Study in Prayer

Yesterday, we talked about praising God in the face of negative talk about you being to sick to get better. We discussed that, if you truly believed God’s Word, you would rejoice! Because either God is the only one who will get your praise when you are healed HERE – or He will be the only one to get your praise when you are in His Presence THERE. Praise God…

I have had my times of what could be called “miraculous healing” myself. I’ve had them happen for several people that I have prayed for. I’ve witnessed numerous others as other men and women of God have prayed for people. This is real, folks. Those naysayers that refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is the Great Physician are only doing so because they do not have the Faith to believe.

I’ve received healing myself, from colds to severe injuries. I remember several years back I was participating in officiating football games. I still do today, but this was several years ago and I was new to the experience.

Anyway, I made a mistake in my positioning and ended up getting taken out by a several 200 plus pound football players making a tackle. I got back up, I stayed on the field and finished the game, but I was hurt and I knew it.

I prayed – and got through the game.

When I finally drove home, I could barely walk. My left leg was hurt and hurt bad. I knew it.

The next day was even worse. Thank God I had a week until my next scheduled game.

I prayed and stood in Faith. Literally – stood – in faith. 

The next weekend, I went back out. I was hobbling, but able to function. I could not run as fast as I had, but I was able to do my job and get through the game. Then the next and the next, etc.

A about two years ago, I was having problems with my right knee.  This was from an on the job injury I suffered many, many years ago as a police officer. And my doctor decided to get an x-ray. They took an x-ray of both legs. When I returned to the doctor for the results, he asked me, “When did you break your leg?”

“Excuse me? I’ve never broken my leg,” I replied.

“Yes you did. It was a pretty good break, too. But it was reset and has calcified over. The reason I asked is because you did not put that down as a prior injury.”

I told the doctor, I do not know when that could’ve happened. He said that, from the x-ray, it had been about three years or so from what he could tell.

But, as I was thinking about it, the ONLY time that could’ve been the case is with that football game. That is the only time something like that would’ve happened.

I did not go to the doctor. I PRAYED.

I did not go the ER. I went to God’s Word. I knew what the Word said about healing.

Was it instantaneous? As far as I was concerned, No. I mean it took me several weeks, maybe even a couple of months to run and everything like before. But was it instantaneous? According to the doctor, it must’ve been. He said it had been reset! Amen!

I prayed, Jesus answered – and I went about doing my normal business and activities. It was not until several years later that I found out what actually happened to me that night. Praise God.

That is just one example. I knew “something” was wrong – and prayed for healing. I knew I had been healed – I just did not know to what extent until this doctor asked me “when I had broken my leg?”  Praise God.

But that is what I’m talking about. I believed God’s Word. I believed God’s Word was TRUE and I stood, literally, on God’s Word. And I received my healing.

Now, if you would’ve asked someone who seen me walking or attempting to run on the sidelines a week or two weeks or even three weeks later, they would say I was not healed. If you had asked me and I told you how I felt, I would say I was not healed. But I was standing in God’s Promises and I said, “By His stripes, I WAS HEALED.” And that healing manifested. It manifested enough immediately for me to continue my activities. It manifested enough to have a doctor comment years later that it “had been reset.” Praise God.

That is how YOU must be as well. God’s Word promises you healing. It is up to YOU to decide if you are going to believe the way you feel, the way someone else says you should feel or are you going to believe God’s Word.  His Word is the ultimate authority. Amen. Stand on His Word and what is the worst that can happen – you die and go to Heaven. If that’s the worst, that ain’t half bad, amen!

I want to pray for you right now… let’s pray…

If you prayed that prayer, leave a comment down below. We want to rejoice with you in answered prayer. Amen.  

“Well, what if I don’t get it right away?”  

Folks, remember, you have to STAND IN FAITH – that’s what I did on my broken leg. I, literally, STOOD by FAITH. In other words – do what other say you can’t. Bless God. If you have COPD – believe God for a deep breath. If you have – whatever – believe God for the complete healing so you can do what others said couldn’t be done. Amen.

