5 Weeks of Prayer -
Week One - Lesson One
Super Power through Super Prayer
When you were young, did you ever tie a towel around your neck, or have your mom make you a cape and then go running around the house screaming at the top of your lungs, jumping on and over furniture, throwing haymaker punches, and taking all sorts of imaginary bad guys into captivity? It was awesome to have super powers wasn’t it, even if they were imaginary?
The truth is, even the most ordinary person, or even the most ordinary kid, can see supernatural things take place in their lives and the lives of their family and friends through prayer. Prayer is a powerful, supernatural weapon God has given us to use in our battle against Satan. Listen to how Paul describes this weapon called prayer in his letter to the church at Corinth;
(2Co 10:3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (2Co 10:4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
Take a look at these three words that Paul uses; flesh, carnal, stronghold. What do you think each one means and why would Paul use them in reference to prayer?
Here’s another thought! If prayer is such a powerful, supernatural weapon, do you think God is going to allow just anyone to use it, for anything they wish?
In the military, you would not be allowed to use a missile launcher to start launching missiles wherever, at whatever, whenever you want. You would have to go through very intense training. In that training process you would be taught who is qualified to use that weapon, why that weapon is used, when to use that particular weapon, what that weapon is capable of, how dangerous it can be if used improperly, how effective it can be if used properly, and of course, the proper technique for using that weapon.
In order to become truly effective in the use of this supernatural weapon called prayer, God is going to require you to go through an intense training process also. The Bible, His Word, is full of rules and guidelines for the proper use of prayer. The Bible teaches us the proper techniques to use in prayer. We are also told why prayer is used, and when it is to be used, what it is capable of, how dangerous it can be if used improperly, and how effective it can be if used properly. Perhaps most importantly, we are told who is qualified to pray and why. The Bible tells us what kind of life we must live in order to become powerful prayer warriors.
In the weeks ahead, you are going to take a look at, and actually go through the steps that are required to become a powerful user of this supernatural weapon called prayer. One of the things that I find most awesome about God, is that He doesn’t make you wait until you are perfect, or know absolutely all there is to know about prayer, before He starts answering your prayers. As we go through this awesome training process, you are going to see some amazing, supernatural answers to your prayers. You are going to learn to pray with a depth that you never dreamed of. Prayer is going to become a vital part of every day of your life. As prayer becomes a larger part of your life, you will see other areas of your life change (for the better) as well.
Prayer, with all its’ benefits, is for you!
When it comes to prayer, God wants you to have SUPER POWER!
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Prayer for the Day - Read Ephesians chapter 3, and pray that God would teach you the power that comes with praying correctly!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week One - Lesson Two
We Do Not War After the Flesh
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
There are two small, but interesting words in this verse. The word “in”
denotes “a particular place”. The place where we walk is “in the flesh”, this vessel of clay, this body of flesh and bones with our features, our thoughts, our ideas, our will, our plans. The word “after”, means “according to the manner of”. So, though we live and breath and have our being in this “house of flesh”, we do not war, or battle, “according to the manner of this dwelling place”.
The reason, of course, is that the source of all strife, whether it be between us and God, or between us and our fellow man, is not a fleshly source. Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
This is a powerful truth, that can totally transform our Christian lives. It is the reason that Jesus, on the cross, was able to look out over a crowd, raging with hatred, who had beat Him, plucked His beard, whipped Him, pressed a crown of thorns into His brow, attached Him to a cross by hammering nails into His hands and feet, and now stood mocking and berating Him, and say in Luke 23:34 ... “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”... It is the reason that the Bible says of Stephen in Acts 7:60, with stones cast by his fellow Jews hailing down upon him, snuffing out his life “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” It makes much easier to swallow, that tough commandment of Mat 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; (24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
We are not at war with one another. We are at war with a much more powerful enemy than flesh and blood. Read Psalm 35 which is a great prayer that David prayed against His enemies. It is a great prayer to pray when you feel the enemy coming against you, but when you pray this prayer, remember that the enemy that you are praying against is not your fellow men, but the spirit that controls and motivates them. Direct your prayer toward and against the true enemy of your soul.
There is one other aspect we need to look at though, concerning the flesh. There is a time when we really do wrestle against “the flesh”, but it is our flesh. More properly stated, it is the carnal spirit that rules our “flesh”. Paul warns us in Rom 8:7-8 that ... the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. James in his writings, asks these questions and gives these answers; Jam 4:1-5 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (5) Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
How then do we win this wrestling match with our flesh, or our carnal minds? Thank God that both Paul and James give us answers to this important question, thus giving us hope and wonderful instructions on how to pray about this matter.
Rom 8:9-14 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Jam 4:6-8 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Prayer for the Day - Read Galations 5:19-26 and pray that Jesus would help you to crucify your flesh that you might bear in fulness the fruit of the Spirit!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week One - Lesson Three
Our Weapons Are Not Carnal
2Co 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
I think it is quite obvious that if we are fighting a war against a spiritual enemy, we are going to need something besides fleshly, or carnal weapons to fight with. If we had to use only the weapons we can see, feel, or understand against a spiritual enemy that we cannot see, feel, or understand, we would be in drastic trouble. The thought of that would cause even the strongest heart to become faint. Our Heavenly father wants us to know, that even though our enemy is powerful and the war that he wages is fierce; he can be defeated and the war can be won!
Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, is telling him that he senses that his life is soon coming to an end and that the race he has run is almost finished, that he has kept the faith that was entrusted to him, and that he has fought a valiant fight against his spiritual enemy; now he is ready to hand over the torch to Timothy and his fellow laborers. This must have seemed like an extremely daunting task for Timothy without his mentor, and father in the Lord, Paul. So at the very beginning of the letter Paul gives him these wonder words of encouragement and instruction: 2Ti 1:6-7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
He also gives Timothy these reasons to accept his words of encouragement and instruction: 2Ti 1:8-10 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (9) Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
You see, we are not in this battle alone, and we are not without weapons that are much more powerful than anything the enemy has in his arsenal.
Listen to the instructions Paul gives the church of Ephesus concerning spiritual weapons. Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Many can quote verses 10-17, but most forget that verse 18 is a part of that portion of scripture. Each element of armor that God has prepared for his soldiers is extremely important and must be worn in our daily battles, but no soldier worth his salt would go forth into his daily battles without supplication to the Commander and Chief for direction, instruction, strength, and ultimate victory.
Rev. John Wesley said: “Some there are, who use only mental prayer or ejaculations, and think they are in a state of grace, and use a way of worship far superior to any other; but such only fancy themselves to be above what is really above them; it requiring far more grace to be enabled to pour out a fervent and continued prayer, than to offer up mental aspirations.”
Adam Clarke in his commentary says there are two things that must be attended to in prayer:1. That it be, in every time, season, or opportunity;
2. That it should be in or through the Spirit - that the heart should be engaged in it, and that its infirmities should be helped by the Holy Ghost.
Prayer for the Day - Read Philippians 2:1-17 and pray that God elevate your thinking to a spiritual plane, and that your prayers would become more powerful as a result.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week One - Lesson Four
Pulling Down Strongholds
2Co 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
There are two verses in the Bible that I find extremely sad. We find one at the beginning of the story of Gideon. Jdg 6:2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds.
The other is in the New Testament and reveals the state of Jesus’s closest disciples after His death. Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, ...
I find these verses sad, because God’s people have never been meant to be a defensive people. When their hearts are right, they go forth into battle sing songs of victory as they go. When their hearts are right, they go forth and take the land, driving out or slaying the inhabitants as they go. Thankfully, the passages of scripture I mentioned above do not end as tragic tales of hopelessness. In the first, God heard the cries of His people and answered with a deliverer in the form of Gideon. In the second, Jesus himself came on the scene and spoke peace to their hearts and gave them strength for the battle ahead.
One of the most misused verses in the Bible is; Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. People use this verse to claim all sorts of things for the fulfillment of the lusts of their flesh, but listen to the rest of what Jesus tells His disciples here. Mat 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus is telling His disciples that because of the price He has paid, and the reward He has received as a result of His work, they can, and should be an aggressive people. The strongholds of Satan stand, as the walls of Jericho, to be brought down by the power of the Almighty that His name might be glorified in all the world.
There is something else we should look at also in our text scripture for today. 2Co 10:4-6 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. As you can see again, so much of what must be conquered is in ourselves. Paul says, “Casting down imaginations.” One man says, and I must agree with him, that the most dangerous nation on the earth is the imagination.
Paul continues by saying we need to cast down, “every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Think about fear, love for the things of the world, doubt, unbelief, and the lust of the flesh. He then says to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” Some of the most powerful strongholds exist in our own minds. We must, through the Spirit, with prayer and fasting tear down these strongholds, leaving them behind as mere monuments to the power of the Holy Ghost which works in and through a heart that is humbled before God.
Let us go forth as a mighty army, taking back the territory Satan has stolen, claiming victory for the wonderful and glorious kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Prayer for the Day - Read Philippians chapter 3 and pray that God will give build up within you a longing for the knowledge of Christ like Paul had, a desire that makes you willing to leave all else behind, and count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Him.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week One - Lesson Five
Strategic Training
Luk 11:1-2 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, ...
In the military, anyone who might possibly be using a weapon in their military service is trained on that weapon. Obviously, those who are going to be using their weapons the most, are trained the most, and the more powerful, strategic, and complicated the weapon the more training it requires.
It is wonderful that God has given His people this amazing weapon called prayer, but it is sad that most Christians spend very little time in developing their prayer skills. Many “Christians” would even be offended if you tell them that prayer requires skill that can and should be developed. It seems to them that using words like skill, training, efficiency, and even teaching in conjunction with prayer, somehow takes away from the spirituality of prayer.
