#48 The Birthing Prayer

              
      Dutch Sheets will be using the words “birthing prayer” interchangeably with “travail”…

"...Having said all that, let me [Sheets] say plainly and emphatically: There is an aspect of prayer that births things in the Spirit.

We are ‘birthers’ for God.

The Holy Spirit wants to ‘bring forth’ through us. Jesus said in John 7:38, ”From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water”(italics mine).

‘Innermost being’ is the word koila, which means ‘womb.’ We are the womb of God upon the earth.

We are not the source of life, but we are carriers of the source of life. We do not generate life, but we release, through prayer, Him who does.

Can we de-mystify this subject of travail? I believe we can.

The following passages either directly mention travailing (birthing) prayer or the context and wording implies it:

1 Kings 18:41-45  Elijah, after speaking to Ahab, “went to the top of Carmel: and he crouched down on the earth, and put his face between his knees…"

Psalm 126:5, 6 “those who sow in tears”

Isaiah 66:7, 8 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;…. As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons."

John 11:33, 35, 38, 41-43 Jesus was “deeply moved within… cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ ”

Matt. 26:36-39 Jesus— “began to be grieved and distressed…fell on His face and prayed.”

Romans 8:26, 27 “The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Gal. 4:19 Paul praying, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again..”

Although these passages do not fully explain what it is or how it is done, some things are clear:

The Holy Spirit is involved.
It is associated with spiritual reproduction.
It aids in the maturing process of believers.
It can be very intense, involving fervency, tears and even groaning.

Assuming Christ was in travail at Lazarus’s tomb and Elijah was in birthing prayer on the mountain, it is involved in producing physical miracles, not just the new birth.”

Prayer Note # 48 THE BIRTHING PRAYER -Taken from Dutch Sheets’ book, Intercessory Prayer (pgs 115- 121)

The next Prayer Note, June 19th - THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S BIRTHING AGENT: Prayer Note #49

Today’s 7th Truth: If you are “born again”, you are a new creature. 2 Cor. 5:17

Tonight's post: FUELED BY THE SPIRIT