|
*********************************************
MORNING STAR RISING
MAY 1998
NEWSLETTER & DEVOTION
*********************************************
Terry Mosley -- Editor
Rev. Terry Mosley -- Chief Minister
Tammy Rowe -- Associate Minister
*********************************************
Why Is It So Hard for Christians to Pray?
I've been perplexed for some time about a problem that has persisted in the church for years - and it concerns me deeply. The problem is, why is it so hard for Christians to pray?
Scripture makes it clear that the answer to everything in our lives is prayer mixed with faith. The apostle Paul writes, "Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6). Paul is telling us, "Seek the Lord about every area of your life. And thank him ahead of time for hearing you!"
Paul's emphasis is clear: Always pray first! We aren't to pray as a last resort - going to our friends first, then to a pastor or counselor, and finally ending up on our knees. No - Jesus tells us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). We're to go to the Lord first - before anyone!
It's heartending to read the Prayers sent to our ministry from multitudes of broken Christians. Families are breaking up, spouses are divorcing, people who walked faithfully with Christ for years are living in fear and defeat. Each of these people has been overcome by something - sin, depression, worldliness, covetousness. And year after year, their problems only seem to get worse.
Why is it so hard for Christians, in times of crisis, to seek God for their desperate needs? After all, the Bible stands as one long testimony that God hears the cries of his children and answers them with tender love:
"The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry" (Psalm 34:15).
"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles" (verse 17).
"This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:14-15).
"...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).
"All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).
"...the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Proverbs 15:8).
"The Lord...heareth the prayer of the righteous" (verse 29).
"He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer" (Psalm 102:17).
Listen to David's great boast: "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul" (138:3). David said, "I've proven you, God! In all my trials, I turned to no one else. I sought only you - and you heard me, answered me, and gave me strength for the battle I was facing!" "Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee..." (81:7).
These promises and testimonies are overwhelming evidence of God's care. And they're so varied, profound and numerous, I don't understand how any Christian could miss them!
Yet when it comes to prayer, the Bible gives us more than promises. It also gives us warnings about the danger of neglecting prayer: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation..." (Hebrews 2:3). The Greek word for "neglect" here means "of little concern; to take lightly."
The context of this verse is a discussion of things related to our salvation - and prayer is obviously one of these. God is asking, "How do you expect to escape ruin and devastation in the dark times coming, if you haven't learned to commune with me in prayer? How will you know and recognize my voice in that day, if you haven't learned to hear it in your secret closet?"
I believe God is deeply wounded by the neglect of prayer among his people today. Jeremiah writes: "Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number" (Jeremiah 2:32).
Here is my big question - the one thing I simply cannot understand: How can God's own people - who are under constant attack from hell, facing trouble and temptations on all sides - go week after week without ever seeking him? And how can they claim to love him and believe in his promises, yet never draw near to his heart?
Yet, even with all these powerful warnings about the dangers of neglecting prayer, Christians still find it hard to pray. Why? I believe there are four reasons for this:
- Some Christians Don't Pray Because They Have a Lukewarm Love for the Lord
- Some Christians Don't Pray Because They've Perverted Their Priorities!
- Some Christians Don't Pray Because They've Learned to Live Without Prayer!
- Some Christians Don't Pray Because They Don't Believe God Hears Their Prayers!
Jesus said, "...whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22). Simply put, Christ is saying, "If you truly believe, you'll be willing to wait and expect an answer from your heavenly father. And it won't matter to you how long it takes. You'll hold on in faith, believing he'll answer!"
The Writer of Hebrews Calls Us to "Draw Near to God"!
Hebrews 10 contains an incredible promise. It says God's door is always open to us, giving us total access to the father:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
A few verses later, we're warned the day of the Lord is fast approaching: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (verse 25). God is saying, "Even now, as the time of Christ's return draws closer, you must seek my face. It's time to go into your secret closet and get to know me!"
"Don't let the truth slip away from you! Stay awake and alert. You have an open door into God's holy presence - so, go into him with full assurance of faith, making your petitions known. Christ's blood has already made the way for you - and nothing stands between you and the father. You have every right to enter into the holy of holies, to receive all the help you need!"
