5 Minute Prayer School

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

(Rom 8:14 AMP)

As we have considered in earlier modules [Mod 2: Doctrine: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit], the Holy Spirit is a Person; the third Person of the Godhead. He is not a feeling or an impersonal influence or power. He is very God!

As we develop faith through the knowledge of this truth and the Scriptures concerning His present ministry in and to the saints we realise that we have absolute ground to expect clear leading in all things from Him.

Just as we looked at Christ, our Advocate, so we discover that Christ’s ministry of intercession continues in the Person of the Holy Spirit:

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

(1John 2:1 KJV)

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7 KJV)

Strongs #3875. para¿klhtoß parakletos, par-ak´-lay-tos;

an intercessor, consoler: — advocate, comforter.

Thayers #3875. para¿klhtoß; parakleœtos, parakleœtou, ho (parakaleoœ), properly, summoned, called to one’s side,

especially called to one’s aid

1. one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate

2. universally, one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor:

3. in the widest sense, a helper, succorer, aider, assistant; so of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles

(after His ascension to the Father)

Through Him we enter into this glorious participation. He, the Holy Ghost, leads us as we pour our hearts before the Father. Our intercessions through Him combine with the intercessions of Christ, heaven’s breathing and earth’s groanings effectually affecting the plans of God. The same Spirit at work in Christ moves us in One holy purpose!

The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit has been sent to lead and guide us: Consider the following Scriptures in this respect: John 14:26; 16:13-15; 1 John 2:27

As our faith is developed for the Holy Spirit to lead us out in prayer, and we begin to practice in prayer, our hearts grow accustomed to yielding to the different expressions and flows He directs toward. We develop capacity in our spirit, not only to engage Him in our requests and the matters that concern us, but also to work with Him regarding the concerns of His heart.

The Holy Spirit will show us and cause us to pray for things to come; He will take the things of Jesus, those present truths and concerns of the Saviour’s intercessions, and show them to us, leading us to pray into them together with Christ; He will teach us to abide in Christ and to pray from that position of victory and authority; He will lead us to explore new realms in the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Bible says that He will pray the perfect will and mind of God together with us, taking hold together with us in spiritual yearnings and groanings too deep for human utterance:

“So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.”

(Rom 8:26-27 AMP)

What a partnership! What a privilege!

Form without power

Formalistic prayers, even when based on the divinely inspired words of God, minister nothing but death. Words alone are not enough, they must be baptised with the fire of God’s Spirit.

Lynne Hammond says in ‘The Master is Calling’:

“Please understand, I am a Word person. I love the Word of God. But if you try to apply that Word without fellowshipping with the Person and Spirit of God Himself, your life and your prayers will be dry and powerless. That’s because it is the Holy Spirit who quickens the Word to you. It’s God Himself – the Person and power behind the Word – Who makes it come alive in your life.”

She continues later in the same book:

“We’ve had enough superficial performances of prayer. We’ve had enough spiritless, weak praying. Now we need prayers that avail with God so powerfully they can change the course of nature; prayer that changes people and nations; prayer that projects God in full force to the world.”

James 5:16 says:

“… The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16 AMP)

When the Spirit of Prayer is mixed with God’s Word and Promise the impossible becomes possible and dynamic miracle power is released:

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]….” (Hebrews 4:12 AMP)

“He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power…

(Hebrews 1:3 AMP)

Our prayers are energised by God’s Word living and abiding in a heart filled and moved by the Holy Ghost. They are propelled full force by the fire of His Word residing in the believer’s spirit. Paul Himself prayed for the church that they would realise this mighty power, and recognise the mightiness of the One dwelling and moving within them (Ephesians 1:17-20; 3:16-21).

b. What is important is that our prayers are not mere spiritual sounding monologues or choruses; they must be imbued with holy fervency arising from communion with the Holy Ghost.

Lynne Hammond rightly says:

“As soon as you make something a form, you rob it of its effectiveness…our prayers to Him are a matter of relationship and not ritual, you can easily see why He doesn’t respond to forms. Real prayer is genuine communication. Religious form, however, is a type of manipulation!”

This does not negate the application of principle in prayer. Mere hot air and emotion do not constitute effective prayer, and without skill in the art of prayer we can expend much energy to no avail, but all forms of prayer must be subject to the leading and dynamic of the Spirit of prayer Himself.

