* Then . . .

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, 

and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, 

when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:12-13

How do I get to "then"?

I would like to encourage everyone to be faithful to believe; to get into the timing of God; to trust Him no matter what the circumstance may be.

Often times, we become discouraged because things don’t happen in our life according to the time frame or the schedule that we've mapped out for ourselves and because of this, we have a tendency to misdirect our focus or attention away from the intention of God. But, we have to realize that God is an all knowing; all seeing, all capable God who is constantly working on our behalf.  

How do we know this?  Through our consecration; the closer we get to God, the more easily it becomes to hear him, the easier it becomes to see His hand in our situation.

This means if you are abiding in Christ you can ask and it shall be done. IF you are walking in obedience to God's Word, then you can ask with assurance in the name of Jesus.  The bible tells us

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)

This is when you have consecrated your life to God; when your lifestyle is one of consecration. 

To believe otherwise is a setup for failure.  God’s will; His intention for our lives is so clearly spelled out in His word:  love, obedience, prayer, worship, praise, meditation, study of his word and application of the same.  These things should not only dominate our life, everything in our life should revolve around it.   

Apostle Paul lets us know that we are to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Holy without blemishes

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:17

It takes much prayer, fervent prayer to not only get to that place but to stay in that place.  

Prayer is part of the maintenance plan of consecration 

just as consecration builds our prayer life.  

Being consecrated keeps us in the shadow of the almighty. Our prayers become more God centered and less self centered as God reveals Himself to us more and more.

So, I encourage each of you this morning to take a deliberate stance to consecrate yourselves; to become a living sacrifice, to empty yourself so that you can be filled with God! We want to be like the 5 wise virgins who were prepared to meet the groom when he came. We don’t want to delay the plans that God has for us.


Let’s pray

Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to once again come before You in prayer. We thank You Lord for one more day; for the dawning of this day; for allowing us to see another day; for keeping us through the night, for watching over us, for keeping us from hurt, harm and danger; for allowing us to wake in our right mind, with our health and our strength and a desire to serve You. 

And now Lord, we look to You for our strength; You say in Your word that power belongs to You. So then Lord we know that whatever we need, You are able through Your sovereignty. We believe in Your word Oh God and have faith to believe that all things are possible through You. In all things we trust You. In the good times and the bad times, when things are going our way and even when they seemingly are not, our trust; our hope is still in You. Help us to understand and believe that all things are working together for the good – even when we can’t see it Lord, when everything is chaotic around us, when we are confused and discombobulated . Help us Lord to be faithful to believe in You and Your word to remain steadfast in you.

We trust You Lord God for our healing; healing in our body, in our finances, emotionally and mentally.  We beseech you Lord on behalf of all the many names that have been presented for pray that you move on their behalf.  Remember those among us that are in need of a touch from You Lord.  We call on You as our Jehovah Rapha; our healer.

Lord, we know that all things are possible through You. Teach us patience Lord to abide in Your timing; trusting and believing that You are able to bring us to that expected end; to that which You have ordained and purposed for us. Let Your perfect will be done in our life. Help us Lord to give ourselves to you as living sacrifices!  Let Your will be the ruling force in our lives. Process a ‘yes’ in us; a yes to Your will, a yes to Your way, a yes to Your word. Help us to be obedient to Your word at all times and in all situations so that we can be all that You require us to be. We are Your instruments to be used for Your glory. Let Your glory be revealed through us.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  Romans 6:13

Lord,  we thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. When we trust in You, Your goodness and mercy, they follow us.  Even as You’re faithful to forgive, help us to be forgiving, help us to be faithful to believe in You and Your word. Help us to believe in Your sovereignty; that all things are possible through You. Help us to keep holding on to You; take away the spirit of defeat. We shouldn't worry because You said in Your word that we have victory in You. Help our unbelief Lord. Take us to a higher place in You.

Lord we worship and adore You. We worship You Lord, You’re so holy that there is none like You, we love You Lord. Nothing compares to You. We bless Your holy name. Lord Your name is far above all other names. Lord You said that if we lift You up that You would draw all men unto you. Don’t let us forget that it’s not about us, but about Your manifested glory.

You gave us the precious gift of the Holy Ghost so that we would have power to witness unto all men. We’re on the battle field; soldiers for You; help us to stay directed and focused on You and the battle that is waging around us. Help us to be the light in this world filled with sin; darkened by iniquity and polluted by evil. Help us to stand up and proclaim Your name in our speech and in our actions. Lord, where ever we go, in our homes, on our jobs, where ever we go, let your glory be revealed; make us glory carriers for You; willing and able instruments.

Lord, even now, through the authority we have in the name of Jesus, we plead the blood against every thing that is not like You. Lord we’re  asking that You intercede on behalf of our youth; loose the bonds that are enslaving our children, give them a hunger and thirst for You Lord, for righteousness. Help the parents and those in leadership to raise them and train them in Your ways; to teach them to love and serve You. Lord give us a passion to work for You, to be about your business.  Help us to be willing, submissive and obedient servants to you.

