Spirit Baptism And Prayer 0981573622, 9780981573625

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Copyright © 2008 by Dennis Smith All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author. Printed in the USA Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Cover designed by David Berthiaume Text designed by Greg Solie • AltamontGraphics.com ISBN 10: 0-9815736-2-2 ISBN 13: 978-0-9815736-2-5

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Contents Waiting on&God SPIRIT BAPTISM

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1 Why Should We Pray? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 BY 2 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit . . DENNIS SMITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3 Prayer and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . 22 4 Praying in the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 5 United Prayer in the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6 Persevering Prayer in the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 7 Prayer Intercession for Christians and Non-Christians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 8 Pray the Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 9 Praying Bible Verses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 10 Listening to God in Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 11 Fasting and Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 12 Hindrances to Prayer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  97 13 Conclusion  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  106

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About the Author

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Waiting on&God SPIRIT BAPTISM

t the time of the writing of this book, Dennis Smith is serving as a pastor in the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dennis has served the church as an active layman and BY for more than 35 years. in pastoral and departmental positions DENNIS SMITHdegree in mechanical engineerDennis received a Bachelor of Science ing from Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, he became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. After working in engineering for a short time, he felt the call to full-time ministry. To fulfill that calling, Dennis attended Andrews University Theological Seminary and received a Masters of Divinity degree. Dennis has also studied in the area of public health from Loma Linda University. In 1999, the Lord led Dennis and his wife Patty to begin studying the biblical teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As a result of their study, they were convicted to specifically pray for this biblical experience. Soon after they prayed for God to grant this infilling experience of the Spirit, a new spiritual life began to take hold of them both. Almost immediately Dennis felt led to begin writing about the things he was learning and experiencing. This book and the other books he has written are the result of that experience.

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Introduction Waiting on&God SPIRIT BAPTISM

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am sure every Christian is aware that prayer is an important part of the Christian’s life. Many books on the subject have been written. So, a valid question might be, why another book on prayer? BY led my wife and me to look more During the fall of 1999, the Lord SMITH of the Holy Spirit. Since that closely at the biblical teachingDENNIS on the baptism time, I have become aware of several aspects of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that I had not previously understood. One vital area in which the Lord has broadened my understanding is in prayer. The truths presented in this book on prayer are those that I am convinced must be understood and experienced if we are to be ready for Christ’s return. Some things you will read in this book may not be new to you. However, I believe the Lord is calling us to better understand concepts about prayer about which we have only a limited understanding. I believe there will be presented some truths about prayer that you may not be as familiar with. For instance, I was aware of the phrase “pray in the Spirit.” However, I now realize that I did not really understand what it meant. The Lord has clarified such questions as:

• • • •

Why is prayer really necessary? What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? What is intercessory prayer, and how does it work? What is united prayer and why is it more powerful than only one praying?

• Why is fasting an important aspect of prayer?

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I have sought to answer these in addition to many more questions about prayer in this book. Another important concern that I believe most Christians ask is, “Why is it so difficult to have a consistent, powerful prayer life?” If we are honest with ourselves, I think most of us will have to admit that we have many times promised God that we would pray more only to find ourselves falling back into our previous nominal prayer life. The goal of this book is to change that forever. The teachings of this book will make it possible for you to develop a truly meaningful, consistent, and powerful prayer life in the Spirit. If you long to have this kind of prayer life, I invite you to ask God right now to give you the understanding of prayer and desire to pray that He wants you to have. Only God can change us from a “prayer-less Laodicean” Christian to a spiritually revived “mighty, prevailing praying” Christian. God has led you to read this book for that very reason. He is calling you to become a mighty prayer warrior for Him. He is calling you out of Laodicea in order to prepare for Christ’s soon coming. He is calling you to a prayer life that is necessary for you to have in order to gain the victory over every influence and oppression of Satan in your life, and be ready when Christ returns. For this to happen to the fullest, we must know deep within our hearts that prayer is simply speaking with the One who loves us with all His heart; the One who gave of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ so we can be close to Him and live with Him forever. Stormie Omartian defines prayer as: “Prayer is baring your soul to the One who loved you before you even knew of Him and letting Him speak to your heart” (The Prayer That Changes Everything, p. 9). The more we truly realize God’s love for us, the more intimate our relationship will be with Him. The more intimate our relationship is with Him, the more meaningful our prayer lives will be. Prayer plays a vital role in the salvation of the one praying as well as the ones for whom we pray. Jesus said in His prayer recorded by the disciple John: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

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Our eternal life depends on “knowing” God. On two occasions Jesus said He would declare “I do not know you” to those professed Christians who will not be ready to meet Him when He returns (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:1-12). A meaningful prayer life is essential for us to “know” God as we must if we are to be among the redeemed when He comes. Thus, the teachings in this book on prayer are crucial for God’s people to understand.

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Chapter One WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

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have found that even though most Christians believe prayer is important, many do not understand why prayer is really necessary. Many question, “If God is sovereign and able to carry out His will, why do we need to pray for Him to do what He already wants and plans to do anyway?” Some reason that prayer is primarily for our benefit, but God is still going to do what He wants whether we pray or not. The idea is popular that it is a “privilege” to pray, but not really a necessity for God to accomplish His will on earth. The truth of the matter is that it is necessary for God’s children to pray. Why else would Jesus tell us to pray that God’s will be “done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). If believers do not pray, God’s desires will not be achieved in this earth. In this chapter we will see why this is true. Prayer is as essential to our Christian lives and the work of God on earth, as breathing is to everyday living. If one refuses or is unable to breathe, his life ceases. If one refuses to pray for himself, he will be very weak spiritually and ultimately cease to be a Christian. If believers neglect to pray for the lost, their efforts to win them to Jesus Christ will be of no avail. It requires prayer to breathe spiritual life into our souls and to those who are spiritually “dead.” Prayer is required to sustain spiritual life and advance God’s kingdom. I am sure many Christians—at least those living in these last days— have asked themselves, “Why is prayer so important?” “Isn’t God going to do what He wants to do whether I pray or not?” Satan wants to confuse the believer concerning prayer. He wants to keep us from understanding the vital role prayer plays in the work of God in this

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earth and in saving the lost. Satan knows that if he can get the Christian to be negligent in the area of prayer, he has little to fear concerning the believer’s spiritual growth in Christ or his effectiveness as a laborer for God in His work on earth. I believe God’s Word teaches that prayer is necessary for an individual and church to experience revival. Prayer is necessary for the “strongholds” of Satan to be abolished, and for the saving of the lost. Prayer is necessary for a Christian to remain strong in the Lord. I find it amazing that prayer, which seems so powerless and insignificant to the natural man, is so necessary and powerful for the spiritual man. Why is prayer so important and necessary in the Christian’s life and God’s work? Let’s look at the creation of mankind to find the answer.

Why Prayer Is Necessary When God created Adam He created man in His own “likeness” and “image” (Genesis 1:26-27). The Hebrew word translated “likeness” is damah, which means “similar to.” The Hebrew word translated “image” is tselem and means a “resemblance” or “representational image.” The word is used when referring to an idol, which represents a god. When God created man, He created him in many ways like Himself. God did something else when He created man. He gave man “dominion” on earth (Genesis 1:26-27). The Hebrew word translated “dominion” is radhah, which means “to rule” or “to reign.” Adam was to be the ruler of this world as God’s representative. He was to “keep” the earth (Genesis 2:15). The Hebrew word translated “keep” is shamar, which means “to guard against intruders,” “to preserve and keep safe.” Adam was to be God’s authoritative representative on earth. He was to be the earth’s watchman or guardian. He was to “represent” God on this earth. The psalmist further describes the position God gave man at creation. David was inspired to write that God crowned man with “glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). Looking again at the original Hebrew words translated “glory” and “honor,” we find that man was given “majesty” similar to a king’s reigning authority. Hence, we see that at creation the earth was put under Adam’s authority. What happened on earth depended on Adam. Adam’s authority and rulership on earth was so complete that Adam was in a position to give this authority away to another. We know the sad story of Adam’s fall as recorded in Genesis chapter three. Adam gave the authority of this earth over to God’s archenemy, Satan. Satan well knew

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what he had gained when Adam yielded to his temptations to disobey God. When tempting Christ in the wilderness, Satan showed Him all the “kingdoms of the world” and stated, “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:6). Jesus never disputed Satan’s claim to have authority and dominion over this earth. In fact, three times Satan is called the “ruler of this world” in the New Testament (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

Christ, the Second Adam, Regained What the First Adam Lost Even though Satan gained dominion over this earth through Adam’s fall, God did not change his decision to work through humans to finish His will on this earth. So complete was this decision that it was necessary for God to become man to win this world back (John 1:1-3, 14). The first Adam gave man’s authority over this earth away. The second Adam, Christ, won it back and brought deliverance to Satan’s captives (Romans 5). At the creation of this world, God established the principle that humans were to forever be His means of exercising His authority and activity in this earth. This brings us to the main focus of this chapter on why prayer is essential for the Christian’s spiritual growth and the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. Prayer is necessary because from the beginning God intended to work through humans, and not independently of them, in completing His will on earth. God works through the prayers of His people. When God wills to do something in this earth, it is necessary for man to pray that God do it. Many examples of this are seen in both the Old and New Testament. We are to ask for God’s will to be done on earth (Matt 6:10). We are to ask for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). We are to pray that “laborers be sent into the harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). Paul asked believers to pray for the advancement of the gospel (2 Thessalonians 3:1). All these things are God’s will. However, it is necessary for man to pray for them because prayer releases God’s power. Remember, it is God’s plan to work through man, not work independently of him.

Examples We see a very clear example of this in the experience of Elijah. God told Elijah there would be a drought for three and one-half years. In order for the drought to happen it was necessary for Elijah to pray that it occur (James 5:17). Three and one-half years later God promised to send rain and

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end the draught (1 Kings 18:1, 41-44). Again, Elijah knew it was necessary for him to pray for the rain if rain were to fall even though it was God’s will to send the rain. We are told that Elijah had to pray seven times before the rain came. Elijah knew if he stopped praying for God to fulfill His promise to send rain, the rain would not come. Ellen White points out the necessity of Elijah’s persistent prayer when she stated: “Had he given up in discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he persevered till the answer came” (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 1034). Persistent prayer is often required in releasing God’s power in this earth. When God desires to do something, He moves upon the heart of His children to pray for it. However, we are always free to refuse to yield to His call to prayer. Another clear example is seen in the book of Ezekiel. Israel had gone into great apostasy (Ezekiel 22:17-29). A very enlightening, yet sad, text follows. Israel justly deserved severe judgments from God because of her sins. However, God in His mercy sought for a man in Israel who would pray to Him for mercy that His judgments would be averted. The sad words are recorded, “but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30). As a result that no one was found who was willing to pray to God for His judgments to be withheld, God said, “Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them” (Ezekiel 22:31). As we read incident after incident recorded in the Bible about how vital prayer is in attaining God’s will in this earth, there should be no question in any of our minds concerning the necessity of prayer. God works through the prayers of His people, not independently of them. Also, besides praying for our personal spiritual growth, we must also cooperate with God by following His revealed instruction in His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Again, the principle is clear. God works through both the prayers and efforts of His people to affect His will in their lives.

Satan’s Fear Satan is more afraid of the praying Christian than the active, working Christian, which is why he will do all in his power to keep you from becoming a Spirit-filled, Spirit-directed prayer intercessor for God. Wesley Duewel wrote:

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“Satan fears prayer more than almost anything else we could ever do. Prevailing prayer is potentially the greatest continuing threat to Satan that there has been since Calvary. Nothing will please him more than to get you to stop or neglect a strategic prayer request. Hold on. If Satan is fighting, your persevering in prayer is worth all that it costs” (Mighty Prevailing Prayer, p. 157). Ellen White wrote: “There is a mighty power in prayer. Our great adversary is constantly seeking to keep the troubled soul away from God. An appeal to heaven by the humblest saint is more to be dreaded by Satan than the decrees of cabinets or the mandates of kings” (In Heavenly Places, p. 82).

God’s House God says, “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:7). The house of God in the Old Testament was the temple. In the New Testament, the temple or house of God is His people (1 Corinthians 3:16). Two significant evidences indicate that we are God’s temple: 1) we are filled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), and 2) we are a temple of prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That is why the baptism of the Holy Spirit and prayer are vital for the Christian. A Christian without the Holy Spirit is not truly a Christian. A Christian who does not consistently pray is not truly a Christian. Prayer and the baptism of the Holy Spirit will be the hallmarks of those ready to meet Jesus. Yes, as Seventh-day Adventists we know that the Sabbath will also be an issue. However, a danger exists that we focus on such doctrines to save us rather than focusing on Jesus. Remember it was Sabbath-keeping, tithe-paying, health reformers who crucified Jesus. It is not what we know, but who we know that will lead to salvation. Only through prayer and the baptism of the Holy Spirit will we truly get to “know” Jesus. We can have many other evidences that we think indicate we are ready to meet Jesus when He returns. We may be keeping the Sabbath, paying tithe or following health reform principles. However, if we do not know Him through prayer and the baptism of the Holy Spirit we will hear the words, “I know you not” (Matthew 25:1-12). We may be involved in an apparently successful ministry for Jesus with even signs and wonders happening, but if we do

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not know Him through prayer and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we will hear the words, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23). It is essential that every Christian take seriously God’s call to pray and be filled with His Spirit. Whenever God’s people gather for fellowship and worship, prayer should be a major part of their gathering. This was the case for those first-century Christians (Acts 2:42, 46-47). My desire is that every sincere Christian who reads this book will never again doubt the importance of prayer. Let us each be daily filled with God’s Spirit and yield to the Spirit’s promptings to pray. The following chapters will present vital aspects of prayer that are necessary for every Christian to understand and practice in order for God’s work to be finished on this earth, for this understanding and practice are also necessary for us to be ready for Christ’s return. The teachings on prayer in this book are not an option. They are a necessity for all who want to be ready for Christ’s second coming.

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Chapter Two THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

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n order to have a consistent and Spirit-directed prayer life, we must daily experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, since this book focuses on prayer, it is essential that the reader understands this very important biblical subject. For this reason I have included this chapter on the Spirit’s infilling in this book. If we do not understand and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit we will not develop the kind of prayer life we must have in order to be ready for Christ’s second coming. I direct the reader to my book The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for a more in-depth study on the subject of Spirit baptism. If you have read that book, this chapter will be a review for you. However, for the benefit of those who have not read that book, I felt it necessary to include this subject in this book on prayer.

Satan’s Plan Satan does not want you to understand or experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ellen White was aware of Satan’s devices to hinder the reception of this Gift by God’s people: “Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the church of Christ, it is one of the devices of Satan, through the errors of extremists and fanatics, to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit, and cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord Himself has provided” (The Great Controversy [1911], p. viii).

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The baptism of the Holy Spirit simply describes a special infilling of the Holy Spirit into the life of the believer. This baptism is also called infilling and anointing, and has been available to Christians since the day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago. Peter associated the Pentecost outpouring of the Spirit with the “early rain” prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-21).

