There is an important principle of spiritual balance which I want to discuss.

“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do nor treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Do not despise prophecy or take it lightly. Prove or test all things; hold on to that which is good” (1 ths 5:19-21 niv)

a. Prove All Things – Hold On To The Good. We are told in this Scripture to appreciate the value of the prophetic word. However, we are also told to prove or test that word – whether it be right or wrong.

Only then can we firmly hold on to that which is good, and discard that which is in error.

What is the way to prove whether a prophecy is right or wrong? The Bible gives us a simple, clear word on the matter:

“You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?”

“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him (Deut 18:21,22 niv).

The answer is very simple: A true prophecy will come to pass and agree with the Bible.

Sadly, some “prophetic” ministries never submit their prophecies to proof. They do not ask for confirmation of the accuracy of what they say “by revelation.” Some even believe they have reached a place of being infallible – never wrong.

There have been some tragic results for both the prophet and the people because of his lack of responsibility.

b. Judge The Prophet. A way to judge a prophet is to see if he is responsible for his prophetic words and their effects. Are they words of truth and life, or do they produce confusion, fear, division and disappointment?

I was teamed up with a prophet, praying for a couple (man and wife). The man we were praying for was a dentist. God had blessed him with a nice home which he used once a week for a large prayer/ministry gathering. He could accommodate over 100 people in a large room at the back of his house.

God was saving, healing and filling people with the Spirit every week in those meetings. The presence of God was on his home, and people were drawn by the Spirit to come and receive help.

Then someone came to his meeting and prophesied to the dentist that he should sell his home and go out into a traveling ministry. Desiring to do the will of God, he put his home up for sale. His wife became distraught. She had no piece. the dentist was also very upset, because there were no invitation to minister anywhere and no doors were opening. This couple came to us seeking help and confirmation.

We knew nothing of the circumstance just related above. The Lord spoke to the prophet I was praying with: “Prophetic Bondage!”

The prophet saw by the Spirit that a wrong prophecy had been given them which had brought them to spiritual confusion.

The prophet and I joined in prayer and broke that “prophetic bondage” and freed them to hear God’s voice for themselves. They both wept profusely as the peace of God flooded their spirits. They were overflowing with joy – as they realized the Lord had spared them from making a very serious mistake.

This illustrates why we need to be very careful and humble when we minister to others. Otherwise, we can speak words that bind, instead of words that liberate.

Let us pray to be like Jesus. He said, “The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18).

Jesus came to liberate, not to put us in bondage.

D. CONCLUSION

Yes there is special purpose, power and protection in the ministry of prophetic-prayer teams. To experience it is to know it! It is a ministry which God is restoring to His Church world-wide.

It is encouraging to know that the prayers of each team are being joined by the prayers of many other teams in the Body of Christ. There is a bond of love in prayer which unites our hearts together as brothers and sisters in the great family of God.

We are all on the same Team with the same desire – that our Father’s will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

“Again I say unto you, if two of you agree on earth in prayer about anything it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name – because they are mine – I will be right there with them” (Matt18:19,20).

Humility is our safe-guard for human error. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are ever subject or open to human error. We can all make mistakes in this regard.

There is always a certain risk when God allows His perfect word to be spoken through imperfect men.

But God has provided a way to protect both His servant and His word. There is great safety in humility!

Humility in the Gifts of the Spirit is expressed in two ways:

a. Willingness to admit we can make mistakes.

b. Willingness to receive correction when we do make mistakes.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. Pastor David Schoch from Long Beach, California, USA has one of the most powerful prophetic gifts I have ever witnesses in the forty years of my ministry. He spends a great deal of time in prayer and intercession.

As I have already said, such preparation is necessary for prophetic ministry. He guards his prophetic calling in a very responsible way. The years have proven the maturity and accuracy of his ministry.

In 1965 I was in a meeting where hundreds of people from all over the nation had gathered. David was ministering. By the Spirit’s revelation (Word of Knowledge) David was pointing to different people (who were strangers to him) and describing their physical problems nd describing their sickness.

To confirm that he was accurate in what he said, he always asked the person he pointed to if what he described was an accurate description of their need. If they said “Yes!” – then he would pray for them. There were many people healed. Then something unusual happened.

He called out to one woman and began to describe her condition. He then asked her if she were suffering from that problem. She replied, “No!” I don’t have the condition you described.”

David’s response before that crowd of six to seven hundred people was one of true humility. He didn’t argue or make any excuses. He simply said, “I’m sorry sister, I must have made a mistake.” He acknowledged he was capable of making a mistake, and was very sorry. He then stopped the healing ministry and went back to preaching his message.

At the end of the sermon some 45 to 50 minutes later, he invited people forward who needed prayer. to everyone’s surprise the lady who had denied her need ran up to the front. She then confessed that because of embarrassment she had lied about not having the problem David had described. Before all of the people she asked for God’s forgiveness and apologized to Brother David.

In light of this, I was most impressed by Brother David Schoch’s gracious response to her first denial.

Even thought he was right, and she was the one in error, he didn’t try to defend himself or challenge the lady’s statement. He made no claim to bring infallible, but admitted he could be wrong. What a noble example of humility for all of us to follows!

If you are going to form a prophetic-prayer team, you must have people with humility. they must not be those who will defend themselves or their gift. If others do not accept their revelation, they must have the humility to acknowledge, “I may be wrong; I am sorry if I was.”

As we consider the ministry of prophetic-prayer teams, we need to talk about some dangerous problem area. God’s gifts of grace can be abused in most ungracious ways. We are not to fear our Enemy, but we are to be aware of his clever and tricky ways (2 Cor 2:11).

We should not be surprised that something as powerful as teams of prayer would come under his attack. The reason we might expect problems to arise concerning prayer is clearly pictured for us in Proverbs 14:4: “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox” (Prov 14:4).

This proverb shares a simple principle for us to see. Where there are no oxen, it is easy to keep the barn clean. There is no mess that needs to be removed.

Where you have the oxen, you have their dung dropping and thus a dirty crib. But there is also a big harvest. It takes the strength of the ox to plow the field, to produce an abundant harvest.

The truth is very clear. If we want the power of the ox and the gain of the harvest, we are going to have to put up with some messy problems.

If we want the power and results that the Gifts of God’s Spirit bring, we are going to have to face the problems – and problem people – that come with it.

It is possible to sweep aside the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and have a clean but very sterile (lifeless) stall. Dead oxen and quiet, clean barns go together. Dead churches are lifeless, powerless and praiseless – and without harvest!

Adolescence (teen-age years) has its own special problems. It is the borderline time between being a child and being an adult. It is a time when a little knowledge and a lot of energy wants to run far ahead of wisdom and experience!

This is true in our growth and life as Christians as well. Many problems can arise when our knowledge about the Gifts of the Spirit is not balanced by the maturity of Christian character and experience.!

We have seen that when the utterance (speaking) of Gifts of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues and Prophecy are accompanied by a Word of Wisdom, A Word of Knowledge or Discerning of Spirits, they play an important role in the ministry of prophetic-prayer teams.

1. Personal Guidance Needs Balance

One of the dangers is to look to the Gifts of the Spirit as a sort of “magic means” of obtaining God’s will for personal guidance on a weekly or daily basis. such a “misuse” of gifts could almost be likened to going to a fortune-teller.

God will never allow us to escape from a walk of faith. Faith operates in a confidence that God is keeping His word of promise: “And the LORD shall guide thee continually…” (Isa 58:11). Let me assure you that if you are not in rebellion, it is difficult to miss God’s will.

The Lord, at times, is merciful to us and gives strong prophetic confirmation to us through those who pray for us. However, do not let this be a substitute for your own relationship with the Lord. He can speak directly to you, if you learn to listen in your times of private devotion.

There must always be a balance between the following:

a. God’s Word – Biblical principles and special words.

b. God’s Spirit – Inner witness, dreams, spiritual gifts.

c. Body of Christ – Confirmation by counsel and prophecy.

d. Circumstances – As arranged and/or rearranged by God.

e. Our Attitude – Personal humility, faith and obedience.

God wants our faith and trust to be in Him. Guidance should come out of our relationship with God and one another in Body of Christ. When these relationships are in right order, then we can expect the Lord to guide and direct us in a safe, sure way.

