The Saving Heritage

CHAPTER ONE

PRAYER

MEANING: Prayer is a two way communication with God.. It is a wish hoped for, a desire believed to receive. It is a spiritual communication. Prayer is the only way to communication with God, besides this there is no other way. Prayer is the ceremony in the air, it is one of the highest activities in one’s life. It is the basis of one’s life. Therefore to refuse to pray to God means to seize to the talk to God. Prayer is a right for human being to communicate with God. There is no other way to reach God. The one offering prayer give unto God and God in turn also give unto the one in prayer. Prayer superimposes the will of God in one’s life because it goes to the root of the problem. The only way to tire down the works of Satan in one’s life. Prayer does not cause faith to work but faith cause prayer to work. Therefore any prayer obstacle is a problem of doubt, doubting the integrity of the word and the ability of God to stand behind his promise in his word [Christ] who lives in us. It is not just prayer that gets result, but it is your spiritual connection with God the father, learning his wisdom, drawing on his strength, being filled with his meekness and spirit in his love that brings result to our prayer.

PURPOSE: We are bound to pray because it sets man apart from all other existence on earth. God made man with eternity of their hearts to pray. Eccl. 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to the end. And Jesus said Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. in otherwise, Jesus is saying "blessed are those who are conscious of their spiritual needs (those who pray) for they will occupy the kingdom of heaven, hence, prayer help us to reach out to the spiritual realm, helping us to live holy and righteous life leading to eternal life, bringing and filling our lives with happiness. We pray whenever we have the need of help from God our Father or we need wisdom or answer to a particular problem that seem beyond human scope or capacity or knowledge. We also pray when we need our heavenly father’s comfort, when we are stressed out or when we know we have lost all hope in life, physically and spiritually. We also pray to our Heavenly Father for our mistakes and wrong doings and for forgiveness of our transgressions.

FOCUS: We pray to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that was the instruction Jesus gave to us. 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. By the words of Jesus we have to pray to the father in his name and He will ask the Father to give us what we ask or intercede for us from the Father so that we will glorify the Father for granting our prayers. Praying to the Father means recognizing that He is the creator and above all, and responds to every problem and every situation. Jesus himself set us an example when He was about to be crucified. He came with the disciples to Gethsemane and there He prayed to the Father, Matt. 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face and prayed, O My Father, If it is possible let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not as I Will but as You Will Again the second time Matt. 26:42. He went away and prayed, saying O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your Will be done. Our prayer must also be the will of the Father as Jesus had shown us the example, Let it be your will and not Mine. What is the will of the Father? The will of the Father is asking for something that pleases the Father as to obey and carry out the instruction of the Father, and to contribute to the welfare of humanity and world peace. It is not to ask anything from the Father to go and live high and boasting. This is not the will of the Father. We are also to pray as a church (group), in fellowship or as individual. The change of time has also changed the direction of prayer in these modern times. Elijah, Elisha and the prophets prayed directly to God the Father, without passing through nobody but these days of the New Testament known as the time of grace, unless we believe in Jesus Christ and let Him be our point of contact, our prayer will not reach the Father and will not be granted in John 14:13-15. Jesus also has made it plain to us that prayer could be carried out anywhere, at church service, our study meetings and even on our way to work and in our work place if it’s possible. That is the worship in spirit. John 4:20-24 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. 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 in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

PRESENTATION: There is so much argument going on among Christians and especially people who are confused about what posture they have to obtain in prayers. Prayer must be conducted in a suitable and comfortable posture. There is no obligation to sit down or to stand upright or to be walking around or fall on your face, whichever is more comfortable must be your posture and not to be under obligation of distress to interrupt your concentration and meditation. Effective prayer is always achieved out of concentration and meditation. Effective prayer must comprise of Exaltation, Worship, Praise, Obedience, Forgive and forget, destruction of the work of the enemies, protection and intersection. As Jesus laid down in Matt.6:9-13

REPEATED MINISTRATION.

In certain cases prayer must be repeated several times before it could yield result, that is known as repeated ministration. Such ministration pertain to deliverance and prayer request, where there is a powerful spirit behind the situation, or a situation God has permitted it, repeated ministration will be necessary:-

Elisha asked Naaman to wash seven times to receive healing. 2Kings 5:10,14.

Elijah prayed seven times before the rain was released 1Kings 18:42-45.

Elijah prayed for a dead boy, he had to stretch himself upon the child three times. 1Kings 17:21-22.

The priests blew the trumpets seven times as they went round the wall seven times at the command of Joshua coupled with the shout and the wall of Jericho fell down flat. Joshua 6:16,20.

Jesus had to minister the second touch before the blind man could see properly. This means until the situation is overcome we must not cease to pray over the situation. Mark 8:22-25.

TWO TYPES OF PRAYER:

1. Defensive Prayer- asking for God’s protection and open doors. Matt. 6:9-13, Psalm 30:9-10

2. Offensive Prayer - prayer that will close the doors and put our enemies into trouble and confinement, and destroy their evil plans towards us. Psalm 68:1-2 and Luke 4:35.Psalm 109.

