A Good Father
6/18/2025
Cameron Peedin
Today is Father’s Day, and I think it would be fitting to discuss the importance of being a good father to our children. Also, I’d like to discuss how God has been the perfect example of a good father to us all along as His sons and daughters.
If you did not have a good father growing up, I want to encourage you to allow God to be the Father you never had through an intimate relationship with Him.
2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.
No matter how perfect our earthly fathers may have seemed, they were flawed. In some way or other, our homes were dysfunctional. God wants to show us, through His Word, how an ideal father can and should be.
Where do men learn their masculinity from?
Excerpt from “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge:
Masculinity doesn’t happen by accident; it’s bestowed intentionally. A man learns how to be a man by a man or in the company of other men. He can’t learn it from any other place, other boys, or from the world of women. It has to be from a father figure in his life.
In biblical times, fathers always received the blessing, not from their mothers, but always from their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
It was very important for a man to receive his blessing from his father.
Masculinity also comes from a father affirming his son of his masculinity and also affirming that he is his son.
Even Jesus needed affirmation from His Heavenly Father.
Matthew 3:17( NKJV)
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.
Paul speaks about Titus, his spiritual son, and affirms him as his spiritual son.
Titus 1:4 (NLT)
I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.
Some of us may not have physical sons or daughters, but you have spiritual sons and daughters; your role in their lives is just as important as a physical father.
Where do women get their value from being a woman?
Quote from the book Strong Fathers Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker (30 years practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine, and counseling teens and parents)
And I have watched daughters talk to fathers. When you come in the room, they change. Everything about them changes: their eyes, their mouths, their gestures, their body language. Daughters are never lukewarm in the presence of their fathers. They might take their mothers for granted, but not you. They light up – or they cry. They watch you intensely. They hang on your words. They hope for your attention, and they wait for it in frustration – or in despair. They need a gesture of approval, a nod of encouragement, or even a simple eye contact to let them know you care and are willing to help. When she’s in your company, your daughter tries harder to excel. When you teach her, she learns more rapidly. When you guide her, she gains confidence. If you fully understood just how profoundly you can influence your daughter’s life, you would be terrified, overwhelmed, or both. Boyfriends, brothers, even husbands can’t shape her character the way you do. You will influence her entire life because she gives you an authority she gives no other man.
13 Biblical Characteristics of A Good Father
1. Be a provider for your family.
Our Heavenly Father provides for us and is the perfect model of a good father.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
As fathers, we should be providing for our families and model ourselves after Him.
2 Thess. 3:10 (NLT)
Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
I Timothy 5:8 (NLT)
But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
Providing goes further than just paying the bills or putting food on the table. As fathers, it’s our responsibility to ensure our family is provided for in every area of life – financially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We are little pastors of our home.
Proverbs 27:23 (NLT)
Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds
Fathers should take regular inventory of the state of their home and pray about the needs of their family.
I know many fathers who provide financially for their family very well, but are not present mentally, emotionally, or spiritually in their homes. And even though they are financially well off, the state of their home is in turmoil.
2. Live your life as a recommendation letter for Jesus.
When you send a letter of recommendation for someone, you represent and validate that person’s life with your word and your recommendation.
2 Cor. 3:2-3 (NLT)
The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you.This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
The way you conduct yourself in public and live your life daily is a letter of recommendation to your son or daughter for a relationship with Jesus.
Fathers, you represent a relationship with God to your children. That’s why it is so important that we live our lives with Christ at the center of it all. If we’re not, we only repeat history and what was instilled in us from our fathers instead of our Heavenly Father.
Even though this verse is to the leadership of the church, it is a great example of what a father should be like:
I Timothy 3:2 (NLT)
So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
3. Discipline your children
As a good Heavenly Father, God has to discipline us as His children and expects us to do the same to our children.
Hebrews 12:6 (NLT)
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.
Psalm 94:12 (NLT)
Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.
You can not be your child’s friend and parent at the same time. You must be a parent first.
Prov. 13:24 (NLT)
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Proverbs 23:13-14 (NLT)
Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. Physical discipline may well save them from death.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Any time I have to discipline Avalyn, I always make sure that I tell her that I love her and that I’m doing it because I love her. I also share this scripture with her and tell her that if I don’t discipline her, it says that I don’t love her.
Never discipline out of anger. Take some time to cool down before disciplining. If you don’t, you could be doing more harm than good.
4. Spend quality time with your children.
God desires for us to spend quality time with Him, and it is modeled in scripture.
James 4:8 (NLT)
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Psalm 63:1 (NLT)
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 62:8 (NLT)
O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
When you are with your children physically, be there mentally as well. Put your phone down, and step away from work or social media.
Fathers, have those deep heart-to-heart conversations with your children.
Schedule times you set aside for your children to connect with them on a deeper level, not just surface things.
5. Be their first teacher.
The Holy Spirit is our teacher. If we have to be taught, we have to teach our children.
John 14:26 (NLT)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
A father should be their children’s teacher. It doesn’t mean that you have to have all the answers, but the things you do know need to be taught by you.
Don’t let the public school system be the first teacher in your child’s life; they need to hear it from you first.
Biblical principles will not be taught in a public school setting. You can expect the complete opposite.
Deut. 6:6-9 (NLT)
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
6. Be compassionate and tender.
God is tender and slow to get angry. He is a perfect model of how to be a tender, loving, and compassionate father.
Psalm 86:15 (NLT)
But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Are you slow to get angry, or are you quick to get angry?
If you are distant, angry, and stern as a father, it may have been modeled to you as a child by your father.
There is a time to be stern, but if that’s the way you are all the time, there’s a problem.
Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Put your arm around your child when they have a hard day. Something as simple as that can go a long way. Or ask if they would like to talk about their hard day.
You don’t always have to have the right answer; just knowing you care and are there to listen will go further than you’ll ever know.
Quote from Strong Fathers Strong Daughters:
A daughter identifies easily with her mother, but you (the father) are a mystery to her. You are her first love, so the early years of your relationship with her are crucial. The love you give her is her starting point. You have other loves in your life, but she doesn’t. Every man who enters her life will be compared to you; every relationship she has with a man will be filtered through her relationship with you. If you have a good relationship, she will choose boyfriends who will treat her well. If she sees you as open and warm, she’ll be confident with other men. If you are cold and unaffectionate, she’ll find it hard to express love in a healthy way.
7. Be a man of your word.
God is a perfect example of being a person of His Word and following through with what He has promised.
Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Matthew 24:25 (NLT)
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Do what you say and say what you do.
If you say you’re going to do something, follow through with it. They always remember!
When you do not follow through with promises, there’s a development of distrust with your children. Later in life, they may have trouble trusting their Heavenly Father because of unfulfilled promises by their earthly father. Always remember that fathers inevitably represent God in their lives to their children.
8. Don’t provoke your children.
Eph. 6:4 (NLT)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
The things that you so easily get angered with in your children are the very things that are, or have been, present in you.
We get so angry at our kids because they act just like us, and we’re mad about it. Then in turn, we provoke them.
9. Love their mother.
Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.
For boys:
How you love their mother sets the stage for how a man will treat his future wife and other women.
For girls:
How you love their mother will let your daughter know how her future husband and other men should treat her.
10. Don’t give up on them.
God has never given up on us, as His children. We should never give up on our children.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
…For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Luke 15:20-24
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
This verse is the exact representation of what our Heavenly Father’s love is for us.
Even through our rebellion, stubbornness, failures … this verse said that he was “filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”
Our God is so full of love and compassion; He will never give up on us, so we should not give up on our children.
Never give up, loving them, pursuing them in a relationship, and praying for them. It’s never too late.
11. Pray for your children.
David praying over his son Solomon:
2 Chronicles 29:19 (NLT)
Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.
Every single day, pray over your family and children privately between you and God, and then also with your family and children in person.
Your family needs to know that their father is their spiritual covering, and they need to see you praying over them.
It should be normal for your children to hear you praying over them every single day.
