“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Scripture tells us there is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Should there be any variations when we are told through scripture that there is only one? Should there be variations amongst the members in the one body, “the so-called body of Christ?” Believers are taught that each of us have different assignments, but does this mean that the members of the one body have different objectives?

Here is an interesting statistic, discovered a few years back while doing some research: there are more than 103.5 million members in more than seventy-five different church bodies that make up “the so-called one body,” the body of Christ. But if there be one body, shouldn’t these members of this body at least have the same objective, the same vision, and the same mission before them? What about their knowledge of Christ, shouldn’t that be similar amongst the members? If not, does this mean that the members are permitted to have varied beliefs as to who Christ is, what he is and where he comes from? If there be only one Lord, shouldn’t the more than 103.5 million members in the more than seventy-five different church bodies that make up his “so-called one body” be in agreement about him? One would surely think so, unfortunately, this be not the case.

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Recently, we discussed how understanding the benefits of prayer would help us to understand why we should pray. We discussed the same model that Jesus showed to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples to pray. The very first thing Jesus did was to tell them to revere the name of the Father and to honor him for his holiness. Jesus said, when we pray, we should say, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

We now know that when we come before God, we are to enter into his gates with great thanksgiving and enter into his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). We know that when we pray, we need to give praise to him, to speak of his glories and of his grace, to boast of his kindness, to give thanks and to bless his holy name, and to exalt his holy name. When we pray, we need to pray primarily for these reasons, but these are not the only reasons we need to pray. Praying is a process and for effectual prayer, we need to follow the guidelines that Jesus showed his disciples.

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:1-2).

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Understanding the benefits of prayer will help us to understand why we should pray. Most people, believers and non-believers alike, only pray in a time of need, when things are out of their control. The problem is that prayer should be the first thing you, as a believer, do every morning and the last thing you, as a believer, do before you go to sleep. This is not to say that these are the only times that you should pray because the scripture say that we should pray always, without ceasing.

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

We are told to pray without ceasing, but did you notice what else we are to do when praying? Scripture tells us that we should give “thanks in everything.” According to this passage, prayer is not just something we do in our hour of need, but something that we should constantly do, constantly giving thanks to God in every situation, because “this is the will of God for us.”

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:1-2).

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We have previously talked about this battle that we are in, where we wrestle against the evil rulers of this unseen world, which includes the mighty satanic beings, the great evil princes of darkness, and a huge number of wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:12). This battle takes place in the arena of our mind and is unavoidable, knowing no bounds, no gender, no age, no race, and no religion. It attacks everyone. As we see the daily struggles of those who succumb to poverty, sickness, and death, we know this war to control our soul involves tactics such as depression, fear, discouragement, low self-esteem, worry, anxiety, confusion, and doubt. What many do not know is that we actually have the power to control these evil rulers of the unseen world.

“For though we walk (live) in the flesh (in this body), we do not war (fight) after (according to) the flesh (human standards)” (II Corinthians 10:3). “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down (destroying) imaginations (false arguments) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:4-5).

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Most of you are familiar with “The Parable Of The Sower.” Jesus explains the parable to his disciples this way.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:9-15).

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How awesome is God? God is totally awesome! How awesome are we? We are totally awesome as well! But why are we totally awesome? It is not because we said so. It is not because we may have thought so. No, it is because God has said so. Listen to the words of King David as he speaks of God’s glory and man’s honor.

“O Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies! When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made—I cannot understand how you can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him! And yet you have made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head. You have put him in charge of everything you made; everything is put under his authority: all sheep and oxen, and wild animals too, the birds and fish, and all the life in the sea. O Jehovah, our Lord, the majesty and glory of your name fills the earth” (Psalm 8:1-9 TLB).

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Scripture upon scripture has revealed that God wants his children to prosper and he enjoys helping us to prosper. Misinterpretations have caused many to reject the prosperity message, seeing it in a negative light. Since “no man can serve two masters, because he will either love the one and hate the other or he will keep or hold on to one and have not respect for the other” (Matthew 6:24), prosperity has been taken off the table. However, the Bible makes it clear that there is a right way or a godly way to prosperity and that there is a wrong way or an ungodly way to prosperity.

“Then someone called from the crowd, ‘Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.’ Then he gave an illustration: ‘A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?’ Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven” (Luke 12:13-21 TLB).

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Do you ever have those moments where you just want to give up? What about a recent instance where you face a difficult situation? You feel that you have done all that you know to do and nothing seems to be working. And now you are at the end of your rope; at the point where you are just ready to give up? Don’t let go and give up, instead, “hang on.”

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).

We are told not to be impatient, but instead to wait on the Lord for he will come to the rescue. When we place our hope in the Lord, we need to take heart and be strong as well. We also need to “be of good courage,” and when we do, God will strengthen our heart. This will help us to endure.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV).

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Most believers believe God to be an omnipotent or an all-powerful entity. By definition, God has certain innate capabilities and abilities that come with him being who he is.

“Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him” (Deuteronomy 4:35). “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else” (Deuteronomy 4:39). “Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6).

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