The Truth About Your Challenges

We seem to know these truths but our hearts somewhat get beclouded in the face of opposition, and we find it difficult to apply them when the battle becomes tough. 
There is no big deal about your challenges. no matter how grievous, it is common to men 1Cor.10:13). If you will widen the scope of your enquiry you will discover that people of God have overcome  more deplorable problems in the past.
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM
i. Your problem is not the worst in  the world ( 1Cor. 10:13b)
ii. Your problem is no big deal to God (Exodus 14:10, 15-16)
iii. The people of God have overcome more terrible challenges in time past (Psalm 107:1-20; 2Cor. 4:8-12; 2Cor.11:23-33)
iv. Whatever you think about the most would becomes the biggest and most compelling influence in your heart, and the most compelling influence in your heart will always control your life (Prov. 23:7)
v. The more you think (worry) and talk to people (throw pity party) about your problem, the bigger it becomes in your heart and you might end up seeing it as bigger than God; how? Once you get to a point where you couldn't believe God's word  for solution, your challnege has become bigger than God in your heart. (Jer. 32:27)
vi. Sympathy (from people) as good as it is,  is not a 'problem solver'; in rare cases, it lightens the burden but most of the times it takes you farther away from faith (Mark 5:35-36)
vii. All things are possible with God (Mark 10:27)
viii. All things are possible to him that believes (Mark 9:23)
ix There is no challenge that the word of God cannot solve ( Isaiah 55:10-11)
x. If you will believe the word of God for solution and remain steadfast in faith IT WILL BE TO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH (Romans 4:17-21).
blessed?

The Invisible Realm (1)

"And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “ Lord , I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (II Kings 6:15-17 NKJV)
The Bible reveals that the believer is in the company of countless multitude of angels (Heb.12:22). Being fearful in the midst of such a great host is an anomaly; safety and security stop being issues of concern when you know where you belong. For the fact that you live in fear and in anticipation of evil is an indication that a vital information is lacking in your heart and that also implies that something new (Revelation of God's word) must happen to your heart - there is something you don't know, and that ignorance is keeping you under. If only you will become conscious of the vast spiritual realm of God to which you belong:
witches, wizards, and enemies will stop featuring regularly in your prayers;
you will leave your house and believe that it cannot be burgled while you are away because angels are on guard;
you won't be afraid of robbery attack when it becomes necessary to travel in the night; you will be at peace like Jesus was when He slept in the boat in spite of the raging storm.
All that Elisah's servant needed was an opening of his inner eyes, and his fear was dispelled at the sight of the host of God that sorrounded them.
Don't you think you should change your prayer point to that of spiritual enlightenment? If only you can see it from the word by revelation everything will change. Oh! That the eyes of your hearts will be enlightened to see and be conscious of the invisible world you belong to as believers

Trust not in Man!

"Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV)
Friendship that consists in mutual trust and support among humans is God's idea for He created man with the  capacity to love and be loved, to care and be cared for. Yet He did not intend that human relationship will take His place on the thrones of our hearts.
The man who puts his confidence in another man does not have a better lot than the pilot who thinks that spider web could give a safe support to his aircraft in the face of looming crash.
Most of the friendship you will enter in your lifetime will not last for more than 3-5 years on the average. Wont it be wise therefore not to base your life on such temporary phenomenon. 
The attitude of reposing confidence in man usually creeps into the heart subtly and remians there for a long time unnoticed by its bearer. In most cases, circumstances and happenings have been the revealer of this "malady" of the heart - you really don't know how much confidence you have in people until they disappoint you; though they did not actually disappointment you, they are only being human, because human beings do not have the capacity to be the object of your trust like God is. Psalm 118:8-9 comes in handy: "It  is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. It  is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes."
You speak of a close friend who back-stabbed you; you describe the deep hurt of betrayal; you vowed never to forgive the man that let you down when you least expected, you bear the pain of human disappointments, you have become a victim of failed promises: the impact of their infidelity is so great that up till now, you couldnt put the broken pieces of your life together. 
Do you not know that the more you rest on a man, the more hurting you will be when he fails you; can a man bear his own "weight" without God, talkless of bearing that of another? Can you not see the folly of giving to man what ONLY God deserves?
Its only a matter of time (at most 2 years), you will get to discover that the man you call your "brother from another mother" is just as fickle as any other person you have met. I have not by this suggested that you should live in suspicions and hold every man in doubt; not at all. Am only saying that you should trust humans ONLY within the limit allowed by God; because any step beyond that boundry will only set you up for a crash. Jesus our Lord exemplified this according to John 2:24-25 "But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,  and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."
The mockery of His kinsmen, the turning back of His disciples (John 6), the evil plot of the Jews against Him; the betrayal by Judas and the denial  by Peter, the doubts of brother Thomas all put together  were not enough to hurt Him or make Him resentful: He remained unruffled, He did not loose His peace, He still achieved His purpose; the will of the Lord propsered in His hands in spite of the odds from men.
"Wait on the Lord ; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord !" (Psalms 27:14 NKJV)

