Prayer Works Morning Devotion: July 29, 2025

Thus Says The Lord-Who God Says He Is, His Commandments and Promises

"Genesis 4:6-7 So The Lord Said To Cain "Why are you angry? And why has your Countenance Fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And it's desire is for you, but you should rule over it"

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A good morning, a good morning, good morning to you. I hope you had a wonderful night, well rested, ready for another day. Let us go to the Lord in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness and your mercy towards us and thank you, Lord, for all that you're doing in our lives and what is still going to do.  

We thank you, Lord, for where you have brought us from and where you're still taking us to. We thank you for the obstacles that you have removed along the way and allowed us to see clearly.  

So, Father, I pray Lord that as we continue to hunger in thirst after you, that God, you continue to lead us in the path of the righteous. So bless us this morning, as we look at your word as we devote this time to you knowing Lord, that our agenda you have already set an agenda for this day and we are just walking into it.  

So we thank you and we bless you as we look into your word in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen. Before we, I forget brothers and sisters, if you can, if you have any prayer request or things that you want us to pray for, please e-mail us so that our Fridays we can dedicate him to praying for.  

So that God can answer our prayers. Today we are in Genesis 4. And we're about to look at the first conversation that God has with mankind after he banishes him from the garden.  

So Genesis 2 is the prevailing atmosphere in which God wanted men to exist in Genesis. Chapter 3 happens Adam sins and he is kicked out of the garden, and God distanced himself from mankind. And the next time God speaks to a man he is speaking to Adam son. 

Now, when you really think about this story you realize that Adam is God's son. He is the first human being to ever be created and he is God's son by virtue of creation. And when Adam is old enough he has these two boys, Cain and Abel.  

And from the next time that God speaks to a man after the Garden of Eden, it's at least 50 years from that particular day. And Cain and Abel are grown men who are being raised in Adams House.  

And one of them gives an incredible, phenomenal offering to God. And Cain did not do as such. And because of that Cain then decide he was going to kill his brother. So when God comes down after the Garden of Eden, he is now speaking to a sinner who just murdered his brother.  

So we are in Genesis 4 and let's start reading. Let's just read from verse one. Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, she said with the help of the Lord, I've brought forth a man.  

Later, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord, and Abel also brought in, offering fed portions from some of the first born of his flock.  

The logged looked with favor unable and is offering, but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. Then the Lord saying to Ken, why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? The first principle that God gives you humanity, doing what is right gets you accepted. So Cain is angry because he hasn't done well and his anger, and not doing well, causes him to commit a crime.  

So brothers and sisters, today's message is pretty simple. We have to determine in our hearts and in our minds and in our souls to do that which is right. Because when we don't do what is right the first thing that happens is that it brings anger in us.  

Then it will cause our countenance to be downcast. And out of that, it causes God to not accept that which we do. So we have to have a determination in our hearts and in our minds and in our souls to always try to do what is right. Now, it does not mean we are not going to make mistakes.  

It does not mean we are not going to do things. We are always going to do things the right way. But what this actually means is that the intent in our hearts should always to do what is right.  

This is talking about intention, doing what is right. Not mistakes, not doing things sometimes the wrong way, which we can do. He’s talking about the intention of our hearts. That we should constantly, always have good intentions in doing what is right.  

That will cause us to be accepted, but when our intent is not doing what is right. It’s going to cause anger and is going to cause us to be downcast and the results of that is doing what is wrong. This passengers quickly just read talks about what these two did.  

The Bible says that Cain works this soil and in the course of the time he brought fruits from the soil as an offering. Even though he is bringing fruit, which is right bringing fruit as an offering is the right thing to do. But from this passage of Scripture, even though he was doing what is right. 

The intent behind it became wrong because he didn't consider giving the best. Not that he didn't do it, he did it, but he did not do the best. So sometimes we can actually do what is right but not do it the best way.  

Which makes it wrong. Then on the other hand, we see the contrast Able gave as much as also Cain gave. The difference between the two offerings is that he took what was the best and he gave from what was the best so which meant that his intent or the heart behind his offering.  

Was trying by all means to give what was best and to please the Lord. Cain even though he also gave an offering, the intention behind what Cain was doing was wrong, which made the whole entire thing wrong and from that what we get is that Cain became angry.  

And his first was downcast. And from that it led to the worst thing that Cain ever did, to killing his brother. So now we can see the progression of what happens when our intentions are wrong. As long as we do things and that our intentions are right.  

It causes everything that we do to be acceptable by the Lord. It's just a principle. Doing what's right out of good intentions cause God to accept you and it causes you humanity to accept you.  

