"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints."  (Ephesians 6:18)

What a wonderful weapon has been placed in our hands to be used in the
warfare. God has provided prayer for the believer, a means of
communication where we can praise Him, confess our sin, pray for others,
and thank Him for all that He is and has done. This is a great privilege
that has been purchased for us by the blood of Jesus that we should not
take lightly. One brother put it this way in reference to prayer, "Prayer
is not the conforming of God’s will to our will, but the conforming of
our will to the will of God. We should desire the attitude set forth in
Luke 11:1, "...Lord, teach us to pray..."

I believe that Satan has a great knowledge of the power of prayer,
because prayer and communing with God brings confidence and strength, and
works within the soul. It  also clears the conscience and sanctifies
(sets apart) the heart unto God. The success of the preacher is not in
the message, it is in the prayer and communion that he has with the
Father. If you don’t pray, then you don’t preach. Our words are nothing
without the power of the Holy Spirit. Satan knows this, and so he hinders
prayer. It may be through daily distractions, carnal thoughts, or a
prideful attitude.

There are many assemblies who make up the body of Christ. I can tell the
health of the meeting by their prayers or if they pray. Through practical
experience I have seen fellowships that are so alive that the room is
almost pulsing with life. Why? They prayed for one another and for those
around them. They laid down their burdens at the cross, praised God and
asked Him to bless their time together, and for His Holy Spirit to speak
to them through the Word. So many have stopped opening in prayer. They
say, "We want to escape traditionalism." Traditionalism is something that
is done in a lifeless and meaningless way, without any reality. The heart
has grown cold and they have left their first love. How tragic it is when
we turn from prayer, for Satan does not want us to pray!

The apostle Paul understood the value of prayer, and he exhorts us to
pray. We don’t worship prayer, but we must come to understand the
importance of communication. If a Commander cannot communicate with his
troops then the battle is lost. Confusion reigns if we do not seek the
Lord. We are not individuals who have somehow become magically empowered
to fight alone. In football and basketball it takes a team effort, with a
coach who can bring individuals together and mold them into a single
driving force, The example of the Chicago Bulls comes to mind in that
each individual is a superstar, but without one another and without the
guidance of the coach there is no championship.  When there is no
communication and the Lord is not in charge, there is no victory.


Notice in Ephesians 6, that these are not selfish prayers. Prayers that
go like this: "Father give me this and give me that in the name of Jesus,
Amen!"  Many times we do pray this way and these prayers are to our
shame, but here we are exhorted to pray in the Spirit, to allow the
Spirit to guide us in prayer. This means there are no restrictions if we
have the mind of Christ.  Paul gives us an example in asking the
Ephesians to pray for him (verse 19), to ask God that he would be given
boldness in preaching the gospel. It was to benefit others that prompted
the request.

Many times we do not know how to pray (please refer to Romans 8:26-270.
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us at those times. When words fail us, we
should just bow our heads and with all humility let the Holy Spirit pray
in our place. for He (the Spirit) knows what is needed.

The importance of praying for one another cannot be expressed enough. To
pray together, to pray one with another, to go aside individually and
seek the Lord; to commune with Him, should be our greatest desire each
day. James 5:16 says this:

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you
may be healed. The effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth
much [or has great value]."

The righteous man is one who has by faith in Jesus laid hold of the
breastplate of righteousness and is walking accordingly. His prayers are
being heard because of his care for others and diligence to seek the Lord
on their behalf. This caring heart and a love that runs deep has been
given to him by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer is one thing that you can always do, for God has no answering
machine. Nothing frustrates Satan more than to see a man who is afflicted
continue on with all humility in praying and giving thanks to God. Before
you left your room this morning, did you think to pray and ask God’s
leading for your day? How often do you pray?

Paul said this unto Timothy:

"I will [or desire] therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy
hands [hands that have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus], without
wrath or doubting."  (I Timothy 2:8)

Brethren, let us pray without ceasing and watch over one another, giving
thanks to God and our Lord Jesus Christ,   Amen!

M. H. G.
     

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