Jesus’s disciples though, didn’t have a problem with asking Him to teach them to pray. It must have been an amazing experience to be in the presence of the Son of God when He bowed His knees and entered into the throne room of His Heavenly Father through prayer. They had heard the prayers of the scribes and Pharisees, and no doubt they had even been taught the special prayers of Israel that had come from the lips of such great figures as Moses, Isaiah, and the blessed Psalmist David, but never had they heard anyone pray like this man prayed.
The prayer times of Jesus though, were not just amazing to experience. They made you want to pray in the same manner, and to be able to see the same results. They made you see new possibilities in prayer. They made you see the need for more time spent with this powerful weapon.. Most of all they made you see the need to be trained in its use.
I find it especially interesting that twice in the scriptures, under different circumstances Jesus teaches, what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, as the pattern of prayer that we should follow. It must have been important to Him to teach a correct way to pray.
James in writing His book tells us this: “Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The truth is, the Bible is filled with teaching and training like we find in James chapter 5 on when and how to pray. The secret is to search them out, prayerfully study them, and put them to use.
I have found in my life time, having been raised in church, knowing many very Godly and powerful men and women, that those who pray the most and have the most effective prayer lives are those who are always searching for ways to improve the way they pray. They study the scriptures to find the prayers of great men and women of faith that are recorded there. They explore the lives those men and women lived that brought them to that place of powerful prayer. They take into consideration the circumstances under which those prayers were prayed. They read and study the historical accounts of great men and women of prayer and the results they attained.
We cannot afford to take lightly this great weapon of prayer or use it erroneously, as the Bible tells us many do. Jam 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. As we have learned in our lessons for this week, we have a powerful enemy! Peter says this about our enemy in his first letter: “1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Jesus describes him in this manner: “Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” According to their descriptions, we are certainly not wrestling against flesh and blood, but the great thing is, we are not fighting with carnal weapons.! We have weapons, such as this great weapon of prayer that give us certain and sure victory over our enemy when used correctly!
It is up to us to get the best strategic training possible, that we might be the best we can be for our Heavenly Father and His Glorious Kingdom!
Prayer for the Day - Read the prayer of Jesus for His disciples just before He is to be taken and crucified, related to us in chapter 17 of John’s epistle. Pray that God would open the scriptures on prayer to us, through His Spirit, that we may develop the most efficient and effective prayer lives possible!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Two - Lesson One
Prayer is Movement
In order to know as much as possible about prayer, we must first answer the question, “what is prayer”? In the Bible there are several Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and several Greek words in the New Testament, that are translated into our English words “pray” and “prayer”. Some of their meanings are: to worship, to bow down, to talk with, chapel, to ask, to stand in for, to judge, or to call out. I think a simple definition for us, is:
“To talk to God, for a specific reason, and in a specific manner.”
I have often described prayer as this:
“The movement by man into the presence of an Almighty God!”
I would like for you to notice that the words above (to worship, to bow down, to talk with, chapel, to ask, to stand in for, to judge, or to call out), are action words. They denote movement in one form or another. If you look closely and give them careful consideration, you will notice that they describe radical movement.
Prayer is not for those who are passive,
Prayer is for those who are passionate!
Someone once told me they had heard a famous television preacher say something to this effect, “God is not moved by His compassion, He is moved by man’s faith.” I believe that is absolutely wrong. The Bible tells us that before the foundation of this world was laid, before there was even a man to have faith, the plan of salvation for man was put into place. From perfect compassion, came the perfect plan, and God exhibited His perfect and indescribable compassion by the offering of His Son at Calvary. Man’s faith does not move God to him, it moves him to God! Prayer does not move God to man, it moves man to God! Fasting is not done to get God’s attention, it is done to get our attention; to get the attention of the carnal man and say to him, “I refuse to bow down or be governed by even your most basic needs,” and to say to the spiritual man, “your hunger for the things of God needs to grow until it exceeds the hunger of the carnal man for the things that fulfill his lusts”.
You do not have to “get” God’s attention, you have God’s attention! Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” How could anyone read that and not believe that the eyes of God are constantly upon us? No, prayer is not about movement on God’s part, it is about movement on our part!
How many times did Jesus tell someone, “Your faith has made you whole,” or “by your faith you are healed”? It wasn’t because they sat at home on the couch and dreamed of having their needs met. It was because they actively pursued the One who could meet their needs. It was the lady with the issue of blood who pressed through the crowd, it was blind Bartimaeus crying out, it was the Syrophenician lady who refused to take “no” for an answer, but begged for the crumbs from the masters table, it was the demoniac who ran to Jesus, it was people whose faith in the power of the Master drove them into His very presence, who received the unthinkable miracles!
Prayer moves man into the very presence of God, where he can experience God’s power, and come to a full understanding of His will, and where he can present his petitions according to that will, and expect and receive results according to that power!
Prayer moves man “away” from acceptance of things as they are to a place where they are as God says they should be. Prayer moves man “away” from the world’s answers, to supernatural answers. Prayer moves man “away” from what is probable, to what is possible. Prayer moves man “away” from the lies of Satan, to the absolute truth of God. Prayer moves man “away” from questions, to answers. Prayer move man away from fear, doubt, and unbelief, to perfect peace, assurance, and greater faith in God!
Prayer for the Day - Read Psalm 100. Pray that God would reveal to you the things you need to move away from and the things you need to move toward in prayer.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Two - Lesson Two
Movement - Into His Throne Room
The Lord, in His pattern for prayer that we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, tells us we should pray to “Our Father who is in Heaven”. Have you ever stopped to think how wonderful it is that we mere mortals, are allowed to call the Creator of the Universe our Father in the most intimate terms. Most of us would never be allowed an individual audience with the President of the United States, or kings or queens, or rulers of the nations of the world, but the one who spoke universes into existence through the power of His will, invites us, and even encourages us to enter into His throne room at any time we please, not as visitors, or guests, or even just friends, but rather as His dear children.
Many of us remember the pictures of President John F. Kennedy working at his desk in the Oval Office with his small son “John John” peeking out from a door in the front of the desk, or of them strolling down one of the stately columned porches of the White House hand in hand. Those pictures gave us an insight into the intimacy of father and son, even amidst this setting of power, prestige, and position. We saw the President of the United States of America, “the most powerful man on earth”, in love with the idea of his young son playing at his feet. We saw the man who spent time with world leaders, discussing world policy, making decisions that would change history, taking the time to walk hand in hand with his son discussing such lofty subjects as; “his favorite flavor of ice cream”, or “which G.I. Joe he likes best”.
That is just a minute, feeble comparison to what it means for God, the creator and ruler of the universe, who not only makes decisions that change history, but actually created time and therefore is the creator of history, to say to me, “Hello son, I’m so glad you’ve come to my throne room. I was hoping you would stop by. Is there anything you need, or wish to discuss, or would you just like to spend some time in peace and quiet enjoying one another’s company?”
Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The word Abba used here denotes a very close and absolute relationship with the God. Some have said it is like calling our earthly fathers “daddy”, showing our intimacy with them and thus here, showing our intimacy with our Heavenly Father. But it is much more than that. It is a term of absoluteness, asserting the absolute fact of knowledge and understanding of our relationship with God. It is such a powerful statement that we cannot, on our own, make it or fully understand it, therefore Paul says in Galations 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Though we cannot fully understand it, the Spirit of His Son, Jesus Christ does, and it is He who cries out from within us, as John Gill says in his commentary, “to express the vehemency of the affection, and the freedom and liberty which belongs to children:”.
There is one warning and admonition that must be made though. When God’s people, the children of Israel, came to Mt. Sinai where they were to receive the Law of God, Moses was told by God to set boundaries around the mount and to make sure no one crossed those boundaries. The people were invited to come to the base of the shaking mountain from whence lightning and thunderings proceeded, which was shrouded in the smoke and fire of God’s presence, to hear His voice. The elders were allowed to go higher into the mount, and Aaron, the high priest, even farther, but only Moses was invited to the peak, to see the revelation of God’s divine glory.
Familiarity with God is a dangerous thing. Though we are His children, we cannot rush haphazardly into His presence. We are to give honor and respect to His exalted position and to His holiness. We are only there by His mercy and through His grace. We are who we are only because we are covered by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Solomon, the great wise king said in Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Prayer for the Day - Read Matthew 6:9-13 and notice the other words that make us acutely aware of the mixing that takes place between the intimacy God has with His children, and the absolute awesomeness of His Divinity. Pray that God would teach you to enter His throne room in the correct way.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Two - Lesson Three
Movement - Into His Kingdom
If you are reading this, you are a human being (I think). Because we are human, we live in a realm, or kingdom, that is ruled by probabilities. Here are some examples: If you get sick, you will probably have to take medicine or go to the doctor. If your car breaks down, you will probably have to miss church. If you try to tell someone about Jesus, they probably won’t want to listen.
This powerful weapon called “prayer”, coupled with our relationship with God changes all that. If we are Christians, we are not just human beings. We are also the children of God. Prayer allows us to actually, step into the throne room of the King of Kings, who created this whole universe and has all things under His authority, and talk with Him as our father. Now, we have removed ourselves from the rules of this human, Kingdom of Probabilities, and moved into a kingdom where God rules. I call His kingdom, the Kingdom of Possibilities. Listen to what the Bible says about this Kingdom of Possibilities: (Mat 19:26) But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
(Mar 9:23) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Now, take a look at the examples of situations above and see some of the possibilities that are opened up by prayer:
Situation Possibilities
1: You get sick. A: God can heal you
B: God can help you learn things through your sickness
C: God can “open doors” for you to use your sickness as a witness to help others
2: Your car breaks down.
A: God can cause it to run
B: God can send someone to pick you up
C: God can show you how to have church at home
3: You try to tell someone about Jesus.
