PRAYER WARRIOR - IITB 09.18

 

Chapter 9.18

Prayer Warrior

Praying the Will of God - Praying in the Holy Spirit – Praying Songs of Praise

Praying the Scriptures – Intercessory Prayer - Invisible War - Spiritual Warfare  

Prayer of Agreement - Unspoken Prayer request – Unanswered Prayer - ABBA

 

 

First Word

     My wife was in the hospital for the third time in a month and was very discouraged.  She heard a deep voice from the next room praying for someone and when he came passed her door, she asked would he come in and pray for her also?  He asked “how he should pray” and his deep prayer inspired her and gave her fresh hope.  Have you ever known someone who you thought of as a Prayer Warrior, whose prayers inspire others and give hope? 

     ALL Christians are called to be Prayer Warriors even though this term is not even found in the Book, but some have the unique ability and commitment to pray in INTERCESSION for others;[1] they have a heart for the church, for other believers and GRIEVE over those that have not yet come to the place of acceptance of Jesus Christ. 

     They spend time in the Book understanding how to pray the “WILL OF GOD”.  They see themselves engaged in SPIRITUAL WARFARE against satanic principalities in heavenly places[2] and seek and believe for divine intervention.[3]  The Holy Spirit helps the Prayer Warrior intercede on earth as Jesus is interceding at the right hand of God in heaven.[4]  It’s so Powerful; YOU, God the Holy Spirit & God the Son all in intercession to God the Father.

     I was a cameraman on a shoot for a promo with a man who had just written a religious book entitled “ARE YOU RUNNING WITH ME JESUS”; I thought the title was a little sacrilegious, and told him so.  He shared with me that throughout the day, no matter what he was doing, he was in a running conversation with Jesus Christ.  He was Praying without ceasing according to the scriptures.[5]  This gave me a fresh meaning to the term “Don’t judge a book by its cover”; nor a person.

     In the book of Daniel we find Daniel’s prayer was heard immediately by God,[6] but SPIRITUAL WARFARE was encountered as Satan fought the Angel of God for 21 days in order to stop the answer from getting to Daniel[7] … When we pray without ceasing, we become a part of the fight to receive the answer; what if Daniel had stopped praying?  God hears us before we begin to pray, and sends the answer before we finish and the WAR GAMES begin to stop the promises from reaching us.  It’s in the Book

 

Abba Father

     We are NOT to PRAY to the disciples, the saints, angels or any person living or dead, but only to God the Father in Jesus name.[8]  As Christians we are reminded to NOT CALL any man on earth ”Father”, but only God our Father in Heaven.[9]  As our ABBA Father; our daddy,[10] we can approach Him with boldness without a mediator.  We should not only pray privately for ourselves, but pray openly with others; praying for their needs.  It’s in the Book

 

Scriptural Prayers

     Have you heard someone on TV say, our thoughts and prayers are with you?  That’s what prayer has become; just words in a passing pleasantry that we just respond automatically.

     Get your Bible and find a quiet place [11]and approach His throne room boldly[12] with the liberty given to you by His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ on the Cross. Humble yourself before Him[13] and begin your prayer by acknowledging who God is and confess your sins before Him, forgiving others.[14]  The Book says to speak succinctly, and avoiding the many word and vain repetitions; get right to the point with conciseness and brevity of speech.  The Father already knows your needs and your prayer gives them power.

     Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray the will of God,[15] then pray believing that your petitions will be heard and answered by the Father.[16]  If you are sick, anoint yourself with olive oil or whatever you have.[17]  Pray out loud in the understanding[18] and if you have been given the gift of speaking in tongues, then pray in the spirt also;[19] do both.  

 

     Unspoken prayer request: I produced a live prayer “call in” TV program called “Intercession” and we would get phone calls for UNSPOKEN PRAYER REQUEST.  The Host said he could not pray a prayer of agreement if he did not know what it was that he was agreeing with.  So the caller told him that she wanted her boyfriend to come back to her and leave his wife.  Obviously according to the Book, he could not agree with that in prayer, but prayed God would send her a single man that would complete her, physically and spiritually.

