5 Minute Prayer School: Recent Episodes
David Lee Martin
Teaching Ordinary People To Live And Walk Every Day With An Extraordinary God. The 5 Minute Prayer School offers bite size inspiration and encouragement to fire up your prayer life.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom 8:14 AMP)
As we have considered in earlier modules [Mod 2: Doctrine: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit], the Holy Spirit is a Person; the third Person of the Godhead. He is not a feeling or an impersonal influence or power. He is very God!
As we develop faith through the knowledge of this truth and the Scriptures concerning His present ministry in and to the saints we realise that we have absolute ground to expect clear leading in all things from Him.
Just as we looked at Christ, our Advocate, so we discover that Christ’s ministry of intercession continues in the Person of the Holy Spirit:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1John 2:1 KJV)
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7 KJV)
Strongs #3875. para¿klhtoß parakletos, par-ak´-lay-tos; an intercessor, consoler: — advocate, comforter.
Thayers #3875. para¿klhtoß; parakleœtos, parakleœtou, ho (parakaleoœ), properly, summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid
- one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate
- universally, one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor:
- in the widest sense, a helper, succorer, aider, assistant; so of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after His ascension to the Father)
Through Him we enter into this glorious participation. He, the Holy Ghost, leads us as we pour our hearts before the Father. Our intercessions through Him combine with the intercessions of Christ, heaven’s breathing and earth’s groanings effectually affecting the plans of God. The same Spirit at work in Christ moves us in One holy purpose!
The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit has been sent to lead and guide us: Consider the following Scriptures in this respect: John 14:26; 16:13-15; 1 John 2:27
As our faith is developed for the Holy Spirit to lead us out in prayer, and we begin to practice in prayer, our hearts grow accustomed to yielding to the different expressions and flows He directs toward. We develop capacity in our spirit, not only to engage Him in our requests and the matters that concern us, but also to work with Him regarding the concerns of His heart.
The Holy Spirit will show us and cause us to pray for things to come; He will take the things of Jesus, those present truths and concerns of the Saviour’s intercessions, and show them to us, leading us to pray into them together with Christ; He will teach us to abide in Christ and to pray from that position of victory and authority; He will lead us to explore new realms in the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Bible says that He will pray the perfect will and mind of God together with us, taking hold together with us in spiritual yearnings and groanings too deep for human utterance:
“So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.” (Rom 8:26-27 AMP)
What a partnership! What a privilege!
Form without power
Formalistic prayers, even when based on the divinely inspired words of God, minister nothing but death. Words alone are not enough, they must be baptised with the fire of God’s Spirit.
Lynne Hammond says in ‘The Master is Calling’:
“Please understand, I am a Word person. I love the Word of God. But if you try to apply that Word without fellowshipping with the Person and Spirit of God Himself, your life and your prayers will be dry and powerless. That’s because it is the Holy Spirit who quickens the Word to you. It’s God Himself – the Person and power behind the Word – Who makes it come alive in your life.”
She continues later in the same book:
“We’ve had enough superficial performances of prayer. We’ve had enough spiritless, weak praying. Now we need prayers that avail with God so powerfully they can change the course of nature; prayer that changes people and nations; prayer that projects God in full force to the world.”
James 5:16 says:
“… The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16 AMP)
When the Spirit of Prayer is mixed with God’s Word and Promise the impossible becomes possible and dynamic miracle power is released:
“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]….” (Hebrews 4:12 AMP)
“He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power… (Hebrews 1:3 AMP)
Our prayers are energised by God’s Word living and abiding in a heart filled and moved by the Holy Ghost. They are propelled full force by the fire of His Word residing in the believer’s spirit. Paul Himself prayed for the church that they would realise this mighty power, and recognise the mightiness of the One dwelling and moving within them (Ephesians 1:17-20; 3:16-21).
b. What is important is that our prayers are not mere spiritual sounding monologues or choruses; they must be imbued with holy fervency arising from communion with the Holy Ghost.
Lynne Hammond rightly says:
“As soon as you make something a form, you rob it of its effectiveness…our prayers to Him are a matter of relationship and not ritual, you can easily see why He doesn’t respond to forms. Real prayer is genuine communication. Religious form, however, is a type of manipulation!”
This does not negate the application of principle in prayer. Mere hot air and emotion do not constitute effective prayer, and without skill in the art of prayer we can expend much energy to no avail, but all forms of prayer must be subject to the leading and dynamic of the Spirit of prayer Himself.
Charles Finney, the renowned revivalist, states these facts even stronger in his book about the principles of revival:
“I have dwelt the more on this subject, because I want to have it made so plain that you will be careful not to grieve the Spirit. I want you to have high ideas of the Holy Ghost, and to feel that nothing good will be done without His influences. No praying or preaching will be of any avail without Him. If Jesus Christ were to come down here and preach to sinners, not one would be converted without the Spirit. Be careful, then, not to grieve Him away, by slighting or neglecting His heavenly influences when He invites you to pray.
