Having read the preceding parts of “Prayer That Will Change The World,” we now should discuss the “importune prayer” that Jesus taught his disciples about in Luke chapter eleven. (Luke 11:5 – 9 NKJV) And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to [...]
Having read the preceding parts of “Prayer That Will Change The World,” we now should discuss the “importune prayer” that Jesus taught his disciples about in Luke chapter eleven.
(Luke 11:5 – 9 NKJV) And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?
“I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.”
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
The issue of the effects of prayer are much that same here as in the parable of the unrighteous judge. A key word is however mistranslated from the King James and in most English versions. This word “persistence” is more literally defined from the Greek text as “shamelessness.” The original Biblical Greek word from which it is rendered, has to do with the “face of shame” with the prefix reversing its actual meaning. In other words, this should be translated as “face without shame.”
Because of the grace of God that has been given unto the believer through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are herein required to “face” this great and glorious throne of grace without shame, believing that He will give to you what you are asking.
The culture from which Jesus spoke was also of great influence in the listeners understanding at the time. Friends did not come to visit without receiving the best hospitality possible and one would beg or borrow anything needed to make one’s guests know hospitality. The greater shame would be to not be hospitable.
It is never too late an hour for God. He has not ever shut up the heavens from you. You may knock on that great gate of heaven and it will be opened unto you as you face it without shame. Unbelief is the shame of the Christian. Faith is our boldness. Faith in Jesus Christ and the fact that He has done all of the work for us in order that we can come to God without hindrance, without rejection.
Apostolic Direction For Prayer:
(1 Tim 2:1 – 8 NKJV) ”Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
There is an apostolic command that becomes a spiritual strategy for a city, community or nation.
Supplications are an intercessory work; the pleading of someone’s case before the Judge. Presenting the facts of the case. Letting the Judge hear and see the testimony of the evidence. This is the first and most important step of spirit intercession.
Approaching The Lord With Your Need Face Up!
“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, ‘See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’” (Matthew 8:2 – 4 NKJV)
Once again, Jesus has healed a leper. This time the leper comes with a different approach to Him of his healing. What the leper does not do is ask Him if it is His “WILL.” The word “will” in its original text means, passion and desire. The statement, which the leper makes unto Jesus, is a loving idiom, saying, “You can heal me if you’d like to!” Jesus replies, “I’d love to!”
Because this act of heaven touching earth was between Jesus and the man who was cleansed, Jesus asked the man to go give a proper testimony of his healing and deliverance an obey the word of God!
In the same way, Jesus desires to heal you! Come to Him with the same kind of humility that this leper did and He will do the same for you that He did for him! Be sure that you account for your miracle and give testimony!
There is an old saying that is thought provoking in itself: “We are never so high as when we are on our knees.”
In Luke Eleven, Jesus was “praying in a certain place…” We need to enter into that place daily just as He did, and learn how to pray. His effectiveness in prayer was obvious to His disciples. So much so that they asked him to teach them how to pray.
On several occasions in both the gospels and the epistles we are given apostolic instructions concerning prayer.
I believe that following lines of prayer are apostolically important to this time and I seen them as biblical orders for apostolic prayer that will bring reviving life to any region!
1. Pray and ask believing! Without faith it is impossible to please God!
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’” (Mark 11:23 – 24 NKJV)
2. Pray that you enter not into temptation!
“When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’” (Luke 22:40 NKJV)
3. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you!
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)
This does not mean that we are to get out the “Killer Psalms” to pray for them, but rather speak blessings into their lives just as you would those who are dear to you. Stop cursing and start prophesying.
4. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest field!
“Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Luke 10:2 NKJV) also found in Matthew 9:36,
5. Pray for boldness! To speak his word with confidence!
“‘Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’ 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.” (Acts 4:29 – 31 NKJV)
We must put to work the things we learned in the preceding parts of this school of prayer that we call “Prayer That Will Change The World.” So, let us realize that God often uses you to be the answer to a people for which you pray. Let us pray for Churches Let us pray [...]
We must put to work the things we learned in the preceding parts of this school of prayer that we call “Prayer That Will Change The World.”
So, let us realize that God often uses you to be the answer to a people for which you pray.
- Let us pray for Churches
- Let us pray for Businesses
- Let us pray for New Businesses
- Let us pray for New Churches that will be planted
- Let us pray for Schools
- Let us pray for Governments
A Monument Of Prayer
(Luke 18:1 – 8 NKJV) Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
“Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ’yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Here is a parable that was meant to be revealed to the children of God and yet stay as a mystery to those who do not have the ears to hear the voice of the Spirit of the living God. Prayer has to do with presenting ones self in the presence of a higher authority. Opening up communications, and even presenting facts and evidence, to receive justice that is due by right or by favor. To open up that communication status is to not only articulate your purposes but to ultimately hear from the Authoritative Party a word that is longed for. This parable is about just that.