Encourage them to pray with you about anything that is on their heart.
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
…But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.
Pray over your children’s future spouse and your future grandchildren.
12. Speak scriptures over your children.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)
For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
God is singing over us with joyful songs. As God sings over us, we should be quoting scripture and even singing scripture over our children.
Examples of good scriptures to confess over your children:
Jer. 29:11 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Numbers 6:24-25 (NLT)
May the LORD bless you and protect you. 25 May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
2 Tim. 1:7 (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
13. Be their protector.
Psalm 91:4 (NLT)
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 28:7 (NLT)
The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Just as God is our protector, fathers, we should always be in the mindset of protecting our families: physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Our family should know that we have their back in every situation.
Isaiah 52:12 (NLT)
For the LORD will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.
They need to hear and see you praying for protection over them every day.
Practical things:
Walking on the sidewalk closest to the road with your children/wife on the inside.
Sit facing the door in a restaurant, and always be aware of your surroundings.
Protect your children’s eyes and ears by actively knowing what they’re listening to, or watching on their phones/tablets. Know who they are talking to online, and what they’re conversations are. Actively check on their internet activity..
Your family needs to know that if anyone messes with them, they’ll have to go through you.
Action Points
○ Create room for God to be the Father you may have never had.
○ Acquire multiple resources to help you become a good father.
■ For Daughter Dads: Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker.
■ For Son Dads: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge.
○ Glean from good fathers or parents in the church who are parenting well, and try to meet with them regularly to help you become the father/parent God made you to be.
Faith Treats the Future as Present!
6.8.2025
Introduction
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
One of the greatest things I learned about the Lord when I was young was this principle of faith He lives by!
Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
I will come back to this.
Dr. J. Oswald Sanders Quote:
Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.
Believing right now that you receive answers to your prayers is the key to overcoming the pressure and needs that life brings your way!
God does not respond to need. He responds to faith!
Smith Wigglesworth:
There is something about believing God that will cause God to pass over a million people just to get to you!
Satan wants you to doubt, to look at your thoughts and feelings, and to be afraid that nothing will ever change for the better!
Kenneth Hagin:
If Satan can keep you in the arena of thought, he will whip you, but if you can keep him in the arena of faith, you will defeat him in every challenge.
Your enemy can outthink you, but if you keep him in the faith, arena he has nothing that can defeat you if you will stand.
I learned this first in my late teens when I came to Jesus. I had been in church for almost 18 years! Did not know this!
You may be facing a huge crisis right now.
Faith, believing that you receive, is the ingredient that will get you through it.
Many speak of faith as an abstract – it’s somewhat nebulous and innocuous. As if faith is just something you have to help you grunt through life, but it doesn’t change anything.
But faith is a force that comes from your spiritual life that will bring you through the toughest things that life brings your way!
Jesus said:
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Matthew 8:13 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.”
Matthew 9:22 (NKJV)
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Matthew 9:27-29 (NKJV)
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
Faith always receives right now what God promises!
When praying for certain things personally, it’s important to remember that faith is never future tense.
Faith is always past or present tense.
Hope is the future tense.
To cooperate with the Lord and receive from Him, keep your tenses right!
If you’re just hoping that one day in the future things will be different, you’ll not receive from the Lord.
It’s not hoping one day in the future that things will be different, but it’s believing that God has already answered, or is answering your prayer that brings results!
Notice what Jesus said about praying in faith in Mark 11:22-24.
Mark 11:22-23 (NKJV)
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
This next verse has simply revolutionized how I have lived my life.
Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things (John 15:7) you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Question some have – I would be lying if I said I have something and I don’t have it.
You’re not saying you have it, you are saying you believe you receive it. There’s a big difference.
Mark 11:24 (AMPC)
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
Mark 11:24 (New Century Version)
So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you.
Mark 11:24 (God’s Word)
That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 (English Standard Version)
I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, trust that you are receiving it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 (Bible in Basic English)
For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.
Hebrews 11:1 (New Century Version)
Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.
Dr. J. Oswald Sanders Quote:
Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.
Example: The Certificate of Occupancy and sign off for the building project we finished 2 years ago kept being put off.
Thoughts bombarded my mind telling me it would not happen for a long, long time, and expenses would keep going up!
I acted on Mark 11:24!
Two years ago, our retention pond was simply not ready and I found out that it would cost over 60,000.00 to bring it into compliance. That money was NOT in our budget.
To deal with it, I acted on Mark 11:24.
Here we are, two years later, with the pond, the Occupancy Certificate, and the childcare open!
Declare the end from the beginning!
Isaiah 46:9-10 (AMPC)
[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose,
Jonah did this!
Jonah 2:3-4 (NKJV)
For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
Are you willing to declare the end from the beginning?
Call those things that do not exist as though they did!
Romans 4:17 (NKJV) (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Romans 4:18-21 (NKJV)
Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Speak and act as though you believe you have what you have asked God for.
If you are depressed, weighed down, feeling low, ask God to set you free from it, and then believe you receive and say you believe you receive while the feelings are still there.
If you are believing for healing – pray – then start acting and praising and thanking God as though you were healed already, even before the symptoms stop.
Don’t ignore the problem. Speak God’s Word in the face of the problem!
If you are believing for finances, then pray, believe you receive, and act like, talk like, and praise and thank God like you already have what you asked for!
If you are believing for a job, act like, talk like, and praise and thank God like you already had what you asked for.
Examples of faith receiving right now:
Joshua
Joshua 6:1-2
Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.
God spoke to them in the past tense about Jericho. The walls were still up. Yet God had promised that the city was already theirs!
Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
Now the LORD had said to Abram: get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 17:5
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
God changed Abram’s name to Abraham! Exalted father became “father of a multitude.” He and Sarah had zero children when God changed his name!
Romans 4:17
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.
Jesus spoke in the past tense when praying for Lazarus to be raised!
John 11:39-44 (NKJV)
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Faith is a fight!
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Fight – Greek – agœnízomai:
to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary)
The fight is to defy negative thoughts and feelings when it looks like it isn’t working.
Make it your habit every day after you pray and ask and to say out loud what you believe!
Action Points:
1. Am I willing to pray and to believe that I receive what I pray for right now?
2. Am I willing to talk and act like I believe I receive the answer before any changes come?
3. Am I willing to fight negative thoughts and feelings even when it looks like nothing has changed?
Open Yourself Up to the Helper!
6.1.2025
Introduction
The Holy Spirit wants us to open ourselves to His help and aid!
Jesus never expected you to live only with your own skill and ability.
We need a power or ability that is way beyond our own today!
The challenges are mounting up. It really looks as though Jesus’ return could be sooner than we think.
The pressure on the mind and on the physical and mental life are at high tide!
John 14:15-18 (ESV)
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Luke 24:44-49 (ESV)
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Get ready for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit worldwide!
There is coming, and we are now entering a great moving of the Holy Spirit. It will be unprecedented in our time.
Kenneth Hagin at John Osteen’s Church 1.18.1979
God often speaks in metaphors and in symbolism.
There are two works of the Holy Spirit in your life:
1. The Indwelling – The Metaphor for this experience is a Well.
John 4:13-14 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
2. The Baptism With The Holy Spirit – The Metaphor for this experience is a River.
If you are a farmer, you know that there is no harvest without water.
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Two Jewish feasts are aligned with harvest in Jewish culture:
The Feast of Pentecost was associated with the spring grain or wheat harvest. It needed what they called the latter rains for a plentiful harvest.
The Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering was associated with the harvest of oil and wine in the autumn of the year. Early rains preceded this harvest.
On this same day, the Holy Spirit fell in OT Temple dedication during King Solomon’s reign:
1 Kings 8:2 (NLT)
So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim.
1 Kings 8:10-11 (NLT)
When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. 11 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of the LORD.
Fast forward now to Jesus at this same feast.
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
On this last day of the feast, there was a ceremony called the Outpouring of Waters.