THE FIVE METHODS OF PRAYER:

1. Silence Prayer: Helps us to meditate for God to reveal His mind and direction for whatever plans He has for us and we have. Silence prayer is a gift and not everybody has that gift.

2. Vocal Prayer:- It is helpful to pray aloud sometimes because it stops your mind from wondering from one thing to another. Satan tries every means to take away our prayer life or make our prayer ineffective by means of distracting our concentration and meditation, giving us ungodly thinking and pictures, bringing temptations into our lives, and putting fear into our hearts and bringing discouragement and defeat. Vocal prayer remove stress and take away depression, its a healer.

3. Individual:- where one enters into his closet or a solitary place to have intimacy with God. Mark 1:35.We do the praying and God our Father does the work. The more people pray the more we engage God our Father into work. God has completed with all the creation, therefore when we do not pray, our Father God have nothing to do. God likes always to engage Himself at work, that is why He said in Luke 18:1 men always ought to pray and not lose heart. and also in Thess. 5:17 He said: pray without ceasing. Also Eph. 6:18 says praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. We engage God our Father to feed us, cloth us, shelter us, and prosper us. He will have much instruction for the heavenly host.

4. Corporate:- prayer by believers (more than one) in agreement. Jesus said, If two agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by his Father. Matt. 18:18-20. When one is sick and visits the doctor, the patient believes that the doctor can cure him, and the doctor also believes and trust that he is ordained for that purpose and that through him God will heal the patient, the two do come into agreement in prayer and for that healing will take place in the life of the patient and definitely healing take place. It is not the power in the medicine that heals but the power of the faith agreement. The medicine comes in because we are human and we need a sign and the medicine is just the sign but not the healer. It’s just catalyst to their faith. It is the faith in God that heals.

5. Intercessory:- Prayer of intercession can be either corporate or incorporate. It is the most powerful among all the prayer methods, Acts 12:5 Peter was imprisoned to be executed, but the church assembled in a room and prayed day and night for him and an angel rescued him from the jail. Peter learned from Jesus Christ and when Jesus was gone, Peter became the leader, so if he was killed the church would completely collapsed. So the members acted and God also acted, so there was two actions joined to form a great explosion that brought Peter out of Jail. Here, God said YES, and acted immediately. Peter was a good student of Jesus, outspoken and dynamic and learned leadership from Jesus.

GOD’S ANSWER TO Prayer:

The following are the three responses of God to prayer:

1. Wait - God can say it’s not time to give you the request but at appropriate time He will do it. It might not help you at that time, which is to your advantage. John 2:3-4.

2. Yes - When God sees the urgency of our request and sees that we need it and it will help us He responds immediately. Luke 7:6. Jesus said yes because it related to human life and based upon the centurion’s faith revealing the deity of Jesus Christ and power of God.

3. No - God can say no when there is danger to the request, when it is for money and fame. Acts 8:18-22. Simon wanted to exchange money for the Holy Spirit for personal fame. Also if you ask for a car but you do not have a driving license, which father will grant such prayer, even we as human as we are. It is a sign of death blinking and a sign of imprisonment.

OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD TO PRAYER:

1. Nothing is too hard for our God Jer. 32;17; Gen. 18:14.

2. He is faithful and always lives up to His promise. Gen. 12:2-3: Gen. 24:1; 1John 5:13-15

3. He loves us and wants to give us hope and better future. Jer. 29:11=14

4. He has committed Himself to answer our prayers Jer. 33:3; Luke 11:9-10; John 14:11-15

5. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. Lam. 3:22.

`THE EFFECT OF DEFFICIENCY IN PRAYER

1. It is sin not to pray - 1Sam. 12:23 - That is the reason why prayer is a right for the Christian to pray and not a privilege because right cannot be revoke but privilege can be revoke. Without it we will loose God’s presence and anointing with us.

2. If we do not pray we deny relationship with God and the spirit of God upon us is quenched and His promise will be broken. 1Thess. 5:17-19, John 14:13-14, James 4:2-3 It is just that sometimes we do not know what to pray for but when we do God works it out for us. Roman 8:26 Likewise the spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.

3. Prayer must be consistence -we must select specific times for prayer and must be continual. In this way the guide is always present.

THE SIX REASONS TO PRAY.

Prayer makes one turn from his wicked ways and bring the full blessing of God - 2Chr. 7:14.

Prayer enable one to have silence moments with the Lord to reveal Himself. Matt.6:6

Prayer brings love and increases faith in the Lord. - John 15:17, John 14: 13-14; Matt. 21:22

Praying with lifting up holy hands touches the heart of God. - 1Tim. 2:8

Prayer can close and open opportunities. - 1Kings 17:1; 1Kings 18:42-46.

Prayer makes the righteous who do not keep silence not forsaken. - Isaiah 62:6-7; Psalm 37:25

SOME OF THE NAMES OF GOD IN PRAYER.

These are some of the old testament names used in prayer but the new testament says we should pray in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to use these names in prayer but is not a right to prayer. These names do not answer prayers but make prayer strong. The name of Jesus Christ is a right because is the key for an answer to prayer.

