WHY PRAY - UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENCE AND POWER OF PRAYER

WHY PRAY UNVEILING THE ESSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE

Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................2 Chapter 1........................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Why Pray?................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Take up the Responsibility!.........................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 3........................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Staying Connected to God...........................................................................................................................................5 Chapter 4........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 You Have An Enemy!..................................................................................................................................................8 Chapter 5...................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Exercising Authority in Prayer..................................................................................................................................13 Chapter 6...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Prayer Is Part Of Your Spiritual Armor.....................................................................................................................14 Chapter 7...................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Ask and You Shall Receive........................................................................................................................................15 Chapter 8...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 The Results of a Lack of Prayer!................................................................................................................................16 Chapter 9...................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Don’t Wait Till Its Late..............................................................................................................................................17 Chapter 10....................................................................................................................................................................20 The Acts Of Prayer....................................................................................................................................................20 Chapter 11....................................................................................................................................................................23 Watch your tongue - The tool for prayer.................................................................................................................23 Chapter 12....................................................................................................................................................................28 Chapter 13....................................................................................................................................................................30 Building your prayer life...........................................................................................................................................30

Compiled by Isaac Owusu

Introduction.

My Thoughts on Prayer

“Prayer could be designated as the first global product of religion. No matter how diverse the religions of the world may be, one common ritual and practice that they all embrace is prayer. Prayer is religions neutralizer. Yet prayer is still the most elusive and misunderstood practice of religious adherents ever. To understand prayer is the desire of everyman even the pagan longs to connect with the divine and find comfort, access and results. Jews do it, Muslims do it, Hindus do it, Buddhist do it, pagans do it and everyone does it. Few are sure it works and even less believe it is necessary�. (Dr. Myles Munroe) As a church we are called to pray at all times without fainting. Personally I have come to realise that some Christians understand the power of prayer and do so regularly, yet most others also do not understand the full effect of prayer and do not pray as often as they should. James 5:16 admonishes to "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." Many Christians would rather complain than pray, or even stop praying and believing when we do not see immediate results. Beloved, I want to encourage you to stay the course in prayer. God is faithful!

Prayer is the vital connection between God and us. It is in prayer that we learn what our Father wants from us and what His will is for our lives. Thus, we must take the time to seek Him and desire to build our relationship with Him. To help build your faith regarding the importance of prayer, it is my pleasure to share with you my thoughts on this issue which I have entitled, "Why Pray?" Upon reading a little extensively about prayer, I have resolved to start a new and refreshing prayer life as my mind is drawn to the essence of prayer and so in this book I give you a detailed insight into prayer and also emphasize the importance of prayer and how to stay connected to God. I pray that as you read this, you will realise the impact we can have if all of God's children would pray fervently. Beloved, please do not take the call to prayer lightly. ARISE UNTO PRAYER, ARISE UNTO PRAYER God has need of you!!!

Chapter 1 Why Pray?

God has given dominion to man on the earth, and so He will not undermine the very authority that He has given out. Genesis 1:26-28 states that;

“And God said; Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Although God has given man dominion, He has given man the ability to recognize that we cannot do things right without Him. It is essential that we ask God to always come in, and move in, and upon situations on our behalf. Our power, authority and dominion must be rooted in God. We must trust God to lead us and guide us. In prayer we are afforded the opportunity to communicate with the Living God, who knows all things, and can give us the direction that we need to live successfully. In prayer we also find out the why’s, and why not’s, the how’s, and the when’s. When we pray and submit to God’s revelations to us, we gain understanding regarding what He is doing and desires to do, “Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophet.”(Amos 3:7) above the desires of our own flesh which causes us to make wrong choices. Submission in prayer causes us to step into God’s perfect will in any given situation. Sometimes not necessarily changing the situation but changing our attitude towards the situation and giving us hope which changes our entire life.

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart].

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available -dynamic in its working. (James 5:16 AMP) The prayer of the righteous man produces power. Speaking from God as God; speaking as though God was speaking and getting the necessary compliance and results as though God was the one speaking. And so when we pray we do so as righteous men releasing the power of God. Some Christians pray so little, and always complain about the issues that they are facing. I used to be like this but the issues never changed until I prayed, so I learnt my lesson upon chancing on Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. We have the tools to change our lives, and the greatest of which is to be able to access God in Heaven, because of Jesus’s sacrificial death for us on the cross. So 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 states;

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”. So once we reach God in faith, that is to say, once God hears us, then we get an answer.

I John 5:14-15 also attest to this; “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing

according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”.

You often hear people say that after they have tried everything else, all they can do now is pray. If we would only pray first and stop making it the last thing that we do, we would soon find that things would turn around faster. Prayer requires faith, wherein we must be willing to believe. For the fathers of old obtained the promises of God through faith. ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 1 Take up the Responsibility!

Prayer is an expression of mankind’s unity and relationship of love with God. It’s not just the pastor’s responsibility to pray for us and situations that we face or encounter! It’s not just our mothers, fathers, or grandparent’s responsibility to pray for us and our circumstances! It’s not just the church intercessors, or prayer warriors’ responsibility to pray for us, the church, the community, etc….!

Prayer is the responsibility and burden of everyone who is a Christian. We have been given a spiritual responsibility and authority in some places and/or over some people, yet it requires us to pray in order that we may know what to do. In prayer we express our personal commitment to God and his love towards us.

How great an impact we would have on our families, churches, communities, cities and nations, if Christians (you and I) prayed more. Prayer truly changes things. We must take on the responsibility to pray. Not only should we pray a little, but constantly, for it is our responsibility to bring things to the Lord, so that He can move on the situation on our behalf. I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us; “Pray without ceasing”

“The greatest difficulty most believers’ experience is their prayer lives” …… (Myles Munroe) Although we should have dedicated times for prayer, we should also be constant in prayer throughout our days, causing us to be instruments in the hands of God, so that we can be used for His glory at all times.

A busy Life makes prayer harder, yet prayer makes a hard and busy life easier.

It takes discipline to settle yourself, move distractions and other natural responsibilities into a secondary place, in order to make prayer primary in your life. This is something that you must choose to do because it doesn’t come automatically.

Chapter 2 Staying Connected to God.

“Prayer is not just an activity, a ritual or an obligation. It is communion and communication that touches God’ heart”.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8 ) Prayer requires the establishment of an intimate relationship with God, and keeps us connected at all times. In the Lord’s Prayer it details the word “daily bread” which is not eating bread every day for strength, instead it is in daily regular prayer that we get the sustenance and direction we need, for it keeps us connected to God. Matthew 6:9-15 gives us the Lord’s Prayer, it says;

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our DAILY bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

It is in praying daily, and throughout each day, that we stay connected to God, and learn to discern His voice, above all other voices that are trying to gain our attention. John 15:7 puts it this way “If ye abide in

me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you”. Abiding in God is staying connected to Him through His word by prayer.

As Christians we often ask God to use us, yet when He gives us the unction to pray, we go on to say that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. One of the greatest ways to be used by God is in prayer. Most people think that being used by God, is some showoff opportunity where people will get a chance to see our gifts and talents. That is not it at all. God wants to use us in ways that neither we nor anyone else gets the glory, and prayer is one of the best ways to do that. Be at the right place and get alone with no distractions (exodus 33:19) this is what Jesus meant by go into your room. The right place is not location but when you are alone. Building Him an atmosphere (alone and quiet with cool worship rising up in your heart). Build me a tabernacle wherein I may dwell. His presence is your closet. For he that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Be in the right position. Numbers 9:15-19 tells us that;

“On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out” So many people fail in prayer because they do not wait for the presence of God to touch them. In the place where the cloud abode, they pitched their tents.

