3/7 Prayer Rule

~ The Psalms Provide A Key For Effective Prayer ~

 

 

We have probably all heard the comment, “God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we would listen more than we talk.” May I suggest to you the “3/7 Rule for Prayer” which comes from the Book of Psalms. 

Psalm 55:17  ~  “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.  He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.  God will hear, and afflict them, even He who abides from of old” (Psalm 55:16-19).  The psalmist said, “evening and morning and at noon” he would pray!  Here the context is clearly prayers of request (petition).  The psalmist states three specific times when he will make his requests known to God.

Psalm 119:164  ~  “Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your Word.  I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.  I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your Law.  Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.  Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble.  Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your Commandments.  My soul keeps Your Testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.  I keep Your Precepts and Your Testimonies, for all my ways are before You” (Psalm 119:161-168).  The psalmist said, “seven times a day I will praise You.”  The context here is clearly recognition of who God is, His Word, His attributes, and what He does for His people (praise).  The psalmist knew the value or reflecting many times a day on who God is and what He has done.  

 

 

The 3/7 Rule  ~  For every 3 times I petition God, I will praise Him at least 7 times for all that He is and all that He has done and is doing on my behalf.  

In His Service,
Sangha

7 Doubles

~ God Sometimes Makes a Double Call ~

 

 

Every word in Scripture is inspired by the Spirit of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16a). When the Lord spoke a person's name twice in calling him, He did it for greater emphasis. Consider seven examples.

“Abraham, Abraham!”—a call for deliverance  ~  “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:11-13). 

“Jacob, Jacob!”—a call for blessing  ~  “Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ So He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there’” (Genesis 46:2-3).

“Moses, Moses!”—a call to reverence  ~  “So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground’” (Exodus 3:4-5).  

“Samuel, Samuel!”—a call to service  ~  “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears’” (1 Samuel 3:10).

“Martha, Martha”—a call of reproof  ~  “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42).

“Simon, Simon!” (Peter)—a call of warning  ~  “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32). 

“Saul, Saul” (Paul)—a call for conviction and conversion  ~  “Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do’” (Acts 9:4-6).  

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Sow To Please The Spirit

In the spring, a farmer prepares the soil, plants the seed, and waits several days for the first signs of life. Many weeks pass before a few inches of growth occur and several months go by before it’s time to harvest. Much hard work and patience go into reaping a bountiful crop.
The soil of our spiritual field is rich, full of nutrients and moisture; and whether we realize it or not, we are working hard and planting in our field every single day. Let me say that again: Every day as we go out into the world we are planting into our spiritual field. Anything we plant is going to grow and produce a harvest according to what we have planted.
Galatians 6:7-9
“A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Every day we are given the opportunity to go into the field and plant new seed; “His compassions never fail, they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). We are also given the choice of which seed to plant. Seeds of faith and forgiveness are essential for our eternal survival. Seeds of hope and trust are necessary for a life of peace and contentment. And seeds of love, purity, worship and praise are the seeds which will make our fields beautiful – a fragrant offering to the Lord.
But there are other types of seeds – the seeds of lies and deception, of worldly passions and self exaltation. Unfortunately, once these seeds are planted, they can grow faster and stronger than all competing plants. If allowed to grow, these sinful seeds will rise up to dominate the field and choke everything which draws us closer to God; “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14).

Today is a new day with a new opportunity to plant. We must not grow weary of planting that which draws us closer to God; “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think of such things” (Philippians 4:8). Today, we WILL plant – so let’s plant wisely!
Let’s sow seed which glorifies our Heavenly Father and honors Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; and let’s nurture our field with an unending love. Let’s sow the seeds of a bountiful harvest which is free of weeds as we daily abandon the sinful nature and sow to please the Spirit.

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How to Be a Godly Mother...!

Christian mothers must never underestimate their calling. It is an extremely difficult, challenging, and tiring calling, but its rewards are in proportion to the tasks. God has given principles in His Word to guide mothers as they navigate through the challenges of raising children.

#1 Godly mothers relish their young children and tenderly nurture them.

As 1 Thessalonians 2:7 says, “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” There is great comfort, rest, and security in a mother’s embrace. Isaiah 66:13 says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” Psalm 131:2 adds, “Like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.” Men can be nurturing, but there is just something unique about the tender embrace of a mother to her child. Children can sense the difference, and they crave a mother’s gentle touch and love. Women should not run from bearing and nurturing children, thinking that there is something supposedly more important or significant for them to do. Even Hannah who dedicated her son Samuel to serve the Lord still took him home to care for him until he was weaned (1 Samuel 1:22-24). God honors mothers who invest in their children, and mothers should adore and treasure the moments that they have with young ones. As Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Children are only young for a short time, and the mother should be there to enjoy her God-given children.

#2 Godly mothers recognize that children are a great gift and reward and thus view and treat them as such.

