THE ROLE OF PRAYER IN CHURCH DOMINION

THE ROLE OF PRAYER IN CHURCH DOMINION IN THE LAST DAYS

Gen 1:26-28.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)

The greatest mind of GOD for creating man is what is revealed in the above Scripture: DOMINION!
This dominion is not yet fully exercised until the Church can conquer all her environment for GOD. This can only be consummated through understanding the plans of GOD to save all 'men'

THE PROPHECY:
Isaac. 2:2-3
And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the Lord 's house shall be established in the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways,
and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (KJV) Also Mich 4:1-2.

This prophecy gives a clear picture of what GOD intends the Church to be in the last days and this paints a clear picture of the dominion of the Church.

How shall this PROPHECY come to pass?

Isaac. 62:1-2, 6-7
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness,
and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness,
and all kings thy glory:
and thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,
which shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,
7 And give him no rest,
till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (KJV)

The Bible tells US that GOD created all things in six days and on the seventh  day he rested. Isaiah 62:1-2, tells US now that GOD is in a business now and will not hold his peace and will not rest until the business is finished.
I know that this is the statement of Isaiah himself, but it is the burden of the Lord upon Isaiah 's heart.
GOD is lifting that burden by putting it on his Church - Verses 6-7

Isaiah 62:6-7 (NET)
I post watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
they should keep praying all day and all night.
You who pray to the Lord, dont be silent!
7 Dont allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem,
until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth. (NET)

Isaiah 62:6-7 (NLT)
O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.
7 Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work,
until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

Zechariah 8:20-23
20 Thus saith the Lord of hosts;
It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people,
and the inhabitants of many cities:
21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying,
Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord,
and to seek the Lord of hosts:I will go also.
22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come
to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem,
and to pray before the Lord.
23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts;
In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations,
even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (KJV)

Let's give attention to the last verse: it gives a picture of what will happen when we begin to continually gather to pray:
"ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations,
even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, (believer) saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." (KJV)

JESUS ' ACTION:
Matthew 21:12-14
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (KJV)
JESUS was fulfilling the purpose why the Church is established. See

2 Chronicles 7:13-16.
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the PRAYER that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever:and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. (KJV)

And
Isaiah 56:6-7.
Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord,
to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord,
to be his servants,
every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,
and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my HOUSE OF PRAYER:
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar;
for mine house shall be called an HOUSE OF PRAYER for all people. (KJV)

HOW TO BEGIN:
Edward McKendree Bounds, a prayer legend, defined prayer as "The POWER is prayer which soars on high, through Jesus to the throne. It moves the hand which moves the world to bring SALVATION down."

Despite the valuable importance of prayer, it is generally observed that many people dread praying. To many, prayer is a drag. Though many want to really pray, but they still find it difficult to enjoy the act. Believers are not left out in this struggle. Satan does not want believers to pray either, therefore most of the hindrances are perpetrated by him. The bible teaches us to pray without ceasing in 1 Thess 5:17. The Lord taught us to pray without fainting in Luke 18:1-8; 11:5-13. Prayer is a valuable sacrificial key that opens the heaven's gate and unlocks the treasure of heaven.
Prayer is the backbone of kingdom expansion and kingdom expansion is all about SOULWINNING: that's our dominion.

THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLES:
Acts 6:2-4 KJV
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to PRAYER, and to the ministry of the word.

RESULT:
Acts 6:7 KJV
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

RESPONSIBILITY:

1. Ask Him
Psalms 2:8 KJV
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:    For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

2. Travail for souls to be duly born.
Isaiah 66:8 KJV
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Galatians 4:19 KJV
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

3. Travail for preachers to go - empower them
Matthew 9:37-38 KJV
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

4. Binding the strong man of the territory.
Matthew 12:29 KJV
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
or Lk.11:21-23.

