Tag Archives: prayer

MORE THAN PRAYER – 2

Prayer, ,

Colossians 2:1-3 NLT
[1] “I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. [2] I want them to be encouraged and knit together by STRONG TIES OF LOVE. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. [3] In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

There are two themes in Paul’s prayers for the churches he did not found, at Colosse, Laodicea, and other believers who, he said, “…have not met me personally.”

These two themes recur throughout the New Testament – union with Christ and love for one another. These two simple requirements lay the foundation for our lives as children of God and citizens of His kingdom.

1 John 2:3-6 NLT
[3] “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. [4] If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. [5] But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. [6] Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

Two laws replace the complicated legal system of the Old Covenant.

1 John 3:23 NLT
[23]”And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.”

Every other detail of our lives as believers in Jesus falls under these two simple directives. As I have written many times over, Jesus has called us into union with Himself, to live under His authority and to love His family. What could be more simple than that?

Loving God’s children is the counterpart of loving Jesus. Only by showing genuine love for the wellbeing of God’s children can we demonstrate the genuineness of our love for Him.

John majored on this principle in his first letter. How can we say we love God if we don’t demonstrate our love for Him by the way we treat each other in His family?

Loving one another in practical ways is the evidence of our love for Jesus.

1 John 2:7, 10 NLT
[7] “Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before…
[10] Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.”

How can we show our love for a fellow believer? By many practical ways of meeting their needs at our own expense.

1 John 3:11, 14, 16-18 NLT
[11]”This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another…
[14] If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

The Bible shows us ways in which we can express our love for Jesus by loving His people.

  1. By many practical ways of meeting needs. Food and clothing, shelter and care, are all part of the way we can express our love.
  2. By living in peace and harmony with one another, forgiving and restoring broken relationships, preserving unity by humble submission to one another.
  3. By bearing one another’s burdens, by encouragement, support, and prayer.
  4. By building one another up in our mutual faith in Christ.
  5. By using our spiritual gifts to serve one another.

It is not possible for us to participate in one another’s lives in all these ways but, as we are gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve one another, we are a mosaic of loving service to our church family. Doing life together in a community of faith is a powerful witness to outsiders of the power of the gospel. Jesus said that it is our love for one another and the unity that binds us together that bears witness that the Father sent Him.

How much better, then, when opportunity arises, to spend time taking care of the needs of fellow believers than using time, effort, and money preparing programmes and planning conferences and seminars which are, in the end, mostly forgotten!

Life in this generation is fast and furious. Loving each other is a way to slow down, and take time to minister life to the body of Christ that is meaningful and productive.

PRAYING GOD’S WAY – 5b

Prayer, ,

A SECOND QUALIFICATION

‭1 Corinthians 4:2 NLT‬
[2] “Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.”

‭Luke 18:8 NIV‬
[8]… “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith (pistis – faithfulness) on the earth?”

The word ‘pistis’, here translated ‘faith’, can also mean ‘faithfulness’.

‭Matthew 25:23 NLT‬
[23] “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “

Faithfulness to one’s calling and duty is a common theme in Scripture. God penalised King Saul heavily because he was unfaithful to His instructions on more than one occasion. Saul lost his position as king and that of his descendants because of his disobedience.

‭Acts of the Apostles 13:22 NLT‬
[22] “But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’”

Where Saul failed, David qualified and became the role model for all of his descendants in his dynasty.

Since faithfulness is included in Paul’s description of the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit…

‭Galatians 5:22 NLT‬
[22]”But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… “

… obedience to the leading and work of God’s Spirit in our hearts is imperative. He will produce faithfulness to God, to His Word and to our participation with Him in preparation for our place with Him in His eternal kingdom that qualifies us for our reign with Him.

Jesus told a story about a manager who was about to be fired for his wasteful use of his master’s money. The manager thought up a scheme to curry favour with his master’s debtors when he was out of work. He reduced their debt to his master, (which was also a dishonest move!).

However, Jesus commended the manager, not for his dishonesty but for his clever use of money to gain favour with the debtors.

