What Tools Do You Need to Pray for Others?

Today, we are going to examine some tools that are declared for us in the Word to God to help us with our prayer lives. The Lord did not just leave us on our own in these matters. The Word of God contains distinct prayer principles that we should become acquainted with. You know your enemy has some tools as well. Tools that will hinder your prayer endeavors. One gentleman said that he read once that the Devil was having a yard sale, and all of his tools were marked with different prices. They were a fiendish lot. There was hatred, jealously, deceit, lying, pride—all at expensive prices. But over to the side of the yard on display was a tool more obviously worn than any of the other tools. It was also the most costly. The tool was labeled, DISCOURAGEMENT. When questioned, the Devil said, “It’s more useful to me than any other tool. When I can’t bring down my victims with any of the rest of these tools, I use discouragement, because so few people realize that it belongs to me.”¹ The enemy uses discouragement as a tool especially when answers to prayer are not manifesting as fast as we think they should. Of course, it’s easy for us to have opinions on such matters. This is where the Word of God helps us. And that’s why we are focusing today on “What Tools Do You Need to Pray for Others” all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Praying for the rulers and leaders of your nation is both right and pleasing in the sight of God. Make a quality decision to do just that.

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Question: How has the Lord used you to pray for government officials? Share your story in the comments section below.

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For more teaching on the book of John, please click on the links below to listen to some of those podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Prayer

Well again, welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God thank that you have not left us alone in this prayer area. We are not left to our own wits to understand but you have shown us your workings and your ways. They are clearly laid out for us. Help us today to see. Help us to know. We commit to being a doer of your Word in Jesus Name, Amen.

Prayer Tools: A Checklist

1 Timothy 1:18 – 2:4 (ESV) — 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

There are some tools you need to have success in praying for Kings and all who are in authority.
I call them tools but you can call them a mindset.
Some just pray — they head out praying — they think saying a few words to God is all that they need to do.
They remind me of this story of Charlie Brown.
And with that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

Charlie Brown was in the backyard with his bow and arrow and he is having target practice. He pulls back the string and lets the arrow fly. Bang, it sticks to the fence. No matter where the arrow sticks in the fence, Charlie takes a marker and draws a target around that arrow. He lets another arrow fly and it sticks in a different place on the fence and he takes a marker and draws a target around that arrow. On and on it goes, one arrow after the other. That is until Lucy comes out. Lucy sees all these targets all over the fence and she says “Charlie Brown, that’s not the way you do target practice.” Charlie Brown says, “I know, but if you do it my way, you’ll never miss.“

Some people do prayer this way.
They shoot off a prayer request and draw a target around it and then go ahead and convince themselves that they hit the mark.
Can I tell you that there is a better way to pray and get results?
Here four tools or four mindsets that will help you hit God’s target.
The bulls-eye He wants you to hit.

Prayer Tools: Be Faith Minded

Number one, you must have be ‘Faith Minded.’
Before you think prayer — think faith.
Think trusting God before saying stuff to God.
You know Hebrews 11:6 is just as true today as it has always been.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Getting results is pleasing to God and it takes faith to be pleasing.
Notice the message of Hebrews 11:6.
He who comes to God must believe that He is.
What does that have to do with with praying for kings and all who are in authority that we might have a quiet and peaceable life?
What it should mean is that you believe God exists and that He is the ultimate ruling authority.

Daniel 2:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

So, get it now.
God sets up kings and removes them.
He does it with wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
And since I believe that He is and that He told me to pray for kings and all who are in authority, I know, I trust, I have faith that He is working His plan among these same rulers in answer to the prayer He told me to pray.
If the first prayer tool is to be faith-minded, and you also know that Romans 10:17 is also so.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) — 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Then you must be Word of God minded to be faith minded.
Hearing the Word produces faith.
You can’t get faith without the Word so to have success in prayer, you must go Word first.
Now, what that means is several things.
One, have a verse of scripture that covers your case.
Two, cling to a Bible promise with tenacity having done all to stand.
Tenacity means it doesn’t matter what it looks like out in the natural world because you know that the spiritual is greater than the natural because the spiritual created the natural.
Saying it again, you must cling to a Bible promise.
What promise are we clinging to as we are praying for kings and all who are in authority?

2 …that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The promise is a quiet and peaceable life.
The reason for the promise is so that people can come to Jesus.
That’s what we’re holding to — that’s what we are believing for.
I’ve heard a few people say, “If the election doesn’t turn out like I want it to, I’m leaving the country.”
Some folk have left the country.
Why are you leaving? — why are they leaving? — they’re scared it’s going to get crazy.
That just goes to show you where their faith is — their faith is in crazy not in a quiet and peaceable life.
People that leave the country, leave the promise behind.
Leaving the country also means leaving the souls that need to come to Jesus via this quiet and peaceable life behind.
Could all of this mean that these folk probably never believed or held to God’s Word to start with?
That they were just out there shooting arrows like Charlie Brown?
Did you get that?
God is a prayer answering God but He needs you to hold to His promise — His Word.
So, you see, there is no two ways about it.
You need your Bible to pray to be effective.
You see, you wouldn’t even know that you need to pray if it wasn’t for your Bible.
You wouldn’t even know that you can pray to your Father in heaven if Jesus hadn’t prayed ‘Our Father which art in heaven’ in Matthew six.
You wouldn’t know you could even come to God if Hebrews four didn’t tell you that you could come boldly to the Throne of Grace and mercy to help in the time of need.
Prayer tool number one is to be faith-minded.

