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As a
believer you have been given a great privilege - being able to come into the
holiest of all places and talking face to face with the Living God! Through
Jesus Christ, we have been given access into the Holiest! Hebrews
10:19-23, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into
the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an
high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and
our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our
faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)”
There are many realms of prayer defined
in the New Testament. We are also shown, through the scriptures, how to
approach the throne of God. Before we examine the approach, let us observe
how to prepare.
PREPARATION
In
preparing ourselves to come before God, we must realize that we are entering
into the Holy of Holies! This is an exciting yet awesome opportunity. The
Holy of Holies is the most sacred place in the universe and nothing
unclean is permitted there.
Therefore, cleansing through confession is imperative! 1
John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,”
verse 7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Verse 8 further
says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.” We can see from these verses that cleansing
comes by the blood of Jesus Christ as a result of our admission and confession
of sin. When we come to Him, we should ask Him for forgiveness for anything
we think would be sin in our life. (Sin simply means to miss the mark.)
When
you ask Him for forgiveness, after that you are to consider yourself cleansed.
You are not to carry guilt before Him any longer, Psalms 66:18,
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” He
says, as far as the east is from the west, so shall He put them from His
remembrance, Psalms 103:12, “As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” and
Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
It is interesting to note that He didn't say as far as the north is from the
south, because that would limit His forgiveness, for when you pass the north
pole you are headed south, whereas east to west is infinite.
After
you've prepared yourself before the Lord, asking for forgiveness and cleansing
through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for you,
you can begin to approach the throne of God.
In
approaching God, we must always have the understanding that we are not coming
before Him through our own righteousness, but because of the righteousness of
Christ. Meaning we are coming before Him cleansed of our sins and made right
before God through the work of Christ. Romans 3:24, “Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
and 2 Corinthians
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.” Righteousness has been
imputed to us, Romans 4:22-24, “And therefore it was
imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone,
that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if
we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (That
is to say, it's been put upon us.) Therefore, we can come boldly before the
throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.”
I want
you to see through the subsequent scriptures and the ones we've already looked
at, that one must prepare to approach God in prayer on the same basis you came
to accept the born again experience. That is, on the basis of faith in the
shed blood of Christ which makes a way through the veil. Hebrews 10:20,
“By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh.” and Hebrews
6:19,
”Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil,” and all of
Hebrews Chapter 9. We also find at the death of Christ that the veil
of the temple was ripped into two parts. Matthew 27:51,
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent,” Mark
15:38,
and Luke
23:45
say likewise. This illustrates that the way has been made for all men and
women to enter into the Holiest (Holy of Holies) through the shed blood of
Christ and that the veil of partition was done away with. In the old
covenant, or under the Law, spotless lambs were offered in the
temple to gain entrance into the Holiest by the high priest. That is why John
the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of
the world,” John
1:29.
Also read Ephesians
2:13-22
and Romans 4:6-8.
John
the Baptist was illustrating the fact that Christ was going to become the
ultimate sacrifice that would not just temporarily compensate for sin but
would totally eradicate or take sin away through His voluntary sacrifice.
Let us
examine the approach, or the attitude, with which we are to approach God. Now
that we've been given access, there is a scriptural protocol in approaching
God that one must consider. Psalms 100, verse 4
says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts
with praise:” (notice it does not say by
praise or by thanksgiving) “be thankful unto Him and bless His
name.” From this scripture, one can draw the insight
that he or she is to begin their approach to God with thanksgiving
“through the gates;” the gate typifying a distance further from God
than the courts would be. Through this process, we begin to draw nigh to
God. What this all boils down to is having the right attitude when we come
before God in prayer.
After
one enters the gates with thanksgiving (and, of course, all of this is
typological), then you would enter into His courts with praise. (Note:
thanksgiving preludes praise.) The equivalent of the procedure of
Psalms 100:4, would be an attitude of thanksgiving and praise at all
times.
In this
case, one may feel proper at any given moment in coming to the Lord and to
commune with Him, showing respect. After all, He is God.
If
there has been a lull time in which we've been distracted and we wish to come
to Him and speak to Him, it should be with an attitude of reverence,
thanksgiving, and praise. This is what is meant by the term drawing nigh to
God. If we draw nigh to Him, He will draw nigh to us. James 4:8, “Draw
nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and
purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
EXAMPLES
Paul
said, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,”
Philippians 4:6. In the “Our Father,” we see Jesus
leading us in prayer by first hallowing or praising the Father in heaven.
