Fit for the Kingdom

"But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

If someone starts working in the Lord's field and their desire and longing is elsewhere--outside of His kingdom--then they are not fit for the kingdom. There are tools and weapons He wants to entrust us with, but He can't if we're not "all in" for Him. The tools He gives us will be used to build whatever our desires are. So if we desire the world while plowing in His field, we will be using His tools to build a worldly kingdom!

Father God, we pray for the people of Waterford who are called to plow the field in this region. We ask that as they put their hand to the plow that they are all in for You, that they break the ties with the world--that longing and desire for other things apart from You and Your kingdom--so You can fully entrust them with the tools and weapons that You want them to have so they can build Your kingdom properly. We pray for all of the believers who live and work here, that You lead them on this path, that their eyes are focused on You, and their heart no longer longs the world or things of the past. We pray this for ourselves personally as well.

If our eyes are not on the field, we may not be plowing a straight path, we may miss some ground that we need to cover. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. Hebrews 12:1-2 Amp

If we don't keep our eyes on Jesus we will be distracted. We look to Jesus, just as He looked to the joy beyond the cross. This gave Him strength to endure what He had to. We need to be persistent to stay with what He's called us to. There will be distractions to try and get our eyes off Jesus, but keeping our eyes on Him will keep us from getting distracted. Stay focused on Him. He's in the field, He knows the fields, He sends workers into the field.

Father, we pray that all of Your people in this community keep their eyes fixed on You, that they run with endurance, keep their hand to the plow, keep their vision in focus, so they have direction and don't veer off the path with their plow, but stay on course. Bring Your people to this place, stir their hearts to keep their vision on You, so they can properly work in the field. Alert them so they are aware of the enemy's tricks, so they have discernment and alertness so they are aware of the distractions.

There is debris in the field, and the Lord is picking up branches and throwing them in a pile. 

Lord we pray for workers to be in the field at the right time so none are lost. 

The fields need to be cleared of the branches, stones--stumbling stones--and all distractions so everyone can follow Him properly. These are the stones that would keep the hearts of the people from being flexible to the Lord. Lord, make our heart-soil pliable. Do the work in our heart as we plow the field. Make us like You Jesus. When we see You we'll be like You. 

The enemy would try and dig pits--holes--to trap people as well. 

Level the fields Lord, bring down the high places and fill in the low so everyone's steps are on firm ground. We tear down pride so Your work can continue. Sift the soil so all of the impurities are removed. The bugs, the seeds of the enemy, the destroying worms. Rebuke the devourer--those things that would destroy the fruit of the ground. Tenderize the soil. Remove the impurities in the soil so what is growing is exactly what You want. We give no place for the seeds of enemy, or all that would devour, in Jesus' name.

Let the hidden worms, the religious spirits, that appear to be "good" but are actually destroying be exposed. We give the enemy no place in the church in Waterford. We plead the blood of Jesus over the soil in Waterford, so the soil is pure. 

Filter out these worms Lord, the religious spirits. 

There are those who are plowing but not seeing results. There are those who are looking around, looking back, thinking that they are doing the work of the Lord. Their heart is not in the work they are doing, they have no relationship with the Lord, no joy in Him and His work. 

Awaken the saints to a higher degree! Lord, wake up Your church so the sleep is out of our eyes, the scales are removed, our hearts are pure and ears hear! Awaken and remove the sleep!

Jesus is the vine, The Father is the Farmer. It's all about You Jesus. You are our treasure, not other things. We are fully committed, sold out to You. We pray that all of Your people be completely surrendered and sold out to you. Help us do what we need to do to help others come to this place.

Put your roots down deeper. Some roots have stopped at a shallow vein. Some have been deceived by the enemy into a mirage, thinking its a vein of the river of God when its not. This false river, false religion has no life. 

Bring our roots to the right river, to the right place, so we draw from Your river and Your life. Bring us all to this place, this well of life. Open our eyes, so more light comes in. Expose the darkness. Bring us into unity. Break the silent divisions. Tear down the white walls in the field that cause deep divisions. We tear them down in Jesus name and break the divisions! 

Bring the true unity Lord, more personal, daily, relationships within Your church. 

We ask for mercy from scorching winds and heat. Lord, as You remove the shelter that has allowed people to continue in a religious spirit, bring them to a place where they turn to You and put their roots down to the true river. Expose and remove the things that have allowed the religious spirit to continue unnoticed. Those who have trusted in this false protection and those who have led others into it and brought them onto a path of death instead of life. Whatever is allowing this religious spirit to continue, remove and bring Your people to Your true source of life!  This false religion is going from Waterford!

We want to be fit for Your kingdom, and Your church to be fit for Your kingdom.