We are all out of time for today. 

Do me a favor…can you leave a comment down below and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a rating and review over on iTunes. All of this helps us to grow and to “Get the Word Out” into all the earth. If you have a podcast or are looking to start one, visit our website at https://podcastersforchrist.com and look at the exclusive training program, designed strictly for Christians, that we have developed.

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.

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

As we continue our study in prayer, I want to emphasize over and over for you the importance of BELIEVING THE BIBLE over believing what any other person has to say. I don’t care if your doctor tells you that you only have a few weeks left to live.  You should just ask him, “So there is nothing else you can do?”

When he says no, then state a Spiritual FACT – “Then I trust God to do what HE says He will do…”  Then start quoting some healing scriptures… Praise God!

“Well, brother bob, that actually seems a little silly, don’t you think? I mean, after all, that doctor is trained in this field. He knows when there is nothing else that can be done… I’d look like a plum fool to say I was believing God for my healing when the best doctors and medical sciences says I’m going to die…”

It is belief like that which probably got you into this predicament in the first place. Maybe, just MAYBE, if  you would’ve gone to God and His Word at the first symptoms – you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.  BUT NOOOO – you sought the best advice from MEN rather than God.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love doctors and modern medical technology. If it were not for doctors and other medical staff – so many people would’ve died before they even had a chance to get born again. Amen.

But, let’s look at from a natural verses spiritual perspective for just a moment.

Who came up with all the latest ideas and concepts in modern medical breakthroughs? I guess a better question would be, who GAVE these people the IDEAS of the concepts and the WAY they would work on the human body?  That would be GOD, right?

Who created these bodies in the first place? God…

Who contaminated these bodies so they would start to die in the first place?  Satan…

Who established death in the body and death in the earth?  Satan…

Who overcame death in the body and death in the earth?  JESUS…

Who triumphed over Satan in all things?  JESUS…

Who took all the authority Satan had in this earth?  JESUS…

Who gave US that authority over Satan?  JESUS…

In whose name can we pray and watch every demon flee?  JESUS…

In whose name can we pray and believe sickness must flee? JESUS…

Do you start to see a pattern here? Amen!

There are two kinds of truth at work here.  Natural truth, based up on natural laws and consists of things we can see, touch, hear, taste and smell. Things that pertain to living in this fallen world.

Then, there is God’s Spiritual Truth – which supersedes natural truth. Supersedes natural laws. Supersedes what your five senses perceive and operates on a Godly plain that only God’s children can operate in.  His Truth is contained in His Word. “Thy Word is Truth.” Amen.

So, when you are faced with bad news like that…go ahead, ask the doctor, “So there is nothing else you or anyone else can do?”  When they say NO – Praise God!

Tell them, “So, I’ve been praying for years that when I die, I will get to see Jesus. You’re telling me that day is approaching! That’s Good News!  And, you know what is even better, Doc?  I’m still believing God for my healing – so when it happens NOW – it ain’t because of YOU – ALL PRAISE will be His. Bless God! This is exciting!  And, what’s the worst that can happen, Doc? I die like you said and immediately step into Glory with Jesus and I’ll be healed forever! Praise God!

Now, I’m telling you right here, you will not be able to say things like that unless you truly believe them. Because when you start praising God like that, the devil doesn’t like it. He will probably move immediately to shut you down by having the doctor start to intercede, “Well, now…I wouldn’t get all worked up like that. You need to save your strength and start to get your affairs in order….”

 I know there are some of you looking at me or listening to me that think I’m a nut for even talking like that. “Well, obviously he has never faced anything like this in his life before. It’s not that easy…”

When you talk negative about the things of God, when you disregard The Word of Faith, when you reject that God is in charge of all things, when you try to cancel out the Power of Jesus in ANY situation – you are operating in natural truth – you are NOT operating in Spiritual Truth nor are you operating according to the Word of God.

I’m all out of time for today. But we will continue our discussions of “walking by Faith and not by sight.” We will continue our studies in believing God and not man. We will continue to build up your faith by showing how the things of this world are not the things of God. We will continue to build up your faith by showing that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD and ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVES!  

