God Is Love

 

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is Love, and he that dwells in Love dwells in God, and God in him. 

Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law.

GOD IS LOVE

    What is this Love that God is? It is more than any kind of love you have ever known. This Love goes beyond brotherly love, which is outlined here in 1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, you be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be tenderhearted, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing." 

    This Love that God is, is deeper than any intimate relationship love we have known with another person. It is more than a sentimental love, more than a familial love, more than a spousal love, more than a best friend love. It is all-encompassing and divinely unconditional. It is AGAPE.

    Agape, as described in The Topical Lexicon: 'denotes a holy, self‐giving disposition that originates in God, is displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ, and is implanted in believers by the Holy Spirit.'

    This Love that God is flows so deep that when our sins are washed in it, they are never seen again. In this Love God blots out our sins and they become like mist [Isaiah 44:2; 1 John 1:9]. 

    This Love which God is fills us with The Hope of His Salvation through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. This Love is a poured out Love, poured into our hearts.

    Romans 5:5

And hope makes us not ashamed; because The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by The Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

    This Love Whom God is, is Grace in Action. It is Jesus' ministry, Jesus' gospel message, Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead given to anyone who will hear it; everyone who will receive it and believe it and live it. 

    As Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, this, too, is my prayer for you:

    Ephesians 3:16-21

16. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 

17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18. will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

19. of the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

21. to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Warrior of The Word - The Tongue of Discipleship

 

Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

The Lord GOD has given Me 

the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with 

a Word him who is weary. 

Morning by morning He awakens Me; 

He awakens My ear to hear 

as those who are taught.

    Though the prophet Isaiah is speaking here, it is Christ who speaks through him. That's prophecy, The Word foretold through the writings of one of God's faithful servants and friend, Isaiah. Because Isaiah was willing to learn what God had to say. 

    Are we in a place where we are willing to learn what God wants to say to us? The word 'disciple' means learner, one who learns what is being taught. In other words, disciple is student. 

    A disciple listens to the teacher, taking in the words of wisdom and instruction, as a thirsty man slakes his thirst at a cool spring. The thirsty never get their fill of godly instruction. The hungry are never satisfied with just the crumbs. The true disciple goes back to the teacher for more instruction, more learning, more learning to apply what is being learned. 

    Here Jesus Christ is telling us that He is learning the tongue of discipleship. The tongue that He will speak to the weary soul, calling that soul to strengthen it and give it rest, true rest. Rest in Christ Himself. 

    Matthew 11:28

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

     Just as Isaiah learned to listen to God, to hear what He had to say through Isaiah's mouth and writing, so, too does Jesus listen to God that He may speak what The Father would have us to know.

    John 12:49, 50

“I have not spoken on My own, but The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what The Father has told Me to say.”

    Hebrews 4:9, 10

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

    The  tongue of discipleship has a learning ear. Instruction enters it when morning awakens the listening soul. O soul, are you eager to rise when the voice of The Lord enters your hearing? Slumber falls into the shadows of dawn and the listening heart rejoices to hear its Master's voice.

    But too many hear The Word of The Lord without hearing The Word of The Lord. Their ears are deaf and their hearts are hardened. They receive about as much instruction from The Word as a wooden idol. A pebble hears better than they do. 

    The tongue of discipleship drips like honey. Each Word that The Teacher speaks enters sweetly into the ear of the learner. Proverbs 16:24 says it best. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 

    The Law of The Lord comes from The Lord GOD. For He it is Who gave us The Law to begin with. And note, it is ONE LAW. One Law composed of many regulations. And this Law of The Lord GOD is sweet and desirable to the faithful disciple. The Law is The Word, and The Word is Jesus Christ. One Law, One Word, One Savior.

    Psalm 19:10

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

    Psalm 119:72

The Law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 

    How can The Law come from The Lord's mouth unless that Law is spoken. In order for that Law to be spoken, The Words must be orated. And The Word accomplishes Itself, for It does not return to The Father without having done so. 

