Prayer As An Investment

PRAYER AS AN INVESTMENT?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

AS A YOUNG MAN I OFTEN MISQUOTED SOME BIBLE VERSES. IN IGNORANCE I SAID: THE GOOD OL’ BOYS CAME TO JESUS AND ASKED JESUS: LORD WILL YOU TEACH US HOW TO PRAY?

This is not at all what the boys ask the teacher to do? THEY SAID: LORD WILL YOU TEACH US TO PRAY?

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Will we come to the feet of Jesus and honestly cry out: LORD TEACH ME TO PRAY?

We learn BY DOING! The more we practice the better we get.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS PART OF THE DISCIPLES JOURNEY THAT THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE INVESTMENT OF FAITH PRAYING.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

We may walk in err not understanding the word and the power entrusted to our hands and hearts…

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

DO WE SEE AND KNOW THE BENEFITS OF PRAYER?

Do you think PRAYER IS IMPORTANT? If so then HOW IMPORTANT IS PRAYER?

Is prayer a mandatory OBLIGATION and CHORE to you?

DO WE EVER FEEL HEAVEN IS AS BRASS and EARTH AS IRON?

Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

DO WE UNDERSTAND LIFE CAN BE HARD AND COLD AND SEEMINGLY IMPENETRABLE? Life seems impossible to pass through, hard to understand, cannot see to go through… only by prayer…

SOMETHINGS CAN ONLY BE OVERCAME BY PRAYER (AND FASTING)

Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Most of the newer versions or translations do away with fasting? Fasting is a Christian tool and is not to brag about or be publicly known.

IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR US TO RESTORE AND REBUILD THE ALTAR… GOD HELP US REPAIR THE INVESTMENT IN THE HOLY ALTAR OF A MIGHTY GOD.

1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

THE PROPHETS OF BAAL PRAYED MILLIONS OF WORDS, THEY CUT THEIR SELVES (BLOOD LETTING)

ELIJAH PRAYES 63 WORDS… AND THE FORE CAME DOWN OF THE WET WOOD….

1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

ELIJAH WAS KNOWN AS A MAN THAT INVESTED IN PRAYER… THE KING WAS EVIL, HIS WIFE JEZEBEL WAS VERY EVIL… THEY PPROMISED TO KILL THE PREACHER AND STOP THE MESSAGE… WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A DEAD OR ALIVE POSTER OUT TO STOP GOD? PRAY…

We have a false teaching today: YOOU ONLY PRAY ONE TIME… TO PRAY AGAIN IS A LACK OF FAITH? Many were dying because of the drought and the King blamed the Preacher… The Preacher knew how to pray.

1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.