PRAYI

NGI
NTHESPI
RIT SERI
ES

CONCEI
VINGI
NTHESPI
RIT
Inthismessagewewantt ot ouchonsomet hi
ngl i
ke t
heconcept ionand
gestationandbi rt
hf ort hi npray er .Ther ear et hree aspect soft hepr ayer.Wer eali
ze
thatint henat ur alwor ldt hatbef or e l ifecomesf or ththerehast obeaconcept i
on,a
gestationper i
odandof cour seat imewhent hechi l
dcomesf ort
h.Wer ealizethat
therear e dif
fer entpr inciplest hatar ei nvolved.Ther ear edi f
ferentex periences
thatar ei nvolv edi neachper i
od.Ther ear edi ff
er entexper iencesi nv olved i
n
concept ion.Ther ear edi ff
erentexper iencesi nvolv edi ngest ation. Ther ear e
diff
erentexper iencesi nv olv
edwheni ti st imef ort hechi ldto comef orth.Ther eare
diff
erentsi gns,di ffer entsy mpt omst hatar ei nvolved.Forexampl e,whenaconcept i
on
takespl aceandal adyhad concei ved,oneoft hesignst hatsomet i
meshappen
wouldbewhatt hey cal l
edmor ni
ngsi ckness.Andi thappeneddi ffer entlywi theach
l
ady . Somet i
mesi tmaynotbeassev er einot hersasi tisi not her sbecauseof
thechemi calcomposi t i
onofeachper sonbody .Butt heyarecommon sy mpt oms.
Soal adywi llknow.Shewi llhav ecer tainphy sicalchanges begi nt ohappeni nher
body .Herbodywi l
li mmedi atelyknowt hatt her ei s somet hingt hati st akingpl acein
herbody .Concept iont akespl ace.And t hendur ingt hegest ationper iodwhi chi sthe
l
ongestper i
od.I tisa diff
er entdev el opmentst age.Herbodybegant ochangeand
adjust.Andby t het imet hebabyi sal mostdue.Shewi l
lnotl ookt hesameaswhen
she didn'thav et hebaby .Dur ingt hegest at ionper i
odi sav er yt oughper i
od.
Thenwheni ti st i
mef ort hebabyt obedel i
v ered, shewi l
lhav edifferent sy mpt oms.
Oneoft hef irstsi gnst hatadoct orwi l
lt elly ouwhent here ar emov ement s,when
thereiscont ract i
ont hatbegi ns,y oust rai ght awaygo t
ot hehospi tal.Sower eali
ze
thatisi mpor tantt or ecogni zephy si
cal sympt omsi nor dert oi dent ifyper iodsof
ti
me.

Andi n ther ealm ofprayerespeci all

yi nthingswhichGodwant sust ogive
birt
h to.Goduseshumanspi ri
ttogi v
ebi rtht owhatHewant st odo.Hechooses
tousehumanspi r
itsasv esselsbywhi chHeconcei v eswhatHewant sto perform
i
nt hisear t
h.Younot iceinGenesi stoRev elat
ionGodcoul dhav e donei tHi mself.
ButHeal way schosemant owor kthroughwhat everHe want s.IfHedoesi tHimsel f
i
twoul dbev eryfast.Thef actthatHehas t akennear lysixt
housandy earsofhuman
histor
yt odowhat ev erHewant s t
odo.Showsushowsl owwear etor espondt o
God.I fGoddoesi tHi mself, Hewoul dhav edonei tveryquickly.YetHehaschosen
byHi slov etot he met hodsofusi nghumanbei ngs.SoGodwi llwor kthrought he
humanspi ri
ts andhel pthem toconcei vewhat everHewant stodo.Andgi venbirt
h
to theirspiri
tsintot hespiri
trealm andt hust ransformingthenat ural r ealm.Ifit
takespl aceint hespi r
itrealmitwon' tbelongbef orei t begant oaf fectthenat ural
realm.What evertakespl acei nthespi ri
t realm wi l
lbegintochanget henat ural
realm.Ifitdoesnott akepl ace fi
rstint hespi r
itrealmi twi
llnev ertakepl acei nthe
naturalrealm no mat t
erhowhar dyout ry.Itmustal waystakepl acei nthespi ri
tual.
The spi ri
tual wi
llaffectthephy si
cal.

Concept
ion
Wer eal
i
zet hatt
her
ear ethr
eeperi
odswheni
tcomes toconcept
ion,
gest
ati
onandbirthi
ngofachil
d.Soaswelooki
nto pr
ayerwewantt
oseesomeof
thi
spr i
nciplest hatar einv
ol v
edi neach peri
od.Therei speri
odcalledwhatIcalla
desir
e.Thef i
rstper i
odis whatIcal ltheconcepti
oni nthespir
itreal
m.Somepeopl e
prayandpr ay andpr ayandseemi ngl
ytheydon'tseem t omov eany t
hing.You
wonderwhyi t doesn'
tmov e.Therear ereasons;t
herear ecausesandef fect
sfor
everyt
hingt hathappens.Not hi
nghappensorr emainsasi ti
swithouta r
eason,a
spir
it
ualr eason.Sot hereisacausef orthat.Whyisitnot mov i
ng?Itisnotmov i
ng
becauset heconcept ionhasnotr eal
l
yt akenplace somet i
mes.Ther ewil
lbesigns
andsy mpt omswhenconcept i
onhast aken place.Wehav et ocheckatt he
conceptionlev elfi
rst.

