Dick Leggatt, President of Derek Prince Ministries – USA and this comprises his October 9, 2015 Newsletter. Click here to receive the Derek Prince Ministries emailed E-devotional.

 

Are you in a tight spot? Is pressure coming at you from all sides — almost making you feel like you are in a prison? Isolated? Alone? In a place of solitary confinement?

I want to encourage you with a very strong truth. As isolated and confined as you may feel right now, you are not beyond the reach of the Word of God. The Lord is able to pierce through any situation to speak to you and lift your head. This is the word of encouragement I want to bring you through this letter.

His Word Comes — Even in Prison

Recently, I received a call at my office from someone who was being confined in a facility. In some ways, it is remarkable that the call even got through to me. But the caller — who was behind locked doors — was getting in touch with me to ask for prayer.

Hearing his explanation of the situation he faced, I was more than happy to pray for him. As I began to do so, a strong impression from Jeremiah 33 came so clearly to my mind that I knew it was a word from the Lord for this man. “Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison,” Jeremiah 33:1.

I shared this verse from Jeremiah and the impression the Lord had given me for him. “Even though you are confined right now, you need to know that the Word of the Lord and His revelation can come to you. No cell walls are thick enough to keep it out. God can get His Word through to you — even when you are in confinement.”

Other Examples from Scripture

Back to the question we asked to begin this letter: Do you feel like you are in solitary confinement — cut off from God and His Word? If that is the case, let me ask an even more important question. Do you believe the Lord can get through to you — even in the prison cell that seems to surround you right now?

Jeremiah was not the only one to receive God’s Word under difficult circumstances. Think of Joseph when he had been imprisoned by the Pharaoh in Genesis 39 and 40. It was while Joseph was unjustly confined in the dungeon that he received the supernatural interpretation for the dreams of the king’s butler and baker.

Or Daniel, when he received the prophetic interpretation of the king’s dream while a captive in Babylon. The word he received from the Lord came just in the nick of time. Executioners had actually started the process of killing all of the seers of Babylon (see Daniel 2:13) when Daniel received that divine message — one which would eventually save his life and the lives of his companions once he had shared it with the king.

Or the Apostle Paul in the midst of a tempest that was about to sink the ship on which he was being carried as a prisoner to Rome. Paul testified that right in the thick of that storm, “…there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,” Acts 27:23. The word Paul supernaturally received at that critical moment was that he and all who were traveling with him would make it through the tempest safely.

What kind of tempestuous storm are you facing at this very moment? Can you believe that the Lord will pierce through it — bringing His word of revelation and encouragement to you right in the midst of it?

The Two-Edged Sword

Throughout the Bible, we see the truth of the penetrating power of the Word of God — that word which is “…living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,” Hebrews 4:12.

God declares He will send His Word. He imparts that Word with this promise: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it,” Isaiah 55:11, NIV. That promise is true — regardless of the barriers that stand in the way. No prison wall is thick enough to block the piercing effect of the Word of God.

Derek Prince affirms this truth in Why Should We Be Longing? — a message from his “Longing for His Appearing” series. In this teaching, Derek elaborates upon the incident cited earlier — when Daniel miraculously received the interpretation of the king’s dream.

You may remember that in Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. His problem was he [Nebuchadnezzar] couldn’t remember his dream. So, he sent for his magicians and soothsayers and wise men and Chaldeans and all the rest who were on his regular payroll.

He said, “Now, listen fellows. I have a problem. I’ve had a dream, and I can’t remember my dream. But I want you to tell me the interpretation.” They said, “That isn’t fair. No king has ever asked that of any Chaldean, magician, soothsayer or astrologer.” Then they added, “You tell us the dream and we’ll tell you the interpretation.”

He [the king] said, “I know you’re just trying to gain time. But if you can’t tell me the dream, you’re all going to be executed.”

So, amongst the wise men was Daniel. The man in charge of the execution squad came to haul off Daniel for execution. He [Daniel] said, “What’s the hurry?” They said, “The king had a dream and nobody can tell him what his dream was. So everybody is to be executed.”

