Prayer Cards - Prayers of The Saints

 

Revelation 5:8

When He had taken the scroll,

 the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders

fell down before The Lamb. 
Each one had a harp, 

and they were holding golden bowls full of incense,

which are the prayers of the saints. 

    So much going on in this verse, but we are centralizing today's study on the last five words: the prayers of the saints. With that thought in mind let us first see what denotes a saint. We cannot use the dictionary for this, as it is opposed to what a saint is according to the Bible/Scriptures. 

    Strong's Exhaustive Concordance describes "saint" as: unlike any other, different (distinguished/distinct), likeness of nature with The Lord because [it means] different from the world, set apart (for God)

    Are saints only in the New Testament? No. Saints are mentioned in the Old Testament, as well. Here in Daniel 7:18 "saints" refers to "the holy ones (of God)", they who are set apart for God's purpose because they have chosen to believe in and obey The God of Israel, Almighty God. Following this definition there were many saints spoken of in the Old Testament. This verse is Psalms tells us best:    

    Psalm 64:10  The righteous shall be glad in The LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory (exult).

    ~The people whom God has chosen for His own are not always saints. Too many times people reject God as their God. They refuse to obey His Will, will not acknowledge His Word and rebel against His Spirit. They set up their own gods (idols) to worship and pray to. They bring their gifts and offerings to empty nothingness and their prayers will not be heard by The True God, The Living God.~

    God chose to send His only Begotten Son into the world to save the world, the whole world not just parts of it. But we need to choose Him back. It is not enough to say, 'I believe in God', we must also choose to be obedient to His Word and listen to His Holy Spirit, Who will lead us on the path of holiness and transform us into levels of holiness until we meet God face to face. It's not an easy life path to walk, but it's definitely worth the effort. 

    John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in The Name of the only begotten Son of God." 

    -The saints of The Most High reject evil, and love The Lord - Psalm 97:10

    -The holy ones sit at His feet and receive His Word - Deuteronomy 33:3

    -The blessed of The Father will inherit a kingdom He has prepared - Matthew 25:34

    -The blameless have an inheritance that will last forever - Psalm 37:18

    -A kingdom and priests who serve God - Revelation 5:10

    -Priests of God and Christ over whom the second death 

    has no power - Revelation 20:6

    -Sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus - Galatians 3:26

    What are prayers? A subject we speak of almost everyday. Forty-seven days and counting so far. We have learned thus far that prayers are our vital source of communication with our God. We commune with Him. 

    Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (KJV) 

    Other versions translate this word 'commune' as: search my soul (NLT), mused (BSB), with my heart I conversed (BLB), meditate in my heart (ESV), think very carefully (NET Bible), consider in my heart (New Heart English Bible). 

    When we pray to our God, we don't always use words. In fact, it isn't always just us speaking to God from deep within in our hearts: His Spirit within us reaches out to the heart of God in His own voice. Romans 8:26 'In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness (infirmities). For we do not know how we ought to pray, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.' 

    The prayers of the saints are the prayers that have reached God's hearing, gotten His attention and are motivated by the love of God within us. We desire to see His kingdom come. We long to see our families, our friends, and our communities filled with the knowledge of saving grace through faith in The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ. 

    Our prayers move mountains, obstacles we sometimes see as impassable, but know and believe that our Lord will move for us through our faith in Him. That mustard seed faith that makes mountains move from one place to another (Matthew 17:20); that causes mountains to be wet and sunken under water (Mark 11:23). 

    Our prayers are constant (1 Thessalonians 5:17). From our waking to our resting, our hearts and our minds are focused on interceding for everyone. These prayers are not just for people we know, but people we don't know. We pray that the gospel message is delivered everywhere, that all may know The Name by which all men must be saved. 

    I am a saint. And I'm praying for you. 

NOT IN A HURRY - Will Reagan/United Pursuit

    

 

Prayer Cards - Urgent Prayer

 1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone.

   Prayer is an earnest, sincere desire to communicate with God. It's not about satisfying a greedy, licentious heart -- which said prayer could never reach God's ears -- but a wholeheartedly in love with our heavenly Father communication. Seeking His perfect will in every situation in which we have placed. 
    Here Paul is urging Timothy, and us, to urgently approach God with our petitions (deep personal needs), our prayers (faith-filled conversations rooted in faith that God will not only hear us, but answer us); our intercessions (interventions that align our hearts with God's perfect will), and thanksgiving (gratitude for God's grace and His many blessings which He bestows on us; worship and adoration for Who God Is). 
     And when we approach God to tell Him all of our deep personal needs and requests, it is not just for ourselves we are praying, it is for everyone. Not just our families, not just our friends, not just our acquaintances.
   But we pray for the strangers in our communities, for the enemy at our gates, for lost, the lonely, the grieving. We pray for our city's leadership, our county leadership, our state leadership, our country's leadership. We pray for lawmakers and law enforcers. We pray for doctors and nurses and emts. We pray for the people who have wronged us, for people we have wronged. 
   We pray for their salvation, the most urgent prayer request of them all. We pray Ephesians 3 over all of the people I have listed and any I may have inadvertently omitted. 
   What Scriptures or verse(s) do you use specifically when you pray the Scriptures? 

