Posted on

Fortifying Prayer: The Power of the Holy Spirit

Even though this prayer meeting landed on Tax Day, that was not our topic. LOL!  This is actually the week before Easter Sunday.  If you have been praying along in order of the dates, you are aware that we are spending time “fortifying” the church which includes prayer for families and individuals.  Remember, fortifying is the act of strengthening against attack among other things.  We do this by coming together in a corporate environment (praying together in His name) and praying God’s Word in agreement.  This is the place of breakthrough for us…for you.

OUR TOPIC THIS WEEK…

If you pray with us this week, you will be coming into agreement with the Word of God concerning moving in the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit through us.  We prayed about the fact that it is God’s will to use us the way He used Jesus in the world.

1 John 4:17 (NKJV)
17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

In fact, Jesus was clear that we would do what He did because the Holy Spirit would be sent to fill us with the power to do it.

John 14:12-14 (NKJV)
12  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU SAW THAT VERSE?

These are such great verses that we used them in prayer as we began to fortify the church for the up-coming Easter weekend.  We want to be used by the Holy Spirit to help people, so we are asking and declaring what God has said is so.

We also prayed through the “gifts of the Holy Spirit”.  Here is that scripture if you would like to have the reference.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV)
7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

WE FINISHED UP WITH SOME SPIRITUAL WARFARE

As you get to the end of the prayer time, you will enter into some warfare.  Just pray that over you and your family…or your church.  We also declare the scriptures concerning Jesus’ victory over dark powers.  Here is one of the references.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV)
13  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

THESE VERSES ARE SOME OF THE MANY REASONS YOU CAN DO WARFARE

Basically, our warfare is not a new battle, it is a won war.  We are enforcing the victory that Jesus won on the cross and by the resurrection (the very thing we celebrate this coming weekend).  The darkness has been disarmed concerning you!  Are you a believer in Christ and a follower?  Then that means YOU!  Verse 15 uses the language of a triumphant entrance into a city after winning a war.  The winning king would drag the losing king through the streets of the city and humiliate them.  Jesus overcame the darkness on the cross and has humiliated those dark spirits thoroughly.  You LIVE in that victory.  YOU pray in the victory!  You ENFORCE all that Jesus accomplished.

I hope you will hang out with me in prayer.  If you like you can always join us on line with live stream.  Mondays 7 pm.  Gateway Church Midlothian, Tx.

Blessings,
lisa

© Copyright Lisa Swayze 2019

Fortifying Prayer Part 1

Fortifying Prayer Part 5

Posted on

Fortifying Prayer: Preparing the Way of the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NKJV)
10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It is obvious from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus that the many issues that face mankind are from a dark spiritual origin.  Yet I see many believers treat their walk as though everything else was the problem.  I am not saying that we don’t contribute to our troubles or that others cannot have a hand in the debacles of life, but what I am saying is, don’t underestimate your real enemy even if he is a defeated foe.

FORTIFYING THE CHURCH

Over the last several weeks, I have taken you through the process in a new (new to me) church that is hungry for the Holy Spirit to move among them.  They are hungry to grow because growth is synonymous with health.  Is it possible for these two things to occur?  Absolutely!

THIS PROCESS OF PRAYER WILL WORK FOR ANY SIZE CHURCH

I can’t remember the exact number but a great amount of churches in the United States are under 100 people.  Being small doesn’t mean you aren’t spiritual or effective in Christ any more that being large proves you are spiritual and healthy.  So, it’s not just about numbers, it is about spiritual health and spiritual health can increase numbers.

In order for a church of any size to have spiritual health, where Jesus is Lord of the house, there has to be prayer.  Prayer will help strengthen the church and fortify her for the battle that is coming, ready or not.

THE CORPORATE PRAYER EXPRESSION

The wonderful thing about being in the same room with others as we pray together, is the great partnership, we have with each other and with Jesus as the “boss of us”! We pray the Word of God and come into agreement and the church gets stronger.  We are literally armoring up.  We are fortifying for the good and health of the church (people).

DOES THE DEVIL TAKE IT LYING DOWN?

I personally believe the word of God is clear that the devil opposes God’s people, trying to confuse and thwart the plan of God in the earth.  The church (that is us) was designed as a point of great light and wisdom in the world that was to advance God’s eternal purpose.

Ephesians 3:10-11 (NKJV)
10  to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11  according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ENFORCE WHAT JESUS ALREADY SECURED!

The church (us) makes trouble for the enemy.   Prayer is at the basis of the church doing the supernatural and advancing the Kingdom of God.  Prayer as the church, causes our activity  to have a “kiss” on it.

THE TOPIC FOR THIS EVENING…

The Holy Spirit had talked to me about preparing the way of the Lord.  We used some of the scripture out of the Book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:3-5 (NKJV)
3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4  Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5  The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

THIS USES THE IDEA….

If a monarch was visiting a region, there would be those that went ahead of him and made a level road for easier passage leading to the city he was to visit.  So literally, mountains level and valleys brought up.  Crooked places were straightened and rough places were smoothed out.  There would be a “King’s Highway”.  The way was to be “prepared”.

THE CHURCH PRAYS AND PREPARES THE WAY OF THE LORD

We know that Jesus lives in us by the Holy Spirit.  At the same time, if we have attended church much at all, we have endured powerless and lifeless services, watch our clocks and listened to our stomachs growl!  Obviously, power and life doesn’t just automatically happen or it would be happening everywhere that is called “church”.  So, what are we to do?  We are to prepare the way (our Hearts) to hear and receive Him together.

HOW CAN WE PREPARE IN PRAYER? 

Some of the ways to prepare the church for a visitation of power is to pray about repentance.   It is part of this familiar verse…

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

There are several others you will pray about with me.

AS YOU PRAY THOUGH THIS VIDEO WITH ME

If you decide to pray through this video with me, you will hear what I call a teaching moment.  We were maybe 15-20 minutes in when I stop and talk about it.

SOMETHING DARK CAME INTO THE PRAYER MEETING

I don’t know if you will feel it through the video, but a number of minutes into the prayer meeting, things got distracting.  Everything starts feeling weird or awkward.  I felt it when it happened.  Many times, people in the prayer meeting may not realize what is happening.  Everything that is demonic doesn’t always snarl and growl.  Sometimes they come in what sounds like your own voice and try to distract.  They may say things like “She doesn’t know how to lead” or “You don’t know how to pray!”  The thoughts of “Why did I come to prayer?” goes through your mind and the atmosphere feels off.

You will hear me talk to the intercessors and tell them what was happening.  I showed them what to do.  I think it will help you if you decide to pray along.

YOU ARE DANGEROUS!

When you walk with Jesus, you are dangerous.  You are even more dangerous when you walk with each other.  No wonder the devil works so hard to divide and conquer.  When we pray together and agree with God’s Word supernatural help comes to us.  We walk taller, stronger, more efficient and fall in love with each other.

The devil is defeated but he is out for damage in the short time he has left before being put in a pit.  Most people are content in their walk to do damage control.  We cannot do damage control alone.  Why not catch damage before it happens.  To do that we need to take up the spiritual weapons that have been given to us and use the authority Jesus gave us.  Jesus won the victory and we are called to partner with Jesus and enforce His victory in the earth.

As we pray on the video, you will hear the exercising of some of the spiritual weapons that helps us do this.    Put the name of your church or family in those prayers.  You will be fortifying your family and church in the area of “preparing the way of the Lord”.  Pray with me an hour.   You can do this!!

Blessings!
lisa

© Copyright Lisa Swayze 2019

Fortifying Prayer Part 1

Fortifying Prayer Part 4