RHEMA From Heaven

Develop a private prayer life

Luke 5:16 says “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” . Mark 1:35 also says “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there”.
One important lifestyle that characterized the life of Jesus when he was on earth was private or personal prayers.

Private prayer life is a personal prayer life. It is a one-on-one time with the Lord without any interference from anyone. Our opening scripture readings tells of how Jesus separated himself from his disciples and the people he preached,just to pray.

This private prayer life did not only make him stayed his course to bring us salvation, but it also made him fit for any spiritual battle, and amplified his results in life.

You see, although congregational prayers are important. It must never make you leave out your personal prayer life.

Learn to get up early to pray. Learn to isolate yourself from people to pray. This is a sure way to build intimacy with the Lord and to align yourself to His plans.

Read: Luke 11:1 “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

Study: Psalm 119:147 AMP

Don’t Pray Amiss

James 4:3 says “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts”.
God’s commitment to answering our prayers is undeniable.

Nonetheless, not every prayer gets the believer the desired results.
For you to receive whatever you pray for or for you to have your requests granted by the Lord, it must be preceded with the right motives in your heart.

You see, you can’t pray with wrong motives in your heart and still expect God to deliver. The amplified Bible puts it this way: James 4:3-
You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

God’s commitment to answering your prayers is also dependent on the condition of your heart and how you intend to make use of the results.

To have answer to your prayer of request, pray with the right motives, pray in line with the will of God and always have it at heart to use what you get in prayer for the right things.

Read: James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”

Study: 1John 5:14

Unforgiveness Will Hinder Your Prayers

Mark 11:25 says “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses”.
Having results from prayers is also dependent on your willingness to walk in love and forgive people.

Thus, although prayer is important and it always produces tremendous results, you can make your prayers unfruitful by unforgiveness.
That is to say that you have no business praying when you hold things against people in your heart.

If you want to pray and see results, you must learn to walk in love, and never keep offenses.

Unforgiveness will not put your heart right before God to make you receive answers when you pray.
Mark 11:25 says “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses”.
Don’t keep hurts and offenses if you want your prayers to be heard.
You can pray, spin, whine and you will see no results when you don’t obey this word.

To receive answers from your prayers, first put your heart right before God by forgiving one another and walking in love.

Read: Mark 11:25 “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].”

Study: Mathew 6:12

Walk worthy of the call.

Ephesians 4:1 says “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”.
Being called by God into the new life or to serve in the ministry is a great honour. It is also a sacred thing. Thus, it is important you live a life worthy of the call.

The call of God deserves to be treated with respect and honour.
Walking worthy of this call demands that you present yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord.
Colossians 1:10 puts it this way: “…live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”.

The call to serve God in the ministry may be accompanied with some specific gifts, abilities and grace. You can be called by the Lord to serve in the ministry of helps, or to be encourager, leader and a giver.
You can also be called into an office, like the office of an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a teacher or a pastor. Whichever call you have, yours is to treat the call with respect and do that which the Lord requires of you. This is how to walk worthy of the call.

You see, you must not waste these divine resources. You must work with them and not to engage in unnecessary things.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory”

Study: Romans 12:1

Spirit life

Romans 8:2 says “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”

The life we live can be put under two kinds: the biological life and the spirit life. Before getting born again one lives by the tenets of the biological life. It is a life that is fully governed by the five senses. On the other hand, the spirit life, which is the life of Christ is unleashed at salvation. So the moment you got saved, you received a divine life. You received the life of Christ.

The Spirit life is a higher life. It is a life with divine vitality. This life gives us power over sin and death. Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.

You see, sin and death are the two main forces that has limited the biological life.People who live in the natural can’t stand the power of sin and death. It only takes the spirit life in Christ to overpower the law of sin and death.

As a Christian you must not be held bound by sin and the torments of death. You have a “superior life” that puts to nought these negative forces. The spirit life takes off the sinful nature. It puts into you the ability to have a right standing with God.

See Romans 8:10 “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness”. The spirit life in Christ brings you into freedom. You are no longer held bound. Stand fast in this liberty. Be conscious of this spirit life and live it to the fullest.

