Prayer: God's Most Valuable Tool

By Crain Blanchard

Can you see the coming storm? Pray.

Crain Blanchard is a licensed minister and Christian blogger. He has ministered the Word of God in homes, hospitals, small groups, and churches, including his home church. Crain has served as an elder, associate pastor, and minister and goes where God leads to share His Word. When he began with God forty

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Oct 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637695937

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Prayer

God’s Most Valuable Tool

Crain Blanchard

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2021 by Crain Blanchard

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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Manufactured in the United States of America

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-63769-592-0

ISBN 978-1-63769-593-7 (ebook)

Foreword

"Many books have been written on the subject, sermons delivered on the subject, as has been pondered in the hearts of man. From Martin Luther’s thesis, the Great Awakening, to Azusa Street, followed by the move in Toronto, Canada, and Brownville, Florida, even closer to today Brazil and Venezuela, revivals have sparked all over the earth with seemingly one central thread or theme at their core, prayer, and yet it is not new. Praying is communicating with God the Father. The Holy Spirit awakens our hearts to the need for this communication as a hunger increase, a desire to hear His voice, and know His will. We see this is scripturally true in the book of Acts. In the beginning, with the disciples, they were in the upper room, in one accord (one mind and purpose), praying and singing hymns. What happened next was what we all long for, and witnesses say, it came as the sound of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the house where they were praying. At the beginning of the Great Awakenings, they were praying; Azusa Street, they began to pray. We have newspaper articles that today still tell us about these prayer meetings. Toronto and Brownsville, groups of believers begin to pray and seek the face of God for change in their community, asking the Holy Spirit to intervene. Even in South America, Brazil, and Venezuela where stadiums filled with people who were praying and worshiping. And it came as the sound of a mighty rushing wind as miracles began to take place. This book is the account of a man’s life pursuit of desiring to see revival in the earth through prayer. Crain Blanchard delivers historical and personal experiences of his life in ‘Prayer’ of how to pray, when to pray, what to pray, even when to stop praying. Crain shares that through prayer, nothing is impossible. My prayer today is as you read, let this book that not only will it give you information, but that the Holy Spirit would ignite something inside of each one to desire revival in our time, revival that would cover the earth."

—Tod Finley

Pastor of Abundant Life Church

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my father, William Preston Blanchard Sr., a man who taught me how to pray.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3).

Preface

"

During the Reformation, there were several new religious leaders across Europe. My tenth great-grandfather was a follower of one, John Calvin. They were called Huguenots. The French queen, Katherine De Medici, declared that France was for Catholics and all others should be driven out. War began between the Catholics and Protestants. By the late 1500s, they were killing each other. My tenth great-grandfather, Pierre, decided that it would be better to move his family out of France. Over 400,000 Huguenots moved out of France into different countries. Pierre decided to move to England. Even though England was a Protestant country, they didn’t like the French. Trouble soon erupted between the English church and the Huguenots. The English church wanted the Huguenots to join their church, and they refused. The English king wanted the Huguenots to stay because they brought the textile industry to England. The king found a compromise in the new world. The Massachusetts Bay Company was offering land, equipment, and a year’s salary for colonists in the new world. My ninth great-grandfather and his younger brother both signed up to go. My ninth great-grandfather came to this country in 1637, and his younger brother in 1639. They came to America for religious freedom. There has been a minister in every generation since my tenth great-grandfather, Pierre, and ending with myself. My mother’s side of the family also had ministers in every generation. My seventh great-grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in Scotland. There have been a lot of prayers on both sides of my family. When my two families joined together, it wasn’t a surprise that my ministry is prayer. Since the Reformation, my family has been praying for God’s will on this earth. Many of those prayers are still active in our lives because God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, whether the person who prayed is alive or not.

Chapter 1

Developing a Skill

"

When Abraham came to the land that God had promised, Lot, Abraham’s nephew, came with him. God increased Abraham and Lot’s flocks. So much so that there was now more room for the flocks. Abraham called Lot, and they decided what to do. Abraham gave Lot the first choice about where to go. Lot saw the well-watered plains next to Sodom and Gomorrah. And this is where Lot chose to go. Not everything that looks good is good. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah had risen before God. Sodom and Gomorrah and three other kings of the Jordan Valley rose up against Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam. They went out in battle array to fight against him. They were defeated. The king of Elam took all that was valuable in Sodom and Gomorrah, including Lot, his family, and almost all the people of Sodom. Someone told Abraham, and he mobilized his army. Yes, Abraham had a trained army of 318 men. Abraham was Chaldean in the land we call Iraq now. He lived in the city of Ur. He had left his home with 300 families. They walked about 1400 miles to get to Hebron, Israel. It would have taken quite some time to walk that route. They had to pass through many countries and passed many bands of marauders. Abraham and the men of each family were trained in the art of war. When Abraham had learned that Lot was taken, He gathered the 318 trained men and headed for the Army of Elam. By the hand of God, they defeated Elam. They chased them in four different directions. We are talking about a defeated army of thousands of men. Abraham recovered the people and possessions from Sodom and Gomorrah, including Lot and his family. On the way back home, Abraham stopped in Jerusalem and tithed to the king of Salem. Abraham’s army was trained in the use of swords, bows and arrows, and spears. In Isaiah 2:4, it says that they will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. They always had their plowshares and converted them into weapons at any time. Abraham had trained these men in the art of war and farming. As in today’s Israeli army, everyone must serve. Today, both men and women serve for two years and then are in the reserve army for the rest of their lives. The same was true for the army of Abraham, except women didn’t serve.

