WHAT WILL YOUR RESOLUTION BE IN 2010 ??????? PART 1
HOW DID YOU PRAY IN 2009? WHO DID YOU PRAY TO? WERE YOUR PRAYERS
ANSWERED???????
WHAT WILL YOUR RESOLUTION BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 2010?
2009 is fading out and a brand new year is coming in. At the beginning of each year millions of people around the world make resolutions about how they wish life will be for them in the New Year. For many these are vain words or a meaningless ritual utter because others are doing the same. But the true meaning of a resolution goes beyond vain utterance. It is a prayer to God for how we want Him to lead us during the year; usually putting before Him a goal or project we intent to accomplish. Now if you treat it as a prayer and direct it to the right place it actually works. However the sad fact is that many people are not even sure of their prayers these days. They rather go and pay money to one pastor or occultist to pray for them. Well I got some news for you, if you are confuse about how to pray and get answers for yourself. I want you to know that, gone are the days when one should pay for prayers or seek prayers from those claiming to be closer to God than you. Jesus Christ of Nazareth broke that rule and open up the mystery that explains how to pray, who to pray to, what to pray for, and where to direct our prayers. If you are really serious about getting answers to your prayers in 2010; get answers to your first prayer using a formula provided by the Master Himself. Live to see your prayers answer as heaven open up for you releasing blessings that is rightfully yours; but were unclaimed because you did not know your birthright.
I know that there are times when we get confuse about the way we pray to God and many questions come to mind. Questions like: am I really saying the right words that will move God to answer my prayers? Do I have the right attitude? How should I address God in order for Him to answer me? It is written: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near”. (Psa. 91:15; Isa. 55:6) These promises of assurance are in the Bible; but what makes me different? I want you to know today that you are not the first person to experience this kind of feeling; the disciples had the same problems when they first met Jesus Christ. They walk with Jesus everyday and saw Him pray and great things happened, the blind saw, the lame walk, the sick were heal ;regardless of their illness, the demon possess were release from captivity and the dead rose again. What kind of man is this; they asked each other, does He have a special formula for praying? Why is it when we pray these things do not happen as He does even if we use the very same words He did? That is why one day Christ decided to answer their concerns with a message deeper than what people think, when they view it on the surface; but if they dig deeper they will discover the keys to the mystery of prayers directed to Heaven or lost because it was misdirected. If you understand His teaching, believe Him and applied His formula, you will definitely have the answers you seek to your many questions about your prayers life; and like the Disciples of Christ; apply them everyday, and make as much difference in all you do and get the very same results they got. God wants us to walk very close to Him; seeking Him at all times and finding Him. He wants to be there for us; always preparing tables for us in the very presence of our physical and spiritual enemies; but we must draw near to Him; understanding His desires and purpose for our lives and destinies; then He will open up our knowledge to Heavenly wisdom that will instruct us in many mysteries that are ours by birthright, but we can’t comprehend them because of our blindness from sin, that plant mistrust and doubt in our lives. One of our rights as a creation of God is to be able to communicate with the Creator at any hour day and night and get a response. But….
Jesus said: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”.
He went on to say: “After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen’.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”.
Now critically examining the message above; let us first find out where we go wrong. Many times when we pray it is to impress others with how well we can pray or speak& pray in tongues; how well we can quote the Bible. So it becomes like a competition of who is the best shouter or can pray in tongues. Christ said that type of prayer will go nowhere but stop in the ears of men. Christ encouraged us to enter into a closet and shut the door. What if I am in church; how do I do that? The closet is always with you where ever you go. God hears and see in your closet every movement; therefore He knows those unuttered prayers. Most of the time, the vain words we utter in public prayer are far from what we really want to say to God. Christ cautions us about using vain repetitions; like repeating Bible verses or other people sayings that does not originate with us. It is so false and does not represent you before God at all. God knows the real you and all that is in your heart because He created you. So He gives us a prayer model to follow when we pray. Many people have not seen or understood the true teachings behind this seemingly simple but complicated and effective model; they do just the same thing Christ warn us about not doing, repeating the prayer He taught us as an example. Christ instructed us to pray “after this manner”. What does “after this manner” mean to you, repeat after me? However before getting into the details; I want to deal with our prayer attitude a little. What should be the right attitude when we approach God?
