DON’T PANIC!!! We most definitely WILL NOT be going through ALL these notes this evening. But they’re written, so you may as well have them. I have no clue where we will end this evening, but surely it is someplace, below.
PRAYER In These Times
As I prepare for a teaching class, my notes are typically “streaming” in that they are ongoing and then we see where we get to by the end of an evening. What is not covered LIKELY will be covered the following session. Or maybe not. I am trying to be sensitive to the Lord in His leading. So when I send out notes in advance, only know that those are my notes as of the time I am sending them out. You likely will get more notes than what will be covered in any session, or even in all sessions. And some of what gets spoken during a session might not be in my notes. Blessed are the flexible – that includes both you, and me.
NKJV – I LOVE LOVE LOVE the New King James Bible. Use whichever translation you like, though. Likely, 100% of my notes and teaching will be out of the NKJV.
DISCLAIMER: As always – I am teaching from a place of my own biblical understanding, and my own experiences in prayer. I am not close to perfect, but I want to stay to the One IS perfect. My own prayer life has struggles, challenges, distractions, all that and more. I have succeed in prayer, I have failed in my prayer calling at times. By His grace, I can say I have not missed a day of pray or being in the word, for 43 years. But some days, and some seasons, are better than others. I am LEARNING THIS AS I GO FORWARD. But PLEASE never think all that I am telling you in how I live my life. I wish it was so. I’m going hard after God – but I am never speaking or ministering from a place of “having arrived”.
LET’S PRAY. How appropriate.
OK – Welcome. We’re beginning a series that. Lord willing, be more than a teaching – although of course there’s nothing wrong w a “teaching”.
1. The VISION for these sessions is that we will become more awake and aware to the CALL TO PRAYER, The OPPORTUNITY and OPEN DOOR to PRAYER, and the more CRITICAL NEED for PRAYER – even now more than ever.
We also want to study and learn and gain faith from BIBLICAL MODELS and the BIBLICAL REVELATIONS of prayer.
We know we want our prayer time to be effective, and we also know that God wants our prayer time to be effective.
When you think about it, we came into relationship w our God through prayer. When someone is ready to get saved, to repent, to accept their Lord and Savior, we lead them INTO PRAYER.
It is a DIVINE HIGHWAY between TWO WORLDS – the spiritual world and the physical world.
It is the primary means by which WE COMMUNICATE W GOD, and how GOD COMMUNICATES W US.
Our God SPOKE the world into existence, and He continues to speak. HOW He speaks is His sovereign decision – He can use anything from a sunset or a numerical sequence, BUT most often, in the scriptures, we are shown a God who speaks intimately w man, one on one, during and through prayer.
Some scriptures re the END OF THIS AGE, and THE DECEPTIONS THAT WILL BE PROMINENT, and the SANCTIFICATION PROCESS (as it applies to FOOD – what we take into our bodies) – but also, I believe, these verses can rightfully be regarded as a confirmation of the PROPHETIC POWER of the WORD OF GOD and PRAYER:
1 Tim 4:1-7
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (and now we see things that will try to come INTO THE FAITH),
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
So we see some key components of RELIGIOUS SPIRITS that will be present in the latter times” to try to (and in many instances SUCCEED in) deceiving the church – adding laws and rules, getting goofy, even restricting the saints from the fullness of their lives in God.
But Paul tells Timothy that THINGS (in this case: FOOD – which also represents our SURVIVAL and SUSTENANCE) are sanctified – redeemed and re-established for holy purpose – by TWO KEY KINGDOM COMPONENTS: The Word of God and Prayer.
Those two, together, aligned, and handled wisely, will cause us to be abundant and full and complete in our God, and in His plans. The Word of God AND Prayer are two components of faith we want to press into, together.
THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER – The scriptures are the very best place to:
Study PRAYER, to
Mature in our PRAYER; and to even be
Launched into the calling of PRAYER – I believe there’s such a thing.
Pastor Daniel wisely understands that all churches can’t do all things or be all things to a community. But one thing many of us are in agreement over – we are called to be a church that prays and prays.
(QUITE FRANKLY – I don’t how ANY church can be as effective as it ought to be if it does NOT pray – but we’ll plan to cover that as well during these weeks).