Aseedt hati sgi vent hatisnotplant edi ntothe soi lwillnotgermi nateatall
.
Youcoul dkeept heseedf orat housand y earsandi twi llnotger minatebecausei t
doesnothav et her ightcondi t
ion.Theyhav ebeenabl et ot akesomeoft hoseseeds
from the ar cheol ogical f
indsi nEgyptoutoft hetombsoft he mummi es.Andt hey
plantedi tandi tgr ew.I magi nei tkeptforthousandof y ears.Lifeisstil
lthere.Butit
i
sasusel essasadeadseedi fitnot germinated.Sot heremustbecer t
ain
conditionsgi ven.Thi sthingwi l
lnot happenacci dent all
y.Ther e areforces
i
nv olved.Therear er easons, causeandef fect.Thespi r i
twor ld wasnotdesi gnedas
aconf usedwor ld.I tisthemostsy stematicwor ldever desi gned.I nfactifyoul i
vein
thespi ri
tr eal
ml iket heangel sandal l thoset hingswhoar eal waysi nt hespiri
t
realm andy ouint ot hisnat ural wor ldtohav ealook, youseet hatitistheopposi te
wayr ound.I tist he natur alworldthatlooksconf using.I nthespi ri
twor ldGodi sa
Godof or der.Ther eisnoconf usi
on.Ther earer easons,causesandef f
ectfor
ev er
ything.

Whyi sitthatsomet hi
ngdoesnott akeeffect
?Number one,checkt he
conceptionarea.Whatar ethesi gnsandsy mptomst hata tr
ueconcept ionhas
takenhol dofthespiri
tman?Seesomet imesat hought oraseedmaygeti nt
oour
physicalearsbutremainedthere.Youjusthear abouti t,
youjustknowabouti t.But
thereisnoconcept i
onthattakes pl ace.Somet imesitgetsi
ntothesoul.Affectyour
thi
nkingal it
tl
ebit. Butithasnoef fectunti
litgetsint
othespiritofman.That '
s
wher e concept iontakesplace.

RightDesi
re
Andoneoft helawsofconcept i
oni sthel awof desi r
e.JesussaidinMar k
11:24Whatt hi
ngssoev ery oudesirewhen y oupraybelievethatyourecei
vedthem
andy oushallhavethem.What t
hingssoev eryoudesire.
Whyshoul dJesusspeak
aboutdesirewhen Het alksaboutpr ayer
?Seedesi r
eisani mport
antconsti
tuentto
the concept ionperi
od.Wi thoutdesirethereisnoconcept i
on.Therehast obe a
desir
einvolvedinthespir
itrealm.AndGodwi llbuildthedesir
eto t hedegr
eewher e
concepti
oncant akeplace.Ahal fdesir
ei snotgood enough.I thast obeful
ldesir
e.
Wear egoingtoseesomei l
lustrat
ions i nthebi bl
e.

Let
's tur
ntoaninci
dentofpray
erandseewhatar ethesignsand
sy
mptomsthat mustt
akepl
acedur
ingt
heconcept
ionper
iod.I
tisaboutHannah
whowas bar r
en.

1Samuel1:1-8Nowt her
ewasacer tainmanof Ramat haim Zophim ofthe
mountainsofEphrai
m,andhi snamewasEl kanaht he sonofJeroham,t hesonof
Eli
hu,thesonofTohu, t
hesonofZuph,an Ephr aimi
te.Hehadt wowi ves:thename
ofonewasHannah, andt henameof t heot herPenninah.Penni
nahhadchi ldren,
but
Hannahhadnochi l
dren. Thi
smanwentupf rom hiscityyearl
ytowor shipand
sacri
fi
cetotheLord ofhost
sinShi
loh.Alsothet wosonsof Eli,Hophiniand
Phi nehas,t het wopr iestsoft heLor d,werethere.And whenevert het i
mecamef or
Elkanaht omakeanof feri
ng, hewoul dgive port
ionst oPenninahhi swi feandt oall
hersonsanddaught ers.Butt o Hannahhewoul dgiv eadoublepor tion,forheloved
Hannahal thought he Lor dhadcl osedherwomb.Andherr ivalal sopr ovokedher
sev erely
,to makehermi serable,becausetheLor dhadclosedherwomb.Soi twas
year byy ear,whenshewentupt ot hehouseoft heLord,thatshepr ovokedher ;
ther efor
esheweptanddi dnoteat .ThenElkanahherhusbandsai dtoher , " Hannah,
whydoy ouweep?Whydoy ounoteat ?Andwhyi sy ourheart grieved?Am Inot
bet tertoy out hant ensons?SoHannahar oseaf t
erthey hav efinishedeat ingand
drinkinginShi loh.NowEl ithepr iestwassi t
ti
ngatt heseat oft hedoor postofthe
taber nacl
eoft heLor d.Andshewasi n bi t
ternessofsoulandpr ayedt otheLor dand
wepti nangui sh.

