Sep 7
The Overcoming Power of Prayer II
“Prayer is the utterance to God of that which we long for in light of the reality that God’s desire is that we long for it.” John Paul Jackson
Kneeling here before the Altar of Incense you think you are praying, but in reality God’s Spirit is praying through you. That is good, for man is incapable of deep Spiritual prayer. Our most profound insights are trite in comparison to God’s perfections of your prayer. It is His Spirit that perfects the words that arise to Him - proof that the coal is doing its work in you. You are not wrong to pray, you are drawn to pray by God. He deeply desires to commune with you. However, the pride of thinking that our thought might be lofty, can cloud even the most noble of prayers. A heart found kneeling is a blessed position before the Lord of all Creation.
So, the smoke of your prayer arises. Human breath mingled with God’s. Finite swirling with infinite, temporal joined with Eternal, all flowing out of your innermost being. This is a Divine wonder - God’s thoughts are coursing through you and back to Him. Your nature involved with His in a total, sweet, saturated fragrance. You are nearly ready to walk into the next Room of Mystery, the Holy of Holies. But, you need to meditate on the five elements of prayer and spice co-joined in the smoke arising before you for a while. Those five foundations of prayer and the five spices blended together are:
Stacte/Contemplation - Heals the Spirit and is contemplative in nature. It is a level of meditation that helps you to recognize His ways so that you might know Him, not just know about Him. It is the wonder that in His will, He founded the earth by wisdom; He established the heavens by understanding; by His knowledge the depths burst apart, and the skies distilled dew. Do not lose sight of these things; hold on to the resourcefulness He brings to you and cherish foresight both will give life to your spirit and grace to your speech (Prov. 3:19-21).
Onycha/Devotion - Heals the Flesh and it is devotional in nature. It is the adhesion of your body to His. The carnal nature is let go and your body becomes the vehicle to accomplish the advancement of God’s Kingdom. It is knowing that your life will be better walking out His plan for your life, affecting those He brings you into contact with, and oozing His Spirit into a world devoid of His presence - a world who still loves darkness rather than light - until they meet true light.
Galbanum/Supplication - Heals the soul and it is oozing with supplication. It is very passionate, and fervent prayer. It is also extremely effectual and accomplishes great things for the Kingdom. It is your mind, will, and emotions, entirely focused on Him. It is the letting go of that which you long for, so that what He longs for can not only be prayed, but experienced in your life. It is the loss of you trying to make God conform to your will and to what you want.
Frankincense/Intercession - Is Intercession for others. It was a gift brought to Jesus at His birth and, as a precious spice, it was a gift brought for Him at His burial. It is the recognition that He came into this world to introduce a means of sin purification and that He accomplished that purpose. More so - it is the total acceptance that Jesus accomplished His mission. It is Jesus interceding for you right now. It is part of the Glory of God and its’ presence in you is the Hope of Glory in Him. It is you being prepared and anointed to die to your old self and transform into the image of the Living Christ.
Salt/Worship/Adoration - Salt is worship and adoration. It preserves and advances the Kingdom and it recognizes that you exist because of His great mercy and grace. It is you offering all you are, the crowns you have won, the accomplishments you have achieved, the visions that came to pass, offering it all back to Him. It is you admitting that without Him and Him gifting you the ways He did, you would have achieved nothing. What God has done in and through you made you the salt of the Earth, without Him doing that - you at best would have been salt without savor. Salt is you mingling in the world and the world being a better place because of it.
Your Old Man is fading and you are being raised a new creation in Christ. You are almost ready for the Next Room of Mystery. However, there are two more areas that need addressing before the Veil is lifted or torn for you.
Blessings,
John Paul
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Hollo John Paul Love your blog. When can we expect a book,cdor dvd on all you have writen on the blog this past year. HUGS
As I read, My spirit continues to long for a closer walk , a deeper, more meaningful conversations with my Husband(I’m a Widow.Isaiah 54:5 )through my prayer life. I’m moved to tears there has got to be more. No longer will I be satisfied will surface prayers. Deep conversation was something I never had with my earthly(Late)Husband, only because he chose not to let me close to him. He finally came to know the Lord 4 years before he passed.So my prayers were answer so wonderfully when we finally communed together in heartfelt prayer. Thank You for this site.God Bless you.
i think im finally beginning to understand
Alice,
There are areas deep inside of us that only God can understand and fill that void. That’s the spirit-to-spirit connection.
