PRAYER WARRIOR - NYOBS 85.02

PRAYER WARRIOR

Spiritual Warfare – Praying the Scriptures – Intercessory Prayer

First Word

·         My wife was in the hospital for the third time in a month and was very discouraged.  She heard a deep voice from the next room praying for someone and when he came passed her door, she asked would he come in and pray for her also?  He asked “how he should pray” and his deep prayer inspired her and gave her fresh hope. - Have you ever known someone who you thought of as a Prayer Warrior, whose prayers inspire others and give hope? 

·         ALL Christians are called to be Prayer Warriors even though this term is not even found in the Book, but some have the unique ability and commitment to pray in INTERCESSION for others; they have a heart for the church, for other believers and GRIEVE over those that have not yet come to the place of acceptance of Jesus Christ. 

·         They spend time in the Book understanding how to pray the “WILL OF GOD”.  They see themselves engaged in SPIRITUAL WARFARE against satanic principalities in heavenly places and seek and believe for divine intervention. The Holy Spirit helps the Prayer Warrior intercede on earth as Jesus is interceding at the right hand of God in heaven. – It’s so Powerful; YOU, God the Holy Spirit & God the Son all in intercession to God the Father.

·         I was a cameraman on a shoot for a promo with a man who had written a book entitled “ARE YOU RUNNING WITH ME JESUS”; I thought the title was a little sacrilegious, and told him so. -  He shared with me that throughout the day, no matter what he was doing, he was in a running conversation with Jesus Christ. – He was Praying without ceasing according to the scriptures.  This gave me a fresh meaning to the term “Don’t judge a book by its cover”; nor a person.

·         In the book of Daniel we find Daniel’s prayer was heard immediately by God, but SPIRITUAL WARFARE was encountered as Satan fought the Angel of God for 21 days in order to stop the answer from getting to him … When we pray without ceasing, we become a part of the fight to receive the answer; what if Daniel had stopped praying? - God hears us before we begin to pray, and sends the answer before we finish and the WAR GAMES begin to stop the promises from reaching us. – It’s in the Book -

Ephesians 6:12 – Prayer is spiritual warfare against Evil Rulers
¹² For we are not FIGHTING against flesh-and-blood enemies, but AGAINST EVIL RULERS AND AUTHORITIES of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against EVIL SPIRITS in the heavenly places. (NLT)

1 Timothy 2:1 – Pray in intercession for others
¹ I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; INTERCEDE ON THEIR BEHALF, and give thanks for them. (NLT)

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are those who grieve over lost sinners
⁴ God blesses THOSE WHO MOURN, for they will be comforted. (NLT)

Romans 8:26 – The Holy Spirit knows the Will of God
²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But

THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS FOR US WITH GROANINGS

THAT CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS. (NLT)

Daniel 10:12-13 – Satan fought 21 days to STOP the answer
¹² he said unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for FROM THE FIRST DAY that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, THY WORDS WERE HEARD: and I am come for thy words' sake.
¹³ But THE PRINCE OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA (Satan’s Minions)

WITHSTOOD ME ONE AND TWENTY DAYS; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. (ASV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Pray without ceasing – giving thanks
¹⁶ Rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Isaiah 65:24 - God will hear us before we even begin to pray
²⁴ And it shall come to pass,

that before they call, I WILL ANSWER; and

while they are yet speaking, I WILL HEAR. (KJV)

Abba Father

·   We are NOT to PRAY to the disciples, the saints, angels or any person living or dead, but only to God the Father in Jesus name. - As Christians we are reminded to NOT CALL any man on earth ”Father”, but only God our Father in Heaven. – As our ABBA Father; our daddy, we can approach Him with boldness without an intercessor. - We should not only pray privately for ourselves, but pray openly with others; praying for their needs. – NYOBS 49.02 – LORD’S PRAYER REVISITED  – It’s in the Book -

Matthew 23:9 - Call no man on earth your father
⁹ And CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER on earth, for

you have one Father, who is in heaven.