2. THE PLAN is that we move in this direction for a few weeks (3, most likely) and then go on to another teaching series – although since I am planning to be the guy doing the teaching series, I do not want to restrict or limit what the Lord might be doing in THESE sessions, so let’s agree to see what His timing is.
ONE THING I KNOW – the further I dig into the TOPIC of PRAYER – the more I personally uncover BIBLICALLY as well as EXPERIENTIALLY. So three weeks might not do it for us.
3. THE PROCESS – Typically, when I’m teaching THROUGH scripture, the teaching is progressive – one chapter, then another, then another – Like the Isaiah Apocalypse class, or the Ezekiel 33-39 class a few years back. It won’t be that way this time around. We’ll likely be all over the place, all the time. The GLUE is our topic: “The PRIORITY OF PRAYER IN THESE TIMES”. I don’t want to blame God for wild meanderings through Scripture, but I do plan to go where I think the Lord wants us to go in the topical CLASS. Speaking of which:
4. THE “CLASS”, and other SEMANTICS – Although I plan for this to be, in some ways, a workshop as much as ME teaching, I’m calling it a CLASS, simply for simplicity sake. It’s a good catch-all for me to speak, and to type. Also……
5. SOME BLURRY LINES – One might want to question “what is the difference between PRAYER and WORSHIP?”. That is a great question – and I’ll try to answer it simply, right here. I BELIEVE that PRAYER is an act of WORSHIP, and also that WORSHIP can be an act of PRAYER. I think it is a blurry line, that we can cross freely, back and forth. I don’t see the scriptures carving out territories-of-definition for either, so we won’t. PRAYER can include MUSIC and WORDS can be expressed in SONG. At the same time, WORSHIP can include WORDS THAT DON’T RHYME – that are functionally PRAYERS TO GOD.
We want to not get more religious about drawing DEFINITION-LINES than the scriptures do.
PERSONALLY – I am enjoying, and finding myself going deeper in GOD, by often praying WHILE I am reading the Word of God. I am not ALWAYS stopping ONE to begin THE NEXT. Things are usually different when we’re in PRAYER MEETINGS, rather than alone w God in prayer, but that is something else we’ll address.
GO W THE FLOW OF GOD in all this. It will bless you, and loosen you up to enjoy your time w Him.
6. ROCK PILE PRAYER – Mike Bickle, founder and head of the International House of Prayer – sometimes talks about “rock pile prayer” – where you feel you are simply swinging the heavy hammer, maybe not making a lot of progress, often in dry and tough place. I believe SOME of that ROCK PILE might be GOD HIMSELF, testing what you’re made out of, and how diligent and determined you are. I also believe that MUCH of that ROCK PILE is our own religiosity – and that a lot of the ENJOYMENT and JOY of being in His presence is taken from us when we set up formulas and parameters and rules for our prayer time that are not necessarily biblical.
THIS VERSE is actually revealed to us within the context of a resurrected state – but I believe the truth of the verse is for us, NOW:
Ps 16:11
11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
7. TEACHING PRAYER – One thing I want us to understand, early, is that there is little IF ANY “teaching prayer” in scripture. Often we will see great people of God RECITING back to God, and/or proclaiming aloud things that God has already promised in His word. THAT IS GOOD. But oftentimes we will find PEOPLE, IN PRAYER MEETINGS, thinking they are praying but actually utilizing the opportunity to try to TEACH to other people in the room. It ain’t prayer. So WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF THIS usually well-intended error, and avoid it, even during this class. It one of those “what prayer isn’t” kind of things.
THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO COVER:
What is prayer?
What is effectual (per James) prayer?
What isn’t prayer?
How to pray
When to pray
Why pray
Prayer with the understanding of our minds
Holy Spirit led prayer in a heavenly language – when and where and why
Praying according to the will of God
Why we have a hard time getting to prayer and staying in prayer
How God is motivating us and teaching us to prayer
How to be successful in prayer
Examples/Models of praying people and their prayer-effectiveness
Praying the Psalms – personalizing them
The Psalmist, King David, and his prayer model
What God’s immutable word tells us about prayer
I would like to be able to tell you that we will be covering the above topics point by point. But we will not. I am all over this list, but if/when we might get to any or some of these points, feel free to check them off your own do-list if you want.
