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Work and the Wilderness – part 3 of 15

August 23rd, 2010

The life of Jesus is one of great activity and challenges. Every day people crushed in around Him and made demands on His time and energy. There were people to heal and deliver, there were challenges from the religious leaders, and there was the ongoing training of the disciples, especially the Twelve. If every there was a man who faced the pressures of work, it was Jesus. And this was not just any work, but literally life changing work. It had to be done and no one else could do it. Jesus knew the pressure of work.

This is common for men and women today; there is more and more pressure of work. This is true in every type of work; in business, struggling economies demand more done, faster, and using fewer resources. In families, the work is greater than ever, but now most families do not have a stay at home person like an aunt or grandmother to help with the work. Everywhere we face the pressure of work.

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 5:16 (NASB) 

Notice what Jesus did when He faced this great pressure. He prayed! Jesus made it a point to get away from the crowds and the pressure of the work. He went to the wilderness to pray. This is where He spent time with the Father, renewed His strength, received plans for the next day, and was empowered with the anointing of the Holy Spirit for service. If He needed wilderness time, how much more do we?

For successful work go to the wilderness and pray!

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And the Lord Prayed – part 1 -15

August 15th, 2010

The first recorded mention of the Lord praying is found in the third chapter of Luke:

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” 

Luke 3:21-22 (NKJV)

From the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry He was anointed with power. And please note, His anointing came while Jesus was praying. Luke records this fact “… and while He prayed.” Prayer brings power. Prayer is tightening the connection with the source of our power that is with God. With prayer, power flows from God through us, to meet needs, correct wrongs, empower ministry, and deliver from bondage. As we seek to do anything with and for God, we need to begin with prayer. Prayer is our source of guidance and empowerment for service. Today, as you seek God and His anointing, pray.

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Seeking to Be a Craftsman of Prayer (part one)

July 7th, 2010

It is fascinating to watch a craftsman in action. They have great skills, so much so that their craft seems to just flow from their hands. There is a wonderful transition of the material from its natural state to where it becomes a finished product. Craftsmen create wonderful things and they give us a glimpse at the ultimate craftsman, God. He creates with a flair that a human craftsman can only envy. A look at creation reveals God’s skill and imagination. He is the model for all craftsmen; they all should long to be like Him. In prayer this same pattern is true, Jesus is the ultimate craftsman and we should all long to be like Him. We should long to be a craftsman of prayer.

The craftsman’s life is one of growing and learning; working to become more adept at their craft. In all aspects of life we should be doing the same, growing and learning. This was true for Jesus, as He walked this Earth. He grew in wisdom and stature.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:52 (NKJV)

Christian growth comprises a wide range of subjects, covering every aspect of life; this includes prayer. In prayer the Holy Spirit works to take us from a novice to a craftsman of prayer. This growth is directed by and taught by the Holy Spirit, but it requires the participation of a willing Christian.

We can develop in prayer; the first step is to recognize the possibility of growth. Those who are satisfied with how they pray, seldom grow. Those who think their current practice of prayer is all there is, seldom grow. However, those who long to grow, those who long to be more like Jesus, those who seek training by the Holy Spirit, will grow.

You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9:20 (NKJV)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NKJV)

Seeking to the best you can be in prayer

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The Simple Key to Success

May 24th, 2010

The most important secret to success in prayer is very simple, everyone can do it. The secret is praying. Too often this is the forgotten secret, but it is the key to effective, fervent prayer that avails much. Paul told the Philippians in everything pray.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)   

The key is praying, is a simple and obvious statement, but it identifies a problem that keeps many from effective prayer. People do not pray or only pray on special occasions. They are waiting for something. It is as though they are at the race, but have not responded to the starter’s gun going off. So they wait. They have a variety of reasons for waiting; they think they need more time, more training, more faith, or more ability, more of something. The result is day-by-day they do not pray. 

For many people, there is a expectation that a prayer life will come some day. It will come when the moment is right. Unfortunately this seldom works, things do not get right. People need prayer to make things right. When we pray, really pray, we are in a machine of change. This powerful machine, the prayer closet, and it could be called the chamber of change. It is here that God changes a person who prays and changes the world around them.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 

Time with God brings change in a person and this is especially true of time with God in prayer. We can not be in His presence without being changed. That is one of the great values of prayer, worship and Bible study. If done correctly, they bring you into contact with God. If you want to change things in your life, make things right, then pray so you will be spending special time with God.

