The Ripple Effect of being a Prayer Warrior … (The Job Effect)
Prayer is a mighty avenue of connecting Heaven and Earth. Many years ago My Lord Jesus explained being a woman of prayer like this. I am a conduit that his power flows through to the ones around me that are in need. Just like a conduit in your home, the power line runs from the power source into your home through a conduit and splits the power to the different rooms in your home as it is needed. This is how God explained the calling of being a Prayer Warrior that He has on my life. He is the main power source. He flows through me to the areas of need in other's lives as I pray and open myself up for Him to freely move. I still remember the first time he used me in this capacity. It was ONE of the most life changing, destiny altering experience I have shared with God yet. He has shown me many things in HIs grace and mercy during our journey together but this amazing journey as a Prayer Warrior has shown me not just what he "called" me to do but what He has created me to be. This writing comes from that journey and the experiences I have had in mighty presence of My Lord. I pray it helps you.
Prayer warriors are people who are known for regularly interceding on behalf of others before God. To intercede means to come between, so prayer warriors are, in effect, coming between God and the trouble in another person's life. I have heard it explained this way... Prayer warriors are like defense attorneys, appealing to the Higher Court on behalf of their defendants. We're all guilty before God, but God is merciful. Prayer warriors recognize that quality of God's personality and call on Him for intervention.
Being called into the life of a Prayer Warrior is a great honor. You are called into the secret places of the Most Holy at times of deep prayer. This calling allows you to be pulled into a deeper relationship with God than just the normal, good little Christian that attends church regularly and claps to the songs experiences. It is a great honor to be used in this capacity yet it also has another side. Being called into Intercessory Prayer is an deeper place than just praying daily and saying your nightly prayers. It is yielding your will to become a weapon of warfare held in the hands of the Almighty God. Your voice, your mind, your hands and your body are opened in the service of God Himself. You become the voice that prays the prayers that shake hell and loose captives. You plead the cause of the broken, sick and hurting. It is much more than anything I can explain here, but as I said there are two sides to this. The deeper you go in this calling the bigger the target on your back. When you truly yield to this calling and allow God to use you to the fullest of HIS will being done... when you give yourself away selflessly and truly yield to the call no one knows you pray, No one NEEDS to know... But GOD. You don't care about fame, attention or your name being called. All you care about is God's will being done and seeing the lost saved, sick healed, broken made whole, demons bound, people in bondage to hell's devices set free and the agenda of hell destroyed in the lives of the children of God both in the church and not yet in the church. Your will is laid aside and soon forgotten as you are swept up in the call that becomes your life line to Heaven and the throne room of God Himself. However, in this process of excitement and battles... hell will quickly take notice of you and your actions. Just like any good enemy He will take notice of your battle against his kingdom. There are truly two sides to the ripple effect of being a prayer warrior, but have no fear because hell is on a short leash.
Let's look at the ripple effect of the attacks on a prayer warrior (This also applies to righteous women and men of God making a difference in the Kingdom of God.)
Let's start with the Prayer Warrior... When you are fully submitted to being a prayer warrior and the call has taken over your life, you surrender everything willingly. You pray without thought of yourself and you pray without fear. However, the attacks of the enemy will come on you quickly. You see the moment you are born, with that first breath you draw in, all of heaven rejoiced but all of hell saw your potential and said oh, we have to kill that one quickly. So the attacks start sometimes even before you realize the call on your life. However, once you realize the call and you yield to it and are walking fully in it you are no longer afraid of the attacks on your life and you.
Let's look at the Ripple Effects:
Ripple #1. (the inner ring of first contact)
This is where the first ripple effect comes into play. The enemy will first try to attack you directly. In your mind, with thoughts and imaginations. With weak areas of your own walk. Self image, doubts about your self, self confidence, reminding you of your past... etc.
Ripple #2.
When the enemy can't get you with a full on frontal attack he will come through the ones close to you. Your spouse is usually the closest one to you and He or She will be attacked. This is why it is important that when we pray we cover our whole family especially our spouses since we are one with them. It is also important to remain close with your spouse and hold sacred the confidence that we have in each other so that when the attacks come we don't turn on each other but yet find strength in each other. We are one flesh and one bone. The Bible says the enemy attacks us in our weaker parts. If We are the stronger one in our marriage spiritually then the devil will attempt to come at us through our spouse.