Water was taken from the pool of Siloam and poured on the altar while Isaiah 12:3 was quoted:
Isaiah 12:3 (NKJV)
Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Siloam means SENT. The water from Siloam came from Gihon Spring, outside the city of Jerusalem. Gihon means bursting forth!
Jesus made this statement while the water was being poured on the altar.
He was saying – I am Siloam – I am sent by the Father. I will be crucified outside the city. I am the spring of Gihon – from my side will burst forth blood and water, and from that flow you will live!
This is referring today to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit that came to the church on the Day of Pentecost – 50 days after the Passover feast.
There is NOW beginning a fresh moving of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers to prepare us to receive the harvest of people coming into the family of God!
These rains in the New Testament are associated with a move of the Holy Spirit at the beginning and the end of the church age…
James 5:7-8 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Much rain is needed so that a tremendous crop is harvested.
Amos 9:13 (NLT)
The time will come,” says the LORD, when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!
Amos 9:13 (NKJV)
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.”
Water and rain are a type of the Holy Spirit in the Bible…
And the prophets speak of an outpouring of the water of the Spirit before Jesus returns…
Isaiah 44:3 (TPT)
I will pour refreshing water on the thirsty and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children, my blessing upon your descendants.
Isaiah 55:1-2 (MEV)
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Joel 2:23 (NKJV)
Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Haggai 2:7 (NKJV)
‘And I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Haggai 2:9 (NKJV)
‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.
Ask God to include you in the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
Zechariah 10:1 (NKJV)
Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.
Ezekiel saw into the future and saw the temple of God in the future.
Ezekiel 47:1-9 (NLT)
In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. 2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. 3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles. 4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist. 5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through. 6 He asked me, “Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank. 7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river. 8 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. 9 There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.
Ezekiel 47:9 (NKJV)
And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.
This river flowing out of us will minister life to those we touch…
Joel 2:28-32 (NLT)
Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on servants—men and women alike. 30 And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. 32 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved…
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to be poured out on you?
Have you received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit just as the church age began:
Acts 1:4-11 (NLT)
Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
As we go into this era of time before Jesus returns, He wants us to walk in this anointing of Holy Spirit power!
He is beckoning us today to let go of our dry life and step into His river!
Action Points:
- Do you want that River of water to flow through you?
- Have you received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?
- Are you walking in the light of this experience?
- Are you living in the power of this experience?
If not, you can today!
The Ministry Power of the Holy Spirit!
5.28.2025
Prepare now for a new moving of the Holy Spirit.
The evangelism that takes place before Jesus’ return must be accompanied by the Spirit’s fullness and power!
Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. (2) For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
The foundation for Spiritual Gifts manifesting is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit!
Spiritual Gifts are as a result of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Remember that there is a dual working of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:13 – NKJV
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Romans 8:9 – NKJV
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
John 14:17 – NKJV
If you love Me, keep My commandments. (16) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — (17) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (18) I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Analogy of the Indwelling Spirit – A Well of Water
John 4:14 – NKJV
But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
The Baptism With The Holy Spirit
Luke 24:49 – NKJV
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8 – NKJV
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Analogy of the Baptism With The Holy Spirit – A Fountain.
John 7: 37-38
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Old Testaments believers did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. They were not born again. They lived by outward law. Their hearts were stone!
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon the prophet, the priest, and the king to do exploits for God.
Seven of the nine Spiritual Gifts were manifested under the old Covenant.
Two of the Gifts of the Spirit are distinctive of the church age (Different Kinds of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues).
Jesus’ ministry began with the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Any spiritual manifestations that God performs through a believer will come under one or more of these nine Spiritual Gifts.
Jesus ministered as the Son of man, not as the Son of God. He ministered as a man anointed by the Spirit of God.
Don’t forget that He was tempted just like us, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV)
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Philippians 2: 5-7
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (7) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Amplified
Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (6) Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [ possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, (7) But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. (8) And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
Jesus laid aside His God powers, and lived as a man. He WAS Deity, but laid aside the power of the office of being the second member of the Trinity.
Vs. 7 – but made Himself of no reputation…
Greek- Kenoo
To empty out, drain, make void
What did Jesus empty Himself of?
He emptied Himself of:
1. Living as equal with God.
2. His God form or body that He had from eternity past.
3. Immortality of the body.
4. The glory He had with the Father.
5. His God authority in heaven and on earth.
6. His Divine attributes and powers He had with the Father from all eternity past.
Notice that Jesus miraculous ministry began after He had received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3: 21-22 – NKJV
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.
Luke 3:23 – NKJV
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age…
Luke 4:14- NKJV
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and the news of Him went throughout all the surrounding region.
Luke 4:15-24 – NKJV
And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (16) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: (18) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (22) So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, Is this not Joseph’s son?” (23) He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'” (24) Then He said, Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power of being the Son of God.
That’s the reason He could say:
John 14:12 – NKJV
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
The Gifts of the Spirit should function through the body of Christ as they did through Jesus!
John 3:34 – NKJV
For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
Amplified
For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!
Collectively as the body of Christ, we have the same anointing that Jesus had individually. We have a measure of the Spirit personally!
The Classification of spiritual gifts:
Revelation Gifts- Gifts that REVEAL something
The Word of Wisdom
The Word of Knowledge
Discerning of Spirits
Power Gifts – Gifts that DO something
The Gift of Faith
The Working of Miracles
The Gifts of Healings
Utterance Gifts – Gifts that SAY something
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Different Kinds of Tongues
The Interpretation of Tongues
******************
The Gifts are for Today!
Mark 16:17-18 – NKJV
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
John 14:12 – NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Luke 24:49 – NKJV
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1:8 – NKJV
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Mark 16:20 – NKJV
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Acts 6:8 – NKJV
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 8:6 – NKJV
And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Acts 4:29-31 – NKJV
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, (30) by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 5:12 – NKJV
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
Hebrews 2:3-4 – NKJV
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, (4) God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 – NKJV
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (3) I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Developing A Disciplined Life
Hebrews 12:11 ()
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Today, I want to discuss how to develop a lifestyle of discipline and its importance to accomplish everything God created you to be.
I’ve never known anyone who has been successful and did not learn how to develop certain disciplines in their daily lives.
These disciplines were built around their life and lifestyle, enabling them to have a pathway to achieve whatever it was in their heart to achieve.
Everyone Is A Leader
You are leading your family, friends, coworkers, business, ministry, or all of the above.
If you want to be a true leader, you have to create disciplines in your life that will help you not only lead, but also stay leading.
Mike Tyson said, “Discipline is when you have learned to do the things you don’t like, with the same passion and intensity as the things that you do like.”
Your life will never consist of the things you like all the time.
You are going to have to do things that you don’t like, or even despise, to get the job done or to get to the things you do like.
Things I don’t like to do:
Planning Meetings-department team meetings, service meetings, Men’s Encounter planning meetings, post-event meetings
I don’t get up in the morning and get excited about going to meetings.
Things I love to do:
What I love doing is what I’m doing right now, getting in front of people and teaching the Word of God, seeing the lights come on in people’s lives, and seeing the life changes that happen during services or an event that I helped plan.
What I love hearing, and I know that Pastor Mitch feels the same way, is when you get that phone call or email from someone saying that their life has changed because of the Word of God or an event that you helped plan and lead. That’s what I live for; that’s the stuff I love!!!
But if I didn’t do the stuff that I don’t like to do, which is hours of planning meetings, hours of studying the Word of God, I wouldn’t get to do the stuff that I love and see results and fruit from it.
Work On Creating Self-Imposed Discipline
Proverbs 25:28 “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”
One of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control
Galatians 5:22 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Self-control in the Greek “egkrateia,” which means “self-mastery” or “temperance” in English. It encompasses the ability to control one’s desires and passions, particularly sensual appetites. The word is derived from “en” (in) and “kratos” (strength or power), signifying strength within oneself.
Since self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, it must be maintained and developed. If you are going to grow an orange tree, you have to water it, make sure it’s nurtured, and take care of it. If not, it will not grow, and eventually it will die.
