SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Matthew 6:6) "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
(Matthew 6:9-13) (9) "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (10) "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (11) "Give us this day our daily bread." (12) "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (13) "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.'
(1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) (17) "Pray without ceasing." (18) "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(Ephesians 6:18) "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints;"
(Romans 8:26-28) (26) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (27) "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (28) "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Beloved, this message is designed to help us realize that we have a wonderful loving Heavenly Father who desires to have a personal relationship with us and the introduction to this message declares in the introduction summary that this powerful being will withhold no good thing from his children and it is not only his good pleasure to give us his kingdom but the mysteries of the kingdom. (Ephesians 1:9)
Beloved, God says to those that are hungry to see the fire of God descend upon His Church today, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13)
Dear reader, when we really mean business with God, we will find that real praying is work that sometimes will require long hours, sleepless nights, heart searching and possible "house-cleaning because Satan will fight every effort we make to touch the throne of God.
Beloved, there is a price to pay for the anointing and that is why the word states in (Matthew 22:14) that "many are called but few are chosen."
Beloved, Prayer can be defined as denying self and perhaps putting aside the things we like and want to do, but we must do to give God time to implant His burden in our hearts, for it is here in this divine intimacy, we will receive victory as we begin to fully obey the Spirit’s promptings, so that we are ready to allow the Holy Spirit take complete control of our life and ministry.
GOD HAS A PLAN
Saints of God, somewhere behind this universe, there is an awesome all knowing, all powerful God who is seated on his throne where he oversees his creation and we can take hope in is word which declares that he had a plan for mankind before he made the first man Adam from the dust of the Earth. (Luke 12:32)
Beloved, the Lord God spoke everything both seen and unseen into existence but beloved, the bible in (Genesis 2:7) declares that God knelt down and carefully molded the first man Adam from the clay of the Earth and beloved, we find that since the beginning of time, this wonderful creator has shown that he desires to have a personal relationship including intimate fellowship with his people which were created in his image and likeness.
Saints, we must realize that our relationship and trust is not in some unknown Spiritual Force, Saint, or Angel but in a real live being who loved us enough to step into history and give his life for his greatest creation which was under a curse from the fall of Adam.
Beloved, this curse took place in the garden of Eden when Adam and his wife Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge and evil even after being warned that the penalty for breaking this law would be death.
Church, in breaking this commandment, they gave in to Satan's lie and deception that God would not kill them but their eyes would be opened causing them to be like God provoking Eve to entertain the thought that God was holding back on them.
Beloved Saints, because Adam was given dominion of the Earth including the elements that govern the Earth, the action of Adam giving in to his wife by partaking of the forbidden fruit, forfeited his delegated dominion to Satan and their willful act of breaking God's law allowed sin to enter the human race bringing with it the penalty of death
causing all of creation to be placed under a curse.
Saints, the scriptures teach that In the fullness of time, God became a man and stepped into history to pay this sin debt and die for us.
Beloved, the debt to redeem fallen man called for a man to come forward and be perfect like Adam, with pure blood not tainted from the blood of fallen man to give his life as a sacrifice which would satisfy the wrath against sin by a holy God who is perfect in all his ways.
Beloved reader, did you know that to redeem man from this curse, God who is perfect in all his ways could not make another man from a Earth that is under a curse but secret in the counsel of God was a perfect plan just for this purpose because God who knows all things knew that Adam would fall therefore he put him together with a glue like substance called Laminin" which held his cells (body) together and is perfectly forms the shape of a cross the very means the Son of God would be crucified on to redeem God's greatest creation fallen man back into fellowship and right standing with almighty God for the scriptures state in (Revelation 13:8) that "the Lamb of God (Jesus) was slain before the foundations of the world."
Beloved Saints, Christ bore our earthly nature giving his earthly life as a ransom so that one day we may bear his heavenly nature making the way for fallen man to get back into fellowship with almighty God,
Beloved, through his virgin birth, his earthly life interacting with nature, his death, his burial and his resurrection, the restored fellowship that was lost through the fall of Adam is now available to all who receive God's wonderful pardon and beloved, Prayer is the gracious gift that allows us to walk into his awesome presence as sons and daughters honoring him as our heavenly Father. A-men
THE SOURCE OF OUR PRAYER
(Psalms 24: 3-5) (3) "Who may ascend the hill of God and stand in his holy place? (4) "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (5) "He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Beloved, did you know that to be Holy is to be unique and separate from all things created both seen and unseen, and our God is far above and beyond anything our three pound brain can imagine because he has no limitations on what he can and cannot do in other words, he is able to work inside and out side creation with no restrictions?
