The
Life Changing
POWER
OF
PRAYER
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Jesus
said, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the
heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking." (Matthew 6:7)
THE
AWESOME POWER OF PRAYER
"Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
I
have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming
conviction that I had nowhere else to go." - Abraham
Lincoln
WHY
IS PRAYER SO IMPORTANT?
Prayer
is the natural outcry from the heart of a human being to his Maker
in response to the tug of the Word of God, implanted within the
conscience.
That
tug is even stronger in the heart of one who has had a visitation
of the Holy Spirit's convicting presence or has heard the gospel
message! The Holy Spirit's call to prayer becomes as natural
and desirous as the call for food at mealtime!
"Ask
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocked it shall be
opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
PRAYER
IS OUR INNER MAN CRYING OUT FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
Prayer
is our inner man crying out for help, fellowship and spiritual
nourishment! It is born out of our need and the assurance that God
is there to meet that need and answer our prayer.
PRAYER
IS COMMUNING WITH THE LORD
Prayer
is talking, listening and communing with our Maker as we enter
into the very presence of Almighty God.
It is
intimate fellowship on a "one-to-one basis" with God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
WHEN
WE PRAY, OUR TOTAL MIND, BODY & SPIRIT BECOMES INVOLVED
Our
spirit cries out in response to our needs and those of others, as
God plays on our heart strings, encouraging us to share those
burdens with Him.
Our
minds stagger under the weight of sin, fear, worry and care and
our spirits soar both to heights unknown as well as plumb to
incomprehensible depths.
We
groan in the spirit of intercession or exult in the joy of God,
knowing that He is taking control of the situation! And that by
our compassion, care and faith people in need are being convicted,
strengthened, healed and blessed.
As
we weep in travail our eyes redden, our physical strength is taxed
and our body becomes weary! Then the Holy Spirit takes over and
intercedes through us with groanings that cannot be uttered, and
we enter into a new realm as we pray in the Spirit (unknown
tongues), as St. Paul did. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
The
Divine Paraclete (the Comforter - the One sent alongside to help)
helps us as we do not know how we ought to pray. But He comes to
our rescue and prays through us to the Father.
The
entire Trinity is involved in our fellowship, as we pray to God
our Father in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
PRAYER
LINKS US TO ALMIGHTY GOD
Prayer
is mankind's most vital link with Almighty LORD God. It is, in
fact, entering into His very presence with our requests, petitions
and thanksgiving.
The
scripture says, He is closer than our hands or feet. It is
therefore, not difficult to draw upon His power by reaching out in
prayer and touching Him.
WHEN
WE PRAY, GOD NOT ONLY LISTENS TO US, BUT GOD SPEAKS TO OUR
SPIRITS
When
we pray, God not only listens but speaks to our spirits and
answers our requests in His own way, according to His divine and
gracious will.
The
woman with the "issue of blood" touched Him with her
faith and received an instant miracle. Jesus turned about in the
crowd and asked specifically, "Who touched My clothes"?
Many
rubbed shoulders with Him, but one person touched Him by faith.
She had said within herself, "If I but touch His garment, I
shall be whole." She was made whole, and Jesus declared that
her faith had gotten the job done! (Matthew 9:21)
God's
Word says: "And it shall come to pass that, before they
call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will
hear." (Isaiah 65:24).
'Prayer
is talking, listening and communing with God as we enter into the
very presence of the Almighty!'
The
20th Century Bible renders the account this way: Jesus said,
"Someone has touched Me". And they said, "Master,
the multitudes press Thee and crush Thee". But He answered,
"No, someone has made a demand upon My ability".
When
we believe and reach out for a miracle, we make a demand upon His
ability and draw from His great storehouse of blessing, that which
we desire! Another
beautiful aspect, is that the woman received the miracle without
Jesus knowing she had a need. The miracle was already accomplished
before Jesus was aware of it.
PRAYER
CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE YOUR
LIFE AND OTHER'S LIVES
The
Psalmist prayed: "Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my
Strength and my Redeemer. Thou hast heard the desire of the
humble." (Psalms 19:14; Psalms 10:17)'
PRAYER
NOT ONLY CHANGES THINGS; IT CHANGES LIVES
The
easiest way for me to illustrate God's provision for us, is to
compare it to a buffet banquet. Many tables, loaded with the best
foods sits in the middle of the room and guests help themselves at
will. The host simply walks among his friends to see if everyone
is getting enough to eat, while the servers keep loading the
tables with fresh supplies.
The
host is not really concerned whether you make one or three trips
to the tables, so long as you get enough to eat. He doesn't watch
to see if you take one leg of chicken or two.
AS
BELIEVERS, WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US: FORGIVENESS, HEALING,
BLESSING & PROSPERITY
Forgiveness,
healing, blessing and prosperity are all provided for us. We can
have all we need! All we have to do, is reach out by faith and
make a demand on His ability, by receiving.
Automatically,
when we tap into His resources by faith in His finished work on
Golgotha, the miracle happens.