There are times I’ve looked at my husband and thought to myself “I’ve lived with you as your wife 24 years yet you still don’t know the deep things about me…” Then God whispers to me and says “I know you Linda and I know more about you than you know about you.”
Over the years God has made Isaiah 54 rhema to me. That chapter has helped me to become the woman of God that He desires for me. Our Maker, the Lord of Hosts, does become our husband. He is where true satisfaction and oneness takes place. I am of a romantic nature and I found Him to be my true “Prince” Charming that has swept me off my feet and carries me to His Heavenly castle. He is irresistible!!!
My husband was a widower with four children when I married him. He did not want any more children—this in the natural puts me in the category of a barren woman. But Hallelujah!!! I am not a barren woman and am not desolate or sad. God has released His joy and fulfillment to me. I have travailed and birthed for Him over the years.
Alice, you have Jesus 24/7. He is always with you to have those “deep” conversations with you. He is there to woo you and make you feel whole and complete. He erases those hurts with His healing oil and blood.
“See” Jesus walking with you inside your home.”See” Jesus sitting at the table with you as you eat. “See” Jesus sitting in the car with you when you are driving.
“See” Jesus walking with you down the aisles of the grocery store, etc.
There is no place you can go—that Jesus is not there with a listening ear attuned to your voice or hearts cry. If you quieten yourself you can hear Jesus talking and responding back to you.
Lean on your Husband Jesus!!!
Love,
Linda
HI John Paul,
I echo the first comment made. Love the blog Gr8 food.Thank God for Flame bearers, fire men & fire women who burn brightly in a broken world .
Great to see the explanations ,revelations & the implacations of these wonderful spices.
Thank goodness we are new creatures in Christ. My heart is grieved when I hear of people in the body revisting their old man and wanting healing of their inner child. what is this non-sense..huh?
When we are baptisied the old man is washed away, dead and buried. Why do some insist giving mouth to mouth to the dead. This is necromancy.Communicating with the dead is a sin.God clearly states we are not to communicate with the dead.Its divination. When we hang around dead bodies we get diseases and there is a pungant smell. The only smell that is pleasing to our ALMIGHTY CREATOR is the fragrance we release from our heart in spirit and in truth with these beautiful spices.
A heart on fire!!! Mandi
Good Morning,
Oh if only I could paint the picture of prayer you so beautifully wrote of….WOW!
At my husband’s school there are several students who are sent to his office on a regular basis for disciplinary measures. One young man (I’ll call Joey)
spends a lot of time there.
Joey’s mother came to school beaming telling my husband some good news. She told my husband that he would not have to discipline Joey anymore—because hallelujah! Joey got baptized.
Benny praised the Lord with her and told the mother to go down and tell Joey’s teacher about the baptism…
A few hours later the teacher escorted Joey to Benny’s office. She whispered to Benny, “Joey must not have stayed under long enough!”
Jesus did finish and complete the work at the cross.
We must choose to die daily and stay under till the work is established in us.
Yielding to the process,
Linda
Hi John Paul & Blog Family:
It just hit me between my spiritual eyes concerning bread that has been wounded. I am still pondering this from the last blog entry of August 29th, 2009, how bread can be wounded, as I am kneeling before the Lord in my heart at the altar of incense. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is the bread of life that came down from heaven and this bread was broken and wounded and afflicted for our transgressions and then after the cruel scourging at the pillar, He hung on the cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is the bread of heaven that gives life to the world and He is the Lamb of God at the same time that takes away the sin of the world, whoa what a paradox, this blows my mind. This is a prayer that is prayed at all the Masses in the Catholic Church through out the world, just before one receives Jesus @ Holy Communion.
I guess that I am still kneeling at the altar of affliction and pondering how our Lord was smittened, wounded, afflicted, broken and crushed for our offenses and sins of the whole world. This is why the priest breaks the bread at consecration. This is wounded bread for me.
Selah,
Shirley C.