A: God prepares their heart to hear the gospel and they accept Jesus as their savior
B: They don’t accept Christ today, but they think about it and talk to other people about it. Eventually they accept Him into their lives and the people they have talked to accept Him also
C: They accept Christ and lead their family and friends to Him also
In “The Lord’s Prayer”, Jesus says to pray to our Father that “His kingdom come, His will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven”. In His Heavenly kingdom, He speaks and worlds explode into existence. He speaks and perpetual boundaries are set in place. His will is unchallenged and without question. Here in this earth however, He has given man “free will”. It is man’s choice to allow God to establish His kingdom in his heart, or to be bound by the kingdom of the flesh. Listen to how Jesus describes His kingdom to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21, “ And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
It is always in the best interest of the world that the will of the Father be accomplished, and the focus of every Christian’s prayer should be such. Father, let my will be banished! Let your will be the source of my every thought and the direction for every step I take! Let Satan’s will be crushed and his plans thwarted! Let your will be accomplished in every nation, in every government, and in every individual life! Let your kingdom be established in my life, and the lives of those around me! Let my life be a testimony of the benefits of having you set, unchallenged on the throne of my life!
Prayer for the Day - Read Psalm 93:1-5 and reread Matthew 6:25-34, also read Romans 4:17 and 1Corinthians 4:20 and pray that God would teach you to leave this “Kingdom of Probabilities” through prayer and enter His “Kingdom of Possibilities”! May His Kingdom be established in you!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Two - Lesson Four
Movement - Into His Army
Jesus gave us this definition of Satan:
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
Peter describes his activities in this way:
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The truth is - “WE ARE AT WAR!” We are at war against a powerful, determined enemy! He is well qualified, well prepared, well equipped, and well able to defeat you! If you ignore him or take him lightly he will defeat you! You are no match for him intellectually or physically! You do not have the experience he has, the insight he has, or the influence he has! His goal for you is absolute destruction!
William Tecumseh Sherman, upon hearing of South Carolina’s decision to secede from the Union, had this to say about their insight into war:“You people of the South don’t know what you are doing. This country will be drenched in blood, and God only knows how it will end. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization! You people speak so lightly of war; you don’t know what you’re talking about. War is a terrible thing! You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it ... Besides, where are your men and appliances of war to contend against them? The North can make a steam engine, locomotive, or railway car; hardly a yard of cloth or pair of shoes can you make. You are rushing into war with one of the most powerful, ingeniously mechanical, and determined people on Earth—right at your doors. You are bound to fail. Only in your spirit and determination are you prepared for war. In all else you are totally unprepared, with a bad cause to start with. At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will be, your cause will begin to wane. If your people will but stop and think, they must see in the end that you will surely fail.”
I am afraid that General Sherman’s analysis of the South’s understanding of, and preparedness for, war with the North would describe most “Christians” insight to this war we are in with Satan. We fail to see his resolve, and the utter destruction it brings. Because we can’t “see” Hell we tend to forget that it is swallowing souls, by the thousands”, each day, and constantly expanding itself to receive even our family and closest friends. We set idly by and ignore the destructive work that Satan is doing in the lives of those around us, or hide in the rocks and caves, personally afraid of what he might do to us. We think that just because we hang the name “Christian” over the doorpost of our lives we are automatic winners, but I have seen too many people, who really were good Christians, who gave in to the constant battering of Satan’s forces, or failed to place a guard in one gap in their hedge, and Satan destroyed their ministries, their families, their reputations, and their confidence. We cannot afford to take our enemy lightly!
God is calling men and women, Gideons of our day, who realize that “it is not by power, or by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord” that the battle will be won. The entire war will not be won on their knees, but it will start there. It is there they will receive training and equiping, as they prayerfully consider and digest God’s word. It is there they will receive insight into the working of Satan’s plan. It is there they will receive instruction and direction. It is there they will be endued with power by the Spirit. Oh, that a group or Prayer Warriors would make their entrance into God’s Army! Let us enter the battle fray, and work together to tear down the strongholds of the enemy and defeat his minions through the power of prayer!
A young man named Martin Treptow left his job in a small town barber shop in 1917 to go to France to fight with the famed Rainbow Division. There on the Western Front he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire. We are told that on his body was found a diary with this written on the flyleaf under this heading: “My Pledge” – America must win this war. Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.”
Prayer for the Day - Read Joel chapter 2 and Ephesians 6:10-18. Pray that God would show you the seriousness of the battle and the power of prayer, and how to do battle through prayer. Start reading a book on spiritual warfare. Pray that God would help you make Martin Treptow’s pledge to his country, your pledge to God’s Kingdom.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Two - Lesson Five
Movement - Into His Confidence
1Jo 5:13-15 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. The Greek word “parrhesia”, translated here in verse 14 as “confidence”, means: all out spokenness, that is, frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance. It is something in God, so absolute that you can boast of it. It is like David, the Shepherd King, shouting out to the world in the first verse of the 23rd Psalm - “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
David then goes on in the rest of that Psalm to tell of the situations of life that he has found himself in and the absolute assurance that it is the Lord who has brought Him there, the Lord who will keep him while he is there, and the Lord who will bring him out of there.
There are other Hebrew and Greek words throughout the Bible that are translated into our English word - confidence. They come from meanings such as - refuge, a place of safety, fatness, or assurance. Basically they all boil down to “trust”. They speak of someone who will; protect you, feed you, clothe you, provide for you, fight for you, deliver you, care for you, be everything you need in any situation and under any circumstances.
In lesson four, I spoke a great deal about the power and resolve of Satan, our enemy, and the devourer of our souls. While we must never underestimate Satan, or the power of his devices, we also, must never underestimate God, and His power, and His resolve to keep us. The man, woman, boy, or girl who steps outside the will of God, or who is not careful and mindful of their spiritual condition and the status of their relationship with God, is definitely in grave danger from the enemy. However, those who through daily prayer and study of God’s word, enter into the presence of their Heavenly Father, and have constant fellowship with Him, can rest with assurance, and confidence that He will keep them and make them victorious!
Rom 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul, admonishing us to wear the whole armor of God, says this: “Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Notice the word shall; not maybe, possibly, might, on occasion; but rather “ye shall be able to quench all”.
It is no wonder Gideon was able to face an enemy of thousands with 300 men armed with pitchers, lamps, trumpets, and a shout of triumph. His time in God’s presence had caused him to enter into His confidence. It is no wonder David stood fearlessly before Goliath and boldly prophesied of the giants defeat. He had spent enough time in God’s presence that he had entered into His confidence. Ezekiel, looking out at the valley of dry bones, when asked by God if these bones could live, had spent enough time in prayer in the throne room of God, and had come to such an understanding of God’s Kingdom, that he was able to say with confidence, “thou knowest”. He knew that anything God willed was possible.
You see, it is not just a matter of having confidence in God. It is a matter of spending so much time in His presence through prayer, meditation, and the study of His Word, that His confidence in Himself gets in you!
We need to live, breath, move, and have our very being in His confidence! In order to do this we must cleanse ourselves of our confidence in the flesh, and the hope of this world. Once, I was going through a tremendous time of need. Satan was buffeting me daily and my confidence in God was waning. Finally, I took a day off from work to pray. I had spent the entire day praying, (whining), to God about all my problems. Well into the afternoon, I felt led to pick up my Bible. I closed my eyes, spun it around a few times, opened it and stuck my finger on a verse that I hoped would be the answer. My finger landed on this verse: Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Prayer for the Day - Read Psalm 1-6 and notice the progression that comes with each verse. Pray that you would enter into such a place of confidence in God, that His confidence in Himself would fill you, so that you can proclaim boldly to the world - The Lord is my Shepherd!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Three - Lesson One
Prayer is Communication - To Give to God
In Week Two - Lesson One we learned that in the Bible there are several Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and several Greek words in the New Testament, that are translated into our English words “pray” and “prayer”. Some of their meanings are: to worship, to bow down, to talk with, chapel, to ask, to stand in for, to judge, or to call out. I said that I think a simple definition for prayer is:
“To talk to God, for a specific reason, and in a specific manner.”
When I was a boy, I would sometimes be talking so much, (about nothing), my grandmother would look at me and say, “Son, I do believe you would talk just to hear your head roar.” Honestly, I would have to say that there have been times when talking to God, that my talk was little more than the roaring of my head. Perhaps you have been guilty of the same. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus warned the congregation of this just before giving them the “pattern for prayer” we call the Lord’s Prayer.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Today, let’s go just a step deeper. Instead of the words talk to, let’s use the words communicate with and change this simple definition of prayer to this:
“To communicate with God, for a specific reason, and in a specific manner.” Webster’s dictionary gives this definition for the word - communicate. To impart; to give to another, as a partaker; to confer for joint possession; to bestow, as that which the receiver is to hold, retain, use or enjoy.
Let’s separate this definition and put it together in the proper order and see if we can understand how it relates to us and our prayers to God.
1. To impart, (or give), to God that He might hold (or keep), (or possess) it.
2. To give something to God, that he might, retain (or keep) it for us.
3. To give something to God, that He might use it.
4. To give something to God, that He might enjoy it.
In the lessons for this week we are going to take a closer look at each one of these elements of communication. I think you will find that having “just a little talk with Jesus” is a very special, wonderful experience that becomes even more special and wonderful as we grow in our understanding of what is really taking place.
For today, let’s go a little farther and look at the root word for communicate. That would be “commune”. Webster’s dictionary gives the definition for “commune” as: To converse; to talk together familiarly. The dictionary’s definition for “converse” is: To keep company; to associate, to cohabit.
When we put the two together, in relation to prayer, we have a definition that looks something like this:
Being in the same place as God, communicating with Him, for a specific reason and in a specific manner, in a way worthy of our relationship to Him. Remember last week, we said that prayer is “movement”.
“The movement by man into the presence of an Almighty God”
So, from a combination of all our definitions, we can see that, in prayer:
“With awe and respect, we move; into God’s holy throne room, operating in the realm of His Kingdom of Possibilities, onto the spiritual battlefield, with absolute confidence in His will, His promises, and His power; and as His Child, His Ambassador, His Soldier, His Confidant; We communicate, or give, to Him something to possess, retain, use, or enjoy.”
