Post by Les Brewer on Mar 24, 2020 18:23:26 GMT
BIBLICAL PRAYER
(14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
(15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 KJV
God uses the tabulations of time to answer our prayers; we are certainly impatient people when we petition God in expectation of immediate results. However; God never forsakes his own character; he is deliberate and judicious; never impulsive as humans are. The benefit of answered prayer has its most value when it comes in due season. For the recipient delay is an exercise in spiritual discipline and becomes more profitable than the immediate bliss of the fruition of an answered prayer.
When we pray it is an act of confidence in God; we pray in faith! Faith is based in our knowledge of God; it is active, intelligent, and principled not mere human opinion or conjecture. Faith embraces the divine purpose coupled with the integrity of God in who all truth dwells. Faith understands the necessity to pray according to God’s will and not to indulge our flesh. Faith understands God’s concern for the growth of the spiritual man in connection to heavenly supply. We have faith because we have eternal life.
(13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13 KJV
James tells us in chapter 4 verse 3 about unanswered prayer being the results of wrong motives:
(3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3 KJV
God is a loving Father who knows what we have need of before we even ask; yet he desires for us to ask. He hears the prayer that asks according to his will and his purpose in our lives. He gave us a name to pray in; the name of the Son of God whose name is Jesus! However; to the contrary God is not a “Yes Man” or a Jeanie in a bottle. When we generalize prayer to the point of believing anything we ask he will supply this is a farce. God does not and will not supply something in our lives which is in conflict to his perfect will for our lives. This is the fact of our faith; God hears the prayer which is according to his will.
Many make demands on God which are not supported by biblical faith. One cannot take an authority which is not theirs to take; one cannot declare or decree something that conflicts with God’s will. I cannot supposed to know God’s perfect will for an individual in every detail and decree a demand that may conflict with the dynamics of how God is going to bring about his plan for that individual. I can pray for God’s will to be done and pray for understanding to pray according to God’s will; but I cannot make demands based upon a false premise. Prayer is a petition or an intercession or mutual communication; prayer is never a demand! Why? He is God and I am the creation!
I can pray for insight concerning my situation or for someone’s situation; but I can never take the initiative to demand or decree what is to happen. Let me inject this at this point; one can prophesy by the unction of the Lord or be given a word of knowledge; yet these are revelation gifts which communicate the mind of God concerning his will for an individual or a group or even a nation. These gifts are a declaration of God’s will and not the manufactured ideals or will of man.
I did a word search on the word declare and also decree; I seen nowhere in scriptures where believers were to declare and decree. I did however see many scriptures which spoke to the declarations to exalt God and decrees that Kings made concerning laws in the land or concerning God’s people. The express meanings were to glorify God or to set up laws. Not to declare by one’s own authority camouflaged as God’s authority. When something is decreed it should happen after the declaration of the decree. A decree is an order having the force of law; not the force of faith. One cannot demand what God did not command!
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
Brethren, unless God has endowed you with a spiritual revelation gift; I would advise that you would not declare and decree things which you do not have the power to perform. Also again; prayer is about petition and intercession and mutual communication to and with God; not decrees and declarations. To assume a position of deity is a form of pride and haughtiness which brings with it judgement. Whether it be in this present life or the judgement to come! Christians are authorized to preach, prophesy, and witness.
Christians do have an allotted amount of delegated authority which is biblically sound doctrinally. First and foremost we are all under the authority of God and the dictates of that authority. Authority is in fact delegated power; but the degree of power is based upon the one who delegates the power. Authority is given for the primary reason of the furtherance of the gospel and the edification of the body of Christ.
(7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
(8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:7-8 & 11-13 KJV
Everyone is given grace according the measure of the gift or the call of God. God’s grace determines our function within the body of Christ. The anointing of God which accompanies the gift of God is given for edification and not destruction. One way to use an anointed office of God is to pray in the authority of that office. Prayer is also spiritual warfare which destroys the works of the adversary.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 KJV
Prayer can bring us a revelation to pull down strongholds and dispel them when we teach or preach truth that exposes them for lies they are. Culture is overwhelmingly carnal and in conflict with the knowledge of God. Engrained in culture are superstitions which are based in paganism which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. These beliefs influence the mind and develop strongholds because they are accepted as truth. The false premise; which includes some of the facets of political science, evolution, false concepts in psychology, and even social acceptance of perversions; etc. are influential and strongholds that infiltrate the Church. We must be diligent in prayer to be able to discern when a subtle concept of deception comes to destroy our faith and then pray in faith to pull that deception down!
