Just pray already.
Last Sunday night we talked about overcoming anxiety. We gave biblical steps to beat depression, worry fear, and fretfullness.
1.-seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these things shall be added unto you.
2-Ps. 34:14-seek peace and pursue it.
3-Is. 26:3 I will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon me.
Were going to pick up where we left off, and then head on to what thus saith the Lord.
Phil.4:6-7 Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
`The modern day translation of this scripture would say something along the lines of this.
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
Worrying about a certain situation in your life, whatever it may be, does not make it any better. Am I going to have enough to pay the bills? Does not pay your bills. Paul wrote here under inspiration of the spirit-don’t worry about it.
If you’re going to spend the time to think about it, then you might as well spend the time and pray about it.
On the same token, if you’re going to sit around and complain about it, why don’t you sit around and pray about it.
Paul said don’t just pray, but give thanks while you do it. Lord I thank you that you have delivered me out of this situation. Lord I thank you that you’ve given me favor on the worksite, I thank you for your word, which says by your stripes I am healed.
When we complain about the things that are wrong in our lives, we actually plant seeds of disbelief, confusion, and strife. You’re words are seeds. As in any garden, the more you sow, the more that grows. What comes out of your mouth will ultimately determine your harvest.
In Numbers 11, we see that when the people complained, it displeased the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled against them, and he consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
In the same chapter, a great sickness came upon the complainers, and they died because of their complaining.
In Num. 12- Miriam complained, and her body was covered with leprosy.
In Num.14- 10 of the spies who were sent into the land came back with a complaining spirit, and they all died.
It may have appeared as though there were giants in the land. It may have seemed as though they were outnumbered, but the bible says, that the report that they brought back was an evil report.
This is why the bible says, what so ever is not of faith is sin. If you are speaking contrary to the promises of God, then do not expect to recieve a blessing from him.
The complainers will not receive the promises of God. It would break the law of the bible of sowing and reaping. And we know that God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should change his mind.
God told Moses-In Numbers 11:23-Is my hand waxed short? You shall see now whether or not my word shall come to pass or not.
The bible says that God watches over his word to perform it. That he puts his name above all things, yet puts his word above his name. If it is written in the bible then it is true for you........
Is. 55- for as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and returns not, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void. But it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.
God said, my word is true from beginning to end, it has not failed, and can not fail. It will accomplish that thing whereunto I sent it.
God also said, I want for you to put me in remembrance of my word. He said, tell me of the things that I told you.
Its not that God needs to be reminded, he just wants for you to get the word inside of you. You can not walk in something that you don’t know if its yours or not.
The power of death and life are in your tongue.
You can choose to complain and stay exactly where you are, or you can choose to praise, and go to the next level in Christ. The children of Israel stayed in the wilderness for 40 years, while Jesus stayed for 40 days. The choice is yours. Jesus spoke the word, while the Israelites complained.
Examples of prayer -Abraham for deliverance of the righteous in Sodom: Ge 18:22–19:29 t Abraham’s servant for a wife for Isaac: Ge 24:12–27 t Isaac for Rebekah to conceive: Ge 25:21 t Jacob for deliverance from Esau: Ge 32:9–12; 33:1–17 t Israelites for deliverance from Egypt: Ex 2:23–25t Moses for God not to destroy His people: Ex 32:11–t Gideon for a sign with the fleece: Jdg 6:36–40 and God answered by showing him he would indeed deliver Israel
t Samson for strength: Jdg 16:28–30 and God gave him the strength that he requested
t Hannah for a son: 1 Sa 1:27 (cf. vv. 11, 6) and God answered with Eli
t Samuel for Israel’s deliverance from the Philistines: 1 Sa 7:8–11 and the bible says that God thundered down his great thunder and discomfited them.
t David for deliverance in distress: Ps 118:5 and God answered
t Solomon for wisdom: 1 Ki 3:9–13 and God gave him his request
t Elijah for restoration to life of the widow’s son: 1 Ki 17:22 and the boy came back to life
t Elijah for divine fire on his sacrifice: 1 Ki 18:36–38 and the Lord answered by fire
t Elisha for opening his servant’s eyes: 2 Ki 6:17 and then he could see the great host
t Hezekiah for healing: 2 Ki 20:1–3, 5 and the Lord added 15 years to his life
t Isaiah for declining of the shadow on Ahaz’s sundial: 2 Ki 20:11 and God turned back the very hands of time
t Jabez for divine blessing: 1 Ch 4:10 “Oh that thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand would be with me, that you would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me- and the bible says that God granted him his request.
t Daniel and his friends for understanding of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: Da 2:17–23 t
t Zacharias for a son: Lu 1:7–17, 57- and God gave them John the baptist
t the thief for Jesus to remember him: Lu 23:42–43 And Jesus said this day will you be with me in paradise
t Jesus for Lazarus to be raised: Jn 11:41–42- Mary and Martha longed for the healing touch of God on their brother, but little did they know that God had something greater in store. They wanted a healing, but God wanted a miracle. Jesus told Martha, thy brother will rise again, she said I know he will at that great ressurection at the last day.
Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
And he came up to the grave, and said 3 words, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth.
There is nothing too hard for our God. He longs to bless his people, the bible says that the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth....
You can choose to sit back and complain about things in life, or you can choose to take action and do something about it. You can wallow in self pity, or you can give it to God.
This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And we know that if he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
