THE BMIC BLAST, APRIL 2025
Showing posts with label fellowship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fellowship. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE SERIES - THE BOOK OF JAMES, #12
METHODOLOGY CONCERNING: EFFECTIVE PRAYER
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16a).
When a righteous man (a saved person- male or female) prays, God hears and remembers. Even if the answer is to be sent from Heaven 20 years later, God has it. Conversely, scripture tells us that God will not listen to the prayer of an unrighteous man – unless that person is crying out to Him for forgiveness of sin, the first step to salvation. From the Word of God:
- But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2)
- Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him (John 9:31).
As just an example, these two verses above prove that there is no doubt God will never listen to the "prayers" of the unsaved. However, God will not pay attention to a Christian who is out of fellowship either. That is, one who is currently going through a season of rebellion and is not praying or reading the Bible….or even attending church, on purpose. The Apostle Paul said “should I keep sinning that grace may abound? May it never be!” Think if the fuel injector in your car. If it is clogged by the impurities (sin) of the gasoline going in through it from the pump (the human), there is no way the internal combustion engine can function as was meant by the automaker.
Therefore, we must be free AND forgiven from current sin. We should never be like the person whom James talks about here in James 1:6-7 "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord".
So what about about the "effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man"? This is simple and here is what the Word of God through James really says about it: "the many and constant intensive prayer of a man or woman made whole (or righteous) by God can, will and always will accomplish much". Let us not minimize the power behind the word "accomplish" because the original biblical textual word implies energy and power behind this "accomplishment". This is the INTENT of the Christian who prays with power and the expectation that God will hear and respond, in like manner to the fulfillment of the prayer request.
Therefore, let us pray: "Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, first of all thank You that You resist the proud and giveth Grace to the Humble. Thank You that You are a good good God and Your patience, mercy, grace and compassion are long-suffering and full of love towards us. We confess all sin in our eyes, minds, thoughts, and speech and deed right now and ask that You search our hearts, minds and souls and see if there is any wicked ways within us and rout and root them out and lead us to the Paths of holiness, goodness and complete righteousness in our sanctification that We may be worthy of being in Your Holy Presence as we pray for others. And Lord, may these prayers be fervent and full of the fire of Jesus Christ through the Power of His Name and in the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that we may reach Thy Throne of Mercy and Grace to bring our supplications, petitions and prayers for those who need healing, for those who need comfort, for those who need love, understanding, food, shelter, work, a friend or a kind word today and always. Let our souls and hearts be aligned with Thy Heart, oh Great God of the Universe, that we may seek Thee more and more to accomplish the goal and task and calling of the elect, to which Thou hast set before us, to do in Thy perfect will, until that day, unto which Thou will bring us home. We love Thee, praise Thee and magnify and adore Thy Holy and precious Name, HaShem, in Jesus Strong Name, amen.
When a righteous man (a saved person- male or female) prays, God hears and remembers. Even if the answer is to be sent from Heaven 20 years later, God has it. Conversely, scripture tells us that God will not listen to the prayer of an unrighteous man – unless that person is crying out to Him for forgiveness of sin, the first step to salvation. From the Word of God:
- But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:2)
- Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him (John 9:31).
As just an example, these two verses above prove that there is no doubt God will never listen to the "prayers" of the unsaved. However, God will not pay attention to a Christian who is out of fellowship either. That is, one who is currently going through a season of rebellion and is not praying or reading the Bible….or even attending church, on purpose. The Apostle Paul said “should I keep sinning that grace may abound? May it never be!” Think if the fuel injector in your car. If it is clogged by the impurities (sin) of the gasoline going in through it from the pump (the human), there is no way the internal combustion engine can function as was meant by the automaker.
Therefore, we must be free AND forgiven from current sin. We should never be like the person whom James talks about here in James 1:6-7 "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord".
So what about about the "effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man"? This is simple and here is what the Word of God through James really says about it: "the many and constant intensive prayer of a man or woman made whole (or righteous) by God can, will and always will accomplish much". Let us not minimize the power behind the word "accomplish" because the original biblical textual word implies energy and power behind this "accomplishment". This is the INTENT of the Christian who prays with power and the expectation that God will hear and respond, in like manner to the fulfillment of the prayer request.
