Our prayer should not be in vain

Hymns of Praise:

Pleasant are thy Courts Above N
Onipa Tia fo
Chief of Sinners

Beginning Prayer Points:

Prayer for the forgiveness of generational sins
Pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit

As humans, one of the things common to being parents is that many times when we raise our children, we reward our children when their conduct meets our approval. On the other hand, if they do not show good conduct, they rather see our disapproval; sometimes punishment follows. Many times, we ignore their request when they fail to respect the path which we desire for them.

The scriptures categorical speak to us thus: “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2). As a church, and as individuals, it is important that we understand that there are things we could have in our lives that could prevent our prayers from ascending to the courts of Heaven. There are little foxes that can impede our prayer and we must stay alert.

If our desire and aim is to really worship the Lord God almighty, the Lord, Holy, Holy, He that was, is, and is to come, then we must remember that it is only in eschewing all the things that will block our connection with Christ that we can seek the face of God. Our only connection is our prayer ascending to His throne and this must not be compromised.

Effective prayer of the church can break the walls of the powers of darkness and invoke the power of the almighty God. As a church, we need effective prayers that will invoke the power of the Holy Spirit. When the apostles joined in one accord to pray effectively for Peter, the power of their prayer invoked the power of God to dispatch angels to break the chains off him (Acts 12:5).

As a church, our prayer must disturb the camp of Satan. Unfortunately, our prayer(s) get less effective than it’s originally intended power. In Mark 11:24, Jesus talks: If we shall pray believing, then whatsoever we desire, we shall receive it. This promise cannot fail because Christ is faithful. Together as a church, whatever we shall ask shall be received. If any individual member will ask anything and believes, he or she will receive it. Why is the promise in Mark 11:24-25 not being fulfilled fully in our lives today?

The Condition

Christ gave a condition when he gave us the promise. In His own words, he said if we stand praying, we should forgive those who have offended us else the Lord will not forgive our sins and consequently, our prayer will not be heard in the courts of heaven.

Alas! We have come to God’s presence with our needs. We have come tonight with our sicknesses. We have needs of the church and individual needs. We have come with our spiritual problems. Despite all these, we have also come with problems hidden in our hearts. We hold grudges against our neighbors. We are at loggerheads with the same people we have come to pray with. How can our prayers be received? How can Christ answer us? Forgiveness is divine.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Christianity is about forgiveness. Christianity is Forgiveness. The death of Christ is about forgiveness. How can our prayers be accepted if we cannot accept this gospel of forgiveness?

When we come to ask mercy from God, we should have a spirit of love and forgiveness. How can we pray, “Forgive is our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12) and yet indulge in unforgiving spirit? If we expect our prayers to be heard, as individuals and as a church, we must forgive others in the same manner and the extent as we hope to be forgiven” (Steps to Christ, pg 67)

Prayer Points.