JESUS HAS DONE SO MUCH!

His back for the whips, so deadly , His  skin could not but give way for the gush of blood.
Never has man been so tortured; - Isaiah 52:14
for Elohim was privy to His affliction - Isaiah 53:10
He was betrayed and denied,  shamefully arrayed, 
despised and defamed without any defense from Him - Isaiah 53:6-7
How could such a strifeless and harmless man be dealt with so maliciously
How could equity be so "dormant" at a time when justice should have spoken loudly
Aaah...! He was sentenced to death by crucifixion
He bled and died with His arms openned wide
The price was paid in full - John 19:30
The demand of divine Justice was fully met - Isaiah 53:11
He died as sinners' substitute - Isaiah 53:12
For His persecutors, being laid behind the stone marked the end  
but for us who were saved  and are being saved,  it was the beginning of our liberty, joy and reign.
His redemptive work changed everything and made the unprecedented difference
He canceled the warrant of our condemnation and nailed it to His cross  Col. 2:14
The one time slaves  of the devil have suddenly become his masters...  Yeeeeeh!!  
The sin-soiled souls have become God's holy vessels!
Though born in and under sin, we have now become the children of God in glory;
transformed into His image, partakers of His nature.
The awesome God has brought man on common ground with Himself  - inconceivable! (Eph. 2:19)
We are no more ordinary, but extraordinary and supernatural
blessed, forgiven, Justified, healed, sanctified, empowered, delivered and glorified.
His work is perfect and irreversible  Ecc. 3:14
The impact and the benefit of His work is limitless and inexhaustible
We don't need more, we have all.
He did the best of His best
He has done soooo much!

BY HIM, OF HIM, WITH HIM, IN HIM...

All that Jesus did in Redemption He didnt just do it for me, I was in Him when He did it.
I was crucified with Him - Gal. 2:20
I died with Him - Rom. 6:3
I was buried with Him - Col. 2:12
I resurrected with Him - Eph. 2:5-6
I am seated with and in Him in the heavenly places - Eph. 2:6
His crucifixion is the penalty for my sin - Rom. 4:25
His death is my death to sin and the world - Rom. 6:6
His burial is the end of my sinful nature - Rom. 6:4
His resurrection is my victory over sin, death, the world and Satan - Rom. 6:9-11
His glorification is my reign in the realm of life - Rom. 5:17
He is for me - Rom. 8:31
He is with me - Matt. 28:20
He is in me glorified - Col. 1:27
I am in Him justified - Rom. 3:24
The Bible is the receipt He gave me as the irrefutable proof of payment for my freedom and victory - signed, sealed and delivered! glooooory!

My Testimony

There is something about divine purpose that keeps a man up on slippery path;
Divine intent keeps a man alive where many are falling for peril and sword
Notably exemplified by the lives of our Lord Jesus and Paul the Apostle is the truth that
a man living by purpose cannot die before his time
The seeming witless decision to follow God's plan and purpose
has paid and still paying off for me,
"foolishness" turned to bright wisdom that beckons
"No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a lifes first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
HERE IN THE POWER OF CHRIST I STAND"
This is my Testimony!