    Isaiah 55:11

So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But It shall accomplish what I please, And It shall prosper in the thing for which I sent It.

   John 19:30

 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

    Mark 16:19

After The Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    We praise You, God, for all that You speak to Your disciples. O Lord, help us to be able learners of Your Word, applying it to our daily lives. Open our ears and our hearts to receive Your instruction, that we might become holy vessels of honor for Your use. Fill us with Your precious Holy Spirit right now, O Lord, that You may find us faithful servants and friends. You have made us Your sons and Your daughters through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. We have received Your Word knowing the consequences of such obedient faith and we long to see Your face when we have run our course. 

    To You be all the glory and honor and praise! Amen. 

     

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Nineteen

    

 

Psalm 83:16, 18

 Fill their faces with shame, 

That they may seek Your Name, O LORD.

That they may know that You alone, 

Whose Name is The LORD, 

are The Most High over all the earth.

    Israel being under attack is nothing new. But there is coming a time when all of Israel's enemies will cease to exist. Until that time, knowing who they are may be a big help in aiding her. And while it may not seem  so on the surface of The Word, Asaph is, indeed, praying for Israel's peace. But in order for Israel to be at peace her enemies must be destroyed. 

    In Psalm 83, Asaph sings a prayer to God, asking first off that God not be silent at this time. 
Psalm 83:1
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. Do not keep silent, O God; Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God. 

    Second, he asks God to see the tumult going on down here. And who is making all this great noise against Israel.

Psalm 83:2

For behold, Your enemies are in tumult, And those who hate You have raised their heads [in hatred of You]. 

    The word 'tumult' is derived from the Aramaic word 'hamah', which means: clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar;  roar, boisterous, become disturbed, disturbed, howl, make an uproar;  to be in great commotion, to rage, war, moan, clamor. 

    Does any of this sound familiar in our day now? Those who hate God will always come against God's people, both His elect and His church. When they raise their heads, they are not humbling themselves to God. God's enemies defy Him and refuse to recognize His Authority. They repent not, nor do they see any reason to. 

    Asaph tells God how their enemies have come against them. 

Psalm 83:3, 4

They concoct crafty schemes against Your people, And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

    Scheming and conspiracies always begin in the dark, in the hidden realms, where men's eyes cannot see clearly, and the heart holds deceit and treachery. A person may say one thing with their lips, but their true self is hidden. However, when many oppose the few, the many congregate and plan their modes of attack and domination together.     Since they care not for Israel's God, they care little for Israel and Israel's allies. 

But God knows all hearts, and even Israel's enemies will eventually fail and fall permanently. Until then, we must stand together against them and with her. 

    Asaph speaks of alliances formed amongst the ten nations who have come against Israel. They are people of one mind: destroy Israel and wipe it off the face of the earth (vs4). The desire of Israel's enemies will never be fulfilled. Though many of us will die in conflicts with her enemies, we will never fully be destroyed, for we are God's people and Christ is our Hope and Salvation.

Psalm 83:5-8

For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagarenes. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have become an arm for the sons of Lot. Selah. 

    Ten nations, ten kingdoms, whose uniform desire is to destroy Israel. And ultimately The Holy God she worships. These kingdoms Asaph is praying against. He lists her enemies and in so doing tells God that all of these nations have formed an alliance against Him, against His God. (God knows who His enemies are, but this last prayer of Asaph is for our benefit, as well).

    God's desire is for all to be saved from eternal damnation. That's why He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross. [2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16-18] But not all will desire God's salvation plan because God is Holy and His people need to be holy to stay in His holiness. That's why we are given God's Holy Spirit, Who reveals God to us through God's Word. 

    Our enemies do not want to be holy and they rage against us in every evil way they can. Not just in warfare with guns and knives, but in warfare of the mind and heart. If the enemy of our souls can get a foothold in the door of how we think and what we think, then his whispers penetrate our decision-making. Our enemies use words that incite violence and death to be perpetrated upon us. 