Noti
ceher ethatt her easonwhyshecr i
edwhi chher husbandknew was
becauseshewasbar ren.Shewant edachi l
d.And year-
by -
yearherdesi regrew
more.Youcoul dnotsayt hatshedi dn'
t desir
e.Shedesi r
edunt i
litconsumedher.
Someoft het hingswepr ayed f
or,wedonotwanti tbadl yenought ogi v
eup
every
thingfori t
.That '
s whywedon' tgetit.Wehav eanonchal antat t
it
ude.Ifi
t
comes, welland good.I fitdoesn'
tcome, nevermind.Myf riendify ouaregoingto
pray t
hatway ,y
ouwi llnev erbr
eakt hroughi nyourprayer.Youknow oner eason
whyf asti
ngi spower ful.Ifyoudesi r
esomet hi
ngenought ogi veupf ood, youare
demonst r
atingyourdesi re.

Asani l
lustrat
ionwheny ouar einvolvedinawor kor projectt hatt het i
me
passedwi thouty ourknowl edge.Andy oumayhav e passedt womeal stimewi thout
evenknowi ngi t
.WhenIam i nvol
vedina pr oj
ectIdon'tf eelhungryatal l.Youf orget
toeat ,yourst omachal so forgets.Asweseeher esomet i
meswheny ouar e
i
nv olv
edi napr oj
ector somethingthati nv
olvesy ourat tent
iony ouf or gotabout
food.Whybecause yourdesir
et ocompl et
eitissoi ntenset hati ttakesal ly our
attenti
on awayf r
om ev eryothert hi
ngs.Andoner easonwhypeopl edon' trecei ve
what t
heypr ayedf ori sbecauset heydon' tprayf ori twithi ntensit yandwi th
greatdesire.Theyappr oachwhat everi t
em theypr ayforwi t
ha coul dn't-care-less
atti
tude.Nev ermi nd-l
ahcanget ,get-l
ahcannotget nev ermind.Thi snev ermi nd
businessisnotgoodenough.

I
fJesus hear syoutalki
ngt hatway ,ah-
hay ousayJesusiski nd.Hav en'
t
youheard how Her ebukedHi sdiscipl
essomet i
mes?It el
lyouwhent herear e
ti
mes whenHeexpect edmor efrom hisdiscipl
es.Youshouldhavereadsomet he
gospelstori
es.He sai d how l ong hav e Ibeen wi thy ou and you hav e not
underst
ood?Het el
lsthem li
kethat.Heexpect edmor efrom t
hem.AndJesus said
thati
fanymandoesnotl oveHim mor ethanany thi
ngelseoranyone el se,heisnot
worthytobeHisdisci
ple.ThatisJesus'standard.

RightMethod
Onemai nreasonwhypr ayerit
emsdon' tseem t obe answeredisthatthe
desirei
nwhatt heyprayfori snotintenseenough.I l
earnedt histhi
ngf r
om the
schoolofhar dknocks,schoolofexper ience. Therei ssomet hinginmyl if
ethatI
prayedfor.AndIsai d,"
Lord,whyi s i
tt aki
ngsol ong?"TheLor dsaid,"I
twouldn'
t
takesolongi fyoudesire i
tmor e.Ify ouconcent r
ateallyouref for
tinthat,i
twil
l
comef ast.
"I sai d,"Lord,isthatthekey ?"Hesai d,"Yesthatist hekey."Ourdesi
re
mustbei ntenseandnothalf-heart
ed.Youcoul dhearaser monl i
ket hat andsayy es
nowIdesi r
e.
 Wheny ousayy oudesi r
esomet hingi tmeansy ougive upot hert hings.
Whenamanf al
linlov
eandwhenpr epari
ngf orthe mar ri
age,whatar eyousay ingto
thewor l
d?Youar esayingt hatyouhav e chosentogi veyourl
ov e,
y ourat t
enti
onas
al i
fepartnertothi
sone personwhom y oulove.Andy ouareal sor ejecti
ngand
sayingnot oevery ot hermanorwomani nthatarea.Theycanst i
llbey ourfri
ends.
Butt hey cannotbey ourli
fepar tners.Bysay ingyest ooney ouar esay ingnot o
ten.

Herewe seet hatHannahdesi r

eaf terachi l
dandshewasbar r
en.Andher
desire consumedher .Younot i
ceshewasi nbitternessofsoul .Hersoulwas
affected.Andherbodywasaf fected.Sot hatEl kanahsai dwhydon' tyou eat
.The
desiret ohaveachi l
dhasconsumedher .Nowwewer et alki
ng abouthowwer eall
y
desirewewi l
lcutoutot herthi
ngs.Wheny oudesi re t obeheal edandt heny oudon' t
dowhat everyoucanofy ourtimet oget thatheal i
ng,Idoubty ourdesirei sstrong
enought ogetit.Ithasnot consumedy ouy et
.Andt herearesomet hi ngsthat
operateonl ywhenwe r
eacht hatrealm ofdesi re.Nowt herearesomeot hert hings
thatwheny ou prayi tcomesv eryfast.Buther ewear etalki
ngaboutcer tainthings
that needconcept iont hatwi l
ltakeagr eatlevelofdesi re.Yougott oprov e i
t.
Yougott oshowf orthbef oreitreallybeginst omani festintoy our l i
fe.Somet i
mes
peoplear enotdesper ateenought ogeti t.What every ou prayf orify ouar e
desper ateenought ogeti tandy ougi veupev erythi
ng t ogetitanditisint heli
neof
God'swi ll
,youwillprobabl ygeti t
.

