Prayer is a Key!

The “P” Key: People of Prayer

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that there are at least 650 prayers in the bible?

Did you know that 450 are recorded as answered in the bible?

Firstly, let’s address the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of prayer?

Who is Prayer for?

    *Prayer is for us, believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

*Prayer is desired by God.

*Prayer is what we are created to do.

What is prayer? 

• Prayer is a way to communicate with God.

• Prayer is a way to express love, admiration or thanks.

• Prayer is a way to ask for help, direction, forgiveness or healing.

• Prayer is a way to grow in intimacy with God.

When do we pray?

*We can pray all of the time.

*We can pray when prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Where do we do prayer?

*We can pray anywhere.

*We can pray in any physical position.

Why is prayer important?

• God created everyone to be in a relationship with him. Communication is a critical requirement of any relationship.

• God loves to hear from His people as often as possible. 

• Prayer is a way to seek God and grow in intimacy with Him. 

How to pray? 

• We pray in Jesus' Name as instructed by Jesus Himself. He has opened the way for us to boldly approach the Father.

• We pray by speaking from the heart and sharing our hopes and desires.

• Prayer can be spoken aloud or thought silently.

• We can pray by acknowledging that God's wisdom and timing are greater than our own.

• We can pray by asking God what He wants for us.

• We pray by listening for His small still voice.

We are talking about prayer for Australia today.

The International Network of Churches of which we are a part has called for each location to pray Australia for Christ on Australia Day, Sunday January 26th 2025.   

Prayer is exciting. It is never the same. Why is this? God. God speaks to us when we pray.

At the INC 50 Conference held last July in Brisbane, the Word was celebrated, ‘Australia for Christ’. We are encouraged when we meet together today to pray for this wonderful nation, Australia - its purpose, its people, and its destiny.  

From a personal and a national perspective, how do we do this? In part, we pray for Israel and bless it. God’s Word says in Genesis 12:2-3, God speaking to Abram,

I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Also, concerning Jerusalem, God’s Word in Psalm 122:6 commands us to Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. We are blessed by God when we obey His command.

Partners in Prayer and Evangelism Website:  partnersinprayer.org.au

“Australia’s Destiny”

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Sue Tinworth

In 1606 Portuguese explorer de Quiros was the first European explorer to actually lay claim to the South Pacific region including Australia, although he never sighted it. On Pentecost Sunday, whilst at Vanuatu, he named this whole South Pacific region to the South Pole (which included the yet undiscovered Australia) “The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.” ‘La Australis de Espiritu Santo’ His declaration stated: “Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their creatures and all those here present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros…in the name of the Jesus Christ… hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross on which His person was crucified and whereon He gave His life for the ransom and remedy of all the human race…on this Day of Pentecost, 14th May 1606…I take possession of all this part of the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus…which from now on shall be called the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit… and this always and forever… and to the end that to all natives, in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.”

The region, not just Australia, was dedicated to the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, as no other region on earth has been.Note that it includes the South Pole. What a beautiful picture of this birthday gift of the church on Pentecost – a region dedicated to the Holy Spirit.Pray: That the Lord would fulfil His prophetic agenda for this region on earth and ask that He would prepare you to become part of His answer to this prayer.

Prophetic Words

Smith WigglesworthEarly in the 1900s this man of God prophesied that the last great move of the Lord would arise from Australia. There is a harvest ingathering coming to this nation which includes helping others prepare for this harvest. Australia has a key role as a place of preparation and helping others to prepare for this harvest.Pray: That the Lord would prepare us to participate and carry His word to see it fulfilled, so Australia can be that vehicle that ushers in and helps others prepare for the Lord’s purposes in these end times.

Prophet Word given to Rebecca:  Alignment.

Alignment: This Word is regularly being repeated to me for the Church. I sense that a shift and a sifting is occurring at the moment both in Australia and around the World. The prophetic beat of God’s heart for His Creation is speaking to His children. Can you feel it?  The Holy Spirit is gently nudging us into position to pray to Him and meditate on His Word…to communicate with the Father’s Heart for us and the world. A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Troy encouraged us to be still and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us, to our hearts, personally. God’s Word says in Psalm 46:10 to do this. 

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

Alignment speaks of the positioning of our heart to hear God’s voice and act upon it. His Word says, Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). 

The Prayers of Jesus

Let us not forget the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13).

In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jesus in John 17.

17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

He is with us always, even to the end of this age (Matthew 28:20). When we pray our Inner Man’s sensitivity to the Kingdom of God is strengthened. We learn to hear His voice by the Holy Spirit. This is how we grow and step into what God has for us In His Kingdom. This is one aspect of walking in and praying in the Spirit.

Communication is key to a healthy relationship and a healthy Kingdom. God initiated the first prayers in Genesis and taught people to pray to Him. Prayer STOPS the Kingdom being divided, which means it WILL stand against the schemes of the devil. It brings unity and presents the Bride Of Christ as unblemished and worthy of the King Jesus.