5. Travail to open the eyes of the spiritually blind
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

6. Vital Exhortation : Praying for all men to be saved.
1Timothy 2:1-4 KJV
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our SAVIOR;  Who will have all men to be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

7. Call The Reapers to Harvest
Matthew 13:39 KJV
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Matthew 26:53 KJV
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

The role of angels in God's program of salvation is vital especially in this last age. Following the word of the Lord in Hebrews 1:14
Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (KJV)

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation? (Douay Version)

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation? (NET)

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? (ASV)

We need to understand that GOD sends his angels to ensure the salvation of men and women, young and old especially those of the believers.  They don't preach the Gospel, but they arrange the salvation of men, especially the unsaved members of the believers family.

Acts 10:1-6 KJV
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

One of the leading plans of salvation in the last days is God's plan to save the entire family.

The following are examples throughout the Scripture:
NOAH: Genesis 6:13-18, Hebrews 11:7
RAHAB: Joshua 2:1-21, Hebrews 11:31
LOT: GENESIS 19:15-19.
CORNELIUS: ACTS 10.
THE JAILOR: ACTS 16:31.

This is elaborated in my message on GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

I am sure no other purpose of God is greater than the plans to save souls.
Therefore, don't let this message end up in just the vacuum of knowledge,   make it a passion to fulfill your part by giving heed to the structure of the prayer lines of the Lord JESUS.

I call it prayer priority.
Selfless prayer before selfish prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.    Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.    Give us this day our daily bread.    And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS TO BELIEVERS

THE MINISTRY OF THE ANGELS TO BELIEVERS
Heb 1:7-14; 2:1, Ps 103:20-21
Hebrews 1:7-14 KJV
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Psalms 103:20-21 KJV
Bless the Lord , ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless ye the Lord , all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 

The Scriptures above highlight the basic services of the angels to the believers. Now let us examine the basic ministry of the angels to believers throughout Scriptures.

IMPORTANT!: This message is not about giving credit to the angels, but the God behind the angels.

ANGELS AS HELPERS:
1. Thy Prosper our ways:
Genesis 24:7 KJV
The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Isaiah 45:1-3 KJV
Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;  I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:  And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord , which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
The Scriptures say it all.

2. They Strengthen us:

Daniel 10:18-19 (KJV)  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

Psalms 103:20 KJV
Bless the Lord , ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Matthew 4:11 KJV
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Mark 1:13 KJV
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke 22:43-44 KJV
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The angels of the Lord dwell continually in God's presence and carry about them the strength of GOD, especially when they are sent by GOD.

Luke 1:19 KJV
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

3.They Protect and Deliver us:
Psalms 91:11-12 KJV
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Daniel 3:28 KJV
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Daniel 6:21-22 (KJV)  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Acts 5:17-20 KJV
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Acts 12:7-8 KJV
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.  And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

Acts 27:23-24 KJV
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,  Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

4.They Fight for us:
Genesis 32:1-2 KJV
And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Joshua 5:13-15 KJV
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Judges 5:20 KJV
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

2 Kings 6:16-17 KJV
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

2 Kings 19:35 KJV
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Matthew 26:50-53 KJV
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.    Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

5. They Grant understanding, Direction and Revelation:
Daniel 9:20-22 KJV
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

Revelation 10:1-11 KJV
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:  And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,  And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.  And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.  And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.  And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.  And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Direction to the Apostles:
Acts 1:10-11 KJV
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Direction to Philips The Evangelist:
Acts 8:26 KJV
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
See the statement of Gabriel:
Luke 1:19 KJV
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

6. Salvation of our Family members:
Genesis 19:15-19 KJV
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.  And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:  Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

Acts 10:1-6 KJV
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Acts 16:31 KJV
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Hebrews 1:14 KJV
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We need to understand that GOD sends his angels to ensure the salvation of men and women, young and old especially those of the believers.  They don't preach the Gospel, but they arrange the salvation of men, especially the unsaved members of the believers family.

