The Spirit of Prayer

The Spirit of Prayer

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And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, "Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Luke 11:1

Jesus' disciples wanted Him to teach them to pray. Reading this Scripture made me wonder if many of us have realized that prayer must be taught. Maybe the reason many do not know how to pray is we have not taught them.

Prayer is not something we automatically know how to do. Prayer does not stand alone...it is connected with our life of faith. It is a product of our relationship and fellowship with God...and His Word. A great prayer life is not necessarily measured by the number of hours we spend, but in the "depth" of our faith; the more Word we find, the more we pray. God's Word tells that we should always pray and not faint (Luke 18:1).

Why do we need to pray? The reason is two-fold:

One, our sufficiency is of God, not of ourselves (2 Cor. 3:5). We can't produce any spiritual results by ourselves, but in Him, we can do all things.
Two, Prayer is our avenue of access into God's purposes (Rom. 8:28). Out of these two-pronged revelations, powerful results are produced.

The Method of Prayer

The first thing Jesus taught the disciples about prayer was the method of how we should pray. He said, When you pray say"...I think we have under-estimated the importance of this key.

To further understand, let's look at some Scriptures. Mark 11:23 tells us, For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Now let's add the next verse; Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them (the things you have been saying) and you shall have them (Mark 11:24).

Saying precedes praying. Then Jesus told them how to pray and what to say. He divided the praying up into categories.

Our Father which is in heaven (acknowledging our Father-God relationship through the blood of Jesus)
Hallowed be Thy name (say and pray the names of God...Jehovah, Jireh, my provider, etc.).
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven (pray for God's will to be done in every area of your life).
Give us our daily bread (your daily provisions).
Forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins (repent of any sin in your life).
Lead us not into temptation (thank Him that He only leads you into blessing and keeps you from temptation).
Deliver us from evil (thank Him that you are delivered from all evil).

The Spirit of Prayer

Next, Jesus teaches them about the Spirit of Prayer. Verses five through eight describe importunity or what I call the Spirit of Prayer coming up in a person. Importunity is shameless persistence and insistence in prayer (read Luke 11:5-8).

The Spirit of Prayer or "mood of prayer" is harmony between your spirit and God. The Spirit of Prayer should rule our spirit and our conduct...always praying in the Spirit, acting in the Spirit of Prayer. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Eph. 6:18).

The Apostle Paul said, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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" (1 Cor. 14:14-15).

In the Spirit, we speak mysteries of God, hidden wisdom, spiritual wisdom hidden for us, not from us. God reveals these things to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:6,7,10).

The Spirit of God helps us pray when we don't know how to pray or what to pray. The Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate speech. In the Spirit, the Holy Spirit prays through us and for us according to the will of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit prays the will of God for us and through us...therefore, we "know" that everything is going to work for our good because the Holy Spirit Himself has prayed the perfect will of God for us according to God's own purpose (Rom. 8:26-28). That's the benefit of the "Spirit of Prayer." Christ, the Anointed One, and His Anointing prays for us in heaven, but the Holy Spirit prays through us on earth.

Also, the Spirit of Prayer "comes on you" to pray. When the Spirit of Prayer comes on you, your prayer takes on a more authoritative and confident tone. Your prayer is anointed and somewhat effortless and exciting...and you know that everything you prayed is coming to pass. In the Spirit of Prayer, you may say and pray things you wouldn't have prayed otherwise. But when the anointing is there, so is the faith to say it and believe it.

As you allow the Spirit of Prayer to be tapped in your life, your praying will change from an event to a life (1 John 2:20,27).

The Results of Prayer

The third thing Jesus taught the disciples about prayer was to expect results. He said if you ask, it will be given; if you seek, you will find; if you knock, it will be opened unto you. He was talking about prayer (Luke 11:9-10).

He then contrasts the relationship with your Heavenly Father in prayer to your earthly father on earth. He said, if a son asks his earthly father for bread, will he give him a stone? Of course not. If he asked for a fish, will his earthly father give him a serpent? No! If he asked for and egg, will he give him a scorpion? Absolutely not. Then how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him (Luke 11:11-13).

Recently, the United States Supreme Court issued another warning against prayer in and around public schools. It's amazing to me that apparently brilliant thinkers can't seem to comprehend that there is no "separation of church and state" clause in our constitution. It's a myth. If we know it, why don't they? Makes you wonder if this is not a satanic stronghold. Well, that's exactly what it is. That's why we need godly leaders and godly men and women on the U.S. Supreme Court.

According to a recent newspaper article, the Supreme Court harassment in this area has backfired. Prayer has broken out all over the Bible Belt as a reaction to this hostility toward prayer. Every Friday night before high school ball games, there is a revival of prayer going on. The Supreme Court Justices have provoked a reaction. The court's decision seems to have had a reverse effect on the kids. By telling them not to pray, they are showing up at high school football games, praying up a storm of blessings! Glory to God!!!!

These are voluntary prayers. They are not using the schools' microphones; they are just praying on their own. The Supreme Court's decision is making constitutional lawyers out of high schoolers. It's the difference between freedom of religion, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment, and an establishment of religion, which is forbidden...and the kids know the difference; the Justices don't.

The Spirit of Prayer is ready to come upon you as an individual ...and your Church corporately. Invite the Spirit of Prayer to come into your prayer group, Bible study, etc. You will notice a difference. Invite the Spirit of Prayer to stir up your own prayer life, and you will notice a different and powerful anointing to pray.