Introduction to Prayer
In the times we are living in, where everything that can be shaken will be shaken, I felt it important to revisit what God has said in His Word about prayer and the importance of it. Prayer is going to be one of the most vital and important keys to accessing Heaven in times of need. This is the beginning of a series of studies about God's purpose, and the power resulting in prayer. Some of the information I have used from Dr. Myles Munroe's study on Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer.
Foundation of Prayer
God has a structure of authority that He has established between Heaven and earth. In Genesis chapt. 1 God gave man rule over all the earth. We have an earthly license for Heaven to act, through prayer.
Principal
God has placed His Word above Himself. He will never break His Word.
Matt.5:18-19 (Amp.) For truly I tell you until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the law until all things [it foreshadows] have been accomplished.
He has placed His Word ABOVE ALL THINGS, even His own name. This means God Himself will not go against His own word. In Genesis when God said, "let them have dominion" this establishes the fact that He will not violate His Word concerning this. The Word of God is not just for us. It is also called "the law of God." This means every word God speaks is a law to Himself.
Below are 7 laws established by God.
1) The legal authority to dominate earth was given to mankind only.
2) God did not include Himself in the legal authority structure over the earth.
3) Man became the legal steward of the earth domain.
4) Man is a spirit with a physical body; therefore, only spirits with physical bodies can legally function in the earth realm.
5) Any spirit without a body is illegal on earth.
6) Any influence or interference from the supernatural realm on earth is only legal through mankind.
7) God Himself, who is a Spirit without a physical body, made Himself subject to this law.
The following are the results of these laws, which were established by God Himself.
1) The legal authority on earth is in the hands of humankind.
2) The Creator, because of His integrity, will not violate the law of His Word.
3) Nothing will happen in the earth realm without the active permission of man, who is its legal authority.
4) The Creator and the Heavenly beings cannot interfere in the earth realm without the cooperation or permission of mankind.
5) God must obtain the agreement and cooperation of a person for whatever He desires to do in the earth.
These principals are critical for understanding the nature, power, and purpose of prayer. It is from these precepts that we get our definition of prayer.
What is Prayer?
1) Prayer is man giving God the legal right and permission to interfere in earth's affairs.
2) Prayer is man giving Heaven earthly license to influence earth.
3) Prayer is a terrestrial license for celestial interference.
4) Prayer is man exercising his legal authority on earth to invoke heaven's influence on the planet.
Matt.18:18-20 I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
Some other scriptures: 2 Chron. 7:14....Luke 18:1-2....Eph.6:17-18....1 Thess. 5:16-19....Matt. 16:19-10
These scriptures give mankind the authority and perogative to determine what happens on earth. In fact, a careful biblical study of God's dealings with mankind and the earth reveals that He did nothing on earth without the cooperation of a person.
Every action taken by God in the earth realm required the involvement of a human being. To rescue humanity in the flood, He needed Noah. For the creation of a nation, He needed Abraham. To lead the nation of Israel, He needed Moses. To bring back Israel from captivity, He needed Daniel. To defeat Jericho, He needed Joshua. For the preservation of the Hebrews, He needed Esther. For the salvation of mankind, He needed to become a man.
Prayer is therefore not an option for mankind, but a necessity. If we don't pray, Heaven cannot interfere in earth's affairs. It is imperative that we take responsibility for the earth and determine what happens here by our prayer lives. There is much to chew on in this page. Search the scriptures, and become knowlegable concerning one of the most important things Jesus taught us to do, and pray without ceasing!
Leaving you with two thoughts.
Heaven needs you to give it license to impact earth.
As John Wesley once said, "God does nothing but in answer to prayer."
Until the next study
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