In The School of Prayer (2)

CONTROLLING THE  MIND IN RAYER (1)
"Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23 AMP)
Prayer is spiritual, it is communion with God who is a spirit, it is a means of cultivating fellowship with God: Alas! The  concomitant  benefits and  the supernatural experiences of  prayer have eluded  many dear saints because of wandering heart - 'hearts filled distractions during prayer'.
The heart by its nature and its divers involvement in the affairs of this world has a  characteristic tendency for distraction especially during prayer.  We are in a fast-paced world driven by capitalism and technology and  believers exist  in such a world where "busyness" is the order of the day. Idle minds and hands they say are devil's workshop; though well said,  but have  you considered the other extreme where  "busyness" and other pre-occupation  are  taking great toll  on our spiritual lives?
Your highly demanding work, thoughts of  disappointment, anger, resentment, unforgiveness and even of pleasure which have pre-occupied your heart end up pulling your heart towards different directions;  and as soon as you open your mouth in prayer they emerge in your imagination  with an influence that seems irresistible.  Most times you end up getting frustrated having battled with distracting thoughts without success: It seems you have prayed for over one hour but  lo and behold  as you check the time  only  12 mins. have gone by.
May I say to you frankly that there is no anointing or any
special divine Influence for mind control. It is the responsibility of the believer to control his mind in prayer. God will not do it for you neither will your heart stay under control of  its own  accord; checks and discipline must be 'imposed' over time.
By practice, the heart must be  made subject to the learning process of constant praying among other activities, then  it will be trained to stay under control and stay focused on God. When you do this, your heart will  "come alive" and become sensitive to the voice of the spirit; then you will begin to enjoy communion with God in the deep sense of the word.

In The School of Prayer (2)

"Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP)
"...do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues." ( 1 Corinthians 14:39 AMP)
For a man who will not pray in tongues ceaseless prayer as commanded by scriptures is difficult if not impossible; the man heeding that command by praying only in his understanding has signed up for vain repetition in prayer.
At the highest peak of your spirituality, your mind is still limited in Knowledge and understanding; no matter how informed you are about the things of God, the summary of your grasp where the vast knowledge of God is concerned is summed up by ICor. 13:12 - "you Know in part". Hence, if all you are "drawing" from is your mind (which has limitation), you will likely get stuck at a point; and that might just be the reason you could not persevere in prayer having been frustrated by your limitation and perceived boredom.
Please pray in your understanding (ICor. 14:14) for it is profitable, but pray more in tongues. You cannot pray amiss praying in tongues, neither can you enter vain repetition. When you pray in tongues, you are drawing from the limitless knowledge of God directly from the mind of the Spirit; you are praying beyond what you know; you are partnering with God to pray out His will.
Praying in tongues is the"lifeline"of ceaseless prayer. I believe the reason they were not commanded to pray without ceasing under the old covenant is because, then they were not born of the spirit and thus lack the capacity to pray in the spirit. Speaking in tongues is an exclusive characteristic of the New Testament.
Ever wondered how possible it is to truly pray without ceasing, then do it praying in tongues; you will discover that none of God's command to the believer is grievous (burdensome). Do I meet you praying?

Prayer Spree (5)

"but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4 NKJV)
Receiving  teaching on prayer is not the same thing as praying. Before a man can pray effectively he  must be adequately informed from God's word,  yet acquiring relevant information will not take the place of prayer. Until you have prayed you have not prayed.
Relishing  and talking  about the prayer life of the  partriachs of fait hwill not supply the want  of prayer;  you must get to a point where you actually "give yourself over" to prayer. Giving yourself over mean, to be sold-out to; to be pre-occupied with;  to be taken over by; to be engrossed in; and to be busy continuously with - prayer.
We must be given over to prayer  until Jesus, the Head of the hurch,  take notice that we are real  praying men like He took notice of certain commendable attributes in the churches of Asia in Revelation 2 & 3.
Did I meet you praying?

