Prayer Power: What Do You Want?

For this post I'll be writing more in a similar style to my original 2010 posts. Id est just sharing experiences and what I learned from them. I'm just basically going to share some of my prayers and how they were answered.

1. While on vacation at the beach for a week last year I prayed that I would not get sunburnt (I usually do at least a little). God answered my prayer by...surprise! Cloudy almost everyday. Even got to experience swimming in the ocean in the rain, something I'd never done before, and it was fun. I wasn't about to let the clouds and rain ruin my vacation.

2. Prayed to loose weight. ....And I did, because I became sick for a whole month...at times I couldn't eat or keep down food. But I lost the weight I wanted to loose and I didn't miss any work so it was all good. Never did find out what was wrong with me, never went to the doctor, but that was about 9 months ago now and I've been healthy since (and still without the extra weight).

3. Prayed for safety while driving. All these years. All these miles. I have no doubt in my mind that the daily prayers for safe travels have kept me safe. At least twice this year and many times more in the last couple I have had many close encounters with ice or deer or falling asleep on the road. Twice recently at night, driving 75 MPH there was a deer directly in front of me on the road..just standing there. I saw it both times and swerved just in time to avoid a collision.

4. The Mimosa tree. At my parents house growing up we always (or at least often) had little mimosa trees that would grow up as "weeds" in the driveway or the garden. I always liked them and their light and touch sensitive leaves and when I moved to my own house I prayed that a mimosa tree would grow up at my house. And...one did...unfortunately at a location considered bad by some. But nevertheless it is there and it is beautiful, right by my porch steps. I've always liked plants.

5. Oh...this one goes back quite awhile. But it is very important. And one of those things I haven't shared for years because I'm not sure how people will take it.

The pastor at the church I usually attended stopped preaching good sermons. Something was wrong. He would rarely preach about anything except the end of the world. Which is fine, because it is certainly getting closer, but all that he would talk about was "the rapture" which was really annoying and unedifying. Annoying because I disagreed with his "theory" of a pretribulation rapture, and unedifying because he never talked about anything else. So I began praying hard for his preaching to improve and for him to really get into the word and preach true and useful lessons like he used to. Then he almost died. He fell down a flight of steps and was discovered sometime later. I believe he had a stroke also. He was in a nursing home for months and had to go through rehabilitation...and we didn't know then if he was going to ever be back. But we prayed much for him. He came back! And since then has preached good messages every Sunday.

So these experiences are being shared primarily for two reasons. First, as a testimony that God answers prayers. Second, as an example of how God does not answer our prayers in the same manner that we necessarily intend, and that in order to answer prayers certain events must take place. God uses people and events to create changes in our life experiences....thus effecting and creating physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual adjustments to each person which bring about the answers to our prayers. For example, when I prayed not to get sunburnt, God didn't just surround me with a magical force field...he sent clouds to block the sun. When God helped me loose weight he sent sickness....so I could not over eat. So when we pray a prayer desiring a change in our life...we must be accepting to the fact that a change requires a change. Fruit does not magically appear on a dead tree. We can't pray to be rich without expecting to work hard. We can't pray to do well on a test without expecting to study. We can't pray for a closer relationship with God without expecting to spend time alone with God in prayer and Bible Study. We can't expect God's power to work in us and through us if we do not have Faith and a willingness to take the time to strengthen our Faith. We can't expect our everyday life to reflect the values taught by God if we do not take the time to study His word and what it is that He teaches and desires us to be. (2 Timothy 2:15) We can't pray for someones life to be changed without expecting some type of major event to happen in their life which brings about that change. We can't pray to avoid a sin without learning to hate that sin. We can't pray for the garden to grow if we refuse to take time to water it. (Matthew 6:6,18, Isaiah 3:10, Luke 8:15)

God let us change the world for your Glory. Amen.

