Prayer 2.0—The Key To The Double Portion
Sunday, 13 September 2020
These are notes on the sermon, Prayer 2.0—The Key To The Double Portion, preached by Pastor Joseph Prince on Sunday, 13 September 2020, at The Star Performing Arts Centre, Singapore. We hope these sermon notes will be an encouragement to you!
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Pastor Prince reminds us that God loves each of His children dearly. Even before you were His child, He sent His Son to die for you (Rom 5:8). How much more now that you are a child of God?
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”
— Ephesians 5:1 NKJV
“Dear children” — In Greek, this means “dearly loved children” or “children who are dear to God’s heart.”
Pastor Prince shares a parenting principle: children who feel loved by their parents will want to be like them.
“The entrance of Your words gives light;”
— Psalm 119:130 NKJV
Sometimes the Word of God might not speak directly to the area or situation you are facing, but it still brings light to that area.
Pastor Prince illustrates how when you misplace something in a dark room, the solution is not to complain about the darkness or wish it away, but to switch on the light. This will reveal not only the misplaced item, but also other items that were in the dark initially.
Similarly, the entrance of God’s Word brings light and is the solution to everything you face.
Just as God’s first words were “light be” ( Gen 1:3–4), so shall light be received in His Word.
Recap of last week’s sermon:
“So shall they fear
The name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”
Says the Lord.”
— Isaiah 59:19–20 NKJV
Pastor Prince shares a revelation he received some years back while preaching in Japan: there will be an end-time revival in the Eastern countries like Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, and it will travel all the way back to Jerusalem.
That does not mean God is finished with the West. Rather, He is adding to what is happening. And his emphasis in these last days is a worldwide revival as prophesied by the prophet Joel.
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…”
“...and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders…”
— Acts 2:17–19 KJV
In these last days, all nationalities around the world will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, causing people to see visions, dream dreams, and prophesy.
“they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders” — It is when believers prophesy that God demonstrates His wonders.
In these last days, the enemy is trying to do things that will imitate God.
For example, God has said that “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14 KJV). And just as God’s glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea, the enemy is trying to cover the earth with darkness (including the current COVID-19 pandemic).
But what happens when the enemy does this?
“So shall they fear
The name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,”
Says the Lord.”
— Isaiah 59:19-20 NKJV
“The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” — In Hebrew, this refers to God routing (the enemy) out and causing him to flee.
The key is that we rest in the Lord. It is not we who lift up the standard against the enemy, but the Spirit of the Lord.
“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”
— Isaiah 59:21–60:1 NKJV
The Lord has made a covenant with you to fill you and your descendants with the Holy Spirit so that you might speak the heavenly prayer language of the Spirit.
Beloved, don’t stop praying in the Spirit! The enemy wants to close your mouth; he wants to cover the “well of grace” in your life.
This is seen in the Old Testament, where one of the first things that Israel’s #1 enemy, the Philistines, did was to cover all the wells that Abraham had dug. Isaac, Abraham’s son, had to uncover them later on.
Today, by the blood of Jesus, God is uncovering all these wells in your life:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
— 2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV
“Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:1 ASV
If you want to see the gifts of the Spirit operating in your life, follow after love.
Pastor Prince shares an experience he had years ago as he was driving home at around 1:00 AM after a meeting. He came across an elderly man attempting to cross the central divider of the highway. The compassion of Jesus rose in his heart and being concerned for his safety, Pastor Prince stopped to offer the man assistance. He realized the man was hungry and seeking a specific eatery but could not identify it. Pastor Prince brought the man back to his car and after a momentary loss for what to do, began to pray in tongues.
Suddenly, Pastor Prince saw an image of the ‘ABC Brickworks Food Centre’ in his spirit and decided to drive the man there to see if it was the place he had in mind. As they arrived, he began to feel strongly in his spirit that this was the right place.
As they approached the food center, the owner of the stall selling coffee recognized the elderly man and called out his name! The stall-owner then shared with Pastor Prince how the elderly man was often neglected by his son and left at home, alone and hungry. Pastor Prince sensed that the Lord loved this man and recognized that had he not followed the love he felt in his heart, there would be no manifestation of the gifts (i.e. the supernatural leading of the Spirit to the exact place the elderly man wanted to go to).
Many times, we seek the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, but we are not following after love. As we take the first step to pursue love, the gifts will flow.
In fact, the gifts of the Spirit can manifest any time, even in our daily lives and work. The Bible says that the gifts of the Spirit are “given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Cor 12:7).
