2008-05-02T10:53:00.001-07:00

hey people! chengxi here yeah! ^^ really nice to thave formed this prayer group with you guys.. i'll start by sharing something!

The title of my message is prayer!
our highest calling in Christ is not worship, but prayer! how many have actually known that? and how many actually speak in the gift which God has given: tongues?

1 Cor 14:2, 14-15

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries... For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Here, we see that praying in the spirit means speaking in tongues.

Sometimes, we feel burdens in our hearts, and we do not know what it is. When we dont know what we want to pray for, it is impossible for the prayer to be effective! However, if u pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and help us to pray the perfect prayer! In Cor 14:2, 14-15, it tells us that we have to pray in BOTH the spirit, and also in undersanding. you start by praying in tongues, and after you have the understanding, which God will reveal to you, you pray in understanding. This way, your prayer will be effective!

Why do we form this prayer group, you may ask. the answer is always in the Word of God!

Eph 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

1 Thess 5:17, 19

Pray without ceasing... Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not stop praying! Hand everything up towards Christ through praying with all prayer and supplication!

off-topic a little, Worship, is the essence of surrender. however, our highest calling is prayer, which is surrendering AND allowing the Spirit to lead us in prayer!

The million-dollar question is, how do we continue to pray and not cease?

the answer is clear! the Holy Spirit! No one can "pray always" or "pray without ceasing" without the Holy Spirit!

Moving on...

many are mentioned in the genealogies in 1 chronicales but God singles out 2 people.

now let's turn to 1 chr 4:9-10. Let's look at the reason why God singled one of them out.

This person is Jabez!

1 Chr 4:9-10

9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

He prayed for 4 things!

1) "bless me indeed"

2) "enlarge my territory"

3) "Your hand would be with me"

4) "keep me form evil"

these 4 things are actually, what God wants to give us! however, in the world today, many neglected Christ in their life, and made God the "last resort".

now, let's look at the praying of tongues!

Mark 16:15

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

v17-18

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This is the ability/power of speaking in tongues!

If u studied the bible, you will find that in there is only ONE thing in the new covenant which the old covenant does not have! the "ONE THING" is speaking in tongues! only after Jesus was glorified, and the Helper was sent, then the gift of tongues was given!

speaking in tongues is the supernatural gift of the new covenant!

Why do we pray in tongues?

1) Edification

-> We charge ourselves up when we pray in tongues!

A phone battery can be used to represent our spiritual life.

when there's full battery, the reception is good, you can last longer, the phone is also more sensitive.

but when it's running low on batt, we tend to get our connection cut off and such.

it's the same for our prayer life. when we are running dry in the spirit, we have to pray in tongues to charge ourselves up! if we remain dry, we wont be able to hear God speaking to us, like poor reception!

that's why we have to pray everyday and whenever we can! after we get our "full batt" we can go out in the world to change the lives of others! with our full batt, we can allows the Spirit to lead us in our daily life.

2) Praise

-> blessing God in the spirit

when we speak in tongues, or sing in tongues, we are praising God in our spirit.

Acts 2:11

"...Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

tongues is used to glorify the wonderful works of God!

3) Intercession

-> on behalf of someone or something.

when we pray in tongues, we know not what we are praying, but the Helper intercedes for us and helpus pray the perfect prayer!

4) Spiritual Warfare

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,nagainst spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Put on the armor of God and be prepared to fight a war with the devil! Many think that the devil is attacking the world with evil, but in fact, we are in the offensive! we are to attack the devil - using prayer! and to stop the evil! We always say the gates of hell shall not prevail. who goes attack others with ONLY a gate?! repeat: we are in the OFFENSIVE! we thrash the devil upside down when we pray!

5) Revelation

Information is sure great, but revelation is much better! we need fresh revelations from God to keep our spiritual life filled with power and commitment!

1 Cor 14:15

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Acts 2:1-4, 16-17

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[a] in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.

The power of speaking in tongues is GREAT! beyond our imagination! many take it for granted today and treat it as a "common thing" in Christianity. however, we must use this power given to us! refresh ourselves and keep on moving in the Lord, empowering the people around you to do great works together, and change the world.

Now, would you step out of your comfort zone to start praying and never stop? keep on keeping on!

Amen!

//chengxi - wow that was long ^^

2008-05-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

hey guys,

Why the prayer grp?

i'm really convinced that we can start making a difference in this world.
a polytechnic people who are willing to serve God's house
a ppl who are willing to give up the best yrs of their lives to God..

I'm seeing God's people turning the lost back towards the arms of God..

I see in my heart the lost being comforted, touched and changed by the Children of God

And i carry this vision in my heart to see my friends who dont know Jesus to come to see His Face and know His Voice.

And i'm very sure that all of you reading this have a vision for the lost as well.

If we can concieve a dream in our minds, we can achieve it thru God's power. It's possible and i'm believing it'll happen. i'm starting to pray and seek God's will and aid in this effort for revival in ngee ann..how about you guys?

If you're interested to join just msn me or tag.

xadriel2@hotmail.com
90024237

We're still sorting out our timings and sth..but we'll let you guys know.

But whatever it is..It's possible.

It's not a 'maybe it will happen.' it is going to.

I feel it :)

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
-James 5:16

love in Christ,

Billy

revival ngee ann