Pray the Word, Part 1

Prayer is important and spiritually profitable to us. Jesus modeled prayer for us¹, and He taught His disciples (and us) about prayer.² Prayer changed Jesus in one report in the Scriptures,³ and it will change us, too!

Jesus said men ought always to pray.⁴ Jesus prayed for His disciples⁵ and He prayed for all Christians.⁶ The Apostles gave themselves continuously to prayer.⁷ In the book of Romans, we learn that we should continue steadfastly in prayer; and that when we pray in tongues, the Spirit makes intercession for us.⁸ So, let’s avail ourselves of this powerful, spiritual tool.

In Philippians, we’re instructed to make our requests known to God.⁹ And in first Thessalonians, we’re reminded to pray without ceasing.¹⁰ Clearly, we can see from the Bible that prayer is vital to our Christian walk.

Because Jesus has accomplished and completed His work on earth,¹¹ we’re in a different position from God’s Old Testament people! Jesus has already purchased and fully paid for ALL of the blessings and benefits of salvation! We don’t need to beg or plead with God when we pray. We already know His will, because God’s Word is His will! One of the most important aspects of prayer is praying according to the Word of God!

I will continue this article in my next post.

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1 Matthew 14:23 2 Matt. 21:22 3 Luke 9:29 4 Luke 18:1

5 John 17:15 6 John 17:20 7 Acts 6:4 8 Romans 8:26; 12:12

9 Philippians 4:6 10 1 Thess. 5:17 11 John 19:30

Words of Truth

The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. (Eccl 12:10)

Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you? (Prov 22:20-21)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh—living and alive.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) Jesus is the Truth.

How can we answer “words of truth” to those who send to us? (See Prov 22:20-21 above) We answer by sharing the good news of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the Word; He is the Truth. He is the only Being who can deliver every single person who accepts Him from sin, sickness, and eternal death.

Let’s celebrate the fact that we have such a beautiful Savior, and that our primary task is to speak Words of Truth to mankind.

Sweet Meditations

May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord. (Ps 104:34)

Meditation means: thoughts; reflection; rumination; contemplation; or deliberation. We should desire that all of our meditations are sweet and pleasing to the Lord

Glad means: happy; delighted; elated; joyful; gleeful; cheerful; contented; joyful; or gratified.

When we think on things that are pleasing to God, it blesses us; AND it attracts blessings to us and to our life circumstances.

Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. (Ps 105:5) This passage tells us what to meditation upon!

Remember means recall; recollect; retain the thought of; bear in memory; appreciate; recognize; or regard. Remember (and think upon) God’s signs and miracles, as well as His Word.

For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; my praise is continually of You. (Ps 71:5, 6 NASB) This is prime meditation material, and it reminds us to praise God continuously.

Think upon these topics and upon God’s personality—these are sweet meditations.

Set Apart

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto Him. (Ps 4:3 KJV) We have been “set apart” by God.

Moreover, when you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart a district for the Lord, a holy section of the land; its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits, and the width ten thousand. It shall be holy throughout its territory all around. (Ezek 45:1) God instructed the Israelites to “set apart” land for Him that would be considered holy. In present times, we believers have become His dwelling place—the “land” set apart for God! (1 Cor 3:16, 17; 6:19)

What does it mean to be set apart for God?

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . . (1 Pet 2:9)

It means that we who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are God’s special people, and we are called to proclaim His praises and His good news of salvation to all people, everywhere. We are Christ’s ambassadors on the earth. (2 Cor 5:20)

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Ps 121:3) This is a promise of God to His chosen people—those who are set apart for Him. Every promise in the Bible is for us! These promises are our inheritance. (Ps 119:111)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor 7:1) We who have Jesus as our Savior—and are set apart—are called to holiness. (1 Pet 1:15, 16)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10) What constitutes “good works”? Good works are actions which are pleasing to the Lord. Because we have accepted Jesus as our Savior (we are set apart), He becomes the origin or source of our actions. Christ is the root cause of everything, and good works are the fruit!

In conclusion, we are set apart as special to God. Because we are, we walk in holiness and good works to the glory of God.

Prosper Now

For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.” (Ps 50:10-12)

. . .for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (1 Cor 10:26)

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (1 Cor 10:28)

The verses shown above demonstrate that the earth, and everything within it, belongs to the Lord. If you think that this does not include money—think again!

All of the money and prosperity of the earth belongs to the Lord, as well.

‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. (Hag 2:8)

God has spoken His blessings over mankind. He intends for us to exercise authority and control over all of His wealth!

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen 1:28)

We are joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:16-17; Heb 1:2) and as such, we have access to our valuable inheritance. We have been QUALIFIED to be partakers of this inheritance.

. . . giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Col 1:12)

Using the currency of faith, we take possession of our precious, and valuable inheritance. Jesus, the creator of all things, fashioned His creation to respond to faith-filled words that are based upon HIS Word. Exercise your faith right now, and call forth your inheritance with powerful, faith-filled words!

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim 6:17) Don’t trust in riches, but trust in the living God, for it is HE who gives us RICHLY all things to enjoy!

God wants you to prosper, to be blessed, and to enjoy the blessings of your salvation which He has given you. Enjoy your blessings!

A Relationship Picture

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. (Ps 91:15-16)

This verse is a word picture, to my mind, of Jesus’ relationship with every believer who pursues Him and values their salvation. Here is the image this passage paints to me:

Jesus and I are in a dynamic relationship with each other. Glory to God!
I call upon Him in prayer, and He answers my every prayer and meets my need. Hallelujah!
Jesus is with me when I am in trouble, and He shows me the way to escape the trouble—which I do, because I obey Him.
Jesus honors me by hearing and answering my prayers, and by valuing my relationship with Him. He demonstrates the fact that He values our relationship by fulfilling His own Word to me.
Jesus has given me long life—not only on this earth—but also in the fact that I will live eternally with Him.
He has proven and validated His salvation to me. He has done that by: (a) answering my prayers; (b) meeting my needs—in every area: healing, finances, relationships, life’s complications; (c) always being with me; (d) upholding and sustaining my life; (e) giving me wisdom and revelations; (f) always loving me; and by (g) allowing me to be filled with His glory.

What God has done for me, He has also done for you! Take inventory of how blessed you are, and rejoice, dear one.

A Right & A Wrong Response

But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant. (Matt 21:15, underlining added)

Anger is a wrong and devilish response to WONDERFUL, miraculous signs and wonders being done by Jesus in the temple. We can see that from this passage from the Bible.

Watch your own response to things that may occur around you which have their roots in spiritual realities. If you witness something that a) is a miracle, and b) which brings glory, honor, and praise to God, the correct response is to praise and worship God! Whatever benefits the Kingdom of God, and draws people to the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of rejoicing.

If you’re not sure how to respond, due to some confusion over who or what is receiving glory and honor, then ask the Lord to give you clarification, wisdom, and insight. He will answer your prayer, and show you the truth of what you witnessed. Just obey whatever instructions the Lord may give you.

Continue to praise and worship the Lord, and to feed on God’s Word daily.

New Man, New Heart

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him . . . (Col 3:9-10)

In order to put on the “new man,” we need to put on a new heart, or new heart-felt motivations inspired by God’s love and grace.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3:12 NIV)

The reason that we have the ability to put on the new man, with his new heart, is due to the fact that we’ve been made new in Christ, our Savior.

We are born again when we are baptized (Jn. 3:3, 5).
We are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15).

Paul instructs us in this new way of living.

. . . that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:22-24)

We bear with one another and forgive each other. (Col 3:13) We put on love, the perfect bond of unity, and are unified with our brethren. (Col 3:14) We allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, and we are thankful. (Col 3:15)

As we obey the Bible passages in Colossians, we are given wisdom and insight into how to live this blessed way of life. As we obey the Word, we are transformed into people of prayer with a thankful attitude who have godly wisdom towards unbelievers.

We are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power. (Col 2:10) Walk in this wonderful newness of life!

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness [graciousness, forbearance] be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Phil 4:4-5)

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. (Ps 118:15)

Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. (Ps 119:111)

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jer 15:16)

. . . rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer . . . (Rom 12:12)

As you can see from these Bible passages, rejoicing is an integral part of the life of a believer. We’re told to rejoice in Philippians.

The “voice of rejoicing and salvation” is heard in the homes of the righteous because God’s right hand (who is Jesus) does valiantly.

Valiantly means with courage or determination. Jesus fulfilled his calling to become our Savior and Redeemer! He fulfilled that calling with courage and determination.

“That hero of heroes, the conquering Savior, gives to all the families of his people abundant reasons for incessant song now that he has led captivity captive and ascended up on high. Let none of us be silent in our households: if we have salvation let us have joy, and if we have joy let us give it a tongue wherewith it may magnify the Lord.” – Excerpt from commentary on Psalm 118:15

Source of above quotation: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/treasury-of-david/psalms-118-15.html

As believers, we have so many great reasons to rejoice. God’s word, which is full of His precious promises to us, is another reason for us to rejoice.

As we wait for God to fulfill His promises to us, we rejoice in hope! Under all circumstances, let us praise God and rejoice in Him.

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Month: March 2017