Keeping your knees down is a representation of prayer, (being consistent in prayer). When it comes to this principle, it is a matter of the heart’s posture more than the physical act of kneeling. The state of your heart is then reflected in your attitude when it comes to prayer. This is because, as the Prophet Isaiah states in Isaiah 29:13, “People honour and worship God with their lips; however, their hearts are far from Him”. Therefore, people who truly seek God with their hearts know the significance of prayer, which is one of the ways to remain closer to God.

Prayer is defined as an “invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication”. Furthermore, its etymology is derived from the Latin word “precaria“, which means ‘devout petition to God or an object of worship’. However, beyond these definitions, for Christians, prayer is more than that because it is a conversation with God which also involves interaction with the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:18). To further illustrate this, in 2 Kings 18, Elijah called down fire from heaven to prove that the Lord God was real.

It’s also seen in John 11 where Jesus calls the spirit of Lazarus back to life, raising him from the dead. Indeed, this goes to show that prayer isn’t just a dialogue, but it is a powerful and effective tool in the life of a Christian.

The question that is often asked is, if God knows everything and can do anything, why should one pray? In answering this question, it is important to understand that prayer is a spiritual activity, and God is spirit, thus, prayer establishes communion with Him. He is our Father, which indicates relationship—and that is what God desires to have with us through prayer, and with every relationship, conversation is involved. And whenever a relationship exists, there is a platform for asking and receiving. Throughout scripture, God urges us to ask that we may receive; in other words, although God is omniscient, if we do not ask, we will not receive because it takes away the essence of the father-child relationship that He seeks to have with us. Jeremiah 33:3, says that God has remarkable things to reveal about things to come and this can be relevant to things involving the work of God in our lives today, be it, our careers, marriage or academics. However, we do not receive these things because we do not ask (see James 4:3). 

To further illustrate the importance of prayer, look at the life of Jesus Christ, although He was God, prayed constantly (Mark 1:35). He modelled a lifestyle for us to follow, and that is a lifestyle that values prayer. Furthermore, even our forefathers [in faith] prayed, for instance, King David. An example of one of his many prayers can be read in Psalm 5, being the King that He was, he cried out to God in prayer, bringing forth his requests.

The early church also prayed, and prayer is what carried them. It is not a gift of the Holy Spirit that some possess, and others don’t, so it is for everyone. Acts 1:14 tells us that the Apostles and several others met together and were constantly united in prayer.

Just like them, we ought to pray together with and for each other consistently and without ceasing. Moreover, the Apostles themselves requested to be prayed for as well. We see this with Paul in Romans 15:30-33, where he urges the church to join him in prayer over his trip to Judea. Additionally, when we pray for others, we partner up with God and His will. In Acts 12:1-18, while Peter was in prison, the church prayed earnestly for him. The power of interceding for one another was then the result of Peter’s release from prison. Paul further goes on urging us to pray for all people including those who are in authority for peace and a godly life which is God’s will for all of us (see 1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Hence, praying for one another does not depend upon titles or experiences, because all of us are called to intercede for one another including ourselves as well. When approaching God, we gain confidence in our spiritual journey with Him. Prayer assists us, in keeping us in alignment with His Will, and He will be faithful in giving us what we enquire from Him (see John 14:13). The word “keep” in the title, gives the notion of continuity, that is, after prayer there is prayer. Praying is not a one-time activity, or something that was invented recently to keep us busy. For many generations prayer has been proven to work, thus, there is no reason to treat prayer casually. Jesus Christ tells a parable in Luke 18:1-8; about a widow who had repeatedly cried out for justice before a judge until she received it.

The lesson here is about persistently praying and not giving up until you see something and even after that, continue praying.

In Isaiah 62:6-7, the prophet speaks of the watchmen who were posted to pray day and night until Jerusalem was restored to its glory. Through constant prayer, we can be watchmen of our families and loved ones. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah sent out his servant seven times to search for a rain cloud for this is what he was praying for, until it eventually happened. Here we see that Elijah had stayed on watch free of distraction because he stayed in prayer. 

When praying it is important to stay focused and not get distracted or reluctant. Distractions can also include sin, for the flesh is weak and that is why we should pray constantly [this is a way to overcome our flesh] so that we may not fall into temptation (see Matthew 26:41).

It is through prayer that we are strengthened and empowered. Like Jesus, who, at the beginning of His ministry, went into prayer and fasting and was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, after which an angel ministered to Him, bringing Him strength. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, an angel came to minister and strengthen Him. For every situation, there is a strength that can be drawn in prayer. Through prayer, we can cancel the plans of Satan. In Luke 22:31-32, Satan planned to shake Simon Peter’s faith, but Jesus prayed for his faith not to fail. Hence, when we pray, it is because we understand that only God can take us out of a difficult situation that the enemy would use for our demise.

In Hebrews 5:7, we learn that throughout His life here on earth, Jesus offered prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to be rescued and God answered Him. The beauty of crying out to God is that He does not turn a deaf ear, He is the God who answers prayers. He comes to the rescue of those who cry out for His help. 

After James was killed, Peter got arrested and this created concern in the church for Peter’s life because they feared that Herod would do to him what he did to James (see Acts 12). However, their earnest prayers saved him; we are not meant to be casual with our prayers but earnest in them. Consequently, when we stop earnestly seeking God through prayer, we give room for the enemy to take advantage of us. In Exodus 17:11 we see that, whenever Moses held up his staff, the Israelites had an advantage but whenever the staff was dropped, his enemies gained an advantage. Although we may not have the same staff that Moses had, fortunately for us we have prayer; and the enemy gains an advantage when we do not pray. 

When we stop praying, confusion finds a place. There are many believers today who find themselves in confusion due to the lack of persistence in prayer; praying brings clarity and is important when making life decisions. A prayerful believer is never stunned by what strikes the eyes because they are enlightened to see the bigger picture, an example of that can be found in 2 Samuel 21:1. Therefore, when you encounter challenges that you do not understand, start seeking God first and He will be found. Not only do we receive revelation from God, but we also receive instructions on what to do from Him too.  James 5:13-16 summarises the power of prayer, emphasising that the prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful deeds. When we seek God wholeheartedly, we are guaranteed that we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13). Prayer is a platform in which we draw closer to God and receive instructions, revelation, and ideas from Him. It is through prayer that we get to partner with heaven and establish the will of God on earth. When we neglect staying in prayer, our spiritual senses deteriorate; consequently, causing a hindrance in our relationship with God and the accomplishment of His purpose here on earth. Finally, it then opens us up to a hard life which leads to disobedience and ultimately living a life full of sin. If there is little or no prayer, there is little or no vitality in your Christian life. So always remember to keep your knees down in consistent prayer. 

John 11

In John 11, there is the story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection. When Jesus was away, and He got word that Lazarus was ill. Jesus responded by saying that Lazarus’ illness would not lead to death. It is important to note how the sisters phrased the message; they said, “the one you love is sick.” Saying that showed that the sisters knew a relationship existed between them and Jesus. Moreover, it was said to bring the crisis to Jesus’ attention so that He would act urgently; the sisters wanted to rush Jesus. In retrospect, you have to ask yourself how often you find yourself trying to leverage God to act on your behalf based on your relationship so that you skip the wait.

Everyone you encounter is waiting for something, and unfortunately, you can’t bypass that part of the process as it is an essential element of promotion. Promotion can be understood as moving from one point to the next, but before any remarkable progress there is a waiting period. Examining those who can be regarded as heroes of faith, they all had a time where they waited. Waiting is something that this generation struggles with since they seek instant gratification.

Nobody desires to wait anymore; there appears to be a rush for everything, even for minor matters, which is why this generation is often referred to as the microwave generation. Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a reminder that there is a time and season for everything, and you can’t rush through everything. Looking at how God created the world [see Genesis 1], you will see that He is a God of processes. He is all mighty and could have made everything instantly, but He chose to take His time. If God values the process, so should you.

