Coming To The Altar Of Prayer

COMING TO THE ALTAR OF PRAYER

To every believer in Christ, prayer is a life-long business. Jesus commanded men to always pray and not to faint. Lk.18:1. Paul admonished all believers to pray without ceasing. 1Thess.5: 17.

Prayer is dependence of earth on heaven. It is involvement of the divine in the human. Prayer exchanges man’s weakness for God’s strength and man’s impossibilities for God’s possibilities. It is the process by which we give God the right to invade our privacy and enforce His will and purpose on us.

In true prayer we say, ‘Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth…’ Matt.6: 10

Prayer equips us to stand in position to prevail against all odds. Men who prayed are men who prevailed. Jacob prayed and God gave him a new beginning. Jabez prayed and his life was turned around. Hannah prayed and became a mother. Brethren, it is required in prayer that something should happen. This is what some have acronym-ed “Operation

P-U-S-H”, that is, Pray Until Something Happens.

The scripture says “Ye have not because ye ask not…” Jm. 4: 2, that is, the problem is not the absence of answers but lack of asking. We have problems with making the right request, the right timing, the right motive and the right conviction. Every time we pray right we receive. “For every one that asks receives…” Matt.7: 8

Jesus, in further emphasizing the power and effectiveness of prayer says, “…ask and you shall receive so that your joy may be full.” Jn.16: 24.

In essence He admonishes us to ask until whatever limits our joy is rolled away, until whatever causes us sorrow is removed and until whatever brings us fullness of joy is effected. If our joy is limited therefore, it either means we are not asking or we are asking amiss.

CHECK LIST AT THE ALTAR OF PRAYER

1. GOD THAT ANSWERS PRAYERS. Ps.65: 2; Heb.11: 6.

There are gods whose ears are blocked. There are gods who are handicapped in every sense. The God that answers prayer is our God. He is able to turn your captivity around. He is able. Eph.3: 20; Rom.4: 21. He is faithful. Heb.11: 11; 10: 23.

He even knows your needs before you start, asking. Matt.6: 8. His track record includes making a barren woman become a mother of children, 1Sam.1, turning a failure into a success, 1Chro.4: 9,10.

So every time you come to the altar of prayer, have an expectation that God is there to

answer your prayers. “…there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall

not be cut off. Pro 24:14

2. A NEED THAT MUST BE MET. Jm.4: 3; Phil.4: 19. God supplies our needs. Needs are necessities without which life becomes nasty or impossible.

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Mat 7:9-11

3. HAVE A WORD, A REVELATION. Jer.1: 2; Psa.107: 20

“…The LORD said unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.” Jer 1:12 . God performs only His Word. He will not be cajoled or manipulated. He cannot afford to lose control because of the pressure from men. He has set up principles that govern His operations. If He said it, He will do it otherwise man can always forget it!

Is there a promise written or spoken about it? Is it what God will do or wants to do? Is it the right time for it?

4. HAVE A “CONFESSION”-Heb. 10: 23.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful

that promised;)” Heb 10:23

Confess it until you access it. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”Pro.18: 21. Also, “thou shalt decree a thing, it shall be established unto you” Job.22: 28.

What are your expectations this year?

New beginnings. New Order. New level. New heights. New breakthroughs.

They shall be granted in Jesus’ Name.

It is well.

Shalom