Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

In The Secret Place

Encouragement, Trust

In The Secret Place

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 ‭6:6‬ ‭

 

When You Pray…

Do you have a quiet place to go into and pray?  If not, you should find a place that is your quiet place that you can get away and pray.  A place that is away from distractions and free from interference.  Everyone needs their special place where they can speak with God in prayer.

While Jesus preaches the famous “Sermon On The Mount”, He addresses the subject of prayer.  The idea behind finding a place to pray is so that you can keep your eyes on God and not anyone else.  Your place should be somewhere you can go and no one knows you’re praying.  Prayer time with God is not to impress anyone with big words or with impressive speech, but to impress God with a heart that is seeking His will and way.  Jesus goes on to say that we should not use vain repetitions.  If you are saved God hears your prayers.  There is no need to use key words that have more power or impressiveness.  Prayer is not the source of getting from God it is the act of becoming one with God.  When our prayers align with the will of God then we have answered prayers.  The Holy Spirit will teach us and instruct what to pray when we are controlled by Him.

When we pray we need to act like Jesus is in the room with us and we are speaking directly to Him.  Say what is on your mind and what is on your heart and communicate the things you want to say to Him.  This is when we can have the right fellowship with Him.

Prayer

Lord, I love you and seek you in all things.  Help me to stay in constant prayer and meditation with Your Word.

More Blessed To Give

Encouragement, Trust

More Blessed To Give

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35

 

We Can’t Out Give God

You will not find a reference in any of the four gospels of Jesus that quote Him saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  There are a lot of things that Jesus said and did that are not recorded in the Bible.  John 21:25 says, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”  Remember that Paul is quoting this in the Book of Acts and Paul did not live during the same time as Jesus lived.  So how did Paul know that Jesus said this?  Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Jesus revealed many things to Paul.  

Even though we do not have a written record of Jesus stating that it is more blessed to give than to receive, it does align with His teachings.  Luke 6:38 says, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Paul knew the teachings of Christ when it came to giving and receiving.  The blessing of joy is received when you give so be sure to give big, give much and give often.

Prayer

Lord, help me to have the right attitude when it comes to giving.  Show me how I can give to others.