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Post by Brother Ben on Sept 16, 2010 16:15:36 GMT -5
For this sin hungry age we need a prayer-hungry Church. We need to explore again the “exceeding great and precious promises of God.” In “that great day,” the fire of judgment is going to test the sort, not the size, of the work we have done. That which is born in prayer will survive the test. Prayer does business with God. Prayer creates hunger for souls; hunger for souls creates prayer. The understanding soul prays, the praying soul gets understanding. To the soul who prays in self-owned weakness, the Lord gives His strength. Leonard Ravenhill
Prayer must be aflame. Its ardor must consume. Prayer without fervor is as a sun without light or heat, or as a flower without beauty or fragrance. A soul devoted to God is a fervent soul, and prayer is the creature of that flame. He only can truly pray who is all aglow for holiness, for God, and for heaven. E. M. Bounds
The true spirit of prayer is no other than God's own Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from God, so doth it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to God, to converse with him by prayer. Jonathan Edwards
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Post by George on Sept 16, 2010 19:56:42 GMT -5
Brother Ben, I believe the biggest problem to be that many people do not know how to pray. They pray but it is not truly prayer as shown in the Bible. I listened to a wonderful sermon by Lester Roloff some years back that was all on prayer. It it he said that prayer is asking and supplication is begging. Of course all of this must have a great deal of thanksgiving included.
(Php 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Each Saturday morning we have a men's prayer meeting. Once a month it is a men's prayer breakfast. When I listen to some of the prayers I hear people explaining a lot of things to God that He already knows. It is as if they are preaching to God. I hear people telling stories that I am certain God is aware of and most of the rest of us have already heard. I hear men starting their prayers with, "Dear Lord Jesus." Many may not see any error in this but if you recall when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray He said that you start off with "Our Father, which art in heaven" or I believe it is permissible to use something of that order as long as it is addressed to The Father. I find this aspect particularly interesting in that God answers the prayers and Jesus is the mediator or intermediary.
One thing I will say though is at least they are praying. The amazing thing is that there is not one single thing God needs to hear from me. There is nothing I can tell Him that He does not already know. Yet He wants to hear from me anyway. Amazing!
Perhaps we need a Sunday School class to teach people how to pray?
In Christ, George
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Post by Andrea on Sept 16, 2010 20:42:43 GMT -5
Perhaps we need a Sunday School class to teach people how to pray? In Christ, George I would love to "attend" this if it happens. :)
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Post by michelle on Sept 22, 2010 9:21:29 GMT -5
Perhaps we need a Sunday School class to teach people how to pray? In Christ, George I would love to "attend" this if it happens. :) As would I. I grew up in the catholic church where all prayers are rote prayers, so prayer is an area that I have always felt inadequate.
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