Prayer

If your biography were to be written will prayer be a prominent part ?

Healing in The Atonement of Christ

"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4, 5 NKJV)

The Hebrew words 'choli' and 'makob' which were translated "griefs" and "sorrows" respectively in Isaiah 53:4 were translated "sicknesses" and "pains" everywhere else throughout the the Old Testament. e.g Deuteronomy 7:15  1 Kings 17:17  2 Kings 1:2  2 Kings 8:8  Job 14:22  Job 33:19

Hence it would be more precise to read Isaiah 53:4 as: "Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains"

Some are of the opinion that healing in this context is spiritual and that it is referring to forgiveness of sin. Matthew 8:16-17 however makes it clear that it refers to bodily healing. Matthew quoted Isaiah 53:4 and translated 'griefs' and 'sorrows' as 'infirmities' and 'sickness' 

The Greek word 'sozo' that was translated as salvation in the New Testament is an all-encompassing word that does not only mean forgiveness of sins but also means physical deliverance and protection as well as healing of our body - hence the word 'saved' or 'salvation' is used many times in the N.T. to refer to physical healing of the body. Mark 5:23; Luke 8:36; Acts 14:9; James 5:15; Luke 6:9. 

Jesus did not only save us from eternal danger, but He also delivered us from this present evil world and its evil influence. 

"who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father," (Galatians 1:4 NKJV)

The same sacrifice through which our sins were forgiven also catered for our healing. 

The Old Testament types shows relationship between forgivness and bodily healing (Psalms 103:1-4) and so does the New testament reality  (1 Peter 2:24)

Jesus purchased healing for us, just as much as he purchased forgiveness of sin for us, its all part of Christ atonement. He redeemed us from sickness and infirmity.

Salvation is a package which contains forgivenss of sins, bodily healing, prosperity, deliverance from the power of darkness. e.t.c Summarily, you were healed when your sins were forgiven. got it?

God Wants You Well (2)

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10, 11 NKJV)

God does nothing without His word: "He sent His word and healed them...." (Psalms 107:20 NKJV) God does everything He does in faithfulness to His word.

The way a sick person can know and be sure that it is God's will to heal him, is for him to plant the seed of God's word in his heart. The seed must remain planted and be kept watered before it can produe harvest. 

The will of God for you is to be in health (3 John 2 NKJV) - This has to be meditated on and has to be settled in your heart that God wants you well.

I dare declare that our God does not tempt with sickness. 

But how about Job & Paul's thorn in the flesh 

It was Satan not God that afflicted Job; Paul's thorn in the flesh is "a messenger of satan" (2 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV)

God in the O.T (Exodus 15:26 NJKV) revealed Himself as the one who performs cure; He is the one who heals not the one who afflict with sickness. 

It is the devil that oppreses not God.

lets consider the following verses:

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38 NKJV)

Jesus is the one healing, the devil is the one oppressing.

"So ought not this woman, BEING A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM, WHOM SATAN HAS BOUND —THINK OF IT—FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:16 NKJV)

Your desire to be healed will keep looking like illusion until you stop seeing God as the source of your sickness. 

The issue of whether God is willing to heal now or not has been ruled out; He has already healed; He has provided healing and health abundantly through the redemption of Christ. Healing is God's will for you today.

God Wants You Well (1)

"Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Mark 1:40, 41 NKJV)

 The most important issue about healing is faith in the ability and the willingness of God to heal. Many of us dont really have problem with believing in the ability of God to heal, but we are way too skeptical about His readiness and willingness to heal every time.

Before attempting to exercise faith for healing, one needs to know what the Scriptures plainly teaches. Before you can have steadfast faith for healing of your body, you must get rid of all uncertainty concerning God's will in the matter.

It is only by knowing the mind of God or his position on the issue of healing that all uncertainty can be removed in order to pave way for steadfst faith.

It is important that the mind of those seeking healing be renewed so as to be brought into harmony with the mind of God. The right mental attitude or the renewed mind makes steadfast faith possible Romans 12:2

The word of God is a seed of dvine life. The Person seeking healing must ascertain from the word of God that it is God's will to heal him, otherwise it will be tantanmont to a farmer seeking harvest not having planted the seed.