Another example of thanksgiving before praying preluded the prayer Jesus made
at the resurrection of Lazarus, John 11:41, “Then they
took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted
up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”
Though
Jesus is our friend and we can discuss our problems with Him, asking for His
strength and help as one who understands, Hebrews 4:15,
“For we have not an 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,” let us examine who it is that the Bible tells us to pray to for
our needs.
In all
examples of prayer in the New Testament, after the death and resurrection of
Christ, you will note that the individual who is praying is always directing
the prayer to the Father.
In
Ephesians 3:14, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and 1 Peter 1:17,
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear,”
they did not pray to Jesus Christ. In the Our Father (the
example of prayer Jesus gave), we pray to the Father.
Also,
Jesus said, “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a
serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much
more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
Luke 11:11-13. Jesus said that your Heavenly Father knows
what you have need of.
James
says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh
down from the Father of lights,” James
1:17.
In Matthew 7, verse 11,
we read, “How much more shall
your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”
It is obvious, from these scriptures, that we are taught to pray to our
Heavenly Father.
Further
proof of this can be found in John 16, verse 23
which says, “And in that day, ye shall ask me nothing.” Christ
himself is saying that you will not pray to Him. He goes on in that
same verse and says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye
shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.” Let us look
at verse 26, “At that day, ye shall ask in my name: and I
say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.”
The reason why He says for us to ask in His name is because it is He who has
paid the price to ransom all mankind from death and it is He who shares His
inheritance with us. Romans
8:17,
“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.”
*
* Phillipians 3:10
* Romans Ch. 6
Through
His name, we can come directly to the Father because He is the mediator
between God and man. So we see that this is conclusive evidence that we are
to pray to the Father in Jesus' name.
TWO REALMS OF PRAYER
Now let
us examine the different kinds of prayer. There are several dimensions of
prayer that the born again believer has the ability and privilege to enter
into through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul
said in 1 Corinthians
14:15,
“I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding
also.” From this scripture, we can see that there are two realms of
prayer from which other dimensions of prayer spring. They are the
understanding (rational conscious mind) and the spirit (innermost being); the
most efficient and aggressive being the latter.
Praying
with the understanding is praying with the natural conscious mind in the
native tongue, mentally categorizing and assembling through an awareness of
the natural world around us, different needs that we see need to be met. They
may be spiritual needs as well, but they are prayed with the understanding or
natural, conscious mind, which of course, only has a limited awareness of what
is happening. Therefore, many times it is inadequate.
THE SPIRIT
We see
in Romans
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,” that the spirit itself maketh
intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered, because we don't know how
to pray as we should. Verse 27 further says, “He maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Many times
we will not consciously know the will of God in a particular area; therefore,
it is extremely beneficial for one's spiritual growth process to endeavor to
receive the ability to pray in the spirit.
Praying
in the spirit will sometimes come forth with actual groanings and even, at
times, come forth in the native tongue. However, the most prevalent example
is praying in an unknown tongue.
The
most prominent example in the scriptures show us that praying in the spirit is
a realm in which the believer will utter unknown languages concerning needs
that they more than likely have no conscious knowledge about. 1
Corinthians 14:14, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my
spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
For
instance, praying in an unknown tongue may enable you to pray for a situation
that may occur the following day or days after you've prayed. Whereas, in the
understanding one could not be aware of certain situations that may take place
the following day. The Holy Spirit, who is helping you to pray, sees into the
future and knows how to counteract the negative plans of the enemy.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,”
which is the result of verses 26 and 27, “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. 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.”
Paul
said that he would pray and sing in both realms. 1
Corinthians 14:15, “What is it then? I will pray with the
spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the
spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
It is
exciting to pray in the understanding, for we will see our prayers answered
and that will increase our vision. It is also exciting to pray in the spirit,
for we will pray concerning things that we could not have any awareness, in
the conscious understanding, which gives us a very broad cloak of protection
in prayer. Therefore, it is imperative for the born again believer to pursue
both realms of prayer!
Scripturally, the gift of tongues is received through an experience the Bible
calls the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4,
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,” and Acts
19:6, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
It is
also called an endowment of power, Luke 24:49,
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high,”
and empowers us for the ministry of Christ. Christ himself received this power
without measure, Luke
4:18,
3:22
and John
3:34.
