What is the value of a prayer meeting?

Question: "What is the value of a prayer meeting?"

Answer: From the very beginning of the church, Christians have gathered to pray (Acts 4:24; 12:5; 21:5). Prayer meetings are valuable for the church as a whole and for the individuals who participate.
Prayer is only for those who believe that God is personal and who want a personal relationship with Him. Christians know prayer works because they have encountered a God who declares, “Talk to me and I will listen.” The apostle John confirms this: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Through our prayers, especially with one another, we are demonstrating and validating the faith we have in Jesus. Andrew Murray, the great Christian minister and prolific writer, said, “Prayer depends chiefly, almost entirely, on who we think we are praying to.” It is through the discipline of prayer with one another that we develop a growing intimacy with God, and create a spiritual bond with one another. This is one of the most valuable aspects of praying with one another.
Another valuable benefit of prayer meetings is the confession of our sins to one another. Prayer meetings give us opportunity to obey the command to “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Here, James does not necessarily speak of physical healing, but rather of spiritual restoration (Hebrews 12:12-13). He also refers to the forgiveness of God, which enables the believer to become spiritually whole again. James knew that the one who becomes separated from the flock is most susceptible to the dangers of sin. God wants His people to encourage and support one another in loving fellowship, mutual honesty and confession as we pray for and with each other. Such close fellowship helps provide spiritual strength to experience victory over sin.

Another great value of prayer meetings is that believers encourage one another to endure. All of us face obstacles, but by sharing and praying together as Christians, we often help others avoid “bottoming out” in their spiritual lives. The value of corporate prayer lies in its power to unify hearts. Praying before God on behalf of our brothers and sisters has the effect of linking one another spiritually. As we “carry each other’s burdens,” we “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Where there is prayer, there is unity, which Jesus prayed so fervently for His followers to have (John 17:23).

More than anything else, prayer meetings bring about change. Praying with one another, believers can witness God produce miracles and change hearts.

A prayer meeting is a time of real value as believers seek a deep intimacy and quiet communion with God at His throne. It is a time of unity with fellow believers in the presence of the Lord. It is a time to care for those around us as we share their burdens. It is a time when God manifests His never-ending love and desire to communicate with those who love Him.

The Altar​—What Place in Worship?

The Altar​—What Place in Worship?

DO YOU consider the altar to be a fundamental part of your worship? For many who attend churches of Christendom, the altar may be the center of attention. Have you ever considered what the Bible reveals about the use of altars in worship?

The first altar mentioned in the Bible is the one built by Noah to offer animal sacrifices when he left the ark of preservation after the Deluge.*​—Genesis 8:20.

Following the confusion of the languages at Babel, mankind spread over all the surface of the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9) With their innate sense of the divine, humans sought to draw close to God, with whom they were less and less familiar, ‘groping’ for him blindly. (Acts 17:27; Romans 2:14, 15) Since Noah’s day many peoples have built altars to their deities. Religions and peoples have used altars in false worship. Being alienated from the true God, some have used altars for horrible rites involving human victims, even children. When they left Jehovah, some kings of Israel erected altars to pagan gods, like Baal. (1 Kings 16:29-32) But what about the use of altars in true worship?

Altars and True Worship in Israel

After Noah, other faithful men built altars to use in their worship of the true God, Jehovah. Abraham built altars at Shechem, at a point near Bethel, at Hebron, and on Mount Moriah, where he sacrificed a ram provided by God in place of Isaac. Later, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses spontaneously built altars for use in their worship of God.​—Genesis 12:6-8; 13:3, 18; 22:9-13; 26:23-25; 33:18-20; 35:1, 3, 7; Exodus 17:15, 16;24:4-8.

When God gave the people of Israel his Law, he commanded that they erect the tabernacle, a portable tent, also called “the tent of meeting,” as the central feature of the arrangement for approach to him. (Exodus 39:32, 40) The tabernacle, or tent, had two altars. The one for burnt offerings, made of acacia wood and covered with copper, was placed before the entrance and was used to offer up animal sacrifices. (Exodus 27:1-8; 39:39; 40:6, 29) The incense altar, also of acacia wood but covered with gold, was put inside the tabernacle, before the curtain of the Most Holy. (Exodus 30:1-6; 39:38; 40:5, 26, 27) Special incense was burned upon it twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. (Exodus 30:7-9) The permanent temple built by King Solomon followed the design of the tabernacle, having two altars.