Numbers 7:89 says; when Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice

speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony.

And he spoke with him.

Moses was at the right position because he was face down under the mercy seat. That means he was under the blood, for the blood covers the mercy seat. The right position for prayer is under the blood. The blood of Jesus which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. God is always speaking and when you are in the right disposition you will hear him. We must come to the place where the frequency is right in order to hear him. Plunge in the blood of Christ today in prayer.

Staying in his presence The Right Frequency

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” says the Psalms 16:11.

Prayer is living in God’s presence. God wants to be our best friend. If God gave us everything at once, we would not come to Him daily and He would not be our best friend. So we are commanded to ask in prayer: “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be

complete” (John 16:24).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present

your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Practicing the presence of God simply means staying in the presence of God and being in tune with Him. The presence of God is always here; it’s everywhere. Paul quoted these words on Mars Hill to the idol worshipers and philosophers of his day: “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

David also understood, “I can never get away from your presence!” (Psalms 139:7 NLT).

All of creation is subject to the Creator. Without God in us, we do not know life, only existence. God is all we need. He is the perfect parent as well as the faithful friend. As our Father, God has our best interest in mind. He wants us to completely rely on Him, in faith from our business decisions and academic life to the ordinary tasks of life. God created us to live in fellowship with Him and to know Him the only true God. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have

sent” John 17:3

David found that the presence of God is the only all satisfying experience of life. “You will fill me with joy

in your presence” (Psalms 16:11). This joy is the byproduct of peace with God and abiding in Christ.

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God; only those that can comprehend it practice and experience it…. I believe that all spiritual life consists of practicing God’s presence, and that anyone who practices it correctly will soon attain spiritual fulfillment.” I believe that “practicing the presence of God” is what the Bible calls “abiding in Christ.”

Brother Lawrence was a cook in a monastery kitchen in the USA in the 20th century. He found God in the monastery kitchen. Amidst the boring chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his superiors, he writes, “Men invent means and methods of coming at God’s love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God’s presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?”

For Brother Lawrence, “ordinary business,” no matter how mundane, was the means of God’s love. You can’t separate the secular from the sacred; God is in both. Brother Lawrence’s work was his ministry. “We can do little things for God; I turn the fish that is frying for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God” he says.

The distinction you make between sacred places and secular places, sacred activities and secular activities can be an obstacle to practicing the presence of God. It is certainly good to ask God to guide and illuminate your study of His Word, but you can also enter into a conversation with God about the newspaper, magazine, or a book you are reading. It can be especially fruitful to ask God to comment on works of history since He is the Lord of history. You can talk to God about His creation. The book of Genesis tells us that God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them. I suspect they engaged in small talks about the animals and maybe giggled at the giraffes.

You can be so busy seeking the deep or profound revelations from God that you miss the small talk that is the life blood of real friendship with God. You can be so obsessed with knowing His will that you miss the obvious: His presence is His will. It is us He wants.

When God is invited into all parts of our lives and not just our quiet time or worship time everything around us becomes the language of God. God can speak to us through what we see, feel, read, think, dream, or experience. When God speaks, you will know His voice in your spirit.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that

has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) In Galilee Jesus said consider the lilies of the field, but today God may say consider the hard drive, carburetor, or the iphone. Practicing the presence of God can make your daily activities sacraments: a means by which God imparts grace and instructs your heart to love.

Brother Lawrence made every detail of his life important. “I began to live as if there were no one save God and me in the world.” He had no problem cooking meals, running errands, scrubbing pots, and enduring the scorn of the world, because he understood “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for

the glory of God ” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

When you don’t sense God’s presence, learn to switch your frame of reference to God. He is there , acknowledge Him. The Lord has promised you, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5. You may need to sing or quote scripture. But as you focus on Him, it becomes easier to meditate on His presence. The spirit world and consciousness of God’s presence is only one thought away. Revelation 2:7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will

give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. God wants you to acknowledge His presence and to ask any time for a nickel. He wants to be with you. But like any relationship, it takes time, it costs you something, and you have to want it.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:6. “Straight paths” is more than guidance; it means that God removes the obstacles, making a better way as you acknowledge Him. This only happens as you spend time practicing His presence in prayer. ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 3 You Have An Enemy!

Sometimes we forget that there is an enemy who is trying all that he can, to destroy us. Each day they seek to steal from us, kill us, and ultimately destroy us.

John 10:10 says; “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they

might have life and that they might have it more abundantly”.

If we don’t stay pressed into God, getting His direction and wisdom each day, then it will be easy for them to deceive us, and overcome us. When we are in communication with God, He exposes the enemy’s strategies against us, and destroys them on our behalf. It is in prayer that we are led by God to ask Him to help us to overcome the enemy’s strategies and devices.

If only you knew some of the things that the enemy had planned for you, that would have harmed you, or taken your life. Little did you know that although you may have not prayed to God about yourself, or anyone, or anything else, someone else may have prayed for you in the past, or is praying for you presently. It was those prayers that kept you from the destruction that the enemy had planned for you. We often think about, or hear others say “I don’t know how I got out of that,”, or “I should have been dead.”

You didn’t realize that when that person you met, said that they would pray for you, even though you were nasty to them, their prayer reached God’s ears, and God moved to protect you. That devil has been trying to hurt you, kill you, and destroy you all of your life, yet you may not have taken serious the attack, because you may not have been on the battlefield of prayer. We don’t often value something if we did not have to pay a price for it. Somebody is still paying a price in prayer for you daily. Yet there is coming a day in which you will have to carry your own prayer, and the prayer for others in your family, as well as those who are your friends.

The lives of so many Christians would be better, if we would only pray more. The strategies that we need to fight against the enemy and overcome them, is often given to us in prayer. In maturity class lesson four (A bible study class organized by Inter Hall Christian Fellowship {IHCF-KNUST} I learnt about Spiritual warfare and would like to share with you some of the things I learnt there).

Warfare encompasses all activities and engagements in an armed conflict. However Christian warfare is not physical but a spiritual engagement of enforcing the victory won for us by Christ. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says;

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Spiritual warfare is legitimate and mandatory for every Christian. 1 Tim 1:18 says;

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

Paul also admonishes us in 2 Cor 10:3-5 that; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according

to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, This therefore helps us to appreciate the fact that we must be well aware of our spiritual obligation and wage the good warfare. Yet we do not wage this war in the hope of attaining victory someday for Jehovah Nissi the Lord our victory has already won the victory for us hence our warfare is to enforce and walk in this victory attained for us by Jehovah Gibbor the Lord strong in battle.

Hebrews 2:14-16 affirms this by saying;

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Col 2:15 also says; ‘and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,

triumphing over them by the cross’.

The scripture admonishes us in James 4:7 to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us. The word resist is from the Greek word ANTHISTEMI which is also used in Ephesians 6:13. Here we need to note that in order to ensure continuity in submission to God we must fight and resist the devil.

People ask questions like, why did God create the devil at all.

O Lord God, "righteous art thou! Yet let us plead with thee." How is this? Hast thou forgotten the world thou hast made; which thou hast created for thy own glory? Canst thou despise the work of thy own hands, the purchase of thy Son's blood? Thou hast given medicine to heal our sickness; yet our sickness is not healed. Yet darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness the people.