Amen!

Do you believe?  If you answered YES – then SHOUT AMEN SOMEBODY! Glory to God!

I want to pray for someone who is in need of healing right now…maybe the Lord has been able to put this teaching today in front of them.  So 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

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

Yesterday, we talked about “believing you receive.”  And I gave a couple of examples that your NEEDS are given priority over your WANTS.  This is especially true when it comes to prayer.

You could have been praying for God to deliver you from financial oppression. And, truth be told, if you are honest, if your debts are out of control as compared to your income, it is usually because you lived beyond your means. You were spending today based on tomorrow’s income…and something happened to tomorrow’s income.

The pandemic shutdown your business or you lost your job. But the debts are still there and they debtors want their money.

Whose fault is it? Don’t blame the economy or China or the government. They did not tell you to incur the debt. If you did not have the debt, yes, you might not have that 84” flat panel TV to watch the Super Bowl on… but you would not have the debt for it either.

I’m not saying this to condemn anyone. I’m using it as an example of NEED verses WANT.

You WANTED the TV.  Now, you have a NEED for income to pay for it. If you would have saved $100 per month for several months, and then, if you still wanted it, you could have paid cash for it. But, you took immediate possession based upon several months of income in the future, which is now no existent.

OK, enough on that…on with my example. You need a couple of thousand dollars of income – Immediately – or the lights are being turned off and you will not have any food to feed the family. That is an immediate WANT. You may think you NEED it (and you do). But in reality, it is your fault you are in that position, right?

Now, let’s say you are out on a walk with your family and group of thugs surrounds you and is threatening to kill all of you.  They pull out their knives and they are getting ready to go to town on your family. You cry out to God…

How would you like it if God answered, while you are about to be attacked, with, “Ok – I’m going to give you what you want. Once you get home, there is a $1000 check waiting for you in the mail box… It took me several weeks to get the right people to finally wake up and send it…but it’s there.”

That’s what you WANTED right? The $1000?

OR – would you be praying for God to do an IMMEDIATE answer to a very REAL NEED that you have concerning the safety of your family?  Which one would you rather have God answer?

THE NEED for immediate deliverance, right?

You’re crying out to God, “PLEASE GOD, HELP US!”

And about 5 seconds later, a police car just happens to turn the corner.  The thugs see and start running. Now, the police are in pursuit…you and your family are safe.

Would that be God answering an IMMEDIATE NEED or your WANT based upon past mistakes you’ve made?

Which one would you prefer God answer?

I think everyone would agree the immediate need would be priority. You still WANT the $1000 and it is needful…but as far as BELIEVING YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU PRAY – are you seeing the difference as far as how quickly God can answer a NEED and how the WANTS will come… it will come… in due time.

Again, God can answer immediately in all things. I’m not saying He will not answer. I have personally seem Him deliver me in a financial need. I don’t have time to go into here, but there was a check in my mailbox that was desperately needed. 

My wife and I went to the store and when we came back, out of habit, I looked in the mailbox and there was the check. There was not even a postage cancellation stamp in the corner!  Then, about 30 minutes later, the mail truck went by putting our daily mail in the box…

I believe God sent an angel who grabbed that check as soon as it was printed and that angel came and put it my mail box. You can’t talk me into accepting any other explanation. SO YES – God will answer financial NEEDS immediately as well.

Ok. Again, I’m going over. So we will stop here. Amen

Do me a favor…can you leave a comment down below and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a rating and review over on iTunes. All of this helps us to grow and to “Get the Word Out” into all the earth.

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

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

We spent the last few days about how important it is for you to identify what you want, exactly, before you start to pray. We talked about the importance of knowing specific scriptures you can quote when confronted with a demonic attack.

I want to look now, at receiving answers to your prayer requests to God for the things you want. You can do this by simply believing the scriptures and the prayers you said actually worked. Notice I used a past tense on worked. Not that “they will work.” Not that “they are going to work.” But, when you prayed – they WORKED. The job was done.

