“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also, (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quarternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
Acts 12:1-5
In the above scripture we find that the Apostle James was killed. Yet, Peter was saved by a miraculous intervention from God. The angel of the Lord came into that prison cell and personally escorted Peter out of prison. What made the difference?
Why was James killed but Peter saved?
I believe one of the keys is in verse 5 “but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” It is so important to recognize the power of prayer not just for our own lives, but for those around us. We are commanded in scripture to pray for our leaders in our nation and our church. We are commanded to pray for one another.
There are many challenges we as the church body have been facing and some of it may be due to lack of intercessory prayer. Not just any prayer, but fervent heartfelt prayer. When we pray for our Pastor, church leaders, brothers and sisters in Christ, or anyone else the Lord puts on our hearts; we should be praying fervently, as if it were our own life we are praying for. We need to increase our prayer life not just for ourselves, but for others.
Exodus 17 describes a time when the Israelites were engaged in heavy battle against their enemy. As long as Moses held his arms up, they were winning, but when his arms became weary and lowered, they began to suffer loss. Therefore Aaron and Hur helped to lift his arms. There are times our brothers and sisters in Christ need us to come alongside them in prayer. We need to be available to help lift them up just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a says: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow”
In Acts 2 when the believers came together in unity to pray, the Holy Spirit was poured out and they received the infilling with the evidence of speaking in tongues. In Acts 4, it records when John and Peter were thrown into jail for preaching Jesus and then released, the believers came together and prayed in unity. As they did, the earth shook and the Holy Spirit came on them powerfully, giving them great boldness.
There is power when we as a church body come together and pray corporately. Mathew 18:20 says: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” By taking time to come together to pray for others, we in turn can receive answers to our own questions. When we take care of our Heavenly Father’s business, He’ll take care of ours! Years ago, when I was on staff at Crenshaw Christian Center, Pastor Price paid his staff to come to pray. I made sure to be there for that corporate prayer time. One time as I was praying, the Lord said to me: “Do not speculate.” I didn’t understand at first why He said this. However, later my closest friend told me he was going to invest in the stock market and he wanted me to invest the money I had saved up as well. However, since I knew the stock market was based on speculation, I knew the Lord had already given me the answer in prayer earlier. Therefore, I was able to confidently tell my friend no, and what the Lord had said to me. Instead, the Lord directed me to invest in Real Estate. I did and have been greatly blessed for it. My friend later lost a great deal in the stock market when it crashed and told me he should have listened to my advice. Because I took time to pray for others, God gave me an answer to something that changed my life and continues to bring great and exponential blessings to me and my family to this day.
Not only do we benefit from praying for others when we come together corporately, but in our private prayer time we need to spend time praying not just for ourselves, but for others. We need to live a life of prayer. It’s not necessarily how long you pray or how many words, but what you say in faith. Smith Wigglesworth was quoted as saying: “I don’t often spend more than half an hour in prayer at one time, but I never go more than half an hour without praying.” 1 Thessalonians 17:15 says: “Pray without ceasing.”
1 Corinthians 14:15 tells us: “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” When we take time to pray and intercede in the spirit whether for ourselves or for others, we are praying over things in perfect prayer, because we are praying directly by the Holy Spirit to God and bypassing our minds.
Romans 8:28 says: “ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
1 Corinthians 14:2 says: “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
It is so important to pray and intercede in our heavenly language not just over ourselves and family but over our brothers and sisters in Christ. An example of this is one of the times I was awakened in the middle of the night to pray. On this occasion the Lord placed an urgent burden on my heart to intercede for a young man I knew. As I prayed in the spirit I asked the Lord what I was praying about. He showed me that this young man was in a life and death situation. I continued to pray and intercede until I knew he had the victory. As a result, the young man later told me that indeed he was in a life and death situation but miraculously was protected. My diligence to pray for him had made a difference. It is also always a good idea, when you are praying in the spirit, to pray that you may interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:13 “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.” When we ask God for the interpretation, often He will show us what to say in the natural.
If you can see your brother or sister is having challenges and seems overwhelmed, stand with them in fervent prayer. They need your prayers! There are some challenges in life where we need the church to come together to get that victory. Not everyone is at the same level of faith in every area and they need our prayers!
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
When we begin to understand how powerful our prayers are, we will increase exponentially in our prayer life and in the victories we see not just in our own life but in the lives of those around us.
Paul said by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:18-20 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Notice, Paul asked for prayer for himself. He had strong faith, and his prayers were powerful! God did signs, wonders and miracles at his hands, yet he still asked for the body of Christ to pray for him. He understood the battles that were being waged needed him to have prayer reinforcements. Not only that but you see how Paul prayed without ceasing. Throughout the scriptures from Ephesians to Colossians and more, we see how Paul prayed for the believers. Jesus too prayed for the believers and he continues to intercede for us even now.
Let’s make a renewed commitment to increase in our prayer life, both in our time spent praying for others and in our fervency! It is time to increase in every way in our walk with the Lord and watch increase come in every area of our lives!
