1. God Company Sri Lanka Is God behaving ? the way you want

2. Is there a God out there…? How often have you wonderedIf there is a God then why do I have to go through what I am going through right now…?Why does He not awnswer my prayers…?If God loves me why is He putting me thorugh so much suffering…?Does God have a plan for me…? ...is there a God...! ?

3. Im sure at some time or the other in our lives we have had such thoughts traverse thorugh our minds. Lets take a look at an incident that happened after around 30 years after Jesus’ resurrection and assent. Peter and John had healed a 40 year old cripple with the very famous biblical line found in Acts 3 6“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk”

4. They healed this man who was a cripple for 40 years in the name of Jesus. For this they were put in jail, brought before the Sanhedrin , questioned, heavily warned and finally released –Reference Acts 3 and 4 After they were subject to such treatment, surely they would have been depressed for they had performed a miracle in the name of Jesus and yet been arrested…put in Jail… brought before the Sanhedrin and severely warned NOT TO DO SO! But they did not give up and run away…When they were released Peter and John went back to the other disciples and they gathered in a house and raised their voices to God in prayer…

5. Acts 4: 24 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'

6. 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

7. For a moment put your self in this position… You are carrying out Gods will… You heal a man in the name of Jesus And for doing this good deed while in the line of carrying out Gods work you get hauled to jail…then to court…questioned… warned and finally released. How would you behave?

8. I'M SURE 99% of us would be dissapointed and give up… because we would expect God with His almighty power to have intervened and prevented such issues from coming to bear on us…Less than 1% will carrythrough like what the deciples did…Inspite of heavy PERSECUTION from their own people…the rulers…the law… humiliation…torture …death…!The disciples and the early Christians drew strength form our Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit continued what they were instructed to do… to Carry the GOODNEWS to the corners of the Earth!

9. They did not vaver…they did not pray and ask God to have intervened and provide them a flowery path to carryout His will and take the message of Salvation to the world. First they started by acknowledging God for who He is... Acts 4: 24“...they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them”. Then they prayed to God asking to give them strength…to carryout His will with great boldness. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

10. Instead of expecting God to behave in a particular manner the disciples ACKNOWLEDGED HIS POWER ... Held steadfastly to their FAITH and asked God to ENABLE THEM TO CARRYOUT HIS MESSAGE WITH GREAT BOLDNESS... They asked God to PERFORM MIRACLES IN THE NAME OF JESUS... On the contrary most of us pray and ASK GOD TO GIVE US WHAT WE WANT... rather than ask for His direction, blessings and strength to ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO...!

11. MOST OF US GIVE PRECEDENCE TO “OUR PLAN FOR OURSELVES”RATHER THAN GODS PLAN FOR US.In short we have more FAITH in ourselves than in God - to decide as to what we need. THEREFORE WE FAIL TO SEEK HIS DIRECTION , BLESSINGS AND TO PROVIDE US THE STRENGTH & MEANS TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE NEED. We try to go on our own direction and at most times FAIL!Then we blame God... In short... We ask God to give us a Fish...rather than SEEK HIS DIRECTION, BLESSINGS AND THE MEANS OF CATCHING A FISH...

12. God has a plan…ALWAYS! It is just that most times OUR PLAN - which almost always is tinged with SELFISH OBJECTIVES, requests and requirements(typically ME…MY FAMILY) – invariably DIFFERS FROM GODS PLAN. When such prayer requests are NOT HEEDED most start to ponder as to why the REPEATED REQUESTS MADE THROUGH PRAYER WERE NOT RECEIVED. I require this… So God… YOU MUST GIVE IT TO ME…!

13. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY! We will never fully comprehend certain occurrences...We cannot predict how God would act... We are only a minute pixel in a humongous picture which is way beyond our comprehension...

14. We communicate our needs to God through Prayer. Instead of trying to make GOD BEHAVE the way we want, we can obtain some insights from Jesus’ teachings about our communication with God – or in short some information TOINCREASE THE HIT RATE of our prayer requests from God.