    But let's return to the ten kingdoms here. The descendants of these nations who were fighting against Israel in Asaph's time are still fighting against Israel in our time. Their kingdoms were of great size and their armies were strong. But in their unified goal to destroy Israel, their armies and armaments increased. They were 'Goliath' against 'David'. They still are. And we know how that battle turned out. What is there to fear when God fights for His people? 

    In Psalm 83:9-17 Asaph asks God to bring down these ten nations, to destroy them completely. Not just for Israel's benefit, but that these kingdoms would 'ever be ashamed and terrified' of Israel's Holy God. But just before that verse (17), Asaph says something about these nations that seems to be out of context, but isn't. 

    Psalm 83:16

Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your Name, O LORD.

    Asaph prayed for deliverance on God's enemies. He prayed for their salvation through God. He prayed for them to know the shame of their ways and to repent of their wicked ways. He prayed that they would seek God's Name. Seek to know God. Seek to know God for their God, that they would be God's people. He prayed for them to come to the knowledge of saving grace. For all of these things happen when we seek The Name of The LORD. And speak It. [Romans 10:9-13]. 

    Those who refuse to seek The Name of The Lord even today are only seeking their own undoing. Their time will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Every eye will see Him Whom they pierced. [Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5]. Those who seek to destroy God will find themselves destroyed in the end, unless they repent now and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, is God's plan of salvation, is God's only begotten Son, is God's Right Arm of Righteousness. 

    Psalm 83:18

That they may know that You alone, Whose Name is The LORD, are The Most High over all the earth.

    We, like Asaph, are to pray for our enemies. We are to ask God to bless them with our blessings. Namely, salvation and deliverance. But also in ministering to their needs: with food, drink, and clothing; with medicine and shelter; with visiting the imprisoned. To console and comfort. To share what we have been given by God with those who do not yet know Him personally. [Matthew 25:31-40]. Why? That they may KNOW that God Is The Lord. 

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Eighteen

     This is actually the 72nd installment. Some of these were just verses, but quite a few turned into studies like this one. Some studies were more detailed, some less. If you follow my prayer group, The Inner Circle, on Facebook, all of these studies are posted there, as well. 

Daniel 6:10

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, 

he went into his house. 

The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, 

and three times a day he got down on his knees, 

prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

    'Just as he had done before'. Talking with God wasn't a new thing for Daniel. He didn't wait until times got hard or impossible before he knelt in prayer. Spending time speaking with His God was more than a good habit he kept, more than mere self-discipline. Praying to, and thanking, His God was a joy; for he did this three times a day. He enjoyed spending time with His God. What better use of our time is there?

    And, note also, that Daniel prayed in the upper room of his house, facing the window that looked west to Jerusalem. (For me to pray in the direction of Jerusalem I would have to look east, for I am west of Jerusalem, the city of God.) Here in this place Daniel always prayed. And the people where he lived knew it. 

    No bells rang out. No one called him to prayer. No one complained about the noise emanating from his windows, for Daniel was not loud. There is no need to shout to God when He is as close as a whisper. 

    If your prayer life is not what it should be, it's not too late to begin being a faithful, faith-filled, prayer warrior. For that is what Daniel was: a prayer warrior. He fought his battles on his knees. He sought out communion with his God and he gave God thanksgiving. He cared not that the law of the land forbade him to pray to his God. Nothing should interfere with our time with God, not even manmade laws. 

    We do not pray defiantly. We want to hear our God speak to us and God wants to hear us speak to Him. Because of Christ in us, we can approach God with humble hearts, knowing that it is only because Christ died for us and rose again to bring us into new life in Him, that God will hear our prayers. 

    The Christian speaks to God in love, in sincerity, in truth. For nothing is hid from God, so it is better to be honest about it (Acts 5:1-11).  

