CONCERNING PRAYERS PART TWO. WHAT WE MUST PRAY

CONCERNING PRAYERS PART TWO. WHAT WE MUST  PRAY

The man in Christ has been saddled with the responsibility to pray without ceasing.  Prayer does not have an alternative in Christ. In the part one of this series, we explained what prayer is and why we MUST PRAY  as believers.  Click here to read part one if you  have not read it. Having seen the relevance of prayers, we will look at what to pray and how to pray. The Bible didn't  just instruct us to pray, it gives us what to pray.

The gospel of Jesus alone is the basics of all we believe  and do as men in Christ. The same message that got us saved is the same message that regulates  what we do.

1 Corinthians 15

 1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.   

 3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

 4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Notice it is the good news of what Jesus has done that we received we stand on. When it comes to the issue of prayers, we can not afford to pray what is not a detail in the gospel. The apostles were given to prayers as recorded in the book of Acts. In Acts 6, Peter had to suggest that they select deacons to share food so the disciples would be given primarily to prayer. Now the question is, what were they praying about ? Even amidst  persecution what kind of prayers did they pray? We will look at some prayers in the book of Acts and also prayers in the epistles which is the explanation of Genesis to Malachi. The book of Acts has several mention of the disciples praying though some of them didn’t give details of what they prayed. This is because the book of Acts is a historic account. Thank God the same disciples told us what they prayed in the epistles. Let’s look at Acts 4. 

23  And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

 24  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

 25  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

 26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

 27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

 28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

 29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

 30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

 31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

They threatened them not to preach in the name of Jesus again. They didn’t start killing the people in prayers. They didn't pray against the people. Rather, they prayed to have boldness to preach more and that more signs be wrought. This shows us a pattern that prayer must be in line with the gospel. Notice their prayers were answered and they preached with more boldness. Some times, I wonder if the disciples were given to killing people in prayers,  may be Paul who was a chief persecutor would have been killed before he got saved.

BELIEVERS PRAYERS 

Let’s see some prayers prayed for believers in the epistles. These prayers are mostly called Pauline prayers. These prayers are what we must keep praying even today. 

Ephesians 

 15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

 16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

 17  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:  

 18  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,

 19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

 20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Paul  prayed this prayers for the Ephesians church. It is good to note that Ephesus is an ancient  Greek city given to idolatry. In Acts 19, we see that the city have an idol called diana. Obviously not everyone in Ephesus were Christians. Paul knew all of this details. He didn’t pray for them that all the witches and idol worshipers fighting their lives to die. Rather, Paul prayed for them to KNOW. The spirit of wisdom and revelation in verse 17 is not another spirit. The next verse explains it. The prayer was that the eyes of their heart to be enlightened so they know the expectation of the calling of salvation. They need to know how rich the inheritance in them is as saints. Part of this glorious inheritance is greatness of God’s power in them. This power is so great that it is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. We have to pray to know the power not to have the power. Paul out of His love for the Ephesians church was praying for them to have EXACT AND ACCURATE knowledge of their  inheritance in Christ. He wants them to know it the same way it was revealed to him by the spirit from the scriptures(Genesis to Malachi ). So, what we see here is prayer to KNOW. Paul prayed for them again in Ephesians 3.

 14  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

 18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

 19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The details of these prayers is for them to know and that they be strengthened in their spirit by the Holy Spirit. It was centred on them having accurate knowledge of the love  of Christ. Notice also no mention of the devil or killing people in their  prayers. Also notice the prayer was centred on the details of the gospel not even on their personal needs. We established in part one that the WHY of prayers is not just on things we need. If you have all you ever want, will you still pray?  If there are no devils, will you still pray? Here lies the need of knowing what to pray and why we pray. 

Paul prayed for the Philippians and Colossians church. Let’s look at them. 

Philippians 1

9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;  

 10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  

 11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

The prayer for the Philippians church was for their love to abound more and more in knowledge  and discernment. The prayers was geared towards their walking in love.  Here, we see that it was based on them expressing what they have already. They are righteous. He prayed for them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. It was centred on conduct which is summarized as working in love. Another emphasis is that Paul in praying for them to be filled with fruits of righteousness noted that these fruits are BY JESUS CHRIST. Same thing said in Philippians 2:12-13. It is God that works in us both to will and to do. 

Colossians 1

 7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

 8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

 10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Paul prayed for them to know God's will fully and be strengthened with might by God’s power. He also prayed for their conduct, to work worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.  God is already pleased with them. So working worthy will be in their actions. It is so they do things accepted before God. We can see here that the prayers was for them to know and to express what they have. It was never for them to have. 

