No matter who you are, whether you are saved or unsaved, life is difficult.  If you are unsaved, your life is difficult because you do not have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.  If you are saved, your life is difficult because you do have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.  If you got saved thinking your life would not be difficult any more, you were wrong.  Whether you are saved or unsaved, life is difficult and full of trouble.  Now, for the unsaved, there is no hope.  At the end of the road is Hell—a lake of fire forever and ever.  For the saved, we can look forward to a better land.  But, throughout life, we are going to be dealing with pain and struggle and difficulty; and for those of us who are saved, the chastening hand of God.  In Hebrews 12:10, we see three purposes that lie behind the chastening we receive. Today, we will discuss the first purpose:

First, chastening is for pleasure.  “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure.” Now at first glance, this seems to be rather strange.  In fact, chastening someone for pleasure would seem to be sadistic and sick.  But, God is not evil nor sadistic.  He does not take pleasure in the fact that we are being chastened; the pleasure is because He knows that chastening has divine blessing and benefit as its end result. If we are going to become what our Father intends for us to be, then He must allow us to experience pain.  He takes pleasure, not in our pain, but in what it will produce.

To help you understand this, let’s look at the times God the Father said He was pleased with His Son Jesus.  The first was when Jesus was baptized.  After John baptized Jesus, a voice from Heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)  What was it about Christ’s baptism that pleased the Father?  Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  The Father was looking ahead to the suffering of His Son.  The second time was on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Jesus was talking to Moses and Elijah about His soon coming death.  Peter, James, and John heard a voice from Heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 17:5)

Was the Father pleased when Jesus worked miracles and preached the gospel?  Yes, He was.  In John 8:29 Jesus said, “I do always those things that please him.” The expression of God’s pleasure focused on Jesus’ obedient suffering.  God was not pleased in seeing His Son hurt, but He was pleased in seeing His Son’s obedience and His willingness to suffer unselfishly for the sake of others.

There are some lessons that we are not likely to learn in sermons; we learn them through suffering.  We are born naturally selfish.  If you have children, you know that our nature is “Me first.”  Kids do not have to go to school and take Selfishness 101—it comes naturally.  The only way to overcome that trait is to be broken through God’s divine chastening.  Selfish people make poor husbands, poor wives, poor workers, and poor Christians.  Chastening helps us to learn to please others rather than focusing on what pleases us.

A few years ago, my family and I had the privilege of seeing Rachel Barton, the world-renowned violinist from Chicago at a concert.  When she came on to the stage, it was obvious that she walked with a severe limp.  With great difficulty, she made her way to her seat and began to play.  I have never heard anyone else play with such emotion, beauty, and grace.  We sat spellbound as we listened to her.  Later, I found out her story.  When she was in her early twenties, Rachel was getting off a train to teach violin lessons carrying her 400 year old Amati violin worth more than half a million dollars.  The door of the train closed on her shoulder and caught the violin case.  She was dragged more than 350 feet by the train.  One leg was severed, and the other was badly injured.  Rachel Barton could have given up.  Instead, she continues to practice and play through the pain for the pleasure of others.  Every pain that God brings or allows into our lives has a purpose.  If we respond to it properly, that purpose will be accomplished.  Remember, when we enduring chastening for the pleasure of others, it pleases God.

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Are you discontented with an empty, meaningless, pointless life where everything just focuses on you and your own pleasures? Have you found out that what you have is not satisfying; so you get another goal; and then, when you reach it, you find out it’s not satisfying either?  You are not alone.

Over and over in Scripture, we see people desperately crying out to God for mercy.  Whether it was the sick, the crippled, or the demon-possessed, these people came to Jesus seeking His mercy for their problems.  What is it that brings a person to a position where they are conscious of their need for mercy from God?  Hebrews 4:1, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” These people who are conscious of their need for God’s mercy are motivated to come boldly to God for mercy because of fear.  I understand that Jesus said, “Fear not” oftentimes to his disciples.  There are some things we should not fear; but at the same time, there is a healthy fear that every Christian ought to have. I want my life to count for Jesus Christ.  I want to know that I made a positive difference in this world.   I want my wife and our children to know that I was a man of God, and I had an influence in their life.   I want to be a faithful pastor.  However, I live with fear of falling short of that goal.  I do not want to do anything, be anything, or go anywhere that will ruin the potential that I have for Jesus Christ in this life. So, I am motivated by that fear. People who are conscious of their need for God’s mercy are motivated by fear.