“Well, brother bob, what if I don’t see the results.”

Let me ask you this.  Are you saved? 

“YES”

How do you know?

“Well, Jesus said I was when I asked Him to forgive me and come into my heart…”

Did you SEE any change your body? Did money start raining down from Heaven to help you financially? Did life suddenly become all sunshine and roses?

“No – but it did get better over time…”

EXACTLY! That is my point!

YES – some people will see an immediate event or change. Someone they prayed for will instantly be healed. Someone you pray for to be healed will die. Did God answer your prayer?

“No – they died…”

But – where did they go? Once they died, where did they go? If they were Christians, they went to Heaven, right? So they have received a Glorified Body and they will never be sick again!

“Yeah, but – I wanted them healed here…”

First, “don’t’ Yeah, but – God. Ok.

Second, what YOU want – was it backed up by scripture?  Did you find a scripture that said, “So and so will be healed and stay here?”

The answer is NO.

“But I don’t understand. You said to believe we receive and we could have it. I prayed and they died. I didn’t get what I wanted for the answer.”

This can quickly turn into a very indepth teaching…and I’m trying to keep this teaching short. We will go over this more in upcoming sessions. But let me say this…

Notice what you just said in regards to this example.

I wanted… I wanted them healed. 

Now, let’s go back to our scripture references. Remember, we are focusing all of our requests on scripture, right? That is the purpose of this training.

Matthew 6:32 says, “…your Heavenly Father knows you NEED all of these THINGS.”

Ok. So there are THINGS YOU NEED. Notice that…

He is telling us to ASK FOR THE THINGS WE NEED…

He expects us to come to Him in prayer, in the Name of Jesus, and ASK FOR THE THINGS WE NEED…

One more time… NEED.  Notice the words you uses in the example I provided… WANTED.

There is a difference between a NEED and a WANT.

I want a million dollars.  But do I NEED a million dollars?  Or would $1,000 meet my need that I’m faced with right now?

See the difference?  In the example I used about praying for someone who was sick and they died and went to Heaven. They are healed in Heaven and never will be sick anymore. 

You said you WANTED them Healed. But did you NEED them healed?  I’m not being cold and hard hearted here. Nobody wants a loved one to die. Even if they are 90 years old. Nobody wants that…but yet, these bodies and these lives are meant to terminate in the natural. Some in a matter of days, unfortunately and some many, many years later. 

That is why it is so important to get people born again and into the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ. That is why it is so important for Christians to learn how to pray, what to pray and when to pray.

If you were shooting cocaine for 30 years and then, on your death bed, become a Christian and ask God to heal you – can He?  Yes. He can. WILL HE?  Maybe…if there is a mission you can accomplish for Him.

But what is the most likely outcome?  Your body, due to years of intentional abuse, has deteriorated and it is incapable of extending the natural life any longer. You intentionally abused it. It is best, in this example, to make sure you are born again and move on…get that Glorified body and live forever. 

Ok. I’m way over time for today…

We will continue with this study next time…

Do me a favor…can you leave a comment down below and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a rating and review over on iTunes. All of this helps us to grow and to “Get the Word Out” into all the earth.

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

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

In order to fight the good fight of faith, you must learn how to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Fighting the good fight of faith is speaking the Word out of your mouth that you believe in your heart.

This is why it is so important for you to keep up with this series on prayer. Every single day for an entire year, we will be building up the power of this Sword inside your spirits. You have to have the Word of God in your heart and be ready to use scriptures against demons when they try to attack you. You do not have time to say, “hold on a minute, let me get my bible…”

If a thief was breaking into your house, it’s too late to run downstairs in the basement and start lifting weights to build up muscle tone and strength you can wrestle him out of your home. You should have started preparing for that kind of attack years ago.

It is the same thing in the Spirit. You cannot go into battle without the proper foundation. 

My time as an officer in the Army Cavalry, we continually trained as if we were in war. Every time we would go out on field exercises, it was conducted under battle field conditions. If it was raining and storming, we still conducted the operations as planned. We used to say that we practices to be wet, cold and miserable – and became experts at it. Amen! 