Paul prayed for Philemon in 

Philemon 1

 4  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

 5  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

 6  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Paul prays for Philemon that the sharing of his faith  be effectual by having accurate knowledge of the good things in him in Christ.  This is similar to the prayers in Ephesians 1. Notice the good things are in us in Christ. We can pray to have EXACT knowledge of these things even as we study. The effectiveness of the Christian life is dependent on this accurate knowledge(epignosis) not just general knowledge.  What of James, Peter and John did they write about prayers ? Yes. We will look at some of their writings in the cause of this series.  

PAUL told us the prayer we can pray for PASTORS and OURSELVES as preachers of the gospel. 

2 Thessalonians 3

 1  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  

 2  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.  

Colossians 4

 2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

The prayer is for utterance and freedom to preach God’s word. It is that God’s word may spread rapidly through them. Notice in verse two of 2 Thessalonians, the prayer is for them to be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men.  It is not for the men to die. We can pray for our pastors for utterance.  This is in turn praying for ourselves because they speak the words to us.  What we can see from all of the above prayers is that they are centred on KNOWING WHO THE BELIEVER IS AND EXPRESIING IT IN CONDUCT. It was never to have. The believer have all of God in him. He is a product of the finished work of Christ. Anything including prayers that makes you incomplete in Christ is not the truth. You can pray to have things or deal with issues. That is the role of the power of God in you. So you use the power to deal with it. What is in God’s  power he has done all.

WHAT ABOUT CALLING DOWN FIRE TO KILL PEOPLE IN PRAYERS?

There is never a record of any believer killing people in prayers. You can not say the disciples never had enemies. They had several enemies who tried to stop them from preaching. They never killed them. First, understand that Jesus died for these same people. The irony is USING THE NAME OF A SAVIOUR to kill. He died to save them. Does it means you should allow people kill you? No. You can stop them by the power of God. You must not kill them. You cooperate with the devil the killer when you kill your enemies. God shows us Power is IN SAVING not destructing. It is easy to kill. The hard one is to save. It took God to die in Christ to save people.

What about God of Elijah?  Jesus will be shocked at the foolishness of many today doing what Elijah did. Elijah called down fire to kill people because he was scared. There were better ways he would have done it without having to kill them. Read 2 Kings 1 :6-18  for the full story.  The Angel of God have to tell Elijah not to be afraid but to follow them in verse 15. 

The disciples of Jesus wanted Jesus to do the same thing Elijah did .Let’s see how Jesus handled it. 

Luke 9

 52  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

 53  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

 54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

 55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

 56  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Jesus rebuked them for wanting to call down fire as Elijah did. It will amaze you to know that same work used to rebuke demons is what Jesus used for the disciples. This shows that that act is devilish. Jesus came to SAVE MEN not to destroy them. If Jesus were to be on earth today, he will rebuke many people calling down fire to kill those he died for to save. 

So how do you deal with wicked men? We use wisdom to get the men saved. 

What are we to do to our enemies?  Do good to them. Show them love and get them saved. We have different instructions on doing good to enemies. See some of them below.

Matthew 5

44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

 46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

 47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Luke 6

32  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

 33  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

 34  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

 35  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

 36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Romans 12

 17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

 18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

 21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

WHAT OF DEVILS AND DEMONS ?

We don’t make them prayer points. We simply rebuke them. We get the men they are using saved and cast out devils. What of strong demons? They don’t exist. They have been paralysed. You can click here to read more on the powerlessness of devils.  We cast out devils, rebuke demons and preach people to get them saved. Paul got to Ephesus a city exposed to great idolatry. He didn’t start a series of battle against witches and idols. Read the whole of Acts 19 to get the full story.

Acts 19

 24  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

 25  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

 26  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

 27  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.  

 28  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

 29  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

He simply started preaching and getting people saved. This went so viral to the extent that many worshipers of their idols starts getting saved.  TRUE DELIVERANCE is in getting men saved.  

Colossians 1

 13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son

He had delivered us from the kingdom of darkness. So we preach deliverance to people by getting them saved. There is no disciple of Jesus who ever had deliverance  prayer ministry apart from preaching the gospel to get men saved. You cannot be more powerful than Jesus in delivering people.  Use your prayers for better things. Cast out devils and get men saved simple. Anything outside this is NOT SCRIPTURAL no matter who is doing it. Jesus never did it. The disciples never did it. Your case cannot be different.

So far , we have seen some details of what to pray and what not to pray. In the next part, we will look at other details about prayers like the myth of unanswered prayers, praying through mediators like Mary and the prayers and sinful conducts. Watch out for the other parts.

EMEKE MODESTY OBIAZIKWOR 

www.emekemodesty.com

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We cover the earth with the knowledge of Jesus.