 

UNSPOKEN PRAYER REQUEST FOR AGREEMENT ARE NOT SCRIPTURAL.

     Be specific in your needs and plead your case before God. [20]  Pray for a speedy answer,[21] but at the same time be patient with God.[22]  Pray songs of Praise in the understanding and in the spirit.[23]  Pray while you are in the car coming and going.[24]  If you have a prayer partner friend, then pray the prayer of agreement.[25]  Return thanks to God for His many blessings and for His answered prayers.[26]  Meditate on His Word, calling out to Him in remembrances what He has already promised in His Book.[27]

 

The Take Away

     The question that always comes to the forefront is why does God not answer my prayers?  The Book says; “Why do you bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant when you treat my words like trash.[28]  Because of your sins, I have turned away and will not listen anymore”.[29]

     If a stranger came to my front door and said he wanted to buy a car and would I mind co-signing with him on the loan, I would most definitely tell him, NO! …. But if my son came to the door all excited and wanted to buy a car and asked me to co-sign, I would most certainly say YES.

     What is the difference?  The difference is I have a RELATIONSHIP with my son and I don’t with the stranger.  I was Chief Engineer of a Christian TV station and when the transmitter would go off the air, I would go and get it back on.  I was asked how I could possibly even know where to start with something that is 20 feet long and over 6 feet tall, full of relays, wires and tubes as big as a man.  I knew where to start because over time, I had really gotten to know it; I had spent so much time working with it.  You could say we had a relationship.

     Do you have a relationship with God that warrants Him answering your prayers?  The Book says; “if you remain in Jesus and His words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted.”  But there is an IF THEN BUT Clause[30]IF you ask according to His Will.  The only way we can know His will, is to spend time with Him and develop a relationship. 

 

The Good Shepherd says, He KNOWS His sheep and they KNOW His voice. [31]

 

IT’S IN THE BOOK



[1] 1 Timothy 2:1 – Pray in intercession on behalf of others

[2] Ephesians 6:12 – Prayer is spiritual warfare against EVIL RULERS, AUTHORITIES AND EVIL SPIRITS

[3] Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who grieve and mourn  over lost sinners

[4] Romans 8:26 – The Holy Spirit knows the Will of God and PRAYS FOR US WITH GROANINGS THAT CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS

[5] 1 Isaiah 65:24 - God will hear us before we even begin to pray

[6] 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Pray without ceasing; giving thanks

[7] Daniel 10:12-13 – Satan fought 21 days to STOP the answer to Daniel’s prayer

[8] Matthew 6:9 – Pray to your father who is in heaven

[9] Matthew 23:9 - Call no man on earth your father

[10] Galatians 4:6 – ABBA, FATHER; “Call out to him as your daddy;

[11] FIND A QUIET PLACE -- Matthew 6:6 - Go into your room, close the door and don’t babble with many words  like pagans,

[12] APPROACH THE THRONE ROOM BOLDLY -- Jerimiah 14:9 - We bear your name do not forsake us! NIV -- Hebrews 4:16 - let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, -- Ephesians 3:12 - We may approach god with freedom and confidence.

[13] HUMBLE YOUR SELF -- Daniel 6:10 – Get down on your knees and pray -- 1 Timothy 2:8 - Lift up holy hands in prayer,  -- Lamentations 2:19 - Lift up your hands to him  -- Lamentations 3:41 - Lift up your hands and hearts to God in heaven.

[14] CONFESS YOUR SINS – FORGIVE OTHERS -- Mark 11:25 - First FORGIVE anyone you are holding a grudge against -- Ezra 9:6 - I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins -- Numbers 5:6-7 – The sinner must CONFESS THE SINS he has committed -- Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, and evil behavior.  -- Psalm 69:5 - You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you -- Matthew 6:12 - FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

[15] PRAY FOR THE WILL OF GOD -- Matthew 6:9-10 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven.  -- Acts 10:38 – It was JESUS’ WILL to go about healing all that were oppressed of the devil

