THE FATHER KNOWS - DON'T WORRY (3)

FOUR KINDS OF PRAYER FOR AN UNFOLDING DIRECTIONEphesians 6:18 calls believers to pray always “with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” remaining watchful and persevering. There are seasons when one short prayer is enough to entrust a matter to God. Other decisions unfold and require continued prayer of supplication and prayer in the Spirit. Not because God is deaf, but because circumstances, timing, people, angels need to be dispatched, and spiritual forces in the realm of the spirit need to be dealt with.1. ThanksgivingBegin by thanking the Father. Thanksgiving shifts attention from the size of the unknown to the faithfulness of the One who leads.“Father, thank You that my life is not hidden from You. Thank You that You know what I need. Thank You that You have promised wisdom when I ask. Thank You for every way You have led and sustained me until today.”Thanksgiving is remembering that the Father is faithful - His proven character.2. The Prayer of FaithJames 1:5 says that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously. We can therefore ask with confidence:“Father, give me wisdom. Direct my path. Close every door that no man can open. Open the door that no man can shut. Give me the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding to discern the right door that you open.”To discern whether God opens or shuts the door, or the devil opens or shuts the door, we still have to listen to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit in our spirit.Faith rests on what God has promised. He has promised wisdom. We are in His presence, and He never leaves us. Faith does not force God to endorse our preferred outcome. Faith knows He has a plan, will reveal it to us, and will guide us.3. Supplication and Persevering PrayerSupplication is earnest, specific prayer. Jesus prayed repeatedly in Gethsemane. Paul asked churches to strive together with him in prayer (Romans 15:30–32). The early church continued in prayer when Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12).Have trusted believers pray with you. The body of Christ supplies prayer, wisdom, correction, encouragement, and sometimes practical provision.Persevering prayer also guards us in spiritual conflict. We stand in Christ’s victory, put on the armour of God, reject doubt, unbelief and fear, and resist the devil. We keep our focus on God’s faithfulness.4. Praying in the SpiritRomans 8:26 says that the Spirit helps us in our weakness when we do not know how to pray as we ought. First Corinthians 14 speaks of praying with the spirit and with the understanding.When details are unknown, pray with the understanding you have and depend on the Spirit beyond it. When believers pray in tongues, it is part of sustained, yielded prayer. But do not switch off your mind, your Bible, or wise discernment. Paul says, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.” We need both.As we pray, the Spirit may give an idea to investigate, or someone else to contact. Write down what you sense, test it, and remain teachable.Rev. Cheong Yew KwongFaith Church SingaporePlease visit our website at faithchurch.sg#goodtoread ... See MoreSee Less

天父都知道 —— 不要忧虑 (三)

为逐步显明的方向献上的四种祷告以弗所书6章18节呼召信徒要“靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求”，并要在祷告中警醒不倦。在有些季节里，一句简短的祷告就足以将一件事交托给神。但还有一些决定是逐步展开的，需要持续不断地祷告祈求，并在圣灵里祷告。不是因为神听不见，而是因为环境、时机、人事，因为天使需要被调度，属灵领域中的黑暗势力也需要对付。1. 感恩的祷告祷告从感谢父开始。感恩能把你的注意力从“未知的领域有多大”转移到“那位引导你的有多信实”。“父啊，感谢你，我的人生在你面前毫无隐藏。感谢你，你知道我所需用的。感谢你，你应许只要我祈求，你就必赐下智慧。感谢你，你一直用各种方式带领我、扶持我，直到今天。”感恩就是记念天父的信实 —— 信实是祂确凿无疑的品格。2. 信心的祷告雅各书1章5节说，你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐与众人、也不斥责人的神。因此，我们可以坦然无惧地向祂求：“父啊，求你赐给我智慧。指引我的路。关闭那无人能开的门，开启那无人能关的门。求你赐给我智慧和聪明的灵、知识和敬畏耶和华的灵，使我能够分辨出哪一扇门是你开的。”要分辨一扇门是不是神为你打开或关上的，还是魔鬼打开或关上的，我们仍然必须聆听圣灵在我们灵里的内在印证。信心安息在神的应许上。祂已经应许赐下智慧。我们活在祂的同在中，而祂永不撇下我们。信心不是强迫神来认可我们想要的结果。信心深知祂有一个计划，而且必向我们显明，也必引导我们。3. 恳求与恒切的祷告恳求是恳切而具体的祷告。耶稣曾在客西马尼园里多次祷告。保罗请求众教会与他一同竭力祷告（罗马书15:30-32）。彼得被囚时，初期教会持续不断地祷告（使徒行传12章）。要有值得托付的信徒与你一同祷告。基督的身体能为每个肢体提供祷告、智慧、纠正、鼓励，有时也提供实际的供应。恒切的祷告也在属灵争战中保守我们。我们站立在基督的得胜里，穿戴神所赐的全副军装，拒绝疑惑、不信和恐惧，抵挡魔鬼。我们定睛于神的信实。4. 在圣灵里祷告罗马书8章26节说，我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。哥林多前书14章讲到用灵祷告，也用悟性祷告。当细节还不清楚时，就用你现有的悟性祷告，并倚靠超越悟性的圣灵。信徒用方言祷告时，是一种持续、降服的祷告。但不要让你的头脑放空，也不要合上圣经，或关闭明智的分辨力。保罗说：“我要用灵祷告，也要用悟性祷告。”两者我们都需要。在我们祷告的过程中，圣灵可能会给你一个念头，让你去查证，或让你联系某个人。把你所感受到的写下来，加以检验，并保持受教的心。张耀光牧师 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