Part I: Fervent Prayer
2 Corinthians 4:18
intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm
Doing warfare in a world we cannot see…
Most of you have a cell phone…
How does a cellular phone know there was a call coming in? It receives a message from the presence of radio waves, which are transmitted through the air invisibly. Although radio waves are unseen, they are still a powerful force in our society today.
Wherever you go, no matter what time of day or night, your body is constantly bombarded with hundreds and thousands of radio waves, and those radio waves are translated into meaningful communication by the devices, which are designed to be receptive to those signals.
Now, the same way those radio waves exist: powerful but totally invisible, so the spiritual realm exists.
A. The spiritual realm is invisible, but omnipotent or all powerful
1. Every day, all day long, spiritual beings such as angels,
demons, seraphs and cherubim are busy all around us, and
everything they do has a direct impact on the natural world
that you and I live in on a daily basis.
2. In essence, natural occurrences are the domino effect, or
the By product of what is going on in the spiritual world.
For instance: when God spoke creation into existence, His words originated in the spiritual and manifested in the physical as a natural creation.
Heb 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
B. The problem is that we humans are so wrapped up— seeing-hearing
touch and taste that we often forget the spiritual
world at work around us.
1.The result: We try solve our problems instead of
going to God, our spiritual Father.
C. The kingdom of God operates exactly the opposite way
we think it should.
1. The truth is this:
a.To change things in the natural, we have to start with the
spiritual.
b.If we want to see a difference in the things of our lives,
we have to start by making a difference in the things of
our spiritual lives.
c.Don’t be surprised when things fail to change if you’re
neglecting your prayer life.
d.And don’t be surprised when all of the sudden things start
to happen because you started to get serious about prayer…
D.Do to see a breakthrough in your life, Your Spouse –
children-- finances -- physical body, whatever?
You must start by making a difference in the spiritual Rhelm. Go to the source: the root of the problem.
Preacher, How do we make a difference in a place we can’t even see?
2 Cor 4:18, “.18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
A.By Focusing our eyes on what is unseen:
1.realize God is able to tear down the strongholds
2.Is powerful enough to break down the barriers that are
causing he droughts and the problems that you’re
experiencing in the natural realm.
1. To make a difference in lives--focus on the spiritual first:
a.Focus on demolishing the spiritual strongholds first,
b.by making changes to our spiritual lifestyle.
c.then we will begin to see changes in natural circumstances
of our lives,
b.What happens in the natural is directly and powerfully related
to what happens in the spiritual.
3. God has given us an arsenal to use to—overcome—attack
to demolish --dash to pieces spiritual strongholds…
These are called the weapons of spiritual warfare.
Not guns-tanks-hand grenade –rockets- tanks ect.
The Word is positive about the weapones we are to use
2 Corinthians 10:4 F(NKJ), “4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,--------(RSV)-4for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
The weapons of spiritual warfare.
The Bible shows us how we can use of them to demolish the strongholds in the spiritual world that we can’t see.
It requires a lot of hard work and commitment on your part.
You have to commit to spiritual battle. How bad do you want a change in your life?
If we are fighting a spiritual battle, then who is our spiritual enemy?
Satan.
The Bible tells us, Eph 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
A. There is an unseen enemy-- unseen army of angels, which
follow him, whose sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.
B. They don’t want your money, job or house… What they’re after
is our soul: your spirit.
c.You get serious about relationship with Lord, The devil will
work as hard as he can to kill, steal and destroy everything God
is doing to build you back up.
C. Satan wants to rob you of the joy of serving God so you
will backslide and fall away from Him.
You can ignore the spiritual world all you want, but you will either live or die by the spiritual battle over your soul.
1. In the mean time, your children, your spouse, all your
friends and everyone you know are directly affected by it.
2. If you want to make a positive impact on your life and
others, open your spiritual eyes, get into the game and
arm yourselves for the spiritual battle.
3. Want to live a supernatural life,Want to lay hold of the
Kingdom of Heaven, then set aside your human nature and its
lazy tendencies…
Matt 11:12, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” Who poss.the Kingdom of Heaven? Lazy Christians?
No… Forceful men!
