Let Praise Power Your Prayers

“After this manner therefore pray ye… ‘Hallowed be thy name.’” – Mat 6:9

Through the week, we meditated on how to add Power to our prayers. Through “prophecy”, through “passion” and through “purpose”, we followed the great Prophet Elijah and his life of answered prayers to see how we can replicate same in ours.

One more energizer to prayer that we mustn’t forget is the principle and practice of Praise. Let praise power your prayers. If we’re to be honest, sometimes the praises in our prayers are merely procedural: things we do because that’s how prayers are supposed to start.

However, there’s tremendous prayer-power in praise and worship. Praise turns the focus of prayer on God and not the problem. Just as our Lord reminded us on His “Sermon on the Mount”, God already knows our problems even before we pray about it (Mat 6:8,32). We should, therefore, spend as much time in expressing our praise as we do in composing our requests.

Make sure Praise is not something you rush through quickly in order to get into the prayer; Praise IS prayer.

This Month is going to be a blessed month for you in Jesus’ name. May the lines fall unto you in pleasant places, may you step into your place of rest and permanent provision; and may testimony upon testimony be your portion this month in Jesus’ name.

AMEN.

Happy New Month from my Heart to Yours.
GREG ELKAN

Let Purpose Power Your Prayers

A prophet named Elijah said to King Ahab, “In the name of the LORD, the living God of Israel, whom I serve, I tell you that there will be no dew or rain for the next two or three years until I say so.” – 1Ki 17:1 (GNB)

James 5:17 (AMP) says, “Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours].” This qualification of Elijah is important. Because, as incredulous as it may sound, some ancient Rabbinic scholars averred that Elijah had no human parents but was an angelic being of sort that came to temporarily dwell with the Israelites!

For those who rely on that argument as the explanation for how Elijah could pull off such superhuman feats, James 5:17 forms an irrefutable counter. Nevertheless, having established that fact, some form of ‘Full Disclosure’ would be in order: Elijah was a PROPHET to Israel!

That was his ministry; that was his office. Influencing natural phenomena, confronting erring kings, etc. are part and parcel of the job. Wondering why he was so powerful is like wondering why the President of the United States moves around town with much pomp and pageantry: they’re all part of the perks and privileges of the office.

Every Believer, also, has an Office and a Job: it’s the task and purpose set by God from eternity past that they’re in this world to execute. That “Office”, too, has its perks, privileges and appurtenances – things that are meant to facilitate the execution of the divine Purpose.

Which is why you should let Purpose power your prayers. Be careful that you do not spend all your praying time praying for things that would come anyway or things that would not matter in the end. You may currently be unable to afford a car; yet if you’re destined to be a pivotal change-agent in your country’s government, your endless prayers for a new car would not only be redundant, it may actually be a negative for you because precious time meant to fight your destiny through is being hogged up by temporary needs.

Elijah may have been a man of prayer, but he didn’t pray for food, the food came on its own. It’s not wrong to pray for needs, but we just must be careful about the amount of time we devote to such ephemera.

Praying with Purpose comes pre-packaged with its power-source. It’s difficult to be depressed while praying for your Purpose; it’s hard to be lackadaisical when praying about your destiny; when the stakes are high, you generally don’t need much external motivation to pray.

Don’t get bogged down with the minutiae of life; let ‘Purpose’ power your prayers, and see the all other things of life being added to you.

AMEN.

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

Let Passion Power Your Prayers!

Elijah was a person just like us. He prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! – Jas 5:17 (ERV)

It’d be understandable if you’re offended by Apostle James’ assertion that there’s no difference between Elijah and you. This super prophet held an entire nation hostage because of his prayers. He singlehandedly staged a face-off between he and eight hundred and fifty Baal and Asherah prophets; and brought down fire from heaven to burn up a sacrifice soaked up in gallons of water.  Speaking of Fire and the calling down from Heaven thereof, this man once incinerated two bands of armed soldiers because he was scared (so what happens when he isn’t?).

He outruns racing horses, was the first to ever raise a dead body to life and sustained himself and a family for years on a single meal! If Elijah’s life was made into a movie, it’d be called a super superhero flick!

James’ claim that Elijah was “a person just like us” is definitely stretching things beyond reality, isn’t it?