Seriously though, spiritual warfare is not a “fair fight.” There is no such thing as a fair fight. Not in battle. Not as cop. I learned that if someone was trying to fight me on the streets of Baltimore, when I was wearing all of this gear, it was because they were trying to kill me. Period. If someone was trying to fight me that bad, I was now authorized to take any and all actions to protect myself, eliminate any threat to my life and those around me. If that involved discharging my firearm, so be it.

The point I’m trying to make is this, in the Spirit, the devil wants nothing better to do than to kill you. That way, you can go on to Heaven, and he doesn’t have to worry about you anymore. But if you stay, if you keep on living, you are a threat to his kingdom. You are a threat to the works of darkness in this earth. So, if he and his demons get a chance, they will try to take you out.

If you are not skillful at wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, you will be like a boy scout running onto Normandy Beach on D-Day with only your pocket knife. In other words, the devil and his demons will take you out.

But, if you are skillful in using the Word of God against the devil and his forces, it will be like calling in a tactical nuke on the devil’s position. They will FLEE and flee quickly. 

In the military, and as a cop, we had a “basic load” of ammunition that we carried with us. This ammunition and our weapons were always at the ready. They could be put into action in a split second. If a threat popped up, we could engage it in seconds. Literally. 

That is the way you need to be with scriptures. You need to be able to respond to any threat of the devil or any demonic power with a basic load of scriptures, that begins with “Devil, IT IS WRITTEN…and then blast away!” Praise God!

You need to have several scriptures at the ready for various situations. Healing, finances, torment, casting out evil spirits, whatever the Lord puts on your heart for your situations. Listen to Him, He will prepare you.

Again, that is the purpose for these daily teachings this year.

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

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

It takes a little time sometimes to build the Word up in your spirit man. That is one of the reasons why we are doing this study on prayer each and every day this year. But you need to make sure you pray each and every day. It will, little by little, increase the POWER of FAITH that is within you.

If someone came to your home and was going to kidnap your family, hopefully – you would fight them! With everything you had inside you. You would use whatever weapons you could find and if you had none, you would use your hands, your feet and bite them in necessary.

You FAITH works the same way. Abraham was walking by Faith. He was going where he was being led by God and, in that day and time, there were marauders and kings would kidnap beautiful women for their harems. And Abraham was worried about that. 

Now, without focusing on Abraham’s weakness in asking his wife just to claim she was his sister, look at what actually happened here.  Did Abraham put up a fuss? Did he take matters into his own hands? Did Sarah say anything? NO.

Why?

Because they were trusting God to take care of the situation.  Do you think Abraham was talking to God about this? What about Sarah? I believe both of them were doing a lot of praying. Probably not the loud, obnoxious prayers you see people do “OH GOD – OH GOD” type of prayers… No… But I can almost guarantee you they were praying. 

And look at what happened, God answered. God intervened. God moved.

God went straight to the king and said, “Hey buddy…just what do you think you are doing with this man’s wife?”  

You see, if God says something belong TO YOU – it belongs only TO YOU.  If God did not intend for you have what He promised you – then He would not have promised it to you. God said Sarah was going to have a baby by Abraham. That should have been an end to any argument right there. I could continue down this path, but that is an entirely different sermon for a different day.

What you see in this example is someone, Abraham and Sarah, that are praying and they are trusting God to take care of this situation. Abraham was operating in fear, he was worried if the king found out Sarah was really his wife, the king would act quickly and kill him in order to take  her. But, by saying she was his sister, it bought him a little time. Time to pray. Time to take this matter to God. And he did.

When God intervened, notice He just did not convince the king to let him go. He made him a promise as well – IF you do not do this – every person in your family will be killed.  How’s that for an attention getter for a king?  

Not only did the king give Abraham his wife back, but gave him riches to pay for his trouble. INCREASE. Notice after this that the Bible says he became RICH in the land with cattle, silver and gold and servants, etc. Amen!