1. Call upon Him in Truth. (Remember He knows you in and out. Stop pretending) “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”(Psa.145:18); There is freedom that comes when we perceive the truth ; we will experience liberation from many of our evil ways and thoughts that holds us down and keep us from attaining the heights of blessings; dominion; fruitfulness and multiplication that is rightfully ours in life. Why because the truth will serve s mirror that we can look at ourselves in. It is very possible for us to experience fully the keys to many things that are mysteries to us. One of the greatest mysteries about the truth is, understanding that everything we do or think is known by the Father in Heaven. If we fully understand this truth we can live on earth like in Heaven because we will be conscious of the Father presence with every step we take. It is written that God is Truth and those who worship Him must do so in Spirit and in Truth. Truth is a bright shining light that exposes the dark deeds of men. If we must walk in Truth then we must accept the fact that we are ready for our dark deeds to be exposed to the entire world. Truth causes us to re-examine our lives and steps and repent of our evil pass and turn to God who is light. If we must fellowship; communicate and walk with God; we must except to be exposed to the light. Once we begin walking with God we will overcome those things that actually block our heritage and birthright to subdue. I want you to realize that most of the things that hinders/limits our prayers are from within ourselves. We must realize that the Truth is a vital key to getting answers to our prayers.
2. Have Faith that God hears your prayers and will give you the best answer. Do not think Christ and the Prophets of old were speaking in parables or paradoxes when they said these words of reality: “For verily I say unto you, That, whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those thing which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what thing soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them; Blesseth is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her root by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; And the apostles said unto the LORD , Increase our faith”. (Mk.11:23,24; Jer.17:7,8; Lk.17:5) ; no my dear friends ;they were very serious about releasing to us a very important key to our prayer life; and that key is TRUST/FAITH. Christ wants us to talk to Him as one big family of brothers and sisters whose desire is to get the best results for and from the Father in Heaven. That is why He said: “And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son”. Answering your prayers brings glory to the Father in Heaven.
3. Be persistent: do not give up; no matter what you see, hear, or feel. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”. (Gen. 32:24-28) Hold fast to your God in prayers; never letting go of His feet until He gives you an answer.
4. Turn it all over to God in humbleness and rely on His power and strength; believing He is capable of delivering you out of you distress or give you your needs. For it is written: “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise”; for He promised, “ 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”.(1Chr.16:11,35;2Chr.7:14); However as you might have notice here, there is a condition attached; you must be willing to give up something and that thing is to turn from the evil ways of this world and be willing to commit your life to following the principles of the kingdom of God. Remember that true humility is when you totally agree with the true, and here I mean the true of God’s Word.
5. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers. Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to speak; For it I written “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”; (Rom. 8:26; Eph. 6:18)
6. Appreciate God for everything happening at that movement; regardless of the prevailing circumstances: For it I written: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (Col: 4:2; Plil 4:6 1Thess 5:17, 18). One thing is certain about our relationship with God; He wants us to be appreciative for the little things He does for us everyday. Our God is very jealous over His creation and share His Glory with no man, Angel, creatures above or below, spirits or demons; that is why we must always prove our loyalty by thanking and appreciating Him in all circumstances.
7. Go boldly before the Throne of your Father and laid down your burdens and He will help you; For it I written: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16) He created you in His image and likeness and wants you to approach Him with freedom as a child approaches their parent.
8. And lastly it is always very important to wait patiently upon the LORD; God never answers prayer late He does not send you a wrong answers for our prayers. It is written: “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens”. “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.(Lam.3:25,26,41; Isa. 40:28-31)
In order to get the real meaning of the prayer Christ taught that day we must again take a closer look at the attributes of God. In order to do so; I will have to return to the Hebrew roots; using some of the Names of God to clarify what the Master was talking about that day. He begins the Prayer with “Our Father”. Why “Our Father” and not My Father since I am also His child. He was pointing us to a title of God. ELOHIM: “Our “Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong” ; EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” ; JEHOVAH: "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL”) ; FATHER: . Note here that Christ was pointing us to God who was more than a Father; capable of handling not only my problem but the problems of the entire universe. There is nothing too big or small that He cannot do. Because He is all His Name connotes; you should have no problem placing your faith in Him. I know if we human develop a project and it is successful we love it very much and care for it. It is the same with the Father; He created you for a divine purpose and therefore cares for you very much. It is written : “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him”?(Matt.7:11). We are the work of His hands and He loves us very much. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand”. (Isa. 64:8) He who shape us the way we are knows our needs, desires, strength, and weakness. Not only does He know; but He is capable of solving any giving situation concerning us. When we go to Him in prayer we should always address Him as the Father of all living things and indeed the universe. Why? Because He is our Creator, in charge of preserving our lives on earth as long as He wishes; and controls every living thing and element of the universe. We must therefore address Him with admiration, adoration, and honour Him for His works and believe He is bigger than our problems and be ready and willing to except any answer He gives us.
