Series: Prayer

There are two spiritual disciplines that every believer should have in their lives: prayer and Bible reading.

If you are limited on your time, perhaps you should split your time between reading the Word of God and prayer.

There are some myths about prayer time that we need clear up:

1. You can only have a prayer time from 4 AM until 6 AM.

If you show up at 7 AM God is not going to tell you, “We’re closed.”

You can have prayer time anytime. I do suggest that you do it at the beginning of your day because it sets the tone for your day.

2. Your prayer time must last at least one hour.

There is nothing in the scripture that mandates that our prayer time should be a minimum of an hour.

Remember, it is the quality of your prayer time that always outweighs the quantity of your prayer time.

3. Your prayer time must sound like your favorite preacher.

God made you exactly the way that you are with your personality and so your prayers should sound like you. That will not surprise God at all. Just be you!

4. Your prayer time journal must sound like the Bible.

Most of the time the Lord speaks to us in real life terms.

Really the key in all of this is you and God come up with the best format on your prayer time. Be flexible with the Lord. He may have you read the Bible the entire time. He may have you pray in the Spirit the whole time.

Four Steps to Starting a Prayer Time:

1. Quiet or clear your mind.

This is supposed to be a prayer time and sometimes our prayer manuals make it a busy time.

Psalms 131:2 | TPT (2) I am humbled and quieted in your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m your resting child and my soul is content in you.

Psalms 62:1,5 | NIV (1) Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. (5) Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Your soul will try and talk to you when you are supposed to be getting quiet and listening to the Lord.

As your spirit grows and matures, your soul begins to lose control and it will throw a fit and try and rebel. If your soul is not held in the bosom of God, it will pitch a fit all the time.

If a thought comes to your mind, jot it down so that you can move on with God.

2. Focus your mind.

Music is a great tool to use to focus your mind on the Lord.

Psalms 108:1 | TPT (1) My heart, O God, is quiet and confident, all because of you. Now I can sing my song with passionate praises! Awake, O my soul, with the music of his splendor.

Psalms 49:3-4 | TPT (3) For wisdom will come from my mouth; words of insight and understanding will be heard from the musings of my heart. (4) I will break open mysteries with my music, and my song will release riddles solved.

God will give you a song that is for you that day.

Don’t worry about how it sounds. When you sing, God does not hear your voice. He hears your heart. (John 4:23)

31. Pray about what is on your heart.

You need to pray about what is on your heart that day.

Sometimes our prayer list is not necessarily on our hearts for that day.

James 5:16 | TPT (16) Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

You only pray fervently and passionately about what is on your heart, not just “vain repetitions.”

There is nothing selfish about praying about the areas of your life that are on your heart during that prayer time.

Philippians 4:6-7 | TPT (6) Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,

The way that you can be anxious for nothing is by praying about all those things that you are being tempted to be anxious about.

• • • Prayer is talking to God like you would talk to anyone else.
    • If you pour your stresses out on God in the morning it will amaze you how stress free you will be all day.
    • God will give you wisdom on how to handle the situation that is causing the stress.

4. Pray for someone else in your life.

James 5:16 | TPT Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

This will help you get your mind off of you and on the needs of others.

There is a lot that can happen when we pray for someone in our lives that needs your prayer. God will move in their lives and in yours.

Job 42:10 | NLT (10) When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!

About reading the Bible:

You and God can come up with a plan on reading the Bible. You can read a chapter a day from Proverbs, or you can use a read through the Bible in a year plan.

Understand this: you will have prayer times where you read the Word and it does not seem like you are getting anything out of it and sometimes it will jump off the page.

It is just like exercising; sometimes it feels good and sometimes it does not feel good but if you keep doing it, you are going to see results from it after time. It is part of life and growing in the Lord and you will sharpen your ability to hear from the Lord.

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Remember, prayer is all about your two-way communication and fellowship with God.

Ephesians 6:18 | NIV (18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

There are different rules that apply to different kinds of prayer – just like there are different rules that apply to different sports.

Different Types of Prayer:

1. The Prayer of Faith – prayer of petition, prayer to change things.
2. The Prayer of Consecration – the dedication of our lives to God’s use and His will for our lives.
3. The Prayer of Commitment – casting your cares upon the Lord in prayer
4. The Prayer of Agreement
5. Corporate or United Prayer – when a group of believers come together collectively in unity, speaking and praying the same thing.
6. Prayer of Intercession – standing in the gap in prayer between a person or persons, to plead one’s case.
7. Prayer of Praise and Worship

What is Praise?