Let'
ssaysomebodysay sthathewant stowi none mil
lionpeopletoJesus.
Doy ouknowt hatthepersonwilll
iv
eanddi e wi thoutwi nni
ngift hatper
sondoesn' t
payt hepr i
ceanddoesn' tknowhow t
odesi r
e?I t
'sonet hingtosayIl i
ket oprayand
beli
ev eGodf orone mil
l
ionsoul s.Ifyoudon' tt r
availandy oudon' tseetheone
mill
ion soul sdayandni ght,y
oupr obablyjustwi nonet housand.I t'
snotjust t alk.
It
'snotj ustsay i
ngital
thoughsay i
ngitispartoft hepr ocess. Buti tmustconsumed
usunt ilitbecomesapar tofus.Thedesi r
emust ov erwhelm oursoulandourbody
unti
ly ouwanti tbadl
yenough, desperatelyenought haty ouar ewi l
l
ingtodo
everythingy oucant oget i t.

Somet imeswhenIv isi

thospitalandIpr ayf orpeople whoar edesper ate,
theypul loutt heirolddust ybi bl
e;hi
deev eryt
hing el
seint hedr awerbecauset hey
knowy ouar ecomi ng.Theny ouprayfor t hem andsomeday slater,youpayt hem a
surprisev isit
.Ther ey ouf i
ndon thetablegun- smokest ories,nov el
s,t hree
newspaper sandt hebi bleis somewher einsi
de.Theyar enotdesper ateenought o
gett heirhealingf rom God.IfIwasi nthatper son'
sposi ti
onandIwasgi vena
certainnumber ofmont hstoliv
e,Iwoul dthrowawayev ery t
hingbutt hewor d.IfI
am desperateenought ogethealingnowt hatther eisnoot heral t
ernative. You
mustnotonl ybedesper ateenoughbuty oumustbedesper ateenought o come
God'sway .Somepeopl ear edesperateenought ot r
yany thi
ng.Some peoplecome
withol dwi ves'taleandt ellthem yout akeal it
tl
eoft his andal i
ttl
eoft hat
.Wear e
tal
kingaboutdesper ati
onbutnotdesper ation t hatisunguided.Buti ti sdesperation
enought odoev erythingy ou can.

Youknow whatIwil
ldoi nthatpersonposit
ion?Iwillpr
obablytaketwoor
thr
ee scr i
ptur
es.Seeyoudon'
tneedt hewhol ebibl
etogety ouhealed.One v er
se
i
sgoodenoughi fyoucouldgeti
t.Onev erseisgoodenoughi fyou canr eal
lyutil
i
ze
i
tandusei t.I
fIwasi nthatperson'spositi
ont he fi
rstthi
ngIwi llsayisbyHi s
str
ipesIam heal ed.Inthe nameofJesus,bodyIcommandy outof uncti
on
perfect
ly.Andquoteall t
hosescr i
pturesonhealingthatIknowconcent r
ati
ngon
j
ustt woort hree unti
litbecomeapar tofme.Restoncei nawhi l
e.Takeabr eak
oncei na while.Thent hemomenty ourested,yougetitbackagainandsaybyhi s
stri
pesIam healed.I nthenameofJesusIt akeaut hori
tyoverthis si ckness.Thenat
nightbeforeyousl eepy oustil
ldothesamet hing. Thenex tmorni
ngasy ouopen
yourey es,youkeepsay i
ngbyhi sstr
ipes Iam healed.I
fy oudothatbef orelong
eventhecancerwi ll mel t.

Yougott ohangonl ongenoughandconf essGod' s wor d.Thati st hemai n

thi
ngy ouwi l
lconcent rateondayandni ght .Ionly i l
lustrat
ei nt hear eaofheal i
ng.I f
i
tisi nt hear eaoff i
nances,y ou appl yt hewor ddi fferently.Youar esodesper at e.
Thati st heonl yt hing i
ny ourhear tandmi nd.Dayandni ghty out akeGod' swor d.
Youkeepon say i
ngByt hegr aceofourLor dJesusChr istIhav ebeenmader ich.He
wasmadepoort hatImi ghtbemader ich.Thanky ouFat herGodt hatIhav e been
mader i
chi nChr ist.Yousuppl yal lmyneedsaccor dingt her ichesi n Chr i
stJesus.
Butofcour set hel awsoff i
nanceswor kwi thot her sub-laws.Yout i
the,y ougi ve
offeri
ng.Andasy ouobeyt hosel aws, you gi veal ly ougott ot hewor d.I tisgoi ngt o
bev eryf astt ot ur nar ound. Per hapsi tcoul dbey ourbusi ness, ort heshar emar ket
i
sgoi ngdown.We arespeaki ngaboutt hesamepr i
nciplet hatappl iest of inance.
Fir
stt hing y ouopeny ourey es.Yougotonest ackofbi llsinf rontofy ou.Fi rst
thi
ngy ouopeny ourey es,y ousaybyt hegr aceofJesusChr istIhav e beenmade
ri
ch.Thanky ouangel sofGodf orbr ingingpr osper ity.Thanky ou FatherGodf or
sendingangel st owor konmybehal f
.Dayandni ghtand y ouspeakandspeakj ust
oneort wov er sesi ssuf fi
ci
ent .Seewear e talkingaboutappl y i
ngt hewor dt oour
sit
uat ion.Weneedt odot hat.Ar e wedesper ateenought omov eoursi tuation,t o
mov eourpr obl em,what ever itis?Orper hapsy ouar ej obless.Gett hescr iptur es
thatar einv olvedt o changet hesi tuat i
on.Don' tsitar oundandsayIam wi thoutaj ob
forfive mont hs.Whathav ey oubeendoi ng?Ihav ebeenl ooki ngaboutt hepaper s.
Whataboutt heot herpaper ?Whi chpaper ?t heGoodNews.Conf esst hef av or and
graceofGodony ourl i
fe.Themomenty ouwal ki ntot hei nterviewr oom ever ybody
want sy ou.I tisher eint hescr iptur esy oucanconf essgr ace. Fi r
stt hingy ougetup
i
nt hemor ning,don' tlookatt hebadnews.Just concent rat eont hatar eawi t
ht he
wor d.Fi r
stt hingy ouwakeupi nt he mor ningy ousayFat herIam bl essed.It hank
youIhav et hegr aceand f av ori nmyl ife.Thanky ouLor dthaty oul ov emewi thy our
greatl ove. Youhav epour edy ourgr aceandf av oruponme.AndasJesusChr i
st
found fav orwi thGodandwi t hman,soIam i nHi m.It oof indf avorwi thGodand
withman.Sayt hatf rom mor ningt i
llnightandy ouseewhathappens. Thent hings
occurf aster.Thesear epract i
calt hings.Wear et alkingabout thingst hatar e
applicable.

