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Listen! Have you ever prayed in this manner," O! Lord! Grant me the grace to...?"

Pay close attention. If you have ever prayed the above prayer at any time in your life, it would have been better if you'd looked up to heaven and recite twinkle twinkle little star.... because that prayer only salves you conscience. Yes! I said so, and I will reiterate, "that payer only salves your conscience!" It is not heard! Please read further down.

It was a cool Saturday evening, we're all in fellowship and the sister who was presiding over the meeting asked that we present our private petitions so we could all agree and pray together for results. By a raise of hand, the daughter to this sister made her petition known before all; and it goes thus: "I want us to pray that God may grant me the grace to study."

The moment she made her petition known, her mother, who was presiding over the meeting, went a step further to encompass, in that petition, all and sundry present in the meeting. She said, "Yes. Let us pray that God may grant us, not only the grace to study as student, but the grace to study the word of God."

When that sister made that elabourate petition for all to pray for, I knew in her mind she felt she has asked a great deal a petition before God. But as I was standing there in that meeting, I began to weep. I wept because that prayer is a waste of our precious time.

Friend, know this today, If your pastor, priest, bishop, elder, or any preacher or teacher at that, if after preaching or teaching ask you to pray for the grace to do all that he/she has preached or taught, know that you're wasting your time, not God's. Because that is a foolish prayer.

In that meeting, while others were praying for God to grant them the grace to study, I was busy praying for all of them in that meeting, that the eyes of their understanding be enlightened to glean the wisdom and revelation in the word of God.

What am I getting to?
Several years ago during my Masters program, I was studying along these lines and the Lord began to show me that many prayers in the church are geared towards salving the conscience of believers. Believe it or not, the Lord showed me this and I wept.

The Lord gave me this illustration. "A little girl was so thirsty that she requested for a cup of water. Now her mother was gracious to hand her a cup of water filled to the brim. But without taking a gulp, the little girl bid her mother: “Mamma I need more water in the cup.” Her mother, in utter wonder, replied: “Honey! What in twelve instant mixes of quick cement do you need any more water in that cup? It's already filled to the brim. Where else do you want me to add the water?”

God has already given us abundant grace in all its ramifications. But like that little girl, we are still ignorantly asking for more of what we have not even used. All that is required of us is to reach out and lay hold of the grace that has been given to us as contained in the Bible.

When Paul prayed along this line, God had to remind him of his word: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...”

You see, back in our meeting, that sister and her daughter needn't pray for the grace to study, neither need others in that meeting pray for the grace to study the word of God. To do so is to put the responsibility on God and not on themselves. God had already told us in Paul's letters to Timothy and to the saints at Thessalonica, that we should "Study!" Now if you will not study, then don't put the responsibility on God to furnish you the grace.

2 Timothy 2:15
[15]Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Thessalonians 4:11
[11]And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;


Now for every grace you will ever pray for, God has given you. You need not pray for them, all that is necessary is for you to act on what God says in his word. Paul wrote you a letter on this in his epistle to the saints at Ephesus where he declared that, "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

Notice Paul says, you have been given grace. So, when you ask God to grant you the grace to preach the gospel, when the Bible had already declared,"... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" thereby making your prayer utter foolishness because you refuse to do what is written and by extension, putting the responsibility on God . If you will not obey God, then don't put the responsibility on Him by praying and waiting for the grace, to preach or do what is written in the word, to fall upon you like a mantle.


Now, let me prove by the Bible that you need not pray for the so called grace to do whatever God had already declared in the Bible.

Ephesians 4:7
[7]But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Notice you already have the grace for your calling, whatever it is.

Romans 5:17
[17]For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Notice you have receive abundance of grace. Which many have not even exhausted yet are praying for more

Titus 2:11
[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

Notice that grace has appeared unto you

Ephesians 2:8
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Notice that by grace you are saved, delivered, and preserved

2 Corinthians 12:9
[9] And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Notice God has given you all the grace you will and could ever pray for when He declared. "... My grace is sufficient for thee!"

Ephesians 3:8
[8]Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Notice that text says, even if you're less than the least, the very toe nail at the end of the little toe, the grace to preach has been given unto you. Praise God!



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Kingsempires:
I guess his catholic faith is dieing

Brother, I see your point. But At the mass yesterday, are there some good Catholics that didn't receive the communion during the mass?

Steep:
So because they gather at the house of Chloe mean Chloe is their leader? Such baseless assumption.
Did you read where Paul said let your women keep quiet?
Paul was writing to the whole church of which the house of Chloe were part of. They came to report what was happening in the church.

You just mixing unrelated verses of the scripture to promote an erroneous idea.

How did you know Chloe was not the leader?

When Paul was mentioning those of the house of Chloe he would've mentioned the leader. Yet he said, "... It has been reported by those of the house of Chloe."

Brothers, like I said, I'm not here to explain away the scriptures, but to let everyone see that Paul wasn't in the wrong for quoting the law. Also, that God has poured out his Spirit upon all flesh (male and female).

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Steep:
@ bolded
Let's see what the text said.

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

There is a subtle twisting of the scripture here.

Paul is writing to the whole church of Corinthians because their women were out of order.
Note the word "as also saith the law" meaning Paul wasn't quoting the law but rather it is order on the church which of course is from God, and then the law also agrees with this.