Waiting can be defined as the act of staying or remaining in expectation, but when you read scripture, you see that waiting is more than just expecting. As a child of God, when you wait, it is not a vain thing; you expect with hope and trust in God. Waiting is often unpleasant, but there is purpose in it. Waiting can add things to your life if you do so fixed on God; it is beneficial to wait on God’s timing. One of the reasons why waiting is good is that it draws you closer to God. Moments of uncertainty have a way of pushing you to seek the face of God. God can use your waiting to reveal His glory; just as He did in John 11, a sickness brought death, but that gave room for a miracle of resurrection. Thus, the wait gives weight to your testimony, and that testimony prepares you for your promotion.

The right place and the right is not always a reference to the final destination, but the place and time where God wants you. Sometimes the right place and time can be a place of discomfort, like a waiting room. Your character is formed in the waiting room, and you are prepared to handle the promotion. The inheritance belonged to the prodigal son, but because he did not wait for the right time, it led to his ruin [Luke 15:11-32]. So, the things that are good for you can be harmful if you get them out of season; therefore, waiting is a sign of trusting God’s ways and timing.

When you wait, there are things you ought to avoid, and the first thing to avoid is comparison because it will keep you from celebrating and appreciating the season you are in. Secondly, do not try to help God by finding shortcuts. In 1 Samuel 13:13-14, Saul’s reign was taken from him because he was pressured by people and wanted to help God. Taking shortcuts will short-circuit your promotion. Thirdly, watch what you say because you can unnecessarily prolong the wait through your unbelief and negative words; your words affect your life [Proverbs 18:21].

Now, there is an attitude that is appropriate to have while you wait for your promotion. The first thing to do is to keep praying [see Romans 12:12] because you will be strengthened and instructed in prayer. For your promotion to come into effect, there are instructions from God on what to do; it is crucial to move forward with His blueprint. The second thing to do is to be watchful of what your senses are exposed to including the music you listen to, because what your senses absorb will shape your mind. The third thing to do while waiting is to prepare for your promotion. While you are waiting, there is an active side to it, where you willingly prepare for what’s ahead. Lastly, while you wait, serve. The waiting period is not a place of complaining but a platform to serve to the best of your abilities. Moreover, instead of complaining, learn to praise God and let your praises precede the promotion. As Jesus stood before Lazarus’ tomb, He praised the Father.

Most importantly, the waiting process makes you humble, and there is no promotion without humility. It is with a humble heart that you are able to give God the glory. So, when you wait, do not do it like the world; wait with hope and trust in the Lord. There is a promise for those that wait on the Lord. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31 [NKJV], “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” God is always on time; He is never late, so wait on the Lord and trust Him to promote you at the right time.

Everything that God creates grows, and it is His will for you to advance in every aspect of your life. Thus, in order to properly enjoy promotion, it is important to understand its underlying principles. What comes to mind when you think of promotion? Do you anticipate getting promoted in any particular area of your life? If so, you ought to be aware that every promotion has a foundation or a basis for support. Everything is built on a foundation, so it is crucial. No matter how beautiful a construction may be on the outside, if the foundation is poor or nonexistent, the structure will fall down eventually.

In Luke 6:48–49, Jesus emphasised the value of a foundation by using the story of the two men who built two different foundations for their homes. One man built a house on sand, but soon it could not endure the wind and fell. The house of the other man was built on a rock, and it withstood the wind. The apparent issue in the story is not the house itself, but rather the foundations upon which the houses were built. Many people miss it because they concentrate on the building while paying little attention to the foundation, despite the fact that a foundation greatly affects a building.

A foundation allows any infrastructure to stand and withstand. In that same principle, a foundation gives purpose to what is being built and is the driving force that sustains something. So, before you build anything, make sure that the foundation you are building on is solid. Foundations determine the durability of the building, and that idea trickles to all areas of life, career, relationships and everything else. Even God, in His supremacy, considered the importance of a solid foundation; this is shown in Psalms 104:1-5 that when He created the earth, He laid a foundation.
 
