Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
One of the biggest hindrances to answered prayer is doubt & unbelief. The obstacle before us is the ability to believe. We have come to understand that believing is a choice. We have been given grace to overcome all things. Grace is the power to overcome what we in ourselves can not.
We choose what we believe & how we believe.
The decision we base that belief in is our standard by which we judge everything. Some judge things by their experiences. Others judge by their knowledge and education.
We as the children of God Almighty are to use His standard to measure what we believe. That standard is His Word. If we do not keep His word as the final authority we will have no faith in Him to perform anything He has promised.
Our faith is placed solely in Him, not in our abilities. We needed a Savior. Father sent His Son. We needed a teacher to lead us. Father sent His Holy Spirit. We needed a guide book by which we could live. Father gave us His written Word. In ourselves we can do nothing. Jesus gave us the example to live by. He did what He saw His Father do. He was led by the Holy Spirit. He knew the Word and used it to defeat Satan. Jesus is our example.
De 30:19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
"Only believe" is the heart cry of our Father. We make His word the source of our life, we release Him to keep His promises. A relationship is a two party commitment. It's not one-sided.
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Our part is to believe. This is our faith in Him. This is our belief in Him. This is where our prayers become effective.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Relationship is at the Heart of Prayer
Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Jesus calls His children into the heart of the matter when He teaches. It's all a matter of the heart. We, as His people, have fallen into the trap of the world as we seek after "things". He counsels in His sermon on the Mount not to seek after "things" like clothes, a roof over your head or even food. These basic things, He tells us, our Father in Heaven is already aware that we have need. Jesus goes so far as to tell His people not to worry about these things, but to trust that our Father is a good Father who will provide.
The key issue at hand is revealed when Jesus tells us to seek the Kingdom of God. He teaches us that here all things are provided. Here we are His children & He is a good Father. He provides all things, after we believe and receive Him as our Father through Christ Jesus. The fact then is He is our Father. The relationship is established. We ask from the point of relationship. We cry out "Abba Father".
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
One of the key factors within the Kingdom is faith. We cannot please God without it. We cannot operate within His realm, which is our home, any other way. He has even given us the measure of faith that we need to come to Him.(Romans 12:3) If any of His children would come to Him in any other manner, it would be impossible for Him to respond. Our Father made the rules of which He alone is God. He established the way home, which is Jesus. He established the law of the Kingdom which is faith. He established the function or relationship of the kingdom which is family. All who live here are family. We live in love, peace and joy.
Ro 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Joh 17:26 "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Jesus declared to everyone His Father's name, the name and relationship of Father. He taught us that when we pray, we pray to "Our Father".
Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Lu 18:17 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
We are taught that our standing is one of relationship. We must have that relationship set firm when we go to Him in prayer. So many prayers never go above the ceiling of the rooms because they are not a matter of the heart. They are offered out of tradition and obligation.
But when we pray, we share in the heart of the matter at hand. The heart of the matter is that the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus expressed repeatedly He did nothing that He didn't see His Father do. He was about His Father's will. Jesus is our example. Our prayers are to be offered up in agreement with our Heavenly Father and His word, that His word & will be accomplished. When we are about His business He is about ours.
Seek first the kingdom and all things will be added. Seek the Kingdom Work first. Seek His heart, His ways, His will. He is a loving Father who cares for His children. We submit ourselves to Him and His will. We are not our own. We belong to Him.
Prayer is guided by His Holy Spirit. He reveals the matters at hand that need focused prayer. His heart is about His people, the lost and issues of His Word being fulfilled. We are called His House of Prayer. His children are His prayer warriors. It's not a special calling that some are drawn to, but it is the high calling of being of a kingdom of priests.
Mt 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Pray always to know our Father's heart. The matter of the heart is revealed through relationship born out of the knowledge that He loved us first. He loved us so much He gave His only Son that we may become sons and daughters in His kingdom of His dear Son. We pray to touch His heart. We pray because we love Him. We pray to accomplish His will on this earth so others will see and know Him. He is Jesus. He is Father. He is the Holy Spirit. They are one. And we are family.
I was first taught that "we approach God with fear and trepidation". I was afraid to approach Him much less become close enough to Him to pray. I have learned that I am to run to my "Daddy's" arms. They are open wide to hold me and His love is so great He will always listen to hear me. He is a good Father. Pray always and without ceasing to know our Father's heart.
Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Jesus calls His children into the heart of the matter when He teaches. It's all a matter of the heart. We, as His people, have fallen into the trap of the world as we seek after "things". He counsels in His sermon on the Mount not to seek after "things" like clothes, a roof over your head or even food. These basic things, He tells us, our Father in Heaven is already aware that we have need. Jesus goes so far as to tell His people not to worry about these things, but to trust that our Father is a good Father who will provide.
The key issue at hand is revealed when Jesus tells us to seek the Kingdom of God. He teaches us that here all things are provided. Here we are His children & He is a good Father. He provides all things, after we believe and receive Him as our Father through Christ Jesus. The fact then is He is our Father. The relationship is established. We ask from the point of relationship. We cry out "Abba Father".
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
One of the key factors within the Kingdom is faith. We cannot please God without it. We cannot operate within His realm, which is our home, any other way. He has even given us the measure of faith that we need to come to Him.(Romans 12:3) If any of His children would come to Him in any other manner, it would be impossible for Him to respond. Our Father made the rules of which He alone is God. He established the way home, which is Jesus. He established the law of the Kingdom which is faith. He established the function or relationship of the kingdom which is family. All who live here are family. We live in love, peace and joy.
Ro 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Joh 17:26 "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Jesus declared to everyone His Father's name, the name and relationship of Father. He taught us that when we pray, we pray to "Our Father".
Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Lu 18:17 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
We are taught that our standing is one of relationship. We must have that relationship set firm when we go to Him in prayer. So many prayers never go above the ceiling of the rooms because they are not a matter of the heart. They are offered out of tradition and obligation.
But when we pray, we share in the heart of the matter at hand. The heart of the matter is that the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus expressed repeatedly He did nothing that He didn't see His Father do. He was about His Father's will. Jesus is our example. Our prayers are to be offered up in agreement with our Heavenly Father and His word, that His word & will be accomplished. When we are about His business He is about ours.
Seek first the kingdom and all things will be added. Seek the Kingdom Work first. Seek His heart, His ways, His will. He is a loving Father who cares for His children. We submit ourselves to Him and His will. We are not our own. We belong to Him.
Prayer is guided by His Holy Spirit. He reveals the matters at hand that need focused prayer. His heart is about His people, the lost and issues of His Word being fulfilled. We are called His House of Prayer. His children are His prayer warriors. It's not a special calling that some are drawn to, but it is the high calling of being of a kingdom of priests.
Mt 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Pray always to know our Father's heart. The matter of the heart is revealed through relationship born out of the knowledge that He loved us first. He loved us so much He gave His only Son that we may become sons and daughters in His kingdom of His dear Son. We pray to touch His heart. We pray because we love Him. We pray to accomplish His will on this earth so others will see and know Him. He is Jesus. He is Father. He is the Holy Spirit. They are one. And we are family.
I was first taught that "we approach God with fear and trepidation". I was afraid to approach Him much less become close enough to Him to pray. I have learned that I am to run to my "Daddy's" arms. They are open wide to hold me and His love is so great He will always listen to hear me. He is a good Father. Pray always and without ceasing to know our Father's heart.
Seek first the Kingdom of God.
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