THE SOLUTION TO BACKSLIDING

“Though I forget Him, and wander away...”

Fallen Believers are a reality in the Church. Both James and Paul were aware of such possibility (Jas 5:19; Gal 6:1); and Paul himself testified of having lost a certain Demas to the world, (2Ti 4:10). Sin, for a true Christian, is a heart-wrenching issue and No true Believer relishes the fact that they have fallen into sin. Yet many still find it hard to come to repentance.

A major reason for this is a misunderstanding of the Father’s attitude towards them. If a fallen Believer holds the erroneous notion that they have “crucified the Lord a 2^nd (29^th?) time”, or that they have so “grieved” the Holy Spirit that He has left them, they’re likely to be too stricken to return.

We may be being sincere when we tell them that God’s heart is “wrenched” when the Believer sins, but we must remember that our primary goal is to restore our fallen Brother/Sister, NOT try to highlight our moral high ground. A truly distraught child of God isn’t going to want to return to a Father whose heart they have broken. And left outside of God’s shielding, they’ll remain in guilt and condemnation and be the repeat-prey of the enemy.

Scriptures makes us see that repentance is expedited by knowledge of the Father’s unconditional love for us. The parable of the “Prodigal Son” (Lk 15:11-32), perfectly portrays what happens when the lowest of the low child recalls that there is still a glimmer of hope for him in the heart of the Father.

Though the prodigal son had partial knowledge of the extent of his father’s forgiveness, it was still enough to cause him to return. He wanted to be a lowly servant, but the father would have none of it, he wanted to confess, but the father cut him short, he trudged half-heartedly back home, but his father  RAN to him.

Beloved, the image of God scowling on His throne screaming, “How could you?” is not just unbiblical, but has also created a barrier to full restoration for His children. It causes them even when they do return to come with uncertainty and un-assuredness. They feel the ‘returning’ Holy Spirit still has a grudge; and what about that lovely promise of the Father to them before they fell? Well, just Forget About It!

NO. Let the word of P. P. Bliss instruct us today:

Though I forget Him, and wander away,

Still He doth love me wherever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms I do flee,

When I remember that Jesus loves me.

The Love, not the disappointment, of the Father is what draws his children back to Him.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

THE LEGACY OF BLISS

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,...

Jesus loves even me.

You may never have heard of the man known as P. P. Bliss before, but you’ve  undoubtedly been a beneficiary of God’s grace on his life.

Philip Paul Bliss was an American composer, hymnist and Gospel singer who was born about 180 years ago (1838). He’s the author of many well-known hymns like “Almost Persuaded”, “Hallelujah, What a Saviour!”, “Wonderful Words of Life”, etc. He also set the tune for the world-famous hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.”

However, one of his most enduring and though-provoking works, is the hymn, “Jesus loves even Me”.

Written in the year 1870, “Jesus loves even Me”. is a hymn that outlines, in sharp clarity, the love the Father had and has for us in sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins. It’s a hymn that seeks to place the love of God in its proper context in the life of the believer and shows what immense power is made available when such is done.

There’re many songs that talk about our love for God and songs that talk about our faithfulness to God; such songs place undue weight on what we bring to the table in this relationship. Mr. Bliss himself confessed that the thought of this hymn came to him when he went to a program where the song, “Oh, how I love Jesus” was repeated over and over again. He realised within himself that we make much boast about our love for God when in actuality it pales to insignificance in comprising to God’s love for us!

Beloved, at this point in our Christian walk, it is time to shift the focus off ourselves, off our services, our ‘sacrifices’, offerings and ‘seeds’, and like that hymnist of yore remind ourselves that nothing we offer can ever compare to the love God has for us.

We can never repay Him, never thank Him enough, never serve or worship Him enough. He gave us His ALL when He died on the Cross for our sins; our “ALL” (which is even hypothetical), can never really match His.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”  – 1Jn 4:10

“...Wonderful things in the Bible I see,

This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me”.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

DECLARE IT “MARVELLOUS”

In everything give thanks: – 1Th 5:18

Thanksgiving doesn’t automatically come when God does things. It is a conscious decision of the beneficiary.

Our Lord once quoted the psalmist to the Pharisees when he declared, “Did you never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’?”

There’re two parts to that psalm, the Information and the Conclusion.

