WHEN MEN PRAY
Larry R Schoonover
Copyright 2002 by Larry R Schoonover
Smashwords Edition
Copyright @ 2002 by Larry Schoonover
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This book is sold for information purposes only. Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for the use or misuse of information contained in this book. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. Any slight of people or organizations are unintentional.
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Larry
Acknowledgements
I dedicate this book to Delia, my dear wife and prayer partner. She has kept me focused and balanced through these Twenty years of marriage, and these Eighteen years of ministry we have shared together. I want to express appreciation to my three lovely daughters Laurin, Kaylee and Tara for enduring the transitional times of mom and dad along the way. We began praying for you before you were born and we will continue today. These prayers will bring dedicated young men into your lives, and help you to find your God ordained direction in this life of service to the King. Mark Kendrick was a tremendous help in editing and helping me to make sense with my sentence structure. Several men have marked my life with determination and courage. My deceased father, who taught me to hold a high standard by doing a job well, Dan Leslie who was my pastor and mentor in my early walk with God, Chester Wright whom the Lord used to help me confront myself with the Word of God and kingdom principles, as well as deliver me from some traditional thinking, and Tony Bailey who shared with me the scriptural principle of praying early in the morning.
Biography
As a newly married man, I would arrive home early from work, slipping quietly through the front door, hoping to surprise my bride. The back bedroom door was open just enough for me to have a view from a distance. At first glance, I would see my wife’s aging Bible lying face-open on the bed. Handkerchief clutched in her hand, I would then hear my wife’s soft voice making petitions to her Lord. Not wanting to interrupt such sacred moments, I would discreetly make my way back to the kitchen. These moments were awkward for me. I guess you could say I had never really committed to my own time of personal devotion. And, well, we never prayed together accept at church. Early on, my wife was taught that she would need to make her own commitment and consecration as a new Christian. I, on the other hand, must have missed the teaching along the way. Perhaps I thought I could make up for it in personality. Either way, I was not the "spiritual leader" my wife thought she had married, and it was becoming more evident with each passing, prayer less day. I started noticing books about making personal commitment to daily devotion, keys to a better prayer life and such placed on the coffee table or on the nightstand near my bed. Wondering, “Hmm, where did this come from?” I would read the title, flip a few pages, and then return it to its intended position on the table.
A few years passed and the children began to arrive. Then books geared towards "becoming a Godly father" and "being the spiritual head of your home" began to show up in obvious places. Conviction would motivate me to read a chapter or two, but without any consistency the conviction would soon be replaced by condemnation. A suggestion for family devotions would only spark an argument or harsh words at the least. Although I was the “man of the house”, it would be fifteen years of marriage and fatherhood before I became the spiritual head of our home. Once I committed to consistent daily prayer and devotion for myself, the dynamics of the Schoonover household took on considerable change. My marriage took on a new shine, my children had greater respect for their father, and "walking in the Spirit" had new meaning to me. Not only would significant change come to our home, but there would also be a great impact in the local church I pastor. However, before I could effectively minister this to the congregation (with any real conviction, that is) I knew I would have to "practice what I preach" for some time, and I did. Immediately there was greater spiritual depth and revelation in my ministry! More zeal in my testimony! Why had I put this off for so long? How was it that I could deceive myself into believing I could get by with such little fellowship with God, and be an effective tool in His kingdom? I had only myself to blame. I was one of those who questioned, "Why doesn't someone call for an all-night prayer meeting?" But then who needs an all-night prayer meeting when you're hardly praying at all? Except, of course, for those times you made it to the church just in time to slip into the prayer room fifteen minutes before service. I guess it was only a reflection of how great my own prayerlessness and lack of understanding were to suggest we could pray all night to make up for the inconsistency. It was like the Savior of my soul had merely become the "old family friend". You know the one I mean... the friend you have great history with, but now only see about once a year. You stay up late into the night "catching up" on everything you've missed over time. Could this really have been the depth of my relationship with the One who is supposed to sustain me daily.