What does the manager’s behaviour teach us about faithfulness with worldly goods?

Jesus was not telling His disciples to manipulate people by the use of money. He was showing them how to use money to serve our purposes.

‭Luke 16:9 NLT‬
[9] “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”

Luke 16:10-11 NLT
[10] “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. [11] And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? [12] And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?”

We see, then, that God included the way we use our resources in His evaluation of us. The crux of the matter is…we will use our money to serve the one we love.

‭Luke 16:13 NLT‬
[13] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

The way we think of and use our money is a good test of what is in our hearts.

‭Matthew 6:21 NLT‬
[21] “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

It seems, then, that the quality of our faithfulness will be judged by the way money serves us or we serve money.

How, then, does faithfulness for into God’s way of praying? Look at it this way, if God cannot trust us with the resources He has provided for us, why should He trust us with answers to the prayers that affect the administration of His kingdom?

Paul’s counsel to Timothy is a good guide for us to follow.

‭1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT‬
[17]”Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. [18] Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. [19] By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”

PRAYING GOD’S WAY – 1

Prayer, ,

THE “WHY” OF PRAYER

Prayer is one of the greatest mysteries and privileges of our Christian lives! Think of it, God, the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, permits us to approach Him and to engage in conversation with Him. He listens to us. He answers us. He allows us to be partners with Him in His kingdom. How can we ever get our heads around this?

We must, therefore, be careful about the way we use this privilege. We must come to God on His terms and in His way.

We love to pray the words of the Psalms because the psalmist’s prayers so often express the emotions of our own hearts. We iften feel like they did and their words express our hearts in those times when we cry out to God for help.

There is great merit in praying the Bible’s words because we are praying God’s words back to Him.
However, we must remember that the prayers of the Old Covenant, although they teach us great principles, have an important piece missing, i.e., the security and assurance of what God has done for us through Jesus.

Righteousness, in the Mosaic covenant, depended on obedience to the Law. The prayers, recorded in many parts of the Old Testament, have an element of uncertainty because pray-ers had no security in their own righteousness. They called on the name of the Lord for mercy and pleaded for His forgiveness based on the knowledge of His covenant love.

‭Psalms 51:1 NLT‬
[1] “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.”

However, in the New Covenant, we have access to the Father because of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. He has opened the way to God by taking our sin away. We have the assurance that He has made us acceptable to God. By faith in Him, we are made righteous, not guilty, and cleansed of all our unrighteousness.

‭Romans 5:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

We can approach the Father freely and confidently because the blood of Jesus forgives, and takes away all our sin.

‭Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT‬
[19] “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. [20] By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. [21] And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, [22] let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.“

When we pray the prayers of the Old Testament saints, we must attach to them the work of Jesus that removes us from pleading to praise. We do not have to beg God to do anything. We have all His promises which Jesus endorsed by His death, and we can confidently declare our “Amen!” to whatever He said He will do.

Another reason for praying Old Testament prayers with caution is the difference between the focus of the Old and New Testaments. While it is not wrong to pray for physical and material prosperity, the saints in the Old Testament, in the main, were concerned about their circumstances while the New Testament focus is on overcoming the old nature and its influence on our destiny.

We learn God’s way by the many prayers Paul prayed and recorded in his letters.

Paul spent much of his time teaching believers how to overcome sin and how to live by the Spirit. He recognised that continuing in sin negates our new life in Christ and disqualifies us from inheriting God’s kingdom.

‭Galatians 5:19, 21 NLT‬
[19] “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,…
[21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

He prays for knowledge and understanding of this new life so that the church grows in maturity as a witness to God’s grace at work in every member.

In the next few weeks we will explore some of Paul’s prayers, listening to his heart, and redirecting our praying into God’s Word, and His will and ways for us.

THE PRAYER OF POWER

Bible Study, ,

THE PRAYER OF POWER

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better (Eph. 1: 15-17).

Much is spoken and written about the power of prayer, but what about the prayer of power? Paul knew how to pray the prayer of power.