AChr i
sti
anbr ot heronceshar edt hef ollowing testimonywhenhef i
rst
discoveredt heabov epr i
ncipl eandst artedappl yingi t
.Hesai d,"' Onedaywhenwe
wer esitti
ngatabusst opbef ore itwasdev el oped.Mywi feandIwer ewai t
ingf or
thebus.Thebuswas delayedandwewer el ooki ngacr osst hest r
eetatthisman
sell
ingst ar f
ruit.Mywi f
ewassay ing,'Poorman.Nobodyi sbuy inghisstarf rui
ts.
Let'
sdosomet hi
ngabouti t.
"Andwesai d,"FatherGodwet hanky out hat wear e
yourchi l
dren.Wear et hesal toftheear th.Whatwebl essis blessed.Fatherwe
blesst hatman.Angel sofGodgof orthandbr i
ng customer st ot hatman."Andi n
thenextf if
teenmi nutes, peopl estar
ted comi ngt ot hatstarfruitstallandbeginning
tof i
nishof fhisstar fruit
s.TheLor dwast eachi ngusal lt hesel essons.Aswe
applieditin thedai l
yt hingsofl i
fe,wer ealizei tisappl i
cabl e.Andmywi f
eget s
excitedwhenany onebuyt hest arfr
uitshesai danot herone.Thr ought hat kindof
exper i
enceswer ealizet hatther ecouldbet hingst hatwecoul d r el
ease.'
 '
Wheny oupr ayforaj ob,yougottokeepatit. Cont
inual
lyconf essit.Itis
alwaysyourconf essi
onory oursensesthat def eatyou.Keepconf essingt hewor d.
Youar edesper atel
yenought onot l
etitgo.Sowehav eherewhatwecal l
desperati
on.Howmuchwer eall
y wantit
.Youwantsomet hi
ngy ougott ogof orit
persi
stentl
y.Nevergive up.Youknowwhatmostpeopl edo.Theywi llwor katitand
thengiveup. Younev erachievei
tthatway.Yougott ogof oritcontinuall
y.How
much doyouwanti t?Sot hefir
stt
hingwehaveisashi ghlevelofdesire unt i
lit
consumeourv erybeing.Butofcour sedesi
re,desper
ationisone part.Andt he
proofofourdesire,desper
ationishowmuchar eyouwill
ing t ogiveupot herthings.

RightRelat
ionship
Let'
s t urnt
ot hebookof1Samuel 4:1.Nowthewor dofSamuel camet oal
l
I
srael.Now Israelwentoutt obat tl
e againstthePhil
istines,andencampbesi des
Ebenezer;andt hePhil
ist
ines encampi nAphek.Andt hePhi li
sti
nesputthemsel ves
i
nbat tl
earray agai nstIsrael.Andwhent heyjoined bat t
le,Isr
aelwasdef eatedby
the Phi li
sti
nes, whokill
edaboutf ourthousandmenoft hear myi nthefi
eld. And
whent hepeopl ehadcomei nt
ot hecamp,t heeldersofIsraelsaid,"Whyhast heLord
defeatedustodaybef orethePhi l
isti
nes?Letusbr i
ngthear koft he cov enantoft he
Lordfrom Shil
ohtous, t hatwheni tcomesamongusi tmaysav eusfrom thehands
ofourenemi es."

