Prayer reaches where we cannot go

Jesus has given us the privilege to be part of his coming kingdom. He has called us to be his bride and we have chosen to yoke ourselves together with him. He has given us power and authority by his gospel. Through prayer, we work together with God to bring about his will in this world.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

A righteous man’s prayers are powerful and effective!

James 5:16b-18 16b Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

When we have obeyed the gospel by repentance, by baptism in Jesus name, and by receiving God’s Spirit, we have God’s righteousness. Because we have his righteousness, we can count on our prayers to have power and be effective!

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When we pray with faith Jesus can do exceeding ABUNDANTLY more than we ASK or even THINK!

Ephesians 3:20-21 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, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Our prayers can effect presidents, kings, and rulers in countries on the other side of the globe. Our prayers can effect drug kingpins, human traffickers, and suicide bombers. Our prayers can go where we cannot go. Our prayers can effect administrators and decision makers.

We can pray and by the power of God and by the authority of the name of Jesus, principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world can be dismantled and rendered powerless.

We can pray that Jesus lead, guide, and direct leaders and cause his will to be done in the world. We can pray that evil men repent of their sins, turn from evil and that Jesus give them mercy.

We can pray for Jesus’s presence to come into their lives, for Jesus to appear to them in dreams and visions, and to send them witnesses with his gospel. We can pray that Jesus give them a new life.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

We can pray in the Spirit, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we have prayed all the words we can think of, the Lord can pray through us in tongues as the Spirit of God speaks through us in languages we have not learned. The Lord can speak through us precisely what the person or situation needs and that only Jesus may know about.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Just as Jesus’s disciples were sorrowful at his death, Jesus promised them joy because of his resurrection.

John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Jesus’s death and resurrection is like the new birth of water and Spirit. When we pray like a woman in travail (labor), we can expect joy knowing souls are going to be born into the kingdom of God.

Travailing, consuming prayer births souls. It is in sorrow, weeping, consumed physically, and yet knowing that souls are born from this that brings great joy.

Travailing prayer is also for the backslider with expected joy in them returning to God. Paul spoke to those at Galatia that he must travail for them in birth again. It seems he is speaking of travailing prayer.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Galatians 4:20 NLT reads: I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Jesus changes lives. It is an awesome privilege to be a partner with God to bring his kingdom of love and mercy to the world through prayer.