We have all heard the expression to gird up your loins. It is a military expression. The Hebrews and almost every man in the ancient Middle East wore long tunics. So, when they would do heavy work or go to war, they would gird up their loins. This is pulling up their tunic and wrapping it around their loins, then tying it around their waist. They would be called the militia of their day. They were trained in the art of war, battle tactics, and the use of their weaponry. They all carried swords, bows and arrows, spears, and shields. Since the time of Abraham, the Hebrews have been trained in the art of war.When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, God had directed his fate. Genesis 37 is the story of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Israel, and Rachel and Leah. Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was Israel’s favorite son. Instead of killing Joseph, they sold him into slavery in Egypt. By the hand of God, Joseph rose to become the prime minister of Egypt. The whole time that Joseph spent in Egypt as a slave, his faith never failed him. Joseph knew that God was with him as he prayed and asked for help and guidance. God brought a worldwide famine. God showed Joseph in dreams how to prepare for the famine. Joseph saved enough food to feed the rest of the world. The world had to go to Egypt to buy food. This included Joseph’s family in Israel. Eventually, Joseph’s family moved to Egypt.

When Joseph introduced his father and family to Pharaoh, he gave the land of Goshen to them. It was a well-watered plain on the eastern side of Egypt. Pharaoh gave them this land because they were shepherds. But also, the Egyptians hated shepherds. He did it for another reason, the Hebrews were trained in the art of war and could protect the eastern side of Egypt.

The Israelites stayed in Egypt for 400 years. God is sovereign over all things. In Exodus, it chronicles the Israelites leaving Egypt. The day that they left, the Israelites left in battle array. The Israelites fought their way back to the promised land. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Before they left, Pharaoh told them to take whatever spoils they wanted. They took gold, silver, brass, fabrics, leather, wood, and almost anything they could carry. Moses led them across the Red Sea and into the wilderness of Sinai. He was leading them to the mountain of God, Mount Sinai. After the Israelites sinned against God, He changed His plans for them. Because of their sin, the Israelites that came out of Egypt wouldn’t enter the promised land. They spent forty years in the desert of Sinai. All the people who came out of Egypt died in the wilderness. Their children entered the promised land. In Egypt, they had learned many skills, carpenters, masons, seamstresses, gold and silversmiths, and weapon makers. These skills came into play when God told Moses to build a movable tabernacle called the Tent of the Meeting.

When the Israelites reached the mountain of God, Moses met with God to find out what He wanted them to do. God told Moses two things. One was to prepare the Israelites to meet God, and the other was to build a tabernacle for God. Moses had the Israelites fast for three days and to wash their clothes. After three days, all of Israel was to gather at the mountain of God, Mount Sinai. They were to stand before the mountain and wait (Exodus 19). Thunder and lightning come down on the mountain. A cloud descended on the mountain, and the trumpets of God sounded. The Israelites became afraid. They told Moses to talk to God, and they would listen to him. They refused to become priests unto God. From that time on, only one Israelite could enter the presence of God at a time, the High Priest. When Moses told them about the tabernacle, he called for a free-will offering. They gave gold, silver, cloth, leather, and many other items. The people gave to God. Then Moses called for artisans and craftsmen to build the tabernacle. People who were trained in all crafts came and volunteered to build the tabernacle. In Egypt, Pharoah had people trained to build his palaces and city. So, the tabernacle in the wilderness was built, and God resided above the Cherubim on the ark of the covenant.

Israel fought their way to the land of promise. Israelites were trained in the art of war. Proverbs says that wisdom comes from the knowledge of the Lord and by getting understanding from God. Then by putting this understandable knowledge into practice. This equals wisdom. And with wisdom come discretion (Isaiah 2:4).

When King David wanted to build a temple for God to dwell in, God wouldn’t let him. He had shed the innocent blood of Uriah. David gathered everything to build the temple, including stone, lumber, and craftsmen. But the building of the temple was passed on to his son, Solomon. Men from Tyre, Phoneticians, answered the call. They were the finest stonemasons in the world. They were also believers in the God of Israel. David also called for people trained as musicians and singers to gather in Jerusalem. He put together a worship team for the temple. The book of Psalms are songs sung to God.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profited little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptations. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 4

Paul wrote to Timothy because the elders thought that Timothy was too young to be bishop over Ephesus. Paul told him to teach what he had learned to others who are faithful to teach others. It was hard for Timothy because he was in charge. But