LEARNING TO
COMMUNICATE WITH GOD
THROUGH PRAYER
-----
Missionary-Evangelist Esther Thornton, Oregon -----
“Seven-year-old Mark was overheard praying, “Lord, if you
can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time
like I am.”
__________________
A
local church pastor, burdened by the importance of his work, went into the
sanctuary to pray. Falling to his knees, he lamented, “O Lord, I am nothing! I
am nothing.”
The minister of education passed by, and overhearing the prayer, was moved to join the pastor on his knees. Shortly he, too, was crying aloud, “O Lord, I too am nothing, I am nothing.”
The
janitor of the church, awed by the sight of the two men praying, joined them,
crying, “O Lord, I also am nothing. I am nothing.”
At
this, the minister of education nudged his senior pastor and said, “Now look
who thinks he’s nothing.”
________________________
INTRODUCTION:
To
have communication with someone, is to be connected with them through
fellowship. Communicating with God through prayer is a two-way street. When we
communicate with God, we speak to Him, but we also listen. We are connected
with Him in love and fellowship. It is fully expressing how you feel and
listening to what the other person has to say.
Communication
is of utmost importance in life. Lack of communication is one of the main
reasons that people divorce.
The
Bible uses marriage as a type of Christ and the church. When a married couple
communicates, it should be a 2-way street of listening and responding. We must
listen, not only with our ears, but with our heart. We must be easy to entreat
- in other words, the other person should not have to be afraid to share how
they feel, but should be totally free in this area.
Some
men feel that, since they are the head of the home, that they are to take
authority and rise above the wife and how she feels. This is not Biblical, as
Christ loved the church and gave His life for it. If husbands loved their wives
as Christ loves the church, marriage problems would cease. God gives us our own
free will and does not force us to do what He wants us to do. He operates in
love and draws us to Himself and to what is right.
Over
50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. In non Christian marriages, less
than 50% divorce.
The
average pastor prays 4 ½ minutes a day. The average Christian prays only 45
seconds a day. These are alarming statistics!
I.
Those who succeed in Prayer Vs. those who do not succeed in prayer:
1.
Those who succeed in prayer, Learn the importance of prayer. Jesus set
the example. He drew aside at times to communicate with the Father. He even
pulled away from people and crowds in order to have spiritual rest and to pray
to the Father. Prayer gives us the strength to go on. It gives us direction in
our lives. Without prayer, we cannot accomplish anything of value.
In
Jn. 15, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches and we are as one. In Him, we
can do all things, but without Him, we can do nothing.
John
15:4-5; 7-8
Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are
the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide
in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] Herein is
my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
2.
Those who succeed in prayer, Make time to pray. They don’t have time to
pray; they make time to pray. They make time work for them. I learned a long
time ago, that if we do not plan our days ahead of time, others will plan them
for us. Then, we feel held back from what we should do or want to do. So, we
should plan early but be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit for changes
that HE desires to make. And, so it is in prayer. We must make time for it
because of its importance in our lives and ministries for God.
3.
Those who succeed in prayer, Pray in the Holy Ghost. We cannot pray
effectively without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Romans
8:26 (Amp.)
So
too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do
not know what prayer to offer, nor how to offer it worthily, as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with
unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
If
you do not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit in your life, you can experience
it today. This wonderful experience, helps us to pray the will of the Father;
it gives us power to witness; it will change your whole life!
Acts
1:8
But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When
I was 24 yrs. Old, we were attending a church that did not believe in the
baptism of the Holy Spirit. But, I got hungry for God and got up at 4:30 AM for
some months, seeking more of God. On a Wed. morning, I began to speak with
other tongues and cried, knowing it was from the Lord, though I didn’t
understand exactly what it was. I prayed like this for 3 days. The only things
I would pray in English was: “Lord, help these thy children who are in such
terrible danger! I didn’t know who I was praying for! But, I was weeping for
them, as though they were my own family! On the third day, which was Friday,
the pastor of our church called and said he had something to share. I told him
that I did, too, but didn’t know if he would agree. He told me to go first, and
so I told him what had happened to me. He was in awe! He asked when I had begun
praying like this and I told him…Fri. morning. Then, he told me why he had
called. He had just received a telegram in regard of 7 C&MA missionaries
who had been captured by the Viet Kong in Viet Nam. They were captured on Wed.
morning (the time I was called to pray)! But, the telegram had just come on
Fri. informing the church to pray. So, God notified me before anyone knew so
that prayer would be offered. And, He also gave me the wonderful blessing of
the baptism of the Holy Ghost!
