By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”.

This above Bible verse encourages believers to engage in continuous and diverse types of prayer. Another translation describes it as, “praying with diverse prayers.” Unfortunately, many believers are unaware of the various types of prayers recorded and exemplified in the New Testament by the Holy Spirit. These prayers are meant for the church to pray as inspired by the Spirit according to the occasion.

The lack of knowledge about these types of prayers significantly limits the effectiveness of our prayers. Ignorance is a major factor in the failure of any endeavor. Typically, we are only familiar with a few types of prayers, and we tend to pray only those few types. This severely limits us because when different occasions call for these other types of prayers, we fall short due to ignorance. This ignorance hinders the Holy Spirit from guiding us to pray the right prayer for the situation.

As stated in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”. So, we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in praying the appropriate type of prayer for each occasion. The New Testament introduced diverse kinds of prayer, which became available after Jesus established the new covenant through His sacrificial death. We will explore three kinds of prayer in this blog post.

PRAYER OF FAITH
Prayer of faith seeks to change circumstances by petitioning God. It’s based on the belief that if you ask with faith, you will receive (James 5:15 and Mark 11:24). The prayer of faith depends solely on the individual’s faith. It doesn’t require the faith of others. Spiritual growth is essential because, eventually, God will hold us accountable for the teachings we’ve received, expecting us to live by faith like everyone else. Many Christians primarily pray for personal requests, focusing solely on themselves. This prayer involves asking God for something for oneself, petitioning on one’s behalf. However, the prayer of faith can also be directed towards underage children and non-Christians who lack understanding.

An example is seen in Acts 3, where Peter heals a man through his faith in Jesus’ name.
In this example, the man lacked faith and action, requiring Peter to take action on his behalf. Peter’s faith in the name of Jesus was what led to the man’s healing. The key rule of this prayer is to believe that you already possess what you’re asking for. It’s not about hoping to receive it in the future, but rather having faith that it’s already yours. This belief is what manifests the desired outcome. Faith is evidenced by action, as seen in Peter’s confidence in Jesus’ healing power. Therefore, true faith is demonstrated through corresponding actions.

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT 
Prayer of Agreement is a New Testament practice, revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles, granting believers access to the keys of the Kingdom of God. This prayer allows God’s power to work on behalf of those who unite in faith. The scriptural foundation for this type of prayer is found in Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus states that if two believers agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be granted by the Father. 

Several rules govern this prayer:

• • There must be at least two believers involved.
  •  The request must be specific and align with God’s will, as outlined in 1 John 5:14-15. Merely agreeing without a specific request does not constitute the Prayer of Agreement.
  • The participants must be physically present on earth.

After making the request, both parties must agree that God has answered, applying the principle of Mark 11:24, where faith precedes manifestation. In essence, the Prayer of Agreement requires believers to unite in faith, make specific requests, and affirm together that God has answered their prayers.

If one of the parties involved in the Prayer of Agreement fails to believe that the prayer has been answered, the agreement becomes void. Doubt or wavering on either side will result in receiving nothing from the Lord. James 1:6-7 emphasizes the importance of asking in faith without wavering. Those who waver are compared to waves of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Such individuals should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Unlike the Prayer of Faith, where the faith of one person suffices, the Prayer of Agreement requires unwavering faith from both parties. If either person wavers, they will face the same consequences outlined in James 1:6-7.

UNITED PRAYER OR CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER                                                                                                         This type of prayer is commonly practiced in church meetings, involves the congregation praying together simultaneously. Notably, there is no record in Scripture of appointing one person to lead this prayer; rather, everyone prays collectively at the same time. Their unity in prayer is so profound that the Holy Spirit perceives their prayers as one, recording them as if they were spoken by a single individual.

Acts 4:24-33 depicts a Prayer of Agreement by a congregation, where they lifted their voices together in unison. The rules guiding this type of prayer are:

• • Complete agreement: All participants must be in full agreement regarding the prayers offered. This unity was evident in Acts 4:32, where believers were described in some translations as being “united in heart and mind.” They prayed with one united mind.
  • Unified prayer focus: Participants must pray for the same purpose. In this instance, they were focused on a singular goal: the preaching of the gospel. Their unity in prayer suggests the influence of the Holy Spirit, aligning them with one desire and purpose.
  • Belief in the forthcoming answer: Those praying must expect their prayers to be answered. In Acts 4, their prayers were answered powerfully because they prayed with confident expectation. If doubt exists, James 1:5-6 applies, but they anticipated the answer without hesitation. They did not pray as a gamble or to test God’s response but prayed in faith, knowing God’s will to preach the gospel.

In conclusion, whether or not we receive answers to our prayers is ultimately our responsibility, not God’s. The New Testament encourages diverse types of prayer, such as the Prayer of Faith, the Prayer of Agreement, and United Prayer. Each type requires faith, unity, and alignment with God’s will. As we grow spiritually and understand these prayers better, let’s approach God confidently, knowing He hears and answers according to His will.