Category Archives: Prayer

GENERAL, Prayer

Prayer; The Heart Matters

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What is Prayer?

We have numerous definitions for prayer. Whatever the case may be, God requires us to be more devoted than at any other time in recent memory. We pray to know the Will of God. We pray to know how to carry out the will of God.

We also pray to surrender ourselves to the desires of the kingdom for us. There are several definitions of prayer. Some see it as petitioning, while others see it as communing with God, and so on.. Prayer is what the Church really needs at this point.

When God’s move begins, it begins with His children’s prayers. This intercession ensures that God’s work is carried out precisely and without interference from the forces of darkness. Why do we have to pray? This is because we can only gain insight and understanding into what God is going to do through prayer.

According to Colossians 2:3, “all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ,” and it is through prayer that these treasures are revealed to us.

THE HEART MATTERS

This is a photograph of possessive

James 4:3 (New International Version)

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Any prayer prayed for the wrong reasons will be rendered ineffective. Prayer is a sacred duty that must be carried out with the purest of intentions. In the Church, selfishness is the slayer of prayer. It causes God to stifle the much-needed answer.

Prayer for the sake of one’s own selfish interests is a waste of time. According to Proverbs 21, God weighs a man’s heart. He weighs His saints’ hearts; He measures the quality of prayer by the quality of the heart rather than the quantity of words.

If a saint’s motives are not pure, he may say thousands of words before God and leave empty-handed; however, another saint may speak only a few words and leave with the Grace he seeks as a result of pure motives.

Proverbs 15:11: “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of men!”

We deceive ourselves when we believe God is unaware of the true reason for some of our petitions. God sees our hearts; He hears our thoughts as well as our words. Therefore, before we pray, we must examine our hearts and ensure that our motives are pure. In our prayer, there must be no trace of self or carnality.

FOR HIS GLORY

When we pray, whether in public or privately, the only thing that matters is that God receives the glory. In the place of prayer, His glory and will must be at the center of our desires. In the Kingdom, we are only rewarded for actions that bring glory to God.

HIS BATTLE-AXE

The pure saint must see himself as a battle-axe in the master’s hands, or as a pencil in the creator’s hands. When he prays or fasts, he must remember that it is God who is doing the work through him.

Conclusively, ministers, intercessors, and all members of the Body must keep this in mind. We must not allow the spirit of competition to infiltrate our organization. We must be wary of praying for the sake of showing off.

POETRY, Prayer

Believers’ Obligation to the Government

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1 Peter 2:17 – “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor“

Believers must come to understand that no matter how much they would love to have Christians as leaders of nations, Unbelievers will still have access to national power.

God is not an unjust judge. He gives equal opportunities to the Christian and to the sinner. There is no possiblity as having a continuous line of Christian presidents ruling a particular nation.

Understanding of this, will enable us to accept the outcome of elections even when they are contrary to what we expected or voted for.

In such a situation as this, where the agenda of those who are at the helm of political affairs in America, we are tempted to fall into despair and apathy.

Yet, the Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders even in times like this.

It does not specify the type who of leaders we are to pray for. Hence, whether they are good or bad, we are to remember them in our prayers. Praying for the salvation of their souls, the obstruction of their evil policies and guidance to do the right things.

Our primary duty is to pray for our leaders and our country at large.

Jeremiah 29:7 – “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper”

We must not become apathetic towards the issues that concerns our country’s politics and economy. The failure of believers to pray for their countries will lead to its downfall.

When we fold our hands and shut our lips towards the affairs of our nation, God will likewise shut Himself out of the affairs of this nation.

God Himself has said it, in the aforementioned text, that if we pray then our nation will prosper, and if our nation prospers, then we will prosper.

Beloved Saints, let us pray for the peace and prosperity of our respective countries.

Let us pray for the wisdom of God upon our leaders. Let us pray for the counsel of the ungodly to be destroyed.

Let us pray that God’s will be done in our nations.

Amen.

Prayer, Spirituality

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

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Within the scope of the body of Christ, prayer is the ONLY channel or means of communicating WITH GOD. Prayer is a face of fellowship through which believers can worship God IN TRUTH and IN SPIRIT.

