Good Morning,
Let's talk about prayer and our authority and privilege to do so. We discussed last week about praying/communicating especially during the times of testing and trials. How important it is for us to keep coming near to God in worship through our prayer life in times of hardships. We must make our requests known to God. Philippians 4:6-7; "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Supplication and requests means need; wants; petition; a seeking, asking; to voice ones petitions; asking for the action desired. As we pray we make our request, then we must also resist the enemy, remember the goodness of God in times past. Then we must offer up thanksgiving and rejoice by faith that He never changes, His plan is always for our good. "Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:6-10) Withstand is to make an effort to oppose; to resist with force, to exert oneself to counteract; to strive against the enemy. Remember James 4:7 says; "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
As we continue to pray, we must resist the lies of the wicked one. The Word of God tells us that he is a liar, and that there is no truth in him. He is always trying to get us to doubt God and to believe his lies. God is working on turning every situation around that we have asked for in prayer that lines up with His Word. He requires us to resist the lies of the devil, as we continue to communicate our needs and wants, and stand and see the salvation of The Lord. Let's read James 5:15-16; "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess 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." When we pray according to the Word of God and in the name of Jesus, we are praying a prayer of faith. Effectual means to be operative; to be at work serious heartfelt continued until enough power is availed to get results; to put forth power; to show forth oneself in adequate, operative power to produce the intended effect. Fervent means to be intense or to extreme degrees; showing great intensity of spirit, feeling; to be hot, burning, glowing with passion. Do you pray like that? Is your prayer-life on fire and glowing? We will see that we actually do have the power or the ability to be this intense, but we usually do not stir ourselves up to the degree needed unless motivated. Let's be motivated in order to see results of answered prayer!
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 