A. Begin to walk according to the spirit.
B. Pick up the weapons of spiritual warfare, for it was Jesus
who said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who
does not gather with me scatters.” Matt 12:30
In other words when it comes to spiritual warfare
LEAD—FOLLOW—or--GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Want to make a difference in your friend—family—co-workers lives, begin battle on your face in prayer…
SPIRITUAL WARFARE WEAPON #1: FERVENT PRAYER.
Eph 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm
Notice this: Pray in the spirit… According to the spirit and not according to the flesh.
Lord, I renounce my desire for human praise, for the approval of my peers, the need for public recognition. I deliberately put these aside today, content to hear you whisper, "Well done, my faithful servant." Amen
Look at "THE MODEL PRAYER" WHICH JESUS TAUGHT.
"Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." Luke 11:2-
A. When you pray in the spirit, fleshly desires will fall in importance, and the longings of the Holy Spirit of God will fill you, and consume you.
B.You’ll have a relationship with God like never before, and there’s no end to the flow…
Praying in the spirit is praying with true love for others:
C.Not all about what you want. It’s about what others need. You already have salvation! Pray for others!
Mark 3, Jesus – synagogue---a man with a shriveled hand.-- Pharisees looking for way to accuse him they missed the point.
A. Jesus was angry because no one cared about needs of
the man. No one had compassion enough to serve their
brother.
B. Are we like the Pharisees, who have no compassions.Are we
too wrapped up in our little worries and what WE want…
“Woe is me.”
We must develop an attitude for us to pray fervently for our fellowman—Some else besides US!!
Pray FERVENTLY for each OTHER.
Rom 12:10-11, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
A. Praying in the spirit will help us pray with joy over your
brother’s successes and not just your own.
1. It’s about praying with peace, kindness,goodness…
Praying with faithfulness:
DON’T WAIT TILL YOU’RE DESPERATE TO PRAY.
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"
DON’T WAIT TILL YOU’RE DESPERATE TO PRAY. Don’t just pray when you’re desperate.
Eph 6:18 (NLT)18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
A.When you begin to pray the long lost art of fervent prayer:
praying with all your heart,
1.You will begin to experience a whole new outpouring of God’s
Holy Spirit in your life… A whole new dynamic in your
spiritual being.
B.You will see your natural life with a whole new perspective:
through the eyes of faith.
C.As a result you will move the heart and hands of God
1.HE WILL: Demolished spiritual strongholds…
2.OPEN Floodgates, change circumstances and transformed
situations:
3.Jaw-dropping victories will occur, – if you’ll pray…
4.And pray fervently. “Well, I believe you pastor, but I’m just
too tired… Just don’t have enough time.”
5.Be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
a.Why? God’s saints are involved in spiritual warfare, and
they need your help…
b.Guard them in the spiritual battle. Who’s got YOUR back?
In Daniel 10:12-12 -20(NLT) tells us something about what happens in the spirit world: 12Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
13But for twenty-one days the spirit prince£ of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,£ came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia
20. Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece£ will come.
That’s why it’s important to pray with passion-fervently praying
Notice what the Bible says about the fervent prayer of an ordinary man or woman of God…
James 5:16-20, “16Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person has great power
James 5:16-20 (NKJ) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.19Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save £a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
SALVATION OF A WANDERING SOUL.
A. You can turn a man from the error of his way through
fervent, powerful and effective prayer!
B. If you have that power available to you,) and we do
then what keeps us from praying a fervent prayer for your
neighbors, your children and your family?
C. What is it that stands between us and the tearing down of
spiritual strongholds?
1. Laziness? selfishness… Forget to pray for each other
because it’s not important enough to us, or because we forgot…
2.We had better be praying for others. Prayer and Fervent prayer
E.Let’s not be like the hypocrites standing on the Street corners,
F.Don’t forget the spiritual battle that takes place around you every day.
G. Get on your knees in prayer. It’s not that hard and it pays such high dividends.
H.It just takes a little self-control.
I. Be fervent in your prayers and petitions to
God. intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm
J. Make a difference in the lives of the people around you. Begin to make a change in the spiritual things, you will begin to see changes in the natural.
"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Revelation 2:10.
K.There is crown of life for overcomer, persevering saint.
But what are we overcoming? What are we persevering against?
“…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
God knows the pretenders from the real soldiers… He’s got your number. Are you engaged in spiritual warfare? It’s time… Time to get engaged again.
