Empowered Prayer: Tearing Down Strongholds and Veils
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to honor the biblical pattern of prayer at specific hours, focusing on interceding for the nations. We recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of wickedness. The church of Jesus Christ is the only entity capable of pushing back these forces. We are using God's Word as our prayer premise, setting it before us to guide our prayers and ensure they are aligned with His will.
We began by understanding the significance of the word "premise," which means to set in front. By placing God's Word in front of us, we ensure our prayers are not driven by emotions or personal desires but are rooted in divine truth. Our primary scripture for today is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, which reminds us that our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
Paul's ministry faced opposition from false teachers who judged by outward appearances, missing the spiritual power at work. This mirrors the current state of our nations, where many are led astray by high-sounding but false doctrines. We must discern between soulish and spiritual matters, focusing on the truth of Christ.
We also discussed the concept of spiritual warfare as a campaign, not just a series of isolated battles. The enemy's campaign is global, affecting every nation. Therefore, we must not yield any ground to the enemy. We prayed for the tearing down of mental strongholds and veils that blind people to the gospel. Isaiah 25:7 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 were our guiding scriptures, emphasizing that God will destroy the veil over the nations.
We concluded by praying for the strongholds over our churches and ministries to be pulled down, enabling us to go forth with power and authority. We also prayed for the veil over the nations to be lifted, allowing the light of the gospel to shine through. We will continue this prayer focus in our subsequent sessions today.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Prayer Premises: Using God's Word as a prayer premise ensures that our prayers are aligned with His will and not driven by our emotions or personal desires. This approach helps us to pray effectively and powerfully, setting divine truth before us. [03:04]
2. Spiritual Warfare as a Campaign: Our battle against spiritual forces is not a series of isolated skirmishes but a continuous campaign. The enemy's campaign is global, affecting every nation. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and not yield any ground to the enemy. [13:19]
3. Tearing Down Mental Strongholds: There are walls of resistance in the minds of people, like the walls of Jericho, that must be pulled down in Jesus' name. These mental strongholds include reasonings opposed to God's truth and pride of intelligence. [14:56]
4. The Veil Over the Nations: A spiritual veil blinds the minds of people, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel. This veil can take many forms, such as false religion, intellectualism, or the worship of self. We must pray for this veil to be destroyed so that the gospel can shine through. [24:57]
5. The Role of the Church: The church is God's holy mountain, the body through which He works in this generation. We have the authority to destroy the veil over the nations by declaring God's Word and standing in faith. Our prayers and intercessions are crucial in this spiritual battle. [31:33]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Introduction to Prayer Premises
[03:04] - The Meaning of Premise
[04:36] - Setting God's Word Before Us
[06:03] - Prayer Sessions and Times
[07:30] - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
[09:00] - Paul's Apostolic Authority
[10:11] - Spiritual Warfare in Corinth
[13:19] - Campaign of Spiritual Warfare
[14:56] - Tearing Down Mental Strongholds
[16:33] - Weapons of Our Warfare
[18:01] - Praying for Churches and Ministries
[19:29] - Pulling Down Strongholds
[22:45] - Isaiah 25:7 and the Veil Over Nations
[24:57] - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
[25:51] - Forms of the Veil
[26:51] - Destroying the Veil
[29:10] - Praying for Politicians and Leaders
[30:53] - The Holy Mountain of God
[31:33] - The Role of the Church
[32:54] - Upcoming Prayer Sessions
[34:32] - Call to Intercessors
[36:33] - Conclusion and Next Session Information
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV): "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."
2. Isaiah 25:7 (NKJV): "And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations."
3. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV): "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the term "premise" mean in the context of prayer, and how is it applied according to the sermon? [03:04]
2. According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, what are the characteristics of the weapons of our warfare?
3. What is the significance of the "veil" mentioned in Isaiah 25:7 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, and how does it affect the nations?
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in combating spiritual forces of wickedness? [01:48]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to use God's Word as a prayer premise rather than relying on our emotions or personal desires? [03:04]
2. How does understanding spiritual warfare as a continuous campaign rather than isolated battles change our approach to prayer and intercession? [13:19]
3. What are some modern examples of "mental strongholds" that need to be pulled down, as discussed in the sermon? [14:56]
4. How can the church effectively work to lift the veil over the nations, allowing the light of the gospel to shine through? [24:57]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Are your prayers more often driven by emotions or by the Word of God? How can you start using God's Word as a premise for your prayers? [03:04]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not yielding any ground to the enemy. Are there areas in your life where you feel you have yielded ground? How can you reclaim that ground through prayer and faith? [13:19]
3. Identify a "mental stronghold" in your own life, such as pride or false reasoning. What steps can you take to pull down this stronghold in Jesus' name? [14:56]
4. The sermon mentions various forms of the veil over the nations, such as false religion and intellectualism. Which of these do you see most prevalent in your community, and how can you pray specifically against it? [25:51]
5. How can you and your small group actively participate in the church's role as God's holy mountain, working to destroy the veil over the nations? [31:33]
6. Think of a specific person or group in your life who is blinded by the veil. How can you intercede for them and share the light of the gospel with them this week? [24:57]
7. The sermon calls for the church to go forth with power and authority. What practical steps can you take to ensure your church or ministry is moving in this direction? [18:01]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Prayer Premises
Description: Using God's Word as a prayer premise ensures that our prayers are aligned with His will and not driven by our emotions or personal desires. This approach helps us to pray effectively and powerfully, setting divine truth before us. By placing God's Word in front of us, we ensure our prayers are not driven by emotions or personal desires but are rooted in divine truth. This method of prayer is not only more effective but also more powerful, as it aligns our requests with God's will and purpose. [03:04]
Bible passage: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent prayer you made. How can you reframe it using a specific scripture to ensure it aligns with God's will?
