20/03/2022
*PRAYING THE VERY NATURE OF GOD*
We shall be praying into our lives the very nature of God that we may be able to fulfill his will for us as a family. Before the prayers I just want us to look at some things about the nature of God and how important it's that we have it as a family.
*WHAT'S THE NATURE OF GOD?*
We all know that God is dynamic in nature. He is;
Love
Life
Peace
Terrible
Consuming fire
Righteous
Merciful etc.
(read, 1Jh 1:5, 1Jh 4:8, Judg 6:24...)
But today we shall be looking at the Merciful/ Mercy nature of God.
Though before looking at Mercy, we will have to look at "Love" so that we can have a good understanding of this nature, "mercy".
*What is love?*
1 Love is God 1Jh 4:7-8
2 Love is long-suffering 1Cor.13:4
3 love is kind
4 love is the ability to overlook offence
Love is selflessness 1cor. 10:24,33
5 love is consistent with standard ( does not behave unseemly)
6 Love thinks no evil of anyone
7 Love does not rejoice when people do wickedness
8 love is not proud nor envious
9 love believe all things, is simple
10 love bears all things...
But the Bible made it clear in1 Cor. 13 verse 3 that, it is possible for someone to give everything he has to the poor and even give his body to be burned yet has no love.
The question now is, what then is love?? How can we know when it's love?
Love has feeling. Love can not be said to be where there is no feelings of it. This feeling of love is the basics of love expression.
The feeling is what we call COMPASSION.
Compassion is the spirit of love, the very spirit of God in a man that prompts him to go out of his way to do things for a person which ordinarily he would not have been able to do.
When all that we had seen above as love and its nature is manifested without the feelings of love, spirit of love or compassion we say it is with hypocrisy ROM 12:9. This only happens when ambition is the motivating factor of such expressions.
Naturally, it's impossible for man to have compassion because of his nature.
The Bible says;
1 Nothing good dwells in man Rom 7:18
2 man is deceitful above all things Jer.17:9
3 Man is wicked and his thought is wicked continually Gen 6:5
4 man works only evil Gal 5:19
5 No man is righteous Rom. 3:10-18...
The evil nature of man can never allow him put away feelings for what he wants and have feelings for another man's need except God takes over him , kill his "self" (flesh) and put in him His own spirit of Compassion.
Now *What is Mercy?*
Mercy is simply the deeper dimensions of love.
Love is most times expressed towards family and friends, people close to us and deserving of it. But mercy goes beyond this.
๐Mercy is showing love to someone you have the power and right to punish.
๐Mercy is when you decide to forgive that man that killed your mother.
๐Mercy is when you can still love that wife that insulted and slapped you in public when you had nothing.
๐Mercy is helping that your uncle who refused to pay your school fees
๐Mercy is when you can still reach out to that witch who killed all your children and afterward, repented.
๐Mercy is that very nature of God that had power to destroy us for our sins, instead, it chose to save us
๐Mercy is that part of a pastor that would make him forget the false accusations of a member, the wickedness of those he prayed for and still go down on his knees to make intercession for them in their time of distress, put a call across just to know how they do.
๐ Mercy is the nature of God every true child of God is expected to have if God must be in control of his emotion, decisions and actions.
*WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS NATURE IN US*
We need to have this nature of God called Mercy as a family because without it,
1. it will be impossible for us to forgive one another
2. Also, it will be impossible for us to be united
3. If we're not united, it will be very easy for the enemies to destroy us
4. Lack of love and unity can hinder the plan of God for us as a family
5. Many of the problems we've had in life or are having at the moment can be tracked down to family crisis or failure
In conclusion, let us understand that we're one family and that everyone's energy, no matter how little is needed to make a difference.
We may have offended one another in many ways that are difficult to forgive, one thing I know is this, if only we can ask God to put in us that His very nature that enables one to forgive, love and live in unity, surely, he will do it for us.
*Prayer points*
1. Let us first have a reflection of the kind of nature we have as a person, Christian, a member of this family
2. Let us with a sincere heart of repentance, confess our sins to God and ask God for mercy
*Pray like these*
1. Father give me the grace to be merciful like you in the name of Jesus Christ
2. From today, I reject and renounce every nature in me that is not of God in the name of Jesus
3. Every inherited nature in me that would not help me keep a happy home, leave my life now in the name of Jesus Christ
4. Every spirit of pride speaking in my life, be devoured by fire in the name of Jesus Christ
5. You voice of wickedness controlling my thoughts and imaginations, what are you waiting for be silenced forever in the mighty name of Jesus Christ
6. As a member of this family, by the covenant binding me to this alter, the light of my glory must illuminate Uwara as a whole and other parts of the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
7. In the name of Jesus Christ I receive the grace to be a good mother, father, daughter, son, uncle, aunty, wife, husband, indigene, citizen... In the name of Jesus Christ.
8. Begin to thank God for answered prayers
*Intercession*
1. Let us pray for those that are sick that God may heal them.
2. Pray for the ones looking for the fruit of the womb that God may bless them according to their heart desire
3. Pray for businesses that God may bless them.
4. Pray for homes and marriages that the love and provisions of God will dominate.
5. Pray for our youths, that God will preserve them in the part of righteousness.
6. Pray that the peace of God will reign in our country, Ukraine and other parts of the world.
7. Let's begin to worship, thank and give him praise for answering our prayers. In Jesus mighty name we have prayed. Amen.