T#014 PRAYER

PRAYING - COMMUNICATING w/ GOD

MANIFESTING OUR RELATIONSHIP

to GOD

PRAY  TO  WHOM      :    GOD doing The Role of THE FATHER

>>Colossians 1:3 ~ "We give thanks to GOD and THE FATHER of our LORD JESUS THE CHRIST, praying always for you."

THROUGH  WHOM    :    OUR LORD JESUS THE CHRIST

>>Colossians 3:17 ~ "And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in THE NAME of THE LORD JESUS THE CHRIST, giving thanks to GOD THE FATHER through HIM."

>>Romans 1:8 ~ "First, I thank my GOD through JESUS THE CHRIST for you all, that THE FAITH in you is spoken of throughout the whole world."

PURPOSE          :   According to >>Hebrews 4:16

~ That we  ~~~ 

~~~ may RECEIVE mercy

and 

~~~ may FIND grace for help

in time of need!

HOW  OFTEN   :    JUST-BE-ON-LINE w/ JESUS ALL-THE-TIME!

>>1st Thessalonians 5:17 ~ "Pray without ceasing." 

>>Matthew 6:5 = WHEN,--- not  if  --- you pray!!! ~

 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men."

>>Matthew 6:8 continues:"Do not be like them, for your FATHER knows what you need before you ask HIM!" 

The specifics are not

to be ASKED outright 

notwithstanding they

are our reasons or

objectives

for our praying!!!

HE knows our needs ... according to >>Matthew 6:8!!!!

and proceeding to:

>>Matthew 6:9-15 ~ "This then is how you should pray[according to JESUS HIMSELF]:

"'Our FATHER in heaven, hallowed be YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM come, YOUR WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today oUr daily bread. And forgive us our sinnings as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For THINE is THE KINGDOM, and THE POWER, and THE GLORY forever. Amen.'"

"For if ye forgive men their sinnings, your heavenly FATHER will also forgive you. 

And here's HOW we can always be ON-LINE:

"IF you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly FATHER will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sinnings, your FATHER in heaven will not forgive your sinnings."

HE IS even without

our ASKING .... 

LEADING US how here TO-BE

automatically

ON-LINE

in our TIME of need

(>>Hebrews 4:16)

Pre-REQUISITE to OUR PRAYING: 

Obey the command “FORGIVE” (>>Mark 11:25-26 ~ "... if you hold any thing against any one , forgive him, so that your FATHER in heaven, may forgive you your sinnings. BUT if you do not forgive, neither will your FATHER WHO is in heaven forgive your sinnings." 

• --- Refusal to obey such command is to commit sin!!!!

• and we know that GOD does not hear un-amnestied sinners!!!

• >>Psalms 66:18 ~ "IF I regard iniquity in my heart, THE LORD will not hear me." --- David

• but if we are GOD-fearing and does HIS WILL .... {>>Acts of THE HOLY SPIRIT through The Apostles Chapter 2:38} .... for the forgiveness of our individual sinnings

•  HE hears us (>>John 9:31 ~ "Then, we know that GOD heareth not sinners: BUT if any-one is GODLY, and doeth HIS WILL [ for the forgiveness of his sinnings ... NOW(!) .... that THE CHRIST has died already .... ], him HE heareth." ~ !!!! 2nd Timothy 2:15 !!!

• for the eyes of THE LORD are upon the righteous

• [they who have been amnestied by HIM]

• >>>P#035

• and HIS ears attend to their prayers [for mercy & grace ] (>>1st Peter 3:12).

It is required of us all

to fulfill all righteousness

(>>Matthew 3:14-15)

• ---- have you in the matter of the one baptism

• (>>>T#004)

• for the remission of your sinnings?

“EVERYTHING IS
PERMISSIBLE

BUT NOT

EVERYTHING IS
BENEFICIAL.”

>>1st Corinthians 10:23

Any prayer is permitted --- but
not every prayer is beneficial!

• IF hypocrites LOVE TO PRAY

(>>Matthew 6:5)

• there is no reason why we should not love to pray!

Our PROBLEM is:

• there is much of wrong praying

• and too little of the right praying

• -- only sometimes!