Communication involves more than just giving, of course. It also involves receiving. Next week we will look at the receiving side of this wonderful experience, but this week let’s concentrate on what we give God in prayer.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, (lay forth, give, communicate) Our Father which art in heaven,...
Prayer for the Day - Read Exodus Chapter 3, paying special attention to the things that Moses gives God in his communication with Him. Ask God to prepare your heart and mind to understand what He wants you to give to Him. Ask Him to prepare your heart and mind to be willing to give to Him the things He wants you to give through prayer.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Three - Lesson Two
Communication -To Give to God- Something to Possess
(1Pe 5:6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1Pe 5:7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
We like to use 1Peter 5:7 to say that we can, (if we want to), throw our troubles on the Lord and He will take care of them. By now, of course, you probably know that I am going to say that it means much more than that, and it does. Before we look at that verse though, we have to look at the verse preceding it to understand its real depth.
1 Peter 5:6 starts off by saying we must humble ourselves. I have been guilty, perhaps you have to, of giving with a haughty, or somewhat arrogant attitude. Giving though, if done with thought, should be a very humbling experience. After all, are we not really giving something that God has blessed us with, or blessed us with the health and ability to earn the necessary funds to procure. We are actually just re-giving what God has given us.
Sometimes we give things we are not very proud of to begin with. It’s like a man, stopping to ask for directions. We don’t want to humble ourselves to give forth our lack of knowledge, or show a sign of weakness. Sometimes we get into a financial bind, or come up against a problem we can’t overcome, and we have to humble ourselves to ask for help.
Look though, at where we should humble ourselves; “under the mighty hand of God!” Look also at why; “that He may exalt you in due time”. When we truly understand the humility of giving, we will also understand the humility of being exalted. When we understand that we have nothing to offer that He hasn’t given us, we are nothing that He hasn’t made us to be; then we understand that for Him to exalt us does not bring or direct glory to us, but rather glorifies Him in the time he has appointed for the benefit of the Kingdom.
Now we can begin to understand why it is so important to God, that “you cast (throw) all (the whole of, complete) your care (not cares, distractions, concern, anxiety, uneasiness of mind occasioned by the fear of evil, or the desire of good) upon (superimpose, disperse, give) Him, for (for this reason) He (God with the mighty hand) careth (is interested in, concerned about, if it matters to you, it matters to Him) for you.”
How can you know that God really wants you to “cast all your care (distractions) upon Him”? Take a look at the greatest distraction of all: SIN. What did He do to let you know He wanted you to communicate (give) your sin to Him to possess?
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1Jo 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Not only did He die for us to forgive our sins, but He became our sin that He might be the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and then He ascended to the Father to stand at His right hand and be our advocate, or attorney, so that if we sin again, but we confess that sin to Him, He will plead His blood in obtaining mercy from the Father, the righteous Judge. If He would and could do that to remove our greatest care, or distraction, don’t you think He will use all His power to remove all the other distractions of our lives, or give us grace to withstand them.
God wants us, through prayer to give into His possession, everything about us. He wants this feeble house of clay we call our bodies. He wants our successes and failures, our strengths and weaknesses, our minds and our souls. He who is the “same yesterday, today, and forever” wants our past, present, and future. He wants you to communicate everything that concerns you and leave it with Him, that He might remove that distraction, (He has greater ability and power to deal with it anyway), so that you can concern yourself with that which is most necessary.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Prayer for the Day - Read Luke 10:38-42. Make a list of things that are distractions to your spiritual life and communicate - give - them to God to keep. Then communicate - give -to Him your desire to grow in those things that are truly important, that you might be exalted to bring Glory to His name!
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Three - Lesson Three
Communication -To Give to God- Something to Retain
Today, we are going to take a look at “giving God something to retain”, with the idea of Him returning it at some point in time for some purpose. To better understand this, let us turn to the story in the Bible of the three men and the talents. It is found in Matthew, chapter 25 and starts like this:
Mat 25:14-15 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
The servant with the five talents and the one with the two went and invested their talents and doubled them. The servant with the one talent hid his. There came a day when the master returned from his travels and called his servants before him to reckon with them how they had faired with their talents. The one who had done nothing was rebuked and cast out. The other two were praised, and when they had returned their talents and the ones they had made through wise investing to the master, he replaced them with “rulership over many things, and entrance into the joys of all he possessed.
You see, there are some things God wants us to give Him and leave with Him that He might change them, remove them, correct them, or otherwise deal with them. Other things He wants us to give to Him that He might refine them, return them to us for our input, investment, or use, and then to be returned to Him again either for alteration, or to bring glory to Him.
If I had an idea for building a house, I might go to an architect and ask him to draw up plans. He would take my idea, put it together with his and use his expertise to put the plans on paper. He would then bring the plans back to me for my approval or changes. This “give and take” procedure might take place several times over a somewhat large expanse of time. Other people might become involved as the whole thing progresses into fruition until the project is finished.
Sometimes God give us the basis of an idea. He then allows us to use our personalities, knowledge and talents to consider the idea build upon it. We then give it back to Him to make sure we are thinking according to His will and to ask for more direction or guidance. As in the building example, the “give and take” procedure continues until completion. This could be through our entire life.
Sometimes God gives us talents when we are young and over time we improve those talents through practice and use, and we then use them to bring glory to His Kingdom.
What about those “spiritual gifts” that God says, “He has given to every man to profit withal”? We take so little thought of those gifts, but they are the manifestation of the Holy Ghost in our lives, for the proper and complete working of the Body of Christ. We should know what our gifts are and how they can and should be used. We should know what others’ gifts are and how they compliment ours so that we can work together properly.
Sometimes we get the mistaken impression that once God gives us a particular gift, we will use it perfectly without mistakes. Actually these gifts are developed through use, and study for understanding, and prayer.
The church is so crippled today because we take so little thought about our position in the body and how the gifts, talents, and abilities God gives us enable us to fulfill those positions. Perhaps we are also crippled because we spend so much time “talking to” God instead of engaging in meaningful “communication with” Him, in a “give and take” procedure that brings about growth, development, and eventual glory for Him and His Kingdom.
In the story of the servants and the talents that we began today’s study with, there is that tremendously sad part about the man with the one talent, and how he hid it in fear, and when the master returned he was rebuked and cast out. I used to feel sorry for him, until I found out that even one talent was worth a tremendous amount of money by anyone’s standards. The devil lies to us today and tells us our talents are worthless, and we should keep them to ourselves so as not to bring embarrassment and the possibility of failure. All the while, God is looking waiting for us to begin the “give and take process” of development that will end with His praise and invitation to enter into the fulness of His Joys!
Prayer for the Day - Read the story of the talents in Matthew 25 again and look up the value of “just one talent”. Pray that God take the things that you have that need to be developed and begin the “give and take” process that they might be developed and used in the fulfillment of His will in your life.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Three - Lesson Four
Communication -To Give to God- Something to Use
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. You have heard, and perhaps used the phrase, “What gift can you give to the person who has everything?” Perhaps you have asked yourself, “What do I have that God could possibly want or need?” After all the Psalmist said in Psalm 24:1 ... The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
I have mentioned in this study, “The Lord’s Prayer”, as a “pattern for prayer” that He gave us to teach us the proper manner in which to pray. In John chapter 17 though, we have a full rendering of one of Jesus’s actual prayers. It is in fact, the only complete prayer of His that we have record of. It is the prayer He prayed just after the “last supper”, and just before He led His disciples to the Garden where He would go off and pray alone. In this prayer we find some of the answers to what we have that He can use.
Joh 17:14-18 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Notice especially the underlined portions in this section I have extracted from Jesus’s prayer. First, He says, (my paraphrase) “I am not asking you, Father, to take them out of this world.” You see, there is a purpose He had for them staying here. Then, He says, (my paraphrase again) “They are not a part of this world, or bound by this world’s probabilities. They are a part of the Heavenly Kingdom of Possibilities, even as I am.” “Sanctify, (set them apart for a specific purpose), them through the truth of Your Word. Establish them in the truth of Your Word, the only absolute in this world and the world to come.” He finishes His request then, with this proclamation, (my paraphrase) “As you sent me into this world, as your representative in the form of man, so send I forth them, as men, representatives of Our Kingdom into this world to reach other men.”
There is a very important issue that I think Christians know, but many, maybe most, don’t really embrace, and don’t therefore delve into the depth that is necessary for full understanding, and by extension then don’t fulfill in the way the God intended. That issue is this: WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He promised that if He went away, He would send another comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. He did not however send the Holy Ghost to do the work that He did while He was here. He sent the Holy Ghost to give life to His Body, The Church, Us; that we, His physical body, might do the work that He did.
Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” In John 14:12 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” In 1Corinthians 12:27, Paul says, “ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
While we set around waiting, and sometimes praying for the Holy Ghost to do a great work in the world, Our Father is waiting for us to “get it”, that WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, and the Holy Ghost is only going to work through us.
God wants our physical bodies, along with all our, possessions, talents and gifts. Remember, our Father can take anything we have and get more out of it than we ever dreamed possible.
Prayer for the Day - Read the entire prayer of Christ in John chapter 17. Read 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Read Romans 8:1-18. Start a written list of all that you have, starting in general terms such as; possessions, talents etc. and offer them to God for His use. Over the next few weeks, make your list more specific, being careful to not leave out even the smallest, or things we perceive to be the least valuable. The moment you notice them, offer them to God for His use. Add them to your list and in your daily devotion communicate them to the Father that they might be used to bring glory to Him.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Three - Lesson Five
Communication -To Give to God- Something to Enjoy
I am quite sure that there is a great multitude of things that our Heavenly Father enjoys immensely. We are, after all, His children in whom He takes great delight. For today’s portion of this study though, I want to focus on four things specifically that we find in the Word of God, that bring Him pleasure.
