The source of our power in prayer is twofold: the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We build ourselves up in faith when we confess the Word of God. We experience greater confidence when we understand the Word and walk in revelation.
Before we can pray effectively, we must be saved. The new birth is a necessity. We also need the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Are you born again? Do you know beyond a doubt that you are saved? In addition, we must live holy lives that are submitted to the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to walk in the Spirit. This will assure us of continual victory and breakthroughs for others. Jesus cast out devils through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28). The Holy Spirit was the source of His power and wisdom. The tool that plugs us into the power source is prayer. Prayer connects us to God and allows His power to flow to us in any situation.
Prayers that teach us how to plug into the power source—God’s Holy Spirit and God’s Word—are not for religious people. They are not religious prayers that begin to work when someone recites them. These prayers are for born-again believers who desire to see the growth of the kingdom of God.
God Will Teach You How to War
We are told to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). We walk and war in His strength through prayer. This requires humility and total dependence on God. We are not confident in our own strength. We cannot allow pride to open the door for destruction.
The Lord is a man of war (Exod. 15:3). He will fight our battles. We depend on His power and direction. We depend on His Word and His Spirit. Our dependence is born out of humility. We know that God gives grace to the humble.
The Lord is the strength of my life. This gives me the ability to overcome all fear. I will put my trust in Him. Trusting God was the key to David’s victories. David was a king who lived in Old Testament times and knew how to depend on the Lord. David won many battles and overcame all his enemies.
The Lord taught David how to war (Ps. 144:1). He will also teach you how to war. You must depend on Him. I and my ministry team have learned to pray from years of warring and trusting in God. God taught us how to war using His Word. The Holy Spirit opened our eyes to great truths, and we are still learning through experience. We know that if we call upon the Lord, He will show us great and mighty things.
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. A sword is used in war. The Lord will teach you how to use this sword. You will use it against the spiritual enemies of your soul. You will see great victories as you use it correctly. The Word of God is our source of wisdom. We operate in God’s wisdom to defeat the powers of hell.
Confessing the Word of God is an important part of every believer’s spiritual life. Christianity is called the great confession. Salvation comes from confessing with the mouth. The mouth is connected to the heart. The Word of God released from your mouth will be planted in your heart. Faith is released from the mouth. The mouth can release only what is in the heart. Faith in the heart that is released through the mouth can move mountains.
God is the source of all our victories and breakthrough. He is the source of our wisdom and strategies. His Word is the source for our understanding of the warfare in which we are involved. Our warfare originates in the heavens. We bind what is already bound in the heavens. We loose what is already loosed in the heavens. God has illuminated many Scriptures to us over the years as we have been involved in deliverance and warfare. These Scriptures have been invaluable in helping us experience breakthrough.
The Word of God is a treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge. It contains an abundance of revelation for every believer. Every believer who desires to enjoy liberty and victory must take time to study the Word of God and ask for revelation. Revelation is the key to authority in prayer.
God has promised to make us joyful in the house of prayer (Isa. 56:7). God’s house is called a house of prayer for all nations. I believe we should not only pray but also enjoy praying. Prayer should yield an abundance of miracles and rewards. Those who enjoy the results of prayer will enjoy an exciting life. {eoa}
The preceding is an excerpt from John Eckhardt’s book Prayers That Rout Demons (Charisma House, 20087). For more information or to purchase the book, please visit mycharismashop.com.
Apostle John Eckhardt is overseer of Crusaders Ministries, located in Chicago, Illinois. Gifted with a strong apostolic call, he has ministered throughout the United States and overseas in more than forty nations. He is a sought-after international conference speaker, has authored more than twenty books and produces a daily radio broadcast. His television program Perfecting the Saints is seen weekly throughout the United States on the WORD Network. Eckhardt resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Wanda, and their five children.
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