People who seek God’s mercy are also motivated by the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Bible is alive, and it beats with the heartbeat of Jesus Christ.  It is far more than just pieces of paper in a bound book; it is the living Word of God. That means it is current for every generation. If the Bible is doing what it should in your life, it will be like a two-edged sword.  Swords are very motivating. If I said, “Move out of the way,” you might say, “Why should I?” But, if I had a sharp two-edged sword, and I poked you with it, you would move out of the way without any argument.

It is tragic, but many people have a relationship with the Bible that does not move them. As a result, they are not very conscious of their need for God and His mercy in their lives. When God’s Word starts piercing and dividing asunder your soul and spirit, you are going to be motivated to go to God for help.  When it begins to cut you, when it begins to reveal, as He says here in this verse, “the thoughts and intents of the heart,” you see your need for mercy very clearly.   Think about your thought life.  Aren’t you glad there is not a little monitor where everyone can actually see and hear what you are thinking?  When people are cut by the Word of God, it drives them to seek God’s mercy.

Do you seek God’s mercy today?  It is available, my friend, for his mercies “are new every morning.”

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Continuing in our series on How to pray in the Spirit Pauls says in Romans 8:26, “…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Groaning which cannot be uttered-
In verse 26 the word groanings is the greek word, stenagmos which means heart murmurings. It is used in Acts 7:34, “…I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them.” As the Holy Spirit births prayer burdens in our heart we have a fervent desire to express these things eloquently in prayer in such a way as to be answered. However often we can’t put words to the burdens of our heart, and we really just groan in our spirit, but don’t feel as if we’re accomplishing much. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit takes the groanings of our heart and turns them into intelligible prayers that God answers.

There are many examples of men and women who were so burdened for something that they couldn’t do anything but groan in prayer, but God answered them. An Old Testament example of course would be Hannah, she was in so much agony, and groaning in prayer for a child that the priest thought she was drunk.

In more modern times the example of Daniel Nash is instructive. He was one of Charles Finney’s advance men, meaning he would enter a city several weeks or months before a meeting just to pray. Finney relates a story of His prayer,

“When I got to town to start a revival a lady contacted me who ran a boarding house. She said, “Brother Finney, do you know a Father Nash? He and two other men have been at my boarding house for the last three days, but they haven’t eaten a bite of food. I opened the door and peeped in at them because I could hear them groaning, and I saw them down on their faces. They have been this way for three days, lying prostrate on the floor and groaning. I thought something awful must have happened to them. I was afraid to go in and I didn’t know what to do. Would you please come see about them?” “No it isn’t necessary,” I replied. “They just have a spirit of travail in prayer.”

In his travail for souls, like a woman in labor, all that Daniel Nash could do was groan. It is interesting to note that after Nash died, Finney stopped holding meetings, and took a church the groaning prayer warrior that had helped bring thousands to Christ through his meetings was dead.

According to the will of God- The Bibles says in verse 27, “…he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” What this means is that the Holy Spirit and God the father our in constant communion. The Holy Spirit takes our feeble prayers which have an inability to produce results, and turns them into prayers that are according to the will of God. Why is this important you ask?

1 John 5:14-15 explains, “…this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing 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 desired of him.” Quite simply put the prayer that is according to God’s will is the prayer that He answers. So how do we know the will of God? Two ways, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God. This is why it is so essential to pray the word of God. When we claim one of the 7,000 promises of the Word of God in prayer, we are praying the will of God.

Likewise it is just as essential to incorporate the Spirit of God in prayer. Because He is God, He obviously knows what His will is. So instead of bringing the same prayer list you have been praying over for twenty years. Start asking God what should I pray for? When you pray for what He tells you, you will always have your prayer answered because it is the will of God. So now that we have seen the many benefits of praying in the Spirit, lets start doing it the results will be amazing.

