THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISE OF PRAYER IS THE TONIC OF LIFE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JUNE 13, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISE OF PRAYER IS THE TONIC OF LIFE!

Memory verse: "But whoever drinks the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in Him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4 vs 14.)

READ: John 7 vs 37 - 38:

7:37: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any one thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

7:38: He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

7:39: But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yer given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

INTIMATION:

Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions. As our bodies need exercising physically, so our souls. Our spiritual exercise is through prayer, and is very profitable to our spiritual lives. Hence the apostle Paul said:

“For bodily exercise profits little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that is now, and of that which is to come.” (First Timothy 4 vs 8.) In our society much emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual health is even more important. Our physical health is susceptible to disease and injury, but faith, through our spiritual exercise resulting into godliness, can sustain us through any tragedy. 

Also, as our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. Our souls need spiritual nourishments. We would not think of depriving our bodies of food and water when they hunger or thirst, lest we are weakened, and this might result to death after a time. If our physical bodies need food and water to stay strong and alive, our souls also needs the same spiritual nourishments to stay alive and active. Spiritual exercise of prayer in the “Living Word,” Jesus Christ, and the “Written Word,” the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls.

In our memory verse, Jesus was speaking to the Samaritan woman, and used the term "living water" to indicate eternal life. In the Scripture we read today, the same term referred to the Holy Spirit. The two go together; wherever the Holy Spirit is accepted, He brings eternal life. Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence that comes from our inner life of prayer, and there gushes forth a torrent of the very life of God that speeds on its way to who is in need. The Holy Spirit is God's promise or guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in Him. It is that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead that dwells in them, and the Spirit will also quicken their mortal bodies (Romans 8 vs 11). 

Through the spiritual exercise of prayer your spirit is contacting the Father through the Holy Spirit. Your spirit is reaching other human spirits through the Father. Through prayer your spirit connects to the spirit of other believers, and consequently, the Body of Christ is strengthened. In First Corinthians 5 vs 4, the apostle Paul enumerated this revelation as it relates to prayers when he said, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Paul was writing to the church on members who are involved in sexual immorality especially where a man has his father's wife. He told the church that when they are gathered in their prayer meetings, he will be with them, and also the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ are present with them in the spirit. It is in the realm of the recreated spirit that we become utterly one with Jesus. Therefore, we become so utterly ruled and governed by the Word and the Holy Spirit that we become masters of demons and of their works.

In prayer we are cooperating with the Lord. God, through us in prayers, is ruling the demons and evil forces all over the world. We are workers with Jesus (Second Corinthians 6 vs 1). How are we workers with Him? Through this marvelous prayer life.  We have entered the Holy Priesthood in your prayer life (Revelation 5 vs 10). We can be God's voice, His spokesman, His ambassador, His under-ruler in Jesus' Name through the Word in our lips. Our prayers bring the very presence of God upon men in any part of the world.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for privilege of being Your co-worker through the spiritual exercise of prayer. The Word on my lips in prayers is the same as the Word on the lips of Christ; Your very life flows through my lips in prayer. Endue me with the spirit of praying without ceasing, that I may be in Your presence and partnering with You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!