Christ continued: “which art in Heaven”. Earth & Hell boost of many little gods (evil spirits and demons calling themselves gods) gods; but there is only one God in Heaven. Our God reign the entire universe from His Throne in Heaven. It is His dwelling place; His Holy Temple. It is written: “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all; Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.; The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Pa.103:19; 1Chr. 16:31; Pa. 11:4) When you look at the Heavens you can see the Glory of ELOHIM: Our “Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong” and you will never see the end of it from the beginning nor fully understand its design. The men of this world/scientist of different types have study it for centuries and have come up with changing theories everyday ; disproving the older ones. You can see the Glorious artwork and design of His handiwork. The laws that He decreed to control the motions of each and every thing He put in place are perfect and failest not. When you want to address our Creator; Christ urge us to direct our prayers to the very Temple and Throne of ; EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” for solutions. Any other place you address your prayers will definitely not be for our God; OUR FATHER , who dwells in Heaven. It is written: “If I shut up the heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, an will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place”.(2Chr.7:13-15) It is quite clear that in order to draw EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” attention you can not belong to the devil and his associates . You have to be one of His worshippers or willing to be a part of His Kingdom. Does that mean He does not love the others? He love and care for them too; yet giving them a chance to repent and come over. But as a member of His Kingdom we have priority and His ears, because we know and believe in Him; and His eyes and ears are open to attend to those prayers directed to His Throne in Heaven. Indeed to draw EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” we are to know Him enough in order to place our faith in Him; address Him properly , direct our prayers to Him and be a part of His Kingdom.
Christ continued: “Hallowed be thy Name”: JEHOVAH: "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL This Name was revealed to Moses at the burning bush according to Exodus chapter 3 of the Holy Bible. For many God Name is too Holy and sacred to be uttered; therefore it is written YHWH. When we go to God in prayer we are to remember that He is the Holy One. He is also referred to as KADOSH: "Holy One" (Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17). It is written: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in Holiness”? We are to recognize and proclaim the Holiness of JEHOVAH: . It does not mean that if you with hold your praises, recognition or adoration for His Holiness; no one will do so. The Apostle John describes a unique form of worship that JEHOVAH: receives in heaven twenty four hours around the clock; non-stop. Angels and celestial beings bow to Him day and night in recognition of His Holiness. “And four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come; And when those beast give glory and honour, and thanks to Him that sat on the Throne, and who liveth for ever and ever; The four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the Throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying , Thou are worthy , O Lord ( JEHOVAH: ) , to receive glory and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.
JEHOVAH: is not only glorified for His Holiness but also for His righteousness. On earth inspired servants of His Kingdom Hail Him for both His Holiness and righteousness. JEHOVAH: who is also known as; TSADDIQ: "Righteous One" (Psa. 7:9); or JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16) should also always be highly praise as a God of righteousness each time we address Him in prayer . It is written; “I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe to my Maker; Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His Throne; Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgements. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law I the truth.. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting”.(Job 36:3; Psa. 97;2; 119:40, 137,142,144).
