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!
Prayer is “the” essential element in seeing the plan of God brought to pass in the earth.
There are spiritual places and assignments that we must enter, but we must have legal entry through prayer.
Isaiah 59:1 (NLT) Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
Psalm 34:15 (NLT) The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
Psalm 34:17 (NLT) The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
To have the will of God in the earth it will require us praying the will and plan of God down to the earth.
Matthew 6: 9-10 (NKJV) 9 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.
An example of praying God’s will.
Acts 4:29-33 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. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
“God is limited by our prayer life. It seems He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him.”
John Wesley
God knows what we need before we ask.
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
But He invites us to ask so that we may receive.
John 16:24 (NKJV) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
To obtain, we must come (indicating “with a petition”).
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- The word watching means ìto be intent upon a thing, to exercise constant vigilance over something.î
- This is an image drawn from the shepherds.
- Watching requires being sensitive to the stirrings and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- Every believer is called to pray and exercise vigilance.
- These believers were given the assignment of watching over this church and pray for Paul that he would be able to communicate the gospel effectively.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
We maintain a watch over the request with thanks and praise.
“Prayer continues in the desire of the heart, though the understanding be employed on outward things.
John Wesley
1 Corinthians 16:13 (WET) Be keeping a watchful eye ever open. Be standing fast in the Faith. Be showing yourselves to be men. Be mighty in strength.
Isaiah 21:6 (AMPC) For thus has the Lord said to me: Go, set [yourself as] a watchman, let him declare what he sees.
In these examples, the watchman could see things, report to the others and prepare in line with what he saw.
2 Kings 9:17-18 (NLT) 17 The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, “I see a company of troops coming!” “Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace,” King Joram ordered. 18 So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if you are coming in peace.” Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!” The watchman called out to the king, “The messenger has met them, but he’s not returning.”
2 Samuel 18:24-27 24 While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them. 25 He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.” As the messenger came closer, 26 the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!” The king replied, “He also will have news.” 27 “The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said. “He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 (NKJV) 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
Mark 13:35-36 (AMPC) 35 Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning— 36 [Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep.
There are things that need not take us by surprise if we are watching.
Study Questions
1. In your own words, explain how prayer is the essential element in fulfilling God’s plan.
2. To have God’s will, what must we do? Use a biblical reference to explain.
3. Define the word watching from Ephesians 6:18.
4. Using the verses provided, describe the benefits the watchman can bring to a situation in prayer.
