{"id":379,"date":"2026-06-30T05:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T05:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/2026\/06\/30\/larry-matthew-13-intercession-pair-exercise-hcc2026\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T05:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T05:23:09","slug":"larry-matthew-13-intercession-pair-exercise-hcc2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/2026\/06\/30\/larry-matthew-13-intercession-pair-exercise-hcc2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Larry Matthew 13 &#038; Intercession Pair exercise HCC2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_79186\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LTAtgrHZLmA?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=1&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure>\n<p>This document is a spiritual teaching or sermon emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit, God&#8217;s Word, and living a sanctified life through faith and divine authority.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spiritual Lessons on Holy Spirit and Sanctification<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Larry emphasizes the importance of choosing to be used by the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and becoming God&#8217;s sanctuary to effectively serve and spread the gospel.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Holy Spirit works through our willingness and sanctification.<\/li>\n<li>Becoming God&#8217;s sanctuary allows us to step into His presence and be used.<\/li>\n<li>The weekend focused on learning about the Holy Spirit&#8217;s role in empowerment.<\/li>\n<li>Giving ourselves over to God enables greater usefulness in ministry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Biblical Foundations of God\u2019s Nature and Creation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The discussion explores the nature of God as the Trinity, the significance of the Word, and the creation of man in God&#8217;s image, emphasizing the divine origin of life and scripture.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the beginning was the Word, which was God and with God.<\/li>\n<li>God said, &#8220;Let us make man in our image,&#8221; indicating the Trinity.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus came to earth to reveal God and provide a written record of His nature.<\/li>\n<li>The Holy Spirit is sent to dwell in believers, enabling them to do more for God&#8217;s kingdom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Power of the Holy Spirit and Personal Testimonies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Testimonies highlight God&#8217;s recent indwelling in individuals&#8217; lives, encouraging believers to share their messages and experiences with others.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>God has recently come into Roy\u2019s life, dwelling within him.<\/li>\n<li>Believers are encouraged to share personal messages from God.<\/li>\n<li>Coming to find God is a mountaintop experience meant for absorption and overflow.<\/li>\n<li>Fullness of the Holy Spirit prepares believers to give out God&#8217;s love and power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Recognizing and Rejecting Negative Voices<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A simple principle is shared: anything that isn&#8217;t good isn&#8217;t from God, and believers should discern and reject harmful or accusatory words.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anything that isn&#8217;t good isn&#8217;t from God.<\/li>\n<li>Use discernment to differentiate between God&#8217;s voice and enemy\u2019s deception.<\/li>\n<li>Reject words that bring negativity, bitterness, jealousy, or hatred.<\/li>\n<li>The Holy Spirit helps us discern goodness and glory in what we hear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Parable of the Sower and Spiritual Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jesus\u2019 parable illustrates how different types of ground represent various responses to God&#8217;s word, emphasizing the importance of good ground for fruitful spiritual growth.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seeds falling on different grounds symbolize responses to the gospel.<\/li>\n<li>Good ground yields 30, 60, or 100-fold increase.<\/li>\n<li>Some seeds sprout quickly but die due to lack of depth or distractions.<\/li>\n<li>The parable is prophetic for today\u2019s church and believers\u2019 spiritual maturity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Faith, Growth, and Multiplication<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A small seed of faith, like a mustard seed, can grow into a large, sheltering tree, symbolizing the potential of faith to produce abundant fruit and influence others.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mustard seed faith grows into a large tree.<\/li>\n<li>Faith is small but powerful when aligned with a big God.<\/li>\n<li>Growth results in providing shelter, truth, and support for others.<\/li>\n<li>Intercession and sharing faith help others receive their own faith and hope.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Importance of Prayer and Intercession<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Encourages believers to pray actively, intercede for others immediately, and incorporate God&#8217;s Word into their homes for protection and spiritual growth.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prayer should be immediate and heartfelt.<\/li>\n<li>Intercession is about helping others receive faith and hope.<\/li>\n<li>Praying aloud and reading scripture in the home protects against evil.<\/li>\n<li>Setting aside time for God and soaking in His Word refreshes the soul.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Significance of Discerning Good from Evil<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Believers are urged to discern between good and evil in what they hear, see, and speak, ensuring their words and actions align with God&#8217;s truth.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If it isn&#8217;t good, it isn&#8217;t from God.<\/li>\n<li>Discerning spirits helps differentiate divine truth from deception.<\/li>\n<li>Out of the mouth, blessings or curses flow.<\/li>\n<li>Our senses and gestures reflect our hearts and spiritual state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Parable of the Wheat and Tares<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jesus\u2019 parable explains the presence of both righteous and wicked in the world, with angels gathering and burning the wicked at the end of the age.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The field represents the world.<\/li>\n<li>Good seeds are the sons of the kingdom; weeds are the wicked.<\/li>\n<li>The enemy sows tares; the harvest is at the end of the age.<\/li>\n<li>Angels will gather the wicked for judgment, with fire and wailing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Value of the Kingdom and Personal Commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jesus compares the kingdom to a pearl of great price, emphasizing the importance of valuing and investing in God&#8217;s kingdom through personal sacrifice and faith.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The kingdom is like a pearl of great value.<\/li>\n<li>God values each person highly in His kingdom.<\/li>\n<li>Commitment involves sacrificing worldly gains for eternal rewards.<\/li>\n<li>The theme throughout is to know God intimately and serve Him fully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Living in Intimacy and Spiritual Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The overarching message is to pursue a close relationship with God, which leads to effective intercession, overflow of His Spirit, and a life that reflects His love and power.