Charles Finney, the renowned revivalist, states these facts even stronger in his book about the principles of revival:

“I have dwelt the more on this subject, because I want to have it made so plain that you will be careful not to grieve the Spirit. I want you to have high ideas of the Holy Ghost, and to feel that nothing good will be done without His influences. No praying or preaching will be of any avail without Him. If Jesus Christ were to come down here and preach to sinners, not one would be converted without the Spirit. Be careful, then, not to grieve Him away, by slighting or neglecting His heavenly influences when He invites you to pray.

We see from this subject the absurdity of using set forms of prayer, or prayer books. The very idea of using a form rejects, of course, the leadings of the Spirit. Nothing is more calculated to destroy the spirit of prayer, and entirely to darken and confuse the mind, as to what constitutes prayer, than to use forms. Forms of prayer are not only absurd in themselves, but they are the very device of the devil to destroy the spirit and break the power of prayer. It is of no use to say the form is a good one. Prayer does not consist in words. And it matters not what the words are if the heart is not led by the Spirit of God. If the desire is not enkindled, the thoughts directed, and the whole current of feeling produced and led by the Spirit of God, it is not prayer. And set forms are, of all things, best calculated to keep an individual from praying, as he ought.”

Our great need in this day is not professional pray-ers, but men and women filled with the Spirit of prayer.

As we have just established, our prayer life flows from the heart of Christ our Head. We are one spirit with Him and we are moved with the rivers that flow from His heart. His heart overflows with compassion for the world, and through our willing co-operation, His hunger can be satisfied as we birth souls into His Kingdom through earnest intercession on their behalf.

Jesus said in John 7:38-39 that rivers of living water would flow from our inner man, and this He spake of the Spirit who would be given to each and every believer. Jesus did not just speak of one river – but rivers. These rivers include all the different kinds of prayer. As we learn to flow with the Spirit of prayer He will direct us. We will find ourselves praying different kinds of prayer at different times according to His leading, and not because we have been taught that such and such a prayer is the right one for this particular situation.

Duewel when speaking of the dynamics of prevailing prayer says:

“All prevailing in prayer depends on the full enabling, guidance, and empowering of the Holy Spirit. From one viewpoint, there is only one source and dynamic of prevailing prayer – God the Spirit. Only as He fills us, possesses us, yearns through us, permeates and empowers every aspect of our praying, and discloses to us the priorities for our praying – that is, only as He is Lord of our praying can we prevail…

(The) victory Christ won alone – alone in the garden, alone on the cross. But that eternal victory must now be applied and enforced by the Holy Spirit working through the prayers and obedience of God’s children.”

Selfless love is the source and motivation for all truly inspired prayer.

“No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” (John 15:13 AMP)

“We choose to love all people, even the unlovable. We love as God loves. It involves (the) giving of our lives for the benefit of mankind. This does not merely refer to dying physically. It mainly refers to our being willing to give up our own will and way and take time to pray and intercede for all men.”

Wilford Reidt, quoted in ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin, Faith Publications

Moved by such compassion, not our own, we will pray effectively and fervently, with a bursting heart, not mere cold unbelieving formalistic prayers. In respect to Christ’s present ministry, this is what it is to enter into the sufferings and victories of Christ.

The High Priestly ministry of Christ

Christ right now is in intercession. His entire being speaks on behalf of mankind at the right hand of the Father.

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:” (Heb 9:24 KJV)

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom 8:34 KJV)

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25)

Through the new birth and baptism in the Holy Spirit we have become one with the Great Intercessor:

“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.”

(1 Corinthians 6:17 AMP)

“He is our great Intercessor. He is the great Intercessor for all mankind. As members of His Body, the Church, we partake in that intercession.”

Wilford Reidt, quoted in ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin, Faith Publications

Intercession and prayer are not manufactured by human zeal or effort; they are the natural and inevitable out-breathing of fellowship with Christ.

“Christ is not sitting passively in blissful royal dignity, unmoved, while you intercede. NO! Never! You intercede because He intercedes. The Holy Spirit conveys to you the heartbeat of Jesus. You feel but the faintest burden of concern as compared with the infinite concern that Jesus feels for you and with you…

Christ is today the interceding Sovereign of the universe. His throne is one of intercession. One day He will rule by the rod – by His almighty power. Today He rules by His uplifted and extended hand – by prayer. His intercession is not symbolic but real, as real as it was when He interceded on earth. He is on the throne interceding for us and waiting for us to join Him as intercessors.”