In other words, it is the mode of ‘fellowship with God’ which is done through the name Jesus, else, it’s not consistent with what the Bible calls prayer.

The reasons for prayer varies from person to person, the reasons underlying our prayers, are reflectives of the benefits we intend to receive.
However, there are fundamental benefits of praying, which includes:

1. INTIMACY WITH GOD

Our degree of intimacy with God differs because the CAPACITY of our relationship with God is not the same. Intimacy is the platform upon which the church is espoused to Christ (the head of the church).

Intimacy also exists between a husband and his wife, the basic purpose of their marriage is to live together as ONE FLESH.
In likewise manner, we’re joined with Christ and our intimacy with him is maintained and explored through prayer.

In marital relationship, sex is not just for satisfaction, it is a language of intimacy which strengthens the oneness of the couple.

In relationship with God, prayer is not a ritualistic exercise, it is a language of intimacy which sustains the oneness of the body of Christ.

Intimacy with God Is primarily concerned with ‘walking with God’ before working for God. It is a facet with emphasis on “the secret place.”

Genesis 5:24: “And Enoch WALKED WITH GOD: and he was not; for God took him.”

The above text is the account of Enoch’s testimony, he’s the facet dimension which depicts the christian journey into the depths of the realities of God.

2. SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Both individual and collective growth is the product of consistent intimacy with God, when every believer is growing, the body of Christ will eventually reach ‘the unity of the faith’.

Growth is a characteristic of believers, it is the evidence that one has not just walked with God, but has TOUCHED realities of God which are encrypted in his spirit.

Growth becomes part of your benefit when you’re GIVEN to many prayers which concerns the matters of the kingdom.

Nobody grows by default, Never!
Therefore, it is not enough to ignite intimate relationship with God, you must endeavor to GROW, if not, you’ll remain a new-creature-infant.

Growth is concerned with spiritual maturity. Prayer helps to draw you closer to God, it serves as a mode for approximating to a higher realm. When this happens, it shows you’re actually growing.

Ephesians 4:13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature of THE FULNESS of Christ”

From the above mentioned text, ‘a’ perfect man is used to typify THE BODY of Christ as ‘one perfect personality’ which has attained the fullness of Christ. This is why WE pray for THE BODY, until this benefit is achieved.

3. IT IS A MODE OF WARFARE OPERATION.

Isaiah 9:4-5: “For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.”

From the above scripture, the war scenario is the immediate devastation of the Midianites, which is used to compare the conflict and a sudden conquest that Christ obtained over sin, satan, the world, and death.

As christian soldiers, we know that we are not permitted to wrestle against our fellow human, we are rather approbated to fight against evil forces.

Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against PRINCIPALITIES, against POWERS, against THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS of this world, against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS in high places.”

The wrestling and the victory over these evil forces, can ONLY be possible through praying, else, we can’t be able to fight those forces. This is one of the outstanding benefits of praying.

Due to the powers that be, whenever you pray, it turns to be a war in the spirit world.

David was a man who uses songs to pray. Those songs are called ‘songs of prayer’ or ‘intercessory songs’. More often than not, he sings prayerfully, that’s why he was not just a singer, but a worshipper THROUGH prayer.

Prayer was actually the life of his songs.

Prayer is the life of ALL believers. This is the emphasis behind what Jesus said in Luke 18:1

“….Men ought ALWAYS to pray, and not to faint

He said, ‘always’.

When something is done always, it will automatically become a lifestyle. When something is your lifestyle, it is already an addiction, there will be no day you won’t do it, there will be no day you will relent in doing it.

Pray more often in your secret place, intensify your prayers and maintain it as your lifestyle.

Let us pray!

David Chikwado Caleb

Prayer, Spirituality

Food Vs Fasting

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Mr Fast and Mr Food had great controversy on the earth that it’d reached God’s hearing. He came then to intervene in the dispute, bringing peace. Below is the case in a court where God was Judge, to bring peace;

Mr Food: My Lord, Mr Fast here in his excess kills men. He makes them weak and kills them. I save them. Thus, he should be done with.