Prayers Of Protection Part II: The Will Of God Is Open

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. – Psalm 65:2

Christians have a lot of responsibilities. Prayer and using the power provided through it is one of these responsibilities. The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous and the prayer of the upright is his delight.  (Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 15:29) But for those who turn their ear from hearing God’s commands? God regards their very prayers as an abomination. (Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 1:15, Psalms 109:2-7)

In 2 Kings 20:1-6 (Isaiah 38:1-6) we read of Hezekiah and his serious illness. The prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and warned him to set his house in order since the Lord said that he would die. What does Hezekiah do? He changes the mind of God. How? He prays and weeps before God. We see that the word of the Lord came again unto Isaiah and Isaiah returns to Hezekiah and says this word; “Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee…and I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”

In Exodus 32:7-14 we see how the Lord told Moses that he was going to destroy the Israelites because of their Idolatry. The Lord planned to consume them entirely and make a nation of Moses (Exodus 32:10). But Moses changed the mind of God. How? He besought the Lord and pleaded with him. He spoke to the Lord of his faithful servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Thus Moses interceded and spared the lives of the then living Israelites whom God was prepared to destroy. 

This is what those who love and serve God can do…they can change the mind of God and by so doing change not only the lives of those whom they love, but they can change the very course of history.

This is not a game to be played. We don’t gain power to change God’s plans by obeying him. We love God and because we love him, we obey him. Because we love him we are his friends, as friends of God we work with God since his will is our desire. Thus his will becomes ours…and our will becomes his. This is just how it is supposed to be with human friendships and in marriage.

John 15:12-16 – “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of my Father in my name, he may give it you.”

In Jeremiah 11:12-14 we can see how God turned away from hearing the prayers of those who were formerly his people. We read that he not only refused to hear them, but he commanded that the righteous should not pray for them. Why? Because these people who knew better had fallen into great Idolatry. They had set up alters and worshiped gods contrary to the commandment of the Lord.

When we pray to God we protect people, awake and transform people, becoming an ever needed agent of change and spring of miracles in a world that is lost, perverse, and starving for the truth and grace of the living, loving, eternal God. But we dare not expect to see change or really any effects from our prayers if we have or are committing Idolatry. Idols are anything we place before God. Any priority we hold as more important than God. In 1 Peter 3:7 we see that prayers can be hindered in the lives of men who mistreat their wives. This in one example of many in how our lives must be ordered by the principles of God if we are to have any power in prayer.

Thus, the reason we do not see God working today as much as we could is because of the multitude of Idolatries in the “Christian church” and in society at large. Let us dare to believe God in completeness, becoming his friends and the directors of change in the world for the sake of His Kingdom. 

But woe unto him who thinks he can direct the world without surrendering to the Lord. Woe unto him who attests to be God’s friend without bringing his behavior into the subjection of the Lord’s commands. For surely he shall change the world, but he will do so in opposition to the will of God receiving just damnation in due time. 

He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. – Psalm 102:17

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. – Psalm 66:20

For more about prayer see the following verses - Matthew 21:22, Philippians 1:19, James 5:15-16, Revelation 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Acts 6:4, Luke 6:11-17

Let all mortals pray thus; Lord let me feel the burden of my sin, not so that it may crush me, but so that I may be wise, beholding the evil that I may choose the good. Amen.

Prayers Of Protection Part I: Power In Prayer

Often we falsely believe that since God is in control of everything we are absolved from guilt for the bad things which happen in the world and amongst our family, friends and communities. While it is true that we are not necessarily directly responsible for others, it is equally true that we as individuals are more responsible than is often thought.

Much of the sin and maladies in the world whould not be if those claiming to be Christians took the Christian calling seriously and allowed it to permeate all aspects of their lives. By both failure in right action and failure in right thoughts, many perish and suffer needlessly. The priorities of professed Christians appear to be shuffled rather than placed in order.

We must take the time to insure right relationships with and godly growth in those whom we influence in all areas of our lives. There come times when those we know are making decisions and we are in a place to lead them either to Christ and his Word...or to the devil and his world. There are times when they are open to our influence and in need of our words and of our prayers. We must not wait till we think they need us, but we must provide the example or teaching at the opportune time, because it may be too late later. Later they may be closed to our influence. Later we may not be able to do anything. We must discern when is the right time and when the time has past. But if we see someone grow through their whole life and never do anything then woe unto us if we say we are leaving it in "God's hands." We are God's hands. At least we are called to be.

Death and life are wrought by the very words of our mouth. (Proverbs18:21) Thus we posses a power which is best not neglected. This is why also our prayers and prayer life are so important. This is why we must spend time alone with God, and time apart from this worldly society which loves pleasure more than God and entertainment more than wisdom and fantasy more than reality.