If you are growing in life, you have to grow in your ability to have self-control. Many successful people do not need many outside boundaries imposed on them. Why? Because they harness the ability to have self-control.
Why do we have people in prison? Because they had no internal boundaries, society had to put a boundary around them. Not only are we harmful to ourselves, but we are also harmful to others when we don’t have boundaries and self-control in our lives.
Why do we have divorce? It’s a great divide between one person and another person who were once one. When a thousand little boundaries have been violated and are never put in place or checked, the court has to draw a great big one and divide up possessions, children, property, money, etc.
Someone or both parties didn’t keep their desires and passions in check; now society has to build a boundary where there wasn’t one before.
When it comes to success, we are our biggest enemy.
Satan isn’t the biggest enemy most of the time. It’s our minds and our self-will and (lack of) self-control – these are our biggest enemies. It’s our passions and our desires that take us outside the boundaries that we have set to be successful. Those are the biggest things we have to war against.
Romans 7:23 (NLT)
But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
Some things want to take our lives and purpose out, and we have to make sure that we implement specific disciplines in our lives so that we can control ourselves.
I didn’t say control everyone else or your husband, wife, friends, or children. The only thing you can control is yourself – your passions and your desires.
Anyone can be successful and make it to the top, but character, coupled with a disciplined mind and heart, is what keeps them there.
There are so many music artists, sports stars, and celebrities out there who have become legends because of their talents and gifts, but who have made a mess of their lives because of their lack of self-control. They’re in the tabloids constantly for doing outlandish things, in and out of jail, can’t keep a marriage going, etc.
Society praises talent over discipline. God praises discipline over talent.
This past year, so many pastors have been exposed because of scandals where they had no boundaries or accountability.
Where there is no accountability, sin will reign.
Now these pastors are having to step down from their positions. It hits the church as badly as it hits the world. The enemy would love to rip apart the church from the inside out through corrupt leaders and pastors.
The main killer of marriages, churches, jobs, careers, and relationships is a lack of discipline.
Ruggs was set to be a multimillionaire, a legend in the NFL, a household name, possibly, but a lack of self-control sabotaged all of it.
I Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
My lifestyle has to be brought under subjection, so that my calling has legitimacy.
Whatever you want to accomplish in your life, you have to have a lifestyle that accompanies it.
There are things in life that are not morally wrong. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Is it wise?”
I Corinthians 10:23 (NLT)
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
The fact that I can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that I should do it. Does it benefit me in where I want to go in my life, or will it take away from where I want to go?
Discipline earns trust. There’s a reason why you are here at Victory Church. It’s probably because you hear and see our senior pastor and trust his leadership and life because of his lifestyle of discipline.
Why are so many athletes spokespersons for so many products? Because when we see a person who is an MVP or a hall-of-famer, we immediately admire the discipline that it took a long period to achieve that kind of success.
We, as a society, automatically have a level of trust in them. Their life is not wildor out-of-control, but tempered to what their goal is. And they have sacrificed time, blood, sweat, and tears to get to where they are.
You can’t live any old way and achieve what you want to achieve, just like these athletes.
Matthew 7:14 (NLT)
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Everyone who is going to walk the way to success is going to walk the narrow road.
John Maxwell’s story:
Someone came up to him and said to him after meeting with thousands of people doing a conference for leaders, and said, “I want to do what you do.” He responded, “Ok, but do you want to do what I did?”
John didn’t just become to GOAT of leadership. He had to work hard at it. He’s written 51 books. Can you imagine the time and effort it takes just to write one book, let alone 51?
This guy has had best-sellers multiple times. That just doesn’t happen. Do you want to do what he did, to do what he does?
A lot of people want to do what Pastor Mitch does, but do you realize the time, the effort it takes to be a Pastor and do what he does? You’ll have to get up and preach when the last thing you want to do is preach. You’ll have to go through rejection and emotions you thought you’d never have to go through because of the love you have for the people you are shepherding. You’ll have to smile when you want to cry.
You Have To Have Vision
Where does discipline come from? It comes from Vision.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
The word perish doesn’t mean die here. It means to cast off restraint, run wild.
There have been times in ministry when I wanted to throw in the towel and quit, but my vision kept me put and saved me.
Sometimes, when I wanted to give up on things or even people that I loved, my vision saved me.
Times when I felt completely depleted, physically, mentally, and emotionally, times when I was tired and didn’t want to keep going, my vision kept me going.
Times when I’ve lived a tight life and wanted to do something stupid, my vision kept me.
If the lack of vision makes me cast off restraint and run wild, then the vision brings restraint, purpose, and structure to my life.
The vision helps you know what to do or why you’re doing it, what to say “yes” to and “no” to.
What is the vision for Victory Church? It’s Helping People Become Who God Created Them To Be.
The church’s vision is my vision. I want to see everyone in this place be who God created them to be. I don’t want to get to heaven and realize that I didn’t do the work of the vision God created you and me to do here on earth and in this church.
My vision is to be everything God created me to be and that is, be the best follower of Christ I can be, be the best husband I can be to my wife, be the best father I can be to Avalyn, be the best son I can be to my mother, and be the best pastor I can be here at Victory Church.
If someone comes to you and wants you to do something stupid, if you have no vision, you’ll do anything they want you to do, without restraint. But if it doesn’t align with your vision and you say “no”, the vision said “no”. Does it align with your vision? Then the vision said “yes”.
Vision tells you who to let into your life. Vision tells you who to keep out of your life.
The vision tells you what activities you can participate in. The vision tells you what activities you cannot participate in.
If you are a football player and the position you want to play requires you to weigh 350, but you weigh 250, you can go to Cookout and get a couple of burgers and a milkshake for a few weeks to gain some weight. But if you weigh 450, guess what, you’re going home and fixing yourself a salad for a few weeks, eating nothing but lean protein and greens, doing high cardio to lose weight to get the position that you desire.
Why? Because the particular vision is driving that particular activity.
There are 2 different visions to get what you want.
Show me a person who lives any way they want – that’s a person with no vision. Show me a person with no discipline – that’s a person with no vision.
A girl who will date any guy who shows her attention – that’s a girl who has no vision for her life. And vice versa with a guy.
Show me a guy who gets up whenever he wants, goes to bed whenever he wants, has no personal responsibilities, no job, that’s a guy with no vision. He doesn’t know where he’s going.
What gets me up in the morning? I have a vision. I have a purpose. I have responsibilities. I have a daily routine.
Why do I work 5-6 days a week? Because I have a family to provide for, and things I want to accomplish in life, and it requires finances to achieve them. Also, there are people I want to see come into the kingdom of God.
There are things I cannot be involved with, not because they are morally wrong, but because they are not beneficial for the vision for my life and where I want to go.
You can’t go there and do what I do, you can’t do that and do what I want to do. You can’t have that habit and go where I’m going. You can’t be in those same situations and atmospheres and do what I want to do. You can’t run with those people and do what I want to do.
So the vision of what I want to do with my life is answering atmospheres, answering activities, answering people, answering conversations I can and cannot have.
The vision is driving everything in my life. The vision tells me how to spend my money.
Rivers and Swamps
Ezekiel 47:6-7 (NLT)
He asked me, ‘Have you been watching, son of man?’ Then he led me back along the riverbank. 7 When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river.”
The life-giving fruit was not in the river; it was on the riverbanks, on both sides of it.
Rivers have boundaries. The fruit of our lives is created by the boundaries we form, and it will save and heal us many times over if we put them into place.
We also have to ask ourselves: Are we drawing our strength from ourselves, pride, selfish ambition, self-indulgence, etc., or are we drawing from The River of God and His presence?
Ezekiel 47:11 (AMP)
But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh [and wholesome for animal life]; they will [as the river subsides] be left encrusted with salt.
What’s the difference between rivers and swamps?
A river has banks, boundaries, direction, and it’s going somewhere. It has a destination. Boundaries and banks produce fruit and life.
