Pray!: Your Life Depends on It

By Carl Jackson and Anna Jackson

There is an urgent need for prayer in our world today. Prayer is more than asking for things. Prayer is communion with the Father through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

This book is meant to help the reader develop a closer relationship with God and thus affect the world. We are admonished by the Lord to ask, seek and knock. He wants us to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. By doing this we learn how to overcome obstacles and roadblocks the enemy may attempt to put in our way.

Prayer is an exciting adventure for those who are willing to step into the prayer arena. We invite all to join us through the means God has given to pull down strongholds that come against us. In this way the hand of God will be able to move in our homes, schools, churches, cities, states, in this country and around the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514473153

Carl Jackson

Carl Jackson was born in Barbados where he attended Providence Boys' and Boys' Foundation schools. He is a graduate of Oxford University in England and Ryerson University in Toronto. He is a retired Foreign Service Officer who was stationed in Europe, Canada and the Caribbean. On his return to Barbados from Ryerson, he was a columnist for the island's two leading newspapers. After Mr. Jackson retired from the Foreign Service, he founded a public relations company where he worked extensively with political parties in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. In 1981, Mr. Jackson published his first novel, East Wind in Paradise. His background in journalism, as well as in regional politics, played a major part in the creation of this political thriller whose plot and characters are just as relevant today as they were when the novel was first published. Edge: East Wind in Paradise brings Mr. Jackson's original novel into the 21st century, without compromising his themes, characters and crisp writing style.

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Copyright © 2016 by Carl and Anna Jackson.

ISBN:      Softcover        978-1-5144-7316-0

                eBook            978-1-5144-7315-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Rev. date: 09/14/2016

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Contents

Chapter 1 If My People Pray

Chapter 2 Intimacy with the Infinite

Chapter 3 Humility - The Doorway to Intimacy

Chapter 4 Intimacy Equals Clearer Vision

Chapter 5 That I May Know Him

Chapter 6 Closet Christians

Chapter 7 Obstacles to Seeking God

Chapter 8 The Path of an Intercessor

Chapter 9 Heart Rending

Chapter 10 Prevailing Prayer

Chapter 11 Prayer Draws on Heaven’s Account

Chapter 12 Successful Spiritual Warfare

Chapter 13 Prayer in Action

Chapter 14 Prayer Correctness and a Leper

Chapter 15 Praying the Will of God

Chapter 16 Prayer Power Points

Chapter 17 Keep Account Current

Chapter 18 Burning But Not Burned Out

Chapter 19 How to Handle Opposition

Chapter 20 Enemies of Effectual Prayer

Chapter 21 It Pays to Pray Always

Chapter 22 A Call to Unite in Prayer

Chapter 23 Power in Prayer through Praise

Chapter 24 A New Day for the People of God

Chapter 25 Prayer and Fasting

Chapter 26 Prayer Works

Chapter 27 The Lord’s Prayer

Chapter 28 Principles of Prayer

Chapter 29 Intercession: What Is It?

Chapter 30 Praying for the Lost

Endorsements

My acquaintance with Carl and Anna Jackson began during my days at college in the Midwestern United States when Carl was on the administrative staff and I was a student. Carl and Anna are people of righteous and moral integrity, honor, virtue, and honesty who have a solid, sound, and constant walk with their Lord. Carl’s voice has been heard on Christian radio for over 27 years. His voice and message is a clarion call in this hour to prepare the way of the Lord. Carl is a writer, preacher, speaker, counselor, and friend. Carl and Anna have a burden to pray, stand in the gap, maintain sound doctrine, and edify the body of Christ. Dr. Jim Garlow, Senior Pastor, Skyline Church, San Diego, CA.

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It is my honor to endorse Carl and Anna Jackson in preparing a book on prayer that will rally the church and the faith community to seek God as never before in these last days. Anna served as my Executive Assistant at Teen Challenge of Arizona and was always known as a person of prayer throughout our organization. Her husband, Carl Jackson, served as Tucson Director for four years. During that time, it was evident that Carl’s prayer life had a tremendous influence on the young men in our Faith-Based Recovery ministry. May God bless their efforts to guide and direct us all to join them in seeking God’s face through prayer! Rev. Snow Peabody, Executive State Director, Teen Challenge of Arizona, Inc., Tucson, AZ.