WE WILL BE PRAYING IN THESE SESSIONS, AND MANY OF THOSE TIMES WE WILL BE DISCUSSING HOW WE ARE PRAYING – NOT to learn some “official church FORMAT” but to broaden our understanding and awareness as to how we can be more effective in our prayer.
WAY-EARLY TRUTH AND REVELATION FOR US:
Gen 3:8-10
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Notably – it appears this was the IDYLLIC MODEL of God interacting w man – HIM coming to US, and WE being naked before Him, but being OK w that. In reality, THAT is how He wants to be w us now – not necessarily in THE PHYSICAL (that’s YOUR personal call) – and of course NEVER in the group prayer meetings – but the CONCEPT is that God sees and knows all.
And from THAT PLACE of understanding, it ought to change our perspective as to what we address w God, or what we might (vainly) attempt to hide from God.
CONFIRMED in the NT, and also brought to light so we can understand not only our accountability but also our access to God (THE PLACE OF PRAYER BEING ONE OF THE GREATEST ACCESS AVENUES) – the writer of Hebrews tells us this:
Heb 4:8-16
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly (W CONFIDENCE OF ACCEPTANCE) to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (often the time when our Adversary “Satan” would want to present you as disqualified from coming into the presence of God.
THE WARFARE of PRAYER and the WARFARE against PRAYER: As I mentioned early in a write-up email – during the weeks leading up to this class, I have found myself in some crazy and dark places, EVEN DURING my prayer time. I believe it was spiritual warfare specifically against this teaching, but also I believe the Lord allowed this to reveal my own vulnerability and weakness, as well as some of the places we will go through, as brethren. WE ARE IN A BATTLE. But we win. AND/BUT we need to be praying fervently to win. Prayer is a weapon of our warfare, and for us to NOT anticipate warfare resisting our prayer, would be naïve.
We’re promised this (we’ll read the entire verse 16, later):
James 5:16
16 ……The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(THEN THE EXAMPLE)
This too is MODELED FOR US: things happen IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO PRAYER:
Isa 38:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'”
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD,
3 and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,
5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.
6 “I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.”‘
This is MODELED FOR US by Jesus – His anointing and success did not get in the way of His prayer life:
Luke 5:15-16
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
MORE OF THE JESUS-MODEL (His Organizational Instructions came for Dad. His understanding of what to do and who to call came from Dad):
Luke 6:12-20
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
THE CALLING OF THE FIRST TWELVE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH:
13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
HIS HEALING ANOINTING OVER THE SPIRITUAL AND THE DEMONIC:
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
HIS EVANGELISM SUCCESS:
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
HIS TEACHING AND PREACHING ANOINTING:
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
This same PRIORITIZATION OF PRAYER was modeled by the church fathers, resulting in the successful foundation of the church:
Acts 6:1-7
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
THE RESULT:
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
This is TOLD TO US – by Paul:
1 Cor 11:1
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
PAUL AGAIN:
1Thes 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
PAUL AGAIN
Eph 6:17-19
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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints–
19 and for me (intercessory prayer for those at the tip of the spear), that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
A GLORIOUS TRUTH: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COUNTERFEIT having spent time w God
Acts 4:10-14
10 “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
JEALOUS/ZEALOUS (qana) God is jealous for those who are His. He MARKS THEM (like Moses, when he came down from the mountain and his face shown.
There is no “pretending” or “making believe” that someone has spent time w Jesus. It in fact ends up looking silly, religious or worse:
FIRST – AND EXAMPLE OF THE “WORSE” – getting into the deep issues of the Kingdom, without being in the deep place of relationship w God:
Acts 19:13-18
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
Matt 23:5-8 – Jesus – speaking of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees – who so wanted to look the part of religious and pious men:
5 “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
6 “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7 “greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
8 “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
KEY REVELATION RE PRAYER – BY OUR LORD – and Looking at how NOT to pray, and then HOW to pray and WHAT to say (NOT as ROTE [stiff formula] – but as EXAMPLE)
Matt 6:5-3 (Parallel to Luke 6)– after telling us how eternally worthless all our good acts are, if they are being done so other people can know about them – Jesus tells us:
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matt 6 is amazing in that we’re told be our Lord that the religious hypocrites like prayer because, when they’re seen praying, it makes them look religious. His response is NOT for His true disciples to NOT pray, but to PRAY PROPERLY, w the proper motives, w humility, and in such a manner that we are exalting and praising God, acknowledging and repenting of our sins, and then crying out for HIS will to be accomplished on earth – especially in OUR LIVES.
