The story below comes from the book I am reading (The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg), but is actually a true story from well known Pastor Tony Campolo. It is hilarious and yet an example of the way that God can use intercessory prayer in unbelievable ways.
A prayer meeting was held for Tony Camplolo just before he spoke at a Pentecostal college chapel service. Eight men took Tony to a back room of the chapel, had him kneel, laid their hands on his head, and began to pray. That’s a good thing, Tony wrote, except that they prayed a long time, and the longer they prayed, the more tired they got, and the more tired they got, the more they leaned on his head. “I want to tell you that when eight guys are leaning on your head, it doesn’t feel so good.”
To make matters worse, one of the men was not even praying for Tony. He went on and on praying for somebody named Charlie Stoltzfus: “Dear Lord, you know Charlie Stoltzfus. He lives in that silver trailer down the road a mile. You know the trailer, Lord, just down the road on the right-hand side.” (Tony said he wanted to inform the pray-er that it was not necessary to furnish God with directional material.) “Lord, Charlie told me this morning that he’s going to leave his wife and three kids. Step in and do something, God. Bring that family back together.”
Tony writes that he finally got the Pentecostal preachers off his head, delivered his message, and got in his car to drive home. As he drove the Pennsylvania Turnpike, he noticed a hitchhiker. I’ll let him tell it from there:
We drove for a few minutes and I said: “Hi, my name’s Tony Campolo. What’s yours?” He said, “My name is Charlie Stoltzfus.” I couldn’t believe it! I got off the turnpike at the next exit and headed back. He got a bit uneasy with that and after a few minutes he said, “Hey mister, where are you taking me?” I said, “I’m taking you home.” He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Why?”
I said, “Because you just left your wife and three kids, right?” That blew him away. “Yeah! Yeah, that’s right.” With shock written all over his face, he plastered himself against the car door and never took his eyes off me. Then I really did him in as I drove right to his silver trailer. When I pulled up, his eyes seemed to bulge as he asked, “How did you know that I lived here?” I said, “God told me.” (I believe God did tell me…)
When he opened the trailer door his wife exclaimed, “You’re back! You’re back!” He whispered in her ear and the more he talked, the bigger her eyes got. Then I said with real authority, “The two of you sit down. I’m going to talk and you two are going to listen!” Man, did they listen!….That afternoon I led those two young people to Jesus Christ.
Happy Birthday. Thank you for sharing your life through this blog. Enjoy.
Happy Birthday Man. Hope you get your blown out candle wishes!
My Mom asked me if I knew such and such a song, so I was looking for it in google, and came across this site. This was definately the encouragement I needed today. I am on my own, away from friends and family, and looking for work in Ontario. I’ve been smiling through it all, praying, waiting. I’m losing hope. I know, I know…bad of me. Every day has an ounce of encouragement for me, though. Today, this is it.
“Work like you don’t need money, love like you have never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching.”
Man…just enjoy the life we’re given. This morning, my Dad said, “It’s better to be visable than to be perfect.” Oh, Daddy wisdoms!! It opened my heart. I’m so afraid of rejection and failure and vulnerability, that me…a person who usually wears their heart everywhere…hehe…is closed up, trying to make the perfect resume and control the circumstances in which I get my next job.
I’m not sure who I’m writing this to, or why I’m babbling on. I just felt I needed to. Thank you for this…this message…this encouragement. It was written 2 months ago, but was also meant for me today. Thank you.
