Prayer is the most powerful resource in the hands of the Church.
Prayer inspires – it fuels courage, instils faith and shatters lies. Prayer works – it moves mountains, tears down strongholds and accomplishes feats. Prayer moves the hands of God who holds the universe.
Prayer is also the least utilised tool among God’s people.
It is the last resort after we have tried everything. It is the passive act after all our activities. It is the negligible consultation session after men’s idea. YET the greatest exploits ever undertaken by men for God are achieved in, through and because of prayer.
In prayer, we think God’s thoughts, hear God’s voice and experience God’s Presence. In prayer, we acquire God’s wisdom, see God’s vision and taste God’s goodness. In prayer, we engage the Divine, overcome our flesh and make spiritual advances.
In prayer, the church comes together as a body, unites as a body and moves as a body. In prayer, the church acknowledges our connection to one Lord and depends on each other for sustenance. We laugh, cry and groan as a family.
Prayer works.
Prayer is the power-house of the church
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Road to Emmaus
February 28, 2011
Read Luke 24: 13-35
Luke 24:17,19
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” ... “What things?” he asked
The Road to Emmaus forever changed the lives of Cleopas and his companion. Prayer and journey with God through difficult and overwhelming times have that impact on Christians.
We have a companion in our life journey. Just as the Risen Lord came to Cleopas and his companion, He is the One alongside us in times of our struggles. Jesus, ‘God with us’, Immanuel stays true in all of life’s circumstances. We are not alone. In marriage, it is husband and wife plus Christ. In our church committee, it is always all members plus Christ. In parenting, it is mother plus Christ. In the workplace, it is I, the worker plus Christ. Practise the presence of Christ with you.
We have Someone to discuss things through. Jesus longs to be in our conversations. Like a stranger who takes the initiative to broach our subject of concern, Jesus comes near to us in times of our struggle and gently probes us to open up. In times of confusion, bewilderment and pain, God invites us to talk to him He is the One who will figure things out with us. Prayer is when we discuss things with God. When we pour out all that is in our hearts and try to work out all possible solutions to a problem with him.
We have Someone to share our rawest emotions with. Jesus is God. He knows all things. He gets us to talk because we need it. In talking out things, we identify our feelings, hurts and emotions. In telling him, we share our disappointments, pains and sadness. This is the point of us coming to God in prayer. Prayer is always for us. It is the space, person and peace that we desperately need in times of trials.
We gain new perspective in time spent with God. Cleopas and companion thought Israel would be delivered from suffering – a dead Messiah dashed all their hopes. Jesus’ going through the Scriptures with them righted their vision – Israel would be delivered THROUGH suffering by the sacrificial Messiah. They were looking through the wrong side of the telescope. The most important component of our prayer is to listen to God’s input. Pray for Samuel’s ear, David’s heart, Esther’s courage and Solomon’s wisdom to put God’s instructions into life.
We share the Passion of Christ in time spent with God. Cleopas and his companion’s hearts burned within them throughout the journey, conversation and Bible reading. There is a stirring within our hearts as we spend time with God. Prayer and communion time with God seals and builds our relationship with our Saviour. There is a rupture of souls as we learn to engage our spirits with God’s spirits, as we align our thoughts to His, as we open our eyes to His ways and submits to His wisdom. It is time well spent with Someone who loves us passionately and we will emerge from His presence with a deeper passion for Him.
The Road to Emmaus calls us all into a deeper fellowship and prayer life with God.
Life is difficult but God is good. Life can be confusing but God remains true. Life can be overwhelming but God journeys with us. We are not alone.
Read Luke 24: 13-35
Luke 24:17,19
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” ... “What things?” he asked
The Road to Emmaus forever changed the lives of Cleopas and his companion. Prayer and journey with God through difficult and overwhelming times have that impact on Christians.
We have a companion in our life journey. Just as the Risen Lord came to Cleopas and his companion, He is the One alongside us in times of our struggles. Jesus, ‘God with us’, Immanuel stays true in all of life’s circumstances. We are not alone. In marriage, it is husband and wife plus Christ. In our church committee, it is always all members plus Christ. In parenting, it is mother plus Christ. In the workplace, it is I, the worker plus Christ. Practise the presence of Christ with you.