Why
do people struggle to get down to praying? They are trying to do it because
they should do it and in their own strength. If the Holy Spirit arrests you to
pray, He will accomplish it through you and it will be effective. Sometimes,
you have to take the first step though in prayer in obedience and then the Holy
Spirit will take over and pray through you.
We
usually start prayer in the realm of the flesh but gradually go into the realms
of the Spirit. We start in the Outer Court and then it leads us into “the Holy
of Holies”.
God
says that our prayers are like incense unto Him. Incense foreshadows that which
is to come.
Rev.
5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders
fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials
full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Some
today are burning “STRANGE INCENSE” on the altar of God. (Ex. 30:9). But, Aaron
burned “sweet incense” every morning and evening. God is holy, and “strange
incense” and “strange fire” is not acceptable to be offered unto Him.
Leviticus
9:23-24
And
Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and
blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.
[24] And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the
altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they
shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus
10:1-4
And
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put
fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered STRANGE FIRE before the
Lord, which he commanded them not. [2] And there went out fire from the Lord,
and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. [3] Then Moses said unto
Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them
that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron
held his peace. [4] And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel
the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from
before the sanctuary out of the camp.
This
strange fire was not acceptable to God and these disobedient men lost their
lives because of it. (False doctrines, false sacrifices, false prophets) These
two men had fire that did not come from The Brazen altar, which is a type of
Christ and cannot be replaced. It was the same fire that came from the same
Lord between the same Mercy Seat and Cherubim. However, the fire, instead of
consuming the sacrifice, it consumed these priests because they took fire from
their own cook pot and were drunk with wine. They took the things of God
lightly. And, this is the sin of this day of many who do not have a fear of the
Lord. They are preaching what they choose to preach, instead of the gospel of
the crucified Lord.
Interestingly
enough, the garments of these priest did not burn up when they were destroyed
by the fire of God. That tells us something that God’s callings and elections
are sure and He doesn’t withdraw His gifts many times, even from the
disobedient. The things that be of God will still stand, though the ways of man
will perish.
If
you find any leader who is successful, they have sought God seriously in prayer
in their lives. Anything that is not born of prayer by the Holy Spirit is an
“Ishmael” and not an “Isaac”. We are pregnant with the vision of God and the
seed of the Holy Ghost has been implanted within us through prayer and seeking
the face of God.
I
had a friend who was a true intercessor and she would, at times, birth
something for the kingdom of God. One day I arrived at her home for a mtg. With
some ladies and she was laying on the floor, birthing! They didn’t know what
she was doing and were happy when I arrived, as she told them I would know and
she needed my help. I went to her and helped her birth in prayer that which God
had laid upon her heart.
We
are all to intercede but there are various levels of intercession. Intercession
is: A petition to God in behalf of another. It can be an individual or even a
nation. My friend who I mentioned used to intercede for the nations of the
world. One day I went to her house and she was dressed up in a long skirt. I asked
her if she was going some place and she said “No”, that she had dressed up for
Jesus! She had a large map on the floor and I found out that she dances over
the map on behalf of the nations that they would turn to the Lord!
Too
long, the church has sat back and let places be turned over to the enemy
because they have failed to act in prayer.
_______________________
When
we act in prayer, God can move mightily amongst us with such wonderful things such
as: restoration; revival; and miracles - all of the things that prepare us for
the great wedding day that is at hand!
II.
Prayer can bring restoration, revival, and miracles:
(1)
Prayer can bring: Restoration: Isaac was a restorer:
Genesis
26:18
And
Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of
Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of
Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had
called them.
Folks,
Satan has stopped up the wells in peoples’ lives and even in the church.
But,
God gave me a verse prophetically a few years ago that I did not understand at
the time:
Isaiah
58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou
shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called,
The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
God
is going to build the old waste places; and those who choose to be restorers
will be called, the repairers of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.
God
is going to take places that have been taken over by the enemy and turn them to
that which will glorify God! I recently spoke on a Sunday morning at a church
in Long Beach, WA that meets in a theater! And, that is an example of what I am
talking about!
The
pastor of this church has a good sense of humor. So, I told him, before we went
into the church service, that I had one requirement as a speaker in this place
that I hadn’t told him about. I kept a serious look on my face and so he asked
me what it was. I had seen on television where modern theaters now have buttons
on each arm rest where you can order food to be brought to you at your seat.
So, I told him that I expected to be able to signal someone at my seat and have
a snack brought to me! He broke out in a big smile, realizing I was just having
some fun! But, seriously, the anointing of God came down upon us for that
service in a theater! Who would expect that?
