Favor with God is important to the success of God's people in the Bible. Remember the story of Joseph in Genesis forty, and the favor God showed him, and Mary, the mother of Jesus in Luke one and two, who was "highlyfavored." Remember the favor bestowed upon two children:
And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men. (1 Samuel 2:26)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)
The psalmist said that the favor of God was the difference between life and death. "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled." (Psalm 30:5-7) I
In other psalms we find that the favor of God is the same as his mercy and, importantly, God's salvation of man. "I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word." (Psalm 119:58) "Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation." (Psalm 106:4) So it is important, even vital, that we find the favor of God.
One of the things Solomon emphasized in his treatise on growing up that makes up much of the book of Proverbs is finding wisdom. Chapter 8 is all about wisdom, and concludes with the relationship to finding wisdom and finding God's favor. "For whoso findeth me [wisdom] findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD." (Proverbs 8:35-36)
Further, Solomon says we find God's grace by following his mercy and truth. "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Here we see that God can give us favor with others. When we concentrate on pleasing God, HE will give us favor with others when we need it most. We can even ASK God to give us favor with others. When we do that, we're not being selfish or prideful, but scriptural. Nehemiah was a devoted servant of the Lord. He was called by God to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem during the reign of King Artaxerxes. As cupbearer to the king, he asked the Lord to give him favor with the ruler so that he could complete his God-given assignment. "Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." (Nehemiah 1:11)
Here, we learn an important Bible principle--that God will grant us favor with others when it will help us carry out His will and plan. We can also pray for favor when we take a stand for the Lord. In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel, the young prophet "resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine," and he needed the cooperation of the chief official in order to carry out his commitment. Daniel 1:9 says, "Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel." When receiving favor will glorify God, we shouldn't hesitate to pray for it.
The Bible teaches us that we can pray for God's favor, which can be a powerful weapon against the enemy's attacks. Psalm 89:17 NLT says, "Our power is based on Your favor." And Psalm 5:12 says, "Surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." We are God's children; His chosen; His elect. And He is committed to protecting and providing for His own. When we concentrate on pleasing God, we can depend on Him to change people's hearts for our benefit. Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him."
If God is willing and able to change the hearts of our enemies, surely we can expect Him to give us favor in the sight of our teachers, employers, neighbors and others we come in contact with. But we mustn't assume that this favor is automatic. Often, we will have to ask God for it, expecting Him to act on our behalf. If a relative or friend or parishioner needs help in situations, I have asked the Lord to give them favor, and He has always been faithful. I have also asked God to grant my family favor in the sight of our bosses and coworkers. And I have seen my family acquire jobs, often with salaries well above what we expected. When you pray for favor, people will bless you, and they won't even know why. But don't just take my word for it. Begin today to pray for favor, and discover for yourself that "the Lord bestows favor and honor" upon His people! (Psalm 84:11)
Please pray for favor for me as I do the work God has called on me to do in the churches and the greater church, and at the university, and in all the things God is leading me to do. I will be praying God's favor will rest upon you also. Praise the Lord!
Prayer: Lord, help me to always concentrate on pleasing You, and teach me how to pray for favor for myself and my friends and loved ones to have favor with others, especially when we need it most. Reveal to me how praying for favor can open doors that appear to be closed. Thank You that blessing me with favor will bring You glory! IN JESUS NAME AMEN.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Testify to the Lord's Goodness! Praise the Lord with Public Witness!
Part of our prayer life comes in praising God for Who He Is and What He Has Done. One way is by giving testimony to His mighty deeds. Public witness is an important part of the Christian's life. The remarkable Psalm 9 shows us an example of that. This is a Psalm written by David and set to music as praise and thanksgiving for God's justice and judgments upon David's enemies. In verse 1 of Psalm 9, David said, "I will show forth all Thy marvelous works." The 'show forth' means to declare, to tell of, to speak of, and that's what David is doing in this Psalm, declaring what God has done for him to his people, the nation of Israel.
David privately praised The Lord for what He had done, and David also publicly declared what The Lord had done. Verse 14 of Psalm 9 says: 'That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion'. That's a reference to the city gates of Jerusalem, the most public area of the city, the place where everyone came in and went out. David wanted the words of this Psalm to be sang in the temple and taken to the streets, so all would hear how great God is.
As Christians, we are to 'show forth', to declare what God has done for us. Verse 11 of Psalm 9 tells us that we are to sing praises to the Lord.....declare among the people His doings.
Psalm 40 verse 5 tells us 'Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered'. The Lord's wonderful works and good thoughts towards us are more than we can even number!
We are to speak of this, to declare this, to others. Privately thanking and praising The Lord is very wonderful and must be done as a part of your prayer life. But public witness must also be done. Praise the Lord!
David privately praised The Lord for what He had done, and David also publicly declared what The Lord had done. Verse 14 of Psalm 9 says: 'That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion'. That's a reference to the city gates of Jerusalem, the most public area of the city, the place where everyone came in and went out. David wanted the words of this Psalm to be sang in the temple and taken to the streets, so all would hear how great God is.
