#63 “Understanding the Power of the God’s Word”

(The Word - Pt.1)

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

[Hebrews 4:12]

King James Version (KJV)  

Welcome to the next session “Understanding the Power of God’s Word.” Over the past months we’ve covered numerous topic by now we should have a clear understanding of what pray is and what our role is in prayer. Now we should know how to properly enter into God’s presence and what barriers will keep us from getting our prayers answered by God. All of this is necessary in order understand that we are God’s mediators here in the earth realm.  It’s very important for us not to have anything occurring in our lives that would hinder or block our prayers. It is equally important to understand the real power backing our prayer: God’s Word, the power in the Name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s start this session with “The Word.” We have spoken many times regarding prayer being our asking God to intervene into the affairs of earth. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,” We’re asking God to fulfill His plans and purposes here on earth and in the lives of mankind. In order to help you understand this better we’ve talked about:

       The importance of praying God’s Word

       Understanding who God is

       Understanding God’s Will

       Knowing God’s Promises

       Knowing Your Legal Authority in the Earth

 

Once we understand that we have been given dominion to rule over the earth; therefore, we should be able to move freely in our God given authority here on earth. We should not take this dominion for granted nor should we thank it is to be used for selfish gain or power. This authority was not given to us for personal gain but to be used for God’s glory.  It is because of man’s selfish greed that the earth is in the state it’s in now, but Christ came to restore the balance back into the hands of mankind.  When God created earth and mankind He created them to coexist harmoniously together each one meeting the needs or the other. However after the fall of man this hormonious rhythm was disrupted and through Christ Jesus mankind and creation now can once again function as God intended for the beginning. 

Then we understand who we are and our God given purpose, then God’s will; becomes the central driving force or all our prayers. It is only then that we can declare God’s predestined purpose for the earth and its inhabitants.  When we pray in accordance to God’s predestined purpose then there should be no doubt that we will receive an answer to prayer! Is there any wonder selfish prayers go unanswered? With the heart of God as the center of our prayers then God has free course to move in this earth realm and effect eternal change. This is why prayer is really so very simple, we just try and complicate it but it’s not. We simply say what God has said, when God say’s too.  So since God has already given us His word we just need to understand the proper handling of the Word. “Study to show yourself, approved unto God, a workman that need’s not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word Was God...” always keep in mind that it is God spoken Word that we pray, we are praying the very essence of God’s presence His spoken Word, which cannot return to Him empty!  It is the Word of God that reveals His true nature to mankind; He is not a liar what He says He will do. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19) It’s through God’s Word that we learn His true nature and then through our own experiences. We first take Him at His word, believing He will perform what He promised and He does. As we study the word of God, we study God. The more we learn about the more we trust His integrity.  

My Prayer: “Father God, thank You for the Word, which is a lamp unto our feet, and light unto our path, thank you for leading us into all truths. Thank you for your revelation knowledge the opens our eyes to Your truth. Thank You that as we study Your word daily we find deeper understanding of your truths keep us in your truth. We know that your word Lord God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Father know our hearts by your words we ask this in Jesus name we pray Amen!”

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#62 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Selfishness and Greed)

“If a man shuts his ears to the cries of the poor,

he too will cry out and not be answered.”

[Proverbs 21:13]

King James Version (KJV) 

This lessons topic is one that often strikes home more times than not; because, we are often so busy trying to survive that we don’t notice it.  I remember my mother telling me once that I had to realize that I could not feed the whole world. It seemed that I was always giving away food to people I knew that I felt needed it even as a young girl. Like me you’ve no doubt heard the old sayings, “My four and no more,” which refers to taking care of you and your immediate family only. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that love is born of God, and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)  Perhaps that’s why this was always a challenge for me; because, God had given me such a compassionate heart. I just couldn’t stand to see anyone suffer or go without. Sometimes, even to my own detriment; I can recall, giving someone money to pay a bill and not having enough to pay my own. 