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intimacy with God precedes effective intercession.<\/li>\n<li>Absorbing God&#8217;s Word and worship deepens spiritual life.<\/li>\n<li>Regular prayer, reading, and worship refresh and protect believers.<\/li>\n<li>Sharing faith and interceding helps others grow in Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Power of Intercessory Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A spiritual session emphasizing the importance and practice of intercession, prayer, and connecting with God for others. &#8211; Encourages closing eyes and asking God for a name of someone in need.\u00a0&#8211; Participants are guided to pray for that person, focusing on intercession.\u00a0&#8211; Emphasizes the simplicity and power of interceding for others. &#8211; Participants are instructed to pray for people on their hearts, both near and far. &#8211; Highlights that intercession is a calling for all believers, with the depth depending on individual commitment.\u00a0&#8211; Reinforces that prayer is a direct communication with God, who hears and answers. &#8211; Encourages turning off distractions like TV to dedicate 1-2 minutes daily for prayer.\u00a0&#8211; Stresses that intercession can change lives and influence the world.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Practical Steps in Intercession<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Guidance on how to effectively pray for others, including specific actions and attitudes. &#8211; Participants are asked to identify someone needing prayer and pray for them for one minute.\u00a0&#8211; Encourages physical connection, like placing a hand on the shoulder, during prayer.\u00a0&#8211; Recommends praying aloud, silently, or in tongues, depending on comfort. &#8211; Emphasizes praying for specific needs, such as health, safety, and spiritual growth. &#8211; Repeats the process for multiple people, focusing on their well-being. &#8211; Urges participants to think about the person they initially identified and pray for them again.\u00a0&#8211; Highlights the importance of interceding for those who haven&#8217;t been prayed for yet. &#8211; Reinforces that prayer is simple, powerful, and glorifies God.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Spiritual Significance of Intercession<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Explains the biblical and spiritual foundation of intercession, emphasizing its importance and divine support. &#8211; Intercession is a divine calling for all believers, with the scope depending on individual willingness.\u00a0&#8211; When lives are in crisis, believers instinctively cry out to God, who honors sincere prayer.\u00a0&#8211; God listens to prayers directed from the heart, especially when offered in sincerity.\u00a0&#8211; Jesus paid the price for sins, enabling believers to have a relationship with God through prayer. &#8211; The Holy Spirit helps believers understand and connect with God&#8217;s Word and will. &#8211; Prayer is a key to accessing God&#8217;s heart, symbolized by a key hanging as a reminder.\u00a0&#8211; Intercession is a mystery but a powerful tool for spiritual influence.\u00a0&#8211; Believers are encouraged to pray for others regularly, as it aligns with God&#8217;s purpose and power. &#8211; Prayer is a means to be filled with God&#8217;s Spirit, becoming effective tools for change. &#8211; The act of intercession is rooted in love, faith, and obedience, with divine authority backing it. &#8211; The session concludes with a call to action: to pray consistently and trust in God&#8217;s promises to hear and answer.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Here are several key scriptures and biblical references discussed in the document:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Genesis 1:1, 1:26<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> \u2013 &#8220;In the beginning, God&#8230;&#8221; and &#8220;Let us make man in our image.&#8221; These verses emphasize the creation and the triune nature of God.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document highlights how God, as three-in-one, created humanity and spoke creation into existence by His Word.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">John 1:1<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> \u2013 &#8220;In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.&#8221;<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This scripture is used to show the divinity of Jesus and the foundational role of the Word in creation and revelation.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">John 14<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> \u2013 Jesus promises the Helper (the Holy Spirit):<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever&#8230;&#8221; (John 14:16)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document explains that the Holy Spirit is the exact representation of Jesus, sent to live within believers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Matthew 13<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> \u2013 The Parable of the Sower:<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document encourages reading the entire chapter, focusing on how the Word of God is sown into different types of hearts and the resulting fruitfulness (30, 60, 100-fold).<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The parable is interpreted as a prophetic message for the church and individual believers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ephesians (referenced for Fruits of the Spirit)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">:<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document mentions Ephesians as a source for the fruits of the Spirit, contrasting them with the &#8220;fruits of the enemy.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">General Principle<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">:<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;If it ain&#8217;t good, it ain&#8217;t God.&#8221; This is a repeated teaching in the document, encouraging discernment based on the goodness of what is heard or spoken.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Romans 8:26 (implied)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> \u2013 The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document discusses intercession and the Spirit&#8217;s role in prayer.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Practical Application<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">:<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The document encourages writing out scriptures and placing them in the home as a form of spiritual protection and reminder.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Adobe Clean, adobe-clean-ux, adobe-clean;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">These references are woven throughout the teaching to emphasize the importance of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and living a life rooted in scripture and prayer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This document is a spiritual teaching or sermon emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit, God&#8217;s Word, and living a sanctified life through faith and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[65,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-house-church-conference-2026","category-larry-craddick","wpcat-65-id","wpcat-30-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/city-refuge.org\/housechurch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}