When we pray we enter a covenant with Jesus who intercedes on our behalf to the Father. This covenant is ratified in His blood. The Scriptures teach us that blood speaks. The blood of Abel spoke. We know that Jesus came to give himself as a LIVING sacrifice for us to be restored with our Heavenly Father. His blood speaks a BETTER WORD! It speaks life to the darkness (Heb. 12:24).

When we pray we are giving voice to the will of God. God spoke and the world was created. He SAID it is very good. This demonstrates the importance of speech and communicating with God. Our communication with God is a HOLY practise. Prayer is conversation with God. He created mankind to have communion with Him. When we pray, because we pray to the Creator of the Universe, we have access to His power to move spiritual mountains (Matt. 17:20).

As a believer in Jesus Christ, we have God’s power and authority to speak and decree His will and Word into the heavenly realms. God has full authority over death, over Hades as well as Heaven and Earth, we have authority as believers in Jesus to speak into all situations (Luke 10:19). We take communion to remember the victory of Jesus and know who we are in Him.

Prayer is the vehicle that brings all parts of our faith together as one piece.

Jesus says, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ ”(Matthew 21:13) and Mark 11:17 states, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

To tell you the truth there is no greater thing that the devil wants than to have your prayer life. Don’t let him have it, it’s precious and powerful. We can allow him in; 

• By believing his lies

• By speaking his fear and negativity

• By speaking faithlessly

Knowing who we are in Christ is how we overcome him. Prayer is holy and SO essential, crucial and imperative to our walk and intimacy with our Lord. It encapsulates all parts of the Christian’s walk.  

The Apostle Paul says we are to pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is what connects the natural realm to the spirit realm. It is through prayer that we release God's Kingdom and glory over the Earth. Prayer takes many forms and is done for a myriad of reasons. These include: 

Intercessory: 

Intercession, as mentioned in the Bible, refers to the act of praying on behalf of others, often seeking God's mercy, guidance or intervention in their lives.

Fasting and Communion are important parts of walking in prayer.  When we do this it intensifies and deepens the connection and communication we have with our Lord while interceding for a specific place, people or purpose.  These practices help align us with the will of the Lord. Our heart changes when we submit and surrender our flesh to the Spirit.

Confession:

A prayer of confession is a prayer that asks for forgiveness for sins and expresses a desire to change one's life.

Petition: 

A petition prayer is a request for help from God, or a plea for God to act on behalf of the one praying.

Prayer of faith:

A faith prayer is a prayer that asks God to fulfil the promises He has made in the Bible. 

Praise prayer: 

A prayer of praise is a prayer that expresses admiration for God and His character.

Prayer of Agreement: 

The prayer of agreement is a Christian prayer based on Matthew 18:19, which says that God will grant the requests of two or more believers who agree on Earth. The prayer is based on the idea that when believers pray in agreement with God's Word, they activate the power of that Word.

Meditative Prayer:

Christian meditative prayer is a method of prayer that involves focusing on God's revelations and reflecting on them.

Let us not forget about praying in the Spirit. That is a topic like picking up an echidna with its quills out. What does this mean, praying in the Spirit? We are commanded to do it in the bible in Ephesians 6:18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a story. As most of you know Troy and I used to live in Ballarat, Victoria. This is where I started praying in tongues. It was at this time the Lord told me that I was called to be an intercessor. I needed tongues to pray for a young boy who was bleeding internally. He has been healed. Praise God! It was a long and arduous task as he had been sick for most of his life.  Troy was praying for this boy too. We were praying into various areas of our walk and our future. I was praying in tongues and Troy was praying the Word of God. The Holy Spirit gave unction for both. We would both stop at exactly the same moment and start at the same moment too. The gift of tongues is not something to divide the church it is to do the opposite.  

We would take communion together when we prayed. We both committed to fasting. What made the prayer powerful was unity, not just the tongues. Since then Troy has been given the gift also of praying in tongues. It was an important lesson for our family though that it is not tongues that are powerful but to whom we are praying. That is what changes a circumstance. To know the Word of God and to discern which Scripture is necessary to break the yoke of bondage is in my opinion a gift to be prayed for by all. This is true alignment.  Seeking God’s will and praying it according to the Word of God. It alone has the power to change the heart and mind of any creature.

It is our prayer that you find your prayer voice. A healthy body needs a good heart and clean blood to function well. As the body of Christ, we need the same. With access to the heart of God and the blood of Jesus washing us clean, we have it. When we each pray according to God’s heart, it brings us into the unity of the one spirit. The HOLY SPIRIT. God can move in a healthy body of believers.

Everyone is called to ministry and to minister to the Lord in prayer.  

Jeremiah 33:3 speaks of this. It says: ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Pastor Jo spoke to our church before going on sabbatical that she expects every one of us to pray before we act.  

To pray over the simple things in life is okay to do and in truth we’re encouraged to do so. It is our voice, our spiritual muscles and our armour that are developed through praying and talking to God. He hears, He listens and He speaks. The more we pray the more we come into an alignment to the will of God.  

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17). When we pray with another believer and follower in Jesus we are placed in a position to hone our weapons of spiritual warfare. God does this for us and with us. He says, For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).