How do we use the Bible in Prayer

How do we use the Bible in Prayer

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 
15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 
(1 John 5:14-15, ESV)

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  (James 4:3, ESV)

1. The role of God's word in prayer
Reveals God's will as basis of prayer

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  (1 John 5:14, ESV)

* Instruct us on how to pray

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;  (1 Timothy 2:8, ESV)

And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.   (Luke 11:2, ESV)

* Instructs on how not to pray

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  (Matthew 6:5, ESV)

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  (Matthew 6:7, ESV)

*Instructs on what to say

9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.   10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.   11 Give us this day our daily bread,   12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.   13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.   (Matthew 6:9-13, ESV)

* Gives us God's promises that we can claim in prayer eg. The holy Spirit

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.  34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,   35 until I make your enemies your footstool."'   36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."  37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."  (Acts 2:33-39, ESV)

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.  (Galatians 3:14, ESV)

* Shows us conditions to effective prayer eg. Forgiveness

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."  (Mark 11:25, ESV)

* Gives us many examples of prayer

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,  2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.  5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 
6 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.  10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.  11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.  12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.  16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.  20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,  23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.  24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."  (John 17, ESV)

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."  (Matthew 14:30, ESV)

2. Using God's word in prayer

* It is our spiritual weapon

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  (Ephesians 6:17, ESV)

In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.  (Revelation 1:16, ESV)

* It cleanses us spiritually

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  (Ephesians 5:26, ESV)

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  (John 17:17, ESV)

* It prepares our hearts in righteousness for effective prayer

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  (James 5:16, ESV)
[02/02 1:15 am] Divine Push: Examples of the use of God's word in prayer

*The Apostles

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,  25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?   26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-   (Acts 4:23-26, ESV)

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;   (Psalm 146:6, ESV)

* The Epistle to the Hebrews

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"   (Hebrews 13:5-6, ESV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them,
for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."  (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV)

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?   (Psalm 118:6, ESV)

3. Practical Guidelines

*When in prayer, allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of verses relevant to your prayer needs

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  (John 14:26, ESV)

* Pray according to the promises and conditions laid out in God's word

* Be careful not to repeat Bible prayers without first  understanding their meaning

THE BEATING OF THE GRAVE

THE BEATING OF THE GRAVE

XIII. (1) R. Eliezer's pupils asked him, 'What judgment is there in the grave?' He replied, 'When a man quits this world, the angel of death comes to him and sits by his grave, and beating it with his hands, says, "Tell me thy name." "Flesh and blood is my name. It is revealed and known to Him who said, and the world was. But I do not know what my name is." Then immediately the soul re-enters his body. He stands up and is brought to judgment.'

(2) R. Joshua ben Levi says, 'They bring a chain of iron, half of it burning like fire, half as cold as ice, and they beat him with it. At the first stroke his limbs get separated; at the second, his bones are scattered. Then the ministering angels gather them together, and restoring him, beat him a third time, and demand of him an account and reckoning, and judge him measure for measure.

(3) On the second day they judge him in the same manner.

(4) On the third day they judge him further, and they punish his two eyes, his two hands, his two feet and his two ears, his mouth and his tongue. Why are his eyes punished? Because he looked with them upon transgression. Why his ears? Because he heard sinful utterances with them. Why his lips? Because he uttered with them words of foolishness. And why his tongue? Because he has testified falsely with it. Why his two hands? He committed violence and robbery with them. Why his two legs? Because he hastened with them to transgression.' R. Jehudah says, 'Whoever has gone to a married woman shall hang ignominiously in Gehinnom; and whoever slanders his neighbour shall be suspended by his tongue.

(5) R. Meir, in the name of R. Joshua, says, 'The judgment in the grave is more severe than that in Gehinnom, for in Gehinnom only they are judged who are thirteen years old and upwards; but in the grave, stillborn children and perfectly righteous men, and even sucklings, are brought to judgment.' Hence the sages have said, 'He who dwells in the land of Israel and dies on Sabbath eve at the time of the blowing of the Shofar, as long as the sun shines he shall not see the judgment in the grave; whilst he who loves righteousness and chastisement, charitable deeds and hospitality to strangers, although not living in the land of Israel, shall see neither the judgment of the grave nor that in Gehinnom, as it is said, "From the midst of trouble I called to God, and He answered me." "From my trouble" refers to the beating in the grave. "From the depth of Sheol I cried." This refers to the punishment in Gehinnom.'

(6) Ben Azay says, 'There are three kinds of punishments, one more severe than the other; moreover, they are all inflicted in the presence of God.' 'But,' asks R. Aqiba, 'are they all in God's presence?' 'Verily the angels inflict the punishment in the grave and also that in Gehinnom, but only the punishment of heaven alone is inflicted in the presence of God!' Three days are given over to the punishment in the grave, three days to that in Gehinnom, and three days to the punishment in heaven. If there is no charge against a man, he is not brought up for judgment; but if there are charges against him, the judgment may last long.

