Calling Now (Empower Me! Prayer Series 15 of 15)

Yes.. It really is that easy... Call Him.



Left:  Jer. 33:3 during prayer and worship time
Right:  Preparing a lesson for the upcoming
 "Empowering Children Today" Children's Ministry Materials.

During my personal worship and prayer time this morning, I began to think upon Jeremiah 33:3.  It is so simple.  Most of us do not realize how easy it is to talk to God.  

It is as simple as talking on the phone with your family and friends.  

God tells us to "call to Me and I will show you great and might things which you do now know," in the above scripture passage.  (NKJV)  He wants to show us more of who we are in Christ Jesus, and all it requires is that we call Him...  prayer and worship mixed with thanksgiving is a recipe for creating more of Him and less of us.  

Of course, we must read and know what God is telling us.  We do this by reading and meditating on His Word, the bible.  He talks to us through it.  As we read it, we find out how alive and transforming the Word, the Bible, really is.  Enjoy a scripture today, and add to the recipe a little time to talk to God in the process.  It always seems to add a little spring in my step when I do this.  Have fun.

Dig Deep!

The Prayer of Faith

Did you know there are several kinds of prayer? 

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).  Eph 6:18 AMP

The prayer of faith is one kind of prayer we can pray.  What is the prayer of faith?  It is  a prayer that changes things and circumstances.

 “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.   Mark 11:22, 23

In the prayer of faith, we pray with certainty, knowing God's will in the matter before we pray because we have His Word to tell us His will for the situation.  We can speak scriptures in our prayer of faith regarding the particular situation or circumstance, and know that God keeps His Word.  We can pray with faith. 

 The prayer of faith cannot always work if the prayer is for other people.  Why?  God gave each of us our own will and our own faith.  When we pray a prayer of faith for someone else, their will and faith affects the results of the prayer too. 

When someone is a baby Christian we can pray for them on our faith, but as they grow up spiritually God expects them to use their own faith and pray for themselves according to His Word.  It is not much different than a child growing up.  Infants require someone to do everything for them.  They cannot be expected to get up and prepare their own meals.  However, if a 19 year old sat in bed and cried for food and diaper changes everyday, we know there is something wrong.  As a child grows they become responsible for themselves.  The same is true in our spiritual growth.  We are expected to grow up spiritually, and pray using their own faith based on God's Word.

We each must learn to pray the prayer of faith in our lives, and receive answers to those prayers.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  James 5:13-16

James tells us to call for the elders to pray over us when we are sick.  However, this does not mean that you rely on the pastor's faith.  We are to develop our own faith through hearing God's Word, and agree with the pastor in the prayer of faith as he prays over us.


Dig deep into God's Word and as scriptures are implanted within your spirit (your heart), you will be able to use them to pray in faith.  Start digging today.

My Helper (Empower Me! Prayer Series 14 of 15)

The Spirit Himself Opens our Eyes and Ears of Understanding

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in prayer.  

The Holy Spirit lives within believers, and He will help us in our prayer lives. 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit is our helper.  We often do not know what to pray for ourselves or others.  We do not know the full situation.  However, if we pray with the help of the Holy Spirit, we pray out the full situation.  

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.   I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  John 15:4,5

We do not have to pray prayers that say, "If it be your will God."  We can know His will by the Holy Spirit's help in understanding the His Word, the Bible.  

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power."  Ephesians 1:17-19

 As New Covenant Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our prayers - to help us communicate with God.  If you find yourself not knowing how to pray often in situations, turn to the passage in Ephesians above and begin to pray it for yourself.  This prayer alone, will change your life.  Allow the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of God's Word as your read it and begin to apply it in your own life and in your prayer life. 

"Listen well and listen good.  Listen like you should.  Open the eyes ofy our spirit.  Close the yes of your mind.  Close the eyes and ears of your mind to religious thoughts and training in church praying.  Listen to the New Covenant, the Truths unveiled.  Rejoice in them and walk in the light of them, and act upon them.  And, prayer will become real.  The supernatural will be an everyday affair, and you will love the Lord.  And, worship and honor Him.  For you see, He hears and answers prayer."  Kenneth E. Hagin

The Power of Two or Three ((Empower Me! Prayer Series 13 of 15)

In math the power of two doubles whatever you have, and the power of three triples it.  With God, the power of two or three equals infinity.

