I would like to re-open this topic that Rev. Denise Rogers mentioned previously on prayer. I believe that prayer is the key spiritual tool of the christian to accompish the will of God for ones life. However, in most churches people have meetings and vote on issues . How can anyone do anything better than God? How can anyone do anything without the knowledge of God? Do you think that man invented this computer? Therefore, why don't we all pray about everything and especially about doing God's business as it relates to the church? Perhaps this would explain why our modern church is not a success. We would rather vote on church matters rather that pray to God about them.

Sincerely,

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000

Answers

The flaw of the modern church is not voting but leadership. There are no Biblical refernces to God's people voting on what to do. They left decesions in the hands of their leader who was supposed tto be God's man and acting in concert with the will if the Lord. The problem that we have come to is that many of our leaders have hurt churches and the people in them. It is because of leaders who have abused the authority given to them by God that Churches feel that there is safety in voting. This gives members the feeling that they are in control of their church. Pastors having lost the authority givem to them by God are now mere employees of congregations, no different than janitors or secretaries. Without Pastors who have vision and people willing to work towards that vision the modern church will remain an inefective, powerless, place where people come to be entertained on Sunday.

God Bless

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

There is no doubt about the power of God that is brought to bear through prayer. As St. Paul says, "Men and women ought to always pray." But, sometimes we use prayer as an excuse to keep from doing what we know God wants us to do. For example: If your church building is the worst building in the community you don't need to pray to find out if it is God's will that you build a new building. If fact, I find a lot of folk praying when they ought to be working. Of course, when we have a personal relationship with God prayer becomes constant and mostly informal. Blessing Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2000

In IIChron 7:14 the Word of God states "If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and heal their lands." See in this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites, his chosen people. He is not saying this to the Philistines or the other heathen folk, but the Lord God is calling his people come together in prayer. Before we can ever pray for other, such as the lost and other nations, we need to adhere to this verse and get ourselves in check. The Word says in I Peter 4:17 says Judgement begins in the house of God. We as church folk have become so wrapped in our agendas, such building big buildings and jocking for positions, hob knobing with the upper crust, thinking what we are doing is Gods will. However in the Word of the Lord says in Haggi 1:5-11 to "consider our ways". Most of the prayers the average Christian prays are from the soulish realm, we are not praying the will of God in our lives. We pray for mates, cars, money, houses, but how many of us pray for God's divine will in our lives. We wonder why we are in the messed up state we are in when, the the things we have prayed for God allowed us to get to satisify the flesh, but it damages the spirit. As being a person who is chosen by the Lord God a Prophetess and Intercessor for his people, constant communication to the Father through the Lord Jesus is important. In order to discover His will for us we must first analize and pray the model prayer the Lord set before us. Not the words of the prayer but the revelation of the prayer. Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive His word and instruction. We are at the point in our lives that we must must walk in the fullness and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we pray allow the Holy Ghost to possess your thought pattern because it is His Spirit makes intercession for us when dont have a clue to pray for. I am gonna stop here for now... Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2000