In all things Lord, we acknowledge You and look to You for direction. We pray for our spiritual leaders and pastors that You keep them covered in the blood. Lord we pray that You lift a standard of holiness among our pastors and shepherds, Lord that they remain humble in Your sight and that they do according to Your will; never forgetting that it is no goodness of our own, but through Your grace and your mercy that we live, move and have our very being.   Lord we ask that you intervene on behalf of our governmental leaders; that you place God fearing men and women among them.

Because of who You are Lord, we thank You, we give You the honor and the glory, we thank You for Your sovereignty. We thank you Lord, because in the midst of it all, Lord, I know that You are with us. We thank You for the plan that You've designed for each one of our lives. We thank you Lord because we know that Your will is good, it is acceptable and it is perfect.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Romans 12:2

Lord we pray for every person that doesn't know You, Lord, that You deal with them in such a way that they see You and recognize You for who You are. Give them a desire; a hunger and a thirst for You. Help us Lord on this battlefield of unsaved souls; help us to be fully adorned in Your armor so that we are a help and not a hindrance to those that are lost and need You. Help them who are distressed over the cares of the world. Loose the bonds of worry; redirect their thoughts to You. You said in Your word that in all our ways, we are to acknowledge You and it’s You that will direct our path.  

My continuous petition before You, Lord, is that the body of Christ keep our trust and our hope firmly in You; that we don’t waver, that we don’t become deceived by the enemy, but rather we become an anointed, consecrated force to be reckoned with as we move and operate in Your power.

In Your name Lord, we thank you for all that You’ve done, all that you’re doing and all that you’re going to do; in your name, Jesus, we pray, amen.

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 
which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: 
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Romans 12:1-2

God bless you all.

Elder C. L. Henry

* Trusting the Will of God

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 

Jeremiah 17:7 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot continue to live in sin and think just because we ask in the name of Jesus we will be granted our requests. In accordance to the word of God, tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believers.

. . .  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

It is the prayers of righteous men and women that avail with God:

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  John 15:7

This means IF you are abiding in Christ you can ask and it shall be done. IF you are walking in obedience to God's Word, then you can ask with assurance in the name of Jesus.

Some will disagree with this Biblical teaching. They will say you can ask ANYTHING in the name of Jesus and it will be done.  But that would imply that God acquiesces to our will when the bible clearly indicates that we are to submit our will to His will. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2

When you are presumptuous in your prayer without submitting your requests to God’s will, He may answer your requests, but it may not be in your best interests. He did this with the children of Israel in the wilderness experience when they prayed out of the lust of their flesh:

And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.   Psalms 106:15

And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.  And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.  And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.  Numbers 11:31-33

But, if you trust in God, in His will, you will find yourself strengthened as did Apostle Paul when he put in his prayer request; not once, but three times and He did not get the response he was looking for.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

But that did not stop Apostle Paul. He did not lose faith, in fact, he was strengthened because of it.

If our faith is based on the premise that God can do and will do anything that we ask, we have created a recipe for disappointment and loss of faith. This is bible. God is sovereign and yes He can do anything, He is capable and able to do anything.  

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  

But that does not mean that it is an automatic that He will. 

The three Hebrew captives acknowledged that though God is capable of the impossible does not mean that he will always do the impossible according to our desires and requests as they were faced with the fiery furnace:

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  Daniel 3:17-18

 The catch is that He does what He does according to His will, not our will. We have to trust His will with every aspect of our lives and every fiber of our being including what we pray for or about.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 7:7

To believe otherwise is a setup for failure. Not only will it disturb and cancel out the peace of God that is promised to us, it leads to disappointment and a loss of faith.

Further reflection on the three Hebrew captives, the bible records that they trusted God despite the obstacle.  Their demonstration of their obedience to God and their reliance in Him when they refused to bow to false Gods at the King's request and subsequently were thrown into a fiery furnace.  Their response to this ultimatum demonstrated their trust in God.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.     Daniel 3:16

Their trust in God, which was first spoken and then demonstrated by their actions allowed the glory of God to be manifested.

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.  Daniel 3:28

When you trust in God, then you trust the will He has for you and your life and the responses to your requests.

Trusting God’s will is paramount.  If you’re not going to trust His will, then what is the point of praying?  We have to realize that all the things that we go through are not always about us.  We may just be the instrument that God is using for His glory to be revealed,

Jesus trusted the will of God and made himself subject to it.  Jesus prayed:

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.  Luke 22:42

In the weakness of human flesh, Jesus did not want to suffer. He wanted the cup of suffering removed, but He submitted His will to God's will.   Why?  Because He wholeheartedly trusted in God.

Knowledge and experience builds our relationship with God.  It starts with trusting in Him.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Biblical Studies

07/20/19

06/02/21