KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:26” Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered”.

In our previews study we learnt that God desires that men stir up themselves to make intercessions for their fellow men so He would intervene in their situations.

The real challenge is that on many occasions we do not know how to pray effectively for the people or individuals.

 The Holy Spirit is there to help us. This is exactly what our key scripture says. He helps our weaknesses in this light. This happens when we pray with our spirit.  1 Corinth14:14 ” For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful”.

I would explain this with the following experience. I once went to study in a school, during the holiday period, for my A ‘level examinations. As I was studying, I had a strong edge to pray. I stopped studying and started praying, since I was alone in the classroom. I prayed for quite some moments. After the prayer I said, I pray for any of my siblings in trouble, to be set free.

When I got home that evening my junior brother, who was training as a fitting mechanic, told me that he was supposed to get under a car to do some repairs. Just as he was to get there, the car just dropped on the ground.

I asked about the time, which it occurred, and the time he told me, tallied, with the moment just as I had finished my prayer, that afternoon.

I didn’t know what was happening, yet the Holy Spirit knew and helped me to pray rightly.

Don’t stop praying in tongues. Intercede and pray more in tongues and you would always pray rightly. Many calamities would be averted, many lives would be saved, if we would pray more with our spirit.

CONFESSION.

The Holy Spirit is my helper in prayer, as I pray with my spirit through the agency of the Holy Spirit, I always pray on the very issues, I am supposed to pray on. Lives are saved and transformed through my intercessions.

THOUGHT: TO INTERCEDE RIGHTLY, PRAY MORE WITH YOUR SPIRIT.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Corinthians 14:2 ” For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries”.

Romans 8:27” And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none”.

The word intercede means to act between two parties with the thought of reconciling the two of them. The prayer of intercession is standing in the gap in prayer on behalf of another. Normally we intercede for the unsaved.

God said something to Israel through the prophet Isaiah which shows that, He desires, His people to intercede on behalf of others. (Isaiah 64:7).

This verse implies that if someone has stirred himself to pray and to call upon God, judgement of the nation of Israel could have been stayed or stopped.

Our key scripture also reveals God looks for people of prayer to stand in the gap to make up the hedge and to intercede so that people’s lives can be spared.

In Genesis 18: 23-32 (please read through) Abraham stood in the gap for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

In that story Abraham asked God to spare the city if there were fifty righteous people. He kept beating the number down to ten yet the Lord was ready to hear him.

If God in the time of Abraham was ready to be so patient and spare such sinful people even if He could find only ten righteous souls, how much more now in the new covenant.

So much in our society would have changed if we had stood in the gap to intercede for people.

Let us arise and stand in the gap for our nation, our families, our communities, for the Lord seeks intercessors so evil would be stayed.

Why should a man intercede, before God can effect a change? When a people break God’s law, the evil one has the full right to destroy. It is the prayers of the intercessor that gives God the right to intervene.

CONFESSION

I commit myself to stand in the gap for my family, community, nation and various events in the world. I would not hold my peace until righteousness breaks forth and the will of God is established.

THOUGHT: YOUR INTERCESSIONS WILL EFFECT GREAT CHANGES IN PEOPLES LIVES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 62:1″For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth”.

Isaiah 64:7 ” And there is none that calleth upon thy name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 37:8 (Amplified) “Commit your way to the Lord-roll and repose (each care of) your load on Him; trust (lean on, rely on and be confident) also in Him, and He would bring it to pass”.

Why should we cast our cares unto the Lord? The Lord does not want His children to worry or to be full of anxiety and burdened down with the cares of life. (Matt 6:25-27)

All that the Lord is saying from the above scripture is that, which of you by worrying and being overly anxious is going to change anything?

The same thought is revealed in Luke 12:22 “And he said unto his disciples, therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on”.

You must cast all your cares unto the Lord. You do this once. Any other time another issue of concern shows up, just give it over to the Lord.

