The Word

Sunday Bulletin-25 February 2024

Senior Pastor Daniel O. C. | Feb 25, 2024


THE COMBINED FORCES OF PRAYER, CONSECRATION & FAITH

Beloved,

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them” (Mark 11:24).

We need the same Jesus who created our hearts to keep our hearts clean. Cleansing grace, like any other grace, is obtained through faith (Mark 11:24 / Matthew 16:25-28). The divine principle for receiving anything is: “Be it unto you according to your faith.” If you have faith to tap from God for a purified heart, you will surely be a person with a pure heart.

God has promised to sanctify His children. Jesus prayed for us to be sanctified and paid the price for us. (Deuteronomy 30:6 / John 17:17 / Hebrews 13:12). It is time for us to appropriate from the Lord all that He has planned for us, and that includes a pure heart. Remember that God says He will not forsake a broken heart and a contrite spirit. No man or woman can be cleansed if they allow any member of their body to be an instrument of sin, whether privately or publicly. Don’t be among those who hear the Word of God preached on Sunday and yet continue to live a life of flesh throughout the week. Do you love this present world and hate the world to come? I pose these questions often to people: “Will you attend church again if I were to do what you do? Would you be happy to introduce me as your pastor if I were to use the words you use?” If not, why don’t you make up your mind to live right? Why can’t you live for Jesus? Why not cause people to say that they thank God for you?

In Romans 12:1-2, the Bible tells us to present ourselves as a holy sacrifice unto God, renewing our minds so that we do not conform to the world. Regardless of what you go through, just live for God alone. If you have a pure heart, you may still have anger but it would be godly anger only. This kind of anger is manifested when there is sin, whereas ungodly anger is expressed when you throw your weight around to show that you are the boss. Separate yourself from the world and do not touch any unclean thing, and the Lord will be your God (Genesis 15:9-11 / 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 / Job 31:1).

The quality and quantity of our prayers and faith will be determined by the value we place on holiness. When you pray for mosquitoes to go away, do they go or do you end up with more of them? In a luxurious house, there are vessels of honour and dishonour. Which will you be?

The quality of our prayers and faith is also determined by our realisation that sacrifice to God without a pure heart is futile. (Genesis 32:24-26 / 1 Samuel 1:10-11) The Bible tells us that the prayer of an unbeliever or a wicked person is an abomination to God. Conversely, the Lord honours you when you honour Him.

Yours for the kingdom of God,
Dr. Daniel O. C.

(a selected portion from my book, “A GROWING PRAYER LIFE”)

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