It says “The stone which the builders rejected has become the head stone of the corner.” (Ps 118:22). That, is INFORMATION.

Then it says, “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Ps 118:23). That, is his CONCLUSION.

Part 1 does not automatically lead to Part 2.

- That you woke up this morning is information,

- That it rains and snows is information.

- That you have a child is information.

- That you have a job is information.

- Whatever has happened in your life is information.

What you make out of that information is the conclusion. You could conclude that it was ordinary, expected, ‘lucky’, a result of your astute and deliberate decisions over the years... 

Or you could conclude like the psalmist that “This is the LORD’S doing; and it is MARVELLOUS in my eyes.”

Beloved, we have a great year ahead of us. Let’s live it with thanksgiving, joy and hope in the presence of the LORD.

 “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together”. – Ps 34:3

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

THE SIGN OF THE TIMES

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come... – 2Ti 3:1

Believers love to hear about the end times. They get fascinated with dates, key international events, ‘blood moons’, events surrounding the nation of Israel, etc. Some authors have latched onto this hunger for end-time prophecy and made a small fortune (even franchises) from pointing out the signs to look out for to know if the end has come.

But I believe, we’re missing an obvious, glaring index of the Last Days, and that is an ungrateful, thankless spirit. The Apostle Paul, speaking with prophetic authority and clarity to Timothy says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be ... UNTHANKFUL,” (2Ti 3:1,2).

Ungratefulness is definitely one characteristic of this generation. This is the most privileged and richest generation in all of human history, yet the most miserable. The ‘poor’ people today own things that were inaccessible even to the wealthiest some generations ago.

But this goes more than a lack of an ‘attitude of gratitude’ for the fine things of life; it’s something more fundamental: it’s the deliberate non-acknowledgement of the Creator.

For example, the wholesale embrace of the theory of random Evolution and the “Big Bang” as the official, irrefutable and undeniable explanation for the existence of the entire Universe is symptomatic of a generation that will go to any extreme, no matter how inane, to do without acknowledging its Maker.

Rom 1:21 says, “People knew God, but they did not honour him as God, and they did not thank him. Their ideas were all useless. There was not one good thought left in their foolish minds.” (ERV)

So, while others try to calculate the names of world leaders to see whether they add up to “666”, or debate the implication of the recent  U.N. resolution against Israel, or even theorise whether ISIS is the prophesied Antichrist; we can just simply look at the godless, thankless state of the world today and know that the end is near, “even at the doors” (Mt 24:33).

Nevertheless, we Beloved, though we are in the world, are not of it. Therefore our lives should be that of gratitude, thankfulness and worship.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN 

CHECK THE MANNA WITH WHICH YOU SPEAK

In everything give thanks: – 1Th 5:18

The multitude of Israelites that moved around the wilderness with Moses for 40 years are arguably the most pampered people of all time. They were sheltered in the daytime from the scorching desert Sun by a pillar of cloud and at night were warmed and lighted by a pillar of fire. (Ps 105:39)

For 40 years, their clothes never wore out and their feet never swelled. (Dt 8:4). Unlike normal human beings in a desert, they were never parched because water gushed out for them. Ps 105:37 says “there was not one feeble person among their tribes”, and when they needed meat, it just dropped from the sky!

However, the most singular object of God’s provision and supply to them was the “MANNA”. The Manna was a unique type of food miraculously supplied to the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness (Ex. 16:15-35). The inspired writer called it by various names: “Bread of heaven” (David), “Corn of heaven”, “Angel’s food” (Asaph), and “Spiritual meat” (Paul). Jehovah Himself called it “Bread from heaven” (Ex 16:4).

But what did the beneficiaries call it? They called it manna (“what is this?” or “what is it?”).

What a derogatory way to refer to something of such supernatural origin. The Almighty God Himself cooked up a meal that no one has ever tasted before (Dt 8:3; 8:16); yet they showed no appreciation of it: and ate the same thing for 40 years!

It was though God declared, “All you can say is ‘what is it’? Then THAT IS IT.”

It is very important that we show reverential gratitude to all of God’s providence. The Sun shines on both the Just and the Unjust (Mt 5:45) but only the Just take the time to thank God for it.

At no time did the Israelites thank God for the manna, or for cloud, or the fire... or for ANYTHING. They just saw it as their right, and complained.

It’s quite interesting that though we have no record that the constituents of the Manna ever changed, apparently because of their griping about it, it moved from looking snow-white and tasting like honey wafers (Ex 16:31) to looking blackish  and tasting like oil (Num 11:7,8).

Take a moment to thank God for all His providential blessings today.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

SENSELESS THANKSGIVING

In everything give thanks: – 1Th 5:18

It takes spiritual and mental insight to live a life of constant gratitude to God. A man of God once said, “if you THINK well, you will THANK well”.

Anyone who has had whitlow before can testify how one little finger can suspend every other part of the body from enjoying peace. Problems are like that; they are attention-grabbers. But if you THINK well, you will THANK well.

I learnt a lesson recently from our 3-yr old daughter. When we ask her to pray during devotion, she’d first begin with our customary opening phrase “thank you for daddy, thank you for mummy...” But then, with her eyes open, she’d begin to list just about anything her eyes fall on:

Thank you for ball,

Thank you for book,

Thank you for ‘mischa’ (Mickey Mouse),

Thank you for slippers,

Thank you for this-man-walking-in-the-TV...

And so continues the weird thanksgiving (thanks-listing?).

We used to find it amusing, but then I thought to myself, “Do I ever thank God for any of those things? Or am I waiting for God to do the BIG ONE before I roll on the floor in gratitude.”

When you open your eyes, you’ll see that there’s a lot more blessings in your life than you’re ever aware of. When you “count your blessings one by one”, you’ll realise you’re richer, stronger and more advantaged than you realise.

You may not be where you want to be; but where you are now is someone else’s miracle. Take a moment today to do some ‘senseless’ thanksgiving. Thank God for your unique accent, for your big toe, for your child’s appetite, for the fact that you know what “appetite” means, ...

You’d be amazed that there’s absolutely nothing in your thanks-listing that will sound strange to God. He’s not going to say, “Wow, I never thought of that; I guess I really did give you a fine nose, you’re welcome child.”

No. Every ‘senseless’ thing you thank Him for was a conscious blessing of His to you, you’re only just beginning to notice them. When you THINK well, you won’t just THANK well, you’ll also LIVE well. Because you’ll get a fresher outlook on life and possess greater energy to face the challenges ahead.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN 

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

In everything give thanks: – 1Th 5:18

Greetings Beloved, and welcome to the New Year.

I'll begin by explicitly declaring God’s will for you this year. Indeed, not just this year, but for your entire life. And that is, THANKSGIVING.

OK, admittedly, it doesn't sound very charismatic, or even ‘prophetic’, but it really is God’s expectation of you this year.

The New Year is usually the time when we lay out big plans and resolutions for ourselves. It's also the time when we lay out BIG plans for God to carry out. Those plans come in the form of our prayer lists, our “expectations for the year”, our “17 miracle for 2017”, our "requests", etc. Whatever name we call it, when reduced to its most basic, it’s simply a list of things for God to do for us before the year runs out.

Well, here’s one thing God requires of us: giving Him thanks.

1Th 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you .”

That’s God’s plan, His purpose, and His desire.

Beyond the miracles,  God wants you to give thanks.

Beyond the requests, God wants you to give thanks.

Beyond the plans, God wants you to give thanks.

Give thanks, not just for what He will do, or what He has done; but for who He is and what you are.

When your life is characterised by thanksgiving, you’re zooming out to the Big Picture; you’re taking a God-perspective of life. You’re seeing things the way God sees them and are persuaded that all things are working together for your good, because you love God, and are the called according to His Purpose.

As we step boldly into this season, here’s the Apostle Paul’s admonition to us:

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful. (Col 3:15).

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN 

(CTS) “YE ARE GODS...”

Someone once pointed out that there’s a difference between “Son of God” and “God the Son”. One is a generic name for Christ and Believers, the other is the exclusive divine name of Christ.

I believe we sometimes get carried away with the love relationship that we have with God in Christ that we overlook this fine distinction.

I’ve heard Believers heap undue burden on themselves by proclaiming “I am a god. I am a god. The Bible says we are gods”. What does that even mean?

First of all, the Psalmist originally said, “Ye are ELOHIM...” And “Elohim” is one of the most generic Hebrew words I know. It’s used to refer to at least nine different personalities – “God Almighty” being just one of them.

