Prayer is the Demolition of the Flesh

Prayer is the Demolition of the Flesh -CSN

Prayer is one of those kingdom instruments that can profoundly enrich and brighten our journey in life. It has the capacity to demolish both the material and the metaphysical. It can transform life and being. The blind cannot lead the blind. But prayer removes visionlessness. It can lead the blind into vision. In the school of prayer every participant or student becomes a creator of light. People who pray create new lifecycle for themselves by having an interface with the creator. Prayer endows them with the aptitude and the brightness to regulate the dark kingdoms of this world. Look at these kingdoms:

Intergalactic: sun, moon, stars, planets

Atmospheric Kingdom: Air, Fire, rain, cloud.

Animal Kingdom: eagle in the Air)

Water: Sea, Well.

Land kingdom: snakes, Lion.

Topographic Kingdom: Mountains

Plant Kingdom: Weed, Goat weed.

Atom Kingdom – germ like Diamond.

Subatomic Kingdom- Pryons.

Material Kingdom: chariots, sepulchre.

Abysmal Kingdom: demons, spirits.

Man Kingdom: Christians

The Bible proves that all these kingdoms are subject to man’s prayer and command. One can change his condition. You can change your friend’s situation. You can turn your enemies roughly about. You can transfigure your reality through fervent prayer.

Prayer transformed the face and clothing of Christ in Luke gospel 9:29. It is written that: ‘His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light’. Guess who appeared during the transfiguration-Moses and Elijah, the two superpowers who changed the world through prayer and fasting. The power of the law and the power of the prophets meeting in one place in Christ. The transfiguration idea marvels me and any spiritual mind will wonder at the outstanding trappings of this event. First, He took them to a high mountain. This is very significant. It points to the fact that prayer is an action that draws one closer to the heavens. It is symbolic of that conscious veracity of the presence of the almighty in the place of prayer. He is the one that made the universe, in his presence anything can be made or unmade. You can also remember that Moses always met him on the mountain. He is always at the high place. Prayer takes one to that place of dominion, that high place of his presence. The master said, ‘this can only be done through prayer and fasting’! What was He referring to? The termination of problems, challenges, sickness, fear, pain, lack and whatever!

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It is very essential to read what happened before the transfiguration on your own to understand the next phase of this essay.

Pope Benedict who just resigned from the papacy in his attempt to explain the embodiment of the transfiguration said that:

“On the mountain the three of them see the glory of God’s Kingdom shining out of Jesus. On the mountain they are overshadowed by God’s holy cloud. On the mountain—in the conversation of the transfigured Jesus with the Law and the Prophets—they realize that the true Feast of Tabernacles has come. On the mountain they learn that Jesus himself is the living Torah, the complete Word of God. On the mountain they see the 'power' (dynamis) of the Kingdom that is coming in Christ” (Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, p. 317).

An important aspect of the transfiguration is that He was praying during the process. The Greek term for ‘transfigured’ is well-known in English; from metamorphoo (pronounced meta-mor-phaw-o) from that we get our word “metamorphasis.” The word describes the complete change of the form and substance. For example, we use it to describe the change from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Here then we have a complete modification in the appearance or form of Jesus in the presence of the disciples. He now sparkles brighter than light, revealing His true glory to them. Your true glory cannot be in doubt, greed, injustice, quarrel, pride, occultism, and criticism but rather in prayer. What is interesting to note in this word study is that we have here the reverse of the theme of Philippians 2, the kenosis. There Paul says that Christ Jesus took on the form of a servant. Here, however, the Servant takes on the form of deity, revealing His glory. Today your glory must surface, in Jesus name. Amen.

His life of prayer gave Him that stentorian ability to change and also change circumstances at will. Jesus never prepared to heal anybody. He didn’t go to any healing school. The extemporaneity of all his miracles starting from changing water into wine in Galilee to curing Bartemeus of blindness shows how active his spiritual force was. Always, his flesh was submissive to His spiritual whims and caprices. In prayer the flesh dies, you forgive everyone, the merciful mind emerges, the name of Jesus appears on your forehead, and you are now bold in the presence of Adonai, the Elohim. Abraham introduced prayer in the morning, Isaac—in the afternoon, and Jacob added one at night. These are the patriarchs who existed before Jesus. Jesus took prayer very seriously as they did. And He is our perfect example. He transfigured while praying. While praying our circumstances can change.

Luke mentions several details about the transfiguration that the other evangelists do not:

a.       He observes that this happened while Jesus was praying.

2. He mentions that Peter and his companions "were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him." Who knows, they would have transfigured too.
3. He mentions that Peter made his suggestion to put up booths as Moses and Elijah were departing.

Trust Simon Peter, he enjoys activity and show. In fact he had to cut off one soldier’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane. My question is; why the ear? I know you should be laughing by now. His expertise as a cutter of Fishes came to play. But the point is that he missed the theme of the occasion. He was also the man who tried to walk on the sea and started sinking afterwards. The theme is that the nature of Jesus was absolutely numinous, a divinity corroborated by his life of prayer and fasting. He said that as He is so we are, but it is seriously dependent on prayer. Even your faith is dependent on your prayer. Because it is in prayer you hear from God. Faith comes from hearing from God. Not just in reading the bible alone. It is important to know that there are other people whose lives proved that prayer is a force more powerful than any power on earth:

-          Moses separated the red sea

-          Sun Stood Still before Joshua

-          Elijah commanded fire from heaven

-          Elijah stopped the rain

-          Beasts appeared at the behest of Elisha

-          Elisha turned a poisonous sea into drinkable water

-          Daniel was in charge of the Lions in the Den

-          Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego walked into fire and came out alive

-          Jesus walked on sea-

-          Changed water into wine

-          Jesus  multiplied fishes and Bread-

-          Changed a decayed corpse into a fresh living man

-          Jesus rose from the dead through the clouds

-          Peter walked through the walls

-          Paul and Silas walked out of prison

All these are prayer-propelled miracles that changed history. These are not magic, just the power of prayer. Prayer begins in the reverence and fear of God. The fear of God is the first stage of wisdom. Wisdom is the awareness of God. Awareness is the knowledge of his presence. In his presence is the fullness of Joy.  David the master of prayer and songs applauded God’s presence this way:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came [1] upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty [2] of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; [3] I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. (Psalm 27).