Beloved, continue praying in the Spirit!
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
— Acts 2:4 NKJV
“Utterance” — According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, this word “utterance” does not refer to everyday speech but refers to “dignified and elevated discourse.”
This utterance is a unique prayer, ‘Prayer 2.0’, that is specially for us who are people of the new covenant.
As people under the new covenant, we have the Holy Spirit in us (not just on us). People of God in the Old Testament only experienced the Spirit of God on them for a specific purpose and time.
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
— Galatians 5:18 NKJV
How do we be free from the law? We don’t want to be under the law because it immediately puts us under the curse, for no man can keep the law (Gal. 3:10).
But we do not become free from the law by simply ignoring it, and as a result, becoming a slave to the flesh.
No, we are freed from the law to follow the Spirit.
When you follow the Spirit, you will exceed the expectations of the law.
“that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
— Romans 8:4 NKJV
People of the old covenant follow the letter of the law, while people of the new covenant follow the Spirit.
Praying in the Spirit is the seventh item in the armor of God, and it is used to attack. The other items are mostly defensive in nature (Eph. 6):
“and the helmet of the salvation receive, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the saying (‘rhēma’) of God, through (‘dia’) all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
— Ephesians 6:17–18 YLT
The way we receive the saying (the rhēma, the word in season) of God is through all prayer and supplication, praying at all times in the Spirit.
This is similar to “the spirit of grace and of supplications” written in Zechariah 12:10, a prophecy for people under the new covenant.
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced…”
— Zechariah 12:10 KJV
Praying in the Spirit is not praying with more enthusiasm or being led by the Spirit as we pray in English (or a known tongue). The Bible clearly indicates that praying in the Spirit refers to praying in tongues.
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth…”
— 1 Corinthians 14:14 KJV
“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:15 KJV
Praying in the Spirit refers to praying in tongues, while praying with understanding refers to praying in a known language.
““As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.”
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.”
— Isaiah 59:21–60:3 NKJV
The Bible is clear that when this verse talks about darkness covering the earth, it is not referring to the Millennium. Darkness will not cover the earth as Jesus will be here on earth. Instead, it refers to the end-times, which we are living in right now.
The Bible says as you make sure that God's Spirit is on you and that His words that He put in your mouth do not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, you will arise and shine.
While we miss having physical gatherings, God has a purpose for such a time as this. It is for souls to be touched, lives transformed, and Jesus glorified, in ways that are not limited by time and space.
Just like the nobleman’s son was healed by Jesus over 20 miles away (John 4:46-54), we also receive from the Lord without being limited by space (distance). During this COVID-19 season, people are predominantly receiving from the Lord not by the physical laying on of hands, but by simply receiving the word of the Lord wherever they are.
This is how the apostle Paul pastored people beyond time and space. He saw their order in the Spirit.
“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
— Colossians 2:5 KJV
Pastors and leaders, you can behold your people in the spirit and the Lord will put on your heart whichever areas that need attention in the church.
“Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges (double mouth)
You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them
And will make the hills like chaff.
“You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away,
And the storm will scatter them;
But you will rejoice in the Lord,
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.”
— Isaiah 41:15–16 NASB
“Mountains” — Refers to huge problems (Mark 11:23). This could be a sickness, depression, or some other challenge in your life.
In Mark 11, Jesus said that when we believe and speak to the mountain, it will be removed and cast into the sea. But what happens when you speak to the mountain and it does not seem to move?
This calls for another weapon, which you will thresh the mountain with and pulverize it, making it like chaff.
What is chaff?
In ancient times, harvested grain such as wheat and barley were piled into a heap and threshed using a threshing sledge.
A portion of the grain from the pile in the centre was spread around the pile and the sledge would ride over it. Children would sit or stand on the sledge to apply pressure on it, separating the chaff from the grain.
Stones were in-laid on the underside of the sledge to grind over the grain and separate the grain from chaff.
It seems like tedious work for the person on the sledge to go round and round the pile of grain.
Pastor Prince likens the sledge threshing grain to himself walking around his study, praying in tongues.
“Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges (double mouth);
You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them,
And will make the hills like chaff.
“You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away,
And the storm will scatter them;
But you will rejoice in the Lord,
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.”
— Isaiah 41:15–16 NASB
“double edges” — In Hebrew, the word for “edge” is “peh,” which means “mouth.” This literally means “double mouth.” Wherever this phrase “double mouth” appears, the verse is talking about praying in the Spirit.