It wasn’t until the Lord called me into the mission field that this thing of being unselfish really became a reality to me. I remember giving up everything I had or even owned, house, furnishings and even my car; to leave for a country I know nothing about, for a people I didn’t even know, with a language I couldn’t even speak. My family said you’re crazy what do you think you’re doing? You were not raised to live in poverty! How will you survive, how will you take care of yourself? The truth was they were right and I didn’t know what I was doing, all I knew was that God had called me and I had to go. “Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of, whether you would keep his commandments or not. He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don’t live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth. Your clothes didn’t wear out and your feet didn’t blister those forty years. You learned deep in your heart that God disciplines you in the same ways a father disciplines his child.”(Deuteronomy 8:1-5) I understood that there would be hard times and maybe some hungry nights but I couldn’t allow this to stop me from going where God had called me to be. 

Anyone that knows me can tell you that my greatest fear wasn’t what I was going to eat or where I was going to sleep, but rather how many bugs, spiders and snake I was going to encounter… yet not even that could stop me from giving up everything to follow the call of God.  I had to step out of my comfort zone in order to help someone else and even though I didn’t really know exactly that meant I did it anyway.  We as children of God must be willing to give whatever we have in order to reach the lost of Christ. We can’t be so consumed with our little lives that we can’t see the needs of others. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”(Philippines 2:4) It could be your neighbor down the street, a coworker, the person standing in the checkout line or even in the car next to you on the street. They all have lives and issues that are weighing heavy on their hearts but we’re too busy to see their needs for tending to our own. When we pray if our hearts are consumed with our own needs we want have time to be concern with the needs of others. Don’t get me wrong I know this is not an easy thing to do because we are all in stilled with a since of self-preservation, so naturally we will think of ourselves first. This is why God sent His Son to die for us, to teach us what it means to give up what is dear to us for the sake of others. 

God wants us to be compassionate and freely give of what we have, He even promised that when we do He Himself would see to it that it is given back to us, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”(Luke 6:38) So you see we’ll never lose by giving to other, because we in fact are giving it to God and He will repay. “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9) So what happens when we give to God? “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it all.” (Malachi 3:10) In the book of Hebrews 12:1 it tells us, “Let us throw off, and lay aside everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  It us up to us to lay aside the things that keeps us from entering into God’s presence and being able to pray effective prayers to the God of our salvation. 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You today for your countless blessings and we desire to be a blessing to others. We understand that we are often burdened by many things that can hinder our spiritual walk with you and affect us emotionally. It is not our desire to become entangled in yokes of bondage, but often times it happens anyway. These things keep us from being able to fellowship with you as we should. Help us to truly understand our relationship in Christ and who we are in Christ Jesus. We are willing to let go of every hindrance currently in our lives in order to live in the freedom of being you children.  We thank you for Your Son Jesus Christ who bore our burden and carried our sins and sorrows; by his strips we are healed and we have peace with you through His shed blood. Thank you for teaching us to give freely and completely just as you did by sending your Son to die for our sins. These things we ask in Jesus name Amen! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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#61 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Worshiping Idols of the Heart)

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and

Put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.

“Should I let them inquire of me at all?.”

[Ezek 14:3].”

King James Version (KJV) 

“They have set up idols in their hearts and set wicked stumbling blocks before their faces...” I know that most of us think that this passage is solely speaking of statues of gods that men worship; however, this is also referring to things we worship over God. Lets read this same passage from the Message Bible, “Son of Man, these people have installed idols in their hearts. They have embraced the wickedness that will ruin them. Why should I even bother with their prayers? Therefore tell them, ‘The Message of God, the Master: All in Israel who install idols in their hearts and embrace the wickedness that will ruin them and still have the gall to come to a prophet, be on notice: I, God, will step in and personally answer them as they come dragging along their mob of idols. I am ready to go to work on the hearts of the house of Israel, all of whom have left me for their idols.”

For many of us here in America we know nothing about worshiping idols, status in the form of some deity or animal. However although we may not bow to any graven images we still have idols we worship in our hearts sometimes they’re in the form of addictions to drugs, sex, pornography and maybe even alcohol. These addictions become the ruling forces in their lives, driving us to do all kinds of things just to satisfy the addictions. These idols can also take the form of people that we idolize and worship like celebrities, pop stars, actors and even men or women we fantasize about.  They consume our thoughts and hearts to the point that we don’t know whether they are real or imaginary. Whether they realize it or not this is idolatry.  

