Broken Prayers

Broken Prayers.

Clearly from the majority of the following verses we have to admit the truth- that just because someone prays (asks God) it doesn't mean they will be heard by God, answered by God, their petitions will not be granted by God. With this in mind, we have to know that just because a person prays to God it doesn't mean they are of God.

We want to believe that God will hear every prayer and grant the requests made, the supplications entreated. The truth not only is- God doesn't always answer for His reasons beyond our comprehension, God doesn't always listen. Someone might tell you God ill always listen but that's not the truth found in His word.

Jas_4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Jas_4:4 …know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

Job 27:8  For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 

Job 27:9  Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? 

Job 27:10  Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? 

Job 35:12  There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 

Job 35:13  Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 

Psa 18:41  They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 

Psa 66:19  But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 

Pro 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 

Pro 1:29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD

Pro 15:8  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 

Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 

Isa 1:15  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 

Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil

Jer 11:14  Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. 

Jer 14:12  When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 

Mic 3:4  Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Zec 7:13  Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us

Jas 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 

Whatever we ask-

We receive-

Because we keep his commandments.

Because we do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

God will not give to those who are not truly His and according to His word the majority of the world will not be His- not in truth.  They may fool themselves that they are His, but their delusions will be revealed in the last day. May God keep us from the evil of self-deceit. May we be HIS in all truth- nothing wavering!

Praying Correctly.

Mat_6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Thy kingdom come.

We pray, and when we pray we have to pray correctly.  I know a lot of you right now are furrowing your brows, maybe nursing a little bit of confusion and a touch of ire.  Pray correctly? Isn't any prayer acceptable? Who am I to say we have to pray correctly?

If it didn't matter how we prayed- why would the disciples ask Jesus about prayer?

Luk 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Have you been taught to pray?

My mother had me praying as a child every night and before dinner. My mother taught me how to pray and she did that to the best of her ability. I was taken to church as a child all the way up until I was about fourteen years old. During that time I'm sure I was taught more about prayer, in fact we were asked to memorize the Lord's Prayer as so many are taught. So clearly I was taught to pray what more is there to praying?

Somewhere along the line, don't ask me how because I don't know, prayer started to turn into a list of requests, of things I thought I needed or others needed- some legitimate, others probably not. Sure there was the perfunctory thank you and praising, but prayer became something to do when in need. NOT that we shouldn't pray when in need-

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

We need to make our requests known to God, but prayer isn't solely about our requests especially if we ask 'amiss'.

Jas_4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

When we pray we can ask amiss.  This is something we can't ignore.  Do we know when we ask amiss? Do we recognize when our sincere desires become lusts? Do we assume that we never have lusts because we think of lust as being something completely sexual and not other things as well?

We need to study this more, we really do. May our Holy heavenly Father bless us as we seek His kingdom to come, and His will to be done always, all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever!

Endureth unto everlasting life.

'Thy Kingdom Come'

We want God's kingdom to come don't we? But what is God's kingdom? Clearly the world we live in now is not the kingdom we want, right? People talk all the time about making the world a better place. People have been trying to do this since recorded history, but they keep failing. Mankind cannot make this world into the place our hearts truly long for. People have deluded themselves into believing things of the world can somehow make this world better. They really believe in their own ability to make this world better- yet why haven't they been able to do it in thousands and thousands of years, why? What prevents this world from being harmonious in a non-dictator way? What stops us all from getting along like we really all want deep down inside?

I don't have all the answers but I do know that until God's kingdom comes there will not be anything remotely like world-wide peace.

We need God's kingdom to come.

Mat_8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus' words.

Mat_9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Preaching the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM.

Joh_18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Rom_14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

1Co_4:20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

The kingdom of GOD.

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 

1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

The Kingdom to God.

Thy kingdom come…

Truly we want the kingdom to come, God's kingdom to come and we have to think of THIS every single time we pray- don't we?  We must think of our Heavenly Father, whose name is holy, His kingdom come, His will….be done.

We can't ignore the kingdom come, we just can't!  Jesus PREACHED the kingdom come! The apostles preached the kingdom come!

The kingdom. God's kingdom.

We must seek the kingdom of God.

Mat_6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 

Kingdom

Kingdom.

God's Kingdom.

'Thy Kingdom Come'

The following is a whole lot of KINGDOM verses. Tomorrow we will begin studying them. We need to know about the Kingdom of God which is our example of prayer given to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.  We are to pray for God's kingdom to come… before we get to anything to do with our requests.  By the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!