John the Baptist also said Christ would empower us with the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
It is a baptism in the power of the Holy Spirit administered through the
agency of Jesus Christ.
The
baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience in which the born again believer
receives not only an infilling of the Spirit, but an entire baptism (Greek,
Baptizo - to make fully wet, to immerse) in the Spirit and fire of God. It
is most often received through the laying on of hands (Acts
8:15-17, “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might
receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on
them, and they received the Holy Ghost,”
and Acts 19:6, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues , and prophesied”),
but in some isolated cases it was received without a particular point of
contact. Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance,”
and Acts 10:44, “While Peter yet spake these words, the
Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not essential to being saved.
We are
saved by grace through faith in the blood of Christ and born of His
Spirit as a result. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
If the born again believer desires to be empowered for Christian service, that
he or she might be a witness by the power of God, then the pursuit of this
experience is imperative. Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy
Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The
gift of tongues comes from the Greek word glossa. The indication in
Biblical text is that one is empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak to God in a
foreign language without having learned the language through natural means. It
is not exercised by the human intellect, nor acquired thereby, as is the
native tongue.
Instead, it is the human spirit (inner man) that prays or speaks. 1
Corinthians 14:14-15, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth,
but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the
spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the
spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” The Holy Spirit
simply helps us to pray as we ought (Romans
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”),
but it is our spirit doing the praying. One will sense the gift of tongues
flowing up from within resulting in a desire to speak. That person will sense
a distinct unction to say something but will not know what it is. This is
because the understanding (or conscious mind) cannot perceive or acquire it.
When that person receives this desire to speak in an unknown tongue they will
have to release it by faith.
John
the Baptist was the first to affirm the fact of the New Testament experience
of the Holy Spirit and fire baptism. Matthew 3:11, “I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you
with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
There
is insurmountable scriptural evidence of this experience as being separate
from, and in addition to, the born again experience, such as in Acts
8:15-17
& 19:6. Notice, the emphasis was that the Holy Ghost came
upon them, not in them; for in both cases they were already believers,
adopted in Christ, Romans 8:15-16, “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. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God,”
indicating a secondary experience.
Jesus
himself confirmed this when He imparted the Holy Spirit to them. John
20:22, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and
saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Then, in addition to
that, told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power.
Luke 24:49, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but
tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
You
will notice, in many instances where this experience is mentioned, the words
upon you are used rather than in you connotating a baptism or
emersion, as opposed to an inward birth. The word power implies
something more than new birth. This enables us to exercise the power of
attorney given to us by Christ. Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,”
Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my
name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover,” and
Acts 1:1-8. Being born again is a baptismal experience in itself.
But it differs, in that we are baptized into the body of Christ through the
agency of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are
we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be
bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit,” and
Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.”
).
The
baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, however is referred to as an endowment of
power (Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,”
Mark 1:8, “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,” John 1:33,
“And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same
said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on
him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost,” Acts
1:8 , “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” and
Luke 3:16, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed
baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose
shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and
with fire”), and the administering agent is Jesus Christ. It is
through this experience that we become empowered so that the signs and wonders
of Mark
16:17-18,
and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit, begin to follow us as believers.
But remember, we do not follow signs and wonders - they follow us!
The
baptism in the Holy Spirit is two-fold and includes the baptism in the Holy
Spirit as well as fire. The purpose is also two-fold. The Holy Spirit gives
us the power to work for Christ in the supernatural dimension of the Holy
Spirit, as opposed to a religious or intellectual experience. Matthew
3:11-12, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but
he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to
bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is
in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into
the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Chapter
2
of the book of Acts in verse 1, gives us an
account of this experience; they were all with one accord in one place.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place.” Notice all of the 120 of
Acts
1:15,
“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and
said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty),”
are not just the apostles as we have seen depicted in various portraits.
Suddenly, a spiritual wind filled the house where they were sitting,
verse 2, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
Then cloven tongues of fire appeared and engulfed each one of them. The
connotation here is not that a little flickering flame hovered above each of
their heads, but large tongues of fire baptized each one of them. verse
3, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
Subsequent to that, they were all filled (filled, as in overflowing) with the
Holy Ghost and they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance. Two things to notice: they began to speak; the Holy Spirit
didn't speak for them, and, the Spirit gave them utterance as they spoke.
So we
see that a purging fire preceded the baptism in the Holy Spirit, paving the
way with a purging holy fire for the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the
outer courts of the human tabernacle.
