Cleanse.Fill.Pour.: January 2015

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Praying with Jesus

I've been thinking about prayer lately, I ran across this excerpt from the book Hidden in Christ by James Bryan Smith;

"Setting my mind on the truth that Jesus is praying for me has changed the way I pray. I now pray with Jesus, not simply to Jesus. Jesus is interceding for me (and you) so I offer prayers for my family, friends, and myself with Jesus, to our heavenly Father."

How is this possible that I can now pray with Christ, not simply to Him? Think on that, it's powerful! I'm not sure I've ever considered what a privilege and powerful thing it is to pray with Jesus...He is not praying with me, He is praying for me.

Hebrews 7:25, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

But as I learn to pray, I pray with Him. As my mind, heart, passions, desires, and kingdom heart-set is transformed my will aligns more, and more with His, I pray with Him....in accordance to His will. When I think of a "posture" of praying with Him I see alignment....coming together before the Father. I see community. I see unity. I see grace-filled beauty ,and magnificence. I see transformation. I see boldness.

My eyes and faith are so small though, so as I learn to pray with Him according to His will...I am so thankful that the Spirit intercedes, transforms and translates for me. I can come boldly before the throne of Grace, in faith, knowing that it will be translated well....by the Spirit and Son.

Romans 8:26-27, " In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

How do I learn this? How do I practice prayer? Does this have to be all complicated? And formulaic ? A system of prayer? No. I think it is very organic. Very relational. I'm not saying it should be disrespectful, impertinent , or too casual...yet prayer in Christ shouldn't be in whimpering fear. I'm learning to pray with Jesus.

I'm reminded of Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart." As we learn who we are in Christ...as we delight in the LORD, in Christ. As we delight in Him...we are changed, transformed, eyes are opened, hearts softened. Desires changed. Kingdom heart-set altered. I think we learn to pray with Him...

Check out the website www.cleansefillpour.com

Purpose of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

Cleanse.Fill.Pour. is a women's ministry specifically designed to encourage women. Our desire is to see you grow in discipleship...to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:21 says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself (herself) from these things, he (she) will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

Our prayer is that this would be used as a small tool to encourage women to be useful "vessels" for the Lord to use... in their marriage, with their kids, in teacher appointments, in the workplace, in their churches and all throughout their sphere of influence, that they would be Cleansed. Filled. and Poured out to others.

Statement of Faith of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

1.We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2.We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1 and John 1)

3.We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.(all of the Gospels)

4.We believe that Salvation is by grace and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that Jesus Christ is the Only Way to have a right relationship with God. (John 14:6)

5.We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.(Ephesians 1:13-14)

6.We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.(Romans 8)

7.We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.(all of the Gospels)

8. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12)

Curriculum Available with Online Study Tools

"From out to IN" Our Position in Christ now available! This is my first book based on the book of Ephesians but starting "In the beginning..."

"In Christ...walking by grace and faith" an in-depth study on the book of Ephesians. This 15-week study looks closely at the idea of walking by the same grace and faith that we are saved with! What does it mean to BE and then to DO? We are called to BE who we are in Christ and out of that we DO, not vise versa!

"Free Indeed" a in-depth look at the book of Galatians. A 12-week study closely looking at what was truly accomplished at the Cross of Christ. What does that mean for us? What is the source of our growth now? Freedom, what is it!?

"The Relationship"

For more information or to get materials...email cleansefillpour@aol.com