THE VALUE OF THE WORD,PRAYER AND SONGEDUCATION DEP’TMID-WEEK PRAYER MEETING15th August, 2012

FOCUS ON CHRIST’S LOVE DAILY

READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY OVER IT SEVERAL TIMES TO ROOT OUR SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IN GOD THROUGH FAITH.GOD THEN REVEALS HIMSELF TO US.ENJOY READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

READING THE WORD HELPS US GROW

SOLOMON’S REQUEST

Because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than for long life and riches, what besides wisdom did God give him?"Because thou has asked this thing; . . . behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart. . . . And I have also given thee that which thou has not asked, both riches, and honour." 1 Kings 3: 11-13.

Some things we are taught in the Scriptures to pray for:-

(1) For daily bread. Matt. 6:11.(2) For the forgiveness of sin. 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 32:5,6; 1 John 1: 9; 5: 16.(3) For the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13; Zech. 10:1; John 14: 16.(4) For deliverance in the hour of temptation and danger. Matt. 6:13; John 17:11,15; Prov. 3:26; Ps. 91:7; Matt. 24:20.

JESUS PRAYED …WE MUST PRAY MORE

(5) For wisdom and understanding. James 1:5; 1 Kings 3:9; Dan. 2:17-19.(6) For peaceable and quiet lives. 1 Tim. 2:1,2.(7) For the healing of the sick. James 5:14,15; 2 Kings 20:1-11.(8) For the prosperity of the ministers of God and the gospel. Eph. 6:18,19; Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1.

JESUS PRAYED …WE MUST PRAY MORE

(9) For those who suffer for the truth's sake. Heb. 13: 3; Acts 12: 5.(10) For kings, rulers, and all in authority. 1 Tim. 2: 1, 2; Ezra 6:10.(11) For temporal prosperity. 2 Cor. 9:10; James 5:17,18.(12) For our enemies. Matt. 5:44.

JESUS PRAYED …WE MUST PRAY MORE

(13) For all saints. Eph. 6:18(14) For all men. 1 Tim. 2:1.(15) For the Lord to vindicate His cause. 1 Kings 18:30-39.(16) For the coming of Christ and of God's kingdom. Matt. 6:10; Rev. 22: 20.

JESUS PRAYED …WE MUST PRAY MORE

Paul’s instruction concerning singing

"Let 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." Col. 3:16. See also Eph. 5:19; James 5:13; Ps. 149:5,6.

Music, like poetry and flowers, is elevating and refining in its nature, and should therefore have its place in the worship of God, and in the life and experience of God's people. It is adapted to every mood and feeling of the human soul, and many times has reached hearts when other means have failed. Next to prayer, music seems best adapted to worship.

"The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort."- "Education," pages 167,168.

"O that we might sing evening and morning, and let song touch song all the way through! O that we could put songs under our burden! O that we could extract the sense of sorrow by song! Then sad things would not poison so much. Sing in the house; teach your children to sing. When troubles come, go at them with song. When griefs arise, sing them down. Lift the voice of praise against cares. Praise God by singing; that will lift you above trials of every sort. Attempt it. They sing in heaven, and among God's people on earth song is the appropriate language of Christian feeling."- Henry Ward Beecher.

Songs of praise... Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.” Psalm 66:1-4

What song are the Saints to sing?

"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." Verse 3. See Ps. 87:7.

OUT of my heart I sing a song,O world so great and grand!But hearts are weak, and hands reach outFor the touch of a kindly hand.

O song that I sing, I pray you bringTo some sad soul thy balm; Fall soft, I pray, like the breath of May,Or the touch of a loving hand.

I sing for hearts that ache and break,I sing for hearts that are true; O world so vast, O world so wide,I sing my song for you!