Dear reader, we must approach God with worship and adoration for who he is and what he has done for us because beloved, our God is sovereign and does not depend on what is created to sustain him but all creation is dependent upon him for their existence.
Beloved, God is Holy in character, deed not being confined by space and time which is what distinguishes and separates him from all other created things for he is the very essence of life and it is in him that we live and have our being therefore let us strive for perfection and enter into God's rest for he speaks volumes in the fifteen chapter of John's gospel and the sixteenth verse that he called us and ordained us that we should go forth and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain; that whatsoever we shall ask of the father in his name, he may give it unto us. (John 15:16)
Saints, God has granted us the gift of prayer to enter into his divine presence discovering that not only is he seated on his throne in Heaven with his Angelic host but his Spirit is also here on Earth with us and dearly beloved, this revelation tends to awaken something like a deep voice within us saying this world is not our true home.
Dear reader, did you know that prayer causes us to realize that there are more around us than we are able to actually see and because of circumstances involved, it may take some time before we see physical results to our prayers therefore beloved, we need to receive revelation that God sees all, is looking at people around us and what effect our answered prayers will have on them.
Beloved, my relationship with my God is like no other, for it is not based on material things, friendships or relationships, that will soon fade away, but my relationship with my God who is eternal is celebrating intimacy with the one who planned my life, the end from the beginning and that beloved is a assurance beyond the grave.
Dear reader, it is a precious friendship that makes me happy as I feel the surge of his life flowing through my veins giving me strength to make it another day knowing that he has a purpose for my being on this planet therefore beloved, discovering that purpose and reading his word gives me hope which is an anchor of my soul.
Dear reader, may we be quick to understand that prayer is the means to satisfy our desire to know him who delivered us from sin, thus giving us a deeper desire to commune with him and be in his presence, for when we have learned the secret of abiding in his presence, we will understand that our connection with him is centered on how we esteem (Value) (Admire) him for who he is.
THE LORD'S PRAYER IS A KINGDOM PRAYER
(Matthew 6:9-13) (9) "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (10) "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (11) "Give us this day our daily bread." (12) "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (13) "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen".
Dear reader, just to expound on this sacred prayer found in (Matthew 6:9-13) causes an excitement within that words are not able to describe because to me, it is like a spiritual oasis in my soul because it shows me the heart of the father and the passion of the Son.
Dear Saints, some translations of the bible today are causing people to miss their blessing as they deceive their audience by leaving out the part of this awesome prayer spoken by our lord and that part is " Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever." A-men."
Dear reader, we find the Lord in this sixth chapter of Matthew instructing his disciples concerning the proper way to pray and approach God causing some people call this passage of scripture found in Matthew's gospel as the Lord's prayer.
Dear reader, here in this setting, we find the preacher of all preachers, Jesus of Nazareth standing on a hillside overlooking looking the Sea of Galilee, instructing his disciples concerning the right way to pray and approach God.
Beloved, here in this setting, the preacher of all preachers is instructing his disciples to take their prayer life serious and not exploit themselves like the heathen who love to pray in public becoming known for their educated words, but enter into their closet and pray in secret, encouraging them that their Father who sees in secret would reward them openly.
Beloved reader, here in this setting, we find the Lord beginning his prayer by addressing God as Our Father and beloved, it was not uncommon for Kings in the middle east to be addressed or be called the Father of their people, and history reveals that many times George Washington was called the Father of America, and dear reader, when we address God as our Father, we are identifying ourselves as being the children of the King therefore in so doing we are confessing that he is our sovereign Lord.
Beloved, in this prayer we are not only praying for a time God has set in the future where his Son will sit on his throne here on Earth and reign in righteousness but we are making a statement that we acknowledge his right to rule over all people including us.
