SPIRITUAL WARFARE
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 (NIV)
Beloved, make no mistake about it, real prayer is SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Becoming a Prayer Warrior takes a solemn commitment. In order to prevail in the spiritual arena of intercession you must die to self.. We must arrive at the same conclusion as Jesus did when He said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “I want your will, not mine.” Mark 14:36 (NLT)
Just as there are two times to read the Bible so there are two times to pray. The answer in both cases is when we feel like it and when we don’t.
Prayer
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we should always desire to pray. For the Christian who desires to grow in his or her relationship with God prayer should become as natural as breathing. Prayer, which is rooted in the Word of God (the Bible), and as a result of our relationship with Him (God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit) , is more powerful than anything we can imagine. Because of Christians who have prayed nations have been changed, destinies have been determined, evil plots have been exposed and demolished, slavery in America was abolished, revivals have come to nations, and countless other things have been accomplished because of godly men and women who have obeyed the call to pray. Indeed, prayerlessness is a sin. So important is prayer in this world in which we live that God summons us, “To pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV) Remember, God originally made us in His Image and to be in perfect unity with Him. We were to even have control over His creation. Genesis 1:26 says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” We were to have complete control over the natural and supernatural realms, and He says, “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 (NIV) God Himself says, “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Luke 10:19 (NLT) (That is to say that born again, Spirit filled believers have power over satan and all other demon spirits.) Please know that, “The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV) And let us keep in mind that, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) So let it be known that the Bible is not just a book for yesteryear but is just as relevant for today as in the beginning. As the psalmist says, “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.” That’s right, the Word of God is forever established in heaven. So let me reemphasize that if God says something it remains just as true today as when He said it in the beginning.
As a praying church we must come to understand that while there is much power in one believer who prays that there is so much more power when more believers come together. One can set a thousand to flight; two can set ten thousand to flight. Imagine if three or more began to come together with one mindset, with one purpose. You do the math. Further, God says, that if two shall agree on earth as touching anything that they ask it shall be done by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19) Before Adam sinned he had perfect communion with God. His prayer life was beautiful. But the result of his sin meant separation from God. Thus his relationship with God suffered and mankind likewise has realized the reverberations of this lost connection with God ever since. That is to say that we are all born into sin as a result of Adam’s disobedience which causes our prayers to be in vain. For God does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous. As it is written, ” We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” John 9:31(NIV) But the good news is that Jesus Christ came to reconcile us back to God which results in our prayers being accepted by Him. Which is to say that He hears and answers the prayers of those committed to Him. The Bible says that, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” James 5:16b (NLT) So first, in order for our prayers to be effective we are to be in proper relationship with God, and this comes only by receiving Christ as Savior. Once this is established we then have special communion with God, the Father, the way it was in the beginning before the tempter’s (satan’s) evil scheme came to pass. Yes, it was satan’s plan to cause the fall of mankind. But ultimately it was Adam, who although he had the ability to resist the temptation to sin, decided instead to disobey God . As a result this interrupted man’s relationship with God. Afterwards not only did sin begin to permeate society but man’s prayer life suffered as well. But when we accept this reconnection with God through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and His factual resurrection from the dead, a spiritual umbilical cord between God and the believer is reestablished. It is at this point that our prayers begin to receive steady answers. For, with understanding of His Word (the Bible), our prayers begin to line up with His perfect will. We then begin to pray according to knowledge and not for our own selfish desires. So fellow believers and those who shall become, America’s destiny, in fact the final outcome of the world, lies largely in the ‘hands’ of Christians. However, we are not to misunderstand this. It is inevitable that nations will rise against Israel, that the man of perdition (being used by Satan), will arrive on the scene and will deceive many, and will ultimately be defeated. Regarding signs of the things which will in fact happen regarding the last days, Jesus says, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” Mark 13:5-8 (NIV)
In other words some things are destined to come to pass. If we know the Word of God we will pray according to His will and not our own. Note: To pray for satan’s repentance would be unbiblical because there is no contrition in him. He is the absolute embodiment of evil. So while it is the responsibility of believers to pray for such things as others to come into the Kingdom of God and “For the peace of Jerusalem.” Psalm 122:6a (NIV), we must also understand that end time prophecy still shows that nations will attack the Nation of Israel. So the Battle of Armageddon will happen. We can see this when we read, ” Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” Psalm 2 (NIV) This shows that if we were to pray that nations would not attack Israel then we would be praying in error. Remember the Bible is true, for it is in fact God’s Word, and what it says must come to pass.
Come on Christians! Lets get it together!
So while there is yet time, we who know the Lord Jesus are to be praying for souls to come into relationship with the Lord Jesus, which is the only Name by which people can be saved, thereby escaping the very fires of hell. The great end time revival, which is already happening in the midst of us, is dependent upon the very prayers of the saints of God. That is the way He (God) designed it.
Please get a greater grasp on the power of Prayer.
There is a spiritual battle for the souls of people constantly raging and God has designed it so that only we who name the Name of Christ can rescue people who are helpless when left to themselves. Satan and his demons, who are spirits, are much more powerful than people in natural bodies. Essentially, people in the flesh cannot not even lift a finger to defend themselves against such forces of darkness. The onslaught of these evil forces can only be defeated by the prayers of the saints. So we must arm ourselves with prayer like never before. For, “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12 (KJV) As we look around at the signs of the times we should see that the final battle has begun.
Persistence
The walk of faith is not a sprint. It is not a marathon. But (just like life – the two are inseparable) it is an ever expanding journey. Philippians 2:12 tells each us to, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” In order for one to succeed in any worthwhile endeavor he or she must be persistent. Here are some scriptures to encourage you to go forward. Please study and read your Bible everyday.
Luke 18:1-7
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me” And the Lord said,Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them” (Note:We must persist in prayer even when things don’t appear to be going well in the natural. And if we pray according to God’s will we will see results.)
Acts 6:4
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
James 1:12
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
James 1:25
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Promise
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”
Being born into the human race does not automatically make us a part of God’s family but we are all offered equal access into becoming a part of His family. It is a freedom of choice issue. In other words, God desires for everyone to be a part of His family but being the Ultimate Gentleman that He is, reserves the right for each person to invite Him into their lives. Just going to church makes a person no more a Christian than working on a ship makes him or her an anchor. You have to personally ask Christ to come into your heart.
Romans 10:9-13 (KJV)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Jesus loves you.