It is not God's syle that there will be harvest before the seed is planted - without His will being known and acted on, there might not be a change. Jesus said "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" John 8:36 - freedom from sickness comes from the knowing the truth. Selah!

Prayer and Praying (5)

"Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12 NKJV)

Among the acts of Jesus during His earth walk (Matt. 14:23, Matt. 9:35, Acts 10:38) am sure one of the reasons He did some things is to lay a precedence for those who would believe in Him; by His lifestyle He showed us how we are to live the new life. 

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:" (I Peter 2:21 NKJV)

1 John 2:6 readily comes to mind:

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." (1 John 2:6 NIV)

One of the most prominent among the acts of Jesus is His regular solitary prayers. Jesus tarried in protracted private prayers. It's erroneous to think that prayer mountains or wilderness prayers is meant for people who have 'stubborn' challenges. Jesus did not have any problem, He came to solve the problem of humanity (Luke 19:10, John 10:10) yet "...He went out to a mountain to pray" (Luke 6:12):  "...He departed to the mountain to pray." (Mark 6:46) 

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." (Luke 5:16 NKJV)

see also Mark 1:35. Don't you think that there must be something indispensable about solitary prayers that made Jesus form an habit out of it.

You sure don't have to go to a mountain before you can tarry in prayers, wherever you choose, you will do well to appreciate that regular prolonged prayers is inevitable for a successful Christian life. From time to time, a believer ought to set aside some hours outside his regular prayer time when he stays alone with God. Five (5) hours is not too short neither will Ten (10) hours and even more be too long. 

Mark this: there is no such thing as praying for long hours without knowing it: prayer cannot be a hubby, it is labor! Consider this:

 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12 NKJV)

While you tarry in prayer - you have the responsibility to keep your mind from wandering, you will get to a point where tiredness and fatigue will set in, hunger could even start raging while you stay alert in order to keep other appetites of the body in subjection. You cannot get by all these without knowing it; you will really need to persevere (Eph. 6:18) if you must continue.

Oh that the prayer closets will be filled again with men of great passion who are desperate for nothing but the manifestation of the glory of God. Such practice as this energizes the heart and makes the heart ready and fit for the master's use. If you must be used by God, you must be ready to give yourself over to prayer.

He who says He abides in Christ must pray like Christ prayed.

Prayer and Praying (4)

"pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV)

This is a command not an advice; it is a charge about which the believer does not have a choice. It must be done without negotiation or laxity.

It's good to attend prayer meetings; and private prayer must be constant; yet the believer wouldn't be heeding the command to pray without ceasing if that is all he does. Prayer should not just be restricted to a place or a time, it must be anywhere and anytime.

Having said earlier that prayer is not a weapon of malice, I wish to reiterate that prayer is primarily a devotional exercise in which the heart is brought into deep communication with God. 

Praying without ceasing does not mean praying all through the year 24 hours round the clock without stopping. It means that you must be found praying everytime your mind and hands not fully engaged, viz., you can't be writing exams or be receiving lectures and still be praying with concentration at the same time. The whole idea is to be given over to prayer to the extent that you almost see every other activity as secondary and even as distraction. 

There are some level of spiritual experiences that will continue to elude you until you learn to pray without ceasing; it can't be imparted, it can only be learnt over time, and the learning is by 'practice'. Praying without ceasing must be practiced until it becomes an habit ...this is how to enjoy the Christian life, it enhances sensitivity of heart and makes the heart ready for the Lord's service. 

Constant praying is a necessity, it's so vital that nothing can supply its want. One of  the greatest hindrance to the Lord's work today is the bunch of believers who are found wanting in place of prayers - a prayerless man is an hindrance or the work of God. There are ministers who will be occupied with carnal affairs of this life almost throughout the day and when it  remains a short time to minister, they take a hasty glance through the Bible and say few words in prayer. They thus come to minister and people are not blessed because their hearts are far from God. 

