John 6:44 TPT “The only way people come to Me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace Me. And those who are drawn to Me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.”
Unless the Father draws us unto Jesus, we have no desire to seek the Lord. Unless the Father prompts us through the Holy Spirit, we will only use our own strength to find our own glory. HE draws and HE will get the glory and credit for leading and saving us. The story of our salvation will be all about Him who has done it.
We have heard our Bishop, who had to pray for basically 20 years and up to as much as 20 hours a day. He and his wife were able because their children were at first very young, their church barely had any people, and he did not possess nor distracted by the complications of life. In fact, they were in poverty with a lot of time on their hands. Many other ministries or churches in the world may be in similar situations, but even having a Bible and much time, they are not doing what our Bishop had done in desperation. But for Bishop, who was basically a Presbyterian pastor at that time, he at least possessed the gift of tongue to pray for hours. The outcome of two decades in their long suffering was meeting Jesus Himself, which also led to a visitation into heaven and hell, where Bishop was able to bring a report.
But was he able to pray 5, 10, or 20 hours a day on his own strength? No, he was able to pray in such a capacity only by the grace of God. It was only by the grace of God as HE chose Bishop leading him and his family to pray and go through what they needed to go through to birth the Holy Fire Ministry and to bring a testimony written in the Fire books. Now we are imparted this Holy Fire as we are given the grace to return as a people of prayer, word, and holiness.
But if any person attempted to do what Bishop had done, so they could experience what Bishop and his family had gone through spiritually, would it only end in vain? No one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them, and no one may come through the gates of Heaven on their own accord or strength. Otherwise, they are a thief climbing over the fence rather than through the gate. No flesh will boast how much they were able to pray or how much they prayed from their strength to experience divine visitations, nor be able to see angels or demons.
If God wills that we only pray one hour a day, then by His grace we can do one hour and be effective according to the Will of the Father. If anyone wants to pray a couple of hours more, give or take, and is able to do so, then that is fine. When we first started church, there were many occasions we were led to pray 5 hours or conduct weekend services of 6 hours or more. Now we are led to our current program. Perhaps, in the future, He may lead us to do more, but Pastor Yoojin and I do according to Father’s lead by the Holy Spirit. There is no reason for us to exhaust our people from our own positions of pride to force anyone to pray beyond the grace given, so we can experience or boast of ourselves. Then we are operating in our own strength and glory, trying to boast of ourselves.
The church is a sheepfold, and all spiritual business is conducted through the main Shepherd, Jesus. He has a particular program for us as we all need to move and do as one. Any other person who comes with a different assignment is but a thief climbing over the gate, and a lone fig tree that bears no fruit will be cursed.
We can only bear fruit if we are connected to the Vine. If we are not connected to the main Vine, it means we are not connected to Him. You are also connected to the Vine indirectly or directly, whether through the ministry, the church, and the pastors. Many of us have changed, and some only marginally, but regardless, the end result is you must bear His eternal Fruit of the Holy Spirit! And this fruit must only be borne through Grace and not by your own ideas or strength. In all things, we need to be led by the Beloved Holy Spirit!
P.S. It is not just about praying for a lengthy time to get the same result as Bishop, u would have to go through (long suffering, humiliation, lack, injustice, etc) what he did personally with all the hours and years of prayer to get close to his level, even if it was available for you.
Additional Comments:
Let us at least do what is minimally required.
It is not just about praying for a lengthy time to get the same result as Bishop, you would have to go through (long suffering, humiliation, lack, injustice, etc) what he did personally with all the hours and years of prayer to get close to his level, even if it were available for you.
Senior Pastor Steve Kim