The FORMAT of “The Lord’s Prayer” is also a spectacular model for us when we pray:
1. Beginning w exaltation and praise.
2. Acknowledging our human condition of sinfulness, and addressing that by way of repentance.
3. Surrender to, and request for, His will.
4. Supplication and request.
5. Conclusive acknowledgement of His kingdom and power and glory.
AMEN.
(PRACTICE PARAPHRASE OF THAT MODEL?)
Of course, in a car going over a cliff: “YOW! HELP ME LORD!” is a perfect prayer model.
But I do believe there’s a purpose and an effect, if/when conditions allow, for us to GENERALLY be praying along the lines of the Lord’s prayer.
– Picture picking up a phone, not saying hi, not acknowledging the person, and immediately asking for things. How’s that sound?
– Picture coming before the Lord of heaven and earth and doing likewise.
IMPORTANT TO THE LORD’S PRAYER IS THIS: We are told to offer to God OUR wills, and replace OUR wills w what we receive by revelation, and by circumstance, in HIS will.
Ps 118 says it this way:
Ps 118:24-29
24 This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You; you are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
V27 – He has illuminated HIS PURPOSES and HIS PLAN to US. Our offering to Him is something live, that does NOT want to remain on the altar. I firmly believe that is best modeled as OUR WILLS.
Back to Matthew 6 for a moment – that verse comes RIGHT AFTER – yep – Matt 5 – where our Lord tells us not ONE JOT or TITTLE of the LAW (nomos) will pass away until ALL THINGS are fulfilled – He is confirming the fullness of ALL SCRIPTURE – and THEN He continues in the next chapter – which was NOT a “NEXT CHAPTER” in His teaching that day, but instead a continuation of thought and word – and tells us HOW TO PRAY and WHAT TO PRAY throughout the entire age – so us PRAYING:
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – is actually THE GATES (of Ps 24) opening up so that the (plans of) the King of Glory might come in. I firmly believe that Prayer of the Saints is one of the gates through which the presence of God comes in.
OUR PRAYERS are the GATEWAY for the PLANS OF GOD to be accomplished on earth. It’s precisely what the book of Revelation tells us in chapter 5:
Rev 5:8-10 – WHERE WE GET THE TERMINOLOGY: HARP & BOWL
8 Now when He (JESUS THE LAMB) had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
I also believe we would be more effective IN PRAYER and even IN LIFE, were we to spend less time NEGOTIATING W GOD and telling Him OUR WILLS, and instead seeking out HIS will and how to live that out.
A word from the brother of Jesus – we read v16 earlier – but context is always good:
James 5:14-20
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess 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.
THE EXAMPLE:
17 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.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
20 let 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.
James 5 speak to all sorts of things – from brethren falling away and our humble but proactive restoration of those fallen-away brethren, to a relationship, SOMETIMES, to sin and sickness, to the promise the FERVENCY is our prayer will accomplish supernatural results.
Merriam Webster Dictionary tells us
PRAYER:
1a. An address (as a petition) to God (or a god) in word or in thought.
1B. An earnest request or wish.
2. The act or practice of praying.
Also – one who prays. A supplicant
ORIGIN: Medieval Latin (14th century) “Precarius” – obtained by entreaty
YES we also get the word PRECARIOUS from Precarius. It too is dependent upon the “will of another” – typical implied meaning being the “will” of an unknown condition….
(16th century)
EARLIER than the Greek language, though, is the HEBREW – TEPILA (prayer) and PALAL – intercede, make supplication, thought, judgment, intervene, mediate.
THE NEED TO BE PRAYING NOW: In case you are living under a rock, we are living in increasingly more and more perilous times. The issue is really not WHY we are living in these perilous times – we’ve covered that in depth in the Isaiah Apocalypse study, and several others that we’ve been through in the past years – and we’ll likely get into a LITTLE of that in this class, as well as subsequent classes.