Time in prayer with God also brings change to the world around us. It is nearly impossible to spend time with God in prayer and not begin to have the feel of His heartbeat. It beats with love for the world. He is love and His love is manifest in reaching out to a lost world. Time with Him will put the world on your heart. This will direct your prayers and life activities, just as it has directed His activities.

The world has always been on His heart, so God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for the world. His heart cry is a desire that no one should perish, but each person should come to saving grace. If you spend time in prayer, your heart will come into alignment with His and your life activities will align with His as well. You will reach out to a lost world and sacrifice for them. If you spend prayer time, you will be more and more like God and act more and more like Him.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)

So how will you respond? Is this just another “nice” article, or will you respond with prayer? The key is your decision, you must respond to God’s call. He longs to spend time with you in prayer, but must He continue to wait until you have time or things are just right? Or will you respond today and pray?

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Fear Not

May 11th, 2010

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philip. 4:6 (NKJV)

This is a powerful statement of faith, “Be anxious for nothing”, there seems to be plenty to be worried about. Even Jesus tells about things that could cause worry.

 

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:6-7 (NKJV)

Yet Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing.” How is it possible for us to be anxious for nothing? Is Paul talking of some sort of denial of what we see? How can he tell us this? The answer is, Paul knows His God. He knows who Jesus is and what He has done. With this knowledge he is able to confidently tell us to “Be anxious for nothing”. He knows things like this:

 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NKJV)

The question we are faced with is, has He or hasn’t He overcome the world? This question is really the crux of the matter. If Jesus has overcome the world then Paul is correct. Christians need not be anxious for anything. However, for some people this verse and others like it mean nothing. They do not believe Jesus’ claims to have overcome the world. These people view the world through their eyes and experience. They see the tribulation, not Jesus’ overcoming. They have decided to believe what they see.

 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
1 Tim. 4:1 (NKJV)

Jesus’ claim to have overcome must be received by faith. It is a matter of who you believe. I worked in an American High School and I had two girls who are in my office often. They always had a story of what happened, unfortunately their story most of the time did not have anything more than a remote resemblance to the truth. I just did not believe their claims, as most of the time their story is wrong. The question then comes back to you, who do you believe? What evidence are you going to believe? In this matter your choices are what you see or the testimony of the Bible. You can believe your experience or the testimony of many saints.

The Bible tells of many example of the overcoming power of Jesus. The books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are filed with examples for us. The rest of the Bible is also filled with examples and statements by men and women of the faithful testimony of the Bible to the overcoming power. There are also many examples from the testimony of saints as well. George Müller, Andrew Murray, Rees Howells, John G. Lake, Oral Robert and the list goes on and on. These lived by and demonstrated the overcoming power of Jesus. And like John’s their testimony is true.

 

This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:24 (NKJV)

Paul tells us “Be anxious in nothing” and then he gives us instruction on the way to do this. He explains we are to let our requests be made know to God. The first point of this process in to make our request know by prayer and supplication. The word translated prayer in this verse means a prayer of worship. We are to come to God honoring His name, His deeds, and abilities. We must honor Him as God. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began with the prayer with prayer of worship.

 

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 11:2 (NKJV)

To hallow the name of the Father is to honor His name and Him. The word translated supplication means a petition; that is a request. This fits in with what Paul has been telling us, we are to let our requests be made know to God. That is, we need to come to God in prayer and tell Him of our needs and wants.

 

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 (NKJV)

 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)

All of this is to be done with thanksgiving. We honor God when we recognize our need to ask of Him, we also honor Him when we thank Him for what He has done for us. Too often we forget to recognize His hand in our life, His provision for our day, and His protection of our family.

 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)

 

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Col. 3:17 (NKJV)

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Prayer for Poland

April 12th, 2010

Please pray for Poland in this time of great national loss and sorrow. Lift up the families of those who died and the people of the nation as they deal with their loss and to comfort those who morn.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NKJV)

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The Anointing

January 29th, 2010

Jesus’ Disciples grew and matured in their faith by spending time with Him. He would often take them aside to a quiet place where they could spend time together out of the crush of people. This time was used for teaching, training, rest, fellowship, questions and answers, and much more. It also was time for the Disciples to soak in the anointing of Jesus Christ. As they soaked they were changed. They were changed from looking like the world to looking more like Jesus. They began to change in their habits and desires from the way they had grownup into the new men they were to become. These fishermen and men of many walks of life were changed into Disciples.

