BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2022.

SUBJECT : BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: “Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” (Matthew 15 vs 32.)

READ: Luke 18 vs 35 - 43:

18:35:Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging:

18:36: And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

18:37: So they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

18:38: And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

18:39: Then those who went before him warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

18:40: And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,

18:41: saying, “What do want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

18:42: Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.

18:43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw it, gave praise to God.

INTIMATION:

Persistence means not giving up. Some of the dictionary definition are: (1) To go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning. (2) To remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position. (3) To be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or opinion). (4) To continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time. Synonyms for persist include to carry on, dig in, hang on, keep up, follow through with, endure, hold on, hold up, last, remain, linger, tarry, carry through, prevail, and so on.

Persistence reveals an earnest desire to receive. Ernest means showing deep sincerity or seriousness, being determined. Godly determination will be the force that drives people to pray without ceasing and be steadfast until the answer comes. Sometimes once is not enough, and one prayer hasn’t said it all or broken through. You find yourself praying again and again until you see the lines in the spirit begin to line up in your favor. People who are not persistent lack the intensity that should be in the heart of righteous people. 

The definition of persist also mirrors godly attributes. God persists and continues with us in our humanity. Jesus never ceases to make intercession for us (Isaiah 53 vs 12; Romans 8 vs 34). God is faithful. He sticks with us. He carries us through. When we pray persistent prayers, we are praying in the character of God. Many believers get weary in prayer. They pray a little while and get discouraged because the answer didn’t come. You must never cease in praying because the enemy never ceases to make war with the saints. He will never give up because his time is short. 

Persistence also means continuing in prayer. In our memory verse, Jesus was moved by the people who came to Him and continued with Him for days. He had compassion on the multitude who had “continued” with Him for three days without food. Jesus was moved by the people’s hunger for spiritual food that He miraculously provided physical food for their bodies. They were seeking the things of the kingdom, and Jesus added “all these things.” (Matthew 6 vs 33.) Their persistence in seeking the Savior gave them the physical things they needed, and they weren’t even praying for food.

In the passage we read today, the people told the blind man to keep quiet and not bother Jesus. But this man was desperate. He was insistent on being heard so that Jesus could minister to him. His persistence resulted in his sight being restored. Also in Acts of the apostles chapter 1 and 2, and throughout the forming of the early church the phrases “continued in prayer, “continued in prayer and supplication,” “continued in faith, love, and holiness” are used to describe the apostles, who turned the world upside down with the gospel.

Some of the mountains in our lives are so stubborn that they require us to PUSH—‘Pray Until Something Happens.’ Do not be discouraged. Press in. Don’t stop praying. Your breakthrough is near. Praying consistent, earnest prayers is part of the life of a believer who is doing something right. Continue in your position of prayer despite all apparent opposition. The enemy is only on the heels of those who recognize their strength and potential in God. Never give up praying about that lost loved one, that job, your finances, your health, your marriage, your church or ministry. Whatever it is, God is persisting with you. He has compassion on those who continue with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of persistence in my prayer altar, that I may pray through and receive my petitions as testimonies of answered prayers, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

THE NEED TO CULTIVATE A PRAYER HABIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE NEED TO CULTIVATE A PRAYER HABIT!

Memory verse: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray, and not lose heart." (Luke 18 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 5 vs 1 - 3: 

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

2 Give need to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God, for to You I will pray.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD. In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.

INTIMATION:

Prayer is communing with the Lord, and it is the most powerful resource of a Christian. Communion with God through prayer is the most essential armor of God available to the Christian, and is for constant use. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. There is no denying the fact that the lack of prayer is the bane of the individual members of the body of Christ. Prayer should be as natural as breathing and as enjoyable as eating. It should be as unconscious as our communication with each other. While doing all these we must not lose the fact that we are communicating in fellowship with Someone superior to us but has given us the privilege to come to Him. 