My simple answer is this, it is all part of God’ design for the sons of the earth (hu-man; made of spirit yet from humus) to be part of His administrative purpose. Jesus folded the linen that covered his head at the resurrection but left that which covered his body. As the head of the church he has finished his work and folded up by crying it is finished on the cross. The body which is the church, you and I are left to enforce that which He the head had completed till we also fold up. And one sure way to do that is through prayer and this is how we use the medicine of Jesus’ finished work to heal our sickness. Examine this extract below by my friend Besnard Phillipe in regard to this question and make your own conclusions.

Darkness is no force in and of itself; however, with it, arises a natural opposition to the things of light (GOD), creating so much of a problem, that it has become synonymous with being an active paradigm for living one’s life or is perceived as being somehow coequal with light. This is wrong, and we know this.

Does it not say in Scripture that Lucifer, when he was created, was perfect? And then it progresses to say,

“Until darkness was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:13-15. This is paramount. Darkness was FOUND in him…

This prompts another question, a question of will. I will develop my thoughts in the form of a scenario, thus: God exists for untold eons, self-existent, self-sufficient. He has given no record that we know of, to elaborate on time-eternal of the past. He tells us in all truth, that He has no beginning, and He knows of no end. None can defeat Him, and we know nothing of His past. It seems that the angels came first, and man was created later on the Earth. When He finally decides to create, He does it well. He makes no automations, giving all intelligible life and free will. He says in Himself; “What is love, if not given freely from the heart? Man and angel, alike, will decide for themselves if they love me. However, I know that in giving them a choice, there will be consequences. Those that are intended for me, will turn against me. If I make them, only as holy, their love has no value. However, if I give them a choice, they will know what it means to truly be loved, and so will I. And so I refuse to make them prisoners of themselves, they will decide; and, they will fail. Lucifer, oh Lucifer! What is this thing that you will do to yourself, your fellow angel, and the man, who I will make in my image?

For the man, a sacrifice will be provided through my Christ. He will come to you, sons and daughters of men, so that you may live. You will fall prey to the lies of he, who will be a son to me; Lucifer, you will make yourself my enemy. Your vanity will be your undoing, and pride will cause your destruction.

Nevertheless, man, you whom I will make like unto my image, you will be redeemed by your faith. A horrible sacrifice must be made, so that you may have a chance to be free from what is to come (Rev 5:69). I know, precious ones, made of dust that you will fall. It is not fair that I should make you, only so you will be destroyed by your moment of weakness. Darkness will seize you, and it will corrupt your kind completely; therefore, I must intercede on your behalf, and I will give you my only begotten Son. This is just. This is right. You will be shown mercy, as I love you, sons of earth. You are only in my mind’s eye, as of yet, but I see you as you will be! Your freedom will be your undoing, but it will establish sons and daughters for my kingdom, redeemed by sacrifice and great mercy. You, order of man, will know grace. It will be given freely to you! I will hold nothing back from you. Darkness and sin will be born of will. It is inevitable. I know this. There is none like me, and there will never be any like me. In perfection, all will be made. Choice will open the door for darkness. There will be war in Heaven, and there will be a great fall (Rev 12:7-9). Many of my angels will remain by my side, and I will make sure they never succumb to temptation. They will have their redemption, when they decide whom they will serve. I will preserve them in holiness from that day forward. Consequently, the others must be expelled from my kingdom. Lucifer, my son… You will be among them. My enemy, my ‘satan’, you will become! It will be as it will be, and you will have begun this tragedy! It will rest upon your shoulders! Great darkness will enter because of you, Lucifer. You will corrupt the goodness in every living thing on the Earth. Life, as all will know it, will be darkened in understanding, and even death will enter!”

Sin, as you know, is the perversion of the original intent of holiness. Holiness is intrinsic to God. The act of love, in giving us free will, opened the door to the alternative darkness. It is the ‘void’, perversion, inevitable chaos, and the undoing of order. Darkness must first have a living being, created from the orderliness of God, to corrupt it. God makes nothing in corruption. Rather, corruption seized hold of Lucifer, because He made an alternative choice to the design of God. It spirals downward from there. The only reason why man is born corrupt, after the creation of Adam and Eve, is because the darkness is passed from the earthly father to the children, as Scripture says. Both Adam and Eve fell prey to the choosing of an ‘alternative’, not knowing what it would bring. That is the essence of the coming of Yeshua HamashiacJesus Christ (THE LIGHT) into the world.

Salvation is not a one time commitment. It is a life style of submitting yourself to listen to the voice of Jesus and following Him, which means to obey Him. Your obedience proves your love for Him. Jesus said to

them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me", Luke 9:23.

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Jer. 8:22.

This question, as here proposed by the Prophet, relates only to a particular people, the children of Israel.

But here I will consider it in a general sense, with relation to all mankind. Why has Christianity done so little good in the world? Is it not the balm, the outward means, which the great Physician (YHWH) has given to men, to restore their spiritual health? Why then is it not restored? We say this because of the deep and universal corruption of human nature. Was the coming of the great physician (Yeshua) not intended to be the remedy for this corruption? A universal remedy, for a universal evil? The disease still remains in its full strength: Wickedness of every kind; vice, inward and outward, in all its forms, still overspreads the face of the earth because You have not prayed to enforce the remedy of the great physician-Jesus. You have not carried your cross. You have an enemy and so arise unto prayer.

Knowing Your Adversary To understand how prayer can bring down the power of Satan at work in our friends and loved ones, drawing the full benefits of the balm, we must understand what the Scripture has to say about him.

Satan had access to God as the leader of the heavenly worship. Isaiah states:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15 Ezekiel further states:

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou has corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Ezekiel 28:13-17,19.

Satan's former prominence in God's glorious heavenly realm is made clear from the preceding scripture.

Yet, why would he want to rob and destroy us? Or in other words, how did we get involved?

God created man in His own image and gave him dominion over the earth. Satan was jealous of man's place and has from the beginning tried to destroy God's special creation. After Adam and Eve died spiritually due to their sin, God made a promise: "And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15). Therefore Satan has known that through mankind, he would suffer his ultimate and final defeat.

Throughout the history of man, Satan has tried to keep this promise from coming to pass. He first tried to pollute the human race:

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:1-6,8) Satan's trick was to pollute the human race so that the seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) could not be pure.

Therefore, He could not bring destruction to his kingdom. Yet, God had one man who had not been polluted. One family found favor in the sight of God. So Noah was the means by which the human race was saved from total and complete destruction.

Satan continued his opposition by trying to destroy Israel. Then, he tried to destroy the Christ child. Finally, he hung the Son of God on the cross. Yet, the cross was not the end, through the death of our precious

Lord on the cross, Satan was defeated by Jesus Christ. Because of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also have been given authority over Satan and his works. Therefore, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. And we come to the realization of the full effect of this victory when we arise unto prayer effecting the victory of our Lord in our situations and circumstances.

Chapter 5 Exercising Authority in Prayer Satan opposes the prayers of God's people more than anything else. This is evident in the Book of Daniel.

Daniel was still a young man when he was taken captive by the Babylonians in 605 B.C. God allowed this captivity to be the means by which Daniel was given a key position in the greatest empire of that day. As Joseph found favor in Egypt while experiencing temporary setbacks, so was Daniel used by God because of the gift given to him to interpret dreams. This gift was later used to show such a precise vision of the future that many scholars doubt the authenticity of the book.

In the first year of Darius the Mede, the future universal ruler of the Middle East, Daniel received special understanding of Jeremiah 25:12. As he realized the implications his new understanding had for Jerusalem, he prayed his famous intercessory prayer for his people. He began by confessing his own sin, although his uncompromising faithfulness to God was recognized by all Jews in captivity. He then began to ask forgiveness for his people, as is seen in the ninth chapter. He continued by petitioning God for his people.