Daniel said, “Give me a little time — because there is a God in heaven who can answer that.” And he said to his three friends — Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Pray, brothers.” I imagine they spent a pretty fervent night in prayer! And God gave him the answer. Daniel was able to tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed.

That’s a major miracle. That’s astonishing.

His Word — Piercing Through

Do you need this same kind of miraculous intervention from the Lord? Maybe after reading this inspiring excerpt from Derek Prince’s teaching, you are ready to take a step of faith in response. Before you and I pray together, first take a moment to get a mental picture of the specific storm you are facing — or the particular prison wall that surrounds you.

Now, as you and I pray together, envision the Word of the Lord — His mighty, two-edged sword — miraculously piercing through that storm or that wall. With this vision firmly positioned in your mind, would you now join me in the following prayer?

Lord, You know the situation I am facing right now. Please forgive me for allowing myself to believe that it could be stronger than Your power and the help You can bring to me.

I declare my belief in You and my dependence upon the sharp, two-edged sword of Your Word. I proclaim in faith that it is able to pierce through the walls surrounding me. It is able to penetrate and dispel the storm enveloping me. By faith, I see that taking place right now.

Lord, in the midst of this situation, I am asking You to give me Your Word that specifically applies to the circumstances arrayed against me. (Now just take a few moments here in silence to wait for the Lord to speak to you. What He gives you will likely be right out of the Scriptures — a divinely anointed passage that applies to your situation. Or it may be an impression so distinct and unique that you know it must be from Him. Know this: God’s Word will come to you as you wait on Him.)

Thank You, Lord, that you have penetrated my prison with Your life-giving Word and revelation. I will walk in what You have shown me, and I will stand in the truth You have just imparted to me.

I praise You that Your Word has come to me today. Thank You for the release it is bringing to me now. Amen.

Released by His Word

I hope you sense in your heart how significant this moment is. For certain, the Word you have received brings relief and release from what you are immediately facing. But well beyond that, you and I have learned a lesson we can apply for the rest of our lives.

Whenever we feel trouble closing in around us, or the intense pressure of being confined by adverse circumstances, we can remember this moment. No matter how thick the prison wall surrounding us, we can confidently declare: “His Word will come.”

We look forward to the privilege of standing with you at this pivotal point, helping you apply this vital truth to your life. In that regard, the material we provide from the teaching legacy of Derek Prince will stand you in good stead. You can start by requesting Why Should We Be Longing? — Derek’s inspiring message from which we drew his excerpt. It is our privilege and joy to share this message with you free of charge. We know it will help as you walk out what you and I have just voiced together in prayer.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that people all over the world are receiving God’s liberating Word? Through your partnership with us, lives are being touched in our nation and all around the world. Thank you for the prayers you offer for Derek Prince Ministries — as well as your generous financial gifts — to sustain the work we do. Your compassion, intercession, and generosity are making a profound impact.

Taking Our Stand

There is no doubt that the truth we have affirmed in this letter will help us throughout the rest of our lives. It would be nice to think that once we have been released from the present storms we face, all will be smooth sailing. But you and I both know that life presents an ongoing series of barriers and challenges.

At those times, we can depend upon the penetrating Word of God to come to us. Let’s end this letter by reminding ourselves what we will do each time we encounter another storm or prison wall that tries to close in around us. We will stand firm in the authority of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the truth God reveals to pierce through the particular barrier we face. We will see the Lord send forth His Word to bring a dynamic breakthrough — accomplishing all He intends by sending it.

So, we take our stand in this dynamic truth: His Word will come!

 

All the best,
Dick Leggatt
President, DPM–USA

P.S. Thank you again for every prayer you offer and every contribution you send. You are making a tremendous difference in the lives of others — and we are extremely grateful to you. Please click here to download our gift of Derek’s inspiring message, Why Should We Be Longing?

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Materials used by kind permission of Derek Prince Ministries.