PRAYER
CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER
Prayer
changes things! Many situations have been altered, lives changed
and priorities rearranged by spending time in prayer.
Why
is this? God answers prayer! God performs miracles! He is real,
and communion with Him is a glorious reality! God does answer
prayer.
Through
prayer and communion with God we can affect the course of this
world and change the complexion of society.
Not
only does prayer change things but it changes people
- the lives of the ones prayed for as well as the persons praying.
Thousands of answers to prayer are recorded regularly in the books
of heaven, as well as in the remembrances of committed Christians.
Miracles
of salvation, healing, preservation, deliverance and prosperity
are common occurrences for those who really believe God's Word and
appropriate His promises for themselves.
PRAYER
CAN CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND GIVE
YOU A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
A
person gets a totally new outlook on life when he spends time in
God's presence. His priorities change as well as his desires and
goals in life. And his disposition becomes kinder and more caring.
The
hymn writer penned these words which have blessed millions down
through the years.
"Sweet
hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care
And sets me at my Father’s throne,
Makes all my wants and wishes known.
In
seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer."
THE
TWIN PILLARS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ARE REPENTANCE & FAITH
St.
Paul makes it very clear as to what the twin pillars of the
Christian Church are. The twin pillars of the Christian
Church are REPENTANCE and FAITH. St. Paul makes that very plain:
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Acts 20:21)
Writing
to new converts he said: "For by grace (God's unmerited
favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast".
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
YOU
MUST HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND TO RECEIVE HIM
To
believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him into your life is to have
faith! Faith is a fact but faith is also an act, because faith
requires corresponding action.
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
When
you have faith in God, you will believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and dedicate your life in His service! Real faith transforms a
person's lifestyle, because faith in God works miracles in people.
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
HOW
DO WE RECEIVE FAITH?
According
to the Holy Scriptures, God has given each one of us faith to
believe in Jesus Christ, His Son and be saved: "...think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of
faith." (Romans 12:3)
He
has placed His Word within our conscience and our spirit which
came from God! (Romans 7:22-25)
THE
BIBLE WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD CREATES FAITH
The
Word of God also creates faith! "So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans
10:17) God has called us to a life of faith and worship, through
Jesus Christ His Son.
The
Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is
impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him." (Hebrews 11:1,6)
WHAT
IS FAITH ? FAITH IS 3 VITAL THINGS:
1)
Coming to God with our needs.
2) Believing that God exists and that He is Who the Bible says He
is.
3) Expecting a miracle (an answer) when you pray
Faith
is also a gift as well as a fruit of the Holy Spirit! "To
another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit;" (1 Corinthians 12:9)
THE
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING,
GENTLENESS, GOODNESS & FAITH
"But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith," (Galatians 5:22)
GOD
CALLS US TO SEPARATION
What
does it mean when you say, "God calls us to separation"?
When
we accept Jesus Christ as our LORD, to serve and live for Him, the
LORD God sets us apart from non-believers through the divine
process of redemption and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
But
God requires that we must separate ourselves totally and
completely unto Him, in order that His miraculous provisions will
work within us.
Jesus
calls us to righteous, holy and pure living! The Bible says,
"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conduct." (1 Peter 1:15)
WHAT
IS SANCTIFICATION?
Sanctification
is the process by which believers are set apart for God and His
service, to be made holy and purified from sin by His gifts and
graces and our determined will to do that which is right.
We
cannot do this in our own power. The Scripture says, "But of
Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." (1
Corinthians 1:30)
St.
Paul admonished, "For this is the will of God, even your
sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That
every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honor."
"For
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."
(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4, 7)
GOD
DESIRES HIS PEOPLE TO LEAD PURE, WHOLESOME LIVES -
COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM EVIL
The
Bible clearly states that God desire His people to lead pure,
wholesome lives - not like the pagan. We must be separated
from evil completely. We must be separated from the evil
practices of lying, witchcraft, hatred, gambling, idolatry, sodomy
and adultery. The Bible which is the Word of God teaches
purity of though, word and deed.
WHEREFORE
COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD
St.
Paul declared, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17)
GOD
PROMISES TO BE OUR FATHER, IF WE BELIEVE HIS WORD AND LIVE BY IT
In
His dealings with Israel ~ the Children of Israel, He demanded
that they separate themselves from idols and the pagan practices
of the heathen!
"But
I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye
should have fellowship with devils." (1 Corinthians
10:20-21)
As
Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ and must not try to
drag Him down to the filth in which the ungodly live, but allow
Him to lift us to the place of purity and wholeness which He
exemplifies.
JESUS
CHRIST SAVES US FROM SINS - NOT TO LIVE IN OUR SINS
The
Bible says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these
(carnal, sinful & dishonorable pursuits) he shall be a vessel
unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and
prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call
on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy
2:21-22)
Again
God's Word states, "Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2
Corinthians 7:1)
THE
CALL TO DEDICATION
The
word dedicate means to "set apart and consecrate to a divine
being. To give wholly or earnestly to a patron, friend or
purpose." It
is in this sense I now use this word. We should be willing to give
ourselves wholly and earnestly unto the cause of righteousness,
loving God and our fellowman!
