Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days

Christ gave us authority, through the Keys of the Kingdom, to release His Power through Prayer, so His will is done on earth. His will is that all men be saved and grow in God, which is accomplished through His Word (Gospel), but Prayer is needed to release the Rain of His Spirit to work with the Seed of His Word, to bring forth fruit in men's hearts.

When is the Rapture of the Church? David Pawson says Post-Tribulation and Derek Walker says Pre-Tribulation. This may seem an incidental issue, but it has a big impact on how we understand end-time prophecy, and on our Christian life. Should we be preparing for the antichrist or looking for Christ's imminent Return?

Prayer is not getting man's will done in Heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. The more we submit ourselves to God's will, the more we can exercise our authority in the Name of Jesus. King Jesus gave us the Keys of the Kingdom, authorising us to bind the power of the enemy, and loose the power of God on earth.

To be a channel of God's Spirit bringing Heaven to earth, we must (1) COME to God and honour Him with praise, thanksgiving and worship (Matthew 6:9), then (2) RECEIVE His Spirit and words into our heart by faith (John 7:37), then (3) RELEASE His Spirit from our heart into the earth by our WORDS of faith (Matthew 6:10, 12:34-35, John 7:38).

After (1) coming to God, (2) we believe we receive the promised blessing into our heart, and then (3) we release it into the earth by confessing it with our mouth unto salvation - the manifestation of the promise (Romans 10:10).

After (1) submitting to God and (2) receiving His words, (3) we can speak His words from a place of authority, causing His Kingdom to come into the earth, and forcing the enemy to flee from us (James 4:7), thus bringing His will to pass.

We are to pray God's Kingdom (righteousness, love, joy, peace, life in the Holy Spirit - Romans 14:17) to come from Heaven to earth. So we are a Channel between Heaven and earth, connected to God in our spirit and to the earth in our flesh, through which His Spirit flows to bring His Kingdom into the earth as we pray.

This illustrated message describes Jesus' Prayer at Gethsemane ('Oil Press'). This place was chosen to give a picture of what He suffered and accomplished here by submitting to God's will. Just as in this Cave in a Garden, olives were pressed 3 times to release their oil, so Jesus was pressed 3 times to release the Oil of the Holy Spirit to us.

We primarily express our will (authority) through the words we choose to speak. As a Pilot establishes a ship's course by controlling its rudder, so we establish the direction of our lives by our tongue (James 3:4). We bring our lives into submission to Jesus our Captain by (1) saying: "Your will be done", and (2) aligning our words to His revealed will (Word).

The Prayer of Dedication: "Your will be done" is essential to receiving Guidance from God. Derek and Hilary share 8 Principles of Guidance: Realise (1) if you trust in yourself you will mess up, (2) God has a good plan (perfect will) for your life, (3) He is guiding you, (4) as a child of God, you can hear His voice. (5) Do God's revealed will diligently. (6) You must WANT God's will. (7) Pray for Guidance. (8) For big decisions take special time out to seek God.

What we dedicate to God, He will consecrate (possess with His Spirit). There are 2 kinds of Prayer of Dedication: (1) When God's will is known, we pray: "let be unto me according to your word" (Luke 1:34-38), and (2) when His will is unknown, as we pray: "Your will be done", His Spirit aligns our thoughts and desires to His will.

The Purpose of Prayer is not to establish our will, but to release God's power and blessing, so His will is done on earth as in Heaven. This starts by our submission to His authority: "Thine be (1) the Kingdom (authority), (2) the Power (in the Holy Spirit), and (3) the Glory (the manifestation of the power in answered prayer)" (Matthew 6:13).