Sunday, 6 November 2016

THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER

Romans 8:26-30

Prayer is an essential part of our Christian race, since it has a pivotal role to play in the fulfillment of our destiny.

The more we pray, the more we understand God's ways. The deeper we plunge into prayer, the clearer His ways and thoughts become to us (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The mysteries of God’s kingdom are not accessible on the surface, they are hidden, and can only be unlocked in the place of prayer (Matt. 13:10-11; Luke 8:9-10).
There is a dimension of the Spirit, which we can never access, unless we cultivate a lifestyle of ceaseless prayer. This kind of prayer can only be done through the help of the Holy Spirit…

The glorious destiny of nations are birthed and released on the altar of prayer! May the LORD baptise us with the Spirit of prayer...
Lord, grant me the Spirit of fervency in prayer that the manifold wisdom of God might made manifest in me (Ephesians 3:8-12).

Furthermore, through the Spirit of prayer, we get equipped as men of war, after the similitude of our heavenly Father. The Lord is a Man of war, the Lord is His name (Exodus 15:3). David was also referred to as a mighty valiant man (warrior) in 1 Samuel 16:18. 

The same David said, ‘He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze’ (2 Samuel 22:35; Psalm 18:34). The Bible also made references to David as a man of prayer (2 Samuel 7:18-29; Psalm 86:1-17). 

As spiritual soldiers enrolled into the army of Christ, we must cultivate a lifestyle of prayer (2 Tim. 2:4).

‘Likewise, the Spirit helps our infirmities (in our weaknesses)… for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered…

How can I cultivate the Spirit of Prayer?

1. Develop a craving for God.
 
A strong desire, love or affection for God must pervade our hearts. In spite of the gross darkness covering the world around us, we must hold on dearly to the Word of God, earnestly covet His presence and constantly desire the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 63:1).
What do you seek? Who do you seek? Do you seek Jesus? (John 1:35-39).
A craving for God energises you to pray more, according to the will of God.

2. Build a culture of worship.

Cultivate a lifestyle of worship. Be an altar rearer! Our lives, experiences, situations, circumstances, times and seasons must at the long run, lead to the worship of the Father. Our lives must be built around worship (Rev. 4:11).
Through a lifestyle of worship, your inner motive becomes purified everything you do is centred around God. Your prayer life is patterned to suite God’s purpose.
God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

3. Ask, seek, knock… until you experience the rain of the Spirit (Acts 1:8; 4:31; Luke 24:49).

In the place of prayer, you are guaranteed of the supply of the Spirit. When your prayer is firmly rooted in the Word of God, it will command God's attention...

It's impossible to pray amiss under the guidance of the Holy Spirit...
The Spirit of Christ in us sensitizes us and keeps us in the light concerning the day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:1-11).



                                                                PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
                                                           Resident  Pastor



Wednesday, 2 November 2016

THE DYNAMICS OF PRAYER Pt.3

Luke 11:1-13

The importance of prayer cannot be overemphasized. For everyone who wants to grow and attain the likeness of Christ, prayer is a necessity. It’s not optional.

In order to take delivery of our God-given heritage, we must be men and women of prayer. Prophetic utterances and visions are fulfilled on the platform of effective, fervent prayer! (1 Kings 18:1, 41-46).

In Matthew 6:5-8, Our Lord, Jesus Christ gave us some key points to consider when we want to pray:

- Don’t be like the Pharisees. Don’t be an attention seeker!
- Make it a ‘one-on-one’ encounter with God. 
- Don’t use vain repetitions…
- Come to God’s presence with faith.
- Acknowledge Him as your Father


After this, He went ahead to show us the pattern or template for acceptable prayer in the sight of God – the model prayer! (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4).

These prayer points must always linger in our hearts when we pray to God: ‘Lord, teach us to pray as we ought to (Luke 11:1); teach us to pray without fainting (Luke 18:1); enable us to pray under the unction of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27). Help our infirmities oh Lord…

Furthermore, He gave another parable to illustrate the need for importunity in prayer… (Luke 11:5-8).
The summary of this parable is that everyone approaches the presence of God with divers kinds of needs, since He is the only One who can meet us at the point of our needs and also give us the required ‘bread’ (i.e. means of sustenance to meet the needs of our generation) in life. 
If we remain persistent and unwavering in the place of prayer, the Lord will answer us and supply all our needs according to His riches in glory…

Please note that He will answer us, not because of our ‘familiarity’ with Him, but because of our persistence in the place of prayer! (Jer. 28:13; Deut. 4:29).



Keep asking in accordance with God’s will, and it shall be given to you…
Keep seeking Him, and you will surely find Him…
Keep knocking at the Door (Christ the Door) and He will open up to you…
(Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13).


                                                           PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
                                                         Resident  Pastor
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Sunday, 23 October 2016

POWER OF PREVAILING PRAYER



Text: Luke 11: 1-11

Introduction

Prayer is one of the fundamentals and pillars in Christianity. It is the only way by which Christians can ask anything they desire from God – Phi. 4:6. Prayer is powerful tool in the hand of Christians. The Bible encourages us to pray always and without ceasing too – Lu. 18:1; 1The 5:17. Jesus engaged in prayer extensively throughout His earthly ministry, and so are His disciples throughout their own ministries. If we must also succeed in our Christian race, we must also be committed to a prevailing prayer life. Prayer is not an option for any winning Christian but a must do venture. A balance Christian life should therefore be consistently engage in prayer. 

Conditions for prevailing prayer

Faith: While it is very good to always pray, it is however expected that everyone praying to God should do so in faith – Mar. 11:24, Jam. 1:6 -7

Contrite spirit: In order for God to hear and answer prayer of any believer, He checks the spirit behind such prayer. God detests a haughty spirit as such people cannot receive anything from Him- 2Chr. 7:14, Ps. 10:17

Whole-heartedness: one of the conditions for answered prayer is to come to God with one’s whole heart. Everyone who must seek God in prayer must seek Him whole-heartedly – Jer. 29:13

Righteousness: Right standing with God is another condition for answer to prayer. If anyone must engage in prevailing prayer, he/she must have a right standing with God – Jam. 5:16

Obedience:  Isaiah 1:19 says, “if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”. Obedience is another condition for everyone who must prevail in their prayer – 1Jh. 3:22

5 things prevailing prayer will do for you

1.       Revelation of things to come: As a man of prayer, you will have divine revelation of things to come; God will reveal the deep things of the kingdom to you. Matt. 11:27

2.       Empowerment for success: prayer position a man to be divinely empowered


3.       Renewal of strength: prayer increases and renews the strength of believers – Isa. 40: 29 -31

4.       Boost your faith: Prayer helps and builds faith. A man of prayer is a man of faith. And finally,


5.       Guarantee your future: Through a ceaseless prayer, a believer can be guaranteed of better future.





PASTOR FEMI ATODE
     

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