The Prayer Of Petition by Apostle Emmanuel Iren: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Why Prayer Is Not Working the Way You Think

To understand prayer, you must know who God is and who we are in him. It is knowledge that gives efficacy to prayer. Knowledge will never replace prayer, but prayer will not be effective enough without knowledge.

The spirit realm operates through three dynamics, and these three are actually one:

• Family — the most important dimension. God is no longer just God — he is daddy.
• Kingdom — we are princes. We reign with him.
• Courtroom — there is a judge, an advocate, an accuser, and a law. The courtroom proceeding is what people call prayer.

Think of the Mongol Empire: Genghis Khan divided his vast empire into provinces and put his children in charge. They gathered in an imperial council — both a formal governing structure and a family gathering at the same time. This is the dynamic of the kingdom. When they came together, it was a courtroom, but it was also a family, and also a kingdom.

The Family Dynamic — He Is Daddy

In John 12:24, Jesus says: Verily, verily I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.

Jesus was at the peak of his earthly ministry — he had just raised Lazarus after four days, and even the Greeks were now seeking him. Yet he was not impressed. Not every door is God's door. His reply: unless I die and rise again, I remain alone. But if I die, I bring forth much fruit.

He knew that his greatest achievement would be occasioned by death. In the resurrection, he would go from being the only Son of God to bringing forth many sons.

John 20:17 — after the resurrection Jesus says: Go to the brethren and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, my God and your God.

There is an immediate change. Not only is he my Father — he is your Father too. That perplexed people during the incarnation. He called God daddy. Upon resurrection, not only is he my father, he is yours. Hebrews 2:10 — for it was fitting for him, in bringing many sons to glory — glory being theological language for resurrection — to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

This alone has changed the context of your requests. The context of who is asking changes everything. A child of God does not beg like an employee or a stranger. Daddy cares about the details. He orders your steps. He speaks to you. He knows your needs. And there are many things you do not even need to ask for.

Romans 8:15 — For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba Father.

Having the Holy Spirit is not for goosebumps. It is your passport, your evidence of adoption — your seal of sonship. Do not pray to God like a slave or an employee. Pray like a child of God. Prayer does not have to be formal or eloquent. When a child cries, it does not have to be articulate. The parent knows the cry. That is sufficient. The word abba is not formal — it is familiar. It means dad. This is the intimacy God is establishing.

The Kingdom Dynamic — The Ecclesia

In Matthew 16:13–19, Jesus asks his disciples: Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Peter answers: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus responds: On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Ecclesia is the Greek word translated church — but Jesus did not invent it. It was already a system that existed. The moment he said it, their minds went to something they already knew.

The ecclesia was a sovereign assembly of citizens that governed states — the highest decision-making authority in Athens. They met on a hill — an open-air formal assembly space. They were literally called out of their families to form a ruling legislative council. Their responsibilities included passing laws, modifying existing laws, deciding on war or peace, and directing foreign policy. Being part of the ecclesia was not voluntary; it was civic responsibility.

When Jesus said upon this rock, knowing the Greeks had their ecclesia on hills too, he was making a political statement, not a religious one. He was infusing a mentality: as children of God in our different spheres of influence, we represent God's interests. When we come together, we are here to legislate. We are influencing spiritual policies, shifting and changing things.

This removes subsistence thinking. If all you pray for is your next job, your next car, a spoilt wristwatch — that is not what the ecclesia was assembled for. It was a governing council of authorized people carrying out agenda for the king.

The Courtroom Dynamic — Petition With Intelligence

God is not afraid of questions. God is not even opposed to negotiations. Abraham used God's own integrity to challenge him: Shall not the Judge of the whole earth do right? So if you find 50 people, will you spare the city? What about 30? That is petition. Presenting your strong reasons. Arguing your case.

The all-knowing, all-powerful God still wants to decide on some things with his people. He gathers his council and says, What shall we do? — not because he is fishing for information, but because he wants his people, depending on his Spirit, to come up with something consistent with his will.

The three dynamics — family, kingdom, courtroom — are all reflected in the Lord's Prayer:

• Our Father — the family dynamic. He is daddy.

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• Your kingdom come — the kingdom dynamic. Priority is kingdom-focused.
• Hallowed be your name — the courtroom dynamic. There is a responsibility to petition.

Do not pray like the prophets of Baal — as if God must be forced out of reluctance by loud and repetitive petitions. Elijah's prayer was structural, precise, and prayed once — and fire came from heaven. 1 John 5:14 — This is the confidence that we have: that when we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Petition is not disturbing God until he budges. Petition is coming before a righteous judge with strong reason, knowing who you are.

Why Kingdom Prayers Change Everything

Many personal needs disappear when the kingdom is functional. The reason many petitioning needs exist at all is because a proper kingdom orientation has not been activated.

• Not every need will be met by a direct financial breakthrough — some will be met because someone who experienced one brings you under their wings. That is kingdom.
• God does not give cars, he gives visions. When you pursue kingdom and fulfill the assignment God has placed on your life, provision follows mission.
• Lot's provision was that he would be blessed in Abraham's blessing — which means kingdom thinking is also intercession. Abraham prayed for Sodom, and Lot benefited. The intercessor and the beneficiary may never even know each other.

Your prayer requests are too small. What you think has not been answered because it is too big — it has not been answered because it is too small.

Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added. God's provision is to do something through you that makes the car a non-issue for the rest of your life. Solve people's problems. Love people. Be there for people. Build relationships.

How Divine Leading Works

The biggest demonstration of God's will in redemption happened in a seemingly accidental way. People thought they were killing Jesus and they were fulfilling God's plan. God does not have to tell you specifically what he wants for you to do it.

There are many things that will prove to be the will of God when you try. If you have prayed about it, have no restraint against it, and it is not for personal gratification but there is purpose behind it — go. If it does not work, eject and come back. Do not judge the leading of God by success alone. Jesus went to cities where people did not receive him. He did not say he missed his leading — he wept for them. They missed their season. He moved on.

• Pray in the spirit a lot — you do not have enough intelligence to know the full scope and intentions of God.
• If God has shown you how to be part of what he is doing, do it with all your might, all your heart, all your resources. Many times the answer is in the doing.
• Think institutionally — stop thinking individually. Some petty personal needs will disappear the moment you think from a sense of responsibility rather than subsistence.

Lord, whatever burden will push me into my destiny, intensify it in my life. Whatever burden will push me to make the right decisions, push me out of my comfort zone — intensify it in my life. Lord, which area of the kingdom are you giving me to focus on? Reveal it to me. Give me clarity. Lord, everything I need to learn to be proficient in what I need to be proficient at — give me the discipline and the consistency so that I will not miss my time of appointment. Lord, let me live with a burden worth petitioning for. An impartation of burdens. Heaven has been waiting for me to be serious. In Jesus' mighty name.

Lift up your eyes and see — a burden you will carry all the days of your life. A vision that will outlive you. A legacy you will pass on to your children. God doesn't give cars, he gives visions. God doesn't give money, he gives visions. Your petitions are granted of the Lord. You are leaving this place with your answers. The things he thought were impossible have been made possible. Mountains are skipping like rams. The works of your hands are blessed.