Sunday Service – 23 March 2025
Prayer is not just a spiritual exercise; it is a necessity. It is to the spirit what oxygen is to the body—without it, the believer’s life begins to wither. Many struggle in their Christian walk, not because they lack knowledge, but because they lack prayer. Without prayer, it is impossible to live righteously, to walk in obedience, or to forgive. Prayer is what aligns believers with the will of God and empowers them to overcome the challenges of life.
Too often, people pray only in times of trouble or when they come to church, but this is like only eating when one feels weak—eventually, starvation sets in. Just as no one would leave the house without bathing, a believer should not start the day without prayer. A lack of prayer leads to a spiritual “odor”—bitterness, negativity, and weakness—that others can sense, even if the person does not recognize it themselves.
There are certain things in life that simply cannot be avoided without prayer. It is not a choice; it is a must.
Why is Prayer Necessary?
There are three fundamental reasons why every believer must develop a strong and consistent prayer life.
1. Prayer is the Lifestyle of a Citizen of Heaven
A believer is not just a person who goes to church but a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Citizenship comes with both privileges and responsibilities. Many people focus on their rights—healing, provision, and protection—but forget that these rights must be enforced through prayer.
The problem with modern Christianity is that many want the benefits of the Kingdom without following its principles. Just as an earthly citizen must obey the laws of their country to enjoy its protections, a believer must remain in prayer to stay under the covering of heaven.
One of the greatest privileges of being a citizen of God’s Kingdom is divine protection. Angels are assigned to guard and protect, but their intervention is often activated through prayer. There are angels assigned for healing, prosperity, and deliverance, yet many believers do not see them at work because they do not engage them through prayer.
Prayer is also what strengthens the bond between the believer and the household of God. A prayerful church is a united church. When people pray for one another, there is no room for gossip, jealousy, or division. But when prayer is absent, the church falls into disorder.
2. Prayer is a Weapon in Spiritual Warfare
The Christian life is not a playground—it is a battleground. The moment a person chooses to follow Christ, they step into an ongoing war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
The enemy does not waste time attacking his own people; he fights believers. Many wonder why they experience constant resistance, difficulties, and delays, despite the promises of God. The answer is simple: the promises of God must be enforced through prayer.
Healing is promised in the Word, yet sickness persists in many lives. Provision is declared, yet financial struggles remain. The gap between what God has declared and what is experienced is closed through prayer.
Prayer is not just a way to ask for things; it is a tool for enforcing God’s will. It is how believers defend themselves against the attacks of the enemy and ensure that what is written in the Bible becomes reality in their lives. Without prayer, a believer becomes an easy target for spiritual attacks.
The Kingdom of God is at war, and no soldier goes into battle without a weapon. Prayer is that weapon.
3. Prayer is the Communication of an Ambassador
A believer is not just an ordinary person; they are an ambassador of Christ. An ambassador does not speak their own words or represent their own interests; they represent the government that sent them.
An ambassador does not struggle to survive in the country where they are stationed—their needs are supplied by their home government. Likewise, believers are provided for by heaven. The problem arises when people live as though they belong to the world, forgetting that their source is divine.
Prayer keeps the believer connected to their home country—heaven. Just as an earthly ambassador stays in constant communication with their government, a believer must remain in constant communication with God through prayer.
When an ambassador stops communicating with their government, they lose authority. In the same way, when a believer stops praying, they lose spiritual power. Some people have unknowingly become persona non grata in the spiritual realm—unrecognized by heaven because they have lost their connection through prayer.
An ambassador also carries the culture of their home country. A believer’s walk, speech, and conduct should reflect heaven. A lack of prayer results in a life that no longer represents the Kingdom of God.
Prayer is the Mark of Spiritual Maturity
One of the greatest indicators of a person’s spiritual maturity is their prayer life. Many remain spiritually immature because they do not pray. Knowledge alone does not change anything—it is the application of knowledge that brings transformation.
There are three stages of maturity
- Knowledge is gathering information.
- Understanding is correctly perceiving that information.
- Wisdom is applying that correctly perceived information.
It is not enough to know about prayer; it must be practiced. Many start praying and feel as though hours have passed, only to find out it has been ten minutes. This is because the flesh resists prayer. But the more one prays, the stronger their spirit becomes.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but at the peak of wisdom is love. The love of God is the highest calling. Where there is love, there are divine surprises. But to reach this level, a believer must be prayerful and spend time in God’s presence.
A praying person will stop sinning, and a sinning person will stop praying.
A Call to Prayer
This message is not just a reminder; it is a call to action. Every believer must make the decision to become a person of prayer.
Prayer is not for emergencies. It is not something to turn to when all else fails. It is the foundation of a victorious Christian life. It is how battles are won, how blessings are secured, and how intimacy with God is developed.
The time to pray is now. Not tomorrow. Not when things get difficult. Now.
A prayerful believer is a growing believer. A prayerless believer is a powerless believer.
Make prayer a daily priority, and watch as the presence, power, and promises of God become reality in your life.