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"During this challenging time in our world, I can’t think of two better people to call on the church to pray than Carl and Anna Jackson. This great work has been written from of a lifetime of dedication and service to God and now they pass that awesome knowledge and wisdom on to us. I have personally witnessed Carl and Anna’s reliance on God through prayer to see His purposes unfold in their lives, and in the lives of those to whom they have ministered. They both have been a blessing to Teen Challenge of Arizona. Don’t just read Pray, but let it read you and take you to a place in your walk with God that you have always longed to experience." Jeff Richards, Director of Operations, Teen Challenge of Arizona, Inc., Tucson, AZ.

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Prayer is a phenomenon, an explosive event, and a fascinating catalyst that fuels the vehicle of change. "This is a direct quote from this remarkable book. I say remarkable because it is a teaching tool, a textbook, and a handbook on prayer. The authors, Carl and Anna Jackson, delve into every question and nuance of prayer and deliver Scripture, experience, and feeling to encourage the reader to pray. The content of Pray is vital in the hour in which we live." Hap Wysocki, Director, King’s Daughters Ministries, Phoenix, AZ.

Introduction

The message that burns within us is disconcerting to the complacent, offensive to the carnal, and disgusting to the religious folk who seem to have it all together. There is an urgent need for prayer in our world today. Prayer is more than asking for things; it is communion with Father God through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

This book is meant to help the reader develop a closer relationship with God and thus, affect the world. We are admonished by the Lord to ask, seek, and knock. He wants us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. By doing this, we learn how to overcome obstacles and roadblocks the enemy may attempt to put in our way.

Prayer is an exciting adventure for those who are willing to step into the prayer arena. We invite all to join us through the means God has given to pull down strongholds that come against us. In this way, the hand of God will be able to move in our homes, schools, churches, cities, states, in this country, and around the world.

There is no time like the present for us to do as the Father admonishes us in 2 Chronicles 7:14: If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Chapter 1

If My People Pray

Books on prayer are extremely popular today. Here is another one but it may not be as popular. The most interesting thing about this rush of popularity is that there still remains a gigantic vacuum that can only be filled by effectual fervent prayer. So where is this kind of prayer being exerted or exercised? When are we going to forsake our own way and pray God’s way? The Bible tells us in James 5:16: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We will refer to this Scripture often in this manuscript.

After serious study into the meaning of the words effectual and fervent we might put it this way: The energetic, active, and efficient work of intentional and in earnest prayer yields great dividends.

To quote Charles G. Finney from his book, Answers to Prayer: Prevailing or effectual prayer is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectively moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it affects its object.

Topics like this will not lead us to prayer if we do not desire to pray. I have never met a soul yet who has been overpowered by prayer, without that person moving into intimate communication with Father God. The Holy Spirit cannot pray fervently or effectually in a lukewarm vessel. In fact, such a vessel will attempt to pray only to impress men and will never expect an answer, other than future consideration at the judgment! Proverbs 15:29 (Amp) says this about prayer: The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him). First and foremost, God is calling us to an intimate relationship with Him. Then our prayers will be effectual and fervent.

Jesus demonstrated prayer to His disciples. He taught them to pray when they asked Him to do so. In Matthew 26:40, He invited Peter, James, and John to watch and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Strong’s Concordance, the word Gethsemane means oil press, as the whole being of Jesus was pressed beyond measure. He was dealing with the issue of His death in doing the will of His Father. Great drops of blood came from His brow as He was being absorbed by the will of God and the needs of man. The only one who prayed was Jesus. By the way, Peter, James, and John slept soundly! Jesus had approached them three times during His time of prayer, urging them to stay awake and watch with Him, but they kept falling asleep.

When believers come together to pray, often the gathering becomes just another church meeting with those present not entering into real prayer. Often we think that our coming together is all that is necessary and by doing so, we have done our duty. Thus, we offer a few weak, ineffectual prayers, sometimes shed a few tears but with little God-ordained anointing or passion! Millions of people around the world pray on a day set aside for such. The impact should shake the gates of hell and bind the efforts of Satan. Sad to say, there is hardly a flicker on the logarithmic scale of heaven! This means the forces of hell are still intimidating the church and Satan is illegally holding hostage many of our brothers and sisters! This should not be, yet, why is it?

