Travailing in Prayer

 

                                                    TRAVAILING IN PRAYER!

 

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians 4:19

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth AGAIN until Christ is formed in you.”

TRAVAIL is an unusual word that was used by the man that wrote two-thirds of the New Testament as it denotes a picture of a woman in labor giving birth to a child and the pain involved UNTIL the baby shows up!

Paul had led these people to the saving knowledge of Christ, and they were doing well, until they began listening to mixed messages and were being seriously misled. Seemingly, they had become argumentative, confrontational, and rude and they had stopped fellowshipping with each other! Once a close-knit group, they were now divided.

Isn’t that what we see happening all too often today?

He was obviously extremely concerned about what he saw happening and he shared his concern with them in pretty bold ways!

He chided them saying: “Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth.” Galatians 3:1

It is interesting he was trying to get their undivided attention by not only calling them “foolish,” but he also asked them: “Who has bewitched you?”

The word, “Bewitched” in the Amplified Bible means they were being silly, thoughtless, unreflecting, senseless and inferred they had a spell cast over them which means they were not seeing things clearly at all! That’s big! 

Paul was bold in speaking the truth to them about their current state of mind, however, he was also quick in letting them know he would not leave them their but would TRAVAIL for them until he saw a rebirthing of the Christ-led life that would bring the blessings of God back into their lives.

Travailing to give birth also refers to intercessory prayer that can lead to deliverance and restoration for those that have become misled and have gotten off-track. It is one of God’s ways of freeing people from strongholds and walls the enemy of their soul has put around their minds to keep them from moving forward in the things God has for them!

With all the controversies and differences of opinions flourishing today, intercessory prayer seems to be needed more than ever! The Holy Spirit wants to lead and guide us as to how to pray in situations like these that not only involve families but also communities and our nations!

Hebrews 7:25” Christ always lives to make intercession for us.” 

It is important to keep in mind that through us being Christ’ Ambassadors on the earth on his behalf, according to 2 Corinthians 5:20, we have been given the task of making an appeal on behalf of Christ so that people can be reconciled to God and rescued out of the hand of the enemy. In fact, that Scripture even says we are to “beg” them on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. I personally believe to beg here indicates being bold in a straightforward but caring way that would touch their hearts!

It is important to note the meaning of Ambassador which is to act as a representative and speak as God’s emissary representing His Kingdom!

With that in mind, it would be helpful for us to ask ourselves in each instance that we are interceding about, WHAT WOULD JESUS PRAY?

Jesus’ brother James said tremendous power is released when we do the following:

“…Pray for one another that you may be healed and restored to a spiritual tone of mind and heart, the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working!” James 5:16

“Earnest and heartfelt” means to be intentional and specific as we rely on the Holy Spirit to show us how to pray so that tremendous power is released bringing dynamic results!

Also, it is very interesting that Jesus said we should pray the following prayer:

“Pray ye therefore the LORD of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest!”  Matthew 9:38

This is such an important prayer because the Lord knows whose words will touch the hearts of those we are praying for and who they will be willing to listen to!

The harvest is for the Lord, and He wants to use your prayers of travailing and intercession to bring a harvest of souls, healings, and deliverances in for His Kingdom! Remember Jesus’ words: “I came to give you life and give it to you in a more abundant way.”

Also, when people are facing difficult times, Paul encouraged us to pray this eye-opening prayer:

He said, “Pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being….” Ephesians 3:16

Who does not need strength and power operating in their inner man through His glorious riches paid for by Christ which are vast and unending? I sure do!

With this illuminating prayer in mind, could it be we have often prayed more about outward conditions and circumstances rather than zeroing in on asking the Holy Spirit to work through the inner man where strength and power through God’s glorious riches are needed first so that the magnanimous changes God desires for them can be manifest outwardly?

He did say it would be out of His glorious riches power and strength would come through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you!

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE:

When your prayers and intercession seem not to be working as quickly as you would like, even though something is actually happening behind the scenes when you pray faith-filled prayers, you can focus your mind on the following Scripture knowing God has already planned the perfect answer and perfect plan for them and you:

“For I know the plans I have for you (them), declares the Lord, plans to prosper you (them) and not to harm you (them), plans to give you (them) hope and a future!”  Jeremiah 29:11 Plans to PROSPER, give HOPE and a great FUTURE!

Pray as Paul asked us to pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his glorious riches of POWER and STRENGTH on those you love and pray for so they will be able to experience the love of Christ and his desires for them in all areas of life beginning from the inside out!

Pray it for yourself as well!

Amen…which means “So be it” in Jesus’ Name!

Diana

 

Major Blessings Follow Right Believing

 

MAJOR BLESSINGS FOLLOW RIGHT BELIEVING!

 

Scripture:  Mark 9:23-24

….Jesus said: “Everything is possible for one who believes.”  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

This is the story of a man who was feeling pain and frustration for the terrible situation his son was in. He obviously had heard about all the wonderful things Jesus was doing for the people around him, but the situation was so big in his own eyes that he was not convinced Jesus had the power or would even have compassion to help him out.