When we take lightly Jesus' sacrifice - which he gave so we could have access to the father for all our needs - we "do despite" to the grace of God, provoking his anger!
"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19). "...they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (34:10).
Go to your secret closet regularly, and seek him with all your heart. That's your answer to a healed marriage, to unsaved family members, to every need in your life. Your answers may not come overnight. Yet, God will do his work in his time and his way. Your part is to believe he is faithful to answer - because you're his beloved child!
By David Wilkerson
May 11, 1998
*********************************************
NEWSLETTER
Dear Precious Prayer Partners.
The Prayer Line has been very busy, and the need for prayer has never been more important. We are depending upon you all to hold up our hands, as we keep up with the changing times, and the mounting needs of our World. Relationship problems seem to be at an all time high, and of course cancer is always at the top of the list in many requests. So we are entering a new phase of PRAYER in our lives, and we need the Holy Spirit's help more then ever to teach us how to pray as we ought.
We have a New Prayer Coordinator for the Ministry. Tammy Rowe is Linking her Prayer Network with MSR and they are helping to pray for the daily Prayer Requests that come into the Ministry. This is such a blessing and Tammy is a Faithful Minister in this Area, so we are blessed knowing that God has put things together without our even trying. It just seemed to happen over night and now I don't know how we got along without her. So continue to pray with them, and for them that they don't get weary in well doing.
I told you in the last Newsletter that our Phone Card wasn't working out. We have been praying now to see what it is the Lord would have us do to support the Ministry and be a blessing to others at the same time. We have been presented with a Lovely Offer that may eventually work out. A New Company is selling some Christ Centered Gifts that are very high quality, and would fit in well with MSG. They are planning on setting up a Web-Site for ordering, and a way for those who are a part of the company to give access to their people to order also. They do not want to be public and open to just anyone. It is also a type of marketing plan, but we are only interested in offering nice gifts. If anyone wishes to do it as a business, that will be open to them as well.
So please Pray with us about this, since we don't want to go through another round of disappointments waiting for something that doesn't turn out. Thank you for your continued support.
Our online provider seems to have everything working again, but the mail server is still very, very slow, and when I try to send you all a message with hundreds of Email addresses in it, it takes forever to go out. It use to go out in a few seconds, now it times-out about 12 times before going out. I have complained numerous times, but it hasn't been fixed. What this means is I am limited in sending out quick messages to you all at a moments notice. I have to sit, here and wait, and wait and wait till it goes out. I need this to work right so please agree that the Lord will send an Angel over there and give the techs the mind of Christ to fix it once and for all. AMEN.
We will be changing and posting different Prophetic words that come in regularly on the Words for Women Page. Check it to keep up on what Gods people are here from the Spirit around the World. I will be posting a message on the latest view on Y2K. There have been many different views on this, it is a brand new one. Also there is a new message on what Revival isn't.
*********************************************
PROPHETIC WORD
Day Old Bread
Sunday during worship the Lord gave me this:
The Spirit showed me a rack of day old bread that was half priced, and a rack of fresh bread that was full price.
The day old bread is yesterday's revelation and anointing. Often we are content to feast on the old and eat cheaply because it costs us little. Why? Today's bread from heaven is fresh but to own it you must pay full price.
Full price, total commitment, is the price of the fresh bread. Jesus said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no part in me."
Jesus is the fresh bread come down from heaven. Unless you abide in Him today, you are eating day old bread.
Why eat day old bread when Jesus has ALREADY paid the price for fresh bread? Why eat cheaply on the day old bread when the fresh bread is readily available now? Pay the full price of discipleship, abide in Jesus moment by moment, and let your soul dine to satisfaction at the Lord's banqueting table.
Feast on Jesus!
Be blessed,
Bryan Hupperts
*********************************************
PRAYER
Father we Pray to have the patience to wait on you in these last days and allow you to work in us both to will and to do your good pleasure. Let us take upon us your yoke, because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Help us to cease from our labor's, our ways, our thoughts so that we may enter into Your rest. AMEN.
Matthew 11
28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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.
30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
*********************************************
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come, and let him that is a thirst come.
And whosever will, let him take the water of life Freely. Revelation 22:17.
Terry & Tammy
*********************************************
PAST NEWSLETTERS
|