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Continuing on about how to pray in the Spirit Paul says in Romans 8:26, “…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us” Thank God for that blessed conjunction but, we have an inability to produce results in prayer, and we don’t know what to pray, But the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. Great but what does that mean? I’m glad you asked lets look at the different aspects of praying in the Spirit.

God led prayer- The amazing thing about partnering with God is you always know what to pray, when to pray, and how long to pray for, if your letting God lead. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,
“Always respond to every impulse to pray. The impulse to pray may come when you are reading or when you are battling with a text. I would make an absolute law of this – always obey such an impulse.” You see God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything so rather than bringing the same prayer list you have been bringing for twenty years to Him ask Him what to pray for. No other relationship in the universe survives on 1 way communication, you have to listen. So why is it that we talk to God, and ask Him questions then don’t wait for an answer? God wants to tell you what to pray for why don’t we start letting Him.

Birthing- Praying in the Spirit is a lot like having a baby! The Holy Spirit impregnates our minds with holy passions, desires, and prayer burdens. Then as a midwife praying in us, and through us He births the prayer burden into being. Oswald Chambers said of this, “Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him?….Prayer is not simply getting things from God, that is a most initial form of prayer; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God. If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude to the things about which we pray.” Jonathan Edwards similarly said, “The true spirit of prayer is no other than God’s own Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from God, so doth it naturally tend to God in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to God, to converse with him by prayer.”

Words are overrated- Newsflash, prayer does not require you to say a thing words are way overrated in prayer. For instance some times we don’t know what to say, sometimes God is trying to talk to us, sometimes God is searching our hearts. The Psalms state, “Be still, and know that I am God” we don’t have to talk all the time. In America with our TV, Movies, Radios, Internet, Text Messaging, etc. We feel as if we must always have noise going, and be communicating. It would scare the average Christian to death to just hang out with the Lord without it being in their planner, with an agenda, a prayer list etc. What happened to just having a relationship with God? That is what the Holy Spirit can accomplish through you perfect communion with God no words required. Just bringing us into a “spirit of prayer”.

Because, “words are overrated” may be a controversial statement lets hear from some past prayer warriors.

E.M. Bounds said, “It is better to have prayer without words, then words without prayer.”

John Bunyan said, “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

Martin Luther said, “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.”

So today lets start listening to God, and letting Him lead you in prayer, acknowledge the Holy Spirit in the prayer closet. Acknowledge your inability to produce results, the fact you don’t know
how to pray. Ask for His help, His guidance, and listen to what He has to say.

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Continuing on in this series on praying in the Spirit we will cover the fact that there is a precise way in which we need to pray but cannot without God’s help. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

For we know not- Paul makes an amazing statement we don’t have a clue what to pray for. The most amazing thing about that statement is he includes himself. If anyone in all of history would pray right: he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel, was a pharisee of the pharisee’s, he was hand picked by God to take the Gospel to the gentiles. Furthermore, he wrote a large part of the new testament while simultaneously planting dozens of churches. Despite all of that Paul said apart from divine enablement I don’t know what to pray for. Paul knew that his flesh, and deceitful heart would make it impossible to ever pray the right prayer.

Well if the Apostle Paul doesn’t know what to pray for then we can be sure we don’t. Consequently we must be completely reliant on the Holy Spirit to be leading, and guiding our prayers. That is why it is a good discipline to be asking God what to pray for. You see we treat God like some cosmic Santa Clause, that’s just there to listen to all our wants, and needs. Don’t get me wrong God wants to take care of you, but what he really wants is to have a relationship with you. Relationships require two way communication not just talking listening. What relationship has ever lasted when one party always talked, and never listened. God wants to tell you what to pray for. So put away your Christmas list, and auctioneer voice, and start asking God questions then shutup and listen to His answers.