But wait! Let’s read the verse to the end… “…and he prayed EARNESTLY that it would not rain…”

Therein lies the distinguishing factor: Elijah was a man who put his all into his prayers. Prayer to him was serious business and demanded his all. He’s the archetypal picture of PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens!

This man would probably cause a stir in some prayer meetings today. 1Ki 18:42 tells us that when he wanted to pray for rain, he “cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees!” This prophet-turned-contortionist’s posture was expressive of his earnestness, vehement desire and continued importunity in prayer. And the result of his unorthodox (no pun intended) prayer style is evident in the above-normal, un-usual and supernatural life he lived.

Beloved, put some passion into your prayers. Let Heaven, Hell (and a few neighbours?) know that somebody locked up in one closet means serious business.

AMEN.

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

Let Prophecy Power Your Prayers

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. – Mat 6:10

It was, admittedly, easier for Elijah to seal the skies over ancient Israel than it would be for us today. This is because he was praying for something that was meant to happen anyway.

Just before they entered Canaan, Moses had warned the Israelites: “Be careful, or you’ll be tempted to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. The LORD will become angry with you. He’ll shut the sky so that there’ll be no rain. Then the ground won’t grow any crops, and you’ll quickly disappear from this good land the LORD is giving you.” (Dt 11:16-17 GW).

Fast-forward 500 years later, and Israelites had perfected that very idolatry Moses warned against into an art. The entire landscape was littered with idols and the people had become worse than the Canaanites that they displaced. Seriously, it wouldn’t take that much prayer and fasting to ask God to seal up the heavens. Which is exactly what happened: Elijah prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! (Jas 5:17 ERV).

Beloved, prayer is easier when it’s for something that you already know is meant for you. Prayer becomes less of a chore and more of a Passion when it’s for a revelation or a prophecy you have received. It’s no longer a guessing game. Others may quickly give up praying when they receive no answers; but you’ll be different. You’ll be persistent and importunate: pressing and demanding night and day in the place of prayer. Why? Because you know you’re not just wishing, you know it’s there. You’ve seen it in your spirit and you know it’s for you.

Is this now a call to resort to spiritualism and chasing after one prophet after another for a “word from God”? No!

Rom 10:8 says, “The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart.” The prophecy you need is the Scriptures as revealed to you by God’s Spirit. God has given unto us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” through the “exceedingly great and precious promises” scattered throughout the Scriptures,

(2Pt 1:3,4). As we dwell and meditate on God’s Word daily, He’ll open our eyes to “know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1Co 2:12).

Biblical Prayer is not an attempt to move a reluctant God, rather it’s the channel through which His will and purposes are effected in our lives. Stop praying in the dark, get to know what’s truly yours and watch how it changes your prayer life.

AMEN.

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

5:17 – Add Power to Your Prayer!

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! – Jas 5:17

Prayer is important. It’s the lifeblood and lifeline of the Believer. 1Thes 5:17 enjoins us to “Pray without ceasing”. But sadly, praying repeatedly over and over again: morning after morning, night after night, service after service … can introduce a certain monotony and predictability that results in canned, powerless prayers. This is when we’re essentially ‘praying for praying sake’: praying just because that’s what Christians are supposed to do.

Such prayers are terrible, not just because they often do not yield results, but also because they condition you not to even care that they do not yield results. If that’s your case, you need to add some energy and vitality into your prayers.

The first (Thessalonians?) 5:17 asks us to pray without ceasing, the second one (the one from James) tells us of the way to get results from it. It says, “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.”

We all know Elijah and his signature ability to call down fire from heaven at will. This man prayed and sealed the skies up for over three years. His life was so filled with the miraculous that he didn’t even taste death! Now that’s a “Prayer Warrior” if there ever was one, right?

Wrong.

At least according to James. James insists that there was nothing particularly special about Elijah, he didn’t possess more anointing, more grace, or more access to God. He just knew how to pray effectively. In other words, says James, if Elijah could do it, you can do it. That may sound like a rather radical idea, but maybe that’s exactly what we need: a radical infusion of Passion, Energy And Focus into our prayer lives in order to cause change.

Let the sparks begin: your prayer life will never be the same again.

AMEN.