Furthermore, a foundation also refers to the substance that backs something up. In Acts 5:29-39, there is a story of how the religious people were trying to shut down the disciples from spreading the gospel. One leader responded that it would be useless to fight the movement if God backed it. He added that fighting the propagation of the gospel would be equivalent to fighting God, and if it were a mere man-made movement, it would soon dissolve. Therefore, if anything is built on mere ideas, it is destined to fail, but if it is of God, it can never be overthrown. Thus, it is important to be aware that for anything to have a lasting impact in the physical realm, it should be backed up by the spiritual realm. Hence, whenever the spiritual realm is ignored, the physical realm suffers.

You need to look at things that have been built in the past and have long maintained their consistency so that you will know which foundation to build upon. A close study of the Bible reveals that Jesus is the rock-solid foundation. According to the NKJV translation of 1 Corinthians 3:11, “because no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, namely Jesus Christ.” Having Jesus as your foundation ensures true promotion because He has been shown to be the foundation that endures forever. According to the Bible [see John 1:1-3], Jesus is referred to as the Word who became flesh, and in the parable, Jesus compared those who built their homes on the Word of God to the wise builder.

Your life ought to be built upon the Word of God, which is Jesus. The Word of God contains God’s thoughts on every circumstance you may possibly encounter.
There is a verse in the Bible that corresponds to every situation in life. The skilful builder’s house withstood the wind, and so will anything built with God’s Word as its cornerstone. When Jesus enters your life, He establishes a new foundation that keeps the devil from claiming you. Without Jesus as your cornerstone, the devil has legal access and full freedom over your life. Knowing the truth sets one free from the enemy, not just by wishful thinking or optimistic affirmations. Jesus offers actual freedom, which is exhibited to the extent of the knowledge of Him that you possess.

Learn to look for patterns in your life and recognise recurring patterns in your family. Never accept something because “it’s part of our family” or “it’s always been this way.” The patterns that try to take your life have a corresponding reality in the Word of God that deals with them. You should be aware that any claim on your life will fail if you have built your life on Jesus and adhere to His Word as absolute truth. When you put your faith in Jesus, He sheds His light in your life. You can find what you’re looking for by using His light. Christ, not humanistic ideals, is the foundation of long-lasting promotion.

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Christ” or “Christlike”. The one thing that impresses God is your ability of portraying Him in a human form just like Jesus did.

God wants your body in order to fulfil His purpose on earth, and a body that is devoted to God is fully catered for.

Language is important because it not only helps us receive messages from those around us, but it also helps us pass messages around in a manner that is and can be understood by everyone.

A clear language is a language that conveys a message in the easiest way possible without the use of ambiguous words or statements. However, a godly language is one that uplifts and edifies others ( see Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6).

One has to remember that whatever regularly comes out of your mouth indicates what fills your heart. The only way for your words to reflect the true and godly intention of your heart is if it is shaped and wrapped up in the wisdom that only the Holy Spirit provides in us.

Our hearts will always be filled with different emotions, but the goal as Christians is not to suddenly stop ourselves from feeling all of those emotions but instead not to let ourselves be controlled by them. That’s where the help of the Holy Spirit becomes vital to us. Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires in us (see James 1: 19-20).

Speaking the truth as a way of correcting an issue can and will only help when it comes from a place of love. In order to do that, one needs to truly have the desire to see a change in a person’s life instead of just wanting to point out their mistakes, and that can only be done once we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. In trying to help, one needs to understand what may have led them to do, become, or say whatever it is that they may have done or said.

Let’s not just want change for people, but instead, let’s help them want it for themselves for them to see the truth not as an attack but as a solution to their problem as a result of interacting with someone who speaks a language of love; a godly language.

The man is completely set free and in his right mind. The people stricken by the fear of what just happened, ask Jesus to leave their town. So Jesus steps back into his boat, and the man begs to Jesus go with him, but Jesus tells the man to go back home and tell everyone what God has done for him. 

