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THE GREATEST NEED OF THE CHURCH: INTERCESSION

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Text:

DEFINE SAD DAY?

Ezekiel 22:30 (KJV) And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand

before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.

Ezekiel 22:30 (MSG) "I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the

defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I

wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one.

*IF YOU TRULY LOVE PEOPLE WE WILL DESIRE FOR THEM FAR MORE THAN

*IT IS IN OUR POWER TO GIVE THEM, AND THIS WILL LEAD US TO PRAYER.

*Richard J. Foster

I. THERE ARE SEVERAL NECCESARY ELEMENTS TO FIND FOR GOOD INTERCESSION.

1. FAITHFULNESS

2. Continual

3. To be in the TRENCHES and know the needs.

4. To honest know the needs of people are greater than your ability to fix.

5. To trust completely that God has a plan and purpose.

6. We must accept IN THE PROCESS OF TIME, Divine Timing...

7. We must have faith that our PRAYERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

8. We must come to God broken hearted and repent...

9. We must pray until we PRAY THROUGH...

10. We must stand in the gap for our family, church, our nation, and the world...

II. WE MUST BELIEVE AND TRUST THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO WHATSOEVER WE ASK...

Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we

ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or

imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20 (MSG) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine

or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working

within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

A. In May 1996 VALUJET FLIGHT 592 crashed into the swampy Florida everglades, all 110

people on board this jet was killed in the crash.

The NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD need to have the BLACK BOX from the

crash to understand what had happened. The crash had left debris scattered over a large

area. Finding the black box was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Hundreds of people

searched through the mud, muck, and water for many days.

They called in the Navy experts to help with all the latest gadgets and technology, there was

no success.The searchers held a rope with a person every three feet apart and combed the

area.

B. There was jet fuel and hydraulic fluid on top of the waters. Each searcher had to wear

several layers rubber/latex ... The heat was over 90* --- the heat index was even greater.

The humidity and heat in the outfits was almost unbearable. Many people suffered from

dehydration, but the black box had to be found.

For 14 days the search started at dawn until darkness. There was a searcher from

THE METRO-DADE POLICE FORCE that was in the search each day. After the 14th

day OFFICER --- SERGEANT FELIX JIMENEZ PRAYED... THE 110 FAMILIES

WERE SUFFERING AND NEEDED THE BODIES AND BLACK BOX TO BE FOUND.

Jimenez prayed much of the night, seeking God, he knew God knew where the Box

was and he sought God to lead someone to the BLACK BOX. So he sought God in

prayer.

C. The 15th day Sergeant Jimenez ask the Holy Spirit to guide him. He had a pole

in his hand and he kept prayfully sticking the pole in the muck, BANG, HE HIT

SOMETHING METAL, HE PULLED THE BLACK BOX out of the muck.

D. Guideposts interviewed Jimenez:

AT THE END OF THE DAY---I THOUGHT HOW MANYDAYS WE SPENT SEARCHING

FOR THE FLIGHT RECORDER, HOW WE MUST HAVE TROMPED OVER IT MANY

TIMES, AND I WONDERED WHY ITS RETRIEVAL HAD TAKEN SO LONG?

AMID THE RUSTLE OF SAW GRASS AND THE GREAT CALL OF THE WHITE

HERON, WHY SO LONG?

I HEARD A RESPONSE: "WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO ASK?"

III. FOUR MEN ARE SITTING AROUND TALKING, THEY HAVE A FRIEND WITH

PALSY... HE WAS A GOOD MAN, BUT HE WAS SO SICK... SOME ONE GETS

A BETTER IDEA... HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT JESUS?

A. Every miracles starts some where in a man's eyes and his heart.