Wesley Duewel ‘Mighty Prevailing Prayer’, Zondervan, page 41 & 43

Wilford H Reidt wrote:

“Jesus came to bridge the gap between God and sinful man. Man needed someone to stand in the gap so He could get back to God. Man needed an Intercessor. Jesus’ sacrifice established Him as the only fully trustworthy Intercessor for mankind. He is the only Intercessor for the people of this planet.”

Quoted from ‘The Art of Prayer’ by Kenneth E Hagin

Jesus is our Intercessor. His intercession provided salvation for all men through His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, but it is only realised through His Intercessory ministry today in Heaven. God’s desire is that all men be saved, but in this context we are urged to join Christ in ministry as our Advocate through earnest, heartfelt prayer. Consider the implications of the following verses from the pen of Paul:

“FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men…

For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Saviour, Who wishes all men to be saved

… For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all

… I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.” (1Tim 2:1-8 AMP)

Prayer, our prayer, is a holy partnership with the High Priestly Advocate ministry of Christ in the Heavens. Jack Hayford says:

“Prayer is essentially a partnership of the redeemed child of God working hand in hand with God toward the realisation of His redemptive purposes on earth.”

Jack Hayford, “Prayer is Invading the Impossible” Quoted from ‘Intercessory Prayer’ by Dutch Sheets ISBN 0-8307-1900-8

We must realise that our prayers are essential to God’s plans being outworked in the earth. We cannot not pray! To be prayerless is to sin against God, and shows little respect for that which He has made available through the cross.

Samuel the prophet said:

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” (1 Samuel 12:23 NKJV)

We all realise that to know to do good and not do it is sin (James 4:17), yet how many of us pay lip service to the need for prayer yet never attend the church prayer meeting or earnestly pursue the development of a vibrant life of private prayer. The difficulty of prayer arises from the fact it collides not only with the devil, but our self-reliant fleshly ways. Without our prayers however, the provision of Christ for all men will touch only a few…what a tragedy this is!

Ezekiel 36:36-37 and the account of Daniel’s intercessions for the Word of the Lord to Jeremiah to be accomplished (Daniel 9) are both examples of God’s divine provision, and man’s responsibility to then appropriate what has been provided. We do this through prayer.

“Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” (Ezek 36:36-37 KJV)

Oh the privilege of holy partnership! To share Christ’s burden for a dying world, and see them born again through our travail in prayer!

Job expressed the universal need of mankind when he cried:

“For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court. There is no umpire (days-man, one who argues) between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!]” (Job 9:32-33 AMP)

Job needed an advocate to stand between him and God to plead his case. He knew that no ordinary man could do this as they would need a days-man of their own. All are guilty and condemned before a holy and righteous Judge.

God also recognised this dilemma and acted on our behalf:

“He saw that there was no man,

And wondered that there was no intercessor;

Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;

And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.”

(Isaiah 59:16 NKJV)

He sent Jesus.

On no other subject do I feel more inadequate to express or even begin to formulate words that will do justice to the need, importance and privilege we have been given. It seems presumptuous to even talk about the kinds of prayer etc without saying clearly to the reader, I am as hungry as any to learn from Christ what it is to really pray! My heartfelt yearning is that these sessions will carry something of the Spirit of prayer, and impart not a hunger for man’s instruction, but a hunger for the instruction of the Holy Ghost who will lead us deeper. To learn to pray we must pray, not merely hear about praying! Pray, Pray, Pray! Our God will answer!

Johh G Lake, the famous Apostle, received an angelic visitation in May 1920. The angel relayed a message from God regarding the Pentecostal blessing as recorded in Acts chapter 2, and prayer:

“This is Pentecost as God gave it through the heart of Jesus. Strive for this. Contend for this. Teach the people to pray for this. For this and this alone will meet the necessity of the human heart, and this alone will have the power to overcome the forces of darkness. Pray, pray, pray. Teach the people to pray. Prayer and prayer alone, much prayer, persistent prayer, is the door of entrance into the heart of God.”

Recorded in John G Lake, ‘His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith’, published by Kenneth Copeland Publications

Regarding this area, just as a regular time is helpful, it is beneficial to have a regular place to pray. It allows the disciple to concentrate more fully because the environment is familiar, therefore less likely to distract. Also, the continued practice of prayer and the practice of the presence of God can open the heavens over a particular place making access to and from the spiritual realm easier. For example, it can be much easier to connect with God and focus your attention on prayer in a dedicated room of your own home, than to engage with God on a deep level in the aisles of the local supermarket.