I charge to pray at all times and in all places; pray in the at home, pray at work, pray while in transit, pray while driving, pray in all circumstances; pray, Pray, pray!

Prayer and Praying (3)

"Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (John 4:21, 23 NKJV)
It's a new dawn! Jesus has shed his blood by which He enacted the new covenant. Under the terms of the New Testament, the effectiveness of prayer is no longer attached to a designated place or location.
The place of prayer mattered under the old covenant:
"Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord." (Psalms 122:3, 4 NKJV)
Those who were far from Jerusalem prayed towards the temple wherever they were:

“When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause."(I Kings 8:44, 45 NKJV)
And so was the practice of Daniel.
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." (Daniel 6:10 NKJV)
But now, the hour has come when the prayer of the believer is no longer 'location-bound' - God would not answer prayer on the mountain anymore than He would in your room. Prayer in the Church auditorium does not get God's attention anymore than the one offered in the Field.
'Today', the issue of location is relevant when the matters of concentration is considered. You could choose a secluded place to pray in order to avoid distraction, but it does mean that God pays more attention to solitary prayers than the prayers offered in public places. 
Praise God! we can pray anywhere and everywhere and be heard by God because the believer in Christ is in the Spirit. The command to 'pray without ceasing' could only be relevant 'here' under the New Testament because the believer could pray everywhere.
Are you in the car or at salon; on the field or at a social gathering; are u at a recreation center or in the air plane; wherever you are right now, why not open your mouth and relate with God in prayer for He is with u right there and right now.
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth." (Psalms 145:18 NKJV)
Praise God!

Prayer and Praying (2)

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2 NKJV)

How different would our personal and public prayers be if all our communion with God are punctuated with His voice (response).

Prayer is a communication with God - it's a 'two-way' interaction between God and the praying man. God and the 'praying man' are exchanging vital spiritual information which is beyond the reach of the unbeliever. 

Most times, we get so preoccupied with talking in prayer that we  don't  care to listen to God in prayer. Bible describes 'too much talking' & 'vain repetition' as part of the characteristics of the pagans' prayer.

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." (Matthew 6:7 NKJV)

God speaks to His own, and He is always already and available to speak to His people but  His people are not always expectant or sensitive to His voice. 

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."(John 10:27 NKJV)

We must learn and continue to learn the act of listening to God in prayers, because God does not intend that  prayer would be a 'one-way' exercise. 

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

God is more willing to speak to you than you are willing to speak to Him. Next time you pray, expect and allow Him speak to you. He want to instruct, correct, encourage, direct and guide you if you would allow Him. 

Prayer need not be a boring spree anymore because The Lord with whom you are communicating in prayer is ever willing to interact with you.

Prayer and Praying (1)

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Corinthians 1:9 NKJV)

The first thing about prayer is fellowship - fellowship with God. Prayer is neither a tool nor a weapon of malice, it is a communion between God the father and the redeemed. Salvation is a call to fellowship with God and with His son Jesus.

"that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." (I John 1:3 NKJV)

The believer is in a privileged position of communion/fellowship (Koinonia in the Greek) with God; he being a child of God is in association, communion, & joint participation with God the father. 

Our fellowship with God evinces the fatherhood of God in that he blotted-out our history of unworthiness and by the blood and righteousness of His first begotten son, He brought us into CLOSE communion with Himself.

This is the foundation for prayer - God the father by the blood of Jesus has brought us to Himself in close communion. This is what makes prayer effective and it is what makes faith work. If you don't start from the point of fellowship you won't get any where in prayer. 

So what do we do when we pray? We do not try to create or establish fellowship with God in prayer because Jesus has done that by His blood; rather, we are cultivating the already  established fellowship. Therefore, in prayer, what we do is to communicate, share, and partner with God. 

Prayer is purely fellowship with God. We don't pray to win His acceptance, we pray because He has accepted us in the beloved (Eph. 1:6); we don't pray so that we can enter His presence, we pray because He has brought into His presence by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 2:13, Hebrews 12:22-24).