Let me tell you, Our hearts are desperately wicked, who can know it, who can tame it. We seem to chace after every distraction. the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh and the pride of life drives us. this is what we live for. I want to be good. but I am not, am i fooling myself . I want to compare our salvational experience to a ride in a sailboat. The sailboat has a motor, but the Motor is intended for getting the boat of shore and into the wind. as soon as the sails hit the wind, it just glides over the water. When we give our lives to Christ, we tend to try to make it on our own. we drag ourself through the oceans of life, desperatey trying to get ahead in our own power and we get nowhere. Why don't you steer into the wind for a change. When the Holy Spirit Hit you you will fly like an eagle, from victory to victory. but how could this be possible if you are using your own motor to go to heaven. The motor was never made for sailing. The sailboat is supposed to stay in the wind and the wind will blow it along. Rely on Chirst, Pray for the Holy Spirit and keep on abiding (asking seeking knocking and begging (nagging)!)- Abiding in the Vine is positioning yourself where God can bless you, closing your senses to the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. (Pride it the root of all evil) After pride comes rebellion and this is how the cookie crumbles!
Remeber one thing, you cant save yourself! trust in th Lord of your salvation, rely on his strength, stay close to Him, He loves you. I mean, why did He die for you, WHY? is in not so that you can rely on Him to save you through His great power and not yours. "This is not a cop out" he Bible says, kiss the son of man, meaning, He wants for you to come close to Him and He wants for you to build a relationship with Him to become His bride when the end comes, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. You were called to a love relationship. He plants little seeds, (small little messages everywhere). (Teachers) Sometime we are not willing to accept it and we reject him. We reason that we have “good reasons” at the time. God appeals to your heart. Prayer as in any relationship is a form of communication, personal time spent between you and God. The very idea of a relationship with Him is an offence and revolting to some. We purposely withdraw and lose our relationship with Him and we start to drift apart. Now the very thought of God does not appeal to us anymore. God has a vision for you. But we do not want to commit, we are so busy and we find it His nature to be contradictory to our nature. You might have killed your relationship with God but he still has good feelings towards us and he wants to give us an expected end. We still favor him but we purposely do not spend time with Him and we put steps in place to prevent a relationship to from ever forming again. We do not want to commit ourselves to him and we draw back. Then, without realizing it we distance and disassociate ourselves from him refusing that one on one communication. Being personal with Him becomes a threat. And we are afraid of commitment.
Some go so far as to retract from any form of exposure to his one-on -one communicating, dodging him, and refusing to spend time with him. We are doing more than preventing a relationship but we do not realize, by refusing him we are hurting his feelings of kindness and damaging present and future relationships. This is breaking his heart.
Jesus was totally depended on His Father and He fed off of the Holy Spirit. By example He taught us how to pray and He gave us certain principles to abide by. Jesus was constantly praying. The disciples were more like us; When Jesus prayed, they knew it would take a while, so; they rolled over pushed the snooze button and took a nap. Failing Jesus served as a powerful rebuke against their lack of commitment and insight into prayer. So, Luke 11:1 one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray”
He basically asked, Lord, what should we ask for when we pray?
The Bible is clear on how not to pray Precept upon precept. Jesus said; there are reasons why you are unsuccessful in your prayers. Respect God. Examine your motives and don’t pray long ritualistic memorized prayers, this is praying in vain. Do not pray to gloat. Let your prayers be sincere, personal, intimate and an anthem of praise to God.
James 4:2 You pray for the things you desire, but you won’t get it though. You are asking for the wrong kind of things James 4:3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
You pray for worldly satisfaction and indulgences (our own desires);” it’s all about the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh and the pride of life”, a sense of greed, self-pampering and self-exaltation. This is the root cause of strife, James 4:1 This is why you fight with each other. (It’s “all about the “ME” and the I syndrome) what you need is divine eye salve.
You might be asking, so, how should I prepare My heart for and attitude of prayer. Well first off, James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”. fil 4:5“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men”fil 4:6 “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Your prayer is a gift to God and when we approach Gods throne we come to present a love offering. God will refuse your gift if our hearts are filled with hate and indifference. This is not prayer. Prayer should be offered with a humble spirit, even twds our worst enemies, not a fighting spirit. We are praying for relationships. How can you ask God to help you to build relationships if you refuse to come with “a broken spirit and a contrite heart” So, you are wasting your time in vain. But sincere people will be sure to go and repair relationships first. Then present your gift to God. This gift will be accepted because it flows from an obedient and a sincere heart, which makes it real. So don’t expect your prayers to be answered while you are bickering and fighting eating each other up. Leave your gift at the Altar and don’t come back until you have set things right.
