By Every Word

Persistence Pays Off

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Aug 152011

Luke 18 : 1-8
1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB

This parable is an answer to those who have asked God something and you don’t seem to get an answer. You think God is just holding out on you; God is blessing and answering everyone else’s prayers but not mine. This can seem to be the case unless we understand prayer. Look at what Paul wrote to the Ephesians…

Ephesians 6 : 18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
NASB

Two words I want to really focus in on- perseverance and petition. These are key components to effective prayer. Let’s define them…

perseverance

steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

petition

a formal written request made to an official person or body (as a court or board)
a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority
a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:

I cannot stress the importance of exercising this in our prayer life. You can’t be a lawyer and not know about making a “petition” and you cannot pray effectively without “petitioning”. Look at the third definition for petition where it states “…soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:” If you have ever had a prayer answered it’s because you requested something God had already spoken as being a right or benefit- or because He gave you favor or mercy. A petition is a legal request to a government or authority based on rights or promises- when we pray we’re making a legal request to God based on rights…

Matthew 5 : 7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
KJV

or benefit…

Psalm 103 : 2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
KJV

Psalm 116 : 12
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?
KJV

Some may read this and at first think to themselves “I don’t have any rights… I’m just at God’s mercy because I am just a lowly servant who’s at His mercy.”
My reply to you would be the same as Job to His worthless friends, “What a help you are to the weak!”, he says sarcastically.

As a citizen you do have rights, why? Because that’s the way God setup His government system. Rights are for citizens and you have to understand your rights in order to have access to them. If God says in His word “blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” then you have to remind God of that in your prayers. He’s a King so if He says something it becomes law! So we pray…

“Lord, you see adversity coming against me from these individuals at work and the stress and humiliating situations I have found myself in; God I have shown mercy as my reaction to these things- I could have acted completely different in response to these events but I have remembered Your word “if I am merciful, I will obtain mercy“. So Father in Heaven I remind you of Your word and my right as a citizen- because I have shown mercy, mercy shall I obtain.”

Praise God! I’m telling you if you find yourself in need of a prayer like this and you petition God with your request in this manner, you will begin to see favor come upon you from those around you and even from those in positions of authority. God will turn their persecution into shame because you have laid claim to the right of mercy. THIS IS POWERFUL! THIS IS A TRUE PRACTICE OF FAITH!

Faith is the strength of your convictions, in the time of testing, that His word is true. That means no matter how bad things get, you believe His word and that it will prevail. If you can get understanding of this, trials will be something to weather rather than something sent to destroy you. God knows your benefits and rights… He’s the one that created them when He spoke them- He just wants you to believe His word enough, that you will remind Him of His promise and then wait for the answer.

Now back to my first scripture
Luke 18 : 1-8

1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB

This is an area where we overlook much of the time. We expect to pray once and see results immediately. It’s OK to pray and expect- in fact the bible encourages this- but when you don’t see results and you know you’re in line with His word in your request- you must continue to petition. Jesus gave us this example about this widow woman. He says to continue and press in on the Lord for your request. If in the parable this evil man gave in because he didn’t want to be wore out by her constant pleas- how much more will God answer your request when you continue to request of Him your petition. IT EVEN SAYS WILL HE DELAY A LONG TIME TO ANSWER HIS ELECT YOU CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT! WOW!

BUT when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth… That’s another article for another day…

Continue to request and petition day and night unto the Lord- He will answer. Don’t give up! I could go into the Jewish culture of how a child must ask his father three times to get a yes- but I’ll leave you with this to meditate on. But BE WARNED if you request and petition something of God day and night be ready to receive it. If you’re asking for direction, an answer, for God to use you, for your purpose- He’s going to give it you- so don’t ask anything unless you’re ready to use what He gives you.

-For The Kingdom

Purpose of Prayer – Lesson 2

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Sep 062010

Continuing with the study on the purpose of prayer, we dive into scripture that will bring understanding to God’s purpose for mankind for communication through prayer. This lesson will help you to begin understanding, why should we pray?

I’m Doing Great…

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Aug 122010

I went into a restroom today and ran into a young guy who had a walking stick with him. He was completely blind. He had some hearing devices attached to his ears which were fairly large in size. I know technology has made huge advances in hearing equipment and the sizes of them have become incredibly small. My own grandfather is deaf without his, and even his is not noticeable unless looking directly into his ear canal. So I was aware that this guy’s hearing was severely impaired.