Strongholds according to the text are wrong thoughts and perceptions, contradicting the true knowledge of God, the word of God, and the nature of God.
Prayer is also for our edification as well; in Jude we are exhorted to pray in the Holy Ghost.
(20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21 KJV
The Holy Spirit helps us to pray by giving us the right words to say when we pray.
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 KJV
Praying in the Holy Ghost also includes praying in tongues; when the Holy Spirit does it through the gift of tongues, a gift God gives to seeking hearts, which want to communicate with Him on a deeper level.
(2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
(3) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(4) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4 KJV
Brethren; we see that prayer is multi-faceted. Biblical prayer is personal and yet public. Prayer is not prophecy, a word of knowledge, or a word of wisdom. Prayer is petition, intercession, and communication with God. Biblical prayer never overestimates our authority given to us through Christ; only Christ was given all authority and he delegated the authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons in his Name. There is no Christian on earth who has all authority! As I read accounts of the actions of the Apostles I have never seen one account where they superseded their delegated authority and each time a prayer was offered in connection to healing or casting out a demon it was done in the Name of Jesus! Brethren let’s not confuse prayer with preaching which is a declaration of the gospel with it doctrines for edification, comfort, and exhortation to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Before we close let me address another facet of prayer; the prayer of agreement.
(19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
(20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:19-20 KJV
The scriptural passage of Matthew 18:15-18 leading up to these two verses concluded with the granting of binding resolutions and ordinances concerning the unrepentant sinner when confronted and ultimately excommunicated from the assembly and the loosing of any responsible upon the person and assembly for the judgement and act of that excommunicated. Both the resolution and action were established in Heaven as it was done on earth. Righteousness prevailed and the person and the assembly are justified in the sight of God. Now let us come to the privilege of the prayer of agreement.
When as few as two gather in the Name of Jesus there is power in agreement. One of the perks of salvation is the when spirit-filled Christians who live in the character of Christ come together in his Name he promises to be present. Those that gather in his Name realize his authority and a mediator and as the ultimate intercessor who resides at the right hand of God. Remember the Day of Pentecost in the upper room; all the disciples were in one mind and in one accord. They were in one hundred percent total agreement as they waited upon the promise in prayer. One hundred and twenty people persisted in prayer for ten days to usher in the Holy Ghost baptism. Jesus said; “if two or three are gathered in my name” and “agree on earth as touching anything” “it shall be done”. Let us remember again that it must be in accordance with God’s will! Yet the power of agreement is powerful when we utilize it to pray. Brethren I have seen miracles performed when in agreement with others in prayer. I have also seen God heal sick and diseased bodies as I laid my hands upon them; and I have cast out devils through the prayer of faith! I’ve have seen situations turn around as I’ve prayed by myself and in agreement with others.
Petitionary and intercessory prayer are a resource God has given us; when we ask in accordance to his will and for the purpose of the kingdom and bringing glory to God! We can pray in agreement with as few as two or as many who want to join; the more the more effective. Let us remember that God is a prayer answering God.
(13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
(15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
(16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:13-16 KJV
This passage clearly speaks to private and public prayer. The public arena is the church in which the elders; people who are deemed qualified by their service and character are called to pray for the sick. The prayer is called the prayer of faith and the sick person is anointed with oil as a representation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Also in the text we can see clearly that confession of sin is a gateway to healing whether it is emotional or physical. When the content of the character of Christ is within the members of an assembly confession can be made with confidence and prayer can be offered for healing. Secret sin wants to isolate a person in order to strengthen itself in that person’s life. When we assemble ourselves with the saints and confess that sin; it takes away the power that secrecy gave it and opens the door for spiritual renewal. Then James reveals the power of the prayer of faith concerning its effectiveness being based in the fervency of and the character of the person who prays. Where there is no zeal there is no appeal; where there is no fire to fortify faith; there won’t be any potential to see prevailing prayer. It must be heartfelt, confident, and sure! Prayer must rely completely upon our faith in the object of our faith; Jesus Christ to accomplish the task of the petition. Fervent prayer is influential prayer; it is intensely full of spiritual energy and vitality to move God. Effectual fervent prayer; appeals to the heart of God. Ask: orderly, earnestly, and repeatedly in faith in the name of Jesus! With perseverance, diligence, and in compliance!