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Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 

Dan 7:27  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 

Mat_4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mat_5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat_6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mat_6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat_7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat_8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat_9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Mat_10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat_11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat_12:28  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Mat_13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mat_13:19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat_13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Mat_13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

Mat_13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Mat_13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Mat_13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Mat_13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat_13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Mat_13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Mat_13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Mat_13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat_16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat_18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Mat_18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_18:23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Mat_19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Mat_19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat_19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mat_20:1  For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

Mat_20:21  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Mat_21:31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat_21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Mat_22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

Mat_23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Mat_24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat_25:1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mat_25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Mat_25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat_26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Mar_1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar_1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mar_4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Mar_4:30  And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Mar_10:14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Mar_10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Mar_10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Mar_10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Mar_10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Mar_11:10  Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Mar_12:34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Mar_13:8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Mar_14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Mar_15:43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Luk_1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luk_4:43  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

Luk_6:20  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Luk_7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Luk_8:1  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

Luk_8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Luk_9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luk_9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Luk_9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Luk_9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luk_10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luk_10:11  Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luk_11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Luk_11:20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Luk_12:31  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luk_12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luk_13:18  Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luk_13:20  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luk_13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luk_13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luk_14:15  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Luk_16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Luk_17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

Luk_17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luk_18:16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luk_18:17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Luk_18:24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Luk_18:25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Luk_18:29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Luk_21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Luk_22:16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Luk_22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luk_22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

Luk_22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luk_23:42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

                        

Luk_23:51  (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 

Joh_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh_3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh_18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Act_1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Act_8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act_14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Act_19:8  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Act_20:25  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Act_28:23  And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Act_28:31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Rom_14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

1Co_4:20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1Co_6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1Co_6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the

kingdom of God.

1Co_15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Co_15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Gal_5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph_5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Col_1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Col_4:11  And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

1Th_2:12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

2Th_1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

2Ti_4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Ti_4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Heb_1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb_12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Jas_2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

2Pe_1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Rev_1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev_12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Recognizing the Power of God

Our Father

Which art in heaven

Hallowed by thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On earth

As it is in Heaven.

Let's stop there for a moment.  Jesus is teaching prayer.  Did Jesus start out with - Our Father which art in heaven - give us this day our daily bread?  NO. No. And no. 

Jesus did not teach prayer in such a way for us to even remotely get the impression that we should start our prayers with requests.

Jesus started it by pointing us to God the Father. Naming God as our Father. Naming the location of our Father God- Heaven. Telling us that the very name of God is HOLY.  Continuing to say to us that Our Holy Father in heaven has a KINGDOM that will come.  Pointing out to us that our Holy Father in heaven whose kingdom is coming - that HIS WILL MUST BE DONE right here on earth as IT ALREADY IS in HEAVEN. All of this comes before any mention of personal requests become apparent.

So tell me, how many of us pray all that, NOT by rote, not by mimicking Christ's words to the letter but heartfelt prayer to our FATHER, recognition of the God we are praying to. Recognizing the power of our God in a really amazing way, not just in passing. 

Let's review-

Our Father- who lives in heaven. Holy is Your name!

HO'LY, a.

1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.

Perfect is Your name!

Pure is Your name!

Thy kingdom come. 

Father in Heaven You have a kingdom! A KINGDOM! A Holy kingdom!

More on the kingdom of God tomorrow by HIS will, by His grace and mercy all through Jesus Christ our LORD, now and forever!
 

'A serious error concerning  prayer prevails in our common understanding, which is to say, that we often think of prayer as an outlet for expressing what we need-- as our cry to God for help. We do not see that prayer is the asking of God to fulfill HIS needs. We ought to understand that God's original thought is certainly not letting the believers achieve their own aims through prayer, rather it is God accomplishing His purpose through the prayers of the believers. This is not meant to imply that Christians should never ask the Lord to supply their needs. It is only meant to indicate how we need to first understand the meaning and principles of prayer.'   Watchman Nee- Let Us Pray

First and Foremost - God.

Is prayer an outlet for expressing our needs? Is prayer primarily a cry for God to help us?  How many people do turn to God and cry out for Him when unexpected trouble befalls them? How many have a prayer life that is rich in praise and thanksgiving? How many people truly pray for God's will even when it is contrary to their own desires? Can you pray God's will, and mean it, truly mean it when it means your loved one suffers horrifically? Does our love for God withstand the evil of sin at its worse?