Though talking and writing about prayer can be good, these efforts must not be allowed to replace prayer! Some sales reps talk a good talk, but we know that talk falls far short without the goods. Excellent sermons have been spoken and written about prayer but the question remains, is real prayer being offered? To some extent, theological correctness is being sustained with little evidence of effectual fervent prayer.

Talking about prayer is not the same as doing it, even though some may seem to think so! Many who talk most about prayer are not entering in, except in isolated instances where the intensity levels are heightened by a crisis. There could be a need for healing, help for finances, deliverance, wisdom, restoring of relationships, or a basic life-sustaining need in our lives, or in the lives of others. When situations like these arise, we may cry out to God for help.

A leader from a large church on the west coast of the United States stated during a conference on prayer, We know how to evangelize but do we know how to pray and to truly intercede? Organize, yes — and we promote with the best of them! Do we know about discipleship? We’ve never been better at it. We can put on a fine service, too! We are all impressed with the smoothness, choreography, and the synchronization of the dance, drama, singing and preaching. But, let me ask, what can be said about effectual fervent praying? Too frequently we are missing it and yet we make little effort to correct the true problem. Many may be aware there is a problem but, instead of seeking God for His answer, the tendency is to increase human efforts in an attempt to change the situation!

Some of our spiritual leaders would make fine CEO’s of businesses across America. There are youth pastors who would make super stand-up comics and possibly could even play in the NBA. To pray, or spend a half hour a day in prayer, fifteen minutes, or even five minutes, that is another matter. If a survey were taken at a leadership prayer conference today, many of the ladies and gentlemen would nervously lift their cell phones from their belts, pockets or purses, phone their offices, check their e-mails, jump into their convertibles, and rush to attend to their latest calls!

This statement was made by an administrator of a certain denomination in the eastern part of the United States: Prayer is the working power of the church, the body of Christ on the earth, but half of the workers make hardly any use of it. He made this statement after he had taken a survey of pastors at a prayer conference!

In considering the need to pray and the lack of it happening now, the verse that speaks to the heart of the matter is 2 Chronicles 7:14. Following is some background when this admonition came forth from God to Solomon. King Solomon had just dedicated the temple to the Lord. The people worshiped while sacrifices were offered to Almighty God. Solomon had just sent the people to their homes immediately following this wonderful event. They went happily and merrily from the dedication and were rejoicing in what God had done for them. God spoke to Solomon, If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

In the context of the above Scriptural reference, notice that before God called the people to pray, He asked Solomon what the people would do if He would shut up heaven that there be no rain or if He would command the locusts to devour the land or send pestilence among His people. God told Solomon in verse 19 what He would do if the people forsook His commandments and His statutes. But if ye turn away, and forsake My statutes and My commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them.

At the time this word from God was given to Solomon, the people were in good standing with God. Now, here is the crux of the matter. When a nation accepts things that are displeasing to God, or when the people of God are confused, not knowing which way to turn, often they begin to find other ways to get their answers.

Someone may say, Well, in America we do not choose other gods! Are we sure about that? We could challenge ourselves with these same issues. Do we have locusts coming at our nation? No, not really locusts, but something similar could be called locusts. Are there pestilences coming to our land? Well, we could call many things pestilences, could we not? So, the question is, what would our response be if calamity of any kind would befall us? Is America becoming a byword to other nations?

At this time in our nation, this is exactly the reason why we need to call the church to pray, repent, and humbly seek God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is probably one of the most consistently quoted verses about prayer used today. It points out definite responsibilities for every born-again believer. God is challenging us to humble ourselves, pray with focused attention, and seek His face. This is more than casual praying, by the way. It is important to be honest with God about ourselves and turn from our wicked ways. God will do His part in accomplishing the results as we are obedient to Him.

