Types of Prayers

Prayer of Faith

Eph. 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Matt. 21:21-22 “And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done. And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.”

Jesus is talking about the believing prayer…the prayer of Faith. Mark 11:24

This is the prayer of faith applied mostly to person’s own life

If we are out of fellowship with God, we need to repent, so the Word can work for us. Deut. 28 1-14 tells us that if we obey God, we would prosper financially and materially. Deut. 28:1-14

c. The prayer of faith won’t always work for others.

There is the prayer of agreement - Another’s will and the faith person must agree.

We should learn to pray the prayer of faith for ourselves to get answers.

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION VS. THE PRAYER OF FAITH

Jesus prayed a prayer to change things. Luke 22:42 “Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”

Jesus prayed the prayer of consecration to God’s will. It was consecration and dedication. We want to be available to do what Jesus wants us to be. Willing and obedient servants of God

However when it comes to changing things and receiving something from God according to His Word, we DO NOT PRAY “If it be Thy will.” We know what God’s will is in the Word. God’s will is that our NEEDS are met.

When we pray to receive the desires of our heart (Mark 11:24) it has to do with receiving things…in the natural…like when Jesus cursed the fig tree. Mark 11:24 is also about healing. “What things SOEVER ye desire.” We have God’s Word, His promise, that these desires can be met - that we can have those things we desire.

a. If we are out of fellowship with God....repent! The Word won’t work for us nor to the unsaved then. If we are walking with the Lord and keeping our flesh under, then our desires are God’s desires.

b. God’s will that all of our needs be met - spiritual, physical and financial or material. (Deut. 28:1-14)

c. God is interested in everything that touches our lives. God told His people in the Old Covenant that if they would keep His commandments, they would eat the good of the land. (Deut. 28:1-14; Isa 1:19) The good of the land is prosperity.

d. 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”

e. Your prayer of faith won’t work for others always. We can’t always make our faith work for others. Their faith enters the picture as well.

In the prayer of agreement, the unbelief of one person can nullify the effects of the other person’s faith.

If the other has not developed their own faith, it is difficult for them to receive their healing.

The ability to pray in faith belongs to us.

Say what the Word says about you. Mark 11:24 “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].” It’s a personal promise to us.

Learn to pray the prayer of faith for yourself, and then we will receive answers to our prayers

PRAYER OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Act 13:1-4 “NOW IN the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away. So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed away to Cyprus.”

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted… (Acts 13:2)

Ministering to the Lord is the prayer of praise and worship.

Acts 13:2 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Remember those times God participated with us.

Acts 3:2 “[When] a certain man crippled from his birth was being carried along, who was laid each day at that gate of the temple [which is] called Beautiful, so that he might beg for charitable gifts from those who entered the temple.”

Ministering to the Lord brings deliverance. Acts 16:25 “But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,”

God answers believing prayers…not complaining, doubt and unbelief prayers.

Deliverance comes when we praise and worship. Acts 16:25 “But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,”

Hagin said, “…there is something in praise and worship and ministering unto the Lord that would benefit us if we would just begin to practice this in our lives. We don’t have to be disturbed, disquieted, or defeated because of test and trials, or difficult circumstance.

10. The early church continued daily with one accord…ate their meal with gladness…praising God. Praise and worship way a way of life for them. CONTINUAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP!

11. God’s power is manifested when His people Praise Him.

UNITED PRAYER (CORPORATE PRAYER)

Acts 4:24 “And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them,” United, vocal prayer is Biblical.

Acts 1:14; 2:1; 4:24; 16:25 all say they lifted their voices…at once and out lourd. That is corporate prayer. There are times to pray alone and times to pray together.

People observing Paul and Silas’ release from their bonds fell down and asked them what to do to be saved. They saw ORDINARY MEN EXPERIENCE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS that could only be God.

Acts 4:23-31 records the Early Church lifting their voices to God in united prayer.

There is something about the power of God in united prayer that brings the power of God on the scene to meet every need. As all were praying our loud all at once, Acts 4:31 “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.”

United prayer ushered in the Glory of God. The glory of the Lord filled the temple where people were gathered to pray. II Chronicles 7:1-3 “WHEN SOLOMON had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. And when all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed with their faces upon the pavement and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.”

We need more united praying. We need vocall praying, or praying out loud in one accord, in the church, as well. There is power in united prayer.

The Prayer of Commitment

Philippians 4:6 “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.”

Worry hinders our prayers. We call it anxiety, worry, concerns, or fretting.

We are to cast our cares on the Lord. We are not “wired” to carry them.

We should NOT pray

about the Bible - accept God’s Word, believe and obey

don’t hold to cares, receive deliverance from their problems and situations

DO …cast all our cares, anxieties, worries, and concerns on Him, for He cares for us.

He is the only way to receive total victory and deliverance

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?”

God will do something about it, BUT we have to give them to Him

We are to “be anxious for nothing.” I Peter 5:6-10 “Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to …”

Worry is a sin. “ Take not though for your life.” We are not going to get any more light until we walk in the light we already have. Hagin

Choose not be discouraged! Walk in the light of the Word and develop faith.

