PrayerExchange

Success And A Praying Church

2006-06-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

If I can think of one thing that will guarantee spiritual success to any work, it has to be prayer. Nothing comes close in empowering the saints to battle against the spirits of darkness ( Ephesians 6:10-13), than prayer. And, nothing gets God's attention more than his children seeking His answers and power through prayer. The more praying that is going on in a peaceful setting, or in gatherings, the more God can work within that person/ group. The road to life is a difficult one, filled with frustrations, disappointments, tragidies, dangers, and anxieties at every corner. So, without constant prayer and communication with God, there will be certain defeat. Yes, defeat awaits a non-praying church and christian. However, success awaits a praying church and soul.

The bible is filled with great examples of prayer and its working power. Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and it did not for three and a half years. He prayed again, and it rained (James 5:17-20). Jacob told the angel that he would not let him go until he received a blessing (Genesis 32:26). He received his blessing, and his meeting with Esau turned into a love feast, instead of a murderous event. Peter was released from prison through the praying of the church (Acts 12:6ff). Yes, prayer works God into action. Without His church holding to prayer, the power of God is limited. There can be no revival, no work, no service, no evangelism; actually, nothing can be done with spiritual success, unless God is involved in it through prayer.

Therefore, let us start to pray at all times (IThessalonians 5:17-18), and bring down the divinity of God to guarantee success in times of turmoil, and in times of harmony ( Matt. 7: 7 &8).

By Faith,

Gary M. Howard

The Ear of God Through Prayer

2006-06-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been several weeks since my last post, and I can say with confidence that God does answer prayer. The Lord has opened the door to Key West, Florida. I never thought I would be going to Key West, but that is where we are headed in August. The Lord gave of fruit the Sunday morning that I preached with a baptism. The service was spiritually uplifting because God opened a soul's heart to the word. This brother had been studying with some women in the Church of Christ through the mail, and was ready to obey the great command ( John 3:5).

Anyway, in our previous posts about prayer we have broken the hallow ground to pray, and now we must accept the great answers that are available to those who devote themselves to prayer. Prayer is nothing more than seeking God's listening ear to our cries and needs. The thing we must never forget, is God answers prayer, and we should not think anything less. We need to fight against the devil in convincing us that God is not interested in answering our prayers. Never, Never, should we succumb to this lack of faith. God desires nothing less than to bless His soldiers with the essentials of the battle, and sometimes with more. Let us never forget that Jesus is our guarantee to the throne of God, and with that mediator, nothing can be out of our reach. God bless.

By Faith,

Gary

Seeking God Via Prayer

2006-06-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

In our last post we confirmed that God wants to answer prayer and does emphatically for those who truly reach Him through it. The beauty of prayer is not only the divine arena in which it takes place(Ephesians 6:12), but the providential answer that comes from God. Prayer is the saints number one weapon against the forces of evil, and not to use that communication line, is not only to fail yourself, but your fellow man. If one is not concerned about prayer, then one is not concerned about God and spiritual things. God communicates through prayer, as we communicate over the computer, cell phone, e- mail, instant messaging, and one on one. I cannot tell you how happy the destroyer is when God's saints decide to longer pray. Our battle cannot be won with human power, but only divine. John stated in I John 4:4 ... that He who is in you, is greater than he who is in the world. But not to use that power is not to pray, and certainly guarantee defeat.

Seeking God does not happen with little effort and time,-but to bring down the heavenly-, you must devote time to the avenue of prayer. To use vain repetition of words, the use of beads, or the multiple use of mere words, is vain and empty. We use the holy hands (I Timothy 2:8), to reach unto the father, and there is no substitute for that. Lest we forget the true avenue God is by knee power. Let us start today and pray.........

By Faith,

Gary

Does God Answer Prayer??

2006-05-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

That question is not only asked by the masses, by those who have walked with the Lord thru thick and thin. And anyone with an open heart, knows everyone has doubts and lacks faith at times, even the faithful. The good news is God does answer prayer, and desires nothing more to help his children in this earthly world to receive his good gifts ( James 1:27). Nothing brings down the heavenly power than prayer on earth. Remember when Jonah flees from God and takes a ship for a distant port? But God does not allow his preacher to flee to far, and by divine providence this prophet is cast out of a ship, and swallowed by a whale. In the fishes belly, he cries into God against whom he had sinned, and God answers his prayer and delivers him to finish his preaching mission unto Niveveh. Even the fishes and nature are subject to prayers of men through God.

In I John 5: 14, John states that we should have "confidence" when we approach God in prayer. Why, because God hears everything we ask for, and gladly wants to give us His blessings. Does God answer our prayers? Yes.

By Faith,

Gary

Pray, Pray, Just Pray Man........

2006-05-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Have you thought about prayer, but felt like you were not good enough, spiritual enough, or just not in the mood, and just threw the opportunity away? Of course you have. It is not uncommon for all of us to look at pray as for only the righteous, the holy,the perfect, the God-like, the insider only, well, you get the idea. And you know, it is for those types, but thank God it is for the penitent, sinful, and confused. Really, remember the the publican and tax-collector in Luke 18:10ff. Yes, God listens to the contrite, and despises the religious proud. What He does listen to is prayer from those who are either seeking Him, or those who are blood washed, and seeking to understand and relate to Him in a greater way.

I really struggle with prayer at times, and it is conforting to know that God is not looking for perfection, He is looking for the heart that seeks Him out. That we must be reminded of at all times. We cannot grow weary in our quest to connect to the eternal God-Luke 18:1ff.
So, we must pray, pray, and pray man till we find the living God.

