Do you ever wonder why the Old Testament saints as well as many New Testament Christian were able to exercise the power of God. While many of us today do not? Do you ever wonder why we only read about men and women who has the power of God in their lives? Almost all Christians confess of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Do you ever wonder what happen to the power that suppose to follow? And why some prayers never seem to be answered? We want to look at the reasons why in this article.

Acts 1:8-AV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Many of us who boast of being filled with the Holy Spirit is not doing the thing of God. Luke 6:46-AV And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Every things is base on certain principles. For example. A Christian is having trouble on his/her job. He is complaining to the other hristian. The Christian encourage his fellow saying "Bound them in the name of the lord so they have to keep quiet" Yes, but how is this bounding done? What are the secrets? One person ask me " What words do you speak? The reason why we failed to exercise the power is because we have been wrongly informed on these things, and have been spoiled by men.

One of the greatest problem of people is the thing that they do not know, that they should know. I got saved when I was sixteen and a half years old, by twenty five I already graduate Bible School, married and was pasturing. There were many young people who started out with me. But drop out by the way. I saw the mistakes that they make. I could not help them as I should because I did not have the knowledge. In this series of lesson we will deal with some of the things.

John 14:12-AV Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:13-AV And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:14-AV If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].

Mark 16:15-AV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:16-AV He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:17-AV And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:18-AV They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(#1) READING.

One of the first mistakes that backsliders made, is refusing to read the scripture. Some of them read no book at all, and some see it as unsanctified to even read news paper, because it is full of bad news they say. Satan will do every thing to keep a newly converted person from buying a good bible and reading it. People has certain bad perceptions that ruing their lives, and they bring these with them into the new faith. These perceptions only go away as the person expose themselves to the scriptures on a daily basic. Satan also have people in the church who will make you feel bad just for reading the scriptures. There were some people in the church that follow me around like a dog in heat only to upset my feelings when they saw me reading the Bible. I rebuke them, and they hate me, and I rebuke them some more. How to read the scripture alone will take one book to explain. I have books and article that teach how to study the Bible. 1 Timothy 4:13-AV Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Daniel 9:2-AV In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. John 5:39-AV Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."" If A Christian can read, and refuse to read, he/ she is already backslided. No body can win a war against an enemy if they knows nothing about the enemy. And we cannot please our friends if we do not study and know them . Many Christians are afraid to learn about demonic spirits, Satan, and the holy spirit. Reading is the only tool that going to get you the know how to fight the enemy. Jeremiah 23:29-AV [Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [t hat] breaketh the rock in pieces?)( You can read the bible through in one year easy. 3 chapter per day, and 5 psalms each Sunday. Before I got married, my wife to be always open the Bible, begin to read and ask me to tell her where she is reading from. In Bible school my friends always does the same thing with me. Note, do not try to understand any thing, just read. What? The understanding will comes from reading. Just read it like you are reading a love letter. As time goes by, it will unfold itself to you.

(#2) PRAYER.

Prayer is base on a principle. A Christian could pray until their belly burst, God is not going to process that prayer if the requirement is not met. The first requirement is (1) Iniquity must not be in the heart. Psalms 66:18-AV If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]: The person must be a forgiving person.(2) Forgiveness. Mark 11:25-AV And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (3) Not rebellious to the word of God. The person must not be rebellious to the word of God. At least to the part that they understand. Proverbs 28:9-AV He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. (4) Confession of faults. James 5:16-AV Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)( Some Christians will boast that the last time they sin was thirty years ago. But they just did.

Mark 9:29-AV And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Acts 6:4-AV But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (5) The person must not be proud. God resist the proud and give grace to the humble. God do not walk with the proud and scornful. When one person look at another person and say that they are abetter base on colour of skin, what do you call that?

(#3) MEDITATION.

Psalms 1:2-AV But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 1 Timothy 4:15-AV Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.)( Mediation is nothing more than soul-searching and self- analysis. A young Christian must put aside time each day are each week to look into his or her soul, and come up to scratch. The way how we treat such and such a person on such and such a day. Ask our self, could I do better, and should have handle the saturation differently? If we refuse to do soul searching, our life will be full of guilt like a swish cheese fill of holes. 1 Samuel 2:3-AV Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.)( What many people do not know is that the Lord is looking at our actions. Proverbs 24:17-AV Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Proverbs 24:18-AV Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

(#4) SELF JUDGMENT.

Self judgment is what we do after meditation.)( 1 Corinthians 11:31-AV For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 2 Corinthians 13:5-AV Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?)( If a Christian do not practice daily self judgment of themselves, they will eventually become corrupt. Because preachers are not telling us our faults. There are four sections to the word of God. Doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. Pastors only teach the doctrinal part. The reproof and correction part is left, therefore the Christian do not get a balance spiritual diet. Some Christians reach the place where they think that they been curst out are curst at Just visit some of these chat room on the web. The correction and reproof section of the word of God, if a preacher preach it his Church goes empty.

(#5) CONFESSION.

Confession of our faults. James 5:16-AV Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Romans 10:10-AV For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.)( Confess your faults if it will not put others life in jeopardy. For example. If you are sleeping with another man's wife. Just quit, and let it remain is secret until the lord or Satan Choose to bring it to light. Go bawl it out saying you are confessing it might get your throat as well as her cut.

(#6) SELF CLEANING.

Many people in the church are not going to point out weakness in a loving way. In order for you to strengthen it. If they point out a weakness, in some cases it just to put you down. You have to know your self. And do not deceive yourself. You have to purge your own self and examine your self. One of the main sin that you must first dealt with in your own life is "Grudge, covetousness and envy. If these sin get to stick in your life. You are dead from the start.

