The Power of Prayer

               The Power of Prayer

          What is prayer?  Prayer is one of the ways in which we communicate with God.  It is a two-way conversation or communion with or between God and man.  Prayer is an act of total confidence and assurance in the plan and purpose of God. 

Prayer is a weapon designated by God to fight and disarm principalities, powers, and world rulers.  Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the world.  Man says that the atomic bomb is the most powerful weapon, but prayer is even more powerful than an atomic bomb.  There is a power in prayer that when applied properly makes the rulers of this world tremble. 

Prayer requires belief and trust in God, placing our faith with God’s faith.  Prayer wraps its arms around its object.  There is no fury in prayer.  It does not screech, but reaches towards needs.  Prayer lifts burdens.  It does not impose, but gets under a situation.  Prayer produces patience and tolerance.  Prayer brings us confidence, strength, and endurance through the storms and trials of life.  In order for us to pray and get results, we must exercise faith.  There is a prayer of faith, which releases the sick from pain, and causes men to be saved, healed, delivered, and set free from the bondage of sin and demonic oppression or possession.

Isaiah 53:5 – “But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

Prayer is of vital importance to God and man.  Prayer is a position of negotiating with God for situations on behalf of man or circumstances by the unction and leading of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer is the one of the most powerful ministries in Heaven and Earth.  Jesus Christ is ever interceding to the Father in Heaven on our behalf, while the Holy Spirit is ever interceding through His intercessors in the Earth. 

Romans 8:26-27 “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 groanings which cannot be uttered.  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.”

Prayer is not the action of a sledgehammer.  Prayer is the desire to release sinners from his fetters.  Why do we pray?  We pray to hear, to receive, to do, to tell, and to wait on the Master and Lord of our lives.  There is a power and an anointing to get into the spirit realm.  Flesh cannot take you there.  God said, “Pray and do not faint.  Do not quit and do not buckle .”  Therefore must fight. 

I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”

God said, “I will strengthen you where you are weak.  I will put strength in your weakness.  Where you need to be strengthened, I have an all-sufficient grace.  For my grace is sufficient for you.”  Paul let us know that prayer is a choice of our will.  We have to will ourselves to pray.  I have had times of not feeling or possessing any desire to pray.  Yet, when I start to pray, then the Holy Spirit takes over.  Therefore, we must always pray, “Lord, I pray for the persistency and whatever it takes to pray.”

I know from experience that the enemy will fight us when we pray, because he does not want us to pray.  Why?  Our prayer defeats the enemy, and tears down everything that he wills.  Satan will put every barrier, stumbling - block, and hindrance in our way to hinder us from praying.  When we cease to pray, we cease to fight.  Prayer disarms principalities and powers.  That is the reason we must will our wills to pray, and purpose in our hearts to pray.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Encourager.  Therefore, we must petition the Godhead, “Lord, help me and teach me to pray.”  

II Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.”

The thought of spending time in prayer frightens some.  This is the working of the spirit of fear, which is one of the devil’s agents.  Prayer is one of life’s greatest blessings, when one understands what it really is and begins to engage himself in prayer.  The Lord Jesus calls each of us to a life of prayer.  He said that men ought to always pray.  Therefore, He encourages us to enter a life of prayer.  David, Moses, Abraham, Daniel, Esther, Hanna, and Anna were men and women of prayer.  These men and women of faith prayed and saw the results of their prayers.  If we are steadfast and pray, trusting God, we will see results of our prayers, as well.

          Saints of God, I encourage each of us to enter into God’s presence with prayer and thanksgiving throughout this season.  For this is a time of preparation for all God has in store for us as His people and ambassadors in the Earth.

                                        © Vera E Paul

Word of the Lord: "I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer!"

Word of the Lord: 

“I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer”

Spoken and Written Monday, July 25, 2011

James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”  (KJV).

           The Word of the Lord came unto me saying, “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer.”  God continued to speak and reveal to me the condition of His leaders.  So many leaders are not hearing God’s voice or understanding what He is saying to them.  So many leaders are getting their own interpretation of God’s Word to them and His Will or Instructions.  So many leaders are seeking people’s advice, rather than pressing in prayer to receive Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding directly from God, Who is our Source.  If the people from whom leaders seek advice are not distinctly hearing God, they of themselves cannot tell the leaders what God is saying to them.  Therefore, they advise leaders according to their own thoughts, rather than the true Word and Will of the Lord. 

          For this reason, God is calling His leaders to a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive a deeper Revelation and Understanding of what God is saying to them.  When we pray intensively and press into a deeper depth of prayer, we will pray through into a place of hearing, seeing, understanding, and discerning in the Spirit.  Too many of God’s leaders are on the surface level where their own thoughts and demonic interference hinders their ability to hear and discern the voice of God. 

         We could never go “deep enough” in the Spirit, because there is always a deeper depth beyond where we have reached in the Spirit realm.  God wants to reveal Himself in a greater way to His leaders, and He is waiting on us to press into a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive deeper Revelation from Him.  There are no limitations to the depth of prayer and intercession, where God will take us when we submit ourselves to Him.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper.  He is the One, Who will take us into a deeper depth of prayer, because we cannot do anything on our own.  God is saying that so many leaders are trying to do the work of ministry on their own.  They seek out a Word from the prophets, rather than going straight to God, Who is the Source of all Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding.  Leaders do not pray for themselves the way that they ought to pray.  Leaders must labor intensively and extensively in prayer before the Lord, in order to effectively and accurately represent God to His people.

1 Samuel 15:22 – “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (KJV).

          God is also calling His leaders to obedience.  God is saying, “I AM tired of the people’s vain oblations.”  God requires obedience from His people.  Jesus walked in obedience to His Father.  God’s people are not walking in obedience.  So often, we do as we please, and ask God to stamp His approval on it.  We must first hear God’s voice clearly, in order to obey His Word unto us.  For this reason, the Scripture states, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayith to the churches” (KJV, Revelation 2:29).  Saints of God, it is time to press into a deeper depth of prayer, hear the Word of the Lord, and obey His Instructions.  Let us not waste another moment.  It is time to act upon the Word of the Lord: “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer!”  

© 2011 Vera E. Paul, All rights reserved, Use only with permission