We have Someone to discuss things through. Jesus longs to be in our conversations. Like a stranger who takes the initiative to broach our subject of concern, Jesus comes near to us in times of our struggle and gently probes us to open up. In times of confusion, bewilderment and pain, God invites us to talk to him He is the One who will figure things out with us. Prayer is when we discuss things with God. When we pour out all that is in our hearts and try to work out all possible solutions to a problem with him.
We have Someone to share our rawest emotions with. Jesus is God. He knows all things. He gets us to talk because we need it. In talking out things, we identify our feelings, hurts and emotions. In telling him, we share our disappointments, pains and sadness. This is the point of us coming to God in prayer. Prayer is always for us. It is the space, person and peace that we desperately need in times of trials.
We gain new perspective in time spent with God. Cleopas and companion thought Israel would be delivered from suffering – a dead Messiah dashed all their hopes. Jesus’ going through the Scriptures with them righted their vision – Israel would be delivered THROUGH suffering by the sacrificial Messiah. They were looking through the wrong side of the telescope. The most important component of our prayer is to listen to God’s input. Pray for Samuel’s ear, David’s heart, Esther’s courage and Solomon’s wisdom to put God’s instructions into life.
We share the Passion of Christ in time spent with God. Cleopas and his companion’s hearts burned within them throughout the journey, conversation and Bible reading. There is a stirring within our hearts as we spend time with God. Prayer and communion time with God seals and builds our relationship with our Saviour. There is a rupture of souls as we learn to engage our spirits with God’s spirits, as we align our thoughts to His, as we open our eyes to His ways and submits to His wisdom. It is time well spent with Someone who loves us passionately and we will emerge from His presence with a deeper passion for Him.
The Road to Emmaus calls us all into a deeper fellowship and prayer life with God.
Life is difficult but God is good. Life can be confusing but God remains true. Life can be overwhelming but God journeys with us. We are not alone.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Power of the Church
February 13, 2011
According to Oswald Sanders, “Prayer is the most ancient, most universal, and most intensive expression of the religious instinct”. (Spiritual Leadership, p. 85).
Just like holiness, prayer is innate in those who are born-again children of God.
While most of our human instincts are to be curbed and Spirit-controlled, the instinct to be holy and pray must not be stifled. We must act on these spiritual instincts and work these into our daily lives until they become who we are.
To be the church we are to be, we must pray. Prayer is life to the church as oxygen is to the body.
Yet the department of prayer is often overlooked in the church life because it is not a visible ministry. Prayer is a ‘behind-the-closet’ ministry that is often unnoticed and without glamour. However, the effect of this neglect is often costly.
In prayer, we tap on a Resource that is full of wisdom. When we pray, we seek a higher Power to navigate through the stages of church growth and challenges. Most importantly, we declare our dependence on the Creator and Architect of the church. God is the orchestrator of church formation and He alone provides the blueprint and roadmap of His body. Surely then the community of God can ill afford not to pray.
I am convinced that the power of God is unleashed when His church bends its knees and humbles itself in prayer. It is a discipline that we as a church must master.
May God arise and His enemies be scattered through the church that prays.
According to Oswald Sanders, “Prayer is the most ancient, most universal, and most intensive expression of the religious instinct”. (Spiritual Leadership, p. 85).
Just like holiness, prayer is innate in those who are born-again children of God.
While most of our human instincts are to be curbed and Spirit-controlled, the instinct to be holy and pray must not be stifled. We must act on these spiritual instincts and work these into our daily lives until they become who we are.
To be the church we are to be, we must pray. Prayer is life to the church as oxygen is to the body.
Yet the department of prayer is often overlooked in the church life because it is not a visible ministry. Prayer is a ‘behind-the-closet’ ministry that is often unnoticed and without glamour. However, the effect of this neglect is often costly.
In prayer, we tap on a Resource that is full of wisdom. When we pray, we seek a higher Power to navigate through the stages of church growth and challenges. Most importantly, we declare our dependence on the Creator and Architect of the church. God is the orchestrator of church formation and He alone provides the blueprint and roadmap of His body. Surely then the community of God can ill afford not to pray.
I am convinced that the power of God is unleashed when His church bends its knees and humbles itself in prayer. It is a discipline that we as a church must master.
May God arise and His enemies be scattered through the church that prays.
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