What do you do when your thoughts seem not to stop worrying? Say to yourself,’ I have given this matter to the Lord and He is well able to handle it’. I would no longer worry. Please say this to yourself as often as, your mind seems to go for the burden.

 Worry is a sin. The bible says anything which is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Worry is not of faith. It is a sin according to the bible.

Worrying would rob you of your answers and your prayer life would be certainly fruitless. The prayer of commitment is one that we have to do always, so long as matters rise up in our lives bringing concerns to our minds. This is our only way to lead a life of peace.

CONFESSION

I always commit every care, concern or worry unto the Lord, and leave it with HIM. My life is filled with peace and power. God keeps answering my requests because I always trust in Him.

THOUGHT: WORRY IS A SIN SO DON’T WORRY

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 12:25-26 “And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?”

Proverbs 3:5-6 ” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1st Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you”

Another kind of prayer for our consideration is the prayer of commitment. The opening scripture states that we should cast all our cares upon the Lord for He cares for us… This act of committing your concerns or worries unto the Lord is called the prayer of commitment.

Every human being would one day have issues that would demand some amount of concern. The degree of care varies from person to person. God’s remedy for us is to cast such care on him. It should not be something to pray about. The Bible said it’s God’s business to care about all such things. Please get a clear understanding of these things, you don’t ask God to take away your cares, rather you cast or give the cares over to Him.

In John 15:1, the Lord Jesus is the vine, we are the branches and the father is the husbandman or the caretaker. It is His role to take care of all that concerns us. It is our part to bear fruit that is to shine, excel and reveal His glory. These are the divine roles and you must not do God’s duty for Him.

Philippians 4:6 iterated this same point that we should be anxious about nothing, but in everything, with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving we should give our problems to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The instruction of scripture is never to be anxious about anything, but to give the issues to God and leave the solution to Him. Well, He made the world and has never failed in sustaining its smooth running. Apply the prayer of commitment in such times. Commit your ways to Him, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5)

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly father, that you are the caretaker and I am the fruit bearer, I leave every concern to you and refuse to worry or be anxious about anything. Your peace would continually protect my heart and mind in Jesus’ name.

THOUGHT: FOCUS ON BEARING FRUIT FOR GOD AS HE FOCUSES ON YOUR CARE.

FURTHER STUDIES:

1st Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns once and for all,] on Him, for He cares about you with deepest affection, and watches over you carefully.” (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

In our previous study, we learned that there is great power manifested when children of God are united in prayer.

This is what should happen yet many of us go to prayer gatherings and leave without any impact on our lives. The main condition for the full benefits of united prayer is not just being together, but having one mind. Genesis 11:6 reads,” And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined doing”.

 The Lord said these people have one mind, with one language and nothing can stop them. Nothing can indeed stop people who desire a change in certain challenges. When Apostle Peter was held in prison, waiting to be killed, the brethren gathered together to pray, earnestly for divine intervention. Acts 12:5 -10. God did intervene.

In many meetings some brethren may be bearing grudges against others, others don’t even understand what is going on, and some too would be praying on personal problems, whiles the group may be praying on something else.

These things don’t make a united prayer and rob them of the great blessings of united prayer.

Satan knows the great impact of united prayer and introduces all sorts of things into the minds of the children of God to truly unite with their brethren.

Please take the following counsel, Philippians 2:2 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”. Understand again that, it is not coming together that makes a united prayer, but agreeing in your heart to see answers to whatever prayer points are being considered.

The next thing to do to have the full benefits of a united prayer session is to believe that whatever the group prayed on has been granted. Mark 11:24.

CONFESSION

I share one mind with all those I pray with. I bear no animosity or selfish motive of any sort. I do nothing through strife or vain glory, for the desire of the group is my focus.

THOUGHT: MAKE YOUR PRAYER GATHERINGS MORE EFFECTUAL BY YOUR TOTAL PARTICIPATION.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Philippians 2:1-3 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:24 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said”

One of the kinds of prayer is the united prayer. This is when a group of Christians meets to pray in one accord that is with one mind.

