We established in the previous article that the Holy Spirit is the kingdom of God and the personality of the kingdom on the earth. Prioritising the kingdom simply implies prioritising time with the Spirit. In seeking the kingdom, God will open you up to fresh wisdom and understanding that dictates what you say, do and how you do it. I trust that this work will erupt in you an unquenchable thirst for intimacy with Him.
Yielding to wooing of the Spirit
Have you realised that prayer or communication with God has always been an initiative of God? God yearns for fellowship with – his image and likeness-MAN. In the garden of Eden God would come in the cool of the day to commune with his image. Adam did not go to God, it was God who came to Adam.
Partnership with the Spirit
Acts 16:16 and 19 records, “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling…But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.” I was intrigued by how the masters of this slave girl connected their gains to a spirit. If partnership with an evil spirit brought those gains, what should you expect from partnership with the Holy Spirit? Much more! You cannot partner with the Holy Spirit and regret!
Become a kingdom personality
Time with the Holy Spirit will transform you into a kingdom personality. A kingdom personality has only one focus; advancing the kingdom. For such people, profit, influence and success are but tools for the advancement of the kingdom. Kingdom pursuit will restructure your life, even if it comes at great personal cost. For instance, when you embrace the kingdom by loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you may come at great personal cost but a kingdom person yields to the will of God and not personal comfort. A kingdom person’s purpose is far greater than his pain. He is one who defies pain, needs and harassments to reflect and represent the kingdom. For such a person, purpose keeps him sturdy in the process.
The True Purpose of Prayer
Adam’s education came from his communication with God. Prayer, really, is divine education. Prayer is not just talking to God; it is a realm where you talk with Him and you are educated by Him. It is a platform for learning. When you spend time talking to and hearing from the omniscient God and creator of the Universe, you will be expanded and deepened. Real personal development happens in living contact with God. Access to resources beyond the natural is possible in prayer. Prayer must become the most important appointment to keep in the day. It is a divine privilege to interface with God Himself the source and sustainer of all things. Do you look forward to conversing with God?
Prayer is reasoning with God
Isaiah 41:21 KJV
‘Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob’
In Isaiah 1:18 God said, “Come now, and let us reason together…”. Enter your prayer closet armed and prepared. Go with your Bible, book and pen because God will talk to you; you will learn. God will speak with you and you would have to jot it down.
An Action Orientation
The kingdom person is action oriented. Prayer fails woefully where action is required. Many pray when they should be taking action. Representing God effectively depends on how well you reflect Him. Thus, prayer helps us to reflect God and taking action is how we represent Him. You discover the will of God in prayer and you step out to execute it. You need to put action to the things you conceive in prayer. It is not just prayer; action born out of prayer is that which will make you see the desired results.
Take Action
Rule and Subdue!
English