PRAYING WITH TONGUES

I Cor. 12:7-11 “But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit. To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses.”

Believers receive the gift of tongues when they receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I Cor. 12:8-10 names the 9 gifts of the Spirit (Manifestations) by which the Holy Spirit demonstrates Himself.

The vocal gifts (Inspirational gifts) are to be an inspiration in public worship. Tongues is the gateway into the supernatural. Speaking in tongues is always manifested when believers are baptized in the Holy Ghost. Once the believer is filled with the Spirit, he is to maintain a continual experience of speaking in tongues which enriches his life immeasurably.

There is a private use of speaking in tongues. (I Cor. 14:13-14) and a public use of speaking in tongues for a public assembly or group (I Cor. 14:27-28) The difference is one is for one’s private devotions, and the other is for a public assembly or group. Both are from the Holy Spirit.

Howard Carter, the founder of the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the world said, “We must not forget that the speaking with other tongues is not only an initial evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, but speaking with other tongues is a continual experience for the rest of one’s life to assist in the worship of God. Speaking with tongues is a flowing stream that should never die out, and that will enrich the life spiritually.”

TONGUES

One must be filled with the Holy Spirit to manifest these experiences. Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].”

Tongues is the evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost. There are those who do not speak in tongues who have experiences in the Holy Ghost, too. The new birth is effected or created by the Holy Ghost. John 3:3-8 And God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God (Rom 8:16)

The believer is NOT seeking tongues, but seeking the Holy Ghost in our lives…and tongues will take care of itself. The infilling of the Holy Ghost in our lives is a gift of the New Testament era- the Age of Grace. All the other gifts had been manifested in the Old Testament except the Holy Spirit infilling - Jesus gave all authority back as God originally intended.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was given those waiting on the Day of Pentecost. They were all filled.

Smith Wigglesworth’s comment on skeptics questioning the Holy Ghost experience was, “A Bible-based experience is always better than an argument. That works for a Bible-based Theory, too!

Tongues can be that of another nation or Heavenly languages. I Cor. 14:2 “For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].”

We pray in tongues in our private prayer lives directly to God. There are other uses of tongues which are not prayer.

Diverse tongues is means where the Holy Ghost can speak through the believer in a known tongue.

The gift of interpretation of tongues is God speaking to man and not really a prayer. God is communicating with man.

Speaking in tongues in a ministerial way to a congregation will be followed by its interpretation. This is equal to a prophesy when spoken and interpreted

The tongue is not translated word for word exactly, but still gives the meaning of what was said.

Tongues can be used in prayer (It is needed to have a completely successful prayer life) I Cor. 14:2 “For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].”

Tongues: A means of Edifying Yourself Spiritually I Cor 14:4 “He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness].”

Tongues builds you up on the faith you already have…it is a means of spiritual edification.

Tongues: A Means of Magnifying God Acts 10:46 “For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Our Spirit desires to pray apart from our understanding - our mind. I Cor. 14:14 “For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].” Kenneth Hagin added: “From the day I was spirit filled to this day, I have worshipped and magnified God, praying and singing in tongues, and I have communicated with God by this means every single day.”

We communicate with God supernaturally through praying in the Spirit. God wants to do more for us. He wants to communicate with us in a more effective means and communicate with us supernaturally through the Holy Spirit.

Tongues: A Means of Praying Supernaturally There is a joy fellowshipping with the Lord in the Spirit. “…my spirit (by the Holy Spirit within me) prays… I Cor. 14:14 The Holy Spirit alerts us with things we should know - possibly just happening at that moment.

We DON’T pray to the Holy Ghost (to the Father in Jesus’ Name). The Holy Spirit is a Divine Personality, and He is within me, and we do talk to Him. He knows everything. He is our helper. We can ask Him to help us pray about something needing prayer.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit will tell us what He is praying about and give him the answer to our prayer in our spirit. Maybe we don’t know what we are praying, but in a few days we see a situation work out fine. WE ARE DOING WORK FOR GOD PRAYING SUPERNATURALLY IN TONGUES.

Hagin said he did 50% of his praying in tongues. He prayed in the spirit when he did not know what to pray for as he ought and looked to the Holy Spirit to help…sometimes for hours in tongues. Sometimes, he got a revelation of what to do, but others he continued to pray in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows and is taking hold with us against the problem. That gets the job done.

Praying in Tongues is Unselfish Prayer There are people in other countries who need back up in prayer. Our praying doesn’t have to be all self-centered. Churches should pray for other churches locally and world-wide. We need a world-wide vision…concerned for others not just ourselves. Selfish prayers show a lack of praying in the Spirit and walking in the light of His Word.

THE PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND THE PRAYER OF AGREEMENT

The Prayer of Intercession (intercede means to act between 2 parties with the thought of reconciling the 2 of them) Therefore, the prayer of intercession is standing in the gap in prayer on behalf of another. Usually, we are interceding for the unsaved. Isa. 64:7 “And no one calls on Your name and awakens and bestirs himself to take and keep hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the [consuming] power of our iniquities.” This verse seems to have someone stirring himself up to pray and intercede and call upon God. Judgment on the nation of Israel could have been stayed or even stopped!

