Month: August 2019

Prayer engages a Holy God

Thesis #17: “The New Apostolic Epoch”  By: P. Douglas Small

 

Prayer Thesis number 17 by Doug Small says this: 

“Prayer engages a holy God, and its primary purpose is our transformation.”

 

In relationship with God, through prayer we transform: From deadness to life.  From guilt to justification.  From sinfulness to holiness.  From independence to dependence.  From rebellion to submission.  From unloved to unconditionally loved.  From isolation to fellowship.  From being a cosmic orphan to becoming a child of God.

Prayer:  O God, You are my God, my Savior and the Father of my eternal hope.  I give you thanks for Jesus Christ, my constant companion on this journey of life.  Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to me to impart the wisdom of God, the joy of serving God, and the gifts of power and unconditional love to serve your interests through my life upon this earth.  

Thank you for your transforming power that is constantly at work in my imperfect life.  Every day is a gift from You!  Help me, lead me, in living each day for Your glory, Your honor.  Teach me Your ways, show my Your paths.  Give me the grace to walk each day in them!  

Grant to me that I can be a blessing to others in need of Your comfort and grace every day I live.  I do – and I will – forever praise You all the days of my life!     

These things I humbly pray and request in the Name of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

 

Honoring the House of God

HONORING THE HOUSE OF GOD

1 Corinthians 14:26 New Living Translation  A Call to Orderly Worship

26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

When we come together in the Lord’s meetings there are all sorts of things that may happen.  We may see other believers whom we have not seen for a few days and are excited to see them, so join in hugs, conversation and fellowship. There comes a moment when the leader of the group will call the members to order so the next thing God is releasing may be received.

This is when we settle into our chairs or benches and prepare our hearts to receive.  There may be announcements and a welcome statement, a devotional or prayer request.  Then usually singing and praising time starts to happen.  We can usually either stand or sit during this time.  Sadly, some people do not join in during this open-our-hearts to God time.  It is specifically given to us by God to release His anointing into the room.  Our hearts become open to Him and Holy Spirit starts moving among us.  When we join in, even if it only in our hearts, and not with voice it shows great respect for God and His house.

There may be special words given in an unknown tongue with interpretation or prophecy if Holy Spirit so moves.  This is a wonderful gift given by God to bless His people. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 explains these gifts as from the Lord and a means to bless the whole Body of Christ.  We don’t need to be afraid or concerned when this happens as Holy Spirit is showing His love and care for us.

Usually there is a message or sermon following this where the pastor or teacher shares with us from the Word of God.  During this time as we listen and open our hearts to the words being spoken Holy Spirit can help us understand God more.  We learn of Jesus and His magnificent sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary where He died for us paying the price for sin. We find this in Romans 5, John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2.  We show respect to God by the willingness we have to listen and respect the minister as he or she shares with us.

Lastly, there is usually an altar call or an opportunity given to respond to the message given and Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts.  This may include a call to receive Jesus as our Savior or for prayer for sickness, hurting heart or any other need.  Our respect to God is shown when we respond if that call speaks to our hearts and to pray for those who do respond.  Most of all we show respect to Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of those at the altar by not talking among ourselves or wandering around the room.  If we are through and need to speak to others, we can go outside with them to not disrupt what the Lord is doing with those at the altar.

Our hearts and souls are involved in house of God meeting. We can really enjoy this time especially during the worship and praise time as we can freely move with the music, clapping and hands lifted, dancing and flag presentations.  At others times we have to be sensitive to what the atmosphere is saying to our hearts.  A good Amen, to something God said through the speaker is a good thing.  Interrupting the message, walking around and talking to each other may cause the other listeners to miss something important from Holy Spirit.  We are all there to hear from God, to show our love for Jesus and welcome Holy Spirit.  Anything that would not show glorifying to them shows disrespect. None of us want that in our hearts or we would not be in the meeting. This is not meant to be a correction, only a gentle reminder as to who’s House we are truly visiting.

 

Prayer is God moving in us to move with Him

Thesis #16: “The New Apostolic Epoch”  By: P. Douglas Small

 

Prayer then, is the process whereby God moves us to move with Him.  God is the Sovereign, the center of prayer.  He moves, and by prayer we are both awakened and enabled to move with Him, participating in His purposes.

(Song of Solomon 2:8-9 – NKJV)

08)The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills. 09)My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice.

Lord, we are weary of the “waiting”!  We so desire for your Presence to come, to join us, to move us along with You into the center of all You have for us.  We see the need all around us – need that can only be met when You are with us and when you go before us to prepare the way.

We curse the darkness that holds many against their will.  We lift up our voices to You, asking for a release of the Holy Spirit upon us and upon the people of the churches in cities across this nation and around the world.  We solemnly plead, in the name of Jesus, our risen Savior, that you begin it right here, right now, in us today!  Sweep across this land with a tidal wave of conviction to topple the strongholds of sin and lawlessness.  Change the hearts and minds of those bent on destruction and evil.  Raise us up in might, in power and through grace make us ministers of rescue to those floundering, dying in sin.

Come, move us to the place where You are at work, in the places where evil holds individuals captive against their will.  Where abounding sin needs to be broken by an outpouring of grace.  Raise us up O God of heaven!  Make us flaming firebrands here on the earth, calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls.

With broken hearts, we humbly request these petitions in the Name above all other names, the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Savior of all who call upon Him!  Amen!