PREAMBLE:

To achieve greatness in God’s kingdom, there are essential truths that every believer must understand. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul speaks about "milk" and "meat," where "meat" symbolizes deeper teachings meant to mature believers. A lack of understanding or ignorance in these areas will continue to produce weak and immature believers.

To aid our understanding, consider this checklist:

i. The act of prayer

ii. How to access light from scripture – derive profit from the scripture.

iii. How to term the flesh – the dynamics of living above the flesh.

iv. Understand the structure of the kingdom – how God built the kingdom to function.

v. To know how to access help from the realm of the spirit and from the earth.

vi. The act or dynamics of spiritual warfare, kingdom service.

vii. The principles that make you relevance to this world.

viii. Wholesome spirituality – a general knowledge of the Bible (Knowing God accurately – reference message)

ix. The plan of salvation.

ANCHOR SCRIPTURES: Luke 18:1 – 7. Jeremiah 29:12, Acts 2:42

INTRODUCTION

Prayer is a universal practice, recognized in every religion and essential to believer’s life. Prayer played a crucial role in Jesus’ victories throughout his earthly work, and the early church under the Apostles wroth tremendous works through the ministry of prayer. Acts 6:4. The Bible consistently encourages believers to pray: Mark 11:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and James 5:13 all call us to “pray without ceasing.”

Many movements of God are hindered for lack of prayer. Absence of – or inconsistent prayer life is primarily responsible for lack of spiritual power.

The primary purpose of prayer is not merely to achieve immediate results, but to mortify the desires of the flesh, helping us grow beyond selfish pursuits and deepen our alignment with God’s will.

What Happens When We Pray Consistently.

1. Our Spirits are quickened to discern. Consistent prayer sharpens our spiritual senses, allowing us to discern clearly. Philippians 4:6-7.

2. We receive the prophetic blueprint for every season. Through prayer, God reveals his plans for each season of our destiny. Destiny is a summation of different seasons. This revelation is essential for moving to the next level in God’s purpose for us. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

3. We receive direction for the next level. Isaiah 30:21. Prayer opens us up to divine guidance. Knowing where to go and how to proceed is critical, as life’s pace is aligned with our clarity of direction. Never take a significant step without seeking divine insight. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Guidance shows us not only the way but also shields us from temptations.

4. We stand against spiritual forces opposing our destiny. Ephesians 6:12. Prayer is also a means of spiritual warfare, helping us resist demonic forces that hinder our progress. The enemy targets believers because he perceives God’s promises over our lives. 1 Timothy 6:12, Luke 22:31-32.  

5. We schedule the needed help for every season. Acts 9:10-15. Prayer positions us to receive timely helpers through the negotiation of God, who is the commander of all spirits.

6. We build capacity that qualify us for greater glory. Ephesians 3:16. Through prayer, we develop spiritual strength that qualifies us for more significant kingdom responsibilities. Without growth, there is a limit to what God can trust us with. 1 Corinthians 14:13-14.

What happens when we do not pray

1. We become spiritually weak. Without consistent prayer, we lose spiritual strength and resilience, as highlighted in Luke 18:1, where Jesus encourages us to pray so we do not “faint”.

2. We are vulnerable to spiritual and physical death. Prayer serves as protection, but when we don't pray, we risk spiritual and also physical deterioration. In John 10:10. We see the Thief (Satan) who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. In the absence of prayer, we leave ourselves unguarded, allowing gradual harm and eventual death by the Thief.

3. We fail to birth prophecy into reality.  Prophecies are like seeds that rest on the womb of time to manifest. Prophecies are nurtured through prayer until they become our reality. Isaiah 68:8.

Conclusion

In light of these truths, Luke 18:1 reminds us that “men ought always to pray and not to faint.” Consistent prayer sustains, protects us, and enables the fulfilment of prophecies in our lives.