Read: 2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life”

Study: John 10:10

Self-control

Galatians 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”
Self-control is the nature of the recreated human spirit.
Thus, as a born again Christian, you have what it takes to put your emotions, and flesh under control.

Self-control is having rule over your spirit. One author defines self-control as self restraint, slow to react, and keeping ones emotions, feelings and behaviour within biblically accepted confines.

You see, when you engage the virtue of self-control, you are able to put your appetite or desires under check. You also get to know how to handle issues by not being excessively reactionary.
Being “self -controlled” makes you not to act in a way that is inconsistent to the word of God.

Read: Proverbs 25:28 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls”

Study: 1 Corinthians 9:27

Look up to the Lord

Psalm 34:4-5 “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed”

Looking up to the Lord in all that you go through is the sure way to have breakthroughs in life.
When you learn to look up to the Lord, you always stay connected to him.

David, the man anointed by the Lord tells in Psalm 34:4 how the Lord answered his prayer in times of distress when he was running away from the King Saul who had wanted to kill him.

Not only that, but by looking up to the Lord through earnest prayer, his fears dissipated and his hope was reinforced.

In Psalm 34:5, the Bible says “those who look to him (God) are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” That’s to say that, when you look up to God, you will be far from shame no matter what befalls you.

Never draw back in the face of challenges, rather get deeper in your walk with God, look up to him as you pray and meditate on his word.

Read: Daniel 11:32 “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits”

Study: Jeremiah 33:3

Keep watch and pray!

Mark 14:38 says “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak”

It is an undeniable truth that Jesus emphasized on the importance of prayer during his ministry on the earth. It was something he practiced and taught.

In our opening text, we are admonished by the words of Jesus to keep watch and pray. That’s to say that, we have to be vigilant and give ourselves to prayer.

It makes a great difference when you pray. Anytime you are given to prayer, your life becomes a force to be reckoned with.
You are not easily taken by the snares and distractions in this present life.

You see, it will take prayer to be fully consumed in the presence of our loving God and father.

Not only that, the men who have most fully illustrated Christ in their character, and have most powerfully affected the world for him, have been men who spent so much time with God as to make it a notable feature of their lives.
Know that, with your heart fully set on getting intimate with God in prayer, you will surely overcome every challenge or trial.

Be a man or woman of prayer.

Read:1 Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer”

Study: Mark 6:46

Are you in trouble? Pray!

James 5:13 says “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise”.

No trouble is beyond solution or remedy. But until you engage God, you will be discouraged in life by the troubles you will encounter.

It is undoubtedly true that life is not without trouble. In life, you are likely to encounter one difficulty or the other. They may be inconveniences, harassments, hardships and sometimes pains. But in all these trying moments you are not left alone. God says pray. He wants you to allow him into your life to turn these “dark moments” for your good.

This is to tell you that God is concerned about you and wants you to be “trouble free”.
Never allow any trouble to overwhelm and drain you.
Pray it out! Pray it down!

When you pray, God’s grace will abound unto you and your joy in the Lord will be complete (John 16:24).
When you don’t pray in times of trouble, you will bear a “needless pain”.

Read: 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”

Study: John 16:24

Learn them, keep them and do them

Deuteronomy 5:1 says “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.”
Our opening text teaches that walking with God demands learning, keeping what you learn and practicing them.
This is how you can do exploits in life and also please God.

The Christian life is not about a “name tag” or playing religion. It is a life lived in agreement with divine truth. In fact, it is living out the life of God in you.

Nonetheless, it will take learning to know what you ought to do as a Christian. That’s learning the word, which reveals the will of God.

Not only that, you have to keep the word in your heart (Psalm 119:10-11). In other words, you must let the word dominate your being so that it’s influence will be a free flow. The word dominating your heart, brings you into practicing the word.

The truth of learning, keeping and practicing the word must be your hallmark.
Don’t be an ignorant believer. Know the word, and do it.

Until you give in to doing what the word says, you will be limited in life and even miss out on God’s will for your life.

Read: Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Study: 2 Timothy 2:15-26