2. Isa. 64:7 “And no one calls on Your name and awakens and bestirs himself to take and keep hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the [consuming] power of our iniquities.”

Ezekiel 22:30 “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.” God looks for people of prayer to: 1. stand in the gap, 2. to make up the hedge, and 3. to intercede so that people’s lives can be spared.

ABRAHAM’S Intercession: Genesis 18 shows us the example of Abraham as one who stood in the gap for others. When Abraham became aware of the impending judgment upon the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, he interceded: Genesis 18:23-32 Abraham tried to find the number God would save the cities in behalf of. God answered, “yes, I’ll do it - just because you asked Me.” Finally, Abraham asked God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 10 righteous people, and God agreed. Abraham probably thought there would be at least 10 righteous yet.

5. He will hear our prayers for cities and nations for the sake of His children, too. IF we intercede as Abraham for his people. We are covenant children, just as Abraham. We even have a better covenant with better promises. He. 8:6 “But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.”

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US INTERCEDE The Holy Spirit helps us intercede with our spirits in tongues or in groanings and travail. Intercession can only be accomplished by the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. Ro. 8:26 “So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.”

7. Groanings I Cor. 14:14 “For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].” The Holy Spirit enables our spirit to pray apart from our understanding. Our understanding often falls short of what we ought to be praying. Pray with understanding, of course, but let the Holy Spirit pray for what we don’t know how. Eph 1:3 “May blessing (praise and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!” Our infirmities (weaknesses) has a lack of knowledge about how to pray and is considered a weakness. So, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered in articulate speech. The Holy Spirit HELPS US to pray.

a. GROANINGS They are from our spirit and speak out our lips with the Holy Spirit helping or assisting us in prayer. Some things in our hearts can’t be expressed in words and are therefore, expressed by groaning too deep for articulate speech. It’s one way of intercession - for another person and takes the place of the other person.

b. An intercessor can help life a spiritual load. As the Spirit wills, you can pick up that prayer burden coming off of him.

c. When you pick up another’s load, it feels like your own soul is lost when it actually isn’t. It’s the other person’s burden. We can pick up that prayer burden, as the Spirit wills, coming off on him.

d. Often at the end of groaning, one starts laughing…always pray until we have a note of praise or victory. Laugh, praise, sing; there is release involved in completion of prayer.

e. THE PRAYER OF INTERCESSION FOR THE LOST Prayers of travail and groanings for others. Don’t be afraid to yield to groanings and travail if led by the Holy Ghost to go there. These are not of the flesh. They are accomplished in the Spirit, by the leading and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

f. Romans 8:26 mentions it: …with groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate speech…regular speech. That prayer does NOT come out of our minds, it’s coming from our spirit. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

THE PRAYER OF AGREEMENT Matt. 18:19 “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 Matt. 18:19 to work, there must be 2 of us to agree here on earth. We have to agree in line with God’s Word as touching anything we shall ask. The Bible says it shall be granted us. Jesus said, “....it SHALL BE DONE for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

“I shall” or “I will” are statements that can’t be made any stronger in the English language. “I will do it!” It’s a done deal.

Rev. P.C. Nelson said the more literal rending of John 14:14 in Greek would be: “if you shall ask anything in My Name, and I don’t have it, then I will make if for you.” That is even more powerful and wonderful.

Matt. 18:18-20 “Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. 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.”

BINDING AND LOOSING Jesus said wherever there a re 2 people who are agreeing in prayer, He is right there to make it good. Whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Heaven will back up up in what we pray on earth in agreement, as long as it is in line with God’s Word. We have the authority to loose and bind.

Every believer has authority over the devil in Jesus’ Name. If we don’t know how to use our God’given authority over the devil ourselves, then we get into agreement with another believer and bind the devil from harassing us.

We can leave the scriptures unacted upon and unrealized in our lives OR we can know all scriptures are in the Bible now for our use and benefit. They are promises and the will of God. They belong to us. Mark 11:23 “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.”

We have a part to play in receiving the Word. We have to believe in our hearts and say what we desire, not just pray that God would do something about the situation.

The Prayer of Agreement Works! Jesus said in Matt. 18:19 “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.”

It’s not a possibility…it’s a fact. It will be done. Jesus said that.

Two can put 10,000 to flight. You can do 10 times as much with someone agreeing with you as by yourself. Find a believing prayer partner!

WE HAVE DISCUSSED 7 DIFFERENT KINDS OF PRAYER

PRAYER OF FAITH

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

PRAYER OF WORSHIP

UNITED PRAYER

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

PRAYING WITH TONGUES

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND PRAYER OF AGREEMENT

Eph. 6:18 “Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).”

God wants us to understand the important subject of prayer and learn how to pray more effectually. He wants us to bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God. We pray according to Biblical principles, then we grow closer in fellowship to our Heavenly Father, and we will cause our prayer life to become more and more effective.