…by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 (NKJV)
My TEA friends, you must read this book! My pastor mentioned Rees Howells Intercessor, The Story of a Life Lived for God by Norman Grubb in a sermon over a year ago. I put it on my birthday list and my daughter gave it to me for my birthday last year (Thank you, Kallie!!!). Then it sat beside my bed in the stack of books I hoped to read. Finally, this year I started reading it and couldn’t put it down for the work of God in this man’s life. You want to read this book NOW. You want to join in this amazing work of prayer witnessed in Rees Howells’ life.
Where many books climax in the middle and you “get the idea,” Intercessor climaxes in the final chapters as Mr. Howells and his praying colleagues intercede for battle upon battle of World War II and the downfall of Nazi Germany. You will be on the edge of your seat as you read, or on your face in praise and tears to God, Who alone could bring about such great victories.
What makes Intercessor so relevant now is our need for prayer in this fallen world. This year with COVID19, forest fires, hurricanes, derecho winds, and riots, God is sending us a message. God is shouting, “Turn to Me!” And in Intercessor, that’s what Rees Howells did time and again.
One hundred years ago there was an outbreak much like COVID19. Following World War I, there was a great influenza epidemic which spread over the world, causing millions of deaths. At the time, Mr. Howells and his wife were serving as missionaries in southern Africa. The Holy Spirit had led Mr. Howells to challenge death many times before, and God called him to do it again. After many of the natives died, the chief came to Mr. Howells and asked if any had died on the mission station. “No. Not one will die on the mission station,” the Holy Spirit told him to reply, “The witch doctors have failed and the ancestral spirits have failed — but our God has not failed.” (Grubb, p. 212). So the tribe members came to the mission station. Though many were sick and Mr. Howells turned the chapel into a hospital and cared for them for months, God healed them all and no one died! God had the victory!
While reading Intercessor, I’ve witnessed how the Holy Spirit is not a mailman delivering my prayers to the God. Mr. Howells shows us it’s the other way around. The Holy Spirit says the prayers and we are the vessels to deliver them to the Father. Knowing our prayers are God’s will, direct from the Holy Spirit, we don’t let the enemy cause us to doubt, for then we are like a wave tossed on the sea (James 1:6). The Holy Spirit tells us for whom to intercede, and in obedience we lift these prayers to the Lord until victory is won.
Today’s TEA CUPP: Find a copy of Rees Howells Intercessor today. Use his model of prayer in your own life. Let the Holy Spirit show you how to pray and win every battle on your knees. We can do this because both the Spirit (Romans 8:26) and Jesus (Romans 8:24) are making intercession for us. Our country needs your prayers, dear friend. Keep praying for the USA.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 (NKJV)
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 (NKJV)
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 (NKJV)
P.S. Please keep praying for THE GREAT REVIVAL, the last great revival before Jesus’ return, where many new hearts are brought into His Kingdom to welcome His coming. Will you join me in fasting every Tuesday, though the USA election on November 3, 2020? Our country needs our prayers now as much as ever.
Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson
Grubb, Norman (1952). Rees Howells Intercessor, The Story of a Life Lived for God. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications.