"AN EXPECTATION"

It has been repeated several times and perhaps asked by many preachers and pastors the big “why” question… Why do you come to church? Why do you give your life to someone that you have not seen but whole heartedly believe that they are the reason for your healing and the rites to an eternity in heaven? You may have been asked also, what are your expectations for coming to the house of worship?

As I continue to walk and trying to understand teachings about Christ and Christianity, I cannot stop finding and discovering how the power of God unfolds Himself in the several teachings that we encounter day by day!

On Wednesday December 26, 2012 I experienced yet another teaching to one of the  questions asked, what are your expectations... Info was sent out to members of City of Praise and the masses in general about a “feet washing and crossing over to 2013 ceremony". I happened to be attending the service that day.  Before the ceremony the Pastor, usually referred to as the Apostle Judah Praise Martin, was careful in laying the foundation of what this ceremony meant. The scripture that he referenced was  John 13-1-38 but I will stop at verse 14 for the purpose of this reading. 

Image from google search feet washing

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

Now Jesus in all humanity washed His disciples feet and  instructed them to do the same one to the other. Pastor went on to say that he was just following the instructions that Christ first asked His followers to do. Pastor continued to say the feet washing was not a religious practice as usually signified in other denominations or viewed by other religious fanatics but rather it was a “spiritual initiation” into being a part of Christ and identifying with His teachings and attributes.

Feet washing as it relates to the Passover or crossing over when done gives you the right to if you believe to “Passover every trouble, sickness, pain, frustration and more” adversities of life that one might be faced with. If you believe your feet becomes covered with spiritual iron and bronze shoes as indicated by the pastor backing it with the verse from Deuteronomy 33:24-25. Shoes that will give you the strength to bruise the head of the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy, Romans 16:20 Feet washing when done is like humbling yourself therefore under God’s mighty hands that he may lift you up in due time. 1^st Peter 5:6

Image from google search feet washing

All this was on Wednesday and we all had our feet washed and I was very interested in the topic and wanted to know more about this subject matter that I found intriguing. On my curiosity hunt, I discovered that this practice has long existed in the Old Testament before Christ did it. People who had traveled from afar when they came to their destinations the servants of that traveler’s host would wash their feet as gestures to welcoming, acceptance into their household etc. Leaders in the Catholic Church would do it during the week preceding Easter and the English royalties did this up to the 1700 to poor people before they give them gifts. 

In modern times although still practiced but rarely it has become a romantic ceremonial attractions in weddings were the couples believe that this signifies their commitment to each others love as well as service as in the context of the biblical service that Christ did for His disciples. Than it all became clearer to me why Pastor would call it a "spiritual initiation". For when Christ did it and Christ being God, He was truly setting the course for us to understand that this was a cleansing of a sort that when believed and if one had an expectation he or she definitely deserved to be a part of Him. Hence being a part of Christ and following His will and instructions for your life, you begin  to experience a "crossing over", "passing over" of all the issues that have held you from fully experiencing God's love for your life, abundant healing, and hope for a life in eternity. 

Image from google search feet washing

 I could not stop thinking about the subject matter the rest of the week till now. Now Sunday 12/29/12, one of the ladies that took part in the ceremony stated to the congregation via a testimony that on wednesday the day of the feet washing ceremony, she’d come with an expectation to have her feet washed knowing that it was not pastor that was washing the feet but it was Jesus that was playing the role through pastor. Per her words, she had been experiencing swelling in her leg as a dancer.  When she’d gotten the notice about the "feet washing and crossing over ..." message she came believing that the feet washing would heal her. Evidently she  was the first in line for the ceremony. When she went home she stated it was later the same night that she told her roommate to come and see how the swelling had disappeared. How amazing! I thought as I sat and listened. She requested a prayer that the healing would be permanent and members of the congregation stood and  joined the pastor to pray for her.

I know that we all may still doubt and wonder why some practices are still existing but I wrote this to encourage us doubting “Peters” the bible will remain the bible, it’s teaching and every story that comes with it was written by the divine inspiration of men used by God.  What changes sometimes are the renewed revelations that come as men of God try to find meaning to its vast mysteries and teachings. I love to think that the concept of a “ spiritual initiation” was a unique revelation that came to the Apostle Judah Praise Martin from the Holy Spirit. It is by the gift of the Holy Spirit we come to know and understand the mysteries of God. We just have to have our own expectations, know the creator we serve, trust His teachings, study His word, avail ourselves  and most of all give our lives to Him whole heartedly that He may begin to show us His mighty works.

I do also pray for the sister to have a total healing! I strongly believe because she had her expectation cut out prior to the "feet washing ceremony..."God stepped in on her behalf.

Catherine K.

“THE POWER PRAYER HAS”

How powerful can prayer be?  James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens, answers, and moves in responses to our prayers.

Image from google search, prayer....

Why do we pray? What is prayer?  Prayer means communication, an appeal, a plea, and a desire. In the simplest personal analogy of prayer, it addresses God about the desires of our heart, and acknowledges Him for His presence in our lives, Prayer allows us to communicate with God, as He wants us to on a daily basic. Most important Prayer allows us the ability to convey our outmost appreciation to our Heavenly Father, God for His many wonders, love and mercies toward us! Seated atop His throne, He awaits the click of the key in the door, a passage into His holy sanctuary where His children whom He has called, will humble themselves and come to Him and pour out their hearts through prayers at any moment of their lives. A heart that will profess, own up and acknowledge that He is able, He is capable, He is enough, and He wants to hear from us. The power of prayer with all sincerity of the heart opens the Heavens and instant results are seen, felt and evident to our eyes. A prayer with all humility and total surrender quickens God’s steps to meet us at the point of our needs.

                                                          

Image from thegospelcoalition.org
 

Luke 22:39-46... "Jesus went out as usual to the mount of Olive, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place He said to them pray that you will not fall into temptation. He withdrew after a stone throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed. Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; let not my will but yours be done. An angle from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer, He went back to the disciples and found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"…New International Version (NIV)

The power of prayer... Key components of these verses are, willingness to pray and instant results. Are you willing to let go and let God be God in your life; are you willing to allow Him to take your burdens, your cups full of the pain of this world as you lay them before Him? Are you willing to let His not your will be done concerning your life.  Can you fully trust Him to help you make a final decision to stand for what is right and stick to it? A decision that Christ made at the mount olive “ take this cup from me, let not my will but yours be done” A decision that quicken God’s response to meet Jesus at the point of His needs. A decision that caused instant help and strengthening by the angle sent by God to Him…

Image from google search choice...

Decision is the initial step to making the choice to pray to God because you trust Him to answer. A choice that says in all firmness I will leave my issues at your feet Lord, I will leave that habit that is not pleasing to your will for my life, I will have victory over all the things that will hinder my relationship and quest to understand you God. If you make the decision to choose His will He will grant you the power to experience the wealth of knowledge about Him God via the gift of the Holy Spirit which He deposited in His children in the upper room and now you because you believe. The disciples believed Christ therefore they followed His instructions. Are you desperate enough to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and the gift of the Holy Spirit God gives you when you believe to guide you? 

Lets reflect back a bit, God’s real plan as always been to communicate  with man directly. During the Old Testament God would come in the cool of the evening to talk with Adam and Eve. But after they where deceived by the serpent and cast out to the garden of Eden, God's communication with mankind became less direct with Him talking to man through His prophets. In the fullness of time, God came down in the flesh as the son Jesus Christ, to live and dwell with mankind teaching them about the truths that will keep them form straying far from Him. He loved us enough to make this sacrifice!  He came to give us yet another opportunity through the spilt blood of Christ to rekindle our direct relationship with Him if we believe and choose to follow Him. To further this notion, when He died, rose from the grave and was leaving for the heavens, He left us with the gift of the Holy Spirit that we might individually have a relationship with Him. The moment we choose God and we start to follow in His will we start to feel His presence and that which we feel is the Holy spirit, God Himself present in us. For it has always been and will be God’s will for us to not perish but have everlasting life.

After you Have made the decision and your determination starts to settle in, then the tempest comes your way…But when the tempest come and you are truly a child of God, He will give you the power to overcome.

1 John 5:4-5... "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God..." New International Version (NIV)

When the tempest comes, you will be able to say, the devil can tempt me but he cannot compel me! The devil can tempt me but he cannot persuade me! The devil can dangle his bit in front of me but he will not force me to eat it! He will try to trick me into thinking I am being left out but I will change my focus from what is in front of me to who is inside of me! I will turn my focus to God from where cometh my help to overcome, I will start to plead the blood of Jesus, I will start to pray my way out because pray is the Key! That’s the power of prayer. All I need is the God living and dwelling in me!

To conclude the power of prayer can take you to:

2 Samuel 7:18
 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? “ …''You have brought me this far." God has not brought you thus far to leave nor forsake you. Neither will He give you more than you can handle. The same God who has authorized your birth is faithful and just to help you as you build you trust in Him.

The power of prayer can take you to a place in 1 Samuel 2:1 where you can rejoice like Hannah Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. 
I delight in your deliverance this is to say that without doubt, with all confidence, God will deliver you from your enemies ridiculing you as long as you stand fast in prayer and supplication to Him.

The power of prayer takes you to Genesis 25:21
 where Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The Lord answered, the Lord responded to his call, the lord took action on his behalf when he prayed for his wife and he answered, the Lord replied and met him at the point of his need!

The power of prayer once more will take us to the upper room along side the disciples Acts 4:31 After they had prayed, the place that they where meeting was shaken and they where filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly!

He did it for His own son Jesus; He did it for King David. He did it for Hannah He did it for Isaac, He did it for his disciple He can do it for you because you are His child and are joined heir with Christ when you made that decision to make Him your personal Lord and Savior. When we start to change our focus to pray, communication with Him we gain a deeper and personal relationship with Him, The evidence of His presence in us starts to radiate and mankind starts to see and know the Jesus residing in you. Believe me you they will throw you a few punches just to see if you have really changed or they may say a whole lot in front of you or behind your back. What matters most is God has given you the opportunity to overcome through prayer and sublimation to Him. As you do pray the Holy Spirit gives you the teachings and guidance you need to strive.

Always remember what James 5:16-18 declares …."the prayer of a righteous man is more powerful and effective". Hannah, Elijah, Isaac, David where all man like us but when they choose to align their lives and will to God, and He stepped in on their behalf.

•   May God step in on your behalf!
•   May God order your steps in the quest for whatever your needs are!
•   May God find you worthy to release and entrust the gift of the Holy Spirit   as you make the choice to follow him.
• May you read and reflect on the messages that will give you the opportunity to communicate with God effectively. For when you cry to God in your troubles, and distress, when you trust him to follow his instructions, in the ciaos of the storm His whisper will be enough to calm the wave. Be glad than when you pray by trusting in Him to guide you to your desired havens. Amen

Prayer points

Lord help me to tap into understanding what the power of prayer can do that I may not be just a sounding gong following the crowd of people who pray. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Lord help me to request my petitions and not be anxious to get answers from you. Your answer may be now, it may to be tomorrow but I trust in you to hold on.  I trust in the gift of the Holy Spirit that will grant me guidance and the strength to stand in there, I believe that is why I pray thus. In the name of Jesus, Amen.  

Like David in Samuels, Let me with all confidence know that you have brought me thus far and you will not leave me nor forsake me.  I believe thus I pray. Make it personal. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him."  Hence I want to encourage you that your days spent praying are not wasted  days. God Bless You! God Bless You!

Catherine K.