A Line To The Almighty

A long time ago I posted on this subject. Labels with prayer mentioned in them keep popping up. So I guess it is time, once again, to mention the subject.
Everyone prays. The eastern belief system refers to this as chanting instead of prayer. And I realize it is not the same, but they chanters expect to make contact with some spiritual being whom they hope will happen to help them.
No, prayer ,as I am talking about it, true prayer, is only done successfully by the Christian.
Definition: Christian. One who has a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, whom has said, No one comes to the Father by through me.
Of course you would want to talk to God if you have a relationship. Just as you would talk to a friend.
What should you talk to Him about? Everything. Your day's events. Your worries. Your joys. Your needs.
He wants to hear from you. He is waiting to hear your voice.
Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.
It is a line to the Almighty.
When you have a relationship with Him it is like you belong to a family. If you are normal you talk to your family. In return your family talks to you.
God talks to those who have a relationship with Him by the Bible. God overshadowed the writers and what we have is what He wants to communicate. I think that is a great deal.
Please consider talking to God on a more regular basis. But to be heard you must have a relationship with Him. Otherwise He is not obligated to hear and answer.

Am I Praying Correctly?- Posting Three

Open My eyes That I may See

  Often we are praying, or attempting to pray, and we wonder, is there anyone there?
   Does anyone receive our prayers?  That is very important to know. Does someone really care, other than ourselves?
   Hebrews 11:6 states that ...for those who come to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. And seeking is active and expectant .
    Prayer doesn't have to always be because of need. Prayer is a normal conversation between a parent and a child.
     Remember, I posted earlier that it is a family deal. You have been adopted by God if you have a relationship with Him. Children ask their parents, in this case, Father, for things. The father listens because you are his child. They hear you in a different manner than the person who is not his kid. He doesn't have to hear and answer the neighbor's kid. He has a special link with you that he doesn't have with the other child.
     Also he doesn't have to answer you if you are not asking according to His will.
     Where is this will found?
      In  the Bible.
      That is also why I say you should pray before reading the daily Bible section. "Show me what you have today for me"
       And the prayer doesn't have to be a set written prayer. It is better if it comes from your heart in your own words.
      You could use others prayers as examples, sure, but this is your need not the others.
       Feel free to express your self to God. He wants to hear from you.
      

Prayer Is A Weapon- posting two

Pray

We must never think of prayer is just worthless. It has great worth. But only in the hands of the right people.
  When I talk about right people I am referring to those who have a relationship with God. I am talking in the realm of family again.
   Jesus Christ died and rose again to give those who are His the access needed to have their prayers heard and answered.
    Why would we need prayer?
   This is easy to answer. Just the same way we need to ask our parents for what we need, we need to pray. God has set up a supply and demand route.
   Just as our parents supplied our needs when we asked, so God has set up a relationship that we can understand when we pray.
  Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it shall be opened.
   It is a weapon also. 
   Along with it being a way for asking for what we need or just a conversation method with our creator, it is also a weapon for use in  the spiritual warfare we are in..
   When we become born again and start this relationship with God, like in a family-He the parent and we the child, we  get a spiritual enemy. It is the same one as Jesus has. Yes, there is a spiritual realm around all of us. The devil leaves people who have no relationship to God alone. Why should he, the devil, worry about them. They are his already.
    He goes after the relationship of those who are part of the family of God.
    We can read about the armor needed for this warfare in the book of Ephesians six.
     Prayer is a very important weapon. We fight back with the scripture we have memorized and hid in our heart. But we pray to God for the needed wisdom to strap on the armor and stand firm.   
    

Let's Look At Prayer - posting one

I am back. It has been a long time. Yet I have a good subject to spend a couple of postings on.
 The subject being prayer.

  In the past I have talked about Bible study and  its methods. Well and good. But without prayer, just what good is it for you to open your Bible and read it expecting to hear God speaking to you?
  Not much use without prayer.
  Prayer releases aid.
   A way to look at it is a wrestling match. You asking and God on the other end moving things around to get the answer to you.
   Prayer isn't a coin machine. Put money in and then have something drop down in the slot for you to pick up and walk away with. No, prayer is relationship. You grab hold of God and tell Him what is on your mind.
   In a way it is not only asking but communicating. About the same way you communicate with your fellow being. How are you? What did you do today? Boy, you should have seen the near hit I almost had.
   Relationship. Communication. Waiting for the answer.
   So how do you pray? Like normal conversation. But you need to have a connection. You need to be one who is a family member. Does God know you?  Do you know God? 
  God will not answer the prayer offered by someone not in His family. The only prayer of a non-member He says He will hear is "Save Me. I am lost. I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe God rose you from the dead. I ask you into my life.
  