As I went to wash my hands I said “How are you?”

His reply “I’m doing great!”

…wow

I couldn’t help but think about the times I had complained in my mind about trivial bothers… Makes me think to myself- “Shut up with your complaining!”

This guy- who cannot see the colors of the sun, the flowers, the bright and dark greens of plants, the blue skies and white clouds, nor hear without all this equipment attached to his ears- yet he can still reply “I’m doing great!” with enthusiasm- what do I have to complain about. How blessed so many of us are that take for granted our senses.

I began to pray “Lord, if I pray for him, will You heal him?” Now I know God’s will is for him to be healed- but sometimes in the moment I can lack the faith to commit. The enemy will plant a thousand “What Ifs”. The Ifs don’t matter, for faith is believing God’s word, laws and promises regardless of circumstances. The evidence of the unseen hope is in God’s word. But before I could finish this thought, he had left.

I will see him again soon. Will those who read this do something for me, right now? Pray for this young man’s eyes and ears to be opened. Pray the Lord will heal him when I see him again and I pray for him… or before then is great too!

How am I? I’m doing great!

The Lord’s Prayer 08

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Jul 312010

Luke 11:3
Give us day by day our daily bread.
KJV

Alright I had to do some research on this part for a few days so this one took a little longer to gather everything on.

Bread is such an important thing in Jewish culture. This word can mean so many things- hence why we have used it in modern terminology for many things. Someone comes up to you and says “Throw me some bread man.” What are they talking about? Money! That’s why we also use the term “bread winner” which is the one who brings home most of the money.

But in the Lord’s prayer the word bread is referring to more than just food, dough, or money. It is sustenance. It’s what you need to sustain for that day. So when you pray for “our daily bread” you are praying for everything you need to sustain for that days needs. Everything that you need to suffice for the work the kingdom must do on earth.

In the Jewish culture bread is everything that you need to make bread. To make bread you need soil, water, grain, sun, nutrients, care, yeast, dough, hands, work, spices, heat, time… anything I’m forgetting you cooks out there?

You’re not just praying for bread- but for everything that you need to get the bread. This is an important part of the Lord’s prayer. All this time you thought you were praying for food. Noooo… we don’t even have to pray for food- Jesus taught us that the Father knows what we have need of… We’re praying for everything that day has need of to sustain for that days needs. Lord- give us our daily bread: opportunity, courage, strength, ability, skill, knowledge, wisdom, path, ideas, words, doors, patience, mercy, grace, guidance, necessities, friends, answers, results… for today!

Now once you pray for daily bread… expect it! Expect to receive it! Did you know that if you’re His people- you have a right to it? God made it that way for you! He taught us to pray this way because He wants you to ask Him for it! He was teaching us that it is something that is natural in the kingdom of God! It’s not a miracle to have your needs met! It’s natural in the kingdom of God to have your needs met- you just have to make sure you’re in His kingdom. His kingdom is naturally, supernatural. That’s why it wasn’t a big deal for Jesus to walk on the water, or to multiply the loaves and the fish, or to heal the sick, or to open blinded eyes. Are these miracles?… well yes! Of course they were! But Jesus was trying to show us something more important. That’s why you don’t see Jesus with the disciples afterward saying “Did you see that miracle? Did you see what I did? Wasn’t that awesome?” No, Jesus would calm the entire sea, then turn to the disciples and say “Oh ye of little faith?” He wanted us to look beyond the act and understand the way. He was teaching us that the kingdom of God brings these things… it’s normal in the kingdom.

Where we fight for gold and pearls and precious metals down here… Heaven is built with these things. Can you imagine if our highways were built out of gold? We build our highways with asphalt or cement- because gold is too precious. But in the kingdom, there is so much surplus, they build the streets out of gold! We struggle until we understand Who our Father is and His will for his children. He has surplus… so you know He has your needs. It’s normal in the kingdom to have everything you need… you just have to ask.

Give us Lord our daily bread.

