PRAYER WARRIORS

POWER OF PRAYER.

WITH THE ANSWER TO ALL THE PRAYERS FOR PETER TO LEAVE UKRAINE AND JOIN HIS FAMILY - I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PRAYER.

LAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BY THE POWER AND RESPONSIBLY WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS TO PRAY.

WE HAVE HEARD THE TERM PRAYER WARRIOR AND IN Colossians 4:12–13“Epaphras (ep-af-ras) who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea(lah-od-ik'-i-ah) , and them in Hierapolis( hee-er-ap'-ol-is).”

LABOR FERVENTLY:

THE GREEK DEFINITION : to struggle, (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), IDEA TO :—WRESTLE - fight, labor fervently, strive.

PRAYER CAN BE THAT WAY - TAKES WORK, DETERMINATION, AND DEDICATION TO TAKE TIME AND PRAY.

V13 IN THE NIV: I VOUCH FOR HIM THAT HE IS ALWAYS WORKING HARD FOR YOU AND THOSE AT Laodicea(lah-od-ik'-i-ah) AND Hierapolis( hee-er-ap'-ol-is).

SO THE IDEA OF A WARRIOR BECOMES A REALITY WHEN THINK OF THE DISCIPLINE AND RESOLVE TO BE A PRAYER WARRIOR - WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR ?

The Bible describes a spiritual warrior as person who has a connection to God and carry themselves with dignity. They are often described as fierce, unrelenting, and disciplined, and they fight for the kingdom of God and against the devil's works. Some say that a true Bible warrior fights against their desire to sin and gives all glory to God. They are also said to stand up for what is right and the truth.

DUTIES OF A PRAYER WARRIOR

STUDY THE BIBLE - IN ORDER TO PRAY IN AGREEMENT WITH GODS WORD WE NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS WILL IS THEN WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO HE IS AN HOW HE WANTS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE.

MAKE TIME TO LISTEN - IN THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE WE TEND TO SAY OUR PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND REQUEST AND MOVE ON - NOT STOPPING TO WAIT AND LISTEN OR WATCH FOR THE LORD TO REVEAL WHAT HE HAS FOR US.

BE AVAILABLE FOR PRAYER - IN OUR CULTURE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO - DO WE MAKE AND TAKE THE TIME PRAY - DO WE PRAY OUT OF CONVENIENCE OR FROM A REALIZATION IT IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND CHRIST JESUS.

ACKNOWLEDGE WHO THE REAL ENEMY IS - PRAY WARRIORS ARE MORE IN TUNE AND AWARE THAT MOST BATTLES ARE SPIRITUAL BATTLES AND WHO THE ENEMY IS BEHIND THEM. EPHESIANS 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

PRAY THROUGH HARDSHIPS - PRAYER AND WORSHIP THROUGH HARDSHIP KEEPS US HUMBLE - WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE SMALL AND GODS STRENGTH IS SUPPORTING US AND WE TESTIFY OF HIS POWER AND WORK IN OUR LIVES IT GIVES US FOUNDATION TO BUILD OURSELVES AND OTHER UP IN FAITH THAT GOD IS ABLE.

SPEAK ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS - LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE PRAYING ON THEIR BEHALF. PROVERBS 18:21 ¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. IF WE TELL OTHERS WE ARE PRAYING FOR THEM - THEY KNOW SOMEONE CARES AND LOVES THEM ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT INTERCEDE FOR THEM TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

REBUKE - OR DISPEL NEGATIVE OR LIFE-STEALING THOUGHTS - WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT THE EVIL OF THE WORLD FROM MANS PERSPECTIVE IT IS EASY TO BE DISCOURAGED AND THIS WILL CAUSE OTHERS TO DESPAIR. 2 CORINTHIANS 10: 3-5 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; - WE ARE NOT TO LET THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD CLOUD OUR TRUE CITIZENSHIP TO THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM - BUT TO VIEW EVERYTHING THROUGH THE THE LENS OF JESUS CHRIST.

8. PUT ON THE “WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD” THAT WE FIND IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6. THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD - TO HEAR HIS DIRECTIVES IN OUR LIFE SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION AND KNOW AND SHOW OTHERS WHAT IS TRUTH AND HOW GOD’S POWER IS WORKING EVEN WHEN WHAT WE SEE PHYSICALLY DOES NOT APPEAR THAT WAY. SO WE LIKE PAUL CAN MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL - THIS IS WHAT PAUL SAYS - FOLLOWING THE LIST OF THE ARMOR GOD IN EPHESIANS 6:18-20. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

LOOK NOW AT CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRAYER WARRIOR OR INTERCESSORS.