    By this time, Daniel was serving a third Babylonian king, King Darius. No longer a young man, yet still kneeling before his God. Having interpreted dreams for various kings, he now was being given dreams from God that God would interpret for him. 

    In his lifetime Daniel was faithful in pursuing a dedicated, strong relationship with his God. Would that we are so faithful in joyful obedience in our prayer relations with our God! Let us, even now, kneel before our God and commune as friend with Friend. 

FOREVER -Chris Tomlin

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Sixteen

 

1 Corinthians 13:5

Love is neither rude, nor selfish,

nor provoked; thinks no evil.

    To Love like Christ is to always put the other person first. Even on the cross, He wasn't thinking of Himself, for He asked God His Father to forgive the ones who had put Him there. In their unmitigated refusal to believe, categorically denying that He was The Messiah Who had been prophesied as testified by the prophets, the religious leaders, scribes and the Roman leader in that place took part in a mock trial.

     He was questioned, but gave minimal answers. He was whipped to the point where His back was in shreds. He was pummeled on His face repeatedly by the guards. His beard was pulled out of His face. A crown of thorns was forced into the top of His head, causing the blood to rush down His face and His neck. 

    A scarlet robe was thrown over His shoulders and back. And when the blood dried, they ripped the robe off of His back, which caused the newly formed scabs to open, allowing fresh blood to run down His back and His legs. 

    On that day Love ran red. The Love of God in Christ did not fight back. He raised no hands nor fists in His own defense. The Love of God in Christ did not talk back to His tormenters. He spoke nothing. The Love of God in Christ did not cry out until He was on the cross, until Life was leaving His body. 

    This is our example of how to Love like Christ when being tormented, teased, judged, condemned by the world for our faith in The Name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

    Say nothing. Think The Love of God in Christ. For there is no room in the body of Christ for revenge. There is no room to play tit-for-tat games. Nor is there room in this body of which we are a part of  for paybacks. There is no room for offenses; we cannot allow ourselves to be easily provoked, nor should we lose our temper and try to defend ourselves. 

    Speak forgiveness for every little offense and every major offense. Think forgiveness. Think about how much we have been forgiven. And still are being forgiven when we mess up. Because mess up we will. But even then we admit the imperfection to the one we have spoken against (if possible); admit the offense to God and ask forgiveness for it, then try not to do that again (whatever the offense may have been). 

    To Love like Christ is to think of others before yourself. When Jesus sat down at Jacob's well in Samaria, He was tired and needed to rest. But He also knew that the woman He would be speaking with needed to hear His Word and drink His water more than He needed a break and a drink. 

    This Love of God in Christ is for anyone who asks for it. Many people want to go to heaven, but not everyone wants to go through Christ Jesus. That's why we need "to be about The Father's business": telling people about the Love of Christ. That there's only one Way to get to heaven and that's through the blood of Christ which washes away all of our sins when we believe that He died for us, overcame death for us and walked into a new life for us. 

    We need to pray for each other to have more Strength in God through Christ. We need to pray for one another to have a walk so faithful and true that The Love of God in Christ is evident to those who see us, speak to us, follow us, watch us, and hear us. We need to pray that our words are sweet, our attitudes are humble, and our thoughts are focused on the beauty of God's Word. 

"Lord, help us to Love like You. Unselfishly, unconditionally; wisely and compassionately. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Who helps us to guard our mouths and our hearts, that nothing wicked may enter our hearts and then flow out of our mouths. Lord, if we are going to speak before we think, may our minds and our thoughts always be on You, of You, that The Word given in due time may be Your Word spoken in Your Love to the ones who need to hear It. Thank You for Loving us the Way You Love us. Be our Strength to repel the fiery darts which try to get past our spiritual armor. Be glorified, Lord, by our words and our actions, that Your Name would be praised and Your kingdom increased. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Fifteen

 

1 Corinthians 13:4e

Love is not prideful.