For example, the “idols” in Gen 35:2,4 and the “judges” in Ex 21:6; 22:8,9 are all “elohim”.  So if I want to quote Ps 82:6, which one of the “elohim” am I? Magistrates? Idols? Angels? Maybe the Almighty God Himself?

It’s quite interesting that Ex 20:2&3 literally reads “I am YHWH thy ­ELOHIM, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt... Thou shalt have no other ELOHIM before me.

Hmm! Seems like we can rule that one out.

We are Gods? Complete The Sentence!

Ps 82:6 – “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; (1Jn 3:1)

Being considered a child of God is the greatest privilege God has given to us, His creation. Why would we want to be anything but that? In this car called LIFE, there’s a seat for us, and it’s not the driver's seat. It’s at the back; you know, the rear-facing baby seat with the harness?

Yes.

When we struggle to be in charge, to take control, to declare what WE want, then God our loving Heavenly Father will take the back seat; but if you Complete The Sentence and affirm your childlikeness before God, then you can Cast all your care upon Him; for he cares for you. (1Pe 5:6,7; Mt 6:25-34).

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

(CTT) “JESUS TOOK MY SINS...”

For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2Co 5:21

The Crucifixion of Christ was not a dramatization of divine justice; it was a real event, with a real agenda. It was a 2-way transaction.

It is therefore important to Complete the Sentence, or Complete the Thought when we mention any thing Jesus did for us on the Cross.

Not completing the thought every time we preach on the Cross is what has led to the series of messages we find today on social media that threaten Believers with divine judgement! (what, then, was the point of Jesus dying on the Cross?)

Every low Jesus experienced at the Cross was to provide a corresponding victory/blessing to the Believer.

*Jesus partook of my sins ... that I may partake of His righteousness (2Co 5:21)

*Jesus bore my diseases on His Body ... that I may be healed of every disease (Mt 8:17; 1Pe 2:24)

*Jesus was forsaken by the Father at the Cross... that I may boldly approach the Father without fear (Mar 15:34; Rom 8:15).

*Jesus came to earth where I reside ... that I may sit in Him in heaven (John 1:14; Eph 2:6).

*Jesus died for me ... that I may live for Him (2Co 5:15)

*Indeed, God became “the son of man”... that Man may become sons of God (Lk 3:23-38; Jn 1:12).

Let's always practice completing the thoughts, and always learn to thank God for his unspeakable gift. – 2Co 9:15.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

(CTS) “I CAN DO ALL THINGS...”

No you can’t!

This phrase is the main lie being pushed forth by the multimillion-dollar self-help/motivational speaking industry.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Every successful person today, Believer or not, had divine assistance in getting to the top. Whether they acknowledge (or are even aware of) this fact is another matter.

The bestselling author, Malcolm Gladwell, in his well-researched book Outliers went through great lengths to show, using case study after case study, that it takes much more than plain hard work and talent to be a billionaire, a musical superstar, or a sports sensation.  He points out that, ultimately, the successes of the  persons we celebrate today were based on factors that were beyond their control.

Man was never created to be successful independent of God. While the world out there shouts itself hoarse that “YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS”, Jesus unequivocally proclaims that “without me you can do NOTHING.” (John 15:5).

The apostle Paul once attested, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD;” (2Co 3:5).

When we quote the verse that says, “I can do all things” (Php 4:13) we ought to Complete The Sentence by adding that it’s “through Christ who strengthens me.”

That’s the more important aspect of the text that is omitted in a lot of speeches, seminars and even sermons nowadays.

When we stress that last part, then our messages will become more than feel-good sound bites; but life-giving, destiny-transforming words of power.

He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

– Isa 40:29-31.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN 

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. – 2Ti 3:16

Quoting a person out of context is one of the most heinous practices of journalism; because it can make people say the exact opposite of their minds. (For example, contemporary American atheists often quote their founding fathers incompletely to make them appear to say disparaging things about Christianity and the Bible).

But people don’t just speak single words or even single sentences. Their words must be taken wholly and completely in order to get their intended thoughts.

When we do not Complete The Sentence (CTS), or Complete The Thought (CTT) of people, we do harm to them.

When it comes to God’s Word, however, when we do not complete the sentence (or the thought) the only person we do harm to are ourselves.

The Apostle Peter says “ignorant” people who “give wrong meanings” to the Scriptures are effectively “destroying themselves by doing that.” (2Pt 3:16 ERV).

