FROM THE GENERAL OVERSEER,
Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina
GOFAMINT

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Sunday 28^th  August, 2016.

“…pray without ceasing…” (1 Thess. 5:17)

The importance and necessity of prayer in a Christian life cannot be over-emphasized.  A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.  The above topic is only a verse of three words in the Bible and probably one of the shortest verses in the Bible next to John 11:35 which has only two words – ‘Jesus wept.’ 

To pray without ceasing is an attitude which each Christian needs to develop.  Real Christians don’t just wait till they are in trouble before they pray, no, they pray always.  A Christian who prays shows that he arms himself always, the world is a battle field and there is a lot the Christian needs to pray for.  There is always the need to pray for, our spiritual growth, our social and material needs, the church, our nation, our government, the salvation of unbelievers, church service, the sick, the helpless and all the rest.  This means that prayer is a petition, intercession, supplication, thanksgiving and even a discussion.  There is nothing too big or too small to put in prayer.  A Christian needs to pray because there is the devil – the archenemy of all Christians.  

The Bible commands us to pray, God’s way to communicate our needs to Him is prayer.  The devil recognizes this and therefore hinders or prevents us from praying by keeping us busy in the trivial which may not benefit us in any form.  You must not be lazy in praying.  In 1 Tim. 2:8 apostle Paul says, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without doubting” (KJV).  Praying is not the duty of men alone it is for both men and women.  Women were among the one-hundred and twenty people in the upper room praying until the Holy Spirit descended from heaven. 

Susana Wesley had nineteen children and it is believed that she spent one hour every day in prayer no wonder she raised the Wesleys who the Lord used to shake the world of their time.  The prayer we are talking about is not just the survival or the so-called violent prayers most people engage in these days, cursing their enemies and asking God to rain fire on them, this is unscriptural.   It is the prayer of concern and passion for this perishing world that turns her deaf ears to God and his servants.  This is apparently the need of the hour.  You need to pray.  The Lord Jesus Himself said, “man ought always to pray, and not to faint, He also told the story of a widow and a judge to illustrate the need for constant prayer (Lk. 18:1-8).

As you pray, you should also ensure that you remove what poses hindrance to prayer and avoid it. God has ear to listen, if you have time to pray.  The word of God urges us to pray for one another (Jas. 5:16).  Start praying today.

SUGGESTIONS:

1.         Create a quite time for prayer.

11.       Stop wasting your time on Television programmes which may not help your spiritual growth.

111.     Cultivate the habit of praying quietly even when you are at work or in the bus, God will hear and answer.

Let us pray.

(1)    As you pray to God, your prayers shall be answer in Jesus name.

(2)    God will bless you with what money can buy and what money cannot buy as you pray in Jesus name.

(3)    You will not pray amiss in Jesus name.