Christ continued: “Thy Kingdom Come” The original purpose we were created on this earth by ELOHIM: in His very image and likeness was to established a divine link; the Kingdom of God on earth. In this Kingdom man was to have total dominion over everything on earth. There was to be total peace and stability, uniting every living creature on the face of earth; where the lion and lamb could live in peace. In that kingdom sickness, pain, dying, envy etc were absent. Man was created to have dominion over everything and in return just worship, praise the Maker and live in harmony with the rest of creation; but that golden opportunity slip out of our hands when we allowed ourselves to fall prey to the tricks of the deceiver. However ELOHIM: being merciful decided to reinstate us back to this original state; through a voluntary process. While on earth (during His three years Ministry) Christ spend majority of His time teaching and preparing us for this great reunion with our Maker.(Matt.13:24-3,38-43; 13: 31,32;25:1-13;18:3;19:14;19:23,24;13:47-50;18:23-35;Mk. 4:26-29;Lk.14:16-24;19:12-27;Jn.18:36 etc.) It is one of ELOHIM: most important purpose for our lives. Accepting and being a citizen of the Kingdom of God is very important and must be acknowledge each time we pray to Him. It is like renewing your loyalty to your country each time you salute your flag or hear your national anthem play. How do know that we are truly citizens of the Kingdom of God.; Renewing your loyalty to every day even get the attention of the angels of God. It is written that the Angels rejoice each time without failing once one lost soul returns to the Kingdom of God. The assurance that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God; does not only give you a direct link to the Throne of God but a ticket for life after death. Christ noted that we must always mention the Kingdom of God and our relationship to it each time we pray.
Christ continued: “thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” What is the will of God for our lives? As He made us in His image and likeness; He Bless us to fruitful in everything we undertake on the face of the earth. It is our heritage that every project we undertake on the face of this earth should bear fruits. As long as you live on the face of this earth, every seed you plant in your life must multiply. Every imaginable type of creativity or invention projects ect; should bloom in your hands as long as it relates to this earth. It is your rights to fill every inch of the earth and live any part you wish. Instead of being subdued by problems, sickness, joblessness, homelessness, broken marriages, and evil caused by principalities and powers of darkness; you were created to subdue everything that moves within this atmosphere under your feet. It was not the will of God that you kill and eat creatures on earth, or in the sky of your atmosphere; not animals eat one another but that there be perfect harmony between all on earth. It is written: “And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat and it was so”.(Genesis 1:29,30) There shouldn’t have been strive ; hunger; elements of nature to defeat us. God created the earth with sufficient food and space to feed and host mankind; but sin blinded us and we lost our ability to love; to be satisfy with Once We cross over that bridge that takes us back to our original heritage; there is nothing to stop us from claiming the blessings of fruitfulness God originally provided for us. In sin we lost this right and noble heritage. We began to dominate each other instead of the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field and creatures of the sea.
We are creatures of the earth and that is what we will be while we walk on the face of this earth; however it is very possible to see, feel and speak with God as you do to one another here on earth. How is that possible? All you have to do is to go into your closet; which is your heart and look with the eyes of your heart. Yes it is mystery of Heaven that you can be as close to your Father as Abraham; Isaac; or Jacob or any of the Prophets you have heard or read bout. This is because God has made it possible through Jesus Christ for us to come as close to Him as we desire in life. If it is really your desire to get very close to Him you have to lay side anything that will hinder your intimacy with Him and give yourself fully to pursuing that desire and definitely you will get what you seek from God. Then you have attained your goal of coming close to Him; for He promised in His word that all else that you need in this journey of life will be yours For It is written: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God; and His righteousness; and all these things ill be added unto you; Blessed re they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled”. (Matt. 6:33; 5:6) This was mystery learned by all the prophets of God long before Christ came to the world to lay a Bridge back to heaven. Job wrote: I would seek unto God, and unto God would commit my cause”. (Job 5:8); Daniel said: I set my face unto the Lord God; to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:3); The Prophet Isaiah quoted God :( I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isa.45:19,22);
Christ reminds us that it is the original will of God that the Children of the Kingdom reclaim these rights, for God never changes and once He pronounced them they remind ours. In order to make sure no one miss out on the opportunity to claim their birthright; He provided bridge for us to cross over to Him once more. All we have to do is to reclaim our birthrights and remind God in prayers that we are ready to take possession of them. We are ready to subdue our problems and difficulties and take control as a child of the King. It is written; Jesus said: “and these signs shall follow them that believe;(Children of the Kingdom of God) In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak in new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it ill not harm them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”.(Mk.16:17,18) Once we cross over that bridge that takes us back to our original heritage; there is nothing to stop us from claiming the blessings of fruitfulness, multiplication; and dominion over every other thing dwelling in the atmosphere of earth. So if you do not hinder the will of God in your life by your own attitude towards Him; nothing can stop your prayers.