(ESV)

Matthew 6:9 – Pray to your father who is in heaven
⁹ Pray like this: OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, may your name be kept holy. (NLT)

Galatians 4:6 – Call out to him as your daddy
⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “ABBA, FATHER.” (NLT)

Scriptural Prayers

·         Have you heard someone on TV say, our thoughts and prayers are with you.  That’s what prayer has become; just words in a passing pleasantry that we just respond automatically.

·         Get your Bible and find a quiet place and approach His throne room boldly with the liberty given to you by His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ on the Cross.  NYOBS 52.18 - PRAYER

·         Humble yourself before Him and begin your prayer by acknowledging who God is and confess your sins before Him, forgiving others. - The Book says to speak succinctly, and avoiding the many word and vain repetitions; get right to the point with conciseness and brevity of speech.  The Father already knows your needs and your prayer gives them power.

·         Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray the will of God, then pray believing that your petitions will be heard and answered by the Father. - If you are sick, anoint yourself with olive oil or whatever you have.  Pray out loud in the understanding and if you have been given the gift of speaking in tongues, then pray in the spirt also; do both.   

·          Unspoken prayer request - I produced a live prayer “call in” TV program called “Intercession” and we would get phone calls for UNSPOKEN PRAYER REQUEST.  The Host said he could not pray a prayer of agreement if he did not know what it was that he was agreeing with.  So the caller told him that she wanted her boyfriend to come back to her and leave his wife.  Obviously according to the Book, he could not agree with that in prayer. … UNSPOKEN PRAYER REQUEST ARE NOT SCRIPTURAL.

·         Be specific in your needs and plead your case before God. – Pray for a speedy answer, but at the same time be patient with God.

·         Pray songs of Praise in the understanding and in the spirit.  Pray while you are in the car coming and going.  If you have a prayer partner friend, then pray the prayer of agreement.

·         Thank God for His blessings and for His answered prayers.  Meditate on His Word, calling out to Him in remembrances what He has already promised in His Book.

FIND A QUIET PLACE

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray,

GO INTO YOUR ROOM, CLOSE THE DOOR and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray,

DO NOT KEEP ON BABBLING like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them,

for your Father knows what you need before you ask him NIV

HUMBLE YOUR SELF

Daniel 6:10 - Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day

HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAYED, NIV

1 Timothy 2:8 - I want men everywhere to LIFT UP HOLY HANDS in prayer, without anger or disputing. NIV

Lamentations 2:19 - LIFT UP YOUR HANDS TO HIM for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger NIV

Lamentations 3:41 - Let us LIFT UP OUR HEARTS and our hands to God in heaven.

APPROACH THE THRONE ROOM BOLDLY

Jerimiah 14:9 - You are among us, O LORD, and

WE BEAR YOUR NAME do not forsake us! NIV

Hebrews 4:16 - LET US THEN APPROACH

THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV

Ephesians 3:12 - In him and through faith in him

WE MAY APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM

AND CONFIDENCE. NIV

CONFESS YOUR SINS – FORGIVE OTHERS

Mark 11:25 –  But when you are praying,

‘FIRST FORGIVE ANYONE

YOU ARE HOLDING A GRUDGE AGAINST,

so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Ezra 9:6 - O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and OUR GUILT HAS REACHED TO THE HEAVENS. NIV

Numbers 5:6-7 - When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty 7 and

MUST CONFESS THE SIN HE HAS COMMITTED.

NIV

Ephesians 4:31-32 – GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE, 

ANGER, HARSH WORDS, and SLANDER, as well as all types of EVIL BEHAVIOR.
³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)

Psalm 69:5 - You know my folly, O God;

my guilt is not hidden from you

Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

PRAY FOR THE WILL OF GOD

Matthew 6:9-10 - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH as it is in heaven. NIV

Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and

HEALING ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL; for God was with him. KJV

PRAY BELIEVEING

Mark 9:24 - Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!" NIV

1 Chronicles 5:21 - He answered their prayers,

BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED IN HIM.

