Through prayer and His living word, we gain God’s perspective and understand His will. We have access to the future, right now! You might ask, “How do I know what to pray?”
Jesus Shows How to Pray
Jesus gave instructions to the disciples on how to pray. In Luke 11:2-4 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (NKJV)
When we pray in faith according to the revealed will of God through His word and revelation received in prayer, we can expect situations to change. Our prayers help bring the reality of heaven to earth, which is our assignment (Psalm 115:16).
Pastor Francis Frangipane made this statement in regards to praying for God’s kingdom to come on earth:
We can look at the conditions of the world and faint or look at the possibilities of God and take faith. To bring revival is to pray for the reality of God’s Kingdom to manifest on earth. Jesus was not offering His disciples a millennial prayer focus, for that rule of God’s Kingdom is coming whether we want it to or not! No, but Christ calls us to pray for God’s Kingdom to manifest in our world today.
Well stated, Francis. Prayer helps establish the rule of God’s kingdom here, now, not a future date.
Ask and He Will Reveal
In Jeremiah, we read of an invitation to the future, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come” (Jer. 33:3 NLT). God wants to reveal what we are to pray for, in order to bring tomorrow’s promises into today.
Every aspect of God’s kingdom manifested here on earth in people, churches and in life is first conceived, and then birthed, in prayer. A good example of this is found in 1 Kings 18:41-46 when Elijah, as directed by the Lord, prays until the promise is fulfilled and the rain covers the drought-stricken land of Israel.
The Strength of His Might
If you are a Christian, there is a power accompanying your life that is mightier than great—the “surpassing greatness of His power.” Not human power, but the “strength of His might.” The Strength of God Almighty is attached to your prayer life—because you are found in Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (Eph. 1:18-19 NKJV).
Paul writes in Eph. 1:19, 3:20, 6:10; 1 Tim. 6:16 of this power. The English word power is from the Greek kratos. Strong’s # 2904 kratos meaning strength, manifested power, dominion. The word especially signifies exerted strength, power shown effectively in a reigning authority. Kratos primarily refers to God’s kingdom authority, dominion, majesty, demonstrated through the resurrection of Jesus. You are enthroned with Jesus in His kratos dominion!
You are “located in Christ,” with both His life and His power. Eph. 3:20 CEB, “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.” Where is the power at work? Within you!
Jesus said in John 7:38-39 NLT,
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Indeed, through our union with Christ, we are found in Him, with His power by the Holy Spirit within us. We are a breath away from His power being released to bring resurrection life to situations.
Resurrection Prayer Power
The power of God’s might is His resurrection power. What does resurrection mean? It means that things which look dead, even act dead, can be touched by God and raised to life. God demonstrated this “power toward us who believe” first “in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19-20).
Right now, you have resurrection power attached to your prayer life. You can look on things that are absolutely dead and pray forth life. The power in us is the same power God demonstrated when He raised Jesus out of the grave; it is resurrection power. Our mission is to bring resurrection life to situations that are dead and need to be revived.
Your Position in Christ
If the devil challenges your prayer, remind him that you are seated with Christ, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21 NKJV). Christ’s authority is final.
But not only has the Father put “all things in subjection under His feet,” but He “gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV).
Notice the Lord uses anatomical metaphors to explain the downlink of authority: Christ is the “Head” of a “Body” that has all things put under its “feet.” This is a most profound understanding of our role: What the Head, Christ, has attained, the feet of the Church walk out. God has positioned the Church as the living bridge between the terrible conditions on earth and the wonderful solutions from Heaven!
Church, use the authority of Christ and His resurrection power to change earth’s realities. God is offering us His strategies to bring Heaven to Earth. Our assignment is to pray in agreement with Heaven.