Brethren keep the faith and the faith will keep you! Selah
Shalom, Agape, and Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
(14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
(15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 KJV
God uses the tabulations of time to answer our prayers; we are certainly impatient people when we petition God in expectation of immediate results. However; God never forsakes his own character; he is deliberate and judicious; never impulsive as humans are. The benefit of answered prayer has its most value when it comes in due season. For the recipient delay is an exercise in spiritual discipline and becomes more profitable than the immediate bliss of the fruition of an answered prayer.
When we pray it is an act of confidence in God; we pray in faith! Faith is based in our knowledge of God; it is active, intelligent, and principled not mere human opinion or conjecture. Faith embraces the divine purpose coupled with the integrity of God in who all truth dwells. Faith understands the necessity to pray according to God’s will and not to indulge our flesh. Faith understands God’s concern for the growth of the spiritual man in connection to heavenly supply. We have faith because we have eternal life.
(13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13 KJV
James tells us in chapter 4 verse 3 about unanswered prayer being the results of wrong motives:
(3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3 KJV
God is a loving Father who knows what we have need of before we even ask; yet he desires for us to ask. He hears the prayer that asks according to his will and his purpose in our lives. He gave us a name to pray in; the name of the Son of God whose name is Jesus! However; to the contrary God is not a “Yes Man” or a Jeanie in a bottle. When we generalize prayer to the point of believing anything we ask he will supply this is a farce. God does not and will not supply something in our lives which is in conflict to his perfect will for our lives. This is the fact of our faith; God hears the prayer which is according to his will.
Many make demands on God which are not supported by biblical faith. One cannot take an authority which is not theirs to take; one cannot declare or decree something that conflicts with God’s will. I cannot supposed to know God’s perfect will for an individual in every detail and decree a demand that may conflict with the dynamics of how God is going to bring about his plan for that individual. I can pray for God’s will to be done and pray for understanding to pray according to God’s will; but I cannot make demands based upon a false premise. Prayer is a petition or an intercession or mutual communication; prayer is never a demand! Why? He is God and I am the creation!
I can pray for insight concerning my situation or for someone’s situation; but I can never take the initiative to demand or decree what is to happen. Let me inject this at this point; one can prophesy by the unction of the Lord or be given a word of knowledge; yet these are revelation gifts which communicate the mind of God concerning his will for an individual or a group or even a nation. These gifts are a declaration of God’s will and not the manufactured ideals or will of man.
I did a word search on the word declare and also decree; I seen nowhere in scriptures where believers were to declare and decree. I did however see many scriptures which spoke to the declarations to exalt God and decrees that Kings made concerning laws in the land or concerning God’s people. The express meanings were to glorify God or to set up laws. Not to declare by one’s own authority camouflaged as God’s authority. When something is decreed it should happen after the declaration of the decree. A decree is an order having the force of law; not the force of faith. One cannot demand what God did not command!
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
Brethren, unless God has endowed you with a spiritual revelation gift; I would advise that you would not declare and decree things which you do not have the power to perform. Also again; prayer is about petition and intercession and mutual communication to and with God; not decrees and declarations. To assume a position of deity is a form of pride and haughtiness which brings with it judgement. Whether it be in this present life or the judgement to come! Christians are authorized to preach, prophesy, and witness.
Christians do have an allotted amount of delegated authority which is biblically sound doctrinally. First and foremost we are all under the authority of God and the dictates of that authority. Authority is in fact delegated power; but the degree of power is based upon the one who delegates the power. Authority is given for the primary reason of the furtherance of the gospel and the edification of the body of Christ.
(7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
(8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:7-8 & 11-13 KJV
Everyone is given grace according the measure of the gift or the call of God. God’s grace determines our function within the body of Christ. The anointing of God which accompanies the gift of God is given for edification and not destruction. One way to use an anointed office of God is to pray in the authority of that office. Prayer is also spiritual warfare which destroys the works of the adversary.
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
(5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
(6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 KJV
Prayer can bring us a revelation to pull down strongholds and dispel them when we teach or preach truth that exposes them for lies they are. Culture is overwhelmingly carnal and in conflict with the knowledge of God. Engrained in culture are superstitions which are based in paganism which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. These beliefs influence the mind and develop strongholds because they are accepted as truth. The false premise; which includes some of the facets of political science, evolution, false concepts in psychology, and even social acceptance of perversions; etc. are influential and strongholds that infiltrate the Church. We must be diligent in prayer to be able to discern when a subtle concept of deception comes to destroy our faith and then pray in faith to pull that deception down!