    Finishing off this verse in 1 Corinthians is a word that rounds off the previous two words into one word: envy and boastfulness lead to pridefulness. Pridefulness is arrogance. Arrogance in the way we speak to one another, arrogance in our attitudes towards God, arrogance in the way we treat other people and the lands we live on. 

    Pridefulness is the evidence of self-righteousness, of putting one's own desires, its own lusts, above another's. It is the refusal to submit to God's Authority and Ownership of His creation: us. We did not create ourselves, nor can we uncreate ourselves. Our souls are eternal. Though our bodies die and decay, our souls either live or die eternally. 

    Love is humble. Love wears the garment of humility, choosing to reject tradition and following after godly obedience instead.

    1 Peter 5:5, 6

"Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you."

    Submission is the opposite of pride. But submission should not be given to just anyone who demands submission to them, unless we first understand what submission is. After all the word alone catches our attention and gets our emotions wound up. 

    To submit to God is to: Obey God and God's Word. It is to hear The Word of The Lord, and act upon It. It is to make one's self subject to His Authority and Rule. It is to approach the throne of grace with a humble heart, a broken and contrite heart, a repentant heart, a willing heart. 

    To submit to God is to recognize the Love He has for His creation. It is to see and begin to understand just how much our heavenly Father really loves us. John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9, 10; Ephesians 2:1-9; Colossians 1:21, 22; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Titus 3:4, 5; 1 John 3:16. 

    It is to receive this Love into our hearts and spread this Love into the hearing, the seeing, of the people we interact with. It is to know the Love of God is in Christ Jesus and that this Love needs to be in us, as well. Therefore, let us submit to God in Christ that God's Love will be perfected in us.

    Unless we first submit to God and accept His perfect will for our lives, it will be impossible to submit to any other authority in our lives with the grace that God provides to all who surrender themselves to Him. 

    Pride got Lucifer kicked out of heaven. God created Lucifer in heaven when He was creating His angels. There are passages in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28:12-17 that describe fallen kings, who failed to submit to God, because of their pride in their accomplishments, who gave not the glory to God but took it upon themselves. Yet in these passages, we see the downfall of Lucifer, Satan, as well. (cf) Revelation 12:7-8, 12.

    Submission to evil and wickedness and unrighteousness will take us away from God and His Word and His Spirit. Choosing to live a life of separation from God's Love is choosing to walk in darkness and destruction. Sin is fun. Everyone says so. Not it isn't. And just who is this Everyone that is referenced? Sin is not fun. Sin's pleasures and enjoyments are only a mask, a disguise that covers the true nature of sin: rebellion against God. 

    "O Lord, You know our hearts and can see what needs fixing and replacing. Please continue to reveal Yourself to us in the areas we need You most. Holy Spirit, make us holy; for without holiness we know we will not see God and live. Make us sheep and not goats. Cleanse us and renew us right now. We surrender how we think (our thoughts), how we speak (what we say) and how we behave (what we do) to the Authority of our heavenly Father. Lead us where we need to be, and help us not go where we should not be. In Jesus' Matchless Name, Amen."

    

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Fourteen

1 Corinthians 13:4d

Love does not boast.

    To boast means to be prideful; it is self-glorification. What do I have to boast about? Everything we have, we have because God has given it to us. From the moment life is created in the womb to life's last breath is God-ordained. For God set life in motion when He began creating the earth and everything on it, in it and under it. 

   1 Corinthians 4:7

 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 

    Paul was warning the church in Corinth not to be puffed up over any one individual, setting them up on spiritual pedestals. We are all equal in merit, for our merit is of God through Christ. We deserve no praise on our salvation, for we did not save ourselves. Nor should we place one person's position within the church above another's, as God has appointed us, not we ourselves, if we are being obedient and faithful in our service to God.