  

Prayers May Be Answered

  Have you even had times when you have wondered--is God even listening to my prayers? Does He even incline his ear to my requests and answered them?
  That is a few questions. And the Bible infers the answer to the last two by what it does say.
   I consider the Bible to be God's communication with us humans in the revealing of Himself. All through the first half of the Bible He reveals Himself as a person who hears prayer and answers prayer of those who are in a relationship with Him.
   He gave a son to Hannah when she asked. He saved Lot form Sodom when Abraham asked Sodom to be spared if ten righteous people could be found. Only Lot was found.
   He heard Jesus when Jesus prayed. He hears us also according to 1John 5:14. "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.' (esv)
 It is my contention that our asking is what is being referred to here as God's will.
 this promise is only for Christians. I define a Christian as one who has a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is a family relationship.
  As for belief, this is where faith steps in. For without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith says that God exists and is one who rewards those who are His.

`Context Is Everything

      I got to thinking recently about prayer. When I pray is my prayer making a difference? Is God hearing?
      I do accept the Bible as the written communication of God to me and others who are His. I don't hold to God speaking face to face with each one of us today. He has spoken in His Son and He has authored the Bible. That is the extent of His communication with us when it comes to what we need to know about Him.
     Anyway, as I was starting to say about prayer. Does God answer prayer?
     In the Bible we are told that Jesus ( God in the flesh) is the same yesterday, today and forever. In context, what does that mean?
    Now, I am not ordained. I don't belong to any denomination nor can I be the man who stands up and says this is what God says. I am not the under-shepherd. But I am a seeekr.
     When this was penned the time was during the first century.. Jesus--God answered prayer in the Old Testament period of time. That was before God became flesh and dwelt among us. That is the yesterday being spoken about.
    God became flesh and dwelt among us. God heard prayer offered then and answered. That was the now.
    After Jesus ascended and the Bible was closed toward the end of the first century when John finished Revelation, that is the forever.
.   God answered in the days before becoming flesh. He answered when He was in flesh. He answers now based on what He has done in the past. So I could conclude that He hears and answers prayer now in the twenty-first century.

A look at Matthew 7:7

   Part of Christian Duty is to set up a Bible Study time and a period of Scripture memorization.. I am memorizing the sermon Jesus gave on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5 -7. 
   Today I would like to record a thought on Matthew 7:7. You know how it goes. "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.

   I discovered that the words 'Ask, Seek , Knock' are written in the Greek as present imperative. Imperatives are commands. Jesus wants us to ask, seek knock. Present in the sense that they are continuous. Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking.    
   I also discovered that for the first century person when Jesus said knock it was understood as another way to say pray.
   Theerfore it is a promise. And God Himslef said it. I firmly believe that Jesus is God in fleshly form. Therefore anything He says is the same as God saying it.

A Father is a Champ

     Today is Father's day. Happy Father's day to all the dads and dads to be. You are heroes. We all salute you. You don't have an easy job. Your children look up to you to see just what a man is like. Your sons say that is what I want to be when I grow up. Better yet, that is who I want to be when I grow up. Your daughters look at you and say, that is the type of man I want to marry. Your wives look at you and say, that is the man I married and God blessed me with the perfect man, suited for me.
     And when you are not as perfect as you want to be or think you should be, that is when you should be transparent enough to say that you are not perfect but that is okay. God is not done working on me.

     And father, don't forget your source when it comes down to it. You are only as good as the source of your authority.

Prayer--God's Weapon

   Before talking about other doctrines I feel I should discuss the one tool all Christians have and probably don't really understand. That is the tool of prayer.
    God speaks to us through the Scriptures. It is His communication if we believe it or not. It really doesn't make any sense until we become a child of His through a relationship with Him. It was that way when I became a Christian back in '68. The book suddenly seemed alive and meaningful. Before that time, if I ever read it, especially in religion classes, it was just words.
    When I became a Christian the Holy Spirit, the thrid person of the Godhead, came to dwell inside me. He no longer was outside me trying to convict me of sin and unrighteousness. I was getting enough of that from the Roman Catholic Church I used to belong to but by 1968 had given up on. There was no truth to be found in that group.
    Anyway, I was saying, now the Holy Spirit was within me and teaching me what the Scriptures said. God used preachers of good Bible believing, Bible teaching Churches to firm me up.
    But I now could talk to God and He would hear me and answer me. This is what prayer is. A communication between God and the believer..  There is a Father/child relationship set up. It takes time to learn. It is a process. You learn to pray by praying.
   There are many books out there on prayer. Andrew Murray In The School Of Prayer  is a good one. There are others. I am not doing this post to liist them.
   But the best book on prayer and how to do it is the Scriptures. All the characters in the Scriptures prayed. You can learn by sitting in and listening to them pray
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Study To Show Yourself Approved

Fine. Let's continue in this series, and it will be a series, on Bible Study Methods.
 Bible study is like a treasure hunt. There is so much there. Another way to look on it is that you have a picture puzzle that you need to put together. Each piece makes it easier to see the whole picture. Of course, you are coming to Bible Study with the motivation to hear what God has to say to you. It is therefore different than that sermon on Sunday or whenever you have your church service.
 There are many reason to study the Bible, I have found. They are known as study skills that need to  be mastered. You won't have them all at once. It is progressive. The important thing is to study to apply it to your life.
  Why study? Because study is essential to your growth. I Peter 2:2 tells us that.
  Please,it will be easier for you to have your Bible near you and open to flip to these passages. I find it easier to read the passages as they are mentioned. I like to follow the flow of thought of the discussion, and sometimes I find myself stopping to question the posting.. is that really what it says?  If I can't come to some conclusion I table it for later.

