Joel Osteen - We are made to succeed (1)

Why do we pray?

Most scholars in studies of religion agree that; Prayer:

·       Opens the door to a dialogue with God,  connect with God, acknowledge God, thank God, or appreciate God in the course of that prayer

·       Reestablishes that connection within your heart and mind and giving yourself the opportunity to have a deeper experience with Source which is God

A prayer can be as simple as 'Hello, God' or 'Thank You, God,' or it can be an unending dialogue about anything you want to share with God

Prayer need not happen in a physical church, but in the church within you. If you are walking down the street, driving in your car, or shopping in a store, and you have the thought to say hello to God, thank God, or ask for something in as light-hearted and casual a way or as serious a way as you feel called, it is all the same.

It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. 

James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Prayer is conversation with God; Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, therefore It is a “beseeching the Lord” (Ex. 32:11); “pouring out the soul before the Lord” (1 Sam. 1:15); “praying and crying to heaven” (2 Chr. 32:20); “seeking unto God and making supplication” (Job 8:5); “drawing near to God” (Ps. 73:28); “bowing the knees” (Eph. 3:14).

I am reminded of another benefit of prayer:  peace.  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Phil. 4:6-7)

Prayer must also be offered in the faith that God is, and is the hearer and answerer of prayer, and that he will fulfil his word, “Ask, and ye shall receive” (Matt. 7:7,8; 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13,14), and in the name of Jesus Christ ( 16:23,24; 15:16; Eph. 2:18; 5:20; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 2:5).

No rules are anywhere in Scripture laid down for the manner of prayer or the attitude to be assumed by the suppliant. There is mention made of…

• kneeling in prayer (1 Kings 8:54; 2 Chr. 6:13; Ps. 95:6; Isa. 45:23; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40;Eph. 3:14, etc.)
• bowing and falling prostrate (Gen. 24:26, 52; Ex. 4:31; 12:27; Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:35, etc.)
• spreading out the hands (1 Kings 8:22, 38, 54; Ps. 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; 1 Tim. 2:8, etc.)

standing (1 Sam. 1:26; 1 Kings 8:14, 55; 2 Chr. 20:9; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13).

Acceptable prayer must be sincere (Hebrews 10:22), offered with reverence and godly fear, with a humble sense of our own insignificance as creatures and of our own unworthiness as sinners, with earnest importunity, and with unhesitating submission to the divine will.

Prayer must also be offered in the faith that God is, and is the hearer

Types of prayer

There are different kinds of prayer: secret (Matt. 6:6); social, as family prayers, and in social worship; and public, in the service of the sanctuary.

Intercessory prayer is commanded (Num. 6:23; Job 42:8; Isa. 62:6; Ps. 122:6; 1 Tim. 2:1; James 5:14).

If we accept the “Lord’s Prayer” (Matt. 6:9-13), which is, however, rather a model or pattern of prayer than a set prayer to be offered up, we have no special form of prayer for general use given us in Scripture.

Prayer is frequently commanded in Scripture (Ex. 22:23, 27; 1 Kings 3:5; 2 Chr. 7:14; Ps. 37:4; Isa. 55:6; Joel 2:32; Ezek. 36:37, etc.).

Our Message Today; FORGIVENESS

He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself for every man has a need to be forgiven.

As Matthew 6:12 12 teachers us “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors”.

How can you go about it?

Start with;

·      Healing the heart

·      Power of prayer

·      The  art of letting go

·      Meditation to feel freedom

·      Forgiving 

-amen-

UJUMBE WA JUMAPILI: kutoka kitabu cha 1 Yakobo 2; 15 -17

Msiupende Ulimwengu

15  Msiupende ulimwengu wala mambo  yaliyoko ulimwenguni. Kama mtu ye yote  akiupenda ulimwengu, kumpenda Baba hakumo  ndani yake.  16 Kwa maana kila kitu kilichomo  ulimwenguni, yaani, tamaa ya mwili, tamaa ya  macho na kiburi cha uzima, havitokani na Baba bali hutokana na ulimwengu.  17 Nao ulimwengu  unapita, pamoja na tamaa zake, bali yeye  afanyaye mapenzi ya Mungu adumu milele;

                   Starehe za Walimwengu

Kwa walimwengu mtazamo ni kuwa yafurahie maisha katika hali yeyote ile hata kama maisha yanakufanya ulie kwa ugumu wake lakini wewe uonyeshe ulimwengu kuwa unasababu elfu moja za kifurahia kwa staili yeyote kama picha hii hapa juu inavyoonyesha; starehe kwanza halafu mengine baadae; Mungu tutamkimbilia “ BAADAE” baada ya starehe, bado tuna muda wa kutosha;

Jumapili hii tutafakari leo hii, asubuhi hii, sasa hivi tukiulizwa na Muumba wetu je unapendelea kupita daraja gani kumfikia yeye?