Here is another important thing to watch out for Matt 6:5 Do not pray like the hypocrites, they are not sincere at all; their prayers is more like an stage performance. It’s nothing more than an act and they love to pray where people can notice and praise them. “standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets”
If you hunger after exaltation, you will get praise all right, but not from God, and there will be no reward except the praises you craved. This is nothing more than fruitless works and self-exaltation Matt 6:6
The purpose of prayer is to seek to connect with your Heavenly Father from within your very inner being. It is a deep and personal experience and a private matter, it is not for display, lest any man should boast. If you allow your worship to become a display and if you are giving a performance to be seen by others, you will come to the point where you will have all of the accruements of a Godly person, but you are not godly at all! You are fooling yourself! You will have a “form of Godliness but not the power thereof” What you need is to consecrate yourself to God; make it personal, Then look for a private place where you can dedicate yourself to God and meet with Him without interruptions. This is a place where you can get serious and intimate with God. You should really remove yourself from distractions and find a secret place where you can commune with God - one on one; even if it comes down to locking yourself in your closet. You might think God won’t notice you there but don’t worry Fill 4:-5 “The Lord is near”. Matt 6:6 Psalm 46:10
You cannot understand how the seed grows. You know your heart is deceitfully wicked, This makes you nervous, You are worried wondering “who can tame it” But take courage, “I have overcome the world ”“Fill 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So, don’t be anxious, “your Father which sees in the secret will reward you in the open.” “Be still and know I am God”
Matt 6:7 Another problems I have to deal with is when people pray in vain, by praying long and impressive prayers, memorized prayers, or organized repeated prayers (i.e. God is great God is good and we thank him for our food, amen. glory be to the father. Responsive readings). Some try to bend my ear by talking a lot. Again, they do this for a show. It makes them feel important and they think they are superior to others. Or the prayer becomes nothing more than a transition (On the bulletin it becomes a filler buster) something added to fill space or time. Matt 6:8 Don’t be like them, I want for you to pray to me from the passions of your heart from your most inner being. Your devotion should be fresh and unrehearsed. You might be tempted to think that I won’t answer your prayers if it is not long, eloquent and formal enough, Do you think I can’t hear you? (Psalm 34:15, 17) “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” So, the opposite is true, I can and I will answer you for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” It is not your abilities that count but your willingness to dialog and to become one with Him. The Holy Spirit will modify your prayers to please God.
Matt 6:9 When you pray, 2 Remember whom your praying to, “Our Father which art in heaven”
Also, do not forget, you were made to Glorify God “Glorified be thy name”. I already explained to you what the nature of a Kingdom child is. So, if you are really longing for a deeper and more intimate relationship with God, you should pray Matt 6:10 “Let thy Thy kingdom come. Please give me deeper and more intimate relationship with You,: “let Thy will be done” Is asking: Lord please take me through a process of sanctification, to be more Christ minded. Help me to submit my will to Your will and My wishes to Your every command.
