"When they had prayed, the place was shaken." (Acts 4:31)
Prayer Recognizes That God is in Control
Since God has the sovereign right and power to rule over all He has made, then none of His creation can stand up against His will for even a moment. God has all authority over man. If that is true, then we might ask why so many people get away with opposing God’s will? It is not God’s will for innocent people to suffer or be murdered; yet it happens all over the world. It is not God’s will for people to take advantage of one another, but many do. It is not God’s will for people to die from cancer, disease, or other terminal illnesses, but sometimes they do. Sometimes we have trouble understanding that God has everything under control and that His will is being fulfilled when we see all the problems around us.
Prayer Believes God for the Miraculous
Why were miracles and healing so important to the early believers?
I believe they would have said, “We need healing and miracles because they will help people believe the gospel!” Mark 16:20 says, “They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” If we just want miracles and healing to make us feel better and for personal blessings, we probably won’t see them nearly as often as the early church did. However, if we are reaching out to friends and neighbors, telling them about Jesus, and then praying for a miracle in their lives, then I believe God will come through. Why? Because He wants to show His power and love to them. He wants them to learn to trust Him. And if they know God is able to heal their bodies, or do other signs and wonders, then they will know He is powerful enough to forgive them and help them in other areas of life.
Prayer Results in Effective Evangelism
Friends, there is a reason God has placed us here in this community as part of His church. This church has a mission! Our mission is to make disciples, reaching every person we possible can with the good news. There are a lot of ways to do this, but if we try to do it without praying for God’s help, then we will not be effective!
-If we really believe there is only one way to be forgiven – through faith in Jesus, and if we believe the only alternative to God’s forgiveness is eternal loss and separation from Him, then we will make it our priority to share the good news with everyone we can. We will make it our priority to pray and ask God to help us do what He has asked us to do. This is the kind of prayer God wants to answer! God is waiting for us to report for duty. When we do, He will make sure we have everything we need to carry out the task.
"Prayer is a mighty force, an energy that moves heaven and pours untold treasures of good on earth." (E. M. Bounds)
Sowing in Abundance....Paying Forward
PaySpree: An Affiliate Network That Pays Instant Commission On Every Product
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Dark Valleys
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
In the Bible there are many valleys that are viewed as problems. Joshua talks of about the Valley of Calamity. Psalm 84 talks about the Valley of Weeping. Hosea talks about the Valley of Trouble. Even in our country we have a famous valley called Death Valley.
In Israel there is a real Valley of the Shadow of Death. It’s deep. It’s steep. It is a very narrow canyon. The sun only hits the floor of the valley at high noon. The rest of the time the valley is dark. David probably led his sheep through the valley when he was growing up. How do you handle the dark valleys in your life? I want to give you five facts about dark valleys.
1. Dark valleys are UNAVOIDABLE.
They are going to happen in life – you can count on it. You may be coming out of one right now or you may be in the middle of one right now or you’re heading into one right now. No matter what - dark valleys are unavoidable. Job five seven says this:
If you are human - there will be dark valleys in your life.
2. Dark valleys are UNPREDICTABLE.
You can’t plan them or time them. Dark valleys are unscheduled. They usually come at the worst time – when you don’t have time for them and are unprepared for them.
Have you ever had a flat tire at a good time? Usually they come when we have to be somewhere and are running late. Look at what Jeremiah four twenty says:
"Disaster after disaster is reported, for the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment." Jeremiah 4:20 (HCSB)
In a moment - at an unpredicatable time - dark valleys show up.
