Teach Us To Pray Part 1 – Apostle Joshua Selman (My Jottings)

Teach us to Pray Part 1 By Apostle Joshua Selman —a summary

KEY POINTS FROM THE SHORT EXHORTATION AT THE BEGINNING

• Never stop learning, let your hunger be filled but not satisfied.
• One of the ways that we can grow is by being a student of scripture- being teachable.
• There are many things that we have known that may not be Spirit and Life.
• Remedies to our circumstantial limitations are found in the Word of God.
• It takes a while for the Word of God to manifest physically and so we must first trust in the Integrity of God.
• Results in the Long Run do not lie!
• May we not hold on to what we think is Light and then after many years, we realize that what we though is Light is darkness. In Jesus name, Amen.
• Continue to vet your revelation, God’s Word will always be consistent.
• It is possible for our lives that is our prayer lives will be filled with activities but yet without results.

MAIN MESSAGE

Psalm 65:2 — “2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.” (NIV). Only God can hear and answer prayers. All people will come to God because He answers prayers.

Luke 11:1 — “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”” (NIV). It is the understanding that sponsors your actions which in turn makes your prayer effective. The disciples in this text were not asking about being prayerless but rather about the know-how of praying. Some persons may even come to prayer meetings just to show face not believing that their prayers will be answered, for some it is just an honour to a “ritual”.

Matthew 6:2-8 — “2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (NIV).

When you pray, you can pray like an hypocritical being; more concerned about those watching you than the One you are praying to, the motive behind such an approach is just to receive a good report before men, and surely they will get it. The Bible says “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet…” — the  idea is not secrecy but the posture of the man’s heart. That He is interacting with His Father one-on-ONE. There are 2 approaches to prayer that must be avoided; the first is that the Believer is very self-conscious and “people conscious” that He doesn’t pray as settled and naturally as he would so that people don’t call him/her “prayer-this or prayer-that”; the is a case where the Believer is very self-conceited and proud that He wants all men to praise Him for the mechanics of His prayer.

Pray! Not to prove or disprove a point but focusing only on Jesus. We must not pray like the heathen, praying without understanding, not in relationship or fellowship with there deity, using many repetitions and babbling. Our mindset must not be on the volume of speech or the ritual but rather; in recognition of the Power behind the Name of Jesus. Your Heavenly Father knows the needs you have but because He wants fellowship and he wants man to use His Will in order to express His Dominion. “After this manner”; describing a procedure and not always a declaration. Prayer is part of the Priestly ministry of the Believers (Luke 19:46 — “46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (KJV).

WHY PRAY?

1. In this Kingdom, ew pray first because we are called to pray, it is command (Luke 18:1 — “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (KJV), 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. It is one of the major strategies for fellowship (1 Corinthians 14:2 — “2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (KJV))
3. It is a platform for growth and transformation (Luke 9:28-29, 1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 1:20 — “20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (KJV))
   NOTE: One of the classic signs of prayerlessness is lack of discernment. Fasting helps us here, but it is not enough to perceive, we must be fruitful on the intents of the Spirit. God will use a channel He doesn’t normally use for sensitive matters. How you were trained is how you will fight the battle. Discernment is a product and a result that comes with maturity and walking with God. Let him that has an ear, let him hear. You see, it was fellowship I wanted and still want. As long as we can maintain fellowship, there is nothing too big or too small for me to give you, but I SEE YOUR HEART.
4. Prayer is a system for warfare (Acts 12:1-11). Warfare is establishing the Will of God despite the disagreement of darkness. Intercession is standing in the gap for someone or for a territory. Think about Anna the Prophetess who had been praying for many years at least 50 years, perhaps it was her prayer that established the Will of God for Jesus and His Parent to run after His Birth. (James 5:13 — “13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (KJV))
5. Prayer according to the Scripture is a strategy to keep your faith alive (Luke 22:31-32 — “31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (KJV)).
6. Prayer is the authorised biblical platform to table your requests (Mark 11:24 — “24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (KJV), Philippians 4:6, James 4:2-3).

CONCLUSION

• You must as in respect to God’s will; for His Glory and for His Name.
• You must realize that all your supplication must be to the end that Kingdom come.
• God will not answer a prayer that we want to spend on the lusts of our hearts
• The prayer ministry is one of the dominion system of the saints.

PRAY OH! PRAY! I pray for all that will read this post that a longing for fellowship and intimacy with God will be spurn in your hearts. In Jesus Name, Amen. Please comment and share as the Spirit leads.