Supplimentation of our prayers lifted thru the veil of the altar to our Lord, flowing with the incense mixed with the care from our heart, breathed spirit life into our natural hearts and minds called faith, which is hope came from pure love. The very act of prayer is proof of faith, how powerful and important his children pray to the Father. Our Lord responds to the smallest of prayer, maybe even unanswered but answered just the same. Our creator is so Great, he knows how much this world needs help and him, by a simple act of prayer it can move the hand of God. We are truely the salt of the world as we are called to bring Jesus to the hopeless,lost forgotten,confused & hurting people who all need to pray like us. I love John Pauls deep teaching on prayer. Pray only heart felt prayers, pray for others, our country, just pray more and move closer to God.
Hey All,
A word of encouragement to add to JP’s message. Sometimes its hard to remember that there are both bitter and sweet spices. When times of trials come we seem to dwell on the bitter and can’t quite remember the sweet. But I thank God my Father for sending Jesus Christ who not only died on the cross and was buried but who also rose up victoriously on the third day. Many of us have experienced the death and burial, but now are going to experience the resurrection. The true gospel MUST have a resurrection. Praise the Lord! Remember the story of Martha and Mary. Martha was busy but Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. When Martha said to Jesus that she knew that her brother Lazarus would be raised up at the resurrection, Jesus looked at her, shook his head and said, Martha, I am the resurrection and the life! But when Mary approached Jesus with grief over her brother, his heart was so moved with compassion because Mary had cultivated their relationship by sitting with him that she received the Resurrection. Martha got the sermon but Mary got the experience! So, I thank you Lord for the resurrection. I thank you for the healing and sweet spices that bring restoration. And I stand firm in my faith with my brothers and sisters today, on 9/11, and invite the wind of the Spirit, to bring about our change. We love you Jesus, we forsake all for You and Your kingdom.
Is. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
So, my dear friends today let’s all stand together and Shout
LAZARUS, COME FORTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Holly
Selah
Amen Holly! Jesus’s Life, Death & Resurrection is what the church refers to as the Pascal Mysteries. These mysteries are continually flowing within our being through time in the secret place of the Most High God within our hearts and is a fruit of the sanctifying grace acting upon the natural grace of the natural man through the person of the Holy Spirit once we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life and after we ask Him to send His Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. I believe the Lord is using John Paul, in this blog to walk us through the rooms of mystery carefully in order for us to gain some form of understanding as to how Jesus’ Divine nature gets embedded into our spirits and as he is writing about it, it is actually happening to us on some level as we ponder, meditate and think on it, selah! This is what makes coming to these blogs so awesome. An awesome work within us is happening<3
Peace & Blessings
Shirley C.
PS: The video in the link is a 911 tribute in honor of the victims of 911, based on Celine Dions “Fly”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgYRBFtQCoc&feature=channel_page
John Paul,
I don’t know if you actually read the comments of your followers (friends and fans) on Face Book. Today (Sat.)
you raised much debate…If you haven’t read it, you might want to see what one of your statements can stir.
Thank you that you allow your followers to “vent” and express themselves…..We might need something warm and fuzzy from you from time to time so there can be a cooling down time…Ha!Ha!
What inspires you to put these statements out that challenge God’s people to think?
Enjoying the fellowship here at Coffee Talk,
Linda
If we are feeling like our prayers are never answered or are answered so infrequently we are discouraged, what kind of prayers do you recommend starting out with?
Some pray only about major events or overwhelming problems in their life. Others pray about everything down to what color socks to wear. It stands to reason that those who pray about the most things see the most answers. However, not all things get answered like we hope or expect and it puts divots in our faith. Are there prayers God always answers that we can ask to rebuild faith? I know faith can be built by reading God’s Word but at least in my case it is difficult to continuously ask for healing and justice when years roll by. It makes prayer for other things very difficult.
Do you have any comments on types of prayers, length of wait for answers, reasons for hindrances, and declining faith?