Strongholds according to the text are wrong thoughts and perceptions, contradicting the true knowledge of God, the word of God, and the nature of God.
Prayer is also for our edification as well; in Jude we are exhorted to pray in the Holy Ghost.
(20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21 KJV
The Holy Spirit helps us to pray by giving us the right words to say when we pray.
(26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 KJV
Praying in the Holy Ghost also includes praying in tongues; when the Holy Spirit does it through the gift of tongues, a gift God gives to seeking hearts, which want to communicate with Him on a deeper level.
(2) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
(3) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(4) He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1 Corinthians 14:2-4 KJV
Brethren; we see that prayer is multi-faceted. Biblical prayer is personal and yet public. Prayer is not prophecy, a word of knowledge, or a word of wisdom. Prayer is petition, intercession, and communication with God. Biblical prayer never overestimates our authority given to us through Christ; only Christ was given all authority and he delegated the authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons in his Name. There is no Christian on earth who has all authority! As I read accounts of the actions of the Apostles I have never seen one account where they superseded their delegated authority and each time a prayer was offered in connection to healing or casting out a demon it was done in the Name of Jesus! Brethren let’s not confuse prayer with preaching which is a declaration of the gospel with it doctrines for edification, comfort, and exhortation to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Before we close let me address another facet of prayer; the prayer of agreement.
(19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
(20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:19-20 KJV
The scriptural passage of Matthew 18:15-18 leading up to these two verses concluded with the granting of binding resolutions and ordinances concerning the unrepentant sinner when confronted and ultimately excommunicated from the assembly and the loosing of any responsible upon the person and assembly for the judgement and act of that excommunicated. Both the resolution and action were established in Heaven as it was done on earth. Righteousness prevailed and the person and the assembly are justified in the sight of God. Now let us come to the privilege of the prayer of agreement.
When as few as two gather in the Name of Jesus there is power in agreement. One of the perks of salvation is the when spirit-filled Christians who live in the character of Christ come together in his Name he promises to be present. Those that gather in his Name realize his authority and a mediator and as the ultimate intercessor who resides at the right hand of God. Remember the Day of Pentecost in the upper room; all the disciples were in one mind and in one accord. They were in one hundred percent total agreement as they waited upon the promise in prayer. One hundred and twenty people persisted in prayer for ten days to usher in the Holy Ghost baptism. Jesus said; “if two or three are gathered in my name” and “agree on earth as touching anything” “it shall be done”. Let us remember again that it must be in accordance with God’s will! Yet the power of agreement is powerful when we utilize it to pray. Brethren I have seen miracles performed when in agreement with others in prayer. I have also seen God heal sick and diseased bodies as I laid my hands upon them; and I have cast out devils through the prayer of faith! I’ve have seen situations turn around as I’ve prayed by myself and in agreement with others.
Petitionary and intercessory prayer are a resource God has given us; when we ask in accordance to his will and for the purpose of the kingdom and bringing glory to God! We can pray in agreement with as few as two or as many who want to join; the more the more effective. Let us remember that God is a prayer answering God.
(13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
(15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
(16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:13-16 KJV
This passage clearly speaks to private and public prayer. The public arena is the church in which the elders; people who are deemed qualified by their service and character are called to pray for the sick. The prayer is called the prayer of faith and the sick person is anointed with oil as a representation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Also in the text we can see clearly that confession of sin is a gateway to healing whether it is emotional or physical. When the content of the character of Christ is within the members of an assembly confession can be made with confidence and prayer can be offered for healing. Secret sin wants to isolate a person in order to strengthen itself in that person’s life. When we assemble ourselves with the saints and confess that sin; it takes away the power that secrecy gave it and opens the door for spiritual renewal. Then James reveals the power of the prayer of faith concerning its effectiveness being based in the fervency of and the character of the person who prays. Where there is no zeal there is no appeal; where there is no fire to fortify faith; there won’t be any potential to see prevailing prayer. It must be heartfelt, confident, and sure! Prayer must rely completely upon our faith in the object of our faith; Jesus Christ to accomplish the task of the petition. Fervent prayer is influential prayer; it is intensely full of spiritual energy and vitality to move God. Effectual fervent prayer; appeals to the heart of God. Ask: orderly, earnestly, and repeatedly in faith in the name of Jesus! With perseverance, diligence, and in compliance!
Brethren keep the faith and the faith will keep you! Selah
Shalom, Agape, and Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
