Travailing Prayer

Jesus compares being baptized in water in Jesus name and being filled with His Spirit to birth. (John 3:5)

The spiritual mother is the church, baptizing in water in Jesus name. The spiritual Father is Jesus, filling with His Spirit.

In the natural, travail is a word that describes a woman in labour giving birth to a baby. In the spiritual, it follows that the church must also go through travail. We can see this travail as being strong prayer.

Travailing prayer is physically consuming prayer, prayer with tears, praying in the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

"For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." - Isaiah 66:8

Such strong prayer not only births souls but also brings rebirth of backsliders.

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

Travailing prayer is not only crucial for the spiritual birth of souls, it is also effective for the work of the ministry for the preaching of the gospel which leads to the spiritual birth of souls. (Acts 2:38-41, 1Corinthians 15:1-2, Romans 10:13-17) Thus, travailing prayer for the ministry is also in order.

Apostle Paul recognized the vital necessity of strong prayer – praying in the Spirit - for his ministry to the lost, putting in a prayer request to the church at Ephesus along with his instruction on the armour of God.

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," - Ephesians 6:18-19

"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." - Acts 4:31

When tears accompany the planting of the seed of the gospel, there is spiritual reproduction.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - Psalm 126:5-6