O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. Daniel 9:16-17 As he continued in prayer, his supplications became more impassioned:

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. Vrs 19 As Daniel continued in prayer, God sent the angel Gabriel to visit him. Gabriel then reveals the way Satan opposes the prayer of God's people.

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:12-13 Later in the chapter, Gabriel shows the battle he will face when he leaves Daniel:

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. Vrs 20-21 Gabriel had been sent by God, but the satanic princes, or fallen angels, made war against Gabriel. Satan not wanting Daniel's prayer to be answered. Michael, the archangel, was called in to assist Gabriel in the battle. Daniel had fasted and prayed for twenty-one days. This was the length of time necessary for God's spiritual forces to overcome the fallen angels.

In Zechariah 3:2 the angel of the Lord says to Satan, "The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan, even the LORD that

hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

Paul understood the spiritual warfare that we have been called to exercise when he stated, "For we wrestle

not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6:12).

To put all of this into clear perspective we must understand the spiritual reality, or what David Yunggi Cho calls "the fourth dimension.

Satan was cast down from his place in the heavenlies where he held an exalted position. Satan has known since the Garden of Eden that through mankind, his kingdom would be destroyed. So, God gave authority to man. Man lost his authority in the fall through the sin of Adam. Even so, God has not been without a witness in the world. His people have been able to exercise authority in prayer and intercession. When Christ came, He allowed the world to judge and crucify Him. Yet, through His sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and glorious Resurrection, Christ took the keys of death and the grave and received "all authority" (Matt. 28:18, NKJV). On the basis of the fact that Christ has won all the authority in heaven and on earth, we are therefore commanded to go into all the world and disciple nations in the kingdom of God. Our problem has been that we have thought about prayer, read about prayer, even received teachings regarding prayer but we just have not prayed. Now is the time to understand the purpose of prayer that we may get the effectual benefit of the balm of Gilead. ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 6 Prayer Is Part Of Your Spiritual Armor.

Prayer is an expression of mankind’s affirmation of and participation in God’s purpose for the earth.

We often do not include prayer as one of the amours of God, yet it is one, and one that is of utmost importance. Let’s take a look at the spiritual armor. Ephesians 6:10-18 says;

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

This scripture details the Christians spiritual armor, and it has included in it prayer, and not only regular prayer, but praying in the Spirit. The word of God used here refers to the Holy Spirit who is the rhema-the quickened word. When we pray to God, it is like a weapon against the enemies’ devices for it activates the logos (the written word). When we pray in the Spirit, we don’t always know what we are saying, yet the Holy Spirit of God knows what we are praying for, for He is the one leading us in the prayer.

2 Corinthians 4:13 says, it is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith we

also believe and therefore speak” The faith that you receive from the word of God is for your rising and promotion. However you need to speak your faith to receive the benefit of that faith. The faith that comes to you may not change your situation. It is the faith that goes from you, that turns things in your favour. The scripture says I believe therefore I have spoken, we also believe and therefore speak. This means that the proof that I have faith is that I speak. Therefore if I claim to have faith, I must speak. True faith is not silent. Faith speaks and activates the power of God. If you will change your situation, you must speak the word of God that you have received. Remember the Bible did not say you shall have what you think or feel. It says you shall have what you say. You must begin to speak out whatever you hope to see in your life. We must never get weary with prayer, for it accomplishes much more than we can ever imagine. ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 7 Ask and You Shall Receive Everything that we need is in God. Our provisions are in God. Our good health, or healing is in God. Our salvation is in God. Everything that we need in this life is in the Living God, our Father, yet He wants us to ask Him for what we need.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-11 It is in prayer (communion with God) that we have the privilege to ask for what we need. God is not looking to hold back what we need; rather He wants to meet our every need. It is God’s desire or good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (every provision needed).

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 God wants to give us so much, yet He seeks that we ask Him. This asking develops a relationship, as well as keeps us in humility, never thinking that we are our own source; rather God is. Many of us do not have because we do not spend time in prayer to ask. Don’t take asking for granted. If Jesus said that we should ask, then we should take Him at His Word, and ask. ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 8 The Results of a Lack of Prayer!

“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.”

1 Samuel 12:23a……

Prayerlessness is a sin. Sometimes we do not fully see, nor understand the impact of prayer, or the lack thereof. If you pray regularly, and stop for about a month, or two, you will soon find that you have lost some ground. Perhaps you might fall behind in the payment of your fees and bills, due to the fact that your provisions are a little less. You might find issues with your education, or with other people beginning to happen. You may think that prayer is not working, yet just stop praying, and you will find out, because of the new situations that you will find yourself in, that your previous prayers had great impact on. One of the most obvious results of a lack of prayer, is no results at all. Nothing changes spiritually or naturally.

Some Churches, or Ministries never grow, or accomplish what God had purposed for them to do, simply

because they will not pray, or pray to a sufficient level. Any Church that does not pray, will not grow spiritually. I have seen this issue with many churches who do not pray, and then they wonder why the church is not growing. It is because they have left, or abandoned their prayer post. It is in prayer that the breakthrough happens. It is in prayer that you gain a greater Anointing.

There are probably 100’s of millions of people in Hell, because the Church of the Living God, abandoned their prayer post. We will one day have to give an account regarding the lack of prayer, and the damage that it had done.

Beloved, knowing all of this, I ask you, “What are you going to do?” Will you get determined, and disciplined to pray, or will you go on the same way. If you will not pray, then nothing will happen. We ought always to pray and not to faint! ARISE UNTO PRAYER

Chapter 9 Don’t Wait Till Its Late

“We ... saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9) Once you admit that you need help, you can ask God for it! This is moving from confession to petition.

At one point in his life, the apostle Paul was so discouraged that he was ready to give up on life. In fact he said, “We felt we were doomed to die” (2 Corinthians 1:9 LB). Then he went on to say in the same verse, “We ... saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.”

If God can raise a dead person, he can raise a dead marriage. If God can raise a dead person, he can raise a dead career. If God can raise a dead person, he can raise a dead dream. Anybody can bring good out of good. Yet God can bring good out of bad. He can do miracles! He specializes in turning crucifixions into resurrections. But you have to ask God for his help.

Notice that the verse says, “We put everything into the hands of God.” Paul is talking about total surrender.

It’s not partial surrender where you say, “My finances are in a mess, so I’m going to give God my finances.”

You have to give him all of your life! You have to put everything in his hands.

Have you done this? Have you ever come to a point in your life where you have said, “Everything in my life the good, the bad, the ugly, the rotten, the happy, the sad, the ups, the downs I put it all in your hands.”

Don’t wait until you hit bottom. Sometimes we’re so obstinate that God has to lay us flat on our back to make us look up to him. There’s an easy way and a hard way to do this. The easy way to change is to see the light. The hard way is to feel the heat. The problem is most of us rarely change until our fear of change is exceeded by the pain. Then when the pain gets so great we go, “Oh, I have to get help!” Don’t get to that place where everything has to drop out in your life for you to admit you need help. Just go to God and ask him for help. The scriptures says; “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you

there is more of God and his rule” (Matthew 5:3 MSG).

How can you make less of yourself so that there is more room for God (Matthew 5:3)?

In the next chapter we will look at the importance of prompt resort to prayer and how King Hezekiah responded promptly to prayer when he was faced with a daunting threat.

