My death and new life date was when, even after being Ordained and having a Church, was when I later absolutely surrendered and gave up all and I prayed > “Lord, consecrate me. Separate me from myself and every person, church matter, and all that exist, and become my Savior & whole life. Purify me by your Spirit and blood and live in & through me. Be mybreath, my heartbeat, mywords, my passion and whole life. Live in & through me to do your Holy Will. Deliver me from any matter, religious stuff or idealism that would hinder your life in me. May I be united to you and bring you Glory and may you say to me on that day “Well done my good & faithful servant”. Then I usually re pray similar words to what Tozer prayed:“O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me in a grave and perilous hour. Thou art about to shake all nations and the earth and also heaven that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. O Lord, my Lord, Thou hast stooped to honor me to be one of Thy servants. No man taketh this honor upon himself. Help me to not be as the religious who are stubborn of heart and hard of hearing. Much of the Church has rejected Thee, the Lord God, and it is not to be expected that they will receive me, your servant. If they rejected you and your words then they will reject me and your own Holy Words that I simply quote and say.
The decision is not mine, but Thine. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done.
Please Lord, it is time, O God, for Thee to work, for the enemy has entered into Thy pastures (Church), and the sheep are torn and scattered. They focus more on the building then they do upon your presence.
False shepherds abound who laugh at the perils which surround Thy flock. They will not speak of the warnings from your word as it diminishes the churches view of them. They speak of church happiness matters for applause, while their own judgement awaits. I beseech Thee, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the enemy. Give me understanding to see, and courage to faithfully speak out of what I see. Make my voice strong and bold like Thine own.
Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Anoint me to be yours. Forbid that I should become a religious scribe and thus lose my calling. Save me from the curse that lies dark across the modern church: the curse of compromise, of imitation, of systems, format, professionalism, wanting filthy lucre, applause and power.
Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly money.
Help me Jesus, to remember that you chose me to be your servant, not to be a church building promoter, not a religious manager or just a good church going person. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions.
Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers of this worlds evil one and his rulers of darkness in this world. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier for you Dear Jesus Christ.
I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to take the hard way. I shall expect opposition from religion and churches who want a church system rather than a crucified Savior. And if, in Thy permissive providence, honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself, they would withhold their honors.
- And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great, or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine, and I would not influence it if I could. I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame; and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven.
Though I am chosen of Thee and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the entire race of men. I pray Thee, therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself and from all the injuries I may do while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness. May my life, thoughts, words, actions and existence be for your glory.
Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen” - AW Tozer
This type of above prayer is deep, good and one that I believe separates the wheat from the chaff.
The roots of organized religion and church idealism are a deep tangle. Only God the Holy Spirit can weed out a persons heart and motives. Christ must not be a gold cross on a persons neck, but a true living Lord God who is ruling in a persons heart.
All of existence in this world started with God and ends with God. Make sure that He is your Lord God and your whole life.
andy
Jesus is my Lord & God God