• - Yes, the world is full of prayers

.... but of the wrongly-purposed prayings and of THE not-to-be-heard PRAYERS!

• TO PLEASE GOD IN OUR PRAYERS ----- (>>1st Kings 3:10)

THE SECRET IS in WHAT
WE PRAY FOR

to .... [1st], confidently receive MERCY and

to .... [2nd], be lead to find GRACE for help

in our own-
perceived needs!

(>>1st Kings 3:1-5)

1.    Solomon did not ask for THE USUAL THINGS (like health, wealth, security, long life, protection from enemies --- >>verse 11) WE HAVE LOTS OF TIME AND REPEATEDLY PRAYED FOR and “overprayed!”

2.    Solomon prayed for mercy & grace in his INADEQUACY to govern with his realization Who The Father is to be totally depended upon by him! (>>verses 6-10).

3.    Solomon instead of teaching GOD what HE should give him as many of us do in our prayers --- not wanting to order or pretend to know what was best for him in his inadequacy, ASKED FOR WISDOM (>>verse 9).

4.    And because of all of the above ---- he got all those that otherwise he could never have attained (>>verses 13-14) had he asked for them instead of wisdom.

HE GOT LOST FROM THE WAY OF GOD THOUGH .... WHEN HE GOT MORE CONCERNED WITH THE FEMALE SPECTATORS WATCHING HIM IN ALL THAT GLORY HE HAD FROM THE WISDOM AND HONOR

 HE ENJOYED, instead of HIS CONTINUED INADEQUACY  WITHOUT HIM!

The truth is:

  “A little foolishness
can ruin much

wisdom and
honor.”

(>>Ecclesiastes 10:1) 

PRAYER
EFFECTIVENESS
depends on:

1.    our regular intake of THE WORD or INSTRUCTIONS of GOD 

• >>John 15:7 ~ "If  you individually abide in ME, and MY WORDS abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

2.    our believing and obeying/applying even the implied commands in THE WORD OF GOD

• >>James 1:5-8 ~ "IF any one of you lacks WISDOM, let him ask of GOD, WHO gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. BUT, when he asks, he must believe and not doubt HIS LORDSHIP & HIS CHRISTHOOD, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive any thing from THE LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

• >>James 2:17-18 ~ "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. BUT someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

3.    THE WILL OF GOD instead of our own

• >>1st John 5:14 ~ "This is the confidence we have in approaching GOD; that if we ask any thing according to HIS WILL, HE hears us."

4.    OUR FELLOWSHIP with GOD

• >>Psalm 66:18 ~ "IF I regard iniquity in my heart, THE LORD will not hear me." --- David

CONDITIONS WITHIN
US WHICH

HAMPERS OUR
PRAYERS:

1.    OUR LACK OF FAITH IN THE LORDSHIP & THE CHRISTHOOD OF JESUS

• either lack of understanding

• of the situation &/or want-need issues

• &/or lack of firmness to doing that

• which faith, particularly the implied commands involved therein ..... requires

• >>Matthew 21:21-22 ~ "And JESUS answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, IF ye have {THE FAITH IN specifically THE LORDSHIP & THE CHRISTHOOD OF JESUS}, and doubt IT not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall also say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and it shall be done. AND ALL THINGS, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING >>>{IN THE FAITH IN THE LORDSHIP & THE CHRISTHOOD OF JESUS-Acts 2:36} ye shall receive.

2.    OUR WRONG MOTIVES

• >>James 4:3 ~ "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

3.    OUR LACK OF COMPASSION

• >>Proverbs 21:13 ~ "IF a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."

4.    OUR BOTHERSOME DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY SITUATIONS

• >>1st Peter 3:7-12 ~ "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but blessing instead, because to this you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. FOR, the one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good deed; he must seek peace and pursue it. FOR the eyes of THE LORD are toward the righteous, and HIS ears attend to their PRAYER, BUT the face of THE LORD is against those who do evil."

5.    OUR PRIDE &/or SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

• >>Job 35:12-13 ~ "Why where there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest."

6.    OUR FAILURE TO COMPLY with GOD's WILL

• >>1st John 5:14 ~ "This is the confidence we have in approaching GOD; that if we ask any thing according to HIS WILL, HE hears us."