1.   Daraja la uzima ambalo linakwenda moja kwa moja kwake na kwa Muda mfupi kama Waraka wa Yakobo unavyotufundisha;

2.  Daraja la anasa na malimwengu linavyojieleza ambalo huna uhakika wa kumfikia yeye kwa wakati muuafaka kabla milango ya mbinguni haijefungwa;

La msingi huu ni wakati mzuri wa kufanya tafakari kuhusu hatima ya maisha yetu  - Amen-

Blessed are the peacemakers: (Matthew 5:9)

The Bible says that peace comes from God. God is the one who blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11). For God to bless us with peace, we must follow His commands. In Isaiah 48:18, the Bible says, "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." Choosing not to follow God's commands results in the absence of peace

The Bible says that God blesses the peacemakers. According to Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Proverbs 12:20 tells us that there is "joy for those who promote peace." Psalm 34:14 advises us to "seek peace and pursue it." God wants us to "live in harmony with one another" (Romans 12:16; I Peter 3:8), which results in being peaceful with one another. "God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (I Corinthians 14:33).

As we are aware that peace brings justice, happiness and joy in our life ---Amen---

HAPPY WEEKEND AND GOD BLESS YOU

“GOLDEN RULE”

It is true that there are no free rides into Heaven and there is no simple method for gaining perfection at the conclusion of life.  The only and simple way is through living our life now according to Golden Rule which teaches us that "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation”. The main core of the rule is God’s love; when we read 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 and 1 John 4:8 talks about God’s love to us. Therefore Love is a core aspect of God’s character,

This Rule commanded us to act beyond our own selfishness and self-absorbed isolation. The golden rule serves as a reminder that what hurts us hurts others, and that what heals us, heals others. The rule cautions us that we should not love someone because they fulfill a certain condition that we require before we can love them. How many times have you heard or said, "I love you because you are cute;" or "I love you because you take good care of me;" or "I love you because you are fun to be with"?  If you do it is against God’s love

Therefore as we prepare ourselves towards the end of the this week and joining different services in worship to the Almighty God we should apply the Golden rule to our neighbors, as bible reminds us that :" Leviticus 19:18: 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD”. Or  Matthew 19:19 Mark 12:28-34 and Romans 13:9. The question is how we can go about:

·        We need to force ourselves to be near and polite towards those whom we do not love, and, little by little, we will experience a change of heart, a softening; instead of coldness and aversion, we will feel perhaps not love but at least a disposition towards love.

·        How good are we listening to other people’s concerns and encourage people to share their concerns and help them work out what they should do for the good or we are happy when they fail?

·        How do you think of yourself? Do you regard your knowledge and training as something you have achieved through effort and hard work? Or do you regard your skills as a gift from God – to be shared freely with others?

·        Consider how you treat the people you work with. Are they people with potential – or people with huge problems? How does God regard them?

• Who is your neighbor?

• Think of times when you have found it difficult to love your neighbor. Why did you find it difficult?

It is my hope that if we keep praying and asking for the God’s help we can live our life and fulfill the principals of love according to Golden Rule.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME - AMEN

UJUMBE WA LEO KUTOKA " YAKOBO 4; 1- 3

Wakati nchi zetu nyingi zinakuwa kwenye vugu vugu za vita, migomo mauaji ya raia ambao hawana hatia; tunapatiwa jibu au majibu tukisoma kitabu cha Yakobo 4; 1- 3 :
1
Ni kitu gani kinachosababisha mapigano 
na ugomvi miongoni  mwenu? Je, haya 
hayatokani na  tamaa zenu zinazoshindana 
ndani yenu?  
2
Mnatamani lakini hampati, kwa 
hiyo mwaua. Mwatamani kupata lakini hampati 
vile mnavyotaka, kwa hiyo mnajitia katika 
magomvi na mapigano. Mmepungukiwa kwa 
sababu hamumwombi Mungu. 
3
Mnapoomba 
hampati kwa sababu mnaomba kwa nia mbaya, 
ili mpate kuvitumia hivyo mtakavyopata kwa 
tamaa zenu. 

BLESSINGS AND HOPES

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made
the Lord his hope and confidence:  - Jeremiah 17:7                                           

We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance.          Benjamin Disraeli

View life as a continuous learning experience.

Denis Waitley