"... men ought always to pray and not lose heart."
Luke 18:1
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Holy Brethren Called to Prayer,
Before we begin this lesson which will focus on effective praying, I would like to start with a suggested assignment.
Over the next couple of weeks, read Isaiah Chapter 51. Meditate on the verses that the Holy Spirit will highlight to you. This chapter in Isaiah is full of revelation direction to those who receive prophetic assignments in prayer.
PRIME ASSIGNMENT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST: PRAYER!
Prayer is the foundation for everything in our lives and ministry. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Mark 11:17
The New Creation in Christ
After we have prayed the prayer of salvation, the root of all our prayers is a relationship with the Almighty God who created us and now resides in us. Prayer connects us to God as we establish intimate fellowship with Him. That fellowship works in the “closet” with God but should continue throughout our day as we abide in Him.
Prayer develops and matures as we grow and learn about spiritual things. This is a continuing process throughout life as we learn to trust and abide in the faithfulness of our Father, which is not dependant on feelings but on faith. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God! Always stand in the truth of the Word.
Let’s look at what God’s Word reveals about effective praying.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Be anxious for nothing,
- but in everything by prayer and supplication,
- with thanksgiving,
- let your requests be made known to God;
- and the peace of God,
- which surpasses all understanding,
- will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer!
Our requests, the things for which we ask, are to be made known before God, in the presence of God, by prayer. When we pray in faith, thank you should always follow.
The Three-Fold Secret of Prayer
Your Tongue - Words
Your Heart
Your Mind - Thoughts
When what you say, what you believe, and what you think all line up with God’s Word, they lay a foundation of peace that a stronghold of prayer can be built upon. These three units work together to become a united force of power: the Sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17
1. Your Tongue and Prayer
The Word of God is Spiritual Law.
His Word in your mouth will change natural circumstances when acted upon in faith. Idle words or words of doubt will work against us…even in prayer.
Every problem can be traced back to the curse.
Jesus has already bore all the curse on the cross. See Galatians 3:13-14.
Praying the Problem is a Problem
Even when we are feeling needy and come boldly into the throne of grace to find help and mercy, we need to choose our words carefully. If we continually pray the problem, the problem will become magnified, producing after its own kind. Besides that, you are listening to yourself and those words are being planted in your heart.
All words are containers; they carry spiritual forces, either building our faith or building anxiety and fear. If we’re complaining and speaking doubt-filled words back to God and to others, we may actually be declaring more faith in the devil.
Jesus said, “You can have what you say.” See Mark 11:23-24.
We’re not to walk by sight, but by faith if we want answers.
God knows every detail of our lives.
He knows the number of hairs on our head! It’s not necessary to continually rehearse all the details of the problem to get Him to act. You don’t have to get Him to feel sorry for you. He is full of compassion and more than willing to answer prayer. See John 15:7-8. When the Word is abiding in you it causes faith to be activated in your words.
No Word, no faith. No faith, no effective prayer.
BE ON GUARD
Fear based prayers draw the curse to you.
Pray the answer! Receive the blessings Jesus died to give you.
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith: Controlling the Tongue
So, we prayed the word back to the Lord. We believed we received the answer when we prayed. Be thank-full!
Sometimes, the most important part of prayer is what we do after prayer.
The Apostle Paul advised us not to let go of our confidence because it has great reward. To receive the promise we need to have endurance, or a dogged determination to never give up, no matter what it looks like, because God can and will turn it around. See Hebrews 10:35-36.
“… that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Someone said, “I prayed for healing in the morning. Later, someone asked me how I was feeling and I began to describe all the symptoms and then I felt worse. Why does this kind of thing happen to me?”
“He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:3
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” Proverbs 18:21
Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.” John 10:10
“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
“See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” Read James 3:1-12.
The thief wants to direct your words!
Hide your words by praying in other tongues.
What could our friend have said when asked how he was feeling? “I am well and on my way to recovery. Thank you.” Then praise God or change the subject.
Taming and Training the Tongue: The Holy Spirit!
Although no man can tame the tongue, the Holy Spirit within us can help us with His power. He can alert us when we’re in an arena where the enemy is getting ready to trip us up. We have to be willing to follow Him and not say what our flesh is screaming to declare. It’s sometimes a challenge, but knowing that if we don’t shut up there may be unwanted consequences should give us the wisdom and strength to guard our tongue.
“… above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16
Fight the good fight of faith for this is the victory that overcomes the world’s circumstances. And besides, faith pleases our Father. Why?
Faith is the conduit He has chosen to bless His children.
Studying the Word and praying in tongues every morning strengthens the inner man and helps us speak faith filled-words throughout the day instead of contrary circumstances and idle words.
If you are having a lot of trouble taming the tongue, get more Word in your heart by confessing the Who I Am Scriptures every morning.
2. THE HEART AND PRAYER: An Inside Job
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20-21
WARNING: Faith will become silenced when unforgiveness is in the heart.
Faith works through love…
Praying in tongues is a gift of power when developed as we mature.
It is the corridor in which we enter into the spirit realm to work with God. In the spirit we speak mysteries to God, but we can expect to interpret some of what we are saying the more we practice.
Praying in the spirit will not only curb foolish words from flying out of your mouth, but it is effective in developing the faith that is resident in your heart through God’s Word. It strengthens the inner man. That’s how we overcome!
The Kingdom of God is within us. The heart is where God’s Word produces faith. It is the treasure chest and where we make contact with the supernatural. It is where God chose to house His Spirit…the anointing, power and triumphant abilities over natural circumstances.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:38-39
“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you. Proverbs 4:20-24
3. THE MIND (Thoughts) AND PRAYER
Jesus said, “By your patience, possess your soul.”
It’s never been more important to stay in the Word with the intent to do whatever it says. Romans 12:1-2 reveals that the mind needs to be transformed to God’s will continually or it will be conformed to the corrupt ways of this world, producing wrong words.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
2015: Wars and Rumors of War
What will guard our hearts and minds while living in perilous times?
Prayer!
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Wise intercessors work in the spirit with God, then cast the cares onto the Lord knowing by faith that He is at work bringing His will to pass. Rejoice!
The Three-Fold Secret to Effective Prayer
The tongue; the heart; the mind!
Put all three under the power of the Holy Spirit.
If you slip up, repent and get back on track quickly.
“The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 5-7
Meditate on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. Philippians 4:8
Our choices determine the quality and outcome of our lives!
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE:
You were chosen to live on earth at this time!
Praying with love for: The Glorious Church—The Lost—Elected Leaders
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