To move outside of this divine balance is to open ourselves to false, foolish and even dangerous directions and influence.

The following guidelines have been developed over the years from practical experience with prayer teams around the world. They are not binding rules, but practical suggestions which are based on sound spiritual principles. I believe you will find them helpful:

a. Mature Believers. Select six or eight mature believers. These should be persons who are baptized in the Holy Spirit and have learned to use the Gift of Tongues (or prophecy) in prayer. Two married couples plus one single man and one single lady make for a good mix. Add those in training to a team like this only after the team has gained experience in prophetic praying.

b. Acknowledge Christ. Have them pray this prayer: “We together confess Jesus is Lord. We receive His presence among us in the person of the Holy spirit. We ask the Holy Spirit to anoint us right now for prophetic prayer.” (Remember, your righteousness is based on the cross of Christ and His shed blood.)

c. Armor Of God. Then have them speak these words of command: “Lord, You said whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven. We now bind the powers of darkness that would seek to oppose or disrupt this prayer ministry in the strong Name of Jesus.

“We put on the helmet of salvation by which we shut out of our minds any wrong thoughts. We put on the breastplate of righteousness and take the shield of faith as our defense against wrong feelings or doubts. We open our hearts to receive the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – which we now expect to receive as we pray. Just as the word of the Lord came to the prophets of old, Lord, we expect You to send Your word to us now so Your mighty will and works will be displayed among us” (Eph 6; Ps 107:20; Gen 15:1,4; 1 Sam 15:10 etc.)

Doing these things prevents the devil from spoiling your prayers with his lying thoughts or ungodly purposes.

d. Holy Spirit In Charge. Then pray this prayer: “Holy spirit, we submit our minds and hearts to You. Put Your prayers on our lips, Your thoughts in our minds, Your feelings in our soul. We submit to Your Lordship, for where the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17).

e. Pray In Tongues. Release the rivers of the Holy Spirit by beginning to pray in tongues together. Let this be an expression of your faith, love and obedience to God. Your desire is to become of one heart and one spirit with the Lord and each other.

4. Praying For Others

After going through the above steps, it is time to pray for others. During training and learning times, the senior church leader or elder should act as captain of the prayer team. Also, for clarification, we will call those to be prayed for the candidate[s] in the instructions below.

a. Candidate In The Middle. If the team is preparing to pray for candidates who have come with special needs, have one candidate (and their spouse when possible) stand

.

b. One Person Lead Out. If the person is a man, have one of the male members of the team (or vice-versa if a woman) lead out in prayer for that person. At this point, trust the Lord to give a prophetic prayer.

Listen carefully, to the prayer, because there may be revelation of hidden secrets mentioned in the prayer. Knowing these can enable you to be of more help to the person.

c. Interview Candidate. If there is no guidance given by the Spirit on what to do next, then have the team captain briefly interview the person as follows:

Why Have They Come? Ask the person. “What have you come for? What are you expecting to receive?” As they answer, team members may hear confirmation of something they received from the Spirit during the prayer.

Keep asking to the person, just as Jesus did when ministering to the woman at the well in Samaria (see John 4:4-30). Do not let the interview go more than three to five minutes.

Share Spiritual Insights. If some of the team feel the Spirit has given them something to share, this is the time.

Sometimes a picture will form in your head. The Spirit can cause you to know what it means. Other times, the spirit will give you a verse of Scripture that addresses the need.

Other times, the Spirit will give a faint impression of something you would have no way of knowing about. If so, at some appropriate time, tell the prayer team and the candidate what you feel you received from the Spirit.

Then ask the candidate, “Is this true?” If they reply, “No it is not true,” then respond. “I m sorry. The thought must have been from my own mind.” If they say, “Yes, it is true,” then proceed as you feel led of the Spirit.

Whole Team Prays. If you do not have guidance as to how to proceed, have the whole team lay their hand lightly on the shoulder or head of the candidate (depending on local custom) and pray in the Spirit together.

Trust that during this prayer time, members of the team will receive something from the Lord. If so, share what you received. If no one feels they have anything from the Lord, then the team captain ought to pray a concluding prayer (trusting that the Holy Spirit will cause it to be a prophetic prayer).

There are times when it seems the spirit gives us little or nothing to share. Do not force something to happen. If the Spirit is not giving anything do not try to make up something. Tell the candidate, “Jesus loves you and I love you too.” If custom allows, give them a warm, loving embrace and a heart-felt “God bless you!”

We have to learn to use the Gifts of the Spirit. Church leaders must take responsibility to provide occasions for the believers to learn to pray prophetic prayers. Joining those learning to use the Gifts of the Spirit with more experienced believers on prayer teams is a good way to train others.

Paul encourages the Corinthian believers not only to seek after the spiritual gifts, but to “excel” in them (verse 12). To “excel” means to become more effective, or better in our efforts. This involves learning by experience.

a. God’s will/Man’s Choice. It is God’s will to give His gifts (1 Cor 12:7-10) to those who earnestly seek and strongly desire them (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1; 14:39).

God responds to our desire for His gifts when our motives are to build up and bless the Body of Christ.

It is true that God has the right to give gifts according to His own will and desire. Everything begins and ends in Him. However, God has given man the freedom to desire and ask to be a part of His wonderful plan.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). God gives His gifts to us when we”… hunger and thirst.

As we delight to do His will, He places His desires in our heart (Ps 37:4,5). As we pursue those desires in faith and obedience, God chooses us and prepares us for doing His Will.

From our position, it is as if we can choose to be chosen. Without Him we cannot; without us, He will not! Herein is the balance between God’s sovereignty (right to do what He wants) and man’s freedom of choice.

Paul encourages us to seek after the Gifts of the Spirit in faith, and develop them in obedience. It is through God’s gifts that His love can reach out to a sick and hurting world. Love is the motive, and prayer is the means by which our witness and work in the world begins.

Let us now consider the practical steps which we will need to follow in the formation of teams for prophetic prayer.

B. PRINCIPLES/GUIDELINES FOR A TEAM

God’s Word gives us the principles by which a prophetic-prayer team can function in a safe and sound way. The apostle Paul gives us mature counsel in 1 Corinthians 14:29:

“Let two or three prophets speak, while the others judge and weigh what has been said.”

1. Three Principles

There are three principles or practical truths expressed in this verse:

a. “Let… prophets speak” – that is liberty!

b. “Two or three” – that is boundary or limitation!

c. “Let the others judge” – that is responsibility!

2. Why Are these Principles Necessary?

a. Liberty. First of all, it is important to allow the spiritual gifts to be expressed. Without this liberty, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is “grieved and quenched.” We can stifle or silence His voice in our church (1 Ths 5:19; 1 Cor 14:39).

b. Limitation. Secondly, leaders are to set sensible limits to the number of prophetic prayers given by any one person. The thought in Paul’s mind is to prevent one person from dominating the prayer meeting.

If the prophetic ministry is going forth to the congregation (as opposed to ministry conducted in a small circle of prayer) – there is the danger we may weaken the impact of prophetic prayer if so many are given that people’s attention is lost (1 Cor 14:40),

c. Responsibility. Thirdly, leaders must judge and weigh the spirit and content of a prophecy or prophetic prayer in a responsible way. This is necessary because no one is “infallible” – that is, beyond the possibility of making a mistake.

If someone prays something that is not fitting or untrue, leaders have to give gentle correction. By doing this, the believer will learn to properly use the gifts.

I want to share with you the purpose, power and protection which team work in prophetic prayer provides. We will also consider how such a prayer team is formed and functions – how it is put together and works.

A. POWER / PURPOSE OF A TEAM

Jesus is speaking: “Again I say unto you, if two of you agree on earth in prayer about anything, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name – because they are mine – I will be right there with them” (Matt 18:19,20 niv).

Jesus taught there is something special about praying together. Team prayer has greater power than when we pray by ourselves – alone. There is a mystery here which we don’t fully understand.

Private prayer is important and necessary. However, Jesus is telling His disciples that He will be with them in an unusual and powerful way when they come “together” in prayer.