A swamp is water with no banks. The water that had no boundaries had a stench and produced no life. It’s stagnant and has no destination.
People who live with boundaries: There will be things that they will and won’t say, places that they will and won’t go, and self-imposed disciplines in their lives. No one needs to call them out on anything. They do it because it’s in them.
People who live a life without boundaries: This person’s life is a trainwreck, has no boundaries, and anything goes. Anyone can come into their life, and they’ll run with them. They’ll listen to anyone and anything. They’ll go anywhere. They’ll do anything. They’ll sleep with anybody. They do not bring value to others, they suck people dry.
Which one are you?
It takes 21 days to create a habit. Many people stopped going to church regularly because of COVID and have not gotten back into the habit of going to church. Now, five years later, someone who used to be on the frontline in their church, (they were in that river, God was using them in ministry,) is stuck in the habit of staying at home, producing no real fruit in their life, and not being involved at their local church.
As a result, their lives are in shambles. They’re willing to go anywhere, do anything because they chose to slack in an area where once there was discipline.
But just as you can create bad habits, you can create good ones too.
Today is the day you can start creating good habits and setting boundaries and disciplines in your life.
Action Points
- First, ask God to reveal the vision and purpose of your life, and then write it down. Suggestion: “God help me be everything you created me to be.”
- Run with that vision and implement daily disciplines in your life to fulfill that vision.
- Cut out useless things or people from your life that are causing your life to be a swamp. Decide to be a river, running with purpose, boundaries, and fruit. When you leave this earth, you want to make a fruitful impact.
God Wants To Use You In Spiritual Gifts!
5.21.2025
Introduction
I believe that we are on the verge of a great move of God as the world races towards the Second Coming of Christ and future judgments.
This great move of God will bring with it a fresh manifestation of Gifts of the Spirit.
To be used by the Holy Spirit, we must know whatever He is doing and how to work with Him.
Joel 2:28-32 (NKJV)
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.
God has been dealing with me on Evangelism and Spiritual Gifts!
It’s time NOW to pursue Jesus with passion!
We are not waiting on God, He is waiting on us!
We have a mandate to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to every human on earth.
Question – What have you done with the great commission from Jesus to you?
Have you embraced it?
Do you think about it everyday?
Is it a personal passion of yours?
How often do you share Jesus with people around you?
When we embrace God’s plan for us in the great commission, there will be no depression, oppression, boredom, etc. It becomes an all consuming task for us – in praying, in reading the Word, and in engaging people in our everyday lives.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-20 (NLT)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” 19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
James 5:7-8 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Gifts of the Spirit are given to help us evangelize!
Zechariah 10:1 (NKJV)
Ask the LORD for rain
In the time of the latter rain.
The LORD will make flashing clouds;
He will give them showers of rain,
Grass in the field for everyone.
Gordon Lindsay – Gifts of the Spirit.
As we shall presently note, the Lord, in his great commission gave the promise of miraculous signs which would follow and confirm the preaching of the word. ( Mark 16: 15-18). The signs were to be the means of convincing the heathen of the genuineness of the gospel message. There was no hint that the terms of the great commission where to be changed in anyway. In fact, Jesus implied that all generations to come, even to the end of the age, were to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Gordon Lindsay – Gifts of the Spirit – Page 3.
Shall we not face the truth? The real reason for which the gifts of the spirit are missing from the church is because the church has been satisfied without them. The Church needs to realize that she is the body of Christ, and without the gifts of the spirit manifest in her midst, she can never fulfill her destiny. Is Paul admonished Timothy stir up the gift that was in him, so we did I need to awaken the church to the fact that Christ has set certain gifts in his body and we do well to put them into action.
So, beginning tonight and in the following weeks, I am going to be examining the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they manifest.
This great move of God will bring with it a fresh manifestation of gifts of the Spirit.
To be used by the Holy Spirit, we must know whatever He is doing and how to work with Him.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NKJV)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Revelation Gifts- Gifts that REVEAL something
The Word of Wisdom
The Word of Knowledge
Discerning of Spirits
Power Gifts – Gifts that DO something
The Gift of Faith
The Working of Miracles
The Gifts of Healings
Utterance Gifts – Gifts that SAY something
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Different Kinds of Tongues
The Interpretation of Tongues
All believers can be used in spiritual gifts!
These gifts manifest according to what God has called you to do.
1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (NKJV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
You will most probably be used in a couple of them. The Lord will show you which.
You do not choose which one you want. The Holy Spirit determines through whom and when spiritual gifts manifest.
Ask God for the manifestation of gifts of the Spirit. Tell Him that you are open and willing to be used by Him.
1 Corinthians 12:31 (NKJV) But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
g2206. ζηλόω zēloō; from 2205; to have warmth or feeling for or against: — affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous(-ly affect).
…to burn with zeal, to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good; to desire earnestly, pursue, to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one’s self about him to exert one’s self…
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV)
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Zechariah 10:1 (NKJV)
Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.
The gifts of the Spirit are as necessary now as they were in the days of the early church!
Donald Gee – Fruitful or Barren quotes:
Donald Gee:
There are multitudes who will never be moved and open to the gospel except by the manifestation of supernatural power. They are panting for it in full view of a powerless church.
Donald Gee:
The ultimate and full purpose of spiritual gifts is to bring men face to face with the reality of the invisible God; to make the church realize that the Holy Spirit is ever present, and that all true ministry springs from Him, who is her only source of life and power and to make the unbeliever equally conscious that God cannot be forgotten.
Donald Gee:
The healing of the sick has great power to arouse the indifferent, convict of sin, attract to the gospel, and lead to genuine conversions…The gifts clothe regular meetings with the sense of the reality and presence of God.
Kenneth Hagin Prophecy during a Rhema Class in 1980:
There are those who will never be reached except through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, so covet earnestly these manifestations.
Prayer Can Cure Worry
5.18.2025
Introduction
Romans 12:12 (PHILLIPS)
…steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)
pray without ceasing,
(Evidence Bible Notes)
General “Stonewall” Jackson, one of the country’s greatest generals, gives a good example of how to “pray without ceasing”: “When we take our meals, there is the grace. When I take a draught of water, I always pause … to lift up my heart to God in thanks and prayer for the water of life. Whenever I [send] a letter… I send a petition along with it, for God’s blessing upon its mission and upon the person to whom it is sent. “When I [open] a letter… I stop to pray to God that He may prepare me for its contents …When I go to my class-room and await the arrangement of the cadets in their places, that is my time to intercede with God for them.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
I’ve been covering some practical aspects of prayer in recent weeks.
Knowing God as your Father who deeply loves you is the foundation of a close relationship with the Lord.
Knowing that God promises to answer our prayers gives us great faith as we pray!
Proverbs 15:8-9 (NKJV)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.
Heartfelt praying in private empowers us with God’s ability.
Today I want to talk about the prayer of faith as the antidote to personal worry!
All of us are tempted to worry.
Issues come up quickly that need answers and we often don’t know what to do!
Sometimes we make mistakes that have a ripple effect throughout different areas of life.
Other people do things that are beyond our control that bring us into the worry mode!
Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I have found that believing prayer is the best way to deal with worry!
1. We are encouraged to pray instead of worry!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 (PHILLIPS)
Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP)
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
2. Worry thoughts are Satan’s scheme to hinder your life.
Know this:
Satan’s kingdom is founded on three principles – kill, steal, destroy. Jesus called him a thief. John 10:10.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)
Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Advantage
— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner
https://a.co/fdrDqWH
“Paul clearly understood that Satan was constantly seeking ways to take advantage of people. The word “advantage” in this verse is the Greek word pleonekteo. This word means to outwit; to trick; or to take advantage of someone through some sinister or sneaky means. It is a compound of the word pleon, which means more, and the word echo, which means to have. Together, these words form the word pleonekto, which denotes a desire to have more, more, and more. It is a form of the word pleonexia, the Greek word for greediness. In this case in Second Corinthians 2:11, it pictures someone whose lust for something is so intense that he will take any actions required to obtain what he wants.”