 

If we’re not careful these idols can become so woven into our imaginations, hearts and minds; that they occupy our affections and we hold them closely and cherished; our hearts have become the altars on which we worship these idols, the throne upon which we’ve positioned them.  We will even hold these idols in highest esteem, and give them the greatest honors even above God. “ Philippians 3:8; and so every carnal lust that is gratified and indulged is no other than an idol, or a dunghill god, set up in the heart”

This is why king David say, “I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way—O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.  I will set no base or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of them who turn aside from the right path; it shall not grasp hold of me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil person or thing.” We just like David must understand that God cannot be the Lord of our lives as long as there are idols possessing our hearts. One of the ten commandments which were given to the Israelites was, “You shall have no other gods before me...”[Exodus 20:3]

 

Nevertheless  many of us still prefer our own plans over the plans of God. We even have our own righteousness, or pathway to salvation. Jesus says that, “He is the way the truth and the life…” let us not have any other god ruling on the throne of our hearts but God almighty, let us keep our hearts pure and clean for Him to dwell therein. When we see that we are becoming too deeply involved in something, we should stop and reevaluate it and see if that thing is becoming something that will draw us away for God’s presence.

My Prayer; Heavenly Father, forgive us if we have allowed things or people to; become, idols in our lives without knowing it. Help us keep our focused on you and your plans and purposes for our lives. We renounce all other gods or idols which have become the object of our affection, or passion and our delight. Father we will have no other god ruling in our lives beside you. We will be like David and say that we will set no kind of evil before our eyes so keep us in your grace and mercy. These things we ask in Jesus name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#60 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Relationships Troubles)

“Husband, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives,

and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you

 of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

[Peter 3:7].”

King James Version (KJV)  

Most of women can no doubt quote this verse verbatim because it’s what husbands are instructed to do regarding their wives. I wonder how many of us can quote the proceeding verses which say, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.” You see this is a joint effort and no one partner can make up for what the other one is not doing.  “Respect,” in a marriage is paramount and can’t be substituted with gifts, money or fancy homes, cars and clothes. There are plenty of men and women with all the above but do not have respect of one another. What good are all these things if you are cheating on your mate, or disrespecting them in public and private? What good is it to have all these things and he want come home from the office until you are asleep?

Shattered relationships will hinder your prayers tremendously, why because if you can’t talk to your mate how in the world do you expect to talk to God? “And here’s a second offense: You fill the place of worship with your whining and sniveling because you don’t get what you want from God. Do you know why? Simple, Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your mate, and now you’ve broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant spouse. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does He want from marriage? Children of God, that’s what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse” [Malachi 2:3].  I know that we live in a society where divorce is common place, you can get a divorce for $49.99 when it cost in some cases $1000 – $10,000 just to get marriage. Yet we throw it away so cheaply and why; because, of irreconcilable differences that we never took to God to reconcile. 

I realize that for many women they did not have a choice in the matter; because, once that spouse gets it into their head to leave, nothing short of a miracle could’ve stopped them. So then what are we to do, continue to serve the Lord and let Him work it out? That’s the best thing to do and walk in love toward that mate. The apostle Peter admonished husbands to live together with their wives in understanding and keep the peace between you. Wives you are to respect and them as head of the household even if some are not saved, your behavior before God and how you respect them can be won to Christ. 

But marital distress if not the only family issue which can hinder our prayers, any relationship that is not function accordingly would have the same affect when it comes to our prayer lives.  Why is this? Because unforgiveness applies to everyone not just or spouses, but our children or brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers aunts and uncles…it applies to “Everybody”! “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow and anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever: He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”[Psalm 103:8-10]  This is the love of God demonstrated and He requires us to do the same demonstrate His love. Otherwise how can we expect Him to keep His promises to us when we want even obey His word? “If you can’t obey then you can’t pray, expecting to receive an answer for the Father.” And please don’t go to God asking Him to, “fix my mate!” Start with yourself first! Now I don’t mean this if you are in an abusive relationship; because your prayer should be lord get me to a safe place! Then pray for the Father to save that man or woman and deliver them from the spirit of rage and abuse.

