Hello friends, I believe we all are doing good. Today marked another pretty day in continuition of the mass indoctrination program which started by last week Monday.
The fact about hearing the word of God from a good source is that it inspires one to keep growing spiritually as our bed human nature phases out.
Nonetheless, I must appreciate the man of God Pastor Eli for doing justice to today's message as he used the following scriptures in expantiating his teaching on prayers;
James 5:16-17 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.(KJV)
:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.(KJV)
Currently, we've been studying about prayers and different prayer pattern which God can not despise. From the scriptures above, one thing is very eminent, and that is "a righteous man"
God will always give ear to the prayers of the righteous whenever he's been called by them. For instance, Elijah was a prophet who lived to please God and God would always hear him whenever he called.
The Bible taught on the manner through which prayer should be made and we could see this as Elijah prayed kneeling for God to unlock the heavens for it to rain and it was done according to I kings 18:42.
First, one should examine himself if his/her life is in conformity with the word of God and then pattern himself in the mood of prayer because everything has a procedure. Most importantly, you must kneel down to show reverence to God if you hadn't an injury that may pose any form of inconvenience to you.
There is nothing that should be stopping God from answering such a believer's prayer after the divine proceedings have been met because even in heaven there is order.
We aren't serving a deaf God, he knows the intent of our hearts and will hear us when we pray to him, but we must make sure to live righteously and pray in accordance to the biblical principles for our prayers to be heard.
In I John 5:16, we are advised to pray for fellow believers who may have fallen into sin, because they aren't in the best position to pray for themselves because of their conscience.
If you're a believer whose conscience is still alive and mistakenly have fallen into sin, it is impossible for such a person to easily pray nonetheless, those who are still standing in the faith are to pray for them and not to use their current predicament as a means of denting their personality by exposing or disseminating their acts to others.
I Pet 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.(NIV)
Love is a very strong factor that cannever be neglected in Christianity. Where there is love, multitude of sins are pardoned despite what people had done to you. If you love someone, you'll pray for him. If you love someone, you wouldn't want to hurt or harm him etc.
When we love people, God will love us and when we pray, he will hear us because one of the special attributes of God is "love".
Proverbs 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.(KJV)
It is not good for a believer to be having unwholesome thought or mindset because it wouldn't just lead him to sin but rather it is sinful to be thinking foolishly.
When one's mindset is preoccupied with foolish thoughts, his prayers wouldn't be answered by God because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks according to Matt 12:34. It is only an insane person that'll be contradicting his thoughts with his words but no sane person can pray effectively when his mind is filled with foolishness.
Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.(KJV)
This verse of the scripture is in response to the children of God who by his grace would enter into the new Jerusalem.
Although this is not until we get to heaven because as believers who are in right standing with God, we have the privilege to ask God what we want through prayers because it is written in Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (KJV)
We'll ever receive what we want from God because he is not deferring from his promises since he has all it takes to fulfill them which makes him omnipotent God.
The preacher Pastor Eli also emphasized on the house of God as a place of prayer.
Although people have argued on the reality of church building as the house of God. I would be giving my argument in support that the church is the house of gods because according to Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
If a garage is a place where cars are parked, so also the church is a place where god's gather to fellowship
We have to recognize the church building as a place of prayer and not a place of jamborees as it is written in Matt 21:13 so the church is a place of prayer.
I also overheard the preacher Pastor Eli on people's perception and controversy over how the church positions to pray. I also overheard him talk about principles.
Well, anyone has the privilege to practice what he has seen from the scriptures for instance in
2 Kings 22:11, 13 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rented his clothes.
Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah,
concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. (KJV)
From this passage of the scriptures we can observe that king Josiah heard the orders of the law and tore his cloth because no one had been practicing what was written in it which prompted them to consult the prophetess Huldah who later spoke the mind of God concerning them and the law they found.
Jeremiah 35:6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever(KJV)
We can also see in this bible reference that the children of Jonathan refused to drink the wine offered to them by the prophet Jeremiah on account of what they learnt or was taught by their Father.
So I believe that anyone can practice what he had read or seen from the scriptures, and in another instance, we can observe how Daniel opened his window towards Jerusalem to pray in Dan 6:10
The fact is that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost but the church building is a place of prayer and I would say that people should also pray facing the altar although this is not a command.
We have to live and also maintain the life of righteousness to effectively pray as believers.
It is also advisable to maintain a good praying position which shows reverence for God because he deserves honor from us, for instance kneeling to pray.
No one is bigger than the scriptures, and if anyone has found a principles in the scriptures, it is good he teaches others also as it is written in Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.(KJV)
and who could be considered as a wise person? He who wins souls according to Prov 11:30.
God bless his servant Pastor Eli for digging deep into the scriptures to enlighten us through the word of God, and God bless all those who are working round the clock to bring this wonderful program to us.
Thanks for your perusal, nonetheless I would like to invite you to study the word of God with us as I believe you wouldn't regret coming, bye.