Prayer Tools: Be Led by the Spirit Minded

Prayer tool number two is to be led by the Holy Spirit-minded.

Romans 8:26–27 (ESV) — 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit working inside of you is understood now because you know that the Holy Spirit is in you.
We saw that in John 14.
We also understand from Romans 8 that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
So, naturally because the Spirit of God is inside of us, we must look to Him to give us direction in prayer.
In the absence of direction, you know the scripture says to wait on the Lord.
Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart — wait I say on the Lord — that’s Psalm 27:14.
You know to hold up God’s Word before Him.
This is a running thing with you.
You do this all the time.
It’s your MO.
You see if the Spirit of God is leading you, He knows where the bulls-eye is that He wants you to hit.
We have to remember that the body of Christ is huge.
There are many members — tons of members — billions of members.
The Holy Spirit is in all of them.
He, the Holy Spirit will divide to each member of the body as He wills.
He will give this person in this state, in this city, in this country a piece to pray out.’
On and on — who’s keeping track of all these pieces?
There’s a lot of people and a lot of pieces.
God is keeping track.
Jesus said ‘all your hairs are numbered.’
Well, that’s impressive.
If God can keep track of your hairs, can’t He track of who’s praying what and why?
He has the picture — He has the puzzle.
What’s the picture on the puzzle box that He is building?
What does it look like?
It’s the Second Coming of Jesus!
We need to pray for Kings and all who are in authority because it’s all part of the Second Coming.
When I say, we need to pray, you understand we need to pray via the leadership of the Holy Spirit — not Charlie Brown aim and fire.

Prayer Tools: Be Dominion-minded

Prayer tool number three is to be dominion-minded.
Going back to the Word of God now in Ephesians.
These sets of verses are key to understanding the authority of the believer.
So, here’s the thing: Jesus gave you authority: you means every believer.

Ephesians 1:16–21 (ESV) — 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

What is Paul, by the Spirit of God, communicating to us?
First item he wants us to know is that Jesus rose from the dead.
Secondly, God raised Jesus not only from the grave but beyond the grave all the way to Heaven’s Throne to sit at His right hand.
If we use the example of a building here, than hell was the basement.
The grave was just the first floor.
God’s right hand? — that’s the penthouse.
This elevation of Jesus to the penthouse — to the Throne of God wasn’t just about giving Him some status — you know a fluffy title.
No, there’s real power, real dominion at work here.
The Throne of God is power central.
Jesus was raised to sit at the right hand of power and, not just sit there but to function there with power and dominion.
So, this raising of Jesus has real meat on its bones so to speak.
You may have heard that expression.
It is a functional thing — a power piece — an authority piece.
Notice He was raised…

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Jesus was raised far above five categories, groupings, or types of beings: rule, authority, power, dominion, and every named name on Planet Earth.
Every living thing in the world of men and angels comes under one of these five categories.
Let’s define them.
And, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
Let’s just go on and make this word plural and call them — Definitions of the Day because there are four of them we want to look at.

Prayer Tools: Rule

First, there is the Greek word for ‘rule’ which means rule – an authority figure who initiates activity or process.²
In the KJV, this word is translated as ‘principality.’
Archē is the Greek word and it is used of angelic powers good or bad.³
So, right here with the first word, we see that God raising Jesus to the penthouse — to the Throne of God means He is far above all the angelic hosts.
But that’s not where it ends.
There is more.
Jesus is also above all authority, power, and dominion.
Let’s look at those words.

Prayer Tools: Authority

‘Authority’ is the Greek word ‘exousia’ which means potential to command, control, or to govern.
So, now we’re talking governing power or authority that’s been delegated.
You know police use exousia — they have governing power that’s been delegated to them.
Jesus is far above any authority that’s been delegated out no matter who delegated it, angels or human.
He is higher than all governing delegated power.

Prayer Tools: Power

The next word in the list is the word power.
Jesus is far above all power.’
‘Dunamis’ is the Greek Word here — it is inherent power — it’s the power that works miracles — we’re talking might, strength or force.
It is the ability to carry out something.⁴
You know the armies of the earth will gather together against the Jesus the Messiah when He returns.

Revelation 19:11–13, 19 (ESV) —11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God… 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.

The Beast and the armies of the Kings of the earth, with their capability in advanced weapons technology, will gather together against Jesus.
But Jesus is far above all of that and He will prove it.