AS WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST - LABORING IN GODS KINGDOM - THEN WE ARE LIKE A WARRIOR OR ATHLETE WHO IS TRAINING FOR VICTORY - WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT LEADS TO GROWTH AND DEEPER FAITH AND COMMITMENT TO GODS WILL AND HIS COMMANDMENTS IN OUR LIFE - AS WE OBEY AND GOD ANSWERS OUR REQUEST THEN WE RELY MORE ON HIS PROMISES AND THIS LEADS A FULLER COMMITMENT OF FAITH AND TRUST TO WHATEVER WE FACE IN LIFE - REGARDLESS OF HOW IT MAY LOOK FROM MANS PERSPECTIVE. A WARRIOR MAY FIGHT A BATTLE AND THEN THINK HE IS FINISHED BUT AS WE ACCEPT THE CALL AS AN INTERCESSOR OR AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST - WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A PART TO PLAY THAT CONTINUES TILL WE LEAVE THIS EARTH.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A PRAYER WARRIOR

1. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE DISCIPLINED - THEY ARE NOT SELFISH -BUT MAKE AND TAKE THE TIME TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD - THIS IS NOT DONE OUT OF CONVENIENCE OR WHEN IT SUITS BUT BY BEING COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIAL.

PRAYER WARRIORS ARE PEOPLE WHO PRIORITIZE GODS WILL ABOVE THEIR OWN AND USE PRAYER TO ASK FOR HIS WILL TO BE DONE. EXAMPLE:

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

DO WE KNEEL UPON OUR KNEE’S - OR DO WE PRAY WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT - WHILE GETTING READY FOR WORK - ON THE DRIVE TO WORK - JUST BEFORE WE EAT - WHEN WE LAY IN BED BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP - PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING IS GOOD - NOT MINIMIZING HAVING A PRAYER AT THE FRONT OF OUR MINDS - BUT FOR A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WE KNOW THAT FOCUSED - DISTRACTION FREE ATTENTION IS REQUIRED.

2. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE ATTENTIVE : READY TO HEAR GODS VOICE - LISTENING FOR HIS INSTRUCTION - SO WE CAN FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS FOR ASSIGNMENTS. NOT PRAYING AND THEN MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE WANT TO DO -SOMETIME WE HEAR THE SAYING: P.U.S.H. PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS - THAT IS TRUE - BUT IT MAY MEAN CONTINUING ON WHAT WE ARE DOING AND PERFECTING OUR GOD GIVEN GIFT UNTIL CALLED TO A NEW WORK - INSTEAD WE ARE OFTEN TEMPTED TO GO AHEAD WITH WHAT MAKES HUMAN SENSE IN OUR MIND.

3. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE HUMBLE AND SUBMITTED TO GOD - THEY ARE QUICK TO PRAY - WHENEVER THEY SEE OR HEAR OF A NEED THEY ARE READY AND WILLING TO PRAY - NOT BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY ARE SPECIAL OR POWERFUL BUT BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS AND KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK IN GODS KINGDOM THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO GOD IN THAT HE HAS THE POWER AND ONLY GOD CAN BRINGS RESULTS SO THEY FAITHFULLY CALL ON HIM FOR ANSWERS AND WHAT ACTION TO TAKE IN THEIR LIVES.

4. PRAYER WARRIORS KNOW GOD’S LOVE -THEY KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS FROM STUDYING HIS WORD - THEY KNOW WHO HE IS AND WHAT HIS PLAN AND DESIRE IS FOR MANKIND. WE NEED TO KNOW GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT FOR SIN AND HAVE HIS LOVE FOR MANKIND.

EPHESIANS 3:14-19 TELLS US WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THIS KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST TO BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.

¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

DO WE UNDERSTAND BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE - A LOVE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO UNDERSTAND HOW BIG IT IS - THE LOVE OF CHRIST THAT PASSETH KNOWLEDGE- TELLING US WE WILL NOT FULLY AND ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND - ALSO IN PHILIPPIANS 4:7 TALKS OF A PEACE THAT PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING. HOW GREAT A GOD WE ARE PRAYING TO WHO CAN ANSWER AND SHOW US LOVE AND PEACE WHEN WE CALL ON HIM.