Lessons from Hezekiah Hezekiah ruled over Judah and was a good and faithful king. Judah means praise. Hezekiah often became the target of warring nations. The king of Assyria, which was a much more powerful nation, made plans to overthrow Hezekiah’s kingdom. Throughout the stressful time in leadership, Hezekiah consistently used the same battle plan. He went before the Lord in prayer and he followed the Lord’s commands. (The Spirit of counsel) Hezekiah relied on prayer to rule his life. This king knew how to pray and he prayed in a way that got results.

At one point, the Assyrian king launched a huge affront campaign against Hezekiah with his own people.

It scared Hezekiah’s people and when Hezekiah heard about the threat, he went before the Lord. God assured Hezekiah everything would be okay, but the Assyrians wouldn’t let up their verbal assaults. They kept taunting the kingdom of Hezekiah, throwing threats towards Hezekiah. Finally, they sent a letter by a messenger to Hezekiah, which basically said, “The Assyrians are tough, and they are coming for you next.”

It was a credible, realistic threat. In a practical sense, Hezekiah had reason to be afraid.

What do you do when you are backed into a corner as a leader and you’re about to face something bigger than your ability can handle?

Well, Hezekiah received the letter with all the threats and began to pray. We find this account in 2 Kings 19:14–19.

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. "It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not

gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God." What can we learn from listening in as Hezekiah prayed?

1. Hezekiah got alone with God. There is corporate prayer like we do at church, and there is prayer where a few are gathered. But probably some of the most effective prayer times of our life will be the time we invest alone with God. In the secret place of the most high where we abide under the shadows of the almighty, there is no intimidation and no fear of judgmental critique. We present our woes to him alone and he gladly guides us into deliverance.

2. Hezekiah’s prayer was immediate. His prayer wasn’t an afterthought. It was prior to making his plans. We are so geared to react when in trouble such that, it’s hard for us to go first to God. He may be second or third or first when we are backed into a corner and have no choice. Yet we need to develop a discipline and habit to make God the first place we turn in our lives. Like Hezekiah.

3. Hezekiah’s prayer was open and honest. Hezekiah was transparent before the Lord. I love the imagery here in this prayer story of Hezekiah. He took the letter, went to the house of the Lord, and spread it out before Him. I get this visual image of Hezekiah, and this letter laying it there on the table, and saying, “Okay, God, what now? What do I do next? What’s my first move?”

Are you in a tough spot right now? You may just need to get some notepad and write down all the things you are struggling with and lay them out on a table and say, “Okay, God, here are my

struggles. I can’t do anything about them. What now?”

Writing your prayer requests before God is a great idea for 2 reasons.

It helps you remember to pray for them.

It helps you to watch as God answers. We get more answers than we realize if we only ask.

4. Hezekiah’s prayer was honoring, humble, and respectful of who God is. Hezekiah knew his place as king and he knew God’s place in the Kingdom. Hezekiah was king of a nation and that is an important job, yet Hezekiah willingly humbled himself in prayer, because he knew his place before the King of kings.

5. Hezekiah’s prayer was bold. He said, “Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD….”

Hezekiah had the kind of relationship with God where it wasn’t a surprise when Hezekiah showed up to pray. Because of that relationship, Hezekiah didn’t wonder if God would be there when he

came before Him. He knew he could ask God to act on his behalf. The more you grow in your relationship with God, the bolder your prayers can become, because the more your heart will begin to line up with God’s heart.

6. Hezekiah’s prayer was dependent. In verses 17–18 he prays, “It is true, O LORD, that the

Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.” Hezekiah knew he was out of his league facing the Assyrians. From the way I see that Hezekiah responded to life, however, I don’t think it mattered the size of the battle. Hezekiah was going to depend on God. Every time. In every situation.

7. Hezekiah’s prayer was certain. Because it was based on his personal faith and trust in God. In verse 19, Hezekiah prayed, “Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms

on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.” Hezekiah had a faith in God that allowed him to pray with confidence. We need to understand that faith is always based on the promises of God. Some things God has promised to do and some He hasn’t. God has promised to always work things for an ultimate good. He hasn’t promised to rid everyone of headache or to heal every bad relationship. Or settle every leadership issue we face. “God hasn’t promised to calm every storm, he sometimes allows the storms to rage and calms the child” - anonymous.

Hezekiah knew God had promised to save His people. He knew God had placed him in the position of authority over them. He had confidence that God would do what He had promised to do. Hezekiah trusted God to be faithful to His word so he was willing to act in faith.

What situations are you dealing with today that you know you are helpless to do on your own and you desperately desire God’s answer?

Get alone with God, spread your problems out before Him honestly, humbly, and boldly; then, allow His will to be done, as you wait for His response.

Chapter 10 The Acts Of Prayer The ACTS of prayer in this context connotes Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. Each of these are essential in building a successful prayer life. As a believer I have used this method of praying so much that it has become automatic and not methodical.

1. Adoration - The Place of Praise in Prayer

I have come to understand that praise is a preparation of the heart for prayer. To enter into the court of God we employ praise as indicated by King David. We engage our God in word or melodious “nsamerane” lifting Him up and having in mind that God inhabits the praise of His people. Let’s examine some Greek renderings of praise.

1. Shabach (pronounced shaw-bahk) which means to pacify with soothing words. This is done through adoration which also means reverential praise.

2. Allelouia (pronounced al-layloo-eeyah) which means to praise YHWH, I learnt this expression occurs only four times in the New Testament.

3. Halal (Haw-lal) which means to boast with words and singing

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, Psalm 95:1-7 This is where we tell God who He is to us. King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega, the chiefest among the emerald, most powerful, awesome, omnipotent, glorious God, Eternal God…etc Psalm 51:15b Open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise and vs 17, 19….The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise….Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then your heart is right and you can offer sacrifices of praise to God. Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – The fruits of lips that confess His name. (Hebrews 13:15) The sacrifices of praise are confessions, declarations, psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that we render to God for His grace and goodness. They may also be speeches or tributes that acknowledge and celebrate the name of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:22 "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon

and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."

This is one of the wonders of praise. Praises to God brings down His presence and makes Him to show His Almightiness. King Jehoshaphat and his people organized a choir according to God’s directive and they began to praise God even when the enemies were already very close to them. Three nations rose against them, yet they believe that by praise they will have victory because God said so.

The result was disastrous for the enemies. God did what He had never done before, He set an ambushment against them, and they began to destroy one another, until they all died. The people of Judah did not need to lift their swords, it was not necessary because God was in action. They only came to take the spoil and a great one too. This is a lesson for us all. What is the battle that is confronting you, they may not be three

nations that faced the land of Judah, but the truth is all enemies bow to the praise of God. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were confronted by the wall of Jericho, an impregnable wall that no known human manufactured machines then could pull down. And God told them to move round the wall once in a day for six days. On the seventh day, they moved round the wall seven times, and on the seventh, they shouted praise, and the wall came down (Joshua 6:20).

In the book of Acts 16 Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. They waited till midnight when their praises to God will be heard loud and clear, and they began to pray and sing praises to God. All of a sudden God responded by shaking the prison to its foundation, and removing all the chains in the hands of the prisoners. At the end they were set free (Acts 16:25-40).

The bible says we are created to bring pleasure to God. But only those who belong to God can touch Him by praise, because the sacrifice of a sinner is an abomination before God. All the people that brought down the presence of God through praise in the bible were people of God. If you want God to accept your praise, and to come down for your help, you must first do away with sin.

Give your life to Christ, and He will give you a new heart from which heavenly ordained praises can come (Acts 3:19) for God inhabits the praise of His people.

2. Confession- The Right Attitude IF MY PEOPLE, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and

turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Humility and Brokenness is the right attitude for prayer. If we walk in a spirit of pride, then God resists us when we approach Him in prayer. If we are broken and contrite before Him, He gives us more grace.