Why is it important to pray for the things God leads you to pray for instead of always whats on your prayer list? Because what God leads you to pray for He will bring to pass. 1 John 5:14-15 says it this way, “…this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing 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 desired of him.” So if you pray according to the will of God He will hear, and he will answer.” But how do we determine the will of God? Two ways the word of God, and the Spirit of God. That is why it is tremendously important to pray scripture, but it is also important to be led of the Spirit in your prayer.

as we ought- In modern usage ought is an expression of desire with no real intention of follow through. For instance, “I really ought to go to the store”, or ” I really ought to start exercising.” That is not at all what ought means in this verse. The word translated “ought” is the greek word dei, which means that which is required, a necessity, or that which is legally binding. So for instance when Jesus says, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” He is not saying it sure would be nice if you prayed. No way, He is saying it is legally binding upon you that you pray.

So in other words Paul is not saying, “you know we really should pray a certain way, but we don’t know how.” Rather he is emphasizing the fact that is it essential, and legally binding that we pray for the right things, at the right time, in the right way, but we don’t have a clue how to apart from the Holy Spirit. So in our praying we need set aside our agenda, and let God lead us. E.M. Bounds said, “it is better to have prayer without words, then words without prayer.” Take time to ask God how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray for. Then listen to what He has to say. Today lets make our prayers a conversation, a dialogue not a monologue.

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In this series of posts I would like to cover a subject that has often been controversial in various realms of Christianity. It is however an essential piece for experiencing a well rounded prayer life. What I am referring to is what the Bible calls praying in the Spirit.

With anything in the Christian life: praying, soulwinning, preaching, it can be done in the flesh, or in the Spirit. If your expecting results that will last for eternity from these activities than you must enlist the Spirit’s help. Paul gives us the best outline for praying in the Spirit, lets study it phrase by phrase. Romans 8:26-28 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The Spirit helpeth our infirmities- I don’t know about you but I’m glad the God has provided me a prayer partner for me because I have many weaknesses that make me a poor prayer warrior. Lets look at how the Holy Spirit provides His help to us.

Helpeth- The word translated helpeth in this passage is the greek word sunantilambanomai (Strongs #4878) which means to take hold of together with against something. When you are praying you are literally batting with demonic forces to accomplish things in the heavenlies. For instance while Daniel prayed for Israel in Daniel Chapter 10 there was an intense warfare going on in the Heavenlies to prevent him from getting an answer.

Satan does not want you to pray effectively, and will use a variety of weapons to stop you. Racing thoughts, television, bickering with a spouse are just some of his weapons. Thanks be to God we do not have to go it alone, the Holy Spirit wants to take hold of the weapon of prayer with you, and help you use it against Satan. He doesn’t want to just pray through you, He wants to pray together with you. In John 16:7 Jesus called the Holy Spirit the comforter which is the greek word Parakletos. Parakletos means, a helper, and interceeder, one who come along side to help. God sent us the Holy Spirit to come along side of us and help us in the work of intercession

Infirmities- The greek word for infirmities is asthenia, and literally means an inability to produce results. You mean to tell me that the great Apostle Paul admitted to having an inability to produce results in prayer! Absolutely, apart from God’s divine enablement the best efforts of sinful men will produce little results. In fact a good definition of sin is falling short, or missing the mark. One of the Hebrew words for intercession (paga) has as one of its definitions striking the mark. Because prayer is like a long range missile, and when we partner with the Holy Spirit we can make missile strikes against his territory that will always hit the mark.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to do something that is not going to produce results. Fortunately we have at our disposal the same power that help create the universe, and resurrect Jesus from the dead. So today as you pray acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s role ask for His help. and be prepared to be amazed by the results.