Never should our thoughts and prayers be so high elevated that our actions are considered irrelevant. No, rather our thoughts and prayers become our actions and our future. This is why we must spend time in prayer and have our thoughts rightly directed toward the word and will of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why those who love the world, pleasures, entertainment, and fantasy more than God and his teachings do not merely have their priorities disorganized. They actually hate God, and toss him and righteousness aside because it is impossible for them to commune with the King of Glory when they love what he hates.

I came across some real gems (to me personally) when moving boxes of stuff from my basement to my shed. Some things I had written back in 2005-2006. I found a prayer I had written and marveled as I reflected on how God has answered it in the times that have elapsed since then.

Below is the prayer I penned in late 2005 or early 2006.

Almighty God thank you for all that you have done for me in my life. Help me to go and do throughout my life what you want me too. Help me to not limit myself or you by the expectations and false limits of the world, but God that only you would set limits and expectations in my life. Be with me as and when I study and take my finals, and when I start my new classes for the last half of 12th grade and when I go to college next fall. Help me to live as a true Christian and thank you that this is possible because of Jesus Christ. Lord let him be the way, the truth and the life for me. Help my car to run well until I have more money not too worry about it. But even then help me to remember what is important and not waste money on worldly possessions. Be with me and guide me always Lord,  if I stray bring me gently but surely back to you. Amen.

I had not seen nor remembered this prayer over the past years, but I am able to see now how the Lord heard me. Everything in this prayer was answered by the Lord as far as I can ascertain. I believe this is an example of how the Lord hears, answers and blesses us as we ask him in faith.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." - James 1:17

Have The Sign Gifts Ceased?

Has God's Word Changed? No. So the sign gifts have not ceased.

The following is based on part of a letter I have recently written to a Dispensationalist.

Now there is one thing I must point out regarding the verses you shared about the sign gifts. You argue that the sign gifts (Prophesy, Healing, Miracles, Speaking in Tongues) are no more at all, but as proof you present verses which merely give examples that at some places they will not be. There is a big difference between examples where there were no sign gifts, and saying that there are no sign gifts. Can you see the distinction I’m pointing out?

You said that there is lots of evidence that the sign gifts have been withdrawn. I am pointing out that there is no evidence that they have been withdrawn, only evidence that they are not in existence in every Christian or in every place. There is quite a big difference between the two.

It has been said “If the sign gifts are still in effect why is Luke a Physician?” (implying that doctors would not be needed because God's people would heal everyone) That point is irrelevant because of two things. First, do you remember the condition for the working of the sign gifts? One condition is Faith, or belief. For many the sign gifts are of no use as far as miracles and healings, because they do not believe such a thing is possible. Notice in Matthew 13:58 and Mark 6:5 that Jesus did not do as many miracles and healing because the people did not believe. The modern western man is conditioned to believe that these types of healings and miracles are impossible, and so they greatly are because of his unbelief. Second, not every believer has every gift. Simply because we are a true believer, it is not the will of the Holy Ghost to give each of us every gift (1 Corinthians 12:4-12). Further, when you say that the sign gifts have ceased you are putting together a false (or incomplete) church, because you are cutting off some of its members (1 Corinthians 12:13-31). This is a serious error, and is part of the reason why the church in North America is declining (as it did in Europe), and why it is reportedly growing in Asia, and Africa, and Central America (and maybe South America also?).

I agree completely that there will be (and are) many false prophets (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 4:1). I also agree that any prophet who teaches anything contrary to God’s word (the Holy Bible), or who makes predictions that do not come true is a false prophet. But the scriptures are so clear that the gift of prophesy will continue, to believe other wise is in contradiction to the clear word of God. Perhaps it is you who believe false Prophets and their unbiblical teachings? Perhaps the answer to the question “What is a Prophet?” would clarify this issue. A prophet is someone who hears from God and speaks and does what God has told them to say and do. Because the Prophet hears God, they can also have knowledge of things they would normally not have, because God has told them. Thus, this is their means for prophesying the future. By the scriptures we can tell a true prophet from a false prophet. True prophets lead men to repent, to turn from wickedness, and to worship God. True prophets warn of the destruction coming to sinners. There are two ways to know a false prophet as given in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 , Deuteronomy 18:9-22, Matthew 7:15-23, and 1 Corinthians 14:32, 37, 39. First, if they make a prediction which later comes true, but they also lead men away from God and teach them to worship other gods, or if they bare bad fruit, leading men in wicked ways (into sin) they are false prophets. Second, if they make predictions which do not come to pass then they are false prophets. So to be a true prophet they need to do two things 1. They need to speak according to Gods word (not teaching anything unbiblical), and 2. They need to prophesy and there prophesies must never fail to come to pass. (And of course they must have been given the gift to prophecy by the Holy Ghost.)

