USE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR HEAVEN'S WILL ON EARTH (3)

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PRAYERThe Holy Spirit is our divine enabler in prayer, empowering us to pray effectively and strategically. Acts 2:4 (NKJV) describes the early church: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (baptised) in the upper room and spoke in unknown tongues. Similarly, when we speak in unknown tongues, the Holy Spirit plays a multifaceted role:- He gives us the unknown language to speak directly to the Father, bypassing our natural understanding.- He directs our prayer through the flow of the Spirit, leading us into Spirit-led prayers.- He anoints us to pray, empowering our words with divine unction.- He fills us up and strengthens us again, refreshing our inner man.- He releases His power through our prayer, bringing about supernatural results.- He gives us the interpretation (understanding) of what we’re praying, if needed.He takes hold together with us against spiritual forces and situations. Romans 8:26 says, "The Spirit helps in our weaknesses ..." He takes hold with us to supplicate or intercede with groanings which cannot be uttered.He leads us to pray for God's plan and purpose. Romans 8:27 states, “... He makes supplication for the saints according to the will of God." The Holy Spirit ensures our prayers are always aligned with God's perfect will.THE ISSACHAR DIMENSION IN PRAYEREffective prayer requires more than just passion; it requires discernment. 1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks of the sons of Issachar: “... of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;" The sons of Issachar possessed two critical qualities that every praying believer must cultivate through the Holy Spirit:Understanding of the times: This involves spiritual sensitivity to discern God's kairos moments. (Kairos means “a set time, an opportune time, an opportunity, a due season, a fixed or special occasion, the right time,” Representing moments when heaven and earth converge at an opportune time, and when a kairos moment comes, everything changes. It is the right time, the set time of God’s favour, indicating being in the right place at the right time for God-appointed results. [Jane Hamon and Chuck D. Pierce, Discernment: The Essential Guide to Hearing the Voice of God])The Holy Spirit helps us know:- Is it time to pray open a door?- Is it time to wait patiently?- Is it time to worship and praise?- Is it time to pray due to a change of season coming?- Is it time to move or to do something specific?Know what to pray for: This ensures our prayers are strategic and aligned with God's character and Word. We cannot:- Ask for whatever the Word forbids.- Ask for what belongs to others.- Ask for what is not in God’s plan for you.- Ask against His purpose.Instead, we ask God to shut doors that are not His will, and we pray for the unfolding of His plan, for the right person, the right place, and the right thing. This Issachar dimension guides us to pray the right type of prayer at the right time.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

用你的权柄让神的旨意行在地上 (三)

圣灵与祷告圣灵是我们祷告中神圣的助力者，使我们的祷告满有能力、果效与谋略。使徒行传 2 章 4 节这样描述初期教会：“他们都被圣灵充满，按着圣灵所赐的口才，说起别国的话来。”一百二十名门徒在马可楼上被圣灵充满（圣灵的洗），说起了方言。同样，当我们用方言祷告时，圣灵也扮演着多重角色：- 祂赐下听不懂的语言，绕过我们自身的理性，直接对天父说话- 祂藉着圣灵的水流来引导我们的祷告，让我们进入被圣灵带领的祷告- 祂膏抹我们，让我们祷告的言语带着神圣的力量- 祂再一次充满我们、坚固我们，使我们里面的人得着舒畅- 祂藉着我们的祷告释放祂的大能，带来超自然的果效- 祂在必要时把方言的翻译（悟性）赐给我们，让我们明白祷告的内容圣灵与我们一同抵挡属灵权势与各样困境。罗马书 8 章 26 节说：“况且我们的软弱有圣灵帮助……”祂同我们一同扛起重担，用言语无法表达的叹息来恳求或代求。圣灵带领我们按着神的计划与心意祷告。罗马书 8 章 27 节说：“圣灵照着神的旨意替圣徒祈求。”圣灵确保我们的祷告始终贴合神完美的旨意。以萨迦维度的祷告有效的祷告不单需要一颗热忱的心，更需要我们有属灵的分辨力。历代志上 12 章 32 节论到以萨迦的子孙说：“以萨迦支派有二百族长，都通达时务，知道以色列人所当行的，他们族弟兄都听从他们的命令。”以萨迦族人拥有两项关键特质，也是每位祷告的信徒都需要藉着圣灵养成的品格。通达时务：这是指属灵的敏锐度，能分辨神的关键时刻（kairos）（Kairos 的意思是：预定的时间、合宜的时机、机会、季节、特定或特殊的场合、正确的时候。它代表天地交汇的关键时刻；当Kairos时刻一到，一切都要改变。这是神施恩所预定的时刻，意味着在对的时间、站在对的位置，得着神命定的结果（简・哈蒙、查克・D・皮尔斯，《分辨力：听见神声音的基础指南》）。圣灵帮助我们判断：- 是否到了祷告开启门路的时候？- 是否应当耐心等候？- 是否该献上敬拜赞美？- 是否因季节更迭而需要祷告？- 是否应当动身行事、有某些具体的作为？要知道该为什么祷告。这能让我们的祷告具有策略，契合神的本性和祂的话语。我们不能：- 求那些圣经明令禁止的事情- 求那些不属于你的东西- 求那些在神计划之外的东西- 求那些违背神旨意的事情反之，我们要祷告求神关上那些不合祂心意的门路，祈求祂的计划逐步展开，求问正确的人、正确的地点与正确的事。这份以萨迦式的智慧能引导我们在正确的时机献上正确的祷告。耀光牧师新加坡信心教会请访问我们的中文播客,faithchurch.sg/牧师手札/#牧师手札 ... See MoreSee Less