Mr Fast: That’s not true my Lord. It’s Mr Food in his excess that kills men. He makes them fatigue and kills them. That’s why doctors always tell their patients to engage me as to clear the toxins that Mr food has placed in them.

Mr Food: What!!! That’s not true. Can they fast without haven eaten. Can they live without eating? You don’t even stand a chance against me! The Lord didst plant all trees in the trillions and made animals in the billions all for men to engage me(feed). Why should they then leave me for you and lay waste all the Lord has made them for their consumption?

Mr Fast: It’s you who don’t stand a chance against me. In the Lord’s sight, I’m of more value than you. Now Mr Food, a question for you.
Does the Lord eat? Of course not!

Did the scripture not say men were made in His image and likeness and are His children? Of course! Now if He doesn’t eat and men are His children, made in His image, why should they? Aren’t they missing something?

Perhaps a truth when they eat that they’re not supposed to? There’s a realm the Lord operates in which His people and children has got to operate in as well otherwise, they’ll just keep on eating, not realizing themselves.

Mr Food: You’ve asked me yours. Now, I ask you: ”When the Lord Jesus came to earth, didn’t He eat? Did he fast everyday? I thought you said he doesn’t eat? I just think you’re just under deception Mr Fast which does brings men to destruction.

Mr Fast: It is you who is under deception Mr Food. You used the Lord as an example and I will too.
With what did He begin His ministry? Food? Of course not! For the power and Life He sought, He did with a fast!
Do you think men can access the Lord’s depth with you? Of course not!
It’s I they need. Enoch, almost always! Moses, 40days. Elijah, 50days. Daniel, 21days. Esther, 3days. The Lord Himself, 40days! What does that tell you Mr food? Watch out the lives of these people that engaged me if they remained the same…
How about those that engage you? Anything changes? Nothing of course except toxins added to their system.
That should tell you why they need me and the Lord ever recommended me to them.

Great tension arises in the atmosphere between these two opponent. Thus, the Lord steps in to settle them,

The Lord: Let the dispute end. Let me come in:

You all should know that I did all at creation and made no mistake. I made food for man and not man for food. I made fast too for man.

As my word says, ‘a time to eat and a time to fast’. Man shouldn’t eat all the time nor should he fast all the time.

I never intended food for man as he’s spirit but nevertheless, I made food still for him as I gave him flesh. As long as he’s on earth, he’ll need food or he’ll die.

When he returns to me, he won’t need food as I originally designed but will live in fast. Till then, as long as he lives on earth, he should do both in proportion. For stability, he shouldn’t eat than he fast nor fast than he eats.

In all, they should do whatever either eat or fast to my Glory. That’s what truly matters!

© Jemifor Zaphenathpaaneah Roland

GENERAL, Prayer, STORIES

THE GREAT PEARL OF SALVATION

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St. Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

St. Matthew 13:46: “When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

In the Bible days, Pearls were very precious commodity. They were rare and quite expensive.

The Pearl is remarkably because,

A. It is durable. Other gems may rust away, but the Pearl stays. Other gems may lose their beauty as they get older, but the Pearl never loses any single of its glitters. Hence, in the ancient days, of was passed on from a royal generation to another generation. It never fades, never gets worn out.

B. It is little in size, but great in worth. The Pearl can be the tiniest object on your palm. It can be impercitible. Yet, it is of great worth. It’s worth is not in the size, its worth is in the quality of beauty and virtue it emanates.

C. A Pearl of great size brings wealth to you. A merchant could discover a pearl in his farm, and at the moment of discovery, take it to sell, and becomes a wealthy man over night.

What lessons do we learn from these?

1. Salvation is of a great value. Yes. It is the greatest gift you can ever possess. Your salvation is worth more than the biggest of buildings. Do you know what it cost God? It cost God His own son. The salvation of your soul is worth more than pearls and dollars and pounds and gold. It is worth more than all these things.

And so you must seek for it. Just like the man in the parable sought for it. And even after getting born again, you must keep working out your salvation.

