Restoration of Apostolic Christianity

07 Mar Restoration of Apostolic Christianity

Restoration of Apostolic Christianity

 

We all hear of Protestant churches or Evangelical churches, then we hear of Pentecostal churches and the list goes on. What is not usually known is that these churches represent the restorative program of God that started many years ago after the so called “dark ages”.  God has been in the business of restoring truth that has been lost from the early days of the church that Jesus built.

 

Matthew 16:16-19

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

The present expression of the church today does not fit the picture we see in the book of Acts. There has been a series of restoration of both truth and practices that were lost. So with each truth restored, the expression and general practice of the church often reflected the restored truths. The Baptist church for example was “birthed” in the era of the restoration of the truth of water baptism. So the church was built around that truth.

 

Restoration of the place and purposes of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ- The global Church

 

So many truths have been restored and the present day structures are as a result of the truths restored. Truths like the baptism in the Holy Spirit has been restored and this gave birth to Pentecostal churches who believe in not just being born again but in being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. This has opened the Body of Christ to a whole new realm of spiritual experiences. The operations of the gifts of the Spirit as recorded in the book of Corinthians has been enhanced by the restoration of the truth, the experience and the release of God’s power where this truth is concerned.

 

Acts 1:8

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.”

 

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

1 Corinthians 12:3-11

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.

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

 

The restoration of the Pentecostal experience gave birth to the Pentecostal church.  After this came the restoration of the five fold offices.

 

Restoration of the 5-fold ministry offices

 

Ephesians 4:11-16

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

 

So the offices of the pastors, teachers and evangelist are now restored. It does not mean that some people were not functioning in these offices before they were fully recognised as being restored. People were functioning in them but the general understanding was limited so the offices were not maximised as they should have been.

Today the office, purpose and power of the apostles is being restored. He started the church with apostles and He is rounding up the program with how He started it. The first shall be the last indeed.

In the restoration of the office of the apostles, let it be on record that there are different categories of apostles. Jesus Himself stands at the top of the sent ones. He was sent by the Father God to pay the eternal sacrifice for the entire human race. No one stands in His place. Also the twelve apostles of the Lamb stand in a place that no one can share with them. They were eye witnesses of his death, burial and resurrection. Then the apostles who wrote the cannon of scriptures also stand in a place no other can stand. Along with the restoration of the office of the apostles come the restoration of apostolic Christianity. This represents the full restoration of all truths so the church can be like it was originally purposed.

 

Some characteristics of apostolic Christianity

 

These are observable characteristics: the “sent” mentality; God’s kingdom mindedness; unity amongst the believers; Christlikeness; Team Leadership; Prayerful lifestyle; Powerful experiences;

 

Sent Ones; God’s kingdom mindedness;

Apostles are sent ones. Apostolic Christianity has a sense of being sent to do the will of God and not to please oneself. Apostles were not sent so their needs will be met, but so that the kingdom of God advances. Apostolic Christianity is not centred around personal needs, even though it is God’s plan to meet our needs, it is not the goal. Seeking first the kingdom and its impact in the lives of others, comes before we consider the meeting of our needs.

 

Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Romans 14:17-18

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

 

Unity amongst the believers

Acts 1:14

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

This is found commonly amongst them. No strife, bitterness or envy or jealousy or any work of the flesh allowed amongst them. They all allowed the Holy Spirit to influence them internally and the were in agreement and in one accord with one another. This is one of the factors that led to answers to prayers.

 

Acts 4:23-31

Prayer for Boldness – And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

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.

 

Their companions did not criticise the others but were in agreement with what God was doing in their midst.

 

 

Christlikeness

God’s program is to restore mankind to how things were before the fall of man. God loves the world, He sent His Son. His Son came as His express image to show what God had in mind when He created mankind in His image. All sinned and fell short of that image and Christ came to restore that image so today being conformed to Christ is one major goal in Apostolic Christianity.

