Martin Zender - Martin Zenders Guide To Intelligent Prayer: Do Prayer Circles Work Better Than Prayer Squares?

Martin Zenders Guide to Intelligent Prayer

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Do prayer circles work better than prayer squares?

STARkE & Hartmann

Martin Zenders Guide to Intelligent Prayer

2004 by Martin Zender

Published by Starke & Hartmann P.O. Box 6473 Canton, OH 44706 nww.starkehartmann. com 1-866-866-BOOK

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the author, except as provided by USA copyright law.

ISBN 0-9709849-4-4

To my wife, who loves me any iv ay

ABOUTTHE SCRIPTURE TRANSLATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK

Whenever I quote scripture, accuracy is my first concern, but I also like paraphrased versions because of the relaxed language. I have struck a compromise. As long as the basic thought of the passage agrees with the more literal texts, I use J.B. Phillips The New Testament in Modern English. But if Phillips blows it (and he often does) by sacrificing meaning for the sake of looser language, I quote from the Concordant Literal NewTestament and the Concordant Version of the Old Testament. When it comes to accuracy, this is my version of choice. Its the translation I have found to be the most consistent in its uniform English renderings of Greek and Hebrew words. I quote from the New American Standard Bible occasionally; I like some of its Old Testament renderings. Whenever I need a more familiar frame of reference, I use the King James Version (KJV). But again, I do this only if the KJV happens to agree with the literal texts. I actually saw it happen once.

The NewTestament in Modern English J.B. Phillips

New American Standard Bible The Lockman Foundation

Concordant Literal NewTestament and Concordant Version of the OldTestament Concordant Publishing Concern, 1S570 Knochaven Rd., Santa Clarita, CA 91 350

And this is the boldness which we have toward Him, that if we should be requesting anything according to His will, He is hearing us.

1 John 5:14, Concordant Literal New Testament

Once upon a time, a certain prayer warrior named Warren (its a totally made-up name; I just invented it; his real name is Wally) wished for God to dampen a certain unholy occasion, namely, a local gay rights parade scheduled for the upcoming Saturday (Warren lived in Toronto). And so Warren sequestered himself in his bedroom, pulled the curtains, went to his knees, and implored the Deity in the following, whiney-like manner:

God, please make it rain.

No, said God from somewhere high above the CN Tower.

Warren was taken aback by Gods directness. Forgetting he was imploring the Creator of the Universe, Warren followed up with, Why not? (Back in the old days, God might have opened a hole in Toronto and swallowed the audacious Warren into the subway systemor flushed him out into Lake Ontariobut this day God said):

There arent enough of you praying for it.

How many do we need?

One-hundred forty-four thousand is a good number, replied God. I like that number.

Well, weve got twelve.

There was a moment of silence, repeated seven times. Warren began wondering if hed lost his connection; he began wondering if hed somehow insulted the Father of All. He was about to say, God?...God?... when there came the booming, celestial voice once again: Hm. Will everyone be closing their eyes? Absolutely! cried Warren, relieved.

What about facial contortions?

Oh, thats easy enough. It was true. Many in Warrens prayer group, when they prayed, resembled people performing lateral deltoid raises with twenty-four pound dumbbells.

I need at least one person to break a sweat and groan, said God in His angriest, most demanding tone. Warren laughed out loud. That would be Bill.

If God was taken aback by Warrens quick and easy response, He didnt let on. Will you be holding hands? What do You think? said Warren, almost singing the words.

I like hand-holding, said God wistfully.

Oh, I know, I know.

Boy-girl, boy-girl! God boomed, recovering His frightening mien and snapping Warren back into fear

mode. And no funny stuff!

Yes, Lord!

When do you need it?

The rain, You mean?

No, the key to Atlantis. Of course the rain. Saturday, Lord.

Sowhat? Is there a drought? A forest fire? Whats happening down there?

Theres a gay parade here on Saturday. Queers are taking over the earth.

Hm. That figures. Youre where again? Toronto.

Of course. Hm. Well, Saturdays going to be a problem.

WhatT Warren became whiney again, not that hed ever really stopped. Why?

Stop addressing Me in that tone! demanded God. Theres a Methodist picnic up in Woodbridge. OkayF Warrens respect for the Deity waxed, then waned, then waxed, then waned again as he whined, What the heck has that got to do with anything.V

God would have become angry and demolished that big dome thing where the Raptors played, but He considered the following information more devastating: Oh, nothing. Just that the Methodists are petitioning Me fervently for it not to rain. Fervently. Its a formidable force up there in Woodbridge. Theyve bought a book on how to pray fervently. They got it at Barnes & Noble. Its called, How To Pray Fervently. I feel Myself caving in.

But Youre not caved in yet, are You?

No, not yet. Theyre still just looking at the pretty cover and reading the many endorsements on the back, written by respected theologians.

Please, God. Can you tell me how many of the Methodists are praying for it not to rain?

Yes, I can tell you that. One hundred and seventeen souls, so far.

Were doomed, lamented Warren.

God laughed out loud. The hand-holding is going to help you, Mr. Whiney. God meant the nickname lovingly, but He knew the statement leading up to it would mystify Warren.

You mean the Methodists arent holding hands? God was taken aback. I thought youd be mystified by My words, but I see that you werentI mean, that youre not.

Warren tried to keep in mind how great God was. How will this help us? Can You tell me?

Youre nosey and audacious, but I like how you keep bugging Me. Im going to let you in on a little secret. The only people Ive ever told this to are Elijah

and Oral Roberts. Four holding hands equals twenty

. not.

Wow! Im honored, God! What an advantageto know this!

Dont tell anybody. I like things the way they are now.

You can trust me. So twelve gives us...sixty. Were still short.

And still you doubt the power of God; still you have not the faith of even a mustard seed. Did not I, Myself, bring the children of Israel through the Red Sea? Bill is going to groan and sweat. RememberT Of course I remember.

Well, hes worth fifty people.

Wow! Am I only the third person to know this, too?

No, youre the fourth. I told Benny Hinn in 1983. Great! So that puts us at...one-ten. Still seven short. Eighteen short.

Huhr

I just got eleven more no rains.

Warren slunk so dejectedly to the floor that his butt hit his heels, ruining his prayer pose. Were sunk then, he whined from his slunk.

Not necessarily. You could pull an all-nighter. Warren shot back up into textbook form. Are You talking about what I think Youre talking about?

God shrugged. How should I know? What do you think Im talking about?

I think Youre talking about an all-night prayer vigil, answered Warren.

Well, said God, then I guess you were thinking about what I was talking about.