In order to get this perfect salvation which we desire, you must sell all that you have. Not your material possessions. Not your skills and talents. You must give away your sins. Your pride. Your impenitence. Your hate and malice.

You must let them go, if you must procure the great Pearl of salvation.

Salvation is an exchange. It is the letting go of the lower to purchase the higher. It is the letting go of the Earthly, to procure that which is Heavenly. It is letting go of the sensuality and carnality, to procure the treasures of the spirit. It is letting go of the temporal, to procure that which is permanent. It is letting go of your burdens, to carry His yoke which is light and gentle.

There is no salvation without an exchange. You cannot obtain the Great salvation of being united to the Lord in flesh, if you cannot sell off your earthly lusts that stand between you and God.

This Great salvation is costly! You must be ready to let go of your positions and stature in the society to procure it at the last day.

Hebrews 12:1: ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’

There must be a throwing off, for there to be an obtaining. Let go of those besetting and entangling sins. Cut them off and sell them at the market of life.

You must sell off,
Your sins,
Your old worldly friends,
Your worldly habits,
Your self righteousness.

And choose to hold unto this great Pearl of salvation.

And here’s another thing, once procured, it never fades away.

This great Pearl was present with Stephen when he was being stoned to death. It was present with James when he was beheaded. It was present with Paul from the prison, to trial to judgment.

It never goes old. It stays with you, till you go and meet your Master.

I’ll conclude with this excerpt from a profound teacher of God’s word;

“When the pilgrims were in Vanity Fair, one chanced mockingly to say to them. “What will ye buy? “ But they, looking gravely on him, said, “We buy the truth.” At that there was occasion taken to despite them the more; some mocking, some taunting, and some calling upon others to smite them. Nevertheless, in spite of all the abuse, these good pilgrims would only buy the truth; and when they bought it, not for any price would they sell it again. Usually, in ordinary merchandize, what we buy we are at liberty to sell; but it is not so here, for the command is express, “Buy the truth, and sell it not.” And a most merciful provision it is; for, as one says, “Those who sell the truth sell their own souls with it.”

(Robert Macdonald.)


God Bless You 🙂

GENERAL, Ministry, Prayer, Spirituality

Sunday Ministers’ Special: Experience God like Spurgeon

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Charles Spurgeon was a unique combination of personality and prayer. His multifaceted ministry life fell into orbit around his devotional life.

But how did Spurgeon remain devoted to God in the midst of all the distractions that constantly pulled at his attention?

How did Spurgeon keep his focus on Jesus Christ admist the crashing waves of life?

Here are several lessons from Spurgeon about maintaining intimacy with God in the busyiness and routine of everyday life.

1. Experience intimacy with God through the personality He has given you.


Spurgeon had a marvelous and magnetic personality. He was winsome, profound, easy to speak with, and he never forgot a face.

He once told his students, “I once counted eight sets of thoughts which were going on in my brain simultaneously, or at least within the space of the same second.”

No doubt, his memory assisted his pastorate that contained nearly 6,000 members. It was, indeed, a “megachurch” long before that word ever came into the vernacular.

Spurgeon provided oversight to sixty-six organizations, preached multiple times each week, and was a voracious reader. How, then, did he carve out time for prayer and personal devotion?

“I quarry out the truth when I read, but I smelt the ore and get the pure gold out of it when I meditate!”

Spurgeon was once told that a man spent three hours on his knees in prayer.

Spurgeon reponded, “I could not do it if my eternity depended on it!” Then his friend, William, recalled Spurgeon saying,

“I go to God with a promise, which is in reality a cheque issued by God Himself on the bank of heaven. He cashes it for me, and then I go and use what He has given me, to His glory. . . I think I can say that seldom many minutes elapse without my heart speaking to God in either prayer or praise.”

The key to Spurgeon’s prayer life was saturation. By living in a constant atmosphere of prayer and devotion, Spurgeon permeated his life with prayer and that shaped his personality.

2. Allow God to Speak


Another unique aspect of Spurgeon’s walk with God is found in his daily entry into His presence.