 

Genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

 

Romans 3:23-26

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

 

Hebrews 1:1-4

[God’s Supreme Revelation] God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

 

Team leadership

In days of our Lord Jesus on earth, He always sent them out in twos at the minimum. He always had a team of His disciples around Him. At gethsemane, for example, He had his closest ones around Him to pray with Him at the hour of need. When the early church started we see team leadership. Even though Peter was a spokesperson, we still see team work and harmony amongst them.

Acts 16:9-10

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

 

 

Powerful experiences borne out of corporate prayers. The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the expression of God’s power

 

Prayer releases Power. The Holy Spirit is the Agent of God involved in the release of power.

 

Acts 1:14

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

Acts 2:32-33

This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

 

Acts 2:42

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

Acts 4:31

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 6:3-4

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

 

 

Ephesians 5:18-21

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

 

Acts 16:25-26

[The Philippian Jailer Saved] But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

 

Learning the secrets of apostolic praying 

 

Luke 11:1-13 (NKJV)

The Model Prayer – Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

[A Friend Comes at Midnight] And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, “Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

[Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking] “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. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 

Examples of asking, seeking and knocking in the book of Daniel

 

Asking for favour

Daniel 1:8-10 (NKJV)

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

 

Seeking God for His mercies

Daniel 2:17-23 (NKJV)

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

 

Knocking down all obstacles…of fear, intimidation and idol worship

Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

 

In some cases it’s on the same subject we ask, seek and knock. We must realise the role and place of the Holy Spirit when we pray.

 

Ephesians 1:13-21 (NKJV)

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

[Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom] 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 you in my prayers: 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, 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, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 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.

 

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of wisdom and revelation, the enlightened eyes is a doing of the spirit of God . God’s inheritance in the saints can be defined by the Holy Spirit in us. He is the power that God used to raise Christ from the dead. He is the power at work towards us.

Prayers activate all these dimensions of the Holy Spirit in us!!!

 

Ephesians 3:20-21 (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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

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—

 

John 14:12-17 (NKJV)

[The Answered Prayer] “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. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

[Jesus Promises Another Helper] “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 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.

 

John 14:26-27

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. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

Acts 1:8

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.”

 

Power in prayer is established when we pray based on the Word, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

James 5:16-18

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 

John 15:7-8

If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

 

 

Hindrances to answers to prayers….

 

1. Preconceptions about God’s will. His will is contained in His word.

1 John 5:14-15

[Confidence and Compassion in Prayer] Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

 

2. Our sin consciousness.. it breeds a lack of confidence in God’s willingness to hear and answer our prayers…

1 John 1:7-10

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 John 3:8-9

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

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. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

 

3. Lack of boldness to ask… God is not limited like we are so let’s be bold to ask for big things…

Hebrews 4:14-16

[Our Compassionate High Priest] Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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.

 

What do you desire? Small things or big?  In everything by prayer….

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

 

Entering into the overflow or invading the impossible….

 

Matthew 16:19

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

Who or what determines the limits to answers to our prayers? For God’s will to be done on earth, we need to participate with His Spirit in us to birth His plans and purposes.

 

Looking through the book of Acts we see one factor…. of unity… being in one accord. This means no strife or criticism of one another. We all have faults that others can criticise. When we come to serve, help and add value to others with a Christ focus, that is we are doing it as unto the Lord.  I have had friends that were instrumental in my spiritual growth as we met together to pray and share the word of God. Their presence meant a lot to me then. When we all grew older, we grew apart…why? We began to see faults in one another…prayers are needed for God’s power to deliver us from such things….

 

Acts 1:14

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

Acts 2:46-47

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

 

The early church had opportunities for criticism of leaders and one another in the church. Acts 6 and acts 8. We will give ourselves to prayer and the word and thy money perish with you. If we keep talking down about one another, no wonder we stop learning from the leaders.

 

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NKJV)

[Called to Blessing] Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

Philippians 4:8

[Meditate on These Things] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

 

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men].

 

Release of God’s Power.

Apostolic praying releases God’s power to fulfil the expectations of God for His kingdom’s expansion and its impact on the earth.