I firmly believe we are living in increasingly more and more trying, and even perilous times according to the purposes and timing and intentions of our sovereign God, Who kindly told us the following:
Hag 2:6-9
6 “For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
7 ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
So we see there is PROMISE that there will be a ONE TIME shaking work to draw men to the Desire of the Nations. That DESIRE would be the Lord Jesus, the soon and coming King.
Interestingly, prophetic biblical words like we just read in Haggai are NON-NEGOTIABLE. This is why silly doctrines like us SHIFTING THE BIBLICAL PLANS OF GOD by our prayers is goofy. Lots of what is coming into the church – often by good HUMAN INTENTION but IN BIBLICAL IGNORANCE in these days are doctrines that DEFY SCRIPTURE. They will not work, and in reality the preaching and teaching and praying into things that clearly contradict scriptural truth, are a waste of time. And Paul told us in Ephesians NOT to waste TIME but to redeem it.
BIBLICAL SUPPORT re non-negotiable plans of God:
Isa 14:24-27
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?”
This is why praying CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD will accomplish nothing, btw – another reason why it’s great to have the word of God in you.
We want to pray according to scripture.
THIS IS WHY it if foolhardy to think: “I’M A WORSHIPPER, I DON’T NEED TO KNOW MY BIBLE”, or “I’M A TEACHER, I DON’T NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN HARP AND BOWL WORSHIP”.
We need THE WHOLE ENCHILADA. We need all of God and all of His purposes.
There are many examples of men and women of God coming before God w PETITIONS and PLEAS, and God relenting (turning back) from a plan He had earlier expressed for a particular person, or even a particular nation. THAT TRUTH remains.
But there are PROPHETIC REVELATIONS of the plans of God that will not be turned back, and this is why our KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE will increase our EFFECTIVENESS IN PRAYER.
ALIGNING OURSELVES W THE PLANS OF GOD is something BI-DIRECTIONAL. God WANTS US to understand His plans – both via scripture and via revelation – oftentimes revealed IN THE PLACE of PRAYER – so we want to come into that fullness.
I’m sure you’ve heard your brethren PRAY GOOFY. I’m sure you’ve probably PRAYED GOOFY. Sometimes I marvel at God’s patience w us. In fact, always.
God is so amazing that in Isa 1 – even AFTER He has pronounced His people Israel GUILTY in a courtroom-like judgment, He tells them:
“COME LET US REASON TOGETHER….”
That is amazing grace. After the clear pronouncement of guilt, gracious God is still offering dialogue to His people. Prayer wants to be a DIALOGUE, not simply a WISH LIST or a NEEDS LIST.
PRAYING ACCURATELY – according to the will of God and the revealed truths of scripture:
We will see later that King Solomon, when he dedicated the great temple to God and prayed and put forth a HUGE DOCTRINAL STAEMENT to God – ends up receiving back from God:
A. Not ONE WORD of doctrinal correction, but instead
B. A confirmation of the accuracy and truthfulness of his prayer by a powerful outpouring of the presence and glory of God – that was so intense nothing more could be done that day by the priests. It was a dog pile of priests in their priestly robes.
I believe that the PLACE OF ACCURATE PRAYER both IS and WILL CONTINUE TO BE a place of His manifold weighty CHABAD glory. Personally, I am a junkie for that (His presence), and that is ONE (of many) reasons I love to pray.
OK – reading Solomon’s amazing prayer and it’s result: the interruptive presence of God (I wasn’t going to go here NOW, but in this preparation – I’m on it):
This prayer is profound for many reasons:
It clearly reveals biblical doctrinal accuracy, and because of that, it is particularly effectual.
The result is one of the greatest manifestation-responses of God in all of scripture.
So it can teach us doctrinal truth, and it ought to encourage us to, as much as possible, come before God with an understanding of who God is and what He is doing, so that our prayers can be in alignment w His will.
2 Chr 6:14-42
14 and he (SOLOMON) said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
15 “You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
16 “Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’
17 “And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
19 “Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:
20 “that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place.
21 “And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.
22 “If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple,
23 “then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.