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

The Converse of Condemnation

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, “How can these things be?” – John 3:9

The legal, forensic opposite of “Katakrima” (Condemnation) is Dikaiosis, translated in the English as “Justification”. “Katakrima” is “a judicial sentence of condemnation”, and Dikaiosis, is “a judicial declaration of acquittal”. Ideological opposites that they may be, they share a few things in common.

1.      Both words are rare in New Testament usage. “Katakrima” occurs only thrice (Rom 5:16; 5:18; 8:1), and Dikaiosis, is found in only two places (Rom 4:25; 5:18).

2.      As you may have noticed, they both appear only in Romans – the go-to textbook for understanding the concept of salvation.
3.      Both terms are the exclusive prerogatives of a judge in a court of law.

Only God has the right to katakrino (condemn) or dikaioo (acquit). Therefore, give no man, woman, spirit, emotion, voice, vision, revelation or ‘prophecy’ the right to tell you the judicial decision of heaven over your life. That which the Supreme Judge of Heaven has dikaioo, let no man katakrino.

How is all this possible? The answer, interestingly, lies in a popular verse where our two rare Greek words converge: Romans 5:18.

“Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation (Katakrima); even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification (Dikaiosis) of life.

The death of Christ on the Cross for your sins is what bought your Justification. This is how:

There is therefore now no CONDEMNATION to them who are in Christ Jesus, (Rom 8:1)

AMEN.

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

The Damage of Condemnation

There’s more to condemnation than feeling bad about wrongdoing. Condemnation has power – real destructive power; hence the reason why the Devil has made a fulltime profession out of it.

The major result of Condemnation is a guilty conscience and a feeling of unworthiness. Condemnation always leads to self-introspection and self-judgment; and once it has set in, there’s no limit to what damage it can do. Condemnation can clamp an eagle of a Christian down for years and hinder a  glorious destiny from blossoming.

With Condemnation, you’re always feeling terrible over one thing or the other. You feel

•      guilty for not praying at all,
•      guilty for not praying enough,
•      guilty for spending days without opening your Bible,
•      guilty for reading only the Psalms,
•      guilty over not being able to provide for your family,
•      guilty over the little time you spend with your children because of your job,
•      guilty for not evangelising,
•      guilty for winning just one soul,
•      Etc.

As you must have observed, Condemnation will come regardless of what you do – good or bad. That condemning and accusing voice must be stopped in your life because it’s stopping you from reaching your full potential in Christ.

Condemnation makes you stay away from your source – God Himself. This is how to distinguish the spirit of condemnation from the Holy Spirit. Whatever you may have done, staying away (physically or mentally) from God and His people is NOT the solution, and will more than likely cause even more damage.

Let the story of the Prodigal Son remind you that God’s not saddened, angry or disappointed in you (it’s impossible to ‘disappoint’ an omniscient Being in the first place); beyond your faults, he wants you in His arms. Run to Him today; your glorious destiny awaits fulfilment in Him.

AMEN.

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

The Source of Condemnation

There’s a big difference between Conviction and Condemnation. The former is the work of the Holy Spirit while the latter is the signature work of the Devil! As a matter of fact, that’s the source of his name. The Greek term for Devil is “diabolos” or “accuser”; (it’s translated “false accusers” in 2Ti 3:3 and Tit 2:3).

In the warped judicial system the Devil assays to operate in, he’s simultaneously the Entrapper, Accuser, Judge and Enforcer.

Satan’s work is always to accuse and condemn. Sadly, many sincere Believers aren’t aware of this primary ministry of his and assume it’s God’s Spirit that’s condemning them for their failures. They feel terrible, dirty and carnal.

“What kind of a Christian am I?”

“How dare I ask for mercy again”,

“This is too much, I’m bleeding God’s heart”,

“I’m a failure as a church leader”,

Etc.

The wordings may vary, but the content’s the same. The voice of condemnation will always pull you down. It will always tell you you’re not good enough, and most importantly, it will always trivialise the work of Christ on the Cross. “Go and sin no more” is never enough, you must pay for your failure one way or the other.

The Condemnation spirit doesn’t respect your anointing or number of years in the faith; in fact, the higher you are, the louder it becomes – if you allow it.

