Power of Prayer

Introduction to Prayer and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's Teachings

Prayer, in the Christian tradition, stands as a cornerstone for an intimate relationship with God. It serves as a vital communication channel through which believers express their adoration, gratitude, supplications, and confessions to their Creator. The significance of prayer transcends mere ritual; it is an essential practice that fosters spiritual growth and fortifies one’s faith. For Christian believers, a robust prayer life is often synonymous with a victorious Christian life, characterized by peace, wisdom, and divine intervention in one's affairs.

Renowned televangelist and spiritual leader, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, places profound emphasis on the power and necessity of prayer within Christian living. His teachings have consistently underscored how prayer can transform lives, realign destinies, and manifest God’s promises. Through his sermons, books, and global prayer initiatives, Pastor Chris illuminates the multifaceted nature of prayer, urging believers to engage in consistent, heartfelt communion with God.

PRAYER

Focusing on two Messages preached: "The Benefits of Prayer" and "The Importance of Prayer." Additionally, we will touch upon insights from the book How to Pray Effectively, Volume One. For the complete teachings, please visit https://pcdl.co/.

The Benefits of Prayer

As Christians, we are called to live in victory, even in the midst of life's storms. Prayer is not just about what we say, but also about our meditation and seclusion. When possible, take time to withdraw from distractions to pray. However, prayer can also be done while engaged in other activities, such as driving.

Life is spiritual, and to avoid frustration, we must operate from the realm of the Spirit. The Bible tells us that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, but if they do, the problem lies with us, not with God. We must stay where we are meant to be—living in victory, even during storms. Jesus spoke to the storm, and we should do the same. Speak in tongues, not out of fear, but in faith. No matter how the waves of the storm is, you don't need to be addressing each storm but speak in togues and not out of fear. Set your goals through the Spirit, not based on emotions.

Fasting is another way to separate yourself from distractions, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you pray in tongues by faith. Romans 8:26 says, "The Spirit bears us up": This you cannot make happen by yourself. This is a powerful reminder of the role the Holy Spirit plays in our prayer life.

The Importance of Prayer

Our Heavenly Father wants us to take full advantage of the privilege of prayer. Constant communication with Him builds our faith. When we fellowship with the Father, we are also fellowshipping with His Word.

Take a moment to step away from distractions and talk to Him. As we speak to Him, He speaks to our spirit, imparting wisdom and guidance. This can happen in mere moments because God, who lives in eternity, can impact us profoundly in seconds. When we pray, our spirit is lit up, and our understanding is deepened.

Pray in the spirit and your understanding also: Praying in the Spirit is crucial. We emphasize this because it allows us to relate to God on a spiritual level. The Holy Spirit makes God's presence real to us, you must know Him and fellowship with Him, and through daily fellowship, we enjoy a constant union with Christ. You don't go in and out of it. You enjoy it every day. Christ in me. Christ in you the hope of Glory. He is in us and we are in Him. No matter what we are going through, we can count it all joy because success and glory are ours. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, when we look into the mirror of God's Word, we see our true reflection—God's glory in us. Prayer changes our lifes, Jesus asks us to pray and He showed us how to. You need to pray and get your spirit steers.

How to Pray Effectively

Prayer is our primary mode of communication with the Lord. Like any form of communication, it has a purpose, and that purpose shapes how we pray. Recognizing prayer as both a privilege and an honor, we should view every moment of prayer as an Chapter Highlights from How to Pray Effectively:

Chapter 1: The Prayer of Faith

- Our life in Christ is one of faith, distinguished by our trust in God's Word. Faith is the foundation of our salvation and our walk with God. “Faith” is one of the outstanding virtues that distinguish us from the

unbeliever. For it‟s by faith that we accepted God‟s gracious salvation through Christ, thereby receiving eternal life (the God-kind of life) into our spirits. Our walk with God is a walk of faith." Jesus teaches us to believe we have received our requests at the moment of prayer, exemplifying the principle of faith. " Jesus didn‟t say, “When you pray, wait until you get your request before you believe.” Rather, he told us to believe that we receive right at the point of praying, and we would have our request. This is faith! "

Chapter 2: Know Your Part and Do It

- God never asks us to do something we can't do. When we pray, it’s vital to understand the role we play in the outcome of our prayers. "God never tells you to do something you can‟t do.When we make demands through the prayer of faith, it‟s sovital for us to know what role we‟re expected to play."