    If there is anything in us worthy of praise, let it be God Who praises and not we ourselves. If there is anything in us that deserves a reward, let it be God Who rewards us and not we ourselves. Yes, the workman is worthy of his or her hire, and pay increases must be made when deemed proper. But if cleaning the bathroom is beneath their pay grade, then they are not worthy to be behind the pulpit, either. 

    Since Loving like Christ is not boastful, it must be humble. We maintain a quality of modesty in our speaking to and of one another. We are meek. This does not mean we are weak in any sense. We are meek like our Savior. Meekness is gentleness. When appropriate, meekness is silence when being judged by others. 

    Meekness is restraint. Think about that for a moment. It is self-control, temperance. Unboastful Love controls its emotions and responses. Sometimes we are not even aware that some of our responses to antagonism are coming from our mouths. Habitual behavioral responses from us need to be repented of and grinded off of these crusty hearts. 

    The Wisdom of God (The Holy Spirit) teaches us to be like Christ, not only in our hearts, but in every woven moment in life. Our responses, our actions, our thoughts are all accountable to God every day. We encourage each other with The Word of God: we sharpen the rough edges from each other with The Word of God. That's Love. 

    Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 

    Colossians 3:16

Let The Word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

    Hebrews 10:24, 25

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

    1 Peter 4:10

As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 

    Let us continue to "Love one another" as Christ has loved us.  

 

"Father, You are my reason for living. You are The One Who has shown me how to Love like You Love: unconditionally. Without condemnation, but with hope. Without judgment, but with mercy. Without retribution, but with grace. Not withholding Your Love from anyone, but giving to all generously. Even when such generosity is rejected, still we must extend Your Lovingkindness to everyone. And I believe, Lord, that the more often we do that, You will increase within us. May we all Love like Your Son Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen."

Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:18

 

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and

supplication in The Spirit,

and watching thereunto with all 

perseverance and supplications for all saints.

PRAYING ALWAYS

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

ALL PRAYER & SUPPLICATION

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication (request, petition) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

IN THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:26

In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

WATCHING THEREUNTO

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

ALL PERSEVERANCE

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

SUPPLICATIONS FOR ALL SAINTS

2 Thessalonians 1:11

To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith.

Ephesians 1:16-21

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, That The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give unto you The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is The Hope of His Calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. 

    This last passage in Ephesians 1:16-21 is an ideal prayer to pray over all of God's lost sheep. Praying the Scriptures over our families and churches and everyone else is easier than you think. When praying for one person at a time, just use their name. When praying for multiple, I just use the group names: family unto the millennial generations, friends, acquaintances, strangers and enemies. For example, beginning in verse 16 the prayer could read, "I have not stopped praying for ______, remembering him or her in my prayers. That The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give _______ The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him." 

    So what have I prayed for this person (or people) here? I'm praying for their salvation, that they would be rooted and grounded in The Word of God so steadfastly, that they would be immovable when push comes to shove in their relationship with Christ. 

    I am praying that this person (or people(, would understand what they are learning about God and Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. That they would know The Hope of His Calling (salvation and faith in The Name Jesus Christ) and the riches of His glory, His inheritance: 2 Timothy 1:9 "He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began."

    I am praying that this person (or people) would know the great power of God in sending His Son to die on the cross bearing the weight of every sin across His shoulders, in effect becoming sin and then, taking the punishment for the sins upon Him. Though He Himself had never sinned, He chose to take our punishing torturous death that we might have forgiveness and newness of Life Eternal in Him. 

    ~If the one reading this study is not saved, born again through faith in Christ Jesus, these prayers are being prayed over you. ~

    This is my weapon, wielded in the Love of God, which I have raised against all ungodliness, unrighteousness, unholiness, unloving, unmerciful, ungrateful, evil spirits who attack God's people and the people God is calling back to Him. Prayer like this takes hold of the throne of mercy and intercedes on these people's behalf for their salvation, them to be Spirit-filled, and joining we who believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, in the service of our God in His kingdom. 

