My understanding of Prayer

In times like this, when so much is happening in the world, as Christians we respond in prayer because we understand that if we do not look to God, no other person or thing will save us. Most of the time we are locked up in our prayer rooms, churches or homes and it is because we are driven to seek God. Prayer is beautiful. It gives us a rare opportunity to talk to our heavenly Father, and we not only speak but we also listen to Him talk to us. Every person has their own unique way in which they communicate to the Father. Prayer is so necessary in our lives that when we stop praying, we cut links with our Father. In the physical or natural, when you stop communicating to someone you know, it is because the person is either dead or no longer a part of your life. This is the same thing with God. When we claim to know God then we must be in constant communication with Him. When we stop the communication flow, it is either because He is dead to us or He is no longer a part of our lives. In essence we are without God. Everything divine is perceived or received in a divine way. Prayer is one of the tools that aids in this process. So then, do we know how to pray?

Paul says in Philippians 4:6 that we should not be anxious for anything but, in everything, through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving..... This is where the catch is. He reckons that we have needs, we get anxious about things and needs and so there is something we can do about everything. But before we make the requests known, there must be prayer (communication), supplication (humbly or earnestly ask) and thanksgiving (being grateful). In our prayers, there is so little of thanksgiving yet so much of asking. We do a lot of asking and so while we are busy asking, we forget to listen. And when we cannot listen to the person we are talking to, we can never understand his worth, his importance and his ability to provide. In other words, we turn him into our errand boy. Our work is to give instructions and expect him to get to work. Once we are done giving instructions, our time is up and off we go and wait for the work to be done. And we dare wonder why our prayers are not being answered. Have you tried worshiping and giving adoration to the God who is able? Have you tried thanking Him for the supplication you made? Why are your prayers not being answered? Change the way you pray. Paul also told the Ephesians about making supplications for others. (Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,). It is also time we stopped being selfish and start interceding for others. 

One time David said in Psalm 66: 17 that he cried our to God with a loud voice and praise was on his tongue. I believe that when God is worshiped for who He is, when we please God with our praises, when we show Him that we acknowledge who He is, our prayers will be effective. This is a part that we always just don't apply in our prayers and when we do it takes 5% of that time. Most of the time we assume worship is only done when through songs and during worship time in church. So when we get moved to pray we are energized to take needs to God after all, 'haven't I worshiped him, its time he got to know what I need' forgetting that He knows all our needs even before we ask. Where is our service to God? When we touch God with our worship, He will touch our lives and when He touches us nothing will be left the same. (Psalm 50:14-15 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”). 

Many people walk in sin but rush to God when they need Him. We need cleansing before we can expect to receive from God. We need to be obedient to Him. I have not heard of a parent who will reward his/her child for being rebellious and disobedient. We take God so casually and expect Him to give freely. The bible says that the prayers or a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). Be righteous, walk in holiness then go before God and see what happens. 

Another thing I have noticed is that many of us spend so much time on the devil in our prayers. We take 70% of that prayer time dealing with the devil. We end up mentioning him more times than we do God. The bible tells us to fight the devil and yes it is important that we make warfare every time in our prayers. But when this takes all our time, then the devil feels like he has won our attention. It is the same thing with terrorists. they do what they do so that people can stop everything and focus on them. The bible says that at the mention of the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:10). It means every time Jesus in mentioned in our prayers every power of darkness is weakened and Jesus keeps winning the war for us. It is important to undertake warfare in prayer but let God be supreme all through.When we worship God and thank Him for the 70% then the remaining 30% we do warfare and supplication I believe our prayer life will be transformed radically.

Mathew Henry has done a commentary on the Lord's prayer that Jesus taught his disciples  and I would like to share with you. 

Understanding the Lords Prayer - Mathew Henry's Commentary
The petitions, and those are six; the three first relating more immediately to God and his honour, the three last to our own concerns, both temporal and spiritual; as in the ten commandments, the four first teach us our duty toward God, and the last six our duty toward our neighbour. The method of this prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then to hope that other things shall be added.