Humility is essential in order for prayer to be effectual. Paul said it best when he wrote in Ephesians 3:14: For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our personal seeking of God’s face removes every barrier that interrupts our view of God. Then, turning from sin and walking in righteousness is normal for the person who is truly converted to Christ. God will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. If there is no desire to pray, it is because of sin which has violated our relationship with God. Prayerlessness is a good place to begin in our confession of sin.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they had an aversion to God and sought to hide from Him. Their sin affected their relationships, first, with God, with each other, and then with their offspring. When disunity is brought to light, it is absolutely necessary that healing, restoration, and forgiveness follow. We find the answer in 1 John 1:7, 9: If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Paul addressed reasons for this disunity in the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians and then he laid it on the line to the Corinthian Christians. These instructions are good for us today. The problem those Christians were experiencing was that they were being envious and jealous of one another and behaving in carnal and sinful ways. He writes in 1 Corinthians 3:4 that some of the people were being factional and carnal by saying, I am of Paul! There were others who said, I am of Apollos! Paul told them that these things ought not to be. Then he says in verse 6 (Amp): I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow, and [He] gave the increase. So neither he who plants, is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God, Who makes it grow and become greater.

If we are acting as those Christians did, we are not in a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. We are a contradiction to Him. Repentance is in order so that the broken relationship between individuals can be healed. Consequently, this restores the relationship with the Father. This is not an option but a direct order from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15: For if you forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The disciples mentioned to Jesus in Mark 9:40 that there were those in a certain place who were ministering in the name of Jesus. The disciples questioned whether or not that was the right thing for them to do. Jesus answered the disciples by saying that if they were not against Him, then they were for Him. In other words, we need to accept them, whether or not they are of our group if they are truly preaching, teaching, and living out the true gospel message.

Racial reconciliation is important, also, and it cannot be pushed aside. Denominational reconciliation must take place as well. Leaders of groups divided against each other must stop pressing theological and social differences. We have become so sophisticated in packaging our differences, that it seems acceptable today to be divided into different camps.

The story is told about a young son who climbed up on his father’s lap and began hugging and kissing him. His sister stepped into the room and the boy stopped hugging and kissing his father long enough to stick his tongue out at his sister. The children’s mother walked into the room at that moment, observed what was happening and said to her son, Get off of your father’s lap this instant. You cannot love your father while sticking your tongue out at your sister!

Worship and praise are hindered when there is disunity. Prayer and intercession will not go anywhere until divisions are resolved. We can pray for revival all we want to, but without repentance with godly sorrow, forgiveness, and loving one another, the prayers we pray will be to no avail. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Sexual perversion is a major attack that is coming against the people of God today. This cannot be allowed in the heart and life of a person who desires to effectually pray. That is why Paul came against this sin in the Corinthian church and called God’s people to repent with godly sorrow. Perversions of the flesh are challenging the integrity of Christians individually and the body of Christ as a whole. Praise God for His ability to provide the sorrow that is needed to deal with any sin that is tormenting and oppressing God’s people. God provided the way of escape through His Son, Jesus, when He took our sins to Calvary and destroyed the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b (Amp) tells us: The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

In Romans 2:4 (Amp), we find that the kindness of God is one of His attributes that will lead us to repentance. Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)? God bestows blessing and prosperity on a people and on a nation. However, as the latter part of this verse points out, when God extends His mercy and love, people often do not think to turn to God but, instead, their thoughts are only of pleasure. Even though God is reaching out to them in kindness, men still do not turn their hearts to God. When calamity strikes, though, or a serious problem occurs in a land or with a nation, people have a tendency to blame God for anything that might be harmful coming upon the land and the people. God shows mercy, but when His mercy is rejected, then His judgment follows.

A wise general will rob the enemy of his strength. Many things are said about Satan and one thing is for sure, he is a deceiver! John 8:44 tells us that he is a liar and the father of lies. Prayer is our essential weapon and Satan will do anything to take prayer from us or keep us from prayer! He may tempt us to postpone, delay, or shorten our praying, or he may parade wandering thoughts across our minds while we pray. He may cause us to become conscious of our tiredness, or he could overwhelm us with the immensity of our responsibilities and complexities of the petitions we are offering to God!

Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:11-18 to put on the whole armor of God. However, we can put on the armor of God and still fall! How can this be? The reason for this is that there is one piece of armor that is seldom talked about and its value goes without saying. This piece of the armor is mentioned in verse 18 (Amp): Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). We may not consider this praying to be part of the armor, but it is a most valuable piece. In this way, Paul is telling us to be alert and awake, praying and interceding on behalf of our brothers and sisters in the Lord and for the many pressing needs that continually become evident to us.