Success is based on the grace of God. We cannot do anything successful on our own merit, but by His divine grace we can do all things. What we need to be successful is more grace. How do we get more grace? We get it by being broken in humility before God. People only want to know how to be successful.

We must learn the secret of brokenness, which gives us more grace. It is that grace that grants us ultimate success.

Job was a man who learned this lesson. "I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder" (Job 16:12).

David, confessing his condition, having asked God's help and seeing His deliverance, said, "I am like a broken vessel" (Ps. 31:12).

The purpose of God is to break but not crush. If we break in an attitude of humility before God, we will not be crushed to pieces.

In Matthew, Jesus made clear the difference between being broken and being crushed.

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matthew 21:42-44 In understanding brokenness before God we must understand the nature of the simile. Christ is shown as the cornerstone of the spiritual temple, the church. The church in this context is more than the body of believers that was brought into being on the Day of Pentecost. In this context, the church is representative of God's people. At the time Jesus was speaking, as quoted in Matthew 21, God's people were being represented by the Jewish nation. Jesus Christ is listed as the most important part of the building in which every member is depicted as a stone. He is the cornerstone, or the stone that holds the entire building together.

God's desire was to have a spiritual building that could properly contain His glory. By rejecting the Messiah, Israel forfeited the right to be that spiritual building. Therefore, God is creating a new building in the church. Each of us is a living stone in the new spiritual temple. When we are taken from the world in salvation, we are stones that need to be shaped so that we can function according to the will of God. When building a stone building, the master builder spends a great deal of time shaping each stone to fit in its rightful place. If that stone is too hard to be fitted and refuses to be properly shaped, then that stone is of little value and is simply crushed to powder.

Jesus therefore could command, "Fall on the rock and be broken!" The breaking of God is not to annihilate us, but it is to shape us into a form that can be properly used for the purpose for which God originally chose us. If we resist the purpose of God, the result is crushing, or being good for nothing in God's eternal purpose.

Therefore, it is so important for us to walk in broken-ness before God. Yet, I must reiterate that this does not mean walking in failure or poor self-image. Remember that God chose us. We are important.

However, as we learn to move into the Holy Spirit's presence in prayer, the natural result will be a broken attitude that will allow Jesus Christ, the master builder, to complete His divine work in our lives. That is the essence of confession, acknowledging our sins and asking God in faith to forgive us and cleanse us by the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for us.

What a joy it is for us to know that God is shaping our lives to be used for His eternal purpose. What a peace we have knowing that all things are working toward this eternal end.

3. Thanksgiving – a heart of gratitude

4. Supplications – the invocation In Eph. 3:14-15 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on

earth derives its name.”

The first thing that strikes us is Paul's posture: "I bow my knees." The Bible nowhere commands any special posture for prayer. Abraham stood before the Lord when he prayed for Sodom (Gen 18:22), and Solomon stood when he prayed to dedicate the temple (1 Kings 8:22). David "sat before the Lord" (1 Chronicles 17:16) when he prayed about the future of his kingdom. And Jesus "fell on His face" when He prayed in Gethsemane (Matt 26:39).

As lost sinners, we were buried in the graveyard (Eph 2:1). But when we trusted God, He raised us from the dead and seated us with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:4-6). Because we are seated with Christ, we can walk so as to please Him (Eph 4:1,17; 5:2,8,15); and we can stand against the devil (Eph 6:10-13).

But the posture that links "sitting" with "walking" and "standing" is "bowing the knee." It is through prayer that we lay hold of God's riches that enables us to behave like Christians and battle like Christians.

Whether we actually bow our knees is not the important thing; but rather when we bow our hearts and wills to the Lord and ask Him for what we need is the vital matter.

Chapter 11 Watch your tongue - The tool for prayer How often have we said things that we knew we should not have said with our mouths? Everything within us is saying, “STOP, DON’T SAY IT!” Yet, it is too late, the mouth train has already left the station, and the next stop is called “personal satisfaction through the declaration of the tongue.” I cannot count how many times the Spirit of God tried to get me to restrain my tongue from saying something that I just felt I needed to get out. You see, He (the Holy Spirit) knew some things about the connection of my tongue, with the realization (manifestation) of what I had asked God for. I thought it was my right to say what I was feeling, when in essence it was a personal wrong to do so. There is something very serious regarding how we use our tongues that can set the course for blessings, cursing, lack, health, the Anointing, and more in our lives. Some things we ought to be saying more of, yet there are many many more things that we must stop saying with our tongues or mouths. The very words that we have spoken may have negated what God had intended to bless us with. The enemy bait’s the Christian to get us into conversations that will steal the Anointing that must flow through our tongues by means of declarations, and commands. In essence, the enemy sets up snares for us to step into with our words, with the purpose of stealing from us.

We are often snared by the words of our own mouth. Proverbs 6:2 says;

“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”

Everything is not okay to say. Every conversation is not meant for you to be in, even when people try to draw you in. Although people may introduce you to a conversation, it does not mean that it is your spiritual business. Now when I say spiritual business, I am talking about if the person or thing that you are speaking about is part of your spiritual responsibility, or under your spiritual authority.

If the children of God are going to live a victorious life, then we must be determined to get “A New Tongue.” No more saying what we want, when we want; rather saying what God would have us to say, when He desires for us to say it. Get this in your spirit, from this day forward your tongue shall be an instrument for victorious living in God. Issues of the Tongue.

To gain a true understanding of the scope of the things that the tongue can cause, We will look at around 6 key words that will allow us to see, if in fact we see ourselves in them, thus identifying a snare that the enemy has been using against us, to steal from us and stop our breakthrough. These words are: murmuring, complaining, gossiping, backbiting, evil speaking and outburst of wrath (speaking in anger).

The key issue with these words are when we do them against God (as well as anything that He has given, or instructed us to do), or others. a. Murmuring The Hebrew word for “murmur” is “luwn”, meaning to grumble, complain or murmur. The Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “murmur” as a quiet expression of an opinion or feeling. A half suppressed or muttered complaint, grumbling. Numbers 14:27 says;

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.”

When we grumble, or speak under our breath regarding anything or anyone it is murmuring. b. Complaining The Hebrew word for “complaining” is “anan”, meaning to complain, murmur, to be sad, sorrowful, to mourn, to groan, to complain with impiety (lack of respect for God). The Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “complain” as to say, or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc, or that you do not like something. It is also to say something that expresses annoyance or unhappiness. It is to express grief, pain, or discontent, as well as to make a formal accusation or charge. Numbers 11:1 says;

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” Murmuring, or complaining speaks of discontentment with what the Lord has given us, or with others. We cannot change anyone by complaining about them to others. Our ability to see change comes in prayer, that is to say the prayers of the righteous. Complaining moves you from righteousness.

c. Gossiping Another word for “gossiper” is a whisperer, or talebearer. The Hebrew word for “talebearer” is “rakiyl” (pronounced ra-kel), meaning slander, slanderer, talebearer or informer. Another Hebrew word for “talebearer” is “nirgan” (pronounced ner-gon), meaning to murmur, whisper, a chatterer. The Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “gossip” as information about the behavior and personal life of other people. A person who speaks about the private details of other peoples’ lives. A person who habitually reveals personal, or sensational facts about others. Proverbs 11:13 says;

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”

