For Joy - The Travailing Prayer of Revival

"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." - John 16:21 KJV

While Jesus’s disciples were sorrowful for His death, Jesus promised them joy at His resurrection.

"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." - John 16:22 KJV

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is like the new birth of water and of the Spirit. (Romans 6:1-4).

Just as a woman in travail (labor) brings forth the birth of a baby, travailing prayer in the Spirit brings forth the spiritual birth of souls. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4).

Souls repenting and being water baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, being filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues, is the result of travailing prayer.

Travailing prayer is consuming, crying out to God, giving all in prayer in the Spirit, for souls to be born into the kingdom of God. Yet when a soul is born, the joy is the reward that no man can take!

And, it is travailing prayer that brings souls to return to God.

Apostle Paul wrote,

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

Travailing prayer is worth the sorrow and the labor for the joy. Revival.

Church!!

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

There is hope for everyone through Jesus -

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV

And such WERE some of you!

BUT “ye are washed, ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

When we believe that God put on flesh in the name of Jesus and died in our place for our sins… If we have repented of our sins, and are baptized in His name Jesus for the forgiveness of all of our sins… Then God promises us the gift of His Holy Spirit, bringing us peace, joy, and the POWER to overcome sin!

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8 KJV

Jesus is explaining that just as the wind has a sound that accompanies it, so likewise the Spirit has a sound that accompanies it. We learn later on the Day of Pentecost, that speaking in tongues is the sound that accompanies being filled with the Spirit.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

When Peter preached for the first time to Gentiles, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and all spoke with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." - Acts 10:45-46 KJV

Paul witnessed to disciples of John the Baptist. (Acts 19:1-4).

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts 19:5-6 KJV

How do we walk in the Spirit?

The first step is repentance – we are sorry for our sins and purpose in our heart and mind to turn our back on a sinful lifestyle.

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…" - 2 Corinthians 6:17

When we were in the world, we fulfilled the lusts of our flesh and had for our destiny the wrath of God.

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Ephesians 2:2-3

When we repent and come out of the world, we can have our sins washed away by water baptism in Jesus name. It is necessary to be baptized in JESUS name, as the Bible says, so that the blood of JESUS can remit our sins.

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:47

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Matthew 26:28

After repentance, we can also receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is Jesus’ Spirit that gives us eternal life and the power to overcome the lusts of our flesh.

As Jesus told His disciples in Luke 24:47, repentance and remission of sins was preached in His name among all nations by Apostle Peter, beginning at Jerusalem:

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

When we receive God’s gift of His Holy Ghost, we can walk in His Spirit.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." - 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." - James 4:7-8, 10 KJV

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." - 2 Peter 1:3-4 KJV

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, 7:1 KJV

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" - Acts 3:19 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:24-25 KJV

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." - 1 John 3:2-3 KJV ["And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure." - 1 John 3:3 NLT]