"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).

It is the will of God that we pray always. That doesn't mean that we don't eat, sleep or work. The actual Greek translation of this verse is, "Don't quit or don't give up in prayer."

There are rules of prayer. And today we are not talking about the rule of praying for things. We will discuss the rule of praying for people. When we pray for people, we are to stay with it until God's will is done in their life.

People are the repositories of dominion and authority, and have to be enlightened and persuaded. There is supernatural persuasion that is available. It is not just what a person thinks in their head.

When you pray, God can move on the heart of a man and soften that man's heart. Now the man still has to make the next move according to that which God has placed in his heart. But God will continue to minister to a person when somebody ask Him in prayer.

God wants us to pray because the more we pray, the more He can do his will here in the earth. It is amazing how God gets blamed for bad things that happen in the earth. However, God is talking to you now through the word. He is telling you that He is doing the best that He can with the prayers He has from you.

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.
(Phil. 1:8-9)

Notice that Paul understands his prayer will affect other saints. Your dominion in the earth goes a long way. In fact, it goes beyond just your need. That is why you don't have to operate with the "Jimmy Principle."

"Lord, my name is Jimmy I'll take all you can gimmie. Lord bless me, my wife and my two kids—us four, no more." No, if you are a real Christian you understand there is power in the release of authority and dominion and you also want others to have what heaven has offered. Whether or not that takes place is going to depend on the extent of your praying.

Finally, James 5:14 says, "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."

The sick must call for the elders of the church to pray over them so that they can be healed. But didn't God want the sick healed to begin with? Yes. Whether they are going to be healed depends on the prayers of saints. Until somebody who has dominion and authority ask God to do it, He is powerless to do it. He will not violate His law. We must pray as the Bible commands and stay with it, so that others can have what we have.

Scripture references: 1 Timothy 2:8; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 1:3