“The True Tent” and the Symbolic Altar

When Jehovah gave Israel the Law, he provided much more than rules to regulate his people’s lives and their approach to him in sacrifice and prayer. Many of its arrangements constituted what the apostle Paul called “a typical representation,” “an illustration,” or “a shadow of the heavenly things.” (Hebrews 8:3-5; 9:9; 10:1;Colossians 2:17) In other words, many aspects of the Law not only guided the Israelites until the coming of the Christ but also constituted a foregleam of God’s purposes to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:24) Yes, aspects of the Law had prophetic value. For instance, the Passover lamb, the blood of which was used as a sign of salvation for the Israelites, prefigured Jesus Christ. He is “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” whose blood was poured out to free us from sin.​—John 1:29; Ephesians 1:7.

Many things relating to tabernacle and temple service pictured spiritual realities. (Hebrews 8:5; 9:23) In fact, Paul writes of “the true tent, which Jehovah put up, and not man.” He continues: “Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come to pass, through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.” (Hebrews 8:2; 9:11) “The greater and more perfect tent” was Jehovah’s great spiritual temple arrangement. The language of the Scriptures indicates that the great spiritual temple is the arrangement by which humans can approach Jehovah on the basis of Jesus Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice.​—Hebrews 9:2-10, 23-28.

Learning from God’s Word that some of the Law’s provisions and norms picture greater, more meaningful, spiritual realities surely builds faith in the Bible’s inspiration. It also heightens appreciation for the divine wisdom uniquely manifest in the Scriptures.​—Romans 11:33; 2 Timothy 3:16.

The altar of burnt offering also has prophetic value. It seems to represent God’s “will,” or his willingness to accept Jesus’ perfect human sacrifice.​—Hebrews 10:1-10.

Later in the book of Hebrews, Paul makes this interesting comment: “We have an altar from which those who do sacred service at the tent have no authority to eat.” (Hebrews 13:10) To which altar was he referring?

Many Catholic interpreters claim that the altar mentioned at Hebrews 13:10 is that used for the Eucharist, the “sacrament” by which Christ’s sacrifice is said to be renewed during the Mass. But you can see from the context that the altar Paul was discussing is symbolic. Several scholars attribute a figurative sense to the term “altar” in this text. For Giuseppe Bonsirven, a Jesuit, “this accords perfectly with all the symbolism of the epistle [to the Hebrews].” He notes: “In Christian language, the word ‘altar’ is initially used in a spiritual sense and only after Irenaeus, and particularly after Tertullian and St. Cyprian, is it applied to the eucharist and most specifically to the eucharistic table.”

As stated by a Catholic magazine, use of the altar spread in the “Constantinian era” with the “construction of basilicas.” Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana (Christian Archaeology Review) noted: “It is certain that for the first two centuries, one cannot speak of a fixed place of worship but of liturgical gatherings held in rooms in private homes . . . , rooms that at the end of the ceremony, immediately reverted to their original function.”

Christendom’s Use of the Altar

“The altar,” says the Catholic journal La Civiltà Cattolica “is the center point not only of the church building but also of the living Church.” Yet, Jesus Christ did not institute even one religious ceremony that was to be performed at an altar; nor did he command his disciples to perform ceremonies using one. Jesus’ mention of the altar at Matthew 5:23, 24 and elsewhere refers to religious practices prevailing among the Jews, but he does not indicate that his followers were to worship God using an altar.

