Power of prayer

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31 

Praise the Lord 

While we read the passage Acts 4:24-31 we can see how the disciples prayed.

1) They lifted up their voice to God with one accord.

"When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God."

2) Proclaiming and praising the name of the Lord for what he is.

"“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them."

3) Proclaiming a verse or promise that is in relation to our prayer request.

"You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

   “‘Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
   and the rulers band together
against the Lord
   and against his anointed one"

4) Proclaiming that whatever happened is by God's will.

"Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. "

5) Requesting the present need in prayer.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 

Then...!

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31  

Seven Power Tips to Guard Your Heart

“How can I guard my heart?” the pastor’s wife asked me with all sincerity. I realized then that it could not be a mere one line answer but whole lot of areas that we need to be aware of or else the enemy would take advantage of the most precious part of our life – ‘our heart’. And still somehow, we rarely pay attention to study this in detail.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” This verse even though true in the natural, however does not talk about the physical condition of the heart but the intellectual, and specially the ethical core.

Why does the Bible say the ‘heart’ is the source out of which all issues of life flow? Our minds have the ability to register and make notes of how our heart feels. It thereby allows decisions to be made based on how the heart feels in a particular occasion, many times even subconsciously.

The words ‘guard your heart’ mean to defend it continually from possible external attacks by being informed and alert; from allowing external issues to adulterate the springs of life that flows.

Starting from this week, we will go into each of these subjects in more depth. (See the contents here) Don’t miss a single post and don’t forget to email or share about these series with someone you know.

Let’s start with some basics.

1. Guard your Intake – Is it not interesting that the risk of heart disease for smokers is more than twice that of non-smokers. Unhealthy food adds to the woes of the heart troubles. And so is it with your life. What you see, what you hear, what you read, what you believe is all a part of the intake. Begin to be intentional on all what you intake into your life.(“How to Guard your Hearts Intake”, coming soon this Thursday, May 12th 2011)

2. Exercise – Staying fit with exercise is one of the most effective ways to take care of your heart.

It increases your strength and resistance against trouble. Similarly in life it takes practice and patience to pass the test. This is something many of us lack the most. Be persistent in pursuing God, against the persistent wiles of the enemy.(Here is something to exercise, read more, “The Secret of a Standing Man“)

3. Rest in God – A heart attack happens when the blood flowing to a branch of the heart is blocked. This causes the muscle cells to expire because they are not receiving the oxygen they require. One of the reasons this is caused is because of stress and anxiety. The worry about tomorrow. Remember God is the greatest promoter of rest from Genesis. (5 Important Lessons to Avoid Burn Out, coming soon)

4. Overcome Awful Words – Bible says, Offenses must come. And whether we will be offended or not is our choice. It is under these pressures you will learn very valuable lessons in life. If you ever want to make it as a leader, you need to learn to handle those criticisms and overlook offenses especially when you don’t want to.

Isaiah 50:7 says, “For the Lord God will help me; so shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Well, that’s our same hope. And many times a face like a flint is an ultimate solution to some unfair problems. (5 Crucial Keys to Overcome Hurts, coming soon)

5. Your Friends Matter – Are your friends honest to you? Proverbs 27:9 says, “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.” A good friend is not afraid to tell you were wrong and yet stand by you. Your true friends are those that fear God more than you. (The Power of Your Friendships, coming soon)

6. Find wise & truthful mentors – A best way to guard your heart in detail is to go to a specialist regularly to check your heart. Sometimes we miss seeing the details of life in our own shoes. And sometimes it requires another to show you the truth that is seen from an outside perspective that comes from exposure and experience. God does use people to bless us with wise counsel. (Guest post by Dr. John Mc. Donald, “Finding the Giant, and then Standing Tall” Coming soon)

7. Pursue God - 2 Chronicles 27:6says, “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” Have you ordered and disciplined your ways before the Lord our God?

Jesus reminds us to the chilling truth inJohn 15:5, “…apart from me you can do nothing. ” All our human efforts are in vein without God taking over our lives. He made our hearts, therefore it is best to be left in the Maker’s hand. (Coming soon, “7 Tips for a Struggle Free Prayer Time”, and  “5-Tips On Effective Daily Bible Reading”)   [Meanwhile here's some posts that could help you. "3 Keys to a Mountain Top Prayer" “I don't feel like praying? I don’t feel God in prayer?” “How to read the Bible and what matters the most”]

I am glad to do this series of study with you and I believe these posts will empower you. I pray that you would not miss any of this posts in the series. You can be kept notified when you subscribe to this blog (here) Next weeks post: “How to Guard your Hearts Intake”

Leave me your thoughts, suggestions, or anything else you’re inspired to share, right below in the comment session.

Lets keep guarding our heart for Jesus,

Love.

Shyju Mathew © SMMinistries. Website: http://www.shyjumathew.com

Godly Sorrow

PRAISE THE LORD..!

I am going to tell you about two different sorrows that are mentioned in the Bible.

1)     GODLY SORROW

2)     WORLDLY SORROW

2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 

From the above verse we can see that there will not be any regret in us regarding the godly sorrow that we went through. Instead it will bring repentance in us and will lead us to salvation.

But worldly sorrow will bring death, death to our spiritual life, death to our prayer life, death to our family life etc.

In the next verse we can see more explanation regarding the Godly sorrow:

2 Corinthians 7:11

See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Godly sorrow will produce things in our life when worldly sorrow destructs things in our life.

Let us see what all things Godly sorrow produces in us:

1)      Earnestness-  (characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind)

2)     Eagerness to clear yourselves- (marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest)

3)     Indignation- (anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean)

4)     Alarm- (sudden sharp apprehension and fear resulting from the perception of imminent danger)

5)     Longing-  (a strong desire especially for something unattainable)

6)     Concern- (to have an influence on)

7)      Readiness to see justice done-  (prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action)

Thus Godly sorrow produces in us new things while worldly sorrow brings death.

Example for Godly sorrow: Peter’s sorrow (Luke 22:60-62). Peter wept bitterly here, but his sorrow produced in him all the things what we discussed above.

Example for Worldly sorrow: Judas’s sorrow (Matthew 27:3-5). Here his sorrow brings death to him.

Now by these verses we can distinguish between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow and can be prepared to face the situations accordingly by the grace of God.

MAY GOD BLESS U ALL…

Examine yourself

2 Corinthians 13:5 (New King James Version)

⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Nothing more to say, let us examine ourself, whether Christ is in us or outside, whether we are qualified or disqualified....


May God bless you all to be a qualified warrior for Christ...