Pray One for Another: Pray for Your Desires

By Lennox Anthony Blaides

Pray One for Another is a book written to bring awareness of the urgency and importance of prayer in the lives of all people. According to biblical teachings, we are required to pray for each other; as well as those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

The book also addresses the many hindrances to prayer and what we need to do in order to avoid them. For example, unforgiveness can hinder the answers to your prayers, and furthermore, short circuit your communication with God.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Unforgiveness can also prevent the Father from forgiving you. Again Jesus said, in Mark 11:25-26, And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

It exposes the intimacy of prayer and how it relates to the person of Jesus Christ and the authority that is associated with his name.

Included in this book are a series of prayers that can help the Christian to develop a vibrant prayer life. There are notations and prayers on Thanksgiving, Submission, Salvation, Wisdom, Overcoming fear, Trials and Temptations, Troubled past and more.

In all of these, Jesus Christ remains the focus of attention because we can do nothing without him. To him, we give all the praise and all the glory.

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Customers from canada who is interested in purchasing the book can contact the author on his e-mail address to minimize shipping.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462836116

Book preview

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is the basic fundamental way of communicating with God through his word; either by thought or speech.

Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24), we most often achieve a more stable and fruitful communication with him when we pray in the spirit. This spiritual connection is only made possible through the intervention of the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches our hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27)

It is comforting to know that there are two that intercede for the believer. Jesus intercedes for the believers in heaven while the Holy Spirit interceded for them on earth. The Holy Spirit groans and sighs within the believers as he communes with the Father on behalf of our needs according to the will of God.

Prayer is not just a means of communicating with God but it is also a weapon of our warfare and when executed with the authority given us by Jesus, we can tear down all the strongholds of the enemy. James 5:16 says, The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man (person) availeth much. Proverbs 15:8 and 29 says, The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Verse 29 says, The Lord is far from the wicked, but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Do not let prayer be an obligation but rather a lifestyle. God desires to hear from us on a consistent basis that we may build a fruitful relationship with him; full of praise, worship and intimacy.

CHAPTER ONE

The Intimacy of Prayer.

THE INTIMACY OF PRAYER

Most of us know what it is like to have a loved one go on a vacation; and we’re left alone till their return.

Some have experienced the sadness that comes with separation through divorce or death.

It is during that time of separation that we feel a greater need to communicate with the other person.

Sometimes it is impossible as in the case of death.

Nevertheless we seem to develop a renewed yearning and desire to become intimate;

And this stems from the loneliness that creeps in as a result of their absence.

So it may be safe to say that it’s in this absence that the desire for intimacy is reborn.

Could this be the same when talking about Christianity and prayer; and the love of Jesus?

Bear in mind that Jesus said that he would never leave us or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5.

So if there is a separation from God, we are the ones responsible.

When we depart from him; when we separate ourselves from him who first loved us, we become lonely and desperate for the intimacy that we once shared with him.

Well, this is the type of intimacy that we will be talking about today.

How we may become one with some one; and not just anyone; but how to become one with God through prayer.

Like Jesus said I and the Father, we are one.

Allow me to read some scriptures to demonstrate how Jesus felt about prayer. What it meant to him on a daily basis.

Mark 1:35

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there he prayed.

Intimacy with God through prayer dreamstime_1894595.jpg

Intimacy with God through prayer

Luke 5:16

So He himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 6:12

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:28-29

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

Those four scriptures gives us a panoramic view of the importance that Jesus placed on the urgency and necessity of prayer as a means of communicating with the Father.

Everyone who had the opportunity to spent time with Jesus must have noticed the uniqueness in his daily lifestyle as it pertained to prayer and devotion.

Jesus did not always weep; he did not always become angry. He was not always hungry or thirsty. He did not always walk to his destination, but one thing for certain it that he always prayed to the Father. He made it his duty to devote himself at various times to pray.

He did not pray the perfunctory prayers like those of the Pharisees who sought praises from men, but he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and he was heard in that he feared (Hebrews 5:7). He prayed with confidence knowing that that the Father was listening to his prayers (John 11:42). He prayed as someone who had an intimate relationship with God the Father.

The disciples must have observed that special devotion and intimacy and eventually approached him that he would teach them to pray as John the Baptist also taught his disciples to pray; (not as John the Baptist prayed but as Jesus prayed (see Luke 11:1).

They had observed the high priority that he had placed on prayer and came to realize that it was fundamental and the key to an intimate relationship with God.

Prayer

Father

In Jesus’ name we come before you;

And we ask for your blessings

We are here today to express our love for Jesus Christ

And to develop an intimacy with you

Through the Holy Spirit;

Teach us the intimacy of prayer

As we study your word.

We ask in Jesus’ name

Amen.

In Luke 6:40, Jesus said:

Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

In Matthew 10:24-25 he taught his disciples a very important lesson.

He said;

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher,

And a servant to be like his master.

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

My friends,

We are of the household of God.

Romans 8:14 says; For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Likewise Romans 8:16 declares;

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

And the Holy Spirit is given unto us that he may train us up to be like Christ, the Son of God.

The Holy Spirit will also teach us how to adopt the lifestyle of prayer that is synonymous with Jesus. Jesus knew how to pray for he and the Holy Spirit were also one. The Holy Spirit as we shall see is the engine that takes prayer to the Father.

Romans 8:26-27 declares,

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

It is no longer we who prays, but God in us.

Philippians 2:13 says,

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

My friends, I want you to know that the purpose of this exercise is not simply to encourage you to pray but to help you develop a lifestyle of intimacy communication with God through prayer.

