Prayer

Matthew 6: 9- 13 “This then is how you should pray…”

1. PARENTAL “Our Father in heaven….” “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!” I John 3:1 God knows his fatherhood in your lives is your greatest need. He created you to be his child. Therefore, if you want to be most effective in prayer, this is a great place to start, with a deep confidence in the Fatherhood of God. Even if you only spend a few moments here, it will give you assurance throughout the rest of your prayer.

2. PRESENCE “Hallowed be your name…” “But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 The second greatest need we have is God’s presence. Praise brings his presence, and with it, great confidence! Meditate on the names of God. There are eight names listed at the end of this lesson. Choose one or two each day and spend just a few minutes thinking about them and worshiping that attribute of God. You’ll be amazed at how your faith rises.

3. PRIORITIES “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 As a child of God you are a carrier of His kingdom in the earth. By declaring God’s will be done in your life, family, church, city, nation and world you are releasing heavenly resources into human need. 4. PROVISION “Give us this day our daily bread…” “God will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.” Phil. 4:19 (LB) “You do not have… because you do not ask God!” James 4:2 What should you pray for? Everything! And be specific. “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil. 4:6

5. PARDON “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…” “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mk 11:25 NIV Clean out the arteries of your spiritual heart, keeping your heart free from offense. This will open heaven and close hell in your life.

6. PROTECTION “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Eph. 6:11 NIV Ask God to deliver you and others from the works of Satan. If this wasn’t necessary, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to pray it.

7. PARTNERSHIP “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.” As you finish your prayers, praise Him knowing that you have successfully partnered with God in bringing his kingdom, by his power, and for his glory.

WHY DO WE PRAY FOR HEALING?

Compassion – God is love. Jesus was “moved with compassion and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) The love of Christ is what moves Him to heal through us.

• “Is any one of you Sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up… Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:14-16)

2 It advances His kingdom – Many come to Christ for salvation once they are healed or see someone else healed.

• Jesus said, “As you go, preach The Kingdom of Heaven is near, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” (Matt. 10:7)
• Jesus told 72 men, “When you enter a town and are welcomed… Heal the sick who are there and tell them the Kingdom of God is near you.” (Luke 10:8)

3. It glorifies God – “Let your light so shine before men that they may see Your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

• Jesus told us to pray for the sick. He also said He only did what He saw His Father God doing-and healing was a big part of His daily ministry.

WE BELIEVE THE SICK GET WELL. There are many examples of healing in the Old and New Testaments. Not only do we see that Jesus healed everyone in numerous towns, but the Apostles also healed without Jesus being present (Luke 9 and 10; Acts 3:6). There were also non-Apostles who healed and provided miracles for many people (Acts 6:8 and 8:6-7). Jesus’ brother James (who did not believe in Him before the resurrection) also confirmed we would be healed in Jesus’ name (James 5:14). See modern healing examples at www. SidRoth.org and Ibethel.org. The Gathering Place Church also maintains a “book of testimonies.”

 THE POWER TO HEAL. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to each believer, to do even greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12). Peter explained in Acts 3:16 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” The Holy Spirit provides Gifts of Healings (1 Cor 12 and 14), along with Gifts of Faith and Miracles which empower healings. While we sometimes speak of certain people as “anointed” in healing it is God working through an atmosphere of faith providing Holy Spirit power to accomplish healings through all.

WHY HEALING ISN’T ALWAYS IMMEDIATE. We don’t understand everything in the spiritual realm or know what God has planned for each person. But a general rule is that Healing and health are God’s ideal. Jesus overcame Satan and his devices (sickness, sin and temptation), but Revelations says there is going to be a final battle when Satan is defeated and we will then ascend or be resurrected to live with God in full health and happiness. Thus, we are in the “Now, but Not Yet” period of time when the full perfection of the Kingdom has not yet arrived to completely take away sin, sickness and demonic influences. We will continue to fight battles one person at a time with Christ. Jesus gave us insight on the issue of interference in spiritual blessing in the Parable of the Sower (Mat. 13). Although heavenly seed is being poured out now, only the seed poured out on fertile ground (a faith-filled and obedient heart) will be able to grow into a full blessing (with 100x results possible!). Unfortunately, other people will fight battles:

•  “Following the crowd” along the hardened “worldly” path will cover over fertile soil (your heart), and heavenly seed can’t penetrate. The devil can take it away before it grows.
•  Some, like seed on a rock, hear the Word and enjoy a brief success, but then start doubting and don’t water the seed in faith, and so the blessing withers away without root.
•  Some will experience successful blessing, but will live among “thorns” in the world which interfere with their faith and obedience to God, reducing or killing the blessing. “Persecution” and trials of “suffering” in the NT do not refer to sickness so we should not wear sickness like a badge of honor. Our loving Father does not give us bad gifts (Matt. 7:9-11). Jesus never said “My Father is making you sick until you learn a lesson.” God may have special timing for you-recall some of the healings Jesus did were at a specific time to prove a point (healing on the Sabbath, healing through forgiveness of sins, etc.) and these people had been in public places and probably could have been healed earlier. When Daniel prayed (Dan. 10), the answering angel was delayed by spiritual warfare. When Jesus visited Nazareth after performing successful miracles elsewhere, He did only a few healings (no miracles) due to their lack of faith. Sometimes, healing was delayed until an act of obedience was performed (John 9:6-7). We simply won’t know why a healing is delayed, lost or prevented.