Revelation 19:20 (ESV) — 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Prayer Tools: Dominion

Then the last word is dominion and it means ruling power or lordship.
So, when we say Jesus is Lord — that means He is Lord over all as well as your Lord.
Now, you must read this verse in Ephesians two.

Ephesians 2:6 (ESV) — 6 and raised [us up with] him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

So this place where you have been raised up to sit with Jesus in heavenly places far above all rule, authority, power, dominion and every name that is named is the place you pray from.
Dominion is absolutely a tool you use a lot in prayer.

Prayer Tool: Understanding Kings

Here’s the last prayer tool we want to look at today and that’s an understanding of kings.
You remember we are praying for kings and for all who are in authority that we lead a quiet and peaceable life — a life that makes bringing people to Jesus easier.
In the Bible, there are three different kinds of kings.
First, there are godly kings, that is, kings that are born again and know God.
Two, there are ungodly kings, that is kings who are not born again and are not thinking about giving their hearts to Jesus.
These kings do not know God and don’t want to.
Third, there are moral kings, kings who are decent people and want to do the right thing where people are concerned but they are either not sure about God or think that because they are moral people that’s all they need.
These kings do not know Jesus either.
Now, here’s what we need to know.
God uses all three of these kinds of kings to fulfill His plan and purpose.

Godly Kings

An example of a godly king is David.

Acts 13:21–23 (ESV) — 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.

Do you hear the words he raised up David to be their king?
The words ‘raised up’ means to cause to come into existence, raise up, bring into being⁵
Raised up means God exerted His power.
In David’s case, God flexed His muscles to promote a shepherd boy who was the lowest in his family to the be King over the greatest God-fearing nation of his day, Israel.
This word raised up is the same word used to raise someone up from sickness to health.
It takes power to do such things.
So, David is an example of a godly king, a man who knew the Lord.

Moral Kings

Next, let’s look at moral kings.
Good people in an earthly sense — emphasis on earthly.
In other words, people who don’t understand that there are only two families on Planet Earth — God and the devil.
You know either you love God or you don’t, there is no middle ground.
So, moral kings, the second kind of king that you will be praying for.
A Bible example of this kind of King is Cyrus.

Isaiah 44:24–25, 28 (ESV) — 45:1–3 — 24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, 25 who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish… 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ ”

Now this purpose is laid out for us in the very next chapter.

Isaiah 45:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.

Ungodly Kings

Next, let’s look at ungodly kings.
Do you think God uses ungodly kings?
Let’s see what the Bible says.

Romans 9:17 (ESV) — 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Now, Pharoah is not the only example of an ungodly king.
Look at what Paul wrote here in Romans thirteen.

Romans 13:1 (ESV) — 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

The guy Paul is talking about here is Nero.
You know Nero was a nut job.
Yet, there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
So, here’s the sum total.
We as believers have no business not praying for the person that’s in office.
They may not have been our choice.
We might even have some deep feelings about what they stand for.
But, here’s the question.
Are you understanding that God uses kings — three different kinds of kings?
He uses them all and is using them for one reason to bring Jesus back a second time.
So, don’t judge them — don’t get be disrepectful to them — God set them up for a reason.
Work with the plan of God and not against it.

Now Father God, we pray right for the rulers and leaders of our nation. Give them wisdom in the inner parts. Help them to draw on that wisdom so that the will of God might be worked out in Jesus coming back again. We give you all the praise and glory for it in Jesus name, Amen.

What Tools Do You Need to Pray for Others.
You guys have a great God week and we’ll see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Are You Sure You Know What the Gospel Is?

__________
References:

John Yates, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 110, Hodge, ed., Today’s Best Illustrations, vol. 1–4, Today’s Best Illustrations (Christianity Today International, 1997) ↩
BDAG ↩
Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 55. ↩
William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 263. ↩
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 271. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

What Tools Do You Need to Pray for Others?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Eleven Episode Forty-Seven

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

For more teaching on the book of John, please click on the links below to listen to some of those podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Prayer Tools: A Checklist

Prayer Tools: Be Faith Minded

Prayer Tools: Be Led by the Spirit Minded

Prayer Tools: Be Dominion-minded

Prayer Tools: Rule

Prayer Tools: Authority

Prayer Tools: Power

Prayer Tools: Dominion

Prayer Tool: Understanding Kings

Godly Kings

Moral Kings

Ungodly Kings

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

For more teaching on the book of John, please click on the links below to listen to some of those podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Prayer Tools: A Checklist

Prayer Tools: Be Faith Minded

Prayer Tools: Be Led by the Spirit Minded

Prayer Tools: Be Dominion-minded

Prayer Tools: Rule

Prayer Tools: Authority

Prayer Tools: Power

Prayer Tools: Dominion

Prayer Tool: Understanding Kings

Godly Kings

Moral Kings

Ungodly Kings

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