He also said ‘In his presence is fullness of Joy at His right-hand there are pleasures foreveromore’Psalm16:11. Remember this was a King who committed several evils and delinquencies- what of you? Have you done more than David? What do you think you have done that is separating you from communicating with God? Whatsoever you have done wrong either as a minister, a pastor, a Christian or whoever, just come back to Him in prayer. He can forgive, he can transform and change your destiny.

Create hours for praying and singing unto the lord. Remember Daniel? He prayed three times daily. In a strange land he became an administrator. Prayer can boost your dream and bring them into reality, Joseph is a perfect example. My time of prayer is 1pm and 1am. You can create your time. Sit down with your God and reason and share with Him. He can make all things beautiful if you can pray. You do not need to bring all the material needs to him in prayer. He knows them all. Come in thanksgiving and worship. Come in praise and reverence. With time you will realise that he has giving you all things to richly enjoy. Ask him and receive it immediately, and your joy will be complete. Ask Him in the name of Jesus, this is very important.

God is not the cause of the trouble in the world. Man is the cause of trouble. The world has been given to man. God is not the reason why people are suffering. God is standing at the door and knocking, open your heart in prayer and he will dine with you, and rebuild your life (Rev 3:20).

Have you noticed that after prayer there is a kind of joy and peace that envelops you? This is a sign of transfiguration. Prayer, Praise and worship can give you the hands-on ability to change the kingdoms of this world. When you pray you become a part of the Kingdom of Light. A place from where everything else could be controlled and accomplished. Prayer is a place of power. Very importantly prayer is the residence of love. Mark my words the very emblem of a prayerful Christian is MERCIFUL LIVING. My God father is a perfect example, may God bless Mr Innocent Ukaga for me. I have seen him pray. I have prayed with him. I have seen him love me like his child. My mum is another perfect example. Mummy, God will keep you for me: you taught me how to sing, love and pray the word. PRAYER makes you a lover, a giver, and a generous person. Any person who boasts that he prays yet do not care about the needs of others is only imitating Judas Iscariot.

Thank God you do not need any priest to pray.

Thank God you do not need any material to pray.

Thank God you do not need any wife or husband to pray.

Thank God you do not need any luxury to pray.

Thank God you do not need any book or mansion to pray.

Thank God you do not need any man to pray.

Just you, your time, your mind and your concentration, and His word and the Holy Ghost. All these are free gifts from God. Also there are several techniques of prayer -

The Hannah Technique: weeping and crying before God. Hannah practiced this in 1 Samuel 1:13. A prayer instigated by mockery of her family members due to her barrenness, yet led to the birth of Samuel the high priest.  According to the NIV rendition of 1 Samuel 1:13, “Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard”. David also cried unto God in Psalm 41:1, ‘I waited patiently for the Lord He turned to me and heard my cry’. But the fact is God heard both of them. Jesus practiced this before he raised Lazarus from the dead. The first time he wept in the bible (John 11:35). In fact, I believe that the process of Lazarus’ deliverance began when Jesus wept. Weeping is a form of prayer.

The Abrahamic Technique: Interacting with God. Listening to Him. He even answered God’s call (Hebrews 11:8 and Genesis 11:27 – 12:5)

The Psalm Technique: The children of Israel brought down the walls of Jericho through this technique. David got God’s attention through songs and psalms. Even Kings like Hezekiah as it was recorded in Chronicles 29:30 commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. Paul and Silas broke the prison chains through songs (Act 16:25).

 

The Petition Technique: The widow in Luke 18:1-10 continued pestering the king until He heard her. This is the kind of prayer Christians are praying about the problems of Nigeria and the mischievousness of political and religious leaders. The same prayer ousted Abacha. Keep telling God about your situation. He will surely answer you. Just continue, do not give up.

Service Technique: your work in your church is a form of prayer. As a sanctuary keeper, a preacher, a video man, an usher, a worker, name it, as you are doing these kingdom duties you are communing with God. To work is to pray. John the Baptist was the son given to Zachariah who worked in God’s temple. In Luke 1:13 because of his prayer of service God placed him in the plan of salvation. His son became the last prophet, who baptised our saviour and ushered Him into His redemptive ministry. Helping the needy is a form of prayer, it honours God: Proverbs 14:31 says, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God”. If your local church needs you, help them. If your brother needs you, help him.

The Jesus Technique: Lock yourself indoors, or go to lonely places and talk quietly with God. In fact, Jesus disliked the Pharisees that were very noisy in their prayer and yet never loved or respected God indeed. Jesus supported contemplative, meditative and quieter prayer:

a.       And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. (Luke 4:42)

b.      But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (Luke 5:16)

c.       And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

d.      He also preached command prayers. He cursed the fruitless fig tree and it dried up the next day (Mark 11:12-25). He commanded the demons to leave the paralytic and the insane.

Undeniably, prayer could be contemplative, meditative, or vocal. I suggest one should practice all as need be. Jesus is telling all of us today: “We ought always to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

Prayer demolishes the flesh and exalts the spirit in us.

God bless you as you pray and share this message of love.

Mercy Culture.