A Life of Prayer

According to Genesis chapter 2, when God created man, he provided him with a free will. Because man has a free will, he could choose to obey or disobey God’s Word. God has a will, and man has a will. The beauty (and the curse) of free will is that depending on our choice, we can either be one with God and have the benefit of His will in our lives, or we can be separated from Him because our will doesn’t align with His. Whenever our will is not one with God’s will, He is limited. The reason for this limitation: when God asks something of us and we do not respond, He is not able to release His will in the earth. He needs us, his human hands, feet and mouths, to release His power and authority. Because He created man and gave him dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28), he was essentially saying, “Okay, people. We’re going to cohabitate this place.” God’s intent was that we would stay in fellowship with Him and there would never be any contradiction to His will. But of course there was the fall, which broke that connection.

Now the true church is a group of people who have been redeemed by the blood, who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, who have committed themselves to God, and have taken on His name and become the manifestation of Christ in the earth, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 2:21).

God is a God of order. Since God has given us a free will on earth, He will not take back what He has given us. He will not override man’s will and force His will on anyone. Everything related to Him can be accomplished only when there is a will on earth that cooperates with Him. When we release His will on earth, then it allows God to work.

The ministry of the church is to bring the will in heaven to earth. Prayer is a work; it is the church saying to God, “God, we want your will.” Prayer is the church knowing God’s heart and opening its mouth to ask for what is in God’s heart. This harmony in will is a great glory to God – man standing on God’s side to declare that he wants what God wants.

It is like a giant tank of water, the only way for the water to get to the desired location is through a tap. If you have a small tap, you will have a small amount of water flowing. But if you have a very large tap, then you will have a great release of water. Once the tap is turned on the water flows out. Once the tap is turned off, the water is blocked. When the water is released the pressure decreases. And when water is blocked, the pressure increases. When the church prays, it is like turning on the tap; the more the tap is turned, the less the pressure becomes. If the church does not pray, it is like a tap being turned off with pressure building up. And if you think about it, you have experienced the pressure, and so have I. It’s the pressures that surround us and all the frustrations of life.

It is very important for us to hear what the Spirit is saying concerning prayer for it will usher in the fulfillment of all that we desire, which is, all that God desires.

Psalms 2:8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

The highest and greatest work of the church is to be the outlet of God’s will. The church becomes the outlet of God’s will through prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In the weeks ahead we will unveil the mysteries of a lifestyle of fellowshipping with God.