Jesus was a man of prayer. He taught prayer, not as a slavish duty, but as a glorious privilege. In our memory verse, He said that “men ought to pray and not faint,” that is to say that we need to form the prayer habit, and maintain constant communication with the Lord. If prayer was Important to Jesus, then it must be important to His followers. Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God with Whom there are no impossibilities or difficulties. Therefore, it is imperative we should be in constant communion with Him as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but His delays always have good reasons. 

Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Our faith shouldn’t die if the answers come slowly, for the delay may be God’s way of working His will in your life. When we feel tired of praying, know that God is present, always listening, always answering—maybe not in ways you had hoped, but in ways that He knows are best.

Praying morning, afternoon and night is certainly an excellent way to maintain correct priorities throughout the whole day. Daniel followed this pattern (Daniel 6 vs 10), as did Peter (Acts 10 vs 9 - 10). The prayers of God’s people are effective against the overwhelming evil in the world. David knew this secret of constant communion with the Lord, and He said, ”Evening, morning and at noon, I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55 vs 17.) 

How can one pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayer your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God’s desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don’t have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. 

Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with Him daily. Do you have a regular time to pray and read God’s Word? The secret of a close relationship with God is to pray to Him earnestly each morning. In the morning, our minds are more free from problems, and then we can commit the whole day to God. Every Christian should form the habit of continuing earnestly in prayer and be vigilant in it. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen. Some people see prayer as a last resort to be tried when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. Because God’s power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it—especially because God encourages us to do so.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of prayer and supplication that I may habitually remain in constant communication with You—the source of all powers, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!  

Hope for the Worst of Sinners

 

I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:19)

Moses needed hope that God really could have mercy on a stiff-necked people who had just committed idolatry and scorned the God who brought them out of Egypt.

To give Moses the hope and confidence he needed, God said, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.” In other words, “My choices do not depend on the degree of evil or good in man but solely upon my free, sovereign will. Therefore no one can say he is too evil to be shown grace.” That would imply God is not free, and election is not unconditional.

The doctrine of unconditional election is the great doctrine of hope for the worst of sinners. It means that when it comes to being a candidate for grace, your background has nothing to do with God’s choice. That’s good news.

If you have not been born again and brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ, do not sink into hopelessness thinking that the excessive rottenness or hardness of your past life is an insurmountable obstacle to God’s gracious work in your life. God loves to magnify the freedom of his grace by saving the worst of sinners.

Turn from your sin; call upon the Lord. Even in this daily devotion, that you are reading or hearing, he is being gracious to you, and giving you strong encouragement to come to him for mercy.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

SOME ENEMIES OF PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2022.

SUBJECT : SOME ENEMIES OF PRAYER! 

Memory verse: "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21 vs 22.)

READ: Mark 11 vs 22 - 24: 

11:22: So Jesus answering said to them, “Have faith in God.”

11:23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does  not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

11:24: Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

11:25: And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

11:26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

INTIMATION: 

Prayer we already know is fellowshipping with the Father, and the Master. There are known enemies of prayer. Some of these enemies are very dear 'friends.' We have associated with them for many years, and it will be hard for us to give them up.

The most outstanding enemy is a lack of knowledge of whom we are in Christ, and what He is in us, what He did for us, and of our standing and legal rights before the Throne. All these are embedded in the Scriptures. And the lack of this knowledge is the bane of the believer. The Scripture says,  "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...." (Hosea 4 vs 6). It is in studying and meditation that God’s inheritance to you in Christ is revealed.  And until you do, you will never have a prayer life beyond the baby experience.

Another enemy is ignorance of what "Believing" is. The word "Believe" is a verb. It is an action word—it means to act upon the Word. Then believing the Word is simply acting on it. We act upon it as we act upon the word of our governments on taxes. Act on it the way you expect your children to act on your word of right morals to them. There is no believing without acting, and believing means having possession. I possess what the Word has promised. 

For instance, here is a statement of fact, Isaiah 53 vs 4 personalized: "Surely He has born my sicknesses and carried my pains and I have come to esteem Him as the one stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." You just don't give a mental assent to it, rather you act on the Word; you say it out to yourself and others, as if you are the only person Jesus is talking to. You claim it as your word, and eat it as if you are eaten your favorite meal. Declare it all the time. If you fail to speak and act on the Word, you are self-deceived.  The Believer is a "doer”  of the Word and not a hearer only.

