WHEN YE PRAY- PART III

1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

We know God’s word is truth. So if by God’s word we ask for what we desire he hears us and we have what we asked for. In acting out our faith we don’t believe because we see it but because God’s word says so.

Let’s say I ask God for a pen. As soon as I finish praying I must believe that I have the pen then I shall have it physically. So when I ask God for a laptop, I must believe first that I have the laptop then I will have it physically in my hands through a means God will provide. That is demonstration of faith in praying for our needs. This is of the heart or spirit. It is a deep assurance that indeed it is done. This will prevent you from praying about it again. Of course how can you pray for something you already are convinced has been done for you? You only give thanks to God that it is done for you. This will prevent you from worrying about it again. There will be peace in your heart because you have the assurance that it is done and are only waiting for its manifestation.

WHEN YE PRAY- PART II

Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus in his example spoke to the fig tree as if it were animate. He says we can do the same thing. He says, “ whosoever.”

The next thing is for us not to doubt in our hearts. See he did not say doubt in our minds. It means it is possible when you are acting out your faith your mind will be trying to discourage you that it will not work. It does not mean you doubt in your heart. Actually it is when you obey what your mind is trying to tell you that it becomes of the heart. There are a lot of times that even in praying for the sick the devil tries to stop me by reasoning with me in my mind that it will not work. I however go on to pray for the sick and they get healed. If I refrain as a result of what is going on in my mind then I doubt in my heart. There are times also that after acting out one’s faith one may show doubt in one’s actions and speech. This also is doubting in the heart. But Jesus said when we talk to the mountain we should not doubt in our hearts. We should hold on to our faith that indeed the mountain will move… but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

WHEN YE PRAY

Another area in which faith is required is prayer. When you mention prayer, every Christian seems to have an idea about it. We know about laying our petitions before God. We know we can ask God concerning the things we need. But the truth of the matter is that many Christians do not really believe God will answer their prayers. The worst group of people are those who are not really sure whether God hears them or not. And because of that many prayers go unanswered. As a result many Christians have lost faith in prayer. They pray just for praying sake but do not believe they will receive answers. How did I come to this conclusion?

 Many Christians forget they have asked God concerning their need. Though surprising, this is actually true. Think about it. How many times do believers keep asking God for a particular need because they forget they have already asked?  Why would you ask again for a need when you believe God heard you and answered you the first time you prayed? Those who believe God answered their prayer do not go to him over and over again for the same need. Honestly, if you really believe God heard and answered your prayer, you would have it in mind that it is done and not forget. These are signs of unbelief and will not get anything from God. Many people also, even when they finish praying continue to talk as if there is no hope. They continue to talk their fears even when they have prayed about them. They continue to look to themselves for solutions even when they have asked God for the solutions. But it must not be so.

KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE! - Part II

You may have missed: KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE! - Part I

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Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31,32[KJV]

I want you to see that in spite of the many doubters and scoffers in Jesus’ congregation when he made this profound statement, He was really addressing it to those who believed Him. He said to them, “Continue in my word... and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. We see from this passage that it is not enough just to believe in Jesus; but we also need to seek, study to know, and to continually abide in His words. A believer may still be in bondage if he does not know the relevant truths that have set Him free.

KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32[KJV]

Although many Bible versions render the above verse as, “the truth shall set you free,” to be set free is not exactly the same as to be made free. To be set free is the instance when that which kept a person in bondage was taken away: but it is possible for a person to still be in bondage in his mind, even when the yoke has already been removed because he does not know it. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hos. 4:6[KJV]

DO I BELIEVE, OR DO I BELIEVE NOT?

That is a question many people want an answer to. What does it really mean to have faith? Or better still, what is faith? Is there something that seems like faith but is not?

Now let me explain what faith is not so by it you can know the real faith. Faith is not mental agreement. It is beyond that. Just because you agree with your mind that something is possible does not mean you have faith concerning that very thing.

Faith is not mental assent. For example you seem to agree in your mind that “by His stripes we are healed”, Isaiah 53:5, but you are not really believing it in your heart.

PRAYER FOR ALL OUR PARTNERS

Those who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.

We also who are in Christ mandated to disciple all the nations, together with all the partners in this ministry who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, and have believed in him, have no doubt been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the mentors, we do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in our prayers.
We pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you all a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has
called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places. AMEN.

A WORD FOR YOUR DAY

The principles of faith, hope, and love are three great principles revealed to us in the Word. Hope is the picture you see afar off; the flicker of light on the horizon on which you fix your gaze. Many things may try to dissuade you from seeing the picture, but never let it go. It’s one thing to look at the picture far away; it’s another thing to take possession of it and bring it into the NOW of your life; that’s faith! Faith is when you take possession of the picture you see afar off through your confessions. The third of these principles is love, and according to the Bible, it’s the greatest of the three. The reason hope doesn’t disappoint is because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We function with God through love; without love your faith wouldn’t work. I love the way the Message Translation renders Colossians 3:14: 'And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Source: http://christembassy.org

You may also like to read: KNOW IT AND YOU ARE FREE
                                        DO I BELIEVE, OR DO I BELIEVE NOT?

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually.” - Isa_58:11

“The Lord shall guide thee.” Not an angel, but JEHOVAH shall guide thee. He said he would not go through the wilderness before his people, an angel should go before them to lead them in the way; but Moses said, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Christian, God has not left you in your earthly pilgrimage to an angel’s guidance: he himself leads the van. You may not see the cloudy, fiery pillar, but Jehovah will never forsake you. Notice the word shall-”The Lord shall guide thee.” How certain this makes it! How sure it is that God will not forsake us! His precious “shalls” and “wills” are better than men’s oaths. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Then observe the adverb continually. We are not merely to be guided sometimes, but we are to have a perpetual monitor; not occasionally to be left to our own understanding, and so to wander, but we are continually to hear the guiding voice of the Great Shepherd; and if we follow close at his heels, we shall not err, but be led by a right way to a city to dwell in. If you have to change your position in life; if you have to emigrate to distant shores; if it should happen that you are cast into poverty, or uplifted suddenly into a more responsible position than the one you now occupy; if you are thrown among strangers, or cast among foes, yet tremble not, for “the Lord shall guide thee continually.” There are no dilemmas out of which you shall not be delivered if you live near to God, and your heart be kept warm with holy love. He goes not amiss who goes in the company of God. Like Enoch, walk with God, and you cannot mistake your road. You have infallible wisdom to direct you, immutable love to comfort you, and eternal power to defend you. “Jehovah”-mark the word-”Jehovah shall guide thee continually.