Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality

By Wesley Campbell, Stacey Campbell and Mike Bickle

New Edition of a Powerful Prayer Manual

The Bible emphasizes the importance of prayer in our day-to-day relationship with God and shows us how to pray with proven effectiveness. But did you know that you can increase your love for God by praying the Bible?

Using these biblical truths as the guide, this classic, trusted resource takes you on a life-changing--and heart-changing--journey through prayer. Outlining seven steps along the pathway--including how to pray, what to pray, when to pray, and more--trusted Bible teachers Wesley and Stacey Campbell help lead you directly to God's presence! Along the way, you will learn the importance of prayer, how to go about it, and why God's Word is the one and only source of truly effective, powerful prayer.

Filled with wisdom, inspiring stories, and real-world guidance, this book is a practical, invaluable tool no matter where you are in your prayer journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781493411160

Book preview

© 2003, 2017 by Wesley and Stacey Campbell

Published by Chosen Books

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.chosenbooks.com

Chosen Books is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition created 2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017946570

ISBN 978-1-4934-1116-0

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations identified THE MESSAGE are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Cover design by Studio Gearbox

I have prayed the Bible with Wesley and Stacey for years. This book is an awesome launchpad for your own prayer journey with God.

Lou Engle, co-founder, TheCall; author, The Jesus Fast

"Having worked with young people my whole ministry life, I can testify that Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is a life-changing book! If you learn these simple tools for how to pray, your communication with God will change, your life will change . . . in fact, the whole world will change. Read this book!"

Banning Liebscher, founder and pastor, Jesus Culture

Learning to pray the Bible changed my life and connected me to the heart of God more than anything I’ve ever done. This book gives you the theology, the history and the how-tos of praying Bible prayers. This is a tremendous resource. By applying this truth, you will grow in love for God and knowledge of Him.

Misty Edwards, senior leader and worship leader, International House of Prayer

"As a leader who is passionate for the global 24/7 prayers and worship movement, I love Wesley and Stacey Campbell. They are a true father and mother in the Body of Christ and have been fueling the prayer movement for years. Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is a resource that everyone needs. It is practical, helpful and inspiring. I want to see it in every burn furnace I work with. Thanks, Wesley and Stacey. You have done our generation a fantastic service!"

Sean Feucht, founder, Burn 24/7; recording artist; author, Fire and Fragrance, Culture of Revival and Integrity: Character of the Kingdom

Ministry leaders who are making history and revivalists like Stacey and Wesley Campbell are people of prayer. Prayer and the Word of God cannot be disconnected with the help of the Holy Spirit for a flourishing spiritual life. This book is full of practical keys that will bring every reader’s hunger for revival to a major breakthrough for their own lives, regions or nations.

Jean-Luc Trachsel, International Association of Healing Ministries; Europe Shall Be Saved

Wesley and Stacey Campbell are a dynamic couple and have written a dynamic book. This book is truly revolutionary and offers practical ways to help you grow in your prayer life.

Ché Ahn, founding pastor, HROCK Church; president, Harvest International Ministries

"The writings of Wesley and Stacey Campbell beautifully blend together the Word and the Spirit in an amazing manner. In Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality, the Campbells bring forward the model most used for prayer in all of Church history. This book is palatable for those new to individual and corporate prayer, yet challenging enough to inspire those with years of experience."

James W. Goll, founder, God Encounters Ministries; bestselling author

"Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is one of the best books on prayer I have read. Its understanding of the power of God’s inspired Word is rooted in the original Jewish context of the Bible. Reading this book will build faith and release power in your life. I recommend this book without reservation."

Daniel Juster, apostolic director, Tikkun America; board of directors, Tikkun International

"Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is a rich treasure chest of truth. If your prayer life has grown dull, this book will open up a pathway to God that will change your life."

Cindy Jacobs, co-founder, Generals International; author, Possessing the Gates of the Enemy

"Information and revelation, empowered by purity and passion, best describe Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality."

Dutch Sheets, founder, Dutch Sheets Ministries; author, Intercessory Prayer

"For as long as I have known Stacey and Wesley Campbell, their hearts have been to encourage the Body of Christ in praying the Bible. I have been in their workshops, at their conferences, at their trainings and in their House of Prayer school. They give practical ways of teaching the Body of Christ the simplicity of praying the Bible. This is who they are from the very center of their hearts. Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality will encourage every single reader and give simple steps in growing in prayer through praying the Bible."

Julie Meyer, Into the River; Healing Rooms House of Prayer, Santa Maria

"I believe that spiritual blessing is not only to be found at the end of the pathway but is to be experienced along the journey. As we discover the joy of communicating with God in an intimate relationship, we are able to grow in discipline and fervor. Wesley and Stacey Campbell will encourage you with insights from mighty men of faith, prophets and our Lord, each pointing the spiritual traveler toward a deeper understanding of the power of prevailing prayer. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God promises to hear our prayers and heal our land if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality will assist you to seek His face on a daily basis. I know that an in-depth study of this book will change your life. As you meditate and pray, you will add your voice to the river of prayer that is sweeping the globe. This is your invitation to join the movement and watch God bless the nations."