One of Those
I love the path you are teaching about– leading us into the most holy place with the Lord. I have at times found myself frustrated, wanting to go “higher” with the Lord and finding nothing but a ceiling between us. I have even dreamed about it more than once, but God is so kind and loving, even while we wait (maybe especially while we wait?) In my last dream, I rose to the ceiling and hit it with my fist (in frustration) I descended back into the room in front of a computer. I heard love songs playing on the computer and thought “Where is this music coming from?” I heard a voice whisper, “From the Server.”
I am melted away by the Lord’s constant demonstrations of His love and affection for me. Being closer to Him is my heart’s desire, but I have recently determined that I cannot make this happen (going higher) and have surrenderd the whole plan to God. Even though there are some layers to get through, I am experiencing a divine peace (amazing how that happens when we surrender things to the Lord). Waiting on God to take us into those higher and deeper places with Him (as opposed to trying to force our way in) is definitely the best (and only) way to go.
I look forward to reading about the next two areas that need to be addressed. Blessing 2U John Paul & staff.
Enjoying the Journey ~ Melissa
II Timothy 2:14-17: “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.”
I Timothy 6:20: “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”
Ecclesiastes 10:11-14: “A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow him up;
The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.
A fool also multiplies words, no man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him?”
I Corinthians 8:9: “But beware lest somehow this liberty of your becomes a stumbling block to the weak.”
Thanks for the blogs.
I lost my Husband and twin sister 3 weeks apart 3 years ago.
I would like to get in touch with my husband. I rely on him being around helping me.
I really like this site and information.
Jeanniemarie
Dear Blog Family:
Something has just shifted in the spirit regarding Worship. I have noticed this shift in the Holy Ghost happening a couple of weeks ago when at the Metro West Church. However, the Lord wanted to show me further that it wasn’t necessarily the physical place, but it is a new season that we cane into. This morning in prayer I had asked the Lord why the increase in smoke and incense in places of worship where there were none and He revealed to me that we have entered the season of “The Incense”. Revelation 8:4: And “THE SMOKE OF THE INCENSE”, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angels hand.
I had another unusual experience yesterday, at a Catholic Shrine in Holliston. When we were walking the grounds of the shrine, I saw an unusual site, people from Africa men and women, entering the back side of the church building wearing decorative African garb, headresses and all, and then when we went into the book store, we heard the beating of African drums in a rhythmic and harmonious beat and then the voices and when we peaked through the door, they were dancing and then I asked the bookstore clerk what group was in the room next store and whatg part of the church were they from and she said they were Baptist, “Glorrrrrrray!, they were in a high praise mode and they weren’t stopping. They were singing in an African dialect. It sounded like tongues to me. When they were throwing up praise to the Lord, they were throwing up flowers too and they were not stopping at times the worship would ebb a little and then it would pick up, well anyway, as they were worshiping I kept smelling fragrance and incense rising to the throne, and they were not lighting incense. As they were worshiping, we went into the sanctuary, to pray, where they have the tabernacle, the place where we keep the consecrated hosts. On the othere side of the wooden/wall/doors in back of the tabernacle, was the room where the worshipers were assembled, it was like they were in the outer courts and we were in the Holy of Holies receiving their prayers before the Lord. I kept seeing and smelling incense coming into the room from their praises and I the Lord gave witness to this in my spirit when the smoke of His presence was coming into my nostrils from within my spirit. God was doing something very unusual in the worship that day.
I also want to say that when we attended the Metro West Church the incense was strong that day as well, as the praises was going up. I also know that John Thomas burns incense occasionally during praise and worship too but the smoke of His presence usually starts to come to me at the beginning of the days where worship will be the most intense. The Lord is raising a standard of worship in this hour in this season of incense, oh Lord, I am smelling it now. Pray for Africa, God is using the African nation to blaze the trail of Worship in a most unusual way. Start playing those drums Kari, I am with you in that! Much warfare in the days ahead, but also sweet worship going up to the throne, as well. When we do things for God in our ministry this is also worship going up as well.
Bless You Fellow Worshipers!
Shirley C.
A Poem - The ministry of prayer
There’s a holy, high vocation, needing workers everywhere;‘Tis the highest form of service -‘tis the ministry of prayer.
No one need stand idly longing for a place in which to share; Active service for the Master - there is always room in prayer.
In these days of tribulation, wickedness pervades the air; The battles we engage in - must be won through fervent prayer.