Chapters 3 & 4: The Prayer of Petition

- This form of prayer involves making serious, earnest requests to God. It's not about length but intensity and sincerity. The prayer of petition can influence situations beyond our control, such as legal or health-related issues. Some scriptures that talks about petition‟ are reviewed1Timothy 2:1 and 1 John 5:I4–15. Elijah’s Prayer Of Petition was reviewed starting from James 5:16b (AMP) that it talks about Earnest, Heartfelt, Continued Prayer. "Petition prayer is required in situations beyond your personal control—circumstances dictated or influenced by forces beyond you." In chapter 4, more scriptures were reviewed from Isaiah 43:26 God said: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” Also, from 1 Samuel 1; "Hannah Brought Forth Her Strong Reasons."

Chapter 5: Praying with the Spirit

- Praying in tongues is crucial for every believer. It refreshes, revives, and aligns us with the Holy Spirit, helping us to understand and carry out God's will. This book explore some of the glorious benefits of praying in tongues.Some of which are listed below;

Praying In Tongues Refreshes And Revives

Praying In Tongues Brings Forth The Leading of The Spirit

Praying In Tongues Provides Us With Heaven’s Vocabulary

Praying In Tongues Helps Reveal The Will Of God

Praying In Tongues Helps You Bring Forth God-Ideas and many more

Chapter 6: The Prayer of Agreement

In Matthew 18:19, Jesus outlines the power of agreement in prayer. When two or more agree on earth, their request is supported by heaven, regardless of any subsequent doubts. " Remember, the prayer of faith requires that you don‟t doubt in your heart at all, but the prayer of agreement doesn‟t give that stringent condition. The fundamental requirement is the agreement between the participants at the time of prayer. Even if doubts come up in anyone‟s heart later on, your request isn‟t nullified because it wasn‟t made in doubt. Thus, it can‟t be cancelled simply because one party doubted. For the request to be nullified, all the parties would‟ve to come together again to cancel it. The Church is the Body of Christ; we represent Him and carry on His work on earth today. We are His ambassadors. Jesus stated that all things are possible to those who

believe, and you‟re one of them. Therefore, with the prayer of agreement, you can do anything; you can have miracles take place in the Name of Jesus Christ."

Chapter 7: The Prayer of Intercession

The Holy Spirit has an intercessory ministry that He carries out through believers. Intercession is a divine responsibility that requires persistence and dedication until the desired change is manifested. " Rules For Intercessory Prayer

1) You don‟t intercede for yourself, because intercession is always for others.

2) You can continue to pray about the same thing over and over again until the change comes."

Chapter 8: Praying for the Saints

We must pray for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to ensure they grow spiritually and become effective in their Christian walk.

Chapter 9: Praying for Material Needs

As Christians, all things are already ours in Christ. We lay claim to our possessions by walking in the light of God’s Word, continually confessing what the Word says about our Kingdom rights. " This means you walk in the practical consciousness of what the Word says about your Kingdom rights, privileges, and possessions in Christ Jesus. Part of this is a continual confession of God‟s Word. Recognize that the Christian life is a life of confession (Romans 10:8-10; Hebrews 3:1)."

Chapter 10: Prophetic Prayer

Prophetic prayer involves declaring God’s will into existence by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It’s a powerful way to turn trials into triumphs. " Refuse To Observe Lying Vanities: Turn YourTrial Into Triumphant Praise. You simply need to do as Jonah did—begin to worship God in the midst of any seemingly hopeless situation you may have gotten into. Declare that you have overcome; thank Him for your deliverance and victory."

Chapter 11: The Prayer of Worship, Praise, and Thanksgiving

Worship is the highest calling of the believer. We are called to offer the sacrifice of praise continually, lifting holy hands in victory and worship. One of the ways to activate that power is through praise! Throughout the scriptures, there‟re amazing and inspiring accounts of how God delivered His people from certain destruction when they activated His power through praise. This chapter review a few of them."

A Special Invitation to Prayer

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome shares prayer points and prophetic words with saints around the world. These are posted on kingschat platform, and we spend 15 minutes in prayer at 12:00 pm (GMT+1) and 10:00 pm (GMT+1). You are invited to join us in these powerful times of prayer and fellowship. For more information, contact us, and consider joining our online fellowship prayer meetings, which include prayers for our families.