Saints, God has a Kingdom that is an established kingdom that is now at work in our lives, one where Satan has been defeated and Jesus has been seated above all where he rules as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords operating in the delegated Authority that was given unto him by the Father making him both Lord and Christ giving him a name above all names declaring him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
Dear reader, we as his children need to realize the same Authority delegated unto him has been delegated unto us and direct our prayers asking God to mold us to become one unified body working together in harmony doing his will even as it is already being done in Heaven.
Beloved, when we pray the words Hallowed be thy name, we enter a new level of respect for God and reverence for his person giving into to his will and call upon our life, yes beloved when we give him our will to live his life through us, we are placing him on the throne of our heart even as he sits on his throne in heaven, expressing unto him that we have a burning desire for our lives to reveal his love and his character to a lost and hurting world and saints, we do this our everyday life both in private and in public which is played out by our actions.
Beloved reader, did you know that when we pray this kingdom prayer, we come to the place where we are not asking him to change his will or even bless our will, but we are asking him to bring us to the discover his will for our life that will cause us to walk in the fullness of his will and purpose?
Beloved, once we discover his will and purpose for our life, we need to show forth an effort to do it with all our might which will show him that we are maturing in our new walk and that we are in total submission to him as stated in (Romans 12:2) which calls for us to submit our bodies to the good and acceptable will of God over our life which is our reasonable service.
THE SERENITY OF PRAYER
Dear reader, God expresses in (Psalms 68:5) of his Holy word that "he is a Father to the Fatherless" which gives someone that has just suffered the loss of their earthly father some comfort, however some like myself may bear the memory of a rough childhood with an abusive father who showed very little love toward his family.
Beloved, I never got to hear the words "Son, I am proud of You" because my Father was always telling me "I would never amount to nothing" acting as if he were in competition with me, but beloved saints, unlike an earthly Father, our Heavenly Father desires to develop a loving relationship with us.
Dear Saints, God clearly shows us in his word what the true characteristics of a real Father should be and when he stated in his word for us to openly address no man on earth as father, he was simply stating that we should not address a mere human being born on earth as the model father for no one can fulfill the obligations of that role but our one true heavenly father who is in heaven.
Beloved, did you know that our heavenly father who is perfect in all his ways, loves his children with a pure unconditional, love and he proved that love by giving his only begotten Son for the sins of mankind which beloved, is a providing love that never fades away?
Beloved, did you know that God's word declares that our God possesses a Father's Heart, A Father's Love, A Father's Strength and A Father's Concern for his children?
Dear Saints of God, our heavenly father has demonstrated throughout his word that he has a sincere desire for us to maintain a family relationship with him and even though he already knows our needs, he wants us to come to him trusting and believing that he is able and wants to meet them.
Dear reader, because we are members of his royal family, God wants us to ask him for what he already longs to give us, therefore beloved, our prayer life prepares and enables us to enter into his presence that we may receive instruction and blessings to make it another day. (Galatians 4:6) "And because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father."
Saints, the bottom line to this message is, sometimes we just need to come to him as father and unburden ourselves believing that he will always make time for us as his children.
ASKING PRAYER THAT WORKS
Dear reader, how and the way we approach God including what we are willing to ask him for, will reflect how we view him, therefore beloved, do we view him as one that works on a merit system that requires us to satisfy some demand to gain his favor like other religions, or do we approach him as a loving Father who loves his children wanting nothing but the best for them?
Dear reader, all to often, we tend to make our requests in accordance to what we understand about his character. and to better understand this, we need to ask some very important questions.
1. How does a child who has an abusive father approach their father?
2. What will they ask for and how will they approach them?
3. Will they be fearful that he may burst into an emotion uproar?
Dearly beloved, are we as God's children approaching him with fear entertaining the thought that he is waiting for us to fail or can we approach him as the model Father, full of compassion and love who is determined to bring us to a good end. (James 4:2) states that we have not because we ask not therefore beloved, we are expected to ask him for the things he has promised.
Beloved if God gave you a blank check, how would you fill it out, would you use it to better yourself or would you use it to help others and advance the Kingdom of God?
Saints, one very important revelation that we must recognize in the kingdom of God is that timing is everything therefore let us not be praying a one sided selfish prayer but stay in his presence and allow him to place his burden in our heart, realizing that he is an all knowing God that sits high and looks low beholding everything and everyone around us that will be affected by our prayers.