"...If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask;  it shall be done for them......"

"But, you don't know my situation.  It is hopeless."  No.  But, I do know God.  I know that when Jesus spoke, he did not lie.  I know that when the bible says something, it is truth and I can believe it, regardless what the world around me is telling me.  

I remember a time in early 2010 when I was putting together funding to move to Asia as a missionary.  I still needed funds for the trip.  It was less than a few months away and I did not have much of the funding for supplies or the tickets.  I prayed a prayer of agreement with a close friend of mine.

God's word is powerful in our own mouths.  How much more so, when we come together and pray His Word, His will in agreement with each other.  Within a month two things happened.  

The first, was a large ministry who had previously talked me almost a year before and asked if I had received a check from them to help get my start in Asia.  I told them no, but I would go to the P.O. Box and check.  When I opened the P.O. Box, there was a large check to cover the expenses of getting to Asia and setting up.  

It is truly amazing how God's Word works.  He is a God of more than enough. Within a few days, the second incident happened.  A married couple, whose husband was a new born Christian, were led to sow $600 into my getting to Asia.  This was overflow for me, but for them a chance to watch God work.  

They came and told me about being led to give, and sowed the money.  I received it, and prayed as I always do for God to open their eyes to the blessings He has for them.  Two weeks later, over skype (I was in Asia), they told me they were in a department store parking lot on a very windy day.  On the way into the department store, a $100.00 bill blew up to them.  Then another.  And, then another....until they had 6 $100.00 bills in their hands.  They told the store manager about finding the money to make sure that whoever lost it could come and get it.   In the end, no one claimed the money and they received the $600.00.  This was a tremendous boost in the faith of the new born husband.  He saw God's Word at work.

The prayer of agreement works.  Why?  Because Jesus said so in Mt. 18:18-20.  There are a few conditions, but it does work.  These verses tell us what to do: 

1.  There must be two of us who agree.

 2.  We must ask. 

3.  Do not put limitations on what God will do... He said, "...it shall be done..."

4.  We must be on earth. 

5.  The two of us come together in the name of Jesus.  Pray "in the name" (refer to previous postings in this series). 

As believers, children of God, the power of two means much more than double.  It is only limited to what we do with the Word of God that we know.  

Offense or Defense?

Crisis Prayers

Last year, I was led to lead a 30-day challenge, asking people on Facebook to pray for the missions work here in Asia, the ministry team, the church plant, and myself.  

Just before the event took place, I decided to take 10 days and go on a hiking trip to Lantau Island (home to an old fishing village) in Hong Kong.  The goal was to spend quiet time with God, and prepare a few messages for the event.  It was also a time to rest.  

Two days before the end of the vacation, while sleeping, something happened.  I was too exhausted to even get up out of bed that day.  Sounds crazy doesn't it.   Too exhausted - from resting?  I was scheduled to leave Saturday morning, but decided to leave Friday (the next day) to stop and visit a doctor I knew in Sai Kung, Hong Kong on my way home.  

I told the doctor about the problem, and a few times in the past months when I had been seeing stars and dizzy.  He said it sounded like "silent strokes" and that I had possibly had a mini-stroke the day prior.  He advised that I return home (my home on the mission field) and see a doctor as soon as I could.

I knew that the earliest to see a doctor was on Monday.  So, I traveled home the next day (Saturday), and worked (multi-media and photographer) during Bible School and Sunday Service the next day.  That's when it happened.

I remember telling one of my teammates to take over, that I needed to go lay down.  The next thing I knew the service was over and I was leaving with the Pastor's wife to go home.  There were several flights of stairs and I was having much difficulty getting down them.  In the taxi home, I remember the Pastor's wife asking me what was wrong, because she said I was stuttering.  Hmmmm.... 

I ended up in a nearby International Hospital where they determined I had a stroke.  I was shocked because when I think of strokes I think of older people, not me.  Three weeks later, another stroke...this one worse than the last one.  