(7) The punishment of transgressing Israelites is twelve months in Gehinnom, as it is said, 'And it shall come to pass at the renewal of the new moon and at the renewal of the Sabbath.' Just as the weeks form a cycle, so the months form an annual cycle, and then shall all flesh prostrate themselves before God. R. Joḥanan ben Nuri says, 'The time extends from Passover until Pentecost, as it is said, "And from one festival to the other," during which the sabbaths are counted.' Some sinners are judged in Gehinnom from Passover until Pentecost, after which time they are acquitted; others, again, such as the consummately wicked' of Israel, obtain no rest for the whole twelve months;

(8) while others who have violated the whole of the law and the precepts and have sinned against the law of God, going the idolatrous way of the nations, shall have their bodies and souls burnt. Gehinnom vomits them out, and the north wind scatters them, so that they become ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous, as it is said, 'And on account of the doings of the wicked, behold they shall become ashes beneath your feet on the day when I execute judgment.'

(9) Further, those who leave the community, the apostates, traitors, renegades, scoffers, those who despise the festivals, deny the resurrection of the dead and the divinity of the law, are swallowed up by Gehinnom; the doors are locked upon them, and there they are left a prey to eternal punishment, as it is said, 'And they go forth and look upon the carcasses of those that have transgressed against Me, for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.'

Source:
Chronicles of Jerahmeel, by M. Gaster [1899]

https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/80881-Pooma-Educational-Trust

Does God ever speak to us in dreams

Does God ever speak to us in dreams

VISIONS AND DREAMS

"Now it came to pass ... that the heavens were opened 
and I saw visions of God."
(Ezekiel 1:1)

I. A vision may be either true or false.

A. False prophets receive visions by the deceit of their own hearts.

Jeremiah 23:25-28;29:8
Ezekiel 13:7-9
Zechariah 10:2

B. But it must also be recognized that God has spoken and revealed Himself to man through dreams and visions.

Numbers 12:6
Jeremiah 23:28

C. The authenticity and source of a dream or vision may be determined when we recognize who it is that receives the glory for it.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Daniel 2:19-23 (Daniel blessed God.)

II. God does not give visions just for the sake of giving visions. There are specific purposes for which God speaks to man in this way.

A. Assurance, encouragement, and comfort.

Genesis 15:1; 28:12-17; 46:2, Acts 18:9-11

B. Direction, instruction, and guidance.

Genesis 46:2
Job 33:15-18
Matthew 1:20, 24; 2:12, 13, 19
Acts 9:10-12, etc.

C. Exhortation and correction.

Genesis 20:3, 6; 31:24
Job 33:15-18

D. Foreshadowing of the future.

Genesis 28:12
Daniel 2:28, 29
Matthew 1:20, 24
Luke 1:11, 22

E. Revelation of the plan and purposes of God.

Genesis 37:5-9
Daniel 7:1-2, 7, 13, 15-16; 8:1-2, 15-16
Revelation 4:1-2, etc.

III. How are visions received?

A. A vision can be revealed to one person, while all others present may see nothing.

Daniel 10:7

B. Scripture mentions several times in which a vision was received while the per son was in prayer.

1. Zechariah in the temple.

Luke 1:8-23

2. Peter on the housetop in Joppa.

Acts 10:10, 11; 11:5

3. Paul in the temple.

Acts 22:17

4. Daniel.

Daniel 9:20, 21

C. Many times God will speak to man in a vision in his sleep.

Genesis 20:3; 28:11, 12, 16; 31:24; 41:1-7, 11: 46:2I, Kings 3:52, Chronicles 1:7, Job33:15-16, Daniel 2:28; 7:1-2, 7; 13; 4:5, 10, 13
Zechariah 1:8, Matthew 1:20, 24

D. Visions have been received by a person while he was "slain in the spirit" (that is, "under the power" of God) Ezekiel chapters 1-3; 8:3 Revelation 1:17, etc .

E. But Ezekiel and Daniel both individually received visions while just sitting by a river. (Ezekiel 1:1; 43:3; Daniel 10:4-8).

Ezekiel also received a vision when he was just sitting in his house with the elders (ch. 8:1-3), and another time while he was in the plain (ch. 3:22-23, etc.).

F. The human reaction to such supernatural visions is often one of great fear and dread, and the experience itself may completely drain one of all his physical strength.

Ezekiel 3:23; 43:3
Daniel 5:6, 9; 7:15, 28; 8:27; 10:8-9, 15-17
Luke 1:12

IV. Some dreams or visions, if they are symbolic in nature, require an interpretation.

Genesis 41:12-13
Daniel 2:16, 19; 7:15-16; 8:15-16, Acts 10:17

A. An interpretation may be given in sleep, even as visions are often received.

Daniel 2:19

B. The interpretation of a vision or dream cannot be sought of those involved in witchcraft or divination.

Genesis 41:8, 24, Daniel 2:1-2, 10, 11, 27, 28; 4:7; 5:7, 8

C. Nor can it be figured out with the understanding.

Genesis 41:16, Daniel 2:30

D. It is purely a gift from God.

Genesis 41:15, 16, Daniel 1:17; 2:1, 2, 10, 11, 20-23, 27, 28

V. In these latter days, with the outpouring of the Spirit of God in our midst, God is fulfilling the prophecy of  Joel with an increasing number of visions and dreams occurring among His people.

Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17

IRAQ and the BIBLE

"IRAQ and the BIBLE"

Very interesting, Heart Touching and Educating.

DID YOU KNOW that THAT?
1.The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
2.Mesopotamia which is now Iraq was the cradle of civilization!
3.Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4.The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5.Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6.Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor which is in Iraq.
7.Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8.Jonah preached in Nineveh, which is in Iraq.
9.Assyria which is in Iraq conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10.Amos cried out in Iraq!
11.Babylon which is in Iraq destroyed Jerusalem.
12.Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
13.The 3 Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq.
14.Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
15.Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16.Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17.The wise men were from Iraq.
18.Peter preached in Iraq.
19.The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon which was a city in Iraq!

AND, DID YOU ALSO KNOW THAT?
Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq!
However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Chaldean, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots. Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

Here's why:
Eden was in Iraq-Genesis 2:10-14
Adam & Eve were created in Iraq-Genesis 2:7-8
Satan made his first recorded appearance in Iraq-Genesis 3:1-6
Nimrod established Babylon & Tower of Babel was built in Iraq-Genesis 10:8-97; 11:1-4
The confusion of the languages took place in Iraq-Genesis 11:5-11
Abraham came from a city in Iraq-Genesis 11:31; Acts 7:2-4
Isaac's bride came from Iraq-Genesis 24:3-4; 10
Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq-Genesis 27:42-45; 31:38
The first world Empire was in Iraq-Daniel 1:1-2;2:36-38
The greatest revival in history was in a city in Iraq-Jonah 3
The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq-Esther
The book of Nahum was a prophecy against a city in Iraq-Nahum
The book or Revelation has prophecies against Babylon, which was the old name for the nation of Iraq-Revelation 17 &18
No other nation, except Israel, that has more history and prophecy associated to it than Iraq.

Surprised???
HAVE YOU LEARNT SOMETHING?
Thank The Bible Researchers!!!

SEVEN VIRTUES and how they cure each of the SEVEN DEADLY SINS

SEVEN VIRTUES and how they cure each of the  SEVEN DEADLY SINS

The seven virtues were originally defined in the poem, Psychomachia, by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, a Christian governor who died around 410 A.D.

Because of the poem’s prevalence the concept and idea of the seven virtues spread throughout Europe.

The following is a listing of the seven virtues and how they cure each of the seven deadly sins:

• Kindness = cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them.

• Temperance = cures gluttony by implanting the desire to be healthy, therefore making one fit to serve others.

• Charity or love = cures greed by putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for one’s self.

• Chastity or self-control = cures lust by controlling passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others.

• Humility = cures pride by removing one's ego and boastfulness, Therefore allowing the attitude of service.

• Diligence or Zeal = cures slothfulness by placing the best interest of others above the life of ease and relaxation.

• Patience = cures wrath by taking time to understand the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking.

OBEDIENCE

OBEDIENCE: DIGGING DEEP

Praise the Lord.

Today we speak about obedience.
Obedience is one of the kingdom principles that is fundamental to the journey of life of any Christian. This is of course on two levels. The first is obedience to authorities, both spiritual and physical, and the second being obedience to the voice of God.
Today we will be speaking on the latter, obedience to the voice of God. We will see how obedience is an evidence of your belief of the word of God, and how obedience of that word will save you when the waves of life start crashing down on your plans on account of the word that came.

Let’s examine a scripture, Jesus was speaking, and He said, “whoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like; He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on the rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat VEHEMENTLY upon that plan, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Luke 6:47-48). What Jesus was simply saying here is that obedience to His word that we constantly hear provides depths for us to lay our “houses” (lives) on a secure footing. The secure footing here being the rock. Another striking revelation this scripture brings to bear is that the rock is not found on the surface. The implication of which is that the stronghold of any man’s life, ministry and relationship with God is in His level of obedience to the instructions of God.

Another truth that this scripture reveals is the fact that the storms of life will come crashing down menacingly on any structure which is built in light of the word heard. Such structure could be finances, ministry, relationship(s), family, etc, but as far as that structure is built in the blueprint of the word, a flood will arise and the stream will try to collapse the “house”. However, as far as such structure/house is firmly affixed into the land, having created depth in the earth by obedience, the floods will not prevail.
This parable as given by Jesus indeed shows us why many persons in the body of Christ are not victorious. This is as a result of the fact that indeed they come the come, they hear the hear, but fail to do the do. When God lays plans in our hearts, and shows us what to do in dreams or visions, how many bother to ask God what role we are to play in all this, and actually obey?

What has God placed in your heart today in regards to that great future of yours? And what has He told you to do in respect of same as revealed through scripture? Are you following through with his instruction? If not, do so today as that obedience will form the depth upon which you will discover a rock which will hold that plan, vision or dream firmly. God bless you.