Ignorant
— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner
https://a.co/09TPynZ
“The word “ignorant” in Second Corinthians 2: 11 is the Greek word agnoeo, and it refers to one’s ignorance or lack of certain facts. However, it also includes making mistakes or errors due to a lack of understanding. It is the picture of an uneducated person who, due to a lack of knowledge, is prone to arrive at mistaken conclusions. The word agnoeo depicts someone who is in the dark or without a clue. Because this person lacks understanding, his conclusions are faulty, erroneous, and misguided. This is where we get the word agnostic, the official name used to describe individuals who claim they don’t know what they believe. So when someone claims to be agnostic, he is literally claiming to be ignorant!”
Devices – schemings
“Schemings of the mind”
— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner
https://a.co/j0uA6Fk
“The word devices is the Greek word noemata, derived from the word nous. The word nous is the word for the mind or the intellect. However, when the word nous becomes the word noemata, it describes a mind that is scheming, calculating, conniving, devious, shrewd, sly, or clever. This is very significant because it alerts us to the reality that Satan isn’t just hoping to hinder us; he is incessantly scheming and conniving to injure or deliberately mess up a person’s plans, health, marriage, business, and family. The enemy doesn’t really care how he accomplishes his evil plan; he just wants to find ways to ruin whatever that person holds dear. Thus, the word noemata denotes Satan’s insidious, malevolent plot to attack and victimize human beings, clearly demonstrating that the devil loves to captivate and ultimately destroy human beings. If this devilish process is not aborted by the power of God, it is only a matter of time before Satan puts the last touches on his plan to take captive a person, family, church, ministry, business, organization, or even an entire nation!”
Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“The word “wiles” is taken from the word methodos. It is a compound of the words meta and odos. The word meta is a preposition that means with. The word odos is the word for a road. When the words meta and odos are compounded into one word, as in Ephesians 6: 11, it literally means with a road. You’ve probably already figured out that the word methodos is where we get the word “method.” Some translations actually translate the word methodos as the word “method,” but the word “method” is not strong enough to convey the full meaning of the Greek word methodos.”
— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner
https://a.co/6kSMvol
Ephesians 6:11 (AMP)
11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
Satan’s major road into you is to put a thought into your mind, and a feeling in your emotions and your body.
Don’t forget that he is a liar and a thief!
3. Worry intoxicates us mentally!
The reason Satan attacks you with thoughts and feelings is that it is an easy way to get you off track and away from faith in God!
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Sober –
nēphō – Free from intoxicants.
“Be free from mental intoxication.”
4. The prayer of faith releases you from fear and pride into faith!
1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV)
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Pride is doing life independently of God’s help and power.
Habakkuk 2:4 (AMP)
Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, but the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God].
Worry feeds pride because it overlooks God’s desire to help you!
Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Proverbs 3:5-8 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! 8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
Someone said that humility is having the right estimation or opinion of yourself.
1 Peter 5:6
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
It takes humility to come before God with our needs and problems. We must acknowledge that we don’t have the answer and that He does!
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
All – The whole of your future worries…
Care – Merimna – to be drawn in two different directions, to be distracted.
Used in Matt. 13:22 (NLT)
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Used in Mark 4:19
And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Luke 21:34
Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,
For He cares for you…translations:
TCNT – HE makes you His care.
BECK- He takes care of you.
MOFFAT – His great interest is in you.
NEB – You are His charge.
KNOX – He is concerned for you.
Moffat
Let all your anxieties fall upon Him, for His great interest is in you.
Knox
Throw back on Him the burden of all your anxiety, for He is concerned for you.
Phillips
You can throw the weight of your anxiety upon Him, because He Himself cares for you.
Williams
Cast every worry you have upon Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 – AMPC
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Mark 11:24 (AMP)
For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
5. To clearly deal with worry:
1) Tell God the details of what bothers you. Give Him the exact thoughts of how what you are dealing with affects you and how it makes you feel.
2) Give the worry to Him and ask Him to solve or work out the problem – for your good and for His Glory.
3) Every time you think about the issue – remind the Lord that you have given Him that issue or worry, and that you believe He is working it out!
4) Praise and thank God the way you would if the problem was already solved.
Action Points:
- Make an itemized list of your top 5 concerns.
- Go before God in prayer and pour out the specific details to Him.
- Specifically ask Him to work the problem out. Set a mental image in your mind of seeing the problem completely solved.
- Every time it comes to your mind throughout the day, remind the Lord that you believe that He has it and has solved it by faith.
Tips For Developing Your Prayer Life (part 3)
Empowered To Win!
4.27.2025
5.4.2025
5.11.2025
Today I will begin on page 8 of this outline!
Introduction
I want to talk to you today about developing your personal prayer life.
E.W. Kenyon
Prayer should be as natural as breathing and enjoyable as eating!
One of the most important things we can do right now is develop our prayer life and keep it strong.
Don’t wait for the crisis of life to come to learn to pray. Learn to pray before the crisis, or you will be at a disadvantage.
God is a spirit. We are spirit, soul, and body.
We must learn how to spiritually connect with the Lord in prayer.
WiFi keeps people connected with all their apps and social media, prayer keeps you in touch with the creator of all that is!
That means we must push past our humanness, our flesh, and learn to commune with God.
A huge aid in this is the baptism with the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues.
The spiritual pressure has never been greater!
Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the power of God (Acts 1:8)
God wants you to talk to Him, to commune with Him!
Proverbs 15:8 (NKJV)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Proverbs 15:8 (BBE)
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
Get into the Word. Even better, get the Word into you! Then learn to pray!
In my first Bible School in SC, I heard this definition of prayer:
Prayer is praying in the name of Jesus, according to the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit, without ceasing.
Romans 12:12 (PHILLIPS)
Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come, endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.
A habit is something you do consistently without thinking a lot about it. It’s something you do that becomes part of your routine.
What kind of prayer habits do you have?
Have you developed your ability to pray?
I started my life praying:
Now I lay me down to sleep…
God is great! God is good, let us thank Him for our food…
Our Father, which art in heaven…
I’ve grown beyond that now. Have you?
In 1984, God dealt with me about getting up early to meet with Him, first of all in reading the Word, and then in prayer.
What is first in your life? Make me first in your day.
You wouldn’t think of leaving home in the morning without dressing yourself!
Start 5.4.2025
Samuel Chadwick
Satan fears nothing from prayerless studies, teaching, and preaching. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.
D.L. Moody
Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin cursed earth have been men and women of prayer.
E.M. Bounds
How we estimate and place prayer is how we estimate and place God. To give prayer a secondary place is to make God secondary in life’s affairs.
Years ago I had a dream that I was naked in public. Everyone but me was dressed for the day!
Would it not be crazy to leave home undressed?
We leave home spiritually naked without praying first!
We should not think of leaving home without praying about our day!
Pressure is best dealt with in prayer.
You deal with the demonic realm in prayer with oppression/depression/fear, panic attacks, etc.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The whole reason we put our spiritual clothes on everyday is so that we can pray and get answers!
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Again, we put on the armor of God so we can pray effectively!
We build up an ability to pray effectively over time.
It’s just like learning to drive a car. You learn by doing.
Isaiah 28:10 (NKJV)
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
Incremental maturity is a part of life, including our prayer life.
Mark 4:28 (NLT)
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
In most everything in life, we start small and grow.
I’ve been developing my praying for 48 plus years now.
Start where you are and develop your own prayer life.
And with prayer, it’s better “caught” than “taught.”
Question. What would keep you from our prayer meetings? Come if you are not working.
Here are 5 tips to help you grow in prayer.
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
Even though I have a church background as a child, I still had the idea that God sort of tolerated me, and that He loved me because He had to, not because He wanted to love me.
Your idea of what God is like often parallels your relationship with your human father/parents.
I found myself drawn to these scriptures that affirm God’s personal, individual love for us!
