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Christians don't have to pray amiss. The Word of God gives us at least seven things about which to pray, and we can pray about those things with power because the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman makes tremendous power available.

There's a lot of religiosity surrounding the subject of prayer today and not a lot of emphasis on prayer results. We need to pray accurately so that we can have results. We need to understand that God does nothing in the earth unless His children ask him.

God also wants us to "bear fruit" as a result of a productive prayer life. The gospel of John 15:7-8 says, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

Called To Be Fruit-Bearers
Upon reading these Scriptures, we see that "fruit" comes from prayer. The word "abide" in verse seven means, "to live in, to settle in, or to take up residence in." It implies permanency. Notice what it says in verse eight: "Herein is my Father glorified...."

In other words, our Father receives glory because of the Scriptural asking of the saints based upon the Word abiding in them. Things happen in the earth because the saints of God pray according to the Word, and they get results.

I believe one reason why things have not happened for Christians is because of their failure to operate properly in the area of prayer. So, we will specifically look at seven things from the Scriptures for which believers are to pray. Somewhere in these seven different areas of prayer is what you need....

1. Pray For Your Persecutors
We can find the first thing to pray for in Matthew 5:43-48:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same nd if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
In verse 44, I want you to pay particular attention to two of the four things Jesus gave us to do. Jesus said to "... pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." The word despitefully refers to those who have insulted or scorned you, or to those who have contempt, malice, and hatred toward you and have abused you. Jesus told us to pray for them.

Do you know anybody who has insulted you, scorned you, who has malice and hatred for you? Well, the word from the Lord for you is: "Pray for those people who come to mind as you read this."

The word "persecute" means to, "pursue in a manner for injury or to cause to suffer because of a belief." It also means to inflict and urge an attack upon.

Jesus is requiring you to pray for these people, not pray that fire falls from heaven on them or that the devil gets them. No! Jesus wants you to pray for their good. You cannot be a doer of the Word if you're not praying for those who persecute you.

When you pray for them, God can move on their behalf.

2. Your Needs
The second thing to pray for is found in Matthew 6: "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (v. 8).

Asking of God is part of prayer. It is scriptural to pray for your needs. But you don't have to spend all your time praying for your needs. You don't have to get before God to tell Him, "I need this, and I need that."

God already knows. But notice—even though God knows what your needs are, you still have to ask Him. You just don't need to get too specific or spend too much time doing so.

3. Laborers For The Harvest
Matthew 9:37-38 illustrates the third thing for which believers are to pray:
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
In these Scriptures, Jesus is talking about His harvest. Can you guess what the harvest is? The harvest is God's people.

Laborers plant the seed of God's Word into the hearts of men. They water the seed and till the ground, and God brings the harvest. God will anoint men or women to preach the gospel.

Then, those men and women can harvest the crop through the power of the Holy Ghost as they seek God and ask Him to move in the earth.

So God wants us to do Matthew 9:38: "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." That's how you scripturally pray for the lost—that laborers will be anointed by God to bring just the right message to them.

4. Pray For God's Servants
We can find the fourth thing to pray for in Ephesians 6:18-19:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
In verse 19, Paul said, "Pray for me too." Now, that's the preacher telling the congregation to pray for him. That's not a bad thing to ask for.

Paul said to pray "that utterance may be given unto me." Utterance is the manifested anointed speech of the Holy Ghost. You see, my words aren't going to get the job done. What changes lives are not my words; it is that utterance from the Holy Ghost.

5. Pray For The Saints
The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, said, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph. 6:18).

In this verse of Scripture, we find the fifth prayer item: supplication in the spirit for the saints of God.

Note the word supplication in the verse 18. It does not say intercession. In the past, we've included everything under the umbrella of intercession. No, you intercede for the lost, but you supplicate in the Spirit for the saints.

Praying in the Spirit is praying in other tongues (1 Cor. 14:2, 4). When you pray in the Spirit for someone, the Holy Ghost takes hold with you to pray, and He will pray the perfect will of God about the matter (Rom. 8:26-28).

I believe one reason why negative things happen to believers is because of their failure to pray for the saints. Ephesians 6:18 also gives insight into another reason why negative things happen to believers: " ...And watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Believers should be watching for opportunities to pray for others, and this may not be a one-time thing. It may take days, weeks, or months to get a release or a note of victory about the person or people for whom you are praying.

If saints don't pray for other saints, there won't be the protection they need or there won't be a manifestation of the power of God in their lives. Many saints are messed up because other saints are not praying for them.

You see, when saints pray, blessings happen. So, spend time supplicating in the Spirit and praying the "Ephesians Prayer" for the saints (Eph. 1:16-23).

Now let's go to James 5:
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(vv. 13-16)
In verse 16, we are told to confess our faults to one another, not before the whole congregation. Then, we are told to pray for one another.

Why?

So that we may be healed. Saints should be close enough to one another where they can confess their faults and pray for one another. If you don't pray for one another, you won't be healed.

6. Pray For Those In Authority
Now, let's go to the sixth area to pray for found in 1 Timothy 2:1-2:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Verse two really tells you who the "all men" in verse one are: For kings and for all that are in authority. Today, we would say to pray for presidents, prime ministers, senators, congress members and for others who are in authority over us.

If they're saved, then you supplicate in the spirit for them. If they are unsaved, then you intercede for them. Verse two tells you why to do this: that we, the saints, may lead a quiet and peaceable life.

It's in our best interest to pray for these people mentioned because the decisions they make are going to have an affect on all of us.

7. Is Any Sick Among You?
The last thing we need to look at in the area of prayer is found in James 5:13-14:
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord....
You don't have to be sick. Did you hear what I said? You don't have to be sick. That's why they're asking the question in verse 14.

You see, back then, they recognized there didn't have to be any sick among them. You don't have to die sickly; healing has been provided for you. But there's something even beyond healing that's been provided for you—the ability to walk in divine health.

I'm going to close with this. I have seen Christians get attacked with a disease, and they don't want the saints to know about it. James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Now tell me, how are you going to confess your faults if nobody knows you're sick? That's pride. You know what goes before a fall? Pride. There is no shame that the devil attacked your body. In fact, when you get in trouble, what you need to do is let the saints know immediately.

This is what you say: "This is what the doctor's words were...." They are not your words, they're the doctor's words. Your words are: "By his stripes I am healed!"

You don't have to adopt the words of the doctor. Yes, you may take the doctor's pill, but while you're doing that, also take God's pill. Keep saying the word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).

Act On The Word
Jesus wants us to bear fruit from our prayer lives. If you act on the seven things to pray for given in this article, you will be one of God's fruit-bearers, thus allowing Him to move in the earth as He pleases.

So pray, pray, pray! Be diligent because the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, and that power is dynamic in its working. Glory to God!

Copyright © Keith Butler Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Keith Butler
Web site: Keith Butler
 
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center. He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
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