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1. To the Father (Matthew 6:9)
2. In the name (authority) of the Son (John 14:3)
3. With the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26)
4. According to the Will of God (1 John 5:14)
5. Should be constant, persistent, untiring, and sleepless (Ephesians 6:18)
6. With willingness to obey his commands (1 John 3:22)
7. Using scripture in your prayer (John 15:7)
8. Start with Praise and Adoration (Psalms 103, Rev. 5:12-14)
9. Proceed to confession (1 John 1:8-9)
10. Continue with Thanksgiving (Phillipians 4:6-7)
11. Using Supplication for our needs (Matt. 6:11-13)
12. Entering Intercession for other needs (Luke 18:1; Col. 4:2; 1 Tim. 2:1-4)

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Today is the last part of the how to pray series of blogs today we will be covering intercession. Ephesians 6:18-19 says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Intercession is an area of prayer that is essential to prayer but often neglected by modern Christians. What is intercession you may ask? Webster’s dictionary defines it as,

A. Intercede – (Latin intercedo: inter – between; ado – to go; literally, to
pass between) to act between parties with a view to reconcile those who
differ or contend; to plead in favor of another; to interpose, to mediate
or make intercession.
B. Mediate – being between two extremes; to interpose between parties at
variance with a view to reconciliation; to mediate a peace.
C. Mediation – “entreaty for another – intercession.”

From this we gather that we as Christians have the awesome privilege of acting as an intermediary between two parties, literally a go between. For lost people you can be the go between begging for their salvation. Paul mentions “All Saints” for saved people you can be a go between asking grace for them even when they are not in a place where they would ask themselves. He also mentions “for me” that is to say our spiritual authority they are constantly under attack, and we can be part of the battle on their behalf. Now lets look at how one of the primary words for intercession is used in the Bible.

The Hebrew word for intercession is paga, which is only translated a few times as intercession in the Old Testament. Yet, when you compare the many different pictures, words, and interpretations of the word paga, you glean many wonderful understandings of what it means to intercede. Paga can mean to meet, to fall upon, attack, strike down, cut down, to strike the mark, laid upon.

To meet - In the context of a meeting intercession can take two paths a meeting with God for the purpose of reconciliation, or a meeting with the enemy as on the battle field. The first path we are meeting with the Lord in an intimate place, we are inquiring of the Lord on behalf of another. Make know mistake about it realities of a persons situation can radically altered in the heavenlies as we meet with God on their behalf. It is in these meetings that God shows us supernatural strategies for reaching the person we are interceding with. Stop chasing that person around, and fretting, and begging them to do right, and start interceding for them.

The second aspect of meeting is that we often meet the powers of darkness in our intercession, because satan is trying to destroy the same people you are interceding for. Dutch Sheets said in his book Intercessory Prayer, “ I am saying, however, that the word for “MEET” is our Hebrew word translated “Intercession”, [PAGA]. Other Hebrew words could have been used, but his one was chosen partly because it often has a very violent connotation. In fact, Paga is frequently a battlefield term.

Keep in mind that preceding Ephesians 6:18 we have a whole chapter dedicated to suiting up a soldier for all out battle with the forces of darkness. Then in verse 18 we ask, “where is this battle we have prepared for”, to which Paul replies, “its on your knees!” You see all spiritual battles our won on our knees.

To fall upon, attack, strike down, cut down – The word paga is used in 1 Sam. 22:11-19 and 2 Sam. 1:11-16 of strike down. Intercession is the readiness of a soldier to fall upon or attack the
enemy at the command of his lord, striking and cutting him down! We must not only meet the enemy we must strike down the enemy. We can do this by pleading the Blood of Jesus Christ, praising God for the victory, and commanding the enemy to depart in the Name of Jesus.

To strike the mark - Job 36:32.
Intercession releases the flashing forth of His glory/lightening, directing it to the desired situation and allowing it to strike the mark. By God’s working of grace, our divine “Helper” is standing by, ready to aid us in our intercession, moving us from the natural to the supernatural, from finite ability to infinite ability, taking hold of situations with us so as to accomplish the will of God. Romans 8:26 tells us by ourselves we have an inability to produce results in prayer, or strike the mark, but the Holy Spirit takes hold of situations together with us against the enemy allowing us with His help to have maximum impact on satan’s kingdom.

Laid upon – In Isaiah 53:6 our sins are Paga’d (laid upon) Jesus Christ. Intercession
reached its fullest and most profound expression when our sins were “laid upon” Jesus. Jesus was able to fully identify with us, having the totality of our condition placed upon Himself; then as the scapegoat, He carried it far away.

