This Day We Fight: Prayer that stops the devil
By Francis Frangipane
In our rapidly changing times people are desperate to know the future. Barely do
we adjust to the last changes, when totally new realities explode into our world.
In answer to the common fears spawned by change, society has seen a plethora
of occult and demonic sources - fortunetellers, astrologers and psychic hotlines -
all pretending to be able peek into the mystery of tomorrow. Indeed, how many
otherwise intelligent individuals glimpse, at least occasionally, at their
"astrological signs" trying to get an edge on knowing the future?
Why anyone would consult someone who can't predict their own future is beyond
me. These fortunetellers almost always live in abject poverty. Shouldn't their
ability to predict the future at least work for themselves? They could invest in the
stock market or pick the right lottery numbers. They can't even predict or better
their own fortune, yet people go to them for discernment.
Tremendous power in a Christian
For Christians, God condemns this demonic, fleshly probing into the unknown.
Indeed, as intercessors, He has called us not to wonder about the future, but to
create it through the knowledge of His Living Word and prayer! Our Father gives
us access to the future right now. You ask, How do we know what to pray? The
Lord Jesus told us plainly, "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in
heaven'" (Matthew 6:9-10).
We can look at the conditions of the world and faint or look at the possibilities of
God and take faith. To bring revival is to pray for the reality of God's Kingdom to
manifest on earth. Jesus was not offering His disciples a millennial prayer focus,
for that rule of God's Kingdom is coming whether we want it to or not. No, but
Christ calls us to pray for God's Kingdom to manifest in our world today.
How will tomorrow look if God answers the prayer Christ gave us?. Read the
Gospels. What we see in the life and power of Jesus Christ is a faith picture of
God’s Kingdom. Jesus said that we can have that same full manifestation. In fact,
He actually commanded us to pray for heaven’s release!
The prayer womb: The reality God has planned will always manifest first in the
prayer life of His intercessors. When you hear from God and then pray His Word,
you are impacting the unformed essence of life with the Spirit of God Himself. Thus,
God calls us, not only to know His Word, but to pray it. We must go from
intellectualizing God’s Word to being impregnated by it.
I know churches have special areas where intercessors can pray or people meditate.
But maybe we ought to change the name from “prayer room” to “prayer womb.” For
everything good and holy that we see manifested in people, in churches and in life is
first conceived, and then birthed, in the womb of prayer.
We have answers to prayer all around us. The place you are living in is an answer to
prayer. Your church is an answer to prayer, as well as your pastors, teachers and
youth workers. As a church member, your attendance and participation is an answer
to the prayer of your pastors and intercessors. When you asked God to lead you to
the church you should attend, your current church became God’s answer to your
prayer.
Paul wrote, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may
know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance
in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”
(Ephesians 1:18-19).
If you are a Christian, there is a power accompanying your life that is greater than great
– the “surpassing greatness of His power.” It is not human power, but the actual
“strength of His might.” Think about it: The strength of God Almighty is attached to your
prayer life! The power of God’s might is His resurrection power. What does resurrection
mean? It means that things that look dead, smell dead, and act dead, can be touched by
God and raised to life! God demonstrated this “power toward us who believe” first “in
Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the
heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20).
Right now, you have resurrection power attached to your prayer life. You can look on
things that are absolutely dead and pray forth eternal life! The power in us is the same
potency God demonstrated when He raised Jesus out of the grave; it is resurrection
power. Our mission is to bring resurrection life to situations that are dead.
If the devil challenges your prayer, remind him that you are seated with Christ, “far
above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this age, but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). Christ’s authority is final.
But notonly has the Father put “all things in subjection under His feet,” but He “gave Him
as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in
all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Notice the Lord uses anatomical metaphors to explain the downlink of authority: Christ is
the “head” of a “body” that has all things put under its “feet.” This is a most profound
understanding of our role: What the Head, Christ, has attained, the feet of the Church
walk out. In other words, God has positioned the Church as the living bridge between the
terrible conditions on earth and the wonderful solutions from heaven! As we truly,
passionately, and accurately submit to Christ in prayer, the Kingdom of heaven steadily
enters our now prayed-for world. The key of course, is to know Christ’s Word. We have
revelation and submission. But as we submit to the Word, and persevere in prayer, the
future is impacted and conformed to God’s will.