We need this same type of treatment; we need to soak in Jesus and His anointing. We can learn a great deal about prayer. We can change our habits and practices; we can learn to pray. However, to be truly effective in prayer, we must pray with the anointing of God. This comes only by spending time soaking in His anointing; it is caught, not taught. The anointing is an agent of power; it breaks yokes and destroys burdens. Prayer is a force of change, reaching out to God and receiving answers from God. The power for these changes, the power to receive answers is by the anointing. We need His power and anointing in our prayers.

It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:7-8 (NKJV)

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Are You Looking for a Route to Success? Then Pray!

January 22nd, 2010

Prayer succeeds when everything else fails. Often, far too often, people try everything first before prayer. People try help from other people, help by using money, help from the government, and other sources. They are willing to look for help anywhere, even if there is no assurance of success. However, there is a source that is available and far too often left untapped. What is that source? God answers prayer. He is willing and able to help us in our time of trouble and need.

 

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Psalm 50:15 (NKJV) 
 

 
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalm 91:15 (NKJV)

Prayer succeeds when everything else fails. Prayer is the source of great victories and triumphs. Even in times when things looked as though there was no hope; when things looked the bleakest, and seemed to be impossible. Pray has brought answers from God. It has seen a turn around and the seemingly impossible made possible.

How about for you today? You are facing difficulties, trials, and problems. Some of these seem as though there is no possible solution. The situation seems to be impossible. Now is the time for prayer, now if the time to seek God and His amazing answers!

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Change the World – Pray!

January 16th, 2010

We face many difficult situations; all around us there are problems, disasters, heartaches, and struggles. Science and technology have made inroads to some situations, but often have brought other problems. Governments have made laws and rules to govern the life of people and sought to control problems. The results have been poor at best and often lead to dictatorial solutions that leave men worse that before. Education claims to be the source of answers, but once again the results have not lived up to the claims. People have more education, but they are not smarter and the problems continue to rule the life of most people. There is a source of power, a source of answers, that far exceeds any of the methods tried by man and its answers come with blessing.

This course of power is prayer. Prayer is amazing; God does powerful things when we pray. He unleashes power that overwhelms needs, hindrances, and problems. He is the most powerful force of the universe. He has designed prayer to be a means of focusing His power. When His power is focused, there is nothing that can stand in His way. Like focusing the light of the sun with a magnifying glass, prayer focuses God’s power.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 (KJV) “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (NKJV) “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” (NLV)
 

The prayer of a righteous person has power and results. This person is empowered to pray. The empowerment is from God, He makes His child righteous.
 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 
 

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;   Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)
 

If you are in Christ, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and His righteousness empowers you to pray. He has chosen to give the trigger to His power to men and women who will pray. However, this is not enough; God also provides the strength to pray. God makes you able. God enables us to pray. He has placed with each of His children the empowerment to pray. This power is not ours alone, but is ours with and in Him. As we walk with Him, we can pray and see His power and results. With this power available to you, would it not be wise to learn all you can about prayer? Would it not be wise to seek God and His requirements for effective prayer? Would this world be different if you would become the man or woman of prayer that God planned for you to be?

Once place you can go to learn more is Voice of Thanksgiving. Come subscribe to the Voice of Thanksgiving newsletter and each week you will receive a teaching on effective prayer. I promise you, you will never be the same! Make a real difference learn to pray!

 

 www.voiceofthanksgiving.com

 

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Plan for Succcess

January 13th, 2010

Looking for success? Then prayer is what you are looking for. Prayer succeeds when everything else fails. Often, far too often people try everything first. People try help from other people, help by using money, help from the government, and other sources. They are willing to look for help anywhere, even if there is no assurance of success. However, there is a source that is available and too often untapped. God answers prayer and is willing to help us in our time of trouble and need.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Psalm 50:15 (NKJV) 
 
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
Psalm 91:15 (NKJV) 

Prayer succeeds when everything else fails. Prayer is the source of great victories and triumphs. Even in times when it looked as though there was no hope. When things looked the bleakest, pray has seen a turn around, prayer has seen answers.

Great Success Comes to Those Who Seek God and Pray!

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