If you were in his shoes, what would you have prayed for these infant Ephesian believers? They had been steeped in superstition, witchcraft and idolatry. They had believed and faithfully adhered to the myths and legends surrounding their beloved Diana, and worshipped her with the fervour of religious devotees.

Suddenly, their world was transformed. When they heard the message of Jesus, which was no myth but the truth, based on historical fact. His life and death had happened within their lifetime, and they embraced the message willingly. But what were they to do with the religious “junk” that had filled their minds from birth?

It was a wonder to Paul that they had believed his message and turned away from their belief in idols and their horrible lifestyle to worship God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He could not stop thanking God for the miracle. Wouldn’t you? But how would they stand up to the pressure of the Roman government? They were the targets of terrible cruelty because they refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord. How could they, not even to save their lives, because they had confessed Jesus as Lord.

Paul could have pleaded with God to protect them from their persecutors, to keep them safe and to “be with them” wherever they were. These are familiar words, aren’t they? We have prayed prayers like this for our friends and family, haven’t we? How powerful is this kind of prayers? The Apostle John wrote:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him (1 John 5: 14-15).

In their circumstances, what do you think God’s will for them would be? To save them from being persecuted? If that were so, why were so many of them put to death, and by cruel torture?

Why did He not stop the persecution and deal with the bloodthirsty Nero who ordered it? Is it not possible that God had a plan, even when man’s plan was to exterminate the believers? A quote from one of the church fathers confirms that persecution did not get rid of the problem but fuelled the flames of evangelism and faith.

The 2nd-century Church Father Tertullian wrote that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church,” implying that the martyrs’ willing sacrifice of their lives leads to the conversion of others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs – retrieved December 2015.

The prayer of power does not focus on the comfort or safety of the ones for who we pray. It centres on God and what He desires through the trials we endure. What does He want for His people? Jesus summed up the Father’s desire in His high priestly prayer recorded in John 17.

Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17: 3).

Do you think God would answer a prayer like that? Of course, He would because He wants us to know Him and His Son, Jesus. He longs for us to experience Him, His love and His mercy, in the fullest way possible. We can only know Him when we open our hearts to Him and allow Him to reveal Himself to us in and through the circumstances of our daily lives.

Unfortunately, we interpret God through our circumstances, and end up accusing Him of not loving us, of being indifferent or even punishing us for something we may have said or done. He wants us to understand our circumstances through Him and to respond in faith in Him no matter what happens, because He has promised that He will make everything that happens to us work for our good.

When we really know God, when we are willing to trust Him when everything seems dark, when we are convinced that He loves us, no matter what happens, then the trials we face can never destroy us because He has promised that nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus.

Scripture is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my first book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

ISBN: Softcover – 978-1-4828-0512-3,                                                                              eBook 978-4828-0511-6

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or Kindle version, on www.takealot.com  or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), a companion volume to Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart, has been released in paperback and digital format on www.amazon.com.

21 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF PRAYER

Christian Life, ,

21 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF PRAYER

Now this is a huge subject! So many streams of thought, but in this context, let’s look at prayer as it contributes to learning to live with God as our Father and in the love and harmony of God’s family in the environment of a hostile world. Remember, we are living in God’s kingdom in the middle of enemy territory.

First of all, what is prayer?

We have unfortunately made prayer a formal activity confined to specific times and places, when we pray aloud or in our minds, starting with “Dear Lord Jesus…” or “Dear Heavenly Father…” and ending with “…in Jesus’ name, amen.” You must end with “Amen” so God knows you’ve finished praying! It’s almost like signing off a radio communication, “Over and out.”

That’s not prayer. That’s our idea of prayer. It actually contradicts Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” or, better, “never stop praying.” How can we pray all day and all night if we pray our “dear Heavenly Father” prayers?

  1. Prayer is a family activity

More than anything else, children need a father. He gives them the security of an identity, and protects and provides for them in their weakness and vulnerability.