THE
BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IF WE DO CERTAIN THINGS, GOD WILL BLESS
AND PROSPER US
The
Bible does not compromise. It is clear in its teachings that if we
do certain things, God will bless and prosper us! And if we do
not, there will be no blessing.
Here
is His clarion call to dedication:
"And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
This
stern admonition was sent to former pagans, who had converted to
Christ. St. Paul demanded that they break from evil, lustful and
perverted deeds and live in purity as Christians!
There
is no such thing as a Christian thief, a Christian liar, a
Christian drunkard, a Christian drug addict, a Christian
homosexual or a Christian fornicator.
When
Christ comes into our hearts, the Holy Spirit does a work in us
whereby we are liberated from the lusts and perversions of this
wicked old world.
He
admonishes Timothy and all of us: "but thou, O man of God,
flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses."
"I
give thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things,
and before Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a
good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
(1 Timothy 6:11-14)
It
is certainly a slap in our face, when Muslims and other
non-Christians reject Christianity because of the lewd way in
which our so-called Christian society conducts itself.
I
hasten to say that the rock and roll music, loose living,
pornography, abortion, alcoholism and perversion, which is so
prevalent in our society, is in no way Christian! On the contrary,
it is anathema!
It
is sad to hear Muslim leaders saying that they do not want their
people contaminated with "the abominable practices of sodomy,
pornography, drug abuse, obscene rock & roll music and
alcoholism, which are rife in Western Christian culture!"
GOD
CALLS US TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL
The
Bible says, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul:
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works,
which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation." (1 Peter 2:11-12)
We
are instructed, "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
(1 Thessalonians 5:22)
MAY
JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS BE OUR EXAMPLE, HE WAS PERFECT IN ALL
RESPECTS
May
Jesus Christ always be our example. He was perfect in all respects
- SINLESS in deity and humanity - yet was obedient to the cross,
suffering for our sin and shame, so that He could save us and
bring us to God!
The
Bible says, "Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher of
our faith; Who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus,
"...being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon
Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross".
(Philippians 2:6-8)
St.
Paul was totally dedicated: "I am debtor both to the Greeks,
and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as
much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are
at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to
the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:14-16)
THE
CALL TO CONSECRATION
Consecration
is the act of obedience, when we privately and publicly make a
statement that we have given ourselves in dedication for God's
service!
In
like manner, as we consecrate a church building or musical
instruments to Go''s service, so we consecrate our bodies, talents
and riches unto the cause of Christ and His Church!
CHRIST
IS CALLING US TO CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND
EVANGELISM
Christ
is calling us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to His cause. To
CONSECRATE OURSELVES unto a life of righteous living and
evangelism! He
is looking for those who will be totally committed to His gospel,
so that His light may shine in this ungodly world.
The
Bible says, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)
What
does that mean to the liar, thief, adulterer, homosexual or
gambler? Pure and simple - STOP DOING THOSE THINGS AND BEGIN
LIVING PURE LIVES.
Jesus
said, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up the cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his
life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake
and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark
8:35-36)
OUR
LORD REQUIRES A FULL COMMITMENT FROM US
Our
Lord requires a full commitment and consecration from us, for Him
to trust us with His authority, gifts and power! He does not want
to be the "fifth wheel" of our existence or a
"fire-insurance policy" kept in a safety deposit box.
GOD
MUST COME FIRST IN OUR LIVES
He
must take center stage in our lives so that our lifestyle will be
pleasing in His sight, and effective in our relationship to
others!
Jesus,
Who is our grand example, "set His face" to go to
Jerusalem where He knew He would die upon a rugged cross and
become "a curse for us", in order to purchase our
salvation! (Galatians 3:13)
St.
Paul said, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For
I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for
the Name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 21:13)
Again
he stated, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of
my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy
4:6,7)
The
great apostle was totally dedicated to Jesus Christ. His life was
consecrated to His Gospel!
Martin
Luther emphasized: "I live as though Jesus Christ was
crucified yesterday, arose today & is coming again
tomorrow."
The
great leader of the Protestant Reformation was consumed with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is why God used him so mightily
to bring back the simplicity, truth, purity & power of
Christ's Gospel to a corrupt, idolatrous and backslidden Church!
This
is the commendation given by the leaders of the Primitive Church
regarding the preachers they sent out: "These are men that
have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ." (Acts 15:26)
WE
CAN CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO GO BY LIVING A 'DISCIPLINE
CHRISTIAN LIFE'
A
proper way to consecrate ourselves to God is through a
'Disciplined Christian Life'! Fasting & prayer is a good way
to humble ourselves before God and to become consecrated wholly to
God and His Kingdom!