 

But if you and your spouse have had an argument about some little non-sensible thing; and now you are not talking to him or her… ask God to help fix before, before you spend the next two hours praying for their deliverance. Have you ever heard the phrase “it takes two to tango,” then just tango back in there and apologize and then go pray! Some of the issues that couples come to counseling for is a simple case of disrespect on both parts. When you love someone, even if you disagree you will not be content until you find a happy solution together where both can be happy. It’s not a battle of the wills. You are a team and teams work together, so learn to work in perfect harmony with each other based on the word of God. “if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” So what is God saying, “STAY AT HOME AND BE RECONCILED,” than come and worship and praise the Lord! But then He adds “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, leave at peace with everyone.” Sometimes you have done all you know to do and that person still wants to hold a grudge the you have done your part…if the situation gets too out of hand the called the elders of the church to help mediate. We cannot make anyone walk in the love of God it has to be a choice of theirs. Just make sure that you’ve done all you know to do.

My Prayer” You are such a Wonderful Counselor and a Prince of peace, Lord God we pray for relationship and ask you to heal the broken and severed relationship among you people. Knit their hearts together with Your unfailing love.  Help them to be reconciled one with another; tear down all walls of division which separates them and cause them to demonstrate you Love and Grace, and forgiveness. These things we ask in Jesus name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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#59 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Being Unwilling to Forgive)

 

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against

 anyone,  forgive him, so that your Father in heaven

 may forgive you your sins.”.”

[Mark 11: 25].”

King James Version (KJV)

 

Unforgiveness is another crippling barrier to your prayers being answered; because it interrupts the flow of communication between you and the Father and others.  Just like bitterness it never hurts the people you are upset with, more than it does the one who’s unwilling to forgive.  Someone said that holding unforgiveness is much like drinking deadly poison and expecting the other person to die. The interesting thing about unforgiveness and root of bitterness is that they can be hidden beneath the surface and go undetected until we are confronted with something that triggers the emotion to resurface. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." Beloved, don't try to give God your gifts when you know that you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart, it just want work, leave your gift at the altar and go be reconciled with that person. 

 

I recall having dealt with unforgiveness for many years but did not know that it was unforgiveness. I just thought that I did not like the person; whenever, someone mentioned their name, this deep disgusting feeling would come over me.  It wasn’t until I had gone into the mission field full-time that the Lord told me, that He need me to forgive the person that I was holding unforgiveness towards. I knew that I didn’t like the person but they were also dead and for me I thought that settled the matter. However the Lord told me that unless I was willing to release them, I could never go where He needed me to go! Need I say that was all I needed to hear I said, “Okay Lord what do I need to do?” “But if you will not forgive the children of men, neither has your Father forgiven you your faults.”

 

One of the first things that we must do is, be willing to release the person or people who have offend us, be willing to let it go! You can’t hold onto those old hurts and not allow the Lord to heal your heart for the offense. One of the biggest offenses is, one from a spouse who betrayed you or cheated on you. Divorce is a major cause of unforgiveness. How can I let him or her go when they have wounded me so deeply? This is a big issue, because divorce is like someone ripping apart to items, which have been welded or interwoven together. It is impossible to do so without ripping out a part of the other item as well.  This person has access to every intimate thing about your life and when they go they take a major portion of you with them! So how can you forgive them? "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

 

Well here’s what you must do, you must love their soul enough to release it! My ex-husband and I were married for 18 years and his leaving left me feeling rejected, defective and broken, not to mention the embarrassment. I felt as though something was terribly wrong with me; because, he didn’t love me as much as I loved him. It took many year for me to regain my confidence; because I thought I knew him; but found out that I only knew that part he allowed me to know.  The truth of the matter is this, only God can completely know a person, we can only know them in part. I felt that because I was willing to love him beyond his faults he should have been willing to do the same. This greatly affected my future relationships going forward; because, I had a very low tolerance for anyone who had some of the same faults and hang-up that he had.  I just wasn’t willing to over look these issues again in another person, after all what did it get me before? But I had to rememberthat, "above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of faults,"

 

This was unforgiveness and not matter how I tried to make it be something else it just was what it was…”UNFORGIVENESS,” and I had to let it go. And I did!!! But that doesn’t mean that it want still resurface for time to time, when it does I just remind myself I have been set free from that unforgiveness.  Now my ex-husband and I are great friends and whenever we have an occasion to get together we sit and talk for hours getting caught up.  Beloved this is when you know that you have overcome unforgiveness, when you can walk in love towards the person(s) who hurt you.