Jesus’ Promise and Example Jesus promised that the Father would give the Spirit to all who asked (Luke 11:13). Paul tells us we receive this gift by faith (Galatians 3:14). The reception of this Gift is so important that Paul commands us to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). It is not simply an option. It is a necessity if the believer is earnest about experiencing the full deliverance the gospel of Jesus Christ offers. Jesus is our example in all things. In His life we see the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a special, separate event following His baptism. This event equipped Him for victory over Satan. It was also a special anointing for ministry (Luke 4:18-19). Christ’s experience is a divine model for every Christian. He was “begotten” of the Spirit (Luke 1:35). He was led by the Spirit in His childhood and early manhood (Luke 2:52). He received water baptism, which was followed by baptism in the Spirit in answer to His prayer (Luke 3:21-22). After the experience of Spirit baptism (Luke 4:1)—infilling or anointing—He was prepared to confront Satan in the wilderness and gain great victories over this enemy (Luke 4:2-13). From there He went forward to minister in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14; Acts 10:38). The practice of every believer is to follow Christ’s example. The Christian must be born of the Spirit and baptized of water (John 3:5-8). Therefore, water baptism is only the beginning. The believer must also be baptized by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16, Acts 1:4-5) just like the Spirit baptism that occurred on the day of Pentecost. The infilling of the Spirit is necessary for every believer to have the power to live a victorious life and successfully witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Jesus said the believer would not only do the “works” He did but also “greater works” (John 14:12). When Jesus was on earth He could only be at one place at one time. However, when He ascended to His Father He was able to be in many places throughout the earth by indwelling His followers through the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24; John 14:16-18). Hence, Jesus empowers the believer to do the same works He did through

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the Holy Spirit, and these works will be greater because they are more widespread. The fulfillment of Jesus’ promise began on the day of Pentecost. The gospel was preached, souls were won, unity and joy were seen in the believers, and the sick were healed (Acts 2:46-47; 5:15-16). The ministry of these empowered Christians and that of Jesus’ ministry were the same because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Receiving the Baptism of the Spirit after Pentecost Not every believer was present at Pentecost. A practical question might be, “How did believers receive the baptism of the Spirit after Pentecost?” The book of Acts answers the question. On more than one occasion the Spirit fell on a group while Peter spoke to them (Acts 10:44-46; 11:15-17). It appears that God also led the church to receive the baptism of the Spirit in a more orderly way by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:12-17; 19:1-6). Note in Acts 8, the individuals of Samaria were led by the Spirit to accept Christ and be baptized. Yet they had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Peter and John came to them from Jerusalem for the specific purpose to lay hands on them and pray for the baptism of the Spirit to come upon them. This is a clear indication that water baptism and Spirit baptism are two separate experiences. The Spirit leads an individual to accept Christ and be baptized in water. This is a different work than the baptism of the Spirit, which must be sought separately when one becomes aware of this leading. We see in Acts that Paul also received the baptism of the Spirit by the laying on of hands and prayer, (Acts 9:17). In Paul’s situation he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before his water baptism. The individual who utters a prayer with the laying on of hands should be a believer who has previously received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When a member asks for prayer to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the following example might be used with the laying on of hands on the head of the requester: “Heavenly Father, we come into Your presence in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. When on earth, Jesus said; ‘If we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more is our heavenly Father willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?’ And your servant Paul said that we receive the gift of the Spirit by faith. So Father, we come before you seeking the baptism of

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the Holy Spirit for (name). In the name of Jesus Christ I claim the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit for (name). I pray that You will so infill (name) with the presence of Jesus that His character will be fully manifest through (name). I pray that the fruit of the Spirit will be seen in (name) life so that (name) witness for Jesus will be attended as never before by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for hearing our prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.” A believer who desires the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not necessarily need to have someone pray for them with laying on of hands. When I first began sharing this teaching with our church, one of the members decided that very evening to seek the baptism of the Spirit. She earnestly prayed for God to fill her with His Spirit, and she said later that she felt the greatest peace that she ever felt come over her. God has not limited Himself to only one method of receiving the baptism of the Spirit although there is a certain specialness about the ceremony of praying with laying on of hands to seek the infilling of the Spirit. It seems a wonderful blessing awaits those believers who share in this sacred experience.

Seek the Baptism Every Day Another very important point: We must renew this infilling every day. Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). The dying to self and infilling of the Spirit is a daily experience. Since the indwelling is not a “once-and-forever” experience, Paul tells us that the “inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). We need the renewing of the Spirit every day of our lives. Also, Paul’s command to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) is a continuous action verb in the Greek meaning we are to persist in being filled with the Spirit daily. With the infilling of the Spirit, the believer is led by the Spirit. Paul writes of the importance of this being a daily experience when he states: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Again the verb form in the Greek is continuous action. According to Greek translation, Paul is saying, “as many as are continuing to be led daily by the Spirit of God.” Hence, we must receive the Spirit everyday to be led by Him everyday.

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Since Christ is our example in all things, note what Ellen White writes about the baptism of the Spirit in Christ’s daily life: “Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others” (Christ Object Lessons, p. 139).

Benefits of Receiving the Baptism The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives power to our witness and brings forth the fruit of Christ’s character in our lives. Paul spoke of this when he wrote: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Because God’s glory is His character (Exodus 33:18-19), Paul states that the believer will be growing in Christ’s character “from glory to glory” by the Spirit of the Lord that dwells in him. The infilling of the Spirit of God will “make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever” (Hebrews 13:21). Ellen White reaffirmed the development of character the recipient of the Spirit’s infilling receives when she wrote: “When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace takes the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven” (Desire of Ages, p.173).

We Can Grieve the Spirit We can do things that will grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-31). If we do not daily seek Him and cooperate in following where He leads us, His power will wane, and our Christian experience will weaken. God doesn’t force anyone. When we receive the baptism of the Spirit, He will have a greater impact in our lives, and we will feel His promptings

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more strongly. The Spirit will be daily putting the desire in our hearts to obey God. He will call us to study God’s Word and pray more. The Spirit will cause us to begin loving righteousness and hate sin. The practical counsels Paul gives to the believer on living the Christian life are aimed at helping us maintain the fullness of the Spirit in our lives. Two examples of such counsel are found in Ephesians 4:25-32, and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24. Paul knew that the Spirit of God dwelling in the believer would be prompting him to do the things listed in these verses. However, we are always free to disregard those promptings. When we do this, we begin the process of “grieving” or “quenching” the Spirit. Paul gives very practical advice in many sections of Scripture on how to avoid doing this. If we refuse to yield to His prompting we will be in danger of shunning the Spirit. If you find that you have grieved the Spirit, don’t become discouraged. Instead, ask God to forgive you (1 John 1:9), and He will. Then ask God to fill you anew with His Spirit, and He will (Luke 11:13). Ask Him in faith, and you will receive (Galatians 3:14). David knew God’s mercy even though he had committed the sins of adultery and murder. He had walked away from the prompting of God’s Spirit in his life when he committed these terrible acts. Yet, when he was convicted of his sin by the Spirit, he turned to God in prayer (Psalm 51). Note especially these words: “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:9-12). When we find that we have been slipping away from God, we must not let another moment go by without confessing our sin, accepting God’s forgiveness and claiming the promise of the renewing of the Spirit in our lives just as David did. Then we will once again be strengthened in the “inner” man to be victorious over Satan (Ephesians 3:16-19).

We Must Experience the Early Rain to Receive the Latter Rain of the Spirit It is time for the “latter rain” to fall. If we do not experience the infilling of the Spirit, which is the “early rain” (Joel 2:23), we will not be prepared

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to receive and participate in the work of the latter rain. I believe God is moving among His people today and leading them into this wonderful experience. If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, don’t delay another day. His reception should be first and foremost in our lives. This gift will bring all other gifts to us. The Spirit’s infilling will change our lethargy to excitement, our weakness to strength, and our witness will be with a power not seen since the day of Pentecost.

A Necessity for a Meaningful Prayer Life As I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, in order for us to have a consistent and Spirit directed prayer life we must daily experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit filled experience and Spirit directed prayer life is not an option for those ready to meet Jesus when He returns. They are a necessity. Hence, it is my prayer that all who read this book will experience both: the Spirit’s infilling every day and a consistent Spirit directed prayer life. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary in order for the various aspects of prayer presented in this book to become a consistent part of our prayer life. The chapter that follows will illustrate this point.

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relate the following true story to illustrate what I feel to be the reason for the necessity of understanding and experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It also illustrates why the church lacks the spiritual power she needs today and must have in order to give the three angels’ messages in the “Spirit and power of Elijah” before Jesus returns. It is taken from the preface of the book, The Prayer Life, by Andrew Murray. I personally feel it has application to us today. We have prayer conferences and bring in excellent speakers to encourage us to become more prayerful as individuals and as a church. Our denomination is seeking to develop a stronger prayer ministry throughout its ranks. However, many times a weekend or entire week emphasis on prayer results in a temporary blessing for the participants, but does not impact their lives long term. We tend to fall back into our previous “Laodicean” prayer habits. I feel the following story gives some important insights into our present day problem and the solution to the “sin of prayerlessness.”

One Denomination’s Experience In the early 1900s Professor de Vos of the Dutch Reformed Church theological seminary wrote a letter to the ministers of the denomination concerning the low state of spiritual life which marked the church generally, which, he said, ought to lead to an inquiry as to what extent that statement applied to the church. A book, The State of the Church, had been written, which called for deep searching of heart. Professor de Vos asked whether it was not time for them to come together and in God’s presence find out

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what might be the cause of the evil. He wrote: “If only we could study the conditions in all sincerity, we shall have to acknowledge that our unbelief and sin are the sure cause of the lack of spiritual power; that this condition is one of sin and guilt before God, and nothing less than a direct grieving of God’s Holy Spirit.” Quoting from the preface: “His invitation met with a hearty response. Our four theological professors, with more than two hundred ministers, missionaries, and theological students, came together with the above words as the keynote of the meeting [that was held at Stellenbosch, South Africa, on April 11-14, 1912.] From the very first in the addresses there was the tone of confession as the only way to repentance and restoration. At a subsequent meeting the opportunity was given for testimony as to what might be the sins that made the life of the church so feeble. Some began to mention failings that they had seen in other ministers, either in conduct or in doctrine or in service. It was soon felt that this was not the right way; each must acknowledge that in which he himself was guilty. “The Lord graciously so ordered it that we were gradually led to the sin of prayerlessness as one of the deepest roots of the evil. No one could plead himself free from this. Nothing so reveals the defective spiritual life in ministers and congregation as the lack of believing and unceasing prayer. Prayer is indeed the pulse of the spiritual life. It is the great means of bringing to the minister and people the blessing and power of heaven. … “When once the spirit of confession began to prevail, the question arose as to whether it would be indeed possible to expect to gain the victory over all that had in the past hindered our prayer lives. In smaller conferences held previously, it had been found that many were most anxious to make a new beginning, and yet they had not the courage to expect that they would be able to maintain that prayer life that they saw to be in accordance with the Word of God. They had often made the attempt but had failed. They did not dare to make any promise to the Lord to live and pray as He would have them; they felt it impossible. Such confessions gradually led to the great truth that the only power for a new prayer life is to be found

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in an entirely new relationship to our blessed Savior. It is as we see in Him the Lord who saves us from sin—the sin of prayerlessness, too—and our faith yields itself to a life of closer communion with Him, that a life in His love and fellowship will make prayer to Him the natural expression of our soul’s life. Before we parted, many were able to testify that they were returning with new light and new hope to find in Jesus Christ strength for a new prayer life. “Many felt that this was only a beginning. Satan, who had so long prevailed in the inner chamber, would do his utmost with his temptations to make us yield once again to the power of the flesh and the world. Nothing but the teaching and the fellowship of Christ Himself could ever give the power to remain faithful.” The presentations that Andrew Murray gave at the conference were put into book form and sent to church leaders. Murray adds the following at the end of the preface. “I wish to add one word more, in regard to ‘the Pentecostal prayer meetings’ held throughout our church. These have had a very interesting and important place in our work. At the time of the great revival in America and Ireland in 1858 and following years, some of our elder ministers issued a circular urging the churches to pray that God might visit us too. In 1860, the revival broke out in various parishes. … “There is still much indeed lacking of the full knowledge and power of the Holy Spirit, but we feel that we cannot be sufficiently grateful to God for what He has done through His leading us to dedicate these days to special prayer for the movings of His Holy Spirit.”

My Thoughts on the Matter I think the most important conclusion they came to is found in the words, “the only power for a new prayer life is to be found in an entirely new relationship to our blessed Savior. It is as we see in Him the Lord who saves us from sin—the sin of prayerlessness, too—and our faith yields itself to a life of closer communion with Him, that a life in His love and fellowship will make prayer to Him the natural expression of our soul’s life.”

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The question would then be, how can we experience that “entirely new relationship to our blessed Savior?” I believe the answer is, by daily receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is only by experiencing the daily infilling of the Spirit that Jesus will be living in us most fully. (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:18, 1 John 3:24) It is only the baptism of the Spirit that will bring us the “closer communion with Him” and give us the “life in His love and fellowship” that will “make prayer to Him the natural expression of our soul’s life.” It is only as Jesus lives in us fully that we will develop a consistent, effective prayer life; the prayer life of Jesus. Only God can give us the continual desire to pray. Such a desire to pray to the true God of heaven and earth does not come naturally to us in our fallen condition. Notice God’s promise: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications …” (Zechariah 12:10) When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit we receive the “spirit of supplication.” The Spirit’s infilling is vital to a consistent, Spirit empowered prayer life.

Do This, But Don’t Leave the Other Undone I am definitely in favor of bringing in special speakers for prayer conferences on a conference and local church level. I agree with establishing prayer coordinators in every church. However, I also believe that if the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not taught, understood and experienced, such conferences for most participants will be “spiritually high” events, but will not have the lasting effect desired by either the presenters or attendees. We can be admonished over and over again to become more prayerful. We can promise God and ourselves time and again that we will make changes in our life in order to become more prayerful. We can exert every ounce of our will power to make this happen. Yet, if we are not experiencing Jesus living in us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit all such admonishes, promises and efforts will fail to produce the desired results. Ellen White has written: “Nothing but the baptism of the Holy Spirit can bring up the church to its right position, and prepare the people of God for the fast

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approaching conflict. Why is there not individual growth in the church? Why is not every member of the church growing up into Christ our living head? This growth does not mean growing earthward, but heavenward; not downward, but upward. We are living in the dispensation of the Spirit. We hold in our hands the promise of His Spirit, and ministers may be qualified to give the trumpet a certain sound, to arouse the sleeping people and set them at work for themselves and for others out of the fold” (Letter 15, 1889, p. 5. [To Dr. Burke, Dec. 20, 1889]). So my appeal is this: first we must ourselves daily seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to have the kind of prayer life the Lord wants us to have. Secondly, let us never seek to lead our ministers, leaders and church members into a more meaningful prayer life without leading them to understand and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit in their lives. If we fail to do this I fear that we are setting ourselves and others up for failure in becoming the prayerful Christian we all desire to become.

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Chapter Four PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

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very Christian is involved in warfare against the enemy with eternal consequences at stake. This battle is as real as any ever fought on this earth by nations. The battle is between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. Paul describes this battle as a wrestling match, which is up close and personal. “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” (Ephesians 6:12). Paul next describes the “armor of God” in which we must dress to gain victory. This armor is described in detail in the chapter entitled “Dress for Success” in my book Spirit Baptism & Deliverance, so I will not go into great detail here on each piece of armor. I will focus on the last thing Paul mentioned after listing the armor. Paul concludes his description of this warfare and our defense and offense against the enemy with the words: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Note that Paul commands us to “pray always.” We must become a prevailing prayer intercessor praying consistently and persistently. Then he adds “in the Spirit.” Here we see that praying in the Spirit is just as impor-

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tant as clothing oneself with the whole armor of God if we want victory over the enemy. An important question then is, “What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?” A brief definition would be that we pray in the Spirit when our prayers are prompted by the Holy Spirit. We are to be directed by the Spirit as to when to pray and what to pray. The Holy Spirit is to guide us in every aspect of our prayer life. When we are praying in the Spirit, our prayers will be empowered by the Spirit. Our prayers will be effective and bring powerful results. Hence, the next question is, “How can our prayer lives be Spirit-directed and empowered?” The answer is found in another command Paul gave us: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The only way we can pray in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit. The Greek verb form for “filled” is a continuous action verb. Paul said that we must keep on being filled with the Spirit every day. Paul used the analogy of wine in contrast to the Spirit. Just as too much wine will affect every part of our bodies and minds; so also the Spirit is to affect us completely even to the point of directing our prayer lives. Therefore, in order for us to pray consistently in the Spirit, we must continually be filled with the Spirit. We must be constantly under His influence.

Christ’s Example Christ recognized the necessity of being baptized with the Spirit. He received the Spirit infilling at his water baptism after He had prayed for it (Luke 3:20-21). Christ also recognized the necessity of continuing to be filled with the Spirit every day. “Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 139). Why? Christ knew He must be Spirit-filled to have Spirit-prompted, guided, and empowered prayers. This was the secret to His powerful ministry and the continual defeat of Satan’s kingdom wherever Jesus encountered it.