Another enemy is praying for faith. It is a delusion to pray for faith or more faith. You can never get it. I have never heard of anyone getting more faith or having their faith increased by praying for it. Why is it so? Because the prayer for faith is a prayer based on unbelief. If unbelief were not your master, you wouldn't need faith. Praying for faith is because you are in doubt of the Father, His integrity, and His Word, hence you are praying for faith to believe Him. It is an absolute proof that you will not get it.

For instance, if a child should say to the mother, "Mum, I want you to increase my faith in you. I have been trying all morning to believe what you said that my birthday being this Saturday is true." It is noteworthy that the mother gave birth to the child and knows the day she gave birth, but the child is trying to believe the mother on the date of birth. That child is insulting the integrity of the mother. 

So when you pray for faith you are insulting the Author of the Word. You don't intend to, but you are doing that. This is the same as acting on the Word and still not believing on the efficacy of the Word. For instance, when you are divinely healed, you will not confess it because you still want to wait a while to confirm it is done.

Another enemy of prayer is our dependence on other people's faith. We become unconsciously spiritual hitchhikers. To everyone God has given a measure of faith (Romans 12 vs 3); that faith came when you received the Father's nature—you accepted Jesus Christ. That nature is a faith nature. As soon as it came into you and you became His child, you began to develop that faith. Just as you develop your mental strength by certain mental exercises, and develop your physical strength by certain physical exercises, now you are developing your faith by feeding on the Word (John 15 vs 7).

Our Father did give us a measure of faith because He knows that without it, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11 vs 6). If you have no faith you cannot please Him, even with somebody's faith posturing for you. Many times we have gone to the altar, and to the prayer room to pray for more faith, but to no avail. Your faith is built up when you begin to live in the Word, act on the Word, and take advantage of your inheritance in Christ.

Another enemy is the desire to read about the Bible and about prayer rather than to study the Word, meditate on it, and fit yourself for the highest known and holiest of all vocations. In my considered opinion, it is more than a vocation, it is a privilege, and the rarest of all privileges that have been given to us in grace.

Another known enemy an unforgiving heart. God does not answer the prayer that comes from an unforgiving heart. God will judge without mercy the one who has shown no mercy. Forgiving heart is a condition for answered prayer.

Prayer: Abba Father, my complete trust is in You. You are loving, unfailing and ever faithful. There is none like You in heaven and on earth. In You I live, and move, and have all my being. Blessed be Your holy Name forever. Endue me with the spirit of love that I may have the mind of Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISR THE LORD!

Let Goods and Kindred Go

 

Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (Hebrews 10:32–35)

The Christians in Hebrews 10:32–35 have earned the right to teach us about costly love.

The situation appears to be this: In the early days of their conversion, some of them were imprisoned for their faith. The others were confronted with a difficult choice: Shall we go underground and stay “safe,” or shall we visit our brothers and sisters in prison and risk our lives and property? They chose the way of love and accepted the cost.

“For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property.”

But were they losers? No. They lost property and gained joy! They joyfully accepted the loss.

In one sense, they denied themselves. It was real and costly. But in another sense, they did not. They chose the way of joy. Evidently, these Christians were motivated for prison ministry the same way the Macedonians (of 2 Corinthians 8:1–9) were motivated to relieve the poor. Their joy in God overflowed in love for others.

They looked at their own lives and said, “The steadfast love of the Lord is better than life” (see Psalm 63:3).

They looked at all their possessions and said, “We have a possession in heaven that is better and lasts longer than any of this” (see Hebrews 10:34).

Then they looked at each other and said — perhaps sang — something like Martin Luther’s great hymn:

Let goods and kindred go
This mortal life also
The body they may kill
God’s truth abideth still
His kingdom is forever

PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022.

SUBJECT : PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11 vs 24.)

READ: First Samuel 1 vs 9 - 16:

1:9: So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord.

1:10: And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept in anguish.