As Christians, we are to 'show forth', to declare what God has done for us. Verse 11 of Psalm 9 tells us that we are to sing praises to the Lord.....declare among the people His doings.
Psalm 40 verse 5 tells us 'Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered'. The Lord's wonderful works and good thoughts towards us are more than we can even number!
We are to speak of this, to declare this, to others. Privately thanking and praising The Lord is very wonderful and must be done as a part of your prayer life. But public witness must also be done. Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What Does the Lord Require of You? Read Micah 6:8!
One of the keys to a strong prayer life is obeying God. Showing God respect in obedience is a door to the supernatural.
Sometimes you may wonder if obeying God is worth it. Reemember that God is just and does bless those who obey him. If you don't reap the benefits of obedience in this life, you will in the next.
The Pharisees in Jesus' day obeyed the law, but for all the wrong reasons. Jesus warned in Matthew 5:20 that God looks at people's hearts. He wants obedience that flows out of love for him.
Jesus said: "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!"
When the religious leaders commanded Peter and the apostles to stop preaching the gospel, their priorities were put to the test. Their answer, recorded in Acts 5:29, teaches us that obedience to God must come first, even if it requires personal sacrifice.
But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority."
God has not hidden the secret of obedience—he has made his expectations clear. Micah 6:8 summarized the way people can please God.
"No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. "
May we do just that in our lives -- To do justice (what is right), to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
Sometimes you may wonder if obeying God is worth it. Reemember that God is just and does bless those who obey him. If you don't reap the benefits of obedience in this life, you will in the next.
The Pharisees in Jesus' day obeyed the law, but for all the wrong reasons. Jesus warned in Matthew 5:20 that God looks at people's hearts. He wants obedience that flows out of love for him.
Jesus said: "But I warn you—unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!"
When the religious leaders commanded Peter and the apostles to stop preaching the gospel, their priorities were put to the test. Their answer, recorded in Acts 5:29, teaches us that obedience to God must come first, even if it requires personal sacrifice.
But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority."
God has not hidden the secret of obedience—he has made his expectations clear. Micah 6:8 summarized the way people can please God.
"No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. "
May we do just that in our lives -- To do justice (what is right), to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
God Will Rescue Us -- In the Here and Now and in the Great Day to Come!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
God has a plan for us, a plan for this church, a plan for you, a plan for your family, and for their lives. His plan brings hope, a reason for our lives in the here and now, and a plan for our salvation as well. He has that same plan of salvation for us. Jesus has already died for our sins, and been raised to new and eternal life, so we can see the outlines of this plan with greater detail than some who went before us, but it is the same plan. His plan is to bring all that believe to eternal life and glory.
He also has a plan for your life here and now. I cannot preach about it in any detail because each of us may have entirely different plans, as far as this world is concerned. But the plan is for us to live our lives as His believing children. We are showing the world what true faith is, and who God is, and what He has done for us and what it means to us and to life in this world.
When people see the reflection of God in us and in our lives, they will come seeking the difference, and then we can also share with them the meaning of Christ for their lives in eternity. But they need to see and hear Christ in your life in the here and now. The here and now is so important and impressive to us who know about the gift of eternal life.
Imagine how central here and now is for those who do not know and cannot believe in the hereafter God has revealed. They need to see Christ in you. They need to see the faith, the hope, the confidence in God for this life and for everlasting life. Sometimes we show that by how we set our priorities. Sometimes it can be seen in how we face adversities.
Occasionally, people see our Lord reflected in how we handle the good times of life, too. It shows in humility and good cheer borne of the forgiveness of sins and the knowledge of the love of God. The words we use and the way we judge or do not judge others tells a lot about our faith and hope - or the lack of it.
A big part of the plans of God include your prayers. "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you." His plans include you talking to Him, seeking Him in times of trouble and need, pouring out your heart to Him, and finding that He is there, listening, answering. The best part of His plan is that you find Him, you know Him, and you talk with Him.
Of course, that searching with all your heart can only be done by believers, so your faith and salvation are central to His good plans for you. God promises us that we will call and He will listen. Of course, in the Old Testament prayer was attached to sacrifices and priests in the temple. But today, praise God, we don't have to go to the temple because we are the temple.
The Holy Ghost dwells in us. Our prayers aren't connected to physical sacrifices because the Pascal Lamb has been sacrificed - Jesus. So when we pray, our prayers are connected to Jesus, because we know that God loves us and will answer our prayers because of what Jesus did - and because of what Jesus said, in our Gospel today. We have those promises. What we don't have is someone telling us what the answer is. God want us to take that for granted: "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you."
Just as God rescued the Hebrew people from Babylon and returned them to Jerusalem -- and helped them in their lives, He helps us in our lives and He is planning that great rescue to come, that final day when God comes and takes us all home to the place from which were sent into exile. That place is His glory. We were exiled in sin, and the world corrupted for our sakes all around us. The good plans of God are to end that exile and end the influence of sin, and bring us home to perfection and glory.
It won't seem like a return for us, because we have never personally known the perfection of sinlessness. But it will be a return to what God originally intended, and to a life of full communion with Him. It will be glorious. 'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope'. And on that day, we will all recognize that the full plans of God for us are - on that day we will be more inclined to say 'were' - marvelously good plans! Heaven awaits us, and we will see Him in all of His glory and we will surely REJOICE!