1. El-Roi - Omniscient God [God that sees and knows - Gen. 16:13-14].

2. Elohim saboath - Omnipotent God [God of Host - Jer. 15:16; Psalm 84:8]. The creator. Jam.5:4.

3. Emmanu-El - God with us [Isaiah 7:14]. God made flesh

4. El-Gibor - The mighty Living God [Isaiah 42:13, 9:6].

5. El- Shammah - Omnipresent God [God who is everywhere- Gen. 28:16, Eze. 48:35].

6. El- Jireh - God the Provider [Gen. 22:14].

7. El- Raah - God our Shepherd [Ps. 23:11].

8. El- Rapha - God the Healer [Exo. 15:26].

9. El- Tsidkenu - God our Righteousness [Jer. 33:16].

10. El- Hosenu - God our Maker [Ps. 95:6].

11. El- Shalom - God our Peace [Judges 6:24].

12. Yahweh Zawah- Jehovah Lord the knowledge in the wisdom [Prov. 4:7, 8:12]

13. Yahweh Ethny - Jehovah Lord our Salvation [Ps 68:20, Ps 1:2].

14. El- Dam - God the Merciful.

15. Yahweh Nissi - God the Protector, Our Banner {Exo. 17:15].

16. El-Ethny - God our salvation Ps. 68:20, 62:1-2.

17. El-Shaddai - Almighty God. Gen. 17:1

18. Yahweh - Jehovah Exo. 3:14 I am that I am.

19. Adonai - Master Ps. 69:6, Matt. 23:8

20. El-O’lam - Everlasting God Gen.21:33

21. El-Mekaddeskum - God the sanctifier Exo. 31:13

22. El-Shaphat - The Judge Judges 11:27 23. El-Elyon - Lord the most high God Gen. 14:18

SATANIC INFLUENCE AGAINST PRAYER: (actions:- prayer is rejected or will not honor it.)

God had laid down certain pre-requisites for prayer in our lives. With these, prayer is of no avail. It can become an abomination and God cannot answer it. These are:-

1. Known sin. Isaiah. 59:2-3: Psalm 66:18;

2. Willful disobedience to God’s word. Prov. 28:9; Zech. 7:11-13;

3. Selfish motivation. James 4:3; Matt. 6:5

4. Lack of genuine faith. Mark 5:36; James 1:6-8; Hebr. 11:6;

5. Idols in the heart. Jer. 11:9-14; Eze. 8:15-18; 14:1-3;

6. Unforgiving Spirit. Matt. 5:23-24; 6;21-25; Mark 11:25-26;

7. Hypocrisy [self praising, boasting]. 2Chro. 25:19. Matt. 6:5; Prov. 8:15; Mala. 1:6-10; Job 27:8-9;

8. Prideful attitude. Mala. 1:6-10, Job. 27:8-9; Matt.6:5;

9. Refusing home visitation and relationship. 1Peter 2:17;

10. Tithe evasion. Mala. 3:10-12;

11. Refusing charity to the needy. Prov. 21:13, john 3:17-18;

12. Forsaking the Lord and his ways. Jer. 14:10-12;

13. Discouragement. Job. 1:9-10;

14. Evil thoughts. Gen. 37:18-20.

SATANIC INFLUENCE IN PRAYER: (results:- prayer does not even depart)

1. Fear (false, evidence, appearing, rear). 2. spiritual marriage. 3.Stealing (thief). 4. cheating. 5. jealousy. 6. Hatred. 7. Bitterness. 8.Temptation. 9. Defrauding. If a Christian is not praying the right way, then he might have one of these seriously in control of his life, he needs help. Sam. 1 - Hannah was in this position jealousy, hatred, bitterness, fear, cheating, until she change her mind

QUALITIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL PRAYER

1. Faith - total believe in CHRIST.

2. Broken Hearted - total repentance. Discarding bitterness and forgiving others.

3. Righteousness - ask for forgiveness of sin and be someone whose sins are forgiven. God fearing and someone charitable and does not jumps into conclusion.

4. Worship - One with humility, a peace maker.

God gives the prayerful believer the Holy Spirit’s timely Prophetic gifts eg. Dreams and vision, which are available to all believers. Acts 2:17. A believer’s life begins with prayer and grows in prayer, which is the privilege of coming to God’s throne in faith.

THE HOLY GHOST ANALOGY

Without the Holy Ghost, our prayer will be occupied by Satan who will give us his own spirit and prevent us from praying to our Heavenly Father.

To receive the Holy Ghost is like the car battery. A new car battery needs a twelve-hour charging and afterwards it must be continually charged by the alternator, if you have to operate the electrical appliances of the car. Without continually charging the battery, the battery will discharge and there will be no power in that battery to carry out or operate the equipments.

This electro-analogy is being compared to the Holy Ghost. You need a long positive continuous prayers to pull the Holy Ghost into your life. To be fully charged with the Holy Ghost, you need long continuous prayer and fasting or probably with a man of God