The first scripture I want us to look at is Luke12:31-32 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Our Father takes great pleasure in those who seek after Him. Notice, He says, (my paraphrase) If you seek the Kingdom, it is my good pleasure to give you the Kingdom, as well as supplying the fulness of your physical needs. What does it mean then, “to seek”? Strong’s dictionary of Greek words says the Greek word “zeteo”, translated “seek” in the King James Version of the Bible, means to worship, to desire, to enquire, even to require. The corresponding verse in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6 verse, says to “seek first, the Kingdom of God”. If you really want to communicate to God something He will enjoy to the utmost, place Him first on your list of desires, on your list of needs, your list of pleasures, and your list of people to spend time with.
Prayer is not just words that issue forth from our mouth. We are learning that prayer is communication, or giving something for a specific purpose. Prayer comes from the depth of the heart. Your life, is your prayer! That doesn’t mean that we don’t bow on our knees and say words from our heart to God. It means that those words are meaningless if not backed up with the action of our lives. I don’t just say to God, “I love you”, but you show Him you live Him by communicating, or giving, to Him your foremost attention through study of His Word to better understand His Wondrous Being. You communicate something that brings Him Joy, not just by singing “I Surrender All”, but by bringing all that you are and all you that possess to lay at His feet and say, “Here they are. You gave them to me in the first place. Now let’s work together to develop them into something that brings glory to your wonderful name. Father, you are more than a desire in my life, you are an absolute requirement. I must know more about you, that I might be all that I can be through you!”
The next two things I want us to look at, we can put together, but they come from two separate scriptures. Psalm 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 1Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
The word fear means “to revere or to be in awe”. When thinking of those two terms in relationship to God we often think in relation to His power, as in His creation works, or the great and mighty miracles he performs in peoples lives, but the rest of Psalm 147:11 gives us a picture of what the Psalmist is thinking. He says, “in those that hope (have patience in, or rest in the trust of) in His mercy.” Of all the things of God that make us stand in awe, isn’t the thing that stops us in our tracks and renders us speechless the most, the awesomeness of His mercy. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. By extension, isn’t it that, not the fear of Hell, that makes us obey His word? A God that loves us that much, can only have our best interest at heart. In “word” prayer, and with “life” prayer we communicate the awe that we feel for His extension of mercy to us. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
The last, and perhaps most obvious thing I want us to look at today is this: (Hebrews 13:15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. The thing about “praise” is that if we don’t get those first three elements right; seeking after Him, holding Him in proper awe and respect, obeying His commandments; our praise is empty repetition of words. Once we get those things right though, proper praise comes naturally, not just from the mouth. Our lives become lives of constant praise! All that we do, all that we are, is a manifestation in this world of the beauty of His holiness!
Prayer for the Day - Read Luke 12:1-40 and Psalm 147. Pray that God would open His scriptures to you, revealing to you the areas of your life where He is not number one, and teaching you how to elevate Him to number one in those areas. Begin to communicate to Him in “words” your desire for Him in specific areas of your life, and with your lips begin to praise Him, allowing those “word prayers” to grow into “life prayers”.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Four - Lesson One
Communication - Receiving /Accepting from God
Last week we learned that prayer is “communication.” After putting together the Webster’s Dictionary definition for “communicate” - (To impart; to give to another, as a partaker; to confer for joint possession; to bestow, as that which the receiver is to hold, retain, use or enjoy) together with some ways in which it relates to prayer, we came up with this total definition:
“With awe and respect, we move; into God’s holy throne room, operating in the realm of His Kingdom of Possibilities, onto the spiritual battlefield, with absolute confidence in His will, His promises, and His power; and as His Child, His Ambassador, His Soldier, His Confidant; We communicate, or give, to Him something to possess, retain, use, or enjoy.
Communication is more than just giving though, it is also receiving, or accepting. At first, the receiving side of communication might seem to be extremely easy, and very exciting, especially the prospect of receiving something from an almighty God. When you get to the actual “receiving part”, it is both of those. Often though, it takes as much or more preparation of the mind and heart through prayer, to receive from God, as it does to give to God. Let’s take a look at some of the things God wants us to receive, or accept from Him, to better understand why that is true.
1. Forgiveness: When we take our sins, faults, and failures to God in sincere repentance, He forgives us completely and absolutely.
2. Acceptance: With forgiveness, He accepts us into His fellowship, family, and makes us an heir of all He has and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.
3. Love: Understand that every answer to prayer is a product of God’s tremendous love for us.
4. Compassion: He is compassionate about everything that concerns us.
5. Peace: He wants us to take time in His presence to experience His perfect peace. Remember, He gives us peace when we don’t think it is possible.
6. Joy: In Christ we find a joy, that is unaffected by circumstance or situations.
7. Guidance: We are guided by God’s answers to our prayers, into the perfect places.
8. His Will: When we accept God’s will, we are accepting the absolute best for our lives.
You see, these things that God wants us to receive in communication with Him, are wonderful beyond measure. They are so wonderful, in fact, that it is difficult to receive them, because we know we are absolutely unworthy. To receive them requires accepting grace and mercy that is unfathomable to us. We humans think we need to “understand” the things that affect us. Unless we understand those things, at least partially, we find it hard to believe their reality. When Paul says in Rom 11:33, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”, he is not talking about the awe and amazement of His creative power, he is talking about His great mercy, grace, forgiveness, His gifts, and His callings.
Another problem we humans have is that we want to be able to see the things that affect us. We want them to be tangible. The Bible, on the other hand, says in 2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:). We can’t see or comprehend fully the “Kingdom of Heaven”, yet we ask to live and operate in that Kingdom. We see no reason for, or possibility of peace or joy, yet we ask for that which is unspeakable, and unfathomable. We look down a dark path, knowing not what lies beyond the bend, whether it be green pastures and still waters or the valley of the shadow of death, and we ask Him to take us there. We know that our pathway might lead through a lion’s den or a fiery furnace. Most assuredly, it will take us to the pressure of the potter’s wheel and the heat of the refiner’s furnace, yet when we hear the urgency of His cry, we know we must follow.
Often, we receive simple answers to simple prayers from our Heavenly Father. They take no preparation to receive, they are not difficult to accept. Receiving them, is as simple as accepting the bag of groceries you have just purchased from the clerk’s hand. From past experiences though, we understand that the farther we move into the depth of God, and the greater the things we receive from Him, the greater the preparation that is required.
Prayer for the Day - Read again, Exodus Chapter 3, paying special attention to the things that Moses is asked to accept from God in his communication with Him. Ask God to prepare your heart and mind to receive completely, with absolute confidence, what He wants to give you. 5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Four - Lesson Two
Communication - Receiving - Forgiveness & Acceptance
I’m sure that many of you, just looking at this title, already have emotions running through your mind. Maybe accepting forgiveness from God and acceptance into His fellowship, is something you have struggled with personally, or you know one person, or probably more who just can’t seem to leave the past at His feet and walk away free. A young man I had grown up with came through the doors of the church where I was pastor one night. There was a strong spirit of conviction in the service that night, and it was obvious that young man needed to pray, and in his heart really wanted to pray, but he just wouldn’t. After church, I stood in the foyer of the church and talked with him for some time. The whole premise of his side of the conversation, was that not even God could forgive him for the things he had done. No matter how many scriptures I gave him, or examples of others rescued from the pits of sin, he just could not make himself believe he could be forgiven. We prayed and he admitted that he felt the presence of God, and had felt drawn to that service that night by God, but he just could not believe that God would forgive him and make him His child. That seems like a sad story of one man, but in reality, it is the story of multitudes.
Even Christians, by the scores, struggle with “getting past” the “past”. They know in their minds that God has forgiven them, but receiving that absolute and total forgiveness in their hearts seems impossible.
If we are talking about the call of God on someone’s life, for instance a call to the mission field, we can understand what it means to surrender to God’s will. Well, I can tell you that it is absolutely God’s will that you be forgiven completely for your sins, and accepted without question into His holy family. Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Mic 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
1Ti 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (16) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
The apostle Paul, looking back on his past, says of himself that he; blasphemed God, persecuted the Church - the Body of Christ, and was injurious, or despitefully used those he came into contact with. Yet, even he obtained mercy, as a pattern for all those who would follow, that he might be an example of the great grace of God. The proclamation he makes in 1Timothy 1:15 should echo through the hearts of everyone who struggles with accepting God’s forgiveness. 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief! Let that sweep through your life, and surrender the past!
You would think that forgiveness would be enough, but that is not so with God. In Ephesians 3:20, Paul says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,... Think of that, in relation to the preceding verse, Ephisians 3:19 which says, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Creation itself proves He is able to do exceeding abundantly above anything we can imagine, but here, Paul is speaking of something far more wonderful than even the creation of this amazing universe we live in. He is speaking of the amazing grace of a God, who not only forgives our past, but with that forgiveness, accepts us into His own family. 1John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:... Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
Even those who have accepted God’s forgiveness often struggle with the reality of being His child, and accepting all the benefits, power, and authority that comes with that. That is not just a privilege that God offers, it is His divine desire. It is in drawing us into the understanding of those benefits, power, and authority that He is able to use us in the way He desires, to bring Glory to His Kingdom. In not accepting that position, and using it as He desires, we bring hurt, not only to ourselves, but to the Body and Kingdom of Christ. It is important we study God’s Word and pray until the realization of who we are in Him is birthed in our hearts.
Prayer for the Day - Read John 3:1-21 and Ephesians chapter 1. Pray that God would help you receive and accept His forgiveness and acceptance.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Four - Lesson Three
Communication - Receiving - Love & Compassion
Heb 4:15-16 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Webster’s dictionary defines “compassion” as: “a suffering with another, painful sympathy”. Again today, as we look at two more things we receive from God in prayer, we must stand in awe of our Heavenly Father. To think that, when we suffer, He suffers with us. It seems incomprehensible doesn’t it? Doesn’t it seem even more incomprehensible to think that one of the purposes for Jesus coming to Earth was to experience life in this fleshly body that He might know the feeling of our infirmity, that when He stands before the Father as our High Priest, He says, “I know what they are going through.”