ANSWERED???????
WHAT WILL YOUR RESOLUTION BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 2010?
2009 is fading out and a brand new year is coming in. At the beginning of each year millions of people around the world make resolutions about how they wish life will be for them in the New Year. For many these are vain words or a meaningless ritual utter because others are doing the same. But the true meaning of a resolution goes beyond vain utterance. It is a prayer to God for how we want Him to lead us during the year; usually putting before Him a goal or project we intent to accomplish. Now if you treat it as a prayer and direct it to the right place it actually works. However the sad fact is that many people are not even sure of their prayers these days. They rather go and pay money to one pastor or occultist to pray for them. Well I got some news for you, if you are confuse about how to pray and get answers for yourself. I want you to know that, gone are the days when one should pay for prayers or seek prayers from those claiming to be closer to God than you. Jesus Christ of Nazareth broke that rule and open up the mystery that explains how to pray, who to pray to, what to pray for, and where to direct our prayers. If you are really serious about getting answers to your prayers in 2010; get answers to your first prayer using a formula provided by the Master Himself. Live to see your prayers answer as heaven open up for you releasing blessings that is rightfully yours; but were unclaimed because you did not know your birthright.
I know that there are times when we get confuse about the way we pray to God and many questions come to mind. Questions like: am I really saying the right words that will move God to answer my prayers? Do I have the right attitude? How should I address God in order for Him to answer me? It is written: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near”. (Psa. 91:15; Isa. 55:6) These promises of assurance are in the Bible; but what makes me different? I want you to know today that you are not the first person to experience this kind of feeling; the disciples had the same problems when they first met Jesus Christ. They walk with Jesus everyday and saw Him pray and great things happened, the blind saw, the lame walk, the sick were heal ;regardless of their illness, the demon possess were release from captivity and the dead rose again. What kind of man is this; they asked each other, does He have a special formula for praying? Why is it when we pray these things do not happen as He does even if we use the very same words He did? That is why one day Christ decided to answer their concerns with a message deeper than what people think, when they view it on the surface; but if they dig deeper they will discover the keys to the mystery of prayers directed to Heaven or lost because it was misdirected. If you understand His teaching, believe Him and applied His formula, you will definitely have the answers you seek to your many questions about your prayers life; and like the Disciples of Christ; apply them everyday, and make as much difference in all you do and get the very same results they got. God wants us to walk very close to Him; seeking Him at all times and finding Him. He wants to be there for us; always preparing tables for us in the very presence of our physical and spiritual enemies; but we must draw near to Him; understanding His desires and purpose for our lives and destinies; then He will open up our knowledge to Heavenly wisdom that will instruct us in many mysteries that are ours by birthright, but we can’t comprehend them because of our blindness from sin, that plant mistrust and doubt in our lives. One of our rights as a creation of God is to be able to communicate with the Creator at any hour day and night and get a response. But….
Jesus said: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”.
He went on to say: “After this manner therefore pray ye: ‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen’.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”.
Now critically examining the message above; let us first find out where we go wrong. Many times when we pray it is to impress others with how well we can pray or speak& pray in tongues; how well we can quote the Bible. So it becomes like a competition of who is the best shouter or can pray in tongues. Christ said that type of prayer will go nowhere but stop in the ears of men. Christ encouraged us to enter into a closet and shut the door. What if I am in church; how do I do that? The closet is always with you where ever you go. God hears and see in your closet every movement; therefore He knows those unuttered prayers. Most of the time, the vain words we utter in public prayer are far from what we really want to say to God. Christ cautions us about using vain repetitions; like repeating Bible verses or other people sayings that does not originate with us. It is so false and does not represent you before God at all. God knows the real you and all that is in your heart because He created you. So He gives us a prayer model to follow when we pray. Many people have not seen or understood the true teachings behind this seemingly simple but complicated and effective model; they do just the same thing Christ warn us about not doing, repeating the prayer He taught us as an example. Christ instructed us to pray “after this manner”. What does “after this manner” mean to you, repeat after me? However before getting into the details; I want to deal with our prayer attitude a little. What should be the right attitude when we approach God?
