MESSAGE BY REV DR ANOKYE NKANSAH
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA
THEME: “WATCH AND PRAY.”
MATTHEW 26:40-41, “And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So you could not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak.”
Today’s passage is is about the discipline of prayer. Jesus himself prayed so he expects us to pray. He was worried that the disciples instead of praying were sleeping.
I am encouraging you to take your prayer life serious if you want to enjoy fellowship with the Lord and also overcome this world and the devil.
Prayer is not a difficult thing. It is like talking to any other person. Having discussion or discourse with anybody. The difference might be that physically you don’t see God.
You have to train yourself such that as you pray you see God in the lense of faith.
Again in prayer, you have to give God the due reverence.
You should not approach him any how.
Prayer does not need any formula. You can shout, speak in tongues, pray in silence, shed tears, stand, lie prostrate, sit, etc.
What is important is the heart.
It is better in prayer to have a heart without words, than words without heart.
It is true that prayer that comes from the heart can move mountains, it increases your faith and brings you closer to God.
One moment in the presence of God can change many things. Time spent in the presence of Gid is very fulfilling. So please make time to pray. At least one hour. “So you could not not watch me me one hour……?
In addition to this turn everything you see and experience into prayer. The flower you see, the dishes you are washing, etc. That is what it means to pray without ceasing.
“Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to Sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unrelated by supplication.” Charles Spurgeon.
Because you are not praying as you should you are losing a lot.
Pray corporately and pray privately. Take advantage of the prayer sessions in your church. But listen because we are in this world where work is very important, pray as if everything depends on prayer, and work as if everything depends on work. There should always be a balance between the sacred and secular. That makes you a wonderful christian.
Please when you, yes I mean you pray, the Lord listens as he listens to you pastor. Please don’t be over dependent on your pastor. It is very dangerous.
The power of prayer is expressed by Abraham Lincoln, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
The value of prayer is beyond all price. Never, never neglect it.”
Thank God for peaceful and successful IPAC meeting yesterday.
Pray that the Lord makes you a prayer warrior.
Pray against evil forces militating against your spiritual and physical development.
Pray for the economy of Ghana.
Rev. Dr. Anokye Nkansah
Presbyterian Church of Ghana
0244940771