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Fifth Mention of Jesus and prayer – part 5 of 15

September 1st, 2010

 

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Matthew 14:23 (NKJV) 

It was a very difficult time with all of the ministry and news of death of John the Baptist. Jesus and the disciples take a boat to other side of lake, but the people run to be their when He comes. He was moved with compassion and spent the entire day in teaching and then feed the five thousand. There is a move to make Him king and then throw off the rule of Rome. (Notice how much this is like Satan’s suggestion in the wilderness).

Jesus sends the disciples off in the boat, dismisses the people, and go up to the mountain to pray and He continued until evening. His habit was to deal with difficulties, temptations, and all needs, was to pray.

To deal with difficulties, temptations, and all needs, we need to have a habit of prayer.

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What is the state of prayer in the church today?

July 2nd, 2010

How often and how well do we pray? How often is easy to measure. During a great revival in the 1800s, Horace Greeley, the newspaper editor, once sought to know how many men were praying in New York City. He sent a man in a buggy around to the various churches to count the number of men and women praying on their lunch hour. There were so many, the man could not get to all the churches to count. We can do similar counts today and there are several ministries and poling places that do counting, but I think the percentage of men praying then, was far greater than those praying today.

So much for the question of how often, the second question is a bit more difficult to determine, how well do we pray. There are many measures used by people, but there should be only one measure of how well we pray. It is much more than the number of men and women who pray, or even the men and women who have a prayer habit. Those who pray well, command the power of God in prayer and in their hands prayer is powerful. They are able and regularly do move heaven and earth by prayer.

With this as a measure, how do we measure up? E.M. Bounds describes the measure of prayer as, “men with whom prayer is a mighty force, an energy that moves heaven and pours untold treasures of good on earth”. Are our prayers a mighty force? Are our prayers an energy that moves heaven and earth? Have you been praying and by your prayers pouring out treasure of good on earth?

If we do not measure up to this standard, what can we do to change? Even if we do measure up, are their things we can do to be better? There are many possible answers, but one fundamental answer that we must investigate. We must check ourselves and see if we meet God’s standard of personal purity. Too often people are comfortable creating their own personal standard. However, we are people of His covenant or we are not, we cannot change the terms and conditions to suit our wants and desires. We are bought with a price and if we claim to be His, if we long to have His power in prayer, then we must meet His requirements.

While he wrote a hundred and fifty years ago, E. M. Bounds captures the problem we too often face today.

The age of Church organization and Church machinery is not an age noted for elevated and strong personal piety. Machinery looks for engineers and organizations for generals, and not for saints, to run them. The simplest organization may aid parity as well as strength but beyond that narrow limit organization swallows up the individual, and is careless of personal purity; push, activity, enthusiasm, zeal for an organization, come in as the vicious substitutes for spiritual character. Holiness and all the spiritual graces of hardy culture and slow growth are discarded as too slow and too costly for the progress and rush of the age. By dint of machinery, new organizations, and spiritual weakness, results are vainly expected to be secured which can only be secured by faith, prayer, and waiting on God.

The man and his spiritual character is what God is looking after. If men, holy men, can be turned out by the easy processes of Church machinery readier and better than by the old-time processes, we would gladly invest in every new and improved patent; but we do not believe it. We adhere to the old way—the way the holy prophets went, the king’s highway of holiness.

There is a path for us to walk, a way of holiness. If we are to measure up in prayer, we must walk in His way. Let us be holy even as He is holy, so we can pray.

A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:8-10 (NKJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2 (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 Hedge and Care

March 10th, 2010

The hedge and wall is a good picture of the care that is needed for the protection of the heart. Just like a field that is not protected, so the unprotected heart will have problems. The heart is very important. The Bible, as in the book of Proverbs, has dozens of verses about the heart and its great value. Just like other things of great value, the heart must be protected. One of the keys to success in the Christian life and in prayer is the careful care and feeding of the heart.

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

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

The word translated, keep, in this verse means to guard. The command is to guard our heart; guard is to protect, maintain, and obey.  We are to guard our heart; we are to protect our heart from evil. In addition, guarding is to maintain our relationship with God and to obey God. The reason for the command is also included here, from the heart comes those things we need for life. Guarding our heart is important; the danger comes when the hedge or wall is damaged or inadequate. The Devil is looking for ways to attack Christians and destroy their work and testimony. He is searching for gaps in their hedge.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

Many Christians struggle in dealing with attacks of the Devil. They work at walking through life, but too often there are attacks. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil, Jesus over came the Devil by the Word. Matthew’s Gospel mentions that after he had tempted Jesus, the Devil left Him until an opportune time. Christians, with gaps in their hedges, with parts of their walls down, present opportune times to the Devil. He is always finding openings through which to attack them. We need to fill the gaps and build up our walls so this does not happen to us. We must not be like the nation of Israel and fail to deal with our hedge and walls.

You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:5 (NKJV)

Success in the Christian life requires our dealing with the hedge and 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)

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.

How is your Hedge?

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More Soaking in the Anointing

January 31st, 2010

There is more to soaking in the anointing. My dad for many years worked in a lumber yard. It was hard work and many nights when he came home he would take a bath. This was a time for him to soak in warm water. This soaking was for cleansing and for removing the pain of sore muscles. After he had soaked for a few minutes he was ready for the night. He was ready for play, concerts, sports, adventure; what ever the night had in store. This soak restored; he was clean and refreshed.