NIV

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, and it will be yours. NIV

John 12:44 - When a man BELIEVES IN ME, he does not believe in me only, but in THE ONE WHO SENT ME. NIV

James 1:6 - But when he asks,

HE MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. NIV

Matthew 9:29 - ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH

WILL IT BE DONE TO YOU

ANOINT WITH OIL

James 5:14 - Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and ANOINT HIM WITH OIL in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up NIV (If you believe in the gift of healing)

PRAY OUT LOUD

Psalm 15:2 - He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who SPEAKS THE TRUTH FROM HIS HEART NIV

Psalm 16:9 - MY HEART IS GLAD AND MY TONGUE REJOICES; NIV

Matthew 12:34 - FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS

Psalm 9:1 - I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

I WILL TELL OF ALL YOUR WONDERS. NIV

PRAY IN THE SPIRIT

Isaiah 55:8 – MY THOUGHTS ARE NOTHING

LIKE YOUR THOUGHTS,” says the LORD. “And

MY WAYS ARE FAR BEYOND ANYTHING

YOU COULD IMAGINE. NLT
John 14:16-17 - And I will ask the Father, and

HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER

to be with you forever -

17 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for

he lives with you and will be in you. NIV

Ephesians 3:16 –  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will EMPOWER YOU with inner strength THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. (NLT)

Romans 8:26 - In the same way, THE SPIRIT HELPS US in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but

THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US

with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because

THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS

IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL. NIV

Ephesians 6:18 - PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. NIV

1 Corinthians 14:15 - What is it then? I will

PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will SING WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will sing with the understanding also. KJV

PRAY SPECIFIC

John 11:43 - And when he thus had spoken,

HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, LAZARUS, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, KJV

Genesis 32:11 - SAVE ME, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children NIV

PLEAD YOUR CASE

Psalm 35:1 - Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; FIGHT AGAINST THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST ME. NIV

Psalm 51:9 - HIDE YOUR FACE FROM MY SINS and

BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITY.

10 CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 DO NOT CAST ME FROM YOUR PRESENCE or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 RESTORE TO ME the joy of your salvation and

GRANT ME A WILLING SPIRIT, to sustain me. NIV

BE PATIENT WITH GOD

Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, 

faithful in prayer.

PRAY FOR A SPEEDY ANSWER

Psalm 40:13 - Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD,

COME QUICKLY TO HELP ME. NIV

Psalm 40:17 - Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. 

You are my help and my deliverer; O my God,

DO NOT DELAY. NIV

Psalm 69:17 - Do not hide your face from your servant;

ANSWER ME QUICKLY, for I am in trouble. NIV

Psalm 70:1 - HASTEN, O GOD, TO SAVE ME; O LORD,

COME QUICKLY to help me. NIV

PRAY IN AGREEMENT WITH A FRIEND

Matthew 18:19 - "Again, I tell you that IF TWO OF YOU ON EARTH AGREE ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ASK FOR, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where TWO or THREE come together in my name, THERE AM I WITH THEM."

NIV

James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and

PRAY FOR EACH OTHER so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. NIV

Deuteronomy 32:30 - ONE man (praying) chase a thousand, (minions) or TWO (praying) put ten thousand (minions) to flight, NIV

1 Timothy 2:1 – Pray and intercede for all people
¹ I urge you, first of all, to PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE. Ask God to help them; INTERCEDE ON THEIR BEHALF, and give thanks for them. (NLT)

PRAY SONGS OF PRAISES TO GOD

Psalm 22:3 - Thou art holy,

O THOU THAT INHABITS THE PRAISES of Israel

Psalm 13:5 - But I trust in your unfailing love;

MY HEART REJOICES in your salvation.

6 I WILL SING TO THE LORD, for he has been good to me. NIV

Ephesian 5:19 - Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and MAKE MUSIC IN YOUR HEART to the Lord, 20 ALWAYS GIVING THANKS to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV

PRAY ON THE MOVE

Psalms 55:17 - EVENING, MORNING AND NOON I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. NIV

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Be joyful always;

17 PRAY CONTINUALLY;

Luke 18:1 - Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should ALWAYS PRAY AND NOT GIVE UP. NIV

Colossians 1:9 - For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

WE HAVE NOT STOPPED PRAYING FOR YOU and asking God

to fill you with the knowledge of his will through

all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

1 Timothy 5:5 - who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and CONTINUES NIGHT AND DAY TO PRAY and to ask God for help. NIV

THANK GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS

Colossians 4:22 - DEVOTE YOURSELVES TO PRAYER,

being watchful and THANKFUL.