15. Jesus has given us many insights as to how we should prayand what we should pray for in Matthew Chapter 6 Matthew 6 5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners TO BE SEEN BY MEN. I tell you the truth, THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARD IN FULL. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and PRAY TO YOUR FATHER, WHO IS UNSEEN. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

16. Here we understand that Prayer is not a RITUAL done for public appearance, like MARKING ONES ATTENDANCE IN CHURCH on Sunday and then FORGETTING ALL ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIVING during the REST OF THE WEEK! Jesus called them HYPOCRITES. He has warned us that such people have RECEIVED THEIR REWARD IN FULL... Meaning that such actions have no value in Gods sight!

17. Prayer is a quality time that one spends in Gods presence. For all Christians a very personal time for communicating with Our Father in Heaven... We further see in Matthew 6 where Jesus tells us... 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Jesus tells us that when we pray we do not have to make a big song and dance for others to see. He also tells us that our GOD THE FATHER knows WHAT WE NEED BEFORE WE EVEN ASK.

18. THE KEY HERE IS WHAT WE NEED...! IT DOES NOT REFER TO WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED AS TO WHAT IS NEEDED... It refers to WHAT IS WITHIN GOD’S PLAN FOR US THE QUESTION IS ... Do you have the required amount of Faith to let God decide as to what is good and bad for you ...?

19. We ask what we want...expecting God to deliver... self determining as to how He should act...seeming to know what is needed... MORE THAN OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. I guess not...

20. How should we pray When asked by His disciples as to how we should pray, Jesus told us...In Matthew 6

21. 9"This, then, is how you should pray: 1. Our Father which art in Heaven,2. hallowed be Thy Name.3. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.4. Give us this day our daily bread.5. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.6. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Amen. We address this prayer to our God the Father in Heaven We acknowledge Him as the Holy one That Gods Kingdom will be established on earth and HIS WILL be done on earth as it is done in heaven We pray ask Him for our daily sustenance We PROMISE HIM THAT WE WILL FORGIVE those who have done wrong to us…so that we may be forgiven by Him And finally we seek HIS POWER FOR OUR PROTECTION FROM THE FORCES OF EVIL…to enable us to live a righteous life Matthew, Chapter 6

22. No undue selfish requests... Probably the most recited prayer by all Christians… BUT MOSTLY RECITED AS A RITUAL WITHOUT ANY CONSCIOUS THOUGHT… IF WE RECITE THIS PRAYER IN FAITH, UNDERSTANDING ITS MEANINGFULLNESS … IT IS A PRAYER THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE…

23. Jesus has also given us a clear insight as to why some prayer requests made by us are not answered in Matthew 7: 1

24. Jesus gives us an excellent example in reference to Gods gifts for us Matthew 7 9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is explaining to us that although we are all sinners, YET we know to give good gifts to our children. THE KEY IS GOOD GIFTS. In His infinite wisdom GOD knows what is good for us. BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD FOR US

25. A KINFE TO YOUR CHILD?Would you give A KNIFE TO YOUR CHILD just because he asks you…? Even if your kid bawls and cries… and yet we would not give the knife. The Kid is asking for the knife because in his mental capacity he does not comprehend the damage the knife could cause him…But due to our greater mental capacity we know that if the knife is given, the kid is sure to injure him self…BECAUSE OF OUR knowledge WE PROTECT THE CHILD BY NOT GIVING THE KNIFE. The question is… does the Child understand that by NOT RECEIVING he was actually being PROTECTED? We ask for what WE WANT...selfishly at most times...expecting GOD TO ACT THE WAY WE WANT...