• Expressing Approval or Favorable Judgment of God

To approve of someone is to have or express a favorable opinion of him or show esteem. In essence, praise that approves is like writing a letter of recommendation for God.

• Glorifying God

To glorify someone is to bestow honor, praise, or admiration. In other words, giving glory to someone specifically identifying what is admirable in the person.

In this type of praise, God is recognized as being good, faithful, righteous, just, merciful and forgiving.

2 Samuel 22:31 | NKJV (31) As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

As we honor God for Who He is and for what He has done in our lives, we make room for Him to work for us and in us every day.

What Does Praise Look Like?

1. Praise Puts God in First Place
   1. Praise is always turning our attention from ourselves to God.
   2. It is remembering and recounting who He is and what He has done, instead of wallowing in the mire of self-absorption.
   3. Praise turns our eyes from ourselves to God. It focuses our thoughts on His majesty and power and invites others to do the same.
   4. In essence, praise is bragging about God instead of us or the idols of this world.
2. Praise Flows from Our Friendship with God
   1. You cannot brag about someone you do not know – at least your bragging cannot be truthful and sincere.
   2. People who praise God on a regular basis do so because they have found the Lord to be so altogether lovely that they can’t stop thinking of Him and talking of Him. They have gotten close enough to Him to see His true nature and character, and they have found in Him more than anything they have ever hoped for.
   3. Although praise may start with what you know about God, it must eventually progress to what you yourself have experienced of Him. This is when praise becomes more than a choice or duty.
3. Praise Is a Conscious Choice
   1. Praise is an act of your will. When you offer God true praise, you make a conscious decision to commend, approve, and glorify Him.
   2. Praise is not based on your emotions or feelings. You don’t have to feel great or even good or okay to praise the Lord.
   3. Despite the many things in your life that may seem to be wrong, praise is your conscious choice because you know that God is the answer to your problems.
   4. You can focus on what is right – God and His goodness to you – no matter what else is wrong.

Psalms 42:5-6 | TPT (5) So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair? Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for living before his face is my saving grace! (6) Here I am depressed and downcast. Yet I will still remember you as I ponder the place where your glory streams down from the mighty mountaintops, lofty and majestic—the mountains of your awesome presence.

4. The word “Willing” indicates a conscious decision, an act of your will.

Psalms 7:17 | NKJV (17) I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalms 9:2 | NKJV (2) I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalms 22:22 | NKJV (22) I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

5. Praise becomes a sacrifice when you offer your praise to God just because He deserves it and asks you to do it and for no other reason.

Psalms 54:6 | NKJV (6) I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Hebrews 13:15 | NKJV(15) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

1. 1. You may not feel like praising Him, and in truth, it may be quite difficult for you to look beyond the difficulties in your life. Yet when you choose to open your lips and speak forth your adoration, gratitude, and thanksgiving to God, you please Him.
   2. The sacrifice of praise will not cost you any money, but it will cost you your self-centeredness and your natural tendency to dwell on whatever is wrong in your life.
   3. Giving God your sacrifice of praise means that you choose to dwell on Him instead of yourself.
   4. Your mouth is filled with all that is good in your life instead of everything that is bad.
   5. This sacrifice can never be forced from you by someone else. You may sing or raise your hands because someone tells you to, but an outward show is not inward praise.
   6. A sacrifice of praise comes from inside you. It is your will taking control over your emotions and doing what God wants and empowers you to do.

Leviticus 22:29 | NKJV (29) And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

The sacrifice that is pleasing to God is what you give from your heart despite what you are feeling or what your circumstances are.

6. Praise Is an Expression of Faith

James 2:17 | Phillips (17) …faith without corresponding actions is dead…

1. 1. Faith is the highest act of praise, and praise is the highest form of faith. Both are expressions of your agreement with God and His Word.
   2. When you have faith, you hold to His promise no matter what you see at the moment.
   3. When you praise Him, you proclaim what you know to be true in spite of evidence to the contrary.
   4. An attitude of faith during hard times is always at the core of sacrificial praise because it is based in the assurance that anything is possible with God.