 

My Prayer: Gracious Father thanks you for this day and for your many blessings. We acknowledge Your bountiful blessings and loving-kindness. Thank you for forgiving us of our offenses and helping us to do the same. Father we realize that if we do not forgive others you will not forgive us of our sins. We release those who have hurt us and caused us pain in the past and present. We thank you for giving us the strength to release them and love them through your unfailing love. We give you praise for all that you’re doing in and through us in Jesus name Amen!

 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!

 

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#58 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Living with Bitterness)

 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,

the Lord will not hear me.”

[Ps. 66:18].”

King James Version (KJV)  

Bitterness, what exactly is bitterness?  “Bitterness is resentment: a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will towards someone.” Bitterness is extreme enmity, grudge, hatred; or rather an excessive degree of passions and emotions; as the bitterness of anger; sharpness; severity of temper, biting sarcasm, distress of mind” 

So what then is “A root of bitterness?” Let’s look at a natural root in order for a root to spring up it has to first come from a seed. Once the seed is planted it has to be watered, otherwise it will not be able to grow. So how then does a root of bitterness grow inside of us? It starts with the seed of offense. Someone says something about you or to you that wounds you, that’s the seed. Next comes the watering of the seed, this can comes by way of self-pity, multiple offenses or via an instigators, someone who keeps stirring up the matter. When we sit back and start feeling sorry for ourselves and thinking, “Then should not have done that to me,” or “They hurt my feelings.” When you continue to dwell on the matter without giving it to the Lord and releasing it then it starts to take root within your heart. Now that root of bitterness is growing in you and unless you repent and release it this plant will continue to grow. 

Let’s look at some seeds of bitterness:

~ Being rejected can cause a root of bitterness to spring up..

~ Being denied (being denied something you deeply desire like a job position by a boss or church head.

~ Being betrayed (someone you love or admire betrays you and you lose trust in them; it could be a friend, spouse, relative or Co-worker, even a supervisor)

~ Being belittled (Someone who said something cruel making you feel small or embarrassed, before other people that was   inappropriate)

~ Dwelling on bad experiences. (Many people have difficulty letting go of past experiences divorce, break-up with boy/girl friend, many things happen to some people that they struggle to forget or overcome)

Any or all of these things if not attended to can cause a root of bitterness to spring up and produce fruit of bitterness. Bitterness is a deadly thin especially when it comes to our prayer life. Bitterness is in fact a hidden hatred against someone, which you are unwilling to forgive; however holding unforgiveness never hurts the other person only the one holding the grudge. Holding bitterness will consume your life and goes to the very core of your heart and begins to wither the person mentally and socially as well as physically. Think of the root of bitterness like a creeping vine, you know the kind that just appears out of nowhere and within a very short time have taken over the whole area. This is how bitterness acts in ones heart; it can quickly overshadow your whole life if left unattended. 

So what affect does bitterness have on our prayer life?  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalms 66:18) here the word likens bitterness to iniquity and God hates iniquity. Hebrews 1:9 says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity,” this translation of iniquity means the something as lawlessness or committing a crime or breaking the law. It can also be related to secret sin because it is something you can’t see like jealousy, enviousness or covetousness.  If you see someone and instead of admiring the clothes they are wearing you are really envious of them.  Or when you hug someone and tell them that you love them, but you really despise them, this is called iniquity.  

 

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to, cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15) It’s important to guard against the sin of bitterness and iniquity so you can enter the presence of God freely. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32) 

My Prayer: Lord we thank you for your word which helps us to understand you law, that we can walk in them. We ask you to help us to release all anger and hurt so that there will be no root of bitterness in our lives. We forgive those who have hurt, rejected, denied and offended us in the past or present and we let them go in Jesus name. Thank you for healing us for every wounded heart and restoring us in your love. These things we ask in Jesus name Amen!! 

 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#57 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Having Wrong Motives) 

“When you ask, you do not receive,

because you ask with wrong motives[“ask amiss”],

that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

James 4:3

New King James Version (MSG) 

When you ask you ask with wrong motives…this is another major barrier to answered prayer; having the wrong reason for asking for something will get you absolutely nothing for God. What does it mean by wrong motives? Let’s say you’re asking God to let you win a million dollars, but you have no intentions of honoring Him with the money but you want to buy big fancy car, home expensive clothes and lots of other things you can’t presently afford. This is what is meant by wrong motives that you may spend what you receive on yourself.  