1. Strength In Unity

In unity there is strength. In spiritual unity there is spiritual strength! This is an important principle or truth. When we are of one heart and one mind in the Spirit of the Lord. He will move with great power and purpose on our behalf.

“One can chase a thousand two will put ten thousand to flight…” (Deut 32:30).

When God is the force behind the action, two are ten times more effective in prayer than one.

The principle of “unified” strength is true for great good or great evil. The power of a people is multiplied when they get together for a common purpose. God broke up Bable for that reason.

“Behold, they are one people and of one language. this is only the beginning of what they will do. Now, nothing they think of will be impossible for them” (Gen 11:6).

This same concept of “together power” can be found and followed in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Surely this is a principle which God wants us to put into practice when we pray. Jesus was teaching His disciples a very basic and important truth.

It has always been my approach in ministry to work as a team. I don’t think that people with an independent attitude can build up the Body of Christ in the best way. Let us see how this works when it comes to forming a prophetic-prayer team.

a. Love Produces Unity. Jesus said we can expect the blessing of His presence when we come together in His Name. How do we get a team working together?

The way people can really work together as a team is through the unity produced by the Holy Spirit. ‘God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom 5:5). Love produces unity. The Holy Spirit fills our heart with the love ofGod – so we love one another.

b. Pride Produces dis-unity. Disunity is the result of pride. “Only by pride cometh contention [quarrels]..” (Prov 13:10). The Enemy will do his best to break up your team-power ministry by discord and strife.

If you see that happen, the best solution I know is to have a service where the members of the team wash one another’s feet. This breaks the pride. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

2. God’s Will Revealed/Confirmed

The Holy Spirit will reveal the will of the Father to us when we humble ourselves before Him and each other. As we yield to the action of the Holy Spirit in prayer. He will bring us into a harmony of heart and unity of mind.

We will begin praying, thinking and feeling what is on the heart and mind of God. As revelation begins to come, we will have several members confirming what is received.

You will find that the same revelation will be given to more than one member of the team. When this happens, it provides confirmation that we are receiving the mind of the Lord as a result of our praying.

Prophetic-prayer teams provide a sound and powerful way to intercede for others and discover God’s will. It is a means of allowing the Holy Spirit to minister through His gifts in wisdom and in power.

There is opportunity for His word and will to be expressed in a balanced way with other brothers and sisters in Christ. The prophetic word or prayer is in a setting where it can be proven and judged by others.

Let us turn to 1 Corinthians for our teaching text: “You may all prophesy. One by one, that everyone may learn and all may be encouraged” (1 Cor 14:31).

In one such session, after they had prayed in other tongues, the Lord began to put a feeling in the heart of one sister. She said, “I feel there are some missionaries in the Philippines who are in great danger.”

As they kept praying, someone else received a picture in their head (mind): “Yes I see them in a prison.”

Another was given further insight by the Spirit. She saw the prisoners holding the missionaries hostage with knives.

They kept praying. Another prayer team member saw the prisoners taking the missionaries into a van – so they could use the vehicle to escape. This sister cried out in horror, “They must be stopped! If they get them outside the prison, they will kill them all and flee in the van!”

They then began to urgently and earnestly pray. Two and half years later Pastor Howard found out from the author of this chapter that those events received by revelation through prophetic praying had literally happened.

The very night they were praying in California, because of the time difference, it was Sunday morning in the Philippines.

Sister Olga, a well-known missionary to the prisoners in Bilibid Prison in the Philippines, and four coworkers had been taken hostage by prisoner. The prisoners had indeed held long, sharp knives to their throats.

Sister Olga’s white van was demanded by the prisoners to be used as a means of escape. As they neared the prison gate, the van motor quit running. Despite every effort to restart the engine. It could not be started.

This gave the guards time to capture the prisoners and rescue the missionary and coworkers. God came to their rescue, and their release to safety was nothing less than a miracle.

After they were set free from the prisoners, they tried starting the motor of the van. It started immediately with no problems.

How were they spared? Intercessors in California tuned in the mind of God. By revelation they were able to pray prophetically, and God saved the lives of five missionaries. As ministers of the Gospel, it should be of great encouragement to know that there are intercessors who are supporting us by a ministry of prophetic prayer!

4. A Word Of Encouragement

May I encourage you, dear reader, to seriously consider this ministry of prophetic prayer. God wants to move by His power in our families, churches, governments and in the many nations of the world.

Exercise the Gifts of the Spirit in your prayer life. Listen for God to speak, and then let that word be brought to birth through the power of travailing prayer.

It is both a great privilege and responsibility for God’s handmaidens and menservants everywhere to earnestly pray prophetic prayer as the Holy spirit gives them the prayers to pray.

I would like to give you one more example of prophetic prayer in action. Pastor Rick Howard in Redwood City, California, has taught his people the principles of prophetic prayer.

Every Saturday night they form prayer teams for intercession in their church. This is a form of prayer in which the Holy Spirit specifically leads them in their intercession.

1. Guidelines To Follow

They usually follow a pattern for prayer which is based on the following six guidelines. Use these for your prayer team.

a. Yield To The Holy Spirit And Jesus. They prayerfully acknowledge and yield their spirits to the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Lordship of Jesus.

b. Bind Power Of Darkness. They bind the powers of darkness and deception that might try to hinder their prayers or influence their thoughts.

c. Keep Mind And Spirit Open. They open their own minds and spirits to allow the rivers of life-giving water to flow from their inner most being (John 7:37-38).

d. Be Empowered By The Holy Spirit. They pray that God’s Holy Spirit of love and truth will then specifically empower their prayers.

e. Pray In Tongues. Each team then prays in tongues, expecting God to reveal to them what, how and for whom they are to pray.

f. Pray The Interpretation. Then they pray about what the Spirit may have made them aware of by thought, God’s word or spiritual vision.

2. The Spirit Will Direct

After completing the “Six Guidelines,” the team should keep praying in tongues until one (or more) of the team feel an impression from the Spirit as to what the team is to pray for. Expect the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the will and mind of the heavenly Father that your prayers may have a specific direction.

The direction may come in the form of a thought, vision (Mental picture) or Scripture text. It might involve people, places, events related to one’s church, city, nation or some foreign field.

Often God’s Spirit will move the team to pray concerning one (or more) of the power structures of society – the so called “mind-molders”:

* Science * Media * Business

* Church * Arts * Government

* School * Home * Military

a. Each One Adds A Part. Usually one or more persons in the group will sense a direction to take in prayer. The entire group then should begin praying softly in the Spirit, relying on the Gifts of a Word of Knowledge, a Word of Wisdom, Discerning of Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues and Prophecy.

As different ones pray forth in faith, God will reveal what and how to pray. Each one adds a part of God’s revelation as they are allowed their time to pray.

This is what Paul was referring to when he said that if revelation comes to another who is sitting by, he should be allowed to speak.. that all may prophesy one by one (1 Cor 14:30-31).

Partners With Jesus. This is true prophetic prayer in action. In this way God can bring forth a complete revelation of His will for a given situation. We are actually completing the circle of His purpose through prayer and intercession.

I am amazed and awed by what the Spirit brings forth during such times of prayer. As the spiritual tide rises, and faith mounts, prayer becomes more real than the problems and needs for which we pray.

During one of our conferences, we had ten prayer teams praying this way. Remarkably, on repeated occasions during that day of prayer, five or six of the teams were impressed to pray about the same burden of the Lord.

The various teams did not know this until we called for a testimony time. The team captains then shared what the Spirit impressed them to pray about and the results.

Over and over, others would stand and say, “The Lord told us to pray about the same thing in our team.”

What joy and comfort this brings when we realize we are partners with Jesus in His ministry of intercession.

He doesn’t go to do his own will in a self-serving way. He does not give out his prophecies for a price (as did Balaam [Numbers 22] to the sorrow of all involved). He simply did what God has said and that was all. And, because it was God’s will and word it worked – in great power, it worked!

We, like Elijah, should only speak and move in faith “according to God’s word of command!”

Some people don’t act when God speaks – that is unbelief. Other people act when God hasn’t spoken – that is presumption (going beyond God’s will). The prayer warrior listens for God’s word and then speaks and acts in simple faith and obedience.