For years I was content to be a fly on the wall. I was happy to quietly view things from a distance whenever attending conferences or special meetings. The little guy with no name - a nobody, if you will - I was pleased to just hide in the crowd. There was no real heritage that anyone could connect me to, and I was pleased to just stand by my pastor and be to him whatever he needed me to be. I knew if this were ever to change, I would have to trust God. Of course there was not much anticipation of this happening any time soon.
At the time of this book revision, it has been more than ten years since I first began to develop and practice a consistent prayer life. This would serve as a catalyst for many changes to come in my life and ministry. In a short time, I would be called upon to travel with other men of God, speaking in meetings and participating in ministry in such places as Liverpool, England, northern Nicaragua, Japan, Singapore, China, and the Ukraine- where I witnessed the complete healing of a man's withered arm! Most recently, we have been traveling to Turin, Italy, where we are working with a man my wife and I led to Christ nine years ago. This may all have been God's plan from the beginning, but prayer was the catalyst that changed who I was so that the Lord could open doors for greater involvement in ministry. I do not believe for a minute that had I not begun to pray, and truly understand walking in the Spirit, that God would have invited me to participate in these matters and in these many locations.
My encouragement to you would be, "Don't wait as long as I did!" Moreover, if you have been putting off commitment to daily prayer and devotion, do not fool yourself in to thinking it is too late to start now. God has a definitive plan for your life! However, without prayer you will never fully realize or participate in all that He has intended for you. This is the will of God, in Christ Jesus concerning you...
Larry R Schoonover
Table of Contents
Introduction - From time to time as a Christian, I would sit in services or attend conferences where a dear elder would preach to us concerning the sin of prayerlessness. Each time I would resolve in myself that this was the answer. There were no magical methods or new fangled tools for evangelism that the church needed...
Prayer & Fasting - The following is my account of the meeting I, along with twenty-five other ministers from across the country, attended. We gathered for a week of prayer, fasting, and strong, Biblical teaching on apostolic ministry. The details are many and from my own perspective. My life and ministry were changed after my return home from this meeting and I have since been involved in hosting and attending such meetings around the world.
Chosen Vessels - This is a real life experience that God involved me in, prayer being the foundation of its origin. As a result this family in South Florida are now being greatly used of God to reach others with the gospel.
Fort Lauderdale - Here is the continuation of the Pedro Guzman story. Since my initial printing this story continues to develop as Pedro and Maria have given their lives to prayer and the ministry of God’s word. At this point I could add several more chapters to tell the story of God’s continued work in their lives. Maybe another time...
Kiev, Ukraine - It was in Kiev, Ukraine that I witnessed a truly remarkable miracle. I saw a withered arm completely restored right before my eyes. I am told this man who was so grateful for what God has done, travels the countryside telling the story over and over again.
Known by Fruits - The scripture warns of a day when false doc- trines and false teachers will increase. Jesus spoke of the broad way that leads to destruction and the narrow way that leads to life, and that few would find it. Then He said beware of false prophets. Anointing alone should not be are only guide in this matter. Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by there fruit...”
Spiritual Impartation - The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome saying he desired to impart spiritual gifts unto them. What does scripture teach on this subject and how does it work.
Spiritual Utterance - John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the the Word was God.” Then he told us, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” God’s ultimate plan was not to be with us, but in us. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. He does this through His body, the church.
Dimensions of Prayer - The deeper dimensions of prayer will lead to greater relationship and manifestation of God. These dimensions of prayer will only be experi- enced by the one who starts to pray consistently and yields to God completely along the way.
Spiritual Dominions - When a third of the stars of heaven (fallen angels) were cast to the earth with Satan, the result in time were the establishing of spiritual dominions that work to blind the minds of men to keep them from hearing the gospel, believing and obeying to be saved. Revelation through prayer exposes these dominions that can be bound by the believer, thereby loosing the minds of men to respond to the gospel.