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Remember, prayer is all about your two-way communication and fellowship with God.

Oral Roberts said, “Prayer is the foundation of every Christian endeavor. Regardless of any man’s ability, he will fail if not backed by prayer. Failure of all Christian enterprise is a prayer failure”.

Ephesians 6:18 | NIV (18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 

There are different rules that apply to different kinds of prayer – just like there are different rules that apply to different sports.

We separate prayer into these different types to study them and understand them better, but we cannot become rigid and clinical with them. Learn to move in prayer as the Holy Spirit directs. He will never lead you and me astray. He knows best what is needed.

Different Types of Prayer:

 

1. The Prayer of Faith – prayer of petition, prayer to change things.
2. The Prayer of Consecration – the dedication of our lives to God’s use and His will for our lives.
3. The Prayer of Commitment – casting your cares upon the Lord in prayer
4. The Prayer of Agreement
5. Corporate or United Prayer

This is when a group of believers come together collectively in unity, speaking and praying the same thing.

6. Prayer of Intercession – standing in the gap in prayer between a person or persons, to plead one’s case

There was a misbelief in the Body of Christ years ago that intercessory prayer was the only kind of prayer or that it was the most important kind of prayer.

You would hear people say that they were going to an “Intercessory Prayer Meeting” at church because it was all lumped together and called that.

Just as the Prayer of Faith has the primary ingredient of faith, there are some primary ingredients to the Prayer of Intercession:

1. The first primary ingredient to the Prayer of Intercession is love.

Faith is there also, but the main motivation of the heart of intercession is love. Love is the driving force behind it.

Just as the “agape” love of God is not passive, the love of God that fuels intercession takes action.

Ask God to cause His love for people to become your driving force in prayer. You already have the love of God in you by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)

2. The second primary ingredient to the Prayer of Intercession is compassion.

Compassion is not pity.

When you have compassion, you don’t just pity someone who’s in trouble, you suffer with them.

Pity will shake its head and say, Isn’t that a shame.” Compassion draws you so that you hurt because someone else hurts and you do something about it.

We saw this in Jesus earthly ministry, and He still does this now!

Romans 8:34 | NKJV (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:25 | NKJV (25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

“Entugchano” – This is where we stand in the gap for another person and bridge two people together. It means to fall into a situation or happen into a circumstance with someone else.

Intercession is when someone is under pending trouble or judgment, one stands in the gap for them to stop the danger.

I recently read this illustration: Intercessory prayer is like jumping on a hand grenade for someone else to protect them from the harm it would cause.

We can pray for lost people in this world and ask God to pour mercy on them.

Micah 7:18 | MSG (18) Where is the god who can compare with you– wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most.

Ezekiel 33:11 | NLT (11) As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

God does not delight in seeing people receive judgment. He delights in people receiving mercy.

Ezekiel 22:30 | NLT (30) “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 | TPT (1) Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion. (2) And pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts. (3) It is pleasing to our Savior-God to pray for them. (4) He longs for everyone to embrace his life and return to the full knowledge of the truth.

We are to pray and intercede for our leaders and cry out to God on their behalf.

Declare God’s Word over these people and remind God what His Word has said and what His promises are.

Proverbs 21:1 | NKJV (1) The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Remember, prayer is all about your two-way communication and fellowship with God.

Oral Roberts said, “Prayer is the foundation of every Christian endeavor. Regardless of any man’s ability, he will fail if not backed by prayer. Failure of all Christian enterprise is a prayer failure”.

Ephesians 6:18 | NIV (18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

There are different rules that apply to different kinds of prayer – just like there are different rules that apply to different sports.

The most effective kind of prayer is the one the Holy Spirit deems necessary in the moment.

Different Types of Prayer:

1. The Prayer of Faith – prayer of petition, prayer to change things.
2. The Prayer of Consecration – the dedication of our lives to God’s use and His will for our lives.
3. The Prayer of Commitment – casting your cares upon the Lord in prayer
4. The Prayer of Agreement

Matthew 18:19 | NKJV (19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Jesus is saying to us that wherever there are two people who are agreeing in prayer, He is right there to make it good.

5. Corporate or United Prayer

This is when a group of believers come together collectively in unity, speaking and praying the same thing.