26. Most of our prayers are comparable to the Child asking for a knife...We ask for many things which we think is good for us…in our Human mental capacity.But our God in His awesome capacity knows if all of what we are praying for is provided, in return it could have a negative impact on Gods plan for us…deflecting us away from our path seeking His KingdomBECAUSE OF HIS INFINITE LOVE HE WANTS US ALL TO REACH HIS KINGDOM

27. Before we try to make God to behave, can we see if we are behaving the way God wants us to behave... Lets take AN example... Matthew 22 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments

28. 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Do you Love God absolutely...Not just in words and for public appearance... but in deeds and actions...WITH YOUR HEART,SOUL AND MIND? 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself If we are following this commandment given by Jesus can there be famine in parts of the world... wars...jealousy...vengeance...killing...

29. A FURTHER INSIGHT... Matthew 5 14"You are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

30. “YOU ARE THE LIGHT ON TO THE WORLD...” That's only one insight.... Jesus continues to say... 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE. Consider as to who is He referring to... If we are living in order to be considered by Him as a LIGHT ON TO THE WORLD – which WE CAN BECOME by reading, understanding and practicing His word and His teachings... YOU WILL BE PLACED ON A STAND (A WINNER) where everyone can see...and NOT UNDER A BOWL (a looser) WE CAN CLAIM ON THIS PROMISE!

31. There are many such insights found in the Gospels that can transform your life. All you need to do is read...understand and make a concentrated effort in living according to Jesus’ teachings...As an example:Have you ever seriously Considered as to why Jesus is telling us that we should be the light on to the world...?

32. LETS JUST TAKE YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD... Consider your influence on your neighbourhood... Is it as expected by Jesus?...We have to be the light unto a dark world...Do at least the people who come in to contact with you on a regular basis think of you as an example that they should follow...? Jesus said... 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

33. DOES THIS HAPPEN?...are you an overwhelming GOOD INFLUENCE on at least your Home...Neighbourhood?...Office environment...Church...in fact anywhere that we as Christians come in to contact with our fellow human beings... If we behave as Jesus has requested of us...if we love our fellow beings as much as we do ourselves...could there be WAR...MISERY...DECEIT...VENGEANCE...MURDER... We have all or most of these misdeeds inside us and all the while knowing what God wants us to be...We do as we please ... WE MISBEHAVE...BY GOING AGAINST GODS PLAN FOR US We misbehave and yet...we EXPECT God to behave the we want...

34. There are many more insights given by Jesus to increase your hit rate on PRAYER REQUESTS. These insights are found in the Gospels... Matthew 7 13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. A clear advice for us to avoid THE SUPER HIGHWAY TO SIN and destruction... and eternal death. Jesus tells us to Seek and find the Narrow road that leads to life... THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION BROUGHT TO US BY JESUS

35. FAITH IS AN ALL IMPORTANT DEFINING FACTOR Faith in Jesus... Learning His word...his teachings...instructions... Accepting Him as your SAVIOUR and developing an intimate relationship... THEN WE START PRACTICING and living by His teachings.... ...and our lives will then be built on the solid rock called Jesus... Matthew 7: 4 4 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Jesus is telling us that if we learn and live by His teachings our LIVES WOULD BE BUILT ON A ROCK BED able to withstand any worldly force... 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. When the foundation of our lives are built on His teachings... NOTHING that the world may throw at you WILL DEFEAT YOU...

36. We come across many such insights... James 1: 5 If any of you LACKS WISDOM, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. 6But when he asks, he must BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

37. There is more... Mark 11: 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25-26 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS.

38. We also see that... James 1 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

39. In summery... One cannot expect God to accede to all our requests made through prayer. Doing so would mean that we expect God to behave the way we WANT... God has a plan for you and me. We have to have the FAITH to submit to His PLAN Faith is an all important factor. We can enhance on the receipt of our prayers requests by obtaining a deeper insight from Jesus’ teaching and steadfastly LIVING (PRACTICING) IN ACCORDANCE TO HIS TEACHINGS MOST IMPORTANTLY... We should first consider if we are behaving the way GOD WANTS ... BEFORE WE EXPECT GOD TO BEHAVE THE WAY WE WANT...!

40. Thank you God Company Sri Lanka Godcompanysl@yahoo.com http://www.slideshare.net/Thornmd/presentations