We see from this subject the absurdity of using set forms of prayer, or prayer books. The very idea of using a form rejects, of course, the leadings of the Spirit. Nothing is more calculated to destroy the spirit of prayer, and entirely to darken and confuse the mind, as to what constitutes prayer, than to use forms. Forms of prayer are not only absurd in themselves, but they are the very device of the devil to destroy the spirit and break the power of prayer. It is of no use to say the form is a good one. Prayer does not consist in words. And it matters not what the words are if the heart is not led by the Spirit of God. If the desire is not enkindled, the thoughts directed, and the whole current of feeling produced and led by the Spirit of God, it is not prayer. And set forms are, of all things, best calculated to keep an individual from praying, as he ought.”
Our great need in this day is not professional pray-ers, but men and women filled with the Spirit of prayer.
As we have just established, our prayer life flows from the heart of Christ our Head. We are one spirit with Him and we are moved with the rivers that flow from His heart. His heart overflows with compassion for the world, and through our willing co-operation, His hunger can be satisfied as we birth souls into His Kingdom through earnest intercession on their behalf.
Jesus said in John 7:38-39 that rivers of living water would flow from our inner man, and this He spake of the Spirit who would be given to each and every believer. Jesus did not just speak of one river – but rivers. These rivers include all the different kinds of prayer. As we learn to flow with the Spirit of prayer He will direct us. We will find ourselves praying different kinds of prayer at different times according to His leading, and not because we have been taught that such and such a prayer is the right one for this particular situation.
Duewel when speaking of the dynamics of prevailing prayer says:
“All prevailing in prayer depends on the full enabling, guidance, and empowering of the Holy Spirit. From one viewpoint, there is only one source and dynamic of prevailing prayer – God the Spirit. Only as He fills us, possesses us, yearns through us, permeates and empowers every aspect of our praying, and discloses to us the priorities for our praying – that is, only as He is Lord of our praying can we prevail…
(The) victory Christ won alone – alone in the garden, alone on the cross. But that eternal victory must now be applied and enforced by the Holy Spirit working through the prayers and obedience of God’s children.”
Selfless love is the source and motivation for all truly inspired prayer.
“No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” (John 15:13 AMP)
“We choose to love all people, even the unlovable. We love as God loves. It involves (the) giving of our lives for the benefit of mankind. This does not merely refer to dying physically. It mainly refers to our being willing to give up our own will and way and take time to pray and intercede for all men.”
Wilford Reidt, quoted in ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin, Faith Publications
Moved by such compassion, not our own, we will pray effectively and fervently, with a bursting heart, not mere cold unbelieving formalistic prayers. In respect to Christ’s present ministry, this is what it is to enter into the sufferings and victories of Christ.
The High Priestly ministry of Christ
Christ right now is in intercession. His entire being speaks on behalf of mankind at the right hand of the Father.
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:” (Heb 9:24 KJV)
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom 8:34 KJV)
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25)
Through the new birth and baptism in the Holy Spirit we have become one with the Great Intercessor:
“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17 AMP)
“He is our great Intercessor. He is the great Intercessor for all mankind. As members of His Body, the Church, we partake in that intercession.”
Wilford Reidt, quoted in ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin, Faith Publications
Intercession and prayer are not manufactured by human zeal or effort; they are the natural and inevitable out-breathing of fellowship with Christ.
“Christ is not sitting passively in blissful royal dignity, unmoved, while you intercede. NO! Never! You intercede because He intercedes. The Holy Spirit conveys to you the heartbeat of Jesus. You feel but the faintest burden of concern as compared with the infinite concern that Jesus feels for you and with you…
Christ is today the interceding Sovereign of the universe. His throne is one of intercession. One day He will rule by the rod – by His almighty power. Today He rules by His uplifted and extended hand – by prayer. His intercession is not symbolic but real, as real as it was when He interceded on earth. He is on the throne interceding for us and waiting for us to join Him as intercessors.”
Wesley Duewel ‘Mighty Prevailing Prayer’, Zondervan, page 41 & 43
Wilford H Reidt wrote:
“Jesus came to bridge the gap between God and sinful man. Man needed someone to stand in the gap so He could get back to God. Man needed an Intercessor. Jesus’ sacrifice established Him as the only fully trustworthy Intercessor for mankind. He is the only Intercessor for the people of this planet.” Quoted from ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin
Jesus is our Intercessor. His intercession provided salvation for all men through His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, but it is only realised through His Intercessory ministry today in Heaven. God’s desire is that all men be saved, but in this context we are urged to join Christ in ministry as our Advocate through earnest, heartfelt prayer. Consider the implications of the following verses from the pen of Paul:
“FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men… For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Saviour, Who wishes all men to be saved … For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all … I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.” (1Tim 2:1-8 AMP)
Prayer, our prayer, is a holy partnership with the High Priestly Advocate ministry of Christ in the Heavens. Jack Hayford says:
“Prayer is essentially a partnership of the redeemed child of God working hand in hand with God toward the realisation of His redemptive purposes on earth.”
