PRAYER’S HIGHER PURPOSES

Rhapsody of Realities TeeVo;

Sunday, July 26th,2020;

PRAYER’S HIGHER PURPOSES
(There’s More To Prayer Than Just Asking For Things)

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome;

TO THE BIBLE
Ephesians 6:18 AMP C “Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty….”

LET’S TALK
Jacqueline always spent her evenings after supper in fellowship and intense prayer of the Spirit. While others around her spent time binging on TV series and movies, she would enrapture herself in tongues of the Spirit, declaring words of love, praise, worship and thanksgiving to God. As a result of her worship and prayer times with the Lord, she experienced unusual and daily favours with people: strangers would want to pay her cab fares to school or buy her lunch; one time, someone even offered her a part-time online job without her applying for it.

The word “prayer” is a generic word, but many only focus on one of its synonyms, which is to ask or make requests. However, prayer is primarily fellowship with the Father through the Spirit. There’s more to prayer than just asking God for new stuff. Through prayer, we have the privilege and opportunity to exercise our authority in Christ, activate and walk in the consciousness of the divine presence, and to enforce God’s will in the earth. Thus, prayer is the exercise of the human spirit.

Due to the misconception of the purposes of prayer, many misunderstand Mark 11:24, where Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (KJV). The Master didn’t say, “What things soever ye ask for, when ye pray”; rather, He said, “…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray….” Here, He teaches us the power of faith, hope and love. The Father loves us so much, and Jesus wants us to trust in the Father’s love. At times of prayer, we can rest assured that our desires, borne by hope, are granted us, without even asking.

The Bible says, “…Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). He knows your heart. Really, why should you be asking Him for anything for yourself, when He already said, “…all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21)? Use your prayer times for intercession and other higher purposes.

BE RENEWED DAILY!

Go Deeper
Romans 8:26-27; Romans 8:32; Matthew 6:31-33

Pray
Blessed Father, you’re gracious and kind; your glory fills the heavens, and your faithfulness is ever sure. Thank you for your eternal love for me, and for the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. You’ve beautified my life with your glory, and for this, I worship you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.