FAITH AND PRAYER

 FAITH AND PRAYER. 

Text: Mark 11:22-24, Mathew 17: 20

In today's exhortation, we will centre our discussion on five important points.

A- God's presence

B- Faith without prayer

C- The push

D- Patience of faith

E- Faith is believing.

GOD'S PRESENCE

Scripturally, it is a tested and trusted fact that prayer is a key thing in our Christian lives,

but the way we appoach it is the problem. Prayer, as we know, is not an interview with God that ends when we say Amen. Amen does not mean you're done. No. Take a keen study of Matthew 28:20 which says "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. This directly shows us that his presence being unconditional is with those who love him by doing his commandment. 

   Humanly speaking, worshipping God is a lifestyle, it's what we do and moreover, praying does not create God's presence, we actually pray because we believe God is present. Hope we are following? It is a common notion that the more time we spend in prayer, the more the power of God's spirit in our lives. Thou Jesus prayed for an hour does not mean we can't pray more than that but something is necessarily needed? 

FAITH WITHOUT PRAYER -Acts 3:16

This verse talks about Peter and John. These folks understood that the power of God was evident in their life, we could see that they were quite on their way together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour but unfortunately, they met a lame man at the beautiful gate and then the man begged money from them, but Peter, knowing fully well the quatum of what he's carrying as a result of the power that has been received expressly told him, beloved: silver and gold have I not in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk-in Acts 3:6. This was a command of faith "rise up and walk" , it explains the fact that there are some situations you don't need to struggle on, all you got to do is to utter a command of faith  because the provision has been made in Jesus' name- Phil. 2:9-11.

    Inclusively, the necessary thing that is needed is faith. It makes your prayer effective. Prayer is not some sentimental act; you can pray even without audible voice. It is a command to pray to God because we believe he is listening. Take an instance from Jesus. He prayed because he has a proper understanding of the father (John 11:41-42) to paraphrase " Father I thank you that you have heard me and I knew that thou hear me always." - what he did was an expression of Faith in his father and that is what God is after in your prayers. 

THE PUSH.

Prayer is a vital instrument of warfare, but it needs faith. One very thing most believers in this generation needs to understand is persistency in prayer- when you pray, you believe, you don't just stop, you keep pushing. Your inner man or the whispering spirit might be saying " if you pray for this issue again, won't it be a sign of unbelief? The answer is no. Faith is not a book you open when it's time to read. A prayer of faith puts you in a faith realm where you pray continually, constantly as elucidated in 1Thess. 5:17 "Pray without ceasing." 

   This Bible verse must not be misunderstood. Praying without ceasing does not necessarily mean that you should pray for 100 hours in a particular spot. Emphatically, ceasing is in continous tense and it means to stop doing something. Therefore, for one to pray without ceasing, scripturally iterates the effect of persistency once you have tabled a matter to God, you don't quit, you continue praying, until God visits that matter. The Bible expressly says that we should not give God rest until he fulfils that which he had promised. Just like the case of the unjust judge and the pleb woman that kept on pressuring the unjust judge until her case was settled. 

PATIENCE OF PRAYER-

James 5:7-18

When I get to heaven, the man I will love to see after taking my judgment and being found worthy by his grace is JOB. He needs to answer so many questions from me. I don't know about you? From the study of Job's account; he was an upright man, patient in prayer to God, he didn't stop and started blaming God just like what we see in Christendom today. Even though his prayer was a sorrowful one, filled with regrets, he admitted that he was being tried as gold by fire- Oh! What a blessed man. My claim here is that God always hear prayer. He can't make it obvious but brethren he hears us. For example, a case of healing. Healing takes place by faith in Christ Jesus, either in prayer or drugs whichever way you choose. But you see the patience involved in both- though you might rely on scriptures and Everytime confessing by his tripes we are healed, but God still says not now. Not now, but he loves you and is trying to build a relationship of prayer with you and suddenly, you are healed. Let me make an affirmation here. "God has his own time table" just as we have the "chronos" and "Kairos" time i.e the chronological and the opportuned time. His ways are past finding.

FAITH IS BELIEVING. 

Faith my brethren is believing. Believe God says, believe Jesus says. Don't be like Thomas who was a doubtful follower. Believing God answers prayer is what pushes you to pray and gives you your heart desires. Prayer of faith is actually what we need now- COVID-19 palava... Believe whenever you go to God in prayer. He says ask, believe makes you ask, when you don't believe you can't ask, even if you ask, there's no faith attached, it can't work. We have ears and can hear. How much more the maker of billion ears. He hears you but he is ashamed due to your unbelief ; he's ashamed because you ask and don't press on. Brethren we should exploit the mercies and resources of God. 

Message by: Bro Rigobert Eyinnaya

Published by: John Nnoruka's- blog.