Introduction
From time to time as a Christian, I would sit in services or attend conferences where a dear elder would preach to us concerning the sin of prayerlessness. Each time I would resolve in myself that this was the answer. There were no Magical methods or new fangled tools for evangelism that the church needed, and none that I personally lacked to lead my family as the head of our home. It became obvious to me that there were no shortcuts to a truly consecrated life and walk with God. There was no getting around it; I would have to learn to pray. I began reading books and listening to tapes about prayer, hoping it would bring some motivation. I even had others lay hands on me, that I might begin a consistent life of prayer. What I avoided was simply the obvious. Somewhere along the line, I would have to decide to pray. Sound too simple? Yes, that’s what I thought, but that’s how I began: with one firm decision. A quick scan of our prayer rooms at the local churches and conferences affirmed my belief: we all talk about the necessity of prayer, but in actuality we were doing so little of it. Occasionally, I would be privileged to meet people who seemed to have a resident anointing on their life. Let me explain. I would sometimes experience a supernatural anointing that came upon me while praying for someone, leading in worship, or maybe giving a testimony. Because of these times, no matter how infrequent they might have been, I considered myself to be somewhat of a spiritual person. When I associated with others who were carnal by their actions and their words, this confirmed my feelings about myself and furthered my false perception of spirituality. I failed to realize that God hoped to lead me into a dimension of more resident spirituality, or, as the Bible calls it, “Walking in the Spirit.” These infrequent bouts of Holy Ghost interruption were only meant to be leaders to deepen my hunger for more of God, and make changes in my life that would bring a deep spiritual dimension to my everyday living.
After eighteen years of confessing to being a Christian, serving on multiple boards and committees, and leading the Youth Department for our local district, I was still living far short of the apostolic life I saw in scripture. As I would read the Acts of the Apostles, I grew frustrated and weary of the great contrast between what I read and what I experienced in my own ministry, as well as in the services I attended. I believed in the doctrine of the apostles, and had experienced the evidence of a spiritual new birth in Christ Jesus. I taught and preached the same message as the Apostles; however, the lingering question remained: “Where was the move of God in my everyday living experience?” Where was the supernatural demonstration of the spirit and power of God that Paul spoke about? Where was the ordering of my steps through each day on my job? Where was the power of daily witness to my peers and associates? Why was it that my spiritual encounters with others were few and far between? All this changed with just one phone call and an invitation to a prayer meeting. Twenty-five other ministers gathered from across the country for prayer and fasting with teaching on apostolic ministry. After many hours of uninterrupted teaching and prayer in a dimension I had never gone before, my life was forever changed. I did not realize how many barriers within my own flesh provided resistance to what God, through His Spirit was willing to do in my life. Meetings are still held today in various locations across the country and around the world and have become known as Manna-Fest Meetings. Since that first meeting over six years ago, my life and ministry has continued to change and take on new meaning. I am writing this book to share with you my new life, and a few insights that the Lord has revealed to me through prayer and the study of His Word.
Prayer and Fasting
(The following is my account of the meeting I, along with twenty-five other ministers from across the country, attended. We gathered for a week of prayer, fasting, and strong, Biblical teaching on apostolic ministry. The details are many and from my own perspective. My life and ministry were changed after my return home from this meeting and I have since been involved in hosting and attending such meetings around the world.)
When the phone rang that day, I did not realize just how it would impact my life, our church, and those whom the Lord would bring us into fellowship with from that point forward. One phone call and an invitation to participate in a week of prayer and fasting with fellow pastors from Canada and all across the United States resulted in five days that completely changed my life. Since that day, I have wondered why never, in my eighteen years of being in the church, had any minister ever before invited me to assemble exclusively for prayer, fasting and waiting on God. I had begun to dream of participating in such a gathering, ever since taking the pastorate in Puyallup, WA. But no such meeting ever occurred. I am convinced God placed in my heart the yearning to meet with other brethren for prayer. I believe this same desire prompted the phone call I received that late afternoon sitting alone in my office, at our old church building on Meridian. My wife had just called from home to tell me that Chester Wright was trying to reach me and that she had given him the church number. I said “Me? What does Chester Wright want with me?”