Justt ocutthel ongst oryshor t.WhattheI sr

aeli
tes di dwast heybr oughtthe
ark.Theysai difwebr ingthear k,whi chhas broughtI sr
ael
intothePromi sedLand
wewi llwin.Remembert heyhav el ost.Severalt
housandmenhav edi
ed.So they
broughtt hear kandt herewasagr eatcelebrati
on.ThemenofI sr
ael
shoutedandt he
Phili
st i
neshear dit.Thenwor dbr oughtoutt hattheIsraeli
teshave broughtoutt he
ark.Al lt
hePhi l
i
sti
nesbecamef ri
ghtened.The Phi li
st i
nesfoughtandwer esur pr
ised
thatt heywon.TheI sraeli
tesl ost. AndpoorEl ial
sowasshaki ngwonder i
ngwhat
willhappent otheark.He wasapr iestandhewasr esponsiblefort
hear k.Suddenly
comet hisr unner andsai dthear ki sgone.WhenEl iheardthathegotintoashock
andf ell andbr okehi sneckanddi ed.Andhi sson' swifewhowasexpect ing
deliveredt hebabywhenshehear dt henews.Andshenamedt hebabyI chabodt hat
meanst hegl oryhasdepar ted.Everybodywasi n ast ateofshock.

The quest ioniswer etheI sraelit

esexcitedwhent hear kcame.Yes,t hey
shout edunt i
lt hegr oundshook.I nv ersef ivetheBi bl
et ellsust hey shout
edso
l
oudl yt hatt hegr oundshook.Theywer eexci ted.Wer ethey desper ate?Yes,of
cour sef ourt housandmendi ed.Butdi dn' tJoshuaent er t hePr omi sedLandwi tht he
ark?Joshuapl usar katJer i
choequal success.Ther eforewepl usar kequal
success.I twasaf ormul a.Butt hey forgotonet hing.Youcoul dcopyt hemet hod
buty oucoul dnotcopyt he anointing.Youcoul ddoev erythingexact lybutwheni t
comesout ,i
ti s l
i
kepl asti
cwi thnol i
fe.Theycoul dn'tdupl i
catet heanoi nti
ngthat
Joshuahad.Theyl ostt hewhol ear k.Itwast herealark.Thear kstil
l hadpower .In
thenextchapt eryouf indthatt hear khadpower .Dagon r
eallyhadi t
.Theyputt he
arki nt het empl ewher ethei dolDagonwas wor shipped.NextDagonwas
wor shippi ngt hear k.Sot hePhilisti
nest hought t hatitwasanacci dent.Theypushed
Dagonback.ThenextdayDagonwas downagai n.Thi stimehi sar mswer e
choppedof f.Andal lthepeopl egot j udgmentofGod.Theygot boi ls.Thenthey
broughtt he ar kt oanot herci ty
.Thatci tywasst r
uckbyt hepowerofGod.Thent hey
sendi tt oanot herci ty.Ast hear kwasbei ngcar r
iedtot heot herci ty, t heotherci t
y
didn'twantt hear k.It ellyout hear kst il
lhasi ts power .Buti tdi dn'
twor kfort he
Israeli
tesbecauset heyhadno r elationshi pwi thGod.
 I
twouldhavebeenli
keAct s19wheret hesevensons ofScev acamet othe
demonpossessedper sonandsaidbythenameofJesus whom Paulpr eachcome
out.Thesesev ensonswer ebeatenbyt hedemon.Why didn'ti
twork?Thespi r
it
saidIknow JesusIknow PaulbutIdon' tknow y
ou.Itwast heendofScev a's
exorcistandcompany .Whybecauset heyhad norel
ati
onshipwi t
hJesuswhom
theyuseHi sname.Iti snotjustthe met hodthatmat ter
sbutar el
ati
onship.
Isr
aelwasdi sobedi
ent
. Israel
wasnotl i
vingright withGod.Sower eali
ze
desper at
ionisonet hing.Buty ouhavet o have desperati
onplusther i
ght
rel
ationshipwit
hGod.

Forexampl ether
earesomepeopl ei
nf i
nancialneed. Theyar
edesper ate
enoughbutt heydon'thavearelat
ionshi
pwithGod.How doIbuil
dthatr
elati
onship?
Thatiswhysomet i
mest heheali
ngort he deli
verancecomeswheny ouwor ship
Him.Why ,wor shipi
stheonlykeyto r el
ati
onshipwithGod.Asy ouspendtimeinHi s
presencewor shippi
nghim, wedev el
oparelat
ionshipwit
hhim.

Desper ati
onmustbechannel edt her ightway .Some peoplear eso
desper atef orheal i
ng,t heywilltr
yany thingundert hesun, evenungodl yand
ri
diculoust hings.Youshoul dbedesperateandt hen channel i
ttother i
ghtdi recti
on.
Desper ateenought ogi veupev eryt
hing t
ocomet oGod.Desper at
eenought ocut
offev erythi
ngel seandl ety our desi r
est urnt ot hatonl yonemat ter.Letmeassur e
youGodhasnotl et any onedown.Notoneman, onewoman, oneboy ,
onegi rlhas
beenl etdown byGod.Orany onewhogi vest hemsel vesf ul
lywithoutturningt oany
other met hod,Godwor dhasnotf all
enunf ulf
ill
edwhenal lthecondi tionsar e
met .Nev erhasGodf ai
ledt okeepHispromi se.I fyouar ereall
ydesperat e yougi ve
upal lthingst ogivemor et i
met oGod.Ther ehast obeachoi ce made.Sowhat ever
youar epr ayingf orthathasnotbeenmov i
ngaswear e shar ingthewor drightnow,
asky our sel
fhowdesper ateareyou.Arey ou desper ateenought ogi veothert hings
tofocusont hat?Thatist he quest i
onwhet heritmov eornot .