This is the highest form of intercession we can enter into when we have the heart of God for others. Their sin grieves us to the point of groaning, and we intercede with heaviness, and tears that they may repent.

So let us take up the ministry of being a go between in prayer to God on behalf of other believers, and our spiritual authorities. Without intercessors many more soldiers will be wounded in battle than need to be.

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Continuing on with how to pray in today’s post I would like to cover watching, and perserverance in prayer Ephesians 6:18 says,

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Watching thereunto- Watching is an old English word for our word awake, or wakefullness. Etymonline.com says, O.E. wæcce “a watching,” from wæccan (see watch (v.)). Sense of “sentinel” is recorded from c.1300; that of “person or group officially patroling a town (esp. at night) to keep order, etc.” is first recorded 1539. Sense of “period into which a night was divided in ancient times” translates L. vigilia.

Basically it means praying instead of going asleep. Jesus said to his disciples in His crucial last hours on this earth, “what could ye not watch (be awake, and pray) with me one hour, watch, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Have you ever found yourself awakened in the middle of the night suddenly, or found yourself unable to go to sleep at night?

Let me assure that God wants you to sleep as a normal rule the Bible says, “He gives his beloved sleep”, but make no mistake if God is keeping you up there is a reason. In the Bible there are two Greek words for time Chronos time that is a generic or uncertain time then their is Kairos time which is God perfect or opportune time for something. God wants to involve his perfect timing on this earth for major events, and his omniscient Spirit will take your sleep occasionaly to involve you in His plan. That’s what Jesus was saying to His disciples, “boys were coming to a Kairos moment in history, and I want you to partner with me in bring it to pass through be awake, and praying.

Can you believe it? God almighty wants to partner with you in key moments in history to bring his will to pass by your prayers! So next time you can’t sleep don’t take a vallum, don’t count sheep say, “OK Lord I’m here what, or who would you have me pray for.” God in His sovereignty might know that your teenage daughter snuck out, and is about to lose her purity, or that a missionary is about to lose their life hald way around the world. Maybe he is about to do something great in the political arena, or wants to give you a breakthrough in health, or finances. Dear friend don’t attribute your sleeplessness to natural causes God is saying to you, “Son or daughter I wan’t to partner with you in prayer.” Let us begin to ask God what he would have us pray for, and we will see awesome things come to pass.

With all perserverance- A simple definition of perserverance is don’t give up till you get what your after. In prayer so many times we don’t see answers because we stop short of the goal line, and say, “oh yah I tried that prayer thing it doesn’t work.” Well of course it doesn’t work you’re a quitter. The old timers called perserverance “praying through” us new timers don’t call it anything because we give up if God doesn’t answer immediately.

You say well if God is our Father, and wants to bless us why doesn’t he answer immediatley every time. Well there are at least four answers to that question. The first is that we are in a battle, and as you “war on your knees” there is realities going on in the heavenlies that you can’t see. For instance when Daniel was praying for God to release Israel back to their homeland he had to pray for 21 days to get the answer. After 21 days an angel appeared and said, “Daniel your prayer was answered on day one, but a demonic principality resisted me for these 21 days” We wouldn’t have got our answer because we have quit in un belief before the 21 days was over. Make no mistake God will not work in theaters of unbelief.

The second reason God waits to answer is that sometimes this is the only way he ever hears from us is when we need something. You see God is our daddy, and if he has to delay an answer to hear from His kids make no mistake He will. The third reason is that God won’t give us something that will hurt us, or were not ready for you. So you ask God for financial prosperity, and then God allows tragedy in your life. So you say to God, “I asked for money, and you gave me trial!” God is inevitably saying back to you, “The moneys coming, but you can’t handle yet so I’m sending a trial to mature you so you can have your request without it destroying your faith.”

The fourth reason God doesn’t answer is that He’s God! He is sovereign he knows the perfect Kairos time to bring something to pass. Will you keep praying, or is God some cosmic Santa Clause, and when you don’t get your “toy” in your time you’ll say I dont’ believe in Santa Clause anymore.