Jack Hayford, “Prayer is Invading the Impossible” Quoted from ‘Intercessory Prayer’ by Dutch Sheets ISBN 0-8307-1900-8
We must realise that our prayers are essential to God’s plans being outworked in the earth. We cannot not pray! To be prayerless is to sin against God, and shows little respect for that which He has made available through the cross.
Samuel the prophet said:
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23 NKJV)
We all realise that to know to do good and not do it is sin (James 4:17), yet how many of us pay lip service to the need for prayer yet never attend the church prayer meeting or earnestly pursue the development of a vibrant life of private prayer. The difficulty of prayer arises from the fact it collides not only with the devil, but our self-reliant fleshly ways. Without our prayers however, the provision of Christ for all men will touch only a few…what a tragedy this is!
Ezekiel 36:36-37 and the account of Daniel’s intercessions for the Word of the Lord to Jeremiah to be accomplished (Daniel 9) are both examples of God’s divine provision, and man’s responsibility to then appropriate what has been provided. We do this through prayer.
“Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” (Ezek 36:36-37 KJV)
Oh the privilege of holy partnership! To share Christ’s burden for a dying world, and see them born again through our travail in prayer!
Job expressed the universal need of mankind when he cried:
“For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court. There is no umpire (days-man, one who argues) between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!]” (Job 9:32-33 AMP)
Job needed an advocate to stand between him and God to plead his case. He knew that no ordinary man could do this as they would need a days-man of their own. All are guilty and condemned before a holy and righteous Judge.
God also recognised this dilemma and acted on our behalf:
“He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.” (Isaiah 59:16 NKJV)
He sent Jesus.
On no other subject do I feel more inadequate to express or even begin to formulate words that will do justice to the need, importance and privilege we have been given. It seems presumptuous to even talk about the kinds of prayer etc without saying clearly to the reader, I am as hungry as any to learn from Christ what it is to really pray! My heartfelt yearning is that these sessions will carry something of the Spirit of prayer, and impart not a hunger for man’s instruction, but a hunger for the instruction of the Holy Ghost who will lead us deeper. To learn to pray we must pray, not merely hear about praying! Pray, Pray, Pray! Our God will answer!
Johh G Lake, the famous Apostle, received an angelic visitation in May 1920. The angel relayed a message from God regarding the Pentecostal blessing as recorded in Acts chapter 2, and prayer:
“This is Pentecost as God gave it through the heart of Jesus. Strive for this. Contend for this. Teach the people to pray for this. For this and this alone will meet the necessity of the human heart, and this alone will have the power to overcome the forces of darkness. Pray, pray, pray. Teach the people to pray. Prayer and prayer alone, much prayer, persistent prayer, is the door of entrance into the heart of God.”
Recorded in John G Lake, ‘His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith’, published by Kenneth Copeland Publications
Regarding this area, just as a regular time is helpful, it is beneficial to have a regular place to pray. It allows the disciple to concentrate more fully because the environment is familiar, therefore less likely to distract. Also, the continued practice of prayer and the practice of the presence of God can open the heavens over a particular place making access to and from the spiritual realm easier. For example, it can be much easier to connect with God and focus your attention on prayer in a dedicated room of your own home, than to engage with God on a deep level in the aisles of the local supermarket.
Again, there is no place where prayer cannot be made, but the intimacy of lovemaking is not something a couple engage in the car as they drive to work in the morning. Deep intimacy and oneness is reserved for the ‘secret place’ or the ‘chamber’. Our Bridegroom is calling us into the chamber of intimacy, where our heart and purpose become one. Equally, if you are serious about prayer and intimacy with God, tagging it along with the rest of your busy schedule is unacceptable. There is place for continual fellowship and friendship, and the exercise of prayer throughout the day’s activities, but without private devotion to prayer alone with God, only the surface of possibility will be skimmed.
On a practical level, it is good to create a place that is comfortable and free from distraction, where you can seek the face of God and hear His counsel each day.
If music helps, utilise it in your times of seeking, burn oils to create a pleasant atmosphere, make sure there is enough light to read by if you are searching the scriptures. Cultivate an environment that facilitates intimacy and rest in God’s presence.
At the same time we must remember that intimacy is not a product of environment but an issue of the heart. To cultivate an inner environment of yieldedness, love, faith and passion for God is most important. The disciples were just as free to connect with heaven in a prison cell as they were in their homes. It was a matter of their hearts. For me, because I pray before day break, and enjoy expressive and sometimes loud prayer, I needed an environment that could facilitate this. My terraced house did not, so I sought out a local church and asked the minister if I could use a room in his building from 5am-7am each day. The basement of the local Baptist church is presently my ‘prayer closet’. I encourage you to believe God for the right place for your development in this vital area of Christian life.