The prophet Elijah onlyspoke and acted in line with the word of the Lord.

e. Prophetic Word Brought to Birth. After the great victory over Baal, Elijah told King Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain”. Now notice what Elijah does after he prophesies: “…Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees” (vs 42 niv).

Earnest, Peristent Prayer. The Apostle James tells us he prayed earnestly (Jas 5:17). The Old Testament record (1 Ki 18:43) says he prayed seven times. This would indicate persistence as well as earnest fervency. This was a strong, urgent prayer on Elijah’s part

Elijah’s posture for prayer was some-what unusual. It was the position which the women of the Middle East took when they were about to give birth to a child. It was the position for travail – the painful pressure necessaryfor birth.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit often causes us to travail in prayer so that God’s word and purpose can be brought to birth.

Elijah earnestly prayed seven times before there was a sign in the sky that God’s word was about to be fulfilled. It first came in the form of a “little cloud the size of a man’s hand” (1 Ki 18:44).

There comes a time in the process of birth when nothing will stop a baby from being born. Elijah had travailed in prayer, and now God was about to make His move!

Elijah tells Ahab to hitch up his chariot and get on his way before the rain overtakes him. The story now becomes most dramatic: “Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the winds rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The Power of the Lord came upon Elijah, and tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel” (1 Ki 18:45,46 niv).

We Have A Responsibility. God wants us to understand: There is a direct connection or tie between prophecy and prayer.

Many people have received a prophetic word for their lives, but failed to see it come to pass. Why? They didn’t fulfill their part by birthing the divinely prophesied purpose from the womb of intercession.

Prophecy must be conceived, received and birthed in prayer and intercession.

“That which is born of the Spirit is spiritual…” (John 3:6).

Both the prophet who speaks the word, and the one who receives the word, have a responsibility before the Lord.

When the word of the Lord came to Mary, the mother of Jesus, it has to be received and nourished in her before it could be birthed. “But Mary kept all these things [Greek = rhema meaning living words], and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

Mary brought the word of the Lord to birth by prayer, praise, patience and faith.

Mary was a woman of praise and prayer. After the Holy Spirit came upon her, she prophesied.

Praise, prayer and prophecy were all three expressed through her in a beautiful and powerful way at the home of Elizabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1:35-38, 46-55).

Mary becomes a model for all of us to follow in our walk with God.

We are then responsible to nourish and bring the word spoken to us to birth by our prayers and intercession. Like Mary we must say, “Let it be unto me according to your word.”

Prophecy is spontaneous speaking forth of words, given by the Spirit, in the language which we know. They are words we have not thought of in advance of speaking them. They are words and thoughts supplied us by the Holy Spirit which we speak forth to benefit others.

We have a clear example of how prophecy is given by examining an event in the life of Moses.

“And the LORD said unto Moses… Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you: and Aaron your brother shall speak the words [you give him] unto Pharaoh..” (Exo 7:1,2)

The words Aaron spoke as Moses’ prophet were given him by Moses. Aaron did not speak his own words.

This is the way the Gift of Prophecy works. The Holy spirit gives the words; we speak them to others in prayer. Prophecy may also be used in speaking to others to build them up, stir them up and cheer them up (1 Cor 14:3).

Prophetic prayer is the key to opening the doors of Kingdom power and purpose for God’s people

1. Prayer is man speaking to God.

2. Prophecy is normally God speaking to man through man.

3. Prophetic praying is the Holy Spirit speaking through us in prayer to God the Father.

All three are necessary for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

As basic and important as our subject is, there is very little teaching to be found on prophetic praying. In fact, I have never heard a message on this specific topic in all of my life.

a. Thinking God’s Thoughts. In earlier chapters in this series we learned that three things happen when we yield to the Holy Spirit’s action in prayer (see Romans 8:26,27):

We begin to pray God’s prayers.

We begin to feel god’s feelings.

We begin to think God’s thoughts.

We have covered the first two topics in preceding chapters.

Prophetic prayer enables us to “Think God’s Thoughts.” This will be the central theme of this study. We will discover that prophetic insights and understanding are birthed and expressed through prayer.

I was astonished to discover that the prophetic anointing had as much (or more) to do with praying as with prophesying.

Praying and prophesying are tied together in the lives of all of the prophets in both the Old and New Testaments.

For the idolatry, child sacrifice and immorality that were part of Baal worship, God had sent the famine. Now the time for overthrow had come.

God had clearly instructed His people, “Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images” (Exo 23:24).

“And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of their place” (Deut 12:3).

So the day of confrontation is arranged. You can read the whole story in 1 Kings 18. Elijah throws out the challenge.

“.. How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Ki 18:21).

Then follows the second challenge. “…the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said. It is well spoken” (1 Ki 18:24).

The prophets of Baal called on their God. “And they cried aloud, and cut themselves… with knives and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them” (1 Ki 18:28). But no fire came down.

At the time of the evening sacrifice, here is what happened:

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.

“‘Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’

“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

“When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried. ‘The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!’

“Then Elijah commanded them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away! they seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there” (1Ki 18:36-40 niv).

All 450 of the false prophets of Baal were killed that day. Pay attention, however, to the prayer which backed up the mighty display of God’s power.

“…Let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command “ (1 Ki18:36).

Let us look to Elijah as one of God’s model men of prophecy and prayer. There is much we can learn from one who was “subject to like passions as are we,” but who, nevertheless, earnestly prayed very effective prayers (Jas 5:16-18).

a. Powerful Prayers. He had the same problems and human weaknesses that we struggle with, but his prophetic prayers still produced powerful results!

James describes his prayer-life: “Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years. And he prayed again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (Jas 5:17,18 niv).

These are two powerful prayers. Let us study the story in the Old Testament. Powerful prayers should produce powerful words and powerful works!

The story is a dramatic one. Elijah is proclaiming the word of the Lord to Ahab, the most wicked king Israel ever had. Listen as he speaks:

“As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Ki 17:1).

b. Powerful Prophecy. This was a very strong word of judgment to a very wicked king. But it was the prophetic word of the Lord by a righteous man of prayer. That is the reason James could later record, “Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain.. and it rained not.” It was Elijah’s prayer that gave birth to this powerful prophecy!

c. A Right Time to Speak. There is a time for both silence and speaking. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…There is a time to be silent and a time to speak” (3:1,7).

Our story of Elijah now takes a very interesting turn. After he had faithfully spoken the word of the Lord to King Ahab, the land of Israel soon became very dry. Several years passed without rain.

All went well with Elijah for a while. God had directed him to a brook where he could drink. God also sent ravens to bring food to Elijah every morning and evening. It was fairly peaceful picture. Elijah was eating, while others were starving, during this time of drought and famine.

However, in time the brook itself finally dried up, and Elijah became a victim of his own prophecy! Dry bread with no water is not a very pleasant picnic, and he could well have been tempted to re-open the heavens. If he had acted on that desire, he clearly would have been outside of God’s will. God’s word for rain had not yet been given.

If Elijah had spoken when he should have been silent, one of two things could have happened:

Asking Amiss. God would not have honored the word, for he had “asked amiss” – that is, apart from the divine will (Jas 4:3), Elijah would have become a wordless and powerless prophet.

Asking Too Soon. God would have honored the word, but that would have ended the whole story. Elijah would have missed the “fire-from-heaven miracle,” and found himself with “leanness in his soul” (1 Ki 18:30-39; Ps 106:13-15).

The devil tempted Jesus to turn stone into bread when He was fasting (Matt 4:3). Like the Lord Jesus during His temptation in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-4). Elijah waited for the word of God to come.

God is faithful. The record simply reads: “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go at once to Zarepheth of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food’” (1 Ki 17:7-9 niv).

Because both Elijah and the widow obeyed the word of the Lord, both were rewarded by the blessing and provision of a wise and loving God.

Their need became the opportunity for the Lord to perform the “oil and meal” miracle which saved their lives. Elijah could have missed it by speaking when he should have been silent, or by being silent when he should have spoken. It truly pays to prayerfully wait for – and then speak – God’s word!

1. Simeon and Anna

Simeon and Anna were an elderly prophet and prophetess in the Temple at Jerusalem. They were used of God to minister to Mary and Joseph when they brought baby Jesus to the Temple to be presented to the Lord.

