaks to you through nature or other random happenings. Show mine.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Intimate, Involved, Persistent.
My faith is two pronged and I don’t think we can choose to go for just one prong! Read Matthew 22:37-40 we are called to do both,"love the Lord your God with all your heart and Love your neighbours as yourself."
We can’t just be presence seekers; we also need to be presence bringers. We need to be striving to do both together at all times.
In this we see breakthrough.