Lord I need a better job so I can buy better things for myself and my children. Lord I want to be rich, but you only want people to look at you as some big shot. This is called wanting to promote your own agenda. This is why you do not receive what you ask for; because God know the heart and He knows what we truly need. “Your father knows what you have need of before you ask Him.” [Matt. 6:8]. When we pray our desire should be on pleasing God and doing the work of the Kingdom by sharing the gospel to all mankind.  It’s called getting our priorities right, then we’ll have no trouble getting the things we need for our daily living. 

 

The Lord told us not to worry about tomorrow, “Do not worry, saying “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For the heathens run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  This is why we should search our hearts prior to asking God for things, outside of our daily needs. Does this mean we should not ask God for the things we need? No, it does not mean that;  as you recall in the Lord’s Prayer  it says, “Gives us this day our daily bread.”  So it could not be talking about that. But asking for things you do not need or better yet are not ready for is what it’s talking about. You may ask God for a Mercedes Benz but you are not working and do not have a house, garage or funds to put insurance on the car or even pay for repair if needed… so why then would He give it to you?  This blessing would only bring hardship, because when you have a high dollar car you need high dollars to maintain that car. 

 

Lord I want a Lea jet or my own private plane! Can you afford to the jet fuel, monthly hanger fees or to pay a trained pilot? No? Then God want give you the jet! Keep this in mind, “The blessings of the Lord makes rich and adds not sorrow to it.” If what you are asking for will not make you rich (prosperous, happy, and productive) then they will add sorrow and these are not the blessings of the Lord.  So when you pray check to make sure your motives are in order. If you find that you have the wrong intentions then start by repenting. Remember, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (Phil. 2:13) 

 

My Prayer: Lord God we thank you for providing for our every need, thank You for being the God that provides for us. Help us to know our own hearts and the reasons for what we are asking you for. Forgive us for those times when we asked You for things that were not according to your perfect will and purpose for our lives. We trust You Lord God and know that you know what is best for us and that would not give us anything that would harm us or cause us to fall. Thank You for keeping us in your perfect will and grace. These things we ask in your son Jesus Christ name Amen! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#56 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Doubt and Unbelief) 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives

generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him,

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,

Because he who doubts is like a wave of the,

sea blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

James 1:5-8
The Message (MSG) 

As you will remember we’ve covered this topic however, it still warrants mentioning because sometimes we will be operating in doubt and unbelief and not be aware of it. How is that possible? It becomes possible when we pray and ask God to work a situation out and now sooner that you leave His presence you are speaking contrary to your prayer. “Well I prayed and asked God to fix this situation; I sure hope He’ll do it.” If you have ask God to handle something for you then there is no, “I hope He will do it” He has already promised to do it, when you ask in faith according to His will. 

Let’s take a look at doubt in action, “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Once Peter ask the Lord to bid Him to come to Him Peter in faith stepped out of the boat, but once things started getting rough and even dangerous looking Peter started to give in to his fears and began to sink.  This is often the case with us, we believe God once He gives us the assurance He will work things out for us, but as soon as thing get worse instead of better we quickly start to doubt that He is going to bring us out. Jesus’ taken Peter by the hand said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” WHY DID YOU DOUBT? Those are some powerful words, yet ones we should keep in mind when we’re faced with another situation that only God can solve for us.  

 

There are two examples of doubt and unbelief that we’ve read about in the New Testament.  Let’s look at the case of unbelief that is accompanied with doubt but with a longing to believe. Remember the story of the father who brought his son to the disciples to heal him, but they could not. When Jesus showed up the man said, “I brought my son to your disciples but they could not heal him” Jesus ask the man, “do you believe I can heal your son.” The man said Lord, “I believe; help thou my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)  Because the man’s son was possessed with an evil spirit Jesus had mercy on him and healed his son.  Then there is unbelief that comes in the form of being inflexible, hard-hearted simply refusing to believe; “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12) this kind of unbelief will not keep you from receiving the promises of God, but it will get you in trouble with God Himself causing God’s righteous anger and swift judgment to come upon you. 

