1. PRAYER “INFLUENCE WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY”  WHY PRAY? God has divided the universe into Mortal and Immortal realms; Physical and Spiritual realms. Paul called the spiritual realm third heavens in 2Chor. 12:2-5 –Physical Realm: We live in the physical realm where everything is limited to our senses This has made man to believe on only what he can see, feel, touch, smell and taste. Anything besides these does not exist. It is different in the spiritual realm where we are taught the concept of faith- believing before you see. That explains why you must believe before you see the performance. Luke 1:45

2. Why Pray Cont’d  Spiritual Realm Everything that happens to us in life is first determined in the spiritual realm before it takes place in the physical. The physical events are manipulated and controlled in the spiritual realm. God lives and control the spiritual realms

3. Why Pray Cont’d  Activities in The Spiritual Realm The spiritual realm is built as a court environment where we shall all stand before the judge to give account for what we have done in our body whether good or bad. But before our final days, this court is always in session 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 12 months a year, they never sleep, attending to the petitions of the saints and dealing with them accordingly. Let us take a peak at the arrangement of the court of heaven.

4. Why Pray Cont’d  The Judge God is the Chief Judge of the court. He listens to every complain and judge right. He never makes mistake. Psalm 51:2 - 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge Psalm 51:2 - 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge

5. Why Pray Cont’d  The Defense Lawyer Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is our defender. He is there to always tell the father to disregard the accusations against us by the accuser because for those reasons he died for us. But our presence in form of constant prayers is required for him to function well on our behalf. Heb 4: 14-165

6. Why Pray Cont’d  The Accuser (Satan means the accuser): the devil is the accuser and he is always awake and never sleeps because of you and me Rev 12:10; 1Peter 5:8 (Satan means the accuser): the devil is the accuser and he is always awake and never sleeps because of you and me Rev 12:10; 1Peter 5:8

7.  The Accused You and I are very important in that spiritual realm. In a court of law, if the accused is absent, nor have any lawyer to represent him, whatever decision taken in the court will be binding on him. We often hear the phrase “tried and jailed in absentia.” This explains the state of a man who is not present in a court of law to defend himself of the accusations against him. Zechariah 3:1-10 paints a picture format of a spiritual court in session You and I are very important in that spiritual realm. In a court of law, if the accused is absent, nor have any lawyer to represent him, whatever decision taken in the court will be binding on him. We often hear the phrase “tried and jailed in absentia.” This explains the state of a man who is not present in a court of law to defend himself of the accusations against him. Zechariah 3:1-10 paints a picture format of a spiritual court in session

8. DANGER OF PRAYERLESNESS  Absence from Heaven Prayerlessness means our absence in the spiritual court, since prayer is the only access to that realm. Because we fall short of the glory of God, we need to renew our relationship with our lawyer on a daily basis to remain updated. Our sister Tilda put it this way: We need to be constantly connected to the Holy Spirit. Prayerlessness means our absence in the spiritual court, since prayer is the only access to that realm. Because we fall short of the glory of God, we need to renew our relationship with our lawyer on a daily basis to remain updated. Our sister Tilda put it this way: We need to be constantly connected to the Holy Spirit.

9. Dangers of Prayerlessness Cont’d  It will result to seeking other alternatives outside God. Two examples in the Bible: 1.King Saul 1 Sam 28: 6-8 2.King Ahaziah - 2 Kings 1:1-6

10. CONCLUSION  Praying and staying connected to the Lord is the only way we can fight this life’s battle successfully