THE DYNAMICS OF PRAYER

 

James 5:16-18

Prayer is a two-way communication process (dialogue) whereby we enjoy sweet fellowship with God. Through prayer, we get spiritually refreshed.

Prayer is a 'progressive' spiritual process or endeavour which leaves an indelible mark in the life of a believer. 

Prayer is not just a well-rehearsed or outlined rhetoric about our 'endless' needs which we present before God, rather, it's a platform through which the intents and desires of God are fulfilled on earth (Matt. 6:10).

Elijah was a man with nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three and half years.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

The Bible shed more light on this, in the following portion of the Scripture:
1 Kings 17:1, 18:41-46.

Why do we pray?

- Prayer keeps us in tune with God. Through prayer, we maintain a cordial relationship with God. An effective prayer life is a basic requirement for a life-long walk with God (Gen. 17:1; Matt. 5:48). 

- Prayer prevents weariness. An effective prayer life keeps the devil at bay. Men ought always to pray and not faint... (Luke 18:1; Matt. 6:5).

- Prayer changes you, and thereafter, circumstances, situations, people and things around you (2 Cor. 3:18). The altar of prayer is the place where our lives are positively altered.

- God delights in confirming the words of His servants (the prophets), therefore He provides a platform whereby heavenly treasures can be downloaded into human realities.

This can be done through prayers! (Gen. 20:7, 17).

Praying for the right reasons/motive

Our prayer must be centred on the will of the Father. Our prayer lives must be reshaped in such a way that they reflect what the Father is presently concerned about, and the things that He intends to do in the future.

God is still looking for intercessors (Ezek. 22:30), He is still in the business of recruiting men who would stand in the gap (Gen. 18:17-33; Psalm 106:23). God is looking for men who would encounter a heavenly visitation, whether in the day or in the night, and rise up to labour in prayer, fervently, for the church of God (body of Christ) and the nation (Col. 4:12).

…When the Son of Man comes...will He really find ‘faith’ on earth?

There is a strong connection between fervency in prayer and sustenance in the faith...

The fervor of your prayer life determines the sustainability of your faith...For by faith you stand... (2 Cor. 1:24).

The Lord will answer your prayer! You will not labour in vain. You will not pray amiss, in the name of Jesus Christ!

                                                        PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

                                                       Resident  Pastor

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HE'S STILL THE SAME GOD…

Exodus 3:15-16

The Lord God appeared unto Moses on mount Horeb and introduced Himself to him as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Times and seasons may change, circumstances around us may change, but God remains the same forever. He is an unchangeable God (Mal. 3:6).

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).

Today, in GAC worldwide, we celebrate the faithfulness of God and His protection upon us, based on the covenant He had with baba Sadela of blessed memory. This covenant of divine faithfulness will indeed span across generations yet unborn…

Even though baba has gone home to be with the Lord, the covenant remains unshaken! God still remains forever faithful! He’s still the same God (Num. 23:19; Psalm 90:1).

In spite of your present circumstance, be rest assured that God is still on the throne. He’s still in charge…He’s still the same God! Not a single jot of His Word will go unfulfilled… (Matt. 24:35; Luke 21:33; Heb. 13:5-6). 

For every generation, there is a specific Word. Each generation has its own specific God-given revelation. He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in different times and in different ways. He also appeared unto Moses in an entirely different mode… (Exo. 6:2-3).

In Mark 4:35, Jesus gave a commandment to His disciples that they should pass over unto the other side. In spite of this great command, the storm still arose in the midst of their journey, but the storm couldn’t stop them because Jesus was on board with them…

Storms will always arise, but with Jesus in the boat of your life, you will finish strong and fulfil God’s purpose.

Sometimes, you feel like asking the question, ‘Lord, don’t You care if I perish in this situation?’ The Lord will appear unto you today! He will reveal Himself even as the Lord over the stormy situation of your life. He will take you to greater heights.

Don’t give up on God, He’s able to do exceeding abundantly above your requests.

Remember, He’s still the same God…

                                                      PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

                                                       Resident  Pastor

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The Purpose of Prayer

Scripture: Luke 18:9-18:12 

Examining the Motives behind our Prayers

Turn to Romans 8

There are many different types of prayer: public, private, group, family, church, national,
confession, petition, intercession, fasting, short, long…

Let look at this scenario. Three-year-old girl, who loved to pray before meals, would sometimes get carried away. Occasionally her pastor father would have to say, "Amen. That’s enough, babe girl." One Sunday in church, as a lengthy benediction was being pronounced, girl stood up and declared, "Amen. That’s enough, Daddy!"

I want us to think through what the Bible says about prayer. I’m not here to lay guilt on any of us about how long or loud we should pray. Fact is, God’s Word isn’t clear about those issues. Nor does it delineate when or what posture we are to use. But I wants to make sure that some things are very clear to us so we will understand:
• The PURPOSE of Prayer and…
• What our MOTIVES are when we pray.

James 4:3 and I Chronicles 28:9

I wants us to understand that the Purpose of Prayer is:

1. Not a speech, but a conversation with God.

Let’s compare two different prayers:
Luke 18:9-12
Jonah 4:1-11
What are the difference in these two prayers:

Pharisee – An utterance based in pride-it was a “speech”
Jonah - A conversation with & listening to God

Prayer is not:
1-way but 2-way communication and it includes…
speaking and listening to His Word & voice, & paying attention to His leadings & pleadings.

2. Not a begging session, but for spending time in God’s Presence:

The very heart of Prayer is not to “get” something but for spending time in God’s presence for the purpose of:

Cleansing = to receive refreshing from God. Psalm 32:1-2

The purpose for Prayer includes Cleansing:

Comfort- to be assured of God’s faithfulness- Psalm 31:1-2
Closeness - to be secure in the love of God – Psalm 31:19-21

3. Not a self-centered exercise, but for expressing real needs to God.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”
Psalm 37:4-9

4. Not a maneuver to get our way, but to submit to His ways.

Why do some of our Prayers seem to go unanswered?
• Wrong Motives
• Lack of Faith
• Ask out of God’s Will
• Wrong Timing
• We won’t know until we get to heaven…

One of the biggest reasons our prayers are not answered is because we pray for our will to be done rather than His Will to be accomplished!Isaiah 55:6-8

Prayer is for: submitting our thoughts to His
• changing our desire to match His
• dedicating our will to do His
(Believing and asking for His will to be done ‘on’ & ‘in’ earth)
• bending our knee and head to Him

We need the Holy Spirit to help us express those kinds of prayers & to help us live like we pray.

I John 5:14-15
James 4:6-10


I ASKED GOD
1. I asked God to take away my Pride. God said… "No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.”

2. I asked God to grant me Patience. He said… "No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is spiritually earned.”

3. I asked God to give me Happiness. He said… "No. I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.”

4. I asked God to keep me from all Pain. God said… "No. Some suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.”

5. I asked God to make my Spirit grow. He said… "No. You must grow thru spiritual disciplines and I will prune you to make you fruitful.”

6. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life .My Father said… "No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.”

7. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.
God said... “Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!”

The Purpose of Prayer is not so much about us and what we want as it is about God, Who He is, What He knows is best for us and how He wants to use us to minister to others. The Holy Spirit’s role in this is crucial.

Summary: When we don’t understand the purpose of prayer we will be disappointed with and discouraged by the experience of prayer.

PRAY

                                                                PASTOR ANIBABA

                                                     Resident  Pastor

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