For the last several issues, we have been discussing the different kinds of prayer. Last month, I mentioned Ephesians 6:18; "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

In last month's issue, we began discussing the prayer of supplication, and I mentioned that the prayer of supplication is usually prayed for someone else. We also found that the prayer of supplication is a prayer that is prayed over and over again for an individual, whereas the prayer of faith is a prayer prayed primarily for yourself, and is only necessary to be prayed once. I also mentioned that the prayer of supplication affects two areas: the human will and the forces of the enemy that seek to hinder a person. And because of the stubborn will of man, and the tenacity of the enemy's attack, you may find it necessary to pray this prayer over and over again, and to remind the Lord of what you are believing that He is doing in the person's life. It's a little different style of releasing your faith than is the prayer of faith, but faith must be exercised for the prayer of supplication to work.

"When we get "in the spirit" in prayer, it is possible for the Holy Spirit to take the lead and to direct us as to what and how to pray for a person or a situation."

In Luke 18, Jesus illustrates the need for persistence in prayer with the parable of the persistent widow. We read in verses 1-8, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (2) Saying, 'There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. (3) Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, "Get justice for me from my adversary."(4) And he would not for a while; but afterwards he said within himself, "Though I do not fear God nor regard man, (5) Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."' (6) Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.(7) And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? (8) I tell you that He will avenge them speedily."

The unjust judge in this parable is Satan, for he neither fears God nor regards man. And because the widow applied continual pressure, the unjust judge carried out her request. And this is exactly what happens when in the prayer of supplication we keep continual spiritual pressure exerted against the forces of the enemy that are hindering a person, and we keep that same spiritual pressure exerted to challenge their will to bend to God's will.

In Isaiah 43:26, we are encouraged by the Lord to "Let us plead together." Here God is inviting us to plead our case before Him, and this clearly illustrates the prayer of supplication.

We also find an excellent example of the prayer of supplication in Abraham's prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:16-33. He just kept going over the same ground in prayer, "pleading together" with the Lord on behalf of these two cities. There is another element of the prayer of supplication that I want to mention here, and that is supplication in the spirit. Notice that we just read in Ephesians 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

While the Apostle John was on the Isle of Patmos, he related in Revelation 1:10 that he "was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." What he meant was that on that particular day he became more aware of spiritual things than of his natural surroundings. And during that time, the Holy Spirit showed Him some things.

We can likewise get "in the spirit" by praying for a period of time with other tongues. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:14(Amplified), "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit by the Holy Spirit with me prays, but my mind is unproductive, bears no fruit and helps nobody." When we take time to pray in other tongues, we are not praying with our minds, but with our spirits. Praying in tongues will enable us to become more sensitive to spiritual realities, and to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. And when we get "in the spirit" in prayer, it is possible for the Holy Spirit to take the lead and to direct us as to what and how to pray for a person or a situation.

"This type of praying is a great benefit to us, and will cause us to deepen our level of intimacy and closeness with the Lord."

Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 14:13, "Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret." It is possible to interpret what we are praying in other tongues when we get "in the spirit," that is, when we pray long enough to become more conscious of spiritual things than natural things.

This type of praying is a great benefit to us and will cause us to deepen our level of intimacy and closeness with the Lord. It will also cause us to become more effective in prayer.

Back in the early 1980's, Kenneth Hagin exposed me to "being in the spirit" in prayer in seminars that I attended that were taught by him when I lived in Tulsa. I was so moved by these experiences that I determined that I needed to pursue this in my personal times of prayer.

My greatest challenge was disciplining my flesh to allow me to pray for an extended time. Back then, I would take some time on my day off from work and spend several hours, 3 hours or more, just simply praying in the spirit, in other tongues. It was a difficult thing to stick with, because there were no feelings of excitement or ecstasy while praying in this manner. The only feeling I got was of being really tired and thirsty from so much praying!

But I continued, and eventually I had the experience that I did in the prayer meetings with brother Hagin, and that perhaps John had there on the Isle of Patmos. I became aware of the Holy Spirit within me! As I prayed with other tongues, it would seem as though I knew what I was saying at times in other tongues. Words would seem to float up from within me, from my spirit, to my mind, and I would find myself saying them out loud.

As I continued to pray this way, I found that the Holy Spirit would help me pray about a matter or person by taking the lead! I would feel an inspiration to pray about a certain thing a certain way, and the words would seem to float up from within me. This is supplication in the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit taking the lead in your praying about matters. It is a wonderful experience with the Lord, and this type of prayer is available to all of us!

I still pray this way at times, and it now takes me about 30 to 40 minutes to get "in the spirit" when I'm praying. As I continue, I'm sure the length of time it takes will lessen.

I want to encourage you to pay the price for this kind of supplication in the spirit. God is looking for those who are willing to take time out of their busy lives to pray and to be involved in His business in people's lives. This will not be easy, and the enemy and the flesh will fight your spiritual advances in prayer.

There is so much work to be done for the kingdom of God before Jesus returns. And the prayer of supplication is so necessary to be prayed for God's kingdom to advance and His will to come to pass in people's lives. Invest your time in the kingdom of God in prayer. Allow Him to take the lead as you pour your heart out to Him on behalf of others. The prayer of supplication is a powerful tool in the hand of a yielded child of God. Yield and pray with supplication in the spirit today! Someone's eternal future may rest on your obedience!