When GOD answers prayer, it isn’t like convincing some old geezer to give you a cough drop. Amen!  When God answers prayer, He not only provides for that need you are requesting, He is setting you up for future victories at the same time. You could say that the troubles you are going through that have caused you to pray – are actually training you to handle greater things later on. But you will be facing them with confidence because you have seen God come through before. Amen!

I want to pray for you right now. I want to pray for things you are going through and let’s ask God to fix the situation and provide for future needs as well. 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

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

First of all, let me emphasize, that God is not a respecter of persons.  What He does for one person, He will do for every person….we have His promise on that.  So, why doesn’t He answer the prayers of every person…?  It is up to US to get our Faith “tuned into” His Word.  

Despite what you may have been taught by well meaning Christian people, God is FOR you and NOT against you!  So many people for far too long have been taught wrong.  I had heard from as far back as I can remember that God was out to “get you” if you messed up!  That is totally, one hundred percent opposite the truth!

Where money is concerned, Christians have been taught that poverty is God’s way of humbling us.  That people in the ministry have taken a “vow of poverty.”  That if preachers do “get” anything, they have to give it away.  We have been taught that Jesus was so poor, he did not even have a home to live in (Luke 9:58 “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”).

Jesus came to show us how to be Blessed!  Poverty is under the curse!  Jesus came to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant.  Abraham was RICH!  Job was RICH!  David was RICH!  Solomon was RICH!  So why would Jesus be poor?  And, if he was so poor, why did he have a treasurer?  A poor man does not need a treasurer – a RICH man does!

Judas must have been giving A LOT of money AWAY!  Because at the last supper, when Jesus told him to “do what you need to do,” Judas got up and left.  The other disciples thought he was going out to “give money to the poor.”  So he must have done that so often that the other disciples did not pay much attention to him leaving.  This was after Jesus told them that one of the disciples was a traitor!  So any unusual actions by any disciple would have raised immediate suspicion. But Judas’ departure was just a natural part of their dinners, the other disciples did not think it was odd!

Christians have been taught for so long that “money is the root of all evil.”  But the scriptures do not say that. “The love of money is the root of all evil.”  (1 Timothy 6:10).

It costs money to preach the gospel. Just ask your Pastor the next time you see him!  If you are not on the church Board of Directors and just think you can show up and all is well…and you give your little offering thinking “others” will give and that you need the money more than the church does…you are WRONG!

Granted, God will make sure that ministries which are doing God’s work will be taken care of.  But, the responsibility falls to us!  God holds each of us responsible.  

We have been taught that God allows sickness, disease or calamities to happen in our lives in order to “teach” us something.  That is not scriptural.  Sickness, disease and calamities are covered under the curses – and we have been redeemed from the curses! (Galatian 3:13-14).

We have been taught that our children ran from God because of something we have done in our past.  We have been taught that our children must “find their own way.”  Both of these concepts are not scriptural.  It is our responsibility as parents to pray for our children and teach them that God loves them and is there for them when we cannot be.

We have been taught that we can “never know what God will do.”  But the Bible says the Holy Spirit will show us all things! (John 14:25-27).

We have been taught that sometimes God answers our prayers and sometimes he doesn’t. But the Bible says God’s answers to our prayers are YES and AMEN. (2 Corinthians 1:20).

We have been taught that miracle healings are not for today. That God developed medical centers and modern medicine so we would not have to rely on miracle healings.  The question I have for you is this…Who gave the medical doctors the wisdom to develop the techniques and medicines to treat the condition?  A medical healing or miracle is not something we should “seek” instead of utilizing the medical technology which is available.  However, if medical technology is not able to treat the condition, don’t shut God out of the picture!  If you believe you will NOT receive a miracle – your prayer will be answered just as you believe!  If you believe God is able…then He will!!!

But, I do not want you to think there is a secret “formula” or a “Seven Step Program” which, if you follow, will get you the results you are looking for.  This teaching is not designed to do that.