Luke 8:26-39

Monday 30/09/2019

Jacques

• Jesus responded to the request of the demons. 
• Look at the attitude and response of Jesus. We shouldn’t treat people the way they deserve to be treated, but treat them how Jesus would. The man was used to being pushed away and rejected by people because of his state, but Jesus surprised him. 
• “Surprise people with the way you treat them, not as they deserve, but as Jesus would”

Francis

• God is good and loving to the extent that he favorably replied to the demon.  

Emmanuel Molisho

• God is God over all, and creator of everything. 
• He’s in control of everything, and nothing happens without His permission. That is why the devil needed permission to touch Job.

Shepherd Elie

• God is God above all, and He has authority over all demons. It shows the power of God that even demons need His permission. 
• That should give you a sense of assurance and guarantee when you pray to God because He is the master of everything; this should give you confidence when you pray. 

Divin Fosh

• The devil is no rival for God, and he’s not an adversary, but he’s a creature. In God’s hands, he is a pawn. 
• Jesus came for one person and went back to His boat. 
• Believe in the love of God so much; that if you were the only human on earth, He would still die for you. 
• He comes for you, so you need to personalize the visitation of Jesus. 

Jonathan Lokota

• God is the one that sets boundaries like He did in the story of Job. 
•  The change in your life after you’ve met Christ should be evident to man and reflect on your behavior. You shouldn’t be a people’s pleaser what pleases man, may not necessarily please God.
• The deliverance of the possessed man was a seed in the hearts of those that remained. Jesus was reluctant to leave the city because he knew that the miracle in the man’s life would continue to preach and work its way in the hearts of those that lived in the city. 

Patient

• The opening verses show that nobody comes to God unless God has called them. 
• Not every voice that worships God or gives praise is necessarily from God. We need to discern the spirit behind voices, Jesus was a solution for this man but a torment to the demon. 
• When Jesus comes into our lives, He gives us what we’re lacking. He restores the man to live in his house. 
• After encountering God, show yourself to the world so they may see what God has done. 

Boni 

• The spirits were intimidated by Jesus; when you have the spirit of God, any spirit contrary to His should tremble. No evil Spirit should be comfortable around you. 
• It’s cool to be a follower of Jesus, but it’s even cooler to be a witness. If the man went with Jesus, some people wouldn’t have known about the change in his life (especially those that did not know his history).

Michel 

• We get so used to the normal, that when God works, it can scare us. 
• When you pray to God for a miracle, how He responds doesn’t have to make sense to you. God is supernatural, so are His ways. 
• So often we pray for a supernatural intervention from God but reject it because it doesn’t make sense to us.
• Not everyone will appreciate the change that God causes in you. So being rejected because God changes you shouldn’t discourage you. 

Aurélie 

• God uses everything for His glory, and our testimonies give glory to Him, people’s lives get transformed through what God has done in our lives. 

Marie-Therese 

• The man could have wanted to go with Jesus for the mere fact of being scared of going back to his tormented state. 
• There is a security that comes with God’s doing in your life; nobody can steal it from you.

Hugo 

• When you don’t have anything, you can put your hope in God because you have nothing to lose. 
• Your lack is a reason to cast all your hope on God. 

Believe Hamuli 

• God uses any situations to bring glory to himself. Our loud prayers (which are embarrassing or shameful to us) can be liberating and edifying for others. 
• We need to move away from thinking that being a Christian is being perfect, but instead, it’s a walk towards perfection. Our vulnerability encourages people. 
• There are prayers that we should pray out loud so that when it happens, people can testify. 
• We’re so quick to move on to the next step or the next thing and minimize the power of staying at a particular place. We easily believe that it’s time to move on and not have the faith to stay, especially when it’s uncomfortable 
• “Know when to stay and when to leave, don’t let it be an emotional decision but one dictated by God.”

Seth 

• We should learn to identify what’s troubling us and speak it aloud. 
• Jesus doesn’t ask because he doesn’t know, but He asks because He wants us to acknowledge the problem and that it’s Him that performs the miracle. 

