Battle Prayers: Lover of Money

 Greeting Sisters, June/July prayer focus is Battle Prayers. Our instruction for prayer for our family friends, fellow believers, strangers are found in Ephesians 6:18: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

BATTLE PRAYERS: 

As long as we are living in this world, we are fighting a battle, one that our enemy wants us to believe is not real. But we join this battle because our God loves us, and we are called to love others the same way. We now have his heart that no man or woman shall perish but can come to a relationship with him for eternity.

OUR BATTLE PLAN:

1. We build our relationship with God through we communion with him: our praise and worship, our quiet meditation of the Word, sitting in His peaceful presence. We coming together.

2. We come freely, boldly and faithfully into his presence with our prayers of petition because we now know each other. We know each other's voice.

3. After we meet up with him, we get dressed in our armor for battle with our intercession prayers. We are praying on behalf of another with our faith activated because we know who our God is and what he can and will do in his will, we have an intimate relationship with him.

4. We may be given an extra assignment which is fasting. If the Holy Spirit is guiding you to fast, then something is going down. In Matthew, Jesus told us some prayers are answered only through the fast. Through fasting, this self-sacrifice, God will release His power in our life, our prayer requests and petitions, in all situations we bring before Him. Because we are proclaiming through our fast, that we are now truly dependent on him. Everything is now in his control. We give him our total reliance. 

BATTLE ACTIVATION:

 Paul wrote letters to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he lists 21 rebellious sins that man with do and especially in these last days. This is what we are battling against, in our prayers for our loved ones, everyone. And in this battle, we need God's power to loosen and destroy the chains that trap, bind and ensnare all those we love and are called to love. To free those that are oppressed, enslaved and burdened by the weight and shame of their sin. This is the battle.

” It’s time to Battle Pray.” 

Verse 1: “But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.” Digging a little deeper- But mark this: the time, nearest the return of Christ from heaven and the consummation of the divine kingdom will be dangerous, troublesome and hard to bear. 

Verse 2: People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…. Digging a little deeper- People will love oneself above all, focused on their selfish interests; loving money by gaining and hoarding all to the point of coveting (desiring what another has) ...

1. Lovers of self- philautos: loving one's self, too intent on one's interest, selfish

2. Lovers of money- philargyros: loving money, avaricious- greedy of gain, seeking to hoard riches, covetous

Self-love is the foundation for all the other rebellious sins that follow in this letter. Next up to bat is money. Money in itself is not bad, in fact a lot of good comes through money. But it is the love of it that can become sin to us. So, the first strike of the enemy is that we need to believe that we need to put our self-first so we can have everything we want and need in life. Now if we add money to the mix, we can go even further, have more, be more with the money. "Keep up to the Jones", have what someone else has. If you do, then all your problems will be solved.  This however is just a lie of the enemy in this battle, it’s his second battle strategy. 

Last week's strategy was "It's all about them". This week it is, "It's never enough for them?!?!?!" Can you say that about a loved one? I can. It was like a snack in the face when God gave me the name of this loved one. So, what is my battle prayer going to be them? 

(Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.)  Lord, give them the need for you, the contentment that can only be found in you. Show them that this world and having more of it will only bring pain to them, not fill the whole in their hearts, not be the treasure they are searching for. Only you can can fill that whole, be their treasure. 

(Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.) Father, open their eyes that they are living a lie of servitude to the enemy. That they are putting their greed and covetous ahead of you. Bring their focus back to you and only you. 

(Phillipians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.) Jesus, show your mercy and grace on them. Teach them that only You have what they need and you are a generous God, providing for everything. 

(1 Tim 6:9-10 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.) Father God, protect their hearts against the evil one. Rebuke the enemy of their soul inyour power and might.  Keep them from ruin and destruction. Bring correction and instruction into their minds and heart. Help them turn away from the world and back to you. Strengthen their faith in you, do not forsake them but bring the right people and circumstances into their lives to love and teach them your ways. 
Lord, we thank you for your word, we stand in the gap faithful in your promises.  Our hope and trust is in you and only you for them. Thank you that we can come to you in prayer, in intercession. Thank you for hearing our words. To you, all glory and honor is given. Amen
This is our battle prayer!