We should never be in everyone else’s business. Sometimes knowing too much unnecessary things about others, causes us to become commentators about their lives; rather than living our own. We must be careful with television, for there are so many reality shows that are built upon nothing but gossip. A good way to know that it is gossip is usually by the opening statement, such as, “Did you hear or Let me tell you something about them….” d. Backbiting The Hebrew word for “backbiting” is “cether” (pronounced sa-ther), meaning secrecy (of the tongue being slanderous). The Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “backbiting” as to say mean, or spiteful things about someone that is not present. Psalms 15:1-3 says;

“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”

No one likes to walk into a room and the people stop talking. That usually happens when they are the topic of conversation. If you would not like people to talk about you behind your back, then do not talk about anyone else behind their backs. e. Evil Speaking The Greek word for “evil speaking” is “blasphemia”, meaning slander, detraction (damaging someone’s reputation), injurious speech to another’s good name, or impious reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty. Ephesians 4:31 says; “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be

put away from you, with all malice:” We must never use our tongues to say anything evil, or blasphemous about God, or others. f. Outburst of Wrath (Anger) The Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “outburst” as a sudden expression of strong feeling, or violent expression of feeling (such as outburst of anger). Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines

“anger” as mad, ticked off, steamed up. Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “wrath” as strong vengeful anger, indignation or retributory punishment for an offence or crime, outrage. It is anger exhibited in punishment. Colossians 3:8 says;

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

Although what a person says might be true, how we say it still matters. The bible tells us to be angry but sin not. Outburst of wrath usually brings us into sin. Using our tongue against someone without love towards them, can often cause us to explode on someone with words as a way to punish them.

I want to be very clear about these words, those who do them, sin. Sin always steals from you. So many people get into so much mess, or trouble because of their tongues. Saying what they should not say. It happens in marriages, friendships, at work, in families, in public places. Speaking in situations that has nothing to do with you is wrong, and must not be the way of the Christian. Not only that, but speaking when God is telling you to be silent is just as bad, both are sin.

Don’t Yield Your Tongue To The Enemy.

Many people are ruled by their emotions. How they feel dictates what they say. These people are prime targets of the enemy of our souls, the devil. The enemy will bring about issues, and then use your emotions to get you to say things that you should not say, based on anger, fear, sadness, hurt, rejection, offence, etc…. Your tongue speaks what is on the inside. Ephesians 4:26-27 says;

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”

We must never let our emotions, or how we are feeling give the enemy an opportunity to use our mouths for our own demise (I will get to why it affects you a little later in the teaching). We must crucify our flesh, and allow the Word of God to wash the inside of us, until it is clean. That is to say, that we may not be reading enough of the Word of God, or we are not reading it with an open heart to receive from the Holy Spirit correction in regards to the things that apply to ourselves.

We must learn to bring our tongues under subjection to our spirit man or woman. If we are going to truly be who God has called us to be, it will require our tongues to be holy. Now there are many people, as well as leaders declaring that it does not take that much (holiness and the standard of righteousness), to walk in the things of God. Yet, they have no demonstration of the power of God that I am seeking. I know without question that the chastening of my tongue is key to power flowing through me, when I speak the Word of God. Your tongue can not be a dull instrument due to sin, it must be sharp because of righteousness.

Spiritual Leaks.

Our spirit man, or woman is like a balloon, in which we pour in the things of God, and when enough is in, it becomes explosive. Yet, the enemy is constantly tempting us in the areas of our flesh, and each time we

yield by saying, or doing what we should not be, then those spiritual things begin to leak out, always stopping us from having enough to see the dunamis power of God. Each time that you say what you should not be saying, you are not hurting the person you are talking about; rather you are hurting yourself. That’s why a lot of Christians don’t have effective prayer. Their instrument of prayer, their tongues are polluted, causing them not to reach Heaven. The enemy exploit’s the unrighteous tongue, causing loss, when it is trying to declare gain. We try to declare healing, yet the tongue because of gossip loses its power to do so.

We try to tell demons to leave, but they won’t because the same tongues that we use to try and cast them out with, we use to murder our brothers and sisters (character assassinations).

Now I do want to clarify something, and that is, there are some times that you can speak about people legally. Speaking in authority about someone for a purpose, and not just as a point of conversation is not considered bad. Because someone begins to talk with you about someone you both may know regarding something that’s obvious, does not mean that it is right to do so. That has no purpose, other than gossip, which is not of the Lord. You have the right to discuss what someone is doing with someone else, only when that person you are speaking about is under both of your supervision or authority, or what they are doing is affecting one or both, and they bring it to the other who is in a supervisory position over the person who is doing it. Otherwise you must take the situation that you may see, in prayer to the Lord.

Sometimes God allows you to see things for the purpose of praying to Him about it, and not talking to others about it. Keep your tongue in right standing and watch the power of God flow through you. We must refuse to speak evil. Job 27:3-4 says; “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my

nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.”

If you have been using your tongue in ways that God did not intend for you to use it, then today you must ask Him (the Living God) for a new tongue. A tongue that will say what He wants you to say, when He wants you to say it, and will refrain from murmuring, complaining, backbiting, gossiping, evil speaking, and outburst of wrath. Your tongue must be a sharp (through righteousness) instrument in the Master Surgeons (God) hands. Your tongue has been a snare to you receiving what God had intended to give you, as well as to the extent that God had desired to use you in power for His glory. Today will be like no other day in your life, you will get a new a tongue, causing your results to change as well.

The Test That Qualifies the Christian for Power.

There seem to be 3 tests that God’s children must pass, in order to access the power needed to fulfill the call on their lives. These tests are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. I John 2:1517 speaks of them, it reads;

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he

that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

Many who have been called to do great things for the Lord, have been limited in power, due to a failure of any one of these test. Jesus took these same tests in Luke 4:1-14 before He walked in the Power of the Holy Spirit, it reads;

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, if thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

In verse 1 of the above text of scripture, we see that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, when He went into the wilderness to be tempted (tested). Now remember, before this there were no miracles, healings or deliverance that Jesus did. In verse 14 we find that Jesus returned from the temptation, or testing in the power of the Spirit. Many are full of the Spirit of God, yet lack the power of God, due to a failure of one or more of the test. Regarding our tongues being tested, we are dealing with the lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh has to do with yielding to any sin that is lead by your flesh. Your flesh starts making demands regarding what it desires to do, even when the Spirit of God is trying to stop you. Galatians 5:16-17 says;

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Yielding to your flesh stops you from walking in the power of the Spirit of God. The lust of the eye is yielding to any sin through first being tempted visually. The pride of life is any sin that a person yields to due to pride or presumption regarding who they believe they are, their status and what they should have (privilege). Certain acts of the flesh will hinder the power you need to walk in the Spirit.

There is a direct connection between your tongue (flesh), and the demonstration of God’s power.

I Corinthians 2:4-5 says; “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's

wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” “The condition of the instrument (your tongue) that you use can dictate the results that follow. Mark 16:20 says;

“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

Your tongue must pass the lust of the flesh test for it to be used in power. Your tongue must be a righteous instrument. Your tongue has a direct connection to you walking in the power of God. This means we should watch our words. Jesus says what defiles us is not what we take in but what we bring out (words).

Idle words have a way of defiling us and hence we need to seek God in prayer asking us to direct our speech unto edification.

Chapter 12 The Effectual Fervent Prayer As believers we have to handle ourselves with a strong discipline to make time for effectual fervent prayer.