'A serious error concerning  prayer prevails in our common understanding, which is to say, that we often think of prayer as an outlet for expressing what we need-- as our cry to God for help. We do not see that prayer is the asking of God to fulfill HIS needs. We ought to understand that God's original thought is certainly not letting the believers achieve their own aims through prayer, rather it is God accomplishing His purpose through the prayers of the believers. This is not meant to imply that Christians should never ask the Lord to supply their needs. It is only meant to indicate how we need to first understand the meaning and principles of prayer.'   Watchman Nee- Let Us Pray

ASKING God to fulfill HIS needs.

God did NOT bring prayer to us in order to create a GENIE in a bottle.

Too many people believe that God has to answer their most desperate of prayers or else He must not exist, or if He exists He doesn't love or care for us as He should. How many people have lost faith in God when they've not had a heartfelt cry to God for help, answered in the way they want answered? How many have fallen to their knees and opened their hearts to God in desperation only to watch a loved one die right in front of them? I could go on naming numerous situations- tragic situations- the worst of situations but we can all use our imaginations for that. Many, too many have lost faith for this reason.

God did NOT bring prayer to us, a way to communicate with Him in order for us to do our own will above His.

We call upon the CREATOR, the REDEEMER out of FAITH. Faith that God's WILL is superior to ours in ALL ways. That God's will is paramount. We have NO business praying at all if we are not willing to pray first and foremost that God's will come before anything at all that we may desire in our lives, in our finite, very limited way of comprehending what is best for ourselves and others.

More tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST! 

God Accomplishing His Purpose

'A serious error concerning  prayer prevails in our common understanding, which is to say, that we often think of prayer as an outlet for expressing what we need-- as our cry to God for help. We do not see that prayer is the asking of God to fulfill HIS needs. We ought to understand that God's original thought is certainly not letting the believers achieve their own aims through prayer, rather it is God accomplishing His purpose through the prayers of the believers. This is not meant to imply that Christians should never ask the Lord to supply their needs. It is only meant to indicate how we need to first understand the meaning and principles of prayer.'   Watchman Nee- Let Us Pray

Jas_4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

We can't fool ourselves by using that word - lust to mean something it doesn't. You say you aren't lustful because you are using that word to only refer to a sexual lust, not lust in anything else.

Lust

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Lust is a strong emotion or feeling. The lust can take any form such as the lust for sex, lust for expensive objects (extravagance) or the lust for power. It can take such mundane forms as the lust for food as distinct from the need for food. Lust is a psychological force producing intense wanting for an object, or circumstance fulfilling the emotion'

We ask but we don't receive and we don't receive because we aren't praying as God would have us pray, we are praying for our own desires. And yes, some of those desires might be seemingly self-less like when we ask for help with a sick child, but our desire first and foremost must be for God's will to be done. For His plan to be worked out. We can't expect God's plan to be ours, we just don't know things as He does. The suffering of the innocent is unfathomable to us. Yet, God suffered that in His only begotten Son and He suffers it in every single innocent that hurts. The agony is felt by God and it wasn't His design that pain exist. That it does and must be ended with such finality that it never ever rises again is the ultimate end goal of all of it. We can't understand but through faith we must believe God's allowances, God's suffering is for an ultimate goal that we can scarcely comprehend.

How many choose to suffer short term for long term goals? Seriously. On a level that isn't eternal, how many people will endure hardship as they work towards a goal?  We can understand the idea of suffering short term, with the hope of something better. It is the long term, seemingly endless suffering that will often bring people to despair. If a goal seems to only get further away, some will give up suffering and the ultimate goal they were striving for. We have to believe that SALVATION, eternal salvation without any end at all whatsoever- the amazing, almost incomprehensible life promised by God's only Son, Jesus Christ to us all is a REAL, very REAL ultimate goal.

If I promised you ten million dollars if you suffer in a laborious job day in and day out for ten years would you choose to suffer? I'm willing to believe that a lot of people would choose to suffer because they'd be anticipating the end of that suffering and their guaranteed reward.

God's will.  God wanting to use us to fulfill his will.  Will we allow this? Will we pray to fulfil His will and not our own? Will we allow God to answer our prayers in His way, not our own?

More on this tomorrow by the grace and will of our LORD and SAVIOR- JESUS CHRIST.