This oracle is Part 3 of three parts which will be posted on this website.
There may be some repeating from Part 1 and 2.
Let’s face it - the foundation of the Christian life is based on prayer - not going to church, not going to Bible study, not preaching or teaching, not witnessing, not testifying, or any number of religious things which can consume one away from serious prayer time involving petitions, supplications, intercessions, etc. The things mentioned here contribute to the Christian life and are important but are not the key foundation from which effective ministry emerges.
All progress in the Christian life is correlated to the degree of prayer in the life of the disciple of Christ. No Prayer - no progress in the Christian life. Little prayer -- little progress in the Christian life. Much prayer -much progress and victory in the Christian life.
Prayer is the fulcrum which brings everything else in the Christian experience into balance, clear focus and impartation of biblical wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and revelation.
The Christian life destitute of prayer is a life of spiritual emptiness, lacking spiritual substance, and loss of spiritual direction. It is a life void of spiritual significance to the Lord.
The Lord looks for prayer warriors dressed in prayer, praise, worship, righteousness, humility, justice, faith, and truth for they are the ones who touch the heart of God and move Him to action – supernatural activity.
The prayer warriors are the extraordinary ones moving beyond the ordinary and entering into their anointing and power of the Lord in fulfilling their divine call and purpose. Prayer is their foundation and everything they are called to do for Him emerges from their perseverance in prayer no matter what they are faced with and no matter what the costs.
They know that heart-centered prayer generates the supernatural anointing of power and authority which generates the love of Christ along with the demonstrations of the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
It is this foundation that leads them to walk out His Word and calling to speak and witness His Cross, death, and resurrection and offering the salvation message to unbelievers in low and high places and to the nations of the world.
They are able to move from victory to victory for their consistent and persistent prayer and intercession propel them to confront and plunder the enemy (earthly and spiritually) and to bring about the Will of God in most situations they find themselves in.
Prayer for them is just not a side issue – not take it or leave it – not a dab-a-do you from one day to the next – not an attitude of I will do it later or I just do not have the time, or I am just too busy.
Prayer for the serious disciple of Christ - the true follower of the Master - becomes priority #1, 2, 3………. Observe the focus of Apostle Paul’s ministry when he stated:
Pray in the Spirit
at all times,
with every kind of
prayer and petition.
Ephesians 6:18
Pray without ceasing.
1st Thessalonians 5:17
…..we will give ourselves continually
to prayer
and
to the ministry of the Word.
Acts 6:4
….at all times,
with all prayer
and
supplication,
with all perseverance,
for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18
Devote
(continue earnestly)
yourselves to prayer,
being vigilant in it with
thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
Night and day
we pray most earnestly
that we may see you face to face
and
supply what is lacking from your faith.
1st Thessalonians 3:10
Jesus said:
Watch and pray
so that you will not fall
into temptation.
Matthew 26:41
Luke penned:
All these
(Comment: 120 disciples in the upper room waiting)
with one mind
and
one purpose
were
continually
devoting themselves to prayer…..
Acts 1:14
But we will
(continue to)
devote ourselves
(steadfastly) to prayer
and
to the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:4
Note: …..pray at all times…..pray without ceasing…..give ourselves continually to prayer…..all times with all prayer…..devoting yourselves to prayer (Comment: He does not say devote yourselves to preaching and teaching)…..night and day we pray most earnestly …..continually devoting themselves to prayer…..continue to devote ourselves (steadfastly) to prayer and the ministry of the word….(Comment: prayer precedes ministry of the word).
I hope the reader is getting the sense of how critical, and I say again as I have said in Part 1 and 2, prayer is the life blood of the Christian as well as the life blood of the true remnant church.
Prayer and Praise can open doors, prepare one to witness Christ, heal the sick, deliver from demonic powers, and can set people free from their bondages. Without persistent, consistent, and heart-generated prayer, none of these things will manifest in the life of the believer or the remnant church.
For example, in the Book of Acts, we are told that Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison with their feet in irons for preaching the Gospel of Christ and commanding the demonic spirit to come out of a slave girl who was following them.
While they were in prayer at midnight and singing hymns to God, there came a violent earthquake where the foundations of the prison were shaken, the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose resulting in the jailer and his family being saved and perhaps others who were also in prison (Acts 16:16-34, NIV).
Here is my short commentary on the previous paragraph concerning prayer and its critical importance in the life of the disciple of Christ.
Prayer at midnight meaning in the darkest of times. Many times, true and authentic prayer is birthed out of hard and difficult times when persecution and affliction are being experienced as in the case of Paul and Silas in prison.
Singing hymns pleases the Lord and warms the hearts of those who pray. Singing, praising, and thanking the Lord takes one to a higher level in the spiritual realm and brings down the blessings of God.
Foundations shaken meaning when God hears the prayers of His prayer warriors, He shakes the physical realities which can bind and torment His people. Prayers of God’s people bust through the demonic powers attempting to entrap God’s people.
Doors flew open meaning God’s power appears on the scene providing deliverance and freedom. Prayers are God’s Sword which rip and tear at the things which bind and torment His people.
Chains came loose meaning bondages are broken and lives are changed forever. Only the Almighty power of God which responds to prayer and intercession brings spiritual and physical victory over Satan and his demons of hell.
Let me say and I do not wish to be unkind but a prayerless church – whether large or small is a “dead church” – a church of small value to Christ.
On the other hand, a praying church - not ceasing and continually and persistently in prayer night and day is a church of spiritual vibrancy, spiritual authority and power, and spiritual growth (in numbers and maturity) with the Lord adding to the church regularly.
If your church is not growing and adding souls, growing up in Christ demonstrating the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit as well as demonstrating a continuing hunger and thirst for Christ and His Kingdom, then the prayer temperature of the church should be examined.
The advancement of Kingdom of God in the earth is built on the foundation of prayer and intercession followed by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, testifying and witnessing the Cross of Christ and His Resurrection, and the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.
Let me say it again, prayer, intercession, and supplications to the Lord is the key foundation which all ministry is based upon. Without a concerted and persistent effort to make it #1,2,3……., nothing can be accomplished for the Kingdom of God.
Rich Arnold
Servant of the Lord
311 Adelaide Ave SW
Hartville, Ohio 44632
330-704-9306
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