Psalms 55:18 - GIVE THANKS IN (not for) ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. NIV

Psalms 107:31 - Let them GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. NIV

MEDITATE ON HIS SCRIPTURES

Psalms 119:169 - GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING according to your word.

Psalms 119:133 - DIRECT MY FOOTSTEPS according to your word;

The Take Away

·         The question that always comes to the forefront is why does God not answer my prayers?  The Book says; “Why do you bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant when you treat my words like trash. - Because of your sins, I have turned away and will not listen anymore”.

·         If a stranger came to my front door and said he wanted to buy a car and would I mind co-signing with him on the loan, I would most definitely tell him, NO! …. But if my son came to the door all excited and wanted to buy a car and asked me to co-sign, I would most certainly say YES.

·         What is the difference? – The difference is I have a RELATIONSHIP with my son and I don’t with the stranger.  - I was Chief Engineer of a Christian TV station and when the transmitter would go off the air, I would go and get it back on.  I was asked how I could possibly even know where to start with something that is 20 feet long, full of relays, wires and tubes as big as a man.  I knew where to start because over time, I had really gotten to know it; I had spent so much time with it. -  You could say we had a relationship.

·         Do you have a relationship with God that warrants Him answering your prayers? - The Book says; “if you remain in Jesus and His words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted.” - But there is an IF THEN BUT Clause… IF you ask according to His Will. - The only way we can know His will, is to spend time with Him and develop a relationship.  The Good Shepherd says, He KNOWS His sheep and they KNOW His voice.

Psalm 50:16-17 – Why Bother; you treat my words like trash
¹⁶ But God says to the wicked:

“WHY BOTHER RECITING MY DECREES and

PRETENDING TO OBEY MY COVENANT?
¹⁷ For you refuse my discipline and

TREAT MY WORDS LIKE TRASH. (NLT)

 Isaiah 59:1-2 – Your sin has cut you off from God
¹ Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
² IT’S YOUR SINS THAT HAVE CUT YOU OFF FROM GOD. BECAUSE OF YOUR SINS, he has turned away and

WILL NOT LISTEN ANYMORE. (NLT)

John 10:27 – I know my sheep and they listen to my voice
²⁷ MY SHEEP listen to my voice;

I KNOW THEM, and they follow me. (NLT)

John 10:14 – The Sheep know the good shepherd
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and

THEY KNOW ME, (NLT)

John 15:7 – If you remain in Me, you may ask for anything
⁷ IF YOU REMAIN IN ME and

MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU,

you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (NLT)

1 John 5:14 – Ask according to His Will
¹⁴ Now this is the confidence we have before Him:

Whenever we ask anything

ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us. (HCSB)

Ephesians 6:12 – PRAYER WARRIORS - INVISIBLE WAR
¹² WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST FLESH and BLOOD ENEMIES, but against EVIL RULERS and AUTHORITIES of the unseen world, against MIGHTY POWERS in this dark world, and

against EVIL SPIRITS in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-14 – Put on all of God’s Gospel Armor and Pray
¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to

STAND firm against all strategies of the devil.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to RESIST the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be STANDING firm.
¹⁴ STAND your ground, putting on the BELT OF TRUTH and the BODY ARMOR of God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS.
¹⁵ For SHOES, put on the PEACE that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the SHIELD OF FAITH to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
¹⁷ Put on SALVATION as your HELMET, and take the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (NLT)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

                         and see further that I otherwise ever could have.              

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament – Baker

Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

Now that’s a Good Question – R.C. Sproul

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made GENDER NEUTRAL.  AVOID IT.

New Living Translation Bible - NLT

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney