Joe & Becky Cruse

I trust your week is going well and that you are living in the joy of the Lord. This past Sunday was so awesome—many new visitors and 4 who answered the altar call for salvation or rededication! Praise be to God!

As we have studied the topic of prayer for almost 3 years, I want to remind you how important it is to pray from a place of authority, not in ourselves but in Christ. I have been meditating on Ephesians 2 and have broken the first 10 verses into a simplistic outline. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the what, how, where and why being “in Christ” can change our perspective.

WHO? (This would be you and me)

Ephesians 2:1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

WHAT? (Verse 4 is my life verse—rich in mercy, rich in mercy, rich in mercy…)

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

HOW? (We’ve been raised with Christ)

6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him….

WHERE? (speaking of present as well as future)

…..in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

WHEN? (Remember, eternity begins TODAY)

7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9not by works, so that no one can boast.

WHY? (We were definitely created for a purpose)

10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When we pray, it is important for us to know our position in Christ. We don’t come to the Lord, sniveling, fearful, worried or doubtful. We come in faith, and make our requests known based on His great love, applying that mercy and grace He has extended to us. Yes, we were dead in our sins at one point, but now we are new creations, new creatures, alive unto God and created for “good works”. We have been seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, and I believe the “coming ages” begins even this very moment. I don’t believe we have to wait till we get to heaven to rule and reign, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can “live, move, and have our being”.

I have heard many people pray, “Lord, if it be thy will, heal me” and I want to say, “What?” “That is what He died for!” Have you heard people pray, “Lord, if it be thy will, provide my needs.“ Church, Christ purchased our salvation, which is not just our fire insurance. Our healing, our deliverance, our provision, our healing was all a part of the package!

Again, v. 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been “SAVED” (SOZO=Salvation in every area of your life), through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

It is Gods’ will you be healed, saved, delivered and provided for! AMEN! So when you pray, don’t see yourself as a poor pitiful person but see yourself as God sees you—IN CHRIST!

It is from that place, we are able to do the “good works” because God has prepared us in advance—I love that! Whatever you are facing this week, God has prepared you to overcome. And here’s something else to ponder–you have been prepared by God to do, not only the good works, but also the greater works. Now church, that is some really good news!

John 14:12-13 (NKJV) says, ““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”.

Friends, as we pray this week, let’s agree for the following requests, based on the fact that we have been seated together with Christ and that we have been prepared in advance to do all He has called us to do!

• Pray for the church, schools, and traveling ministry
• Pray for the land and for the finances to move forward quickly
• Pray for speedy healing for those sick in our body
• Pray for those who will attend services this weekend
• Pray for our church leaders and government leaders
• Pray for children, youth, singles ministries
• Pray for Young Marrieds and 40’s+
• Pray for supernatural increase and for favor in business and the marketplace
• Pray for Austin Worship Explosion June 24-26

Have a blessed week and we look forward to seeing you in services this Wednesday and Sunday!

Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 12:22 am and is filed under Becky's Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.