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We Need the Spirit’s Infilling How many times we have promised God that we would have a more consistent prayer life? Without the Holy Spirit’s infilling, those promises are like chains of sand. They will not hold strong. Zechariah gives us the answer to achieving the consistent prayer life that all Christians desire. “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications” (Zechariah 12:10). When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we receive the “spirit of supplication.” The Spirit’s infilling is vital to a consistent, Spirit-empowered prayer life. The Holy Spirit fills us so He can be Lord of our praying. Spurgeon preached, “It is not true prayer to God except as the Spirit is total lord of the praying.” This is a fact well-known to mighty men and women of God throughout the ages. The apostles were not outstanding men of prayer until they were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4, 6:4). For this reason, a clear relationship is present between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and our prayer lives. It is the only way to “pray in the Spirit.” If our prayer lives are weak, inconsistent, and powerless, then the Spirit’s infilling is minimal in our lives. The well-known Christian leader and writer on prayer, Andrew Murray, wrote: “It is only as we give ourselves to the Spirit living and praying in us, that the glory of the prayer hearing God and the ever-blessed and most effective mediation of the Son can be known by us in their power” (Ministry of Intercession, p. 120). He continued in the same book by stating that prayer is the “index of the measure of the Spirit’s work in us.” “The extent of the abiding is the exact measure of the power in prayer. It is the Spirit dwelling within us that prays. … Just so much as there is of Christ’s Spirit in us there is real prayer” (Effective Fervent Prayer, Gordon Watt, p. 45).

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The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives powerful results to our prayers and service for God. Paul’s ministry testified to this. In Acts 9, we read of his conversion. Verse 17 tells us of his receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When writing to the Corinthians, he described his ministry to them with the words: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Concerning the Spirit’s presence in our prayers, Spurgeon taught: “The Holy Spirit must be present all through it, to help infirmity, and give life and power” (Twelve Sermons on Prayer, p. 57). Because of our Laodicean condition as Christians (Revelation 3:14-22), we have learned how to do the Lord’s work without much of the Spirit’s presence. We have learned to depend on our own wisdom instead of God’s wisdom. We depend on our methods, plans, and strategies to advance God’s work. We use our management and training skills to manage the daily operations of the church. We also look to psychological insights in order to deal with people rather than insights of the Spirit. It has been said, “If the Holy Spirit were withdrawn, most Christians would not know it, and the majority of the work of the church would go on as usual.” The baptism of the Holy Spirit changes all this in the Christian’s life and in the work of the church. We then begin depending on Holy Spirit and all that is done is carried out and empowered by the Spirit

Spirit-inspired Prayer Paul wrote the following concerning praying in the Spirit: “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. 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” (Romans 8:26-27, NIV)

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What this is saying is that the Holy Spirit will pray (intercede) through us by filling our minds with those things the Lord knows we need to pray for concerning ourselves, others, or God’s work. Ellen White articulated this in the following statement: “By the Holy Spirit every sincere prayer is indited [made up or composed] and such prayer is acceptable to God” (Desire of Ages, p. 189). Referring to Paul’s statement in Romans quoted previously, she wrote: “We must not only pray in Christ’s name but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This explains what is meant when it is said that ‘the Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.’ Romans 8:26. Such prayer God delights to answer” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 147). The Holy Spirit draws us into prayer when He shows us some great need that must have our prayers. The reason He prompts us is because God wants to begin acting in meeting that particular need. We read of such an experience in the case of Jesus praying for Peter. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not …” (Luke 22:31-32). The Holy Spirit convicted Christ to pray for Peter and even revealed what Satan’s plan was concerning Peter. Once Christ knew this, He began praying for Peter. The Holy Spirit will do the same through us. He will bring to our minds someone for whom to pray. He may or may not reveal why He wants us to pray for them. The important thing is that we respond to the Spirit’s prompting to pray. The Spirit is putting the burden on our hearts to pray for a particular individual because He knows that intercessory prayer is needed in his or her behalf. Our prayer intercession on his or her behalf will enable God to implement His will in his or her life. It might even involve divine protection from harm. Praying in the Spirit gives the Christian special access into the very presence of God.

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“For through him [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). The Spirit ushers us into the throne room of God in order for us to receive the grace and help we need (Hebrews 4:16). The Holy Spirit’s lordship is to be the dominating influence in the whole of each Christian’s life. We are to “walk in the Spirit,” “live in the Spirit,” and “pray in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25; Ephesians 6:18). The believer is to be totally and completely under the Spirit’s influence, guidance, and power. In the area of prayer the Holy Spirit will influence every aspect of our prayer lives by teaching us how to pray, impressing us when to pray, empowering us in prayer, impresses us concerning specific prayer needs, increasing our faith in prayer, and convicting us that our prayers will be answered. Charles Finney wrote the following concerning this vital truth: “If you would pray in faith, be sure to walk every day with God. If you do, He will tell you what to pray for. Be filled with His Spirit, and He will give you objects enough to pray for. He will give you as much of the spirit of prayer as you have strength of body to bear” (Sermons on Gospel Themes, p. 56-57). When we are filled with the Spirit, we are filled with the presence of Christ (1 John 3:24). We remain in Christ and His word remains in us by the Holy Spirit, so we have the mind of Christ. Thus, when we pray in the Spirit, we pray according to the will of God and His purpose will be put into effect in power through our prayers and we will see amazing answers to those prayers. Praying in the Spirit requires the continual baptism of the Spirit, which requires 100 percent submission to God’s will in our lives. Are you willing to make that kind of surrender? If you do, you will see a power in your prayer life as never before realized.

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hristians uniting in prayer for a specific purpose has long been understood by believers as an essential part of the Christian life. At one time I thought united prayer referred to two or more Christians coming together to pray. During prayer each one would pray for whatever came to their mind. Each prayer would have some common elements, but each would also have a number of requests that varied from the others who prayed. This is not the Bible definition of Christians uniting together for prayer. No, united prayer is two or more Christians praying for the same thing. They are united in desire, purpose, and request. They pray together at the same place and time with one prayer focus. If they cannot meet at the same place to pray, then they will pray at the same time with one prayer focus or may pray together on the phone. However, if possible, meeting together it is more strengthening to each individual who attends if they actually meet together for prayer. United prayer with fellow believers is a powerful force against Satan in our personal lives. That is why James counsels us to join together when praying for the sick and to pray for one another (James 5:14-16). In fact, it is necessary for those ready to meet Jesus when He returns to have entered into genuine united prayer for one another. We were not created to stand alone in our battle with Satan. We need one another’s prayers for the complete victory over the enemy. United prayer is also essential for the advancement of God’s kingdom on this earth. Satan will resist every forward movement of God’s work. United prayer will significantly increase God’s power to advance His kingdom.

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Old Testament and United Prayer The Old Testament has numerous references to believers uniting together in prayer. The “teacher” in Ecclesiastes provided a very significant lesson on the importance of others joining with us in our battle against our enemy, Satan. He wrote: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV). If we try to stand alone in the battle against Satan and his temptations, we will be more easily overcome. As the “teacher” says, one alone may be more easily overpowered while two can defend themselves, and three are even stronger. This is why the “new wineskin fellowship,” described in my book Spirit Baptism & New Wineskin Fellowship, is so vital for every Christian living in these last days. Those in such a fellowship will be fighting the battle against the enemy together. Their united prayers for one another will bring greater victories than they could have if they try to stand alone in the conflict. There is an Old Testament event that clearly illustrates the importance of united prayer in defeating the enemy. In Exodus 17, we read about the Amalekites coming against Israel during their wilderness journey. Moses was instructed to “stand on top of the hill with the staff of God” in his hands. Aaron and Hur joined Moses on the hilltop overlooking the battle. Joshua led the forces of Israel into battle against the Amalekites. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. So they brought a stone upon which Moses could sit. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. In this manner Joshua defeated the Amalekites. Moses built an altar and called it, “The Lord is my banner,” Moses said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord” (Exodus 17:8-16). Here we see a clear example of the necessity of uniting together in prayer for victory. Aaron and Hur joined Moses in prayer for victory by also lifting up their hands to the “throne of God” Had they not joined Moses in this prayer for victory, Israel would have been defeated. Our battle against the enemy is too great for just one. We need to join together in prayer for one another and for God’s work if we are to obtain the complete victory over Satan and his forces.

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New Testament and United Prayer Jesus gave a very significant statement about the importance and even necessity of two our more believers joining together in fellowship and prayer. “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. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:19-20, NIV). When two or more believers pray “in the Spirit” a subject discussed in the previous chapter, they can be confident that God will hear and answer their prayer (1 John 5:14-15). If we allow ourselves to remain isolated from our fellow believers we will not see the powerful answers to our prayers that we desire. The Christian church was established on united prayer. The believers gathered together in the upper room in fellowship and united prayer for the fulfillment of Jesus promise to send the Holy Spirit in power (Acts 1:4-5, 8). “They all joined together constantly in prayer …” (Acts 1:14, NIV). This verse is saying that they united together to prayer for the same thing—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t stop their united prayer effort for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise until the promise was fulfilled 10 days after they began praying together (Acts 2:1-4). Those first-century Christians knew it was necessary for them to continue praying together. In Acts 2, we read: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Here we see the church daily uniting in prayer together. Whenever they faced a problem, they naturally joined together in prayer asking God to give them the victory. When Peter and John were threatened by the authorities for teaching about Jesus, the church joined together in prayer (Acts 4:24-31). The Scripture records: “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God” (Acts 4:24, NIV).

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Later in the book of Acts, we read about Peter being imprisoned by King Herod. James had just been put to death by the king. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested. His plan was to have him killed also. When the believers heard about this, we read, “The church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). They realized that united prayer was a powerful force against Satan’s efforts to stop the advancement of God’s work. Paul certainly understood the necessity of united prayer. Many times in his writings he requests that the church unite in prayer for him and the work he was doing for the Lord. One example is found in his second letter to the believers in Corinth. Writing of the wonderful deliverance of God they had experienced, Paul said: “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11, NIV). Paul clearly understood that the united prayers of “many” believers played a major role in their deliverance from Satan’s efforts to stop them from doing the Lord’s work. Without these united prayers in Paul’s behalf, Satan would have triumphed. Christians uniting together in prayer for one another and the advancement of God’s work is necessary for victory over the enemy. My first real experience in seeing the power of united prayer was during a 10 day revival meeting and prayer fast we conducted. During the meetings we had a united prayer focus every night asking for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We experienced the presence of God more powerfully than I had ever experienced. It was so wonderful that words cannot truly describe it. (The details of these meetings are presented in the chapter entitled “One Church’s Experience” in the book The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.)

Christians Testify to Effectiveness of United Prayer Many Christians throughout the centuries have testified to the necessity of united prayer. Ellen White wrote:

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“It is God’s purpose that men entrusted with responsibility should counsel and pray together in Christian unity. In unity there is a life, a power that can be obtained in no other way. There will be a vast power in the church when the energies of the members are united under the control of the Spirit. Then will God be able to work mightily through His people for the conversion of sinners” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p. 236). Notice that she stated that there is life and power in united prayer in the Spirit that is experienced in no other way. United prayer is a powerful force for advancing God’s work. Around a.d. 400, a well-known, fifth-century Christian named Chrysostom wrote: “What we cannot obtain by solitary prayer we may by social …” (Mighty Prevailing Prayer, Wesley Duewel, p. 124). Thomas Payne wrote: “While it is true that one man who knows how to pray and make intercession in the Spirit has far more power with God than a host of half-hearted ones, it is nevertheless a glorious fact that the prayers of a sanctified host, when of one heart and soul, become irresistible” (Greatest Force on Earth, p. 115, 116).

The Blessings of United Prayer Many blessings await those who choose to unite with fellow believers in prayer. The desire to pray is deepened in the participants. The more we pray, the more we desire to pray. We learn how to pray more effectively from participating with experienced prayer warriors. Jesus’ prayer life had a powerful effect on the disciples. They sensed that His effectiveness in ministry was related to His prayer life. So one day they asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). Commenting on this, Ellen White wrote: “Christ’s disciples were much impressed by His prayers and by His habit of communion with God. One day after a short absence from their Lord, they found Him absorbed in supplication. Seeming un-

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conscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud. The hearts of the disciples were deeply moved. As He ceased praying, they exclaimed, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ ” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 140). Charles Finney understood this when he wrote: “Nothing is more calculated to beget a spirit of prayer than to unite in social prayer with one who has the Spirit himself ” (Principles of Prayer, p. 98). United prayer also promotes unity and love of the brethren. When we fellowship and pray together, we will come to truly know and care for one another. In Acts we see the Christians praying together often. In chapter four, we read about how this united prayer fellowship affected their attitude toward one another. We read of the deep love and concern for each other that developed. “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. … All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:24, 32, NIV). What effect did this united prayer, loving fellowship, and genuine concern for one another have on the advancement of God’s work? We read: “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33, NIV). Again, I quote from the evangelist Charles Finney: “Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer” (Principles of Prayer, p. 98). As believers pray together their faith is strengthened. More answers to prayer are seen. The faith of the more mature Christian strengthens the weaker faith of the younger believer.

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United prayer is necessary if we want to experience revival in our personal lives and church. Ellen White wrote: “A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer” (Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 121). Edwin Orr, a Christian historian on revival, stated: “No great spiritual awakening has begun anywhere in the world apart from united prayer—Christians persistently praying for revival” (Prayer Power Unlimited, by Sanders, p. 120). The revivalist Ruben Torrey, of the late 1800s to early 1900s, gave the following prescription for revival. He said there were three basic requirements for revival: 1. Let a few Christians get thoroughly right with God. If this is not done, the rest will come to nothing. 2. Let them bind themselves together to pray for revival until God opens the windows of heaven and comes down to earth. 3. Let them put themselves at the disposal of God for His use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. Note the significant role united prayer plays in the process of revival. Torrey said, “Let them bind themselves together to pray for revival until God opens the windows of heaven and comes down.” Satan knows this and will do everything he can to keep us from uniting together in prayer. United prayer is vital to success in evangelistic efforts to lead others to Christ. Charles Finney was a well-known, 19th century evangelist who served the Lord in America. Finney took two prayer warriors with him, Mr. Nash and Mr. Clary. He stated many times in his writings that these two men played a major role in his success as an evangelist, winning hundreds of thousands to the Lord. Finney well understood the necessity of united prayer for evangelistic success. Our local church dramatically experienced the power of united prayer recently when we held evangelistic meetings in our church district here in New England. One of our local elders was led by the Lord to become our

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prayer coordinator. Individuals enlisted to become prayer warriors. Their assignment was to pray for the various aspects of the meetings: advertising, speaker, attendance, decisions for Christ, etc. They not only prayed at home, but they also continued to pray when attending the meetings. We were all amazed at the results. More visitors attended the meetings than the church had ever seen. We had more individuals make decisions for baptism than had happened for more than 20 years. God clearly demonstrated to us the necessity and power of united prayer in His work. United prayer does not simply increase prayer’s effectiveness through addition. United prayer multiplies the power of prayer. Moses understood this when he wrote: “Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you” (Leviticus 26:8, NIV). We are in a great spiritual warfare against Satan and his evil host (Ephesians 6:12). However, we have nothing to fear. Christ gained the victory over him at the cross. That victory becomes a reality in our lives through prayer. United prayer will bring the greatest victories. For united prayer multiplies prayer’s effectiveness. The well-known, 19th century minister Charles Spurgeon preached: “If one Jacob can prevail over a wrestling angel, what can two do? What victory would come to two joined in the same wrestling! ‘One of you shall chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight!’ There is accumulated power in united intercession; two do not only double the force, but multiply it tenfold. … God grant to each of us a praying partner” (The Treasury of the Bible, Vol. 3, p. 268). Recently the Lord has again shown us the power of united prayer in our church district. After the evangelistic meetings our local prayer warriors continued to pray every day for various specific needs in the district. On Sundays they prayed for our local eight-grade Christian school. At the end of last school year, we began making plans for the following year. Attendance projections were made and the outlook appeared very discouraging. We could only see 15 possible students for enrollment. However, we went forward in faith by hiring two teachers and budgeting for 20 students.

