Praying the Scriptures

This message was presented by Eric Morgan on a Saturday evening at the Gateway Prayer Tools Class

“As long as I think of prayer as giving orders to God, prayer is an unbearable burden: It puts me in charge of the universe, or at least of my own world.  Prayer becomes a relaxed visit with God when I understand that prayer is merely giving God permission to do what He has declared He wants to do.”  -Judson Cornwall, Praying the Scriptures

Understanding this truth allows us to enter a position of REST & REST is actually the most violent position in the Spirit, allowing God’s ability-power-righteous judgment to go forth without limit!

Prayer is not a lottery that we have a chance in a million of winning.  Prayer is a response to a promise, and God pledges His nature that He will hear and answer our prayers.

You will not find a promise in the Word of God that is greater than God’s ability to perform.  Read: Romans 4:18-22

Hebrews 11:30-40 – looking to the promise – out of weakness we are made strong

We all want great Faith – Wigglesworth Quote

Read (Text) – 2 Chronicles 13:1-20:

1. The Word of God takes us out of the natural (inferior) & into the spirit (superior), it helps us take our eyes off of us and onto God:

• What God told the children of Israel to do would seem suicidal to most military commanders when He said go out onto the battle field and turn your back on your enemy and begin to worship me and I will defeat your enemies.  Take your focus off the enemy, off the problem, and onto the solution, which is Jesus.
• Nehemiah 4:14 – “Do not be afraid of them, Remember God, Great and awesome…”
• Jarius – “Jesus said do not be afraid only believe.” Mark 5:36

-We go from telling God about our problems to telling our problems about our God!

2. The Word of God gives us authority in prayer / gives a platform to pray from victory, rather for victory:

• The authority forfeited by Adam was redeemed in Jesus Christ.  Ex: The Story of Ester
• For you have exalted above all things your Name and your Word (Ps 138:2)
• David said: ^“I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.^” (Ps 34:4 Amp)

3. The Word of God is able to build us up:

• Acts 20:32 – able to build us up…
• Testimony: Living out of the riches of Christ rather than for the riches of Christ.
• James 1:20-22 – able to save our souls…

*Gives us heart confidence/faith/boldness in prayer

4. The Word of God produces Faith:

• Hearing the promises of God rekindles faith in us to pray.  So the Word of God is the breath of God that rekindles the fire in our heart for prayer.  Example: Starting a fire you blow on it; Re-kindling a fire you blow on the embers.

5. Praying the scripture breaths life into dead areas:

• God is able to quicken what is dead and call back those things to be not as though they are – Romans 4:17

6. Praying the scripture shines light into darkness – Light is superior to darkness.  Light is promised in the darkness for the upright.  It is not a power encounter that is needed, but a truth encounter.  When the truth is spoken/revealed darkness has no power or becomes powerless.

Prayers that changed my life – Prayer is our life in God

• Saying “Yes” to God the night he came and got me…
• Lord, I want to live more radically for you than I ever did for the devil…
• Asking God to help me speak, and speak His words…
• Prayer where the baptism of the Holy Spirit was concerned…
• During worship I remembering telling God “If you never did another thing good for me in my life, You are more than enough for me…

Prayer Focus: The Reign of Christ – Pray out what is in your heart

Closing Prayer:

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

-Numbers 6:24-27