The Prayer Conundrum
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughFor some reason, over the past few days there have been several occasions in which the subject of prayer and its efficacy has come up. ...
Avoiding Prayer? Consider Carefully
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe whole world is in hurry-up mode. What have often suffered are prayer and its companion, Bible study—and ultimately, the individual's relationship with God.
Prayer Makes a Difference
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod expects us to intercede in behalf of others, but we must do this with wisdom, sincerity, and humility, with the help of God's Spirit, according to God's will.
Serving Through Prayer
Article by Mark SchindlerThough we can serve in many ways, one area where we often miss a golden opportunity to help others is in prayer. It requires no special skills or equipment.
Out of the Abundance of Our Prayers
'Ready Answer' by John O. Reid (1930-2016)Jesus remarks that our lips tell the tale our hearts try to hide. Using this proverb as a foundation, what do our prayers tell God about us?
Prayer and Persistence
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPersistence in prayer does not mean an incessant pestering God into action. God always looks at our petitions from the vantage-point of His purpose.
Prayer and Fervency
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLiving faith has its roots in fervently, diligently seeking God and His righteousness with intense desire (like a passionate lover) through habitual prayer.
What Is Prayer?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPrayer to a tool we must learn to use. Because we take on the characteristics of those we are around, we should keep company with God continually though prayer.
Faith and Prayer
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughConstant, earnest prayer keeps faith alive and makes certain the receiving of the qualities that make us in the image of God. God's purpose comes first.
The Prayers of Jesus
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh maintains that as a craftsman could not function without the tools of his trade, a Christian cannot function without spiritual tools or a spiritual instructional manual. We have to learn to use the spiritual tools God has given us, including prayer We need to look to Christ's example to learn how to pray …
Prayer and Seeking God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRather than having an apathetic relationship toward God, we must ardently, earnestly, and fervently seek God in order to imitate His behavior in our lives.
Prayer Does Make a Difference
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod does not hear a prayer of pride, selfishness, and self exaltation, but He listens to prayers of supplication and intercession for the saints.
Vain Repetitions
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughMemorizing the Lord's Prayer is a wonderful thing to do. But we must go further and teach our children that the prayer is not one to be mindlessly repeated.
Parable of the Persistent Friend
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsUnlike the sleeping friend, God is not reluctant to answer our prayers, but He does want us to be diligent and patient in our requests.
Praying Always (Part Two)
Article by Pat HigginsIn Luke 21:36, our Savior gives us two essential keys to being accounted worthy and escaping the terrors of the close of the age: watching and praying always.
Parable of the Persistent Widow
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThough the widow speaks only five words in this encouraging parable, she provides Christians in these last days with an example of persistence in prayer.
Praying Always (Part Four)
Article by Pat HigginsJesus' admonition in Luke 21:36 has a far deeper meaning to the people of God at the end time than most people have realized. Pat Higgins answers the next obvious questions: How does 'praying always' work, and why is it such a powerful tool in the process of overcoming?
With Hands Raised
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingTed Bowling, reminding us that prayer is our lifeline to God, a medium in which our faith is strengthened, focuses on several positions or postures used in prayer, including kneeling , bowing the head, or lying prostrate (all conveying degrees of submission and humility), but gives special attention to the posture of raising …
Praying Always (Part Five)
Article by Pat HigginsDeeply examining ourselves for flaws and shortcomings, as we do each year before Passover, helps us to accomplish Christ's command to watch and pray always.
The Sovereignty of God: Part Nine
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod's sovereignty seems to imply that prayer is pointless. Yet the function of prayer is not to change God's mind, but ours!
Praying Always (Part Six)
Article by Pat HigginsJesus' command to pray always contains the advice Christians need to strengthen their relationships with God as the return of Christ nears.
Do We See Ourselves As God Sees Us?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPraying without gratitude is like clipping the wings of prayer. Thankfulness is not natural to carnal human nature which loves to grovel as a timid worrywart.