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During the last couple months of the school year, individuals met at the school one night a week to pray for the current year and the coming year. The prayer warrior’s Sunday prayer focus for the school included the ensuing year’s enrollment asking God to bring us students. We had done all we could. Now our eyes were on the Lord. To our amazement, when school opened thirty-three students enrolled. Also amazingly, the students were divided evenly between the two teachers. We knew beyond any question that was God’s doing. United prayer had moved the arm of Omnipotence.

Satan’s Fear Satan fears praying Christians more than active, working Christians. He also fears Christians who unite together in prayer more than he fears believers who remain isolated and alone in their battle with him. So it is vital that we determine to become more than an individual prayer warrior. We must enter into genuine Christian fellowship and become a partner in prayer with fellow believers. Then we will see victories in our own lives as never previously experienced. United prayer is not an option for those who want to be ready for Christ’s return. It is a necessity. United prayer is one of God’s ordained means of finishing His work in this earth and preparing us for that great event.

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ersevering prayer has throughout the centuries been considered an essential part of the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. However, those of us who live in the western culture tend to want quick answers to our problems. Many times this “quick fix” attitude finds its way into our prayer lives. Often we will pray for something occasionally but not perseveringly. The truth is that persevering prayer is not an option. It is a necessity, just like united prayer is a necessity if we are to be victorious over our adversary personally and corporately as a church. Those ready to meet Jesus will know from personal experience what it means to persevere in prayer. It will have played a major role in preparing them for that great event.

Jesus’ Command Jesus was personally acquainted with the necessity of persevering prayer. Many times He spent entire nights in prayer. In Luke 18, He related a story that clearly illustrated the necessity of every believer entering into persevering prayer. Two key phrases make His point. Luke introduces the parable with the words: “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The purpose of this parable was to teach us of the “necessity” of persevering in prayer. Luke knew Jesus taught that we “ought” or “should always”

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(NIV) pray and not “faint,” or stop praying, until we get the answer. The Greek form of the verb “pray” is continuous action. Jesus is teaching in this parable that we should “keep on praying” and not stop or quit. The second phrase that reinforces the importance of persevering prayer is: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7). Jesus clearly taught that many times God’s answers to our prayers will come only as the result of our crying to him “day and night.” Quick praying will not bring the results that consistent, persevering prayer will. Ellen White sensed the spiritual weakness among God’s people in her own day. She asked God’s angel why this was the case. Note the answer: “I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power in Israel. He said: ‘Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.’ I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen” (Counsel to Editors and Teachers, p. 127). Many of us still “let go of the arm of the Lord too soon.” We must come to learn how to prevail long with the Lord in prayer. George Mueller, that well-known Christian prayer warrior, learned to depend on the Lord for providing for his orphanage work in England. His life is a testimony to the power of prevailing prayer. Mueller wrote: “It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believing, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer” (Hidden Life of Prayer, McIntyre, p. 87). This is exactly what Jesus was teaching when he said: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).

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The Greek verb forms used here are once again continuous action verbs. Jesus is saying we must “keep on asking,” “keep on seeking,” and “keep on knocking” if we want an answer. Many of our prayers will go unanswered if we do not persevere and keep on asking, seeking, and knocking.

Biblical Examples of Persevering Prayer Many events in the Bible set forth examples of persevering prayer. On one occasion Jesus prayed for a man’s sight to be restored. The first time He prayed, the sight was not completely restored to normal. Instead of quitting, Jesus prayed a second time, after which the man could see clearly (Mark 8:22-25). Jesus knew that often persevering prayer is necessary for our requests to be answered. My wife Patty and I learned this lesson personally when it was discovered that she had a kidney disease called glomerulinephritis in her one remaining kidney. The other kidney had been recently removed due to a congenital obstruction that caused it to be severely damaged. During surgery, the doctor decided it best to remove it. This ailment that was destroying her other kidney was an autoimmune disease. The doctors recommended steroid treatment in order to suppress the autoimmune system. However, after considering the many negative side effects of steroids, we both felt convicted to seek healing from the Lord rather than following the steroid treatment. The Lord heard our prayers. However, the answer did not come immediately. God waited just a little more than one year before restoring the kidney completely. During that waiting time we kept perseveringly claiming God’s promise to heal. (A detailed presentation on spiritual, emotional, and physical deliverance in presented in my book Spirit Baptism & Deliverance.) We see prevailing prayer in the experience of Jacob’s wrestling with the angel (Genesis 32:24-28). Jacob prevailed until he received the blessing. Referring to this experience, Ellen White wrote: “Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His experience testifies to the power of importunate prayer. It is now that we are to learn this lesson of prevailing prayer, of unyielding faith. The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth, or the favor of men. They are those victories that

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are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power. “Those who are unwilling to forsake every sin and to seek earnestly for God’s blessing will not obtain it. But all who will lay hold of God’s promises as did Jacob, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 203).

Prevailing Prayer Is a Necessity Prevailing prayer is a necessity for every Christian and church if they want to see the power of God act in their behalf. The 16th century protestant reformer Martin Luther understood this vital truth about prayer. “During the struggle at Augsburg, Luther did not pass a day without devoting three hours at least to prayer, and they were hours selected from those most favorable for study” (The Great Controversy, p. 210). Satan wants every Christian to be ignorant of the truth about prevailing prayer. He knows it is a powerful weapon against him. Wesley Duewel wrote the following concerning Satan’s attitude toward prevailing prayer: “Satan fears prayer more than almost anything else we could ever do. Prevailing prayer is potentially the greatest continuing threat to Satan that there has been since Calvary” (Mighty Prevailing Prayer, p. 157). Christ was often in prevailing prayer. He realized it was His source of strength. It kept Him close to the Father. Ellen White wrote: “There is need of prayer—earnest, prevailing prayer. Our Saviour has left precious promises for the truly penitent petitioner. Such shall not seek his face in vain. He has also by his own example taught us the necessity of prayer. Himself the Majesty of Heaven, he often spent all night in communion with his Father. If the world’s Redeemer was not too pure, too wise, or too holy to seek help from God, surely weak, erring mortals have every need of that

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divine assistance. With penitence and faith, every true Christian will often seek ‘the throne of grace that he may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need’ ” (Signs of the Times, January 26, 1882, paragraph 18). The revivalist and evangelist, Charles Finney, conducted meetings in 1830, in Rochester, New York. In one year, some 30,000 individuals gave their lives to Christ. Finney attributed the success to the prayers of a minister, Abel Clary, who often accompanied him. Clary never attended the meetings, but he gave himself wholly to prayer.

Prevailing Prayer and Victory Over Sin Prevailing prayer plays an essential role in the Christian’s victory over sin. Jesus began his ministry with 40 days of prevailing prayer and fasting (Matthew 4:1-2). He came forth from this extensive communion with the Father prepared for His greatest victory over sin and Satan (Matthew 4:3-11). Ellen White wrote: “Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that by prevailing prayer by his grace, we might overcome every temptation, every subtle snare of the adversary, and at last sit down with him in his kingdom” (Signs of the Times, November 18, 1886, paragraph 16). “Having access, as we do, to the Source of all strength, why should we be content to remain so weak that we yield to the temptations of the enemy? Having so great an assurance of power to enable us to overcome, why are we so faithless? Why do we not overcome every time we are tempted to be hasty in speech? We should pray much more than we do. In every hour of trial we may find victory through the strength given in answer to prevailing prayer” (Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, p. 221). If we want total victory over temptation and sin in our lives, we must be often in prevailing prayer. That is why it is a necessity for those who are ready to meet Jesus when he returns.

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Prevailing Prayer in the Spirit In a previous chapter titled, “Praying in the Spirit,” I discussed the Bible teaching about Spirit inspired prayer, which is a vital part of our warfare against the enemy (Ephesians 6:18). For it is only as we pray in the Spirit that we can truly become prayer prevailers. The Holy Spirit who puts in our hearts those things for which we are to pray and gives us the assurance that we are prevailing according to the will of God. Hence, true prevailing in prayer happens when the Holy Spirit puts a specific burden for prayer on our hearts, and we respond to that concern by continuing in prayer for the answer. When we prevail in prayer, we will be focusing on one, two, or three things at most. Prevailing prayer is different from our everyday prayer time. We may have a rather long prayer list that we include in our prayers each day. Prevailing prayer, on the other hand, will be a short list of things from which we feel especially concerned. In prevailing prayer, the Spirit will come upon us at various times to pray for these things. The prayer time may be long or at times short. This may happen several times during the day.

How Long Should We Prevail? We should prevail in prayer as long as the Spirit gives us the burden to pray for those things He has put on our heart. We should pray until the answer comes. We see this principle illustrated in the experience of Moses interceding for Israel’s victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:11-13). Moses prayed until the battle was won, until the object of the prayer was accomplished. The story of Elijah is another clear example of the necessity of prevailing prayer. God promised that it would rain after there had been a three-andone-half-year draught. Elijah knew he had to prevail in prayer for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Therefore, he prayed seven times before his prayer was answered, and only then did the rains finally fall (1 Kings 18:44). Ellen White made a very significant observation when she wrote: “Had he given up in discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he persevered till the answer came” (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 1034).

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We see the necessity of prevailing prayer after Jesus’ ascension. Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit in power (Luke 24:49). The disciples knew the outpouring of the Spirit would not come unless they prayed for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. So they prayed for 10 days until the answer came (Acts 1:14; 2:1-4).

Why Is the Answer Delayed? Natural questions are: “Why is it necessary for the Christian to prevail in prayer?” “Since God is all powerful, why doesn’t He simply answer our prayers immediately?” The Bible gives us some insights into why answers to our prayers are at time delayed. In the book of Daniel, we read about a time of prevailing prayer in Daniel’s life (Daniel 10:12-13). He prayed for 21 days before the answer came. This text gives us some insight why we must keep on prevailing. Satan will do everything in his power to keep God from answering. In Daniel’s case Satan fiercely resisted for 21 days until “Michael” came to assist Gabriel in the conflict with Satan (Daniel 10:13). Remember we are in a fierce, spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). Also, sometimes changes need to take place in us. So God waits until these changes take place before answering. Ellen White points out the changes necessary in order for the disciples to receive the promise of the Spirit. “As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief. … “The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and nearer to God. … “These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 36, 37). Another reason is that delays in answered prayer give us the opportunity to develop enduring faith. James wrote of this in the following text:

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV). Delayed answers to our prayers test and strengthen our faith, which plays a significant role in our spiritual growth into maturity in Christ. Answers are also delayed so we can learn something about God. Martha and Mary were very disappointed when Jesus delayed arriving at their home. They had informed Him many days before He arrived that their brother Lazarus was sick. They knew if Jesus could get there in time their brother would be healed. However, Jesus delayed and answered their request “too late,” for their brother had died by the time He arrived. They didn’t realize there was a purpose in the supposed unanswered or delayed answer to their request. Jesus delayed in order to teach the truth that He is the “resurrection and the life” (John 11:3-6, 20, 23-25). The delay shed light on a wonderful new truth to them and a greater miracle than if Jesus had answered their request immediately. There is another interesting aspect as to why prevailing prayer is necessary. In the book of Revelation, we are told that the prayers of God’s children ascend to His throne. Revelation pictures “golden bowls” being filled with these prayers (Revelation 5:8). Later we see God acting in answer to these prayers (Revelation 8:3-5). Hence, it appears that at times prayers need to accumulate to a certain level before God acts. Ellen White refers to this in the following quote: “The revenue of the glory has been accumulating for the closing work of the third angel’s message. Of the prayers that have been ascending for the fulfillment of the promise—the descent of the Holy Spirit—not one has been lost. Each prayer has been accumulating, ready to overflow and pour forth a healing flood of heavenly influence and accumulating light all over the world” (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 21, p. 155). Notice she mentioned that the prayers have been “accumulating” and calls these prayers the “revenue” of glory. I might ask the question, “How much revenue have you accumulated in heaven for the things the Lord has put on your heart? “We try to accumulate revenue for things we want on earth: cars, homes, vacations, retirement, etc. On earth the revenue

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is money. In heaven the “revenue” is our prayers. The more we pray, the more revenue we have in the heavenly storehouses. The more revenue we put into heavenly storage, the more God has to draw from to answer our prayer requests. So, I ask again, “How much revenue of glory (prayer requests) do you have accumulated for the salvation of family members or friends, revival in your church, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, etc.?” There is a direct relationship between your persevering prayers and God answering those prayers. Spiritual laws govern the warfare with the enemy. One of the laws is the necessity of prevailing prayer. Satan knows this. That is why he will do everything he can to keep us from this vital aspect of prayer. He knows that prevailing prayer is necessary for God’s promises to be fulfilled, for victory over temptation and for us to be ready for Christ’s second coming. You are reading this book because God is calling you personally to enter into persevering prayer perhaps as never before experienced in your life. Jesus is coming soon. He is calling His remnant from their Laodicean condition. Will you heed His call?

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n a previous chapter we discussed the necessity of prayer. In this chapter we will focus especially on the necessity of prayer for three groups; (1) fellow believers, (2) Christians of other faiths that they come to accept the three angels’ messages and (3) those that have never accepted Christ. The principle of persevering prayer applies to every area of the Christian’s life including our efforts to lead others to Christ. It should be clear from our previous discussion that our prayers are necessary for the salvation of those in our circle of family and friends. Every one who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior did so because someone prayed for them. Dear reader, you are a Christian today because you were prayed for by someone who cared for your eternal destiny. I want to add one point of clarification at this point. Besides praying for the salvation of others we must also cooperate with God in working for their salvation. Pray and work, work and pray—this is the formula for the release of God’s saving power in this earth. This subject of winning others to Christ is presented in greater detail in my book, Spirit Baptism & Evangelism.

Making Intercession What happens when we intercede in prayer for someone? Let’s take a look at how the word in used in the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah describes what Christ was to do on the cross for us. We are told that Jesus “made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). The Hebrew word trans-

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lated “intercession” is “pagha,” which means, “to meet, to push against, to attack, to urge a request, to make peace.” You can see that this word has a wide variety of meanings. When “pagha” happened at the cross of Christ significant meetings took place: mercy met God’s wrath, righteousness met sin, love met hate, and life met death. On the cross Christ made it possible for the sinner to “make peace” with God. Also the greatest “attack against” Satan’s kingdom took place. The kingdom of darkness was doomed. Paul exhorts the Christian to make “intercession” for all men (1 Timothy 2:1). We are to bring about “meetings” through intercessory prayer. Our prayers for the lost bring about meetings of reconciliation between them and God, and meetings of dissolution between them and Satan. This reconciliation and dissolution is found in the promise God gave Adam and Eve shortly after their fall into sin. God promised to put “enmity” between the believer and Satan, which implies reconciliation between the believer and God (Genesis 3:15). Intercessory prayer is a major element in the “ministry of reconciliation” every Christian is called to participate in (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). When we read Christ’s prayer to the Father in John chapter seventeen He is praying an intercessory prayer that “oneness” or “unity” takes place between the Father and the believers (John 17:20-21). He is praying for complete reconciliation between the Father and all believers. Christ not only prayed that intercessory prayer for us two thousand year ago, He continues to pray an intercessory prayer for us today (Hebrews 7:25). The Hebrew word translated “intercession” also carries the meaning of dissolving a relationship. It can mean a meeting for destruction (see 2 Samuel 1:15). Our prayers of intercession for the lost are requests for God to destroy the relationship between Satan and the one for whom we are praying. We see this same kind of intercession also in Christ’s prayer in John chapter seventeen. He intercedes for us to be “kept” or “protect ed” from the “evil one” (John 17:15). He prayed for dissolution of Satan’s power and influence in the believer’s life. One aspect of the “intercession” (Isaiah 53:12) that took place at the cross was that the power and authority of Satan on earth was broken (1 John 3:8). At the cross the legal claim Satan had on the earth as the result of Adam’s fall was dissolved. The power of Satan over the lives of men and women was broken. This is why Jesus could assure his followers that in Him they now had power and authority over Satan (Luke 10:17, 18-19). However, few Christians truly realize this aspect of the intercession that took place at the cross. For a detailed presentation on the deliverance

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every Christian can have over Satan’s influences in their lives; spiritually, emotionally and physically, I direct the reader to my book, Spirit Baptism & Deliverance. We see this aspect of intercession when Jesus told Peter that Satan aimed to become completely victorious over him. Realizing Satan’s plan, Jesus told Peter that He had “prayed” for him that his “faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32). This is an example of intercessory prayer aimed at breaking the power of Satan in the life of the one being prayed for. This is why James admonishes all believers to “pray one for another” (James 5:16). James knew that intercessory prayer played an essential role in the power of Satan being broken in individual lives. The “new wineskin fellowship” I describe in, Spirit Baptism & New Wineskin Fellowship, is the most conducive environment to facilitate and encourage this kind of intercession for one another. It will be difficult to experience this kind of intercession for fellow believers apart from genuine Christian fellowship. All through the letters of Paul we read of his continual intercession to God on behalf of those he is writing to (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:9). Paul knew them well and loved them deeply. He certainly understood the necessity of continually making intercession for all the saints.