Graham Power, founder, Global Day of Prayer and Unashamedly Ethical

"Wesley and Stacey have changed so many people’s prayer lives with their books on praying the Bible. The Pathway to Spirituality is a teaching that will take you to new dimensions in your prayer life. I highly recommend it!"

Beni Johnson, Bethel Church; author, The Happy Intercessor, Forty Days to Wholeness and Healthy and Free

"Having worked with hundreds of thousands of new believers, we find they need one thing more than anything else: their own intimate, personal connection with God. Through meditating on the Word with prayer and worship, we find ourselves growing in glorious intimacy with the One who is worthy of our entire lives. Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is a practical resource that will help everyone—whether you are the newest believer or have walked with God for many years. You will be inspired. Take it and read!"

Heidi G. Baker, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, Iris Global

In this provocative and challenging book, Wesley and Stacey Campbell provide a valuable resource for those Christians who desire to be obedient to God’s command to pray without ceasing but do not know how.

Dr. Bill Bright (1921–2003), founder and chairman, Campus Crusade for Christ

Do you want to accelerate your journey toward the heart of God? If so, here is your road map!

C. Peter Wagner (1930–2016), founding chancellor, Wagner Leadership Institute

To

Caleb, Judah, Joab, Simeon

and Vashti,

We wrote this with you in mind.

May you find, through prayer,

the pathway to God.

You are the motivation behind

much of what we do.

We love you,

Mom and Dad

Contents

Cover    1

Title Page    3

Copyright Page    4

Endorsements    5

Dedication    9

Foreword by Mike Bickle    13

Preface to the 2017 Edition    17

Preface to the First Edition    23

Introduction    29

1. Learn to Pray    39

2. Work at Prayer    53

3. Pray Every Day    75

4. Pray to God    117

5. Pray the Bible    135

6. Praying Out Loud    167

7. Silent Contemplation    191

Conclusion    209

Appendix A: Organization Praying the Bible Prayer Chart    214

Appendix B: 88 Bible Prayers from Praying the Bible: The Book of Prayers    219

Appendix C: Eighteen Benedictions of Jewish Prayers    229

Notes    235

Scripture Index    241

Subject Index    247

About the Authors    251

Other Books by Wesley and Stacey Campbell    253

Back Ad    255

Back Cover    256

Foreword

Both from God to Moses and from Jesus to us, we know that the greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. My prayer and passion is to see the first commandment restored to first place. That is why I rejoice to read Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality. Having devoted much time to both praying and leading prayer gatherings, I am convinced that the primary way to grow in love for God, as well as to see His purposes released on earth, is through prayer that flows from understanding God’s heart. However, in order to sustain this mighty end-time prayer movement, two things must happen.

First, our hearts must become fascinated with God and, second, prayer must be enjoyable. It is hard to come to God when we feel that He is either sad or mad at us. However, when we discover that He really is the glad God in His own holiness and madly in love with us (instead of mad at us), our hearts will open to Him. We need to know that He wants to see us so that we want to see Him. Then as we gaze at His loveliness—like the angels—we will become absolutely fascinated. Our hearts will burn and we will be filled with a fiery desire to pray. From there it is a short step to enjoyable prayer. Isaiah prophesied that in the last day, God would give us joy in the house of prayer:

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him . . . these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer . . . for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56:6–7, emphasis added

Joy in the prayer room—or enjoyable prayer—is what we are seeking to experience in these historic times. Enjoyable prayer will intoxicate our hearts with Jesus. Around the throne, the whole symphony of heaven is worshiping exuberantly with harps and bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. It is our enjoyable prayer on earth that is filling the bowls in heaven. With the harp we sing and play God’s music, and with the bowls we pray God’s prayers. The fascinated heart is key to deep spirituality. That is why I am so enthusiastic about Wesley and Stacey’s new book: Praying the Bible, The Pathway to Spirituality. It is an excellent resource.

The Pathway to Spirituality provides a clear on-ramp to the practice of enjoyable prayer. This book is so basic, and yet so profound, in its practical directives of how and why to pray. Few volumes put together the structure of prayer, the content of prayer (Bible prayers), the times of prayer (daily), the focus of prayer (God), as well as the how-tos of prayer (both out loud and silent). Many books touch on one aspect or another, but it is rare to see them dealt with all together. I rejoice because this book is not full of phrases like you ought to, you should or why didn’t you without telling you how and then giving you the tools to do it. While Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is very biblical and historical, it is also intensely practical. You will learn things you probably never knew before about how people throughout history (like Joshua, David, Paul and even Jesus Himself) prayed the Bible. Best of all, however, you will learn from this book how to pray the Bible yourself, even if you have never done it before.

I believe the end-time harvest will come in the context of fiery intercession. The man leading the intercessory movement is our great high priest, Jesus Christ Himself. That is why we at IHOPKC are committed to raising up tens of thousands of intercessory prayer missionaries who pray and sing the Bible with fascinated hearts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained and committed prayer missionaries fill 84 two-hour blocks of prayer each week, complete with prayer leaders, worship teams, sound crews and intercessors. And the main staple of every 24-hour house of prayer is praying and singing the Bible.

Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality is the book I recommend. Every pastor, prayer leader and intercessor needs this book. It will motivate, inspire and deepen your prayer life, and it will set you on the pathway to spirituality.

Mike Bickle, International House of Prayer of Kansas City, www.ihopkc.org

Preface to the 2017 Edition

Since first publishing Praying the Bible: The Pathway to Spirituality in 2003, the prayer movement has continued to experience massive growth. Prayer is front and center on God’s agenda for the earth. Wherever there is faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit—as long as there is a cross in the middle of it—prayer is flourishing.

In 2001, the Global Day of Prayer (GDP.com) was launched by South African businessman Graham Power. Since its inception, the Global Day of Prayer has become the largest coordinated event of human beings doing one thing together across the earth. Between 300 and 400 million believers, in all 200-plus countries and territories of the world, have united on one day to do one thing—pray.

Mike Bickle said in his Signs of the Times series (2016) that in 1984 there were fewer than twenty-five 24/7 houses of prayer in the world. Today there are more than 20,000. And most of the growth has occurred in the last ten years. Prayer initiatives are springing up all over the globe at a staggering rate. Such momentum in prayer must be attributed to the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, not to human ingenuity.

In January 2008, Mark Anderson launched the Call2All congress in Orlando. This congress was attended by 170 CEOs of most of the top missions organizations. These mission organizations made a commitment to start 70,000 new houses of prayer by 2020. At the Hong Kong Call2ALL congress (June 2009), 3,000 leaders committed to start 400,000 houses of prayer by 2020. In Nairobi (August 2008) leaders committed to start 75,000 new houses of prayer. Over the last decade, Call2All congress leaders have committed to start more than 500,000 new houses of prayer.

An example of this 24/7 explosion is the Gebetshaus (House of Prayer) in Augsburg, Germany (https://gebetshaus.org). Augsberg is where early Protestant leaders defended Martin Luther’s tenets of faith, in what came to be known as the Augsburg Confession. In that sense, it was one of the birthplaces of the Protestant Reformation. In the early 2000s, a group of young charismatic Catholics got in touch with different streams of the prayer movement—IHOPKC, TheCall and others. These modern-day examples served as triggers for their first steps in prayer chains, intercession nights and weeks of fasting. In 2005, during a visit to IHOPKC, the vision became clear to Dr. Johannes Hartl that they needed to launch a 24/7 House of Prayer with the spirituality of the Catholic charismatic renewal movement and a focus on ecumenism. By 2011, Gebetshaus reached its goal of perpetual night-and-day prayer.

The year of this revision (2017) marks the five-hundred-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Remarkably, there is another spiritual reformation stirring in Europe. God is raising up many young revivalists (like Jean-Luc Trachsel and Ben Fitzergerald of Awakening Europe) to mobilize a massive vision called Europe Shall Be Saved (ESBS). The vision of ESBS is to call the prayer movements, the businesspeople, the evangelists and the churches to work together for the salvation of 100 million souls in Europe over the next ten years. While these groups and organizations lead massive healing and salvation meetings, ESBS is also calling for 10,000 intercessors who will form the European Air Force. The European Air Force will participate in a forty-day Jesus Fast of fasting and prayer and, thereafter, pray daily for 100 million salvations from the continent of Europe.

On this five-hundred-year anniversary, Dr. Johannes Hartl wrote us saying,

I felt strongly that the Lord would use our MEHR conference at the beginning of the year to raise the spiritual Air Force, to launch the fast Lou Engle is releasing in the earth and to bring about a change in the air. We had over 10,000 people come in person to a prayer conference in Germany, with 500,000 more following online, on TV and on radio.

He continued,

We had national secular TV present, and they brought reporting to Germany’s largest news show, viewed by millions. And it was only positive. The reporter of ARD [the German equivalent of CNN] said that there is something new going on in the Church and that in this year of the reformation much more like what was seen at MEHR will take place. He said that the big churches in Germany will get a lot of new energy out of this movement. It was basically ARD—the largest news network—saying that prayer and the prayer movement is the future of the Church! And it is! It is great!

Johannes went on to say,

There was a very powerful moment when basically all the leaders of the fastest growing large youth evangelizing ministries in the German speaking world all gathered on the stage and made a pact of love to walk together and see Europe saved. This was followed by the call to fast for 40 days. Every leader of these large movements agreed to be part of this present move to fast and pray! I believe it is possible to gather 10,000 people to fast and pray for 40 days here in Germany alone. It seems to me like God is using Germany and the German speaking nations to spear-head a change over Europe."

Lou Engle, founder of the TheCall, writes,

It is perhaps in the last fifteen [years] that the systematic, coordinated activity of prayer has truly exploded, catapulting the Church into an entirely new expression of normal Christianity. The primary difference now is unceasing intercession. The first tremors of this army of prayer began, appropriately enough, at the dawn of the new millennium. In 1999, a series of events was seemingly synchronized by a divine clock. The leaders who launched this great escalation of prayer were scattered around the planet. They did not know each other