When
receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, the believer should first
present themselves to the Lord for cleansing and sanctification, preparing
their vessel to receive this experience through confession of sin. 1
John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” There should also
be a consciousness of the fact that outside of Christ, we can do nothing.
John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
me ye can do nothing.”
Next, a
simple prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus will do, claiming the promise
of the scripture. Keep in mind the fact that God desires to baptize you in
the Holy Spirit and fire more than you desire to be baptized. After you've
prayed, invite the Holy Spirit to come upon you and fill you to overflowing,
from the innermost being to the outermost. At this point, simply begin to
worship and thank God that it has been done by faith. Isaiah 65:24,
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and
while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
It may
be helpful for you to have elders in the church or other Christians, filled
with the Holy Ghost, place their hands upon you (Acts
8:17).
But let me add, it doesn't necessarily have to happen that way (Acts
8:14-17, 10:44-47).
The
Bible says that God breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils.
Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a
living soul.” It might be helpful for you, at this point, to be aware
of the fact that God's Spirit is likened unto His breath. John 20:22,
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” As you are worshipping and praising,
breath in and drink of His presence.
Begin
drinking of the living waters that God said you would receive. John
4:10, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of
him, and he would have given thee living water,” and John 7:38,
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water.” Through the inheritance of Christ the
Holy Ghost has been shed on you abundantly. Titus 3: 5-6,
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,”
so as you’re praying you must enter a place of reception. That is to say,
accept the fact that in Christ He has shed the Holy Ghost upon you abundantly
and begin to thank Him.
RELEASING THE GIFT OF
TONGUES
As you begin to drink and breath of His presence,
you will sense within your spirit a desire to vocalize something yet you will
not understand mentally what it is you are to say. At that point, simply speak
the first word the Holy Spirit is giving you through your spirit, which will
come from deep within you. Do not try to mentally analyze or figure out what
it is you are to say. This will merely hinder you. Bypass the conscious mind
and release the spirit and you will speak in an unknown tongue fluently, at
first hesitantly, but gradually a spiritual eloquence will prevail.
Now you
are on your way. You've received a prayer language through which you will be
able to intercede for others in the dimension of the spirit. Begin to
exercise your gift daily, even at times when it seems it is faint or distant
from you (this is important to developing your gift). A convenient
time would be while driving to work in your car or carrying out household
chores.
Quietly, begin to release your prayer language and allow God to use you to
edify, not only yourself, but others as well. 1 Corinthians 14:4, “He
that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;” Jude
1:20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,”
and Ephesians
6:18,
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
As you exercise this gift, you will find yourself excelling spiritually as
never before. Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.” Once God has given you this
gift, He will never take it away. When He gives a gift, He gives it forever.
Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance.” The only way you may lose this gift is through
your own forfeit, through a lack of use. Even then, it is merely dormant.
* Break a moment to
pray in the spirit
Prayer
is not necessarily defined by petition. That is to say, there are more types
of prayer than the prayer of petition. In Ephesians, chapter 6,
in conjunction with the armor of God, Paul says for us to be “Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” verse 18.
You will find different facets of prayer.
Let us
analyze the aforementioned verse, starting with the word praying. The
Greek word here is proseuchomai. It denotes a general state of
worship, not necessarily in the form of a petition. The next word is prayer.
Notice it says "all prayer" denoting that there is more than one kind of
prayer. *
The word here in the Greek is proseuche, it implies a
state of worship that is relative to an oratory or an oral form of
worship. Again, this is not necessarily a reference to requests but a
state of worship.
Now
let's look at the word supplication. It is a direct reference to
praying in the spirit. Note: praying in the spirit usually means praying
in an unknown tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:14. Notice that the
verse says with all prayer and supplication. The Greek word here for
supplication is deesis. In other words the petition form of
prayer.
*Law of deductive reasoning
The
connotation of the word deesis is to have strong, continuous,
persistent and insistent prayer in the dimension of the spirit. The fact
that the word supplication is used twice in the verse, the first time
as supplication in the spirit and the second time as supplication only,
indicates that one is a reference to praying in the spirit and the other is a
reference to praying in the understanding.
Now
let's look at the word for watching in the Greek. It is translated from
the word agrupneo which means to be sleepless or to keep
awake. The connotation is that one must remain spiritually awake and
aware. Ephesians 5:14, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou
that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light,”
and 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour.”