The place of prayer
There is no place where prayer may or may not be made. We do not have to face a certain direction, or be in a holy ‘building’ to pray. As with posture being one of humility and faith of the heart rather than position of the body, so the place is ‘in the spirit’, not a physical location. Pastor Andy Elmes of Family church, Portsmouth, relates it this way. He says that the ‘secret place’ is not a location, but a desire of the heart. The hungry heart will always find somewhere to pray and fellowship with God. The Scriptures do suggest if possible that we should however have a ‘place of prayer’; somewhere we retire to seek God. Jesus, for example, would often withdraw to the mountains, the desert, or even the Garden in Gethsemane. These were some of His favoured locations to fellowship with His Father.
Other places prayer is made in the Bible include:
i. In the desert/ a solitary place (Mark 1:35) ii. On a roof (Acts 10:9) iii. Up a mountain (Matt 14:23) iv. Apart from others/alone (Matt 14:23) v. In a room or chamber alone with God (Matthew 6:6; Daniel 6:10) vi. In secret (Matthew 6:6) vii. In the assembly place of the saints (Acts 1:14; 12:5; 20:36) viii. In prison (Acts 16:25) ix. In every place (John 4:20-24) x. In the belly of a whale! (Jonah 2:1)
As has been said, prayer can be made anywhere, and a hungry heart will always find somewhere to seek God. This may be in the car, a shed, a wardrobe, a warehouse, a bedroom, a kitchen, a church building, a beach…anywhere that allows the believer to retreat from the crowd and seek the heart of his or her Father in heaven.
The Scriptures reveal that men of God and Jesus Himself (our ultimate example of the life of prayer) observed set times and seasons of prayer. The believer may pray at set times or at any time, and should seek to cultivate and maintain a spirit or attitude of prayer at all times.
This attitude of heart constitutes the life of prayer, which when yielded to, results in both spontaneous expression, and habitual fellowship and intercession.
i. Some saints prayed three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) (Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:16-17)
ii. Some prayed at other set times or seasons (Acts 3:1; Acts 10:30 3pm – the ‘hour’ of prayer)
iii. Peter prayed at noon (Acts 10:9)
iv. At times Jesus prayed all night (Luke 6:12).
v. Jesus also prayed very early in the morning (before day break) (Mark 1:35), as did David (Psalm 63:1)
vi. Isaiah speaks of desiring God in the night, and seeking Him early in the morning (Isaiah 26:9)
vii. We are encouraged as believers to pray at all times
“[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).” (Luke 18:1 AMP)
“pray without ceasing,” (1Th 5:17 NKJV)
Mary Alice Isleib says concerning “praying always”; “Praying always means to be easily given to prayer. It doesn’t mean that we just walk around all day just praying in tongues, although that may be a part of it. It means to be easily given to prayer, so that we can pray by faith whenever we choose to, and we are also sensitive when the Holy Spirit moves on us, to yield to Him, and to move with Him. It’s developing a prayer life and being easily given to the spirit of prayer.”
The currency of intimacy = TIME
The currency of intimacy is ‘time’. If a husband never spends time with his wife, it is unlikely that intimacy will ever develop between them; the opposite is true, what intimacy does exist diminishes as the situation continues. Time is an essential ingredient in any healthy relationship. This is immediately applicable to prayer.
If time is the currency of intimacy, and is a currency that can only ever be spent (it can not be gained or replaced, once it is spent it is spent forever), it is a currency of utmost value. There is not one thing more precious. Where we ‘spend’ our time reveals much about what or whom we truly value. Jesus said that where our treasure is, that is where our heart is (Matthew 6:21). The context of these verses is money, but we could, without twisting the principle revealed here, apply it to our time. Where our time is spent, reveals where our heart is inclined.
In this, we encourage every student who has not already established a ‘discipline’ of prayer, to seek to do so. Prayer is not just something we ‘do’, it is our life. Connecting with God is not an option, it is a necessity.
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.
You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].” (Psalm 27:4,8 AMP)
In respect to establishing a lifestyle of prayer however, set times can aid the development of a discipline, which quickly will become a delight! If we pray only when we ‘feel’ like it, the unfortunate truth is, we will often ‘feel’ more like an extra hours sleep, or a session in front of the TV, than a time set apart to seek God. Jesus said to His disciples the following statement which to varying degrees is certainly true of all of us:
“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” (Matt 26:40-41 NKJV)
Often, because disciples (which literally means ‘disciplined ones’) fail to develop a discipline of prayer, including a degree of consistency and habit, they never enter below the surface of spiritual life to taste and enjoy its benefits.
Time, place and posture in prayer
Some things seem obvious or unnecessary to consider, but for some, scriptural teaching on the basics can release them from traditions and religious habits that have prevented them enjoying the liberty we have been granted in the Holy Ghost.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV)
First, we will look at posture.
a. Posture in prayer
The posture of the body is of little importance in prayer. Certainly one does not have to kneel or place one’s hands together in order to pray. What is important, regardless of physical position, is the posture of the heart.