God has His plans and purposes but not without the role of mankind in cooperation with Him for His will to be done on earth. Faith is involved, knowledge of the responsibility, power as well as the channels through which God’s power flows. All types of prayers, as well as obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as the apostolic people overcame fears, possible doubts, and any anxiety they found rising up in their hearts.

 

Acts 4:23-31 (NKJV)

[Prayer for Boldness] And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 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

[Continuing Power in the Church] 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.

 

How we have been affected…tongue work, critical of one another and the church structures and leadership. We operate in a spiritual climate of none commitment to God and the things related to His kingdom and operations on earth. We also operate in a non-covenantal mindset. So loyalty is absent. Some have carried the mindsets generated by the climate into the church. So they criticise people and don’t think anything wrong with it.

 

We need to repent and renounce such actions and move unto what God has for us. Many people’s passion for God in the church have been affected by tongue work.

 

We must let God’s word confront the state of our hearts and hearts practices especially with our tongues.

 

 

Philippians 4:8-9

[Meditate on These Things] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

Stop speaking whatever does not build others up!

 

Kingdom values include putting God first not our convenience. It includes not majoring on the faults of others but how the kingdom can advance touching more lives and inspiring them to live for God. God is able to make His servants stand. Doing the word and prayers form the bedrock for the kingdom of God.

 

Romans 14:4-10 (NKJV)

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 

The word of God,..the name of Jesus…the power and influence of The Holy Spirit…our faith, which works by love….our persistence…our expectations…

 

Prayers are meant to be opportunities to fellowship with the Father God, to know His plans and position ourselves to overcome temptation and fulfil the will of the God…. There are different types of prayers. Praises, and giving of thanks, then supplication, as well as intercession.

 

Praying in the Spirit is one sure way to walk in the overflow.

 

Cornelius is an example of a man in the scriptures who moved heaven on his behalf by his activities surrounding his prayer life.

Acts 10:1-8

[Cornelius Sends a Delegation] There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

 

Praying, fasting and giving are things we engage in as we steward the presence, power and the purposes of God in the earth. When Jesus talked about this in the book of Mathew, He majored on the rightness of our motives in all three activities of praying, fasting and giving.

 

Matthew 6:5-6

[The Model Prayer] “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 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.

 

Matthew 6:16-17

[Fasting to Be Seen Only by God] “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

 

Matthew 6:2-4

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

 

Praise is a type of prayers. Power of praises: God is enthroned in the praises of Israel.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Psalms 22:3-5

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

 

 

2 Chronicles 20:20-24

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

 

Praying in the Spirit or praying in tongues-

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

 

1 Corinthians 14:2

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

 

Acts 1:8

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.”

 

Acts 2:1-4

Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Acts 2:15-21

For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

 

 

Going for the overflow

Hunger must be stirred up… more word, more hunger, more praying more hunger. Satan likes to direct our hunger towards natural things. We have more faith in our connection than in God’s power. Hunger for more of God’s power in our lives.

 

Getting rid of the carnality by the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

Stepping up in faith with confidence and boldness. Speaking and making the heart and mouth connection. See with eyes of faith…

 

Keep eyes on the word of God. Stay focused on the word of God.

Proverbs 4:20-27

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

 

We have looked at the principles of apostolic praying, the patterns, the elements and types of such prayers as well as how to apply these into our daily praying. We also looked at some hindrances to prayers.

 

We pray based on the covenant word of God, we pray in the name of Jesus, we pray knowing we have a Father who cares but we can limit His power with our prayers. We must exercise our faith when we pray. It’s not enough to say words, they must come from the place of faith in out hearts. Meditation and study can help build faith in the word and this should be done before faith is borne for praying. We must know the place of the will of the other people when we are for or with them. There are different types of prayers..the prayer to change things, the prayer of thanksgiving and praise as we minister to the Lord, the prayer of commitment as we cast our cares on the Lord. Praying in the Spirit or praying in tongues can be a part of almost all praying.  Praying for others includes intercessory prayers. We can give thanks for others too. Then we have prayer of agreement too. This when we pray with others as we have agreed for something to come to pass.

 

Rev. Kola Ewuosho