Study in Prayer

Scripture For Today:

We have been studying about having the right mindset, or thinking about the right things, according to Philippians 4:8, which says: 

 “Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Yesterday, we left off with some examples of people that receive their healings, etc. and then LOSE their healings and, as Jesus said Matthew 12:45, “the last state of that man is worse than first.”

 Sometimes, when someone comes to me for prayer (and I always pray for them if asked), I know in my heart that they will not be able to either receive or hold onto their healing. 

Why?

Because all they have is doubt and unbelief in their voice. The whine never leaves their attitude. I’ve even had one person I’m thinking about right now, come up in the prayer line and said something to the effect of “I’ve had some of the good ones pray for me and I didn’t get anything, so I’m not holding out too much hope for you…”

That will put some water on your Holy Spirit Fire! Amen!

We’ve been looking at the different principles of prayer found in Paul’s letters. We’ve seen how important praying in tongues can be in order to pray for things we don’t know how to pray for. And, we have discussed how we are to refuse to worry about anything, but we allow the Peace of God to rule in our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. Amen!

As we continue to study these different scriptures, we are learning what the Word of God has to say about prayer. For many of you, you may have heard some things over these last few days or so that you have not heard taught in your church today (for whatever reason). 

If you will only put these principles of prayer into practice in your own private prayer time, we will be able to rise about whatever circumstances we find ourselves in the world and begin to walk in the victory Jesus intended for us to walk in. Amen!

I want to pray for you today that you will begin to walk out the concepts of what we have been studying these past several days or so. Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Until next time, this is Pastor Bob Thibodeau reminding you from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in the Living Bible to “Always Keep on Praying!”  Be blessed in all that you do!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying about having the right mindset, or thinking about the right things, according to Philippians 4:8, which says: 

 “Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

You see, right in the midst of trouble, instead of being overcome, we should be the overcomers! Amen! We should victors instead of victims. We should be happy instead of sad. Energetic instead of depressed. We should be encouraged and encouragers instead of being discouraged. Amen!

You can pray for people and help them temporarily. You can bring them into contact with God and His Power which can bring about immediate results. I’ve done it. Amen!  But, as long as they don’t change their thinking, they will be right back where they were and be defeated. In many cases, worse off than before…

Remember, Jesus talked about what happens if you cast an evil spirit out of someone and then they don’t invite the Holy Spirit in to take up residence. He said, in Matthew 12:43-45: 

When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the house I left.” On it’s return, it finds the house vacant, swept, clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation.”…

I  have seen a number of people that were healed in meetings I was in – and I KNOW they were healed because I knew about their condition!  But then, several weeks later, in some cases days later, they were right back in the same condition.

Why? Mainly because they did not change their mindset. And when the devil came back, either through a thought or sometimes another Christian speaking unbelief, they lost their healing. They did not think on things of virtue, praise or anything like that!  Unfortunately, that is the way it is with many believers today.

I want to close today by reading, again, Philippians 4:8, which says: 

 “Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

That is what we need to do. Anytime a negative thought pops into our minds, I want to encourage you and to pray for you to think about the Word of God and what the Word says about your situation.

Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We left off yesterday about speaking God’s Word to your circumstances and bringing about change by the Word of God. By thinking on the Word of God. By thinking, as read in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Many times, though, people will say, when talking about their negative circumstances, is “But – it’s true!”  Well, many things are true but they are not pure or lovely, amen!

Once you get to the place where you have the Peace of God that passes all understanding, if you want to KEEP THE PEACE OF GOD, you are going to have to THINK on the right things (hence the name of this series we are doing over the next couple days).

So, if God’s peace is not going to be able to guard your heart and mind unless you think right, why would you want to think about other things than right things? That doesn’t make sense, does it?

Many people need to change their way of thinking in order to be successful in their Christian walk. Yet, it scares some people if you teach them to focus on anything but their problems.  “Well, brother Bob, they are not going away by themselves..”

And you are right! But – don’t you want to focus on THE ANSWER instead of the PROBLEM?  Of course, right?  And we know that God’s Word is THE ANSWER for all of our problems. If you don’t know that, you need to check your doubt at the door, amen!

Sometimes, we miss what the Word says about our situation by looking at the world conditions. Things look bad. Things look like they are getting worse instead of better. The situations and circumstances we face in this life on a daily basis are definitely real. We all face trials in life and experience some unpleasant things sometimes.

All of that is absolutely true, but they are not necessarily just, and they are not pure or lovely either! Amen!

Remember what Philippians 4:8 says, “If there is any VIRTUE in these things and if there is any PRAISE – then THINK ON THESE THINGS.”