    Let us pray together even now for every lost sheep to come home; for every saint to be resolved and resolute in taking a stand for Christ; for the love of God to be evident in our daily lives, that our witness of The Testimony might be believed by those whom we interact with. 

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Eight

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden upon The Lord,

and He shall sustain you:

He shall never suffer the righteous

to be moved.

    When we cast our burdens on our Lord, He provides not only the answer, but the strength to keep on going despite the burden we have just relieved ourselves of. The phrase "Let go, and let God" completely applies here. Let go of what is weighing us down and let God handle it. 

     There is one word of praise that fits here, as well. Whether we raise our arms above us or hold them out in front of us, that word of praise is 'yadah'. It is first mentioned in Genesis 29:35 when Leah praises God after the birth of her son Judah. 'Yadah' occurs 114 times in The Old Testament. That is 114 times that people through up their arms or put their arms out in front of them to praise God. 

     Why do I bring this up? The act of tossing away or throwing out requires our arms to follow suit. When we worship God, we are throwing out whatever would keep us from worshiping Him and giving Him ALL the glory. We give Him our praise because He is worthy to receive our praise. Doesn't matter what we are going through. God is with us. 

    Not every burden is an attack on ourselves. Not all of our children are still in God's house. They grew up and left. We carry the burden of them being restored and we give it to God. Everyday. We carry the burden of our parents, our siblings, our cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, inlaws and so on and so forth; we give them all to God. 

     We pray for their salvation. We pray for the indwelling power of The Holy Spirit to fill them. We pray for them to know the joy of The Lord when they choose to serve Him in the fear of The Lord.

     We shall not be moved is a wonderful phrase. And with God's help, we shall, indeed, stand and withstand the onslaught of the enemy's attacks on us. For we are being tested and tried that we may come forth as gold in God's eyes: pure and holy and complete in Him. 

    

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Five

 

Luke 11:9

And I will do whatever you ask in My Name, 

so that The Father may be glorified in The Son.

If you ask Me for anything in My Name, 

I will do it.

    We should never be afraid to approach the throne of glory, when we approach it in Jesus' Name. We should come boldly (Hebrews 4:16), confidently (Ephesians 3:12), and in the full assurance of faith (Matthew 21:22), that whatever we are asking God for, we know that He will give it to us: whether we ask once, or whether we keep on asking. 

    Luke 11:10a; Matthew 7:8a

For everyone who asks receives

    Asking alone gives us joy because we are asking our heavenly Father for something He wants us to have, for something He knows we need. We are asking because the reward is greater than the request. 

    John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 

    Asking in Jesus' Name requires faith in Jesus' Name, trusting in Him for our salvation. We cannot ask anything in His Name, if His Name is not already living in our hearts. 

    John 15:7

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you.

    1 John 3:22

And we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. 

    

     

Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Part Four

 

    First, we need forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    Second, we need to forgive everyone who has done us wrong: Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

     Third, we need to stay near God: In His Spirit and in His Word: 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is Faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Our Prayer here today:

Lord, You have taught us to forgive through Your forgiving grace. We are thankful You have not left us here to fend for ourselves, for surely we would have failed long ago.

Thank You for Your example of forgiveness. May we be known as the people of forgiveness, forgiving all wrongs and trespasses; forgiving even the evil done against us and our families. For when we were not Your people, You forgave us of the evil we had done against You.

Thank You for dying for us, showing us even there, that forgiveness must be given. Not just as a mandate of obedience, but as a mandate of Love, Your Love. Forgiveness given unconditionally, without strings attached.

And, Lord, thank You for strengthening us in You Word, through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the desire to read and study Your Word, hungering, desiring, to know You better as You reveal Yourself to us.

Thank You for giving us tools and weapons, Your Word and Your Spirit, to speak when we are tested and tried. You overcome when we cannot. You triumph where we would have failed had we tried in and of ourselves to overcome temptation.

You are The One we love and adore. May we ever be Your people.

In Jesus' Wonderful Name,

Amen.