The purpose for this entire year of teaching on prayer is to develop in you the Faith in God to believe the prayers you are presenting to God WILL BE ANSWERED.  (1John 5:14-15). There is no secret ritual or formula; you cannot “trick” God into answering your prayers; you cannot “buy” your answers.

You must operate by FAITH.  Faith in God. Faith in Jesus. Faith in the Word.  This daily teaching on various aspects of prayer, every single day this year, is going to give you the foundation to present your prayers to God, knowing that He will answer them. Knowing that your Faith is what activates the Word in your life. Knowing that Jesus is the Word of God who was made flesh. Knowing that Jesus is always making intercession for you before God in order to get your prayers answered. 

I want us to pray right now that God would give us a supernatural understanding of these concepts as we continue to move forward in our study of prayer.

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

First of all, let me emphasize, that God is not a respecter of persons.  What He does for one person, He will do for every person….we have His promise on that.  So, why doesn’t He answer the prayers of every person…?  It is up to US to get our Faith “tuned into” His Word.  

Let me explain it using this example.   You have a radio sitting on your desk.  It is turned off.  You hear nothing over the radio.  Does that mean there is NO radio station broadcasting?  NO.  It just means you do not have your radio turned on.  Radio stations are continually broadcasting over the airwaves.  

Now, you turn your radio on.  But all you get is static.  Does this mean there are no radio stations broadcasting?  NO.  It just means you have to “tune” into a station to hear the broadcast.  If you tune into a station that is broadcasting “Rock” and you wanted to hear “Country and Western,” you will be disappointed.  You MUST tune into the station you want to hear.

Do you listen to “Rock” and “Country and Western” at the same time and on the same station?  NO.  Each station has a particular “band width” they are broadcasting on.  You must “tune” into the appropriate “band width” in order to hear what you desire to listen to.

The same thing happens with God.  God is here, talking to us through His Holy Spirit, all of the time.  We just have to “tune in” to what He is saying.  If we leave our spiritual “ears” turned off – we miss what He is telling us to do in order to be Blessed.  If we are listening to the devil or the world instead of listening to God, we miss what He is telling us to do.  We are tuned into the wrong station!

How can we be sure we are listening to God?  How can we KNOW He hears our prayers?  Keep listening – I am about to take you through what I consider to be one of the most profound teachings on getting our prayers answered that you have ever heard.  I believe, with all of my heart and soul, that this teaching will “tune you into” God.  And, we have the promise of God, that if “we know He hears us, then we know we have the petitions we desire of Him.” 

I think we have gone far enough for today. I do not want to start the next section and then have to stop after just a few minutes. But we will pick it up here next time.

What I would like to do now – IS PRAY! Amen!

I want to pray for YOU today…

I want to pray for YOU to become a Prayer Warrior in the Kingdom of God. Amen!

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

About 10 years ago, I published a book on prayer. It is called “7 Keys to Answered Prayer.”  A lot of this training will come from that book. It was written as a way to help you come to a realization that you CAN have your prayers answered. 

Have you ever wondered if God really “hears” your prayers?  I mean, how many times have you prayed and wondered if you said the “right” thing?  You have heard preachers say, “ask according to God’s will.”  So, if you do not get the answer you are looking for, does that mean you asked “out of God’s will?”

Can you go to God and ask Him to save your loved ones?  What about healing?  Is it possible to pray for healing?  Will God answer your prayer?  Can you ask God to Bless your finances?  Will He Bless your finances?   Is asking for money or prosperity “wrong?”

Why does it appear that others get their prayers answered, but you don’t?  Are they doing something different?  Do they have “greater Faith” than you do?  Does God love them more than He loves you?

I have found that God does answer prayer.  Sometimes, we just need a little help in seeing “how” He answers our prayers.  Sometimes we need a little help in “formalizing” our prayers.  That is not to say there is a specific formula that guarantees results.  But, if we can get our thoughts lined up with God’s Word, then that allows our Faith to activate.  And when we activate our Faith in God’s Word to do what it says….we are on our way to getting our prayers answered.

What you need to do is be SPECIFIC in what you are asking God for in prayer and then stand continually on the promises you find in His Word concerning answering your prayers.