1. Hallowed be thy name. It is the same word that in other places is translated sanctified. But here the old word hallowed is retained, only because people were used to it in the Lord's prayer. In these words, (1.) We give glory to God; it may be taken not as a petition, but as an adoration; as that, the Lord be magnified, or glorified, for God's holiness is the greatness and glory of all his perfections. We must begin our prayers with praising God, and it is very fit he should be first served, and that we should give glory to God, before we expect to receive mercy and grace from him. Let him have praise of his perfections, and then let us have the benefit of them. (2.) We fix our end, and it is the right end to be aimed at, and ought to be our chief and ultimate end in all our petitions, that God may be glorified; all our other requests must be in subordination to this, and in pursuance of it. "Father, glorify thyself in giving me my daily bread and pardoning my sins," &c. Since all is of him and through him, all must be to him and for him. In prayer our thoughts and affections should be carried out most to the glory of God. The Pharisees made their own name the chief end of their prayers (Mt 6:5, to be seen of men), in opposition to which we are directed to make the name of God our chief end; let all our petitions centre in this and be regulated by it. "Do so and so for me, for the glory of thy name, and as far as is for the glory of it." (3.) We desire and pray that the name of God, that is, God himself, in all that whereby he has made himself known, may be sanctified and glorified both by us and others, and especially by himself. "Father, let thy name be glorified as a Father, and a Father in heaven; glorify thy goodness and thy highness, thy majesty and mercy. Let thy name be sanctified, for it is a holy name; no matter what becomes of our polluted names, but, Lord, what wilt thou do to thy great name?" When we pray that God's name may be glorified, [1.] We make a virtue of necessity; for God will sanctify his own name, whether we desire it or not; I will be exalted among the heathen, Ps 46:10. [2.] We ask for that which we are sure shall be granted; for when our Saviour prayed, Father glorify thy name, it was immediately answered, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Source: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume V (Matthew to John)

Sweet Spirit Sweep Over my Soul!

I have been doing a study of Romans chapter 8 and this chapter has just been speaking deeply to my spirit. Paul seeks to explain true meaning of living in the Spirit in this chapter. I was reading it again this morning and I could actually imagine how Paul's heart was as he wrote this words with so much conviction. Many of us believers have just focused on the speaking in tongues bit as being the true manifestation of living in the Spirit. We have not truly understood the power that comes from living in the Spirit. It totally separates us from our fleshly beings and we transform totally into spiritual beings. The Spirit of God is the only one who helps us to overcome the flesh. Everything about us is now determined by the Spirit within us. A preacher once said that even for us to be ruptured, we will need to be empowered by the Spirit and Paul says in Corinthians 15:52 that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. That is why he says even in this chapter that the Spirit is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and it is the same power within us. Let us go through this together.

Romans 8

New King James Version (NKJV)

Free from Indwelling Sin

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Paul boldly states that now there if therefore no condemnation but only for those that are in Christ Jesus and not just being in Christ Jesus but there is also a condition to it. Who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Did you know that the Holy Spirit was not just given for us to be able to speak in different tongues but to free us from condemnation? We are free from sin when we walk in the spirit. In the spirit we are free from death, that means that when we walk in the flesh, our outlook being shaped by the flesh, we are just the walking dead carrying death upon us. We can only be free when we ask God to give us the Holy Spirit and he says in Luke 11:13 that how much more will He give the holy spirit to them that ask. It is beautiful to also learn that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power living within us that will also quicken our mortal bodies. Can you take a moment on reflect on this.

Sonship Through the Spirit

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

The beautiful Spirit of the living God not just frees us from condemnation and death, He also makes us sons of God. Being sons we are made heirs which means we have an inheritance and not just heirs but joint heirs with Christ. It means we share everything that Christ has as sons and daughters of God. The same power that is in Christ Jesus is the same power we can now enjoy. We can therefore worry less about the things of this world because we have a greater inheritance. Desire to be a son of God, desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As many as are led by the Spirit, this are the sons of God.

From Suffering to Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to Hispurpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to beconformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Paul was writing to a tried and afflicted people, and one of his objects was to remind them of the rivers of comfort which were flowing near at hand. He first of all stirred up their pure minds by way of remembrance as to their sonship,—for he said "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." They were, therefore, encouraged to take part and lot with Christ, the elder brother, with whom they had become joint heirs; and they were exhorted to suffer with him, that they might afterwards be glorified with him. All that they endured came from a Father's hand, and this should comfort them. A thousand sources of joy are opened in that one blessing of adoption. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have been begotten into the family of grace.

