Dearest Daughter,
Jesus has told us to ask ANYTHING using His name, and it will be granted.
I also see Jesus giving guidlenines as to how this works.
You see, it won't work for just anyone, you've got to follow HIS direction He gives here.
1. "Remain in Me."
Read John 15:7-10 again.
We read here that Jesus wants us to REMAIN in him. What does this mean? How can we do this? Well, he tells us here in verse 10. Jesus says:
John 5:10 - When you obey me, you remain in my love.
So we can remain in him, by OBEYING.
2. OBEY HIM (Jesus)
In order to Obey the Lord, we need to know what the rules are. It's easy to break the rules, if you don't know what they are!!!
The best way to know what the Lord excepts of us, is to READ the rulebook, the bible. Which, by the way, is NOT only a rulebook, it's a love letter, it's a guidebook, it's a counselor giving you his best pieces of wisdom, it's your FATHER, writing HIS book, to YOU.
His greatest commandment:
John 15:17 I command you to LOVE each other.
3. LOVE each other.
John 15:16-17
... so that the Father will give you whatever yo ask, using my name. I COMMAND you to love one another.
So here's His Guidelines:
If we love Jesus, Obey His Commands.
If we Obey His Commands, then that means, we are LOVING others.
If we Love Others, We're obeying His Command, and He says he'll REMAIN in us.
And if he REMAINS in us, we'll have whatever we ask for when we use His Name.
That's SO Powerful!!!
Can you imagine having that kind of favor with God Almighty?!?!
But!!..................................................................... it only comes with LOVING OTHERS.
Jesus talked about how it's easy to Love the ones who love us, but it's hard to love everyone else. But we still must do it. LOVE the unlovable. (not the devil, I know)
I say "not the devil" because whenever we talk about how it's important to lvoe others, or we pray for others, you always say, "Except the Devil!!!"
You always wanna make sure to leave him out of any blessings! (so cute!)
I love you!
LOVE One another, as Christ Has Loved YOU!
Monday, June 20, 2011
24: Power in His Name
My Dearest Daughter,
When you were only 4 years old, we were attending Elsinore First Assembly in my home town. The Senior Pastor at the time was Pastor Fred Rodriguez, who had been the Pastor there for 20 years at the time. Needless to say, he had major respect in the church, and throughout the city,and his name held great authority.
One day the church put on a huge Outdoor Harvest Festival for the Community, and tons of people were at the church, getting ready for the event and going in and out of the church building. Pastor Fred came out to the entrance doors, locked them, and then he turned to you, and said, "Alanna, no one is allowed in. If anyone wants to come in, tell them Pastor Fred said no one is allowed in."
You took this responsibility VERY seriously.
People would try to come in, but when you'd say, "Pastor Fred said no one is allowed in." You used HIS authority, not your own. And the people who Feared Pastor Fred, would obey you, even though you were only a 4 year old little girl.
In the Same manner, Jesus has told us to ask ANYTHING, using His name, and it will be granted.
Jesus our King, walked among the earth, and taught his disciples all He could in 3 short years. He taught them how to follow HIm, how to trust Him. He revealed himself as the Son Of God to them.
John 14-16, he introduces a new idea to them... praying, using "His" name, the name of Jesus.
John 14:12, words of Jesus.
The truth is, anyone who belives in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments.
John 15:7
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my Lofe.
When you obn me, you remain in my love, just as I sobey my Father and remain in His love. "I have told you this so that you will be filled with my Joy."
John 15:16-17
You didn't choose me, I choose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last so that the Father will give you whatever you ask, using my name. I command you to love each other.
John 16:23
AT that time, you won't need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and He wil grant you r request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
John 16:26
Then you will ask in my name. I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself lvoes you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.
Here I repeatedly see Jesus telling the disciples to: Ask, using His name.
There is POWER in His Name.
