The Power of Praying the Word
During the month of May we asked our congregation to pray two scriptural prayers from the book of Ephesians on a daily basis. (Ephesians 1:17-23 and Ephesians 2:1-10) Why would we do that? One reason is because praying the Word of God is very powerful. It will change your life. There are benefits that come from reading and praying the Bible regularly. First, as you pray the scripture it will produce faith in your heart. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.†When you say it out loud something happens. You will believe you over everyone else. It is human nature. When you pray straight from the scripture you are agreeing with what GOD says about you! When you come into agreement with God things start to change!
Second, it will bring life and health to you. Proverbs 4:20-23 (NKJV) says “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.†So many Christians believe in healing, but they never consider it is possible to walk in health without getting sick in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, healing is in the Word. Many scriptures tell us that if we are attacked with sickness we can be healed. But in this passage of scripture God actually made it pretty simple to walk in health. Don’t let the Bible depart from your eyes because it will bring life and health. Andrew Wommack says, “The Gospel is so simple we have to have someone help us to misunderstand it.â€
So, why ask everyone to pray these specific scriptures? Because these scriptures tell us who we are in Christ. Everyone needs to know this. These scriptures bring revelation to us about what Jesus did for us and the fruit that we should have in our lives because of it. Do you need some wisdom and revelation? Sure! We all do! These passages tell us we can have it. These scriptures are the prayers that Paul prayed for the church. These prayers remind us that we are saved by grace. They remind us that we can’t earn salvation through works – but that it is a gift from God. We all forget this from time to time and need a reminder!
There is actually a great deal of revelation in these passages. But the real strength of the exercise is what happens when everyone says (prays) the same thing. It produces unity in vision. There is power in agreement. Spiritual growth comes not just to one person but to everyone who prays these scriptures. We all grow together. We all become strong in God together. We become an army marching together in unity. An army that God can use to change the world.
So, we encourage you to begin today praying the Word of God. It will change your life. Here are the prayers we are praying this month:
Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV) “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.â€
Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.â€
Second, it will bring life and health to you. Proverbs 4:20-23 (NKJV) says “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.†So many Christians believe in healing, but they never consider it is possible to walk in health without getting sick in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, healing is in the Word. Many scriptures tell us that if we are attacked with sickness we can be healed. But in this passage of scripture God actually made it pretty simple to walk in health. Don’t let the Bible depart from your eyes because it will bring life and health. Andrew Wommack says, “The Gospel is so simple we have to have someone help us to misunderstand it.â€
So, why ask everyone to pray these specific scriptures? Because these scriptures tell us who we are in Christ. Everyone needs to know this. These scriptures bring revelation to us about what Jesus did for us and the fruit that we should have in our lives because of it. Do you need some wisdom and revelation? Sure! We all do! These passages tell us we can have it. These scriptures are the prayers that Paul prayed for the church. These prayers remind us that we are saved by grace. They remind us that we can’t earn salvation through works – but that it is a gift from God. We all forget this from time to time and need a reminder!
There is actually a great deal of revelation in these passages. But the real strength of the exercise is what happens when everyone says (prays) the same thing. It produces unity in vision. There is power in agreement. Spiritual growth comes not just to one person but to everyone who prays these scriptures. We all grow together. We all become strong in God together. We become an army marching together in unity. An army that God can use to change the world.
So, we encourage you to begin today praying the Word of God. It will change your life. Here are the prayers we are praying this month:
Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV) “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.â€
Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.â€
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