The
next word, perseverance, is translated from the Greek word proskartereo which means to
adhere firmly to; be close in pursuit of and always intent upon your
object in prayer. Examples can be found in Luke 18:1-5,
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to
pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not
God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came
unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while:
but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me,” Matthew 15:22, “And,
behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him,
saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously
vexed with a devil,” and Mark 7:25, “For a certain
woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and
fell at his feet.”
Finally, we have a reference again to the word supplication. Notice, it
is not defined as a supplication in the spirit, but rather supplication
alone. This is a reference to the understanding. And, of course, all
prayers in the understanding must be learned to correspond with scripture
pertaining to our inheritance.
It
should be pointed out that Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with
all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” is given in
conjunction with the verses of scripture that deal predominately with the
armor of God, verses 13-17, “Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with
truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with
the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God.”
This
connotates that it is through prayer that the armor of God becomes operative
so that one may be enabled to pull down strongholds. This effectively gives
us the ability to route any attempt by the devil to steal God's blessing from
your life, which usually occurs through our default.
Basically, the kind of prayer we're observing in Ephesians 6:18,
is what may be called travailing prayer and sometimes is accompanied by
fasting.
In
nature we find that birth is always preceded by travail. Similarly, many times
one will sense, in the spirit, an inward travail followed by a release. As if
birth had been given to the faith that it takes to release virtue for what we
are praying about. Luke 6:19, “And the whole multitude
sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”
Jesus practiced this kind of prayer, many times all night, resulting in many
miracles. Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days,
that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to
God.”
When
this kind of birth takes place from your innermost being, you will know that
you know that the answer is on the way. Thanksgiving should follow this kind
of experience to seal it. We see an example of travailing prayer in
Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth
again until Christ be formed in you.” This is what
Paul meant when he spoke of the Holy Spirit helping us with our infirmities,
with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 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.” It is an inward groaning or
spiritual birth pang. It occurs during the birthing of the kind of faith that
it takes for a gift, ministry, or given situation is wrought in our spirit and
brought forth (Isaiah 66:8 and Romans 8:22-23).
Travailing prayer is usually accompanied, at different times, by fasting which
helps to enhance the faith-building, releasing process or incubation period
for faith to come of full age. Weeping and deep groanings will also take
place at times. Travailing prayer will often times result in what one might
call a breakthrough.
The
breakthrough is simply an experience wherein one is given clear-cut insight or
confirmation within their spirit of victory as a result of prayer. The
believer will also sense that a weight has been lifted or an obstacle has been
removed, thereby resulting in a time of rejoicing in the spirit. In order to
get a breakthrough one must understand that in Christ they have already broken
through and supplicate based on that understanding.
Another
facet of prayer is intercessory prayer. It simply means to pray on behalf of
another individual or situation; to stand in the gap. Isaiah 59:16,
“And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:
therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it
sustained him.” We see an example of this in several passages of
scripture. Paul exhorts us in 1 Timothy 2:1, that
“supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all
men.”
One of
the more prominent examples of intercession can be found in Exodus 17:12,
“But Moses'
hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat
thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and
the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of
the sun.”
Moses
is holding up his hands in prayer and praise on behalf of the armies of Israel
who were, at the time, engaged in battle. When he kept his hands raised, a
messenger would come with a report that the battle was being won. When he
lowered his hands, another messenger would inform him that they were losing
the battle. He tried to continue lifting his hands, but became weary and could
not hold them up for the duration of the battle. Seeing the need, others stood
about him and held his hands up until the battle was won.
This is a typology of New Testament collective
intercessory prayer. For instance, when we pray for our church leaders
concerning the local church or with someone who is having family problems,
etc., this is intercessory prayer.
We can lift up the hands of other members of the
body of Christ who are in need of prayer and strength. When they are in the
midst of something that they need our support and agreement on, we can stand
in the gap! This brings us to the power of agreement.
One
shall put one thousand to flight and two, ten thousand. Deuteronomy
32:30, “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.”
For an increase input of 100%, we receive in return an increase output of
1,000% based on this scripture!
Jesus
said in Matthew 18:18-19, “Verily I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if
two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
Many
believers overlook the application of this dynamic principle. Prayers of
married couples can be hindered without unity and agreement. 1 Peter
3:7, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as
being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
It is
very important for the praying believer to find a partner to pray with in
certain situations where the opposing forces seem to be too much for that
individual! * In selecting a partner for prayer, the praying believer should be
discerning; not just anyone will do. Jesus only brought Peter, James and John
in with him to raise up the little girl in, Mark 5:37,
“And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the
brother of James.” The rest of the people were asked to leave the
room. Another example of this is found in wherein Peter raised Dorcus from the
dead. Acts 9:40, “But Peter put them all forth, and
kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.