Beloved Saints, we need daily strength to continue this journey, and what we had yesterday is not sufficient to face what we may encounter today, therefore when we come before him expressing our needs, we need to recognize that he instructed us to ask for them because he is concerned and he desires that we stand with confidence knowing that he is able to answer our prayer and meet our needs.
Beloved, God has extended his grace unto us that we can come boldly unto him with praise and thanksgiving in our heart for we are his children, the work of his hands. A-men
Saints did you know that the Lord linked the word (and) in the phrase between asking for daily bread and asking for daily forgiveness?
Beloved, he did this because we need fresh bread from heaven daily feasting on his eternal word and we do not know what dangers we may encounter that would require his divine protection to cover and protect us therefore we are told to pray for the Lord to "deliver us from evil."
Dear Saints, we as his children need to discover in his word that all temptations must have his approval before they can be sent against us therefore beloved, may we come boldly unto our God making our requests with confidence and humility remembering his word in (Hebrews 11:6) states, "without faith, it is impossible to please him, and they that come to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to them that diligently seek him."
SEEKING THE FATHER'S WILL
Beloved Saints, did you know that God desires for us to have a personal intimate relationship with him and we do this by having a conditioned prayer life, therefore when we seek the Lord in prayer, may we realize that we are entering a higher level of intimacy such as seeking his presence and glory as we ask for direction or simply ask for his will to be done in our life?
Saints of God, instead of asking him to bless our will with our carefully thought out plans, we need to get beyond our selfish will and begin seeking his divine guidance, especially in a trying situation which is already beyond our control and allow him to have complete control over all our life.
(Jeremiah 29:13) "if we seek him with our whole heart, we shall find him."
(Hebrews 11:6) "God will reward those that diligently seek him."
Beloved, we read earlier in the Lord's prayer that the disciples were learning the proper way to pray and were told to not pray out loud in public but to enter their closet and shut the door.
Saints, God cannot place things in our hand until he first prepares our heart to receive them and know that he can trust us with the answer, therefore beloved, instead of him becoming apart of our lives, honoring the plans that we have carefully put together which mean nothing to him because he had a plan for us before the foundation of the world.
Dear Saints and fellow peers, God desires for us to become apart of him and the plan he has, therefore beloved, let us prayerfully seek him for wise counsel and become an influence to the world around us, and not allow the world to influence us with their enticement and lose living which only lasts for a season.
Dear reader did you know that the Lord instructed his disciples to seek first the Kingdom of heaven and all other things will be added unto them?
Beloved reader, our blessings including our needs should never take precedence to seeking the King and in closing let me be quick to say that this walk of faith needs a strong prayer life and prayer sometimes needs fasting for its perfect development.
RESULTS OF ANSWERED PRAYER
Dear reader, I have learned by experience that if you desire for a special curriculum or a different approach of doing things to take place in your church, the best way to get your proposal across to your people is to take them to a church where they can see it in action and beloved, when you bring them back to your church, many times you will discover that they are excited to start the same curriculum because they have witnessed it in action.
Beloved, in this message on answered prayer, I am attempting to bring you back in time and point in history where God showed up for a few dedicated servants who had been seeking him for rain because of a severe drought that had hit the land..
Church, it begins with a determined man of God called Duncan Campbell who was famous for what is known as the Hebrides revival which occurred in 1949.
Beloved, Dr. Campbell wrote about and related an account of the days leading up to the revival stating that it was during a week-night prayer meeting that God visited the church in a mighty way.
Brother Campbell in his writing stated that there had been bitter opposition to the Gospel in the village, and although many attended the meetings from other areas, very few locals were attending the meetings.
Dr. Campbell recalls that A church leader suggested they should go to prayer, and thirty or so moved into the home of a friendly farmer to begin the prayer meetings.
Brother Campbell stated that they prayed and prayed but about midnight the Lord impressed him to turn facing the local blacksmith who had been silent so far and said, ‘I feel the time has come when you ought to pray.’
Beloved, the blacksmith prayed for about half an hour, because in revival, time doesn’t matter, and then drew his prayer to a close with a bold challenge, declaring with a loud voice, "God I am asking you to realize that your honor is at stake?" "God in your word you promised to pour floods on dry ground, and you are not doing it."
Brother Campbell recalls that the blacksmith paused for a while and then concluded stating, "God again I state that your honor is at stake, and I challenge You to keep Your covenant promises."
Dr. Campbell stated that without warning the granite house where they were gathered began to shake like a leaf with one elder making the statement that he thought it was an earth tremor?
Duncan Campbell stated that he was reminded of (Acts 4:31) where it states that "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken."
Saints. It was about two o’clock in the morning when Duncan Campbell pronounced the benediction and everyone went outside finding the whole village alive, ablaze with the presence of God as men and women were seen carrying chairs asking if there was room in the church for them!
Dear reader, the word of God states in (Hebrews 13:8) "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever," therefore beloved, if there is any changing done, it must be done in us, and in this hour of uncertainties with danger lurking around every corner, may we cry in deep repentance that almighty God will bend us to do his will that he may leave his signature through us to other generations. A-men
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, as we come to a close in this message, may we as God’s children understand that we have a choice between effectual praying and making excuses for not praying and all too often, we tend to take the easy, human way out as we lazily offer excuses for our failure in touching God.
Saints of God, I have listed below some of the lame excuses we offer in an attempt to excuse ourselves from a fruitful walk with God, and let me step up and say from experience that I do not care how hard or how late we have worked, we will always make and find time to do what we really want and desire to do, period.
1. We are tired.
2. We don’t have time to pray or we get sleepy trying to read his word.
3. We love to point out the coldness or problems in our church family, or the day in which we live as reasons to neglect our prayer life.
Beloved, do you remember the nursery rime that went something like this, "Ole Mother Hubbard went to the cub bard to fetch Rover a bone but when she got there the cupboard was bare and Ole Rover never got none," therefore beloved, could we be safe in saying that "our cupboard is bare?"
Church, is the coldness of men's hearts dulling their sensitivity to hearing the voice of God, and can we be safe in saying that we have too many gods of this world such as our job, car, religion, spouse etc. that we allow to consume our time including our energy?
Beloved, did you know that continuing in the lifestyle which we know the bible declares to be sin, will always bring guilt along with condemnation that will prevent us from praying through to God and we all know who is the author of guilt and condemnation?
(Isa. 59:2) "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."
(1 Kings. 18:21) "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him."
Beloved, God says to those that are hungry to see the fire of God descend upon His Church today, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13)
Dear reader, when we really mean business with God, we will find that real praying is work that sometimes will require long hours, sleepless nights, heart searching and possible "house-cleaning because Satan will fight every effort we make to touch the throne of God.
Beloved, there is a price to pay for the anointing and that is why the word states in (Matthew 22:14) that "many are called but few are chosen."
Beloved, Prayer can be defined as denying self which may require us to lay aside some of the things we like that we may give God preeminence in our life which will give him the time needed to implant His burden in our hearts.
Saints, did you know it is here in this divine intimacy, where we will experience victory as we begin to fully obey the Spirit’s promptings, so that we are ready to allow the Holy Spirit take complete control of our life and ministry?
Dear reader, the old masters of the pulpit got their texts on their knees, soaked them with their tears, groaned over them with a travailing spirit, and warmed them with sincere prayer.
Beloved Saints, they were then able to deliver the message as a living thing, warm from God’s heart, burning in the preacher’s heart to make warm the heart of the listeners.
Beloved, did you know that if we preach from the head, we will reach the head of our congregation, but if we preach from the heart, we will reach their heart and dear reader please know that when it comes to ministering to God's people, there is no substitute for prayer.
Dear Saints, in closing let me say especially with more than thirty five years of ministry throughout the inner cities of America and some countries abroad that you cannot tell this fast paced half stepping generation today with their indoctrinated progressive intellects what our God can do for they will shrug us off but dear reader if we are going to see results and turn this nation around, we must live and demonstrate the Gospel of the Kingdom to a lost and hurting world!
Beloved, God has a remnant that he has chosen and what little bit we do for him in this dark confused world could be illustrated like one being in a dark room or cave attempting to find the door but to no avail because their eyes and brain are confused because of the darkness, but wait, I got some hope and that would be to strike a match.
Dear reader, the flicker and coming flame of that match will bring hope out of despair and that beloved is what we become when we let our light shine for the kingdom of God in a confused dark world.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