God used Simeon and Anna to bring forth a prophetic word concerning their new-born son. It was also a word of blessing, encouragement and divine purpose at an important time in their lives.

The Scriptures paint an interesting picture of the old prophetess Anna. She was a woman with an unusual life of prayer. Listen to the record:

“Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the temple that day…She was very old, for she had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, but stayed there night and day worshipping God with fasting and prayer.

“She came in at that very time and also gave thanks to God. She then told everyone in Jerusalem who had been waiting for the coming of the Savior, that the Messiah had finally arrived” (Luke 2:36-38 tlb).

a. Close Relationship Of Prayer And Prophecy. I noticed something of real interest while studying the lives of the prophets: There is as much said about their life of prayer as there is about their words of prophecy.

In the case of Anna the prophetess, the main witness of Scripture relates to her prayer-life rather than her ministry of prophecy. She was an “anointed” (called of God) prophetess. Nevertheless, the primary direction and expression of her “anointing” was in prayer. Her prophetic ministry was mostly prayer. She must have prayed thousands of prophetic prayers. We have only one instance of record where she prophesied to the people in Jerusalem!

This close relationship of prayer and prophecy is also seen in the church at Antioch:

2. Prophets At Antioch

“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers.. while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Paul for the work to which I have called them. ‘So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them on their way” (Acts 13:1-3).

This passage in Acts would lead me to believe that the prophets and teachers at Antioch spent much time in the ministry of worship, prayer and fasting. It seems this was a common custom or function in the life of that church.

For years it was my thought that the primary function and duty of the prophet was that of proclaiming or speaking the word of the Lord. In Scripture, however, we find they spent much more time in prayer than in prophesying

3. Jeremiah.

For instance, when we study the life of the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament, we see that his primary role was that of praying, not speaking. In other words, he spent more time speaking to God than speaking to man!

“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer 9:1).

I believe there is a truth here which we have missed. There is a prophetic dimension in prayer which we have failed to understand. Yet without it the full power and purpose of the prophetic anointing or calling cannot be expressed.

a. Prayer and Prophecy Must Go Together. Sadly, there has been a separation of these twin truths in modern times.

There are many who will stand and speak: “Yea, yea, thus saith the Lord!” Their words however, are often empty – without the true ring of an anointed prophet. Why? Their ministry has not been empowered by prayer. Often their lives have been filled with non-spiritual or even unspiritual activities.

One cannot rush into prophetic ministry without the proper preparation in prayer. without it, words of so-called “prophecy” are shallow, subject to much error, and even spirits of deception.

May I suggest that for every minute of prophecy there should be many hours of prayer. It is only out of the womb of prayer that a true word of God is brought to birth.

The subject of our study in this chapter is “praying prophetic prayers.” this story will help you understand what is meant by “prophetic praying.”

In 1968 we held one of our conferences. Some 1800 people attended. We set Friday aside as a special day for fasting and prayer. At that time we ministered the personal needs of the people in the conference. We formed a number of prayer teams, each made up of five or six spiritual leaders. Individuals then came forward for prayer along a railing at the front of the auditorium.

The prayer team of which I was a part included my wife and a forty-year veteran missionary to Africa – as well as Ruth and Allen Banks who were elderly ministers.

I was very impressed with the gentle but powerful ministry of Ruth Banks. She was a beautiful white-haired sister who had walked withGod most of her life

She would lightly lay her hands upon the head of each person and begin to pray. It was a pure, prophetic prayer.

Even though most of the people we prayed for were total strangers, Ruth’s prayers were specific in addressing the secret needs of each individual. In her prayer, she would mention such personal, painful secrets that they would begin weeping and sobbing.

They suddenly realized that God was aware of the smallest details of their struggles, sorrows and pain. This ministry of God’s love and grace prepared their hearts so the prayer team could give any needed counsel and direction.

I listened and watched very carefully. Never once did Ruth Banks fail to minister directly to the specific need of those she prayed for. Her prophetic prayer was always correct, even mentioning the hidden details of the person’s life.

I told the Lord that I didn’t understand everything that I had seen and heard. But I asked Him for the ability and grace to pray as that little handmaiden of the Lord had prayed.

I wanted the Holy Spirit to release me from the limitations of my natural mind and understanding. I cried out for His divine wisdom and knowledge to meet the deepest needs of hurting, lonely people all over the world. I realize now I was just beginning to see the importance of the twin roles of prophecy and prayer.

I can’t say I have a ministry just like Sister Ruth today. But I have found that as I yield to the action of the Holy Spirit in prayer. He enables me to pray God’s prayers, feel His feelings and think God’s thoughts.

Prophetic prayer then becomes far more personal and precise, and is much more effective in the lives of those for whom we pray.

This does not mean we are infallible in our ministry, and never subject to error or mistakes. None of us are so perfect that we don’t need the confirming witness or judgment of mature brothers and sisters in Christ. It does mean, however, that prayer joined with the Gifts of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues and Prophecy can bring the intervention of God into our own personal lives and the lives of others.

1 Corinthians 14:24,25 tells us that the prophetic ministry will reveal the inner secrets of the unbeliever’s heart. He will thereby be convicted of his sin, fall down in worship, and confess that God indeed is in our midst. May it be so!

In other words, there is a Temple in Heaven. In it, there is a heavenly Ark and Mercy Seat (or Mercy Throne – called “Throne of Grace” in Hebrews 4:16). This is where Jesus took His own blood after His death. He sprinkled it on the heavenly Mercy Throne that our sins might be paid for and covered over (read hebrews 9:19-24).

There is also a heavenly Altar of Incense where a real angel takes our prayers and offers them with heavenly frankincense before the throne of God.

1) God’s Power Released. What is the earthly result of all of this heavenly activity? When our prayers are mixed with God’s frankincense and cast back into the earth, a powerful display of lightning, thunder and an earthquake result (Rev 8:3-5).

We see this happening in the Book of Acts. “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

When we send our prayers by God’s Spirit to His throne, He send them back in a way that can be seen, heard and felt here on earth!

We release the power of God on earth when we give Him something to work with in Heaven. That is one of the reasons why we pray.

2. The Divine Cycle Of Prayer

Praise and prayer sent up to Heaven produce results on earth. This same idea is found in Job 36:27,28: “He draws up the vapors of water which distill from the clouds as rain. The clouds of heaven pour down their moisture received from the earth and abundant showers fall on mankind.”

This verse describes the rain cycle. Water vapor from the earth and ocean, lands and lakes rises to form the clouds of the sky. The clouds then release their moisture as rain according to their vapor content. The more moisture in the cloud from the earth, the great the rainfall of blessing that falls back on the earth.

The same is true of praise and prayer. It goes up to the throne of God and is mixed with heavenly frankincense. It is then hurled into earth as mighty manifestations of spiritual power in our homes, churches, cities and nations.

a. Spiritual “Bombs”. The more we pray, the more material we give the angel at the golden Altar to work with. This angel makes “spiritual bombs” that he throws back to earth. These “bombs’ blow away the powers of darkness and release the prisoner from their bondages to sin and sickness. The more we pray, the greater is the outpouring of his spiritual power on us and our churches.

This is what happened when Paul was in prison. He sent praise and prayer up! The angel at the altar sent “spiritual bombs” down that shook the earth and set the prisoners free.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Act 16:25,26).

b. No Worship – No Rain! The same truth is found again in Zechariah 14:17: “If any of the peoples of the earth do not go upto Jerusalem to worship the King the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. “What is the prophet saying? He is saying no worship, no rain!

The prophet Joel said, “In the last days God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). The amount of worship and prayer which we send up determines the degree we receive this promised outpouring of God’s Spirit. If you want showers of blessing on your church, you must worship God in Spirit and in truth.

The volume of rain we enjoy will be proportionate (related to the amount) of praise and prayer we send to Heaven to be distilled back down on us as showers of blessing.

D. CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit inspires continuous prayer and worship. Praying in the Spirit enables us to complete the circle of Christ’s intercession on our behalf. His Spirit will always move us to pray in line with God’s will.