Some Dispensationalists have professed that "The prophetic time clock has been put on hold, Peter did not know that and was in error when he said that the last days had begun."

To which I respond...

Do you realize that you are calling the Apostle Peter a liar? Peter said that the last days had come (Acts ch. 2) (Also see Hebrews 1:2 and 2 Timothy 3:1). If your theological view leads you to disbelieve the teachings of scripture than your theological view is corrupt and is based upon false teachings. Perhaps you have a different definition of “the last days” than the Bible does, but when discussing Biblical things you should use the same definition the Bible uses.

Also, do you not realize what the Apostle Paul says in the verses below? It sums things up and really cuts right to the point.

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. - 1 Corinthians 14:37-39

Interestingly, there is a great similarity between the way God spoke to prophets through the Holy Spirit, and the way he now speaks to believers. Many verses and biblical stories attest to this fact, but one verse in particular that comes to mind is Matthew 5:12. Through the Holy Spirit in us today God communicates things which we could not know without Him, he allows us to know so that we may serve Him better and ultimately bring Glory to His name. Taking the sign gifts out of Christianity is taking the supernatural out of Christianity and turning it into nothing but a belief system. It is a belief system, but it is more, it is also a system of Revelation, Miracles, and Regeneration. For example, many answered prayers are miracles. And for myself I am convinced by the many answers to prayer I have received.

God is the Great Physician: Two Mistakes of Two Kings

We see one of the mistakes of King Asa below.

“And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” - 2 Chronicles 16:11-12, also see 1 Kings 15:23.

In 2 Kings 1:1-18 we can read of one of the mistakes of King Ahaziah.

King Ahaziah was sick and he sent messengers to “enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron” as to weather or not he would recover. Then the angle of the LORD said unto Elijah “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.” Elijah met the messengers and told them the words of the angle of the LORD. The messengers returned to the King and told him what Elijah had spoken. In verse 17 we see that King Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken.

We can see the certain death Ahaziah faced for seeking after false gods instead of the LORD. Some “Christian” people do this same thing because they do not believe direct healing from God is possible. I in no way advocate disregarding doctors. I simply mean that God can work healings apart from them.

In the age of modern medicine in which we live there are at least three points to be remembered. First, all credit for healing must ultimately be given to God. Second, our faith must ultimately be placed in God for healing, not in man. Third, we must remember that what man says is impossible, is possible with God, as he wills for his glory. I see no reason for God to heal those who would not give him the praise and glory for it, though he sometimes does simply because he is so kind and gracious (John 11:4, Luke 17:12-19). And I believe that if we had greater faith, we would see more miracles (Matthew 13:58). It also must be remembered that the physical diseases that distress us may be for our spiritual benefit (Romans 8:28, Matthew 18:8, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). The gift of healing is one of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:30). And contrary to the lies taught by some, all of the gifts listed by the Apostle Paul still exist in the Church today as God grants them. There is no Biblical reason to think otherwise.

“O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” - Psalm 30:2

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” - Psalm 103:3

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalm 42:11 (also see the nearly identical Psalm 43:5)

Also see 2 Corinthians 4:16, Proverbs 17:22, Deuteronomy 32:39, Psalm 147:3, and James 5:14-16.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:28-31

Prayer For Today

My Prayer For Today

O Lord you are ruler of heaven, earth, and sea
you have been, are and forever will be.
You sent your SON to make intercession for
our transgressions and bear the burden of our iniquities.
Yea O Lord you are exalted above all. You are merciful
and forgive those who repent and turn from their sin.
You show a better way unto us which can be known
through the Gospel Jesus preached and the commandments
he made known unto us. Blessed be your name O God
Ruler and King of all. You are Holy. We rejoice in your
many gifts to us. O Let us be humble and Fear you
O Lord that we may not sin against you. Let us hold
fast to your Word in our hearts. Let your Holy Spirit
Guide and teach us. Let us be a people who flee the
way of the flesh and be lead in Spirit serving you wholly.
Protect us from folly and foolish ways, let not the riches
of the world entice and lead us astray. Discipline us
O Lord that we may live a profitable life for your Glory.
Grant us peace and contentment and good health and
the will to use all of ourselves for your glory only. Taking
up our cross to follow Christ, as we lay our own self down to death,
no longer seeking our will or desires but only thine O
Glorious God. So be it.


