PRAYER MOVES MOUNTAINS
By Jeannie Horton Life Christian University student
INTRODUCTION
Meghan, a 16-year-old teenager from Oregon, was born with a displaced kneecap. Through our church Evergreen Christian Center, she went to camp at Mt. Hood this past winter. She was prayed for during a powerful night of prayer and worship. Several gathered around her, laying hands on her and they all prayed together. One person who laid hands on Meghan felt a tingling sensation in her own hand. That night, Meghan was healed. She said that she felt a warm pressure on her knee and her kneecap had shifted back into place. There is power in prayer.
God desires to have a relationship with us and one way that we can do that is through prayer. Prayer was very important to Jesus; He often sought direction and fellowship with His Father. He desired alone time with His Father and would often take breaks from His disciples and followers to find that time with Him. Prayer is also important and a powerful tool for believers today. With prayer, we can use our authority against the attacks of the enemy, intercede for the lost, we can change God’s mind, and we can pray for all of our cares and desires. We are not alone; God wants us to come to Him in prayer. There are several different types of prayer and each has its own set of rules. It’s important that we learn each of them and their important details which include forgiving others first and praying with faith.
I. IMPORTANT DETAILS REGARDING PRAYER
In order to be effective in our prayers there are a few things to remember. These items will help us in our prayer walk with the Father:
· * Forgive others first before we pray or our prayers will be useless. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop” (Mark 11:25).
· *Find a bible verse that mentions what you are praying for. If it is in God’s Word then it is His will. Remind God of His Word. “Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]; let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right)” (Isaiah 43:26).
· *We are to pray to God in the name of Jesus. Jesus instructed His disciples to pray to God in His name after His resurrection. “And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]” (John 16:23).
· * Pray with faith. Faith is important to God, it pleases Him. When we pray, we are to believe that we have received before we have the answer. In the world, people often won’t believe their prayers have been answered until they see their prayers answered. But God wants us to believe first and be thankful to Him. He wants us to have faith that we received that which we prayed for. Every believer needs to study the Word, and meditate on the promises of God for themselves so that they can stand on their own faith. “And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! And does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:22-23).
· * Depend on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. He is our helper, our advocate, intercessor, comforter, and counselor. The Holy Spirit doesn’t pray for us, but He helps us pray by interceding on our behalf to the Father. When we don’t know what or how to pray, He helps us.
· *Don’t doubt or speak negatively about something that you are praying for. When we speak negatively, it shows a lack of faith and invalidates our prayers. Instead, pray with thanksgiving to Him. Speak forth God’s Word, and sing songs of praise and worship to Him. God moves on faith and thanksgiving.
II. TYPES OF PRAYER
The following are the different types of prayers that are found in the New Testament. It is important to note that these prayers are part of the New Covenant. We are now living under a new and better covenant when Christ died and was resurrected. Because He died for the forgiveness of our sins, we now have right standing with God and can boldly go to Him! We too are seated at the right hand of God with Christ. We have authority to pray using these types of prayers:
PRAYER OF PETITION: “For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]” (Mark 11:24). In the prayer of petition you’re praying for your own needs, desires, and problems. It is God’s will that all of our needs are met. This includes our physical, material, and spiritual. Without faith it’s impossible to please God. So, if we don’t know what we are praying for is God’s will, we are not praying in faith. And so this prayer doesn’t include the words, “if it’s your will.” In order to know the will of God we need to study the Word of God as God’s Word is God’s will. I know that God wants to and will take care of all my needs so I pray to Him in all things and with thanks. I know that if God doesn’t want me to have something, it is because I’m not ready for it yet or the timing isn’t right.
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION: In this prayer we are submitting our will to God’s. We are putting aside our life for His will. The greatest example of this prayer is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. “And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire” (Mathew 26:39). Jesus didn’t want to die, but He wanted to do the will of His Father. In my own life I am an experienced ultra-marathon runner having completed races up to 101 miles. I have always quite enjoyed the long training runs of over 20 miles. The runs and events have at times lasted several hours, taking me away from my home and my studies. During a long distance training run a couple of years ago, God asked me if I was willing to give all of this up for Him. I thought about it for a few miles and said yes. My pastor spoke on this subject the very next Sunday. I know God’s will for me is good, and it is more important than my own purposes for myself. I am preparing by studying His Word and striving to be obedient to Him in all things. “And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]” (Mathew 10:38-39).