What is a good example of believing God for what we have prayed for? What if you are believing God for a car, then why not go out and purchase a specialized license plate giving God thanks for you care, to put on once you have your car. Perhaps you are believing God for a family member to get saved; then go and purchase a bible and have their name engraved on it. This is how faith works it believes even before it sees what it is believing for. This is why the scripture says, “Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without doubting.” (vv. 5-6) by now God’s repartition should warrant your trust and confidence, that whatever you have asked of Him He will do it.  

My Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for your word which never returns to you void, but accomplishes exactly what you send it to do. Thank you for giving us faith to stand on your word and believe no matter what things look like or what happens. We trust your word and we know that you are able to perform just what you have said. Just like the father in Mark 9:24 for those of us that are having trouble believing we ask you to help their unbelief and bring them into full faith in your word and promises. These things we ask in Your Son Jesus Christ’ name Amen! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#55 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Dealing with Inferiority) [Pt.2] 

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest

with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers.

We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.

He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it

all—all but the sin.

So let’s walk right up to Him and get what he is

so ready to give. Take the mercy,

accept the help.

Hebrews 4:16

The Message (MSG)

Although we as children of God love His word, we sometimes come across passages of scriptures that speaks so deeply to us that they become our favorites. Sometime a whole chapter can become our favorite chapter or book even. For me the book of Psalms and the book of 1 and 2 John (The Love Chapters) I like to call them. But this doesn’t take away for the entire bible which I read completely each year thanks to the One Year Bible and 1 YearDaily Audio Bible.com . My church started reading the One Year Bible back in 2004 as a whole congregation.  My church book purchased enough of them for everyone to have a copy, sometimes the pastor would even teach Wednesday night service from the daily reading. However, sometimes during my busy schedule I would get behind in my reading and would have a hard time catching up. Then I found the Daily Audio Bible with Brian Hardin reading each day from the One Year Bible ( http://feeds2.feedburner.com./dailyaudiobible )  now I have not difficult keeping up. This year marks my sixth year reading with Brian and the daily audio bible community.  Now I look forward to reading the entire bible each year.

Well that was an interesting rabbit trail; no doubt it was needed, because it was totally off the subject for tonight. In our last lesson we started discussing about “Dealing with Inferiority” and tonight we will concluded that lesson. I can remember dealing with inferiority as a child and in my early adult life. The interesting thing about it was I had no reason what so ever to feel inferior to anyone; because God had from my childhood anointed me and blessed me with such favor.  Even as a child I walked in the blessings of God and didn’t even know what it was. Prosperity seemed to follow me where ever I went. I could be walking home from school and look down and find a $20 dollar bill.  Once I found a string of money, it was like somebody had a hole in their pocket and with every step, money fell some coins and some bills. I thought I for going to be rich, I found so much money, although it was only $50 dollars I felt rich.  

But in spite of this favor that was upon my life I still felt unlike, unwanted and rejected in school, church and sometimes even at home. I have counseled some of the most incredibly beautiful women who struggle with feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. So it not all about whether or not you’re beautiful or not, rich or poor it has everything to do with how you see yourself. It’s about your attitude! How you see yourself determines how you feel about yourself. And when we don’t feel suitable, acceptable, loved or smart we find it difficult approaching people. The same thing is true with God when we feel unworthy or unacceptable we are afraid to approach Him. This is why Jesus told us to come boldly unto the thrown of grace because there’s “GRACE” there for us.  Nothing that we’ve done or thought or even said will separate us from the love of God. However, when we don’t know or believe this then the enemy uses it against us. This is what is meant by the verse, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint. Proverbs 29:18

When we don’t approach God as though we know we belong to Him, I sure He is sitting there wonder what is wrong with is. Don’t they know that they are ma beloved child and that I love them with an everlasting love? Don’t they know that it is my pleasure to give them everything that pertains to life and Godliness? Don’t they know that I give my Son in order to pay sin’s price that was over their heads? When we pray as though we belong to God, then all of heaven is activated to what we are saying, the angels stand posed to take off and do what we say! “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 

Just keep in mind that although we say we are servants of God, the truth is we are not servants but rather children of God. Just as the prodigal son who wanted to return to his father’s house as a servant could not, neither can we. We are heirs of God joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are the Kings Kids! Amen!!! So hold your head up high and walk erect and boldly you have nothing to fear, or dread. 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day and for your mercy and grace which compasses us round about like a shield. Thank you for your watchful eye watching over us day and night. We thank you that you are the author and finisher of our faith and You hold the keys to our future in the palm of your hand.  We thank you for the right to be called a child of God, not by anything I’ve done but only by the precious blood of Jesus.  Father we thank you for making us in Your image and after your likeness, therefore we know that we are beautiful just as You are! We will not allow anything or anyone to cause us to doubt that You have loved us with an everlasting love.  We will not allow doubt and inferiority to stop us from being and doing what You have called us to do. We will come boldly to your thrown room and make our request know unto you. Thank You for Your many blessings in Jesus name Amen!!! 