When you were only 4 years old, we were attending Elsinore First Assembly in my home town. The Senior Pastor at the time was Pastor Fred Rodriguez, who had been the Pastor there for 20 years at the time. Needless to say, he had major respect in the church, and throughout the city,and his name held great authority.
One day the church put on a huge Outdoor Harvest Festival for the Community, and tons of people were at the church, getting ready for the event and going in and out of the church building. Pastor Fred came out to the entrance doors, locked them, and then he turned to you, and said, "Alanna, no one is allowed in. If anyone wants to come in, tell them Pastor Fred said no one is allowed in."
You took this responsibility VERY seriously.
People would try to come in, but when you'd say, "Pastor Fred said no one is allowed in." You used HIS authority, not your own. And the people who Feared Pastor Fred, would obey you, even though you were only a 4 year old little girl.
In the Same manner, Jesus has told us to ask ANYTHING, using His name, and it will be granted.
Jesus our King, walked among the earth, and taught his disciples all He could in 3 short years. He taught them how to follow HIm, how to trust Him. He revealed himself as the Son Of God to them.
John 14-16, he introduces a new idea to them... praying, using "His" name, the name of Jesus.
John 14:12, words of Jesus.
The truth is, anyone who belives in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it! If you love me, obey my commandments.
John 15:7
But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.
Remain in my Lofe.
When you obn me, you remain in my love, just as I sobey my Father and remain in His love. "I have told you this so that you will be filled with my Joy."
John 15:16-17
You didn't choose me, I choose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last so that the Father will give you whatever you ask, using my name. I command you to love each other.
John 16:23
AT that time, you won't need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and He wil grant you r request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
John 16:26
Then you will ask in my name. I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself lvoes you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.
Here I repeatedly see Jesus telling the disciples to: Ask, using His name.
There is POWER in His Name.
23: The Lords Prayer: Part 5
"And do not let us give in to temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Please pray this over your life my dear daughter! It's not just an empty prayer. Jesus commanded us to pray this prayer and He will most definitely answer this prayer!
What does this mean??
Well, you have many temtations that are put in your life everyday by the "evil one" (the devil's team)
Temptations are ideas, or voices, telling you to do the wrong thing.
Growing up, I prayed this over my life, and God surely answered it.
While my friends were getting into trouble by cheating on tests, God put it deep in my spirit to NOT cheat, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it. And not only did God put that deep in my heart, he also protected me from the temptation.... meaning, He gave me friends who never asked me to cheat for them. They would ask other people, but I believe He's stop them from asking me. And if someone DID ask me, He gave me the courage to say no, and protected me afterwards, cuz they never made fun of me.
I never had anyone tempt me, asking me to ditch class with them, to sneak out of my house, to go to a "bad" party. I never had friends tempt me to use bad language, instead, they would try to protect me from it.
I never had friends asking me to drink (alchohol) or do drugs with them or smoke with them.
And I never had boys tempting me to do notty things with them.
God protected me!!
and if anyone, who wasn't my friend, asked me to do something wrong, God helped me say no.
Please pray this over your life my dear daughter! It's not just an empty prayer. Jesus commanded us to pray this prayer and He will most definitely answer this prayer!
What does this mean??
Well, you have many temtations that are put in your life everyday by the "evil one" (the devil's team)
Temptations are ideas, or voices, telling you to do the wrong thing.
Growing up, I prayed this over my life, and God surely answered it.
While my friends were getting into trouble by cheating on tests, God put it deep in my spirit to NOT cheat, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it. And not only did God put that deep in my heart, he also protected me from the temptation.... meaning, He gave me friends who never asked me to cheat for them. They would ask other people, but I believe He's stop them from asking me. And if someone DID ask me, He gave me the courage to say no, and protected me afterwards, cuz they never made fun of me.
I never had anyone tempt me, asking me to ditch class with them, to sneak out of my house, to go to a "bad" party. I never had friends tempt me to use bad language, instead, they would try to protect me from it.
