“Little” PRAYER WARRIORS:
WAR: An armed conflict between two nations or states, (or Kingdoms.)
WARFARE: The waging or carrying on of war, conflict, struggle, strife.
WARRIOR: A person engaged or experienced in warfare
Armies prepare for war BEFORE war breaks out. Armies go to war against enemies who do not have their best interests at heart; enemies who want to topple Kingdoms.
First/best example of a Warrior? The Lord!
Exodus 15:3 “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.”
Psalm 59:5 “You, oh Lord God, the invincible warrior…”
Isaiah 42:13 The Lord will go forth like a warrior. He will arouse His zeal like a man of war…”
Zeph. 3:17 Yahweh your God is among you; a warrior who saves.
Attributes of a Warrior:
Deut. 3: 18, Jug 6:12 (mighty) men of valor
Def./valor: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle
I Kings 11:28 industrious
Def./industrious diligent/hard working
1 Chron. 12:28 young, valiant
Def./valiant possessing or showing courage or determination.
Jeremiah 9:23 not boastful/knows the victory and glory is God’s.
1 Chron. 5:24, 11:22 skilled/brave warrior
Proverbs 24:5 wise warrior
Isaiah 42:13 victorious warrior
Jeremiah 20:11 violent warrior
1 Chron. 12:2, 8 equipped, trained, stoic, swift.
Def./stoic a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
Why should children be trained as prayer warriors?
Consider this quote I received recently from one of our World Shapers
Club Ambassadors when I asked him what came first to mind when he
thought of our World Shapers being WARRIORS.
“We live amid a battle of spiritual warfare between forces of good and evil. Adults and children face the same opponent.” SELAH
It stands to reason, therefore, that we must not leave our children ignorant of or unskilled against their enemy. They must be taught to put on the whole armor, pick up their weapons, stand and fight. All the while remembering Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
We all do, however, “struggle.” Consider the transgender phenomenon/lie sweeping through our schools. Psalms 144:1 “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
As Parents, Teachers, Sunday School teachers, and Pastors you are not only
teaching but EQUIPPING!
You have the privilege of laying a foundation of faith and then building upon it to equip the younger generations to prevail in the increasingly ungodly environments they have to navigate each day. The day of Bible “stories” are over!
“The Word of God is ALIVE and SHARPER than any two-edged sword…” Heb. 4:12 “Those who know (learn about, embrace and trust the character of) their God shall do exploits” Dan. 11:32
Recognized, trained, released and partnered with, GenerationNOW is writing its own “book of acts!”
As you teach all the Bible has to tell, ask Holy Spirit to impart and imprint its truths to the children. God’s Word is power-full in the hearts, minds, spirits and MOUTHS of our children. Prov. 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Ask for a mantle of intercession – for yourselves and the children. Jesus is inviting them to stand-in-the gap for the children, families, neighborhoods and nations of the world. Ez. 22:30 “I sought for a man (woman, child, teenager) among them who would make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me…” The world’s children are awaiting their intercession and God’s intervention. Rom. 8:19 “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”
You just might have some fervent prayer meetings in your homes, classrooms and churches. Expect them! Tears of intercession might be shed or power-fully profound truths whispered. All these are weapons of WARFARE along with the perfect praise of children. Ps. 8:2 “Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the (their?) enemy and avenger.” Often, also, children have visons when they pray. Make time to ask what God is showing them and encourage them to share.
As you do these things, be on the lookout for CHANGES – good ones! Children who are recognized as spiritual beings (No Jr. Holy Spirit.) then equipped and released to function are some of the happiest children I know. In her book, "Let the Children Pray!", Esther Ilnisky wrote: “Equipping and liberating them (children) to use Godly authority over evil powers could transform them, you, your home and the Church…”
I recently wrote in a birthday card to a 15-year-old young man in our congregation about God seeing him as a “mighty man.” That idea or “calling” can be intimidating – even to adults. In this case, the young man is a BIG guy; tall and large-boned. However, his demeanor is that of a very quiet, soft-spoken manner. “Might” doesn’t have to indicate “loud” or “forceful” although both may be appropriate for times and circumstances. I wrote further that, “In quietness and confidence, God is building you up.” Isaiah 30:15
Our Heavenly Father is calling you to (by His Spirit) build up the faith and power of the children in your care and release them to be all they can be…for such a (“day) time as this.