John 16:27 (NKJV)
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
John 16:27 (AMP)
For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
John 17:23 (NKJV)
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Psalms 103:8-13 (NKJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalms 103:13 (ESV)
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalms 145:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psalms 145:14-19 (NKJV)
The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Psalms 146:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
2. Get to know the scriptures that promise answered prayer.
Once you know that God loves you because He wants to, the next important thing is to change your views about answered prayer.
That is, develop your faith in answered prayer.
Don’t just pray to fulfill a duty. Pray with the expectation of an answer!
In church as a child I heard this about prayer: Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes God says no, and sometimes He says nothing.
We ended every prayer with if it be your will.
So prayer was sort of hit and miss. You just really never knew if God was going to answer your particular prayer.
If it was answered, it was His will. If it was not answered, it was not His will.
So, the idea I got was that God pretty much did what He wanted to do. It was all up to Him and I had little to do with it except to acknowledge that He is God and His ways are best. And I just need to accept whatever comes as His will.
Most of the religious world thinks that way.
But, what does God’s Word say?
What God’s Word says is SO different than what I just mentioned!
God wants to answer your prayer!
And, He said He would!
Matthew 21:22 (NKJV)
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV)
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:7 (NKJV)
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 16:22 (ESV)
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:23-24 (NKJV)
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 3:22-23 (NKJV)
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Build your faith up in answered prayer.
If you are like me, I had years of religious tradition to unseat in my mind!
Root it out of you with the Word!
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I have made these scriptures a part of me, so that any time a crisis arises, I am ready to pray!
I encourage you to make faith in God to answer prayer a part of your consciousness!
Start 5.11.2025
5 tips to help you grow in prayer.
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
2. Get to know the scriptures that promise answered prayer.
God wants to answer prayer. Kick out your religious traditions and expect answers.
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
3. Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
It takes time to learn to communicate with the Lord.
God is a Spirit being.
We are spirit beings.
Spirit beings communicate with Words.
God communicates with us through the Holy Spirit in our Spirit.
John 14:26 (NKJV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
The more acquainted we are with God’s Word, the more we will hear Him speak to us!
In my early 20’s I became a bit concerned that God was not speaking to me!
Others were saying that the Lord said this and that, but I heard nothing.
But I did have scripture come to my mind fairly regularly. And then it dawned on me that God WAS speaking to me – through His Word!
Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV)
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Notice Jesus’ prayer life:
Matthew 14:23 (NKJV)
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Mark 1:35 (NKJV)
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 5:16 (NKJV)
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 9:18 (NKJV)
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Luke 6:12 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
What do you consider your private place of prayer?
It may be an upstairs room away from everyone.
It may be a walk. I started out going on walks in my neighborhood so that I would not fall asleep while praying!
I like to kneel to pray. When I trained my body not to fall asleep, I started a habit of praying on my knees many years ago.
Recently, I started walking in the morning and praying. Find what works for you.
I encourage a solitary place and not just praying on the run, like on your commute to work. I do that too, but I also have solitary time.
The idea is to be with God without distractions.
Take a list with you of pressing items and issues.
Pray for authorities!
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV)
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Over a dozen years ago, I began praying for God to bring to light corruption in our US government. And it’s happening now.
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV)
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Pray for God’s Kingdom to come to earth!
Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Pray for individuals:
Believers:
Ephesians 1:15-23 (NKJV)
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of y16 ou in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV)
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Colossians 1:9-11 (NKJV)
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
For Christians out of fellowship with God:
Pray for the jealous love of God to draw them back to Him and to give them a desire to repent of their sins and wrong life choices.
James 4:5 (AMP)
Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?
Exodus 20:5 (NCV)
You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…
James 4:5 (BBE)
Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?
Pray for those who need Christ:
1) Ask God to draw them to Him:
John 6:44 (NLT)
For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.
John 6:65 (NLT)
Then He said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
2) Command Satan to take His hands off of their mind:
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV)
Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
3) Pray that people will cross their path to share Jesus with them:
Matthew 9:37-38 (NKJV)
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Susan and I pray together too, but we have our own solitary time as well.
The more frequently you talk to someone, the deeper the conversation. Closeness in fellowship with the Lord grows with frequency.
And times of silence don’t bother you. Susan and I talk all the time, so when we’re together and don’t talk, it’s ok.
4. Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
Start with thanksgiving and praise.
Psalms 100:4 (NKJV)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Then just tell Him what is happening, how it concerns you, and ask Him to work it out!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 (PHILLIPS)
Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (PHILLIPS)
You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
This is really the prayer of faith.
With the prayer of faith, you pray and expect that God at that moment has answered your prayer!
Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Whenever those personal things come to mind, remind the Lord of what you have asked for, and thank Him for doing it!
5. Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
I pray in the spirit under my breath when I’m in the grocery store, or working in the yard, or doing something around the house. The idea is to stay in fellowship with God your Father all day long!
Smith Wigglesworth
I don’t usually pray more than 30 minutes, but I never go more than 30 minutes without praying!
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
2. Get to know the scriptures that promise answered prayer.
3. Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
4. Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
5. Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
Action Points:
1. Is your prayer life growing, or has it remained about the same?
2. Can you easily approach God as your Father?
3. Do you expect answers when you pray?
4. Do you seek to keep an unconscious attitude of prayer going throughout your day?
Tips For Developing Your Prayer Life (part 2)
5.4.2025
Introduction
I want to talk to you today about developing your personal prayer life.
E.W. Kenyon
Prayer should be as natural as breathing and enjoyable as eating!
One of the most important things we can do right now is develop our prayer life and keep it strong.
Don’t wait for the crises of life to come to learn to pray. Learn to pray before the crisis, or you will be at a disadvantage.
God is a spirit. We are spirit, soul, and body.
We must learn how to spiritually connect with the Lord in prayer.
WiFi keeps people connected with all their apps and social media; prayer keeps you in touch with the Creator of all that is!
That means we must push past our humanness, our flesh, and learn to commune with God.
A huge aid in this is the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues.
The spiritual pressure has never been greater!
Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the power of God. (Acts 1:8)
God wants you to talk to Him, to commune with Him!
Proverbs 15:8 (NKJV)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Proverbs 15:8 (BBE)
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
Get into the Word. Even better, get the Word into you! Then learn to pray!
In my first Bible School in SC, I heard this definition of prayer:
Prayer is praying in the name of Jesus, according to the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit, without ceasing.
Romans 12:12 (PHILLIPS)
Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come, endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.
A habit is something you do consistently without thinking a lot about it. It’s something you do that becomes part of your routine.
What kind of prayer habits do you have?
Have you developed your ability to pray?
I started my life praying:
Now I lay me down to sleep…
God is great! God is good, let us thank Him for our food…
Our Father, which art in heaven…
I’ve grown beyond that now. Have you?
In 1984, God dealt with me about getting up early to meet with Him, first of all in reading the Word, and then in prayer.
What is first in your life? Make me first in your day.
You wouldn’t think of leaving home in the morning without dressing yourself!
5/4/2025 Start
Samuel Chadwick
Satan fears nothing from prayerless studies, teaching, and preaching. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.
D.L. Moody
Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin cursed earth have been men and women of prayer
E.M. Bounds
How we estimate and place prayer is how we estimate and place God. To give prayer a secondary place is to make God secondary in life’s affairs.
We should not think of leaving home without praying about our day!
You deal with the demonic realm in prayer with oppression/depression/fear, panic attacks, etc.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
We put on the armor of God so we can pray effectively!
We build up an ability to pray effectively over time.
It’s just like learning to drive a car. You learn by doing.
Isaiah 28:10 (NKJV)
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.
Incremental maturity is a part of life, including our prayer life.
Mark 4:28 (NLT)
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
In most everything in life, we start small and grow.
I’ve been developing my praying for 48 plus years now.
Start where you are, and develop your own prayer life.
Here are 5 tips to help you grow in prayer:
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
Even though I have a church background as a child, I still had the idea that God sort of tolerated me, and that He loved me because He had to, not because He wanted to love me.