American historian George Foot Moore (1851-1931), wrote: “The main features of Christian worship were always the same, but in time the simple rites described by Justin in the middle of the second century were elaborated into a stately cultus.” Catholic rites and public religious ceremonies are so numerous and complex as to constitute a subject of study​—liturgy—​in Catholic seminaries. Moore continued: “This tendency, inherent in all ritual, was greatly furthered by the influence of the Old Testament when the Christian clergy came to be regarded as succeeding to the place of the priesthood of the former dispensation. The gorgeous raiment of the high priest, the ceremonial vestments of the other priests, the solemn processions, the choirs of Levitical singers intoning psalms, the clouds of incense from swinging censers​—all seemed a divine model of religious worship, which warranted the church in rivalling the pomp of the ancient cults.”

You might be amazed to learn that many rites, ceremonies, vestments, and other items used in worship by various churches follow, not the Christian teachings of the Gospels, but the customs and rites of Jews and pagans. The Enciclopedia Cattolica states that Catholicism “has inherited the use of the altar from Judaism and in part from paganism.” Minucius Felix, an apologist of the third century C.E., wrote that Christians had ‘neither temples nor altars.’ The encyclopedic dictionary Religioni e Miti (Religions and Myths) similarly states: “The early Christians rejected the use of the altar to differentiate themselves from Jewish and pagan worship.”

Because Christianity above all rested on principles that are to be accepted and applied in everyday life and in every land, there was no longer any need for a holy city on earth, or for a material temple with altars, or for human priests of special rank dressed in distinguished vestments. “The hour is coming,” said Jesus, “when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father. . . . The true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth.” (John 4:21, 23) The complexity of rites and the use of altars on the part of many churches ignore what Jesus said about the way the true God is to be worshiped.

We Have an Altar (Hebrews 13:10)

We Have an Altar (Hebrews 13:10)

35 Inspirational Quotes Opportunity

By Asad Meah

Opportunity is defined as an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do or the possibility of doing something. May these quotes inspire you to live fearlessly and embrace every opportunity so that you may live your dreams.

1. “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Bobby Unser

2. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” Henry Ford

3. “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” Ann Landers

4. “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.” Richard Branson

5. “Don’t wait for the right opportunity: create it.” George Bernard Shaw

6. “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein

7. “To see an opportunity we must be open to all thoughts.” Catherine Pulsifer

8. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” Milton Berle

9. “Most people miss great opportunities because of their misperception of time. Don’t wait! The time will never be just right.” Stephen C. Hogan

10. “What is one opportunity could change your life?” Marie Forleo

11. “Today is not just another day. It’s a new opportunity, another chance, a new beginning. Embrace it.” Anonymous

12. “We do not get unlimited chances to have the things we want. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life.” Anonymous

13. “God will supply us with the opportunity, but it’s up to us to do something with it.” Anonymous

14. “Expect change. Analyze the landscape. Take the opportunities. Stop being the chess piece; become the player. It’s your move.” Tony Robbins

15. “Today is an opportunity to get better. Don’t waste it.” Anonymous

16. “When opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to go after it.” Eddie Kennison

17. “Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.” Richard Branson

18. “Be a magnet that draw opportunity. Paint brilliant thoughts and actions. Mirro success.” Shawn L. Anderson

19. “Opportunity is everywhere. The key is to develop the vision to see it.” Anonymous

20. “Excuses will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t.” Anonymous

21. “Keep your mind open to opportunities. They are closer than you think.” Anonymous

22. “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.” Benjamin Franklin

23. “There are secret opportunities hidden inside every failure.” Anonymous

24. “Most do not understand the wonderful opportunities life gives until they look back at their life.” Eric Handler

25. “Confidence unlocks every opportunity in life.” Anonymous

26. “You create your own opportunities.” Anonymous

27. “Pressure, challenges – they are all an opportunity for me to rise.” Kobe Bryant

28. “Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.” Napoleon Hill

29. “Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.” Sun Tzu

30. “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity – not a threat.” Steve Jobs

31. “Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow.” Anonymous

32. “The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity.” Anonymous

33. “Education exposes young people to a broader world, a world full of opportunity and hope.” Christine Gregoire

34. “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” Harry S. Truman

35. “Greatness is your potential. Action is your opportunity.” Anonymous

How to Calculate Safe Days to Avoid Pregnancy

How to Calculate Safe Days to Avoid Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a happy thing for couples that want to have children, especially in a marriage setup. However, it can be devastating for women that did not expect it. This is what leads to unnecessary abortions, and sometimes children that are born and given up for adoption thus denied the chance to grow up with their biological parents. Instead of letting it get to this point, it’s wise that you avoid it from the word go especially if you’ve got an active sexual life. There’s different ways to do it, and one of the most common and the oldest way being to calculate safe days. Here is how you do it.

