Staying connected to God through prayer is critical for end times. But we must have faith before we can pray. We must believe God will hear us and we must also believe God can someway make us understand what HE is saying to us after we pray.
Philippians 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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So why wouldn't we remember to pray? It is possible that we don't know how God can reach us with our requests. Humans can talk to us and we can hear them. But humans often don't know the answer and usually don't know what is coming in the future.
Also I find my faith to pray is helped greatly by daily meditating in those scriptures given me by the Holy Spirit.
Reviewing the principles of "faith":
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James 1
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Often I will be given a word to present to another person and I carry that word to the person as quickly as possible for I know their very life depends on "that" word.
Shockingly very often the person thanks me for the "message" but continues in the old way, ignoring the word which is even able to save the person's own soul. (And often the person not only rejects the word but strikes out at the person, me, who carried the life saving word.)
Another serious mistake: If we fail to take that word and keep it before us day and night, making appropriate adjustments to that word, the word often profits us nothing for it did not take root to cause us to have the strength to "bloom".
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Hebrews 5
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
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I Corinthians 11
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (die).
31 For if we would judge ourselves (by the scriptures), we should not be judged.
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James 1:18 Of HIS own will begat HE us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
As long as we live on this earth, the Holy Spirit of God brings scriptures to our minds or attention as we read and hear scriptures.
Each time we meditate in that word, which God has brought to us, and do that word, taking appropriate actions to conform ourselves to the instruction of that word, we are created in the image of Christ who is the Word.
Therefore we are continually "begat with the word of truth" sent by God to save our souls.
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Some churches teach that it is just a matter of saying "Jesus is Lord" and you are then a Christian and saved forever, no matter what you do in this life.
This is not true.
We will not endure this way.
Jesus says: Concerning the last days:
Matthew 24
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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James 1
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
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James 2
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
So many say to me, "I'm a Christian." But there is no sign that they hear from God and follow the spirit of God, loving the word of God.
The apostle James warns us, that you say you believe in God, but even the devils who will be destroyed in the judgment, believe there is a God and tremble.
John the Baptist said the same thing to the people who came to be baptized of him.
Luke 3
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
(Don't tell me you are a Christian and think you are all right. Bring forth godly fruits by faith in God and doing scripture and following the Spirit of God who shows you what to do.)
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
In the day of judgment, you are not going to be justified by the blood of Jesus if you cast aside scripture, the Word of God who is Jesus.
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So make yourself ready to stand at the judgment seat of Christ by hearing the scripture, meditating on the scripture, doing the scripture, thus conforming yourself to the image of Christ who is the Word.
Watch and pray over all things of this life ... that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
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James 2
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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That which will happen to us in the future:
* Either we will die before Jesus returns.
Or
* We will be removed from this earth by being taken into the air to meet Jesus in the air.
Or
* If we are not ready when Jesus returns, we will be left on this earth to go through the great tribulation, that wrath of God which is coming upon this earth ... for some of the elect of God will be here when the wrath comes.
Matthew 24 Jesus says:
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
I don't want to be here for the great tribulation. (Revelation 8-16)
Those Christians who are alive on this earth but fail to live by specific scripture and fail to keep themselves by prayer in peace, without spot, and blameless will be left on this earth for the great tribulation.
So learn to pray over all things ... and pay attention now to any scripture that God calls to your attention, meditating day and night on that scripture, doing that instruction constantly and continuing to do that instruction until Jesus returns.
Our lives certainly depend on this!
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