First of all, we must see that Jesus in involved with “cities.” Over and over, the Word of God presents intercession on behalf of cities. Cities are covenant communities that were to be the possession of the King of Glory! Each city being a type and a shadow of the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven. Each city, where we live is a kind of Jerusalem to each of us. When Jesus gave the promise of the Holy Spirit, He said that we would then be witnesses, (as those who give testimony on a witness stand), first in Jerusalem. Now I know that He was speaking literally of the very city of promise in which those disciples lived. But if we are to take hold of the spiritual promise in regards to the covenanted power and the person of the Spirit, then we must also hear the words of another “Jerusalem” which is where the Holy Spirit visits us, personally. We take this testimony of Jesus Christ from our Jerusalem, but first, “unto” our Jerusalem.
The judge of this parable is the system of the world’s justice. I’m not talking about the court system. I’m talking about the principle of worldly judging. Opinions, lusts, desires fears, and greed, all contribute to the establishment of the “unjust judge.” This judge’s character is shown in his lack of regard for either spiritual judgment from the high court of heaven, or even earthly judgment and the discerning between what is right and wrong. He judges according to what he feels is good for him.
Because his conscience is founded upon his selfish lusts and desires he, at first, has no regard for the case of the woman of prayer. This woman is the type of the Church. She is a widow. The “widow” is the bride of Christ, whose husband has died and left her His Kingdom to abide in on earth. Someone has usurped her authority over that kingdom. She cries out for justice.
There are two halls of justice being spoken of here: The world and the throne of grace. We are given secrets into our victories in both courts. In the worldly court, we must approach with our case being built upon the knowledge of the satisfaction of the selfish desire of the world. We must therefore station ourselves with a persevering stand, convincing the judge that you are not going to go away and that it behooves him to judge on your behalf in order to get rid of you.
In the second hall of justice, which is the throne of grace, we must approach that throne with faith, in order that the word of God might find faith, (literally, “the faith”), that will over ride the physical laws of the world. The result of judgment from this throne is a miracle from the righteous Judge.
When we approach the judge of the world, it may very well take some time. Being filled with the Spirit, the Spirit will produce His fruit to include patience, self-control, etc. When we have made our presentation successfully, the worldly parties will assume that you are not going to fly away or be discouraged in your plight. They will therefore be much more willing to give in to your request. There is no need to be unkind, nor should there be any lack of gentleness in our approach to the world. If we deal with them harshly, we will more than likely be treated harshly.
In similar likeness, we must approach the Righteous Judge before His throne of grace with faith, rather than persistence. The fact that His elect who cry out day and night to Him shows the eternal existence and importance of our words unto our heavenly Father! This is not a picture of repetitive prayers. It is eternal words that are held as a monument and treasured by God because of the ingredient of faith.
So then, we take our stand boldly with the world and show our immovable persistence! We also take our stand before the throne of grace with immovable faith, knowing that, “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.”
With faith in operation our prayers become a monument in the courts of the Lord! Consider Cornelius:
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius!’ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, ‘What is it, lord?’ So he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.’” (Acts 10:1 – 4 NKJV)
Cornelius became a model of giving and prayer for the Church. His praying brought about a visitation to his entire household. Was it worth his time and effort to show such diligence in giving and in praying? Can we see that the prayers of Cornelius became a memorial, or monument, before the Lord? From that very monument the Lord sent for the answer to his prayers and gave him a visitation of an angel, which precluded a visitation of an apostle! Wow! Cornelius establishes his life as a man of prayer and faith and result is a visitation of the kingdom of God to his household.
Let us become a model of prayer. Prayer for a lifetime.
There is no doubt in any Christian’s mind that prayer is important to the Christ filled life style. But too often in the general populace of the Church there is little regard for that important conversation with God and its insert into the busy lifestyle of the individual. “So much to do – so little [...]
There is no doubt in any Christian’s mind that prayer is important to the Christ filled life style. But too often in the general populace of the Church there is little regard for that important conversation with God and its insert into the busy lifestyle of the individual.
“So much to do – so little time!” is what we say. Time being our most important commodity of the day brings about judgments as to how we will actually spend each second of our allotment from sun to sun. Perhaps if prayer were more effective than formerly experienced we would place it as a higher priority and even see that with prayer we could actually get more done and therefore have more time.
Let us define prayer and then see its importance and effectiveness in our lives. Is prayer simply the articulation of our heart and mind to a Sovereign God that will hopefully curry His favor and get Him to act on our behalf? Is prayer an act of our obedience whereby an account is being kept in heaven to the measure of amounts of time or intensity? Do we get more “points” for doing it and less for forgetting? These questions reveal varying degrees of misconception within the Church.
Unless we are convinced of the efficiency of prayer, and unless we give great importance to the works of faith we do through prayer, then as long as we are upon this planet we will accomplish very little in comparison to that great gift of life that the Father has given unto us.
Prayer is fundamental and is that central fiber of the Kingdom of God. Prayer is not optional in our relationship with the Lord. Neither should prayer ever be considered as our “last resort” after all of our other efforts have miserably failed. If we think about it, when we say, “All we can do is pray,” we are stating that the priority of prayer is on the bottom of the list. This mentality dismisses the effectiveness and efficiency of prayer and is costing us valuable time, as well as competency of the labors that we do.
Prayer is our central ministry without argument.
In all of this, I do not suggest that we ought to live in condemnation by missing our “morning prayer” or subliminally considering the ineffectiveness of prayer in any way. Although the Old Testament considers the lack of prayer a sin (1 Samuel 12:23) the New Covenant states that our sins are forgiven. (1 John 1:8)
Instead, I am suggesting that if we were to enter the “school of prayer” we would find that the most efficient use of our time is to pray the day through. We do not simply pray because it is our work. We pray and prayer does the work. There is a realm above the natural that is moved by our faith in Christ – when we articulate our heart’s faith the authority of the heavenly realm takes action. I once heard someone say, “When man works, man works. When man prays, heaven works on his behalf.”
In 1957, while in his mid forties, golf great Ben Hogan wrote, “In fact, once you are on the right track in golf, doing things the right way takes a lot less effort than the wrong way does.”
The same is obviously true when we learn to pray the “correct way.” The “school of prayer” then, is a place of gained efficiency whereby we learn to live smarter and not harder.
We are co-laborers with the Lord and with the angels when our faith arises and we declare His great promises and unite our hearts to His. The ability to intercede is given unto us as a great privilege and not a task list to a slave.
In Luke eleven Jesus was praying in a certain place. Because He was so extremely efficient in His ability to pray and see the will of His Father being done, His disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray. Not only did He give them what is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer,” but also listed three simplified, yet powerful, forms of prayer.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9 & 10 NKJV)
These three forms I call:
- Petitioning Prayer – Ask
- Envisioning Prayer – Seek
- Proclamation Prayer – Knock
Without relevant eschatology, we find in Revelation chapter five through eight the mystery of the seven seals being revealed.
Jesus is at the helm of this universe and its great destiny. In Revelation six and seven the Lord releases some amazing forces upon this world. The darkness of Satan has become the theatre for the light of Christ and only enhances His glory by the contrast it provides.
Today there are wars and rumors of them. There is terrorism, pestilence, new diseases and persistent bondages. There are famines earthquakes and cataclysmic disturbances, making record numbers of widows, orphans and homeless. The prayers of the saints are empowered by lightnings, thunder and fire!
But God is a just and loving God. Once prayer arrives at the throne the answer is fire. Fire comes in answer to the prayer of God’s people.
- The fire of judgment.
- The fire of passion.
- The fire of cleansing.
Fire comes from the altar in heaven. Incense is the intercession of the saints. The works of darkness are the target of the Lamb of God and the prayers of the saints, yet the will of God is preeminent to all who are workers in the light. Only one is worthy to break the seals of the great book. His will is prayed by the saints and He does the will of God upon the earth. Come Kingdom of God! The Spirit of the Bride say Come!
Because of the “big plan” of God let us not be too conscience of the enemies plans.
For, Satan is not:
- Omnipresent: Present everywhere simultaneously
- Omnipotent: Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful
- Omniscient: Having total knowledge; knowing everything
- Omnificent: (adj.) om·nif·i·cent 1. creating all things; having unlimited powers of creation
- All-seeing: Seeing everything at one time
The devil requires that his kingdom be operated by evil and deceiving spirits, that cannot be trusted by even himself. Therefore, he and the kingdom of darkness are in constant turmoil. That kingdom is crumbling at this very moment.
“You are of your father, the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
(John 8:44 NKJV)
There is a direct truth that includes faith, humility & mercy. These completely undo all of the works of the devil.
- Faith in His promises
- Yielding to His present power
- Believing in His mercy
Jesus said, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13 NKJV)
Let us be God conscious in our praying, saying, “Come Kingdom of God; be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven!”
Our prayers ought to be to God about His “big plan” and not talking to the devil all the time! We can laugh long and hard because of the victorious plan of our triumphant King!
With the results of our prayers being fire we have awesome authority in the workings of this universe. Adam only gave names to all the animals, whereby we give fire from the heart of God.
I believe that it’s possible that there was silence in heaven wile God awaited the prayer of the saints. This was an act of His will. He desired to work in partnership with His children rather than in sovereign rule over them.
Once God gets partnering agreement His involvement, by His love for His people, is in tact and He answers with His fire!
Now, revival also comes by fire. (See Acts 1:4; 2:1 – 
James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon some Samaritans. Jesus did not deny their abilities or their authority to call fire down. He questioned only the motive and condition of their hearts. “And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.’” (Luke 9:54 & 55 NKJV)
Jesus longed to kindle the fire! “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49 NKJV)
To call down fire is an awesome authority and responsibility! Let us pray with fire!
