Week1
Day5
P.R.A.Y.
P. Is for Preparation
For the next 4 weeks we will be doing a deep dive into prayer.
Prepare to Take Your Place of Authority
Luke 18:7-8 - "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (NIV)
Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV)
James 5:15 - "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." (NIV)
James 5:17-18 - "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (NIV)
Suppose you received a red BMW for your birthday. You were given the keys and permission to take the car anywhere you pleased. You held the keys gingerly in your hand and admired the beautiful car. But you never drove it. Maybe you were afraid of crashing the car. Maybe you felt you didn't deserve the car. But, for whatever reason, you never drove it. Would good would it be to have the keys to a BMW and never drive it?
Jesus came to earth, died and was raised to life for us. In his death, he took back the keys of authority that had been handed over to the enemy by our sin (Rev. 1:18). Jesus then shared those keys of authority with the church (Matt. 16:18-19). But, having the keys and using the keys are two different things. For generations, the church has possessed the keys of authority, but not always used this precious gift of authority. Just because you have keys to the car doesn't mean that you will drive it!
When God gives us a direction in prayer, he wants us to pray from the position and declaration of authority. After all, we are seated in Jesus at the right hand of the Father - a privileged place of authority (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-3). We need to practice speaking out our intercession with boldness and persistence. Look at the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. You will note the boldness, almost seeming impertinence of the woman in her constant request. She wasn't put off by the apparent lack of breakthrough. She persisted until the answer came through. Abraham also modelled this in Genesis 18 with his persistent requests to the Lord regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Follow the model of the persistent widow and Abraham in your intercession.
James 5:15 talks about the "prayer offered in faith" and the breakthrough that comes with it. Praying in faith is the same as praying with authority. Perhaps you have been a part of a prayer process where faith has not been engaged. Words of prayer are being offered, but more as a religious exercise than a declaration of faith. God responds to faith (Mark 5:21-34; 10:46-52). Breakthrough in prayer comes when a person's faith is engaged - believing that God is listening and responding as he speaks.
For More Study
Mark 5:21-34; 10:46-52
Luke 18:1-8
James 5:13-20
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Do you recognize times of prayer when you have engaged your faith and times when you have not?
Why would you possibly draw back into praying without authority?
The basis for your authority in prayer is your position in Jesus next to the Father. The practice of your authority is in your listening to the Spirit's voice and praying out with faith what he gives you.
Todays lesson from:
stepstudyteach.com
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