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The Purpose for Warfare of Prayer Life – Part Two:
Praying in the midst of our spiritual warfare is necessary, but warfare prayer does not mean praying harder, praying more decisively, or assuming authority we do not have. It means praying according to Scripture, trusting in the power of God, and submitting our will to His. You must understand that the enemy hates intercession because we exercise our authority in Christ when we pray. Because, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our spirits, we carry on His devil-defeating work today. The battle between God and Satan affects everything, every human being and every cultural, social, political, and moral realm of every nation on the Earth. Perpetually, evil battles with good, right clashes with wrong, darkness rages against the light, and the counterfeit struggles to supplant the authentic. We are fighting against the devil, who is an intelligent strategist and an obstinate fighter. He refuses to acknowledge defeat until he has lost everything. Even then, he will fight to get it back. The powers of the devil are not equal to the powers of God, but they take the offensive wherever they can. It’s our job to put them on the defensive, and to drive them away, establishing the Kingdom of God in as many places as possible. You must not look at your prayer life as a small ministry of no importance. The enemy knows full well how mighty you are in pulling down his strongholds, and he will try to intimidate, discourage, divide, or defeat you. You must not ever accept devil lies, walk in the spirits doubt, deception, discouragement or division. It’s time for the church, the body of Christ to stop accepting these enemy strikes as natural and began to see things with a supernatural eye or viewpoint. Spiritual warfare is a reality that the church must face. It will not go away on its own, however, it can be dealt with through prayer.
Many times, we are blinded to the ways that the enemy is trying to get us. Pray through these ways of victory for yourself and the Church globally:
1. Love God with all your Heart and Abide in Him:
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22:37–38 (NKJV).
By loving and abiding in God is so important in order to see answered prayer. You must ask the Lord to equip and prepare you to become a prayer warrior, so that you can fight against the wiles of the evil one. However, your relationship with God is the best antidote against the enemies flaming missiles. You must know God intimately and abide in that intimacy daily.
2. Speak out the Attributes of God and Praise Him Daily in Prayer:
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” Matthew 6:5 (NKJV).
Keeping in mind that worship is a powerful form of warfare. As you begin to pray and sing out loud about the greatness of God during moments when you are emotionally down makes a huge difference. Your heart begins to elevate, your feelings begin to shift, and you begin to see the Sovereignty and Greatness of God.
3. Know your Identity in Christ:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalm 139:13–14 (NKJV).
Your personal identity in Christ is the enemy’s strategy of attack against you. Know in your heart God’s incredible love for you. You are the beloved of God, a royal priest, the apple of God’s eye, and so much more. Remind yourself of these things. Pray God’s identity over your, acknowledge and recognize that you are God’s masterpiece.
4. Depend on God’s Wisdom and Not Your Own:
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV).
Understand the ways of God and rely on His sufficiency. He is all–wise (omnisapient) and all–knowing (omniscience). Pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in your life and decisions daily. Take time to listen to God.
5. Know God’s Word as your weapons against the enemy’s lies:
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment, You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord” Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV).
The Bible is your main defensive, for it is the truth that bring emotional, mental and spiritual freedom. Now is the time for you to pick up your shield of faith and protect your mind with the helmet of salvation. Speak out truth and faith. Strongholds come in through the mind, and God’s Word is a mighty weapon against them. Daily, you must use God’s Word during your prayer times.
6. Grow in Holiness and Humility:
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” James 4:1 (NKJV).
Humility enables you to receive the goodness as you walk in the grace and mercy of God. So, when you are submitted to God, the enemy flees. Pray for humility and holiness in your life and offer your life to God as a living sacrifice.
7. Guard your relationships, by practicing peace and exercising love:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:9–10 (NKJV).
You must know and understand the power of words, and make sure that you watch your tongue carefully. Speak life words of peace and love rather than death words. Watch all criticism and nonconstructive words. Pray for your relationships and your church.
8. Forgive quickly, and walk in unity:
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:1–3 (NKJV).
Learn to forgive quickly, maintain godly peace and bless others. We can have no authority over a nation, city, or neighborhood when we have forgiveness in our hearts. Release forgiveness and blessings to all. Ask for forgiveness quickly when you sin.
9. Maintain extended times of prayer and fasting:
“Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (NKJV).
Learn to exercise the authority you have in Christ. Extended times in prayer and fasting increase spiritual authority. You are seated with Christ. Ask God to give you and your church grace for prayer and fasting.
Unity and prayer within the Church globally will have a dramatic effect in bringing in the world harvest, which pleases the Heavenly Father. It is as we begin to establish healthy relational bond and unite together that God can bring great breakthrough against the powers of darkness. Each of us need others to pray for us personally as we are involved in the ministry of prayer and intercession. Let we pray through these ways to maintain victory for all intercessors and their churches. Lastly, in order to win this spiritual battle, you must see prayer as heaven invading earth, and ridding all forms of darkness, evil and wickedness. For, it’s what opens up the floodgates for God to come down and be involved in our everyday circumstances.