1. Call upon Him in Truth. (Remember He knows you in and out. Stop pretending) “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”(Psa.145:18); There is freedom that comes when we perceive the truth ; we will experience liberation from many of our evil ways and thoughts that holds us down and keep us from attaining the heights of blessings; dominion; fruitfulness and multiplication that is rightfully ours in life. Why because the truth will serve s mirror that we can look at ourselves in. It is very possible for us to experience fully the keys to many things that are mysteries to us. One of the greatest mysteries about the truth is, understanding that everything we do or think is known by the Father in Heaven. If we fully understand this truth we can live on earth like in Heaven because we will be conscious of the Father presence with every step we take. It is written that God is Truth and those who worship Him must do so in Spirit and in Truth. Truth is a bright shining light that exposes the dark deeds of men. If we must walk in Truth then we must accept the fact that we are ready for our dark deeds to be exposed to the entire world. Truth causes us to re-examine our lives and steps and repent of our evil pass and turn to God who is light. If we must fellowship; communicate and walk with God; we must except to be exposed to the light. Once we begin walking with God we will overcome those things that actually block our heritage and birthright to subdue. I want you to realize that most of the things that hinders/limits our prayers are from within ourselves. We must realize that the Truth is a vital key to getting answers to our prayers.
2. Have Faith that God hears your prayers and will give you the best answer. Do not think Christ and the Prophets of old were speaking in parables or paradoxes when they said these words of reality: “For verily I say unto you, That, whosoever shall say unto this mountain. Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those thing which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what thing soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them; Blesseth is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her root by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; And the apostles said unto the LORD , Increase our faith”. (Mk.11:23,24; Jer.17:7,8; Lk.17:5) ; no my dear friends ;they were very serious about releasing to us a very important key to our prayer life; and that key is TRUST/FAITH. Christ wants us to talk to Him as one big family of brothers and sisters whose desire is to get the best results for and from the Father in Heaven. That is why He said: “And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son”. Answering your prayers brings glory to the Father in Heaven.
3. Be persistent: do not give up; no matter what you see, hear, or feel. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”. (Gen. 32:24-28) Hold fast to your God in prayers; never letting go of His feet until He gives you an answer.
4. Turn it all over to God in humbleness and rely on His power and strength; believing He is capable of delivering you out of you distress or give you your needs. For it is written: “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise”; for He promised, “ 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”.(1Chr.16:11,35;2Chr.7:14); However as you might have notice here, there is a condition attached; you must be willing to give up something and that thing is to turn from the evil ways of this world and be willing to commit your life to following the principles of the kingdom of God. Remember that true humility is when you totally agree with the true, and here I mean the true of God’s Word.
5. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers. Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to speak; For it I written “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”; (Rom. 8:26; Eph. 6:18)
6. Appreciate God for everything happening at that movement; regardless of the prevailing circumstances: For it I written: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (Col: 4:2; Plil 4:6 1Thess 5:17, 18). One thing is certain about our relationship with God; He wants us to be appreciative for the little things He does for us everyday. Our God is very jealous over His creation and share His Glory with no man, Angel, creatures above or below, spirits or demons; that is why we must always prove our loyalty by thanking and appreciating Him in all circumstances.
7. Go boldly before the Throne of your Father and laid down your burdens and He will help you; For it I written: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16) He created you in His image and likeness and wants you to approach Him with freedom as a child approaches their parent.
8. And lastly it is always very important to wait patiently upon the LORD; God never answers prayer late He does not send you a wrong answers for our prayers. It is written: “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens”. “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.(Lam.3:25,26,41; Isa. 40:28-31)
In order to get the real meaning of the prayer Christ taught that day we must again take a closer look at the attributes of God. In order to do so; I will have to return to the Hebrew roots; using some of the Names of God to clarify what the Master was talking about that day. He begins the Prayer with “Our Father”. Why “Our Father” and not My Father since I am also His child. He was pointing us to a title of God. ELOHIM: “Our “Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong” ; EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” ; JEHOVAH: "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL”) ; FATHER: . Note here that Christ was pointing us to God who was more than a Father; capable of handling not only my problem but the problems of the entire universe. There is nothing too big or small that He cannot do. Because He is all His Name connotes; you should have no problem placing your faith in Him. I know if we human develop a project and it is successful we love it very much and care for it. It is the same with the Father; He created you for a divine purpose and therefore cares for you very much. It is written : “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him”?(Matt.7:11). We are the work of His hands and He loves us very much. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand”. (Isa. 64:8) He who shape us the way we are knows our needs, desires, strength, and weakness. Not only does He know; but He is capable of solving any giving situation concerning us. When we go to Him in prayer we should always address Him as the Father of all living things and indeed the universe. Why? Because He is our Creator, in charge of preserving our lives on earth as long as He wishes; and controls every living thing and element of the universe. We must therefore address Him with admiration, adoration, and honour Him for His works and believe He is bigger than our problems and be ready and willing to except any answer He gives us.
