Brief Summary
This video explores five progressive levels of prayer, each building upon the previous one, and emphasizes that believers who operate in all five levels experience the most dramatic answers. The levels are: Petition, Intercession, Warfare, Prophetic and Contemplative. It highlights the importance of progressing beyond basic petition prayers to deeper dimensions of communication with God, requiring greater commitment, sacrifice, and spiritual maturity.
- Petition: Asking God for personal needs.
- Intercession: Praying for others' needs.
- Warfare: Praying against demonic forces.
- Prophetic: Praying God's will into existence.
- Contemplative: Experiencing pure communion with God.
Introduction: Levels of Prayer
The video introduces the concept of different levels of prayer, drawing a parallel to the ancient temple's courts where different levels of worshippers could enter. It asserts that many Christians remain at basic levels of prayer and reveals five levels of prayer that believers can progress through to deepen their relationship with God and increase their spiritual authority.
Petition Prayer
Petition prayer, the first and most basic level, involves asking God for personal needs like provision, protection, healing, guidance, and blessings. While necessary and biblical, remaining solely at this level can turn prayer into a transactional exchange, limiting one's understanding of God to that of a provider rather than a true father. It is me-centered rather than God-centered. The speaker emphasizes that petition prayer should be a starting point, not a destination, and that mature believers should spend more time praying for what God wants.
Intercession Prayer
Intercession, the second level, involves praying for others and standing in the gap between God and their needs. It requires setting aside personal needs to focus on others, functioning as a priest representing people before God. The speaker highlights a powerful secret: praying for others often leads to God addressing similar issues in one's own life. Intercession operates from love rather than need, aligning with God's desire to bless others, and often receives faster answers. However, it comes with the cost of feeling others' pain and experiencing spiritual warfare on their behalf, demanding sacrifice and emotional and spiritual investment.
Warfare Prayer
Warfare prayer, the third level, involves praying against demonic forces that influence people and situations, not against people themselves. It requires understanding spiritual authority and using the weapons God has provided. This includes binding and loosing, exercising spiritual legal authority to forbid demonic activity and permit God's will. Warfare prayer is essential for breakthrough in difficult situations where demonic forces hinder answers. It demands spiritual maturity, biblical knowledge, and a strong relationship with God, as one must be clothed with the armor of God and operate under His authority.
Prophetic Prayer
Prophetic prayer, the fourth level, involves praying God's future into the present, speaking His will into existence, and partnering with Him to establish His kingdom on earth. It's praying with revelation and insight into God's purposes and plans, not just information or promises. This level requires intimacy with God to know His heart and will, calling things that are not as though they were. Prophetic prayer operates from God's perspective, praying His solutions and future possibilities, and can change nations and alter the course of history. It also requires great responsibility, as speaking God's word in prayer initiates changes in the spiritual realm.
Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer, the fifth and highest level, is about being with God, experiencing pure communion, and being absorbed into His love and glory. It transcends words and involves listening and simply enjoying God's presence. Jesus modeled this by withdrawing to be with the Father. Contemplative prayer leads to discovering that God's presence is the answer to every need and transforms individuals from the inside out. It involves wordless communion, listening with the spirit, and marinating in God's presence until His nature permeates one's being, leading to transformation and beholding His glory.
Conclusion: Progressive Levels of Prayer
The five levels of prayer are progressive, with each level building upon the previous one, enhancing and empowering the others. Believers who operate in all five levels see the most dramatic answers to prayer, knowing when to petition, intercede, engage in warfare, pray prophetically, and be still in God's presence. The speaker notes that moving beyond basic petition prayer requires greater commitment, sacrifice, and spiritual maturity, as well as a willingness to pay the price for each level.