The Sin of Fear (Part Two)
'Ready Answer' by Pat HigginsThere are two seemingly-contradictory types of fear, the good fears and the bad ones. We must begin and remain in the proper fear of God to cast off other fears.
Whatever We Ask
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reminding us that Jesus, who spent a great deal of time praying, emphasized that prayer is absolutely essential to the spiritual success of our lives. Prayer (or communication with God) comes under attack if we live double-lives, giving us a guilty conscience, not practicing what we have been taught, giving our …
Praying Always (Part Three)
Article by Pat HigginsThe dual subjects of Luke 21:36—paying careful attention to overcoming and praying always—are top-tier priorities for those living at the time of the end. Before showing how to apply these commands practically, Pat Higgins explains how praying always is our primary weapon in the battle to overcome our spiritual enemies.
God's Will
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPraying according to God's will is sometimes ambiguous. Yet as we respond positively to His covenant, He reveals more and more of His secret plans.
To Pray or Not to Pray?
Sermonette by Bill OnisickBill Onisick, describing his encounter with a self-proclaimed street-corner 'evangelist' who shouted at the top of his lungs, "Jesus loves you! He really loves you!" urges that we avoid "over-pivoting" (that is, taking an unbalanced extreme counter position) in our reactions to such episodes. Jesus Christ …
Praying Always (Part One)
Article by Pat HigginsLuke 21:36 says to 'Watch and pray always....' Does this refer to watching world events, or is there more to this verse spiritually than meets the eye?
Facing Times of Stress: Always in God's Presence
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe can maintain spiritual contact using David's tactic of continually maintaining the Lord before him in his thoughts, prayers, and meditations.
The Quest for Happiness
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins reminds us that in the Declaration of Independence people were guaranteed the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, a quest that has proved futile and elusive. This quest should prompt us to carefully number our days and seek a close relationship with God. When we waste our days, we waste them for …
The Sovereignty of God: Part Eight
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIf God is manipulating everything in His sovereignty, why pray? What does prayer teach us? Here is why God commands us to come before Him in prayer.
Thankfulness
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsThe apostle Paul predicted the end-time generation to be unthankful. As Christians, we need to buck this trend and show our appreciation to God and fellow man.
Call Upon the Name of the Lord
Sermonette by Austin Del CastilloShould we only pray to God the Father, given Christ's words in the model prayer and His proclamation that the Father was greater than He?
The Sovereignty of God (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe purpose of prayer is not to overcome God's reluctance, but to help in yielding to His will. 'Prayer changes things' is only true if it conforms to God's will.
Habakkuk: A Prophet of Faith (Part Four)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, focusing upon the poetic prayer-song at the end of Habakkuk 3, concludes that this passage is one of the most inspiring parts of God's Word. The moving prayer-song, asking God to revive His work in the midst of years, and to temper judgment with mercy, provides a model of an effective prayer. Though the prophet …
The Sovereignty of God (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPrayer is not a dictating to a reluctant God, but a demonstration of our attitude of dependence and need. It is a means to get into harmony with God's will.
The Book of Daniel (Part Four)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reiterating that God's sovereignty is a major theme in the book of Daniel, reminds us that if we submit unconditionally to His sovereignty, we have a win-win situation- even when initially, it looks bleak and hopeless. After Nebuchadnezzar's death, the successive tenures of each of his descendants became …
Teach Us To Pray! (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, focusing on John the Baptist's proclivity to pray, as well as Jesus Christ's continuous practice of praying, cautions us that prayer should be a major practice in our life. Our petitions should center upon God's purpose for His creation and His purposes for us. Prayer should bring us into contact with God's …
Matthew (Part 27)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh picks up with the account of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly before His crucifixion, an event which fulfilled prophecies and significantly dramatized Jesus Christ's messiahship. The crowds welcoming Jesus, while looking for a political or military hero, were actually choosing the sacrificial Paschal …