Only through the prayers of god’s people can god’s perfect will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We play an important part in the divine cycle of prayer. It begins in Heaven, but is completed on earth. Will you come like the disciple of Jesus? ‘…one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray..” (Luke 11:1).

It is important for us to know that our prayers are used by God in a very special way to break the powers of darkness. Let us consider this truth in regard to spiritual warfare by reading the Apostle John’s words as recorded in Revelation 8:3-5:

“And another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to mix with the prayers of all of God’s people. This was to be offered upon the golden altar before the throne.

“The sweet smoke of the incense which was mixed with the prayers of the saints rose up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel filled the censer with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and there was a terrible earthquake.”

1. Old Testament Patterns And Heavenly Realities

This is a prophetic picture of how our prayers are used of God to influence earthly events. This heavenly setting as seen above is understood by examining the floor plan of Moses’ Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. Old Testament patterns of worship reflect spiritual realities in the heavenly realm.

a. Ark Of The Covenant. You may recall that the Holy of Holies was the innermost chamber of the temple where the Ark of the Covenant rested. We need to note three things about the Ark:

Gold-Covered Box. The Ark was a gold-covered box or chest about .75 meters high by .75 meters wide by 1.5 meters in length.

Two Gold Cherubim. Two solid gold cherubim were set on either end of the cover or lid that covered the gold box, as if bowing to each other.

The Mercy Seat. The area between the Cherubim was called the Mercy Seat (Throne), and was the place where God’s holy presence was enthroned.

Sprinkled Blood. It was between the Cherubim (on the Mercy-Throne) that the high priest once a year sprinkled blood for the cleansing and covering of his own sins and that of the Israelities.

b. Altar Of Incense. The Altar of Incense was in the room adjacent to the Holy of Holies. This room was called the Holy Place. These two rooms were separated by the inner veil (a heavy tapestry).

The Altar of Incense, and the incense offered to God on it, form a special picture or type of the ministry of praise and prayer in the Holy Spirit.

Just as the fragrance of the incense wafted its way from the Altar Of Incense in the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies, so our prayers and praise make their way to the Mercy-Throne of God in Heaven.

Incense is a special mixture of perfumed powders which, when burned, releases a sweet smell. It was made up of four substances, which were obtained from crushed plants.

Frankincense – one of the substances – is a white powder. Some believe this white powder represents God’s righteousness, which is His part of the incense.

When mixed with the other three parts, which represent man’s part, the incense becomes a pleasing offering to God (Exo 30:34).

In the scripture above (Rev 8:3-5). incense is offered with the prayers and worship of the saints. When our prayers are mixed with the righteous purity of God’s Spirit, it all comes before Him as a sweet and fragrant odor.

The key to the Spirit-filled life is child-like simplicity and faith. Can we be simple enough to believe that there are times – perhaps more often than we realize- when God wants to help us through His Gifts of Tongues, Interpretation and Prophecy?

Can we trust Him to minister to our needs and desires in a personal way through our prayer life?

He knows us better than we know ourselves, and is ever ready to provide the spiritual direction, correction and protection that we need.

May I encourage you in the words of my former leader to pay close attention to your thoughts, prayers and songs following a time of praying or singing in the Spirit? The overflow of God’s Spirit will often bring words and songs of interpretation for your edification, understanding and guidance.

I am not suggesting these principles become a method for guidance – by themselves. There needs to be other confirming evidence if an important decision faces you. (See Section D12 on Guidance). People have gone into serious error when they try to “use’ God’s gifts in foolish ways.

All guidance will be in harmony with God’s word and receive approval or confirmation from wise and godly counselors in the Body of Christ.

Most of you, however, probably have been in the position of not expecting the Holy Spirit to personally move in and through you by His gifts. It is to you that my words of encouragement are directed.

If your heart has been stirred by this message, may I suggest that you bring your desires to the Lord. Ask Him to fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit. Lift your voice in a language of praise as He directs your worship. Every sound we speak in faith, love and obedience will already have been inspired by God’s Holy Spirit.

Our spiritual prayer language (speaking in tongues) is composed of sounds and syllables which we do not understand with our minds. They are inspired by God’s Spirit. We know they are an expression of praise, prayer or intercession.

By faith we lift our voice and speak forth, knowing that every sound we form with our lips and tongue has been prompted by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our praise is carried along by a song and melody that flows from our hearts to His. What beautiful gifts God has given!

In a similar way, after a time of praying and worshiping the Lord in other tongues, we can pray and sing forth the interpretation. We simply trust the Holy Spirit to enable us to express the heart and mind of God. We then speak and sing forth the interpretation of the tongues in words we understand.

Sometimes the interpretation of tongues will be worship. At other times it may be prayer by which the Lord may wish to reveal something to us that will be in line with His purpose for our lives. In this way the Gift of Interpretation can bring added power and purpose to our prayers.

Sometimes Interpretation of Tongues brings prophetic insight (a Word of Knowledge) that can help us intercede more specifically for our families, churches, missionaries and even national and world affairs. God’s people who are empowered by the Spirit to pray can make a difference in this world!

We are now better able to understand Paul’s teaching on prayer. It was born out of his experience as an intercessor with Christ.

May his words become a motto for our daily lives: “Praying always… in the Spirit..for God’s people everywhere” (Eph 6:18).

Praying in tongues should be an expression of faith, humility, submission and obedience before God and His Holy Spirit. This helps to put our hearts and minds in harmony with His.

In this way we begin to think and feel as God does. Then we can pray forth the interpretation of our prayer in other tongues with understanding.

The same principle applies to singing, blessing and giving thanks with the Spirit. Many of us have experienced times of praising God both in languages given by the Spirit and our native tongue. We switch back and forth from one to the other.

For many years, I didn’t realize that my praise in my native language was a response to my praise in tongues. It was a form of interpretation of tongues.

c. Listen to Your Songs. When I awake in the morning, often there will be a little song singing away in my head. For years, I did not take note of the words or the message in the song. One day my home church leader exhorted me to pay attention to those faint little impressions and promptings of heart and mind. I was to be aware of the words of the song, as I would probably need the message in the song later that day.

Often the soft stirrings and gentle pressure of the Spirit can go unnoticed. He is very dove-like in nature and does not force His ministry upon our lives. He wants us to be sensitive to His slightest touch. His “still small voice” often comes as quiet thoughts or through a meaningful melody or song.

I decided I would follow my leader’s advice. The next morning as I awoke, there was another little song singing away in my head. I gave special attention to the words. I discovered that the words of that little chorus were preparing me for events during the day that I could not have anticipated.

For thirty years I had been ignoring and overlooking this gentle but important ministry of God’s Holy Spirit.

There was another way in which I was missing instructions from the Lord. I love to sing and worship the Lord during my morning bath-shower, when I wash my body. I sing and worship both in other tongues and in my native language.

It was my custom to sing in other tongues when bathing. During this time of tongues, my mind would usually be on other important details I had to take care of each day.

Following singing in tongues, I would sing in my known language. But I paid attention to neither. My thoughts were on other things. I was paying no attention to the words. One day this thought occurred to me. “Perhaps I should be paying more attention to my prayers when I bathe my body.”

When I started paying attention, I discovered that I was singing in tongues, and without realizing it, I was singing the interpretation to my song in tongues. I was praising in the Spirit followed by praise in my native language.

These Gifts of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues had both poured through me without my even realizing what God was doing by His Spirit. He was building me up to face the problems of the day before me.

Needless to say, this precious ministry of the Holy Spirt has become a great blessing to me personally over the years. I trust it will be true of your life as well.

This brings us to some fresh and exciting principles of prayer which can transform your Christian life. I want to show you how the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues can be used with our spiritual prayer language in our daily devotions. You and I can pray in tongues and interpret in our private prayer times with God.

Paul tells us that he prayed in tongues more than anyone else to whom he was writing. Yet he says he would rather speak five words that were understood (that is, he would rather prophesy) than ten thousand words in tongues in the public worship service (1 Cor 14:18,19. It is clear that his ten thousand words in tongues were accomplished in his private times of prayer. (May be that is why his five words of prophecy were so powerful).

a. Needed To Understand God’s Will. When we use the Gift of Tongues in prayer, we are speaking to God in a language unknown to us. God understands it because the prayer is the result of the Holy Spirit’s action upon us. Such prayers are always in alignment with God’s will.