Jesus, in fact, knows our infirmities better than us, to the point that when we don’t know how to pray, He prays for us. Rom ans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Not only does He intercede for us, He does it according to the wonderful will of the Father. Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
You can rest assured that there is not one thing that concerns you, that does not concern God. At the root of that word compassion, we find the word passion, which is a word which denotes fervor. God is concerned about you with a fervor that is unmatched and undescribable. He is so concerned, he knows when even a hair drops from your head.
Webster’s dictionary also has this to say about compassion: Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. From this definition, we understand that God’s unmatched compassion, sets His great love into motion, to attend to the needs of His children.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The compassion of God, for man, bound in sin’s destructive forces with no way out, set His love into motion in this way, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever... Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
When you pray, “remember”, you are placing yourself in a position to receive the best that Heaven has to offer! Why, because of God’s love and compassion for you.
Understanding this, makes receiving and accepting what God has for us absolutely thrilling. We know that He always has our best interest at heart. There will be times when God answers our prayers with a “no”. Sometimes, it is, “not now”. Sometimes God calls us to places we don’t want to go, or to do things we don’t necessarily want to do. Sometimes He calls us to do things that seem impossible. Understanding God’s love and compassion will help us to continue on, unwavering, determined, singing victory’s song as we go!
There have been times in my ministry that the attack of the enemy was so strong, that I had to just sit before Him in prayer and allow Him to envelop me in His amazing love, to bring the strength I needed to go on.
One night, several years ago, I was lying in bed. Suddenly I awoke to this awful coldness. I could feel the presence of Satan in an almost overwhelming sense. In that moment, he let me know that he had more than enough power to destroy me and my family both physically and spiritually. I could feel the truth of that statement. In the cold darkness of that moment, I cried out to God. It was not an elaborate prayer. I just made myself available to receive whatever He wanted to give. In just a heartbeat, I felt a warmth and a glow come into that house. With ease, it dispelled the dark and the cold. It wasn’t the creative power of God that entered that house and drove away the enemy. It was the power of His love and compassion that made me to know that no matter what Satan brought against me, I could rest at peace in His wonderful name!
Prayer for the Day - Read 1 John chapter 4. Ask God to help you learn to sit in His presence and receive His wonderful love that it might strengthen you as you pray and wait upon His answer. Ask Him to help you see His love more clearly in His Word, His creation, and His people. Allow Him to show you how concerned He is about every area of your life by giving them to Him in prayer.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Four - Lesson Four
Communication - Receiving - Peace & Joy
Two of the most sought after elements of life, are “peace” and “joy”. Unfortunately, these two elements seem so elusive to the common man, that he is more than willing to accept what he considers to be the nearest substitute. Instead of “peace”, man is willing to accept comfort, or rest from troubles and adversity, or even a short term escape through things such as drugs or alcohol. Instead of “joy”, man is willing to accept the temporary fix of momentary happiness, or pleasure, even through immoral or perverted means. The truth though, is that real peace and real joy are not illusive at all. You just have to go to the right, and only source.
Jesus said, in his most lengthy recorded conversation, and one of His last conversations with His disciples, when He is telling them that He must leave this world to go back to the Father, Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
There are two very important statements here that help us understand the possibilities that await us in prayer. First, Jesus says that He is leaving with His disciples a peace that is not to be found in this world. Second, He says that because of this peace, there is no need to allow their hearts to be troubled or afraid.
Within hours, Jesus would be taken from them by the temple guard, questioned, mocked, spit upon, have his beard plucked, his face buffeted, be turned over to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, whipped, crucified, and his body sealed in a borrowed tomb. The one they believed to be the deliverer of Israel, their Messiah, even the Son of God was gone. They had left businesses, occupations, dreams and ambitions, families and friends, believing Him to be their future, and now their future was gone. Not only was their future with Him gone, their lives were in danger. All of this, and Jesus says, “don’t let your hearts be troubled, don’t be afraid”? What is He talking about?
It is in that first statement that we find the answer. Jesus says, “my peace I give unto you.” Had the disciples paid special attention to “Him” during this time, they would have seen “His” peace. They had seen this peace in evidence every day. They had seen it as the lepers approached so close that it seemed their disease would jump off their skin and attack His, but with no concern or fear, He had simply reached out and touched them and leprosy was defeated. They had seen it in the face of challenge and criticism from the religious rulers. They had seen it displayed on the stormy sea. Like Peter walking across the menacing waves though, they took their eyes off of Him. Had they looked close enough, they would have seen that although His body was being affected by this storm, but His demeanor was not. Just as He had walked across the waves that stormy night, unaffected by all that was going on around Him, He walked through this storm with a peace that passed understanding. It was that peace that He declared He would leave with them!
Where did that peace come from? We find the answer on that same night, in that garden on the Mount of Olives, in a prayer so earnest that His sweat became as drops of blood. “Not my will, but thine be done” was the prayer that brought such wondrous results. He was in perfect harmony with His Heavenly Father. Though His physical body cried out otherwise, in that moment His will so meshed and entwined with that of His Father, that nothing could deter Him from accomplishing the goal that was laid out before Him and obtaining the joy that waited on the other side of the resurrection.
That is the same source of perfect peace and fulness of joy that we must come to today. Through the earnest and sincere study of God’s Word, we find His perfect will, and in our own “garden prayers”, saturated with “blood, sweat, and tears,” we surrender to the perfection of that will, looking forward to the joy that lies beyond. If you can lay hold of the peace it takes to truly take up your cross and follow Him, you will not only have the peace necessary to face anything that comes your way without fear or trouble of heart, but you will be able to face it with a heart full of joy, knowing that God will use that adversity to bring glory to His Wonderful Name!
According to Strong’s Greek and Hebrew dictionary, the Greek word for peace comes from a primary verb which means “to join” and by implication to prosper or be at rest. The Greek word for joy, means “cheerfulness” or “calm delight”. It is not hard to see that when we are “joined” (at peace) with the perfect will of our Heavenly Father, we will “prosper” in His “calm delight”(joy).
Prayer for the Day - Read Philippians 4:4-9, 1Peter 1:1-9, Gal 5:22-25, Psalm 16:1-11. Pray that your mind would be opened to the understanding that peace is not rest from adversity, but rest in the midst of adversity through oneness with your Heavenly Father and complete confidence in Him; and to understand that Joy is not situational, but constant in all situations.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Four - Lesson Five
Communication - Receiving - God’s Will and Guidance
I’m sure you have noticed that the lessons of this week were leading somewhere. Let’s take a quick look at the sequence.
First - You receive God’s forgiveness and acceptance into His family. This separates you from the past and moves you into correct relationship with Him, making possible your absolute best present and future.
Second - You receive God’s love and compassion. Now that you have entered into right relationship with Him, you can begin to understand how deep His compassion for you is, and how that every answer to every prayer is generated by God’s amazing love.
Third - You receive God’s peace and joy. In receiving and understanding the depth of God’s love and compassion, you accept that perfect peace and fulness of joy can only be found in His perfect will.
Fourth - You are now ready to accept God’s will and guidance, knowing that He always has your best interest at heart, and that He is able to make of you something more beautiful and wonderful than you ever imagined that will bring glory to His Holy Kingdom.
This progressive pathway that God leads us on is truly amazing. Unfortunately, so many Christians spend so much of their prayer life focused on the needs of the present day, that they fail to notice that God is leading them through this progression for a very wonderful purpose. In fact, many fail to notice the progression at all. When they pray for God’s will, it is pertaining to an answer to the problem of the day, not in relation to the eternal purpose that God has for their life. They read Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you, with an emphasis on “all these things shall be added unto you”, but God is wanting them to focus on “Kingdom of God”, and “His Righteousness”.
He is saying, “Don’t just think today, think today in relation to forever. Don’t just think, my little world, think His Kingdom. Don’t think what would be right in my way of thinking, think what is right with Him in the light of eternity. Don’t think I want, think what he wills.
As we walk along this progressive pathway, and the scales of carnality are removed from our eyes, and we begin to see through spiritual eyes; the needs of a world bound by sin and headed for Hell, make our fleshly needs of the day seem almost petty. We come into such a confidence in God’s love and compassion for us, that we know that no matter how big or important they might seem to us at that moment, they are even more important to Our Heavenly Father and before we even pray He knows that need and makes provision for it to be met. In doing so he relieves our minds from the daily pressures of life so that we may focus on God’s will for our life in meeting the spiritual needs of that lost and dying world.
When Jesus came to this earth, in His three and a half years of ministry, He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, healed the sick, raised the dead, answered questions, and discipled followers; with His eyes constantly on the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension, where the ultimate need of lost man would be met. Jesus made this statement, defining His life, in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
When we come to a right relationship with God, constantly growing in our knowledge and understanding of His love and compassion, and His peace and joy, we begin to understand our place in His Body. It becomes imperative that we are in perfect alignment with His will, and constantly sensitive to the divine guidance of the Holy Ghost. Our prayer lives change from an “I want” session, to a session of “seeking out” and “surrendering to His will”. We realize the importance of His guidance in every situation we are brought into. What we do, what we say, how we react, might have an eternal impact on someone’s soul.
It is not just guidance into the “big picture” ministry of our lives, but an understanding that every “small moment” is a valuable part of the “big picture plan” that God has for us. That understanding leads us along a progressive path: from prayer is something I should do - to prayer is something I can’t do without; from a dedicated prayer time - to a dedicated prayer life; from prayer is something I must do - to prayer is something I must live!