There’s no weapon half so mighty as the intercessors bear; Nor a broader field of service - than the ministry of prayer.
There’s a holy invitation given to us this day; To see the millions who are perishing receive God’s wonderful grace.
Come and join the intercessors; laurels then someday you’ll wear. There is no higher service - than the ministry of prayer.
-Author Unknown
Hi Jeannie Marie - I couln’t help but take note of your blog. You have endured some tragic losses over the past three years. I believe God wants you to know that He has a wonderful plan for your life and He is leading you into perfect truth. I encourage you to read the Bible and listen to as much of John Paul’s teachings as possible– you are on the right track. Keep pressing in and trust Jesus with everything. He loves you so much and He will never leave you or forsake you– it’s a promise. . .it’s His Word.
Blessings ~ Melissa S.
Hello “One of Those” - I just read your blog and it really touched my heart. I just want to encourage you to never give up praying. I have heard it said that “Prayer changes things”, but the older I get the more convinced I am that “Prayer Changes Us.” Really, that is the ideal result. We have to know we can trust God before we will bring more things before Him, and it sounds like this is your greatest struggle. Most of us don’t really know how to pray or what to pray for, but when we get a revelation of how much God loves us it makes it easier easier(i.e. He has numbered the hairs on your head– note: He hasn’t just counted them, but rather, He has assigned a specific number to each one of them!!)
I believe a major key to growing in our trust walk with God is undertanding how interested He is in us. Realizing this helps to bring down our defenses and eventually bring more of ourselves and our concerns before God. I encourage you take a year and read through the Bible, taking notes on what that day’s scripture reading says about God’s character. When I did that, the main theme I noted at the end of the study was FAITHFULNESS.
Hold on to Jesus brother and never stop asking, seeking or knocking. Waiting is a process that God takes us through to strengthen our faith. Speak the promises of God out loud (this is the true definition of meditation, by the way) and I guarantee it will increase your faith. You are in a spiritual battle for your faith and you must weild your sword which is The Word of God. Please don’t give up!
Blessing and Faith be Poured out to you in Abundance!
Melissa S.
Thanks Melissa,
I have observed that we all hit our battles in different ways. What is most difficult to us may not be the most difficult thing for someone else. It seems my life-long battle, as is everyone’s to a degree, has been with faith.
Faith is necessarily coupled with prayer. Why would I ask someone who was incapable or unwilling to do something for me repeatedly over a long period of time? I know with my head God is good, loving, caring, faithful, healing, and able. However, somewhere between my head and my heart a war is going on. I still pray for the things I know are in accordance with His Word but I still don’t see a change. Daily my heart is rent open from the suffering I watch my child in. It makes it hard to pray about the little things.
As for reading the Bible in a year I find that to be a monumental under taking. With the loss of my job and surrounding circumstances I am returning to full time graduate school…while caring for the kids too. On top of it all my degree pursuit is an M.Div. It is like trying to look at every molecule of water coming out of a fire hose. Right now it is thrilling to learn about God this way…just don’t ask me when I’m cramming for the next Greek test HA!
P.S. One of the most exciting things has been to read the Bible in Greek. It is almost like literally reading in 3D.
Thanks John Paul for this blog…it’s great
One of Those
Hi Everybody,
Shirley, I remember when I first came to this blog. And this overwhelming feeling that I was sitting at the entrance to the holy of holies. And then how we each entered in as little children, the only way in. And remembering how Jesus was so thankful to his Father that these things were hidden from the wise and prudent, but that they were revealed to babes. And how each of us were growing in his Presence. It has been such a blessed experience. It is the Jewish high holy days. From Rashashana through Yom Kippur. It is a new year. And a time of reflection. We have come through the dark night of the soul. And I know it was painful but as soon as we pass through, the pain is gone and only a faint memory exists. I have learned that I can trust Jesus. He will bring our loved ones through the purification fires as he has brought each one of us. Blessings, Holly
Beware! Simplicity is your foundation. Seek more knowledge of God,spend hours, days years seeking, and Satan got you. Seek Jesus only! For in him dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily. When all is said and done, Jesus will not ask you how much knowledge do you have? Lord I want only you!