1 Corinthians 14:18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than ye all.
1 Corinthians 14:15
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Jude 20:21
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
1 Timothy 2:1-8
I exhort therefore, that, first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Mathew 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the eveil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Romans 8:34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Further Reading: Exodus 17:10-14; Acts 2 and Acts 4:23-31; Ephesians 1:16-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 1:3-15; John 17, Mathew 26:36-41
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2-3
Notice the first part of the scripture above: “I will trust and not be afraid”. There are many times we need to command ourselves, our souls, to trust and not be afraid. Scripture is clear that we need to rid our lives of fear and walk in stedfast faith. Mark 11:22-25a Jesus says: “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any…”
In James 1:6 the scripture says: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
We know these scriptures and the importance of not doubting and not fearing. Yet there are times when circumstances can so challenge a person’s faith walk that doubts and fears seem to be amplified. What do you do if this happens? First, check your love walk. Faith works by love and perfect love casts out all fear. Unforgiveness and offense can leave the door open for fear. Choose to forgive. Choose to love despite how you might feel. Keep the commandment of love. As you increase in your love walk with others and revelation of how much GOD LOVES YOU, then fear must go.
Next, we have to go deep; Deep down into those wells of salvation to draw out that water; Deep down into God’s WORD hearing, and reading His WORD; Deep down into prayer in the understanding and the spirit; Deep down into Praise and Worship. Go Deep Down into all those promises of God we have put into our hearts. We must push through those emotions, where doubts try to take root in our souls, and instead, tap into that bountiful measure of Faith that God has planted in our hearts and draw it out. We allow the faith and hope of God in our spirits to be an anchor to our souls. As we speak the promises of God in His Word, that hope bubbles up, that faith increases and anchors our souls; so that the winds and waves are unable to move us off course, no matter how strong they appear.
Someone may say, “I keep trying to stand in faith, walk in love and not doubt, but I keep having challenges with doubt and fear. How do I overcome that?”
I am glad you asked! First, you make sure you are planted in a Word teaching church where your spirit is fed, and that you are spending time hearing God’s Word, for: “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 In addition, did you know you can actually believe God to not fear? You can actually believe God to not doubt? The fear is not coming from your spirit. It tries to enter the door through the circumstances and get your soul (your mind and emotions) to fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power; and of love, and of a sound mind.” Therefore, you must understand that although the mind can doubt, your heart actually has faith. You have been given the measure of faith. Therefore, you need to start speaking to your soul and commanding it not to fear, just like the heros of old did. God knew fears would try to come, but that’s why He provided so many scriptures where He says: “Do not fear, or Be of Good Courage”. You see, it’s not that the heros of old never felt fear or doubts, but it is how they handled those times when they did. You can doubt in your soul (your mind/emotions), yet be full of faith in your heart. However, you must go deep; Deep down into those wells of salvation, into your heart, (your spirit) where the Holy Spirit resides. Tap into that water and be refreshed.
That is exactly what Isaiah is talking about in the foundational scripture above. Notice, first he is telling us to talk to ourselves, to our souls. You choose to trust, you choose to not doubt by your will. The scripture says: “I WILL TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID”. He then reminds us of WHO GOD IS in our lives. We can speak to our souls. We can command our souls to line up with the will of God. Do not worry when your emotions don’t seem to be lining up with the word and seem to fear. Dig down deep into your heart. You have faith in your heart (your spirit), you have the measure of Faith that God has given you. Tap into that, and speak the word only over yourself until those emotions line up with the word of God.
David did this in the Psalms. Psalm 103:1-2 he literally commands his soul (His Mind, His Will, His Emotions) to line up with the word of God. He says: “BLESS the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” He then goes on to list those benefits. We literally can believe God to be fear free and not doubt, just as we can believe Him for finances, health or anything else in our lives. We just need to find the scriptures pertaining to it, and then speak the word only. Jesus says “If we SAY to the mountain”. So if you are facing a mountain of fear, then SPEAK TO IT! SAY TO THAT MOUNTAIN; “BE REMOVED AND CAST INTO THE SEA”. Keep up your confession of faith until your soul lines up. That’s why James 1:21b says: “…and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Romans 12:2 says: “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Hebrews 10:39 says: “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
In Psalm 62:5-8 David by the Holy Spirit writes: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
Psalm 34:4 says; “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 116:7: “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”
You can also confess that God strengthens your heart. That is where God planted the measure of faith; it is in your heart. For instance Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalm 29:11 “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”
Psalm 31:24: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
In addition, as you come to understand God’s character, what His will is for you, what His LOVE is for you, it enables you to walk fear free. When you understand His covenant that you have with Him, His will to have you live a blessed and complete life, then you begin to realize how protected and loved you are. Jesus fought and won our battles so that we don’t have to.
Finally, find the source in your life that may be contaminating your faith. Is it slothfulness in the things of God? Are you spending more time watching TV than you are in the word and promises of God? Is it a friendship where every time you spend time with that person you feel drained of faith afterwards? Are you so busy with the cares of life that you have little time to spend in the word, with God? Then re-order your life so that you are able to carve out specific time with Him. Put God first. As you do, your faith will increase, the fear will go.
If you have done all these things and still continue to battle fear, do not worry. Just stand fast in faith, for: “In your patience possess ye your souls”. Luke 21:19. With Faith and Patience you shall inherit the promises of God. Just choose to believe God no matter what. Speak the WORD only, and eventually your emotions will line up with the word of God and your faith will soar! One day you will look back and realize the fear and doubts that used to seem so real have disappeared. As God is magnified in your life, all the other problems will look small compared to Him.
1 John 3:23
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another; as he gave us commandment.”
1 John 4:16-18
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”
3 John 1:2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Hebrews 6:12
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Ephesians 3:16-21
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Ephesians 1:17 – 22
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Exodus 14:13a & 14
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day…The LORD will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
Joshua 1:5b, 6a,7 & 9
“…I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage…Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest…Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid; neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Psalm 18:1-3
“I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Hebrews 6:17-19
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil…”
Isaiah 41:10 & 13
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness… For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