Prayer for the Day - Read Psalm 23, Read Romans 8. In prayer today leave all the cares of “the day” at the feet of your Heavenly Father, trusting His love and compassion for you. Focus your attention on crucifying the flesh, that the Holy Ghost might have complete control in your life, leading you and guiding you into a life that makes an eternal difference in the lives of your family, friends, and acquaintances.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Five - Lesson One
Prayer is Action
In our last four lessons we have learned that prayer is - A Weapon, Movement, Communication In The Form of Giving, and Communication In The Form of Receiving. Each one of these elements of prayer requires action. Even in last week’s lesson on receiving, we learned that receiving, when it comes to prayer and the way our Heavenly Father wants us to receive, is not just sitting on the couch waiting for someone to give you something. In God’s Kingdom, receiving is preparing the heart, mind, and even the body to receive or accept, the things God wants us to receive in their fulness, in the proper manner, allowing them to transform us into vessels of honor that bring glory to His Holy Kingdom.
It may take some time, filled with study and practice, to truly understand and grasp the action required to prepare the mind, heart, and body to receive correctly. As we grow in this understanding though, there will come a revelation that another transformation is taking place in our lives. We will see that receiving, not only requires action on our part, but it is also establishing action in our daily lives. One of the great things about the act of receiving from God, is that it generates an act of giving to the world. Let’s take a look at some of the things we talked about receiving in last weeks lesson, to get a better understanding of what I mean.Forgiveness & Acceptance: As we grow deeper in our understanding of the great price that was paid that our sins might be forgiven and that we might be accepted into the family of God as sons and daughters, we begin to look around us at those who are lost with the same desire to see them brought to that same state of forgiveness and acceptance as we have received.
Love & Compassion: The desire to see everyone come to that state of forgiveness and acceptance that God has paid that great price for, stirs our compassion and motivates out love to take the necessary action to lead them to that most wonderful of places, in their Heavenly Father.
Peace & Joy: The evolution of perfect peace and joy that comes from our preparation of the heart and mind through study of God’s Word and the prayer of faith; allows us, and motivates us, to step out into situations that we never would have stepped into before, where God can use us in ways far beyond our wildest imaginations to bring glory to His Majestic Kingdom.
His Will & Guidance: As we grow in understanding of all the elements listed above, we will see clearly that God’s greatest desire, is to redeem men from sin and to bring them into a their proper relationship with Him. That desire will become, not only the motivation for our lives, but it will become our life’s story!
In the lessons of week two, we learned that “prayer is movement”. It is movement to God, and the understanding of God and His Kingdom and His Will. Each place we discussed moving to, generates also, movement for God.
Into His Throne Room - For the specific purpose of giving and receiving according to His Will, that we might be, and have what is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Into His Kingdom - That we might, with proper wisdom and authority, make use of all the possibilities available through Him, to accomplish His Will in this world, in our appointed time.
Into His Army - To protect and defend our position on His battlefield. To defeat the enemy, tear down strongholds, and conquer new territory. Zec 4:6... Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Into His Confidence - That our faith might be established in Him, so that we might step forth with all confidence; perfect love having cast out all fear; armed with the Word of God to establish His Kingdom on this Earth.
Understanding the lessons of weeks two, three, and four, brings us back to the lesson from week one, where we discussed prayer as a weapon. Understanding these last three lessons, establishes in our heart the absolute fact, that God wants us to have Super Power through Super Prayer. In this week’s lessons we are going to look at areas of our lives that God wants us to use this powerful weapon in. Not only are we going to look for ways in which we are moved to action through prayer, but ways in which we are moved to action as a result of prayer.
Prayer for the Day - Reread the prayer of Christ in John 17, noticing the things Jesus says He has done, and is now doing and preparing to do for those whom the Father has placed in His care. Pray that you, will have the heart and mind of Christ to perform the necessary actions for those whom He places in your care and those He brings into contact with you. Meditate on this in conjunction with the agonizing prayer Jesus prayed in Gethsemane and let the gravity of fulfilling the Father’s Will sink deep into your heart.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Five - Lesson Two
Action - Praying For The Lost
As we move into a more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer, we appreciate more deeply the shedding of blood by His Son Jesus, that allows us the worthiness to participate in this divine communion. The unfathomable compassion of God; that He would love us while we were yet sinners, in such a way as to send His Only Begotten Son to die in our place, for the remission of our sins; echos and reverberates in our hearts, building to such a crescendo that it bursts forth from our hearts, through our lips, in an agonizing plea for the souls of those around us. The Bible likens it to the “travail of a woman in the pains of childbirth.” Yet, though it is agonizing, it springs forth from the depth of love, striving for the bringing forth of “new life.”
It is, at one time, a prayer against the powers of Satan that hold captive the souls of our loved ones in the miry pits of sin, but for the Holy Spirit to bring help and relief in the form of bondage breaking conviction and drawing, tugging compassion. It is a prayer of authority over the powers of Hell, in claiming those souls for Heaven’s Kingdom. It is a binding of the “strong man” who has established authority in their “house”. At the same time, it is a releasing of God’s great love and compassion into their lives. It is a “shutting of the mouths of the lions” that they might hear the voice of God calling them into His sanctuary. It is the “holding back of the floods” that threaten to swallow them, until they can see the path to safety that Jesus provided through the cross. Prayer is “rending of the veil of darkness”, that the world might see the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prayer, in itself, is fervent action. It is the use of a powerful weapon against the enemy of men’s souls. It is movement into the presence of God to intercede for those who don’t can’t or won’t pray for themselves. Prayer is a sacrificial giving of time and effort in that intercessory process. It is a giving of all that we are and have to God that He might make us effective parts of His Body, doing His work on earth. It is receiving from God the cleansing, purifying, sanctifying, strengthening processes we need in our lives to make us vessels fit and prepared for His use. As I stated in an earlier lesson, “Prayer is not for the passive. Prayer is for the passionate!”
Prayer though, is not just action in itself. Prayer drives man to physical action. Often times, our prayers have been reactionary. When we were faced with problems or confronted with difficult situations, we reacted by praying. We were not really prepared to pray. We just wanted our needs met. As we study prayer, and understand that its primary focus should be to “seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God” in every area and situation of our life, and the lives of those around us, we see the need to study His Word in a way that will lead us into a perfected relationship with Him. As we see how powerful prayer really is, and the multiple purposes it has, we are driven to spend more quality time in its use. It goes from being something we say in times of trouble, to being the basic element of our life, our constant dependency.
Prayer first heightens our awareness of our own personal needs, in our relationship with God and in our relationship with our fellow men. As we grow and mature in those areas, prayer then leads us on a tour of the needs of those around us. Our sensitivity to these people and their needs, opens before us a new arena of prayer, as we begin to ask God to use us to help meet those needs. Instead of looking at our possessions as simply something God has blessed us with as some sort of reward, or just to make our lives more comfortable, we begin to see them as resources He has blessed us with to use in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of others, leading them to Him.
As prayer leads us into an understanding of the great mercy and grace of God in our lives, and the wonder of His plan of salvation, it is also revealing the destructive power of sin, the ferociousness of its attack on souls, and the strength of its hold on peoples lives. With that understanding, there comes a growing awareness of the need for action on our part. The fear we once felt when it came to witnessing is replaced by the urgency of the situation. Instead of waiting for opportunities to witness, we make opportunities. Instead of waiting for someone else, we pray “God send me!” The needs of others, become our needs! Their lack is our lack, their want our want! When we see them down, we rush to pick them up! Prayer picks us up off our knees and thrusts us onto the battlefield where eternal souls are at stake! We cease to worry about our own personal needs, knowing they are in the hands of our Heavenly Father! Instead of living to worry, we live to minister!
Prayer for the Day - Read Ezekiel 22:17-31, Isaiah 6:1-8, and Luke 19:1-10. The trip through Jericho recorded in Luke 19 was evidently Jesus’s last physical appearance in that town. Two of the most notable stories of His ministry took place on this occasion. Search through the gospels to find the other, noticing in both, the sensitivity of Jesus to those in the crowd who were most hungry for help. Pray that God would give you the same sensitivity and stir to you put your prayers into action.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Five - Lesson Three
Action - Praying For The Church
Begin by reading Psalm 133
To start this lesson, I am going to make a comment that seems to be very obvious, and most would say goes without saying. “The church is not: a building, an organization, a particular persons ministry, a program, a set of rules, a particular service, a way of doing a religious activity, or something abstract.” Of course you know that, but if you take the time to notice how you address and even think about “church” from time to time, you might be surprised to see how often you think of “church” in one of those terms.
In reality, “church” is people. The true church is “people” who make up the “body” of Christ on this earth. The work of the “church”, is the work of Christ. The “church” does what ‘He” would do if “He” were here. The “Body” does what the “Head” says. We must understand that when we pray for the “church”, we are praying for the “Body of Christ”. That, is an humbling thought.
Our prayers for the church are often generic. We pray for it as if it was an entity in and of itself. The Bibles says though, in 1Corinthians 12:27, “ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Just previous to that, in verses 25 and 26, Paul says, “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. When we pray for the church, we are praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are praying for people who help to make us what we are. We are praying for people who are standing next to us on the battlefield in our fight against Satan. We are praying for people who are, in reality a part of us, so much so, that when we are praying for them, we are praying for ourselves and for the benefit of the whole body of Christ.
Let’s take a quick look at your church - the local body of Christ that you are a part of. It is very important that we learn to pray specifically in regards to the people that form it, and the ministries it is involved in. If we pray generically about our church, it is because we think generically about our church. For instance, we might know who works in the nursery department and pray, “Father, please help Sis. Whatever as she works with those children.” But our prayers become more effective, when we talk to Sis. Whatever and find out the needs in her class, and the specific adversities she has to overcome, and her vision for that ministry. We can then pray specifically about those needs. We can even take time to find out some details about the children in her class, and their specific needs, and the needs of their families, so that we can pray specifically about those. As we pray in specifics about this ministry, our sensitivity to the people who are a part of it is heightened. We become concerned about them and the needs of their personal lives. Often, our sensitivity to a particular ministry becomes so heightened, as we pray about it in specifics, that we want to become a participant in it. This might come in the form of using what God has blessed us with to meet some of its needs, becoming physically involved, or forming a prayer group based around its specific needs.
