This podcast is a repost, originally published on feb 18, 2017.

On this podcast Pastor Priji converses with Prophet Hari Rao Pawar on the necessity of prayer and the hurdles surrounding it that need to be overcome.

Transcript:

Pastor Priji Varghese: How important is it for churches to pray together, and not just as individuals?

Prophet Hari Rao: Prayer is the principle thing in the Kingdom. It is one of the highest of privileges that the salvation of Jesus brings to us. Broken communion was restored and that is called called prayer. We are only as strong as our prayer life.

Unlike a conference, concert or seminar, you call for a prayer and you’ll have the least number of people showing up, because prayer is contrary to the flesh. Prayer is difficult because you are fighting your flesh. A community that does not pray has not come to the understanding of who they are in Christ and what place prayer holds. If all is not done in prayer, it is in vain.

Pastor Priji Varghese: How can we motivate a church to come together and pray with one accord?

Prophet Hari Rao: It starts with the top. My youth pastor taught me that people will learn what you teach but they become who you are.As a leader if I am not a praying person, I will not create disciples who are praying people.

The leader moulds the family in prayer in private and public. Public prayer is just an overflow of prayer in private. It is not the words that come out, but the Spirit Who leads us in prayer, for prayer is connecting with God. Praying is interceding and declaring what God has already planned for us. We need to create room for different people to come in and pray, every age, every generation.

Pastor Priji Varghese: What are some of the things that distract and take our eyes off of prayer.

Prophet Hari Rao: Distraction is merely a symptom. The root of the problem is the lack of the fear of God.

When you find a prayerful man or woman, you see they have the fear of God in them. They realise their desperate need for God. They are humble. There is a lack of the fear of God in people who do not pray. Even in my life, in times when I did not have seasons of prayer, it was because I thought I did not need it. It important to check our hearts to see if we are really relying on God.

In 2 Chronicles 26, there was a young king Uzziah. The Bible says that as long as he sought the Lord, he prospered. He feared the Lord, did what was right in God’ eyes and he sought the Lord. There is a direct connection between the fear of God, obedience and prayer.

Once we bring our hearts to the right posture, all we need to do is create a daily habit. If we do not prioritise prayer, other habits will take precedence and it will be impossible to have a life of prayer. Give the best time of your day to God. Keep that time uninterrupted with God. If you put God first, everything else realigns itself accordingly. I make it a point to alert myself about praying and I seek to fall in love with prayer.

Pastor Priji Varghese: Guilt and condemnation can easily eat through our prayer lives. How can one overcome the guilt of sin and pray?

Prophet Hari Rao: I was dealing with the same guilt. After asking God, He reminded me of a childhood incident. I had a shower, rode off on the bicycle, when a crow pooped on me. As important as the meeting was, I turned around and came back to my father’s house. I knew that no matter how dirty I may be, the only place I can get clean is in my own house.

Any time we sin, do not leave the Father’s house, but come back to Him. Don’t hide from God, hide in Him. Enter boldly to the throne of grace. There is nothing God would convict us of for which He would not give us the grace to conquer. Get around people who are praying. Do not stand alone.

Pastor Priji Varghese: It is necessary for the church to cultivate a culture of prayer. Even the new people who come can be lead to it. What can we, as leaders, do different to inspire the people of God.

Prophet Hari Rao: Pray in the Spirit. Pray in tongues. The Spirit prays things beyond our understanding. As the answer to the question, we must call for times of prayer intentionally. We must model that habit. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, not what to pray. We must become people who are hungry for God. When a generation learns to pray, that generation will see the most of God. There is much power in prayer.

God makes His dwelling place in prayer. We must become carriers of God’s glory and that comes from invitation and desire for prayer, to be a people who seek His face.

Prophet Hari Rao Pawar can be connected through the following links:

Get Ready Ministry

Prophet Hari Rao