Following the word of the Lord in Acts 16:31, it's a covenant scripture that guarantees the salvation of an entire family. This is seen in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation: the mind of GOD to save the entire family.
The following are examples throughout the Scripture:
NOAH: Genesis 6:13-18, Hebrews 11:7
RAHAB: Joshua 2:1-21, Hebrews 11:31
LOT: GENESIS 19:15-19.
CORNELIUS: ACTS 10.
THE JAILOR: ACTS 16:31.

The angels are also called REAPERS OF HARVEST: Matthew 13:39.

ACTIVATING THE ANGELS:
Prayers:
Daniel 9:2-4, 20-23 KJV
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:  And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;  20-23. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Luke 22:41-44 KJV
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Matthew 26:50-53 KJV
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.  And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.    Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Faith in God's word about angels:
Hebrews 2:1-3 KJV
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

The word of GOD is filled with the ministry of angels. We cannot neglect it, no, not even now. We will see more of this ministry in these last days. Though angels don't seem to appear to people in our age as they did in the old covenant,  but their ministry is still much relevant.

Sacrifice of Praise:
Joshua 6:20 KJV
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

2 Chronicles 20:22 KJV
And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Acts 16:25-26 KJV
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Although there was no mention of angels in the above verses, but the results seen were the acts of the angels of GOD.

Sacrifice of Giving:
Acts 10:1-4 KJV
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Prophecy:
Psalms 103:20 KJV
Bless the Lord , ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Ezekiel 37:1-10 KJV
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord , and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,  And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.  And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God , thou knowest.  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord .  Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord .  So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God ; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Revelation 7:1 KJV
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

The angels of the Lord take charge of the four winds from what we see in Revelation 7:1. Ezekiel prophesied to the four winds and They were released for good.

This message is to the glory of God and not to the angels. Angels are just servants who are at the service of Jehovah.

PRAYING PASSION FOR SOUL-WINNING

PRAYING PASSION FOR SOULWINNING:

OPEN PROPHECY
Isaiah 2:2-3 KJV
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Key responsibility. Isaiah 62:1-2;6-7, Matthew 3:33
Isaiah 62:1-2, 6-7 KJV
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord , keep not silence,  And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Edward McKendree Bounds, a prayer legend, defined prayer as "The POWER is prayer which soars on high, through Jesus to the throne. It moves the hand which moves the world to bring SALVATION down."

Despite the valuable importance of prayer, it is generally observed that many people dread praying. To many, prayer is a drag. Though many want to really pray, but they still find it difficult to enjoy the act. Believers are not left out in this struggle. Satan does not want believers to pray either, therefore most of the hindrances are perpetrated by him. The bible teaches us to pray without ceasing in 1 Thess 5:17. The Lord taught us to pray without fainting in Luke 18:1-8; 11:5-13. Prayer is a valuable sacrificial key that opens the heaven's gate and unlocks the treasure of heaven.
Prayer is the backbone of kingdom expansion and kingdom expansion is all about SOULWINNING.

THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLES:
Acts 6:2-4 KJV
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to PRAYER, and to the ministry of the word.

RESULT:
Acts 6:7 KJV
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

RESPONSIBILITY:

1. Ask Him
Psalms 2:8 KJV
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:    For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

2. Travail for souls to be duly born.
Isaiah 66:8 KJV
Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Galatians 4:19 KJV
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

3. Travail for preachers to go - empower them
Matthew 9:37-38 KJV
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

4. Binding the strong man of the territory.
Matthew 12:29 KJV
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
or Lk.11:21-23.

5. Travail to open the eyes of the spiritually blind
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

6. Vital Exhortation : Praying for all men to be saved.
1Timothy 2:1-4 KJV
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

7. Call The Reapers to Harvest
Matthew 13:39 KJV
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Matthew 26:53 KJV
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

PROPHETIC DECLARATION:

Zechariah 8:20-23 KJV
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:  And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord , and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord .  Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

PRAYER PRIORITY.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.    Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.    Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Festus Akinmoye