Satan’s Lie Hence, we can clearly see why Satan will do everything in his power to make us believe that it is not essential or important that we specifically pray for one another. He wants us to believe that it is not really necessary for us to pray for those who are out of Christ. He wants us to believe that God will work for the salvation of the lost even if we don’t specifically pray for those in our circle of family and friends. Hopefully, from what you are learning in this book you will not believe his lies about the unimportance of prayer for others or yourself. This is why he will attack our prayer life perhaps more than any other aspect of our spiritual life.

Intercession for the Lost Those who we know are outside of Christ, and living under Satan’s power are in a very dangerous position. Their eternal destiny is in jeopardy if they don’t change. Yet of themselves they are powerless to change. Paul describes them as those whose minds “the god of this world hath blinded … lest the

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light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The lost are blinded to the gospel because it is “hid” from their view (2 Corinthians 4:3). The word translated “hid” is the Greek word “kalupsis,” which refers to a “veil.” The key to the saving of the lost is the removing of this “veil” that blinds them. By adding the prefix “apo” to the Greek word translated “veil” the word becomes “revelation” or “unveiling.” Hence, the lost need an “unveiling” or a “revelation” of God’s truth. The lost don’t need more information. What they need is “revelation,” which is an unveiling of their understanding so they can “see” the truth of the gospel. An important question then is—How can this “unveiling” happen in the lives of the lost? There is only one answer. Only by intercessory prayer will the veil causing spiritual blindness be removed from the mind of the unbeliever. Satan has false “imaginations” or thoughts and “strongholds” well established in the minds of the lost. The good news is that God has given the Christian the authority to “pull down” Satan’s “strongholds,” and to “bring into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). These two verses in chapter ten of second Corinthians are very important when it comes to understanding the place of intercessory prayer for the lost. Referring to the spiritual weapons of intercessory prayer in behalf of the lost The Living Bible translates verse 5: “These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built up to keep men from finding Him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God, and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, TLB) Satan does not want you and me to realize it, but we are to play a major role in that blindness being lifted from the eyes of the lost. Our intercessory prayers open their mind to receive the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Praying intercessory prayers for them will remove this veil of blindness. God wants them saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, it is essential that the believer pray for them so that God’s power can be released in their life and Satan’s power over them broken. Remember Elijah’s prayer for rain. It was God’s will for rain to come, and the drought broken. Yet Elijah knew he had to pray for God’s will to be carried out. The same is true concerning the lost. Even though it is God’s will to save the lost, believers must pray for them in order that God’s will be carried out to bring salvation to them. Ever

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since the creation of this earth it has been God’s plan to work through the prayers and efforts of man, not independently of him. Ellen White clearly understood this when she wrote: “Through much prayer you must labor for souls, for this is the only method by which you can reach hearts. It is not your work, but the work of Christ who is by your side, that impresses hearts” Evangelism, p. 525 (emphasis added). “The Lord will hear our prayers for the conversion of souls” (Messages to Young People, p. 315). “Their persevering prayers will bring souls to the cross. In cooperation with their self-sacrificing efforts Jesus will move upon hearts, working miracles in the conversion of souls” (Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 27). The following two true stories illustrate this point well. “When Burton Maxwell pastored a Seventh-day Adventist Church in southern California, he tried to implement something like this [making a prayer list] among the members of his congregation. He hit upon the plan of giving each member a little pocket sized book in which to keep an active prayer list of five names. These thin booklets have one page for each individual, with space for various facts about that person. Pastor Maxwell discovered that every 18 months on the average, he would baptize one person out of each five. “Loren Nelson was called to pastor in Cottage Grove, Oregon, in 1973, after interning under Burton Maxwell. He believed in the power of prayer, and so he asked his members to list for him all of their friends whom they would like to see baptized so he could put them on his personal prayer list. The only condition was that the members had to be willing to go with the pastor to the homes of these individuals and introduce them to him. Loren ended up with a list of 86 names and set about visiting and praying.

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“Three years later Loren was called to a new district. Just before he left, he focused his attention on the very first name on his list. The man had never been baptized. He discussed the matter with his head elder, who took it upon himself to stay up all night praying for this prospect. The following day that man made his decision, was baptized, and eventually became head elder of the Cottage Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church. “And what about the other 85 names on the list? Well, by then they were already full-fledged members. Loren Nelson’s prayerful labor resulted in the baptism of 86 out of 86 names in three years?” (A Passion for Prayer, p. 125). The 19th century Christian, Andrew Murray, wrote: “God’s giving is inseparably connected with our asking … Only by intercession can that power be brought down from heaven which will enable the Church to conquer the world.” (The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer, p. 22-23). Philip Samaan in his book, Christ’s Way of Reaching People, states this concept very well. “… in the context of the great conflict between good and evil, where Christ and Satan contend for human hearts and minds, our intercessory prayers allow God to more actively participate in a situation than He would otherwise. In other words, God can answer Satan’s objections and justify His special intervention in behalf of the object of our prayer by presenting our petitions as giving Him an invitation to act. Thereby, He is simply honoring our choice in inviting Him to intercede” (p. 152). Samaan continues by quoting Wayne McDill in his book, Making Friends for Christ, who points out that we, as Christ’s disciples “are responsible for leading a fellow human being to Christ, and ‘we have the right to press the legitimate claims of Christ in his life. … Prayer is a matter of pressing the legitimate right of Jesus to rule in every life,’ since He died for every person in the world” (Ibid., p. 152) McDill is further quoted concerning our prayers for the lost:

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“Remember that you are not trying to convince God. He is already convinced. You are putting yourself in line with His wishes in your prayer. By the authority of Christ take your rightful stand in your neighbor’s life and exercise your faith in opening that territory to the extension of kingdom authority. Insist that the enemy retreat in the face of the rightful authority of Christ. … Realize that the real battle will be won in prayer” (Ibid., p. 152-3) Wesley Duewel wrote: “Satan is more afraid of your praying than of your pure life or zealous witness. One’s life may be a beautiful witness that cannot be silenced, but prayer is a militant force that has the potential of defeating Satan, destroying his works, and driving him out of places and lives he claims for his own” (Christ’s Way to Spiritual Growth, by Philip Samaan, p. 212)

An Illustration I received an email a couple years ago that clearly illustrated to me the power of our prayers for others. An individual saw my name on our church’s website. So he emailed me asking if I had worked in a particular area in the northwestern United States during a specific year. I emailed him stating that I had. He emailed me back and said I was the first Adventist pastor to visit him. This visit happened over 25 years ago. He stated I had prayed that the Lord would lead him into the truths of the Bible. I never saw him again after that one encounter. In the email he stated that he took Bible studies and was baptized, worked as a literature evangelist and was presently serving as an elder in his local church. He ended his email by saying; “Thank you for your powerful prayer.” God had answered that prayer and led him to understand the truths of the Bible. Now I am sorry to say that I don’t remember the visit or that prayer. No glory goes to me! All the glory goes to God. I share this story to make the point. Our prayers for others will be heard by God and will enable Him to work in their life. I might add one side note to this story. After reading his emails and realizing how God led, I better understood why the redeemed will cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus. We will know in our hearts that all the glory goes to Christ for any success we have had in God’s work on this earth. It is

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truly humbling to realize that God chooses to use such unworthy vessels as us to bring salvation to those who are lost.

Examples from the Past Many Christian in the past have recognized the necessity of prayer in the work of evangelism. George Whitefield, the well known 19th Century British evangelist, many times took a little crippled man with him as a prayer warrior. Many thousands came to know Christ through Whitefield’s ministry. Writing of the significance of this handicapped prayer warrior, Frank Laubach wrote: “His prayers, even more than Whitefield’s preaching, were the cause of the wonderful results” (Prayer, p. 30). The Lord clearly revealed the power of united intercessory prayer here in our conference during the last couple camp meetings. Several of our pastors who are involved with the youth program earnestly sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began uniting in prayer for God to pour out His Spirit on the youth meetings during camp meeting. During the meetings each night they would pray outside the building at each corner and in the area behind where the speaker was. They continued every night praying for God to pour out His Spirit, anoint the speaker with power, and convict the youth to give their lives to Christ. The meetings remained unusually well attended throughout the week. Thursday evening a call was made to accept Christ. Scores came forward in response to the call. A baptism was set for the last Sabbath of camp meeting. Over 40 were baptized. Such a thing had never happened at the youth meetings during camp meeting before. The same approach of seeking the Spirit and united prayer was followed the next year with similar results.

Practical Application How then should you apply this important teaching on intercessory prayer when praying for others? First, make a list of the names of all those in your circle of family, friends, co-workers that God puts on your heart to pray for. Then begin specifically praying for each one using the principles of intercessory prayer. Pray in faith believing that God will hear your prayer and begin removing the veil from their minds. Believe that through your

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prayers the “strongholds” of Satan that is keeping them from Christ will be “pulled down.” In short, pray for what you know God wants to do in their life. The Praying Church Sourcebook gives the following list of what God’s will is for the unsaved. As believers in Christ we have the right to press these requests before the throne of grace in behalf of the lost. Include in your prayer the following:

• • • • • • • • •

That God will draw them to Himself (John 6:44) That they seek to know God (Acts 17:27) That they believe the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13) That Satan is bound from blinding them to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:4-5) That the Holy Spirit works in them (John 16:8-13) That they turn from sin (Acts 3:19) That they believe in Christ as Savior (John 1:12) That they obey Christ as Lord (Matthew 7:21) That they take root and grow in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7)

When you pray for the unsaved believe God is able to bring to Christ those you pray for. Then allow God to work through you to bring this about. Ellen White clearly alluded to this approach to praying for those we know that are unsaved when she wrote: “In times past there were those who fastened their minds upon one soul after another, saying, ‘Lord, help me to save this soul.’ But now such instances are rare. How many act as if they realized the perils of sinners?” (Gospel Workers, p. 65). “Let the workers grasp the promises of God, saying ‘… I must have this soul converted to Jesus Christ’ ” (Medical Ministry, p. 244). I pray that every sincere Christian who reads this book will never again doubt the importance of intercessory prayer for fellow Christians and for the lost. I also pray that from this day forward you will earnestly intercede to God for the salvation of the unsaved in your circle of family, friends and

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co-workers believing it is God’s will to save them. Dear reader, if you in faith press such petitions to the throne of grace you will see God’s hand of salvation in the lives of those you are praying for.

Necessary for Salvation Prayer is a serious matter when it comes to God saving His children. The Old Testament prophet, Samuel, knew this when he stated concerning the necessity of him praying for Israel. “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). Prayer is not only a necessity for the salvation of others. It also plays a vital role in our own salvation. Prayer or the lack of it for others reveals much about where our heart is. If we have the heart of Jesus we will have a loving concern for others and will be eager to pray for them. If we find that we are not concerned enough for the eternal destiny of others we need to ask God to give us a “new heart,” the heart of Jesus. Jesus’ prayer recorded in John chapter seventeen reveals how much He cared for His disciples and all who in future generations would believe on Him. Ellen White writes of the necessity of us loving others in the following statement. “Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’ (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts” (Desire of Ages, p. 641)

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od has given us many promises in the Bible to meet our every need. Both the Old and New Testaments have outstanding examples of God’s people claiming the promises of His Word when facing difficulties. One of my first exposures to the Bible teachings on prayer was in a book by Glen Coon on the ABCs of Bible prayer. I learned the concept of claiming God’s promises in prayer as a young Christian, which has proved to be a great blessing throughout my life and ministry. The prayer formula is simple: Ask (Matthew 7:7), Believe (Mark 11:24), and Claim the promise with thanksgiving (John 11:41-43) before any answer is seen.

God’s Promises Are Sure God’s promises are sure. We can be confident that God “will do” what He says (Numbers 23:19) and “can do” what He promises (Jeremiah 32:17). Just as the oak tree is in the acorn, so is the fulfillment of God’s promise in the promise itself when claimed by faith. Concerning the promises of God’s Word, Ellen White wrote: “In every command and in every promise of the Word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 38).

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What an amazing statement! God’s power and very life is contained in the promises of the Bible. Nothing can stand in the way of His promises being fulfilled when we claim them by faith in persevering prayer. John in his first letter assured us: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him” (1 John 5:14, 15). We must become like Abraham when God promised him a son in his old age. Abraham did not look at the impossibility of the circumstances or the limitations of human ability. Instead, he chose to believe God’s promise. “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:19-21). Notice that Paul states that Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God.” Sometimes our problems may seem so great that we are tempted to “stagger” at how difficult it appears it will be for God to fulfill His Word to us. I have learned that the more we focus on the problem instead of God’s promises the larger the problem looms before us. We must train ourselves to turn quickly away from dwelling on the problem and immediately turn to God in prayer. The following Old Testament story illustrates this well.

A Model Prayer In 2 Chronicles 20, we find a marvelous prayer model of claiming God’s promises. Jehosephat, King of Judah, was facing an imminent invasion by a confederacy of armies. He had made preparation for such a crisis by building up Judah’s army and defenses. He had more than one million welltrained men ready for battle. However, when the threat became known to the king, his first response was not to look to his preparations for war, but rather look to the Lord.

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When we face problems in life, our response should be the same: look to the Lord first. This does not mean that we don’t do what we can to meet whatever need may arise. The danger is that we have the tendency to go immediately to our human resources for help and deliverance. Our mind often begins formulating ways to solve the problem rather than turning to God first. Jehosephat’s response is a good example for us to follow. The first thing Jehosephat did was to call the nation to fast and pray to the Lord. United prayer and fasting was essential in order to enable God to work in their behalf. Next we read of the king seeking the Lord himself in prayer. King Jehosephat’s prayer on this occasion is a wonderful example of how to pray the promises of God rather than “praying the problem” when facing a crisis. Praying the promise means we focus on God’s Word and His promises, and not on the problem. If we focus on the problem, we will feel more overwhelmed and discouraged after the prayer than before it. In fact, focusing on the problem causes the problem to grow larger in our mind. Jehosephat’s prayer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:6-13. This prayer reveals five steps on how to victoriously pray the promises of God:

• First, the king began by “praising” God’s attributes, especially those

•

• • •

related to the problem he was facing (vs. 6). When facing an attacking enemy, as Jehosephat was, it was encouraging for him to recall that God “rules over all the kingdoms of the nations,” that “power and might” are in His hand, and that “no one can withstand” Him. Second, the king recalled “past victories” similar to the present victory Judah needed (vs. 7). Recalling God’s provision in the past related to our present need reminds us of God’s faithfulness and builds our faith. Third, he stated in prayer a “promise” God had made to His people in the past; a promise related to the problem he was facing (vs. 8, 9). Fourth, after these three steps in prayer, Jehosephat then stated the “problem.” Fifth, he “praised” God before any evidence of victory was seen (vs. 18, 19).

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Note this important point. The king did not begin with the problem. The first three elements of his prayer built up his faith because he was focusing on God and His promises, not the problem. By the time he got to the problem, it did not seem so overwhelming. In summary, Jehosephat’s prayer model is: Praise, Past Victories, Promise, Problem, and Praise.