Just as there is intimacy in conversation between husband and wife; there is an intimacy that can be developed with God; and this intimacy is found in prayer.

When we devote ourselves to praying regularly, we are not simply voicing our needs to God; we are actually having both a physical and spiritual meeting with God in the intimacy of prayer.

Just as there is intimacy in the letters written between husband and wife; there is an intimacy to be felt when we meditate on God’s Word.

When we meditate on God’s word, we are not just reading words that were printed on paper but we are in fact, having an intimate connection with God through his Word.

So in order to build a strong foundation for a vibrant prayer life, it must be built on the intimacy that we have established with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in John 14:6,

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

But let me warn you! Discovering the excitement of prayer can be addictive and even contagious.

There is a contagious excitement and an infectious joy when you discover that intimacy that is wrapped up in prayer.

King David had a wonderful intimacy with God and he expressed that intimacy as he penned the Psalms. Reading the Psalms is a good way to learn how to develop an intimacy with God. It is important however that we do not just recite the verses but meditate on them and internalize them as we reach out to God. Allow the message to speak to you as you pour out your soul to the Lord.

Let us begin with Psalm Chapter 1 which is about:

The Way of the Righteous and the Reward of the Ungodly:

The Psalm is listed here for convenience.

Psalm Chapter 1

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,

But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Bear in mind that the goal is to seek after an intimate relationship with God.

This can only be achieved by meeting with him on a regular basis through his word and the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

He will guide your path and show you the way to everlasting intimacy with God.

Psalm 119:105 says,

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.

This corresponds with what Jesus said

In John 8:12 He said,

"I am the Light of the world;

He that follows me shall not walk in darkness,

But shall have the light of life."

In another place, he said,

"Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles because there is no light in him." (John 11:9-10)

Beloved,

Jesus is the Light of the world;

He is the Way to the Father;

He is the foundation upon which your prayer-life is built;

He is the one that establishes your intimacy with God through prayer

In John 15:16, he said

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

My time is almost up, but I would like to encourage you to memorize some or all of the verses that we have used today.

Ask the Lord to help you remember his Word. John 14:26 Jesus said,

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Remember:

Don’t just memorize a verse. Put it into practice.

James 1:22 says,

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It is not being able to quote a verse from memory that matters; it is God’s Word abiding in your spirit that really makes the difference.

John 15:7 Jesus promised,

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

So let me say this; and it’s a key to memorization and internalization of God’s word;

When you apply a scripture verse consistently and repeatedly to your daily life,

That’s when you understand and know the true meaning and effectiveness of that verse!

We pray that God will richly bless you

And enable you to have an intimate relationship with him.

Through his word and through prayer

We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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A Word of Encouragement

In order for us to pray for one another and be effective, we must first have that intimacy with God. So before we indulge in prayers, let us first get to know and understand the one who answers prayers. Let us develop a unique intimacy with the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of change. Let us develop a love link with the Father because every good gift and every perfect gift comes from him (James 1:17).

Let us first learn to love one another before we can pray for one another. The bible says in 1st John 3:11, For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning that we should love one another.

1st John 4:20 says, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

So as we continue reading this book, I want you to observe the importance that is place on love as the principal ingredient for answered prayer. If you don’t have love in your heart, do not pray for anyone because your prayers will not be heard. The bible says in Psalms 66:18, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus said, "If you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother hath aught against you;

Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

That is how important it is for us to forgive each other before we come to God in prayer. Truthful prayer cannot flow out of an unforgiving heart. God knows it and he will not hear it. So how should we pray and what kind of prayers should we offer to God? Chapter two goes into great detail in answering these and other questions.

Notes

CHAPTER TWO

Types of Prayer

PRAYER AGAINST EVIL

What is considered evil to some may be considered good to others and therefore the latter will not pray against their own ideology. The saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand is true, therefore evildoers will not apply a weapon as prayer against their evil deeds.

Who then should pray against evil; and what power does prayer have over evil? Those who seek after God and the well being of mankind should always pray against evil with the power and anointing that comes from God. It is true that behind the murder are the murderers; and behind the evil are the evildoers who are described in the bible as ‘serpents and scorpions.’ There is a passage of scripture where Jesus alludes to this very thing. In Luke chapter 10, Jesus had commissioned his disciples to go out to the people and deliver the message of the Gospel that ‘The Kingdom of God is nigh unto them.’ He gave them the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons.

After completing their mission, they returned with joy and spoke of their victory over the evil spirits. Jesus then explained to them saying, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. These disciples were given the power to speak against the evil and the evildoers; and they were subjected to the word.

We can preach God’s word, evangelize God’s word, meditate on God’s word, or we can pray God’s word; just to mention a few. But how do we define prayer as a weapon against evil? First of all, we did describe prayer as a means of communication with God, and so we must communicate with the Father before we execute the power of prayer against evil. There are two things that I believe to be important in the fight against evil. Number one is to know that you yourself have purged yourself of evil by confessing your sins to God (1 John 1:9-10) and number two is to do what you see the Father doing. Jesus said in John 5:19, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

So what is the Father’s position on evil? The bible says that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruit of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1: 17-20)

So before we open our mouths to speak or to pray, we should always remind ourselves who we are in Christ. We should always commune with the Father through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in order to receive directions for our actions against evil. Our prayers should not reflect vengeance or evil for the evil done against us. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 says, See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Obviously this statement was made because the believers were probably adopting the old tradition which says, ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ Some of us may question how can someone pray for evil to befall another? Well, I have personally witnessed prayers of that nature where a believer was praying for harm to come upon another person. When these things happen, our first inclination is to judge that person and put them in the court of public opinion concerning