We need this type of soaking as well. Prayer is a powerful ministry; it also requires regular cleansing and refreshing. If you are carrying a burden in prayer, the identification with the needs of the people and the battle against the enemy is just that, a battle. It can be long hard work and we need to have time with God to soak in His anointing; to be cleansed and refreshed.

To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.

Isaiah 28:12 (NKJV)

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 3:19 (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 Bold?

December 12th, 2009

The men and women of prayer are great risk takers. They put their faith to the test; they would boldly proclaim their prayer request and then allow God to work. This boldness of faith takes responsibility and action. I am responsible for praying; for seeking God and His answers. My responsibility is to take action; I will pray and obediently do what God desires of me. This should be the norm for all Christians. If you were to die today, could they write your epitaph, “Bold in Faith and Prayer”? Take responsibility; be bold in prayer, confident in the power and ability of God to do what He has said He will do. It is His power and might that will carry the day.

How about you bold in faith and prayer?

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Prayer Quotes

November 3rd, 2009

PRAYER, without fervour, stakes nothing on the issue, because it has nothing to stake. It comes with empty hands. Hands, too, which are listless, as well as empty, which have never learned the lesson of clinging to the Cross.

from Necessity of Prayer by E. M. Bounds

 

A man is no bigger than his prayer life, or as Murray M’Cheyne is reputed to have said, ‘What a man is on his knees before God, he is——and nothing more.’ 

From Pray in the Spirit by Arthur Wallis

 

Do we dare imagine that we—by thinking, and reading, and hearing—can understand or become partakers of the holiness of God? What folly! May we begin to thank God that we have our private prayer room, a place where we can be alone with Him. There, may we pray, “Let Your holiness, O Lord, shine more and more into our hearts that they may become holy.”

Andrew Murray from The Believers Prayer Life

 

Of all the traits of a life like that of Jesus Christ, there is none higher and more glorious than conformity to Him in the work that now engages Him without ceasing in the Father’s presence—His all-powerful intercession. The more we abide in Him and grow to be like Him, the more His priestly life will work in us. Our lives will become what His is—a life that continuously prays for people.

From With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray 

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Jesus Our Confidence

October 15th, 2009

The Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy; he would make life painful, sad, empty or worse.
 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 (NKJV)
 

However, Jesus has come to destroy the work of Devil.
 

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 (NKJV
 

Do you believe Jesus has done that for which He was manifest? Do you believe He destroyed the works of the devil? Do you; are you confident that He has done His work? A confidence, defined in the dictionary as, faith or trust. We can have confidence in Jesus’ work; which opened the door for salvation, deliverance, healing, and fullness of life. Jesus destroyed everything that would separate us from the love of God and the life He has for us. This confidence also opens the doors for prayer.
 

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14 (NKJV)
 

 Prayer demands a confidence. In prayer we speak to God in faith and trust; faith in Him and the work of Jesus and trust that what He has said He will do.
 

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)
 

Where will you place your confidence? In whom will you place your faith? In whom will you trust?
 

but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Hebrews 3:6 (NKJV)

We know He is willing and able to meet our confidence with answers to prayer. There is no question concerning His great reward.
 

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Hebrews 10:35 (NKJV)
 

By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas;
Psalm 65:5 (NKJV)
 

With confidence in God, we can pray. With confidence in Him, we have faith and trust to come boldly before His throne and seek His help.
 

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14 (NKJV)

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Refreshed in God’s Promises

October 12th, 2009

The Old Testament records times when the Jewish people lost sight of the promises of God and their faith failed. A great example is the return of the spies who had gone to scout out the Promised Land. This land was called the Promised Land because God had promised the Jewish people a special place, a land that flowed with milk and honey. He had promised to take them there. This was a great promise of God. Caleb and Joshua had their eyes on the promise of God. They were ready to go and take the land. They were ready to stand firm in faith believing that if God promised He could and would do what He promised.

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Numbers 13:30 (NKJV)

Unfortunately the other spies and the people did not keep their eyes on the promise. They saw the problems and hindrances that would defeat them, not the promises of God. Their faith failed. The question today is what about us. Will we be like Caleb and Joshua and keep our eyes on the promises of God or will we be like the other people. It is relatively easy to say we will be like Caleb and Joshua, especially when we are with God, such as in church or a time of worship. However, the problem is when we are in the tough times. When we are facing the issues of life and the problems thrown at us that are intended to kill, steal, and destroy our life and faith.

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Hebrews 4:1-2 (NKJV)

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:11 (NKJV)

We can be like Caleb and Joshua and take the land. We can patiently endure the hard times and with the promises of God we are well able to overcome any obstacle the Devil can throw at us. Caleb saw the Promised Land and the promise of God and He was fully persuaded that God was able to go before them and take the land. We must be like Caleb and have our eyes on the promises of God. What has God promised you concerning your prayers? What has He said He would do? Then keep your eyes on Him and see Him do the great and mighty things He has promised.

After all the people except for Caleb and Joshua had died in the desert, God did just what He had promised He gave them the Promised Land. Caleb was right; God could and would do what He said. Although he was much older, he never took his eyes off the promise and he saw God’s promise fulfilled. We can and should do the same. God has promised, so we should and can walk with Him, keeping our eyes on Him and His promises. If we do, we will see Him do great things for us.

And that is refreshing!

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