PRAYER – HOW TO PRAY ON DAILY BASIS - Minister Kendra Hammond

            Prayer is sharing in fellowship with God. To share interest in fellowship with God. Talking to Him at all times and anything and He also talking to you. Prayer can also be a requesting or pleading with God. It also means to surrender to God and to let His will be done.

THE MODEL PRAYER

            Jesus’ teaching on prayer was not necessarily a routine prayer for each day but it served as a model; a guide on how to pray effectively.

It teaches that effective prayer begins with worship.it puts the glory and interest of the Kingdom before mere personal interests.

It teaches that God is the believer’s father, meaning you can see God from the ‘fatherly’ point of view. A father has a lot characteristics which include love, provision etc. if God is your father, then other believers are your siblings and family. This teaches us love. To love one another and be each other’s keeper. If God is our father, then it pin-point to the fact a believer has a source. The source of provision for our needs.

·         Matthew 6:25-34 (basic needs)

·         Hebrews 2:18 (love)

·         Hebrews 4:15-16 (provision)

·         Proverbs 27:1 (care)

·         2 Timothy 1:7

·         1 Corinthians 3:16-20

The model prayer teaches that we should pray directly to God but not through any medium, person or other gods. God is not a respecter of persons, He does not show favoritism and so anyone that comes to Him, He will answer.

It makes us understand that when we pray, not if you pray. This means that prayer is a necessity and not optional. You need to pray or talk to God at all times whether the times are good or bad.

HOW TO PRAY – LUKE 11:1-4

ü  Pray and praise His name first

Hallowed means “to be counted holy”- to be counted and treated differently. “Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”. This model teaches us to first give praises and adorations to God. Praise God for all that He has done.

ü  Pray for the ruler ship of God

“Thy kingdom come”, meaning He should rule in the hearts of those in authority, He should rule in our lives. He should rule in the lives of all men… Romans 13:1-7.

ü  Pray that the will of God be done

“Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”. This means the will and intentions and rule and plans of God concerning our lives now and beyond should prevail. The ‘earth’ signifies that, His will and plans should reign over the whole earth and not just in the lives of men. He should do with everyone as He pleases…. Ephesians 2:10

TYPES OF WILL THAT INFLUENCES MAN

v  Will of man – Romans 7:15

v  Satan’s will – John 8:44

v  God’s will – Philippians 2:13

v  Other people’s will – 1 Peter 4:2

ü  Pray for provision

“Give us this day our daily bread”. Bread is the symbol for our needs and necessities for a good life. Bread is not just food but the other things we need as well like peace, joy, shelter, clothing etc. This means we need to pray every day. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about tomorrow but to be focused on today (Matthew 6:25). So this prayer focuses on today only. It also teaches us to pray for others as well.

ü  Pray for forgiveness of sins

“Forgive us our sins”.  You need to ask for forgiveness sins and also forgive those who offend you. In this way, you are free from the accuser(satan). It also ensures that your heart is free from bitterness and anger. It then paves way for all your prayers to be answered.

v  Gracefully God forgives us our sins – 1 John 4:9

v  So you have to forgive others – Matthew 6:14-15

v  Understand why the person did so – Proverbs 15:21

v  Forbear, do not retaliate – Col. 3:13, Eph. 4:2

v  Forgive and forget – Philippians 3:13

ü  Pray for protection

“Lead us not into temptation”.  God does not tempt us (James 1:13). Temptation is not a sin but it becomes a sin if you yield to it. So you pray for deliverance or dismiss any thoughts that are unholy or evil (1 Peter 5:8)

ü  End the prayer with praises and worship.

“For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, amen.” The last word is ‘Amen’ meaning let it be so or it is done. The Word of God teaches us that anything we ask in the name of Jesus will be done so it is best to end your prayer “In Jesus Name”.

Follow this guide and pray the right and effective way…………. SHALOM!!!!

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

……. By Kendra Hammond

Sovereignty is described as a government free from external control or the authority of a state to govern another state.

Think about this definition. A government that does not have any external control may mean that government has no advisers. That government one can conclude as autocratic.

The God we serve is holy, an embodiment of wisdom and love. This makes it even more glorious to serve Him.

In the book of Jeremiah 18:1-8 the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying; 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words”

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 

8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

(NKJV)

Why did the Lord command Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house? This is because a potter is a perfect example to demonstrate sovereignty. Jeremiah tried to refuse God’s call by saying he was a child but God insisted he was the one He will use. In his call as a prophet, he wondered why God loves Israel and still punishes them for forsaking Him. He could have left them just as they forsake Him but God chooses to punish as a form of correction.

So as a potter chooses to mold a clay and shape it to whatever he wants so is God. He created man out of dust and molded us in our mothers’ womb. He chooses our path and destinies as He wants.

As the potter carefully and lovingly molds the clay so does God mold His children with so much love. Never compare yourself with any other person to feel worthless. You are different and it’s perfectly normal to be different. God created everyone differently.

Things may not go as planned and you may feel really down and depressed in life but be rest assured that our sovereign God created you differently and gave you a purpose and destiny that is different from any other person. Until you accept this truth and live accordingly, you may never live a fulfilled life and the soul that lives in you will never be happy even if you gain the whole world.

Life is like a movie stage. God is the producer and story writer. The Holy Spirit is the director. Man is the actor. We all have different roles in the movie. As such all you have to do is to play your role. Whether you have a good role or not, play your part. It all adds up to the beauty of the movie.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

(NKJV)

The thought of God are far above ours. Imagine a story writer who is all knowing and full of love. Don’t you think everything will out for your good if this writer is your father?

Do not think so much or worry so much in life if things are not going as planned. Our sovereign God is working things out for your good.

He chose to take the form of a mortal, lived among men, died for our sins on the cross and resurrected for our justification. Is there anything He can’t do for you?

He chose Paul formerly called Saul, a murderous man and turned his life around and used him greatly to save and edify many others.

Always be glad that you have a sovereign God who can do all things. A father who is loving and caring. Surely everything will work out for our good.

   SHALOM!!!