The Necessity of Praise Praise during prayer is essential. Paul counsels us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV). It is also important to note that in two verses before this he instructs us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” This is so important that he writes, “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NIV). When we praise God, the angels join us in our praise. In fact, God Himself draws close to us. The Psalmist wrote: “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). Most importantly, we must always praise God when we pray. It doesn’t matter how difficult the situation, praise plays an important role in our victory over the enemy. We see Daniel praising and thanking God in prayer when he was threatened with death for praying (Daniel 6:10). Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God while in chains in prison (Acts 16:25). If we do not praise God, we will not see God work in our behalf as He would like. By the way, praise to God is not for His benefit. It is for our benefit. It lifts our sights upward to God and increases our faith in Him and His delivering power. Ellen White wrote concerning the importance of praise: “We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. If the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanksgiving and praise, we would have far more power in prayer. We

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would abound more and more in the love of God and have more bestowed to praise Him for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 317). Did you get what she said? We will have “far more power in prayer” if we include praise in our petitions to God. We must not neglect this very important element of victorious prayer for ourselves or for the advancement of God’s work.

A Practical Application Let’s now apply this victorious prayer method to a present-day situation. One could, for example, use this approach to prayer when facing a financial problem.

• First, praise God because, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything

• • • •

in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV). It is reassuring to know that our Father has all resources at His command when we are facing a “resource” problem. Second, recall past victories God has given you when you previously faced financial difficulties. I am sure all Christians have had numerous experiences in that area. Third, if you faithfully return a tithe to God, you can in faith claim God’s promise to provide and “rebuke the devourer” when threatened with loss (Malachi 3:10-11). Fourth, present the financial problem to God. Fifth, praise God for answering your prayer before you see any evidence of the answer.

With this kind of prayer life, we can live above the problems and circumstances of life and truly “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) because we know that God has made provision through His promises for every situation in life (Philippians 4:19). So remember to pray the promise and not the problem while praising God in every prayer.

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any verses in the Bible contain a promise and the condition required for the fulfillment of the promise. When you pray these and other Bible verses, you should do two things:

1. Ask God to fulfill the condition in you and the church that is required for the fulfillment of the promise 2. Ask God to fulfill the promise NOTE: In the verses and prayer requests that follow: • The regular type gives the verses that contain both the promise and the condition of fulfillment. • The italicized type gives an example of a prayer you could use to pray the verse asking God to fulfill the condition, and then asks God to fulfill the promise.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Make our hearts fully committed to you. Show yourself strong in our behalf to bring about the needed changes in us so that we will experience the revival and reformation we need.

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“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Lead us into humility, put in our heart a desire to be a praying people and to turn from our wicked ways. Hear our prayer, forgive us and heal us of our backsliding. “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6). Revive us and make us a people who rejoice in you. “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old” (Psalm 25:6). Be merciful to us and forgive us our sins. Restore us to your favor and glorify your name through us. “Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins” (Psalm 25:16-18). Have mercy upon us for we are spiritually desolate and afflicted. Forgive us our sins and bring us out of our Laodicean condition. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8). Guide and teach us Lord that we will be constantly under your direction in our lives and church. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because

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we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (Psalm 33:18-22). Turn our hope to you Lord and not in earthly things. Deliver us from our spiritually dead condition. Bring us back to spiritual life from our condition of spiritual famine. Be our help and shield—cause us to rejoice in you. “The angel of the Lord encampeth around about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7). Deliver us from our state of spiritual lethargy and protect us from Satan’s attacks. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8). Cause us to trust in you Lord and not earthly things and then bless us abundantly. “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psalm 34:9). Cause us to fear and reverence you with all our heart. Deliver us from the things that keep us from having what we need spiritually. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15). Hear our cry for revival Lord. “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). Hear us and deliver us from the things that hinder us from growing fully in Christ individually and as a congregation. “The Lord is night unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

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Cause us to be broken of our pride and put a contrite spirit in us. Save us from our sinful ways and heal our spiritual backsliding. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). Lead us to be your righteous people who have turned from their sinful ways. Deliver us from every affliction Satan tries to bring on us. “The Lord redeemeth and soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22). Redeem us from our spiritual desolation—make us to flourish spiritually. “Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12). Fulfill this prayer to me and to every member of this congregation. “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). Let us taste of your mercy—lead us to confess our sins. Bring us to rejoice fully in you. “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it” (Psalm 90:17). May your character be seen in our lives. Bless our efforts to advance your kingdom in this congregation and our community. “It is time for you to act, O Lord, for your law is being broken” (Psalm 119:126). Remove our law breaking from us—give us a heart of obedience.

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“I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:25, NIV). We are far from where we should be spiritually. Restore us spiritually as you have promised. “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders” (Psalm 119:27, NIV). Open our understanding to your teachings. Cause us to meditate constantly on you. “My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to your word” (Psalm 119:28, NIV). Our sinful condition has weakened us. Turn us from our sin. Strengthen us spiritually as you have promised. “Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law” (Psalm 119:29, NIV). Turn us from our sinful ways. Show favor on us that your name may be glorified. “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33, NIV). Teach us your ways and cause us to keep them. “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart” (Psalm 119:34, NIV). Give us the desire to obey you with all our heart. “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight” (Psalm 119:35, NIV). Cause us to delight in your commands and not in things of this world.

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“Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain” (Psalm 119:36, NIV). Cause us to love your counsels and turn us from the love of money and position. “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:37, NIV). Cause us not to desire the things of this earth. Restore our spiritual life. “Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared” (Psalm 119:38, NIV). Remember your promise to save us from our sinfulness. “Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word” (Psalm 119:41). Be merciful to us and restore us to the joy of salvation. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord me depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). Cleanse us from our sin and cause us to depart from evil. “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendents. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams” (Isaiah 44:3-4). We are as a dry ground spiritually—Pour your Spirit on us and cause us to revive and grow into the fullness of Christ. “For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones” (Isaiah 49:13). Have compassion on us and cause us to be a faithful people.

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“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer … Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:7, 8, 10). Don’t abandon us to our sin—have compassion on us and deliver us from our sinfulness. Restore us to spiritual strength. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Cause us to seek You and forsake our wicked ways and evil thoughts. Cause us to turn to You with our whole heart. Have mercy on us and pardon us. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return unto me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). Bless your word that has been preached and taught to this congregation, and may it accomplish the purpose for which you sent it. “You will go out in joy and be let forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sigh which will not be destroyed” (Isaiah 55:12, 13). Restore us to fullness of joy and peace in You. Remove the spiritual thorn bushes and briers that are in our lives and congregations. May there be great joy and rejoicing in You. Glorify Your name in this congregation.

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“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:2, 3). Draw us from our spiritual darkness. Lord, arise in our midst and reveal the glory of Your character through us. Draw many in our community to the light of truth You have given us. “As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:5-7). Cause us to pray to you constantly until You revive us and make us a praise to Your name in this community. “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heat out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Open our eyes to the worldly idols in our lives and cleanse us from them. Give us a new heart and a desire to serve You— cause us to obey You in all our ways. “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand I awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). Lead us from our sin—have mercy on us and forgive us. Glorify Your name through great works of salvation in our lives, church and community. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call an solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,

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gather the children, … Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen” (Joel 2:15-19). Give us a strong desire to solemnly gather together and seek you earnestly in prayer. Glorify Your name through us that others will see that You are with us. Have mercy and pity on us and revive us in every way that we will flourish and prosper as Your people. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil, and I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderfully with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. and I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke” (Joel 2:23-30). Put rejoicing and gladness in our hearts. Give us an earnest desire for your Holy Spirit—lead us to pray for the early rain baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Cause us to desire and pray for the latter rain outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Heal us from

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our spiritual weakness and the results of our sinfulness. Give us a strong desire to study your word and may it satisfy us as never before—let us see wondrous things in it. Show yourself in our midst by your great power to deliver us from our sins. Manifest the gifts of your Spirit through us and use us to glorify your name. Reveal your power in our midst and in our community that many will come to know you as their God and Savior. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-19). Give us the wisdom and understanding we need to fully love and appreciate You. Open our eyes to see our sinfulness and the greatness of Your mercy and forgiveness. Lead us to understand the wonderful hope we have in Jesus. Open our eyes to see and believe in Your great power that is available to us to overcome anything Satan brings into our lives. By Your power bring us back to You and revive us. “That he (God) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19). Give us an intense desire for Your Spirit and then fill us with Your Spirit. Strengthen us by the power of Your Spirit that we can stand against all the attacks of the enemy. Lead us to daily ask for Christ to dwell in us fully that we may become more and more like Him. Fill us with your love and open our eyes to understand the love of Christ and to be able to live out His love

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in our lives and reveal Christ’s love to others by our words and actions. Fill us with all the fullness of God. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or thing, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). Open our understanding that we will never doubt Your power to deliver us from sin, to revive us individually and as a church, and to spread the gospel in our community. Help us to believe that the greatest power in this universe lives in us through your Holy Spirit.

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Chapter Ten LISTENING TO GOD IN PRAYER

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ost people’s concept of prayer is a one-way communication from man to God. Much of prayer will be just that—the Christian thanking God or making requests of Him. However, prayer is to be more than that. Prayer is also to be a time of communication from God to the believer. This two way communication is not only to take place during our more extensive times in prayer such as during our morning devotionals. We are to be in communication with God continually and receive His directions, instruction, and encouragement throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We must daily seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and pray in the Spirit for the two-way conversation to take place. God wants to communicate with His children.

Enoch—A Type of the Remnant Enoch, who is a type of those ready to meet Jesus when He returns, had a two-way communication with God. Note how Ellen White describes his life. “Enoch, we read, walked with God three hundred years. That was a long time to be in communion with Him. … He communed with God because it was agreeable to him … and he loved the society of God.

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“Enoch was a marked character. Many look upon his life as something above what the generality of mortals can ever reach. But Enoch’s life and character … represent what the lives and characters of all must be, if like Enoch, they are subjects to be translated when Christ shall come. His life was what the life of every individual may be if he closely connects with God. We should remember that Enoch was surrounded with influences so depraved that God brought a flood of waters on the world to destroy its inhabitants for their corruption. “Enoch’s case is before us. … He lived in a corrupt age, when moral pollution was teeming all round him; yet he trained his mind to devotion, to love purity. His conversation was upon heavenly things. He educated his mind to run in this channel, and he bore the impress of the divine. His countenance was lighted up with the light which shineth in the face of Jesus. “Enoch had temptations as well as we. He was surrounded with society no more friendly to righteousness than is that which surrounds us. The atmosphere he breathed was tainted with sin and corruption, the same as ours; yet he lived a life of holiness. He was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may we remain pure and uncorrupted. He was a representative of the saints who live amid the perils and corruptions of the last days. For his faithful obedience to God he was translated. So, also, the faithful, who are alive and remain, will be translated. They will be removed from a sinful and corrupt world to the pure joys of heaven. “Our present work is to come out from the world and be separate. This is the only way we can walk with God, as did Enoch” (Conflict and Courage, p. 29). The worldly people of Enoch’s day lived a life very different from Enoch. While they were doing works of evil, he was living a life of constant obedience to God. The vast majority of those living before the flood had evil desires and thoughts continually (Genesis 6:5). Enoch’s thoughts, on the other hand, were on God continually. Enoch is a type of those who are ready to meet Jesus when He returns. God’s last remnant people must live as Enoch lived. Enoch walked with

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God continually, day by day and moment by moment. This means that he was in continual communion with God, and God with him through prayer. Our communion must be of the same character. “Brethren, pray at home, in your family, night and morning; pray earnestly in your closet; and while engaged in your daily labor, lift up the soul to God in prayer. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. The silent, fervent prayer of the soul will rise like holy incense to the throne of grace and will be as acceptable to God as if offered in the sanctuary. To all who thus seek Him, Christ becomes a present help in time of need. They will be strong in the day of trial (Adventist Home, p. 212). Our walks with God must be such that He does for us what He did for Enoch—lead and instruct us in our daily lives. This can only happen if we have moment-by-moment communion with God. Satan knows this, so he will do everything he can to hinder this communication.

Way’s Satan Interferes Satan tries to interfere with our two-way communication with God in numerous ways. One very effective way is to keep us so busy in the world that we neglect our moment-by-moment communion with God. Jesus warned us of this with the words: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap” (Luke 21:34, NIV). Not necessarily all bad things will hinder the kind of relationship we must have with God. If we become over involved in good activities, we will miss the mark. For example, as a pastor I can become so involved in the “work of the Lord” that I neglect to stay in close communication with Him. In such a case, the “work of God” takes the place of God in my life. Those ready to meet Jesus will have gained complete victory over every temptation and sin Satan attempts to thrust upon them. This triumph cannot happen without a continual, living connection with God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and constant communion with God through prayer.

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“Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end” (Desire of Ages, p. 324). Every day the things of this world constantly vie for the attention of individuals. It seems that people are so lonely that they must have constant audio or visual input coming into them. When in their cars, secular music is loudly playing, or they are listening to a political talk show host. In the store they talk on cell phones. When exercising, they wear headphones in order to listen to more secular music. At home they surf the web, play computer games, watch television, or listen to radio and CDs. It dawned on me one day why this kind of lifestyle is so popular. Satan wants us to be in constant communication with worldly means in order to keep us from receiving the communication God wants to give us. Many of the things people watch or listen to may not all be bad. However, if those things interfere with our communication with God, we will not grow into the fullness of Christ as we must in order to be ready for His second advent. If you want to see how much these things impact your life, I suggest you try something called a “prayer fast.” For 10 days, eliminate every unnecessary secular activity such as TV, radio, secular music, web surfing and games, phone conversations, etc. Replace those things with communion with God. I am not talking about being on your knees in prayer constantly. I am referring to talking with God and reflecting on Him as often as possible. I guarantee that if you do this you will experience the presence of God as perhaps never before experienced. Your stress level will lower, and you will experience greater peace. You probably won’t want to go back to your old lifestyle again. Another way Satan seeks to hinder our communication with God is through poor health habits. Lack of rest or neglect of proper exercise will negatively affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For example, it is difficult to have a meaningful communication with God when we are overly tired.

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Our diet also plays a significant role in our relationship with God. God gave health laws in the Bible not only for our physical health but also for our spiritual wellbeing. God communicates with us through our minds. Therefore, anything that affects our bodies or minds negatively will affect our communication with God. Ellen White points to this fact in the following statements: “The body is the only medium through which the mind and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. Hence it is that the adversary of souls directs his temptations to the enfeebling and degrading of the physical powers. His success here means the surrender to evil of the whole being” (Ministry of Healing, p. 130). “The brain nerves that connect with the whole system are the medium through which heaven communicates with man and affects the inmost life. Whatever hinders the circulation of the electric current in the nervous system, thus weakening the vital powers and lessening mental susceptibility, makes it more difficult to arouse the moral nature” (Education, p. 209).

Listen We need to pray and go throughout the day in an attitude of prayer. When we do this, we will hear God’s “still small voice” speaking to us. To illustrate what I am referencing I will share a couple examples. Often in prayer the Lord will communicate with me concerning a sermon or some church issue I have divulged in prayer. When writing this book, the Lord often brought to my mind things He wanted me to write. Often these communications will come when I am not necessarily focusing on that particular need. If fact, that is usually the indication for me that I am hearing God’s voice and not just my thoughts or ideas. There have been times that He has told me something about parishioners that I needed to know as their pastor. Once, the Lord gave me a wonderful insight about one aspect of Himself on a Thursday evening. I decided to change my sermon and share what the Lord had shown me. So, I was up late developing a new sermon for Sabbath. However, during the next day I began feeling uncomfortable about speaking on what the Lord had shown me. I prayed about it Friday night. That night the Lord gave me a dream where I was preaching that new sermon and realized I should not be preaching it.