24 “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple,
25 “then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.
26 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them,
27 “then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.
28 “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;
29 “whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple:
30 “then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men),
31 “that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.
32 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but who comes from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple;
33 “then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name,
35 “then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near;
37 “yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’;
38 “and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name:
39 “then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.
40 “Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
41 “Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, you and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness.
42 “O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; remember the mercies of Your servant David.”
Although this pray is LENGTHY and DOCTRINAL – this is NOT “TEACHING PRAYER” – first of all, no one is teaching God. Second, Solomon is proclaiming the truths of scripture, and the personality of God.
We want to be careful that we are not PLANNING to TEACH, or LECTURE our prayer partners, when we come to the place of prayer.
TEACH when it is time to teach. PRAY when it is time to pray.
2 Chr 7:1-3
1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.”
THAT is a successful prayer that moved HEAVEN into EARTH.
Solomon prayed ACCURATELY, WITH PASSION, AND WITH ANOINTED PURPOSE.
THAT is what we are looking for!!!
(we’ll continue w this PRAYER-IGNITED EVENT, later – when God comes to Solomon and offers HIM, and US, the promise of IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME……come and pray, then God will do His work.)
BTW – it is theologically illogical and unwise to understand the TRUTHS that Solomon prayed, and then ignore them, but then try to invoke the promises of God that were spoken IN RESPONSE to Solomon’s prayer.
THIS WHOLE BOOK WORKS TOGETHER.
Just like God Himself, the word of God is ECHAD. It is ONE, PRIMERO, UNIFIED, COMPLETE, INDIVISIBLE, SET APART, UNIQUE.
Slicing and dicing it for our purposes, whether IN PRAYER or IN LIFE, is a waste of time, and a huge jeopardy.
WOW – we could spend a month is the above verses – discussing their eternal truth – their modeling of beginning prayer w praise, the honest address of sin issues, the warfare, the invitation of God to tabernacle, and more. Yea God!
I believe that prayer of Solomon confirms the glory and the potency of scripturally accurate prayer. This is why we want the word of God in us, so that when we pray, that same word can flow from us, accurately. And our prayers will be more effective because we are praying along the lines of truth. And when we pray along those lines, I believe we are invited to “hold” God to His promises.
One thing I pray frequently, when I pray for our nation.
I KNOW IT IS A PROMISE OF SCRIPTURE, AND I KNOW I NOT “STRETCHING IT” FOR MY PURPOSES – SO I CAN PRAY IT W CONFIDENCE OF ITS ACCURACY.
Psalm 125:1-3
1 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
On the land allotted to the righteous,
Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
It’s good to understand this Psalm, so it can be prayed effectively.
At first blush, it looks like it is ABOUT Mount Zion in Jerusalem – but it is not. The promise is way broader than that. It says THOSE – any people group, anywhere who trust in the Lord will be LIKE (equivalent to, seen by God as) Mount Zion – and that becomes unmovable.
Then verse assures that IN LIKE MANNER AS HOW GOD SURROUNDS JERUSALEM – He will surround that group who trust in Him – and that is a “forevermore” promise.
Then verse 3 – which is pregnant w promise, tells us that a covenant land can gain access to a place of rescue and deliverance because – if we’re reading the Word – we know God is CANA over His people, all around the world.
THAT IS WHY we want the Word in us, and understood by us – so that our prayers can be most effective.
BACK TO HAGGAI (which we read earlier) and the SHAKING-WORK PROMISE: Further to the SAME prophetic word is another PROMISE TO BE FULFILLED: God will fill His temple with glory – as we also just saw in the Solomon-temple-dedication bunny trail. There appears to be a distinct relationship between PRAYER, THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND THE FILLING WITH GLORY:
And the further revelation is that the “glory of the latter temple shall be greater than the former”.
Hag 2:7-9
7 ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah further tells us the FULFILLED TEMPLE is going to be a certain kind of place – accessible to Jew and Gentile alike – this is the temple the Lord is preparing us for right now:
Isa 56:1-7
1 Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
6 “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants– everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant–
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
God’s great plan has ONE age coming to an end, and THE NEXT age immediately following, like DAY follows NIGHT.