5. PRAYER WARRIORS SERVE WELL. THEY USE THEIR GIFT OF COMMUNICATION TO SERVE OTHERS - INTERCEDING ON OTHERS BEHALF - THEY ARE NOT TROUBLED BY INCONVENIENCE BUT ARE MOVED BY COMPASSION TO PRAY FOR THE HEALING AND RESTORATION OF OTHERS SO THAT THEY MAY FIND JOY. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES WE COULD LOOK AT WHERE JESUS ON MANY OCCASIONS HAD COMPASSION ON THOSE AROUND HIM WHICH CAUSED HIM TO PRAY OR LAY HANDS ON THEM TO GIVE THEM PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING.

6. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE PERSISTENT AND PATIENT- RECOGNIZE THE BATTLEFIELD IS SPIRITUAL AND KNOW THAT GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT - THEY ARE WILLING TO ENDURE HARDSHIP AND SACRIFICE OF THEMSELVES TILL GODS WILL IS REVEALED AND VICTORY IS WON. NEVER GIVING UP TILL IT IS OVER AND CONTINUE AS AN INTERCESSOR TILL THEIR TIME HERE ON EARTH IS OVER.

7. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL - THEY EAGERLY AWAIT THE COMING OF THE KING AND ARE JOYFUL WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND CALLING THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. THEY ARE AT PEACE - KNOWING THAT BY THEIR OWN STRENGTH THEY HAVE NO POWER IN THEMSELVES BUT FIND SATISFACTION AND CONTENTMENT TO CONTINUE ON IN PRAYER AND PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING UNTO THE LORD UNTIL VICTORY IS WON. NEVER GIVING UP BUT FULLY TRUSTING IN FAITH THAT THE LORD’S WILL BE DONE.

AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE ANOTHER WAY TO THINK OF A PRAYER WARRIOR IS INTERCESSOR - WE AS PART OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ARE CALLED TO PRAY - WHETHER AS A BODY OF BELIEVERS OR AS INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRAY - JESUS GAVE US EXAMPLES OF HOW HE PRAYED AND ALSO GAVE US THE WORDS TO SAY IN MATTHEW 6. WHEN HE GAVE US WHAT IS KNOWN AS “ THE LORDS PRAYER”

LAST THING I WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN -

James 5:16 LAST HALF SAYS: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

HOW DOES A RIGHTEOUS PERSON PRAY -

PRAY IN THE SPIRIT - ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO GIVE THE WORDS TO SAY - NOT A RECITAL OR AS JESUS CALLED IT - VAIN REPETITION OR MUCH SPEAKING.

PRAY WITH FAITH - FAITH IS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE POWER OF GOD - JESUS TELLS US IN MATTHEW 17:20 THAT, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, THEN NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU.

PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE - JESUS TOLD US IN Matthew 7:7–8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

PRAY WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS - RIGHT LIVING IN ACCORDANCE TO GODS WILL - LIVING WITH JESUS AS LORD OF YOUR HEART AND MASTER OF YOUR WILL CAUSING US TO SEEK OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS.

PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING - THANKING GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GOODNESS - FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS AND LOVE THAT HE HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIS NAME.

IN CLOSING - WHEN WE DESIRE TO FULFILL OUR RESPONSIBLY AS A PRAYER WARRIOR AND PRAY AS JESUS TAUGHT BY HIS EXAMPLE AND TEACHING THEN WE CAN PRAY WITH THE POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT GOD PROMISES TO GIVE US.

IF WE SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD THEN WE CAN HAVE THE PROMISE OF THE PRAYER WE FIND IN PSALM 91

1.He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 ¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

GOD IS FAITHFUL IN EVERYTHING WE FACE -

V14 - HIS LOVE IS UPON US AND HE WILL DELIVER US -

V15 WE CAN CALL ON HIM AND HE WILL ANSWER -

V16 - GOD WILL SHEW US HIS SALVATION.

Philippians 4:19“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

WHAT A BLESSING WE HAVE TO SERVE A GOD WHO CAN SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS - WHENEVER - WHEREVER WE ARE -

Ephesians 3:20–21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”