CENTRAL THOUGHT
Believers should pray always and not lose hope.
HYMN: Spirit divine attends our prayers.
TEXT: MATT 26:36-46, 1 THES.5:17, HAB.2:3
INTRODUCTION:
Prayer is a very important aspect of Christian living. Jesus demonstrated this throughout His earthly ministry, thus leaving us an example to follow. In the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed so earnestly that His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground Luke 22:44.
In this lesson we will be looking at some areas in which we require travailing prayer in our warfare with the devil.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
- To identify areas in which we need travailing prayer.
- To identify also some situations in life when it appears as if answers to a Christian prayer is delayed and encouragement to give in such situation.
- To discover some of the things that will help in our prayers.
BIBLE TRUTH
QUESTION 1.) DISCUSS SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THAT DEMAND TRAVAILING PRAYER.
The following are some of the areas we need to travail in prayers.
a. THOUGHT (PRO. 4:23, 2 COR.10:5).
Believers should not forget that the main battle field where the devil fights us most is our mind. He inspires evil thoughts, confusion, doubts, fear, despair, discouragement etc. A child of God should not allow his heart to be where devil operates anything he likes. Our hearts should always be guided in prayers to ward off any intrusion.
b. ANXIETY: PHIL.4:6, MATT.6:25-34.
Anxiety means worry. Most often the devil uses this as strategy to wear a believer out, presenting the catalog of needs of life all the time-what to eat, what to drink, wear, bills to pay, etc. all in attempt to make a child of God violate the word of God which says in Matt.6:25-34, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat….”
The believer should resist steadfastly the spirit of cares of this life in his prayers.
Matt.6:34 says “take no thought for tomorrow,” vs, 32B…. for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Be vigilant and trust God for your daily provision.
c. TRIALS AND TEMPTATION:
PS.34:19, 1 COR.10:13, MATT.26:41.
The time of trials and temptation is not the time to abandon prayers, neither is it the time to give in or surrender to Satan. The devil is never a friend; he wants to lure a believer to sin, thereby making him to deviate from God and His word. Remember that he is always eager to get his threefold mission fulfilled (to steal, to kill and to destroy. Jn.10:10).
The Bible says in 1 Pet.5:8-9, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion…
The believers should in times like this resist the enemy through travailing prayers.
d. THREATS BY THE ENEMY AND HIS AGENT: MK.16:17, PHIL.2:10, ACTS 4:29 -30, DAN.6:10
The devil can threaten a child of God in different ways; threats of death, accidents, termination of appointment, divorce etc. The believer should not at this time allow himself of herself be swallowed up in fear. Remember whom you are (son of God, joint heir with Christ etc.), power and authority have been bestowed on you by God.
The word of God in Lk 10:19 says “ behold I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpion…
So do not be intimidated by any threat from any angle. Pray authoritatively, believing in your prayers all the time and see that the story will change.
e. SICKNESS: (MARK 16:18, JAMES 5:14-15)
There is nowhere in the Bible that sickness and suffering are stated as being the will of God for mankind. Their source is Satan the devil. At times sickness lingers and defies all medical attention. Brother Job is a good example. Job suffered affliction to the extent that his own wife desired his death. In spite of all these Job did not curse God, instead he gave glory to God and at last he was fully restored. If you have a lingering problem, travailing prayer will bring the victory.
QUESTION 2.) IDENTIFY SOME OTHER SITUATIONS IN LIFE WHEN IT APPEARS AS IF AN ANSWER TO A CHRISTIAN’S PRAYER IS DELAYED AND WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT SUCH A CHRISTIAN CAN DERIVE FROM THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES.
JER.29:11, PS.37:37, HAB.2:3.
The following are some other situations in life when it appears as if an answer to Christian’s prayer is delayed.
(A). DELAYED PREGNANCY / MARRIAGE:
There are some of our brethren (who are married) who till now are still believing God for the fruit of the womb. Brethren like this should still hold to the word of God in Ex.23:26, Deut.7:14 tenaciously. He stands by His word to bring it to pass. Delay is not denial in pregnancy or marriage; do not take short-cut to cause it to materialize.
God’s time still remains the best time for a believer in every thing and in all situations. This calls for travailing in prayers.
(B). UNEMPLOYMENT
Your own case may be joblessness. Since God does not encourage laziness and idleness He will make provision for you, if you remain faithful to Him. Be patient, God has good thoughts about you, He will give you a good job in a good place.
QUESTION 3.) DISCUSS HOW THE FOLLOWING COULD HELP US PERSEVERE IN PRAYER
(A) REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT FELLOWSHIP PRO.27:17
In fellowships, God does talk to His children through exhortation, messages, song ministration etc. Messages derived from the above have a long way in helping one in situations that needs God’s intervention.
Also God honors corporate prayers made during fellowships.
(B). PATIENCE/HOPE: ISA.40:31, ROM.8:23-25
A child of God must exercise patience in any unfavorable situation he or she finds himself or herself. Isa.40:31 states that those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…The believer should realize that time of trials and temptation etc. is never a time of enjoyment, battle line is drawn between the individual and the enemy, and so he/she must travail and persevere until the battle is won. It is not the time to lose hope or faint.
(C ) ABSOLUTE TRUST IN THE LORD PROV. 3:5 STATES:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
A believer at this time should absolutely trust in the Lord. God is the source of our strength. He has promised to see us through in all situations of life. God has promised not to leave and not forsake us.
(D) THE WORD OF GOD.
The believer should look out for the promises of God in His word concerning the situation and pray along with those promises. God respects and honors His word. The Psalmist says “ Forever oh Lord; your word is settled in heaven”.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
1 Thess. 5:17 says: “pray without ceasing”. When faced with tough situations resolve to travailing prayers. Pray until something happens. It is not time to give up, not the time to run from pillar to post, not the time of listening to ungodly counsels, etc. but the time to persevere in prayers and take the bull by the horns, Satan trembles at a kneeling knee. Remember that God still has good plans for us. So, maintain absolute trust in Him. He will surely answer. Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed through in Gethsemane; we cannot afford to do less.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 Thess. 5:17.
“Pray without ceasing”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
Mon: SUBDUE THOUGHT, ANXIETY THROUGH PRAYERS. 2 Cor.10:5; Matt.6:25-34.
Tue: IN TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS, PRAY.
1Cor. 10:13; Matt.26:41.
Wed: RESORT TO PRAYERS IN THE FACE OF THREATS. Dan.6:10; Acts.4:29-30.
Thu: TRAVAILING PRAYER BRINGS VICTORY. Mark.16:18; James.5:14-15.
Fri: HOLD TO HIS PROMISES WHEN TRAVAILING IN PRAYERS. Jer.29:11; Ps.37:34; Hab.2:3
Sat: WAIT ON THE LORD!
Isa.40:31; Rom.8:23-25.