Prayer

Doorways of Forgiveness

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And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34

 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Of all the prayers for restoration, none is stranger or more powerful than the prayer for forgiveness. We all know that as Christians we have a duty to forgive. Forgiveness was commanded, and modeled by our Lord. But if you are anything like me forgiving someone who has done me wrong is like eating liver: I know it is good, but I have a tough time swallowing it! But forgiveness is central to God’s work both in our own lives and in the life of others around us. In the past our own sin erected an unbreakable blockade between us and God but then His forgiveness became the doorway through which we were adopted into His family! When we choose to forgive for His sake, then we can also become doorways rather than blockadeskimg0285 in the lives of others. For who will you become open door today?

 

Effective Prayer Part One

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Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much  James 5:16

Prejudice is a common issue all across denominational lines. Many of our greatest struggles in relationships seem to be within the the church rather than out in the world. Amazingly even in the early church they had the very same issues! Right after the miracles and with the church growing at a phenomenal pace they ran into difficulties between the Greek Jews and the Hebrew Jews. It was a conflict that in various forms was played out through the entire book of Acts. What is encouraging is that though even the early church had problems, God worked with them in just as He continues to work with us today.

The breakthrough came, not because of some program or by the power of reason but by God’s action with a non-Christian Roman centurion named Cornelius and the Apostle Peter. First God spoke by an angel to Cornelius as he was praying and told him to send for Peter to learn the way of salvation. Cornelius then sent a delegation to Peter to find out what God wanted him to know. Since the apostles weren’t even speaking with Greek speaking Jews much less Romans, God had to send a vision to Peter telling him to receive the men coming to see him. After Peter went to Cornelius’ house and heard about Cornelius’ prayers and the angel visitation Peter came to a startling conclusion. God didn’t think the way that he did! God in fact cared about people whom Peter would not have even spoken with the previous day!

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and workimg1348ks righteousness is accepted by Him  Acts 10:34-35

Is God’s work being slowed down by how we think about others? Who might we be praying for and reaching if we began to see them through the eyes of God? How much more effective might our prayers be if we saw men through the eyes of God rather than God through the eyes of men!

 

 

Prayer in the Name of Jesus

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As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.  “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord Acts 9:32-35

Praying in the name J-E-S-U-S is not like using an incantation.  Using Jesus’ name is reserved for those who belong to Him and are doing His will. Peter was traveling to visit other Christians when he found Aneas. Truly believing in the name of Jesus means just going forward in the direction God is leading. Believing in Jesus means belonging to him. As in a traditional marriage there is both a change in name and in relationship. He becomes our new life!kimg1625

In the fourteenth chapter of John Jesus says that in His name we will do even greater things than He did. Considering that He walked on water, multiplied bread and raised the dead that seems unlikely and astonishing! What could be greater than the works of Jesus? But in this story because Peter did this single act, an entire city turned to God! Peter was only one disciple. What would happen if an entire church began to do the things that Jesus did? Jesus’ main ministry was to the people of Israel, but through the church God has chosen to draw people from every nation, culture and language

 

When Jesus said that if we asked anything in His name He would do it He meant for us to pray both in His will and in His way. Whenever we are doing things “In the name of Jesus” we must have the same motives and the same heart as He. If God gave us everything we prayed for, what will people remember? Will it be how amazing we were, or how amazing the name of Jesus? Only when the name of Jesus becomes our life will God get all the glory!