How to calculate safe days to avoid pregnancy

If you are to understand your safe days to avoid pregnancy, you first have to understand your cycle. A menstrual cycle is complete from day 1 of your periods to the next day 1 of the next period. Safe days are calculated as being between day 1 to 7 and also from day 21 to the last day of the cycle. These are the days within which you can engage in sexual activity without worrying about getting pregnant. The days aren’t fixed. They’ll change depending on your cycle. Most women get 28 day cycles with a few having lesser days. However, there is also a group of women that have cycles that are longer than 28 days and for this category of ladies, the concept of safe days can never be relied upon since it is almost impossible to predict.

What is the safe days to avoid pregnancy?

Knowing your safe days to avoid pregnancy after menstruation will save you a lot of trouble especially when you are not prepared for it. It is important that you take extreme caution when calculating your safe days since relying on physical means and guesswork could lead to serious mistakes that could cost you and result in regrets. After pinpointing unsafe days, you can take necessary measures avoid pregnancy by using protection on these days. It is not to put you off sex, but rather let you plan. It is advisable to use proven techniques to calculate your safe days. Here are two that will work excellently.

The safe period calculator

This method demands that you understand the menstrual cycle changes. The first step is to identify when you cycle starts and when it ends. This knowledge will be crucial in determining and finding your safe and unsafe periods. It will equip you with the knowledge of what are the safe days to avoid pregnancy in your case.

Once you master this calculator works you have to find out if it’s compatible with your cycle. Not all people can use this technique successfully. Those who qualify to use it are people whose average length of the menstrual cycle for the past six months has been between 26 to 32 days. In addition to this, the difference between longest and shortest cycles is seven days or less. However, before you can attempt to use this technique, it is advisable to visit your doctor to inquire this method’s reliability. The failure rate has been registered to be between 3-4 percent per year.

The method cannot work for people whose cycle is less than 26 days and on the higher side more than 32 days. You also cannot use it immediately after child birth as your cycle is yet to stabilize. Only use it after you have had six regular menstrual cycles after delivery. It also does not work for women who are almost reaching menopause as well as teens.

2. FAM- Fertility Awareness Method

This is the second technique to calculate your safe days. It is often referred to as natural family planning. With this technique, you need to be keen about the signs that the body is releasing due to hormone changes in the body. It is based on a couple of assumptions including:

An egg is released in a cycle

Eggs live up to 24 hours

Sperms survive for up to 6 days within which they can fertilize the ovum

A woman’s fertility happens within six days before ovulation and two to three days after ovulation.

The system works by alerting you on the days that you are most fertile thus you will be able to take the necessary precautions. Apart from these two methods, you can also go for the ovulation predictors test kits. These will help you during ovulation although they are not entirely dependable.

Safe days to avoid pregnancy chart

With a better understanding of how to calculate your safe days, the following chart will simplify your work.

Get the short cycle on record

Minus 18 from the days in your shortest cycle

Add the number you get to your current cycle (add from day one of the cycle)

Mark the day the addition gets you to with an X

X will be your first fertile day of the current cycle

The last fertile day process is different.

Get the longest cycle and minus 11 from total day count

Add the result to day one of your cycle. The result is your last fertile day

Remember that sperm can stay viable in the vagina for a couple of days. It is always wise to give yourself an up to 4 days padding to your first fertile day to avoid any surprises.

This calculation may seem complicated, but when put in a chart it is very simple. Use your calendar to mark the days and follow through. Alternatively, if all this appears like a hustle that you cannot get through then visit a doctor for the best advice on how to avoid pregnancy, safe days or not. Even so, most of these measures are not 100% guarantees.

Message from Lucifer