When
I was a child, we attended a strict Baptist church and of course they did not
approve of movies (which I don’t generally approve of myself!). And, my older
brother and sister used to sneak away to go to the show. My brother would stand
in line for the tickets and tell my sister to watch for Rev. Holt, the pastor
of our church!
But,
Isaac restored the wells that the enemy had stolen from God’s people. We can
pray and claim places for God that the enemy has taken over for his purposes.
Even money that has been stolen from you, you can command the devil to give
back 7 times! And, God said He would take it from the sinner and give it to the
righteous. We are in a day of deliverance - of restoration - of moving forward!
And, it all comes through prayer!
We
can pray because of our relationship to God and the fellowship that we have
with Him.
Hebrews
4:16
Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.
Proverbs
13:22 “… the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
It
is time to stand up and be counted amongst those who are going to stand against
the devil and all his devices and plans - and to be counted amongst the
righteous who know how to pray and to speak forth the will of the Father!
The
Four Lepers: Four leprous men sat outside the gate of Samaria. The city was in
famine and the enemy had taken over (Syrian army). These leprous men reasoned
amongst themselves and said: “Why sit we here until we die?” If we stay here,
we die and if we go into the city, we will die. But, in other words, why not do
something and believe for a miracle?! So, they rose up in their filthy, worn
garments and walked into the city! And, when God sees us rise up in the midst
of difficulties and trust Him, something happens in the heart of God! And, He send
down help immediately to meet our need! God caused the Syrian army to hear the
sound of a great number of horses and chariots and they fled in fear!
Therefore, the lepers entered into their tents and ate and drank to their fill!
Then they took gold, silver, and garments, and had to make several trips to
carry them all! Then, they went to tell the King the good tidings! Can you
imagine how these men looked? Without God, we are as these filthy, hopeless men
- when the leprosy of sin has taken over us. But, through salvation, we have
hope and become as Kings and priests unto God!
Rev.
1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
You
can rise up today in whatever situation you find yourself. God is just waiting
for you to believe Him and rise up to move forward in what He has for you!
We
are poor and needy but in Him we are kings and priests!
We
have sicknesses, but in Him we find healing!
We
have no hope, but because of what Jesus did 2,000 yrs. Ago, we have everything
that pertains to life and godliness - salvation, healing, bapt. of the Holy
Spirit, and God is on our side so who can stand against us?!
(2)
Prayer can bring: Revival: We are right at the door of the greatest
revival in all of the history of the church, for Jesus is coming soon!
It
is not for the salvation of sinners but that is a result of it. It is for the
believers. We need to have new life breathed into us by the Spirit of God to be
able to accomplish in this last day what needs to be accomplished for the
kingdom of God.
How
do we get revival:
2
Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin, and will heal their land.
I
see in my spirit, the dry bones in Ezekiel (the church), receiving the breath
of God; awaking from a deep sleep; rising up together in unity; and marching forward
as a mighty army! There is no more time for lethargy, divisions, and unbelief
amongst the church! We must arise and receive our marching orders from the Most
High!
Our
youngest son, Corey, is a Chaplain, stationed with the Marines in N. Carolina.
But, when he went for his training, it was not easy! He had to arise early and
go to bed late. He had to perform feats which some failed to perform because of
the difficulty. He had to subject himself to disease that was there and
discomfort. He had to march miles every day. His life took on a new order. He
was answering to the United States Military regulations. He has had to perform
all kinds of duties - most that he has never done before. He pastors a church,
as well. One Sun. he said that he didn’t give an altar call but people came up
anyway for salvation and to be prayed for. I told him, “Son, you must be doing
something right!” And, he said that his secret was that he began the day
before, at the altar of that church, praying hours in the Holy Ghost! And, that
was the secret!
You
may have a vision from God on your life, but it will only come about and be
fulfilled through communicating with God through prayer. What door is before
you - whether good or bad? Open or closed? Prayer is the key that will unlock
that door.
(3)
Prayer can bring: Miracles
Purpose
of miracles: To intoduce people to God and His power that they might be drawn
to Him. So, this is a day for miracles, as we want many to turn to God before
it is too late! Miracles are for “the now”, as we will no longer need them in
Heaven! We will be with the miracle working God forever!
III.
This is the day we are living in:
This
is the day of the Apostle, for the work of God to spread around the world and
grow greatly! The last command that Jesus gave before ascending back to Heaven
was:
Matthew
28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It
is the day of the 5-fold ministry of the church to be restored in the church:
apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors. It is a day for the
truth of God’s Word to come forth as never before and for obedience to result.
