(Note: Be sure to check out the video documentary: Transformation: When God Comes To Town, after this message down at the bottom of this post. And you’ll be blessed that you did)
Prayer is a communication line between us (the Children of God) to God our Father Himself. And is one of His conduits to communicate with His children. The reason why I say that is because in our last study, we dealt with the many ways God our Father communicates with His children. Prayer is just one of many. If God is Omniscient, then why is it important to pray to God when He knows all things? He still wants us to take time out alone, to talk to Him and being in His presence. He want’s us to ask Him for all our needs and godly desires of your heart:
Matthew 7:7-12 Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
He wants us to seek Him: Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (the simple necessities of life). But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (not only all that the Lord Jesus mentioned in Matthew 6:25-34, but also all the blessing’s of the Holy Bible) shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
And to cast all our cares, stress and frustrations upon the Lord, 1 Peter 5:5-7 God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves (another words to pray) under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
This study is not designed to teach how to pray. But to only give basic revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit of God, of why prayer is important in our lives in Jesus Christ. What prayer is and what it is not, while the Holy Spirit ministers to each and every one of us on a personal level, what God says and teaches by His Word, as we learn to put this revelation knowledge into practice. This study also to promote a more deeper intimate relationship with God, while focusing on what we believe about prayer and why we believe it.
Prayer Changes Lives
Why is prayer so important in our lives? It’s life changing. When we pray: interceding (petitioning to the Father on behalf of another person), What ever the need or Biblical desired outcome be, God does what we have asked for according to His Word and perfect will, therefore it changes lives. And in fact, God supersedes our expectation. He does well beyond what we could asked Him for.
John 14:13-14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
And that’s the point of why God our Father answers prayer, and that is to glorify Himself. Sure He loves us and in this equation, that is the only thing that is about us. But according to the Lord Jesus His Son, God will do what we ask so He can glorify Himself. All things is truly about Him.
Example: 15 years ago when my parents moved to Wisconsin where my Dad was born and raised, I stayed behind in Oregon after I graduated High School. I would call my parents to chat a bit. And my mom would end our conversation with, “you need to get baptized.” Which was her way of saying, ‘get saved and get water baptized.’ without her realizing what all this really meant. This would upset me every time she pulled that phrase out of the blue. It upset me enough to stop calling for a while.
I stopped calling them deliberately at first, but then ended up truly living a nomadic life where I had no means to call (this was before the days of cell phones back in 1995-1996). Moving from one apartment to another every couple of months. From an apartment in McMinnville, moved to Salem with a buddy of mine from High School who was going to Willamette University at the time. After 2 months of that he move back into a dorm. I had to move back to McMinnville to live in a tent at Joe Dancer Park while working at Linfield college and the story goes on and on.
In mid July of 2001, I met the Lord Jesus. Had a powerful upper room experience that changed my life forever and was baptized in the Holy Spirit at a farm house in the middle nowhere on Webfoot Rd in Dayton Oregon at the May Pulvey house. By August I seriously felt the need with urgency to get baptized after reading about the baptism of Jesus Christ in Matthew 3:13-17. That Scripture convicted me and bugged me for week until I told a co-worker of mine about it and asked him if his Pastor baptizes. By the end of August I was baptized at the Amity Baptist Church in Amity Oregon and attended church there under Pastor Allen Swanborough. At the end of December of that same year, I moved to New Mexico to serve the Lord and was Baptized 2 more times as I felt a serious need to so, down in Pillar New Mexico.
The point is, my Mom had prayed for 5 years for my salvation in Jesus Christ and be baptized. But God superseded all that. I have a real relationship with Abba God through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the baptism of God’s Holy Spirit and water baptized 3 times. He called me to ministry and whatever else happens in the future, only the Lord knows. God does Not exceed our expectations. He supersede all we could ask for.
Or another example; laying hands on the sick, a cripple, the blind and all people with all kinds of infirmities and diseases known to man. And God heals that individual, delivers and set them free, therefore it changes lives.
John 14:12-14 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Not greater work as in better miracles, but greater in number. For no one is greater than the Master Lord Jesus. Jesus’ ministry was only for 3 years on earth before His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Another words he had a short amount of time than we do. So we will do greater works in numbers than he did.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Also as promised in Jesus’ command known as the “Great Commission,” Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
But our prime example is found in, Acts 3:1-10 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame (or crippled) from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
And as you read on in the rest of Chapter 3 and 4, you will see clearly that prayer of all types changes lives! Laying on of the hands is intercession prayer. (We will get deeper into this, in the next segment of this study). All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed as Jesus Christ taught,
Matthew 17:14-21 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, (which is one of the smallest seeds known to man all over the world) you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
Prayer Keeps Us Strong Against Temptations
Jesus taught right before He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane, the key to guarding yourself from temptations,
Matthew 26:40-41 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He said to “Watch” meaning: ‘to stay alert!’ ‘Stand guard!’ Be ready for the temptations of the devil in various forms and of the desires of the flesh. And Recognize as it happens that it is sin and run away from it. And prayer helps you stay in communion with God while being alert and standing guard of your walk in Christ.