I r ememberwhenIwaspr ayingf ormyf at her'ssalv ationi nthesemi nary.

WhenIl eftf ort hesemi naryIrememberwhenIboar dedt hetrainal lmy possessi on
wasi nonesui t case.Myf athercamet osaygoodby et ome.I r emembert hetears
droppedf rom myey es.Ther ewasnochur chsuppor tingme andIwoul dn'tknow
wheret henex tmealwascomi ngf rom.Justwentby faith.WhenIgoti ntothe
seminar yt hef irstt hi ngIdidwasIknel tdown andsai dLor dIdon' tknowwhenmy
nextmeali scomi ng.Buty ounev er fail
.Ifev ert her eisapl aceandt imewher eI
havet ochooset o compromi sey ouordi e,Iwi l
lchooset odi e.Ir atherdi eser vi
ng
youand di ebel iev ingyouthant odi edoi ngany thingel se.Imademycommi t
mentt o
God.AndasIwast her emyf atherwhot hreatenedmewhenIdeci dedt o servethe
Lord,ev erymont hwi thoutfailhewi l
lsendahundr eddol larsin moneyor der.Andhe
wasnotev enabel iev er.AndIsur vi
v edf ortwoy ear s i
nt hatsemi nar y
.Andi nmy
secondy earIwasr eal l
ycryi
ngoutf ormy f at
her .Isai dFat herGodhedoesn' teven
knowy ou.Hedoesnotknowt he sal vationofJesus.Hedoesnotknowt hepeaceof
Jesus.Hedoesnotknow t
hebi ble.Hedoesnotknowt hepr omi sesofGod.Her e
am Iser v i
ngy ou givi
ngtheGoodNewst oot hers.Andher eaper soni nascr i
ptural
sensei s calledaheat henbecausehedoesn' tknow y ousendi ngt hi
smoneyt o
suppor t mey ourchi l
d.Andev erydayIwi llcomebef oreGodandt hedesi re
i
ncreasedunt ilonedayIwasi nt ears.AndIsayFat herGodofal lt hings IaskIwant
toseemyf atheri nheav en.Afteral lhehasdone.I fitis onet hingy oucangi veto
him.Gi vehi m sal v ation.IrememberasIwas prayingandweepi ngbef oreGod.I
wantedi tsomucht hatIt oldGodIam notmov i
ngf rom her eunt ilIgett heanswer .
Now t hatwast hewayIpr ay int hoseday s.Butt hatshowsmydesper ati
on.I
couldn'texpl ai
ni tbutone t hingIknowt hatburdenli
ftedandwhenev erIthi
nkofmy
fatheraj oy ar isei nsideal thoughhewasnotsav edy et.ButIknewt hatIhadi t.That
Godhashear d.Justamont horsol aterhewasbor nagai n.WhenIwason this
choirtour .Wet rav elallov er.Andwewentt omyhomet own.Andhe camet oat t
end.
Thatni ghtwhenhel eftandcont i
nuedi nSingaporeandaf ewday slater cameback
home.Andhet oldmef ewday sagowhenIwentt oyoursinging andcameback.I
hadadr eam.Hesai dIdr eamtt hi
shugebi ggi antwhit
e cr ossandIwassosmal lat
thef ootoft hecr oss.AndIsai dpaJesus wantsyout obesav ed.Andhet oldmeI
hav ebeenpr ayingt hepr ay erat t heendoft hatli
tt
lebookl ety oul efti
nthehouse.I
saidwhi chbookl et.Andhet ooki toutf r
om hi spocket.Itwast hef ourspir
ituall aw
andatt heendofi twasapr ay erthatsayLor dJesus.Andhesay sI pr ayedt hatf or
onemont hev eryday .Isai dpaJesushashear dyourprayer.Youar esav ed.Ibapt ised
him and mymot heri nt heSt rai
tsofJohor e.Hehasgonet obewi ththeLordnow.
Because Iwas di l
igenti n God and Iwas desper ate enough.Some ofus want
somet hing.Butwear enotdesper ateenough.Weonl yhav et hei deaof hav i
ng
what everi twas.Suchwasmyappr oachwi thGodandIknowt hatwe needt oent er
thatstageofdesper ati
onwhat everyouwantf rom God.And t herear ealotoft hings
Iknowt hatGodhashear dandanswer edinmy l i
febecauseIwasdesper ateenough
forit.

Andsomemi ni
ster
saskmewhati sthebasicfoundati
onofmyl i
fe.Isaidthat
foroney earIr
eadnothi
ngbutt he word.Conf
essonl ythewor dfr
om mor ningtil
l
nightafterGodshow memy spiri
tman.Whydoy oudosuchat hing?Iwas
desperateenough.WhenGod showedmemyspi ri
tmanaf terIcompletedmy
seminary,Iwasdesper
ate enoughf orGod.IsaidGodi fthatismycondi ti
onIam
notgoingtodo any t
hingunti
lIgetitright
.Andforoney earIprayedi
ntonguesandI
readnobook,nonewspaper ,Ididn'
tevenr eadaChr i
sti
anbook.Theonl y bookI
readwast hebi
ble.