7.   OUR  LACK OF OBEDIENCE

• >>1st John 3:21-22 ~ "BELOVED, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask ... we receive from HIM, because we keep HIS commandments and do things that are pleasing in HIS sight."

8.    OUR LACK OF PERSEVERANCE in our TALKS with THE FATHER

• >>Ephesians 6:18 ~ "WITH all praying and petitioning, pray at all times in THE SPIRIT, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and talks for all the saints."

9.    OUR LACK OF REGULAR INTAKE of THE WORK OF GOD FEEDING  US HIS WORD 

• >>John 5:17 ~ "JESUS said to The Jews, 'MY FATHER is always at HIS work to this very day, and I too, am working."

What  Most  of  US
Have To  Correct
OURSELVES

In The Matter of
PRAYING:

1st, in our attitudes
toward GOD:

•    GOD is kind but GOD’s kindness alone cannot be depended upon for our prayers to be heard and granted by HIM because HE too can be harsh and intolerant.

•  “Here we see how kind and how severe GOD is; HE is severe toward them who fall, but kind to you .... if you continue in HIS kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off.” 

• >>Romans 11:22 ~ "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of GOD: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in HIS kindness."

•    Not all who call on HIM are heard by GOD.

"We know that GOD does not listen to sinners;

• but if anyone is GOD-fearing,

• and does HIS WILL,

• [particularly how to deal

• with our various sinnings]

• (>>>T#081),

• HE hears him."

• >>John 9:31 ~ "WE know that GOD does not listen to sinners. HE listens to the GODLY ... [AMNESTIED in THIS AGE OF GRACE now(!)] ... WHO DOES HIS WILL."

“Not everyone who says to ME ‘LORD, LORD’

• will enter THE KINGDOM of heaven;

• but he/she who does THE WILL of MY Father

• Who is in heaven.” 

• from >>Matthew 7:21

“And why do you call ME ‘LORD, LORD’

• and do not do what I say?

• from >>Luke 6:46

What entitles us to get our prayers heard comes from our doing/obeying the instructions of GOD.


•    GOD can be deliberate in not wanting to hear any one.

“Thou hast covered THYSELF with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.”

• from >>Lamentations 3:44

2nd, in our attitudes
toward ourselves:

•    We should be out to know what GOD does not want us to be like!

“Our GOD is in heaven;

• HE does whatever HE wishes.

• The idols in this world are of silver and gold,

• formed by human hands.

• They have mouths, but they cannot speak;

• they have eyes but cannot see;

• they have ears but cannot hear;

• they have noses but cannot smell;

• they have feet but cannot walk;

• they cannot make a sound with their throat.

• They who make them

• will become like them,

• everyone who trusts in them

• will also become like them.”

• from >>Psalm 115:3-8

•    Not only delicado kaayong maparehas ta nila, maparehas pa gyod ta nila nga walay kahimo-an!

“Of what benefit is an idol?

• It is only something that a man has made,

• and it tells you nothing but lies.

• What good does it do for its maker to trust

• --- a god that can’t even talk!

• You are doomed!

• You say to a piece of wood,

• ‘Wake up!’ or to a block of stone, ‘Get up!’

• Can an idol reveal anything to you?

• It may be covered with gold and silver,

• but there is no life in it.”

• from >>Habakkuk 2:18-19

•    Ania pa gyuy dugang kakuyaw nga dili gyud unta nato mahi-aguman!

“You shall have no other gods before ME.

• You shall not make for yourself an idol,

• or any likeness of what is in heaven above

• or on the earth

• or in the water under the earth.

• You shall not worship them or serve them;

• for I, THE LORD your GOD,

• am a jealous GOD,

• visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children,

• and on the 3rd & 4th generations of them

• who hate ME.”

• from >>Deuteronomy 5:7-9

•    Apostle Paul gyud mismo, sa iyang pagtamod sa ka-jealous sa GINOO, nibalibad sa pagsimba niadtong mga tawo nga ilang napaMILAGROHAN nga gani gikan gyud sa GINOO MISMO kadtong mga miraculoha!

