PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

We realize that intercession is crucial in taking our rightful place in the Body of Christ. The position we take as sons has given us an audience with the Father. Let us take a brief look at what the Father’s perspective is on prayer in the life of a son.

Prayer is the most awesome tool that God has given us. It is the mechanism by which we are able to communicate with God. Nevertheless, if we are to understand prayer we must investigate the mind of God concerning this issue. To do this we will begin with the teachings of our Lord concerning prayer.

St. Matthew 6:9-13

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

This is the manner in which the Lord taught His disciples to pray. We, being His disciples, should follow the same outline.

WHEN YOU PRAY SAY, “OUR FATHER . . .”

It is impossible for us to have an effective prayer life if we do not believe the report that has been given to us in the scriptures. We must believe in the Sonship. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "You must be born-again." In the first chapter of St. John, the writer gives a little more detail concerning this new birth.

St. John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Even as Jesus was conceived immaculately by the will of the Father, even so were the sons of God conceived strictly by the will of God. We were born into the family of God by the Holy Ghost. This is confirmed in the following scriptures:

Romans 8:15-17

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

• WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE

I John 3:2

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.

If we are the children of God, then we are of the Spirit and not of the flesh. We are spiritual beings. We have been born of the Spirit of God. We are His offspring. It is imperative that we believe this. We have become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We are a part of the royal family. We are the sons of Almighty God. To deny this is to make God a liar. This truth must be embraced. It must be the foundation of our faith and our prayer life. Nevertheless, it is as pulling teeth without anesthesia to get the Body of Christ to believe this simple fact.

"Our Father" establishes the position one must stand in to pray. It also suggests a kinsmanship with the Father. This is indeed the position of the Sons. We are kinsmen with the Father. We are His children.

It must be understood that though we are instructed to address the Father in Heaven we must also be mindful of the fact that He also lives in us by His Spirit. This establishes a principal that only grace could accomplish, which is:

FELLOWSHIP BY RELATIONSHIP

Though prayer enables us to fellowship with God, relationship makes that fellowship personal. It is the fellowship of a father with a son therefore it involves all the benefits that come with Sonship. It is most important that we know and understand these benefits for they constitute the position from which we will address the Father.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

When we operate from the position of the Spirit we will see how these spiritual gifts given to us by God will cause us to walk in His purpose for our lives. Herein the flesh ceases to control us and we now see Christ forming within.

Now Christ is no longer a mystery to this dying world! But He is seen in us. This is an exciting time in the ministry because we have been brought to the door of walking in the Spirit and becoming “very” Christ.

TRADITION MEETS TRUTH

We were really challenged in our representation and presentation of Christ. God let us know that His purpose would prevail no matter what the Church had considered to be God. He let us witness that the traditions of men had caused many to go astray. Many of the popular teachings that the church world believed to be the truth were nothing more than the opinions of man. Deliverance from sin and spiritual captivity has become a thing of the past. The church has become a business!

But now, the Body of Christ is hungry for God. It is searching for realness and holiness in leadership. It is looking for something or someone to give hope and edification in the things pertaining to God. We, the leaders in the Body owe it to the Lord to meet that mandate. We have been trusted with the Word of God and the people of God. Unfortunately, many have betrayed that trust, endeavoring to keep the traditions of men. What is tradition? Tradition is the precepts of the fathers passed down to the sons.It is the fathers’ perceptions of God and godliness. These perceptions are fiercely protected, preserved and meticulously passed down to the sons.

St. John 9:35-41

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

St. Matthew 15:6

. . . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Because of the hardness of their hearts, tradition closes its eyes to the presence of God operating in those not of its sect. Therefore, their sin will remain because they openly reject known and proven truths. They will not accept what they see to be God operating in those they have denied. Therefore, sin remains.

We now understand that we have become the truth that will destroy tradition. God has promised if we walk in truth, no matter what it costs our flesh, He will use us to vindicate His Word. The Body needs an example and we have become a vital part in the reforming of the Church.