The absence of effectual fervent prayer causes several conditions. It is a reproach to God. To say that I do not have time to pray is saying that I do not have time for God! It causes all spiritual sickness and it makes our efforts to share the gospel of Jesus far less effective, if effective at all. Without prayer agreement with the Father, our preaching is in vain, as is our worship, praise, evangelism, giving, and being nice.

To quote Andrew Murray, an astute African writer, teacher, and pastor of the 1800’s, from his book, The Believer’s Prayer Life: Is it not proof that the Holy Spirit is often a stranger in the church when prayer, for which God has made such provision, is regarded as a task and a burden? Does not this teach us to seek for the deep root of prayerlessness in our ignorance of, and disobedience to, the Divine Instructor (the Holy Spirit) Whom the Father has commissioned to teach us to pray?

Pray, saints, pray! Really pray beyond the styles and methods of the past and see the waters part and the mountains move! Let us enter into our prayer closets, come boldly into the throne room of grace and pray. Let’s pray in secret, with one another, and always pray in agreement!

This is the purpose of this book. The judgment of God is sure to come if we do not humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God, and turn from our wicked ways. Let us not come short of God’s pleasure. Let’s pray! Our lives depend on it and the task He has called us to do in this day and hour is vital to the salvation and deliverance of mankind. Our land and the people in it truly need to be healed.

"Lord,

I seriously and zealously turn to You

in full reliance upon Your Holy Spirit

to pray in and through me.

I do not want to be a person who intends to pray, or,

when I do pray, to just go through the motions.

I want to be a praying person and one

who seeks You continually.

Please forgive me for the sin of prayerlessness.

Put a strong desire in my heart to effectually pray.

I offer myself to You as a vessel of prayer.

Right now, Lord, direct and lead me.

In the Precious Name of Jesus,

I pray. Amen."

Chapter 2

Intimacy with the Infinite

Intimacy is an in word right now. Perhaps those who are not spiritually minded may have an entirely different concept of intimacy than a person who has been truly converted to Christ. If not, then the professed born-again child of God may need to take another look at his perception of intimacy, especially as it relates to the Lord!

Intimacy with the Infinite, Holy God would not only be nice but is an absolute necessity. Many religious institutions, that have given a clear light of truth and righteousness in the past, have strayed far from the truth of God’s Word. If we are not discerning, these institutions could lead us to our own destruction. Putting all else aside, humility is not an option.

Intimacy with the Infinite, Holy God produces holy and righteous conduct, not perversions of the flesh. Intimacy is the idea God had for us to experience with Him before the earth was even formed. The intimacy God was developing with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was a marvelous representation of God’s plan for everyone. God, the originator of life, desired to have intimacy with man and woman, and their offspring. In Genesis 1:26, the pattern was already established in the Godhead as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit took counsel together. They determined that the messenger of the Father, the Son, the One Who manifests the Father’s will, would create man and from man, He would create woman. John 1:3 (Amp) states it best: All things were made and came into existence through Him, and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were in complete and perfect agreement as they had communication on the highest levels of the supernatural. They, being one in nature and character, desire to have fellowship with us, one on one. When I consider this, it is beyond my comprehension but is within my reach for God, as He has not changed His mind! By authority given to Him by the Father, Jesus desires for there to be a spiritual union between us and the Father. Jesus prayed in John 17:11 (Amp): That they may be one (with the Father) as We (God and the Son) are one. A vital Biblical key to union begins with our relationship with Him. Without the God-kind of a union, there is no basis for union. There can be treaties, alliances, wills, trusts, affirmations, and pledges of allegiance to individuals or nations. Yet the commonality of a union could be selfishly motivated and God not be the initiator!

God has freely given to us all things and He has earnestly, through the Apostle Paul, entreated us in Romans 12:1 to present our bodies to Him. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Our complete submission to God gives the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) permission to finish the work He has begun in us. Philippians 1:6 confirms this: Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

When God made Adam, He knew His work was not complete. Adam needed a helper that was suitable and complementary to him. The Lord said in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a help meet for him." The world He was creating was for a people to have fellowship and communion with Him