He said, “Be much with God in holy dialogue, letting Him speak to you by His Word while you speak back to Him by your prayers and praises.” He understood that “thought is the backbone of study.”

By allowing God to guide our thoughts, Spurgeon focused on responding to God leading. He explained:

“I have spread the Bible on my chair, kneeled down, put my finger upon the passage, and sought of God instruction. I have thought that when I have risen from my knees I understood it far better than before.”

Spurgeon liked to linger on a particular Scripture passage while prayerfully listening as the Holy Spirit illuminated its message.

Of course, there is a always a tendency for us to rush into God’s presence with personal agendas and self-centered to-do lists.

But, when God initiates his conversation with us through Scripture, prayer become God-centered and kingdom-focused.

3. Build an Entry Ramp and Drop an Anchor

Spurgeon not only spoke of meditating upon the Word of God, but he also spoke of meditating on the God of the Word.

When we enter into a conversation with our bosses and superiors, it’s always wise to listen more than we speak.

Likewise, when we approach the throne of God in prayer, we must prioritize the contemplation of the One with whom we encounter.

Spurgeon told his congregation:

“O that you were busy after the true riches, and could step aside awhile to enrich yourselves in solitude, and make your hearts vigorous by feeding upon the person and work of your ever blessed Lord! You miss a heaven below by a too eager pursuit of earth. You cannot know these joyful raptures if meditation be pushed into a corner.”

“You cannot measure a fire by the bushel, nor prayers by their length.”

When we feed upon the person and presence of Jesus Christ, we become satisfied, nourished, and empowered.

Thus, the entry ramp into Scripture intake, prayer, and meditation is not one of religious obligations but intimacy.

Prayerful meditation throughout the day anchors our lives, helps us discover our center, which is Jesus Christ, and launches us into a living relationship with the ultimate Superior.

4. Stay logged in


We often encounter the website message: “Do you want to stay logged in?” In that moment, we have the option of remaining connected or logging out.

Prayer works like that, too. Throughout the day, we can unconsciously log out of prayer with a flippant “amen” and continue on with our busy lives.

However, Spurgeon would challenge us, as Scripture does, to stay logged in.

To stay attentive to God’s voice no matter where our day will lead us. Look at how Spurgeon maintained an open-ended conversation with God.

Peter Morden explains:

“His basic pattern was to pray morning and evening. . . Sometimes he would pray with his family . . . sometimes he would be alone. But his prayer life certainly did not stop there;

Spurgeon wanted to maintain continued communion with God throughout the day.

One of the ways he sought to do this was by praying short, one-sentence prayers as he went about his daily work. . . These short, pithy prayers are what have been called ‘arrow prayers’, prayers addressed to God in the midst of a day full of all sorts of different tasks.”

Fostering communion with God allowed Spurgeon to inject into each of his tasks, decisions, and relationships the guidance, discernment, and blessing that comes directly from Christ.

With Spurgeon, may each of us use our God-given personality to carve out time over the course of our routine to focus on encountering Christ through Scripture intake, prayer, and meditation.

Source: Spurgeon.com

GENERAL, Prayer

Guide to Praying for God’s Protection

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As a believer, prayer is the saintliest duty you can ever perform. No believer is above prayer; from the newest convert to the aged fathers, no saint is ever above prayer.

Prayer is not only a medium of fellowship with God, it is also a medium by which we can receive the manifestation of God’s working power in our lives. Prayer is the secret place in which we dwell under the shadow of the Almighty, free from the enemy’s threat.

In a world like this, where plagues can be contacted despite the adherence to strict health protocols; in which death has become a trend, in a world like this, you must train yourself on how to seek and receive God’s protection for you and your loved ones.

God has laid out principles that the believer should adhere to in order to pray effectively in cases like this. The Father does not want us to pray out of panic or fear or anxiety, rather, He wants us to pray confidently, with faith as sons who know their identity.

The Psalm of David is one which you can use to pray for GOD’S protection. Study it closely, meditate on it, and pray with it.

PSALM 17

 1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer- it does not rise from deceitful lips.

 2 Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 

3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 

4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 

5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. 

6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 

7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Amen 🙏