JRM Sison Chapter - Teachings - Let Go and Let God

The Power of Prayer
     A long time ago, during the reign of President Marcos, a certain Korean pastor visited the Philippines. When he saw the Manila International Airport (MIA), now NAIA, he was blessed. When he made a tour around the City of Manila, he was even more blessed. He was so blessed that he knelt down and cried out to the Lord and said this simple prayer, “My God, let my country be like this country; a country filled with blessing.” Every time he visited the Philippines he will say this simple prayer. Was his prayer granted? Now, with President Arroyo governing the Philippines, a Filipino pastor will be in awe if he will visit Korea. The situation is reversed! Korea is much more blessed than the Philippines now. God has granted the prayer of this simple and humble Korean pastor and God is exalted over this kind of change.

Letting Go
     The trouble with Christians today is their lifestyle. They forgot the simple way of living and embraced the American culture. Before Christian families go together to church. Now, because of their busyness, they let their children go to church while they attend to their business affairs. Christian families became so busy with the world that they forgot the meaning and value of family prayer. They wanted to rest by going to vacation and enjoy their time but still forgot their relationship with God.

     There are so many busy people who suffer hypertension and enlargement of the heart. The only probable cause is stress. Physical, mental and spiritual stress leads to sickness. They set a very high standard for themselves that they have trouble keeping up. There is only one reason why people are stressed; they try reaching for their high expectations. They want to live in an enjoyable life that they began to run instead of walk. They begin to change the “walks of life” with “runs of life”. As funny as it may seem but Christians begin to forget the meaning of physical, mental and spiritual rest. They forgot how to relax.

     Resting or relaxation is not about going to vacation. Some vacations can be twice as stressful as before. So, resting or relaxation can be any enjoyable activity that leads to inner peace. A tiring sport can lead to spiritual rest to some people. Thus, it differs not on one’s physical ability but on one’s definition of an enjoyable activity that brings peace to one’s mind, body and spirit.

The Way to Effective Prayer
     1.     Ask
          How to ask
               ·     Know the person you would ask for (v. 9 & 10).
               ·     Be honest with yourself
               ·     Be humble

     2.     Seek
          How to seek
               ·     Make a step
               ·     Have faith in every step
               ·     Claim the victory

     3.     Knock
          How to knock
               ·     P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Success Happens)
               ·     Knock with righteousness by your side

Why Prayers are Not Met
     1.     Ask Amiss
               James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

     2.     Static Seeking
               James 1:22-24 ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

     3.     Knocked Out
               Heb 6:10, 12, 15 ¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

     Time and again Christians are asking for God to bless them. The certainty and honesty of their pleas could soften any hard heart. They cry out loud; they make their petitions known. But as they move on to their daily lives, back to their normal routine, a certain cloud begins to form. This cloud comes from their prayers; and like the storm cloud that gathers water, this prayer cloud begins to form and collects prayer. But unlike a storm cloud that always pass through a watery path, a prayer cloud pass on dry grounds; gathering prayers. This cloud feeds upon prayers. As we raise our petitions, our prayer cloud gathers the prayer and like a storm cloud that darkens indicating the heaviness of the rain, a prayer cloud darkens our lives (persecutions, problems) indicating the oncoming greatness of the blessings. That is why we must never give up on our prayers. Though the fight seems to be in favor of the enemy, keep on praying and act on your faith. Through this kind of attitude will victory be made sure.