[16] PRAY BELIEVEING -- Mark 9:24 - "I do BELIEVE; help me overcome my unbelief!"  -- 1 Chronicles 5:21 - He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.  -- Mark 11:24 - Whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you have received it, and it will be yours.  -- John 12:44 - When a man BELIEVES in me, he also believes in the One who sent me.  -- James 1:6 - You must BELIEVE and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind -- Matthew 9:29 - According to your faith will it be done to you

[17] ANOINT WITH OIL -- James 5:14 - Is any one of you sick? Anoint him with oil and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;

[18] PRAY OUT LOUD -- Psalm 15:2 - SPEAK the truth from your heart  -- Psalm 16:9 - My heart is glad and my TONGUE REJOICES -- Matthew 12:34 - For out of the overflow of the heart THE MOUTH SPEAKS  -- Psalm 9:1 - I will praise you, O LORD and TELL of all your wonders

[19] PRAY IN THE SPIRIT -- Isaiah 55:8 – God’s thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and His ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  -- John 14:16-17 - Jesus gave you ANOTHER COMFORTER to be with you forever - THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.

Ephesians 3:16 – I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. -- Romans 8:26 - In the same way, THE SPIRIT helps us and He Himself intercedes for us the spirit in accordance with god's will. -- Ephesians 6:18 - pray in THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  -- 1 Corinthians 14:15 - pray with THE SPIRIT and with the understanding; sing with THE SPIRIT, and sing with the understanding also.

 

[20] PRAY SPECIFIC - John 11:43 - He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. -- Genesis 32:11 - Plead your case; Save me, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid. -- Psalm 35:1 - Contend, o lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. -- Psalm 51:9 - Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, o God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

[21] PRAY FOR A SPEEDY ANSWER -- Psalm 40:13 - O LORD, COME QUICKLY to help me. -- Psalm 40:17 - DO NOT DELAY  -- Psalm 69:17 - ANSWER ME QUICKLY -- Psalm 70:1 - HASTEN, O GOD, TO SAVE ME; O LORD, COME QUICKLY to help me.

[22] BE PATIENT WITH GOD -- Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, PATIENT in affliction, faithful in prayer.

[23] PRAY SONGS OF PRAISES TO GOD -- Psalm 22:3 - O THOU THAT INHABITS THE PRAISES of Israel -- Psalm 13:5 - Make music in your heart SING TO THE LORD -- Ephesian 5:19 - Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and to the Lord, ALWAYS GIVING THANKS

[24] PRAY ON THE MOVE -- Psalms 55:17 - EVENING, MORNING AND NOON I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - PRAY CONTINUALLY, Be joyful always -- Luke 18:1 - ALWAYS PRAY and not give up.-- Colossians 1:9 - WE HAVE NOT STOPPED PRAYING FOR YOU  -- 1 Timothy 5:5 – CONTINUE  NIGHT AND DAY TO PRAY and to ask God for help

[25] PRAY IN AGREEMENT WITH A FRIEND -- Matthew 18:19 - IF TWO OF YOU on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done  -- James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and PRAY FOR EACH OTHER so that you may be healed.  -- Deuteronomy 32:30 - ONE man (praying) chase a thousand, (minions) or TWO (praying) put ten thousand (minions) to flight,  -- 1 Timothy 2:1 – PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE. INTERCEDE ON THEIR BEHALF,

[26] THANK GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS -- Colossians 4:22 - DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER, being watchful and THANKFUL. -- Psalms 55:18 - GIVE THANKS IN (not for) ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will  -- Psalms 107:31 - GIVE THANKS to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds

[27] MEDITATE ON HIS SCRIPTURES -- Psalms 119:169 - GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING according to your word.  -- Psalms 119:133 - DIRECT MY FOOTSTEPS according to your word;

[28] Psalm 50:16-17 – Why Bother praying; you treat my words like trash

[29] Isaiah 59:1-2 – Your sin has cut you off from God BECAUSE OF YOUR SINS, I have turned away and WILL NOT LISTEN ANYMORE

[30] John 15:7 – IF YOU REMAIN IN ME and MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, you may ask for anything and it will be granted!

[31] John 10:27 – I know my sheep and they listen to my voice -- John 10:14 – The Sheep know the good shepherd

 

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