1:11: Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but wilt give Your maidservant a mail child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.

1:12: And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth.

1:13: Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

1:14:So Eli said to her, “How long wilt you be drunk? Put your wine away from you.

1:15: But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

1:16: Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.

INTIMATION:

The proper conducts in prayer include the following:-

1. We must be candid in our prayers.

God is “All-knowing,” therefore, go to Him in prayers with total sincerity of heart, and frankness in all intents and purposes. Don't keep anything back. In the passage we read today, Hannah had no child for her husband who really loved her. She was greatly discouraged and bitter because the husband's other wife had children and ridiculed her. Her loving husband could not solve her problem. She then turned in prayer to the Provider of solutions to all problems. The antidote to discouragement is telling God honestly of your problem, how you feel, and then leave your problems with Him.

It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective, but Hannah did. We should always be careful of what we promise in our prayers because God may take us up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to her credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Hannah made a vow in return for having a mail child, to dedicate him to God for lifetime service. God gave her a son named Samuel. She lived up to her promise, and God even blessed her with five more children excluding Samuel. 

2. Pray simply and directly. 

God is pleased with our sincerity, and uprightness. We can never pray vainly if our prayers are honest and sincere. Christ condemns vain repetitions in prayer (Matthew 6 vs 7). Repeating the same words over and over is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. Remember, God knows your needs even before you ask for them (Matthew 6 vs 8). However, you can come severally with the same request to God. In Matthew 26 vs 39 - 44, Jesus persistently prayed to the Father three times saying the same thing, even when He knew the Will of the Father. If you will say the same prayer now, it will take you less than twenty seconds, because it is simple, sincere, and direct. 

3. Pray audibly and in alignment with His Word—His Will.

Align your prayer with God’s Word. Put Him in remembrance of His Word (Isaiah 43 vs 26), He is always ready to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). The Word of God is our blueprint for life, the architectural plan for our divine destiny. The utterance of God's Word helps to activate our faith. If you can hear yourself when you pray, you are loud enough. You really don't need to shout. God expects you to speak to Him, not shout. In Isaiah 65 vs 24 God says, "It shall come pass that before you call, I will answer; and while you still speaking, I will hear." Not while you are shouting.

4. Pray passionately.

Your prayer, and supplication should be passionate. It is the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much" (James 5 vs 16). The Christian's most powerful resource is communing with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible.

5. Don't mock God.

Do not ask God to do for you what He has already mandated you to do for yourself. Continuing to pray about what God has already told you to do is rebellion against the known Will of God. For instance, in Psalm 50 vs 15, God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." If you are then in any trouble, the proper prayer is, "God I am in the day of trouble, I believe you will deliver Me as I call upon You," not "O God I am in trouble, will You deliver Me? I am Your child...." 

6. Pray believing.

God is never far from the person who seeks Him, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The Bible in Hebrews 11 vs 6 says, "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." Have faith in God (Mark 11 vs 22). Have faith that His promises are true and that they apply to you.

7. Pray without ceasing.

The door to prayer is always open; you should take full advantage of walking through that sacred gate often. In First Thessalonians 5 vs 17, the Bible says, "Pray without ceasing." We cannot spend all our times on our knees praying, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

8. Pray with thanksgiving.

It is the spirit of thanksgiving that makes your prayer supernatural. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 4 vs 6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Naturally, the best way to ask for more is to always be thankful. When you thank Him for what He has done, He will do more.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for proper conduct in prayer; that I will pray acceptably to You and receives answer from You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Ammunition Against Anxiety

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

One of the things we are thankful for when we let our requests be known to God is his promises. These are the ammunition in the cannon that cuts down the unbelief that produces worry. So here’s how I fight.

When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise of Isaiah 55:11. “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).

When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

When I am anxious about the welfare of those I love, I battle unbelief with the promise that if I, being evil, know how to give good things to my children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

And I fight to maintain my spiritual equilibrium with the reminder that everyone who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for Christ’s sake, shall “receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29–30).

When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

And I take the promise with trembling: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3–5).