Surely, you agree with me when I say that we’re in the fiercest spiritual battle of our lives. But the key is “spiritual” in this sentence. And since it’s spiritual, it CANNOT be won using human weapons.
Prayer is one of the most powerful divine weapons that God has given to us, His people. Each one of us is called to the front lines of this war, but we must come on our knees.
I know I don’t need to remind you that it’s easy to give up – to concede – when it appears there is no way. When it looks as though we’re gonna get trampled on because our opponent is much stronger and bigger, our natural instinct is to whip out the white flag and surrender. Let me say this… that is NOT what God wants us to do. He wants us to keep fighting.
To KEEP PRAYING!
Today’s message is to encourage you. To show you why we must keep praying. Here are five reasons…
We need keep praying because…
1. Jesus and the early church leaders tell us to!
Here’s what they say:
Jesus… “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
Paul… “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18).
James… “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16)
And then John writes what he saw: “Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne” (Revelation 8:3).
What a beautiful picture of how our prayers enter into the throne of God as an offering.
To follow the mandate of Scripture, we MUST keep praying!
2. Our prayers serve as a barrier of protection!
In the book of Esther, we learn of a plot to annihilate God’s people. When Queen Esther (a Jewish woman) heard of the plot, she called a fast and prayer among the Jewish people. Surely, they prayed that God would protect His people from death. After three days of prayer, Esther risked her life and took this evil plot to the king. He honored her request and sent out a decree of protection. Hence, this wicked plan was destroyed before it ever went into effect.
As you intercede, think of your prayers as a wall, a barrier of protection. We should keep praying for our loved ones, our families, the church, and our nation. Evil has been executed like we’ve never seen before, but our warrior prayers will protect us from the wickedness threatening to undo us and cause us great harm.
We MUST keep praying so that God’s protection will fall from heaven!
3. Our prayers bring forth a great shaking!
When Peter and John were threatened by the religious leaders in Acts 4 to never speak of Jesus again, they said, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). After they were released, they went to where some believers had been gathered. The apostles told them everything that happened and they came together and prayed. They prayed for boldness in preaching the Word of God, healing and miracles (Acts 4:29-30). But what happens next is truly remarkable. We read: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook” (Acts 4:31).
Keep praying because your prayers shake things up. The earth trembles at the prayers of God’s people. I believe a GREAT shaking is coming and the thousands and thousands of believers who are praying nonstop will bring this forth. We can pray that our children will be shaken with conviction, our unsaved family and friends will be shaken with the gospel, the church will be shaken with the Word of God, and our nation will be shaken with truth.
Soon, we will feel a GREAT rumble beneath our feet so we MUST keep praying!
4. Our prayers call down the armies of heaven!
When King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20) heard that a vast army was coming to bring war on God’s people, this righteous king declared a fast and prayer throughout the land. In a prophetic word from Jahaziel, the nation was told to go out to the battlefield because the Lord was with them. He said: “You will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory” (2 Chronicles 20:17). The next day when the army of God arrived at the lookout point, all they saw were dead bodies. Their prayers called down the armies of heaven, who went before them and won this great battle.
Right now, we need the armies of heaven. Our opponents are way too strong for us. They tower over us and mock God. They are vultures looking for their next meal. The only way this battle will be won is by the armies of heaven. We may be little and and insignificant in the shadow of this great enemy, but God is much more powerful.
We MUST keep praying so that the armies of heaven will be released.
5. Our prayers deliver His people from the enemy!
Have you ever read Psalm 107? Take a few moments to become familiar with it because it offers us a peak into how God will deliver His people when they cry out to Him.
We need to cry out for deliverance. Cry out for chains of unbelief and doubt to be broken. Cry out for evil and corruption to be exposed. Cry out for division to be healed. Cry out for pastors and leaders to follow Scripture fully. Cry out for GREAT healing in our nation, the church, and in the family. Crying out delivers us from the enemy.
We MUST keep praying!
In closing reflect upon these powerful words: “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).
Please share this with others.
Blessings,
