How Prayer
Works!
Day
Seven: Daniel Fast 2013
Beloved
of God,
There was only one thing the disciples
asked Jesus to teach them. It was how to pray. Because they made the
connection between Jesus' lifestyle of prayer and his ability to
advance God's kingdom on earth, they were eager to learn worship and
intercession from their rabbi (teacher). Would you like to know how
prayer works? Learning to pray is essential in light of God's promise,
"Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have
faith." Matt. 21:22
Here are key
Biblical concepts we need to grasp:
1. In Genesis 1:26-27, God said "let them rule". God
delegated a portion of His authority to humanity and therefore
"bound Himself" to our faith and actions. He will not move on
earth unless we ask Him to do so!
2. Christ's shed blood and death on the cross, His resurrection,
ascension, and return to earth in the form of the Holy Spirit, and His
infiltration of the human heart, enables us to be "sons of
God" who can once again bring the kingdom of God onto the earth
underneath Christ's kingly rule. As sons of God, born again and
baptized by the Holy Spirit, we have been delegated the authority to
take back planet earth. The first and most important way we do this is
through worship and prayer.
3. We come to our Father, through the powerful name of Jesus Christ,
and we ask God for what has already been purchased by Christ through
His death. In other words, all the mercy and grace of God, all the good
things in heaven are already available! All we have to do is ask in
faith for those things which are God's will, and we will receive them
in due time. We do not have to rant and rave, scream and shout, or
repeat ourselves over and over again. We have a merciful, good, and
loving Father who has already provided the Way for His answers through
Jesus Christ.
4. Prayer is really a "legal" request made to a sovereign
King, by sons of the King, asking for the King to release His kingdom
on earth. See Matt. 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13
5. The Greek word for "church" in the New Testament is
"ecclesia". The "ecclesia" is defined as a ruling
legislative governmental entity that has authority to determine what
does or doesn't happen in its jurisdiction. When two or more members of
the "ecclesia" agree in prayer on what God wants to do in
their city or region, take their official request to the King through
Jesus Christ, then the King is "free" to grant their
petition. This is why corporate prayer, in unity with other members of
the body of Christ, is so effectual.
The number one "job description" of a disciple of Christ is
worship and prayer. Prayer "releases" or "permits"
God to move on earth through the Holy Spirit. Praise and prayer are to
be the lifestyle of Christ's followers. It is to occur as naturally as
breathing, ongoing and without ceasing. Prayer flows from an intimate
relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. See Ro. 8:26;
Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17; 2 Thess. 1:11
For Christ and the Kingdom,
Tim Johns
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