This is because our natural tendency is to shrink back when it comes to praying for the impossible. The problem is that we rest the power of prayer too much upon ourselves. We think that we are the ones making things happen in prayer. Instead we are to see ourselves as instruments in the Lord’s hands for accomplishing his purposes through prayer. Prayer is an act of obedience and privilege for the believer. We are commanded to pray. But we are also invited to bring our needs before the Lord. We are to anchor ourselves in His faithfulness and promises. We are to see that the very fact that God commands us to pray is a foundation for effectiveness in our prayer. We hesitate to pray, thinking that it will do no good, but James calls our attention once again to the means God has established for doing his work among us— prayer. Do you believe this? We are so accustomed to neglecting prayer that it is hard for us to think of its power through God among us.

The Power of the Fervent Prayer Peter was in prison awaiting his execution. The Church had neither human power nor influence to save him. There was no earthly help, but there was help to be obtained by the way of Heaven. They gave themselves to fervent, importunate prayer. God sent His angel, who aroused Peter from sleep and led him out through the wards of the prison; and when they came to the iron-gate, it opened to them of its own accord, and Peter was free.

‘Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers and poisons, marshaled the stars against the wicked, stopped the course of

the moon, arrested the sun in its rapid race, burst open iron gates, released souls from eternity, conquered the strongest devils, commanded legions of angels down from heaven. Prayer has bridled and chained the raging passions of man and routed and destroyed vast armies of proud, daring, blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea and carried another in a chariot of fire to heaven. What has prayer not done?’

What Is It That Makes Our Prayer Effectual (Or Effective)?

Fervent prayer is putting your whole self and all of your attention, your mind, your will, and your emotions on that thing you’re praying about according to God’s word. That means your mind is focused on prayer instead of drifting off on other things. Fervent prayer will make a difference in the lives of people, but we must understand that it takes an effort and a sacrifice of our time.

In Matthew15:22-28, the Canaanite woman would not take no for an answer. She asked for her daughter’s healing, and three times she was rejected. But she wouldn’t give up. She understood the heart and character of the Lord Jesus. She not only received the healing of her daughter, but was commended by Jesus: "Woman, you have great FAITH!" James gives us Elijah as the example of effective prayer in action. What gave Elijah the boldness to pray that the rain would stop, and then, at his word, start again? (1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45). Elijah’s prayer was BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD! All of Israel had turned away from the Lord to worship Baal, the idol-god of a cruel heathen religion. Up stands one solitary man, totally unknown, and boldly proclaims to the king that "there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word!’’ But his authority was based on a promise and warning found in Deuteronomy 11:13-17: Daniel also discovered the Secret In Daniel 9:3-19. Daniel poured out his heart in prayer before God that his people, who had been taken out of their homeland and held as captives in Babylon, would return to their land. The basis of his prayer can be seen in verse 2:

"I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years’’.

The Lord had spoken right at the time when Judah had gone into captivity that they would be in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Daniel, reading the Scriptures one day, came across that promise and realized that the 70-year period was almost completed. However, he didn’t just sit back and wait for God to do it. Daniel began to PRAY that what God had promised would be fulfilled. The Lord has chosen to give us the privilege and responsibility of being involved with Him in His purposes on earth. Daniel lived to see his people return!

Effectual prayer, then, is prayer that is based on God’s Word. When we know the promises that He has given, and understand His character and the principles by which He works as revealed in His Word, we can pray with confidence and authority, knowing that our prayers will be answered.

One of the reasons why many of us Christians do not spend much time in prayer is that we feel that we are inadequate in our praying, or that our prayers are not effective. In other words, we feel or question in ourselves, “who am I that Almighty God will hear my prayer?” But the truth of the matter is that the word of God ASSURES us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man AVAILS MUCH. So let us begin this study in God's word by reading James 5:16-18, which tells us about one of the effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man named Elijah.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the Earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the Earth brought forth her fruit.” Now you may be thinking, “Well, that was the great prophet Elijah who prayed and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years.

There is no way that my prayers would ever be heard and answered like the Prophet Elijah's prayers.”

But wait a minute, did you not also read in this very same verse of Scripture that Elijah was a man subject to the same passions as we are? In other words, Elijah was a mere man JUST LIKE you and I. Sometimes when we read these great miraculous accounts in the Bible we tend to lift up and exalt the man by whose hand these miracles were brought forth forgetting that he was just a man like you and I, who was being used by Almighty God. You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, it was not the man who was or is doing the miracle, but rather it was and is the anointing power of Almighty God flowing through the man or woman, who yields himself or herself to be used by God. Therefore brothers and sisters I encourage you today to ARISE UNTO PRAYER. We have heard about prayer been taught about prayer but we have just not prayed. May the Lord Jesus grant you grace to arise unto prayer, touching the lives of many through the ministry of prayer. God bless you for reading this.

Chapter 13 Building your prayer life Sometimes we find our closet prayer life to be boring and hard to do but the simple remedy is to thrill your heart to love the exalted glory of our God! The more you grow to love the exalted state of God the less it will require discipline to remain in the throne room before the Lord. The love of God will keep you there.

You will find it easier to stay before the Lord because standing in His radiant presence will have become your treasure.

The principle is simple; "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Mat. 6:21). Don't try to

grow in your discipline about "abiding" and drinking continually. Grow in your love and discipline will come naturally. It will also be more fun because it won't even feel like discipline.

Increase your love for God by "hearing" your own praise concerning the truth about the radiant-glory of His love, kindness, and power that shine from Him. In this way you will be applying the scriptures to "ascribe glory to the Lord." (Psa. 29:1). In this way, you will become more aware of His presence without having to depend on pure discipline. Your affections will pull you toward the Lord.

Remember that glory is the stuff we love in the natural realm. We love the glory of winning in sports, the glory of a new phone, the glory of beauty, the glory of having a close friend.

We love these things because God made us need something that would make us feel secure and confident.

It is by God's design that our love of glory in an earthly sense fits perfectly with the fact that God wants to be a God who is our refuge, our glory, and our strength.

Observe your level of delight in the glory of natural things and reapply an even greater level of delight as you thank the Lord about His greater glory. Direct your heart to love depending on God because anything else is idolatry.

What to Do When Your Heart Doesn't Feel Like giving Thanks and Praise to God When you don't feel in your heart like thanking God with joy, remember that in your mind you know that the greatness of our God is worthy of elated praise. It is not being dishonest to thank God with great joy if your tone of voice is reflecting what you know in your mind to be true about God! Even though your heart may not be in it at first, listen to your praise. Soon, your heart will hear. You will believe. Your love for God and His closeness to you will grow.

But let me emphasize again that you don’t think of what is coming from the Lord as just "radiance" or light.

God is shining the person of the Holy Spirit onto you. All the attributes of God are being radiated upon you in the person of the Holy Spirit.

When you make it your habit to continually increase your love for the Lord then drawing near to God and remembering to stay before Him will become much easier for you. Use your God-given human love of glory to your advantage. Thrill your heart about the glory of your access to God, His abundant grace to draw near to you, and about the greater glory in all of His attributes. The more you love being before the Lord and the more you love the radiance around God, the more you will be free to receive His presence.

Bibliography 1. Understanding the purpose and power of prayer, Myles Munroe 2. How to pray effectively, Pastor Chris Oyakilomey

3. Rules of engagement, Cindy Trimm 4. Prayer that Brings Revival by Paul Yonggi Cho 5. Taking Control of Your Thoughts by Billy Daugherty 6. Unleashing the Power of Praying in the Spirit by Oral Roberts 7. Spiritual warfare by Besnard Phillipe 8. Spiritual warfare by Chris Ojigbani 9. Attitude is everything by Jeff Keller 10. Maturity class manual by Campus evangelism of IHCF-KNUST 11. Entering the presence of God by Prince Derek Prince 12. Deliverance to Captives by Smith Wigglseworth