Christ continued: “which art in Heaven”. Earth & Hell boost of many little gods (evil spirits and demons calling themselves gods) gods; but there is only one God in Heaven. Our God reign the entire universe from His Throne in Heaven. It is His dwelling place; His Holy Temple. It is written: “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all; Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.; The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Pa.103:19; 1Chr. 16:31; Pa. 11:4) When you look at the Heavens you can see the Glory of ELOHIM: Our “Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong” and you will never see the end of it from the beginning nor fully understand its design. The men of this world/scientist of different types have study it for centuries and have come up with changing theories everyday ; disproving the older ones. You can see the Glorious artwork and design of His handiwork. The laws that He decreed to control the motions of each and every thing He put in place are perfect and failest not. When you want to address our Creator; Christ urge us to direct our prayers to the very Temple and Throne of ; EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” for solutions. Any other place you address your prayers will definitely not be for our God; OUR FATHER , who dwells in Heaven. It is written: “If I shut up the heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, an will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place”.(2Chr.7:13-15) It is quite clear that in order to draw EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” attention you can not belong to the devil and his associates . You have to be one of His worshippers or willing to be a part of His Kingdom. Does that mean He does not love the others? He love and care for them too; yet giving them a chance to repent and come over. But as a member of His Kingdom we have priority and His ears, because we know and believe in Him; and His eyes and ears are open to attend to those prayers directed to His Throne in Heaven. Indeed to draw EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty” or "God All Sufficient” we are to know Him enough in order to place our faith in Him; address Him properly , direct our prayers to Him and be a part of His Kingdom.
Christ continued: “Hallowed be thy Name”: JEHOVAH: "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL This Name was revealed to Moses at the burning bush according to Exodus chapter 3 of the Holy Bible. For many God Name is too Holy and sacred to be uttered; therefore it is written YHWH. When we go to God in prayer we are to remember that He is the Holy One. He is also referred to as KADOSH: "Holy One" (Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17). It is written: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like unto thee, glorious in Holiness”? We are to recognize and proclaim the Holiness of JEHOVAH: . It does not mean that if you with hold your praises, recognition or adoration for His Holiness; no one will do so. The Apostle John describes a unique form of worship that JEHOVAH: receives in heaven twenty four hours around the clock; non-stop. Angels and celestial beings bow to Him day and night in recognition of His Holiness. “And four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come; And when those beast give glory and honour, and thanks to Him that sat on the Throne, and who liveth for ever and ever; The four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the Throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying , Thou are worthy , O Lord ( JEHOVAH: ) , to receive glory and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.
JEHOVAH: is not only glorified for His Holiness but also for His righteousness. On earth inspired servants of His Kingdom Hail Him for both His Holiness and righteousness. JEHOVAH: who is also known as; TSADDIQ: "Righteous One" (Psa. 7:9); or JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16) should also always be highly praise as a God of righteousness each time we address Him in prayer . It is written; “I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe to my Maker; Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation of His Throne; Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgements. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law I the truth.. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting”.(Job 36:3; Psa. 97;2; 119:40, 137,142,144).