Over the years I had placed Brother Chester Wright on a pedestal, as a high-powered, conference speaker whom I would probably never have the privilege to talk with one-on-one. To me, he was a super hero of the faith, a teacher and student of the Word reaching a level few would ever attain, though he had never said anything to support this or to lift himself up. I believe we have a tendency, even in the church, to put men on super-human pedestals, supposing they are untouchable and almost infallible, much like the sports heroes of our day. This is not their fault, but ours. For too long, we have elevated men far beyond the scriptural command to give them honor, and have placed them somewhere with the Greek gods (pardon the expression, but it fits). The greatest tragedy of this thinking is that when we elevate the talented so high that we make them icons of the faith, we assume that one must reach what they have achieved to be a success. We therefore alienate the masses of less talented, less educated, and those that have no such pedigree or heritage to draw from.
The Gideons, hiding behind the wine press, the Davids, watching sheep in the field, and the men and women who have faithfully served for years without fame and recognition are the real heroes. The unnamed saints of God who tenaciously seek the prayer room before every church gathering, the elder who awakens in the midnight hour at the whisper of the Spirit, leaves the comfort of his bed, and yields to a burden for lost and hurting souls: these are now my heroes. Though unnamed and rarely mentioned or recognized in our public meetings, they serve God daily, mentoring prayer to others through their daily walk with God. These attributes need to be developed in the body of Christ much more than talents such as eloquent speech and professional singing.
When Brother Wright called, he told me he and Brother Johnny Garrison went to visit Brother Nathaniel A. Urshan, then the General Superintendent of the UPCI, to share their desire to invite pastors, in the UPCI fellowship and beyond, to the church there in Arnold, Maryland for five days of prayer, fasting, and waiting on God. During this time they would also teach on apostolic ministry and spiritual warfare. I was not totally sure what this would entail but I knew in my heart this was just what I needed. God had spoken my name to Brother Wright and that was good enough for me. I had never fasted on my own for more than a couple of days and my idea of fasting was somewhat distorted. I thought we fasted to get God to agree with us, to somehow win Him over to our side of reasoning. I thought I could get Him involved with my situation, and that He would come to where I was and rescue me. Little did I realize He had a plan for me, and He was already working in the earth. I learned that through fasting and prayer I could silence the dominating voice of my flesh, giving my spirit an opportunity to hear, and my spiritual eyes to see just what God was interested in and what He was already doing in the world.
I then found myself at a crossroad. I could either continue doing it my way, leaning on my own understanding and desperately struggling to succeed FOR God or I could find out which direction He was moving and move WITH Him. After all, who sets the course, Him or us? It is like standing waist deep in the current of a swift moving river and trying to channel or redirect its flow in a direction YOU think is best. You feel the pressure and the strain and begin to wonder how long you can hold on. Instead, cast yourself in the flow of that river, and let the established current be your source of direction and supply of strength for your journey. The pressure and strain are gone, and since there’s nothing to hold on to, the only struggle is to move with the current. If we have been trying to persuade God to move our way, on our schedule, and according to our platform, have we forgotten who God is? Are we not to be workers together WITH Him rather than FOR Him? If He is indeed the “Wisdom of the Ages”, then He has already formulated a plan. Wouldn’t we be wise to discover that plan and align ourselves with what the Spirit is doing NOW? Some refer to it in this manner: “Put Jesus at the center and then build our lives and goals around Him and His established direction.” Of course, this brings us to another challenge. For me to know His plan and direction, I must hear and recognize His voice. Little did I realize that the cry of my flesh (MY goals, feelings, direction) was so loud that God had to yell to get my attention. My flesh had been so pampered and spoiled that it became the dominant voice and therefore received most of my attention. Think about it: we spend the majority of our resources, time, and energy pampering and feeding something temporal, our flesh, while neglecting most the one eternal thing God gave us, the soul.