GOD
CALLS US TO SERVICE
Jesus
declared, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark
16:15)
The
paramount duty of the Christian is to communicate the gospel to
our fellowmen by our chaste lifestyles, honesty, compassion and
wholesome outlook. We
are "saved to serve"!
JESUS
SAID, "THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY
HEART"
Jesus
said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
The
only road to true happiness is going God's way, walking the Gospel
road, by loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves!
Let
us always follow the Golden Rule:
"Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Luke
6:31)
TRUE
BELIEVERS OF CHRIST ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL
& PHYSICAL NEEDS OF OTHERS
Born
again Christians automatically seek the "high road of
life" after an encounter with 'Jesus Christ'. We are
concerned about the needs of others, spiritual, emotional and
physical, because our lives have been changed: "Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
Angelic
beings brought the message of Christ's victory to the disciples,
at the empty tomb on that first resurrection morning. They said,
"Come and see the place where our Lord lay, and go and tell
His disciples..." (Matthew 28:6, 7)
It
is incumbent upon all Christians to experience God's blessings
through Christ, and then to "go and tell" others the
good news that there is hope for our nation and our world!
AND
THAT HOPE LIES ONLY IN THE PROCLAMATION AND RECEPTION OF THE
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
The
Bible says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall
the end come." (Matthew 24:14)
WE
ARE TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST OUR LORD
Christ
has no hands but our hands, to do His work of preaching and
spreading His Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let us be about our
Father's business!
Christ
is calling us all to communicate, share, spread, dispense,
articulate and live His Gospel before this wicked world, so that
many more will be saved before it is too late.
This
also includes paying our tithes and giving offerings to God's
work. Let us remember the words of our Lord Jesus: "It is
more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
GOD'S
WORD SAYS, "GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU"
He
also stated: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye
mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke
6:38)
Sir
Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, but
we make a life by what we give". My question to us all is:
Are we doing our share to spread the Gospel through our giving?
Or
are we guilty of spending too much time & money pampering
ourselves when multitudes are going to a 'Christless Eternity'
because NO ONE HAS SHARED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WITH THEM?
William
Penn stated: "If there is any kindness I can show, or any
good thing I can do to my fellow human being, let me do it now,
and not deter nor neglect it. I shall not pass this way
again."
Francis
of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel everyday and if you must -
use words...It is in giving oneself, one receives; it is in
forgetting oneself, that one is found; it is in pardoning, that
one obtains pardon". He taught his students that there is no
point in, "walking somewhere to preach, unless you can preach
while you are walking"!
SEEK
YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Jesus
said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
(Matthew 6:33)
The
Bible instructs: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every d man that asketh
you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness an
fear:" (1 Peter 3:15)
"Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth
us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be
rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the
time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (1
Timothy 6:17-19)
God
loves you, my friend. He has purchased your total salvation
through the death of His Son Jesus Christ Who paid for our sins
with His pure and perfect blood!
The
Bible declares that He not only died for our sins on the cross,
but arose from the dead for our justification! (Romans 4:25)
Here
is our Lord’s invitation to you: "Come unto Me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28)
THE
SPIRITUAL CONDITION
of the
CHRISTIAN
CHURCH
by: Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D.
"But
be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer,
he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was." (James 1:22-24)
WHAT
IS THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH?
What
exactly is the condition of the Christian Church today? The
Christian Church appears to be suffering from a disease called, 'SPIRITUAL
AMNESIA'.
IS
THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH HAVING A 'CRISES OF IDENTITY' OR 'SPIRITUAL AMNESIA'
This
condition, intermittent, other times complete - seriously retards
church growth and spirituality. It is not a new condition,
however, and St. James was well acquainted with it.
The
most serious crises of identity, or 'spiritual amnesia attack'
happened to Jesus' secretary treasurer, Judas Iscariot, who fell
for the sin of 'greed and covetousness' and 'stole from the bag'!
(John 12:4-6; John 13:29). Judas Iscariot continued playing
the game and eventually, "Satan entered into him". (John
13:27)
JUDAS
ISCARIOT, ONE OF THE CHOSEN 12 DISCIPLES BETRAYED JESUS FOR 30
PIECE OF SILVER - THEN KILLED HIMSELF
After
Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and saw that
He was condemned to die, he returned the money to the high priest,
saying: "I
have betrayed the innocent blood." He
then took his own life! (Matthew 27: 3-5)
How
very sad, to see a man who was 'one
of the twelve disciples', who had been given power to
preach the gospel, heal the sick
and cast out devils, fall from grace and be lost forever!
(Mark 6: 7,12,13; Acts 1: 17)
ST.
PETER HAD A ''SPIRITUAL AMNESIA' ATTACK WHEN HE DENIED THAT
HE KNEW JESUS
At
our Saviour's trial, St.
Peter also suffered such an attack, when he was labeled a
disciple of Jesus! On three separate occasions, he vigorously
denied the accusation, stating that he did not "know
the man"!
Peter even cursed and swore, to make his point.