A united body cannot be easily defeated. The Lord said about the people who built the tower of Babel, that because they are one with one language, they can have whatever they set their heart to do (Gen 11:6)

In a united prayer, there is a corporate anointing. Deuteronomy 32:30 “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight,” One conquers a thousand but two, Conquerors ten thousand. This is the power of unity. There is immense power available when we are united.

The Lord said in John 17:22 that.

 “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: “A united prayer of Christians always reveals the glory that has been given to Jesus. This is the power that works miracles.

When Paul and Silas were kept in prison, they prayed and sang praises, and the prisoners heard them. The power of God descended and their chains were loosed.

Dear brother, give your total corporation to any prayer gathering of the Saints. You would definitely leave with a special blessing.

CONFESSION

Thank you, father, that you have given your glory to the saints who are united in whatever, they do. They always carry your power to turn impossible situations around. I would always give my total attention to our corporate meetings.

THOUGHT: A UNITED HEARTS IN PRAYER ALWAYS REVEALS THE GLORY OF JESUS

FURTHER STUDIES:

Acts 16:25-26 ” And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Acts 12:5 ” Peter, therefore, was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 6:14″ And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod”.

Worship in its complete meaning is the whole duty of man. It is basically doing everything to honour God. In our current study, we would subject ourselves to expressing the act of worship in the period of ministering to the Lord.

Our key scripture says “And David danced before the Lord with all his might……. “. As we said in the first part of our study, worship is a surrendering of your whole being to the Lord (Rom 12:1) Many people dance in the presence of the Lord with a focus on themselves, thinking about how people view their dancing steps. This is not worship. Worship means making yourself very unimportant before the Lord.

King David danced before the Lord so much that he was almost naked, causing Michal his wife to despise him. Worshipping in His presence means to make yourself unimportant and to give Him your total being as a sacrifice. It always begins with praise, whereby you focus on the greatness, splendor, power, love, mercies, and God’s perfections, leading into worship which is surrendering of your total being to Him.

The Greek word for worship is “proskuneo”, which is from two words, “pros” which means toward and “kuon” which is the word for a dog. The word in Greek for worship means acting like a dog in the presence of its master. It dances, lies on the ground, and kisses the Master’s fingers.

The total posture in worship is to humble yourself before the Lord. This should not just be an expression of the lips but a sincere act from your heart. God would always grant more grace to the true worshipper. (James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble).

    CONFESSIONS

My father you are glorious in praise, and worthy of my total being, you are all important to me. I do subject and abase myself in surrender unto you. As I worship you, I receive more grace to do excellent things.

THOUGHT: MAKE YOURSELF VERY UNIMPORTANT AS YOU EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES:

2nd Samuel 6:21-23 “21 And David said unto Michal, it was before the Lord, which chose me before my father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore, will I play before the Lord.

22 And I will yet be viler than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:2 “And they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”.

From our opening scripture, the brethren ministered to the Lord and fasted. This means they praised and worshipped the Lord. This was not a ten-minute or thirty minutes business, they spent a great moment praising and worshipping the Lord.

I believe they might have had needs but they put aside every need and did not make request but kept praising the Lord.

 Praise is not just singing in a fast mode and worship is not just singing in a slower music pace. Praise is the outflow of the heart exalting God for who He is (Hebrews 13:15). It is a focus on Him not on the excitement of the song.

Worshipping is a surrendering of your being in appreciation of whom GOD is, (Psalm 95:6), expressing it in words.

The psalmist said, let us worship and bow down. Bowing is an act of surrender. Worshipping God means making God first, yielding your will to His will. It is a deep-hearted giving of your whole being to God*In simple words, worship is falling in love with the Lord. (Deut 6:5)

God always responds to such true praise and worship. In the case of the brethren in Acts 13, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate unto me Paul and Barnabas”.

In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God. The Lord responded by shaking the foundation of the prison and subsequently breaking the chains that held them.

Many people through praising and worshipping the Lord have seen the power of God breaking forth on them to dismantle every yoke of the devil. Give time to praising and worshipping the Lord.

    CONFESSIONS

With my whole heart I praise the Lord and worship Him. I exalt Him above all things. Indeed, the Lord is worthy of my praise and worship. As I praise and worship Him miracles are wrought all around me!

THOUGHT: GOD RESPONSE TO TRUE PRAISE AND WORSHIP

FURTHER STUDIES:

2 Chronicles 20:22 ” And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Se’ir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten”.

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

 The above verse states that when you make a request unto the Lord, believe that you have received it and you shall have it. This is the prayer of faith. It primarily applies to a person’s own life, to his or her situations and circumstances. In order words, it applies to your desires. This is talking about you praying and not someone else praying with you.

This is not talking about someone agreeing with you on something. That would be the prayer of agreement.

This kind of prayer is based on a promise of scripture that you claim. Faith is an assurance of things hoped for. In the prayer of faith, you get assured of your answer after you have prayed. You do not expect an answer after some time. There is no uncertainty about the prayer of faith. It is also not anticipation of your answer in the future.

Jesus said in   John 15:7   that “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”.    

We would get what we ask for because the word abides in us. Remember that the scripture said whatsoever you desire. What about desiring the wrong thing?  The answer is simple if the word abides in you and you abide in the word, that is, you put your confidence in the word, you would not desire for the wrong things. You would always desire things from the word’s point of view and your desire when expressed to God would be answered.

Note this, your prayer of faith may not always work for others, their faith is needed to make things work out perfectly for them. (James 5:15).

In praying the prayer of faith, you do not keep repeating your request but rather, you may make a reference to it as a statement of faith. For example, “Thank you father, that you have answered the request, concerning this or that “AMEN.

  CONFESSIONS

Heavenly Father, my desires as expressed through my prayers are answered, and therefore, I experience joy to the full. I believe that I receive my request whenever I pray in Jesus’ name.

THOUGHT: IN THE PRAYER OF FAITH, KNOW THE PROMISE OF SCRIPTURE AND THEN CLAIM IT AS SETTLED.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”.

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,”

In our next series of studies, we would be considering the various kinds of prayer.

Our key scripture tells us to pray always with all prayer.

All prayer, means there are different kinds of prayers. The following are a list of the various kinds of prayer:

1. The prayer of faith (James 5:15)

2. The prayer of praise and worship (Acts 13:2)

3. United prayer (Acts 4:24)

4. The prayer of commitment (Luke 22:42)  

5. The prayer of intercession (Eph. 1:15, 16)

6. The prayer of agreement (Matt 18:19)

7. Travailing prevailing prayer (Acts 12:5)

These kinds of prayers have their unique rules of engagement.

Just as various types of games have their own unique rules for their operation, the same goes for the kinds of prayer. To be an effective Christian, you must pray to get results always. Getting results means knowing how to pray according to the demand of the hour. You’ve got to know the various kinds of prayer and the right way to effect them.

In praying the prayer of faith, you would negate your prayer by adding the phrase “if it be thy will”. Meanwhile, in the prayer of consecration, it is just right to say “if it be thy will”. Again, in the prayer of faith to keep repeating the same request would be an act of unbelief thus negating your prayer. 

In the intercessory prayer, we keep repeating the request till the answer is realised. The prayer of faith may be offered when praying for something that concerns you in which the will of God is clearly stated. For example, when praying for a health condition, a physical need, etc. (James 5:15)

We must know each kind of prayer and the specific rules governing its application to get good results.

THOUGHT: FOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS KNOW THE KIND OF PRAYER AND THE RULES THAT GOVERN IT

    PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, thank you for your ears that are open to my prayers, thank you that you always hear and answer me when I pray. As I pray to apply the requisite rules for the kind of prayers, I see changes and a big transformation in my life. In the name of Jesus, have I prayed.

FURTHER STUDIES:

James 5:15 “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

Acts 12:5 ” Peter, therefore, was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him”.