2 Timothy 2:21-AV If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

(#7) BE NOBODY FOOT STOOL.

The Church and workplace is sometime a hostile place to Christians. Some of the people that we have to deal with daily are mad, but because they are not walking and spitting upon themselves many people do not know that such person are sick. If such person get the chance they will walk all over you, if you let them. You have to be able to bite back to a certain extend. These kind of mad people are harassing. I want to give an example. If they saw you eating your lunch they sill shout out " Take time eat the food do not choke and die in here" The next day, you are eating slowly. " How you are eating so slow like you are a virgin" Are you a woman? Do you have P#$$P under you? One Jamaican I know get sick of all the harassment and use a piece of iron and began to brake up one of such person. The man ran leave the job and never return for his two week pay check. If you allow these cowards to ride you and get away with it because you are a Christian, it will never stop. Ecclesiastes 7:7-AV Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Because this article is lengthy you will need to read up on the following on my web site. For personal use of these articles you will need to spell check and grammar check them.

DO NOT TAKE ANY UNNECESSARILY PERSECUTION.

Persecution will come because of the word. Any time you begin to acquire the word. Persecution will come your way because of it. But do not allow it to go too far. Speak up and speak out. Do not role over and play dead for the enemy. When people tolerate rubbish it only multiply. Jeremiah 23:29-AV [Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?

Matthew 13:21-AV Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

2Timothy 3:12-AV Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

MUST BE ABLE TO DIGEST ALL SECTIONS OF THE WORD.

2 Timothy 3:16-AV All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:17-AV That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

ADD TO YOUR FAITH.

2 Peter 1:5-AV And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 2 Peter 1:6-AV And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 2 Peter 1:7-AV And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2 Peter 1:8-AV For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:9-AV But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:10-AV Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

THINGS THAT YOU MUST BE WARE OF.

(1) OLD PROPHETS AND SPOILED CHRISTIANS. Old prophets in the church has destroys many Christians yearly. Push them off course. Old prophets are people who were long time members of the church and get spoiled. Get spoiled mean they failed to come to maturity, are come to the place where God wants them to be. To prevent misunderstand as to what and who a old prophet are. Old prophet are not necessarily old people in the church. It is any body who is there a long time and failed to come up to the place where they know God. These remained in the church and cause many newly converted people to get spoiled just like them. Old prophets set bad example, causes the stagnation of new converted people. Old prophets are sometime good people, especially in the Ariah of giving, they are sometime the best giver of money in the church. Since they base their Christianity on the external. A pastor have to be very diplomatic and keep newly converted from the influence of these old prophets in the church.

1 Kings 13:11-AV Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 1 Kings 13:12-AV And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 1 Kings 13:13-AV And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 1 Kings 13:14-AV And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, [Art] thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I [am]. 1 Kings 13:15-AV Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 1 Kings 13:16-AV And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 1 Kings 13:17-AV For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 1 Kings 13:18-AV He said unto him, I [am] a prophet also as thou [art]; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him. 1 Kings 13:19-AV So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 1 Kings 13:20-AV And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 1 Kings 13:21-AV And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 1 Kings 13:22-AV But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which [the LORD] did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

1 Corinthians 7:23-AV Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Colossians 2:8-AV Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 2 Timothy 2:17-AV And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and philetus; 2 Timothy 2:18-AV Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

(2) MEMBER STEALER.

Member stealer is a group of people who want to have a pulpit but cannot convert people on their own. So what they do is go from Church to church drawing away disciple. These meet newly converted people in the street, befriend them then pull them away from their original church. But the scripture teaches that you must remain in your calling. You did not get saved in that Church organization. Do not abandon your original church home. Stay where God save you. If they oppressed you, and control you, and do not mean you any good, then they have pushed you out. You are free to leave. But do not let others invite you away.

1 Corinthians 7:20-AV Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Ephesians 4:14-AV That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 2 Timothy 2:17-AV And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 2 Timothy 2:18-AV Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

(3) BAD MARRIAGE.

The main body of Christian organization in our part of the world believe in having only one wife. At one time. They also believe that a Christian must not be having sex with any one else but their spouse. The bible teaches that some people cannot do without sexual pleasures"" Cannot contain" If a believer fall prey to a bad marriage, their Christian life is ruins. 2 Corinthians 6:14-AV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

LEAVE MARRIAGE ON HOLD.

Leave marriage on hold until you advance in God. Give yourself at least one and a half year in the faith. Seek God until you hear from him. Wait until you know people temperament. If you make any mistake where marriage are concern it is going to hurt you bad and might ruins your faith. (#1) If you were not born eunuch. Matthew 19:12-AV For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it]. (#2) 1 Corinthians 7:9-AV But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (#3) You are going to have a war with fleshy lusts. 1 Peter 2:11-AV Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (#4) If you have spouse who sexually ration you, it will defeats the purpose of your marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:2-AV Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:3-AV Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 1 Corinthians 7:4-AV The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 1 Corinthians 7:5-AV Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. (#5) It is important to know that there are eunuch in the church who ware so born. It is also important to know that there is a myth about eunuch. That they do not have sex organ. They have organs, but it operate far less that other people are never operate at all. In other word their sexual urges are far more minus that other people. To them it is normal, since they are always like that. Other people who is not like than is regarded as sick. Dirty mined, are mind in a gutter. Are Horney bastardy. Many people came to church after they have burnt themselves out in Satan motel. Some of them is very lucky and foolish to go married themselves off to young studs. Then complain when the person want to have sex. These blame others for having the feelings. And give it a negative image.

THE END.