“At Lystra, there was sitting a certain man,

• without strength in his feet,

• lame from his mother’s womb,

• who had never walked.

• This man was listening to Paul as he spoke,

• who, when he had fixed his gaze upon him,

• and had seen that he had faith to be made well,

• said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’

• And he leaped up and began to walk.

• And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done,

• they raised their voices,

• saying in the Lyconian language,

• ‘The gods have become like men and have come down to us.’

• And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes,

• because he was the chief speaker.

• And the priest of Zeus,

• whose temple was just outside the city,

• brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
• 
  
• and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

• But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it,

• they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd,

• crying out and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things?

• We are also men of the same nature as you,

• and preach the gospel to you

• in order that you should turn from these vain things

• to a living GOD, WHO made heaven and earth and the sea,

• and all that is in them.”

• from >>Acts 14:11-15

•    Si apostle Peter usab sa iyang bahin, sa iyang pagka-gipa-abot sa banay ni Cornelius, wala ma-spoiled tungod sa iyang pag-tamod sa ka-jealous sa GINOO.

“And on the following day,

• he entered Caesarea.

• Now, Cornelius was waiting for them,

• and had called together his relatives and close friends.

• And when it came about that Peter entered,

• Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshipped him.

• But Peter raised him up, saying,

• ‘Stand up; I too am just a man.”

• from >>Acts 10:24-26

•    Si apostle John usab, sa iyang ka blessed nga gi-pakita siya niadtong mga visions pina-agi sa anghel:

“And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

• And when I heard and saw,

• I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel

• who showed me these things.

• And he said to me,

• ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours

• and of your brethren the prophets

• and of them who heed The Words of THIS BOOK;

• worship GOD.”

• from >>Revelation 22:8-9

The RIGHT WAY
TO PRAY:

• Pray then, “in this way:  (>>Matthew 6:9).

• NOT PRAY THIS!!!!

• as many are repeating and repeating

• The Our Father as sample prayer

• and not as

THE MODEL lang unta PRAYER

that it ought-to-be!

1.   Address our prayers to The Father (>>Matthew 6:9).

2.   Ask for the forgiveness of our specific sinnings (>> Matthew 6:12)

•  we committed AFTER we have been amnestied.

3.   Express our thanksgiving (>>Philippians 4:6).

4.   Make known our requests for grace & mercy from HIM (>>Philippians 4:6).

5.    As we pray

• express our belief we shall receive them

• as soon as we have put ourselves

• in the position to receive them (>>Mark 11:24)

• with the kind of faith

• (>>>T#003)

• that involves our understanding & our will

• that we are to fully benefit from

• and not waste any of them

• >>James 1:6-7),

6.    END our prayer

• expressing CONFIDENCE

• we said it IN THE NAME or BY THE AUTHORITY of

• JESUS THE CHRIST our LORD

• >>John 16:23)

• IN ALL CERTAINTY & WITHOUT DOUBT!

FURTHER CONCERNS

for OUR PRAYERS to be

HEARD by GOD:

1.    INDIVIDUALLY, to keep us away from just being religious

• we are not to pray as to be seen by men around us

• we are to pray in the privacy of our inner rooms

• >>Matthew 6:6

2.    WHEN in a gathering, we are to worship HIM with bowed heads and knees, dili magbarog og dako pa gyud og yahat ngadto sa itaas!

• >>Psalm 95:6)

Paul knelt down together with the brethren

• >>Acts 20:36)

• JESUS HIMSELF knelt down praying in the presence of HIS disciples
• >>Luke 22:41).

There could be time when we have to pray standing

• >>Mark 11:25)

We are not to love to stand when we pray in our gatherings

• >>Matthew 6:5), or we are like the hypocrites!

3.    We are to be on-line always with GOD! 

• Dili nianang mga vigils nga kunohay continuous for some hours
• pero mo-hunong lang gihapon at a certain time

• kay kita ra may nag-sulti KANIYA

• --- klaro kaayong dili gyud without ceasing.