The solution to defeating the voice of condemnation is continuous exposure to the Gospel message. Let the word of grace remind you of who you are in Christ and what you have in Him. If while you were still a rank, out-and-out sinner God loved you and died on the Cross for you, what makes you feel He’s disappointed and disgusted by you now because of what you did or didn’t do?

Conviction points to the Cross; Condemnation makes you look to yourself.

Conviction points to your forgiveness in Christ; Condemnation keeps re-playing your mistakes.

Conviction reminds you you’re dead to sin; Condemnation tells you you’re a dirty sinner on the inside.

Conviction says you’re complete in Christ; with Condemnation nothing you do is ever good enough.

Beloved, it’s time to live the Christian life with boldness and freedom; identify the source of that voice of condemnation today, and confront it with the reality you have in Christ Jesus.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, (Rom 8:1)

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Rom 8:34)

AMEN.

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

GREG ELKAN

The Myth of Condemnation

There’s a long-standing philosophy among many in the Church today that condemnation is the best way to deal with the problem of sin among Believers. This doctrine of condemnation is a carryover from human-based religions and cultures.

These moral systems lack the power to control the monster of SIN yet assay to control it through the practice of threatening, shaming and condemnation. Nevertheless, Condemnation does not really stop the sin (as anyone who has suffered from any form of addiction will readily admit). Yet for many in the pulpit, condemnation is the go-to tool in confronting sin.

Insisting on following this template carries several problems; here’re five:

1- Condemnation is the primary tool of the Devil – NOT the Holy Spirit – after sin.
2- Preaching Condemnation to a Believer goes against the clear doctrine of scripture. (E.g. John 3:18; 5:24; Rom 8:1; etc.)
3- Shouting and shaming God’s people from the pulpit may gratify the preacher, and even makes for good optics (with ‘altar calls’ and tears), but has limited long-term positive effects in delivering people from bondage.
4- The Doctrine of Condemnation assumes the Believer loves to sin and revels in it. The truly regenerated heart of the Believer must be distinguished from the hypocritical, sin-loving churchgoer. What the Believer needs is the way out, not more judgement and condemnation.
5- Not taking the regenerated heart of the Believer into account in preaching against sin is an example of not making a distinction between “the Holy and the profane”, (Ez 22:26). A Born-Again is a blood-bought creature; and indeed the Holy Spirit once rebuked Peter for calling unclean that which “God has made clean” (Act 10:15).

Beloved, we mustn’t presume to know better about the nature of sin than the inspired authors of scripture. Inherent in the Gospel message is the power to live victoriously over sin. Not relying on this and resorting to fleshy, manmade contraptions is simplistic, ineffective and doctrinally wrong.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, (Rom 8:1)

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. (Rom 8:33)

AMEN.

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

KATAKRIMA: Understanding Biblical Condemnation

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, – Rom 8:34

“Katakrima” is a unique word in the Greek New Testament (occurring three times and only in the Book of Romans – 5:16, 5:18 and 8:1) which Paul used in explaining crucial aspects of the Gospel message. Traditionally translated as “condemnation,” “Katakrima” is better understood in its fuller denotation of “sentence of condemnation”, or “punishment following a judicial sentence”. It is an “adverse sentence or verdict” from a courtroom.

In other words, the Greek Katakrima is more limited in meaning than our English equivalent. “Katakrima” is used fundamentally of a finding of a COURT against a defendant. It’s the prerogative of a Judge, NOT of subjective emotions, people, or even of the Devil. Misunderstanding this crucial fact will cause – indeed, has caused – serious damage to many a Believer’s walk and relationship with God.

This Gospel phenomenon, (that condemnation is God’s sole prerogative, along with His decision to withhold it from the Believer), does not and cannot make sense to the Natural, unregenerated mind. That’s why Rom 8:1 (There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus) and John 8:11  (Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more), have suffered some of the most sustained tampering throughout the centuries of manuscript copying. Nevertheless anyone with basic understanding of the principle of the Gospel message will see this as only the natural consequence of the Cross.

“Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died,” – Rom 8:34.

As the famed Greek scholar A.T. Robertson wrote in his “Word Pictures” Bible Commentary, “The fire has burned on and around the Cross of Christ. There and there alone is safety. Those in Christ Jesus can lead the consecrated, the crucified, the baptized life.”

Are you living under guilt and condemnation? Find solace in the Cross of Christ today.

AMEN.

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