PRAYER OF WORSHIP-THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE: God responds to and speaks to us through praise, thanksgiving, and worship. A lot of Christian music is God’s Word. So when you sing, you are speaking out God’s Word back to Him. There is such a peace that comes from listening to Christian music. “In this kind of atmosphere of praise and worship to God that He can move more readily and mightily in our midst” (Hagin 50). There was a time when God called me back to Him, He spoke to me and told me to listen to only Christian music. I did and I never looked back. I have mostly Christian music on my iPod that I listen to when I run or walk. At home, I also play a Christian radio station on my computer or Christian music on YouTube loudly during the day. And to confess, the loud music keeps my sanity. It helps me not hear the little kids screaming in my neighbor’s backyard while they jump on the trampoline all day! J “Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
PRAYER OF AGREEMENT: When at least two are gathered together, praying in agreement according to God’s Word, this is the prayer of agreement. “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them” (Mathew 18:19-20).
Binding and Loosing
We have authority as believers to bind and loose anything here on earth, as long as it’s in agreement with the Word. When I pray for the spiritually lost, I bind the works of the enemy over them and loose the knowledge of God’s truth and light into their life. Recently I saw a woman at the pool where I like to swim laps. The side of her face was bruised, and my friend and I felt concern for her. We prayed for her, binding the works of the enemy and we loosed God’s truth and love over her. We asked God to protect her and if she wasn’t a Christian to send laborers to speak the Word to her.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION: This prayer is when we pray for someone else. It may be someone who is spiritually lost, a young child, or a new believer that is not yet able to stand on their own faith, or someone who needs healing. “And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30). When we intercede for another, we are standing in the gap for them. We are to pray for the spiritually lost with authority, binding the works of the enemy over another’s life. The Holy Spirit helps us intercede for others. We can pray for others with our understanding, or when we don’t know how to pray for someone else we can speak with our spirits in tongues. “We can intercede with our understanding, as Abraham did, or we can intercede with our spirits in tongues or in groaning and travail. But we must keep in mind that intercession can only be accomplished by the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit” (Hagin 90). I often pray for others who are spiritually lost, for those who need healing, friends, and over my family, home, and pets.
IMPRECATORY PRAYERS: Because we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, imprecatory prayers-prayers of judgment are not vindictive prayers. These prayers are used to pray against the attacks of the enemy and those whose intentions are to destroy the church and the things of God. The book of Psalms has many imprecatory prayers. “Hold them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own designs and counsels; cast them out because of the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you” (Psalm 5:10). Jesus warned His disciples that we would be hated for His name’s sake. But we are to stand firm in His name, using our authority in prayer against all attacks of the enemy. Our church often has prayer nights. We come together to pray for our nation, leaders, churches, pastors, elders, and loved ones, I think it’s important.
UNITED PRAYER: In the book of Acts, there are several verses of people lifting their voices in one accord. The power of God shows up when people, who are filled with the Holy Spirit, come together in agreement on God’s Word praying aloud together. In my Christian walk, I haven’t seen this type of prayer often. However this is how they prayed in Chacalte, Guatemala while we were on a mission’s trip last summer. It was extremely powerful. I would like to experience the united prayer more often. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage” (Acts 4:31).
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT: Every day we are faced with opportunities for worry; we have bills to pay, kids to clothe and feed, and relationship issues. God doesn’t want us to worry. He wants us to enjoy our life. He is our Father and He loves us. He wants to take all of our cares and concerns. We are to cast them upon God. Whenever I look back at my worries from the past (if I can even remember them), I’ve realized that it was so useless to get so bent out of shape with worry. They were never as bad as they initially seemed. All of my issues were either blessed by God or God strengthened me to get through them. Having two teenage daughters, with one driving (and at times my new car), it would be easy for me to worry when she drives. I mean anything could happen. What about all of the other drivers who aren’t being careful? My daughter Naomi is a very careful driver, but she occasionally makes mistakes. I have failed many times to not panic. But since taking this course, I have used the principles that I’ve learned and prayed for my daughter’s safety. I know God has heard my prayer. Now, I just thank God for continuously protecting them. When we cast our cares upon God, we need to just leave them there. Don’t start worrying again, trying to figure out how to fix the situation or even telling God what you think He should do. God will take care of all our problems in His way. So cast your care and don’t worry:
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its early lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
CONCLUSION
“As we endeavor to pray according to biblical principles, we will grow closer in fellowship to our Heavenly Father, and we will cause our prayer life to become more and more effective” (Hagin 97). There is power in God’s Word and in prayer. As believer’s, we have power not only to change the circumstances around us, we have authority over the devil. God wants to have a relationship with us and Jesus died so that we can have this relationship. Learning about the different types of prayers and a few details regarding prayer makes us stronger in our Christian walk. Just as we are to go out and make disciples, we need to teach others how to pray. I know that God gives new believers grace in their prayers, but all believers need to study the Word and be able to stand on their own faith. Because with faith, we please God and we can move mountains.
