The Important Power of Prayer

Submitted By: Andrew Hallinan

Prayer should be our spiritual breath. We couldn’t survive without breathing and we shouldn’t try to face each day without prayer. The importance of prayer is often understated, mostly only something we do when we are in trouble and don’t know what else to do. Prayer is often limited to such situations as when we or one of our loved ones are sick or when we are fearful for

ourselves or a loved one. We shouldn’t face any challenge in our life without prayer. Sometimes, if we had been faithful in bringing everything to the Lord in prayer, we wouldn’t find ourselves in some of the fixes we find ourselves in when we don’t seek God’s leadership.

Prayer is quite simply put talking to our Heavenly Father. Often times we only use prayer to ask for things to go our way instead of seeking God’s will. Prayer can be praising God daily for his wonderful love and understanding. It can be thankful; thanking him for each moment of our lives from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to sleep in the evening, grateful he keeps us safe through the night. Prayer can be rejoicing; rejoicing in all the wonderful blessings in our lives from our family to our daily jobs and even our daily trials. Prayer can be a time of seeking; seeking guidance in the decisions we make in our daily lives for ourselves and our family, friends, and church home. Prayer can be a time grieving as we bring our sorrows to the Lord seeking His spiritual comfort.

Prayer is something every church needs to practice strongly and faithfully, it is important for the growth of the ministry and our community’s Christian methods. Often people don’t know what to say when they pray. To be honest, the words do not matter, as our Heavenly Father already knows what is in our hearts. We need to bring everything to the Lord in prayer, and we need to trust our Father to guide us. The scripture tells us in 1 John 5:14-15 “14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him,” New International Version. We need to believe in the power of prayer and use prayer as an important daily part of our lives.

Praying constantly and with a pure heart, having brought all our sins to the lord for forgiveness is the proper way to apply prayer to our daily Christian lives. Our Heavenly Father loves us and will care for us. “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 New King James Version. God will take care of all of our needs; we only have to ask while seeking his will. How can we live without breathing and how can we cope without prayer? The answer is – We can’t!

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Church Home Pre-Requisits

Submitted By: Andrew Hallinan

One of the most important decisions Christians make after accepting Jesus Christ as their savior and lord is finding a church home. When searching for a permanent church and family (one cannot have one without the other) there are several things to consider prayerfully. Most importantly, the church needs to be following the Word of God. If it isn’t following the Word of God

is not going to thrive and may often hinder personal Christian growth. Christians should pray and search the scriptures for guidance in searching for a church home.

The right church should be a place of love, 1 John 3:23 says, “And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave us His commandment,” King James Version. It should be founded on the beliefs but forth by Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s,” King James Version.

When looking to find a church home, Christians should ask a friend to pray for God’s wisdom. God answers prayers and guide His children in His will. Christians may also consider asking the church they are considering to pray with and for them as they make this decision. The right place for your and your family will be a church family that will help its members make difficult decisions. This is an entity which can rejoice and grieve with its members.

The scriptures say “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58 King James Version. A church home should be about the Lord’s work, not about being with friends, or about how fancy the building may appear. It should be about the people in the building and what they are doing in the name of our Heavenly Father. It’s easy to follow our friends or look at the worldly possessions of a church, but that shouldn’t be what a church home is about. The right place can be a humble building on a side street, a tent in someone’s backyard, or at the most unlikely of places. You may not be with your best friend, or you might find yourself among the closest friends you’ve ever known.

A church home is about following the will of God in our daily walk with him, so when looking for the right place there are important qualifications Christians should look for. When looking for a church Christians need to have open hearts attuned to the will of our Heavenly Father, actively seeking His will in their Christian walk. Whether you are a new Christian or if you’ve been a Christian for many years, there are always decisions we have to make about a church home, sometimes we move and need to find a church home. Sometimes God just calls us somewhere else for unknown reasons and sending us in search of a new place to worship. This search must be done with prayer, always seeking God’s will.

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Prosperity Gospel is Good News For Those Who Need Money

Submitted By: Jim Kibler

The Bible concept of success is God telling us what He believes prosperity for His people really is and if we are going to study further we are going to learn that God really does want us to prosper and be in health.
In 2 Corinthians 9:8 the Bible lets us know “and God can make all grace abound toward you; that you'll always have all sufficiency for all things and may abound to each good work”.