 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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#54 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Dealing with Inferiority) [Pt.1]

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

“come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may

 receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.”

Hebrews 16

The Message (MSG) 

Many of us have at sometime in our lives have dealt with feelings of inferiority; whether, it was as a child or an adult. This is often hard to deal with; but in Christ, we have been given this calm assurance, “So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. We don’t have to worry ourselves that we aren’t good enough to ask anything of God, because He has made us righteous through the blood of Jesus. Those days of feeling that we or less than or the redheaded step child are over; because, we have been adopted into the family of God.  Our low self-esteem does not come from God, but for the enemy. Once we know and understand how much God truly loves us, we should know that anytime we need Him, we can freely go to Him in prayer and He will answer us.   

This is why I love the book of “Song of Solomon” it tells the story of a beautiful young Shulamite girl, that the king falls in love with. To him she is stunning and amazingly beautiful, but she thinks she is unattractive in comparison to the women of Jerusalem. “[Please] do not look at me, [she said, for] I am swarthy. [I have worked out] in the sun and it has left its mark upon me. My stepbrothers were angry with me, and they made me keeper of the vineyards. They made me care for the face of the earth, but I had no time to care for my own face.” She however,  still longed to be love by him and soon realizes that his love for her went deeper than the surface of her skin.  We too must realize that God’s love goes deeper that what we look like on the outside or feel like on the inside.  The prophet Jeremiah had a similar argument because he too felt he was not adequately suited to approach God, but this is what God told him, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.” But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me! I don’t know anything; I’m only a boy!” There is no objection suitable to offer the God who formed you and shaped you in your mother’s womb. What do you think you can tell him about yourself that He doesn’t already know?

What would God say to your remarks? “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” We have to understand and believe that we are chosen in Christ and have been long before the earth was created.  Please know that any low self-esteem is not from God and in fact is really self-hatred. This is why we find ourselves trying to alter the way we look with face lifts, quick weaves, liposuction and radical weight loss programs.  If we truly believe that God loves us then we have to know that He loves us regardless to our outward appearances. How do I know that? Let’s read what God says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So what does your heart, look like to God? Then that’s what you must be concerned with.

I often tell people this, “What right do you have to hate or dislike something that God loves?”  “What right do you have to say to God you made a mistake and made me ugly?”  We don’t have a right to and that’s the truth! This is why God has given us the Holy Spirit, because once He comes into our hearts He opens up our eyes to see just how. “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know everyone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day."

You are an amazing work of art and you have no need to feel insecure, inadequate, inferior, or anything other than the beloved of the Lord.  I realize that there are many things in this world, which will try and make you think and feel that there is something wrong with you. In school other children will reject you and make fun of you. As an adult we all long to marry and have a family but when this doesn’t happen within the time frame we have set then we began to wonder what’s wrong with me that no one wants to marry me?  Hear me when I say, there is nothing wrong with you, but rather the people making you feel rejected. This is also a scheme of the enemy to break us down and make us doubt God’s love for us, that way he can keep us from having a true relationship with the Father.  

My Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for you loving-kindness and mercy. Thank You that you have loved us with an everlasting love and have given us everything that pertains to life and godliness. Thank You for making us in Your express image and likeness. Holy Spirit, teach us to know and understand that the father truly loves us and that He has a marvelous plan for each of our lives. Thank you for showing us the everlasting love of the Father and for allowing us to see ourselves as He sees us, “Marvelously and fearfully made," by Him. Open our eyes to see ourselves as the Father sees us and to love ourselves as we are “Loved by the Father”. Father God, heal the hearts of those who have been lied to by the world and Satan and made to think that they are worthless and unwanted. Draw them closer to You so they will know and feel you unsearchable love towards them. We ask these things in Jesus Christ name Amen! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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