Saturday, August 31, 2019

praying effectively: Abide in Jesus (Jh.14:13-14, 15:1-17, Mt.18:19-20)



(John 14:13-14)  “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

(Matthew 18:19-20)  “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

(John 15:1-17)  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we abide in the love of Jesus (Jn.15:9)
- that when we are obedient, we abide in the love of Jesus (Jn.15:10)
- that we love one another, as Jesus has loved us (Jn.15:12, 17)
- that we abide in Jesus in order to produce fruit (Jn.15:4-5)
- that His chosen (His believers) should bear fruit (Jn.15:16)
- that the fruit which believers produce with the right motives will remain and be recognized in eternity (Jn.15:16)
- that the fruit which His believers produce are done in Jesus' name, to glorify our heavenly Father (Jn,15:16)
- that we bear much fruit, which will prove we are disciples of Jesus (Jn.15:8)
- that when we pray, we should pray in God's will (Mt.18:19-20, Jn.15:7)
- that when we pray, we should ask in Jesus' name, which is asking for things that are in God's will (Jn.14:13-14, 15:16)
- that when there are more believers in agreement, there is better accountability in realizing what is God's will (Mt.18:19-20)

Today's prayer:  

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for hearing our prayers.  Thank You for including us and using us to bear fruit in order to help build Your kingdom.  Thank You for guaranteeing our salvation with the promise to bless and reward us in heaven for our efforts done with pure motives here on earth.

Guide all believers in unity and in Your love, helping us to keep each other accountable, learning more about You and what Your will is, in order to pray more effectively in order to serve each other, as well as serve and glorify You.  Amen.

Friday, August 30, 2019

praying effectively: Do the Works of God (John 9:1-41, 11:10-45)


(John 9:1-41)  As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” 28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains."

(John 11:11-45)  This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. 21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.
Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that sin impedes prayers (Jn.9:31)
- that God will only hear the prayers of those who are without sin (Christian/believers), those who are God-fearing, and those who do His will (Jn.9:31)
- that we work the works of God to His glory (Jn.9:3-4)
- that those who believe in Jesus will have everlasting life, whether they physically die or are raptured, whether they become believers during the Tribulation and physically die or live through it, whether they are born during the Millennium and become believers and physically die or live through it (Jn.11:25-26)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Saving Grace and Healing Power.  As we lift our prayers to You, may You bring to mind the sins with which we struggle, so that we may confess them.  Help us to avoid sinning, and when we do, help us confess our sins as soon as we commit them.

And help us commit everything to You, so that You may increase our faith.  Guide us in Your will and in Your ways, so that everything we ask of You is answered, and everything we do and say brings glory to Your name.  Amen.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

praying effectively: Be Spirit Led (John 16:7-15)


(John 16:7-15)  But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will: that we are Spirit led into all truth (16:13)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You so much for sending us Your Holy Spirit to convict us and guide us.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and help us allow the Holy Spirit move in us and through us.  Amen.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

praying effectively: Pray in Faith (Matt.21:21-22, Mk.11:22-24)


(Matthew 21:21-22)  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

(Mark 11:22a-24)  ...Have faith in God. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will: that when we pray for something, we do not doubt, but have faith in God, and believe that our prayer has been answered already (Mt.21:21-22, Mk.11:22-24)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your word and for Your faithfulness.  Please grow our faith in You so that our prayers will be not only answered, but that they will be effective in building Your kingdom and bringing glory to Your name.  Amen.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

praying effectively: Pray Like This... (Mt.6, 26, Mk.14, Lk.11)


(Matthew 6:9-13)  “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiveour debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
(Luke 11:2-4)  And He said to them, When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
(Matthew 26:41)  Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptationthe spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we are to pray, and Jesus gives us some guidelines as to how to do that effectively (Mt.6:9 Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we acknowledge God's attributes and who He is (Mt.6:9, 13, Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we claim our desire for God's will to be done and not our own will (Mt.6:10, Lk.11:2)
- that in our prayers, we ask God for our necessary provisions (Mt.6:11, Lk.11:3)
- that in our prayers, we confess our sins (Mt.6:12, Lk.11:4)
- that in our prayers, we ask God to help us forgive those who have sinned against us (Mt.6:12, Lk.11:4)
- that in our prayers, we ask God for protection and help for us to avoid sin and temptation (Mt.6:13, Lk.11:4)
- that we keep watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation (Mt.26:41, Mk.14:38)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being a holy and righteous God who loves and cares for us.  Thank You for protecting us and guiding us towards being more like You.  Help us follow Your example.  Help us desire to pray in Your will.

Thank You for generously providing for our needs and that we can confidently depend on You.  Help us continuously seek reconciliation with You and with others.  Thank You that we can and should go to You for anything and everything, because You want us to.  Amen.

Monday, August 26, 2019

praying effectively: Ask God (Lk.11:9-13, Mt.7:7-11, Jn.16:24)


(Luke 11:9-13)  “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

(John 26:24)  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we go to God for everything to make our requests (Mt.7:7-8. Lk.11:9-10, Jn.16:24)
- that we earnestly seek for the Truth and for the answers (Mt.7:7-8, Lk.11:9-10)
- that we take actual physical steps towards doing things (Mt.7:7-8, Lk.11:9-10)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, You are so good!  Help us to realize and trust that You want the very best for us!  And knowing all things - things that we do not know - help us realize and trust that when You answer our prayers, it might not be exactly how we thought it should be answered, but it will be in our best interest.

Guide us as we study Your word.  Help us to grow closer to You, as we seek to know Your will.  Give us insight and wisdom to understand truth and how it benefits us when we apply it.  Encourage us to remain steadfast in our walk with You.

Inspire us to "move" and keep moving.  If what we are trying to do is not in Your will, please close that door.  And if it is in Your will, give us the strength and courage to continue on.  Help us apply Your wisdom in everything we do, so that You will keep opening doors for us, and that Your hand and Your blessings will be evident in these things.  Amen.