Ashley Waite
Sister Ashley,
I just finished giving a message on interceding at the church that I attend, about three hours ago. I felt led to search out a site on interceding and here I am. One of the scriptures that God revealed to me tonight, to use was Leviticus 6:13: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. The fire is the presence of God within us. The fire is mixed with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. That is us, believers. I will interced for you tonight. I ask the Lord to open the doors that we cannot open and to close the doors that cannot be closed. I ask for His divine wisdom and His perfect plan for your life. Look to God, for He not only has the answer, He is the answer. This is a precarious time. He is coming soon and He will do nothing on His own, because HE cannot. Not that He does not have the power but rather because that is why He created us and He will not step in but He will lead those who will interecede to those in need, just like tonight. Trust In God. There is no other hope. Christ in us is the hope of glory. If you are born again, praise God. If not I will return and lead you to Him and you can make Him Lord and King of your life. May the Lord richly bless you and may His perfect will be manifested in your life. Brother Doc
Sister Ashley,
I just finished giving a message on interceding at the church that I attend, about three hours ago. I felt led to search out a site on interceding and here I am. One of the scriptures that God revealed to me tonight, to use was Leviticus 6:13: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. The fire is the presence of God within us. The fire is mixed with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. That is us, believers. I will interced for you tonight. I ask the Lord to open the doors that we cannot open and to close the doors that cannot be closed. I ask for His divine wisdom and His perfect plan for your life. Look to God, for He not only has the answer, He is the answer. This is a precarious time. He is coming soon and He will do nothing on His own, because HE cannot. Not that He does not have the power but rather because that is why He created us and He will not step in but He will lead those who will interecede to those in need, just like tonight. Trust In God. There is no other hope. Christ in us is the hope of glory. If you are born again, praise God. If not I will return and lead you to Him and you can make Him Lord and King of your life. May the Lord richly bless you and may His perfect will be manifested in your life. Brother Doc
Sister Ashley,
I just finished giving a message on interceding at the church that I attend, about three hours ago. I felt led to search out a site on interceding and here I am. One of the scriptures that God revealed to me tonight, to use was Leviticus 6:13: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. The fire is the presence of God within us. The fire is mixed with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. That is us, believers. I will interced for you tonight. I ask the Lord to open the doors that we cannot open and to close the doors that cannot be closed. I ask for His divine wisdom and His perfect plan for your life. Look to God, for He not only has the answer, He is the answer. This is a precarious time. He is coming soon and He will do nothing on His own, because HE cannot. Not that He does not have the power but rather because that is why He created us and He will not step in but He will lead those who will interecede to those in need, just like tonight. Trust In God. There is no other hope. Christ in us is the hope of glory. If you are born again, praise God. If not I will return and lead you to Him and you can make Him Lord and King of your life. May the Lord richly bless you and may His perfect will be manifested in your life. Brother Doc
Sister Ashley,
I just finished giving a message on interceding at the church that I attend, about three hours ago. I felt led to search out a site on interceding and here I am. One of the scriptures that God revealed to me tonight, to use was Leviticus 6:13: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. The fire is the presence of God within us. The fire is mixed with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. That is us, believers. I will interced for you tonight. I ask the Lord to open the doors that we cannot open and to close the doors that cannot be closed. I ask for His divine wisdom and His perfect plan for your life. Look to God, for He not only has the answer, He is the answer. This is a precarious time. He is coming soon and He will do nothing on His own, because HE cannot. Not that He does not have the power but rather because that is why He created us and He will not step in but He will lead those who will interecede to those in need, just like tonight. Trust In God. There is no other hope. Christ in us is the hope of glory. If you are born again, praise God. If not I will return and lead you to Him and you can make Him Lord and King of your life. May the Lord richly bless you and may His perfect will be manifested in your life. Brother Doc
Sister Ashley,
I just finished giving a message on interceding at the church that I attend, about three hours ago. I felt led to search out a site on interceding and here I am. One of the scriptures that God revealed to me tonight, to use was Leviticus 6:13: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. The fire is the presence of God within us. The fire is mixed with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. That is us, believers. I will interced for you tonight. I ask the Lord to open the doors that we cannot open and to close the doors that cannot be closed. I ask for His divine wisdom and His perfect plan for your life. Look to God, for He not only has the answer, He is the answer. This is a precarious time. He is coming soon and He will do nothing on His own, because HE cannot. Not that He does not have the power but rather because that is why He created us and He will not step in but He will lead those who will interecede to those in need, just like tonight. Trust In God. There is no other hope. Christ in us is the hope of glory. If you are born again, praise God. If not I will return and lead you to Him and you can make Him Lord and King of your life. May the Lord richly bless you and may His perfect will be manifested in your life. Brother Doc