Doing what is wrong causes you to not be accepted and what that leads to is more sinning. Now that's the progression of what takes place when we do things with wrong intentions. It might be right, giving and offering is right. 

The intent behind it if it's wrong. It nullifies everything which causes anger and countenance to be downcast and the end result is that you go on even to do much worse than what the first intention was.  

So the lesson from today is that we should constantly, always, always try to do the right thing with the right intentions. And when we do that, it causes God to accept us and when we accepted it removes all form of anger.  

And it also changes your countenance doing the opposite causes anger and your countenance to go down. Now remember this is the first time that God is addressing mankind after Genesis 3 when he was kicked out of the garden.  

It's almost 50 years from that particular day where God used to come down in the cool of the day and talk to Adam, so he has children 50 years later he is living in an environment that he is not accustomed to, so they are trying to figure out how to live at this new life. 

And out of that new life we get the first principle that God gives you money, doing what's right causes you to be acceptable it causes God to accept you. In other words, your intentions, the intentions of your heart, we should always watch.  

Because if intent is wrong it doesn't matter what it is that you're trying to do, even if it's right, it's intent is wrong it nullifies the whole thing. So let us watch our hearts. Let us what's our intentions because out of it is victory or of failure, intentions.  

So in everything that we do just determined in our hearts and in our minds to do what is right and to make sure the intentions behind it is pure. And that should be a mantra for our lives.  

Because that will cause us to be accepted and when we accepted, it removes anger, it removes downcast. So in other words, when we are angry, when our countenance is downcast.  

We should know the first thing that we should check is our intentions in the things that we are doing. Because we're seeing here in the scriptures where anger and downcast comes from. Anger and downcast comes from the hearts intent.  

This is the first times in the scripture we hear the words anger and downcast and the rule of first mention applies here, that every time in the scripture you see the first mention of something. You need to track that thing in its application throughout Scripture, because that's the true essence of what the definition of that thing is.  

So definition of anger in downcast comes from bad intentions. So every time you see anger in you, every time you see your face and your countenance downcast. The first thing you should check is always your intentions in the things that you are doing and in things that the Lord instructed you to do.  

You could do the right thing with wrong intentions and it will nullify everything and what it leads is to anger and downcast. You could go and give a message that the Lord gave you to give up to another person.  

But if your intentions changes in the process, the intent of your heart changes in the process and you make it about you. It nullifies everything that we are trying to do. I remember growing up my grandfather used to say this.  

Do the right thing with the right intentions the first time because you don't want to go back and fix the things that you did wrong. Because the second time that you do it you're probably going to be angry and downcast.  

So do the right thing the first time with good intentions, and it will lead you to be accepted. There's so much, there's so much in this little passage of Scripture that you know you can see that if you are not being accepted what should you check?  

If you are being accepted, what should you check? If you have anger and downcast in your countenance what should you check and everything goes back to the heart. That's why the scripture talks, as we must serve God, or we must worship in spirit and in truth, in purity of heart.  

If your intentions are not right, even though what you are doing is right. It nullifies the whole thing. So brothers and sisters let's constantly check our intentions in everything that we are doing. Because that causes God to accept whatever it is that we are doing, intentions, intentions, intentions. Pure heart, pure heart, pure heart.  

And that leads to victorious life live. Their intentions causes anger and downcast countenance, which leads to more sinning and irrational decisions. From this passage of Scripture, I don't see any reason why Cain would end up killing his brother.  

Because he did not do anything to him. Other than he gave the Lord that which was acceptable. So which meant that out of his intentions in the heart. It caused jealousy, it caused envy.  

It caused rebellion. Just out of intent out of the simple intent out of just giving the offering and giving it with wrong intentions. It ends up causing all these ripple effects. That he, I'm sure Cain never was at any point jealous of his brother.  

Until this day, because if he was, he would have probably killed him earlier than that. But this is way down the road. Which meant that this particular event, this particular day intentions. Took him astray and led him to commit one of the most heinous crimes in human history, this is the first murder.  

Just because somebody had wrong intentions? So let us watch our intentions. Let's check the purity of our hearts in everything that we do. Because not doing so is detrimental to our victory, Amen. Let us pray.  

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness and your mercy. We thank you, Lord, that you love us dearly. That you are constantly instructing us in the things that we have to be good at and get better in doing.  

We thank you, Lord, that your word is settled. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We thank you for this principle that you give to us even before the beginning of our era, but yet today it still rings true, and it is still the test of time. 

