PRAYER. (Sunday 26 July 2015 Notes from Sandra Moyo)

Transcription

1 PRAYER 1. WHAT IS PRAYER? A passion for God s presence A part of Worship (Sunday 26 July 2015 Notes from Sandra Moyo) A longing for God -as a deer panteth for water so my soul.(psalm 42v1) Conversations with God e.g God & Moses spoke face-to-face (Exodus 33v14, 11) A two way communication between us & God: talking & listening/meditation (John 10v27) My sheep hear my voice. 2. WHY PRAY? Our responsibility/ mandate/ assignment as human beings from God we were not given ownership of the earth but assigned to be in charge of it as: Stewards, governers, mediators, go- betweens, representatives (Gen 1vs26-28) Mankind - made rulers over the works of God Psalm 8vs 3-8 I have given you authority to trample Luke 10vs 19 Life is Fragile, handle with prayer John 15vs 5..apart from Him we can do nothing..we are nothing ; Psalm 127vs 1&2..Unless the Lord builds your home, your life, watches over you it is all in vain. You and I need God no matter where we are at or what we may have!! 3. WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS & HEAVEN IS SILENT? He is near Psalm 145vs 18 Remember that the teacher is always silent during a test where will you go when you are tested are you still going to hold on 4. DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER? He is the best listener- there is no need to shout or cry out loud. He even listens to a silent prayer from a sincere heart/ sees our tears at night. A silent listener to every conversation God hears prayer 2 Chronicles 7vs 14- if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, seek, pray, turn away from... wicked way I will hear from heaven and heal their land says the Lord There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning.. 5. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? If you only pray when you are in trouble then you ARE in trouble 1 Thessalonians 5vs 16- Pray without ceasing, in all things give thanks 1

2 6. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? Ask God to make you stronger not to make life easier James 4vs 2-3 Ask with a pure heart and motives With the help of the Holy Spirit Romans 8vs26 7. WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY? Use the Word of God to pray- Hebrews 4vs 12 Fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much- James 5vs AFTER PRAYER THEN WHAT? Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it ll be yours. Nothing is too hard for God Have Faith, Trust and Believe 9. TEMPTATIONS OR SHORTCUTS TO RESIST AS YOU PRAY? When the way is dark do not light your own fires or torches. Isaiah 50vs 10-11,Isaiah 48vs 17,Proverbs 3vs 5-6 Finances (stealing, lying, cheating ) Marriage (Fornication, adultery ) Healing/ deliverance (false prophets, witchcraft ) Children (abuse, control, lack of discipline) Personal Weaknesses (passivity, inactivity or rebellion) Let Him Guide, lead and direct you 10. WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING UPON GOD IN PRAYER? Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer Romans 12vs 12 James 1vs 2-4 prepare your barns (do something worthwhile before the thing you are waiting for comes the waiting may take longer maybe some pruning is needed before you reach your destiny) 11. GET HELP IN PRAYER & COUNSEL?../cntd Be prayed for do not be too proud to get help and seek prayer support from trusted, confidential others Can we pray for you..) Galatians 6vs9- Bear one another s burdens Isaiah 1 vs19-20 Obedience pays 2

3 12. PRAYER GROUPS / PARTNERS Get involved-matthew 18vs19 where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them Keep pushing do not give up!!! Harvest time is coming.prepare your Barns!! P-Pray U-Until S-Something H-Happens 14. Grow in Prayer and Arise from your slumber 2 Corinthians 10vs 4 Its spiritual warfare. Be a Prayer Warrior. PRAYER 26 th July 2015 Pst Billy Nel Acts 10:4 Story of Cornelius The angel answered Cornelius, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. God considers your prayers and sacrifices ascending to Him, reminding Him of our perseverance in calling on Him in faith and devotion. (Psalm 141:2; Heb 13:15-16) 1. First and foremost, believers are commanded by God to pray. 1 Chr 16:11; Ps 105:4; Eph 6:17-18; Col 4:2; 1 Thes 5:17 2. Prayer is the necessary link to becoming God s blessing and power. Lk 11:5-13; Acts 1:14; Rms 15:30-32; 2 Cor 1:11; Eph 6:18-20 Requirments : Sincere true faith Mrk 11:24 In Jesus name Jn 14:13-14 In His will (His word) 1 Jn 5:14; Mt 6:10; Mt 26:42 Find a prayer partner 3