In scripture we have examples in prayer of people:
i. Standing (Mark 11:25) ii. Kneeling (Luke 22:41) iii. Prostrate (face down) (Matthew 26:39) iv. Laying down (Psalm 63:6) v. Sitting (1 Chronicles 17:16)
Wesley Duewel in ‘Mighty Prevailing Prayer’, speaks of posture and passion in prayer, saying:
“Real passion is not synonymous with physical exertion. Spiritual wrestling is not dependent on physical activity. Prayer passion is not produced by lifting the hand, waving the arm, standing, kneeling, lying prostrate on the floor, walking back and forth, or any other form of prayer posture or action. The Holy Spirit may lead you to such change of posture, especially when you are praying alone in your secret place.
Sometimes use of such a posture for the time being harmonizes with or expresses the mood of your soul – humility before God, hungry pleas for God, waiting in His presence, or spiritual determination and urgency. Many mighty prayer warriors, like Brainerd and Finney, have had their bodies soaked with perspiration from intense soul anguish in their prevailing prayer, even as Christ sweat the blood-sweat in Gethsemane. But do not try to work up spiritual intensity by your human exertion.”
The time of prayer
Unlike Islam and some other religions Christianity does not necessarily have particular times which are commanded for prayer or spiritual activity. Even adherence to the set times of Judaism, the old covenant which formed the basis of the new, is no longer required from the faithful. The Old Testament, with its types and shadows found completion and fulfilment in Christ. He ushered in a new covenant, based not on law, but grace and freedom.
Of this truth Paul says:
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.” (Gal 4:9-10 NKJV)
“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it...” (Rom 14:5-6)
There is nothing especially holy about Saturday (the traditional Jewish Sabbath) or a Sunday (the traditional day of Christian worship). Nor is early morning more holy than 2pm in the afternoon. The time is sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes) by the activity or altar it is placed upon. When we take time to pray, whenever it may be, it becomes a time ‘esteemed’, a time ‘unto the Lord’.
Jesus spoke about the reality of ‘abiding’ in Him. In this respect, all our time is set apart, not just one day each week, or one or two hours each day.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NKJV)
With thanksgiving
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” (Col 4:2 NKJV)
Faith and thanksgiving go hand in hand. A thankful heart is a heart certain that its requests have been heard and that their gracious Father is active to bring it to pass. If we know something has been granted, we will automatically give thanks. Doubt and fear keep us in a place where we are unthankful, believing that our Father is withholding from us. In reality, although there may be hindrances to the manifestation of your answer, they are not found with God. In fact, your thanksgiving without seeing the answer may be the avenue God will use to bring the desired object into your possession. Thanksgiving is another tool in the belt waiting to be used to powerfully affect God’s will in your life and the lives of those you pray for.
With simplicity and sincerity
““And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply…”” (Matthew 6:5-9 MESSAGE)
Effective prayer is born out of relationship and revelation of the character of God. We can be certain, if we ask with pure motives and in accordance with His will, He is eager to answer and grant our request.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”” (Luke 11:13 NKJV)
““Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NKJV)
All prayer should have the will, Word and promise of God as its basis
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV)
The foundation of faith is found in the knowledge of God’s will. His Word is His will. When our prayers are based on the revealed Word of God we have great confidence to pursue our goal without doubt or fear. Our boldness before Him resides not in prideful presumption, but humble acceptance of His will, and an aggressive dedication to accept nothing other than what has been granted through Jesus Christ. The Word alone is the foundation for such boldness and confidence.
All prayer should be prayers of faith
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
The Bible speaks of a specific kind of prayer which most often is called the ‘prayer of faith’, but all prayer should have this essential ingredient in its exercise. Without faith we cannot please God. Every form of prayer should be from a heart fully trusting the One to whom the prayer is addressed, eagerly expecting the desired result as promised in the Word. A prayer of consecration for example, although practised because specific details of God’s will may still be unknown, should nevertheless be employed, fully trusting that what is committed to the Father will indeed be placed in His hand, and that He will personally take up responsibility for that which is committed to Him.
“…Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
Prayer should be ‘in the Spirit’
“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 NKJV)
Although the scriptures refer specifically to praying in tongues as praying ‘in the spirit’, more generally it refers to all prayer. God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and must be addressed as such. All truly effective prayer proceeds from the heart (the spirit) of man, not the head. Intelligence is involved, but a purely ‘mental’ prayer will not affect the spiritual world at all. Our mind may conceive the request we desire to make to our Father, but when expressed it must come from our spirit, not just our head. In this way all prayer is ‘in the spirit’ because all prayer is essentially spiritual.
Mary Alice Isleib says: “Praying in the spirit doesn’t mean to pray just in tongues. What does is mean, then? It means to pray out of your spirit, aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It means to pray all prayer – all the different kinds of prayer – in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the realm of the spirit, out of your inner man.”