So that us here in 2025, we get to see the example and we get to understand how to relate with you and the things that you desire for us to do and to accomplish. So now I pray for purity of heart and purity of minds in the things that you direct us to do.  

And I pray, Lord, that may you give us the wisdom to constantly check our hearts and our minds as we apply that which you have called us to apply. May we be found, may we not be found wanting in this area. Even as you instruct us and give us direction to do the things that are right in your sight.  

May our hearts carry purity and good intentions towards that which you have given us to do. I pray Lord for renewed mines and renewed hearts to constantly seek doing the right thing the right way the first time.  

I know, Lord, that sometimes we make mistakes. I know, Lord, sometimes in our human nature and proclivities that we stray away. But may our intentions always be in right standing with you. 

So that we can find our way back home. Thank you for guiding us when we are wrong. Thank you for guiding us when we stray away. May our hearts continue to be knitted with you. So that the intent that flows from them continue to be pure in the name of Jesus.  

Thank you for leading and guiding us, for sending us the gift of the Holy Spirit to constantly challenge counsel, direct and give us the proper instructions that we need in order to carry out whatever you desire for us to carry out.  

I pray for every heart and every mind to continue meeting with yours. So that what flows from us is the purity that is demanded of your Kingdom. We bless you God for all that you have done in us, we will continue to submit this house to you. Knowing Lord that if we don't sin is crouching at the door.  

May you bless the desires of our hearts as we continue to abide in you and you abiding in us. May what we carry in our heart as desires flow straight from the throne of grace. So that we are never found wanting in this area.  

We explained the same measure of prayer and ask for our children. We continuously pray for them that God may they find you for themselves. We put our grandchildren in there too, that God may they stand the test of time as they are living in this treacherous world.  

We place them before you and we now ask you to continue to guide them to the river that never dries. We pray for wisdom, that may their generation rise up and follow the pathway that leads to righteousness.  

We pray Lord for angels on assignment, guarding every single one of them is they walk and work out their journey. Even as they prepare to go to back to school, we pray, Lord, that every agenda that the enemy is throwing at them will have no room in their hearts, in their minds.  

Thank you for the word of God. That sets all things right. I pray may our children and grandchildren fall in love with scripture. So that they are constantly challenged to be in right standing with you.  

I pray Lord that may you heal anyone amongst us who might be sick in dealing with any challenges. We pray for renewed hearts and renewed minds. We pray, Lord, for renewed spirit in everything that we are doing.  

We understand and we know a lot that we are only human. But I pray, Lord, that as we continue to encounter you and to encounter your word, to encounter your spirit and to encounter thus saith the Lord. That renewal will always be part of our life.  

We bless you for this season that we find ourselves in, in spite of everything that's going on around us. We know we are the church. We know it's in us to carry out the will of the Lord. We know, Lord, that in us we carry victory, that the world needs, that we have a soul.  

We have the anchor of everything that's taking place in our world. So I pray, Lord, that may our place in this world continue to be solidified. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we interact with this world.  

So that whatever we do and whatever we say will cause somebody somewhere to believe in this gospel, in the message of truth. We know your desire is that no one should ever perish and I pray Lord that as we continue to carry out that issue of quarters to carry out. 

May our intentions always be right in the name of Jesus. Now bless this country. Thank you for what's going on. We are trusting you more than we are trusting our eyes because we know you know all things. 

You see, all things you are never late. You are always on time. That in the midst of the matter you are doing something remarkable. I pray may your spirit rise up with your children so that somebody somewhere gets to believe because you don't desire anyone to perish.  

So guide your church in these challenging times, raise up men and women who care about spiritual things. And I pray Lord for wisdom, I pray for wisdom as we deal with these unprecedented times.  

I thank you for your love and I thank you for your generosity. When you supply all our needs according to your riches and glory, where we lack send help. Where we procrastinate, quicken our steps.  

Where we don't know, send knowledge, understanding and wisdom. But above all else, as we continue to give us Jesus and the intentions of our hearts continue to be pure as we walk out of this journey.  

Now take us through this day, we know you already have an agenda that you have set in motion. So as we follow through and fall into it. I pray that God let the Holy Spirit be so loud as he guides us through this day. Let your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven and as you continue to give us today's bread we say thank you.  

Now lead us not into temptation but continue to deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen. Brothers and sisters pure intentions, pure intentions that's the way it is.  

So let's constantly check our hearts, our minds, our souls in everything that we do and let's make sure that there is a purity in our intentions so that we are always doing what's right so that we can be accepted.  

And by so doing is going to eliminate anger and downcast countenance. May the Lord bless you and may you have an awesome day and we will see you tomorrow.