Ripple #3.
When that doesn't work He will try to use our children next. They will begin to act up in ways you have never seen them act out before. Try to keep in mind we war not against flesh and blood. When the people closest to you are attacking you or turning on you for no reason recognize it for what it is.
Ripple #4.
When using your spouse and children doesn't effect or stop your prayer life and your walk with God the enemy will then move on to the next ripple which is usually your extended family or close friends. They will turn on you, accuse you or attack you in any way that the enemy can use them to attack you. In this fight expect the unthinkable. The enemy will use who ever he can to distract, hurt or destroy you.
Ripple #5.
When the attacks through your spouse, children and family fail the enemy will then touch your finances and your livelihood. He will attempt to get your mind distracted with stuff. He will use your boss to make your job become a distraction. Adding more work to your workload. Co-workers accusing you and becoming mean or treating you in an unprofessional manner on the job. He will attempt to strike you with fear of loosing your job. He will open doors for you to loose your possessions. Investment deals gone bad. Money stolen. Etc.
Ripple #6.
When all of these attacks don't stop your prayer life and you continue to fight the devil's kingdom he will attack you in your body & your mind. He will send the spirit of depression and fear. He will touch your with the spirit of infirmity. He will attempt to strike you with emotional breakdowns and sickness that will wear you out physically to distract you from your prayer life. You will find yourself sleeping all night and still waking up tired because you have battled in your spirit all night. This is a sure sign of a spiritual attack, but have no fear because the enemy is on a short leash. The Bible talks about how far he can go in the Book of Job.
Let's explore Job for a moment.
Job 1:1 says: "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."
Job walked as a righteous man. He feared God. This was not a fear that made him scared but it was a fear of reverence towards God. He loved God and hated evil.
It also says in Job 1:5 "And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
Job sent and sanctified his children. He rose early in the morning and offered burnt offerings for each of his children lest they had sinned or cursed in their hearts and it says that he did this continually. He prayed and offered burnt offerings continually. Sounds like a Prayer Warrior to me.
His life had not only been considered by God but in a conversation between God and satan the Lord asked satan, "have you considered my servant Job?" Hell took notice of Job's life. He then turned to God and questioned Job's walk saying doesn't he serve you because you have this hedge around him? (paraphrased). So God allowed satan to touch Job's life with an attack but the attack had a limit. He said Do not take his life. He was on a short leash. Just like he is in our lives.
Let's look at the attack on Job's life.
In Job 1:13-22 we find the Word God saying this:
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20-21 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.[c]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Satan's attack on Job went as follows:
Ripple #1. vs. 13-15
First it says his Oxen and Donkeys were taken and his servants that were plowing in the fields. This was his income. His livelihood. Only one servant survived to tell the tail.
Ripple #2. vs. 16
The Fire of God fell and burned up his sheep and the servants who were tending them. This was his wealth. Meat for his family and the servants who attended to his herds.
Ripple #3. vs. 17
The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and came down on his camels and the servants tending to them. Stole the camels and killed the servants. In this time a herd of Camels large enough to require three raiding parties was a sign of great wealth and every thing was taken from him in this attack.
Ripple #4. vs. 18-19
While the reports of his wealth, livelihood and provision of meat for his family being stolen and his servants being killed rolled in from the sole survivor of each incident even worse news came to him. The Word says that his servant came to him with report that not just one of his children but ALL of his children had been killed as great winds swept in on the house of Job's oldest son as they were having a party. All of his children were taken at once. At this point, even in the midst of all these trials Job didn't charge God with wrongdoing. In Vs. 20-22 the word records the account of Job actually worshiping God and Saying Naked I came and Naked I shall leave. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Lord.
Ripple #5. Job 2:7-8
After all of these events took place satan visited God again and God gave him permission to touch Job directly... But he told him he could not kill Job. So satan attacked Job in his body. Vs. 7 says this, "So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes."