By Faith,

Gary

Prayer-God-Holiness=Great solution to Life's Challenges.

2006-05-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

The more I think about prayer, the more I think about God. And the more I think about God, then the more holy I become. That makes sense right? Well, if you are about the business of praying, then you are about the business of walking by faith and holiness. You see, praying, God, and holiness, will give you the answers you need each day. Praying to God throughout the day keeps one in the right relationship with Him, and keeps you from sin.

When you are praying, it is very difficult to be practicing and thinking about disobeying God. Jesus commands us to be holy in thought, mind, and heart. It is not something you can turn off and on, but something that is a part of your life. Jacob prayed to God to help him against his impending meeting with Easu (Geneiss 32), and spent the night in prayer with the angel of God. God answered his prayer and gave him a new-Israel-, because of his faith and great desire to be pleasing to God. Jacob was in spritual union with God.

There are many detour's in life, and when one does not have God, it can become a permanent roadblock to your life. If we spend more time in prayer, and less time for things of passing interest, we will be blessed. I see a generation that wants automatic faith, holiness, and spirituality without any effort on their part. I believe the lack of praying is a good barometer of why were not getting the answers we need. Let us get on our knees, and bring the answers from God to life's challenges.

By Faith,

Gary

Fear, Fear, Fear-Payer

2006-05-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Do you have fears? Sure you have. Everyone has fears, some are passing, and some are totality overwhelming. For those who have a spiritual connection with God by prayer, fear is a little thing that can be easily destroyed. If you want to have a divine cure for anxiety and fear, then taking it to God in the closet is a guarantee. There is something special about going to a quite place, and letting God know your fears and troubles. Paul stated in Phil. 4:6, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by supplication and prayer, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."

We need more to start praying unto God and reaping the power is ours. If we want to overcome the enemy-satan-then let us use the most powerful weapon on earth against him. Prayer.

By Faith,

Gary

The Essense of Prayer

2006-05-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

Prayer is God. That is the devotion unto God. It is communion and intercourse with God in the spiritual realm. It is quite frankly enjoyment and intercession between a soul and the eternal God. Nothing is as powerful and heavenly as prayers. To understand it, is to understand God. And to understand God you must read his word, and pray unto Him at all times ( IThessalonians 5:17).

In this age of ipods, television, and computers, there is much to distract a soul from the arena of prayer and its power and blessings. God for many is abstract and unreal. But, for those to tap the realm of prayer, there is a new awakening that only the chosen of Him can comprehend and perceive. Paul stated in I Corinthians 1:20ff that the spiritual world is reserved for those inside of Christ-Romans 6:3-4;Galatians 3:28;Ephesians 1:3;2:1-4-and what they have is heavenly and wonderful.

Jesus said that men should always pray. John stated in I John 5:13 that whatever we ask according to His will, we will receive. Now that is a guarantee that God will not back down on. Unfornately, when people hear guarantee today, it means very little. But, when God guarantees something, it shall pass. God cannot lie...... So, let us start praying and allowing God to work in our lives for the hope of mankind.

By Faith,

Gary

Peter's Release From Prison

2006-05-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

In Acts 12 Herod the King laid hands on many who belonged to the church, in order to intimidate and mistreat God's people. He had James, the brother of John put to death with the sword. Once Herod saw that is pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter also. He put him in prison, along with 12 soldiers, and after the Passover, he was going to bring him before the people.

The church prayerd fervently for Peter during this time. God heard the prayers of his people and had an angel come down and release Peter, the night before Herod had plans to kill him. During his release Peter thought he was dreaming, but ultimately came to reality of what was happening.

Peter went to the house of Mary, and she reported to the gathering there, that Peter was released from prison. Wow, they were excited, NO, they said she was crazy and out of her mind. Now, this is typical of so many of us when it comes to prayer and faith. We cry unto God and expect nothing, or hope something happens.

Lessons from this miracle of Prayer:

1. God does not expect perfect faith, just mustared size faith in order for him to work.
2. God will work out his plans inspite of satan's opposition.
3. Great things happen when people pray.
4. We need more prayer in the church and less social gatherings-golf, cook outs, etc- and more on our knees praying. When was the last time you were part of gathering of souls who were praying?? For some, it rarely happens.
5. Bottom line: Let us start believing in the power of prayer, and bring God down to work with us in the mission field.

By Faith,

Gary

prayer around the world

2006-05-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

charity

2006-05-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Presidential Prayer Team:

2006-05-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

24-7 Prayer USA - Home

2006-05-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

PrayerExchange

2006-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

To everyone out there who needs prayers, or wants to post prayers on this blog, then let us create a world-wide prayer forum. I have been wanting to get my thoughts and prayers out in the internet forum for quite a while. I have enjoyed reading the E.M. Bounds series on prayer. I suggest you get those books. Honestly, they are the best I have read, and so inspiring and truthful. Actually, Mr. bounds had no idea his books on prayer would ever be read, that what mankes them so real, and not written to make money.

Each Day I will add a prayer, and as the message get out onto the internet, you can submit your prayer request for others to pray with you. There are so many souls out there who need prayers, and we want to make it happen for them. I have personnally seen the power of prayer in my life, and I want you to know that it works. It is sad that prayer is a lost passion with churches and christians. I believe the number one reason is a lack of God in their life. Having a pure lifestyle, and having a vibrant prayer life, go hand in hand. Remember, an individual and their spiritual soul, depreciate as Church ceremonials increase. See Jer 7:16 "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee. Unfortunately, God's people were going thru the motion of religion, but had lost their God in the process.

My prayer thought for today:
***Phi 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.