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The fellowship of His Sufferings: Unanswered prayers
Prayers 1. Father, let me experience the fullness of fellowship with Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus. 2. Lord, let my prayers receive answers by the mercy in the blood of Jesus in Jesus mighty name.
It is my prayer that: May God cause you to know Jesus Christ the more and may you experience the fullness of the power of Christ in the name of Jesus. Text: Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV) And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; (AMP) One of the important relationships that we should have and maintain with Christ according to our text of today is to: Know Jesus Christ – as Lord, Savior, redeemer, friend, deliverer, healer, provider, merciful King, eternal securer, the one who has gone to prepare a place for you in heaven, the one preparing and maintaining your mansions in heaven before you get there etc. The grace to know the Lord Jesus Christ like never before may God grant to you in Jesus’ name.
Know the power of His resurrection - Having a knowledge of the power (ability, capacity, ability) of His resurrection. His power of resurrection – not remaining in the grave but coming back to life – defeated Satan and his cohorts’ hands down. His power of resurrection defeated death, including agents of death such as sicknesses and diseases, failure etc. His power of resurrection also raises the dead back to life. This power raised Lazarus back to life, raised the son of the widow of Nain back to life, raised the daughter of Jarius back to life and can and will raise good things that are dead in your life back to life. And it shall be so for you and yours in the name of Jesus. May you encounter and always have a fresh encounter with the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus.
Know the fellowship of His Sufferings - Having an understanding for, an appreciation for, a comprehension of His sufferings and partaking, sharing in His sufferings. This aspect of fellowship and sharing in the sufferings of Christ is rarely talked about, but it is very scriptural. We will be examining an aspect of the fellowship of His sufferings today – unanswered prayers. The focus here is not on prayer answers hindered by Satan and his cohorts. Satanic hinderances must be destroyed through prayers, faith, and the word of God. The focus is on righteous prayers whose answers are being awaited in the predominant will of God. May evil powers hindering answers to your prayers give up and expire in the name of Jesus.
Knowing Jesus Christ and being made conformable to the death of Christ - Being conformed, made, or transformed into the nature of the death of Christ. This we generally do by an outward experience of water baptism signifying dying with Jesus and being buried. This is one of the reasons why water baptism is important for a believer (Romans 6:1-6). The other aspect of dying in the nature of Christ for believers is dying to our old self, by crucifying or putting to death the ‘old man’ – the nature of sin in our lives. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3) May the sinful nature of sin, be put to death completely in your life in the name of Jesus. May the new life in Christ be fully manifested in your life in Jesus’ name.
Fellowship of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ and Unanswered Prayers
Part of our calling is a calling into suffering. Many may not like to hear that, it is true, nevertheless. 12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Some examples of Christian Suffering · In the book of Jonah when the whale swallowed Jonah and he was in the stomach of the big fish for 3 days and 3 nights, it was God saying NO to Jonah.
Jonah was running away from God's way and will for his life and encountered suffering to redirect him into the plan of God for his life.
· When Jesus suffered before he was crucified on the cross of calvary as he was convicted for offenses he did not commit, he was slapped beaten and insulted, it was not because of his sin.
It was to fulfill God's plan of salvation for the whole world.
· When Jesus suffered on the cross of calvary as he was nailed to the cross; his clothes, his earthly possessions being shared out, he was abused.
It was not because of his sin.
It was to fulfill God's plan of salvation for the whole world.
· When Saul whose name changed to Paul was beaten, stoned and imprisoned; it was to fulfill God's call upon his life.
In prison he was able to write two thirds of the New Testament of the Bible.
The Apostle James states that we should welcome suffering and trials that are God’s will for us with joy as it does the excellent work of perfection in your life, establishes you in righteousness and godliness. 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1) If you are insulted and reviled for [bearing] the name of Christ, you are blessed [happy, with life-joy and comfort in God’s salvation regardless of your circumstances], because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you [and indwelling you—He whom they curse, you glorify]. (1 Peter 4:14)
You need Bible salvation to enjoy the relationship with God as your Father. One of the benefits of that relationship is answered prayers. When answers to prayers are not yet received, some of the questions that may come to mind are: · Did God hear the prayer and refused to answer? o Note that God does not ignore the prayer of His people but answers them speedily. (Luke 18:1-8). o The response could be: § Yes - immediate answer. § Yes – soon – almost immediate. § Yes - wait for the answer. That is be patient. I need to work on you to enable you receive the answers. I need to work on some people to bring it to pass as it will be delivered to you through people. · It may involve long suffering. § Yes – modified § No – It is not good for you. It is not in line with my will for you. You will not benefit from it, it may work against you. § Modified No. Where God is saying, I will not grant your original request, but will amend it in a way that all will be well with you. In a way that you will come out well in the end. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18) When waiting for an answer, it does not mean that God is unfaithful to you or will not answer your prayers. It means God is waiting to be glorified in your life, and may He glorify His name in your life and family in the name of Jesus.
Strategies to obtain answered prayers 1. Don't be God's enemy. 2. Be His child and friend by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. 3. Accept the sacrifice of His blood that was shed for you on the cross of calvary to cleanse our sins. (Isaiah 59:1-2). 4. Pray without ceasing. Pray without giving up according to Luke 18:1-8 and John 16:24. 5. Pray prayers that will touch heaven and move heavens to change your situation. Jabez cried out to God to change his life and destiny from sorrow, God heard him, removed sorrow and the root cause of what was bringing grief and pain into his life. God blessed him and expanded his coasts. May your prayers touch heaven and may your situation change for good in Jesus’ name.
6. Jesus Christ the Son of God prayed with Strong Crying and Tears to His Father- God the Father who His able to save to the uttermost. The Bible says that He was heard because He feared God. 7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5).
Feel free to pray with strong crying and tears and God will hear you in the name of Jesus.
May God hear your prayers in Jesus’ name.
7. Fear of God: You want answered prayers? Fear God.
Prayer 1. Father, answer my prayers by fire in Jesus name.
Prayers 2. Give thanks
3. Born again?
4. Father, you answered Jabez, take away sorrow, grief and pain from my life, family and destiny by the power in the blood of Jesus.
5. Hindrances to answered prayers melt away by fire in Jesus’ name.
6. Father let my joy be full in Jesus’ name.
7. Lord, take away sorrow from my life, family, and destiny by the power in the blood of Jesus.
8. Failure at the edge of breakthrough, I am not your victim, perish in the name of Jesus.
9. My breakthroughs and miracles, appear and manifest in my life, family, health, career, academics, business, finances, and destiny in the name of Jesus.
10.I receive healing and deliverance from every sickness and difficult situation in Jesus’ name.
11.Father lay your hand of healing and deliverance on our loved ones with special needs in Jesus’ name.
12.My life and family are shielded with the blood of Jesus against every attack from the kingdom of darkness in Jesus’ name.
13.I receive the anointing of ease in my endeavors in Jesus’ name.
14.Personal prayer points.
15.Give thanks.
May suffering assigned against you by the powers of darkness scatter unto desolation in the name of Jesus.
Grace
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