In I Timothy, chapter 2, we find listed four categories of prayer.
I Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
The four categories listed here in verse 1 are:
1. supplications 2. prayers 3. intercessions 4. giving of thanks
These are to be made for all. The word supplications comes from the Greek word deesis. This is a prayer where you give a specific request or petition.
The second listed is the word prayers, from the Greek word proseuche. This is a general term for prayer-commitment to God in your private devotion to Him. This prayer-commitment is included in this type of prayer.
The third is the word intercessions, from the Greek word enteuxis. This is a prayer on behalf of another, where you make intercession for one another.
The last is giving of thanks from the Greek word encharistis, which is a prayer of gratefulness or thanksgiving.
Prayer is a very important part of our Christian life. Great things happen when we pray.
We build a personal relationship with our heavenly Father through our prayer life.
No one will ever walk with great love and power if their prayer life is not constantly active. Jesus Christ was the greatest example of prayer that we have.
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
This is how he started his day; perhaps we should do the same. He taught his disciples to pray (Matthew chapter 6:1ff.) He prayed for strength (Matthew 26:36ff.) in the gospel of John, we see that he prayed for guidance and for the people present.
Lazarus was Jesus' good friend who had died; four days had passed before Jesus went to see the family and the tomb. In verse 40, Jesus is talking to Martha, Lazarus' sister.
John 11:40-42 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Verses 41 and 42 record that Jesus prayed to the Father. Although his prayer is not recorded, what is recorded is very interesting. Jesus said he was thankful that God heard him. Jesus also said that he prayed out loud so the people would believe that God had sent him.
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
When he had thus spoken what? The prayer spoken about in verse 41 and 42. The rest of the verse says he prayed… no it doesn't! It says, "he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth!"
The time for prayer as over. Now it was time to minister.
Jesus exercised his spiritual power and authority God had given him, and commanded Lazarus to come forth. Jesus did pray, but when it came time to minister, he took the power and authority God had given him, and acted in behalf of God to bring deliverance.
If this is true, then our part in God's healing ministry is greatly misunderstood by many Christians. There is a time for prayer, but that's as far as most Christians have gone. We must take the next step if we are going to exercise our spiritual authority.
When Jesus ministered, he usually took authority over the problem and commanded the condition to be gone, whole, well, etcetera. Let's look at a few examples of HOW Jesus ministered.
Luke 4:33-35 33And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
In verse 35, Jesus rebuked him and said, "hold thy peace and come out." This is not a prayer; it was a demonstration of the Lord Jesus Christ exercising his spiritual authority. The dominion Adam once had and lost, Jesus regained. Jesus exercised this spiritual dominion and authority over all the power of the enemy.
The word rebuked in verse 35 is the Greek word epitimaō. It means: "to keep down, to turn back, to set a weight upon. Young's says it means: "to chide, to speak out in anger or displeased rebuke, to voice disapproval."
He put the spirit in its place, and exerted spiritual weight, pressure, spiritual power upon him.
Luke 4:38-39 38And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
Rebuked, epitimaō, he turned back the fever. Rheims translation reads: "he commanded the fever." Again, we see Jesus exercising his spiritual authority. He commanded it to leave.
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked [epitimaō] the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
The time for prayer was long past. Jesus is engaging the enemy. When you engage the enemy, you must exercise your spiritual authority and command in the name of Jesus the foul spirit to come out. When engaged in active ministering, we are also seeking God's guidance in every step.
Matthew 8:24-26 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked [epitimaō] the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
He turned back and put down wind and sea. He spoke the word of command, or a command of authority, and the sea and wind obeyed!
Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked [epitimaō] the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.Luke 4:40-41 40Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on, every one of them, and healed them. 41And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking [epitimaō] them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
He set a weight upon the spirits; he showed open anger, and disapproval of their actions and words. He would not accept their testimony of who he was. I'd like to look at Mark 9:25 again.
Rheims has a wonderful translation of this verse Mark 9:25 "…He threatened the unclean spirit… I command thee go out of him…" Jesus didn't take any bull ?x#!! from any evil spirit. He threatened and commanded it to go! The NAS, NIV, NAB and NRS all read, "… I command thee."
Luke 5:12-13 12And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
Jesus said, "I will: be thou clean." I'm sure he asked the Father first, but then he took authority, and acted.
Luke 6:10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
He spoke, he acted, and the man's hand was healed.
Luke 7:12-15 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
He spoke to the dead body. He said, "Young man I say unto you get up." This was a command of authority, not a prayer. There are many other records in the scriptures that show Jesus exercising spiritual authority when he engaged the enemy.
The next time you get a chance to pray for someone, ask them if they want you to minister to them; and then exercise your spiritual authority in Jesus' name.ÿ