4 REPENTANCE PRAYERS On the Jewish calendar can anyone tell me what today is (apart from Sunday the 26 th July)? In Hebrew it s known as Tishah B av (9 th of Av) This is considered by orthodox Jews to be the saddest (not the Holiest) day on the Jewish calendar why? 1. Today, all those thousands of years ago God told the Israelites they would not be entering the Promised Land. They had believed the bad report of the 10 spies rather than the good report of the 2 spies. 2. 2,429 years ago on this day God allowed the Babylonians to destroy the first temple or Solomon s Temple and the exile of the Jews began, but they would return 70 years later. 3. 1,945 years ago in 70AD the Romans destroyed the second temple, again the Jews were exiled and they would not begin to return until 1948 only 67 years ago, when Israel became a state. 4. An interesting one 1,180 years ago in 135AD (about 100 years after Jesus s death), the Jews rebelled against Hadrian the Roman emperor and were destroyed by Him. History tells us that the Romans killed approximately 200,000 Jews their blood was so deep it s said that the Roman horses sunk up to their nostrils in it that the river of blood flowed so heavily it lifted 700lb rocks that it flowed into the sea and could be seen 2½ miles up the coast. Hadrian had the bodies taken to the Roman vineyards and stacked like a fence around the vineyard which measured 11½ miles by 11½ miles and that the gentiles/romans harvested from those vineyards for 7 years without having to fertilize them! 5. On this day it s recorded that a Roman officer ploughed up part of the temple mount and with it some of the Jewish homes. 6. In the year 1290 all Jews were expelled from England 7. In the year 1492 all Jews were expelled from Spain 8. World War 1 that began in 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia guess when? The 9 th Av, Tisha B av! 9. This last week the nuclear deal with Iran was finalised As you can see Tisha B Av is an extremely LOW point in fact the LOWEST point in a 3 week period of mourning which began 3 weeks ago on the 17 th Tammuz (4 July 4

5 2015) when the walls of the city of Jerusalem were breached by the Babylonians and concludes today 9 th Av. Orthodox Jews will today, be: Mourning the dead Fasting for 25 hours (to ensure they don t mess it up) They don t bath eat drink laugh or even greet each other when they meet at the synagogue today, and even remove their shoes when they enter the synagogue. As I said, the 9 th of Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar and for 9 days (i.e. from the 1 st of Av) they begin to repent in preparation for today s fast. SO, what is a Prayer of Repentance? PRAY Pray in English = to beg or entreat Pray (one of the words) in Hebrew (Hitpallel) = is to judge oneself Mostly we only pray the English way, we should be praying the Hebrew way. How do we do that? 1. We firstly inwardly examine ourselves we have to be BRUTALLY honest with ourselves you can t fool God he knows everything all your thoughts, words and deeds are recorded by the angels (good and bad) 2. Then (hopefully we ve seen our sinful state) we sincerely call on the Lord in repentance with reverent wholeheartedness WHAT IS TRUE REPENTANCE / TESHUVAH? Teshuva is often translated repentance in our bible, but is more accurately understood as turning back (shuv) to God. Jewish thinking regards turning to God as a means of turning away from evil/sin The act of turning to God has the power to redirect ones destiny it effects the whole life of the soul. 5

6 o Abraham Hershel (a polish born, American Rabbi who escaped Europe before Hitler) says (paraphrased) No word is God s final word judgement is conditional a change in man s conduct brings about a change in God s judgement Wouldn t you rather judge yourself now and teshuvah than die and face the judgement of God? 1 Peter 4:17 says, Vs 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Vs 18 If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? (this is quoted from Proverbs 11:31) Teshuvah also means To regret To be remorseful To forsake selfishness To forsake ones ego and pride Basically it means turning ALL of your heart, soul and strength back to God. SO. How do we do this? WE EXERCISE OUR WILLS there is no quick fix or easy way You have to make a quality decision! (not your pastor, husband, friend, intercessor or whoever) Teshuva does not come easily you have to WILL it What are some acts of Teshuvah Prayer Confession Turning away from sinful practices Offerings of righteousness o Ps 4:5 Offer just and right sacrifices (lean on and be confident) in the Lord o Isaiah 1:11-2o 6

7 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me [unless they are the offering of the heart]? says the Lord. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts [without obedience]; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of he-goats [without righteousness]. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you that your [unholy feet] trample My courts? 13 Bring no more offerings of vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility); [your hollow offering of] incense is an abomination to Me; the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure [it is] iniquity and profanation, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your New Moon festivals and your [hypocritical] appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 And when you spread forth your hands [in prayer, imploring help], I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes! Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Isa 30:15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. (consequences if we don t) But you would not, And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that] 17 One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill. So, if you choose to WILL to Teshuvah this morning, please stand and I d like to read a prayer that is said in the synagogues every Yom Kippur 1. Take a physical step in the opposite direction to which you are standing physically shuv this is a prophetic action in the physical of what you want to do in the spiritual 2. Speak aloud after me like you mean what you are saying 7

8 3. Firstly, repent for yourself, secondly repent for your spiritual brothers and sisters (we are one body 1 Cor 10:17 if I sin, you sin and if you sin I sin) and also for all those people who do not know the Lord as their savior 8