God has a plan for us, a plan for this church, a plan for you, a plan for your family, and for their lives. His plan brings hope, a reason for our lives in the here and now, and a plan for our salvation as well. He has that same plan of salvation for us. Jesus has already died for our sins, and been raised to new and eternal life, so we can see the outlines of this plan with greater detail than some who went before us, but it is the same plan. His plan is to bring all that believe to eternal life and glory.
He also has a plan for your life here and now. I cannot preach about it in any detail because each of us may have entirely different plans, as far as this world is concerned. But the plan is for us to live our lives as His believing children. We are showing the world what true faith is, and who God is, and what He has done for us and what it means to us and to life in this world.
When people see the reflection of God in us and in our lives, they will come seeking the difference, and then we can also share with them the meaning of Christ for their lives in eternity. But they need to see and hear Christ in your life in the here and now. The here and now is so important and impressive to us who know about the gift of eternal life.
Imagine how central here and now is for those who do not know and cannot believe in the hereafter God has revealed. They need to see Christ in you. They need to see the faith, the hope, the confidence in God for this life and for everlasting life. Sometimes we show that by how we set our priorities. Sometimes it can be seen in how we face adversities.
Occasionally, people see our Lord reflected in how we handle the good times of life, too. It shows in humility and good cheer borne of the forgiveness of sins and the knowledge of the love of God. The words we use and the way we judge or do not judge others tells a lot about our faith and hope - or the lack of it.
A big part of the plans of God include your prayers. "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you." His plans include you talking to Him, seeking Him in times of trouble and need, pouring out your heart to Him, and finding that He is there, listening, answering. The best part of His plan is that you find Him, you know Him, and you talk with Him.
Of course, that searching with all your heart can only be done by believers, so your faith and salvation are central to His good plans for you. God promises us that we will call and He will listen. Of course, in the Old Testament prayer was attached to sacrifices and priests in the temple. But today, praise God, we don't have to go to the temple because we are the temple.
The Holy Ghost dwells in us. Our prayers aren't connected to physical sacrifices because the Pascal Lamb has been sacrificed - Jesus. So when we pray, our prayers are connected to Jesus, because we know that God loves us and will answer our prayers because of what Jesus did - and because of what Jesus said, in our Gospel today. We have those promises. What we don't have is someone telling us what the answer is. God want us to take that for granted: "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you."
Just as God rescued the Hebrew people from Babylon and returned them to Jerusalem -- and helped them in their lives, He helps us in our lives and He is planning that great rescue to come, that final day when God comes and takes us all home to the place from which were sent into exile. That place is His glory. We were exiled in sin, and the world corrupted for our sakes all around us. The good plans of God are to end that exile and end the influence of sin, and bring us home to perfection and glory.
It won't seem like a return for us, because we have never personally known the perfection of sinlessness. But it will be a return to what God originally intended, and to a life of full communion with Him. It will be glorious. 'I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope'. And on that day, we will all recognize that the full plans of God for us are - on that day we will be more inclined to say 'were' - marvelously good plans! Heaven awaits us, and we will see Him in all of His glory and we will surely REJOICE!
Do Not Worry -- Be Happy and Pray! Take It to the Lord in Prayer!
What a Friend We Have in Jesus -- take it to the Lord in Prayer! When you have a problem, don't gripe or complain -- instead, pray! If a person is doing something that seems wrong, don't gossip about them, pray for them! Pray -- and let the God of All Power be involved in your life. He is a gentleman and He wants your permission to help you -- and He wants your obedience in serving Him! He desires your praises and your worship! So take the holy hint and DO IT!
God's help through the power of prayer is available for all kinds of requests and issues. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are only supposed to memorize and recite to God. It is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. While it is always good to pray the Lord's Prayer from your heart to the Lord, another good way to pray is to pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe!
As Jeremiah 32:17 proclaims: "'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!"
God's help through the power of prayer is available for all kinds of requests and issues. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not a prayer we are only supposed to memorize and recite to God. It is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. While it is always good to pray the Lord's Prayer from your heart to the Lord, another good way to pray is to pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe!
As Jeremiah 32:17 proclaims: "'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!"
Prayer Power -- the Power is God's When You Let Him Use You in Prayer!
As we go into the new year, God is calling upon us to press in deeper to Him in prayer. We are to be prayer warriors for Him, fighting evil and brokeness with prayer, not bullets or knives.
Power Of Prayer - How do I tap into it?
The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!
The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.
Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
Reading the Bible builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based sermons builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based songs builds up faith. Praying itself builds up faith. Grow strong in the Lord. Let the Spirit build up your faith. Let new wave of Prayer Power begin in 2010!
Power Of Prayer - How do I tap into it?
The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!
The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.
Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
Reading the Bible builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based sermons builds up faith. Hearing Bible-based songs builds up faith. Praying itself builds up faith. Grow strong in the Lord. Let the Spirit build up your faith. Let new wave of Prayer Power begin in 2010!
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