  Also if you want a vital prayer life Knowledge of the Word is essential. And  may I suggest as you continue in Bible Study that you pass on what you are learning. Maybe in a small Bible group if at all possible.  At least journal what you are learning.
  Stay disciplined. Don't get discouraged. You can do this by setting study goals.The way I did it was to decide to study a small passage and master it. Maybe memorizing a verse from the study. .the most imposrtant verse I found in that section. This made it easier for me to meditate on scripture.
   Also if you need help don't be too proud to ask for it.  You need to understand the passage and sometimes others have an insight you haven't thought about. Don't try to do it as a Lone Ranger Christian. Stay in fellowship..
  This posting has covered ground. This ground will be plowed as a the postings go on.
   Of course the most important factor. Are you a Christian? If not, than what I am posting should make no sense to you.  You need Spiritual understanding and that comes only by a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 
    

Let's Start Studying

 I have found that it is very important for me to study the Bible to really start to hear what God is saying. This is more than a daily morning devotional read. And I thought, say, wouldn't it be nice to share with others how to do it.
  In sharing this with the public I realized it will take many postings. That will be fine because this blog is in the growth phase and what better way to allow you, the reader, to grow with it.
  So the most important thing to consider as we start in on a study program is to find a spot free from distractions and noise. I found by my doing so it made it easier to concentrate. I would use a pencil to jot down my observations.
  Next I would pray. Since this was God's Holy Book I was holding in my hands and attempting to study. I realized I needed the Holy Spirit to help me understand it. Psalm 119:18 was an appropriate prayer for me to use. "Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
   Next I would read and look up Scripture the Holy Spirit would bring to mind. Always in context. As the posts go on we will explore this in more depth. But each Scripture has a background. When written. To whom written. What was going on at the time.  read, reread, study aand think about what was read. these were steps I was taking to study the Bible.
  And I jot down what I was learning. And I would apply it., Praying at all times that the Holy Spirit who was abiding within me would be my teacher.
  Soon I began to realize that the more I knew the more I was responsible to live up to it
   More later..

New Birth

It is exciting to be in on the ground floor of a new church plant. On the 27th we are having a baby shower for the new venture. As I have posted earlier some person will be walking away with a new IPad2. But that is not the reason a person should get excited. A person should get excited because God is at work.
  Lots of prayer will be needed. Prayer is important. The fervent prayer of a righteous man is very powerful.
  The mother church is Acts. Pastor Joe wouldn't be backing this venture if he didn't know the new pastor he was backing. Pastor Daryl has worked under him for twelve years, most of these years getting trained. Daryl is a graduate of Biola University and presently is attending Talbot Theological Seminary. Pastor Joe, the pastor of Acts, feels that when God saves you He gives you a gift. Also when God calls you to the minisrty it is a call to prepare.And once a person is prepared God will open doors.

Obama and his plan

Seems our Presdient Obama is trying to spread the blame again and zeroing in on the Republican party as the main blockage to his plan. I don't think this is wise for him to do. It has always been said that when you point at a person you have fingers pointing back at you.
 He should get on with leading the counrty and forget trying to divide between the two parties. Both Democrats, Republicans, and Independents have to work together. And he as the president has to mediate not blame.
  In actuallity the United Staes is in God's hands. He is the one who elevates countries and brings down countries I would have people pray fopr wisdom for Obama and peace between the two parties in Washington D.C. Yes, pray that we not cause harm. Also for great wisdom for President Obama.

Things to Pray For

Was reading through my Bible the other day and especially in the Epistle to the Philiipians. Happened to notice some things to pray for for people. Thought you may be interested

1. That a persons love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment
2. To be more blameless and sincere until the day of Christ
3. That they progress in the Faith
4. That they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel
5. That they stand firm in one Spirit
6. That they not be alarmed by thier opponents
7. That they prove to be blameless and innocent.
8. That they be above reproach in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation
9. That they press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
10. That they stand firm in the Lord

    I think that is a good place to start in our prayers.
    Talk to you next  time.

A hopeful Solution

Reading through my Los Angeles Times this morning and I am noticing that there is a problem, it seems. Our nation is coming to a situation where our House and Senate are fighting over a budget and our President Obama is trying to pull the two together and come to some solution. It was President Truman who had a sign on his desk, "the buck ends here."
 So it is with Obama. Whatever the outcome, we are going to be pointing our fingers ulimately to him. As a praying nation, and I hope that we are such, we should pray for wisdom for him as well as the members of the Senate and House. Prayer works. It really works if you are a Christian, that is, a person who has a personal relationship with  God through Jesus Christ. John 14:6. If you don't know God and wish to you can.
  I will wait for your request before I post how. I respect your free will.