There is a fullness of the Spirit that cannot be obtained by any other kind of prayer.

It doesn’t just change the life of one person, it affects entire groups of people.

Real united prayer can affect an entire church, city, state, or even a nation.

In the Bible we see four different kinds of situations where united prayer is necessary:

1. United prayer is necessary during a time of crisis

Acts 4:23-24 | NKJV (23) And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (24) So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Notice verse 24 does not say that they lifted up their voices. It says that they lifted up their voice. United prayer is a chorus of people praying with one mind and one heart.

Acts 4:31-32 | NKJV (31) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (32) Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul…

We see another example of united prayer in Acts 12:1-7. Herod had killed James and had Peter arrested and put in prison.

Acts 12:5 | NKJV (5) Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Acts 12:6-10 | NKJV (6) And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. (7) Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. (8) Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” (9) So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. (10) When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

2. United prayer is sometimes necessary to obtain mercy and forgiveness.

Ezra 10:1-5 | NKJV (1) Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. (2) And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. (3) Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. (4) Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.” (5) Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath.

It may be necessary to call a solemn assembly in prayer. That is what happened in Nineveh did after the preaching of Jonah.

Jonah 3:5-7 | NKJV (5) So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. (6) Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. (7) And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.

Jonah 3:10 | NKJV (10) Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

3. Unified worship is another type of united prayer.

We rarely see the potential of this type of worship and prayer because in a lot of cases the voices of the people are in harmony, but their hearts are not. For the power of God the be manifested, those gathered must be in one accord – with one heart.

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 | NKJV (11) And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), (12) and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets– (13) indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, (14) so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

4. United prayer is sometimes necessary when God’s direction is needed.

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 | NKJV (3) And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (4) So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

2 Chronicles 20:13 | NKJV (13) Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.

When they prayed and waited before God, the Holy Spirit came upon Jahaziel and He gave them instructions as to what to do to get the victory in this situation.

2 Chronicles 20:15 | NKJV (15) And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Perhaps we, the church, are not seeing the victories that God wants to give us because very few have tapped into this powerful type of prayer that is available to us.

Maybe because of excesses in these areas we have “thrown the baby out with the bathwater.”

Start with you and your household. Come together in one heart and pray and believe God for victory in your house. We will discover that when a group of people join together to seek God, He will be found and great things will begin to happen.

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Remember, prayer is all about your two-way communication and fellowship with God.

Oral Roberts said, “Prayer is the foundation of every Christian endeavor. Regardless of any man’s ability, he will fail if not backed by prayer. Failure of all Christian enterprise is a prayer failure”.

Ephesians 6:18 | NKJV (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–

Ephesians 6:18 | ERV (18) Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.

Ephesians 6:18 | NIV (18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Amplified Bible says, “Pray… will all manner of prayer.”

Goodspeed’s translation says, Use EVERY KIND OF PRAYER and entreaty, and at every opportunity pray in the Spirit…”

There are different rules that apply to different kinds of prayer – just like there are different rules that apply to different sports.

The most effective kind of prayer is the one the Holy Spirit deems necessary in the moment.

Different Types of Prayer:

1. The Prayer of Faith – prayer of petition, prayer to change things.
2. The Prayer of Consecration – the dedication of our lives to God’s use and His will for our lives.
3. The Prayer of Commitment – casting your cares upon the Lord in prayer
4. The Prayer of Agreement

Matthew 18:18-20 | NKJV (18) “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (19) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Jesus is saying to us that wherever there are two people who are agreeing in prayer, He is right there to make it good.

As long as it is in line with God’s Word, Heaven backs up what we agree for in prayer.

The truth of the matter is that this prayer is about unity – being in one heart or in one accord. There needs to be a heart connection in faith and agreement.

Matthew 18:19 | AMPC (19) Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.

It’s not that can’t pray by yourself. You can, and the prayer of faith is a powerful way to pray. But, when two or more people truly pray in agreement, it multiplies their prayer power by staggering proportions.

Deuteronomy 32:29-30 | NKJV (29) Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end! (30) How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them?

With the Lord’s help, two people in agreement were able to defeat their enemies.

In other words, you can do ten times as much with someone agreeing with you as you can by yourself.