IT
ONLY TOOK ONE LOOK FROM JESUS, FOR PETER'S 'SPIRITUAL AMNESIA'
ATTACK TO BE GONE
The
'necessary
medicine’'
for Peter's amnesia, came in the form of 'one look' from
Jesus': "The Lord turned,
and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the
Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt
deny Me thrice. And
Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22: 61-62)
And his amnesia was gone.
'SPIRITUAL
AMNESIA' IS RELATED TO THE SPIRITUAL DISEASE 'SLUMBER'
As
with.
Peter, it usually happens at a very crucial and important
moment. It is certainly related to the spiritual disease of 'slumber'
in which Peter and the other disciples were involved, just
prior to his denial of Jesus! When Jesus needed them the
most, in the time of His greatest agony and conflict, they fell
asleep. And when the Master awakened them on several occasions,
they were unable to respond..
The
Holy Record states:
"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane,
and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray
yonder.."
Then
saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto
death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a
little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me:
nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou will.
And
He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and sayeth
unto Peter, What could ye not watch with Me ONE HOUR?
Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second
time, and prayed. And He came and found them asleep
again…" (Matthew 26: 36-46)
ST.
PAUL SAID, "FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF
CHRIST"
St.
Paul identified the problem, putting it in proper perspective, in
his letter to the church in Rome: "For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek." (Romans
1: 16)
HOLD
FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS.
In his epistle to Timothy, the great apostle, admonishes: "Hold
fast the form of sound words..." "That good
thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost, which
dwelleth in us."
Then,
he shares some very sad news: "This thou knowest, that ALL
they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are
Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto
the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and
was not ashamed of my chain."
(2 Timothy 1: 13-16)
PAUL'S
IMPRISONMENT EMBARRASSED AND FRIGHTENED SOME BELIEVERS
Paul's
imprisonment had embarrassed and frightened some of the believers,
and Timothy was undoubtedly becoming fearful that he also might be
subjected to beatings, imprisonment and death.
BE
NOT ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD
In
the letter to his young disciple, Paul writes: "For God hath
not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power,
and of
love, and of a sound
mind. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner:
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God." (2 Timothy 2:7,8)
DEMAS
SUFFERED 'SPIRITUAL AMNESIA'
DEMAS
suffered a devastating attack of 'spiritual
amnesia', which quite probably led to his eternal
damnation. In his letter to Timothy, the great ‘warrior of the
cross' writes: "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For
Demas hath forsaken me, having loved
this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica.."
Again,
Paul reports: "At my first answer, no
man stood with me, but ALL MEN FORSOOK ME:
I pray God that it will not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding,
the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the
preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might
hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." (2
Timothy 4: 16,17)
LOVE
NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD
The
Bible warns: "Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world." "And the world passeth away, and ;the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God, abideth
forever.." (1
John 2: 15-17)
Pastor
James of the first Pentecostal Church, in Jerusalem, put a HUMAN
FACE on the problem of spiritual amnesia! He divided people into
two classes: the 'hearers and
doers' and the 'hearers
only'. He said that those who hear the Scriptures and
give only mental assent, can be likened to a man, looking at his
face in the mirror, and shortly forgetting what he looked like!
HOW
COULD ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN 'BORN AGAIN' SUFFER 'SPIRITUAL
AMNESIA'?
Could
a man forget whether he had a beard or was clean shaven? Or
whether he had black hair or blond, or if his eyes were blue or
brown? Of course not! But,
spiritual amnesia is just as absurd and ridiculous.
How
could anyone ever forget the life transforming experience, of
being Born - Again? The
release from condemnation and guilt, as our sins were washed away
by the precious
blood of Jesus Christ! The
peace of God flooded our spirit and soul, and God's love swept
through our entire being as Jesus
made Himself real to our hearts, and the Holy Spirit
introduced us to our Heavenly Father.
IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SINCERE CHRISTIAN TO FORGET BEING FILLED WITH THE
HOLY SPIRIT
It
is impossible for a Christian - unless the conscience is seared -
to forget the glorious experience of being filled with the Holy
Spirit.
JESUS
SAID: "But
ye shall receive power (authority) after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me...
"In
the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth
on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, which
they that believe on Him should receive..."
(Acts 1:8; John 7:37-38)
The
word that Jesus used to describe the impact of the Holy Spirit in
the life of a believer is 'dunamis',
out of which we get the word 'DYNAMITE'! St. Paul's prayer for the
Church; best describes
the Holy Spirit's impact upon a believer.
"That
the God of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
Him." "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the
riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."
"And
what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us - ward who
believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He
wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him
at His own right Hand in the heavenly places,"
"Far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave
Him to be Head over all things to the Church, Which is His body,
the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians
1: 17-23)
JESUS
MADE A COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE WHO HEARD HIS WORD AND ACTED
AND THOSE WHO DID NOT
The
wise man built his house upon a rock....The foolish man built his
house upon the sand.
Jesus
drew a comparison between those who heard His Word and acted upon
it and those who did not! Here are His timeless Words: "Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a WISE MAN who built, which
built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that
house; and
it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock."
"And
every one that heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them not,
is likened unto a FOOLISH MAN, which built
his house upon the sand: And the rains descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and
it fell: and great was the fall of it."
(Matthew 7: 24-27)
Jesus
said: "Hearken; Behold a sower went out to sow: And it came
to pass, as he sowed, some
fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and
devoured it up."
"And
some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and
immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But
when the sun was up, it was scorched: and because it had no root,
it withered away."
"And
some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked
it, and it yielded no fruit. And
other fell
on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and
increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and
some an hundred." (Mark 4: 3-8)
JESUS
MADE IT PLAIN THAT WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS SOWN, IMMEDIATELY
THE DEVIL COMES TO STEAL THE WORD
In
this parable, Jesus made it plain that when the Word of God is
sown, immediately
the devil comes to steal the Word.
(John 10:15) Our
Lord stated that Satan came to "steal, kill and
destroy". (John 10:10)
The
seed that was sown on STONY GROUND speaks of those "who
have heard the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; And
have no root
in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward when
affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word's sake, immediately
they are offended." (John 10: 18,19)
The
seed sown AMONG THORNS refers to: "such
as hear the Word, and the cares of this world,
And the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful." (John 10:18,19)
And
finally, the seed that fell on GOOD GROUND are:
"such as hear the Word, and
receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty,
and some an hundred." (John 10: 20)
JESUS
doesn't recognize those "who
receive the Word with gladness, but fall away"
or those who "hear
the Word and become unfruitful because of the cares, pleasures and
lusts of this world" as GENUINE believers.
Our
Lord separates believers –
"such
as hear the Word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit" - into
three groups: "some
thirty fold, some sixty and some an hundred.'
JESUS
DESIRES FRUIT IN HIS FOLLOWERS
JESUS
DESIRES FRUIT in His followers! He stated: "I
am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in
Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, He PURGETH
it, that it may bring forth more
fruit."
"Abide
in Me. and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in
Me. I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do
nothing."
"If
a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are
burned." (John 15: 1-6)
JESUS
PUTS BELIEVERS IN 3 CATEGORIES:30% - 60% - 100%
Jesus
places believers in three categories: thirty percent, sixty
percent and one hundred percent! The famous American Evangelist, D.L.
Moody said: "The FIRST CLASS", are those who got
to Calvary and there got life. They believed on the Son and were
saved, and there they rested satisfied. They did not seek anything
higher.
THIRD
CLASS - 30% CHRISTIANS
Moody
continued: "You
might safely say, I think, without exaggeration, that 19 out of 20
Christians have just got life and have settled down, and have not
sought for power."
SECOND
CLASS - 60% CHRISTIANS
The
SECOND CLASS, Moody calls, 'a better class of Christian' asserting
"the
secret of the Holy Spirit's coming in power to the believer is the
individual's complete surrender to the Saviour. And we do not need
to wait upon God to do something for us. He's waiting for us to
yield ourselves to Him."
FIRST
CLASS - 100% CHRISTIANS
Moody
points to John 7: 37,38, where we read: "out
of whose belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living
water." He
says: "This is
the BEST CLASS; this
is the kind of Christian we ought to be."
A
number of years ago,, Rev. Ray
Brubaker of 'Good
News Behind The News', wrote the article, 'God's
Message to This Generation', in which he gave his personal
testimony of being miraculously healed and filled with the Holy
Spirit! He quotes great preachers, who have been used of God,
because they were empowered with the Blessed Holy Spirit.
He
says: "As Moody stated, 'Pentecost
was only a specimen day', Moody calls attention to the fact
that for thirty years our Lord lived in obscurity in Nazareth.
Then, there came a day when we read where Jesus was "full
of the Holy Ghost."
JESUS
SAID, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME"
Coming
back to Nazareth after His victorious encounter over Satan, in the
wilderness we read where He entered the temple and read from
Isaiah.."the
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me." From thence,
"for three years we find Him preaching the kingdom of God,
casting out devils and raising the dead..."
MOODY
concludes: "If
the Son of God has got to be anointed, do not His disciples need
it, and shall we not seek it, and shall we barely rest with
conversion?"
When
there were those who took exception to Moody's reference to
receiving the Holy Spirit, or his messages on the baptism of the
Spirit, TORREY relates how Moody would reply: "Why
will they split hairs? Why don't they see that this is just the
one thing that they themselves need?"
DO
CHRISTIANS KNOW WHO WE ARE?
Being
a follower of Jesus is serious business. Let us strive to live for
Him, in such a manner that we are in the one
hundred percent category, because we love Him and desire to
bring forth godly fruit.
GOD
KNOWS WHO WE ARE 'IN CHRIST' AND THE DEVIL KNOWS WHO WE ARE
'IN CHRIST'
The
sad fact is that God knows who we are 'in
Christ' and the devil knows who we are 'in
Christ', but we don't seem to know who we are 'in
Christ'."
DO
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE 'IN CHRIST'
My
Christian friend, 'Do
you know who you are in Christ'? In the event, that anyone
reading this message, does not know or has forgotten who you are
in Christ, let me inform you or refresh your memory, of your
standing before God and man!
IF
YOU ARE BORN AGAIN, YOU ARE:
1)
A Child of God
"Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God...Beloved, now are we the sons of
God.." (1 John 3:1,3)
2)
An heir of God; a joint heir with Jesus Christ
The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we
may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 16,17)
3)
A king and a priest unto God
"And
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto Him that loved us: And washed us from our sins in His own
blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
(Revelation 1: 5,6)
4)
A temple of the Holy Spirit
"Know
ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall
God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are." (1 Corinthians 3: 16,17; 1Corinthians 6: 19; 2
Corinthians 6: 16)
5)
Bone of Jesus' bone and flesh of His flesh
"For
we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones."
(Ephesians 5: 30)
6)
A member of the body of Christ
"Know
ye not that your bodies are the member of Christ? Shall I take
then the members of Christ, and make them the members of an
harlot? God forbid." (1 Corinthians 6: 15; Ephesians 5:
23,30)
7)
An ambassador of the kingdom of God
"Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you
by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God." (2 Corinthians 5: 20)
8)
A representative of Christ and His gospel
"And
all things are of God, Who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To
wit (that
is) that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath
committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation." (2
Corinthians 5: 18,19)
9)
A lively stone in the building of God
"Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2: 5)
10)
An epistle of God seen and read of all men
"Ye
are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables
of the heart." (2 Corinthians 3: 2,3)
11)
An Over-comer through the blood of Christ
"For
whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: And this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that
overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son
of God," (1 John 5: 4,5; Romans 12: 21; Revelation 2:7)
12)
More than a conqueror through Jesus Christ
"Who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died,
yeah rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, Who also maketh intercession for us".
"Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors
through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:33-38)
God
says:
"My people are destroyed for lack
of wisdom." (Hosea 4: 6). This treatise
has been prepared with the assistance of the blessed Holy Spirit,
in order to help correct the devastating problem of 'Spiritual
Amnesia', in the 'Body of Christ'.
PLEASE
READ THESE WORDS AND ALLOW THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK IN YOUR
LIFE AND HEART
PLEASE
STUDY the words that I have shared with you - from the depths
of my heart
- and allow the blessed Holy Spirit to work mightily in
your heart and life! Believe these words: "But
my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father, be
glory for ever and ever. Amen," (Philippians 4: 19,20)
"Therefore
I say unto you: What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And all
things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall
receive." (Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:
22)
"Now
unto Him, Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout
all ages, world without end." (Ephesians 3: 20, 21)
And
St. Peter declared, "Repent and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". (Acts 2:38)
WHAT MUST
I DO TO
BE SAVED?
Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Yes,
my dear friend, God is still in the business of setting men and
women free from their sins, sorrows, heartbreaks, fears and
troubles. In this age of frustrations, nervous tensions and
mental collapses, Jesus Christ is still granting peace to the
troubled, joy to the discouraged, strength to the weary and
healing to the sick!
1
- You must admit that you are a sinner
The
Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God”. (Rom. 3:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2
- You must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
You
MUST believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus died
on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead.
“That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: buot he that
believeth not is condemned already.” (John 3:15,18) “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on
Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
3
- You must repent of your sins
The
Bible says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.” (Luke 13:3) “Let the wicked forsake his way and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord,
and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon”. (Isaiah 55:7)
4
- You must receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour
The
Bible says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
“Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) “He that hath the Son hath life: and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
5
- You must confess Jesus Christ as your Lord
The
Bible says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation”. (Romans 10:9-10)
“…Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man confess
before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall
be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8, 9)
HOW
DO I INVITE
JESUS CHRIST INTO MY LIFE?
Pray
to God, a prayer - from your heart.
Tell Him that you
are a sinner and that you need forgiveness. Tell him that
you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins. Tell him that
you are willing to change, to turn away from sin. Ask Jesus
Christ to come into your heart and life and be your personal
Saviour.
"But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
If
you prayed and ask Jesus Christ into your heart - YOU HAVE NOW
RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION - YOU HAVE BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
God Bless You.