The Lord’s Prayer 07

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Jul 242010

Luke 11:3
Give us day by day our daily bread.
KJV

Wow! Isn’t God’s word amazing? It took us 6 posts to get through verse 2! God has been revealing even more to me in my study of this subject and I am so blessed by it- I hope you are.

So here in verse 3 we see “Give us day by day”. Let’s look at another scripture which helps us to understand this part of the prayer.

Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What you need, is what you need today. We sometimes want more than what we actually need. We want surplus of our needs. But this is bad management of resources. Before I continue, I think it’s important to clarify that I am not speaking about your savings or retirement- all of that is great! After all it was Joseph’s management plan in storing the corn for the 7 good years so they would have food in the 7 years they would lack. What I am speaking of is your needs today.

We pray all of our needs are met today. Sometimes we put to much emphasis on next week, next month and we don’t thank God for all of our needs being supplied today. Trust He will supply all your needs today. Think about it… will you go hungry today? Will you go thirsty today? Will you have a place to lay down tonight? Do you have a house or apartment to go to tonight? Thank Him for that today. Thank Him the power will not be cut off today. Thank Him for everything the kingdom has supplied today. Then give surplus to those who don’t have. One of my favorite quotes is “If God can get it through us, He’ll always get it to us.”

Funny thing happened. I do these write-ups in spurts as I get free time to write. So sometimes I do a writing in one sitting while other times it can take a couple of days. This also gives me time in between writing to think on what God is showing me and He will give me revelation on the subject that I add to these posts. Well during this writing a storm hit and our power was knocked out for about 13 hours. I laid in the bed and had to practice what I teach. I began to pray

“Lord, I thank you I have a roof over my head keeping me out of the rain. I thank you for the technology we have to harness power and the benefits it brings us in life. I thank you for all the days I’ve had power. I thank you I’m saving money on my energy bill right now with the electricity being out.”

We can talk the talk sometimes, but do we walk the walk? We say “I will serve you Lord with my whole heart!” but when things are not going well do we still speak in faith and praise Him then?

Are we thankful because He’s God in our life… or because things are going well in our life? Does God’s place in your life change, depending on the season your life is in? He’s still God, He’s still Provider, Source, Sustainer… God will sometimes let tests come into our life to see if we really mean what we say- and to reveal to us where our heart really is.

Pray and thank Him for the needs that are met today… day by day.

The Lord’s Prayer 06

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Jul 222010

Luke 11:2
…Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
KJV

Luke 11:2
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
NKJV (Emphasis Added)

Oh this is my favorite part! We want the kingdom of heaven to come and His will to be done- where? On Earth- how? Just as it is in heaven! Look at this powerful statement in the bible! We’ve read this, we’ve prayed this prayer- but we didn’t understand what we were saying most of the time. We thought it was just a nice simple prayer we would quote- but this is a HUGE petition. Remember the disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and so, Jesus made sure to teach them this.

There is a reason God put us on earth. There is a reason He made you and then made you a body and then put you in the body and breathed life into you. The bible says all things came out of God (John 1), so if He wanted you to stay in heaven he would not have put you in a body on the earth. God put you here for a reason, and gave you dominion over the earth for a reason. (Genesis 1:26) He wanted earth to become just like heaven. He wanted earth to be impacted with the culture of heaven. Lord, let your kingdom come on earth, let your will be done on earth, just like it is in heaven let it be so in the earth!

That was God’s original desire. He gave man dominion over the earth and He walked and talked with man- but then man (Adam) disobeyed and rebelled against God and declared independence from heaven. So we became a corrupt and self destructive kingdom. But God’s plan didn’t change. Look at this!

1 Samuel 8
4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5. And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

They still didn’t get it! God had not changed His purpose, but the people still rebelled against God’s plan. Look what God says.

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

They chose to learn the hard way. Look at the people’s comparison of why they wanted a ‘man’ king to judge and rule over them… “like all the nations“.

My God, we have not drifted far from this mentality today. We try to compare what we think we need with what we see others have… even though what they have isn’t working. Am I talking to anybody out there? Man rejects God for His own destructive independence. I pray it not be named among you from this day forward.

We need His kingdom to come- to earth! What does religion teach? “Let us leave earth and go to the kingdom of heaven.” Is that what you believe? Now, does that line up with how Jesus taught how to pray? Let Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done- on earth just as it is in heaven. So God wants us to pray heaven down to earth. He wants earth to become just like heaven.