And you are probably wandering, now what is your will exactly? 1John 5:14 I will reveal my will to you through your prayers. When you pray “let Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth”. Making this request becomes proof to you whether you are heavenly minded or self-centered. Ask Me to Guide you, to help you to be transformed into a Kingdom Kid. Matt 7:7, Luke 18, I need for you to A.S.K. I did not ask you to keep on asking for no apparent reason. If you are not asking to point of nagging, it proves only one thing. You really don’t want it badly enough. You pray once about something and you forget it, you even doze off while praying. I guess it was not that important to you in the first place. If you really wanted what you asked for, you would have desired it with your “whole soul your whole mind and your whole might” So much so, you will not stop praying until you get it. You might go so far as to say. I will not let you go till you bless me. Just Remember pray according to my will! This is the only prayer I can answer. If you are not dedicated enough to pray until you receive it, you will not get it! (God will give according to His will only) You see, sometimes you need to want something so bad that you will be prepared to seek God until you become changed into His likeness, to position yourself where God can bless you with His gifts. My gifts are mostly Spiritual, so don’t be carnally minded. I cannot give my gifts to everyone who mentions the word “gift” neither to those who pray amiss. You must actually allow me to transform you into the very person that you want to become Christ like. The gifts I will give you will be tailor made for your situation. But start by asking for the “gift of the Holy Spirit” this I will give to those who obey me “I will bless you and keep you” I am the author and the finisher of your faith and I will finish it unto the end, if you are willing to ask! Baby steps it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
But refusing to ask continually is like breaking communication and hanging up on God. This is failing to allow God to change you through a process of constant communication. This rebellion will eventually turn into the sin against the Holy Spirit. “I cannot forgive this” (My will is! “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…”) that’s the key! So, every request should revolve around this one prayer. (I mean, did I not say “I will add all of these things unto you” it will be credited to your account). So, examine your motives and ask yourself this very important question: How often did I pray this prayer so far and what I want. Am I asking for is it to the glory of God or just for me. This is not a onetime “two way calling” kind of prayer, it is more like “pay as you go” with “unlimited airtime” for the life of the contract. feeding off of God allowing Him give you turn by turn instructions. Are you connected, are you tracking? “Pay now or pay later” “Can you hear me now?” This prayer will never end, staying in conversation, as you grow. It’s your lifeline. I will teach you and I will put words in your mouth so that you can know what to ask for next. But the petitions and the answers to prayer will pivot on “Let thy will be done” and my will and my character is love!
2cor 1:20 The promises are good. It’s guaranteed. If you desire my will and if you ask for it, “I will perform it unto the end” 1 Cor 1:8 and you will be “blameless” when I come. I will reveal myself to you, but don’t think you can ask, Lord, I want to be glorified, without going through the process of sanctification. Don’t show up in heaven claiming the reward if you refused to be part of the fight. Be a prayer warrior and see the salvation of the Lord. Be the good seed, accept the Kingdom message. It’s like leaven saturating the Soul, allow it to do its work. Different prayers and supplications will grow out of this one prayer. The acceptance of Gods Kingdom message is your mission and your vision, but to get there you must pray continually and persistently. Luke 18 I don’t mind nagging, but I hate silence. I love to hear your voice. The Holy Spirit modifies your prayers as it ascends into the very throne room of God. Psalm 142:2 I savor the experience and I receive it like sweet smelling incense. Why do you think you can go through a process of sanctification with a select few words only? – Keep it up. I will give you a new heart, and a new way of thinking. The Holy Spirit has to take you through a process of elimination; you will produce fruits as you use your talents by “abiding in the Vine”. Use the one talent you have. God cannot help you if you are not asking for it; it is just that simple!
Pray for Love and humility, for salvation and spiritual perception, sanctification, repentance and a heart of flesh. Ask God to reveal Himself to you - and so much more, as the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. If you praise me and study my character A.S. K. You must want to become like me. Pray sincerely enough/ reach out to God and I will reach out to You” -any way you can.
Don’t be double minded and let your eye be single James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Don’t forget the source of your life. Remember to ask God, Luke 11: 3 “Give us day by day our daily bread” and do remember to thank Him for His provision. God lives in the praises of His people. Expose your heart and glorify God and show a little bit of gratitude, for a change, wont you?
You are a sinner in need of a savior, remember that! I am here,
You might want to remember to ask Luke 11: 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. Your willingness to surrender your will to my will will enable Me to use you and to deliver you from all kinds of evil, Numb 11:23 The Lords hand is not to short to reach you? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
Let me say it like this. Luke 11: 5 if you wake up your friend at midnight, asking him for bread. He will most probably say Luke 11: 7 don’t bother me, I need to sleep, Luke 11: 8 but remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. And you will get what you want if you are persistent enough. In the very same way, if you want to be saved and if you want to grow you’d better be persistent. A.S.K. Nagging and begging.
Luke 11: 9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
I am your heavenly Father; I am the embodiment of love. You give good gifts to your children; me too! God will give without measure I can give you the Gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life; I give it freely, but only “to them that ask?”
All my promises is yes and amen! And When You see me, I will show you my love to you
Are you holding unto ropes of sand? The holy spirit will work in you like the wind.
You are the one standing in the need of Prayer, so why don't you God will complete it unto the end, He will complete you, He will finish the work in you, but you must stay close.