A famine is coming, not for food, but for hearing the word of the Lord. The
Word must be taught, not with man’s interpretation, but with the interpretation
of the Spirit. Anything else will be dead.
2
Cor. 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the
letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
It
is time for God’s order instead of man’s order. Man’s order is traditionalism;
and legalism. But, God’s order brings about life in the Holy Spirit!
It
is time for faith to arise.
Romans
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
And,
finally, of the greatest importance: It is time to pray! It is time to spend quality
time with God - to communicate with Him; to spend time not only speaking to
Him, but listening to His voice; allowing His Spirit to pray through us for the
needs of the world - that His kingdom may come forth on earth as it is in
Heaven!
He
is calling His people to prayer - to realize the importance of prayer - and to
arise in new faith to speak forth what His Word says, and then, to see it
happen!
Joel
2:17-19 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and
the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine
heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should
they say among the people, Where is their God?
[18]
Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. [19] Yea, the
Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and
wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you
a reproach among the heathen:
“Weep
between the porch and the altar” means:
The
altar proclaimed accomplished redemption, as it was a type of Calvary
The
porch pertained to fellowship with God. The porch was the entrance to the
temple
In
the Temple proper, were the Tables of Shewbread, which spoke of the partaking
of Christ along with the “Golden Lampstands”, which spoke of Christ as the
Light of the world, and the “Altar of Incense” which spoke of answered prayer
and fellowship with God.
Even
though the people could not actually go into this part of the Temple proper,
still the “Priests” were meant to be types of Christ and hence, mediators on
the people’s behalf.
As
well, the statement “weep between the Porch and the Altar”, symbolizes that
these were already covenant people, but had lost fellowship with God through
sin.
Between
the porch and the altar were the “brazen lavers”, which spoke of the Word of
God. Hence, before fellowship with God can once again be enjoined, the water of
the laver must be applied to the hands and feet of the Priests, symbolizing the
cleansing of the Word, and if properly abided by, will restore fellowship.
So
the altar represents Calvary and the porch was fellowship with God. We must
weep between the porch and the altar that souls may come into the kingdom of
God and that even those with the covenant could be restored.
We
must offer unto God “sweet incense” and not “strange fire”.
In
the O.T. when an offering was acceptable to God, He sent His fire down from
Heaven to consume it. Thus, He was saying that that offering was acceptable in
His sight.
And,
God is waiting today, for us to unconditionally surrender unto Him as a living
sacrifice so that His fire can come down upon us, empowering us to go forward
and meet the needs of this evil day and to show forth His mighty power to a
lost world!
Some
years ago, God instructed me to send a directional prophecy to Dr. Rodney
Howard-Browne. I didn’t hardly know who he was at the time and had an old
address for him. But, the prophecy was forwarded to him and surprisingly
enough, he called me on the phone to say that it was a confirmation of what the
Lord had told him for that next year. He sent me his church lending library,
which was 50 videos and told me that when he came to Portland in future days
for me to tell his people when I arrived so he would know I was there. But,
when he came to Portland, I was in India preaching!
But,
I did see him several times after that in various places where he was
ministering and he has prayed for me to receive the fire of God at different
times.
When
my daughter and I returned from Tampa, FL at one time, after visiting his
church there, I was asked to be on TBN in Portland. I had been told that I
could invite my pastor to be on with me if I wanted to, so I did. So, TBN lined
me up with doctors of theology because of my pastor’s standing. But, my pastor
got sick and couldn’t go on with me. Yet, I was still on with doctors of
theology! Talk about intimidating! But, some of these people are the nicest
that you can imagine!
Right
before I went on the air, the President of George Fox University came over to
me and said that he would be watching that night when it was replayed. He said
that he knew I would do a good job!
Dr.
Hamilton from Portland Foursquare Church interviewed me and the anointing of
God was still fresh on me from our time in Florida. So, I shared that the
Spirit of God had come into my feet and that I had run all the way around the
Sun Dome in Florida and not been a bit out of breath! Even the theologians
smiled and perked up with my testimony because it was real!
Acts
4:13 Now when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus. But, the fire of God truly came into my life and I have never been the same
again! It is a day for all of these things: restoration, revival, working of
miracles - but, first and foremost, It is the day to PRAY! It is the day to
“communicate with God through prayer“!
_____________
Rev. Esther Thornton
Global Evangelism
Fellowship, Inc.
22974 Shepard Road,
Clatskanie, OR 97016
(503)728-3388 (503)728-2834 (Fax)