From ultra-left liberals, to fanatic Pentecostals, we are all guilty of often taking just one string of words in the Bible and running away with it – without care for the whole sentence or thought – as the very words of God. 

If we really want to be blessed by God’s word, we must give due diligence in completing each sentence, and understanding each thought. Not doing that will only lead us into heresy and error.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN  

THY WILL BE DONE

After this manner therefore pray ye... Thy kingdom come... – Mt 6:9-10

There’re two extremes people take in prayer. One is treating God as some genie-in-a-bottle whose only job is to grant them their every wish.

The other extreme is seeing God the same way the priest Eli did and saying, “He is the LORD. Let him do whatever he thinks is right.” (1Sa 3:18 ERV)

Prayer is not about telling God what to do; or maybe even forcing God and insisting on what we want. Prayer is about agreeing with God and granting Him permission to intervene in our affairs. It’s about asking that God’s will be done.

But some Believers misread even this concept. Whenever they pray for something and it doesn’t materialise, they automatically state, “that means God doesn’t want me to have it”, or “it is God’s will that I bear this”, etc.

But if we’re to take our Lord’s word’s in context we see that He didn’t just say “Thy will be done in earth,” but he explained that God’s will is to be done on earth, “as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10).

Now, how is it in heaven? Is it Pain? Lack? Heartbreak? Sickness? Shame?...

Those things sound very earth-y to me. You won’t find any of those in heaven, so how can that be the will of God?

“The will of God” is seen perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ while He walked the Earth; and nowhere do we see Him tolerate any of those things; and “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hb 13:8).

Beloved, we do not COMMAND the Almighty God in prayer, rather we ask Him to do His will in our lives; and He says His will is to give us “life – life in all its fullness.” (Jn 10:10 GNB)

There’re various reasons why answers to our prayers are delayed, but resigning to fate and declaring that “it must be God’s will” is only truncating whatever miracle that might be on the way. When God refused to remove Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”, He told Him so! So, unless we have God’s explicit declaration on the issue we mustn’t conclude on His behalf that it’s His will the issue remains that way.

AMEN.

GREG ELKAN

NEBUCHADNEZZAR: A LESSON IN PRAYER

And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. – Luk 18:1

The book of Psalms is essentially the ‘Prayer Book’ of the Jews. In it, they see a pattern for them to follow in expressing themselves to Jehovah.

But the prayers in Psalms are anything but your regular Sunday Worship prayer. In the Psalms, as Rick Warren once wrote, you hear “ranting, raving, doubts, fears, resentments, and deep passions combined with thanksgiving, praise, and statements of faith. Every possible emotion is catalogued.”

Prayer must be honest, sincere and passionate conversations with a lovingly responding Father; not detached, monochromic repetitions to a deity up there somewhere.

Zechariah was a man of prayer, but his prayers weren’t sincere. He really wasn’t expecting an answer, (Lk 1:13,18). Similarly, Pharaoh had a problem with his frogs, but apparently, it wasn’t a really serious problem: because he wasn’t that much in a hurry to get rid of them, (Ex 8:8-10).

The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar however, is another case. He had a mysterious nightmare one day and asked for the interpretation from his group of advisors. But none was able to help him, indeed, they said his demands were impossible, (he refused to tell them the dream they were supposed to interpret).

Nevertheless, instead of consenting to their explanations, he declared, “If you don't tell me the dream and its meaning, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into piles of rubble.”  (Dan 2:5 GW).

Now that’s passion.

Was his demand impossible? Yes!

Was his demand met in spite of said impossibility? Yes!

Daniel had to pray the answer down; and I can assure you it was not a cold, formulaic prayer. James 5:16 says,  “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” and you can be sure that a great deal of the “fervent” of Daniel’s prayer came directly from the owner of the problem, (Nebuchadnezzar).

When our Lord gave us a parable to encourage us to pray (Lk 18:1-8), He emphasised the attitude of importunity: insistence and persistence. If we don’t show any seriousness with our request, why do we expect anything to change?

This season, I implore you to recheck your attitude in prayer,, and may Heaven answer all your petitions in Jesus’ name.

AMEN.

GREG ELKAN

HOW NOT TO PRAY: PHARAOH

“When do you want the frogs to go away?” – Ex 8:9 (ERV)

In Exodus 8, we meet Pharaoh, the hard-hearted king of Egypt who had been asked to release the Israelites from slavery.