-
Powerful AUDIO Bible sermons/messages
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
- click on
message to listen -
Bible
scriptures verses on PRAYER
power of
prayer, the Lord's prayer, prayers answered
(King James
Version) 1
Thessalonians 5:17 - (kjv)
- Pray without ceasing. Mark
11:24 - (kjv) - Therefore
I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]. Philippians
4:6 - (kjv) - Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Ephesians
6:18 - (kjv) - Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints; James
5:16 - (kjv) - Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Romans
8:26 - (kjv) - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. John
15:7 - (kjv) - If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you. Matthew
21:22 - (kjv) - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in
prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 1
John 5:14-15 - (kjv) - And this is the confidence that
we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Matthew
6:5 - (kjv) - 5) And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hyprocrites [are]: for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of
the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto
you, They have their reward. Matthew
6:6 - (kjv) - But
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew
6:7 - (kjv) - But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as
the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their
much speaking. Matthew
6:8-13 - (kjv) - After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Colossians
4:2 - (kjv) - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same
with thanksgiving; Psalms
55:17 - (kjv) - Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I
pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalms
118:5 - (kjv) - I called upon the LORD in distress: the
LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place. Matthew
18:19 - (kjv) - 5) -
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of my Father which is in heaven. Hebrews
4:16 - (kjv) - Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Matthew
26:39 - (kjv) - And he went a little further, and fell on his
face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this
cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. Mathew
6:8-13 - (kjv) - After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Isaiah
55:6 - (kjv) - Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near: Psalms
127:13 - (kjv) - Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD:
[and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. 2
Chronicles 7:14 - (kjv) - If my people, which are called by my
name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and
will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Matthew
7:7 - (kjv) - 5) -
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you: Psalms
88:13 - (kjv) - But
unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer
prevent thee. Psalms
55:16 - (kjv) - As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD
shall save me. Joshua
1:8 - (kjv) - This book of the law shall not depart out
of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success. 1
Thessalonians 5:18 - (kjv) - In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1
Timothy 2:8 - (kjv) - 5) -
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting. James
4:10 - (kjv) - Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Luke
6:12 - (kjv) - And it came to pass in those days, that he went
out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to
God. Acts
7:34 - (kjv) - I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my
people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groanings, and am
come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee
into Egypt. Jonah
2:1 - (kjv) - Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of
the fish's belly. Proverbs
15:8 - (kjv) - 5) -
The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but
the prayer of the upright [is] his delight. Psalms
9:20 - (kjv) - Put
them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to
be but] men. Selah. James
4:8 - (kjv) - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye]
double minded. John
17:1-26 - (kjv) - 5) -
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and
said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee: Acts
1:14 - (kjv) - These
all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 2
Corinthians 12:8 - (kjv) - For this thing I besought the Lord
thrice, that it might depart from me. John
16:24 - (kjv) - Hitherto
have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full. James
5:17 - (kjv) - Elias was a man subject to like passions as we
are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained
not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. Romans
8:26-27 - (kjv) - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. Acts
9:40 - (kjv) - But
Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and
turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she
opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Exodus
14:15 - (kjv) - And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest
thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go
forward: James
4:2 - (kjv) - Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to
have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,
because ye ask not. Hebrews
11:6 - (kjv) - But without faith [it is] impossible to please
[him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and
[that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Ephesians
3:20 - (kjv) - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us, John
16:23 - (kjv) - 5) -
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will
give [it] you. Mark
9:29 - (kjv) - And
he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by
prayer and fasting. Matthew
26:36 - (kjv) - Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place
called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here,
while I go and pray yonder. Psalms
40:1 - (kjv) - (To
the chief Musician, a Psalm of David.) I waited patiently
for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalms
22:2 - (kjv) - O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou
hearest not; ;and in the night season, and am not silent. 2
Kings 20:11 - (kjv) - And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the
LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it
had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. Daniel
9:3 - (kjv) - And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by
prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 1
Samuel 1:10 - (kjv) - And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and
prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. Matthew
5:44 - (kjv) - 5) -
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew
7:7-9 - (kjv) - Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened. Matthew
14:23 - (kjv) - And when he had sent the multitude away, he
went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was
come, he was there alone. Judges
16:28 - (kjv) - And
Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God,
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. Romans
15:13 - (kjv) - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power
of the Holy Ghost. Romans
12:12 - (kjv) - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; Romans
10:13 - (kjv) - 5) -
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts
2:42 - (kjv) - And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. John
16:26 - (kjv) - At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say
not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: John
15:16 - (kjv) - And
Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God,
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. John
9:31 - (kjv) - Now
we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, for he heareth. John
4:24 - (kjv) - God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. John
4:23 - (kjv) - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh such to worship him. Luke
18:1 - (kjv) - And he spake a parable unto them {to this end],
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke
11:1 - (kjv) - 5) -
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place,
when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us
to pray, as John also taught his disciples. Mark
13:33 - (kjv) - Take
ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Mark
11:25 - (kjv) - And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have
ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses. Mark
1:35 - (kjv) - And
in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. John
9:31 - (kjv) - Now
we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, for he heareth. Matthew
18:20 - (kjv) - For where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Psalms
4:1 - (kjv) - (To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of
David.) Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:
thou hast enlarged me {when I was} in distress; have mercy upon
me, and hear my prayer. Ephesians
6:18 - (kjv) - Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints;
CONTACT
INFORMATION
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Max
Solbrekken World Mission, P.O. Box 44220, RPO Garside, Edmonton,
AB T5V 1N6 (780) 460-8444
The
House of Prayer, New Sarepta, Alberta (780) 941-2372
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