Prayer Warriors

Here the podcast episode where you can listen to this topic. It’s about 17 minutes long.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/prayer-warriors–75110327

Here the YouTube link where you can watch the 17+ minute video of this teaching.

https://youtu.be/SL7pkBE_DUQ?is=3LsfMBb65MK4Gwx8

Prayer is for warriors and champions.

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 

Think of Jacob who wrestled with the Lord in Genesis 32.  He said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”

Think of Abraham interceding in Genesis 18. He started with 50 and continued praying in descension of number and probably a decline of hope until he reached 10. Valiantly he wrestled in intercession as he was engaged in bargaining for the mercy of God in prayer. 

I just read (while studying on prayer) that there are nearly 200 times in Scripture where we are exhorted or commanded to pray. It’s a continued plea and challenge throughout Scripture. God is ever recruiting warriors.

I’ve heard that John Calvin, John Knox, and another brother entered into an agreement that they would hold each other accountable in a commitment to pray as individuals for at least 2 hours a day. 

It is said that Benny Hinn use to pray 6 hours each night just before his public ministry took off. 

Athanasius, an early Church father, reportedly prayed 5 hours a day.

Bernard of Clairvaux is said to have started each day with 3 hours of prayer 

Someone noted how Charles Simeon prayed from 4 to 8 am each morning.

John Wesley had usually prayed 2 hours every day before the sunrise. 

Francis Asbury would wake to pray at 4am. Imagine the commitment of someone who wakes up at 4 am—to pray. Everyday.

Before the Lakeland Revival where countless incredible miracles took place, the guest minister, Todd Bentley, said he prayed 4 to 12 hours a day in soaking prayer.

I can’t condone everything Hinn or Bentley has said and done, but what they did right was chase hard after God.

Men such as TL Lowery and Lou Engle have been known to live lifestyles of prayer with intermingled fasting, especially 40 day fasts. 

Paul said he prayed in tongues “more than you all”in 1 Cor 14:18.

Again, my ministry theology doesn’t usually align with Copeland’s, but I remember Kenneth Copeland teaching on how such a thing such as extended, continued hours of praying in tongues is possible: He taught—pray all the time, even walking through the grocery, or driving in your car.

Praying in tongues is a blessing of a broader language. We don’t run out of words and we don’t run out of things to pray and say. Plus, it isn’t taxing on the mind. 

These men mentioned above fasted 40 days straight, or prayed daily before sunlight, or late beyond midnight, or 2-12 hours daily. I say such discipline of lifestyle and commitment to prayer makes them warriors in this field. They prayed.

So…What about me and you? Will we pray?