And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”
When
finding a partner to pray with, the important question is, are they in
agreement with you? Are they talking faith with you? If the person you
are asking to pray with you begins to become negative and pessimistic
concerning your need, it is best to politely find another partner to pray
with.
For
example, if you were to ask someone to pray with you for healing according to
God's word and they replied, “Well, maybe God wants you to be sick to teach
you something,” their faith is working against your faith. You
should not pray with that individual for that need unless they change their
stance.
Praying
in the spirit in agreement with somebody on a particular issue joins their
faith to yours.
If that individual is not praying in faith with you, you are joining your
faith to someone who is in unbelief, and this will stifle your faith
concerning your need. This should not be taken as a basis to cause division
in the local church. It may simply mean that the individual that you've
encountered, who happens to be negative on a particular matter, may not be
developed in their faith in that particular area at that particular time.
They should be politely excused from being asked to pray with you for your
situation.
The important word in Matthew 18:18-19
is Agree. It comes from the Greek word sumphoneo and conveys
a harmonious accord. Notice in Matthew 16:19 there is the mention of the key
to the kindgom. And, of course, this denotes a common faith in the work of
Christ which is the key to the kingdom.
So,
when finding a partner, make sure they are in agreement with the Word of God
for your particular need or needs. Ask them in humility if they
are in agreement with the Word on your particular request. If they say they
will do their best and have a positive attitude, and you sense within your
spirit they do indeed, you have found a partner.
When
praying in a group of two or more people, certain guidelines should be adhered
to so as to ensure order and singleness of purpose. We should conduct a
collective prayer meeting with the order outlined in 1 Corinthians 14.
When two or more are gathered for prayer, this constitutes a collective prayer
meeting.
If the
ability to pray in an unknown tongue is present, everyone may pray in an
unknown tongue, on the same tone, unto God. Those who do not pray in an
unknown tongue may simply worship and praise as they have ability to. Paul
said he would pray in the spirit and with the understanding.
Now
remember, we are talking prayer and not public speaking. Public speaking is
dealt with in this chapter in another manner and order. When referring to
prayer and thanksgiving, Paul says he will pray and sing with the spirit and
the understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, “For if I pray in an unknown
tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it
then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding
also.” He is emphasizing that he will pray and sing with the
understanding as well as in tongues. So that those who are about him in the
room of the unlearned may say amen (or let it be so), according to
Matthew 18:19, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father which is in heaven.”
When
someone in a group desires to pray a prayer in the understanding (a little
louder so others will know) for others to agree, those praying in the spirit
or worshipping aloud should hold their peace so that the prayer, as led by the
Holy Spirit in the understanding, might be made and everyone can agree.
1 Corinthians 14:30, “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by,
let the first hold his peace.”
Those
who pray in tongues (in a prayer meeting, not a public meeting) may do so and
do well verse 17, “For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is
not edified,” as long as there is prayer in the
understanding as well.
There
may also be prophecy or messages in tongues with interpretation of tongues
during a collective prayer meeting. This is another time at which others
should hold their peace so that the message can be clearly received and
understood. All prayer, prophecy, or messages in tongues should be done by
inspiration. Prayer in the understanding, rooted in worry and anxiety, can
interrupt the flow of the Holy Spirit. One should be prayerful about the
timing
of
their prayer, prophecy, or message in tongues and its inspiration. The
meeting itself should be conducted with an energetic attitude and spirit, yet
at the same time, the volume should not be to a level whereby others are
intimidated or cannot speak loud enough to convey their prayer or message.
On the
other hand, they that speak a message or pray a prayer that they would like
everyone to agree upon, should do so in a louder tone of voice so as to gain
the attention of others. If you are unable to do this because you are a timid
individual, pray that God would give you boldness so that you might edify the
body of Christ.
Many
erroneous teachings have been conveyed to people concerning fasting. A time of
fasting and prayer is simply a time of intense fortification of one's own
spirit and nurturing of faith for a particular matter, attribute or quality of
God's word. It is not a way in which to get God to hear you!
It
really has nothing to do so much with talking to God, as it has to do with
dealing with one's self. As you've learned already, there is nothing we
can do besides having faith in the shed blood of Christ to gain entrance into
the Holiest, to talk with the living God. Fasting will not gain one
entrance into the Holiest, no more than repetitious prayers will. Only faith
in the blood will give us access into the presence of God.
Fasting
is what we will call “intense brooding” (or incubation of faith) in the human
spirit. It's a time of isolating one's self from all other appetites and
desires so as to internalize faith in the human spirit concerning the thing
for which you are believing. It could be an attribute, quality or promise from
God's word, or a particular matter of intercession on someone else's behalf or
your own, or growth in the local church, or simply abundant living.
Isaiah 58:3-12, “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou
seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of
wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be
heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to
afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread
sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable
day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands
of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and
that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the
naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own
flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall
spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory
of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall
answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from
the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking
vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted
soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the
noonday: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in
drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and
like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee
shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many
generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The
restorer of paths to dwell in.”
Fasting gives one a rapid intensification of faith
in an area where they may be lacking faith or are being greatly oppressed in
their faith! Fasting and prayer is a time in which one will devote themselves
to becoming pregnant with faith for their vision (goal), so as to give birth
to the kind of faith needed for the kind of vision you are praying for.
The science
of hydroponics (a rapid growth process of plants through a controlled
environment) is a good typological example of fasting.
Jesus
said in Matthew 17:21, “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and
fasting,” meaning this kind of faith - the kind of faith that it takes
to move mountains (verse 20). “And Jesus said unto them, Because of
your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place;
and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
What
Jesus is implying is that faith begins as a seed in the womb of your spirit
and grows until there is travail and then birth. Faith works on the principle
of seed time and harvest. Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remaineth,
seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and
night shall not cease.” It grows as a result of devotedly laying hold
of the seed of God's word. Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
In the
New Testament, there is no other reason for fasting other than the
aforementioned. It is not something that one should do in order to get the
attention of God through works. It is not a penance to be done ritually as if
to pay for one's own or others’ trespasses. It is not to be used as a tool to
get God's attention, immaturely, as a child would by holding it's breath or
refusing to eat. Be sure to have the right attitude while fasting. You are
dealing with yourself while praying for a particular matter - to get yourself
to believe for the answer. The kind of fasting that God has called us to can
be found in Isaiah 58:5-12.
God
wants to answer our prayers more than we want our prayers answered, but He
simply cannot answer prayers that are prayed without faith. James 1:6-8,
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is
unstable in all his ways.” If you are fasting with a works
mentality, you are wasting your time and the only benefit you
will receive from fasting will be for the physical benefits of cleansing.
Not
only do we begin prayer with thanksgiving, but we are taught to seal our
prayers with thanksgiving as well. Philippians 4:6, “Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” and
Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,”
says to let your requests be made known with thanksgiving. See also 1
Timothy 2:1-2. In Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say
unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them, and ye shall have them,” Jesus is saying that when we pray, we
are to believe that we have received it, then we shall have it.
Thanksgivings enable us to release our faith for a prayer that we have not had
a physical or tangible manifestation of yet. There is a point in time where
prayers and supplications must cease and give way to thanksgivings. It is a
time at which, in your heart, you sense you have released the kind of faith it
takes for the answer. Paul said in one instance that thanksgivings be given
and mentions nothing of prayers. Colossians 2:6-7, “As ye
have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and
built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.” There comes a time when we will
be led to enter into thanksgivings as a kind of final touch and release
of faith (this also waters our faith to a point of release).
The
scriptures also teach us that He hears our prayers even before we ask.
Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Many times
believers do not receive answers to their prayers even though the answer is on
the way, because they are not open in faith to receive the answer!
Thanksgiving is a very high form of faith in action!
If there is nothing else one can do to demonstrate or release faith, one can
always offer up thanksgivings and will sense, in their spirit, a tangible
increase or release of faith and a resulting increase in confidence.
The
believer will also find giving thanks is a great help many times in
eliminating worry associated with a prayer need. When we pray we must learn
to leave the prayer in God's hands. 1 Peter 5:7,
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Worry is a
great hindrance to answered prayer. Thanksgiving helps to counteract the
inducing of worry into the mind of the believer - which feeds doubts and fears
and inhibits prayer.
So now
we see that thanksgiving not only preludes prayer, but finalizes prayer and is
to be used as a statement that says, “Yes, I believe my prayer is already
answered and I receive it now!”
I mean
God says He already answered it, why not thank Him for it!
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