Christ continued: “Thy Kingdom Come” The original purpose we were created on this earth by ELOHIM: in His very image and likeness was to established a divine link; the Kingdom of God on earth. In this Kingdom man was to have total dominion over everything on earth. There was to be total peace and stability, uniting every living creature on the face of earth; where the lion and lamb could live in peace. In that kingdom sickness, pain, dying, envy etc were absent. Man was created to have dominion over everything and in return just worship, praise the Maker and live in harmony with the rest of creation; but that golden opportunity slip out of our hands when we allowed ourselves to fall prey to the tricks of the deceiver. However ELOHIM: being merciful decided to reinstate us back to this original state; through a voluntary process. While on earth (during His three years Ministry) Christ spend majority of His time teaching and preparing us for this great reunion with our Maker.(Matt.13:24-3,38-43; 13: 31,32;25:1-13;18:3;19:14;19:23,24;13:47-50;18:23-35;Mk. 4:26-29;Lk.14:16-24;19:12-27;Jn.18:36 etc.) It is one of ELOHIM: most important purpose for our lives. Accepting and being a citizen of the Kingdom of God is very important and must be acknowledge each time we pray to Him. It is like renewing your loyalty to your country each time you salute your flag or hear your national anthem play. How do know that we are truly citizens of the Kingdom of God.; Renewing your loyalty to every day even get the attention of the angels of God. It is written that the Angels rejoice each time without failing once one lost soul returns to the Kingdom of God. The assurance that you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God; does not only give you a direct link to the Throne of God but a ticket for life after death. Christ noted that we must always mention the Kingdom of God and our relationship to it each time we pray.
Christ continued: “thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” What is the will of God for our lives? As He made us in His image and likeness; He Bless us to fruitful in everything we undertake on the face of the earth. It is our heritage that every project we undertake on the face of this earth should bear fruits. As long as you live on the face of this earth, every seed you plant in your life must multiply. Every imaginable type of creativity or invention projects ect; should bloom in your hands as long as it relates to this earth. It is your rights to fill every inch of the earth and live any part you wish. Instead of being subdued by problems, sickness, joblessness, homelessness, broken marriages, and evil caused by principalities and powers of darkness; you were created to subdue everything that moves within this atmosphere under your feet. It was not the will of God that you kill and eat creatures on earth, or in the sky of your atmosphere; not animals eat one another but that there be perfect harmony between all on earth. It is written: “And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat and it was so”.(Genesis 1:29,30) There shouldn’t have been strive ; hunger; elements of nature to defeat us. God created the earth with sufficient food and space to feed and host mankind; but sin blinded us and we lost our ability to love; to be satisfy with Once We cross over that bridge that takes us back to our original heritage; there is nothing to stop us from claiming the blessings of fruitfulness God originally provided for us. In sin we lost this right and noble heritage. We began to dominate each other instead of the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field and creatures of the sea.
We are creatures of the earth and that is what we will be while we walk on the face of this earth; however it is very possible to see, feel and speak with God as you do to one another here on earth. How is that possible? All you have to do is to go into your closet; which is your heart and look with the eyes of your heart. Yes it is mystery of Heaven that you can be as close to your Father as Abraham; Isaac; or Jacob or any of the Prophets you have heard or read bout. This is because God has made it possible through Jesus Christ for us to come as close to Him as we desire in life. If it is really your desire to get very close to Him you have to lay side anything that will hinder your intimacy with Him and give yourself fully to pursuing that desire and definitely you will get what you seek from God. Then you have attained your goal of coming close to Him; for He promised in His word that all else that you need in this journey of life will be yours For It is written: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God; and His righteousness; and all these things ill be added unto you; Blessed re they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled”. (Matt. 6:33; 5:6) This was mystery learned by all the prophets of God long before Christ came to the world to lay a Bridge back to heaven. Job wrote: I would seek unto God, and unto God would commit my cause”. (Job 5:8); Daniel said: I set my face unto the Lord God; to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:3); The Prophet Isaiah quoted God :( I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isa.45:19,22);
Christ reminds us that it is the original will of God that the Children of the Kingdom reclaim these rights, for God never changes and once He pronounced them they remind ours. In order to make sure no one miss out on the opportunity to claim their birthright; He provided bridge for us to cross over to Him once more. All we have to do is to reclaim our birthrights and remind God in prayers that we are ready to take possession of them. We are ready to subdue our problems and difficulties and take control as a child of the King. It is written; Jesus said: “and these signs shall follow them that believe;(Children of the Kingdom of God) In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak in new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it ill not harm them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”.(Mk.16:17,18) Once we cross over that bridge that takes us back to our original heritage; there is nothing to stop us from claiming the blessings of fruitfulness, multiplication; and dominion over every other thing dwelling in the atmosphere of earth. So if you do not hinder the will of God in your life by your own attitude towards Him; nothing can stop your prayers.
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