When Paul had alluded to that consoling subject he turned to the next ground of comfort—namely, that we are to be sustained under present trial by hope. There is an amazing glory in reserve for us, and though as yet we cannot enter upon it, but in harmony with the whole creation must continue to groan and travail, yet the hope itself should minister strength to us, and enable us patiently to bear "these light afflictions, which are but for a moment." This also is a truth full of sacred refreshment: hope sees a crown in reserve, mansions in readiness, and Jesus himself preparing a place for us, and by the rapturous sight she sustains the soul under the sorrows of the hour. Hope is the grand anchor by whose means we ride out the present storm.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”[c]

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Beautiful words indeed. To realize that God could not even spare His own son just for us and getting to understand that there is so much more that He can give freely. We notice first the idea of sparing. When people are rescued from an almost certain doom at the last second, we say that they have been spared a disaster that was about to befall them. When we read such language in Romans 8, how can we not think back to Genesis 22, where God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac, the son whom he loved, on the altar at Mount Moriah? In obedience Abraham took his son on an arduous journey and placed him on the altar, bound in ropes, and he lifted up the knife to slay him, but at the last second God stopped him: "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him" (Genesis 22:12). God commanded Abraham to spare his son. It was on Mount Moriah, later named Mount Calvary, just outside the city of Jerusalem, where, one thousand years after Abraham's experience, our Savior on the night before His death went into the garden of Gethsemane and sweat drops of blood pleading with the Father to allow the cup to pass from him. "Nevertheless," Jesus said, "not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14:36). In that moment of the grand passion of Christ, the Father said no. The Father would not spare His Son. 

How can we not understand the posture of God toward His people after He has gone to such lengths to effect our redemption? God spared nothing, not even His Son, so that we might be saved. Therefore, Paul says, "He delivered Him up for us all." I don't believe for a moment that God did this for all mankind. God gave His Son to redeem His elect, those who are a part of the Golden Chain. 

Today, it is my prayer, that you will desire and pray for the in filling of the Holy Spirit. If you had been filled with the Spirit before but never truly understood what you carried inside you, there is a chance to be filled afresh. Speak Romans 8 in your life everyday. Claim the power by walking in the Spirit. Ask God to fill you every day, every hour, every moment. Walk in the Spirit. Say this prayer and begin to walk in the Spirit.

My Heavenly Father,

I am a believer. I am your child and you are my Father, Jesus is my Lord. I believe with all my heart your word is true.

Your Word says that if I will ask I will receive the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, I am asking you to fill me to overflowing with your precious Holy Spirit. Jesus Baptize me in the Holy Spirit, Because of Your Word, I believe that I now receive and I thank you for it. I believe that the Holy Spirit is within me and by Faith I accept it.

Now Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise my God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me the utterance. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Thank God and Praise him for Baptizing you in the Holy Spirit. From this Moment on you are a Spirit Filled Baptized Believer.

The trumpet is about to sound.

I had an opportunity to teach the teens class yesterday at church and I started my lesson by asking how many of them were sure they had a ticket to heaven. All the hands shot up. So I went ahead and asked them if they were sure that if the trumpet sounded at that moment, in that room we were in, they would all be ruptured to meet Christ in the skies. Only one hand was up. It got me wondering why all hands went up when I asked about the ticket to heaven and just one hand was up when I spoke about the trumpet sounding and the rupture. I realized that most people are only sure they will go to heaven because they think that the trumpet is not sounding any time now and so we keep living the way we live thinking 'after all tonight I will repent'. We just live life and never take time to think or even imagine that the trumpet might sound any time. We are not preparing for heaven. Our lamps keep having less and less oil everyday. We keep telling ourselves that the bridegroom is not coming anytime soon. And so when confronted with the trumpet sounding anytime now, we realize how not ready we are for heaven. No wonder Jesus said the first will be the last and the last will be the fast. We started hot but gradually are growing cold. We get so absorbed in living life for ourselves, our families, friends etc but never get serious about living life for God. Slowly, the tickets we held so dear get snatched from us. Today we have tomorrow we do not remember where we kept them. And by the time the trumpet sounds, we have no ticket, we misplaced the tickets a long time ago and we just never realized.

How sad is it to realize this truth even when we are seeing all the signs that have been clearly stated in the bible. Could it be we no longer read our bibles, rarely pray and keep having excuses not to attend church, fellowships and prayer meetings. Jesus is coming soon but He is coming to take a bride that is pure. I once wrote about returning. It will not just happen by stating mere words and declarations of faith. It can only happen when you purpose in your heart that things have got to change. Why did Paul warn us to guard our salvation with fear and trembling? I believe he knew this time will come when believers will just play around with their salvation and loose it in the end. The bible says in Revelation 3:11 that we have to hold on to what we have received so that no one will take our crown. Jesus is coming soon. If we knew how to hold on to that more than we hold on to our lives, Christianity would be taking the world for Jesus. No wonder Jesus said whoever tries to keep his life will loose it and whoever looses their life will preserve it (Luke 17:33).