I found this in one of my notebooks, I think it was written sometime in 2008.

Some scriptures related to this; Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Mark 10:21, Luke 9:23, John 1:17, Isaiah 53:1-12, Psalm 22:3, Deuteronomy 8:5, Hebrews 12:6-7, Romans 8:1-39, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 Peter 2:17, Revelation 14:7, Job 28:28, Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 1:33.

Two Recollections

There are many experiences I have that convince me of the reality of God, and the fact that he is very actively working today. There are many amazing accounts that have been written by many people, but here I will share two experiences which served to strengthen my faith. Now these are only two of the many happenings. I see God at work in many things, and if I wrote them all down I would not have enough paper (or megabytes of storage). Though these stories are simple and only about ordinary happenings they are nonetheless meaningful to me.

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A year ago I needed to get so many hours of night flying to meet a requirement. So here I was flying at night by myself in a small single engine airplane (a Cessna 172, that plane had nice equipment also). It was May 12, 2009 as I know from my pilot logbook. I enjoy flying at night because it is very peaceful, and quite (when wearing a headset). The flight went well and if I remember correctly the airport was deserted or at least nearly so after I returned. (It’s an uncontrolled airport, no tower.) Something about feeling all alone at night put me in the mood of thankfulness and of wanting to seek more of a closeness to God. I had about an hour drive home from this airport and decided that I wanted to listen to some Christian music, which at that time I rarely did. I only have a radio in my car so I was searching through the stations looking for some Christian music. I was slightly surprised and frustrated that I could not find anything good, and I prayed that I would. I had certain classic rock stations programmed into my radio. I thought to myself that God is so awesome that if he wanted to he could even make a classic rock radio station play Christian music. (and that’s exactly what he did!) I checked my regular classic rock stations and the third station was now playing Christian music! I praised God and from that time forth to today that station, 107.5 now plays Christian music. It used to be “Frank FM” but is now WBYN FM. Some of the “Christian” music on there is made to glorify the musician or the tune rather than God, but they do also play some good Christian music. Moreover I discovered “Truth for Life” and “Walk in the Word” which are generally good Biblical programs from what I have heard of them. I enjoy listening to them when I happen to be in the car when they are on, which does not happen much now.

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The past couple of months I have been riding bicycle nearly everywhere and I generally only drive my car once a week, just to make sure it still runs well, especially considering the colder weather now. (why I ride bicycle now is a story for another day on another blog) When I ride my bicycle there is a traffic light shortly before I get to work. If anyone has experience riding bicycle or even motorcycle than one knows that traffic lights often are not aware of their existence. This means that I was always hoping for a car to be there so that the light will change in order for me to go. Often there is no car around so I make a right turn on the red light, and then make a U-turn and go my merry way. Well one day as I approached the light and began to make the right turn I thought to myself, if God wanted to he could change the light for me. As soon as I thought this I saw the light turn green and I continued and was able to go left instead of right and then making a U-turn. I Praise God for this! And to this day the traffic light always changes for my bicycle. I even used to ride my scooter (legally a motorcycle) there and the light never changed for it, and it is larger and much heavier than my bicycle.

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There are many times when events and circumstances seem to go my way even when by all reason they should not. I attribute these happenings to the grace of God and his tender mercies. (Psalm 40:11) What I am talking about are reminders and pleasant surprises which barely happen, or things which easily might not have been nor resulted if things had just been a little different. Also, over and over again there are circumstances and events which are pieced together so carefully and out side of my control that I have no other conclusion than that they were put together that way by God for a purpose. Often I am convinced that they are the result of my or others prayers but however it is; it is God working for his purposes and he is working in a way so that all things work together for good to those that love him and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Though we must be careful not to rely only on outward events as evidence of God’s approval. For Satan may be allowed to deceive us thereby. Consider Job. And consider that the physical blessings of riches tend to lead one astray (Revelation 3:17, Matthew 19:23, Proverbs 30:8-9).