Prayer should be in the name of Jesus.
We come not with our own authority, nor do we rely upon our own power or holiness, but upon the covenant name we have been given, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not pray to Jesus, we pray through Jesus, using the weight and authority of His inimitable name!
““And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you...” (John 16:23-24,26-27 NKJV)
Certain principles apply to all forms of prayer. In this section we will consider some general principles that are to be applied in our fellowship and partnership with God.
- Prayer should generally be directed to the Father.
Fellowship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit are a part of prayer, but essentially our requests and petitions are to be presented to the Father Himself. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9)
Our father is more willing to answer, then we are to ask. Come boldly to the throne of grace.
Jesus, our example
Throughout the scriptures we are blessed to have many examples of praying men and women; ones who prevailed with God. Of course our primary example is Jesus Christ Himself.
During the module we will look at both His teaching, and His example in prayer. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that Jesus’ prayer life was striking and powerful. The disciples recognised it as the source of His peace and power and asked Him to train them.
It is important to remember also that Jesus laid aside the privileges of divinity, and chose to walk, operate and minister as a man in covenant with God. He did not access anything that has not been opened to us as born-again believers, and a thorough enquiry into His lifestyle of prayer and communion with the Father stands as an example to all of God’s covenant sons and daughters.
Even today, in His heavenly ministry, prayer and intercession is His primary pursuit, a clear indication of the importance and necessity of prayer in the believer’s life.
Take a couple of minutes now as a covenant man or woman to ask the Holy Spirit to train you in prayer, just as Jesus trained His disciples. Today the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and if we will yield to Him He will teach and lead us into fullness in every area of Christian living.
Levels of prayer
Scripture also shows us that there are different levels of prayer. We can engage in most of the kinds of prayer listed above, but with practice can move beyond immature exercise of the principles into a deeper and more mature expression.
Jesus Himself spoke of different ‘kinds’ or ‘levels’ of prayer when He said:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7 NKJV)
Beyond this we will also be called upon to add fasting to our prayer, and at times enter into seasons of much more intense wrestling and warfare.
Different kinds of prayer include:
a. The prayer of commitment (casting cares upon the Lord) 1 Pet 5:7 b. The prayer of faith (prayer that changes things) Matt 21:22; Mk 11:24 c. The prayer of consecration (dedicating to God’s use) Luk 22:42 d. The prayer of praise and worship Luk 24:52-53; Acts 13:1-4 e. Soaking/waiting on God (Practicing His presence) Matt 11:28-30; Ps 27:14 f. Prayer in the Spirit (Praying in tongues) 1 Cor 14:14-15 g. United prayer Acts 4:23-31 h. The prayer of supplication Phil 4:6; Eph 6:18 i. The prayer of confession and repentance 1 John 1:9 j. Intercessory prayer Ezek 22:30; 1Tim 2:1 k. Warfare prayer and authority Ex 15:13; Isa 42:13; Matt 11:12 l. Binding and loosing Matt 16:19; 18:18 m. Groanings & travail Isaiah 42:14; Gal 4:19; Rom 8:22-27 n. The prayer of agreement Matt 18:19-20
other tracks or methods of prayer include:
o. The Lord’s prayer Matt 6:9-13 p. Tabernacle prayer q. Ripple prayer
As can be seen from the list above, prayer is a vast subject. It is at its very heart the place of entrance and exploration of the endless and eternal Person of God. As such, it is impossible to quantify or comprehend fully. As so many have said, “the only way to learn to pray is to pray.” Prayer is so intensely personal, and in many ways unique to the individual, just as any deep relationship is.
I think that the principles we outline in the following sessions will indeed inform the student, but like any doorway, if one does not choose to step through, what lies beyond remains a mystery. Our encouragement to you, wherever you are on the journey, is that you choose to step through and develop this wonderful art and privilege you have been called into.
The Bible also highlights two major distinctions in prayer that apply to all kinds of prayer, and must be developed by every disciple. Paul highlights them in:
1 Corinthians 14:14,15: “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” (1Cor 14:14-15 NKJV)
“For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody]. Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.” (1Corinthians 14:14-15 AMP)
Paul prayed both in tongues (in the spirit) and with his understanding (his known language). He says in 1 Corinthians 14:18 that he prayed in tongues much, more than all. He is not here comparing methods and saying one is better than another. Both aspects were very well developed in his life, and so they should be in ours.
Mary Alice Isleib says of this area of praying with the understanding (with the aid o¬f the intellect):
“Just as the Holy Spirit quickens your inner man, He also quickens your mind to pray. The Holy Spirit wants your mind involved in your prayers. Many Charismatic Christians love to pray in tongues, and they should, because tongues is emphasised for us in the New Testament. Yet when we look at the prayer life of many believers, you find that the side of praying with the understanding is weak.” (P34)
“God wants your spirit and your mind to be built up so they can work together. When your mind becomes built up, enlightened, and empowered by truths from God’s Word, your mind and your spirit are flowing together and you will see powerful results.” (p40)
We are encouraged to develop and exercise both of these aspects. Praying with our understanding, using the Word as our foundation; and to pray directly from our spirit using Spirit inspired utterance in tongues. Both are essential, and as we consider the different kinds of prayer we will touch upon both facets in more detail.