What is the problem then? It is this: While God understands, we do not understand what we are praying when we pray in other tongues. God wants us to understand. The Bible places great importance on our knowing and understanding God’s will.

“Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding…” (Ps 32:9). I must confess that, for many years, I was like the horse and mule. I prayed, sang, praised and gave thanks to God in tongues, but I never received interpretation of my prayers. This was because I had not obeyed 1 Corinthians 14:13: “Let him who speaks in an tongue, pray that he may interpret.”

To interpret, we must obey this scriptural commandment. This is the first rule of the Spirit-filled life. But no one ever taught me to do this. Even though I read this verse many times, for some reason it did not impact my mind enough to cause me to obey this word of instruction.

When asked for interpretation, God was faithful to give it to me. When that happened I was thrilled to learn that another biblical prayer began to be answered for me.

“…we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col 1:9).

The Lord wants us to know His will. “And that servant, which knew not his Lord’s will… shall be beaten…” (Luke 12:48). There is penalty and punishment for not knowing our Lord’s will.

If we do not know God’s will, we will wander around without any spiritual goal or purpose. We will do very little for the Lord.

God wants us to know and understand His will so we can obey Him. Then we will go where He wants us to go, do what He wants us to do, and say what He wants us to say.

For this reason I believe Paul placed great importance on the Gift of Interpretation. “Let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he might interpret” (1 Cor 14:13). Without interpretation we do not understand what the Spirit is praying through us. Once we start interpreting our prayers, songs, thanksgiving and praise to God – understanding of His will begins to come to us.

It is a comfort to know that the Holy Spirit can intercede through us with power and wisdom when we don’t know how (or what) to pray for as we should. Often, those to whom God gives a burden of prayer do not know what they are praying for at the time.

If you feel a burden to pray for some person, but do not know what to pray, just pray in other tongues (languages) by the Holy Spirit. If you ask for and receive interpretation to the prayer in tongues, you may discover what you were praying for. The Holy Spirit knows the need, and inspires us as Christians to pray the prayer needed for those in need.

There are other situations in which God wants us to know the mind of His Spirit. We need to know His will and have His wisdom in specific situations. We need to understand the motives which are behind our attitudes and actions. At such times we can ask God to give us the interpretation to our unknown tongue in prayer.

We are again reminded that when the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us and through us, it is according to the will of God (Rom 8:27). Therefore, we can trust the Holy Spirit to inspire our “prayer with the understanding” after we have spent some time “praying with the Spirit”.

Several references have been made in this study to the importance of “praying in the Spirit.” We have seen how basic it is to intercessory prayer. What Gifts of the Spirit help us in our ministry of prayer and intercession?

1. Primary Ways To Pray In The Spirit

I believe the Gifts of

a. Tongues,

b. Interpretation of Tongues, and

c. Prophecy are the primary ways and means by which we are to “pray in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). We will want to study in some depth what the Bible has to say about the function and purpose of these gifts in our daily prayer life.

The Apostle Paul teaches us principles in using these spiritual gifts in prayer.

2. The Gift Of Tongues

a. For Speaking to God. Commentary on 1 Corinthians Chapter fourteen:

“For anyone who speaks in an tongue [that is, a language given by the Holy spirit] does not speak to men, but to God (1 Cor 14:2).

” …..Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

“For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.

“If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit [by the Holy spirit within me] prays but my mind does not understand.

“What should I do? I will pray with my spirit [in tongues], and I will also sing with the understanding [interpretation of tongues].

“If you are praising God with your spirit [in tongues], how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving since he does not know what you are saying? (1 Cor 14:12-16 niv).

Paul teaches us four ways we use tongues and interpretation of tongues in private devotions and in public meetings:

1. praying to the Lord
2. singing to the Lord
3. blessing the Lord
4. giving thanks to the Lord

Speaking in tongues can be of great value if the speech is interpreted so the meaning is also understood (see verse 5). The Gift of Tongues prepares the Church to receive the interpretation, which should follow the speaking or singing in tongues. The people are alerted and unified in the Spirit to receive and respond to the inspired word of interpretation which follows.

Keep in mind that the primary reason for tongues is to speak to God. For this reason, tongues and interpretation will normally take the form of one of the four categories outlined above.

b. In Private Prayer. What is often overlooked, however, is that Paul is placing equal importance on the role of these gifts in our private prayer life. Speaking in tongues is primarily directed towards God, not man. It is a personal man-to-God experience.

Our study in 1 Corinthians 14 reveals four ways in which the gift of tongues can be expressed in our personal communion with God:

1. Inspired prayer (vss 14,15)
2. Inspired song (vs 15)
3. Inspired praise and blessing (vs 16)
4. Inspired thanksgiving (vss 16,17)

The Holy Spirit is the unceasing (never-ending) Spirit of prayer, song, praise and thanksgiving. It is my belief that all four expressions of the Gift of Tongues are the privilege of every Spirit-filled believer.

c. Vocal Gifts To Be Exercised By All. It was Paul’s desire that all might exercise the vocal gifts of:

1. Tongues. “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues…” (vs 5).
2. Interpretation. “For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he say” (vs 13). Paul would not instruct us to pray for this gift if God did not want to give it to us.
3. Prophecy.

“For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (vs 31).

Paul’s teaching is clear. He wants every believer to speak in tongues. He commands those who do to pray for interpretation. He concludes by telling us that all may prophesy.

When people are taught properly, faith will be released in them to receive these gifts.

“Faith comes from hearing the message…” (Rom 10:17 niv).

Receiving and using these three gifts is a matter of your faith levels. If you ask in faith, you will receive.

As we submit in humility, and respond in faith, we can expect the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself through us by His gifts.

Jesus is the heavenly Head of His earthly Body. We are the members of that Body. It is through the members of His Body that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

The Lord Jesus still wants to walk, talk, preach and pray as He did during His earthly ministry. “Then said Jesus to them… as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). He wants to do this through you and me by the mighty power of His Spirit. In the light of this, listen as the Apostle Paul intercedes on behalf of the believers in Ephesus:

“I pray that you will know how …the Father has put all things under the feet of his Son. He has made him the great Head of the Church – which is Christ’s body.. that body is the completion of him, crammed full of him who crams full the whole universe with himself” (Eph 1:16, 19-23 lit).

4. The Agony Of Intercession

If we are going to share in the prayer life of our Lord, we should learn a little more about how He prayed when He was here on earth. “During the days of his earthly life, Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears. ” (Heb 5:7).

This is an amazing picture of our Lord. We see Him praying, crying and weeping in great agony of soul. His praying was very intense. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Can you imagine prayer so intense it makes you sweat blood?

The Apostle Paul prayed this way also. You recall that in his letter to the church at Galatia he speaks of his deep concern for their spiritual well-being. They were in danger of falling from God’s grace by returning to the bondage of the law. They were tempted to add legalistic works to their faith in Christ, hoping by this to merit salvation. To add anything destroys everything. They were about to turn their backs on the complete and perfect work of the cross.

Their danger drives Paul to prayer: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal 4:19). Paul’s prayers were like travail or birth-pain agony.

Mothers well understand what it means to travail in birth. Men can only understand the experience by witnessing it. Pressure and pain are usually a part of the birth experience.

Paul uses the birth process to explain his agony in prayer on behalf of the Galatian church. He has become an outreach or extension here on earth of Christ’s heavenly ministry of intercession. Jesus was praying a powerful prayer through Paul. And he felt it!

And we said earlier, praying in the Spirit is praying as God prays and feeling as God feels. No wonder Paul says, “..The Spirit prays through us with sounds, sighs and groans which cannot be put into words” (Rom 8:26). He was speaking from experience!

Yes, Christ ever lives to make intercession for us and through us according to the will of the Father. Will you be available to the Holy Spirit to be a living channel for prayer and intercession?

a. A Personal Example. Several years ago the Holy Spirit led me to Japan. For six or seven weeks we traveled from village to village. During that time I found myself deeply moved and stirred in my soul. It seemed as if God’s heart was broken for the Japanese people. I could feel the grief of Christ’s Holy Spirit being poured out through me on their behalf. I could not stop weeping. It was as if God were shedding His tears through my eyes.

