What Changes a Christian into an Intercessor?

by | Nov 10, 2017 | 40 Days Through the Prayers of Jesus, Tim Cameron

There are elements in the Christian life that mark it with beauty and wellbeing. They make a person fit for being a blessing to others in this world. They are the attitudes that call forth heroic virtues of the life of faith. Nothing shows more nobility of character that the spirit of daring and perseverance which battles major difficulties and conquers. So should we who are Christians be able to face the difficulties we meet in prayer. The blessings that others need must be called down from heaven in persevering, believing prayer.

These are the marks of a true intercessor:
• An understanding of the need of those who don’t know Christ
• A Christlike love
• An awareness of personal inadequacy
• Faith in the power of prayer
• Courage to persevere in spite of refusal
• The assurance of an abundant reward

These are the qualities that change a Christian into an intercessor.

What Does It Take To Make You Pray?

by | Nov 7, 2017 | 40 Days Through the Prayers of Jesus, Tim Cameron

Scriptures for the day: Luke 11:7, Romans 8:26-28

Is it possible to do much faithful, earnest, and sacrificial work for others without genuine love for them? Out of a high sense of calling and faithfulness to their profession, a physician can become deeply involved in the needs of their patients without a tincture of special love for them. In the same manner, Christians may give themselves to their work with devotion and self-sacrificing passion without any strong Christlike love.

The lack of love causes a lack of prayer. Love will compel us to pray. It is the nature of love to forget itself for the sake of others. We talk a lot about the power of love. In one sense this is true, and yet the truth has limitations. The most robust love may be utterly inadequate. Inadequacy can be our hope and refuge. Why? All my passion and zeal eventually ends, and I have nothing. Insufficiency gives strength to the life of intercession. My love takes refuge in intercession, and the Spirit makes up for my lack.

Can You Love Someone Who Hates You and Wants to Destroy You?

by | Oct 24, 2017 | 40 Days Through the Prayers of Jesus, Tim Cameron


Scriptures for the day: Matthew 6:15, Matthew 18:21, and Matthew 18:33,35

Have you ever had a true enemy? They will tap your phone, have you followed and hire private investigators to find out what they can of your children. They don’t want to harm you or get even; they want to destroy you. There is no limit to how far they will stoop. Could you forgive and love someone like this?

Forgiveness of sins is the one great gift that sets the sinner free. Forgiveness is the source of our salvation. As you and I walk with God and have the assurance of forgiveness of sins, He desires that we extend that same forgiveness towards others. However, the seriousness of forgiveness goes dramatically further: if we refuse to forgive others, we will not be forgiven (Matt. 6:15).

This scandalous forgiveness that the Lord asks of us, who is able? And then the, even more, mind-boggling admonition in Matt: 18:33, 35. So the servant that would not forgive his fellow servant was sent to prison. Then the Lord warns us: “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart.” It is only through the Holy Spirit of God that we can appropriate this kind of forgiveness. But it is there for the taking if we will cry out to God. Oh, the great rejoicing in my heart as I realize I have forgiven my enemy. Forgiveness: the great gift that sets the sinner free.

Hating Others Because of Their Race

by | Oct 23, 2017 | 40 Days Through the Prayers of Jesus, Daily Provoking Thought, Tim Cameron

Scriptures for the day: Titus 3:3, Col. 3:11

I grew up seeing dramatic race prejudice on my mother and father’s side of the family. I have to “check-in” with the Lord often to make sure my heart is clean from this heritage and it has no part of me. What a terribly sad condition. It is the darkest side of the human race. How could such a deplorable state come about in the lives of people? The answer is simple, “Adam’s fall.” Cain, the first child born of the man God created, shed the blood of his brother. Can you imagine such a thing! Humanity’s love of their own people, implanted in their hearts by God, soon changes to murderous hatred.

Love of country becomes the source of race-hatred and bloodshed. God judges and tests us. He now places the races side by side to see if our Christianity will enable us to overcome race-hatred. Does it really matter what race you are?

We have a great opportunity to prove the power of God’s love to change race-hatred into brotherly love. Here’s the deal: we must pray for ourselves and for each other that we would obey God’s Word and live in the power

Are You Throwing Sticks at the Devil?

by | Jun 21, 2017 | Tim Cameron

Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn a stone into bread while He was fasting in the wilderness. He quoted Scripture to the devil to fend him off. Jesus taught us that we must take His Word deep inside us daily. We are more than just physical beings who need food to survive. We are spiritual creations who need to commune with our God every day.

Most of us are too busy to eat properly. Busyness also keeps us from praying. Busyness keeps us from taking time to study, meditate, and hide God’s Word in our hearts. We have an epidemic in the church of spiritually malnourished people who don’t meet Jesus in the secret place daily in the Word and prayer. The admonitions in the Scripture are numerous and pointed. Meditate on the Word and pray. Your spiritual life depends on it.