This teaching by Pastor Chris spoke of the effect of prayer, how and when the Holy Spirit brings to you an atmosphere of prayer. It also covers topics such as the spirit of prayer, how to prevail in prayer for ourselves and most especially for others. I have summarized some things learned from the message.
Introduction
When we pray, there is a divine ability that comes to enlighten, to refresh, and to minister wisdom and revelation, and insight into mysteries and secrets. Scripture reveals that the desire of God’s Spirit is that we might be filled with all the fullness of God.
As Christians, we have the responsibility to pray – not just for ourselves but most especially for others. It is not something we do just once or twice. Rather it should be a part of our lifestyle. However, we are often found in a state where “our spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Simply put, our flesh has not
yet been trained fully and brought into subjection to the things pertaining to the Kingdom to which we belong. This is not something we do by willpower alone. We need assistance from the Holy Spirit.
To be able to be consistent in prayer, we need to invite and be influenced by the spirit of prayer. And we can do this by desiring that spirit. When we invite by desire that Spirit of Prayer, the Holy Spirit of God brings an overwhelming atmosphere and influence of prayer into our life. And what happens is, as Pastor Chris would say, we “breathe” prayer.
We may not see why or how desiring and developing the habit of praying is essential. That is until we understand that this lifestyle makes our lives become a marvel and influential to the world.
Prevailing Prayer
We win first in the spirit before the victory shows on the outside. We prevail with God first before we prevail with men. Until you prevail with God, you cannot prevail with men.
A great example that Pastor Chris pointed out to us is the story of Jacob when he wanted to return to his homeland. God had blessed him abundantly with wealth and a happy large family. And he desired to head back home. But he remembered the issue that existed between him and his brother Esau. Coupled with the news that he received that Esau, who had become a strong man with a large army, had gathered his “battalions” to meet him, Jacob knew that if he went just like that, he would surely die.
He understood, in his own way that if he didn’t prevail with God, he would not prevail with men – in this case, Esau. So he sent his people ahead of him while he stayed back to prevail first with God. The angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob and Jacob wrestled with this angel all night long.
So what does it mean to prevail with God?
It doesn’t mean forcing God to do something. It doesn’t mean crying or lamenting. It is about understanding that there is a spirit of prayer. This is not a certain angel or spirit whose name is called prayer. Rather it refers to when the Holy Spirit brings an overwhelming atmosphere and influence of prayer into our lives.
How does this happen? Like I said in the beginning, we invite by strong desire that spirit of prayer. If we want Him, and we seek Him with all our hearts, He will be found in us. To seek God doesn’t mean He is missing. Rather, it’s in reference to a strong desire for God, His word, and His influence in our lives.
Jesus said that He would quench the thirst of those who come to Him. So when we are thirsty for God like this, and we begin that fellowship of prayer, it won’t be long before we discover the spirit of prayer. He will bring that atmosphere and influence into our lives. And we will find that we are constantly praying.
And it’s important that those who are around us have a hunger for God. We impart others with what we have. It doesn’t come by itself. We have to cultivate it. It’s our part to keep desiring and it’s his part to come to us. He’ll stay in us. And all we have to do is act accordingly. It’s the doing part that’s the cultivation. It’s a matter of a burden. If you have something that disturbs you, you’ll pray.
Spiritual Sins and How the Word of God Exposes Them
If you want to prevail with God consistently in prayer, you need to repent of your personal sins lest they restrict your ability to commune with Him. There are two main kinds of sins – spiritual sins and physical (sins towards God are called spiritual sins).
Be proud of who God has made you but never exalt yourself above others. God doesn’t want us to think that way. Pride is a spiritual sin and it’s only the light of God’s Word that can reveal it. The first five commandments refer to spiritual sins. Spiritual sins are more dangerous than physical sins. So search your heart daily with the Word. It checks your actions, thoughts and motives. And enable you to ensure that they remain pure and upright.
If God said that David was a man after His heart and I want to be a person that God is pleased with, then we’re supposed to follow in the footsteps of those praised by God.
Some Effects of Prevailing Prayer
One of the things it helps us do is to maintain inspiration.
- Whatever it is we’re involved in, if we’re not praying, we will lose the spiritual fervor that follows it. Romans 12:11 speaks of fervency of spirit which is in actually fact referring to the maintaining of the glory of the Spirit. This is done through prayer and meditation on the Word. There is a glory upon believers… which is being refined and brought to light more and more as we spend time in prayer and in meditation of the Word. The more we pray and speak the Word, the more glorious we become. The glory upon our lives is exposed and refined. It’s one of the reasons why the Bible encourages us “not to neglect the gathering of the brethren”. Because when we come to church, one of the plans of the Holy Spirit is to make us more glorious… adding to the glory upon our lives. And all the dust and grime and corruption that have been trying to cover up that shine are washed away.
Prayer helps us keep focus
- Psalms 86:11. When we pray, we have an undivided heart. We are able to avoid being tossed to and fro by every new opportunity… every new problem. Rather, every now and then, God draws our hearts into His thinking, into His motivations, into His visions, into His plans and purposes. So He expresses Himself through us, allowing us to know His will and purposes at each instance… Thus also being enable to know when something is about to be birthed, something is about to come out, to happen.
- Note: keep track of your prayers so that you know when God has answered. Don’t just be praying and forgetting. Know when God has answered you and give Him the praise that he deserves.
Pray for Others – It is Our Responsibility
These days, most people are focused on things that can save the body but not really what is important. We may have saved the body, but what about our souls? What about the souls of those around us? What about the eternal fire of hell? Isn’t it worth saving someone from? Can we really love somebody and not mind that he or she is going to hell? How can we really love someone and not care that he is going to hell?
Praying for someone to be saved is an expression of love. The Holy Spirit enjoys fellowship with us when we express genuine love. Praying for the spiritual growth of others is also very important. 1 Timothy 2:8 When we don’t know God’s will, we do a lot of stupid things. So we ought to pray for others and ourselves that we be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
To prevail in prayer, you have to be consistent. One way to pray is to pray yourself into Scripture. Take the prayers prayed by Paul and the apostles and pray them over yourself and also over others… Good Scriptures you can start with include:
- Philippians 1:9
- Ephesians 1:15:16
- Colossians 1:9-11
As you grow and continue, the Holy Spirit will give you more specific prayers.
Conclusion
We may not see why or how desiring and developing the habit of praying is essential. That is until we understand that this lifestyle makes our lives become a marvel and influential to the world. So, Pray continually. Pray always. Pray.