Why am I telling you this?  Most people only pray when there is a crisis situation in front of them.  This is when they reach out to God saying, "Help me."  Reaching out during a crisis is appropriate.  The problem comes in when it is the only time someone reaches out to God.

I am thankful that I did not do that.  I not only had been in prayer and speaking my faith regarding my health, but I had just scheduled people all over the world via Facebook to pray with me.  I was alone on that hiking trip.  Imagine what could have happened if not for the prayers of others at the moment.  Two strokes - but I am still alive and have greater vision and call regarding the people of Asia than ever before from God.  

Offensive or Defensive?

Prayer can be offensive or defensive in nature.  Think about an American football game.  Each team has both, an offensive team and a defensive team.  It takes both to win the game.  In offensive prayer, you are taking ground.  In a defensive prayer, you are keeping the ground (preventing the enemy from taking the ground you have taken).

God's Word (the Word and will of God that we know) is a powerful tool in prayer.  Reading God's Word and speaking out in prayer that Word (believing it), takes ground.  The more we know what is ours and what we can have as children of God, we begin to take it.  

This kind of prayer in faith moves mountains before we ever see them.  It saves lives around us.  It creates an atmosphere of victory in our homes.  It is powerful!  This kind of prayer in faith is what changes your life, changes your situations, and moves you forward.

Prayers prayed in an immediate time of need are necessary.  They keep the enemy from taking ground that you have already have.  The problem is when someone only prays to God during these times of "crisis".  I call these crisis prayers. 

Take a look at the game of American football again.  Imagine the offensive team decided to quit, or vice versus.  Can you image doing all the work to get to the end zone only to be pushed right back to where you started?  Can you imagine trying to kick a field goal from the beginning?  It takes both sides to be effective and win the game.

The same is true in prayer.  If we only pray during a crisis, then we cannot take ground.  Rather, we are constantly going backwards.  If we speak God's Word daily taking what is ours in Christ, but do not defend it, we will loose it.

I encourage you to read Nehemiah 1:4-11.  Nehemiah uses the power of prayer in this passage.  

What does he do before he prays?  How does he pray?  What does he ask God for and why?  Why does Nehemiah remind God the promises he made?  Was he specific in his prayer?  

My Will, His Will, Whose Will?

Why do many Christian's not pray?  They don't know how.  Which also means they don't know God and His Will?  

How can I say that?  Those who spend time in God's Word, spending quality time with Him, have come to know Him and talk to Him.  Worry and fear over how to talk to God does not even occur to them.  It is much like meeting someone new in your life.  At first you experience nervousness and awkwardness.  Yet, after spending time with the person you begin to get comfortable around them and speak more freely.  This is true with our relationship with God.  The more we spend time with Him (getting to know Him) we grow comfortable in His presence and speak more freely with Him (prayer).

This is often apparent when we hear people pray, "If it's your will God..."  Now, most of us, myself included, have prayed that at one time or another.  There comes a time we all must spiritually grow up, and as we develop a relationship with God (in His Word, in praise and in worship, and in time in prayer, talking to Him), we come to know who He is and His will for situations in our life.  This produces prayers of faith for specific situations in life according to His Will, His Word.  

At this point, we should not have a problem praying along the lines of His Word, because we know it.  And, if God's Word says it is for us, it is ours, or if it says it is not for us, it is not ours; this is the will of God on the subject.  We can boldly and confidently pray in faith according to His Word.  

Yes, there are situations in our lives where you will not find specific direction in a situation.  John 16:13 comes in here, "...the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..."  The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us in these situations in life.  The Word says it, therefore, it is His Will for us to know what to do in every situation... this is how we pray.  

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7

Once we have the Word of God abiding within us, we can have the boldness and confidence to pray in faith according to His will (1 Jn 15:7).  His Word is His Will.  When we know His will, and it abides in us, and you are now asking according to His will, there is no need to pray, "if it be your will God."  We already know it is His will.



It is now that we can pray according to 1 John 5:14, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."  Now, you know HOW to pray.  

It is easy to talk to God when you know how and know what to expect according to His will.  Now, we have replaced fear with faith.

I look forward to spending time with you on this blog tomorrow in Part 3 of 15 posts on EMPOWER ME! Prayer.