This sounds more difficult than it really needs to be. But this is the purpose of our training. By the end of the year, and I really do not believe it will take you that long to learn this, but it will be reinforced throughout the year, but there will come that AH-HA moment when it all clicks. You will be a spiritual powerhouse of prayer. A prayer warrior, if you will.

And that is where we will pick up tomorrow.  Simply deciding what it is you want from God and then finding the scriptures that promise you those things. It is so important for you to understand what God has to say about your needs being met. But more importantly, how to approach Him in getting those needs met.

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!”  

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

This last year, I’ve shared with you each and every day another aspect of prayer. The Lord had put on my heart to begin a daily prayer study on the different aspects of prayer and to conduct it each and every morning in 2021.

I’ve obeyed.

There were days when I did not feel like doing it. 

There were days when I may have been discouraged and wondering if anybody out there was listening.

There were days when I was busy.

There were days when I couldn’t wait to turn on the camera and microphone.

There were days when I couldn’t turn it OFF fast enough!

The point I’m trying to make is this…

Our job, not “my job” – but “OUR JOB” as believers and as children of “The Most High God,” is to pray and believe – and, most importantly, to OBEY.

When the Lord says, “Do this…” whatever “this” is or may be… it is our job to OBEY.

I learned that lesson many years ago with the radio station, “Evangelism Radio” (www.evangelismradio.com ). The success of the radio station astounded me. The format and layout and how it was all supposed to work was given to me by the Lord. And once we launched it, within two years, it was rated #1 in the world in the Christian Talk Genre by SHoutcast. com. 

I asked the Lord, “Why? Why me?” because I was getting invited to speak at churches about it, etc.  His response was, “You were not my first choice…” That shocked me… I felt offended at first… but then He continued and said, “You were simply the first to OBEY.”

I learned then, just like 1 Samuel 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of lambs.”

So, there you have it, to OBEY what the Lord says to do is better than your offerings. You cannot just “give money” and hope that everything will turn out alright. You need to OBEY what the Lord tells you to do. You good intentions mean nothing when you are not doing what the Lord says…

This nation, at one time, was the most blessed and prosperous nation on the face of the earth and in the history of man kind. But no more. Why?

Because we left from following the Lord as our God. We left our first love. We stopped lifting up Biblical values and holding elected leaders accountable to God. Instead, we started worshipping THEM instead of demanding THEY worship God.

We have allowed secularism and every other kind of “ism” to have prominence over the Word of God and Christian values.

Is there any wonder why our inner cities are over run with crime, drugs, violence, murders and ghettos? Is it any wonder why the same politicians who promise to change the world do nothing once they are elected, except make the same promises to the same people over and over again. And then are elected over and over again – but yet nothing changes for the better but only gets worse?

This nation is on the verge of destruction. If we are not soon taken over by our external enemies, Russia or China, we will be destroyed from within by our own internal policies that lift up everything except Biblical values.

To me – I don’t care. I really don’t. I have my future secure with Christ. I’ve lived my life. As the Bible says in Psalm 37:25, “I was young and now I’m old and I’ve never seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging bread.”

Think about it… this nation is about to experience the most climatic destruction any nation on earth has ever witnessed. The devil is about to over play his hand. I don’t know if it will be through nuclear warfare or just simply the loss of the freedoms we have enjoyed for 240 years or so.  To me – it really doesn’t matter.

But, if YOU want to make a difference, your only hope MUST BE JESUS.  

Our scripture for today says it all.  Pray this prayer with me, IF you want to see the United States continue. If not – don’t. Again – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

I pray you received a lot out of this study during this year. But – I have some good news for you. It is going to continue into 2022 as well. I’ve decided to continue this study in prayer, but the name will be called, “Study in Prayer” instead of Prayer 2021.  Amen!

You don’t have to do anything special. The RSS Feed will still work. The website will be renamed “Study in Prayer,” but other than that, stick with me as we continue to bring you an encouraging Word from God each and every day in 2022. 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