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When I awoke, I remembered the dream but still wanted to preach the new sermon and share with the congregation what the Lord had shown me. So I prayed again about it Sabbath morning. Then unexpectedly the Lord said (not audible voice), “That was for you.” Being stubborn as I sometimes can be I began arguing with Him, “But Lord, that was a wonderful insight. It would be good to share.” So when I went to church, I took both sermons; the new one and the one I had previously planned to preach. As I stood up to preach, I was clearly impressed to share the previously prepared sermon and not the new one. Yes, God does want to communicate with us. He wants us to pray for certain individuals and/or circumstances because He wants to do something in their lives and our prayers for them opens the way for Him to work on their behalf. So He will bring them to our mind and impress us to pray for them. He may or may not tell us the individual’s specific issues. However, we should lift them up to God in prayer even if we don’t know what to specifically pray for. God wants to give us insights we need to have in order to serve Him better. As a pastor, I am constantly concerned that I do not simply follow my plans in the Lord’s work. It is only as we stay close to God through prayer and daily receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we will be able to hear His voice concerning what He wants us to do. Jesus is our perfect example of this. He was daily filled with the Spirit and communicated with His Father constantly. Because of this He knew exactly where to work in cooperation with what the Father was doing (John 5:19). The apostle Paul followed the example of Jesus. He was filled with the Spirit after his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:17-18). Paul was so close to his Lord that his ministry was constantly under God’s direction. For example, Jesus’ great commission was to preach the gospel in all the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Human logic would say the gospel should then be preached in every city through which the apostles passed. However, that was not the case. On one missionary journey, the Spirit directed them to bypass several cities and directed them where to go (Acts 16:6-10). God wants to do the same for us today. At times God will warn you of danger, which will actually save your life. One autumn during a wind storm, I was standing in the front yard of our house. The Lord gave me a clear impression to walk away from where I stood and go to the side of the house. Seconds after I moved per god’s direction, a large tree toppled and fell right where I had just been standing.

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Often God knows with whom you will be in contact, and He knows their needs. He will put into your remembrance truths that each specific individual needs to know. “The servants of Christ are to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial for their faith. Their preparation is to be made day by day, in treasuring up in their hearts the precious truths of God’s Word, in feeding upon the teaching of Christ, and through prayer strengthening their faith; then, when brought into trial, the Holy Spirit will bring to their remembrance the very truths that will reach the hearts of those who shall come to hear. God will flash the knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures into their memory at the very time when it is needed” (Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 40, 41). That we learn to listen for His voice is vital. Satan’s plan is to drown God’s voice into all the other voices of this world. Don’t be deceived by him. Listening to God in prayer is essential in order for God’s children to live a life of victory, minister to others, and be ready to meet Jesus.

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Chapter Eleven FASTING AND PRAYER

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asting from food has been a teaching among God’s people for centuries and predates the New Testament period. In this chapter we will take a closer look at what the Bible teaches about fasting. As with the other teachings in this book, fasting is important for God’s last-day remnant people to understand and practice. It will play a significant role in finishing God’s work and preparing them for Christ’s second coming.

Hierarchy of Evil Power Jesus understood the vital necessity of prayer and fasting in our conflict with Satan and his evil forces. Our Lord inspired Paul to describe the battle we have with the enemy in his letter to the Ephesians. “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” (Ephesians 6:12). When we look closely at this verse, we see there is a hierarchy of evil forces with Satan at the top. Some of these evil powers, principalities and rulers seem to have more power than others. Jesus also indicated that some evil spirits are more wicked than others (Matthew 12:43-45). I suppose that this makes sense. Among men there are those who are more capable and powerful than other men. Evil spirits are fallen angels with God given talents and abilities. Therefore, it follows that some are more capable and powerful than their cohorts, Satan being the most powerful of all.

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This seems to apply to the holy angels as well. The Bible refers to cherubim and seraphim. Ellen White acknowledges the differences in the following statement. “We need to understand better than we do the mission of the angels. It would be well to remember that every true child of God has the co-operation of heavenly beings. Invisible armies of light and power attend the meek and lowly ones who believe and claim the promises of God. Cherubim and seraphim, and angels that excel in strength, stand at God’s right hand, ‘all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation [Hebrews 1:14]’ ” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 154). Ellen White listed cherubim, seraphim, and angels that excel in strength. She recognized various categories of angels, and even mentioned angels that were stronger than some of the other holy angels. Both holy angels and evil angels have varying degrees of power and ability.

A Power Struggle We read about an encounter between good and evil forces when a father took his son to Jesus’ disciples asking them to deliver the son from an evil spirit that possessed him. The disciples had previously, in the name of Jesus, cast out demons (Matthew 10:1). However, this time they were unable to rid the boy of the evil spirit (Matthew 17:14-16). The father then took his son to Jesus. Responding to the father’s plea for his son, Jesus “rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (Matthew 17:18). The disciples were confused and puzzled. So they asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon. Jesus said: “Because of your unbelief. … Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20-21). In this case Jesus indicated that this evil spirit was more powerful and resistant. It appears that the disciples had not ever encountered this kind of evil spirit. For, they had no problem casting out spirits in previous encounters. This one, however, required something more in order to be rebuked

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and driven from the boy. Jesus stated that “fasting and prayer” was required in this case. Some manuscripts omit verse 21, which speaks about “prayer and fasting.” However, the parallel story in the gospel of Mark reads the same way: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Again, some manuscripts leave the word prayer but omit the word “fasting” from this verse in Mark. So, the question is, “Is fasting a requirement in order to cast out some evil spirits and advance God kingdom?” Let’s let the Bible answer this question about fasting.

Fasting Is Always Included I don’t want to get into a discussion of scribal additions; however, the point I want to make is that in the Bible we find fasting connected with special times of prayer. Whenever God’s people humbly approach Him or face special problems through prayer, fasting is always involved. We see this again and again in both the Old and New Testament (see Nehemiah 9:1-3, Psalm 35:13, Daniel 9:3, Acts 14:23, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27). Many more could be listed. I leave it with the reader to do a more extensive study of examples of fasting. Therefore, even if a verse does not include the word “fasting,” it can be safely assumed that fasting was involved whenever special prayer times are mentioned in the Bible. For example, the book of Acts does not say that the disciples prayed and fasted when they were claiming in prayer the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The verse simply says: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14). It would be safe to assume that they were also fasting during this 10-day period of prevailing prayer. Ellen White supports this in the following statement:

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“’Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me [not with a fluctuating faith, but as the only-begotten Son of God, and a personal Saviour], the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ This promise the disciples held fast by faith, and on the day of Pentecost it was graciously fulfilled by the Lord. They were bidden not to leave Jerusalem till they had been endued with power from on high. They therefore remained in Jerusalem, fasting and praying. They emptied from their hearts all bitterness, all estrangement, and all differences; for this would have prevented their prayers being as one. And when they were emptied of self, Christ filled the vacancy. The Holy Spirit came upon them, and filled all the house where they were sitting. Then was the promise fulfilled: ‘If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever’ ” (Signs of the Times,, January 20, 1898, paragraph 8, emphasis added). Ellen White clearly understood that the intense prayer focus during the ten days before Pentecost would definitely include fasting by the disciples. In the Bible fasting is always included during a persevering time of prayer. Another example is found when Peter was imprisoned by Herod. The king’s plan was to execute him in order to please the Jews (Acts 12:1-3). When the church heard about this, we read what they did in Acts 12. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:6). When Peter was miraculously released from prison by the angel, Luke tells us that he went to the place “where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). Nothing is said in these verses about the church fasting during this urgent time of prayer. However, it can be safely assumed that they were also fasting since fasting always accompanied such intense times of prayer. Ellen White again supports this truth.

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“The death of James caused great grief and consternation among the believers. When Peter also was imprisoned, the entire church engaged in fasting and prayer” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 144, emphasis added). Therefore, it can also be safely assumed that Jesus included fasting when He told the disciples that the demon they faced in the child could only be cast out by a special prayer focus. With this statement Jesus acknowledged two things. First, He indicated there are levels or degrees of resisting power among Satan’s host. Second, He pointed to the fact that these stronger evil powers can be cast out only by those who fast and pray. Did you get that? Jesus stated that fasting and prayer play a key role in our ability to be used by our Lord to overcome the enemy. This applies to both our own personal lives and our ministry to others.

Prayer and Fasting Increases Faith How does fasting and prayer strengthen us? While I present several ways later in this chapter; however, here I want to first indicate that Jesus connected strong faith with prayer and fasting. He stated it was because of the disciple’s “unbelief ” that they were unable to cast out the devil. Then He continued by stating that “prayer and fasting” were necessary. Jesus made it very clear that prayer and fasting are an essential factor in strong faith. Hence, if we want stronger faith to overcome Satan’s influences in our lives and ministry for the Lord, fasting and prayer must become a regular part of our Christian lives. Those ready to meet Jesus when He returns will have a very strong faith. They are described as having “the faith of Jesus,” which is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul had Jesus’ faith in his life (Galatians 2:20). Other individuals throughout history have attained this level of faith. However, when Jesus returns there will be an entire generation of believers who have the “faith of Jesus.” One way they will have attained this is through fasting and prayer.

Jesus and Fasting When Jesus faced the demon in the child, He did not at that moment enter into a time of prayer and fasting. However, we know that at the beginning of His ministry He did experience an intense time of prayer and fasting

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(Matthew 4:1-2). This time of fasting and prayer had a specific purpose. Jesus knew both were necessary in order for Him to be victorious over the enemy both personally and in ministry. “When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and work. By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel” (Desire of Ages, p. 114). Christ’s prayer and fasting prepared Him for the wilderness temptations and the ministry that lay ahead of Him. Fasting and prayer are necessary in order to gain the greatest victories over temptation and sin. “When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing (fasted). He committed Himself to God, and through earnest prayer, and perfect submission to the will of His Father, came off conqueror. Those who profess the truth for these last days, above every other class of professed Christians, should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer” (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 186). What does she say we must do? We must imitate Christ. What part of Christ’s life must we imitate? If we want to live a victorious life as Christ did, we must follow His example of fasting and prayer.

The Disciples and Fasting It appears that the disciples had not yet entered into such a time of fasting and prayer before they encountered the demon that successfully resisted their efforts to cast him from the boy. Jesus had fasted, but the disciples had not. We know this because of an incident recorded in Matthew. “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, ‘Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast’ ” (Matthew 9:14-15).

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The disciples felt no need to enter into such an intense time of fasting and prayer. Christ was with them every day. They expected Him to establish His kingdom on earth soon, and they had hopes of having high positions in His kingdom. They were totally oblivious to the spiritual warfare that lay ahead. However, Christ knew and said that the day would come when they also would enter into prayer and fasting as He had.

Christ’s Felt Need Christ, on the other hand, encountered warfare with the enemy every day. The kingdom of light in Christ was constantly confronting the kingdom of darkness in this world. Because of this, Christ spent many nights in fasting and prayer. “He often dismissed His disciples to visit their homes and rest; but He gently resisted their efforts to draw Him away from His labors. All day He toiled, teaching the ignorant, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding the multitude; and at the eventide or in the early morning, He went away to the sanctuary of the mountains for communion with His Father. Often He passed the entire night in prayer and meditation, returning at daybreak to His work among the people” (Desire of Ages, p. 259). Jesus needed a daily renewing of His spiritual strength in order to continually defeat the enemy. Fasting and prayer played a major role in His empowering to overcome Satan and advance God’s kingdom.

After Pentecost After the ascension of Jesus, the disciples fasted and prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Their prayer was answered following the ten day prevailing, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Since they were empowered to meet the entire host of Satan, the strongest, and most powerful of Satan’s army could not stand before them. They continued to follow their Master’s example of leading a Spiritfilled life of fasting and prayer. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

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From our previous discussion, we can be confident that fasting was included during many of their times of prayer. Paul tells us that he fasted many times (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27). He also encouraged others to do the same (1 Corinthians 7:5). The power of God was so strong with the disciples that the gospel spread throughout the then-known world (Colossians 1:23). The sick were healed, demons were cast out, and the dead were raised (Acts 5:15-16; 9:36-41).

Our Calling Everyone who accepts Christ is given the same commission entrusted to the disciples (Mark 16:15-20). We are to do the same ministry Jesus and the disciples did (John 14:12; 7:38-39). In order to do this we must first experience the daily baptism of the Holy Spirit. “What we need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without this, we are no more fitted to go forth to the world than were the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord” (Review & Herald, February 18, 1890). “Impress upon all the necessity of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the church, so that they will be living, growing, fruit-bearing trees of the Lord’s planting” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 86). We must also have the same life of prayer and fasting Jesus and the disciples had. If we neglect this spiritual weapon, we too will encounter satanic forces that we are unable to overcome. “In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith—faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work—can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places” (Desire of Ages, p. 431, emphasis added). Ellen White clearly understood the necessity of God’s children being Spirit-filled. They must become men and women who lead lives faithful to

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God, which includes prayer and fasting. She said this was necessary for us to be “successful” in our conflict with the enemy. Charles Finney was a most powerful minister for the Lord. He made the following statement about the results of personally receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of prayer and fasting in his ministry. “I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this. … Sometimes I would find myself empty of this power. I would go and visit, and find that I made no saving impression. I would exhort and pray with the same results. I would then set apart a day for private fasting and prayer … after humbling myself and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with all its freshness. This has been the experience of my life” (The Praying Church Source Book, p. 276). Finney was not alone in his realization of the necessity of fasting and prayer. Every outstanding leader of the Christian church throughout the centuries has understood the role fasting plays in the advancement of God’s work. Such prominent Christians as Polycarp (a.d. 110), Tertullian (a.d. 210), Martin Luther (1500s), John Calvin (1500s), John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and Ellen White understood this. The list could go on and on. Is it any wonder why Satan has tried to blind us to the truth about fasting? John Wesley wrote, “The man that never fasts is no more in the way to heaven than the man who never prays” (The Praying Church Source Book, 291).

Jesus’ Command Jesus put fasting in the same category as prayer. Matthew records Jesus’ words: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:5).

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Notice Jesus did not say, “If you pray.” Instead, He instructed us to pray giving clarification on how not to pray. Matthew also recorded the following words of Jesus about fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do” (Matthew 6:16). Note again that Jesus did not say, “If you fast.” He instructed us to fast with clarification on how not to fast. Our praying and fasting is not to be done for show. It is between us and God alone. Jesus gave us instruction for both fasting and praying. He expects us to do these things. They are necessary for us to overcome the enemy and advance God’s kingdom.

Those Ready to Meet Jesus Those ready to meet Jesus when He returns will have fasting and prayer as an ongoing part of their lives. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, fasting, and prayer will have played an essential role in their complete victory over every influence of Satan in their lives: spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This combined experience will also have empowered them to finish God’s work in the “Spirit and power of Elijah.” Ellen White understood this when she wrote: “Now and onward till the close of time the people of God should be more earnest, more wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food may not be required, but they should eat sparingly of the most simple food” (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 188, 189). “We cannot have a weak faith now; we cannot be safe in a listless, indolent, slothful attitude. Every jot of ability is to be used, and sharp, calm, deep thinking is to be done. The wisdom of any human agent is not sufficient for the planning and devising in this time. Spread every plan before God with fasting, and with the humbling of the soul before the Lord Jesus, and commit thy ways unto the Lord” (Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 364).

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Benefits of Fasting Fasting benefits the Christian in many ways. When we fast, we are humbling ourselves before the Lord. This is a very important prerequisite for us to be used by God effectively (1 Peter 5:5-6). Through fasting and prayer, we learn humility, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Fasting gives us a clearer understanding of God’s Word and will in our lives and ministry for the Lord. Jesus clearly knew the will of His Father and did the work His Father called Him to do. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). Jesus knew what the Father was doing and joined Him in the work of advancing God’s kingdom. This was true of Jesus life and ministry because of His daily infilling of the Spirit and communion with the Father through fasting and prayer. We can and must have the same experience. Those ready to meet Jesus will have this experience for they will be just like Him (1 John 3:2). They will be doing works that are in complete harmony with God. They will be constantly under His direction and leading, not their own. Other professed Christians will be doing what they think are the works of God. However, in the end they will discover that they had been following their own will rather than the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21-23). How shocked they will be when they hear the words from Christ, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Spirit baptism together with fasting and prayer improves our relationship with God and enables us to hear God better. This insures that we will be planning and working according to God’s will and not our own. It is a serious matter that we follow the will of God in our lives and ministry when Jesus comes. Some sins, which are powerful strongholds of Satan in our lives, will not be overcome except through fasting and prayer. When done in humility and earnest seeking of God for victory fasting and prayer will bring deliverance as nothing else can.

