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Walking in the Power of Prayer

August 3rd, 2010

Prayer is very powerful. 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. 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.

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Zeal for Prayer

July 20th, 2010

Without zeal we will fail to complete the work set before us. Zeal moves men and mountains. It is the difference between the greeting in heaven of “Well?” and “Well done.” Every page of the Church’s history is lined with zeal. The zealot has written history, filling its pages with exploits.  The zealot has changed the course of nations and turned the hearts of men. The zealot has righted wrongs and ended evils. But the non-zealot has filled the graveyards with empty lives. What about you, is there enough evidence to convict you of being a zealot? In the things you do, are you along for the ride or are you filled with fervor, passion, ardor, spirit, and drive.

“If you never have sleepless hours, if you never have weeping eyes, if your hearts never swell as if they would burst, you need not anticipate that you will be called zealous. You do not know the beginning of true zeal, for the foundation of Christian zeal lies in the heart. The heart must be heavy with grief and yet must beat high with holy ardor. The heart must be vehement in desire, panting continually for God’s glory, or else we shall never attain to anything like the zeal which God would have us know.”                                                                          Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It matters not if you are called for nations or the nursery; the question is your zeal. A call to missions or management; the question is your zeal. A call to pray or preach; the question is your zeal. A call to give or guide; the question is your zeal.

Christ was consumed with zeal.

Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

John 2:17 (NKJV)

The Apostles were filled with zeal

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV)

Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.  

Acts 20:31 (NKJV)

The early church had great zeal

For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.     2 Corinthians 7:11 (NKJV)

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. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.     Colossians 4:12-13 (NKJV)

Seek God to refresh and renew your zeal for Him and zeal in every area of your Christian life. Be zealous in your Christian life and ministry. 

For Zion‘s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem‘s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.

Isaiah 62:1 (NKJV)

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

 2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV)

Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

2 Peter 1:13 (NKJV)

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.

 Haggai 2:4 (NKJV)

And how about you, do you have zeal?

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The Craftsman of Prayer (part two)

July 9th, 2010

How much do you want to be effective in prayer? Those who desire to do great exploits for family, friends, and nations, will learn to pray. They will learn to pray like Jesus. They will seek to be like Jesus, the Great Craftsman of prayer.

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV)

Another key to growth in prayer, a hidden secret of the successful craftsman of prayer, is our asking for the searching of the Holy Spirit. The craftsman asks for the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that need work. These may be in prayer and its practices, but also in our daily walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit will show us areas that are not in alignment with the Word of God, and areas where hindrances are limiting our prayers and their effectiveness. The craftsman seeks to know anything limiting his or her success and deal, with the help of the Holy Spirit, with these revealed areas.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

John 16:13 (NKJV)

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

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Quick Start to Effective Prayer

April 27th, 2010

The Bible’s directions for effective prayer include trusting God, pouring out our heart to Him, and coming boldly to Him through the entrance provided by Jesus. Additional directions include asking in faith, not doubting, and searching for Him with all of our heart. The practice of effective prayer also consists of praying in the Holy Spirit, pray with thanksgiving, and making our requests known to God. This is just a short list; (kind of like the “get started quickly” part of assembly instructions), but even this list will get us praying.

But there is more, effective prayer includes praying to completion. We need to begin to pray and then continue in faith, never wavering, until we complete the prayer. The prayer is not complete until we see the answer or the Lord says the prayer is complete. When doubt tries to stop our prayer, when fear would grab our heart with its icy grip, we must keep our faith. We must pray and stand in faith, never wavering, until the answer comes. Paul tells us he will do anything to finish his race, we should have the same attitude.

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:22-24 (NKJV)

Paul declared that nothing could move him from the finish of his race. We should be like him; if we win this race we have kept the faith. God is calling us to effective prayer. Will we respond and pray? And once we begin will we fini…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

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Finish Your Prayers

April 14th, 2010

We live in a strange time. There are great and wonderful opportunities. In many place around the world a person has a chance to improve their lot in life. At the same time there are terrible disasters and horrible events that shake the life of thousands. Each generation faces new opportunities and difficulties. In the mist of the constant rush of change, there are a few consistencies. These consistencies help us deal with the ups and downs of life. They help us to understand what is happening in us, around us, and around the world. This is why a Christian life has been so important and so helpful to people of every generation for 2000 years.

Christianity brings a solid foundation for life and living. It is of supreme value to have a God who cares for us, provides for us, and who never changes. His love for each of us is beyond all compare and it never weavers. One of the many ways He cares for us is through prayer. Daily communication with Him guides, aide, comforts, builds up, corrects, supports, and encourages. Central to this communication is prayer.

In difficult times it is easy to slip into bad habits and practices. The pressure of the day, sin, life, and the world, all tug at our heart and work to pull us away from prayer. This struggle has three main avenues, first is luring away from prayer. This is hindrances to prayer, working to keep us from this all important part of the day or at least keeping us from prayer as much as possible. The second avenue is to keep us from praying in faith. Without faith in God our prayers are limited and ineffective. The third is working to keep us from completing our prayers.

We need to begin to pray, pray in faith, and then continue in faith, never wavering, until we complete the prayer. The prayer is not complete until we see the answer or the Lord says the prayer is complete. When doubt tries to stop our prayer, when fear would grab our heart with its icy grip, we must keep our faith. We must pray and stand in faith, never wavering, until the answer comes. Paul tells us he will do anything to finish his race, we should have the same attitude.

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:22-24 (NKJV)

Paul declared that nothing could move him from the finish of his race. We should be like him; if we win this race we have kept the faith. God is calling us to prayer. Will we respond and pray? And once we begin will we fini…

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

Do not stop until your prayers are complete!

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The Heart of Prayer

April 6th, 2010

The heart of prayer is the heart. A key to effective prayer is guarding our heart. With a guarded heart we can live a life where we can make demands on ourselves. These demands are so we can pray, so we can pray more effectively. This is a life where we work to keep hindrances from interfering with our prayers. This is not a call to legalism; do this or do not do that, it is a personal response to a great opportunity. We choose to live our life so as to be effective in prayer. It is important that we work at keeping our heart; that means protecting our heart.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NKJV) 

The importance of guarding our heart can be seen in many aspects of Christian life, and it is especially important in prayer. The issues of life determine what we will pray and how we will pray. If we do not guard our heart we limit what we can and will pray. Hindrances cloud the issues. If we are not careful we will draw back from prayers that cause real and effective change. Why, because hindrances working in our life, keep us from boldly coming before God. They try to separate us from God, our source of answers. Hindrances affect our heart and they limit our faith.

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) 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 

Effective prayer comes from a pure heart. One washed by the blood of Jesus. One washed by the water of the Word of God. God has made provision so we can come to Him in prayer. However, there is a part for us to play as well. We must work to experience the full effect of the cleansing work of Jesus.

There is a Christian life, but beyond the basics there is the life of the disciple. Disciples choose to live as disciples. They live trying to do the things God commands. They try to observe and do everything He commands.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

The life of the disciple is challenging. The disciple strives to be like Jesus and to be like Jesus is a tall order. The life of the disciple is one of choices, hopefully good choices. For example, the disciple can choose to deny himself the things of the world. He can choose to live as close to God as possible, working to make his prayers more effective prayers. With this choice things that are okay for some people are not okay for this disciple. Things that would hinder prayer are removed.

If we confess our sins God is willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, but the position of effective prayer works to limit the areas where we must ask forgiveness, working to keep a close relationship with God. This is working to keep things from being a hindrance. One early Christian put the matter bluntly: “There is a distinction between death and death. For this reason the disciples of Christ die daily torturing their desires and mortifying them according to the divine scriptures; for we have no part at all in shameless desires, or scenes impure, or glances lewd, or ears attentive to evil, lest our souls thereby be wounded.”

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:19-23 (NKJV) 

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 3:21-22 (NKJV) 

The disciple makes good choices because that is the right thing to do. He also makes these choices to protect his heart. As we mentioned earlier, the heart of prayer is the heart and what we do with our heart will determine the effectiveness of our prayers. We all can and should pray, but some may be so bold as to determine they will seek God with all of their heart, letting nothing separate them from Him. They make choices to protect their heart so they can pray boldly and effectively.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) 

The question is what about you. Will you choose to die daily, torturing your desires and mortifying them according to the divine scriptures? Will you have no part at all in shameless desires, or scenes impure, or glances lewd, or ears attentive to evil? Will you live so as to not allow your heart to be wounded? Will you choose this life so you can pray, pray effective, faith filled prayers?

For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:44-45 (NKJV)

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Dig Deep

March 2nd, 2010

Prayer is the easiest thing to do in the world, but it is hard work to dig deep into prayer. We want to have it be easy, but the riches in prayer come from hard work. Like the early California seekers looking for gold, we want prayer to yield great results, but to be easy. When it became hard to find gold most people gave up their dreams of riches and got jobs. When prayer is more that just a quick and easy source of answers, most people give up and do other things.

Mining for gold is hard work, prayer is hard work. Unlike grubbing around looking for nuggets on the surface, mining requires heavy equipment, structure, machines, workers and a lot of money. Prayer requires hard work as well. Those who are not satisfies with just a few nuggets they find laying around, must work hard, they must learn to pray. The request from His disciples was Lord teach us to pray.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1 (NKJV)
 

Mining is expensive. It takes a huge outlay of money to get to the point where there is a return on the initial investment. Prayer is expensive as well, no not in money; it costs a great to abide in His presence. Every day events seek to draw you away from Him. Answer delayed is expense for faith to abide, but the man who would dig deep in prayer will pay the price.
 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:7 (NKJV)
 

Mining is dangerous. Cave-ins, explosions and gasses are but a few of the dangers miners faced everyday. Prayer is dangerous as well. There is a constant danger of lure of sin, doubt, fear, and unbelief. There is a danger of forgetting prayer and relying on our own strength. It is hard to wait on God.
 

Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
Psalm 37:34 (NKJV)
  

Mining is time consuming. Prayer is time consuming. The question in the garden was, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Jesus ever lives to make intersession for us. Will you join with Him? How long will you pray?
  

Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Matthew 26:40 (NKJV)
 

Mining became incredibly profitable to the men who developed companies in California and later other mining areas. They poured money and effort into their work and millions of dollars were drawn from the ground. Prayer is incredibly profitable as well, not as a get-rich- scheme, but in relationship with the Father and His answers.
 
“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)

Are you satisfied with looking for a few nuggets, with prayer that is grubbing along with whatever happens to come along?

Or will you be like the miners who dig deep, worked hard?

Nuggets or mining what will it be for you in prayer?

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A Good Start

February 25th, 2010

 

There is a beginning for everything. In life and in the spiritual life things have a beginning. Life begins at conception. Salvation begins with repentance. Prayer begins with Thanksgiving.

If your prayers have grown listless and dull; if there is no life in your prayer time, then you should check your starting point. Do you come to prayer with hear and voice of thanksgiving?  We live in an age where people complain and grip about everything. It is easy to fall in to the practice of complaint. If we are not careful this can overtake our prayer life as well.

We desire that our prayers be acceptable to God, so we must come to Him as He directs. We should not be anxious, but come with thanksgiving. We should be vigilant in prayer with thanksgiving.

 

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) 
 

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Col. 4:2 (NKJV)

 

 Time to Start – Thank you!

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Success Assured

February 22nd, 2010

Success in prayer can be measured in many ways. There are the physical measurements, where we observe if we are like Jesus in our practice. He prayed regularly, fervently, consistently, and these are good measures of our prayer life. We can see His success in obtaining answers to prayer. We know from the Bible record that His prayers were always answered and He prayed according to the will of God. So we can measure our success by using Jesus as our standard. How do we match up to Him? Do we pray regularly, fervently, consistently? Is the record of our prayers filled with answers to prayer? Do we pray prayers according to the will of God?

This last point is very important for success of our life of prayer. Praying in the will of God is an important key to success in prayer. Regular, fervent, consistent prayer is important, but even the heathen do this. I can pray wrong every day and my prayers are still wrong. I can pray with world class fervency, but if I pray amiss I will not have success. Just as Jesus did, I must pray the will of God.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

This is an incredibly powerful verse, if we pray according to God’s will, He hears our prayer. If He hears us, we have the answer we ask. Whatever we ask! The phrase often used is carte blanche (a blank document), you have full discretionary powers. The only caveat is that you must ask according to God’s will. This is amazing power in prayer that God has given to His children.

Success in prayer has many components, but chief among these is learning to pray according to God’s will. We can be foolish and pray whatever we want and waste our time or we can redeem our prayer time, making it productive and valuable time. It seems it would be wise to know and understand the will of the Lord.  

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NKJV)

Praying the will of God transforms our prayers in form and substance. It takes us to the throne of grace with boldness and power. We come like Jesus; fully confident of the resulting answers because we know that God hears us, and we have His answers. With this confidence we can pray. With this confidence we can stand in faith, firm until we see the manifestation of God’s answer. Having prayed His will, we can stand; not moved by circumstances or the waves of current thinking. Praying the will of God, we can pray with great assurance and confidently say; I know that God hears me and if He hears, I have His answers to my prayers!

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Dealing with Gaps so We Can Deal with Gaps

February 15th, 2010

Success in the Christian life requires our dealing with the issues of life. We need to place a hedge or wall around our heart. A productive prayer life also requires protecting our heart. A strong and effect hedge around our heart, protects our heart and gives us opportunities to pray effectively.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NKJV)

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

In addition to dealing with this hedge or wall, part of a prayer ministry is to stand in the gap for the land. This is a ministry that is so important and necessary today. Unfortunately few are able to stand in the gap. Like the man without a belt, who can do nothing else, having to hold up his pants, it is hard to stand in the gap for the land, if we are constantly attacked through the gaps in our personal life. Until we deal with the gaps in our hedges and walls, we limit our effectiveness in prayer.

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)

God continues to seek men and women who will make a wall and stand in the gap on the behalf of the land; that is for nations and peoples. However, to be effective workmen standing in the gap for nations, we must be careful to maintain the hedge around our personal heart. Then we can effectively stand in prayer for others. God is seeking, will He find someone? Will He find you? Today is the day to check your hedge. Is it solid? Are there gaps that need repair?

Let the Holy Spirit show you areas where you need to do repair work. Let Him show you areas where you need to build up the hedge. Let Him show you areas that need improvement. Let Him show you what to do to make the repairs. Do what you must do to make them and make your hedge secure and strong.

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