3. Dark valleys are IMPARTIAL.
No one is immune. No one escapes the problems of life. Everyone has problems – good people and bad people. Problems don’t care how good or bad you are. One of the first reactions most of us have is to ask the question, “Why me?” The real question we should be asking is, “Why not me?” Do you think you should be exempt from problems? Problems happen to everyone – including you. Matthew 5:45 says this:
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45 (HCSB)
Why do we think we should be exempt from problems? The good news is:
4. Dark valleys are TEMPORARY.
They have an end. They don’t last forever. They are not our permanent residence. When you’re in a dark valley sometimes we think we are in a cave that has no way out. You’re not – dark valleys are like a tunnel - there is light at the other end. Troubles in your life don’t come to stay
– they come to pass. First Peter five eleven says:
"The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good." 1 Peter 5:10 (MSG)
Even if you live 80 or 90 years and have problems all your life – that is so insignificant compared to the thousands and millions of years you have in Heaven – problem free. Five minutes in a dentist chair getting a root cannel can seem like eternity – but in reality it is but a short time which produces a great result – good healthy teeth. Problems are temporary – heaven is eternal.
Point five:
5. Dark valleys have a PURPOSE.
God has a reason for taking you through dark valleys. Whether you have a valley full of doubt, despair, discouragement, or defeat – God has a reason behind it. We think that valleys are unnatural – they are not – they are a natural part of the landscape. There are financial valleys, relationship valleys, emotional valleys, all kinds of valleys in our lives. You will get through them in time. Look at what first Peter chapter one says:
"You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (HCSB)
"thru' days of toil when your heart doth fail, God will take care of you; when dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you." (C D Martin)
In the Bible there are many valleys that are viewed as problems. Joshua talks of about the Valley of Calamity. Psalm 84 talks about the Valley of Weeping. Hosea talks about the Valley of Trouble. Even in our country we have a famous valley called Death Valley.
In Israel there is a real Valley of the Shadow of Death. It’s deep. It’s steep. It is a very narrow canyon. The sun only hits the floor of the valley at high noon. The rest of the time the valley is dark. David probably led his sheep through the valley when he was growing up. How do you handle the dark valleys in your life? I want to give you five facts about dark valleys.
1. Dark valleys are UNAVOIDABLE.
They are going to happen in life – you can count on it. You may be coming out of one right now or you may be in the middle of one right now or you’re heading into one right now. No matter what - dark valleys are unavoidable. Job five seven says this:
If you are human - there will be dark valleys in your life.
2. Dark valleys are UNPREDICTABLE.
You can’t plan them or time them. Dark valleys are unscheduled. They usually come at the worst time – when you don’t have time for them and are unprepared for them.
Have you ever had a flat tire at a good time? Usually they come when we have to be somewhere and are running late. Look at what Jeremiah four twenty says:
"Disaster after disaster is reported, for the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment." Jeremiah 4:20 (HCSB)
In a moment - at an unpredicatable time - dark valleys show up.
3. Dark valleys are IMPARTIAL.
No one is immune. No one escapes the problems of life. Everyone has problems – good people and bad people. Problems don’t care how good or bad you are. One of the first reactions most of us have is to ask the question, “Why me?” The real question we should be asking is, “Why not me?” Do you think you should be exempt from problems? Problems happen to everyone – including you. Matthew 5:45 says this:
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45 (HCSB)
Why do we think we should be exempt from problems? The good news is:
4. Dark valleys are TEMPORARY.
They have an end. They don’t last forever. They are not our permanent residence. When you’re in a dark valley sometimes we think we are in a cave that has no way out. You’re not – dark valleys are like a tunnel - there is light at the other end. Troubles in your life don’t come to stay
– they come to pass. First Peter five eleven says:
"The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good." 1 Peter 5:10 (MSG)
Even if you live 80 or 90 years and have problems all your life – that is so insignificant compared to the thousands and millions of years you have in Heaven – problem free. Five minutes in a dentist chair getting a root cannel can seem like eternity – but in reality it is but a short time which produces a great result – good healthy teeth. Problems are temporary – heaven is eternal.
Point five:
5. Dark valleys have a PURPOSE.
God has a reason for taking you through dark valleys. Whether you have a valley full of doubt, despair, discouragement, or defeat – God has a reason behind it. We think that valleys are unnatural – they are not – they are a natural part of the landscape. There are financial valleys, relationship valleys, emotional valleys, all kinds of valleys in our lives. You will get through them in time. Look at what first Peter chapter one says:
"You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (HCSB)
"thru' days of toil when your heart doth fail, God will take care of you; when dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you." (C D Martin)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)