Today we continue our new series entitled, “It’s already done!”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” As I lay the foundation for the series, this morning I will discuss the importance of prayer.
I started this series three days ago, telling you that God already planned out your entire life. Once you are Born-Again, God reveals His plans to you, and you then must go to DO what God planned for you to DO. You don’t DO to attempt to get God to move. You DO because He already DID. Your DOING is predicated upon His plans. So, in one sense, it’s already done. In another sense, you have to go DO what is already done. You DO now, in the earth, in our realm (time), what is already done in God’s realm (eternity).
In yesterday’s message I talked about the relationship between God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. We looked at Psalm 115:16, where the psalmist told us that the heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth, He has given to us. We looked at Psalm 8:3-6, where we saw how David was fascinated with God’s fascination with us. David was amazed that God placed man in charge of everything He made. And lastly, we looked at Genesis 1:26,27, where we saw that God created us in His image and after His likeness. He then gave us the power to rule, govern and dominate this planet. So while God is unquestionably God, the Bible is clear that we, as men, have a leadership role on this planet. If people are going to see God, they are going to have to see Him IN and THROUGH us. You are the only Jesus the world may ever see and you must live like it every day. That’s why spent 70 messages learning that “As Jesus is, so are we, in this world.”
This leads me to the topic of prayer. Today we will look at the role we have, through prayer, in this world.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God is committed to the system He created.
a) Some people think that since God is sovereign, they don’t need to pray. They think, “God knows all things, He already made plans, and He is going to do whatever He wants to do. There is no need for me to pray.” People who think this way don’t understand the system God created. Remember, He placed man (humans) in charge of this planet. God is so committed to this system that He seeks to cooperation of humans to operate in the earth.
b) Without God we cannot, but without man, God will not. While God is God and He can do whatever He wants, the Bible is clear that He has chosen to operate in the earth through men.
c) Since God placed humans in charge of the planet and since He is so committed to this system, God actively seeks the cooperation of humans, in the earth, in order to perform His will. When God wanted to operate freely, in the earth, without having to look for the cooperation of anyone, He came as a man Himself. While God was in the earth, in human form, as Jesus, He had unfettered access to a human body. Now that Jesus is gone, He is looking for that same access through you! This is why God requires us to die to self. God needs you to die to sin, self and selfishness, in order to freely flow through you. This is how God manifests His power in the earth. He does it through humans. He does it through YOU!
2. Prayer is how we invoke God’s involvement in our situations. I have taught on this before, but here is a quick recap:
a) Prayer is agreeing with God’s plans and purposes by faith, knowing the plans are already complete.
b) Prayer is how the earth agrees with heaven.
c) Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.
d) Prayer is man exercising his legal authority in the earth to invoke heaven’s influence on the planet.
e) Prayer is what happens when the creation comes in agreement with the Creator, for the Creator’s will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
3. Prayer and works.
a) Prayer is what you do when you discern God’s will. God reveals to you what He already planned (from the foundations of the world), you set your heart in agreement with His plans, and you release your faith for God’s will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. You are praying for the physical manifestation (in the earth) of the spiritual revelation you received (in your heart). So, in one sense, it’s already done. In another sense, it still needs to be done, on earth.
b) After you leave your prayer closet, after having agreed with God for His will to be done, on earth, as it is in heaven, you then need to discern what comes next. This is where many believers fall short. They pray. They believe. They declare “It’s already done!” But when it comes to doing their part in God’s provision, they sit around and wait on God to do things He is never going to do for them. God does not do the things He graced you to do. So, when you leave your prayer closet, you must do so with an open heart to hear what comes next. Praying is one part. In prayer you come in agreement, in faith. But faith is also an action word. Faith will require you to go “get” what God already revealed.
That’s enough for today.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. You reveal to me what You already planned to do in my life. Basically, You reveal to me what is already done. I set my heart in agreement. I pray for Your will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. I release my faith in prayer. And I then release my faith in action. I live every day with an open heart. I am ready for You to lead me from the inside out. I am ready to do my part in Your provision. I will do what You lead me to do. I will say what You tell me to say. Because I am determined to lay hold of what You have already done! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