Click on the link along at the bottom of this page to get free entry to incredible audio messages on exactly how to increase your finances.

This is God’s definition of prosperity. Enough money to pay for all of our bills and funds remaining to give to every good work. People must have a lot of money if they're going to give money for the church, give money for the poor in order to fund the evangelist who is out there reaching the lost.

Prosperity and financial increase are all through the Bible because this is absolutely, undeniably what God wants for His people. 3 John 2 States,” beloved, above all things it is indeed my wish that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers”.

In line with this verse from the Bible we definitely will prosper along at the same rate our soul prospers so it would behoove you to take the time to prosper your soul as your bank-account will follow.

The way you prosper your soul is by feeding your soul on God’s Word concerning prosperity.

If you need healing then you should listen to sermons on healing because what goes in your ear will affect your life.

If you need financial increase then listen to sermons on prosperity and you will notice your finances increasing.

Also, find a church that is preaching what you need to hear. right now I am preaching financial increase because of what is going on in our economy and everyone in our church is being provided for.

Another thing I tell people to do is pray God’s Word frequently until faith comes. Just pray, Lord your Word says in Psalms 112:3 that wealth and riches shall be in my house. Now fill my house with wealth and riches according to your Word.

Do you have the audacity to pray that to God? If you do, that is exactly what He is going to give you, wealth and riches at your house.

Some people say as long as I have enough money to pay my bills I’m happy. Maybe they are, but if they just have enough money to pay for their bills they are not going to be a financial blessing to anyone else.

I enjoy having extra money to offer to other people in order to help the poor.

The Bible meaning of prosperity is for us to have enough money for everything we want with plenty left over to help others.

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The Difference Between Baptism and Christening

Submitted By: Criss White

Almost across all religions, the newest members of their belief are welcomed using rituals and rites of passage. This has been the tradition of almost all religions since the beginning of known history. Whether in tribes, with Muslims, Catholics or Baptist, welcoming new people is a symbol of their growing community and belief.

In the Christian world, there are ceremonies being done to ‘welcome’ the child into the Christian world. Often called baptism or christening, these two terms are being used interchangeably. It is understandable as there is a thin line between the two – they actually go together and it is seldom that one occurs without the other. However, many people wonder what the differences are in meaning between the two. Here are some of the key differences between the terms Baptism and Christening.

- Baptism is the actual ceremony conducted to welcome the newborn or baby into the church. This ceremony includes pouring water to the forehead of the newborn – this is to symbolize or recreate the baptism of Jesus himself by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The pouring of water or sprinkling of water is done three times as to symbolize the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

- Christening is not a ceremony but rather the giving of a Christian name during baptism. With this, it means that the two belong together – two activities that follow each other.

- Baptism symbolizes the washing away of sins and admission into the Church. Christening is generally giving a name to be ‘christened’ or welcomes in the Christian church.

- The word Baptism is also used in the Church community. The word Christening is a more of a secular expression.

- For the church, Baptism is a Holy Sacrament while Christening is the naming of a child.

- There are sects that can have christening – only intended to give a ‘religious’ name to the child, but without the sacrament of baptism (as it is solely a holy sacrament in the Catholic church), but this is considered quite rare. This then becomes simply a naming ceremony

- As to groups, the Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches, generally those under Christian and Evangelical churches practice differences when it comes to the two.

- However for the Lutheran and Catholic churches, they may be used interchangeably as they are generally connected to welcoming a new member in their church.

For those who are under the Catholic church, it is acceptable and understandable that the two be used interchangeably. What is more important in the Catholic church is how you live and practice the faith and belief that was bestowed during such ceremonies.

As both are focusing and reflecting on the life and practices of Jesus, these ceremonies and sacraments becomes then a primary starting point in a Christian’s world. Of the Holy Sacraments, this is the first holy sacrament that the Christian is receiving, thus, the whole family then becomes supportive and encouraging of this rite. The ceremony if often conducted with family members and close friends with religious clergy present to initiate the rites.

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