He had already gotten a taste of God’s wrath by now. The Nile was the lifeblood of his kingdom, but thanks to Moses, that had taken a literal form: the entire river had turned to blood!

But that was just the warm-up act, now the entire country was swarming with frogs: in his palace, in his bedroom, on his bed, in the houses of his officials, in his ovens, in his mixing bowls. The frogs were even jumping on him and his people! (Ex 8:3,4).

Then, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Ask the LORD to remove the frogs from me and my people. I will let the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

Moses said to Pharaoh, “I will pray for you, your people, and your officials. Then the frogs will leave you and your houses. They will remain only in the river. When do you want the frogs to go away?”

Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.”

Moses said, “It will happen as you say.” (Ex 8:8-10 ERV)

Can you believe this guy? There were frogs hopping all over him and yet he postponed his deliverance for another 24 hours! What was his problem?

What is your problem?

Some of us have gotten so used to our problems that we have silently accepted it as our reality, yet we still pray about them – not really because we expect a miracle, but because that’s simply what we’re supposed to do.

Like Pharaoh, we lack that earnestness and importunity that powerful prayers are made up of. James said, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (Jas 5:16) “avails much” means that prayer is powerful and can make great things happen.

But that’s only for “effectual, fervent” prayer, not blasé, at-any-convenient-time type of prayer.

Remember what Moses said, “It will happen as you say.”

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

HOW NOT TO PRAY: ZACHARIAH

The Bible distinctly described Zachariah the priest, along with his wife Elizabeth, as righteous and blameless before God, (Lk 1:6).

He was also a man of prayer. He had to, his wife Elizabeth was barren and like his ancestor Isaac, he knew the solution was to pray to God about it, (see Gen 25:21). He was well advanced in age, but he never stopped praying. His ancestor Abraham was also old, and that didn’t stop him from siring Isaac; so he kept praying. Day after day, night after night.

And one day, while he was faithfully carrying out his duties in the temple, (he was not like some Believers today who would refuse to serve God until God answered their prayers), an angel appeared to him!

Right there in the Holy Place, while he was offering up incense, (a physical symbol of prayer to God), the Angel Gabriel – of all angels – appeared to him!

“Fear not, Zachariah”, Angel Gabriel proclaimed, “your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John”. (Luk 1:13).

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD!! MY PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED!!!

Shouted Zechariah, uhmm, not really!

Instead Zechariah said to the angel, “What proof is there for this? I’m an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years. ” (Lk 1:18 GW)

If Zechariah KNEW he was an old man; if he KNEW his wife was “beyond her childbearing years”, then why on earth was he praying for a child?

But before we get judgmental about this faithless priest, let’s judge ourselves first. Can you tell me what you prayed for this morning? Can you even still remember? Are you expecting God to answer that prayer TODAY?

If any of our answers to the above was negative, then we’re no better than Zechariah was; then we have slipped into the realm of ‘praying for praying sake’: we have become religious Pray-ers.

Beloved, God is not sitting up there just checking how long you stay up talking to Him; we don’t get brownie points for our prayer, that’s a paradigm from human religion.

We pray, not for time to pass by, but for things to happen.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN

PRAYING CORRECTLY

...one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” – Lk 11:1 

Prayer is an important aspect of the Christian faith. It’s the most powerful tool of causing change on earth, and forms a primary part of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

However, prayer is also a central feature of every religion. Every religion prays, one way or the other. Indeed, in all religions, there is a direct correlation between the perceived level of piety/religiosity of a member and the amount of prayer they perform.

Unfortunately, many Believers have no distinction between this prayer-as-a-religious-exercise from biblical prayer. When all their motives and foundational beliefs are stripped to the barest, you’ll realise that the reason why they pray is because “that what a Christian is supposed to do”.

This type of praying for praying sake, apart from being unproductive, is probably the first step of slipping into a superficial, religious spirit– just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

While it is important for us to pray, it is even more important for us to pray correctly; so that we’ll not end up wasting our time and exhausting our spiritual energies in an act that is no more than spiritual play-acting.

Like the disciple in Luke 11:1, we can simply ask the Lord to teach us to pray. Granted, that in itself is already an act of prayer but that’s a first step in the right direction.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN