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Joyner World Outreach Ministry
Prayer Request
Psalm 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
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Serve Jesus Christ by His Grace-Gifts-Guidance and to His Glory. We invite ALL people to refresh your whole being by spreading His Word, His Healing Touch, and experiencing the Power of Prayer, as you lead souls to GOD! The Weariness of Prayer "He ... continued all night in prayer to God" (Luk_6:12). We never read that Joshua's hand was weary with wielding the sword, but Moses' hand was weary with holding the rod. The more spiritual the duty, the more apt we are to tire of it. We could stand and preach all day; but we could not pray all day. We could go forth to seek the sick all day, but we could not be in our closets all day nearly as easily. To spend a night with God in prayer would be far more difficult than to spend a night with man in preaching. "When I say 'amen'at the end of a prayer I mean just this: 'God, I am working with you that this may be true, but I am willing to receive any one of your three replies: yes, no, or wait.'" God, Creator of all, invites us, mere creatures, to pray, and He assures us He will hear. He is holy, separate from sinners and undefiled, and we are rebellious and sinful, but as a Father, He invites us to ask favors and promises help. "Ask and it shall be given to you...for everyone that asketh receiveth ...If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him" (Mat_7:7-11). Amazing! Prayer changes things. The Bible says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (Jam_5:16). Prayer for the sick is not a substitute for medicine, prayer for daily bread is not a substitute for work, and prayer for the lost is no substitute for the gospel, but those things are no substitute for prayer either. Because Christians pray, some are well who would still be sick, some alive who would be dead (Jam_4:15), souls are saved that would be lost (Rom_10:1), doors of opportunity are open that would still be closed (Col_4:3), some are wiser than they were (Jam_1:5). "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." And many more things yet would be wrought by it, if we prayed more: "You have not, because you ask not" (Jam_4:2). How amazing! God commands us to pray. "Pray without ceasing" (1Th_5:17). "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Col_4:2). "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phi_4:6). The greatest of all privileges is not only allowed, but is even enjoined upon us. To let us pray would be marvelous, but He commands us. Amazing indeed! God urges us to be persistent in prayer. If at first we do not get what we ask for, we are to keep asking. If God, who hears all things, appears deaf to our cries, we are to cry longer. Jesus told a parable about an unjust and uncaring judge, who finally ruled in favor of a poor widow simply because she wore him out with her persistent pleas. He told that parable, He said, to teach us that we "ought always to pray and not give up" (Luk_18:1). God is not unjust and uncaring, like that judge; but we are to be persistent, like that widow. God never wearies of our asking, even when it appears He is not hearing. Astoundingly amazing! We are invited to pray and God has promised to hear. Great things happen because of prayer. We are commanded to pray by the One who loves us, and reminded that we show Him our love by keeping His commandments. We can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb_4:16). Yet, believing all of that, many of us pray so little! That is most amazing of all! God Said "No" to David The reign of David was the end of an era in Judah. David was 30 years of age when he became king and he reigned 40 years. His shoes were so big that none who came after him could ever fill them. As great as Solomon was, he never attained the stature of his father David, spiritually speaking. In Act_13:36, Paul tells us that David served his own generation by the will of God. David's dream was to build a house for the Lord. In 1Sa_7:1-3, David experienced a peaceful interlude, a calm, quiet period in his life, which for him was really unique. He was a courageous warrior, usually involved in battle with one or another of the surrounding nations. At this point, while sitting quietly, he looked around at his own beautiful palace and compared it to the tent that housed the ark of God. The comparison sorrowed David. He wanted to build a beautiful, permanent home for the holy vessels of the Tabernacle. His motive was pure and admirable because he wanted it for God's glory, not his own. He expressed this desire to Nathan the prophet, who encouraged him. But God had a different plan. The Lord spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that it was not His will for David to build His house, but He promised to make David's dream come true through Solomon, his son. God refused David's request, reminding him that he was a soldier, a man of war, but not a builder. How often we have wished for talents other than those God gave us. Many times, God's "NO" is just a redirection of His plan for us according to His will. When we pray each day for divine guidance and direction, we need feel no guilt when our plans do not work out. We can have confidence that God's way is best and we can leave the results in His hand. When God says "NO," He has a better way, and our best reaction is submissive cooperation. God has put each of us here for a purpose, however humble. Not many are called to fulfill such a great purpose as David, or to build temples. God's intended purpose for you may not be as great as your dreams, or it may be greater than you ever imagined. How sad that so many never become aware of that purpose which is the only way to true happiness and satisfaction. Prayer: A Habit Worth Dying For In the ancient empire of Persia, a law was passed making it a crime punishable by death to pray to anyone but the emperor. One aged government official refused to obey the edict. It was his habit to pray three times daily to the one true God. As a result, he was cast into a den of lions. Even though God saved Daniel, Daniel was still willing to die rather than give up his habit of prayer (Dan_6:3-11). How important is prayer to you? Is it a habit worth dying for? Or, would someone need to pass a law demanding daily prayer or a trip to the lions' den to get you into the habit of prayer? People are willing to die for that which is of great importance to them. Prayer should be that important! It is our link to God. Without the lifeline of prayer, we grow spiritually weak. Do not neglect the privilege that God has given to us as His children to pray. Having to wait for someone or something is difficult. What we want, we want now. Our fast food must be just that-fast. Instant pudding, instant rice, and instant results are part of our way of life. One individual prayed for patience and told the Lord that he wanted it "Right away!" However, we know so agonizingly well that the Lord does not work on our time table. Having to wait upon the Lord (Psa_27:14; Psa_37:34) can be painful at times! The principle of the Lord working as He wills requires faith. He is never late! His promises are sure. May we have the faith and patience to wait! The Lord will work out His plan, His way and in His time. Success in Prayer Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give but an occasional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might. For the past several weeks I have felt the draw of the Holy Spirit into a new level of mental discipline. The scripture says to be still and know that He is God. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me that my inability to "be still" is hindering my knowledge of God. I am convinced that the discipline of meditation is one of the most neglected disciplines in the body of Chris t today. Especially in America where our minds are constantly bombarded with stimuli that keep us mentally titillated with soundbites and videoclips. We are so over-stimulated mentally that we have a difficult time listening to any speaker who isn’t doing back handsprings in the pulpit constantly. Just try getting alone in a room, getting comfortable (so your body isn't crying for attention), turning the lights off, turning the music off and every other natural stimulus you can and see if you can focus on a scripture for any length of time without your thoughts running off in some other direction...bills to pay, things to do, people to see, problems, situations, etc. We truly have a hard time getting still in an attitude of mediation. LESSONS FROM THE BIBLE The forefathers knew something about this that we have missed. These men, no doubt, lived a slower life than we do. They found themselves with time alone on a hillside while tending herds or farming. Isaac was a man who understood the value of meditation. Genesis 24:63. David said the blessed man is the one who meditates in God's word day and night. Psalms 1:2. David encouraged the godly man to commune with he own heart on his bed and "be still". Psalms 4:3,4. They lived in a quieter time where large portions of their days were spent with no one else around. Time for meditation was more plenteous. In the New Testament, Jesus often got alone to pray. Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12. Jesus understood the power of meditation. He taught that, if we would simply “consider” the lilies and the birds, all our worry about natural needs would vanish. Luke 12:24,27. That is powerful! Consider - "katamanthano" to learn thoroughly. How many of us find ourselves encumbered from time to time with the worries of this life! Yet Jesus said that the simple act of considering the flowers and birds could free us from all care! In Philippians 4, Paul taught us how to be free from worry by taking things to God in prayer. The key to this is revealed in verse 8 when Paul exhorts us: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things. Think - "logizomai" to carefully consider. Paul tells us what to meditate on. Many of us fill our minds with thoughts that fall into none of these categories. Our minds are full of reality shows, true Hollywood stories, news broadcasts—all of which focus on the negative. John received one of the most vivid spiritual experiences in history while alone on the Island of Patmos . THE SPIRITUAL MIND I heard a prominent speaker said he believed Paul had his "caught up" experience (described in 2 Corinthians 12) after being stoned to death at Lystra in Acts 14. But I don't believe Paul had to be hit in the head with a rock to have a spiritual experience anymore than I believe John had to be exiled to have a spiritual experience. These men knew the importance of being spiritually minded. Isaiah wasn't stoned or exiled in Isaiah 6 when he had a panoramic vision of the throne room of God. Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel weren't injured when they had the numerous spiritual experiences they enjoyed. I understand that God is the one who grants visions and spiritual experiences to His children. But I also believe that we must position ourselves to receive these experiences in such a way that God says, "he is drawing near to me, I will draw near to him." I believe that there is much that we can do to cause ourselves to experience the supernatural the way God intended for us to. FOCUSED AFFECTIONS If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1,2 Seek - "zeteo" to seek by thinking, to seek how to do something, or what to obtain. We must first desire or "seek" the things that exist around the throne where Christ is seated. We must set our "affection" on them. If I am seated together with Christ in heavenly places, I want to look around and experience the throne room! I want hear what is being said in that holy place. THE RENEWED MIND & THE DISCIPLINED MIND I have been a Christian the biggest part of my life and have been a student of the Bible for many years. The renewed mind involves God changing our thinking to line up with what His word says. This is part of the process of mind renewal spoken of in Romans 12:1,2. However, the concept of a disciplined mind is distinct from the renewed mind. The disciplined mind entails the ability to take control of my thoughts and make myself think on the proper things. Jesus was referring to this discipline of thought when He commanded us to “be not afraid” and “let not our hearts be troubled” and to “be of good cheer”. Mark 6:50; John 14:1; 16:33 . These acts require not only the renewed mind which knows the will of God expressed through His spoken word, but the disciplined mind which can line itself up with God’s word and will. Paul taught this in this passage: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 Notice the intention of the undisciplined mind in this passage. These rebellious thought exalt themselves “against the knowledge of God”. If we can bring our thoughts into control, our minds will have a clear path into the spirit and the knowledge of God. THE CARNAL MIND & THE SPIRITUAL MIND The carnal world screams for our attentions and the carnal mind brings fear and death. But if our minds can escape the carnal realm and reach into the spirit, life and peace will be the result. Romans 8:6. That is the power of seeking first the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33. That is the power of setting your affections on things above. Colossians 3:1-3. Though my mind is somewhat renewed, it is largely undisciplined. I have a difficult time escaping the carnal realm and entering into the realm of the the spirit by meditating quietly on the Lord. I LOOKED John heard the call of the Holy Spirit in Revelation 4:1: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. At once I was in the Spirit… Notice the first four words of this passage. It doesn’t say…after this I asked or after this I listened, but “after this, I looked…” This speaks of something different from petition or listening…I believe it speaks of mediation. Years ago, the Lord said to me: “Do you know why you don’t have more things from me?” “No.” I said. “Because you don’t ask.” He responded. It was then that I began a prayer journey that has released the blessings of the Lord into my life and the life of my family. I pray about the smallest things. Later, the Lord spoke to me again: “Do you know why you don’t hear my voice like you want to?” “No, Lord.” I said. “Because you are not listening. You listen when you have a decision to make or are scheduled to speak. But what about when you are in Wal-Mart and I want you to share the love of Jesus with the stock boy?” I got the message and have heard His voice like never before. Just recently, I was prayer for more visions and spiritual experiences. I was asking the Lord to open the eyes of my heart and He said: “Do you know why you don’t see like you want to?” “Because I am not looking, Lord?” I said. “Right!”, He said. When John “looked” he found: · The door to heaven was standing open. · God was calling him to “come up here” · God was desiring to show him things that were yet to come · At once he was “in the Spirit” I am convinced that our lack of visions and spiritual experiences is not that we are getting hit in the head with enough rocks, but that we don’t spend enough time looking. God has the ability to interrupt our lives any time He wants with spiritual experiences. But I am convinced the reason we do not see more and experience more is because we are not equipped or positioned with a mind for the things of the spirit. The doorway into spiritual experience is a mind that is not infatuated and distracted by the affairs of this life, but a mind that is so disciplined it can sing praises to God in a jail cell. God desires to give us a mind set on Him, that He can keep in perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3. He desires to give us a disciplined mind…a mind that can be still.
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