In closing on perserverance an illustration from my Gramma is appropriate. When her son was in his twenties, and with out Christ he enlisted to the Vietnam War. She asked her pastor what can I do to see my son saved. He gave her an action plan which included pray for 1 hour a day till he’s saved. So she did year 1 nothing, year 2 nothing, year 3 nothing, 10 long years every day 1 hour nothing. Then at the end of 10 years God told my uncle its the getting saved time, or its the dying time, your choice. My uncle pulled his car over, accepted Christ, and was greatly used of God for many years. So don’t don’t go take a sleeping pill, and don’t give up on God in your prayer.

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Continuing on in Ephesians 6:18 which says,
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Supplication- Supplication is the specific part of prayer called petition this is the most engaged in part of prayer for most Christians this is asking God for your needs to be met. Prayer can incorporate worship, praise, and thanks giving but supplication is limited to petition or asking.

Supplication involves heart attitude the meaning of the word supplicate has the sense of bending the knees, or humbly, but passionately entreating an authority for a specific request. Our heart attitude, and passion is essential when we are praying James 5 tells us, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.The definite article “the” tell us this a specific kind of prayer that moves the heart of God. Another way to say this the The heartfelt, and passionate prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working. How much passion is in your praying? The Bible full of examples of particular needs met after passionate supplication to God.

In the Spirit- The next issue that Paul addresses for effective prayer is praying in the Spirit. Now this phrase may have a negative connotation for you because of certain denominations slant on this. Let me say this is not “praying in tongues” in fact it often does not involve language at all. Like anything in the Christian life you our either in the flesh, or in the Spirit, and the difference has eternal ramifications. So praying in the Spirit is just really saying God is in charge of my prayer life, it is a prayer that is God led, God inspired, God empowered, and thus God answered.

A great place to start for a deeper understanding of this truth is Romans 8:26 which says,
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Before I explain the meaning of this verse it may be helpful to show what it looks like in the greek. This verse could be thus stated, In the same way the Spirit empowers our inability to produce results: because we do not what to pray for as we should but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us using the heart ramblings we have trouble expressing.

Lets look at this phrase by phrase,
the Spirit empowers our inability to produce results-
You see the prayer made from our flesh just like anything else done in the flesh fails to produce results everytime. But thanks be to God who has provided us a partner to take our feeble efforts, and produce prayers that move the heart of God, and produce results every time.

because we do not what to pray for as we should-
The “we” of this verse includes the Apostle Paul he said simply I don’t know what to pray for. If Paul didn’t know what to pray for we can be confident that we have no idea what to pray for. Well why is this important you ask? 1 John 5:14 says, that if we pray things according to the will of God number one God will hear us, and number two he will give us the answer to our prayer.

So if you want you prayers answered you better determine what is the will of God, but hoew does one determine the will of God? There are two ways number one the word of God that is the will of God cover to cover, number two God himself can reveal through the Spirit the will of God. So by all means use scripture when you are praying, and by all means ask the Holy Spirit what should I pray for. The prayer that the Holy Spirit guides you to pray is the prayer God answers everytime. So sometimes put away the sacred Santa, er, I mean prayer list, and ask God what, or who should I pray for today, and shutup and actually listen to what he has to say. Two way communication almost sounds like a relationship to me.

the Spirit himself makes intercession for us using the heart ramblings we have trouble expressing-
Have you ever had the feeling that you desperately needed Gods help, but you can’t quite put into words what you are feeling. This can be so frustrating especially when you feel like if you don’t get this expressed right God will never answer. Never fear once again the Holy Spirit is here He can take the ramblings that we have trouble expressing, and turn them into beautiful symphonies of prayer that are music to God’s ears. In fact you don’t even have to say words to get your prayers answered, and often thats the best thing you can do shutup and just lift your heart to God, John Bunyan said, “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

We have so many Christians rattling off demands to God like an auctioneer when they should be listening to His heart. Saying what should I pray for, when should I pray, how long should I pray, and how should I pray. Lets stop focusing on lists, and words, and methods in prayer, and starting letting God lead in the prayer closet.

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