In the Caribbean there is an island called Hispaniola. Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola on his voyage between 1492 and 1493. Columbus took possession of the land and named it “La Isla Española” which means “The Spanish Lady”. The name was later shortened and re translated as “Hispaniola”. Spain’s interest in the island was not priority and became increasingly under attack by pirates. As the colonies of Spain were ordered to draw in closer to the area known as Santo Domingo this gave way to pirates making establishments on the island. In 1665 the French colonization on the west side of the island was recognized. Spain ceded the land to the French and the west side became known as modern day “Haiti” while the east side of the island became known as modern day “Dominican Republic”. For comparisons sake, Hispaniola is roughly a tenth of the size of the state of Texas in the U.S. …only a tenth. Yet it is split into two countries.

Why is this significant to the Lord’s Prayer? The history and current state of this island shows you the impact of a government on a place. Regardless of its size- because it was colonized by two different kingdoms- they are completely different in every way. When I was there in January of 2010, we went into Haiti about two weeks after the earthquake, into Port-au-Prince. We stopped at one point to confirm directions to the place we were dropping off the food. A boy come up to us and started talking to our friend and interpreter, Junior. Junior was born and had lived in Dominican his whole life. I asked him what the guy said and he said he can’t tell- he’s speaking Creole. One small island, a tenth the size of Texas, yet they are worlds apart from each other. Two different languages, two different cultures, two different ways of life. Because of the impact of culture from the French and from Spain almost 400 years ago, these two countries are totally different from each other today. If the king of Spain had not made the colonies settle close to Santo Domingo, but secure the whole island- they would all be speaking Spanish today. But because of this incident in history, two different kingdoms affected the culture of the island differently… and it can still be seen today.

Look at this world… economies collapse, people are hurting, people are in poverty, people are lacking resources… we need the kingdom of heaven to impact the earth. We need heaven’s culture, God’s ways, to become our culture… our ways. In Haiti they still drink wine and eat cheese as a social norm because the French did. They speak French and Creole because the French did. In Dominican Republic they speak Spanish because Spain did. When a place is colonized by a kingdom, it takes on the nature, characteristics, and culture of that kingdom. The earth needs to be filled with God’s nature. As it is in heaven, let it be in the earth.

There is no sickness in heaven, let it be in the earth-
There is no disease in heaven, let it be in the earth-
There is no lack in heaven, let it be in the earth-
There is no poverty in heaven, let it be in the earth… just as it is in heaven.

When we understand this concept of prayer and what these words mean- we then understand the impact our prayers have on the earth, because we actually pray heaven down to earth, colonizing the earth, his citizens infiltrating the earth until earth becomes just like heaven. That’s why God said “whatever we bind on earth, now heaven can bind- and whatever we loose on earth, now heaven can loose.” We’ve been put here as representatives, ambassadors of heaven, impacting the earth with the culture, purpose, intent and ways of the king. This is why we are “in the world but not of the world” (John 17:16-18). We’re from another place, placed here to colonize the earth. Pray heaven down! Pray His kingdom come, His will be done- on earth just as it is in heaven.

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The Lord’s Prayer 01

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Jul 142010

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.

Don’t read the bible too fast, otherwise you’ll miss important parts of God’s word. Look what His disciples asked Him.

‘Teach us how to pray’.

Now me personally, before learning this, I would have said “Teach me how to heal the sick, teach me how to open blinded eye, teach me how to make a pillar of fire come down from heaven, teach me how to walk on the water, teach me how to raise the dead…”

But no… they asked Him to teach them how to pray. This shows that prayer is something that needs to be taught. Do you know how to pray?

“Well, I just talk to God”

No, no, no… That’s not what Jesus taught. I will show you in the next few posts as we discuss the order of prayer. It was so important that the disciples asked Him- how to pray.

Purpose of Prayer – Lesson 1

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Jul 092010

This is message 1 of the Kingdom Study Series on Prayer. In this message we explore the question “Why do we pray?” We first have to review God’s purpose which will open up questions we have all asked our self. There is a reason for prayer… as kingdom citizens, it’s time we discover what it is. Understand the purpose of prayer, and you can finally pray with purpose.