Ripple #6. 2:9-10
As Job is sitting in ashes and scraping the boils on his body. Broken hearted from the loss of everything including his children, His wife comes into the picture with what would for most be the ultimate betrayal. She adds insult to injury so to speak by questioning his integrity. The Bible records her as saying the following to him in vs. 9:
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Even faced with these hurtful words from his wife responds in a correct manner as follows:
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
After all this, then came Job's "friends". At this point satan was done with attacking Job and it appeared that his friends came to comfort him because they sat with him in silence for 7 days the word said because they saw his great suffering.
Ripple #7. Job 3:1-26
The next attack in this ripple effect on a prayer warrior happened in Job's mind. As he sat in silence with his friends around him for those seven days I am sure the thoughts he was having are expressed as he began to speak. Job began to curse the day he was born. Every negative thought he had been holding inside is now being expressed verbally in front of his friends. He is having a mental breakdown and an emotional breakdown, seemingly expressing the thoughts of a man that has no self worth and that clearly is depressed. His thoughts of wishing to die and cursing the day he was born reflect a spirit of suicide. The Bible says in 2 Cor. 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
The pulling down of strong holds here is a battle in the mind, not the body. Job is under mental attack now. The ripples reach all areas of our being when the enemy is trying to get us to break.
Ripple #8
After Job finished talking his friends then came in and questioned him. Making accusations that He was not a righteous man. Questioning his integrity just as his wife had done but to a whole new level.
All of these attacks came at Job in waves. This is how the ripple effect works. Sometimes it comes in small ripples and sometimes when you are close to a blessing it comes in ocean waves. The level of the attack always mirrors where you are at. I have heard it said, "higher level, bigger devils". This seems to ring true when it comes to the ripple effect but there is hope, because after everyone including Job had finished with their speaking then God himself addressed Job in Chapter 38. Even in the midst of the rebuke there came comfort that God was with him and in the end of the book of Job, he did two things... They are things that we can do to stop the attack. They are as follows:
JOB'S RESPONSE TO GOD:
1. Job responds to God (42:1-3)
a. He acknowledges the power of God, Whose purpose cannot be
withheld
b. He admits that he had spoken of things he did not know and
understand
2. Job humbles himself before God in repentance (42:4-6)
a. In response to God's challenge to answer His questions, Job
can only acknowledge that he has now seen God
b. From what he has now seen and heard, he realizes his error
and repents.
To stop the ripple effect We must humble ourselves to God, Acknowledge Him for who and what he is to the world as well as to us. Then repent of our sins and wrong doings. When God saw Job's response He then restored everything to him. This is recorded in Job 42:10 as follows: "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." God didn't hold his downfall during the ripple effect against him. God "turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends" and restored him to an even better state than he was before the ripple effect started. Notice that the word says God turned the captivity of Job, WHEN HE PRAYED for his friends. When Job got up from his pity party and PRAYED again as he was called to do, God turned His captivity around and restored him twice what he had lost.
In this walk as a prayer warrior we must remember to put on the whole armor of God. Each piece has a specific use in protecting us against the attacks of hell. Just keep a few things in mind when you feel the ripple effect beginning.
The Gates of hell shall not prevail. (Matt 16:18).
When you pray, don't just pray for yourself. Cover your spouse, your children, your family and all that God has given you.
Recognize the attacks of the enemy. When the ones closest to you begin to act out of the normal, recognize it for what it is and don't fight them in the physical. We war not against flesh and blood... (Eph. 6:12)
Plead the Blood of Jesus over every open door (person or avenue) that the enemy can use to distract you from the CALL of Prayer on your life.
Remember most of all to allow God's will to be done in your life and the lives of others around you. When we yield to His will not our own the enemy may attack but he will fail. God is our defense.
Keep in mind that No weapon formed against us shall prosper. (Is. 54:17) that doesn't mean it won't form but it will not prosper.
With that being said, I say this... Be encouraged Warriors. We are in the fight of our life but I have read the end of the Book and Through Jesus Christ... We win. God Bless.
Love In Christ Jesus...
Blessings from the desk of:
~*Sister Soldier*~
June 2018