For example, a husband and wife can become mighty partners in prayer.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 | NKJV (9) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. (10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. (11) Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The prayer of agreement can hold you steady when the devil starts applying pressure because you can hold each other accountable in your faith and what you agreed for.

You see, real agreement is not mental assent or “signing off on it”.

1. 1. 1. Come together and find the Scriptures to build a platform for your prayer.
      2. Make sure you are in the same place in faith.
      3. Write the verses down and make an agreement by dating and signing it. Make it as serious as a contract.
      4. Then both of you pray over that thing and enter into agreement. Be specific in your prayers. (Phil. 4:6 AMPC – Definite specific request.)

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Remember, prayer is all about your two-way communication and fellowship with God.

Today, we are going to begin looking at the many different kinds of prayer that are in the Scripture.

Ephesians 6:18 | NKJV (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–

Ephesians 6:18 | ERV (18) Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.

Ephesians 6:18 | NIV (18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Amplified Bible says, “Pray… will all manner of prayer.”

Goodspeed’s translation says, Use EVERY KIND OF PRAYER and entreaty, and at every opportunity pray in the Spirit…”

There are different rules that apply to different kinds of prayer – just like there are different rules that apply to different sports.

The most effective kind of prayer is the one the Holy Spirit deems necessary in the moment.

Different Types of Prayer:

1. The Prayer of Faith – prayer of petition, prayer to change things.

Mark 11:24 | NKJV (24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

2. The Prayer of Consecration – the dedication of our lives to God’s use and His will for our lives.

Matthew 16:21-25 | NKJV (21) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (22) Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (23) But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (25) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Luke 9:23-24 | NKJV (23) Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (24) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Not only does the Cross represent the place where Jesus paid the price for our Redemption, but it was also the place where surrendered His will to the plan of the Father.

Luke 22:41-42 NKJV (41) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, (42) saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Matthew 26:44 | NKJV (44) So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Hebrews 12:2 | NKJV (2) …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus knew what the result of that ultimate surrender was going to be: the salvation of humanity.

We must remember that there is a blessing and joy in the surrendering of our will to the will of God.

Being in the will of God is where God’s highest and best for your life can be found.

James 4:7 | NKJV (7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Submission – yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.

Submitting to God’s will for your life is where the depth of your fellowship with God can be found.

There can be no submission in a relationship until you disagree or don’t really want to submit. Agreement and “want to” is not submission.

3. The Prayer of Commitment – casting your cares upon the Lord in prayer

1 Peter 5:6-7 | AMPC (6) Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, (7) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Psalms 55:22 | NKJV (22) Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

There is no where in the Bible where it says that the Lord will TAKE your cares from you.

We must cast OUR CARES upon Him.

To cast means to violently throw or to fling something with great force.

Rick Renner – The word cares in the Greek means “anxiety”. However, in principle it is described as any affliction, difficulty, hardship, misfortune, trouble, or complicated circumstance that arises as a result of problems that arise in our lives.

When we cast our cares upon the Lord, there is an exchange that will take place.

Psalms 55:22 | TPT (22) So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.

Matthew 11:28-30 | AMPC (28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer 6:16] (30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Once you cast your cares on the Lord, don’t take them back again!!!

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Today, we are going to begin to look at how to pray for or about specific things in our lives. We are going to see what the Word of God says about those things and how we should pray about them.

Praying for the Lost

There is one fact that we must establish first in answering this question.

• Salvation has already been purchased for all mankind and forgiveness awaits all who will receive it.

Hebrews 10:12-14 | NKJV (12) But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (13) from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (14) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus paid the price once for all mankind. He purchased our salvation, so the work of redemption has been completed.

Colossians 1:14 | NKJV (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:14 | NLT | (14)…who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

The price has been paid for all and forgiveness is available for all so then why is everyone not saved?

• Salvation and forgiveness must be received.

So, for us to pray prayers such as, “Lord save so and so…” are unscriptural because the work of salvation is complete and in God’s heart and mind it is established, and mankind just needs to receive what God has already done.

Romans 10:13-15 | NLT (13) For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (15) And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Notice the scripture says that everyone that calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. Paul also gives us the progression that happens in everyone’s life that receives salvation or the New Birth:

• They call on Him because they believe in Him.
• They believe in Him because they have heard about Him.
• They hear because someone tells them.
• People go and tell them because they are sent.