Therefore, let us pray: "Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, first of all thank You that You resist the proud and giveth Grace to the Humble. Thank You that You are a good good God and Your patience, mercy, grace and compassion are long-suffering and full of love towards us. We confess all sin in our eyes, minds, thoughts, and speech and deed right now and ask that You search our hearts, minds and souls and see if there is any wicked ways within us and rout and root them out and lead us to the Paths of holiness, goodness and complete righteousness in our sanctification that We may be worthy of being in Your Holy Presence as we pray for others. And Lord, may these prayers be fervent and full of the fire of Jesus Christ through the Power of His Name and in the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that we may reach Thy Throne of Mercy and Grace to bring our supplications, petitions and prayers for those who need healing, for those who need comfort, for those who need love, understanding, food, shelter, work, a friend or a kind word today and always. Let our souls and hearts be aligned with Thy Heart, oh Great God of the Universe, that we may seek Thee more and more to accomplish the goal and task and calling of the elect, to which Thou hast set before us, to do in Thy perfect will, until that day, unto which Thou will bring us home. We love Thee, praise Thee and magnify and adore Thy Holy and precious Name, HaShem, in Jesus Strong Name, amen.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
THINK ON THESE THINGS - SUNDAY
As if times are not confusing and crazy enough these days, here come the annual end of year holidays where Faith, Family and Food all mix in a fluid flow of fantastic fellowship.
It is the kind of fellowship which runs for the better part of a month.
It is the kind of fellowship which brings so much joy to many.
But it is also the kind of fellowship and season which brings depression, sadness and loneliness to many!
In fact, this time of year - starting from Thanksgiving week to New Year's day - is an officially recognized type of depression call Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D.
What an appropriate abbreviation for all of this - S.A.D!
What we find, even in the midst of large groups in some families, community groups, churches and in offices, is the absolute despair and inability to cope with life, as we know it today. Without getting into detail, which we don't really need to, let's see this week...and yes, this Christmas season, if we can't reach out and bless someone who is adrift in such a sea of despair.
Many people do not have a support mechanism or even a friend they can rely on....the type of friend who is a phone call away to encourage and pray with you....the type of friend who is closer than a Brother, like Jesus is! The vast majority of depressed folks this time of year, fall into that category.
Can YOU be that friend....to the older man at work, who has health problems or maybe his wife was sent to a nursing home?
Can YOU be that friend....to the single mom, who has been made to feel like trash by men who gave other men like us, a bad name?
Can YOU be that friend....to that young person in your church, who comes week after week, sings praise songs, listens to a sermon going over her head which means nothing to reality...and leaves even more confused and hurt than when she/he came in?
Can you?
There is so much, we can fill up a book. The issue is - how can we love on that person? How can we "comfort the brokenhearted" as Christ did? What does that love LOOK like?
First, let's not attempt to solve one problem by creating another! This love is not emotional or physical! It is AGAPE love! The kind of love Christ has for us! Another thing - be careful about hugging another member of the opposite sex, who is NOT a family member...and especially if you or that other person is married! This is a prescription for potential disaster.
All we need to do in this time of despair, loneliness, tumult and chaos is give Grace! That is the same Grace which Jesus Christ showed us, friends!
Grace is unmerited favor.
When you give that grace, do not expect anything in return!
Give it freely!
Share your blessings!
Buy them a gift from a Christian bookstore or something!
Listen to their complaints!
Point out YOUR testimonies!
Tell them how God dealt with similar issues in your life!
Tell how God's provision came when you least expected it.
Tell how Jehovah Shammah - will be there, if He is called upon with a true and hurting and repentant heart. Tell of His love before you show them the Scriptures.
Then show that Word to confirm your blessings.
Here is a short list, to underline my list above, from a book by the son of Henry Blackaby - Richard- who said in his book called "Putting A Face on Grace", the following:
• Speak words intended to build up, not to bring down.
• Focus on their need rather than your own.
• Freely forgive.
• Swallow you pride and say, “I’m sorry”, and “I was wrong.”
• Live your life with a goal of “no regrets”.
• Don’t keep score of what is fair.
• Grace doesn’t condemn or give up on people.
• Grace emphasizes mercy, not justice.
• Read 1 Corinthians 13 regularly.
• Freely forgive.
• Swallow you pride and say, “I’m sorry”, and “I was wrong.”
• Live your life with a goal of “no regrets”.
• Don’t keep score of what is fair.
• Grace doesn’t condemn or give up on people.
• Grace emphasizes mercy, not justice.
• Read 1 Corinthians 13 regularly.
Friends, if you want Grace yourself, show some. If you want mercy, show some and if you want compassion, show some!
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Micah 6:8 which says "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
This is the command! If you wish to be like Christ, as most Christians say they do, this is your verse!
Jesus said "the Spirit of the Lord is upon me...and He anointed Me to bring good news....and bind up (or COMFORT) the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1)" Are you sure you wish to be like Him? Well, here is your chance to prove His Love - by Compassion to His People!
(Image by Google Images)
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