The wrath of God is coming, when God will judge the sins of the world. God has been very patient with us "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9), but God will not wait forever. There will come a day very soon when God will pour his wrath on the ungodly of this world. "For the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth..." (Romans 1:18). But there is a way out for those that want it. Jesus told us to "...pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the son of man..." (Luke 21:36).

Are you the type of Christian who feels that going to prayer meetings at night will expose you to the cold and you will get sick? Are you that believer who will never attend church when it is raining for fear of getting sick? Is it your habit to avoid fellowships because you have a headache or flu? Do you prefer to attend a medical camp on a Sunday rather than go to church or would you rather be at a business meeting, work, entertaining friends in your house than be in church? You are doing so much to keep your life. I am sorry to tell you that you will loose it. We take God so casually that even when we are sick, instead of going to the place where the great physician is, we stay in our homes. In stead of trusting Him to provide, we had rather open our shops on Sunday than go to church.

Beloved, it is time to wake up from that slumber. Pray like never before, Study the word of God like you never did before. Seek Him like he is the only one who can save you because He is. Seek to constantly be in His presence. Go now! Find the ticket you lost a long the way. The train is about to take off. You will not board without that ticket. Run! Run! Run! THE TRUMPET IS ABOUT TO SOUND!!!!!!

If you have never had this ticket and today you are convicted and wish to get the ticket, pray this prayer of salvation. believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, accept Him and be set free.

.........................................................................................................................................................

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

...........................................................................................................................................................

If you just said this prayer and you meant it with all your heart and you have repented for your sins, we believe that you just got saved and are born again.  You may ask, "Now that I am saved, what's next?" First of all you need to get into a bible-based church, and study God's Word. Once you have found a church home, you will want to become water-baptized. By accepting Christ you are baptized in the spirit, but it is through water-baptism that you show your obedience to the Lord. Water baptism is a symbol of your salvation from the dead. You were dead but now you live, for the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed you for a price! The price was His death on the cross. May God Bless You!

Welcome to the Family of God!!

This labor day, I decided to spend time with my family, my sisters, my mum and my nephews and nieces. I had such a beautiful time bonding and just freely sharing. It was a feeling of belonging. Family is the best thing once can ever have. It is not something I take for granted. Knowing that you have people who have your back, people who laugh and cry with you, people who are ready to listen, people who love you no matter what and people who will protect you. Believe you me, if you belonged to my family, you would know what protection means. Dare touch a member of my family and you will know what the Bande's are made of. They come out full force to defend their own. I bless the Lord for my family.

As children of God, we are even more blessed. We belong to a family that is far much better than any other family that ever existed (Ephesians 2:19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God). We have a Father who will not think twice sacrificing His own son to save His family. He is a Father who gives freely (James 1:5), protects without sleeping nor slumbering (Psalm 121:4), loves unconditionally (1 Cor 13) and I could write pages and pages describing His character. One good thing about  is that is a perfect God (Matthew 5:48). We can never doubt him.

God is creating a family; His Own family.

The family of God includes all believers in the past, in the present, and all who will believe in the future: “The Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, ‘Father! my Father!’ God’s Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16 TEV). It does not take so much effort to belong to this family, all you need to do is receive Him. He says that those who received Him he gave them power to become the sons of God (John 1:12). The invitation to be part of God’s family is universal, but there is one condition: faith in Jesus.

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26 NLT).

Do you want to feel protected, loved, blessed, cared for, esteemed and cherished? Do you want a to feel like you belong to someone, you have someone who is there for you no matter what, have a brother who was willing to take your place and die for you, be an heir of a greater kingdom? Do you want to belong to a family of believers who will stand by you and hold your hand in this strange land? You only need to receive Him. There is a better inheritance for the children of God. God's love goes beyond borders, tribe, race, creed and social standing. It is for everyone who lives.

Have you once belonged to this family but are slowly loosing your place in it? Go back to where you drifted. Ask God to place you back. He is a merciful God, He forgives all our iniquities, He heals all our diseases, He is the Father to the fatherless. He is our God. He loves us, He cares for us. Do not stay in the cold. he will protect you (Psalm 121:7). Come back to the family. Not only are we born again into God’s family through faith, the Bible says God also “adopts” us. We don’t deserve to be his children, but he has chosen us for this privilege because he loves us.

Never underestimate the value of your life. You were born to become one of God's children. You were born to receive His very nature and, eventually, eternal life. You were born to become an immortal son of God.