You may have a low self-image or struggle with physical problems, but in the spirit you
are very dangerous! The devil knows if he can keep your prayer silent, he keeps God’s
hand distant. This is why Satan seeks to get you hung up on non-issues.
Arise prayer warriors
Jesus told a parable to show that men ought to pray at all times and not lose heart (Luke
18). In other words, if you are not praying, you will lose heart. Most of the things I pray
for I have to pray through to get the answer. God desires to see something deeper come
out of my prayer time than just me getting an answer to prayer. He wants me to become
like Jesus. So He arranges character-forming battles that not only will ultimately change
the world around me, but will change me first. This is what all true prayer warriors have
discovered.
When we picture a prayer warrior, we usually see a great aunt or grandmother. I think
that every family has one. You never find them looking into a crystal ball to know the
future for little Johnny – they are at the throne of God creating Johnny’s future in prayer.
They are not wondering if Mary is going to make it, they are praying her through to
victory. They do not have time to lament Harry’s drinking problem, they are storming
heaven to see him delivered.
Prayer warriors are the most frightening, powerful, demon-chasing, world-moving, beings
on earth. In truth, they are co-creators with God. If they were to gaze at a crystal ball, it
would explode! They look at astrological predictions and rebuke them. They never wonder
about the future because they are too busy creating it. Prayer warriors are positioned by
God to stand in faith for their family. Prayer is stronger than kings and mightier than
armies. Prayer is the most powerful force on earth!
I remember when my dad came to the Lord. For 10 years we would intellectually clash
about God during our annual visits. Finally, he came “armed” with an argument many use
against God. He said, “If there really is a God, why doesn’t He always answer prayer?” He
was secure in his position and I was tired of the argument. I went into the bathroom and
prayed, “Lord, you’ve got to give me an answer.”
When I returned I could see my dad felt he “won” this round. I love my dad very, very
much, but I said, “Dad, forget all the people that you think didn’t get answers to prayer –
you yourself are an answer to prayer! You are alive today because our entire family daily
prays for you.” Then I continued, “But let’s experiment. You say God doesn’t answer
prayer. We say He does. So, for one week we won’t pray for you and we’ll see what
happens.”
I can’t remember ever seeing my dad turn so pale. He looked over at my mom and said,
“Hon, tell the boy not to do that.” Then, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, he
said to me, “OK. What do I have to do to keep you praying for me?” In three minutes, he
went from not believing in prayer to begging us to keep praying for him. I said, “Dad, the
only way I’ll keep praying for you is if you pray right now and give your life to Christ.” The
Lord answered my prayer.
Prayer anchors us in God’s strength for our battles. Each of us knows prayer works
because we are saved today because someone else prayed for us. Thus, looking at the
miracle of our own conversion, we gain confidence in God’s help to transform others. Luke
21:36 tells us to be “praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these
things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” He’s not talking
about the rapture. Every time the Bible talks about standing before God, it is speaking of
a position of anointed authority and commissioning. One who stands before God is an
attendant to the Almighty. When they decree God’s Word, it comes to pass.
Nothing is impossible
God has called you to be a prayer warrior. Christ is in you and He ever lives to make
intercession. All you need to do is open your heart to Him and prayer is going to come
forth. Look at the lands-cape of life. Every need you see is where God wants you to
release, through prayer, His future for that situation. God shows you what is wrong so
you can pray for things to be made right. Why waste your energy criticizing what’s
wrong when your prayer can change it?
The Lord our God in the midst of us is mighty. Our weapons are mighty to pull down
strongholds. Stop thinking of yourself as unable to pray. That’s a lie out of hell. You are
a prayer warrior! There was a time when that great aunt or grandmother was younger.
She was just like you and God showed her the need around her. His grace came and she
made a decision not to judge, but to pray. She didn’t start off strong, but she became
strong. Now it’s your turn to make that decision to be the prayer warrior for your family,
church or city. Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, I chose to follow You. I accept that You have called
me to be a prayer warrior. By Your grace, I receive a new anointing in intercession. Amen.
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Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:11 am