HUMBLE PEOPLE PRAY

MEMORY VERSE:  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. 2 Chronicles 7:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Timothy 2 – Titus 2

One thing I have found from studying through the scriptures is God wants us to be like Him. In showing mercy, He wants us to be like Him. Luke 6:36 says:” be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” In our conversations, He wants us to be holy just as He is holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says: “but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Just as God loves the world (John 3:16), He expects us to love everyone even our enemies. Matthew 5:44-45 says: “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; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God is humble. Psalm 113:6 says: “Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” Just as He, the Highest, is humble, He expects us to be humble. What is humility? Humility means submitting to the will of God even when it is inconvenient. It is also means putting one’s self in a lower position, than he or she is, for the will of God to be done. The most humble man the world ever knew was Jesus Christ. Despite the fact that He created the world, He humbled Himself to be like man and died a very shameful death so that we might have eternal life. Colossians 1:16 says: “ for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

2 Chronicles 7:14 says: “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.”  It takes humility to pray to God. In a world where no one cares about the will of God especially for their life, humble people go on their knees and pray for the will of God to be done in their life. Jesus, whilst on earth, was always praying for the will of God to be done (Luke 22:42). Before taking any major decision, he would pray seriously. Sometimes, He would spend several hours praying to God. Before choosing His disciples, He went to a mountain and prayed throughout the night (Luke 6:12). The next morning, the bible records that:” he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles ;( Luke 6:13).” Jesus knew without God He could do nothing, that is why before doing anything, even eating, He would first pray ( Luke 9:16). Many of us are so proud we do not even bless our food before eating. Only a proud man will make a life changing decision without first consulting God. Humble people know they have no power of their own; they will not do anything unless they have prayed. Your prayer life reveals your level of humility before God. Your prayer life reveals your level of dependency on God. Jesus prayed a lot because He depended on God for everything. A lot of us trust so much in our cars that when we want to travel, we do not even commit the journey into the hands of the Lord.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: How often do you pray? How much do you depend on God?

PRAYER: Father, I come against the spirit of slumbering in the place of prayer.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU ANSWER IT

MEMORY VERSE: shall we give, or shall we not give? But he knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, why ye tempt me? Bring me a penny that I may see it, Mark 12:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 20, 1 Thes 3, Dan 2, Ps 42-43

The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus in words , so they asked Him a tricky question in public. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? Jesus knew the reason for the question , He understood the motive of the inquiry so He requested for a penny. When they brought it, He asked them; "whose picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar’s", they replied. He said in that case, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s, Mark 12:17. 

It is essential that before you answer a question, you understand the question. The reason why many students don’t do well in exams is because they do not understand the examiner’s question. When you don’t understand the examiner’s question, you end up answering your own question instead of the examiner’s question and this inevitably leads to poor grades.

It is also very important that you know the intent behind the question. The reason why many don’t do well at interviews is because they do not know intention behind the questions. A classical interview question is what is your greatest weakness? The answer many give is ‘I haven’t any’. Firstly, that answer sounds arrogant and it shows a lack of self-awareness. To answer such a question, you need to understand the question. Not only that, you need to know the intention behind the question. The interviewer has noble intentions, he or she simply wants you to discuss about the skills that are not critical for the job and weakness that you have improved on. Answering a question you do not understand can lead to embarrassment. Answering a question you do not understand can lead to poor grade and if care is not taken, it can lead to failure. Understanding a question before answering it, can save one’s life. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in words, because he perfectly understood the question and their intentions, he was able to give them an answer that saved His life.

SUMMARY: It is better to keep quiet than answer a question you do not understand. 

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

WHAT TO DO AFTER PRAYING.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 36, John 15, Prov 12, Eph 5

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Psalm141:1-4

 

Instead of complaining or grumbling to God, take that matter or challenge to God in prayer. Instead of worrying and asking ‘why me’, pray to God. Matthew 21:22 says and all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 

 

Many prayers are unanswered today as a result of the activities that takes place after prayer. Whether you believe it or not, what you do after praying can either cause the heaven’s to honor your request or ignore your request. Don’t expect a response from God if you walk straight into adultery or fornication after praying. Don’t expect God to rebuke devourers for your sake if after a praying you refuse to pay your tithes. Actually the most delicate time is moments after praying, that is when the enemy attacks most. This is why you have to guide your heart against evil thoughts or avoid quarrels after praying because the enemy uses that a lot to rob many of their blessing. Exercise patience and avoid getting angry after praying, I pray the enemy will not rob you of your breakthrough. There are certain things you have to do after praying; failure to them may result in heavens not granting your petition. Remember, the enemy waits after prayers to rob many of their blessings. What did David do after crying to God in our bible studies? Firstly, he surrendered his life to God. After praying to God, surrender the matter to God. Secondly, he began to watch the words of his mouth. Many after asking God for a job will start to confess that the economy is hard and there are no jobs. It is what God hears you say that He will do, Numbers 14:28. It is unwise to go to God for a life partner, and after praying you begin to confess that it is hard to get a good woman or man. Many even do worse by confessing that there are no good men or woman around. After praying, begin to confess what you want. Thirdly and the most important thing he did was he did not allow evil thoughts in his heart. Philippians 4:8 says whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Not only, that David separated himself from ungodly friends and kept himself pure. Psalm 1:1 says blessed in the man who goes not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. After David did all these, heaven granted his petition and his joy was full. By the time we get to Psalm 145, we see David singing a psalm of praise. He sang a psalms of praise for the rest of the book of Psalm.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, please purge me of every thoughts that does not glorify you.

A SOFT ANSWER

    BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 3, Matt 3, Ezra 3, Acts 3

Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

BIBLE STUDIES: Proverbs 15:1-2

I read a fable about the sun and the wind. They quarreled about which was the stronger, and the wind said, ‘I’ll prove I am. See the old man down there with a coat? I bet I can get his coat off him quicker than you can. ‘So the sun went behind a cloud, and the wind blew until it was almost a tornado, but the harder it blew, the tighter the old man clutched his coat to him. Finally, the wind calmed down and gave up, and then the sun came out from the behind the clouds and smiled kindly on the old man. Presently, he mopped his brow and pulled off his coat. The sun then told the wind that gentleness and friendliness were always stronger than fury and force.

Many of the problems, disagreement we encounter in our relationship with people could have been avoided if only we approached issues with gentleness and friendliness. Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Many of the problems between couples today could have been avoided if only one of the parties approached issues with gentleness and friendliness. Getting angry and answering in anger has been found to be unproductive in handling situations. Actually it has been tested and proven that our actions and answers inform the reaction and the response of people we are dealing with. Many have made unnecessary enemies due to the way they reacted to issues in the time past. Despite our past, God could have treated us with His heavy hand. He could have giving us what we deserve which was death for every sin we have committed but what did He do? He reacted to us in love. 1 John 4:19 says we love because God first loved us. Love begat love. Jesus has the right to use force and fury to save us but He did not do that, He opted to use gentleness and friendliness by gently knocking on the door of our heart to save us. Many have been on the right and did not get the justice they deserve all because they approached the other party in anger. Opt for the soft answer approach today. Do not react to things in anger, if you are angry it is better to just keep quiet. It is not profitable to argue or get angry. The Chinese have a saying, ‘he who treads the ground softly goes far’. The sun can make you take off your coat more quickly than the wind; and kindliness, the friendly approach and appreciation can make people change their minds more readily than all the bluster and storming in the world.

REMEMBER: ANGER IS THE ENEMY OF PERSUASION