Can you imagine the wondrous things that would take place in your church, if we all began to see the value in one another as God sees it? Can you imagine the power of the unity that would develop if we truly grasp, that each individual not only has tremendous value, but that they are extremely valuable to us? If we begin to pray in specifics for one another, we will step out to bear the burdens of one another. As we pray for specific ministries, our sensitivity to the value of those ministries is heightened, and we become participants, not just observers. The amazing thing that transpires when we begin to pray this way, is that our eyes become open to all the ministries that the church is involved in, and the values of those ministries. We then begin to grow in participation in multiple areas, along the way developing a greater loyalty to the church and greater unity with our brothers and sisters in the Lord! Can you imagine the powerful services we would have when we become a fervent participant instead of a casual observer. and a fervent giver instead of just a lackadaisical receiver!
Once we begin this personal growth, or accelerate this growth, by praying specifically for the local church and its ministries, we begin to look outside our four walls to the whole body of Christ. Our prayers for other local assemblies, assemblies in other areas, or over-seas missions become more specific and we begin to search for ways to be participatory with, or in them. Jesus said nothing about His Church being contained in four walls. In fact, He said, “Go ye, into all the world!”
Prayer for the Day - Read 1Corinthians chapters 12 &13, and Ephesians 4. The place to begin tearing down the walls of strife and contention, is in us. Pray that God would reveal to you those walls in your own life that need to be tore down, and that He would help you to begin to see the tremendous value of others and that value in relationship to you.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Five - Lesson Four
Action - Praying For Your Community
As you have probably noticed in this week’s lessons, we just keep broadening our horizons. Today, we look into our communities. The things that affect our families most, take place in our communities. Our children are educated and influenced in our community’s schools. Local leaders make decisions that affect the types of businesses that are allowed in our communities. The concern and effectiveness of our law enforcement agencies can play a huge part in setting the tone for crime in our communities, especially underage drinking and drug use. In short, we live our lives in our communities. It certainly makes sense that our communities should be a major focus of our prayer lives.
The first step in developing specific prayers for your community, oddly enough, is to pray. Start with a specific prayer, asking God to open you eyes to those areas in your community that have the most influence. Ask Him to open your eyes to those things which are beneficial, and those which are harmful. In high school, my business teacher took the class for a walk one day. We walked along the street, two blocks straight up from the high school, then around the town square and back to the school. Along the way, we were to make a list of each and every business we saw, and what that business did. I was extremely surprised at the number, and variety of businesses in just that section of our small town of 2500 people. I was even more surprised to find that almost everyone in class, including me, had missed at least one or two businesses along the way, and we were walking right in front of them, looking for them. What I am saying is, “there is so much going on around us in our own communities; that have influence on us, our family, and friends, that so often go unnoticed and un-prayed for.” “Father open our eyes to see!”
The second step in developing specific prayers for your community, is to “think”. As God begins to open your eyes to the needs that are in your community, take time to dedicate your thought processes to digesting those needs, then to prioritizing those needs, then to researching those needs if necessary. Don’t be afraid to organize your thoughts on paper!!! In a war, officers spend hours researching intelligence “on paper”, drawing up battle plans “on paper”, studying maps “on paper”. Builders use maps, draw up plans, make lists of needs, study prices, organize labor and much more, all “on paper.” That liar, Satan, tries to make us think using the same materials and methods in the war for souls, and the building of the Kingdom, is not spiritual. Quit listening to his lies, and use paper, pencils, ink pens, computers, maps and whatever is necessary to help you organize your prayer life. “On paper”, divide your community into sections such as; your street or subdivision, other residential areas (perhaps highlighting troubled areas, or areas with a lot of children, or areas where civic leaders live), businesses, educational facilities, recreational areas, etc. Ask God to give you a burden for the area or areas He wants you to concentrate your prayers on. One person just cannot effectively pray for everything.
Step three, is research. Some things you can pray pretty specifically for just because you have some amount of knowledge about the leadership structure, or organization structure, or even specific problems within that area God has placed a burden on your heart for. Some areas though will require some research. Let’s say God has burdened you to pray for youth and a certain recreational facility that is a local hangout. Shouldn’t you know who is in authority, the activities they promote, the hours they are open, their openness to the Gospel, and the special needs of the youth who attend? It is also helpful to research special ways to pray for your community. There are a lot of very helpful books available on specific prayer methods such as: prayer walking, prayer mapping, praying on site, group intercessory prayer, and many more. They will help you understand the battle you are waging and ways of praying that are most effective in that battle. Don’t forget to research the most powerful and strategic book, the Bible, to find the proper scripture to use in praying the “will of God” in each situation.
The fourth step is, of course to pray! That is a step in itself, but we also learned in previous lessons that prayer often picks us up off our knees and thrusts us out into the midst of the battle. Be involved in your community! Have you ever considered the possibility that the reason people have never experienced Christ, is because they have never experienced us, the Body of Christ, individually. Like the Israelites of Gideon’s day, we hide inside the four walls of our homes and our churches and complain because the enemy is stealing our children and all that we work for. Give us some Gideon’s with that small few that are willing to step out and let our lights shine and our praises flow in our communities! Step out and organize prayer groups, or volunteer groups. Pray “on site” so that you have faces to put with your prayers. Be active in events that affect the whole community. Let the Holy Ghost guide you!
Prayer for the Day - Read Luke 10:25-37 Pray that God would give you clarity of mind and spiritual discernment as you take upon yourself this burden or prayer for your community.
5 Weeks of Prayer
Week Five - Lesson Five
Action - Praying For Things In Your Daily Life
In this week’s lessons, one of the major points has been, “sincere prayer always drives you to action!” As concern grows through sincere prayer, it might drive you to more fervency, dedication, and specificity in praying for that particular need or area of need. It also might drive you to take specific physical action toward addressing that need. In either way that you are affected by prayer, it is going to cause some physical needs to arise. It is the recognition of those needs, and the proper attitude of prayer concerning those needs that I am going to address in this lesson today.
Before I get into that though, let me answer a question that may be in some of your minds. Why didn’t I follow the natural progression, and write individual lessons on “Praying For Your Region, Your Nation, and The World.” Once you have comprehended this simple teaching on prayer up to this point, I’m sure you realize those are areas we all need to spend, at least some, time in prayer for. Some are going to feel called to more fervent intercession and perhaps action in these expanded areas. I highly encourage you again, to read some of the wonderful books that are available on these topics or meet some of the people who are involved in prayer and ministry on these levels. But, for now, if you are just really beginning to build your prayer life by the leading of the Holy Ghost, you can use the basic principals of the first three lessons of this week and step out into a level of prayer you never dreamed possible. It is always best to start “at home” with what you can see, and people you know. It is there you learn the basic principal of all needs, and the basic principals of using the Word of God, and following the leading of the Holy Ghost in prayer.
Now, back to “praying for things in your daily life”. I hope that these lessons have brought you to a place where you find that your prayer priorities are changing. It is easy to get into a “prayer rut”, where most of what we pray about are our physical, or carnal needs or wants. God does not want you to quit praying about physical needs, or wants. He does want you to develop greater discernment between needs and wants. He does want you to learn to prioritize the time and effort you spend praying about those things. He does want you to develop the correct reasoning for praying for physical things. He does want you to pray for them with the correct attitude. He does want you to develop a greater understanding of their use in the spiritual realm.
As I said in the first paragraph, “sincere prayer always drives you to action, and in whatever way it drives you, it is going to cause physical or carnal needs to arise. When I use the word carnal, I am not referring to it in the negative sense, as worldly. I am merely using it to designate things that are physical in nature, such as; money, equipment, materials, homes, people, etc.
Let’s take a look first at a person who might be driven to a greater fervency in their prayer life, one who may feel that prayer is their calling, who carries the burden of the need into their prayer closet and is not satisfied until God lifts the burden, who spends more than the normal amount of time on their knees in intercession for the needs that God burdens them with. That type of prayer is very taxing on the body, so a person involved with prayer in that way will need to pay special attention to praying about their health, and doing what is necessary to maintain their health. Because it is war in the spiritual arena at a high level, the attacks from Satan are often intense, so it is necessary for these people to ask daily for peace that passes understanding and spiritual strength. Often the burdens are just too much to carry alone, so it is good to develop a network of friends who pray on that level so that you can pray for one another as well as the burdens you share.
It is perhaps a little easier to see the needs that will arise for the person who is driven to take physical action because of their prayers. I am not going to go into a list or explanation here, but instead let’s look at the attitude toward our lists of wants and needs that God wants us to develop. Everything that God blesses us with can be used for Him and to bring glory to His kingdom. It is when we begin to ask for people or things to be brought into our lives for that specific purpose, that we are truly beginning to mature spiritually and in our prayer lives. Before that takes place though, if we are maturing in the proper way, we will begin to notice “what we already have”, and start to contemplate ways we can give (communicate) it to God for His use. I think you will be surprised, as this action phase of prayer develops, how many “things” God has already blessed you with that will be useful in your personal ministry.
Moses didn’t have to throw down his rod and go looking for a harp to be able to accomplish the task God had for Him. From the least (shepherd’s rod), to the greatest (education, training and experience at Pharaoh’s expense), Moses had more than enough to begin the task. Everything else that he needed to finish it, God would bring to him as needed. Give us this day!
Prayer for the Day - Read Exodus chapter 3 again. Make a list of “people and things” Moses would need to begin his task. Highlight what he already had. Make another list of “people and things” God sent into his life throughout the forty-plus year journey. Ask God to reveal to you the things you need, and the things you have to begin work on you burden.