I never had friends asking me to drink (alchohol) or do drugs with them or smoke with them.
And I never had boys tempting me to do notty things with them.
God protected me!!
and if anyone, who wasn't my friend, asked me to do something wrong, God helped me say no.
22: The Lords Prayer: Part 4
"And forgive us our sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us."
Yes, daily ask God to forgive your sins. It's best to ask forgiveness the moment you realize, you have donw wrong, or you feel convencted. But if you maybe forget about one, it's ok to ask a general "forgive my sins" as long as you mean it and try to change.
In addition to teaching us to pray, and ask forgiveness, he also teaches a VERY IMPORTANT lesson:
Matthew 6:14
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But, if you refuse to forgive others, Your Father will not forgive your sins."
These are the words that Jesus Himself spoke, so we know they are unmistakable
We aren't talking about missing a blessing if we don't forgive, or about having some hard days if we don't forgive. He is saying, if you don't forgive someone, you are forfeitting God's forgiveness, and ultimately His Salvation!
Forgiving others is a commandant, and we must be obedient. Working with teenagers, and young adults, I hear "I can never forgive him/her for what they did to me!"
What that attitude comes pride, bitterness, disobedience, hate, and selfishness. And it only leads to death.
Death of love, death of healthy relationships, death of your physical life, and your salvation.
Jesus says we should be praying: "forgive me, as I forgive others."
I have made it a habit to consider this everything I've been hurt by someone.
When someone would hurt my feelings by forgetting about me, I consider how I often forget about God, but He still forgivers me. When I'm hurt because someone doesn't do what I ask them to do, I remember how I often disobey God, but he always forgives me. When I'm hurt because a friend does something mean to me, or says something mean about me, I think about how sometimes I am mean to God, or who sometimes, we as people say very mean things about Him, but He always forgives me for everything I do, it's very easy to decide I also must forgive. I pray and ask God to help me forgive me.
Sometimes, forgiving someone can be extremely difficult, but Since Jesus Commands us to forgive, He also promises to Help us try and obey Him. He helps us to forgive others and keep all the hatred, bitterness and ugly thoughts out of our mind.
It's important to ask Jesus for help!
Continue to ask Him for help, as long as your need it.
Never EVER feel bad for asking God to help you. Even if you have asked 20 times! or 100 times !
He loves helping His chidlren ! He's not impatient like your mom or dad, He's ready and waiting to help no matter how much help you need.
Yes, daily ask God to forgive your sins. It's best to ask forgiveness the moment you realize, you have donw wrong, or you feel convencted. But if you maybe forget about one, it's ok to ask a general "forgive my sins" as long as you mean it and try to change.
In addition to teaching us to pray, and ask forgiveness, he also teaches a VERY IMPORTANT lesson:
Matthew 6:14
"If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But, if you refuse to forgive others, Your Father will not forgive your sins."
These are the words that Jesus Himself spoke, so we know they are unmistakable
We aren't talking about missing a blessing if we don't forgive, or about having some hard days if we don't forgive. He is saying, if you don't forgive someone, you are forfeitting God's forgiveness, and ultimately His Salvation!
Forgiving others is a commandant, and we must be obedient. Working with teenagers, and young adults, I hear "I can never forgive him/her for what they did to me!"
What that attitude comes pride, bitterness, disobedience, hate, and selfishness. And it only leads to death.
Death of love, death of healthy relationships, death of your physical life, and your salvation.
Jesus says we should be praying: "forgive me, as I forgive others."
I have made it a habit to consider this everything I've been hurt by someone.
When someone would hurt my feelings by forgetting about me, I consider how I often forget about God, but He still forgivers me. When I'm hurt because someone doesn't do what I ask them to do, I remember how I often disobey God, but he always forgives me. When I'm hurt because a friend does something mean to me, or says something mean about me, I think about how sometimes I am mean to God, or who sometimes, we as people say very mean things about Him, but He always forgives me for everything I do, it's very easy to decide I also must forgive. I pray and ask God to help me forgive me.
