In this series, Effective Prayer, Pastors Philip and Michelle Steele will help us become skilled in applying biblical principles of prayer. You can watch the YouTube videos or audio files included in this blog or purchase the resources for group or personal Bible study. The notes from the teaching included here are available as a study guide in book or PDF form. You can find the resources by clicking here.
Intervention Prayers is Michelle Steele’s newest book scheduled for release on May 7th, 2024. But you can preorder now with this link!
There are many types of prayer with various applications.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- (AMPC) with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.
- (Goodspeed’s translation) Use every kind of prayer and entreaty and at every opportunity pray in the Spirit…
- Always means “at every moment, at any time, whenever you can.”
The Prayer of Faith
- Also known as the prayer of petition.
- It is a prayer based on the known will of God through the evidence of His Word.
- It is used frequently in the life of a believer.
- The prayer of faith is a prayer to do or change something.
We can have the petitions we desire of Him.
1 John 5:14-15 (AMPC) 14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
He will grant what we ask.
John 14:12-14 (NKJV) 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Mark 11:24 (AMPC) For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
The Prayer of Consecration
- In the prayer of consecration, you are consecrating your life to the service of God.
- It is a prayer to dedicate your decisions and the direction of your life.
- It is not a prayer to obtain or change something.
- In the prayer of consecration, we might pray “if it is Your will” as Jesus used it in Luke 22.
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
The Prayer of Praise and Worship
This prayer is very powerful to bring the power of God into the situation.
Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC) Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
It is in this kind of atmosphere of praise and worship to God that God can do more for people. He can move more readily and mightily in our midst. —Kenneth Hagin
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Luke 24:52-53 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Acts 2:46-47 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
United Prayer
The New Testament Church uses this prayer more than we see in the Old Testament. This prayer fills the Church with supernatural power.
Acts 4:23-31 23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
The Prayer of Agreement
- God provides this prayer to give us an advantage and to multiply our results.
- The prayer of agreement only works when based on the Word of God.
- The word agree that Jesus used in Matthew 18:19 can be translated as “harmonize or make a symphony together.”
- A symphony is comprised of many instruments that, when played together, unite as one sound.
Matthew 18:18-20 (AMPC) 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.
Praying in Tongues
- Praying in tongues is when a person prays with the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
- Praying in tongues is a supernatural expression of the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker nor understood by the speaker.
- It is a vocal miracle of the Holy Spirit.
- To pray in tongues is a way to pray with the help of the Holy Spirit.
- God has given us a means through which our spirit can go beyond the limit of our understanding.
Acts 2: 1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMPC) For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
1 Corinthians 14:14 (AMPC) For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].
Romans 8:26-28 (AMPC) 26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. 27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will. 28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
Study Questions
1. What does the word always mean from Ephesians 6:18?
2. Describe some aspects of the prayer of faith.
3. Explain the prayer of consecration.
4. What are some aspects of the prayer of agreement?