God loves the Japanese people, but their sins of pride and idolatry have shut Him out. There is little place for God or His Son in their lives or society.

Satan has struck their eyes with spiritual blindness.

“…the god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not. Therefore, the light of the glorious gospel of Christ – who is the image of God – cannot dawn upon them ” (2 Cor 4:4).

Satan’s battle ground and dark stronghold is the mind of man. When the light of the gospel breaks into the soul of man, the mind is one of the first things to be set free.

I realize now that my “strong crying and tears” was the intercession of Christ by the action of the Holy Spirit upon me. God was reaching out in love to the Japanese people, through my prayers and tears. He was also placing restraints upon the god of this world (Satan) and his demonic powers (see Psalms 149:5-9. it was a time of intense spiritual warfare.

Since that time in Japan in 1960, I have discovered that other preachers to that area have had the same experience. They all have spent a good part of their time weeping in intercession for the people of Japan. They too have shared in Christ’s ministry of prayer and intercession in a personal and heart-felt way.

The Lord Jesus not only gives the Holy Spirit the prayers to pray for us, but desires to use us as His mouth-piece to express His prayers through us!

This is illustrated in another passage of Scripture: “…in the … church I [Jesus] will sing praise unto the Father” (Heb 2:12). How does Jesus sing praise to the Father in the Church? Obviously Jesus has to use our vocal apparatus, our voice, our lips to sing His praises to the Father.

To illustrate the point, consider this:

Sometimes the Old Testament prophets spoke in the Person of Christ – as if Jesus Himself were speaking. David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke in and by me, and his word was upon my tongue” (2 Sam 23:2 amp).

This illustrates the important point we are seeking to make:.

Just as the Old Testament prophets spoke by the Spirit of the Lord in the Person of Christ (as if Christ Himself were speaking) – so by the action of the Holy spirit upon us, we pray in the Person of Christ just as if Christ were praying.

The Person of Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father. The Presence of Jesus, however, is with and in each one of us by His Spirit.

The phrase – “In the midst of the congregation I [Jesus] will sing praise unto you [the Father]” – is of great interest. Jesus is telling us that He still desires to sing praises unto His Father when we gather together in our church services.

How can Jesus sing His songs of praise to the Father in the Church when he is personally with the Father in Heaven?

It can only be done by the Presence of Jesus, by His Holy spirit giving us “songs of the Spirit” which we sing.

We are the congregation or Church of the living God through which the song of the Lord is sung. Jesus sings His praise to the Father through us! The Bible clearly confirms this: “Speaking… in … spiritual songs ["spiritual songs" are Jesus' praise to the Father, expressed through us by the Spirit of Christ in us], singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Eph 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in … spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16).

The desire of Jesus is to fill us with His never-ending praise and worship of the Father. When we are filled with and yield to the Holy Spirit, Jesus sings forth praises to the Father through our lips, with our voices in our worship services. We become channels through which His songs of praise are expressed to the Father in Heaven. No wonder the Bible calls such inspired worship “The Song of the Lord” (2 Chr 29:27).

Just as Jesus expresses His songs of praise through us, He desires to express His prayers through us. Just as Jesus can praise the Father through us, He can also pray to the Father through us.

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb 7:25 niv).

One of the primary ministries carried on by the resurrected, ascended Christ is that of interceding for you and me.

1. Intercession Illustrated

We will gain an insight to what is meant by intercession if we look at an event in the life of Moses.

The Lord is angry with the children of Israel and speaks to Moses: “Now leave me alone so that… I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.

“But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. ‘O LORD,’ he said… “Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people’” (Exo 32:9-12 niv).

God gave Moses what he asked for and spared the people. Moses saved the people by interceding with God (pleading for God to spare their lives). This illustrates two things:

a. Saved From Wrath. This is what Christ’s intercessory ministry does for us, in saving us from wrath.

b. Power Before God. You can have power before God’s bar (court) of justice when you partner with Christ in His intercessory ministry.

2. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray

As members of Christ’s Body, it is our privilege and responsibility – our right and duty – to share in His ministry of intercession. Such a high calling is beyond our ability. However, the Holy Spirit is with us to help (empower) us in praying. Two translations (by Greek scholars) of our key verse follow. Read them carefully and prayerfully.

“We do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us, in groans that words cannot express.

“And God, who sees into the hearts of men, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will ” (Rom 8:26,27 tev).

“We do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit himself is pleading for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means, because he pleads for God’s people in God’s own way…”(Rom 8:26,27 neb).

a. Praying In The Spirit. God the Father, son and Holy Spirit are all involved in our prayers when we pray in the Spirit. “…through our inarticulate groans the Spirit himself is pleading for us…” Note three things from this verse:

1) We Express Christ’s Groanings. We are involved in intercession initiated by God. Christ’s intercessions are felt and expressed “….through our inarticulate groans.. And we … which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves…” (Rom 8:26,23). Our physical bodies are the channels through which the groanings of Christ are expressed and felt.

2) Groanings Initiated By The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One initiating the groanings of God “…the Spirit himself is pleading for us…”

3) God Pleads Through Us. God the Spirit is pleading through us with God the Father. “…the Spirit pleads with God [the Father] on behalf of his people…”

These are remarkable concepts understood by few believers. To understand this process, reflect on how your radio works.

b. A Radio Transmitter. A radio station (transmitter) in some distant place sends out a signal. Your radio is compatible with that signal. When you switch on your radio, its electronic components receive the signal and convert it to sound. Your radio was only the receiver, which gave sound and words to the signal received. Your radio was not the originator or source of the sound. It simply echoed what it received.

In like manner, Jesus is like the radio transmitter. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Acts 2:34; 7:55). He lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25). When Jesus intercedes, the Holy Spirit in us receives this transmission and converts that into prayers and feelings – which we (like the radio) give voice and words to. Thus we are praying the prayers of Jesus.

c. Jesus And The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is identified in a unique way with God the Son (Jesus) in the Bible. Note that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Christ. “…the prophets…searched intently… trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing…”(1 Pet 1:11).”..Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom 8:9).

1) Working Together. Jesus gives us a remarkable insight as to how He and the Holy Spirit will work together after Jesus goes back to Heaven.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes…. He will not speak on his own he will speak only what he hears…” (John 16:13).

Who is the Spirit listening to? Who is giving the Spirit the words He is to speak? I believe the Holy Spirit echoes Jesus’ words. The Spirit says what He hears Jesus saying. The Spirit prays what He hears Jesus praying. And the Spirit uses us as the channels through which Jesus’ words and prayers are expressed.

In the verse below we see the Spirit of Jesus Christ uniquely linked to the prayers of the Philippians as they prayed for Paul. “.. this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:19).

1. Praying In the Spirit .. Cont.

3) A Failing Business. I remember another case where a man wanted me to pray for him that God would save his failing business and cause him to prosper financially.

I responded, “I will pray in the Spirit. Then I will ask the Lord to respond to this prayer by causing me to think His thoughts and feel His feelings.”

After praying in tongues, I prayed the interpretation:

“Lord, You have brought this trouble to this brother because he has not obeyed You. You prospered and blessed him. But he did not pay tithes or give the money to support Your work that You told him to. Take all his money away. Cause his business to fail until he repents and learns to obey You. AMEN!”

The man was angry with me. But God the Father answered the prayer the Holy Spirit prayed through my lips. It brought the man to repentance. Several years later he came back to thank me. Now he was blessed and prospered because he was obeying the Lord.

D. CONCLUSION

Prayer is the right and responsibility of every Spirit-filled Christian. it is God’s way of doing His will here on earth as it is in Heaven. Come, therefore, let us pray at all times and in all ways for God’s people everywhere.

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, I pray for the one who now reads this prayer. I ask You to pour out Your Spirit on him right now so he can begin “praying in the Spirit.” Give him his prayer language, Father, Give him the interpretation to what he prays in other tongues. Cause him to be powerful in prayer. Cause him to pray Your prayers, feel Your feelings and think Your thoughts. I ask this in Jesus’ Name – believing that You will do it. AMEN!