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The Bible has not changed, the same things it took to mature and develop the saints of old, are the same things it takes to develop and mature the believer today. In order to be truly blessed of God, you have to be broken. By broken we mean your will, your attitudes about your self and toward others, etc, all has to go through God's "forming you in the image of Christ mechanism". Unfortunately many in the church today, don't understand what the best God has to offer really is, or how to obtain it (GOD KNOWS). In order for God to bestow upon us his richest blessings, salvation, spiritual growth, manifestation of the fruits of the spirit, We often will have to first go through some life situations we would prefer not to. Thus we often have to be broken in order to be blessed. As Christ tells us, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."Matt 21:44. I like anyone else in their right mind , don't want to suffer any discomfort in life, but as a believer the word tells me God does use trials in life to chastise, correct, to strengthen and mature us spiritually. Many believers today have pushed aside, the notion that enduring trails, is part of God's maturing process. Today the willingness to carry ones cross mindset has been exchanged for the pamper me mentality. |
When facing the many hardships of life, even those who trust God may often wonder why. Part of the reason, as to why there so much pain, suffering and trials in this life, is due to the curse of sin and death which came upon us all, because of the sin of Adam. Nevertheless, no matter how bad things may be, God always has a blessing plan for those who trust him. No one knows better than God, what situations and circumstances, needs to takes place in our lives, to bring forth our salvation and spiritual development. We all need God's help in order to first get to a point where we want to be saved and after salvation, grow to spiritual maturity. There are the many believers who have for years embraced the prosperity gospel, without obtaining the promised results. Some of them are now wondering, why they have not received, the money, healing, and change in situation, the minister told them, their faith, and faithful tithes and offerings, would bring. Some may wonder if perhaps they did not believe God properly, or perhaps God has failed them. The truth of the matter is, God is not going to do anything and everything we want him to. This does not mean that God has failed us; rather it simply means that God has A BETTER WAY. God often has to break us in order to bless us, especially when it comes to binding our sinful nature,and developing true spirituality and a prayer life in us. In order to obtain God's better way, we must humble ourselves, pray, and be set free from our sins. In order for these situations to develop in our lives, we often first have to be broken. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2ND Chrn 7:14. Today God is calling for men to humble themselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from their sins. IT STARTS WITH OUR PRAYERS. This is the answer to much of our personal and national problems.
THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF YOUR PRAYERS
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The power of prayer is not in prayer itself, the power of your prayers, resides in God almighty who is being prayed to. We cannot access powerful prayer by using "magic formulas." Our prayers being answered is not based on the eloquence of our prayers. We are told in order to receive a favorable response from God when we pray, there are certain things we must do. It takes things on our part, such as faith, humility, a real desire for change, and the truth on our part, etc. Our success in prayer does not mean we don't struggle with our inner feelings, (we do and will). James points to Elijah as a good example of one who prayed, and was heard of God, in spite of the fact that he had to deal with the some of the same emotional issues as we all do, (doubt, fear, depression, the loss of the will to live). 16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. James 5:16-17. Effective fervent prayer which accomplishes much is when we pray beyond ourselves. It is pressing beyond our limited human reasonings and our vulnerable emotional states to make a faith connection with God. It results in our perspective being altered to see things clearly and God's power being released to change things radically. |
We often have to go through some life situations we would prefer not to, in order to get to a point where we will humble ourselves, turn from our sins, and truthfully seek God in prayer. Thus we often have to be broken in order to be blessed.. David acknowledged this truth in his writings. 67Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 71It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:67&71. We need God's help to get to a point where we will desire to, first of all get saved, live right, love right, and mature in the spiritual realm, and fervently pray toward this goal. In this study we will examine the things God Does, to get us to adopt an attitude of prayer which lines up with his will. Once God can gets us to this level in our prayer life, this will in turn be reflected in our day to day life living. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2ND Chrn 7:14. Today God is calling for men to humble themselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from their sins. This is the answer to much of our personal and national problems.
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Our relationship with God is dependant on us being delivered from the things which are hindrances. As we said earlier, the same things which hinder our relationship with God are the same things which hinder our prayers. God often has to break us in order to bless us, especially to develop in us a real prayer life. Our prayers hold a very place in the heart of God. God is a God of love and mercy; He's also a God of holiness. When God brought the Hebrews out of Egypt, he sought to convey these truths to his people. One of the first things God did after bringing them out of Egypt was to set up a place where they could worship before him. God told Moses how he was to erect this place of worship; God also told him what items were to be placed in this tabernacle. One of the items God had Moses place in this place of worship, was the altar of incense. God told him that this was to be the one place where the incense, which represented the prayers of the people, was to be burned. 1And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. * 6And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. 7And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. Exod 30:1-10 |
IN HEAVEN OUR PRAYERS ARE PRECIOUS
ON EARTH THEY CAN SHAKE THINGS UP
The imagery of lightening and rumblings happening when the incense mixed with our prayers are cast down on the earth shows that prayer which comes before God in heaven affects things on the earth! Because of the fall of Adam in the garden, the Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this world. When tempting Christ he boasted that the things of this world, religion, finances, governments etc, were under his control. Satan is aware of the fact, that prayer affects things on this earth, (his domain). This is perhaps why he hated Job so much, as Satan boasted before God about his dominion on the earth (binding men in sinfulness), God pointed to Job. Job was one who continually prayed to God. Satan sought to destroy Job and his prayer life, as we know Job got the victory. Why does a Sovereign God use our prayers as a means to work in His Will? We don't fully know, but we do know prayer works. James tells us that honest fervent prayer, is very effective, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16. Oftentimes we can't pray a prayer that will shake things up, until we ourselves have been shaken up. The Bible tells us that there are certain things which can hinder our prayers. We list some of the most common actions which hinders prayer (compare below)
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