The word “sent” in verse 15 is the word we get “apostle” from. It just means that this is one who is sent by God to proclaim the truth to people. This is the assignment on everyone who is a Christian. We are all to be available for the Lord to use in telling the Gospel or good news.

That means that all of us who are believers today are believers because someone was sent to us to tell us the Good News of the Gospel.

• People get sent because we pray for them to be sent.

Matthew 9:35-38 | NKJV (35) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

We work with God in asking Him to send forth laborers into the harvest and He does the sending. The laborers do the preaching and start the process.

Someone might say, “Well, if the Lord wants to send forth laborers into the harvest, why doesn’t He just send them?” But God cannot do any more on earth than what we permit Him to do. We allow God to move in our lives and in the earth by obeying His Word and by praying.

It is still up to the person to receive God’s free gift but at least they shall have heard. God knows exactly the right person who can reach your unsaved loved one and can influence them for the Lord.

• You can also pray that God will pour out His goodness in their lives so that it will bring them to a place of repentance.

Romans 2:4 | NKJV (4) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

• You can also pray for their supernatural protection especially if they are involved in activities that could endanger them.

• We can also break the power of the devil over them because it is he that is blinding their minds to the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 | NLT (3) If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. (4) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The correct way to pray for lost friends or loved ones is like this:

Lord, I ask You, the Lord of the Harvest, to send forth perfect laborers into the life of my loved one to share the Good News of the Gospel. Let them say it in a special way so that they will listen and understand it. I believe that they will not be able to resist the drawing of your Spirit as you bring them to repentance by overwhelming them with your goodness and love. I thank You for it, in Jesus’ Name.

Praying for Believers

I believe that most Born Again believers genuinely want to pursue the things of God and His direction for their lives.

Sometimes the enemy can come in and bring confusion and questions because they do not know what they are supposed to be doing.

• If people do not know what to do, they always revert to do what they do know to do. (Including Christians)

1 John 1:7 | NKJV (7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8 | NKJV (8) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…

The thing that we see in this is that light is extremely important for any of us to be successful as Christians.

• Every believer needs more light or revelation from God’s Word for us to grow and our lives to be different and better.
• It is still the individual’s choice to walk in the light they receive.

Paul outlined the prayers that we can pray for believers (and for ourselves) in the following epistles:

Ephesians 1:15-20 | NKJV (15) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, (16) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (20) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…

Ephesians 3:16-19 AMPC (16) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, (18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; (19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Colossians 1:9-12 | NKJV (9) For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (12) giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

James 5:16 | NKJV (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.

James 5:16 | AMPC (16)…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT (16)…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

Today, we are going to begin to look at how to pray for or about specific things in our lives. We are going to see what the Word of God says about those things and how we should pray about them.

Praying for the Lost

There is one fact that we must establish first in answering this question.

• Salvation has already been purchased for all mankind and forgiveness awaits all who will receive it.

Hebrews 10:12-14 | NKJV (12) But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (13) from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (14) For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus paid the price once for all mankind. He purchased our salvation, so the work of redemption has been completed.

Colossians 1:14 | NKJV (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:14 | NLT | (14)…who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

The price has been paid for all and forgiveness is available for all so then why is everyone not saved?

• Salvation and forgiveness must be received.

So, for us to pray prayers such as, “Lord save so and so…” are unscriptural because the work of salvation is complete and in God’s heart and mind it is established, and mankind just needs to receive what God has already done.

Romans 10:13-15 | NLT (13) For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (15) And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Notice the scripture says that everyone that calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. Paul also gives us the progression that happens in everyone’s life that receives salvation or the New Birth:

• They call on Him because they believe in Him.
• They believe in Him because they have heard about Him.
• They hear because someone tells them.
• People go and tell them because they are sent.

The word “sent” in verse 15 is the word we get “apostle” from. It just means that this is one who is sent by God to proclaim the truth to people. This is the assignment on everyone who is a Christian. We are all to be available for the Lord to use in telling the Gospel or good news.

That means that all of us who are believers today are believers because someone was sent to us to tell us the Good News of the Gospel.

• People get sent because we pray for them to be sent.

Matthew 9:35-38 | NKJV (35) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

We work with God in asking Him to send forth laborers into the harvest and He does the sending. The laborers do the preaching and start the process.