In order words Paul was imposing the old testament law but was using the law as a confirmation.


you are misquoting and misunderstanding text. Paul was never imposing the law on the church but setting an order for the church which also the law confirms.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

As for Moses marriage, he got married before the law was given.
Your posts are filled with errors, it was not the women of Corinth that was saying "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos" etc
You mix things up.

If you say my post are filled with error, is the word of God of error? I write that which the Spirit spake: for it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

it was not the women of Corinth that was saying "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos" etc
You mix things up.

How did you know it was not the women at Corinth who wrote to Paul about the rift in the church at Corinth?

Let us carefully analyze that scripture logically in the church's order.

Corinthians 1:11-12
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.


Paul says,

"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe..."

You see, those who reported the contention at the church of Corinth are of the house of Chloe. Chloe is a woman and a leader of that group of Christians called "the house of Chloe." It is only logical that for every letter that will proceed from the house of Chloe to Paul, must go through Chloe the leader of that group in that order. Also, being a woman leader, it is only logical to reason that most of the congregants, by association, will be women. (I am speaking as a man).

Now I'm not here to explain away the scriptures, but to let everyone see that Paul wasn't wrong when he said the women should keep quiet in the churches: he's only quoting what is in the law of Moses. And like I earlier stated by the Spirit, "some of the law were given by Moses because of the stubbornness of the Jews not necessarily because God says so."

But God speaking through the mouth of the prophet Joel says, "It shall come to pass in the last days that I shall pour out my spirit upon all flesh."

The question is, "are women part of all flesh?" If they are, then God says, His spirit will be poured upon them also. And the Lord Jesus says that that same spirit of power will enable them be witnesses unto him, of his death, burial, and resurrection.

In the final analysis, the Bible says, " For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). Put somewhat differently, what was not permissible through the law, being that it was weak, is permissible under grace by Christ Jesus.

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Ubenedictus:
Do you know the prerequisite for a prayer for mercy?


Maybe my long response was too long for you, let me make it short.

What do you need to come with to ask God for mercy?



And how do you understand this passage?


Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.

Why are you misquoting scripture?

That verse is speaking to those who have trample down Jesus as the Son of God. Those who deliberately reject Jesus outrightly.

A man in church asking God for mercy have not rejected Jesus outrightly, his sins notwithstanding.

My question to you is this: since you accepted Jesus as Lord, have you sinned deliberately? Should we put you in that category of verse you highlighted?

What is even your name? What church do you attend? Who is your priest? Are you sure you understand what is being taught in church or you just want to bring up scriptural and doctrinal precedence with no context?

Please call me on 08138220012 let's talk/chat because you're missing it!

I'm expecting your call ASAP

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People please don't veer off from the point

Brothers. Let think about those points the writer highlighted

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Ubenedictus:
I honestly hate dishonest people.



This was your question

Does it mean God did not hear our prayers for mercy? (at the begining of the mass or during the mass or the one just before the communion is given)

This was my response



the bible actually says God does not hear the prayers of sinners. That is why the Catholic church will tell you that the penitential rite is for minor failings like venial sin and for venial sin you should use the sacrament of confession.

However if you have perfect contrition for all your sins then the word of God applies "A broken and contrite heart o God you will not spurn". In such a case all your sins are forgiven even at the penitential rite.




Now tell me what part of the response you didn't understand

Brother trying to explain away the point through the doctrines of venial sin or mortal sin is not the issue.
What the writer is saying is that, irrespective of the sin type, every sincere person in that congregation had asked for God's mercy several times during the mass before the liturgy of the communion. Yet, we see many of us Catholics sitting down on the pew during the communion because they felt God has not heard their prayer for mercy.

Except you're not being sincere, all you need is look around you during the mass and see a host of Catholics, who should've matched to the altar to receive the communion, on their seats during communion. Yesterday at the mass I looked around and saw many, even some of them church wardens depriving themselves the body of Christ because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:16
[16]Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where else can we find mercy if not on the altar of the communion? Why run away in your sins when Jesus says COME BOLDLY that you may find grace and mercy. Again, Jesus says, come unto me all you who labour and are heavy laden (the burden of sin) and I will give you rest.

At one point, Peter asked Jesus, how many times should I forgive should my brother offend me? Jesus replied, seventy times seven times ( all in a day). I don't believe God who commanded us to forgive will not forgive one who had asked for mercy several times during the mass.

I'm not trying to convince you, all I'm saying is take a minute and look around you during the mass: you might even find members of your family/relative/friends sitting on the pew during communion. Do the latter and revert with your feedback.

paxonel:
The gender discriminative law was subjected to the ancient Jewish people of bible days only, as observed by Paul himself who quoted the law by saying the Law said..,
and can never be used as a general law for all Christians not even to this modern day Jews

You're right brother. Paul wasn't wrong, he only quoted what was commanded in the law

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Dear brother,

You are not far from the truth. Paul, as a human, is not inerrant. However, I will make a case for Paul that he wasn't under the influence of the flesh, rather was moved to instruct by hindsight through the commandment of Moses. Remember he alluded that his speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Therefore, Paul couldn't have been speaking from the flesh. I'd justify Paul by his words not his motive: because the Lord Jesus says, "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).

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