• >>1st Thessalonians 5:17)

• GOD does not ask for the impossible;

• if we read through >>Luke 18:1-7,

• it is very clear there,

• that the continuous and without ceasing praying

• is to be ON-LINE whether night or day connected ta

• with THE LORD --- every night and every day;

• dili NAG-PRAY sukad sa adlawan pa ngadto sa gabii

• padayon sunod adlaw sigue pa gyud

• hangtud sa sunod gabii og wala gyoy katapusan.

4.    When we pray, we are not to put THE LORD our GOD to the test!

• >>Matthew 4:7)

• Kung makamatikod tang dili IYANG kabubut-on ang atong gipangayo

• --- dili nato dapat ipadayon pa ang pag-pangayo

• --- kay wala ta niana tinuod gyud mag-tuo sa IYA

• .... og gi-testingan lang nato niana SIYA!

Duda gani ta nga

dili subay sa IYANG
KABUBUT-ON

ang atong pa-agi sa
pag-ampo

• .... putlon na lang dayon unta nato ang atong pag-ampo

• kay nag-testing ra diay ta sa IYANG gahum

• pagpatuman nianang atong gi-ampo!

5.    We are to pray with understanding gyud!

• >>1st Corinthians 14:15)
• gyud diay .... kay sugo gyud ni sa GINOO natong tanan

--- all commands man gyud ang ipa-obey gyud natong tanan diha sa

• >>Matthew 28:20

• dili lang kay dili ta nianang yamyam-yamyam ug wala nato hisabti, balik-balik nianang mao lang gihapon

as if gahi og ulo ang GINOO

• nga balik-balikon gyud aron ma-sabtan ra gyud NIYA

• diha sa atong pagbalik-balik niining sayopa

unya tawgon dayon nato
ang sayop nga pagbalik-balik

• og perseverance!

GOD's  ANSWERS
to our PRAYERS:

1) YES to the petition but NO to the desire

• ~ >>Numbers 11:1-35 ~ (petition for meat granted but desire for pleasant eating experience rejected).

• ~ >>1st Samuel 8:4-7 ~  (petition for a king granted with Saul but their desire to be like other nations united under one king rejected).

2) NO to the petition but YES to the desire

• ~ >>Genesis 17:18-19 ~ (NO to his petition for Ysmael as his heir but YES to his desire for an heir in the person of Isaac).

• ~ >>Genesis 18:26-32 ~ (NO to his petition for Sodom preserved from destruction but YES to his desire for the preservation of Lot and the rest of the righteous).

• ~ >>Luke 16:19-31 ~ (NO to the petition to be sent back to earth but YES to the desire that his brothers receive the information so that they will be saved).

• ~ >>2nd Corinthians 12:7-10 ~  (NO to his petition for removal of the thorn in his flesh but YES to Paul’s desire to have inner happiness, peace, and stability).

3) YES to the petition and YES to the desire

• ~ >>1st Kings 18:21-39 ~ (YES to his petition that God send fire and YES also to his desire that God be glorified).

• ~ >>Judges 16:25-30 ~ (YES to Samson’s petition for strength and YES just as well for his desire that he might avenge the Philistines for his blindness).

• ~ >>Luke 23:42-43 ~ (YES to his petition “Remember me!” and YES to his desire to be in His kingdom).

4) NO to the petition and NO to the desire

• ~ Please furnish your own experiences ~

With everything
cited above to reckon
with, we are to:

• PRAY IN OUR spirit

• and also IN OUR SOUL with OUR UNDERSTANDING

• ....... please refer to >>>T#s 031 and 032 (>>1st Corinthians 14:15) …......

And the truth "we do not
know WHAT to pray for"

(>>Romans 8:26)

ought to caution us not to rush at

 leading our brethren in our
prayer meetings, just because
we are asked to!!!

 kay leader lagi ta
sa grupo nga ELDERS man
(>>>T#009)

ang anaa
SA CHURCH ni JESUS!

Reflect on the outcome
of what happened because
of Abraham’s

WRONG
PRESSUMPTION
on the number of the GODly

in Sodom & Gomorrah
SPECIFICALLY THEN

at that time he prayed
to GOD ----

& because of such wrong
presumption
he stopped his prayer !!!

(>>Genesis 18:16-33 &

>>>Menu#034)

                                            ~~~#~~~

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