The purpose of the universe from all eternity is the production and preparation of an Eternal Companion for the Son, called the Bride. She is to share the throne of the universe with her Divine Lord as a judicial equal, and so, she must be trained, educated, and prepared for her role. Redeemed humanity has been elevated by the new birth to the highest rank of all created beings. 1 Corinthians 6: 2-3 "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!" The church is divinely designated to be co-ruler, co-sovereign, co-administrator, and judicial partner with Christ.

Psalm 8:4-5 " what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the (Elohim - God) and crowned him with glory and honour." Because the crown is for the conqueror, the church must learn the art of spiritual warfare.

Prayer is not primarily God's way of getting things done. Prayer is His way of giving the church "on the job" training in overcoming the forces hostile to God. This world is a laboratory in which those destined for the throne are learning by actual practice in the prayer closet how to overcome Satan and his hierarchy. God designed the program of prayer as an "apprenticeship" for eternal sovereignty with Christ. "To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my throne." (Revelation 3:21)

Ezekiel 22:30-31 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD." If no one will intercede, God cannot withhold judgment. That He will do nothing in the realm of human redemption outside the scheme of prayer and intercession, is indicated by God's many pressing invitations to prayer. This means that redeemed humanity outranks all other orders of created beings in the universe. The church is already legally on the throne. Ephesians 2:6 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."

The church is the only force in existence that is contesting Satan's total rule in human affairs. God will not go over the church's head to overcome Satan, because that would abort His plan to bring her to full stature as co-sovereign with the Son. Although Christ's triumph over Satan is full and complete, God permits him to carry on a guerrilla warfare, in order to train the church.

God has placed the enforcement of Calvary's victory in the hands of the church. Matthew 18:18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Prayer is enforcing Christ's victory over Satan. It is implementing upon earth heaven's decisions concerning the affairs of men. Jesus has given the church "power of attorney". But this delegated authority is inoperative apart from the prayers of a believing church.

God's promises to answer prayer are so sweeping and "categorical," over such a broad spectrum, as to constitute a veritable blank check bearing the authority of His own signature. It is as though God handed us His scepter and begged us to use it.

God makes the decisions governing the affairs of earth. The responsibility and authority for the enforcement and administration of those decisions He has placed upon the shoulders of the church. (Matthew 16:18-19 "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Luke 10:19 " I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." John 20:21-23 "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven'."

"As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you" means that we are His deputies with full authority to enforce the divine will and program. This authority is wholly inoperative apart from prayer. By delegating His authority to the church for administering His will upon earth, God placed the church in apprenticeship. To take things out of her hands would sabotage his training program.

Only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit can we even have a vague conception of the power available to us. Jesus has handed His authority over to us. God’s intention is that the church, not Satan, should be the controlling factor in human affairs. Satan lost his ‘legal’ authority when he killed Jesus. We are now in authority. But there is no authority apart from persistent believing prayer.

The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock of heaven by which God carries on His great work upon the earth. All spiritual victories are won in the secret place of prayer. The only power that overcomes Satan today is the power of believing prayer.

(Illustration not found in this book – A world famous evangelist received a greater crown in heaven than most. But when he noticed an unknown little old lady with a larger crown, he asked why. He was told that she was the one who prayed in all the souls he had won.)

Satan will block any answers he can. (Remember Daniel 10) Therefore, persistence and importunity are necessary ingredients of successful prayer. Many answers that have been granted are never claimed because of lack of persistence in prayer.

Prayer must be the main business of the church.

Praise is given more emphasis in scripture than prayer. Praise of God transforms us into the image of God. It decentralizes self. God dwells in an atmosphere of praise and Satan is expelled. Praise assures the victory in prayer. Praise is the spark plug of faith.