The Story of Jacob

The story of Jacob (Genesis 32:22-31) wrestling with the Angels is well known. Here is a picture of prayer in action.

What was happening that night was first of all God’s faithful dealing with recalcitrant Jacob until he absolutely came to the end of himself and was forced to depend wholly on God. The other part of the story concerns Jacob’s perseverance in prayer, holding on to God, until God bless him.

What an awesome encouragement to us today.

Pastor Winston

The Victory of Intercession

For instance on one occasion (Genesis 18:20-23) God counseled with friend Abraham about the punishment of the wicked city, Sodom. Abraham assumed the role of intercessor and besought God to spare the city pointing out that God being righteous, could not punish the innocent with the guilty.

No less than six times Abraham interceded before God and each time God answered. However, when God promised to spare the city if there were ten righteous, Abraham stopped praying.

What would have happed to Sodom if Abraham had continued his intercession? No one knows.

The lesson taught here is the amazing grace of God and His willingness to forgive and pardon in answer to prayer.

Pastor Winston

The True Nature of Prayer

Perhaps the most helpful information regarding the nature of true prayer and how to pray is to be learned from a careful perusal of Bible prayers themselves. Of these the Bible has many with each one teaching a definite prayer lesson.

We will review some in the coming days.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples : and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1 Corinthians 10:11KJV

Pastor Winston

Just Pray

Prayer’s greatest condition however, is a simple one. It is just to pray.

Not talk about,
not reason about it,
not preach about it,
not analyze it,
not disect it - but to simply PRAY.

Pastor Winston

Unselfishness In Prayer

Let most of your prayers be for others.

Not that we cannot ask God for our own needs. We can and should. But for too many Christian’s prayers concern themselves almost wholly with the individual’s needs.

The Apostle Paul prayed for the needs of others a God wants His prayer helpers to reach out beyond their personal needs and desire.

Our petitions should encircle the world. We should seek to do the will and work of God on a military scale. Doing so will abundantly cause our needs to be met and the needs of others will be met also.

Pastor Winston

Persevering Prayer

And we should persevere in our prayer petition.

There are cases where God has withheld the answer to prayers just to test the perseverance of the intercessor. If the need is there, and if the answer would be to the glory of God, then nothing should interfere with the continued petition.

There are occasions too, when God may fully intend to answer the need, but the time is not yet right. Yet God has inspired the prayer, and expects us to patiently continue to ask. Some prayers fail of an answer through lack of perseverance.

Pastor Winston

Precise Prayer

God honors definiteness and preciseness in prayer.

We ought to pray for specific needs. We ought to mention names and places. We should honestly tell our Heavenly Father concerning our wants and straightforwardly request the answers.

There is no value in ambiguity. God sees our hearts and knows our thoughts. He is fully aware of whether or not we truly want the answers we request. There is no question but that honestly is the best policy in prayer.

Pastor Winston