Right in the midst of the trouble, instead of being overcome, thank God for His Wisdom and thank God for the ability to OVERCOME! Amen!

Instead of being a victim, become a victor! Instead of being discouraged, be ENCOURAGED by the Word of God! Amen! Do you see what I’m talking about?

Praise God!

Let’s Pray!

Until next time, this is Pastor Bob Thibodeau reminding you from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in the Living Bible to “Always Keep on Praying!”  Be blessed in all that you do!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying about Refusing to Worry and how we need to “…but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That is Philippians 4:6-7.

Then we studied 1 Peter 5:7 that says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”

God has shown us in our study that we should be praying, “with thanksgiving,” which includes having the Joy of the Lord and that we are supposed to receive “peace that passes all understanding.” Amen!

But, as we proceed now to verse 8 in Philippians chapter four, we read, “Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Notice verse 8 goes right along with what we have been studying about prayer. 

After we pray and cast our cares over on the Lord, we receive the Peace of God that guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  But we are not finished yet. There is still something else we must do. 

It is outlined in verse 8 – THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE “true, honest, lovely, of a good report, are of virtue and praise.”

When the devil tries to come along and create negative thoughts in your mind, just say out loud, “I’ve cast the care of that over on the Lord and now I claim the Peace of God belongs to me. It passes all of my human understanding and now I’m only going to think on things that are HONEST and TRUE. His Word is True. I’m only going to think on things that are honest. Devil, you’re a liar. His Word is Truth. That is as honest as it can get. I’m only going to think on His Word. I’m only going to think on things that are PURE AND LOVELY. God is pure Love. His Word is lovely in my eyes, ears and heart. I’m only going to think on His Word. I’m only going to think on things that are of a GOOD REPORT. His Word is a good report as I share what the Lord has done for me. Therefore, I will share my testimony of how God has delivered me from this situation, too! Praise God!

When you start talking back to the devil like that – talking back to situations you find yourself in – and speaking the Word of God over those situations, you will see the difference!

God’s Word works every – single – time. It never fails!  If there is a situation in which it fails, 100% of the time it is because of something we did. God NEVER FAILS. His WORD NEVER FAILS. Jesus IS the Word – and Jesus never fails! 

Even if we die – His Word worked!  “Absent from the Body and present with the Lord!”  

Praise God! Shout AMEN somebody somewhere!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

Scripture For Today:

We have been studying about Refusing to Worry and how we need to “Cast all of our cares over on the Lord, for He cares for us,” from 1 Peter 5:7.

Do you remember awhile back when we talked about Peter and Silas praying in the jail? This is from Acts 16:25-26.  They had been put in the jail and locked up tight. Their feet were in stocks. Their backs were bleeding because of the beatings they had endured. But the Bible says, “…at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed…” 

But, that scripture does not end there, does it. NO!  It continues and says, “…AND they sang praises unto God…!”

I believe this is what Paul was referring to when he wrote, “…in EVERY THING, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”  Paul wrote this letter to who? The church at Philippi, right? 

Let’s look at the sequence of events…

First, they are arrested, beaten and locked up, right?

It would have been so easy for them to start wondering “Why did God allow this to happen to us?  Why didn’t He make a way of escape? Why? Why? Why?”

That’s what a lot of people would be doing, right?  I’m including me in that, too! Amen!

You probably would be too! Amen!

You went to this town to share the Gospel and you end up getting arrested, beaten and locked in the prison!  How did this happen?  That would be a normal reaction, right?

Not for Paul and Silas!  Amen!

Next, they PRAYED.  Do you see that?  Ok, then what happened?

After they PRAYED – they began to SING PRAISES TO GOD!

The scripture goes on to say, “…and the prisoners HEARD THEM…”  If the prisoners heard them, you can rest assured God heard them, too! Amen! 

You know the rest of the story. God gave them a great deliverance and the jailer and his family were born again and baptized in the Spirit – and ALL THE PRISONERS, too! Praise God.

There is no doubt in my mind, that the jailer at that prison became the pastor of the church in Philippi. None!  That is what the Church in Philippi was!  A jailhouse church! Praise God!

Think about it!  Nowhere else does it say Paula and Silas established other house churches there. No doubt there were some established. But I believe this was a true prison ministry that then extended out to the dwellers around that area. Think about it…

Those whose loved ones were locked up were probably living pretty close to prison. It was not like it is today. The family was more or less responsible for feeding and taking care of the needs of the prisoners. Amen!  

What do you think the prisoners shared with their family members?  What Paul and Silas did and who they were talking about while in there! JESUS! Amen!

This impacted the entire city and area!  This is why we are still talking about it today! 

Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2