Sometimes, forgiving someone can be extremely difficult, but Since Jesus Commands us to forgive, He also promises to Help us try and obey Him. He helps us to forgive others and keep all the hatred, bitterness and ugly thoughts out of our mind.
It's important to ask Jesus for help!
Continue to ask Him for help, as long as your need it.
Never EVER feel bad for asking God to help you. Even if you have asked 20 times! or 100 times !
He loves helping His chidlren ! He's not impatient like your mom or dad, He's ready and waiting to help no matter how much help you need.
21: The Lords Prayer: Part 3
"Give us our Food for today."
Many times we think of God as a genie in a bottle who we can make wishes and see our fantasy dreams come true. But here, Jesus teaches us to ask God to humbly supply all we need for Today.
Yes, we could ask God for a Billion dollars, and then just plan on using that as our supply for the rest of our life, but then, if God did that, we'd have no need to come to Him, and ask for more, until we needed Him again.
He doesn't want to make life so easy for us, that we no longer have the need to ask Him for anything, or stop coming to Him with our cry for help.
No.
He desires a daily relationship with us. He wants us to DAILY tell God how much we need Him.
Let's face it, we don't just need His provision for food and drink, money and clothes. We need him daily to give us our joy, life, passion, grace and mercy.
So, pray daily for him to supply all you need FOR TODAY, and HE WILL!
Many times we think of God as a genie in a bottle who we can make wishes and see our fantasy dreams come true. But here, Jesus teaches us to ask God to humbly supply all we need for Today.
Yes, we could ask God for a Billion dollars, and then just plan on using that as our supply for the rest of our life, but then, if God did that, we'd have no need to come to Him, and ask for more, until we needed Him again.
He doesn't want to make life so easy for us, that we no longer have the need to ask Him for anything, or stop coming to Him with our cry for help.
No.
He desires a daily relationship with us. He wants us to DAILY tell God how much we need Him.
Let's face it, we don't just need His provision for food and drink, money and clothes. We need him daily to give us our joy, life, passion, grace and mercy.
So, pray daily for him to supply all you need FOR TODAY, and HE WILL!
20: The Lords Prayer : Part 2
Dearest Daughter,
You know it's a lovely morning, when you rise to pray and spend time with your creator.
As a very young little girl, you are a champ at your prayers, but I also want to teach you to pray, in the same way that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Luke 11:1-3 - Please take the time to read it.
A disciple asks Jesus to teach them how to pray, and Jesus responds, "Pray Like:
"Father, may your name to honored, May Your kingdom come soon. Give us our food, day by day, and forgive us our sins, just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And do not let us yield to temptation."
Let me begin to teach you, in the same way as I was taught by my mother, following the pattern Jesus gave his disciples that day he spoke those words.
"Father, may your name be honored."
The first thing Jesus does, is HONOR THE FATHER. He comes, not with requests and complaints, He comes and first focuses on the greatness of God. Come into prayer with this same attitude, taking time to realize you are talking to God Almighty. Honor Him, tell Him you Love Him, acknowledge His Holiness.
"May Your Kingdom Come Soon."
Take time to acknowledge His return, and remember that this world and all it's issues, (and yours) will soon pass.
"May Your will be done here on earth, just as it is in Heaven."
Pray to God that His Will be done. This is a prayer of the heart, confessing that yes, you may have plans of your own, but ultimately, you desire for God's will to be done, because you know it is best for you and all the Kingdom. God's will is done in Heaven, and it's a wonderful place, if we all followed God's will, Earth would be just as wonderful as we could imagine... so pray to God, that HIS will be done in your life, and do not be upset when it comes to pass!
You know it's a lovely morning, when you rise to pray and spend time with your creator.