Eve said in Genesis 4:1, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Every time a woman becomes pregnant, it is because God is involved in creating a life (1 Samuel 1:5,19, Psalm 113:9). This is another reason why life is precious and why children are precious to God. It is imperative that mothers recognize the value of children and that they are indeed a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” If a mother views her children as a punishment, inconvenience, or the like, she needs to change her perspective quickly lest she treat her children as such. Godly mothers value their children as rewards from God and are thus motivated to do all that they can to nurture, care, and train their children rightly.

#3 Godly mothers instruct their children in God’s truths.

Proverbs 1:8 says, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 6:20 adds, “My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” King Lemuel in Proverbs 31:1 said that it was his mother who taught him about how to recognize a godly woman who would be a godly mother for his children. Timothy’s godly heritage was a result of his mother and her mother before her (2 Timothy 1:5). Mothers must never underestimate the role that they play in teaching their children about God, about His Word, and about salvation. From as early on as possible, God is to be central in a mother’s instruction. Even in the case of an unsaved or absentee father, mothers can still reach their children by faith (1 Corinthians 7:14). Teaching children the Bible is a huge calling with eternal ramifications, and godly mothers are honored to take up the challenge.

#4 Godly mothers are willing and faithful to discipline their children.

Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.” Mothers who enjoy or tolerate their children disrespecting and disobeying them are not operating as God would have them. They should be ashamed of themselves, and they must become willing and faithful to discipline.

#5 Godly mothers do not pick favorites among their own children.

Proverbs 28:21 says, “To show partiality is not good, because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.” Not only is picking favorites not Christ-like behavior (James 2:1), but it can lead to children sinning as they grow jealous, establish rivalries, and become deceptive and manipulative. Unconditional love for children and fairness in discipline is essential to being a godly mother.

Regardless of a mother’s marriage or work situation, God is faithful to honor the faith and obedience of mothers who do whatever they can by faith to follow His principles in raising godly children. Some mothers will have all day with their children, while other mothers will need to work for various reasons. In either case, mothers can follow Biblical principles and be godly mothers. As Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Mothers, as you have opportunity to be with your kids, to love them, to nurture them, and to care for them, perhaps even to provide for them, do it with all your heart unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). God will remember and honor your faithfulness. As Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Motherhood is certainly wearying, but mothers must stand fast in their calling. As they are faithful in their work at home (Titus 2:4-5), God will be honored, and He promises to honor those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30, Proverbs 31:28).

From A Pure Heart

As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny.
Mark 12:43-44
“Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’”
This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances; but the real message actually goes much deeper.
We have all been blessed in so many ways; and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. God created us (the complete package of who we are) for a purpose. And though we may need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda!

Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our “offering” is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God’s Kingdom; but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). How we give is much more important than what we give.
God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value.
If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart.

God Be With you all,

In His Service...

Sangha

Open Our Eyes

The king of Aram was at war with Israel; but every time he moved his army, the prophet Elisha would inform the Israelites. The king concluded the only way to win the war was to first eliminate Elisha: “‘Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him’” (2 Kings 6:13).
When the king found where Elisha was staying, he sent his army to surround the city. When Elisha’s servant woke and saw the army, he became very frightened; “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). But Elisha comforted his servant by helping him see the real battle.
2 Kings 6:16-17
“‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Our false perception is the biggest cause of fear and frustration; in fact, I might boldly say it is the only cause! If we live without faith, our perception is restricted to what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears. With this limited input, it’s no wonder so many live in fear – it’s no wonder so many become frustrated and discouraged with their day to day life. But as our faith and understanding of God increase, we are able to trust in what we cannot physically see or hear. We can live in peace, knowing that “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Battles occur in and around us every day, battles which cause us to become heavily burdened. We desire to walk down God’s path, but the pulls and attacks of the world seem relentless. We need to remember that His plan and provision is always perfect – always working toward the good. Somehow we must understand that the battle we see with our physical eyes and analyze with our mind is never the real battle; “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).
Our spouse, parents, children or co-workers are not the enemy; neither is our church, the government, the economy or our health. These temporal things are not the true cause of our pain nor should they ever become the source of our joy. The real battles are always spiritual…and we are NEVER alone!
Let’s draw ever nearer to God until we gain a true understanding of how much He loves us, and how much He is fighting for us; “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Jesus Christ has already won the ultimate battle! We must now trust Him and give Him more of our heart.
Heavenly Father, we desire to see You clearly and joyfully walk without fear. We pray that You draw us into Your presence…and open our eyes!

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Law vs. Grace, 6 of 12

~ Slave vs. Adopted Son ~

introduction:  The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Galatians to the believers of this local church at a time when they were beginning to reject the gospel of grace and were instead moving backward toward obedience of the Mosaic Law as the means of winning favor with God. Paul’s purpose in writing was to point out the dramatic differences between Law and Grace. 

Slave vs. Adopted Son

LAW  ~  “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of

 God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7). 

GRACE  ~  “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7).   

summary:  The bottom line of understanding Law vs. Grace is a theology of “DO or DONE!” Are you still trying to DO things to earn your salvation, or do you understand that it was DONE for you on the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ—you only need to accept/trust His provision on your behalf?

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Not by works of righteousness which we do, but according to His mercy He saves us” (Titus 3:5a).