Your idea of what God is like often parallels your relationship with your human father/parents.
I found myself drawn to these scriptures that affirm God’s personal, individual love for us!
John 16:27 (NKJV)
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
John 16:27 (AMPC)
For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
John 17:23 (NKJV)
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Psalms 103:8-13 (NKJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalms 103:13 (ESV)
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalms 145:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psalms 145:14-19 (NKJV)
The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Psalms 146:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
2. Get to know the scriptures that promise answered prayer.
Once you know that God loves you because He wants to, the next important thing is to change your views about answered prayer.
That is, develop your faith in answered prayer.
In church as a child I heard this about prayer: Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes God says no, and sometimes He says nothing.
So prayer was sort of hit and miss. You just really never knew if He was going to answer your particular prayer. If it was answered, it was His will. If it was not answered, it was not His will.
So, the idea I got was that God pretty much did what He wanted to do. It was all up to Him, and I had little to do with it, except to acknowledge that He is God and His ways are best. And I just need to accept whatever comes as His will.
Most of the religious world thinks that way.
But, what does God’s Word say?
What God’s Word says is SO different than what I just mentioned!
Matthew 21:22 (NKJV)
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Mark 11:24 (NKJV)
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV)
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:7 (NKJV)
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 16:22 (ESV)
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:23-24 (NKJV)
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 3:22-23 (NKJV)
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I have made these scriptures a part of me, so that any time a crisis arises, I am ready to pray!
I encourage you to make faith in God to answer prayer a part of your consciousness!
3. Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV)
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Notice Jesus’ prayer life:
Matthew 14:23 (NKJV)
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Mark 1:35 (NKJV)
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 5:16 (NKJV)
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 9:18 (NKJV)
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Luke 6:12 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
What do you consider your private place of prayer?
It may be an upstairs room away from everyone.
It may be a walk. I started out going on walks in my neighborhood so that I would not fall asleep while praying!
I like to kneel to pray. When I trained my body not to fall asleep, I started a habit of praying on my knees many years ago.
Recently, I started walking in the morning and praying. Find what works for you.
I encourage a solitary place and not just praying on the run, like on your commute to work. I do too, but I also have solitary time.
Susan and I pray together too, but we have our own solitary time as well.
The more frequently you talk to someone, the deeper the conversation.
And times of silence don’t bother you. Susan and I talk all the time, so when we’re together and don’t talk, it’s ok.
4. Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
Start with thanksgiving and praise.
Psalms 100:4 (NKJV)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Then just tell Him what is happening, how it concerns you, and ask Him to work it out!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 (PHILLIPS)
Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (PHILLIPS)
You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
5. Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
I pray in the spirit under my breath when I’m in the grocery store, or working in the yard, or doing something around the house. The idea is to stay in fellowship with God your Father all day long!
Smith Wiggleswort:h
I don’t usually pray more than 30 minutes, but I never go more than 30 minutes without praying!
- Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
- Get to know the scriptures tht promise answered prayer.
- Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
- Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
- Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
Action Points:
- Is your prayer life growing, or has it remained about the same?
- Can you easily approach God as your Father?
- Do you expect answers when you pray?
- Do you seek to keep an unconscious attitude of prayer going throughout your day?
Tips For Developing Your Prayer Life
4.27.2025
Introduction
I want to talk to you today about developing your personal prayer life.
One of the most important things we can do right now is develop our prayer life and keep it strong.
The spiritual pressure has never been greater!
Don’t wait for the crisis of life to come to learn to pray. Learn to pray before the crisis, or you will be at a disadvantage.
Proverbs 15:8 (NKJV)
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Proverbs 15:8 (BBE)
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
Get into the Word. Even better, get the Word into you! Then learn to pray!
In my first Bible School in SC, I heard this definition of prayer:
Prayer is praying in the name of Jesus, according to the Word of God, by the Holy Spirit, without ceasing.
Romans 12:12 (PHILLIPS)
Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come, endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.
What kind of prayer habits do you have?
Have you developed your ability to pray?
I started my life praying – Now I lay me down to sleep…God is great! God is good, let us thank Him for our food…Our Father, which art in heaven…
I’ve grown beyond that now. Have you?
In 1984, God dealt with me about getting up early to meet with Him, first of all in reading the Word, and then in prayer.
You wouldn’t think of leaving home in the morning without dressing yourself!
We should not think of leaving home without praying about our day!
You deal with the demonic realm in prayer oppression/depression/fear panic attacks, etc
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
We build up an ability to pray effectively over time.
Just like learning to drive a car, you learn by doing.
Isaiah 28:9-10 (NKJV)
Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
Incremental maturity is a part of life, including our prayer life.
Mark 4:28 (NLT)
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
In most everything in life, we start small and grow.
I’ve been developing my praying for 48 plus years now.
Start where you are and develop your own prayer life.
Here are 4 tips to help you grow in prayer:
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
Even though I have a church background as a child, I still had the idea that God sort of tolerated me, and that He loved me because He had to, not because He wanted to love me.
John 16:27 (NKJV)
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
John 16:27 (AMP)
For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
John 17:23 (NKJV)
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Psalms 103:8-13 (NKJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalms 145:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psalms 145:14-19 (NKJV)
The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Psalms 146:8-9 (NKJV)
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD raises those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
2. Get to know the scriptures that promise answered prayer.
In church as a child I heard this about prayer: Sometimes God says yes, sometimes God says no, and sometimes He says nothing.
So prayer was sort of hit and miss. You just really never knew if He was going to answer your particular prayer. If it was answered, it was His will. If it was not answered, it was not His will.
So, the idea I got was that God pretty much did what He wanted to do. It was all up to Him and I had little to do with it, except to acknowledge that He is God and His ways are best. And I just need to accept whatever comes as His will.
Most of the religious world thinks that way.
But, what does God’s Word say?
What God’s Word says is SO different than what I just mentioned!
Matthew 21:22
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV)
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 16:23-24
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 3:22-23
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 5:14-15
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Faith for answered prayer comes from knowing the Word of God about prayer.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I have made these scriptures a part of me, so that any time a crisis arises, I am ready to pray!
3. Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV)
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Matthew 14:23 (NKJV)
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Mark 1:35 (NKJV)
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 5:16 (NKJV)
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 9:18 (NKJV)
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Luke 6:12 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
What do you consider your private place of prayer? It may be an upstairs room away from everyone.
It may be a walk. I started out going on walks in my neighborhood so that I would not fall asleep while praying!
I like to kneel to pray. When I trained my body not to fall asleep, I started a habit of praying on my knees many years ago.
Recently, I started walking in the morning and praying. Find what works for you.
I encourage a solitary place and not just praying on the run, like on your commute to work. I do too, but I also have solitary time.
Susan and I pray together too, but we have our own solitary time as well.
The more frequently you talk to someone, the deeper the conversation.
And times of silence don’t bother you. Susan and I talk all time, so when we’re together and don’t talk, it’s ok.
4. Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
Start with thanksgiving and praise.
Psalms 100:4 (NKJV)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Then just tell Him what is happening, how it concerns you, and ask Him to work it out!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 (PHILLIPS)
Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (PHILLIPS)
You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)
Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
5. Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
I pray in the spirit under my breath when I’m in the grocery store, or working in the yard, or doing something around the house. The idea is to stay in fellowship with God your Father all day long!
Smith Wigglesworth:
I don’t usually pray more than 30 minutes, but I never go more than 30 minutes without praying!
1. Meditate the scriptures about God’s Fatherly love for you.
2. Get to know the scriptures tht promise answered prayer.
3. Find a private place, and begin respectfully to talk to God in conversational tones.
4. Start talking to Him about your most pressing needs. Ask and expect Him to answer!
5. Keep an unconscious attitude of prayer, praise and thanksgiving throughout the day.
Action Points:
1. Is your prayer life growing, or has it remained about the same?
2. Can you easily approach God as your Father?
3. Do you expect answers when you pray?
4. Do you seek to keep an unconscious attitude of prayer going throughout your day?