Jesus quickly let the man know it was not about His power or willingness to do something for him and his son, but the man’s faith!

Immediately after hearing Jesus’ words, the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief or help my weak faith!”

Just like the situations many of us go through and things we see going on around us, this man’s faith was shaken by what he saw, and he became conscious of his own inability to believe beyond what he was seeing happen to his son. But, praise the Lord, he got into faith that Jesus was willing and able and even had the boldness to ask Jesus to remove his doubt!

Jesus obviously honored that man’s prayer because when his believing got straightened out, immediately his son was set free! Jesus was happy to work with this man’s limited faith so that He could give him the miracle he needed!

Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him!”

That is a powerful promise for us today that the Lord absolutely rewards faith and Jesus took time to help straighten the man’s thinking out so he could receive what Jesus wanted for him all the time!

Jesus loved performing miracles and answering prayers and today is still looking for those that believe He will do what the Scriptures say He will do!

Following is another beautiful example of how important right believing is so that the blessings God has for His people can be received and enjoyed as opposed to being forfeited!

“Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”  Mark 6: 4 & 5

Look at that! We are talking about the Son of God, the living Word, walking among them, but people in his everyday sphere of influence forfeited miracles and blessings because of familiarity or judging things in natural ways. They were saying, “Oh, this is just the carpenter’s son, and we know all of his family; He is just like us!”

Often, we, as believers, can have similar experiences with family, friends, business associates, etc., because they do not understand that as born-again Christians, God, through the finished work of Jesus, now lives inside of us and has delegated to us the power and authority to use Jesus’ Name in prayers and declarations to help people. We know in Heaven there is no sickness, no confusion or strife or lack in any form! Jesus taught his disciples to pray that very prayer: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!”

It is very interesting that when Jesus’ family heard that he was going around healing people that were sick, casting out devils and also going throughout the countryside choosing His disciples, the Scripture says, “they went to take charge of Him saying, “He is out of his mind!” Mark 3: 10-21

The Apostle Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

It is, of course, also very interesting that after Jesus’ ascension to Heaven, His family, who originally thought He was out of His mind became believers in Him and His mission from God and followers of Christ!

In a similar way, just because people we are praying for or are sent to help, who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior yet, may think we are a “little off the wall” at times by things we say and do, we must keep on keeping on because when they do become believers they, more than likely, will be doing the same things we are doing!

The exciting news for us today is, as faith-filled believers in God’s promises, we can have assurance God watches over His Word to perform it! One important aspect of our faith is that while we are waiting for the answers to show up, we must purpose in our heart, ahead of time, not to let situations or circumstances steal our joy or our faith but keep a spirit of expectancy!

Always keep in mind, as well, “Delay is not Denial!”

Jesus came to proclaim and demonstrate His Father’s Will on earth and the Bible says, “He went about doing good and healing ALL that were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him!”   

He has now commissioned us to do the same:

Mark 16:15 … And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to EVERYONE….”

With all the bad news and confusion going on around the world, that we mostly learn about through media, focusing on the Gospel, the Good News, continues to be the way we release faith for God’s will, not man’s will, to be done in every area of life!

Luke 18:8 Jesus asked, “…. but when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?

Isn’t that incredible? Jesus is looking for faith, our faith!

In Matthew 24:12. Jesus stated that right before his return, “because lawlessness, (wickedness and iniquity) would multiply and abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

With that in mind, have you noticed how easy it is to get caught up in negative conversations which inflame emotions, steal your joy, etc.,  and before you realize it, you are agreeing with others about how bad things or people are when Jesus said: “IF YOU can believe (have faith) ALL things are possible!” 

The Apostle Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel for IT IS THE POWER OF GOD for salvation to everyone who BELIEVES…”

Romans 1:16

When we speak His Word in faith like the Apostle Paul did, God’s power goes to work to change situations! Paul was saying not to be ashamed to speak about the Gospel because he knew it had power to bring people to salvation through accepting Jesus as their Savior not only giving them everlasting life, but it would also cause faith to come for healing of their bodies and also it would build their faith for circumstances in their lives to change for the better if they would believe it and receive it!

Jesus was not ashamed when some did not believe! He just kept on doing what His Father had sent Him to do and those that believed received the blessings!

Putting It into Practice:

Remember the man in our lead Scripture who was totally honest with Jesus about the unbelief issue he was having but who did not want to stay in unbelief? Jesus quickly turned it around and boldly told him: “If YOU can believe, ALL things are possible to those who will believe.”

He then focused his faith on Jesus’ words and received the blessing he desperately needed for himself and his son!

Let us make a determination that so far as it depends on us, we will not allow unbelief to rob us of the major blessings we are believing God for!

Perhaps you might find it helpful to take yellow sticky sheets and write the most pressing prayer needs you have, together with Scriptures relating to God’s promises to meet those needs and put them where you can see them daily. This will help you build your faith because God is faithful to keep His Word!

Then, praise and thank God for the answers that are surely on the way!

Diana