Burdens that We Should Carry

How do you feel about ruling and reigning with Christ Jesus when he comes back to earth for his thousand year reign? Most of us can handle the wedding, marriage supper of the Lamb and being a Bride, but the rest is in there too.

Revelation 20:4
[ The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years ] And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (NKJV)

How can we, the Body of Christ, yep, the same one who has trouble volunteering to help plant flowers at the local assembly, ever get the training to be helpers to Christ and rule here on earth, for 1000 years yet.

Most of us can see being made without spot or wrinkle, although sometimes I think that is a stretch too when I look at me.

Ephesians 5:27
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)

But that's what His Word says.

So how do you suppose this uncoordinated Body is going to be able to reign with Him?

I love Paul Billheimer's books. In one of them he speaks of prayer being our "on the job training". He likens it to a check which needs two signatures to be valid. God already singed His part of the check and by prayer we sign our part of that check.

Do you even have thoughts that don't do away, impressions that someone you know needs prayer? Do you find yourself thinking about a certain situation or perhaps seeing someone struggling? Sometimes the Lord will nudge us to go and "share the truth in love" with a person. More often than not, when you "see" something off base or a place where a friend is slipping and straying away from the truth in God's Word you have been allowed a "peek" just so you will pray about that situation. You are to pray until that burden lifts. OK, I am speaking "Christianeze" here and I usually try not to do that.

What I mean is that something will be on your heart and popping into your mind here and there. Maybe the Lord will speak in His still, small voice and ask you to pray. You are to pray and keep praying until you sense a breakthrough. You will not necessarily see anything different in the person or circumstance although sometime you might.

How do you pray? I feel the best way to pray about something is to pray God's Word over that situation. Yes, the Bible. Find appropriate scriptures for the situation and pray them out loud on behalf of that person or situation. Tear down that stronghold in their life by the blood of Jesus that was shed on Calvary for them.

I find a Bible word search really helpful. There is one online that I love now that I found out you can change the default Bible (I plugged in New King James Version). It is as follows:

http://www.biblegateway.com/

You can put in a word or two and it will pull up scriptures pertaining to those words. Take your pick as sometimes it is quite a buffet.

Praying for the "burdens" the Lord gives to you also helps us become more like Christ. It helps our character to strengthen and grow. God also uses those scriptures to come alive for us in our lives and circumstances. Yes, it requires sitting down and doing something but how many of us couldn't use a little growth in the area of discipline? I know I could!

These are the things which will matter 100 years from now, the things which will count for eternity and bless the Lord's heart. "Standing in the gap" on behalf of another will help us to be ready to rule and reign with Him, teach us more about prayer and the Word and perseverance and it might just set a friend or loved one FREE.

Do you suppose there has ever been a time when you needed someone to have a "prayer burden" on your behalf? Hum..I know there are many, many times when I have been "standing in the need of prayer". Let's accept this challenge. Talk to your Lord today and ask Him who you can pray for and what you should be praying.

It might end up being someone at work who drives you nuts, those neighbors down the block who stay up really late and play excessively loud "music", maybe the kids who continually take short cuts through your yard, or your ex-spouse. Maybe it is that lady at church who is always sharing everyone else's business under the guise of a "prayer request" or your pastor who is worn to a frazzle. Maybe the "burden" will be your child who is going through some serious rebellion right about now or your parent. Perhaps it could be the neighborhood drug dealer or the gals on the street way late at night, the tattooed guy on the chopper who roars by, his piercings swaying in the breeze..

Ask God and I am sure He will show you, I am oh, so sure!

(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.

About Self

Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS