It’s important to pray the answer (God’s word) over situations. Talk it over with them, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They hear you!!! I surely believe there is more to understand about prayer than we’ll ever be able to write about. I wanted to get this out to you as you continue to develop and strengthen your own prayer life. This morning, thoughts about how to understand prayer took over my waking hours. Certainly, Jesus left us a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. But could there be more? Should we bother spending time learning more about what prayer is and how to effectively use it? You better believe it. The scriptures talk about different kinds of prayers such as prayer for salvation and others for healing, etc. And besides that, prayer is how we communicate to God our thoughts, desires, needs, and love for Him; that and more is all done in the spiritual realm. The passage above is something we should often pray in our natural language. The bible does talk about speaking in tongues in two separate ways. We’ll see how tongues used in a prayer language is helpful and powerful. One example we see is in Acts 2. After this group was filled with the promise of the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other languages that other men knew. So this is language(s) that can be learned. Although learned, if you speak in a language that nobody understands, it will take the Holy Spirit to reveal its meaning and this is usually done through another individual. This is a public event that requires interpretation. If it's a true word from God, it will speak forth the mind, will, and counsel of God and you'll be albe to support this word with scripture because God will not contradict His own word. The other example is described in both, Romans 8:26-27 and coincides with Jude 20. Now, Jude only has one chapter, so just find verse 20. Let’s start with Romans 8. Verse 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 groanings which cannot be uttered. 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.” Now, Jude 20 reads, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” I want to talk to you a moment about this second way. We just read where the bible speaks of the Holy Spirit helping us to pray the perfect will of God. This is what we refer to as our prayer language. This one is not a learned language. It takes the help and power of the Holy Spirit to reveal what is said. Unlike the other example, this is a private event and does not require interpretation. It’s often asked how would we know what we are praying for then. I was taught that whatever is in your spirit is what the Holy Spirit is helping you to pray about. I’ve had great comfort, peace, and success in knowing and praying like this. Last thing I want to mention today about these two types of praying in tongues is that the bible does not record an end to this. Nowhere in God’s written word will you see where God said this is not to be done anymore this side of heaven. We have bigger fish to fry than to mull over whether tongues is real or should be used. I personally will tell you that I pray in my prayer language often and I’m tremendously blessed and so are the people on the receiving end. You need not worry if tongues are of the devil; he can’t give you what doesn’t belong to him. The word instructs us to ask God for this, not our enemy. Besides, I’m certain you’ll agree that honky-tonks are the devil's playground. There’s too much messing around going on in those places. I grew up in every honky-tonk in south central Texas from the time I was about 4 years old on into my adulthood and not one single time did I hear tongues being used. It doesn’t belong to satan, it is a gift from God. To tackle a far more ferocious enemy through prayer, let’s move on. I want to cover two things with you. First, EVERYTHING that happens in our lives FIRST happens in the spiritual realm. We see this truth in the creation story in Genesis 1: 1- Genesis 2:5. In this passage we read all about God creating heaven, earth, animals, trees, plants, etc. But, notice in verse 5 it says there was not a man to till the ground. Now, didn’t we just read back in Gen 1:27 that God created man? This is key! Oh brothers and sisters don’t you see? This all took place in God’s spiritual realm. Up to verse 5 in chapter two, this was His vision and plans that He’s talking about to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus. None of what you just read has actually happened yet. All of this that God had said first took place in the spiritual realm. He decreed it to be so in that realm long before it was manifested (developed and took place) in our natural realm. This is our formula for prayer. Are you with me? Sadly, the staggering truth is that our mortal enemy, satan, also lives in that realm. The word says that satan stands before God day and night as the accuser of the brethren, see Revelations 12:10. It is here, my friends, that we must learn to work with God through prayer and warfare. When we need change in our circumstances, or to help others, we need to share our vision with God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. It’s important to pray the answer (God’s word) over situations. Talk it over with them. They hear you!!! Second, to position yourself for prayer and warfare, you must believe that prayer takes place in the spiritual realm because that’s where God is, that’s where He holds His court, it’s where He holds up His word for us as we stand on its truths, and to make sure our choices and the decisions we make are honored and carried out. Matthew 18:18-20 says, 18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” In this spiritual realm, that’s where our throne is, that’s where our crown (authority) resides. This is where prayers take place and are made effective. That’s where we trade in our wilderness mentalities for God’s Kingdom Realities. It’s where we realize that we don’t have to be sick, poor, have bad family relationships and let the enemy run roughshod over us. This is where we declare our victory over any and everything ol’ slewfoot throws our way, amen? AMEN and AMEN! Don’t let this get to you. We use our natural thoughts and mouth-our lips to communicate with each other here in the natural realm. God is a spirit and so are we. When we need to talk to God, what we say to him comes from our spirit but goes through our mouth. See Luke 11:22-26 and notice how many times God says we are to speak.
In this spiritual realm, that’s where our throne is, that’s where our crown (authority) resides. This is where prayers take place and are made effective. That’s where we trade in our wilderness mentalities for God’s Kingdom Realities. It’s where we realize that we don’t have to be sick, poor, have bad family relationships and let the enemy run roughshod over us. This is where we declare our victory over any and everything ol’ slewfoot throws our way, amen? AMEN and AMEN! |
Royal Court Ladies,
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