Thanks Be To God - - For Answering His Faithful People

 

Psalm 17:5, 6

5. My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. 

6. I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 8605

Prayer: intercession (praying for people to be aligned with God's will), supplication (praying for a specific need)

THE PATH OF THE FAITHFUL

~IS WELL LIT

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 6:23

For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

~IS OLD

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’

~IS GOOD

1 Kings 8:35, 36

35. When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,

36. then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.

~IS STRAIGHT

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

~IS LIFE

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

~IS HOLY

Isaiah 35:8

And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

~IS NARROW

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

PEOPLE OF PRAYER

WE ARE GOD'S DWELLINGPLACE/HOUSE/HOME

2 Corinthians 6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them, and will walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

Exodus 25:8

And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.

Leviticus 26:12

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

Jeremiah 31:1

"At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people."

John 14:23

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

PRAY FOR OURSELVES

Psalm 119:10

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. 

Psalm 119:45

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.

Psalm 143:1

A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.

Psalm 31:1

In You, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

James 5:15, 16

15. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Colossians 1:9

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN PLACES OF AUTHORITY

1 Timothy 2:1, 2

1. First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

2. for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Jeremiah 29:7

Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper."

PRAY FOR ENEMIES

Matthew 5:43-45

43. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’

44. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45. that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 6:28

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

GOD'S HOUSE

1 Corinthians 6:19

19. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 

20. You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Mark 11:17

Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

Isaiah 56:7

I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.

THE GOD WHO HEARS

Psalm 4:3

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.

Psalm 3:4

To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

Psalm 6:9

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

Dear God,

My God, my Father, clean out my heart and make me holy. Remove all unrighteousness from my heart, that I might live. I, too, would like to hear the words from you, saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Please help to walk the old path of Your testimony and Your Word: guide my steps and light the path wherein I am walking.

You are my Strength and my Refuge: Hide me in You. You are my Song and I love to sing Your praise. Strengthen my resolve and help me to stand upright in Your Word, neither wavering or doubting You, nor bending in the vanity of philosophies and theories. 

As these days draw to a close, keep Your people near, ever leading, ever guiding us, revealing Yourself every step of the Way in which we walk. You are my God and I am Your child. Let me not be found lacking in anything that You have desired for me.

And, Lord, thank You for saving, and filling, and being the Strength of, our children, our siblings, our parents and our friends; for saving, and filling, and Strengthening the strangers, the foreigners, among us. Thank You for opening the eyes of our enemies to the glories and wonders of Your grace. Save them, fill them with Your Spirit and Strengthen them in these last hours. Pour out Your Holy Spirit even more so upon our persecutors, tormentors, mockers and captors. Give them dreams and visions of Your mercy and grace. Keep calling them all to repentance and redemption through Your Son. For the conductor is giving his last call and the train is about to depart. 

In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,

Amen

HOUSE OF PRAYER by Eddie James

BREATHE by Eddie James

LET US PRAY by Steven Curtis Chapman

How To Pray For Our Leaders

 

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

These verses tell us how we should be praying for the authority and leadership of our nations, our states, our cities, our towns, our communities, our churches, our homes.

1. Petitions:

Pray for a specific need - a heart-felt deep personal need

2. Prayers:

Directed God-ward - both on an individual and congregational level: in a quiet place and in a meeting together place

3. Intercessions

Intervention led by God, marking intersection between heaven and earth as it reflects the Lord's specific will.

4. Thanksgivings

Thankfulness, gratitude for God's grace

With the end result being that we 'lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.' (verse 2)

Verses 3-4 denote why we should pray in such a manner, while verses 5-6 emphasize the omnipotence and sovereignty of God and His Mediator Jesus Christ.

Mediator: an arbitrator ("mediator"), guaranteeing the performance of all the terms stipulated in a covenant (agreement). A reconciler.

Romans 5:9-11 & Colossians 1:21-23

Reconciled by Christ Jesus through His death and His life

How can we love one another like Christ loves us, if we do allow the love of God through Christ Jesus to change us? We can't. Nor can we have faithful to God's Word leaders if we do not pray for them in this manner.

Self-love is not the way to a better life. A self-oriented lifestyle is not a God-oriented lifestyle. Submission to God is a wonderful way to live our lives. It is a life lived in joy. Even though trials and grief are a part of life, joy is still evident when we abide in Christ as He lives in us.

And so we pray for our leaders. We pray to God for His *good and acceptable will: *Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

* Romans 12:1

*Matthew 6:10