Andtherear eothert hingsthatIapproachGodwi t

h t hatkindofdesperati
on.
Irememberi nmyear li
erday sinmymi ni
stryI wasl earningtopr ayandt ake
aut hori
tyoverthings.Ili
ket oexper iment t hings.IrememberwhenIwaspr ayi
ngon
thebeachi nt hesemi nary ,there wast hisraincomi ng.AndIdon' twantt obe
distractedbyt hi
sr ai
nandI rantoashel ter
.Isaid," Jesuspl easestopthewav es.
Youcanst opt he rain.Isai dLordIam notmov ingher eunt i
ltherai
nleaves.Ei
ther
the rai
nleaveorIl eav e.ButIam notgoi ngt oleav e.Sot her ainhasto l
eavei f
yourwor disreal
."IchallengedGodt hatway.Idon'tt alkto Himt hatwaynow.My
relati
onshipwi thHi m hasdev eloped.Butt hatwas wher eIbegan.Andt he
steadinesshasbeenbui ldup.WhatIcal lthe spi ri
tual muscl e.

Remember Godhasgi venusev erythi

ngHeneedst ogi
veusinChr i
st.What
youwill r eceiveinthi
sl if
edoesnotdependasmuchonGodasi tdependsony ou.
Youcouldl i
veanddi ewithoutr eali
zingev ery t
hingthatGodhas det er
mi nedforyou
tohave.Godhasdoneev eryt
hing.I tisonl ywe.How muchdower eall
ywanti t
?
Paulwasnotki ddingwhenhesai dcov ert ear nestlyt
hebestgift
s.Ify
our eal
lywant
somethingy ougott ogetsome kindofdesper at
ioniny ourli
fe.Weneed
desperati
on,weneedt her ight r elationshipandweneedt heri
ghtmethodology.You
mayhav et heri
ght way ,ri
ghtr elati
onshi pbuti fyouareusingthewr ongmet hod,
youare al
sof ini
shed.YouseeHannahhadt hedesperati
onandshecamet ot he
ri
ghtplace.Alt
houghEl iwasnotamanf ullyr i
ghtwi t
hGodbuty etby thegraceof
God,Godusedt heanointi
nguponhi m asahi ghpriestand openedHannah' swomb.
Iwoulduset hewor ddespiteofhi m.Ther ei spr oper pl aceandtime.
 Thenweseei nFi rstSamuelchapt erf our .Theywer e desper atebutt hey
don'thav et her elationshipbutt heyuset her ight met hod, theark.Ther ei sanot her
casei nt hebi blewher eki ngDav idwho l
ov et heLor d.Your emembert hest oryhe
broughtt hear kin.Hewant edGod verymuch.Hehadgr eatdesi re.Ot her wisehe
woul dn'tthinkoft hat.He hadt heri
ghtr el
at i
onshi pwi thGodbutheusedt hewr ong
method.Godsai d l etthepr iestcarrythear k.Theymadeacar tandt heydi dn'thav e
success.Whenhedi di tagai nhesai dwehav el earnedourl essonlett he pr iestcar ry
thear k.Remembery oucannev erimproveont hemet hodGod gi v es.IfGodt ell
sy ou
todosomet hi
ngi nacer t
ainwaydon' tskim ar ound i
tj ustdoit.Hei st heaut horof
perfection.Youcannev eri mpr oveon what ev erHesay s.Ify oukeepati tin
what ev erGodcommands,i fHesay s conf esst hewor dbyHi sst ripesy ouar e
healed,y ouconf essi t
. Keepati t
.Yougeti t
.IfJesussai dspeakt ot hemount ain,
youcannot i mpr ov eanyot herwayt ogetr i
doft hemount ai
n.Henev ersai dshov el
downt hemount ain.Henev ersai dmoul ddownt hemount ai
n.Henev ersai d bomb
themount ain.Hesai dspeakt ot hemount ain.Youwi llnev erimpr ov e onany
methodol ogyt hatGodhasor dained.Justkeepati twi tht heright r elationshi p,with
ther ightdesi res.Andy ouhi tthemount aindown.I t manymeancont inually
speaki ng,cont inuallywor ki
ngati t.ThankGodi t wor ks.Wehav ecov er edonl yon
thear eaofconcept ion.

Theseareel ementsandpr inci

pl esofconcept ion.We havenotcov ered
gestationper i
odyet.Areasofconcept i
on, conceivi
ngt he t hi
ngsofGodunt i
litreall
y
buil
dsi ntous.Learnt oconceive.Al otof peopl et hinkt heyhav econceivedbutt hey
haven't.How doweknow i t?If youconcei vedy ouknow i t
.Thereissomet hing
growingi ny ou.I
falady comest oy ouandsayIam ex pect i
ngababyi noneweek' s
ti
me.Andshe l ookslikeprayi
ngmant is.Youwillsayei therthebabyi sthatsmal lor
youar ef oolingme.Youcannothi de.I nt heearlyst agesi tmaybepossi blet obe
unnoticeable.Whent her
ei saconcept ion,y ourbodyst ar
t s changi
ng.Ther ear e
sympt oms.Andt hereisnor ealconcept i
oni nsome people'sli
fe.Theythinkt hey
havei tbutt heydon'thav eit
.Ify ouar e real
lyconcei vedtheseelement swi llbe
there.Youwi l
lhaveabr eak throughi ndesperati
on.Youwoul dhav ear el
ationship
withGod.Youwoul d hav ether i
ghtmet hod.

si
tesear
chbyf
reef
ind