Someone might say, “Well, if the Lord wants to send forth laborers into the harvest, why doesn’t He just send them?” But God cannot do any more on earth than what we permit Him to do. We allow God to move in our lives and in the earth by obeying His Word and by praying.

It is still up to the person to receive God’s free gift but at least they shall have heard. God knows exactly the right person who can reach your unsaved loved one and can influence them for the Lord.

• You can also pray that God will pour out His goodness in their lives so that it will bring them to a place of repentance.

Romans 2:4 | NKJV (4) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

• You can also pray for their supernatural protection especially if they are involved in activities that could endanger them.

• We can also break the power of the devil over them because it is he that is blinding their minds to the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 | NLT (3) If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. (4) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The correct way to pray for lost friends or loved ones is like this:

Lord, I ask You, the Lord of the Harvest, to send forth perfect laborers into the life of my loved one to share the Good News of the Gospel. Let them say it in a special way so that they will listen and understand it. I believe that they will not be able to resist the drawing of your Spirit as you bring them to repentance by overwhelming them with your goodness and love. I thank You for it, in Jesus’ Name.

Praying for Believers

I believe that most Born Again believers genuinely want to pursue the things of God and His direction for their lives.

Sometimes the enemy can come in and bring confusion and questions because they do not know what they are supposed to be doing.

• If people do not know what to do, they always revert to do what they do know to do. (Including Christians)

1 John 1:7 | NKJV (7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8 | NKJV (8) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…

The thing that we see in this is that light is extremely important for any of us to be successful as Christians.

• Every believer needs more light or revelation from God’s Word for us to grow and our lives to be different and better.
• It is still the individual’s choice to walk in the light they receive.

Paul outlined the prayers that we can pray for believers (and for ourselves) in the following epistles:

Ephesians 1:15-20 | NKJV (15) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, (16) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (20) which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…

Ephesians 3:16-19 AMPC (16) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, (18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; (19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Colossians 1:9-12 | NKJV (9) For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (12) giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

James 5:16 | NKJV 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.

James 5:16 | AMPC …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT …for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

The subject of prayer is so vast and as broad as the Holy Spirit Himself. There is no way to teach fully on the subject because there is always more to know.

What is Prayer?

• Simply put, prayer is communicating with our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe. It is connecting with Him in a real and powerful way.

The Helper in Prayer

Jesus told us there are two distinct works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. One is in the New Birth where He works in us, and the other is in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when the Spirit comes upon us.

John 4:13-14 NKJV (13) Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,  (14)  but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Notice Jesus likened the work of the Holy Spirit to water in a well (New Birth).

• The water in the well is for the believer’s benefit.

John 7:37-39 | NKJV (37) On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  (38)  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  (39)  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus also likened the work of the Holy Spirit to water flowing like a river (the baptism of the Holy Spirit).

• The river flowing out of us is for the benefit of others.

Acts 1:1-11 | NKJV The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, (3) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (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.” (9) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, (11) who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an additional dimension of the work that He does in our lives.

But it is the same Holy Spirit that came in us when we got Born Again.

What About Speaking and Speaking in Tongues?

• The initial evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is speaking in other tongues.

Acts 2:1-4 | NKJV (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.

Acts 10:44-46 | NKJV (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. (45) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

Acts 19:6 | NKJV (6) And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Benefits of Praying In Tongues (Praying in the Spirit)

• Tongues is primarily for a believer’s own personal, spiritual edification.

1 Corinthians 14:4 | NKJV (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Jude 1:20 | NKJV (20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

You can’t edify people unless you have first been edified.

• God has given us this divine means by which we can speak directly to Him supernaturally.

1 Corinthians 14:2 | AMP (2) For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

• Praying in other tongues is praying in line with God’s perfect will.

From Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner

Romans 8:26-27 NKJV (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. (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.

Helps – (Greek: sunantilambano) – three separate words which mean: The Holy Ghost in conjunction and partnership with us, becomes so enraged against whatever is causing us difficulties, He takes it personally upon Himself.

What – (Greek: ti) – the very little thing. It underscores that we don’t even know how to necessarily pray for the small things not to mention the larger issues in life. We are so limited in our view but He can see it ALL.

