POWER PRAYER (PART 2)

I am celebrating Easter in Brisbane, Australia. Easter is a wonderful time to remember what Jesus has done for us at the cross. I will be in the Gold Coast, Australia for Easter with my friends from Australia and New Zealand. Below are recent photos of my time in Asia. I hope you will be inspired by a message I wrote called "Power Prayer".

POWER PRAYER

I believe no one wants a powerless prayer! We don’t want our prayers to fall to the ground or vanish into thin air. We want our prayers to make an impact in our lives, family, community and the nations. God is looking for people who can partner with Him to change heaven and earth through prayer. Read James 5:16-18 & 1 King 18:41-45

James 5:16-18 (New International Version)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

1 Kings 18:41-45 (New International Version)

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' " Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

I like to share some three principles for Power Prayers

Power prayer involves having a righteous heart

Our prayers become powerful and effective when we maintain a consistent relationship with God. We need to walk closely with God through prayer, bible reading and worship so we can know what the things that please and displease God are. Our sins, wrong attitudes or incorrect motives can block us from receiving the blessings of God. We need to confess our sins to God so the channel of communication with God can flow freely.

God is a holy and sin will separate us from God. The prayer of a righteous person will prevail.

Power prayer involves having faith

Elijah was an ordinary man like us but he had exceptional trust in God’s love and power. He had an intimate relationship with God. Elijah believed in the words of God that famine and rain will come at the appointed time. When it was God’s time to send the rain, Elijah believed and prayed for a miracle. Sometimes, it is difficult to believe in God’s blessings when you experience a drought for a long time. Our past or present experiences can cause us to doubt God’s ability to provide or bless us.

Elijah believed God could do all things and we need to have the same attitude of faith in God as well.

Power prayers involves having persistence

Don’t give up! How often have we wanted to give up praying when we didn’t receive an instant answer from God? Elijah had to pray seven times for the rain to come. Imagine what would have happened if Elijah gave up praying on the sixth attempt? The land would have continued to be drought-stricken and the people will have continued to suffer. Rather, Elijah kept praying on his knees until God answered his prayer. He trusted for God’s timing to answer his prayer.

God is looking for people who will continue and persist in prayer for miracles, breakthroughs and blessings.

THE FINISH LINE

I had a relaxing afternoon with my brother in Perth, Australia. He took some photos of me on Swan River Foreshore. Perth is a beautiful city with nice scenery. This is my second time visiting Perth. I beginning to fall in love with this city. The Chinese restaurants in Perth are very good too.


THE FINISH LINE

We all have a God-given race to run and finish in this life on earth. Read Philippians 3:12-14. We need to run with an eye on crossing the finish line and receiving the prize from God.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14

I would like to share three ways to cross the finish line for God;

Cross the finish line with Christ

How do we define our success in life? Is it through our status, popularity or wealth? Life is more than just becoming successful and prosperous. It is about knowing and experiencing God. Apostle Paul was a successful person in life. He had accomplished many great things as a Pharisee and later became the founder of many churches. In spite of all his achievements, his main purpose was to know Christ. He ran the race of life with an objective of knowing God more intimately. Don’t neglect God because He wants to assist us in the race.

Cross the finish line looking forward

We cannot drive a vehicle and look back at the same time; otherwise we will have an accident. We need to forget the things of the past that would act as a stumbling block to our future. Apostle Paul had his past: he was a persecutor of the church. He even approved the murder of Stephen in the book of Acts. He went around arresting and putting Christians in prisons. However, once he had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he decided to leave his past behind and serve God.

After I accepted Christ, I had to ask God to help take away my fears and insecurities. I was afraid of many things in life: fear of failures, fear of people, and fear of the future. I was also an insecure person because I did not know my gifting and self-identity. God slowly began to change my thinking and attitudes about myself through the Bible. I did not allow fear and insecurity to stop me from being a new creation in Christ.

Every day, I rely on the grace and power of God to remove my fears and insecurities. Instead, through him, I strive for a better future.

Cross the finish line with heaven rewards

Motivation is so important in life! We need godly motivation to give excitement and inspiration to live this life. Apostle Paul was motivated to serve God because he knew that there was heaven awaiting him after life on earth. Life on earth is short and what we done on earth for God and others will be greatly rewarded in heaven.

HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE

Busselton is really a beautiful coastal town in Western Australia. The beach in Busselton has the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere with almost two kilometers in length. I really enjoy swimming on the beach with Pastor Nigel's family. I took some photos of the scenery on the beach for memory. I love traveling in the country towns of Australia.

Every now and then you listen to a worship song that really touches your hearts and brings tears. I love this song by New Life Worship called "Here in your presence". This song really speaks about the blessings of coming into the presence of God. This song inspired me to draw closer to God for strength, joy and power. I can sing it for a very long time and allow God to refresh me. I pray that you will be inspired to draw closer to God through this song.

Psalm 27:4 (New International Version)

4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE (Music Video)

HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE (Lyric)

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence
Heaven in trembling in awe of Your wonders
the kings and their kingdom are standing amazed

Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Bridge:
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

GROWING FAITH

I had a lovely day on the beach near Busselton, Western Australia with Pastor Nigel, Sandy and their children. It is good to be back in Australia again. The weather in Western Australia is nice and warm. I have been swimming in the pool and the beach for the last few days. I went out for dinner after swimming on the beach with Pastor Nigel's family. I enjoy eating western cuisine in Australia. Ps Nigel and Sandy have five children. I love Joshua and Sarah. They are so cute! See photos.



GROWING FAITH

How is your faith today compared to yesterday, last week or last year? Are you learning to trust in God more today than yesterday? Do you experience God’s grace, provision, wisdom and anointing at an increasing measure? Do you desire to grow more and more in faith as you journey through life with God?

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 2Th 1:4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 2 Thes 1:3-4

I would like to share three vital principles to have growing faith;

A growing faith needs developing

For trust to grow there must be an element of a relationship involved. It is difficult for a child to trust in his parents if he only sees them once a week or once a year. A child needs to experience the parents’ instruction, wisdom and love. In order for us to trust God more, we need to grow in our relationship with God. The Bible in Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing the word of God. We can hear from God through prayer, reading and studying the Bible, and praise and worship. Make a decision today to make hearing God a lifestyle. We don’t need to be legalistic in our relationship with God by sticking to a rigid program. I like the lifestyle approach when it comes to building relationship with God. I like to pray, read the Word and worship God during my day. I allow God to be in every part of my life and not just on Sunday.

A growing faith needs perseverance

We need to persevere in order to grow in faith. Sometimes, we get discouraged or stop trusting God because we have not seen God’s words or promises come to pass. We doubt God’s love and wisdom because we don’t like delayed promises. In the past 21 years of my Christian life, I discovered that God’s timing is always perfect. God has perfect timing for my university studies, career and ministry. God is not interested in our successes only but He is interested in our spiritual and character development. We need to press toward the vision and goals that God has given, no matter how long it takes. Abraham had to persevere for 25 years before he saw God’s promises fulfilled: through his son Isaac.

A growing faith needs trials

No one likes to grow through discomfort, trials, challenges, and difficulties in life. We like a smooth road that leads to the final destination. I am a frequent flyer and I face turbulence regularly during my flights. I think it is a part of life to experience some turbulent and unexpected occurrences. The rough roads and turbulence in life will help us to rely more on God. We learn to overcome challenges with the wisdom and grace of God. Our faith in God grows much more when we experience God’s faithfulness and victory in times of trials.

Let’s determine in our hearts to have a growing faith rather than a stagnant faith in 2010. We will receive many blessings when we learn to walk in greater faith in God.