Throughout the centuries men of God have often witnessed to the great need for fervency in the prayers of God’s people, and lamented the coldness and formality of what many call ‘prayer’. There is a great difference between ‘saying prayers’ and praying, as the following quotes will highlight.
“Prayer without fervency is no prayer; it is speaking, not praying. Lifeless prayer is no more prayer than a picture of a man is a man.” Richard Watson
“Incense can neither smell nor ascend without fire; no more can prayer unless it arises from spiritual warmth and fervency…cold, lifeless, and idle prayers are like birds without wings…mere lip prayers are lost prayers.” J W Acker
“We need new mighty movements of the soul. We need to awaken and arouse our sleeping selves to take hold of God in mighty prayer. We need to marshal all our spiritual resources and sanctified energies to pray the prayer that prevails. Unless our prayer has fervent force, it has no power to overcome difficulties and win mighty victories.” Wesley L Duewel
“Enflamed desires impassioned, unwearied insistence, delights heaven…heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers…Prayers must be red hot. It is the fervent prayer that is effective…It takes fire to make prayers go. Warmth of soul creates an atmosphere favourable to prayer…by flame prayer ascends to heaven. Yet fire is not fuss, not heat, noise…To be absorbed in God’s will, to be so greatly in earnest about doing it that our whole being takes fire, is the qualifying condition of the man who would engage in effectual prayer.” E M Bounds
“The prayer that prevails with God is the prayer into which we put our whole soul, stretching out toward God in agonizing desire…If we put so little heart into our prayers, we cannot expect God to put much heart into answering them…When we learn to come to God with an intensity of desire that wrings the soul, then shall we know a power in prayer that most of us do not know now.” R A Torrey
“No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be a shop window to display one’s talents; the prayer closet allows no showing off.
Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organisers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.” Leonard Ravenhill
In Mark Chapter 11:22-25 Jesus speaks about the key part that desire in prayer plays to see the kind of results we are looking for.
We take the following definitions from Mary Alice Isleib’s chapter on the subject of fervency:
“Fervency means to pray with purpose, with serious intention.”
“To pray with fervency means to pray with intensity. It also means that you give your being to God, and you let Him fill it with divine yearning. Your degree of fervency is directly related to the degree of your spiritual desire.”
“When you pray with fervency, you pray the different kinds of prayer out of your heart, and you pray them strong, with intensity, following and flowing along with the Holy Spirit inside of you.”
“Fervency is surrendering your feelings or your soul to the feelings of the Holy Spirit. It is allowing Him to express Himself through your mind, will and emotions when you pray.”
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
All prayer is to be fervent. The two ingredients of powerful prayer are effectiveness (precision and accuracy) and fervency. Both of these ingredients together bring results. James 5:17-18 describe how Elijah acted upon the Word of God (effectiveness according to principle and covenant) but added to this his own earnest (heartfelt, fervent, passionate) prayer. This brought results.
The Scripture tells us Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]. The intimation is that if we exercise the same principles of prayer we too can expect the same results. According to the scriptures we are ‘the righteous man (or woman)’ spoken of in these verses, through the blood of Christ.
Three Major Elements In Prayer - Effective, Fervent, Righteous
Two major elements are also outlined in Scripture concerning prayer, and both are essential to an effectual prayer life. They are spoken of clearly in James 5:16b:
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
All prayer is to be effective. Effective Prayer will be conducted according the Biblical rules set out in the scriptures. Mary Alice Isleib says in her book, ‘Fervent, Effective Prayer’:
“When we talk about effectiveness, we’re talking about principles, standards, patterns , and rules from the Word. Effectiveness is praying according to the knowledge that’s found in the Word of God and principle, the right ingredients to get the right results...we have to use the rules in the Word of God to get the results we see in the Word of God.”” (p16)
All manner of prayer
Encompassed within the headings of “fellowship” and “participation” are what the Bible terms “all manner of prayer”.
“Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).” (Ephesians 6:18 AMP)
To effectively engage in and develop a satisfying prayer life the disciple must progress in both realms, fellowship and task. In order to do this, God has placed at our disposal many ‘tools’ or principles which we can employ to bring about God’s purposes in our lives and our world.
Much as an artisan does not use the same tool for every job, the skilled disciple must have exercised and developed skills with many kinds of prayers, in order to fulfil the diverse challenges he or she faces, and obtain the goals they desire.
No one tool is ‘better’ or ‘worse’. What we need is the right tool to accomplish the job at hand. This means that sometimes loud praying in tongues is entirely inappropriate. Equally, quiet moments of waiting on God may be utterly ineffective in other situations. Each situation demands that we listen to the prompting of the Spirit and move together with Him toward fulfilment.
Kenneth Hagin says of this in ‘The Art of Prayer’ (ISBN 0-89276-515-1):
“The Bible teaches several kinds of prayer – and the different rules governing them. The church world makes a mistake in not differentiating between those different kinds of praying. We simply put all prayer in the same sack and shake it all together. Many prayers are not working because people are using the wrong rules and laws…” (page 6)
Like a good craftsman we should seek to become ever more familiar with the array of tools available and indeed necessary to complete the work we partner in with the Lord. He will lead us at any given point as to which tool to pick up. It may take several tools, used at different times over a period of time, to bring one prayer goal to completion. As we have said, prayer is a partnership with God the Spirit and the outworking of His purposes. Sensitivity to Him must be cultivated for a satisfying and effective lifestyle of prayer.
Mary Alice Isleib describes it this way (Effective Fervent Prayer p17):
“I want to liken the different kinds of prayer to playing a game of golf. In golf you have a bag, which contains all different kinds of clubs. Some are big, heavy woods and others are small, slender metal clubs.
Although they are all used in the same game and they all have the same goal to get the little ball in the hole - each type of club has a different purpose.
At the beginning of the game, when you're on the "tee," you take one of those big, wooden clubs, because your goal is to drive the ball down the fairway. You're not going to use one of the little clubs yet, because you'd be ineffective if you did. You've got to use the right club in that situation.
You need a huge one to "smack it" down the course. Then, when you get to the green after a successful fairway shot, you'd better not select one of those heavy woods. If you do, you won't get the ball in the hole; you'll put a big hole in the green, and they'll kick you, off the course! No, on the green you need a small, metal club to just tap the ball into the hole.
In prayer, it's time for the Church to get the ball into the hole. It's time to get answers! It's time for effective prayer! We must know the different kinds of prayer and which to use in various situations. There are some prayers that are like big clubs in the spirit, and there are other prayers that are like small, metal clubs that just tap the ball into the hole. There are different prayers with different purposes, and they all have their place in our prayer lives.”
“God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Fellowship God’s face Friendship Walking with Heart of the Kingdom
Participation God’s hand Partnership Working with Business of the Kingdom
Two realms of prayer: Fellowship & Participation
Prayer, although vast in scope, can be broken down into two main categories. Pastor and Apostle Paul Y Cho calls them “Fellowship Prayer” and “Task Prayer”. Fellowship prayer centres upon our relationship with God, and comprises such arenas as praise and worship, confession of personal sin, adoration, seeking God’s face, soaking and practising God’s presence. Task prayer is engagement together with God in the spiritual work of the Kingdom, whether on a personal, local, national, international or global level.
Paul touches on these areas in his letter to the Corinthians, as the Amplified Bible translates 1 Corinthians 1:9:
“God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into
companionship and participation
with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:3-4 NKJV)
Prayer, real prayer that is, not just saying praying spiritual sounding words, is an inexhaustible well of joy.
There is no more amazing reality in the Christian life than the invitation that is extended to us as children of God to come into the presence of our Father in heaven, and present our requests to the Creator of the universe. Countless books have been written, the out-breathing of those whose hearts have been conquered by Christ’s love, and swept away by His intimate and inexorable fellowship. Beyond this there is the kingdom privilege of participation in God’s eternal purposes, partnering with Him to bring His kingdom to the earth, and ensure that His will is done in our generation.
Prayer – A priceless privilege
Prayer Defined “In its simplest definition, prayer is fellowship with God. It is the ability to work with and understand the spiritual world.” Mary Alice Isleib – Effective Fervent Prayer (ISBN 0-9629986-0-5)
For too many, prayer is a duty, and prayerlessness a nagging reminder of our ‘unspirituality’ and our affection for fleshly comforts. Like evangelism, the fact that prayer engages directly with the spiritual world of darkness makes it an area that many fail to overcome. The conflict and resistance causes it to be more of a battleground than a garden of delight, and many choose not to push through to its reward. Rightly understood and approached however, the world of prayer is for all believers, the most priceless and satisfying privilege available to mankind.
A note from the author: Of all the modules in the course this will be the most subjective (although objective scriptural principles will be taught in some detail). Prayer, by its very nature is personal, experiential. Conner in ‘Foundations’ quotes one definition of prayer as “the soul’s sincere desire uttered or unexpressed.” It is the “very breath of spiritual life”. As such I am a fellow traveller on this road of prayer, ever more captivated by its scope, and fascinated by its possibilities.
The most amazing truth is displayed in 1 John 1:3:
“that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:3-4 NKJV)
If it were not written it would be hard to believe, but we have been called into the very love fellowship of the Godhead Himself. We are called to enjoy and partake of the love, grace, power and friendship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!