Ought (Greek: dei)– as the new situation requires and dictates, as the new problem demands.

Intercession – (Greek: huperentugchano) – this is the only time that this word is used in the entire New Testament.

This word paints the picture of someone who has come upon someone who has fallen into some kind of quandary. It would be as if someone has fallen into a deep cavern and is stuck. There is someone who immediately swings into action to rescue and deliver the one who is in trouble. It conveys the idea of a full-scale rescue operation.

When we do not know how we should pray for that situation, the Holy Spirit swings into a full-scale rescue operation. But to do this, He falls into that place with you. Now you are no longer facing that situation alone, for the Holy Spirit has stepped into your dilemma and is initiating a rescue plan to get you out of that mess!

The Holy Spirit feels everything that you feel. He understands the complete inadequacy you are experiencing. He willingly joins you in your circumstances sharing your emotions and frustrations. Then He begins to put a supernatural plan of rescue into operation to get you out of that problem.

Romans 8:26-27 | TPT (26) And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.  (27)  God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.

Romans 8:28 | NKJV (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.

• Your weaknesses do not disqualify you from His help, they qualify you for His help.

James 5:16 | NKJV 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.

James 5:16 | AMPC …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 | TPT …for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

The subject of prayer is so vast and as broad as the Holy Spirit Himself. There is no way to teach fully on the subject because there is always more to know.

What is Prayer?

• Simply put, prayer is communicating with our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe. It is connecting with Him in a real and powerful way.

God Wants a Meeting!

Exodus 25:1-2 NKJV Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (2) “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

Exodus 25:8 NKJV And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

1. I will meet with you.

The Tabernacle that they were building was called “The Tabernacle of Meeting.” (135 times in the Old Testament)

Numbers 7:89 NKJV Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.

It was the place that God wanted to meet with His people.

God desired to have a place where He can meet with His people. He still has this desire.

It sounds like these two things, meeting and speaking, are the same thing. They are different.

Something can be spoken, and a meeting does not take place. (Email, text, letter, etc.)

There were occasions in the Old Testament where God would have something to say to the people so He would send a prophet. The prophet would say what God said but God was not there to meet with the people.

Why Does God Want a Meeting?

We can clearly see a pattern in the Bible where people that had a meeting with God, were not the same when the meeting was over. There was something that happened…

• • God met with Abraham…
  • God met with Moses…
  • God met with Joshua…
  • God met with David…
  • God met with Zacharias and Elizabeth…
  • God met with Mary…
  • Jesus met with the disciples…
  • Jesus met with Peter after the Resurrection…
  • Jesus met with Saul on the Damascus Road…
  • Jesus met with the John the Revelator…

There are three characteristics of a meeting with God:

1. 1. In a meeting it can be personal.
   2. In a meeting there is an encounter.
   3. In an encounter, there is an exchange. You can see someone’s expressions, their emotions, etc.

God wants to have a meeting with you and in that meeting, He wants to encounter you and He wants there to be an exchange.

This was His plan in meeting with all these people in the Bible.

This is God’s plan for prayer.

Prayer is when you meet with God and there is an encounter that takes place, and an exchange.

You bring God your worry, your fear, your anxiety, your shame, and He takes that from you and gives you His peace, His acceptance, His love, and His assurance that everything is going to be alright.

2. I will speak with you.

Exodus 25:22 NKJV And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat…

Notice God did not say, “I will speak about you…”, “I will speak above you…” and especially did not say, “I will speak to you…”

God wants to speak with you. He wants to hear you and you hear Him.

Where is the Meeting Place?

Exodus 25:8-9 NKJV And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (9) According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

God wants a place where He can DWELL and meet with His people and speak with His people.

The Old Testament Tabernacle was a pattern or a copy of something that God had already planned.

What is the real Tabernacle or the real Temple?

2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

Revelation 21:2-3 NKJV Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

• God wants to meet with you and speak with you!

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God wants His meeting with you to:

1. Be personal.
2. Be an encounter.
3. Be an exchange.

He will take away all the pressures of this life and give you all that He is.

Someone has arranged this meeting and it cost a great price, His life, so that you and God can have this meeting.

Prayer is an encounter with God. Do you allow yourself to have a meeting with God during your prayer time? He wants to meet with and speak with you! Are you going to the meeting?