Dan Kasongo 

• Even demons acknowledge God and our problems tremble before God. 

Gedeon

• The devil doesn’t show you the bad side of things. When tempting you, he shows you a good side of somethings, but in reality, it’s a trap. 
• The pigs were a source of economy for the city, but Jesus ‘wasted’ them. It goes to show that Jesus would go to any extent to reach out to us; a soul has no price for Him. 
• “There is no waste to God when it comes to saving a soul” 

Keren 

• God’s time is the best time, and He’ll meet you at your point of need. 
• Take advantage of the presence of God; the presence of God can free you. 
• When God comes to you, whatever is yours will be yours. 

Donté

• Keep knocking and keep pressing. Your persistence in knocking will cause the person behind the door to open for you. 
• Sometimes God puts you in a place that’s not comfortable for you, to change and reach to someone. So it’s not always about you.

Dan Joel

• When God sets you free, you’re free indeed. 
• Nothing frees us like Jesus, and His freedom has assurance and it comes with security. 

Laifa

• Jesus didn’t reject him by denying the man’s request, but He instead wanted him to be a walking testimony in his city. 
• Your placement may not always pleasant to you, but your testimony is louder there. 

Believe Mambo

• “The devil is a joke in front of God.”  
• Most situations in our lives present themselves as powerful as the man of legion (he could break chains, cut himself, live is isolated placed, etc.) but before God the demons were powerless. As his children, we have His Spirit, which is a superior spirit. 

Jonathan Kawata

• He left the crowd, went through a storm just for one person. That’s how much He cares. 
• The Hand of God is not short to reach out to you even in the deepest of pits. 

Shepherd Elie Hamuli – Conclusion 

• The bible starts by describing how the guy was before he met Jesus, broken and tormented and describes him after his encounter with Jesus. That goes to show that no man can encounter God and remain the same. 
• A genuine encounter with Jesus Christ brings a ‘before’ and ‘after’ picture
• There’s a change that happens when you meet Jesus, and it’s not only for you to live but for people to see. Your change should be evident. 
• What do people see in you when you’ve met Christ?
• A change of lifestyle characterizes an encounter with Jesus. 
• The man was in his right mind with all his senses; “With all your sense” means that you know what you’re doing, you’re not going with the flow of life and doing whatever the world does. 
• There are so many things claiming your life after you have met Jesus (your past life – drug, alcohol, pornography, etc.) 
• The world isn’t happy to see you live differently, and the devil isn’t happy seeing you live in freedom. 
• The devil wants us bound to our old lifestyle so that there’s a clash that taints our testimony, and the devil fights our testimonies because it’s how we overcome. 
• “Your testimony carries power to change lives. “
• You can’t live your Christianity in private; people need to see Christ in you. 
• Your light should attract people without you even saying a word. 
• Jesus sent him back to the place where his change happened. 
• Your testimony is powerful in your place of shame. 
• There’s a place that’s linked to your past and it’s a place of embarrassment, but that’s the place where your testimony is loud and effective 
• The same place that you’ve been humiliated could be the place of your elevation 
• Accept the humiliation; it shapes you. God allows us to go through fire to refine us, but it’s with love. 
• The efficiency of your testimony is bound and linked to the place of your change. So don’t be quick to leave the place where your change happened because you carry evidence of God’s power in you. 
• The boat represented the pulpit and ministry, and Jesus denied the man that request. 
• You don’t need to be a pastor to reach out; all you need to be is a witness. Influence where you are with your testimony. 
• Jesus called the apostles, but the man requested to be a follower of Jesus. It is God that calls not the other way round.
• Start where you are, with your testimony. You don’t need a pulpit to have an impact; you need your testimony and the word of God. 
• Your influence can happen without you having a title.

Prayer requests:

1. Pray for a real encounter with Jesus Christ that will leave you genuinely changed. 

2. Pray to be a real and bold witness of Jesus Christ wherever he places you. 

3. Pray for the strength to live beyond our past habits/lifestyle, and free from everything that claims you.