As a very young little girl, you are a champ at your prayers, but I also want to teach you to pray, in the same way that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Luke 11:1-3 - Please take the time to read it.
A disciple asks Jesus to teach them how to pray, and Jesus responds, "Pray Like:
"Father, may your name to honored, May Your kingdom come soon. Give us our food, day by day, and forgive us our sins, just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And do not let us yield to temptation."
Let me begin to teach you, in the same way as I was taught by my mother, following the pattern Jesus gave his disciples that day he spoke those words.
"Father, may your name be honored."
The first thing Jesus does, is HONOR THE FATHER. He comes, not with requests and complaints, He comes and first focuses on the greatness of God. Come into prayer with this same attitude, taking time to realize you are talking to God Almighty. Honor Him, tell Him you Love Him, acknowledge His Holiness.
"May Your Kingdom Come Soon."
Take time to acknowledge His return, and remember that this world and all it's issues, (and yours) will soon pass.
"May Your will be done here on earth, just as it is in Heaven."
Pray to God that His Will be done. This is a prayer of the heart, confessing that yes, you may have plans of your own, but ultimately, you desire for God's will to be done, because you know it is best for you and all the Kingdom. God's will is done in Heaven, and it's a wonderful place, if we all followed God's will, Earth would be just as wonderful as we could imagine... so pray to God, that HIS will be done in your life, and do not be upset when it comes to pass!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
19: The Lords Prayer: Part 1 - Making it Real.
Dearest Daughter,
I know for a fact that God answers your prayers even though you do not use this format for each prayer, but Jesus DID tell his disciples this passage of scripture, So I need to make sure I teach it to you as well. Please don't make the mistake of trapping yourself in the religion of this prayer, because it's NOT the only way to pray, I know this because I remember your "Thank you for my Daddy's owie." prayer that worked miracles. But I still want to teach you what Jesus taught his disciples.
Through the next few chapters I'll brake apart the famous "Lord's Prayer", but here, I'm going to share with you the version that I've come to learn from Jesus. I hope as you study this passage, you too, will be able to pray your own version of this prayer as well. It's not about "memorizing" it and saying it outloud as a group, it's about learning what Jesus was teaching us, and applying the teaching to our regular prayer life.
For today, pray this over your life.
"My Father in Heaven, your name is Holy. You are Holy and Worthy of Praise.
I love you.
Father, I pray you complete your will for my life. I give my life to you, do whatever you dsire with me, I am yours.
Continue to provide my every day needs. I do not fear, I know you are taking care of me.
Please forgive me of all my sin, and help me to completely fogive others for the sin they make against me and others.
Protect me from Satan's evil schemes, and help me say NO to sinful temptations.
My life is Yours. "
I know for a fact that God answers your prayers even though you do not use this format for each prayer, but Jesus DID tell his disciples this passage of scripture, So I need to make sure I teach it to you as well. Please don't make the mistake of trapping yourself in the religion of this prayer, because it's NOT the only way to pray, I know this because I remember your "Thank you for my Daddy's owie." prayer that worked miracles. But I still want to teach you what Jesus taught his disciples.
Through the next few chapters I'll brake apart the famous "Lord's Prayer", but here, I'm going to share with you the version that I've come to learn from Jesus. I hope as you study this passage, you too, will be able to pray your own version of this prayer as well. It's not about "memorizing" it and saying it outloud as a group, it's about learning what Jesus was teaching us, and applying the teaching to our regular prayer life.
For today, pray this over your life.
"My Father in Heaven, your name is Holy. You are Holy and Worthy of Praise.
I love you.
Father, I pray you complete your will for my life. I give my life to you, do whatever you dsire with me, I am yours.
Continue to provide my every day needs. I do not fear, I know you are taking care of me.
Please forgive me of all my sin, and help me to completely fogive others for the sin they make against me and others.
Protect me from Satan's evil schemes, and help me say NO to sinful temptations.
My life is Yours. "
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