Again, there is no place where prayer cannot be made, but the intimacy of lovemaking is not something a couple engage in the car as they drive to work in the morning. Deep intimacy and oneness is reserved for the ‘secret place’ or the ‘chamber’. Our Bridegroom is calling us into the chamber of intimacy, where our heart and purpose become one. Equally, if you are serious about prayer and intimacy with God, tagging it along with the rest of your busy schedule is unacceptable. There is place for continual fellowship and friendship, and the exercise of prayer throughout the day’s activities, but without private devotion to prayer alone with God, only the surface of possibility will be skimmed.

On a practical level, it is good to create a place that is comfortable and free from distraction, where you can seek the face of God and hear His counsel each day.

If music helps, utilise it in your times of seeking, burn oils to create a pleasant atmosphere, make sure there is enough light to read by if you are searching the scriptures. Cultivate an environment that facilitates intimacy and rest in God’s presence.

At the same time we must remember that intimacy is not a product of environment but an issue of the heart. To cultivate an inner environment of yieldedness, love, faith and passion for God is most important. The disciples were just as free to connect with heaven in a prison cell as they were in their homes. It was a matter of their hearts. For me, because I pray before day break, and enjoy expressive and sometimes loud prayer, I needed an environment that could facilitate this. My terraced house did not, so I sought out a local church and asked the minister if I could use a room in his building from 5am-7am each day. The basement of the local Baptist church is presently my ‘prayer closet’. I encourage you to believe God for the right place for your development in this vital area of Christian life.

The place of prayer

There is no place where prayer may or may not be made. We do not have to face a certain direction, or be in a holy ‘building’ to pray. As with posture being one of humility and faith of the heart rather than position of the body, so the place is ‘in the spirit’, not a physical location. Pastor Andy Elmes of Family church, Portsmouth, relates it this way. He says that the ‘secret place’ is not a location, but a desire of the heart. The hungry heart will always find somewhere to pray and fellowship with God. The Scriptures do suggest if possible that we should however have a ‘place of prayer’; somewhere we retire to seek God. Jesus, for example, would often withdraw to the mountains, the desert, or even the Garden in Gethsemane. These were some of His favoured locations to fellowship with His Father.

Other places prayer is made in the Bible include:

i. In the desert/ a solitary place (Mark 1:35)

ii. On a roof (Acts 10:9)

iii. Up a mountain (Matt 14:23)

iv. Apart from others/alone (Matt 14:23)

v. In a room or chamber alone with God (Matthew 6:6; Daniel 6:10)

vi. In secret (Matthew 6:6)

vii. In the assembly place of the saints (Acts 1:14; 12:5; 20:36)

viii. In prison (Acts 16:25)

ix. In every place (John 4:20-24)

x. In the belly of a whale!

(Jonah 2:1)

As has been said, prayer can be made anywhere, and a hungry heart will always find somewhere to seek God. This may be in the car, a shed, a wardrobe, a warehouse, a bedroom, a kitchen, a church building, a beach…anywhere that allows the believer to retreat from the crowd and seek the heart of his or her Father in heaven.

The Scriptures reveal that men of God and Jesus Himself (our ultimate example of the life of prayer) observed set times and seasons of prayer. The believer may pray at set times or at any time, and should seek to cultivate and maintain a spirit or attitude of prayer at all times.

This attitude of heart constitutes the life of prayer, which when yielded to, results in both spontaneous expression, and habitual fellowship and intercession.

i. Some saints prayed three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) (Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:16-17)

ii. Some prayed at other set times or seasons (Acts 3:1; Acts 10:30 3pm – the ‘hour’ of prayer)

iii. Peter prayed at noon (Acts 10:9)

iv. At times Jesus prayed all night (Luke 6:12).

v. Jesus also prayed very early in the morning (before day break) (Mark 1:35), as did David (Psalm 63:1)

vi. Isaiah speaks of desiring God in the night, and seeking Him early in the morning (Isaiah 26:9)

vii. We are encouraged as believers to pray at all times

“[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).” (Luke 18:1 AMP)

“pray without ceasing,” (1Th 5:17 NKJV)

Mary Alice Isleib says concerning “praying always”;

“Praying always means to be easily given to prayer. It doesn’t mean that we just walk around all day just praying in tongues, although that may be a part of it. It means to be easily given to prayer, so that we can pray by faith whenever we choose to, and we are also sensitive when the Holy Spirit moves on us, to yield to Him, and to move with Him. It’s developing a prayer life and being easily given to the spirit of prayer.”