“For the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth” (Isaiah 37:3).
This is a call for intercessors. The Church goes through its prenatal time of preparation for its converts. Before people can be born again, the Church has its periods of intercessory travail. Prayer, fasting, petition, and supplication are all necessary ingredients for additions to the Christian family.
Isaiah’s lament is due to a languishing nation. The children were ready to be born, but the spiritual vitality was so low there was not enough strength to bring forth.
Over 350,000 churches exist in the United States. Someone has estimated that one half of them do not add even one convert a year. Spiritual sluggishness and lack of spiritual strength keep the births from happening.
Healthy women have healthy babies. Vigorous women have vigorous babies. Lively women have lively babies. Healthy, vigorous lively churches will produce born-again babies in Christ who have a chance of surviving.
Only a vigorous ministry of prayer for an individual or a church can turn spiritual listlessness to spiritual vitality. It is in such a setting that new births will occur.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.