Psalm 34:4-7 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer Brings Revival
Revival is a supernatural event God brings forth that changes an individual or a church, a community or the Body of Christ as a whole. And it all starts with prayer because prayer is the key ingredient for true revival. Both in the prayer closet and praying corporately. Revival: ‘A bringing or a coming back to use, being etc. restoration to vigor or activity’ (according the Webster’s New World Dictionary).
In Mid June of 2001 before I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, I had a powerful experience with the Holy Spirit. In those days, I was cleaning the Michaelbook House on the campus of Linfield College. It was about 12:45 am when I was vacuuming. And the atmosphere was really heavy with sorrow (the best way I can describe it). I turned off the vacuum and sat down in a nearby office chair, weak at the knees and I started crying, weeping and sobbing deeply out of the blue like I’ve never cried before.
And then I heard the voice of the Lord telling me thing to tell brother Larry. And after that, all I could do was praise the name of Jesus. And I knew from that night, Jesus Christ is The Son of God, strangely to say at that time since I was a sinning Heathen. And I had no problem in believing that with all my heart. I understand it now, the Holy Spirit was testifying to my heart and mind who Jesus is. And that is the workings of the Holy Spirit according to John 16:12-15. And then I met the Lord Jesus Christ officially in Mid July of 2001, the night I got right with God The Father and you know the rest of the story.
Now the point is, this personal illumination/invitation/salvation/revival would not have happened, if there wasn’t someone praying for it. I know who were praying as the Holy Spirit revealed to me later on. My Grandma and Grandpa Hosbach, their Church, my parents and some of my acutance’s I know about in High School interceding for my soul. And God saw the perfect opportune time to come and answer their prayers after 6 years. And God is still answering their prayers today.
Worship And Prayer Calls Down The Presence of The Lord
Encouragement comes from times of refreshing by the Holy Spirit, by the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His Word and prayer. Which results in fire of The Holy Spirit and strength, both in your prayer closet praying as well as cooperate praying in Church. We need the spiritual meat and potatoes of Gods Holy Word, which is the conviction of sin. What sin does in a child of God’s life and learning how to live and walk in Jesus Christ and applying those principles learned. We also need the vegetables ( rebuke, correction, chastisement and discipline), but we also need the desert that we are all guilty of pushing away. And that desert is the refreshing times from the presence of the Lord.
This world can bog us down spiritually if we don’t have this spiritual balanced meal daily. This is one of the reasons why prayer and His Word goes hand in hand. It is a relationship that should not be broken if you want to be affective on earth for the kingdom of God.
John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.“
We worship God through the leading of the Holy Spirit (Spirit) opposite of fleshy; worldly ways and according to His Word (truth). Prayer calls down the glory of God and prayer is 1 part of worship, an Extremely important part of worship. Worship calls down the presence of the Lord. This is why Jesus Christ taught how to pray, and it begins with worship. Worship and prayer do go hand-in hand also
Matthew 6:9-10 Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Thus worship and prayer calls down the presence of Lord Jesus and His presence renews our strength. The Word of God continually changes live as we continue to read, study and hear His Word through the workings of His Holy Spirit. His Word and His Holy Spirit operates together and cannot be separated. But also the physical presence of the Lord Jesus changes lives. His presence humbles the utmost hard hearted man and melts the hearts of stone like wax and makes the mightiest of men groan and weep like infants in travail.
His Presence makes the flesh tremble! Causes the quiet to shout in glorious praise! Causes the dignified act like little children! His Presence will make you bow the knee in reverence before Him. His presence renews and makes alive the inner spirit and can make all things fresh and anew like rain in a parched desert land. And His presence sets the captives free with overwhelming joy in our hearts. I can’t begin to explain why. You can intellectualize and analyze His Word. But you cannot intellectualize and analyze the experience of Jesus Christ’s presence. Because He Himself is meant to be experienced!
Psalm 34:8-10 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
He loves to visit His children. He longs to visit each and every one of His children in a personal, real and tangible way to those who wants to be in His literal presence,
Revelation 3:19-20 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
When we leave Him or do wrong, He corrects us because He loves us. And even though we do not sense Him always, He is always waiting for us to invite Him in whether we hear Him or not. And He only comes to those who opens that door of the heart. He never forces His way in. And when each and everyone of us do, I guarantee you, you will never be the same when you truly experience His presence, experiencing Him.
Truly He inhabits our praises and loves to be adored and sought after in true worship. His presence also strengthens us because He becomes ever increasingly evident and real, not just a belief. His presence reminds us that all we do for Him and all the things we go through in life is not in vain. His presence makes real the promise of Heaven. He lifts up our strength.
James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
If you want to experience the presence of Lord Jesus right now, then take this time out to invite Him in to dine with you, especially those who want to get right with Him. And start praising and adoring God, for He longs to be with you in His personal, special way, Amen. O taste and see how good the Lord is. God bless you, your family and your friends.
Hope For A Hopeless Generation 