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Fasting provides health benefits. Note Ellen White’s comments along these lines. “There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable benefit to them” (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 188, 189). Good health plays an important role in our ability to better hear God’s voice and over come the enemy. Whatever negatively affects the body also adversely affects the mind. It is in the mind that God communicates with us. The truth is that the clearer our minds, the better our communication with God. This is why Satan attacks the minds of men, women, and youth today. I am convinced this is one primary reason he has inundated our society today with mind-altering drugs as well as other substances and activities that negatively affect the mind.

Kinds of Fasting A “total” fast would eliminate both food and water. We read of this fast in Ezra 10:6, and Esther 4:16. This kind of fast should not last longer than three days. The “common” fast involves eliminating all food while drinking water. Jesus’ fast in the wilderness was this kind of fast. It can go on longer than three days if led by the Spirit to do so. Another kind of fast is what I call a “partial” fast. During this fast several approaches can be taken. For a set period of time one meal can be eliminated or certain foods can be eliminated. Ellen White gives some important counsel on another aspect of fasting in the following statement. “The true fasting which should be recommended to all is abstinence from every stimulating kind of food, and the proper use of wholesome, simple food, which God has provided in abundance. Men need to think less of what they shall eat and drink of temporal food, and much more in regard to the food from heaven, that will give tone and vitality to the whole religious experience” (Medical Ministry, p. 283).

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There is also the “group” fast. We see this kind of fasting in the scriptures quoted in this chapter when the believers came together for prevailing prayer concerning some serious issues facing the church. An example of this in the Old Testament is when King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for all Judah when they were faced with imminent attack from an alliance of their enemies (2 Chronicles 20). I personally believe the time has come that God is challenging each of us to take seriously the importance of combining fasting with prayer in our lives and service for Him. They will both play a vital role in emerging from our Laodicean condition and being ready to meet Jesus when He comes.

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he focus of this book is on the various aspects of prayer. However, we can seek to enter into each of these aspects and yet our prayers not be answered. Certain things in our lives can hinder our prayers from being answered as we would like. I am sure when we are in eternity with our Lord, we will realize that prayer was perhaps the most important activity on planet earth. Satan knows this, so he will seek to interfere with our prayer lives any way he can. The hindrances to prayer presented in this chapter are some of the ways this can happen.

Known Sin One thing with which I am sure every Christian would agree is that known sin in the life will definitely keep our prayers from being answered. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Unconfessed, cherished sin will come between us and God answering our prayer. The disciple John clearly understood this when he wrote:

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“And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). If our prayers do not seem to be answered, then it would be well that we seek God as the psalmist did. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24). When we pray this prayer, we must then wait for the Lord to reveal if there is anything in our lives that needs correcting. If He reveals something, we need to immediately confess it and forsake it. During this prayer don’t be quick to dismiss something that comes to mind as unimportant. Remember, we are all quite good at rationalizing our behavior. Perhaps God will bring to mind someone we have wronged, and we need to apologize to them. I recall one situation a fellow Christian shared with me concerning himself. As he was seeking the infilling of the Spirit and praying to God he recalled an individual who had wronged him many years before his search for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This caused a break down in communication between the two men. This man was convicted to write a letter and seek to make things right between him and the other man. His goal was to apologize to the other man for his own behavior and treatment of him. Nothing was said about what the other man did in order to justify his wrong, un-Christian behavior. God may bring to mind some financial wrong that needs to be corrected. Whatever God reveals to us, it is vital that we be “merciless” in dealing with our own sins. The Bible is very clear that cherished sin will keep God from hearing and answering our prayers. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Please note that the Bible uses the word “regard.” This is not speaking of a struggle with sin. It is referring to sin that we know is in our lives, and we choose to continue in it. Such a sin is a “cherished” sin. If we find ourselves in that situation we need to ask God to remove the desire for that sin from our hearts. We do not have the ability to change our desires concerning sin. Only God can do that. Only God gives both “repentance” and

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“forgiveness” to us (Acts 5:31). If we ask Him He will take the “regard” we have for any sin out of our heart.

Selfish Motive We often don’t know our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). Many times our prayers are motivated by selfish purposes. True prayer is always aimed at glorifying God. Whenever selfish motives are the basis of our prayers, we will not receive an answer. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3, NIV). For example, you may be praying for a job promotion. What is your motive? Is it to make more money, have more prestige, or simply for ambition’s sake? These are all selfish motives. Instead, such a prayer must include the request that God’s will be done. Our goal should be to better serve and glorify God. If the promotion will result in glorifying God, then you will want to get the advancement. However, if it will not give greater glory to God, then it is best you not get it. In our materialistic society, it is so easy to get caught up in the values of the world: more money, greater status, selfish ambition. We need to stay very close to God through the infilling of the Holy Spirit in order to avoid such motives. For it is within our sinful nature to always be seeking self gratification rather than God’s glory. How can we know if our motive is selfish? One way is to observe our reaction if we do not get what we want. For example, if we get angry when someone else gets the promotion that we think we deserve, then our motive is for selfish reasons. Such anger happens when self and pride has been wounded. It is important we always remember that God will direct us in our lives and work in ways to bring about what is best for us (Psalm 75:6; Romans 8:28). He knows the future and has insights into every situation. Something we might feel is definitely good for us may not be as good as we think. God as our loving Father will always answer our requests in ways that will be a blessing to us. If we find ourselves getting angry if we don’t get the answer we wanted then we do not really trust our heavenly Father. Joy and peace are byproducts of faith and trust. Faith and trust in God will lead us to have joy and peace no matter what the answer to our request is, whether it is as we

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had hoped for or not because we know God is working everything toward our own good (Romans 8:28).

Idols in the Heart An idol is anything we put before God. They can come in many forms, including money, time, appetite, our affections, etc. Idols in our hearts will keep our prayers from being answered. “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” (Ezekiel 14:3, NIV). For example, money becomes an idol whenever we choose to disobey God in order to get more money. If we choose to disobey, God’s revealed will in order to earn more money by working on the Sabbath, lying, stealing, or cheating our employer we then make money an idol. Money is a god to many people in this world including many professed Christians. Paul gave us a very important warning concerning seeking riches. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, goodness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:8-11). It is no sin to be rich. Christians with wealth can be a great blessing to others and God’s work if they use their abundance according to God’s will. However, some well-known Christian preachers would have us believe that God wants every Christian to be rich. The Bible does not promise that. What the Bible does promise is that God’s children will have the necessities of life (Matthew 6:24-34, Philippians 4:19). As you have just read, the Bible also says that we should not seek to be rich. We are to serve God faithfully, and He will decide how much wealth will be a blessing to us. We can make our spouse an idol by putting him or her above God. When Adam chose Eve above following God’s will she became an idol to

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him. That may sound harsh, but God must be put first in our lives above all other relationships. Jesus said: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). The Christian must put no one above Christ in his life. Satan is good at confusing the issues when it comes to family. That is why we must daily be filled with God’s Spirit and continually stay in close communion with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). For example, if a Christian wife chooses to go with her husband to a place that she knows is not a place God would approve, then she makes her husband an idol. Perhaps she is a new Christian and her husband wants her to join him and their old friends for a drinking party the way they used to before she accepted Christ. She must say no. However, it is important she do so with a humble spirit reassuring her husband that she loves him. We can also make our children idols in our hearts. Sports are very popular in our country. I have known of Adventist parents that gave in to the wishes of their son or daughter to participate in some sporting event on the Sabbath. Whenever a parent yields to their child’s wishes in opposition to God’s revealed will, they have made that child an idol. Plus, they have by their example told their children that it is acceptable to put God in second place when it comes to some things in life. We need to continually reassure our spouse, and children that we love them. We need to be the best husband or wife we can, and the best possible parent. However, we must not allow our love for them to supersede our love and obedience to God. Another possible idol involves our health habits. Whenever we willfully disregard the laws of health, we put that health-destroying desire before God. Paul said: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everything we do is to glorify God. All our thoughts and activities should better enable the character of Christ of be developed in us and revealed through us to others. For example, if we choose to yield to appetite in an area that we know goes against God’s instruction we make our

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appetite an idol. If you have questions concerning why laws of health are important I recommend the chapter entitled “Laws of Blessing” in my book Spirit Baptism & Deliverance. That chapter gives a more detailed discussion on how our obedience to health laws enables God to reveal Himself to and through us more effectively.

Lack of Generosity Giving to help the needy especially among God’s people is a biblical principle. Jesus said: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye meet withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). God wants to bless us richly. However, if we are not generous with others, we hinder our prayers for God’s blessings. What we receive from God, we are to use to bless others. For example, one reason for working is to earn money in order to help those in need (Ephesians 4:28). “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13). Also, the Christian is clearly instructed in the Bible to support God’s work. The tithing principle is delineated in Malachi 3:8-10. Our giving is to be with a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). If we give grudgingly to our needy brothers and sisters in Christ or to God’s work we need to ask God to change our heart. He will hear such a prayer if we ask truly wanting Him to change us.

Unforgiving Spirit Another area in which Satan tries to hinder all of us is to tempt us to be unwilling to forgive those who have wronged us in prayer. Jesus is very clear about the necessity of forgiving others. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your

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trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26) We have no right to keep anger toward anyone no matter what they have done to us (Ephesians 4:26-32). Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. An unforgiving person is not a Christian no matter what their profession or what other areas of their lives they seek to obey God. An angry, unforgiving attitude will keep us from entering heaven not to mention hinder our prayers. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Marital Conflict Peter makes an interesting observation concerning the husband-wife relationship and prayer. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Wrong attitudes between husband and wife can hinder their prayers. Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse is very destructive to a marriage and one’s relationship with God. A cross, peevish attitude, or the silent treatment when things don’t go our way is a sin. An unruly temper, sharp, cutting, and hurtful words are wrong. Unrestrained sexual demands in the marriage as well as withholding proper sexual relations from a spouse is very detrimental to the marriage relationship (1 Corinthians 7:2-5). If we do these things our prayers will be hindered.

Doubt Whenever we pray claiming a promise from God, it is important we have faith that God will do what He says (Mark 11:24-25, James 1:5-7, 1 John 5:10). Doubt will hinder our prayers from being answered. We must believe that God will hear and answer (Hebrews 11:6).

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Prayer is a major factor in our victory over Satan and the attractions of this world. John wrote: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Faith in God’s promises through prayer brings us the victory. Prayer without faith brings us nothing (James 1:5-7). Ellen White wrote much about the necessity of combining faith with our prayers. “The summing up of the benefit of prayer is that devotion that leads to faith in God’s promises. This faith is the key that opens the divine treasury, is the hand by which we appropriate to our use the richest gifts of God. The prayer of the contrite heart unlocks the treasure house of supplies, and lays hold of omnipotent power. This kind of prayer enables the suppliant to understand what it means to lay hold of the strength of God, and to make peace with him. This kind of prayer causes us to have an influence over those with whom we associate. The prayer of faith is not listless, dry, and uninteresting. It wells up from perfect trust and assurance, and by its fervor makes manifest to the world, to angels, and to men, that you do believe in God, and have made Christ your personal Saviour. The Lord Jehovah accepts the argument that is presented in the name of his Son, and places the resources of his merit at your command. It is our privilege and duty to bring the efficacy of the name of Christ into our petitions, and use the very arguments that Christ has used in our behalf. Our prayers will then be in complete harmony with the will of God. Then it is that Christ clothes the contrite suppliant with his own priestly vestments, and the human petitioner approaches the altar holding the holy censer, from which ascends the incense of the fragrance of the merit of Christ’s righteousness” (Signs of the Times, June 18, 1896, paragraph 8). Many other specific sins could be listed. However, I think the point is made. The more our lives is committed 100 percent to God, and we believe His Word, the more powerful answers we will see to our prayers.

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Take Courage If you find yourself struggling with things in your life that you feel are hindering your prayers, God is willing and able to deliver you from them. He is able to remove anything that negatively affects your relationship with Him. [For an in-depth discussion on how we can be delivered from all of Satan’s temptations and influences in our lives, I recommend my book Spirit Baptism & Deliverance.] Whenever God reveals to you areas in your life where you have done, or are still doing something that is against His will, don’t let Satan discourage you. Simply ask God to forgive you and He will (1 John 1:9). Then let Him begin the process of changing you into the image of Christ by daily being filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, 2 Corinthians 3:18). Also, in faith apply the principles of spiritual warfare in your battle with the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18). Those ready to meet Jesus when He comes will be just like Him, having gained in the power of the Spirit victory over every hindrance to their prayers. This is the experience God is calling you to today. Will you heed His call?

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ave you ever wondered what those Christians will be like who go through the time of trouble (tribulation) and are ready to meet Jesus? It is important you find out because I am convinced God is calling that very generation today, you and me, to leave our spiritually weak, Laodicean condition and get ready to meet our Lord. The purpose of the books I have written, including this one, is to help the reader better understand how they can become just like Jesus and overcome every influence and oppression of Satan: spiritually, emotionally and physically. Understanding and experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit is foundational to this process of growing into the fullness of Christ. That is why the theme of Spirit baptism runs through every book. As I have discussed in this book, those ready to meet Jesus will have a prayer life that is Spirit led. They will be uniting perseveringly with other believers claiming the promises of God. Fasting will become an integral part of their seeking God. Their communion with God will be so close and intimate that they will often hear His “still small voice” and live a life under His constant direction. Their communion with God will be of supreme importance to them. They will surrender their lives 100 percent to Him desiring to remove every hindrance that might stand between them and God. When Jesus comes, there will be a generation of “Enochs” who have daily and moment by moment walked with God. They, like Enoch, will take that final step when Jesus comes and walk into glory to live with their Lord forever. Do you want to be a part of that final generation? I believe God is calling that generation into existence now. God wants you to be among them

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CONCLUSION

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if you are living when Jesus returns. I challenge you after you read this last sentence to close this book, open your heart to God in prayer and commit yourself completely to Him holding nothing back.

Jesus Is Coming—Get Ready!

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Books by Pastor Smith The Baptism of the Holy Spirit This book presents the biblical teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the benefits of receiving this gift in fullness, and why it is necessary for the Christian to receive this special Spirit infilling in order to become like Jesus. Spirit Baptism & Evangelism The relationship between the baptism of the Holy Spirit and witnessing for Christ is presented along with Christ’s method of evangelism. The spiritual problems last-day Laodicean Christian’s face, and the solutions to those problems, are discussed. Spirit Baptism & New Wineskin Fellowship This book gives a biblical and historical study into how the early Christians “did church,” the historical “falling away” from God’s original plan for His church, the implications of how this apostasy still influences the church today, and why “new wineskin” fellowship is necessary for the Christian to grow into the fullness of Christ. Spirit Baptism & Deliverance It is God’s will to deliver His children from every influence and oppression of Satan in the Christian’s life spiritually, emotionally and physically. In addition to powerful testimonies of deliverance, the biblical principles of how these deliverances took place are presented in a manner that every Christian can apply to his or her own life. Spirit Baptism & Prayer Prayer is the most powerful force on earth. Prayer moves the arm of God on behalf of His people. In this book the necessity and method of intercessory prayer for the unsaved and fellow believers is discussed. The question, “Why does God need our prayers?” is answered. What it means to pray in the Spirit, persevere, unite, and fast in prayer are presented. Spirit Baptism & Christ’s Glorious Return This book presents the characteristics of those who are ready for Christ’s return. The question is answered, “What do I have to do to be among that final generation whom God is calling into existence today?” Spirit Baptism & Abiding in Christ This book explains how the Christian is to obtain victory over every temptation and sin by allowing Christ to live out His life in and through him or her. When this is experienced one’s life will never again be the same. Victory is no longer a struggle and joy in Christ is experienced as never before. Spirit Baptism & Waiting on God This book presents the biblical teaching about waiting on God for everything: prayer, guidance, service, Christ’s character, and why God allows trials and difficulties to enter the Christian’s life. Pastor Smith’s books can be ordered from: Adventist Book Center • 800-435-0008 Dennis Smith 16 West St, Woodbridge, CT 06525 Phone: 203-389-4784 Email: [email protected]

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