That NEXT AGE is going to see a rebuilt temple, filled with people who:
KNOW TO PRAY; and also
KNOW HOW TO PRAY
What we are seeing in these and many other prophetic verses is an IMAGE OF THE PURPOSES OF GOD at the END of THIS AGE, and then extending into the NEXT AGE.
Furthermore, and critical for our understanding of the PRIORITY OF PRAYER is this amazing fact that ought to ignite our understanding of
our WORTH,
our POSITION,
our CALLING and
our PARTNERSHIP into the CREATION PLAN OF GOD – first remembering that mankind screwed things up, royally, for all of creation, when Adam and Eve opened the door to sin, through disobedience, in the Garden, and then understanding and recognizing the glorious restoration and redemption work of the cross, so that promises like we just read can be obtained, as we walk in understanding and holiness, humility and prayer.
CRITICAL NT REVELATION as to God’s prophetic plan – that WILL SURELY come to pass.
This is His plan for His people:
Rom 8:14-28
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs– heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS RE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND POTENTIAL OF HOLY-SPIRIT INFUSED PRAYER: We don’t really need to know all the things we need to be praying for, nor HOW to pray for some of them – because the Holy Spirit, IN US, is in complete harmony with the purposes of heaven, and HE KNOWS how we ought to be praying. He wants to pray FOR YOU THROUGH YOU)
27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
AND THEN WE GET THE “ALL THINGS….” PROMISE VERSE – within this context of Holy-Spirit infused, Spirit led life:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Back to v22: For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
The CREATION itself, groaning under the burden of a seasonal spiritual climate, is alive and infused with an understanding that SOMETHING has to change.
That change will not be a work OF Man.
And yet God, in calling us into a place of partnership with Him, has ordained it to be a work BY Man, praying as he ought to pray, led by the Spirit, OBEDIENTLY but also CREATIVELY speaking into being the plans and purposes of God.
Back to v22: For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
The CREATION itself, groaning under the burden of a seasonal spiritual climate, is alive and infused with an understanding that SOMETHING has to change.
That change will not be a work OF Man.
And yet God, in calling us into a place of partnership with Him, has ordained it to be a work BY Man, praying as he ought to pray, led by the Spirit, OBEDIENTLY but also CREATIVELY speaking into being the plans and purposes of God.
LIKELY WEEK TWO will be begin by looking into the “controversial” scriptures of 1 Cor 12-14 regarding praying in tongues, speaking in tongues, the public prophetic purpose of tongues, the potential of praying in tongues, and the religious warfare and rantings AGAINST praying tongues.
FOR NOW, SUFFICE TO SAY – Jesus put this priority on being filled with the Holy Spirit, and then Acts 2 HAPPENED:
ACTS 2
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
AND THEN:
Acts 2
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
These were fully saved saints, and Jesus told them to do nothing until they were baptized by a baptism of fire, after which time they’d be empowered for the Kingdom work. And when that occurred, it was marked by the outpouring of the gift and sign of tongues.
Prayer is the highest calling of God for a man to walk in. He is looking for those who will “worship Him in spirit and in truth”.
Dictionary Definition, again
WORSHIP: The act of showing respect and love for a God especially by PRAYING WITH OTHER PEOPLE who believe in the same god; the act of worshipping God or a god.
That WORSHIP includes the active component of prayer. Worship and Prayer are inseparable.
I believe it is one reason why sometimes worship fails to attain its full potential – because worshippers (onstage and off) may not be coming into the place of worship, prayed up.
THE RESISTANCE TO OUR PRAYERS, and our PRAYING:
So what we need to realize is that Satan (Hebrew: “Adversary”) rages against prayer and worship. It is his worst nightmare – a praying, worshipping saint.
Look what was promised to our Lord, in a lie, by Satan:
Luke 4:6-8
6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”
Besides that promise being a lie, it was also in complete opposition to the purpose of mankind.
We were meant for worship and prayer – only to God.
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”
This is why WE, as redeemed creatures, consistently encounter so much opposition to prayer – opposition to wanting to pray, to engage in prayer, to remain in prayer, to stay awake in prayer, and to surrender in prayer. These are all topics we’ll be INVESTIGATING, and PRACTICING, during the next few weeks.
all scripture NKJV
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