Treasures New and Old

Treasures New and Old

Christian Behavior: Spiritual Warfare: War with Our Hands – Prayer

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

– Romans 6:4

The Bible teaches us that we need to know how to make “war with our hands”. Psalm 18:34: “He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.” Psalm 144:1:A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:”

Reminder, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6: “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; ) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Ten Prayer Thoughts/Principles

Warring with our hands is all about prayer. As we intercede for others and ourselves, we conduct warfare in prayer. Here are ten prayer “attack vectors” or principles one might use while prayer for others and, remember, praying out loud has special power:

1. Principle of Bondage: Sin brings one into bondage. So, one way to pray for a lost person or a brother or sister in sin is to pray to break the bondage of sin.

Romans 8:15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Hebrews 2:15: “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

2. The Principle of the Threefold Cord: A threefold cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). This principle holds for both sides of a spiritual or fleshly battle. Consider how strong the following three cords are: Flesh touching flesh is a strong cord. Ego-boosting speech is a strong cord. Pride and self-righteousness are a strong cord. Three cords: touching, ego touching, and pride. Two or three praying and agreeing together makes a strong cord.

2 Corinthians 13:1: “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two are three witnesses shall every word be established.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Matthew 18:18-20: “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two are three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

3. The Principle of Rebellion as Witchcraft: Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Pray against the spirit of witchcraft that exists in a rebellious person. No outward actions of actual witchcraft are needed to exhibit the spirit of witchcraft because rebellion itself is the spirit of witchcraft. Witchcraft is by nature a rejection of God and His laws, principles, mercy, and grace because it goes after another god. Satan is the first creature to rebel in all of creation.

1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

4. The Principle of Removing Coverings: Of course, along with sin and rebellion are coverings. People’s longtime behavior of doing their own thing their way despite the warnings of authorities and knowledge of Scripture may have placed numerous wrappings of coverings over their spiritual eyes and ears that may need to be prayed about. Only God can remove these. People who have glossed over eyes or show other indications that truth is “flying over their heads” may have coverings that need removal.

Isaiah 25:7: “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.”

Isaiah 30:1: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:”

5. The Principle of Light: People in sin are walking in darkness. Some are in partial darkness – an iniquity in their life that they refuse to see or deal with. They tend to refuse the light of truth in some area of their life/sin. Look at the phrase “having no part dark”. Pray that the parts of those that are in darkness be exposed to the light until the whole of them is full of light, and they are no longer divided or a “double-minded” Christian.

Luke 11:33-36 (emphasis added): No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil [opposite of single is divided], thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”

6. The Principle of Peace in Prayer: The concept of praying through and crying out. Not easily done. Just yelling your prayer (crying out) is not what the Bible means. Lamentations 2:19, Isaiah 12:6 and others talk about crying out to the Lord. But what is implied here is anguish of soul, not decibel ratings. Praying through for me is to pray in a certain direction until I have peace that God is satisfied, and I have a measure of peace. If I do not, I pray in a different direction and repeat the process.

Psalm 126:5-6: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Psalm 39:12-13: “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears; for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.”

7. The Principle of the Hedge: Remember to pray the hedge of protection or of thorns. If this is the situation, remove an unrepentant person from your church/family protection that God might allow Satan to send them through the fire until he repents and returns (after a Matthew 18 visit). Pray a hedge of protection so that evil cannot get to them. Pray a hedge of thorns so that evil pleasures they are enjoying are driven from them (Hosea’s wife). this type of praying can be used in other situations as well.

Job 1:10: “Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?”

Ezekiel 13:5: “Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.”

Ezekiel 22:30: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Hosea 2:6: “Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.”

8. The Principle of Fasting: Do not dismiss the possibility of fasting for those you are praying for. Fasting reduces the carnal and fleshly cravings and allows your spirit to take front focus. Fasting helps us to tune ourselves to spiritual things and, thus, makes hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit more recognizable for us.

Daniel 9:3: “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:”

Matthew 17:21: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

1 Corinthians 7:5: “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”

9. The Principle of Praise: I have seen more answers to those prayers I pray out loud and start with praise than those prayed silently. There is a jurisdictional authority involved when we pray out loud. Note, Satan, fallen angels, and demons cannot read your thoughts. Praying and praising out loud often drives them away.

2 Chronicles 20:22: “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Psalm 21:13: “Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.”

Psalm 22:23: “Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.”

Psalm 40:3: “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 56:4: “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

Isaiah 61:3: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, thing on these things.”

10. The Power of the Disciple’s Prayer Pattern: Correction is in order if and when you feel it should be carried out. Should one not hear the church, he is to be seen as lost and a heathen.

Matthew 6:9-13:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven [1-recognize our relationship with God], Hallowed by they name [2-praise and adoration]. Thy kingdom come [3-remembering the hope of His return and promises]. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven [4-desiring His will first]. Give us this day our daily bread [5-intercessory prayer]. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors [6-keeping a clean slate with God and man]. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [7-asking for God’s protection]: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever [praise again]. Amen.

Prayer is how we make war with our hands as we clasp them together and bow our hearts to God and offer to Him praise, adoration, and a willingness to seek His will and to intercede for others.

P.S. I often pray my family and church family into His name for as the Bible states: Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

Elkmont Baptist Church