A good father is always available for his children. He listens and understands, gives good counsel and does not judge or criticise. We talk to our dads about everything. We tell him stuff, we ask advice, we make requests, we share our ideas, we go to him for comfort, reassurance, help, even affirmation and praise.

God is our Father and He is always with us. He wants us to treat Him and trust Him as our perfect Father. He wants to be part of the most personal and intimate details of our lives. He’s always available.

  1. Our Father knows what we need

Much of our “praying” is taken up with needs. We have to inform, explain and advise God about our needs in case He forgets. After all, He does have a world full of people to take care of, who also have needs.

This kind of praying comes from a low view of God as our Father. We see God through our earthly father which is a bad perspective, not a Biblical one.

Our Father is more to us than the checkout at a grocery store. He is our Father, the one who has our best interests at heart and has the wisdom and power to care for us in every way.

  1. Prayer is our access to all the resources of the kingdom

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT

Everything we need to live as God’s children in a hostile environment, a depressed economy, and a disease-riddled planet is at our disposal.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Living in this world is a dangerous business

A father’s role is to protect his children from danger. Earthly fathers can’t always do this, but our Heavenly Father can. He has legions of angels at His beck and call.

“Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.” Hebrews 1:14 NLT

He dispatches them in a flash to stand between us and danger.

“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” Psalms 91:11-12 NLT

He never permits anything that does not work for our good.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

As much as we need protection from the natural and physical dangers around us, how much more do we need to guard our minds from the deception that can destroy us and our destiny in this life.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

How can we be safe from Satan’s devices?

God has provided armour that protects our thoughts… God’s armour is found in God’s Word.

“Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 NLT

There is protection in humility.

“And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7 NLT

  1. Our Father understands our hearts

Sometimes it’s difficult to understand with our finite minds the meaning of what the Bible is saying. Take this Scripture, for example.

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Romans 8:26-27 NLT

The Holy Spirit is God’s presence in us. We know that but what does it mean? There is such an intimacy between the Holy Spirit, the Father and us that the Holy Spirit who understands our frail humanity, takes the jumble in our minds and hearts and presents it to the Father with perfect clarity.

I don’t understand all the details of this interaction but it comforts me to know that my muddled mind and emotions never hinder God’s responses to me. This produces a peace inside me that is unaffected by the chaos around me.

  1. Prayer allows us to participate in God’s business

What is God’s business?

4.1. The kingdom is God’s business.

“… Your kingdom come, your will be done,  on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NIV

We make prayer so much about ourselves, our needs and wants that we forget that we are here to fit into God’s bigger story. We know that Jesus spent time finding out what the Father wanted Him to say and do.

“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19 NIV

When we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we are not dispassionate spectators but enthusiastic participants, involving ourselves in the Father’s business as partners with Him.

Jesus gave us this instruction,

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

The greatest blow to Satan and his thirst for control is to do whatever we can, by word or deed, to represent the kingdom of God where we are. In partnership with the Holy Spirit, like Jesus, we should be on the alert for opportunities to put God’s kingdom on display.

4.2. God’s family is His business

The New Testament is dotted with “one another” instructions. Why is this? Caring for one another is one of the only two commandments in the New Covenant.

“And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” 1 John 3:23 NLT

I don’t think we can be more loving than by praying for one another. Paul’s letters are full of examples of the prayers he prayed for his fellow believers. His concern for them was  reflected in what he prayed for them. We can learn much from him about what to focus on when we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16 NLT

There are no examples in the New Testament of prayers for the salvation of unbelievers. I wonder why? Was Paul not concerned about their salvation? Of course he was, but Paul viewed them from God’s perspective. A study of Romans 10 reveals that it is believing the gospel, not prayer, that saves people.

So, prayer for the coming of God’s kingdom on earth and for our fellow believers is a powerful weapon in our arsenal of weaponry against our common enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are in this together. We have one goal, to fulfill God’s purpose for us.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV

“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:10-11 NIV

We are one family in Christ, living together in love and harmony, preparing for our eternal home with the Father by living under His authority in this evil world.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All Scripture quotations in this series

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.