WHEN I OR SOMEONE GETS A MIRACULOUS HEALING? Give praise and thanks to the Lord. Don’t be surprised if you start doubting your healing, as Satan would like you to doubt or deny it and steal your faith. Pray in faith that God has healed you and stand on His Word (pray out loud the verses in paragraph one above and thank God for the healing (See also Psalms 30 and 103 praise for healing).

WHAT TO DO IF I DON’T GET HEALED RIGHT AWAY ? The promise for healing body and soul started when Jesus was crucified (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17). Don’t lose hope! Praise Him and thank Him for His Word for Healing. Repent of any sin, bitterness,  unforgiveness which may be separating you from God.  Live in obedience. Meditate on the examples of healing in the gospel, and testify about other healings you are aware of to help build your faith. Pray to God for the result you desire in Jesus’ name (John 15:16-17). Seek to receive the prayer of faith (James 5:14). Remember, the power and timing to heal is from God and we cannot force a healing to come on our terms-it could even occur in stages (Mark 8:22-26). Focus also on the ultimate promise of perfect health in the resurrection body so you do not lose hope as you pray for healing today from our loving God.

BENEFITS OF FASTING

(Isaiah 58:8-14) Spiritual enlightenment, Healing, God’s Favor, Divine protection, Answered prayer, Divine guidance, Refreshing, Strength, Exaltation, Restoration, Prosperity/Fruitfulness.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS ON FASTING: There are many types of fasts, and the option you choose depends upon your health, the length of your fast, and your preference:

• A Water Fast – means to abstain from all food and juices.
• A Partial Fast – means to eliminate certain foods or specific meals
• A “Juice” Fast – means to drink only fruit or vegetable juices during meal times.

1. Clearly decide why you are fasting.

2. Fast in faith knowing that God rewards the faster. (Matt. 6:16-18)

3. When tempted to eat, weigh the value of the food against the spiritual reward of the fast. You know you are going to eat again! Hang in there! It will be worth it!

4. Ask and expect God to sustain you. (Isaiah 58:5)

5. Read the Word and pray during the times you would normally be eating. This will be your spiritual food. It will strengthen and sustain you.

6. Know that many times you will experience the greatest results of the fast after the fast is complete. The Bible says that after Jesus had fasted he, “returned in the power of the Spirit.”(Luke 4:14)

7. Know that Biblical fasting always includes eliminating food. You can certainly fast other things, but food is your sustenance and the point is you are saying that God is your source of life and He is the One who sustains you. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

8. Eat light before the fast to begin shrinking your stomach. This will aid in reducing hunger pangs during the fast. Also be sure to eat light immediately following the fast. Overeating immediately after the fast can cause serious discomfort.

9. Know that many times self-control is more difficult before and after the fast than it is during the fast. This is not due to actual hunger. Your body is used to eating at certain times so “hunger pangs” are simply a signal letting you know that it is time to eat again. The best thing to do is to drink a lot of water when this happens.

10. The idea of going without food can be intimidating and even frightening to some. Be at peace. Unless you have pre-existing physical issues (see precautions below) you will be fine as long as you fast properly. People have been fasting for thousands of years and the benefits, as listed above, are well worth it!

11. During your fast drink lots of water and other fluids (unless you are doing a straight water fast). For the first few days your body will be releasing toxins. This can cause headaches, irritability and dizziness. Water will help flush the toxins through quickly. Once the toxins are gone you will be amazed at your energy boost as well as clarity of thinking.

12. If you are doing a liquid fast, taking multi-vitamins and minerals in liquid form is wise.

13. Don’t be legalistic. Do the best you can.

14. Break the fast with celebration.

SOME PRECAUTIONS: If you have never fasted before, do NOT attempt an extended fast (anything longer than 3 days). Start small. Maybe you could just miss one meal per day. If you are doing an extended fast for the first time, consider missing breakfast and lunch but eating dinner each day. You may possibly incorporate a 24-hour fast a couple of times during the extended fast.

***NOTE: If you have any physical problems, you should consult with your doctor before you begin to fast. If you have a history of eating disorders, I strongly caution you to forgo the fast but commit to fervent prayer.

HEBREW NAMES OF GOD – DECLARE WHO GOD IS Jehovah-Shammah- “God is Always Present with me.” (Ezekiel 48:35) You are here! I am never alone!

Jehovah-Tsidkenu- “God is my Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6) I have direct access to you always because of Jesus!

Jehovah-M’Kiddish- “God is my Sanctification” (Lev. 20:8) You make me like Jesus.

Jehovah-Shalom- “God is my Peace” (Judges 6:24) You give me peace in spite of circumstances!

Jehovah-Rophe- “God is my Healer” (Exodus 15:26) You heal my body, emotions, mind, relationships.

Jehovah-Jireh- “God is my Provider” (Gen. 22:14) You see and provide what I need before I even ask! Jehovah-Rohi- “God is my Shepherd” (Psa. 23:1) You lead me, feed me and protect me.