Day 2: Spiritual Warfare as a Campaign
Description: Our battle against spiritual forces is not a series of isolated skirmishes but a continuous campaign. The enemy's campaign is global, affecting every nation. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and not yield any ground to the enemy. This understanding calls for a strategic and persistent approach to spiritual warfare, recognizing that the enemy's influence is widespread and persistent. We must be equally persistent in our prayers and actions, continually seeking God's guidance and strength to stand firm against these forces. [13:19]
Bible passage: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life or community where you see the enemy's influence. How can you commit to praying and acting against it consistently?
Day 3: Tearing Down Mental Strongholds
Description: There are walls of resistance in the minds of people, like the walls of Jericho, that must be pulled down in Jesus' name. These mental strongholds include reasonings opposed to God's truth and pride of intelligence. These barriers prevent individuals from fully embracing the gospel and experiencing the transformative power of God's truth. By praying for the tearing down of these strongholds, we can help others to see and accept the truth of Christ more clearly. [14:56]
Bible passage: "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone you know who seems resistant to the gospel. How can you pray specifically for the tearing down of mental strongholds in their life?
Day 4: The Veil Over the Nations
Description: A spiritual veil blinds the minds of people, preventing them from seeing the light of the gospel. This veil can take many forms, such as false religion, intellectualism, or the worship of self. We must pray for this veil to be destroyed so that the gospel can shine through. By interceding for the nations, we can ask God to lift these veils and allow His truth to penetrate hearts and minds, leading to widespread spiritual awakening and transformation. [24:57]
Bible passage: "And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations." (Isaiah 25:7 ESV)
Reflection: Consider a nation or people group that is heavily influenced by false beliefs. How can you pray for the veil over their minds to be lifted?
Day 5: The Role of the Church
Description: The church is God's holy mountain, the body through which He works in this generation. We have the authority to destroy the veil over the nations by declaring God's Word and standing in faith. Our prayers and intercessions are crucial in this spiritual battle. As the body of Christ, we are called to be active participants in God's redemptive work, using the authority He has given us to bring about His purposes on earth. [31:33]
Bible passage: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15 ESV)
Reflection: How can you and your church community actively participate in lifting the veil over the nations and bringing the light of the gospel to those in darkness?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The only entity, the only power on earth is the church of Jesus Christ that can destroy these works of darkness. They're already defeated, but we have to enforce that battle. So that's what we're doing this morning." [01:48] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The gospel is light. The gospel is power. So this is what he says here. It says, Paul revealed something about what was going on. It was spiritual warfare because the Corinthians, led by false teachers, judged Paul's ministry by outward appearance. How many people judge things by outward appearance in this day and age?" [09:00] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You cannot fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons. The word warfare, pay attention to this, because we are in a campaign season, right? The United States is riddled with campaign news on social media, on the news cycles, on your phone, on different type of social media platforms that everybody's involved in, on YouTube. We're in a campaign season, but look what it says here. The word warfare in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 4 means campaign." [13:19] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The powers of hell are still trying to destroy the work of God. And it is important that we do not yield any ground to the enemy. I want to repeat that again. It is important that we do not yield any ground to the enemy. Not even one church. Not even one ministry. That we do not yield any ground. Not some ground. Any ground. Any ground to the enemy." [14:56] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Bible says that the son of God was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil. And today we stand with the son of God. The Bible says we are seated in heavenly places above all power and principality above, not below, not at the same level above in victory seated with Christ in heavenly places." [27:47] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul was not glorifying himself. Paul's ministry was not glorifying himself. Our ministries and churches should not be glorifying us. It should be glorifying Jesus, putting Jesus in front. Not man, not ideology, not teaching and doctrine, but Jesus first. And everything, and everything from there flows into the truth. Your doctrine will be sound. Your words will be seasoned if you're lifting up Jesus before yourself, before your ministry, before your ministry." [07:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The veil was torn in two when Jesus gave up the ghost and gave up his spirit. The veil was torn in two. And I believe that's prophetic. The veil being torn in two. And the veil that is spread over all the nations. As what the church releases faith, the church releases intercession, the church releases the word of God, see, we have the written word of God, we have the logos, but there's also a spoken word with power, a spoken word, a word in due season to speak and destroy the works of darkness, especially the veil that is over all the nations and the people of the nations." [31:33] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The veil is destroyed. Because on that mountain of God. That holy mountain. Which is Zion. Which is the body of Christ on earth right now. Where God dwells amongst his people. In his people. And walks amongst us. We have the authority to destroy that veil. In Jesus' mighty name." [39:52] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We have to understand something. All the gold and the silver belongs to the Lord. He owns the cattle in a thousand hills. If we pray. And we are faithful in prayer. He will provide and supply all our needs. He supplies all our needs according to his riches. In glory through Christ Jesus. Rest assured on that. We don't have to fear that. Don't trust in man. Trust in the living God. He will provide for your ministry. He will provide for you." [41:22] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We have to pray in our prayer language for interpretation. Right? Who can interpret tongues if we don't pray in tongues? We believe that therefore today. In Jesus mighty name. Let the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Flow through this ministry. Let the gifts of the Holy Spirit flow through you. Through your ministry. Through your life. Whether you are a businessman. Whether you are a father. A mother. Whether you are a minister. Whether you are a helper. Whether you are a destiny helper. May the Holy Ghost flow through you. In power and anointing. In Jesus name." [42:24] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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