As you pray in the Spirit, you are going around our mountain (your problem), making progress as though going up a spiral staircase.
How do you practice this in daily life?
Tell the Lord about your problem today. The Holy Spirit in you knows how to make perfect prayers for your situation. If the doctors just gave you a bad report, say to the Lord, “Lord, I don’t know how to pray about this. But You know, and You pray perfect prayers.” Then start praying in tongues.
Most of the time when we pray in the Spirit, we don’t see the mountain removed instantaneously like in Mark 11:23. Most of the time, the mountain is dealt with over a period of time.
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…”
— 1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV
Many times we may not know what to pray but as we pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit helps us because He knows what to pray (Rom 8:26).
Don’t give up if you don’t see any change just yet! There is spiritual warfare going on, and that is why sometimes you experience delays. The problem is not with God’s willingness. God is more than willing for you to enjoy the benefits that Jesus has paid for, and He hears you the moment you pray. However, there are powers of darkness coming against you, just like they came against Daniel and resulted in a delay in him receiving an answer from God (Dan. 10:12–14).
How are your prayers answered as you pray in the Spirit?
First, God strengthens you on the inside long before the breakthrough manifests on the outside. This may take some time but there comes a knowing that you are being strengthened from within.
Next, He touches your soul realm, which is where your mind and feelings are. All of a sudden, you begin to see fresh revelations in the Bible. All of a sudden, your mind becomes sharp and there is clarity about the issues you are dealing with. You will also experience a calming effect on your feelings as you come to a place of rest.
Sometimes, because we are stressed out and worried and filled with anxiety, it’s difficult for us to receive healing.
Once you are at rest, the manifestation will take place in your body.
Praying in the Spirit will bless your family relationships too.
If you are facing heartache because of a child or spouse, prayer is more powerful than nagging. To nag is to trust in our own efforts more than God.
Prayer is in the realm of grace.
There is no “Thou shall pray” in the Ten Commandments as the law depends on the strength of man.
The more you pray, the more you are living under grace.
If the situation seems to worsen after you pray in the Spirit, don’t be discouraged! It may be the enemy’s “last burst of fire” before he flees defeated, unable to withstand the sword of the Spirit.
“Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges (double mouth);
You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them,
And will make the hills like chaff.
You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away,
And the storm will scatter them;
But you will rejoice in the Lord,
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.”
— Isaiah 41:15-16 NASB
It takes time to pulverize the mountain bit by bit.
After the grain is threshed, it is winnowed to separate the grain from the unwanted chaff. This is usually done on a high place or mountain where there are strong winds. The winnowing fork is used to toss the grain in the air so the wind can blow the chaff away (the grain is heavier than chaff, so it will fall back on the ground). Eventually, the ground will be filled with grain without chaff.
“He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”
— Psalm 1:3–4 NKJV
As you pray in the Spirit, you are going in a circle/circuit, climbing the spiral staircase. You are using the threshing sledge on your problems. You are separating the chaff from the grain. Keep on praying and the wind of the Spirit will drive the chaff away.
—
Pastor Prince shares how he asked the Lord for a confirmation that “double mouth” refers to praying in tongues. One night, he woke up with these words on his mind: “cloven tongues.” Immediately, he knew the verses the Lord was leading him to were Acts 2:3–4 where the disciples receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit started praying in tongues.
“Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
— Acts 2:3–4 NKJV
“divided tongues” — In the KJV, this is translated as “cloven tongues,” as in “cloven-footed animals” (divided hoof).
This also brings to remembrance Hebrews 4, which talks about how the word of God is sharper than a sword with a doubled edge.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
“two-edged sword” — In Greek, this is “distomos,” which also means “two-mouth.”
The word of God is a two-mouthed sword. While this verse is normally read as referring to the Scriptures, the original Greek language shows that it is more likely referring to praying in the Spirit.
We often ask ourselves if what we are feeling about a certain decision is from ourselves or from the Holy Spirit. When you pray in the Spirit, you will be sensitive and be able to discern whether a certain thought or feeling is from yourself or from the Lord.
Hebrews 4:12 also talks about the effect of praying in the Spirit on our joints and marrow. Our joints and marrow are vitally important to our health and immunity. When you pray in the Spirit, the living and powerful word penetrates the joints and marrow of your body, providing powerful immunity!
“But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion (double mouth) of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”
— Deuteronomy 21:17 NKJV
In the Bible, if a man has two wives, the son of the first wife is entitled to a double portion of all that his father has, even if that wife is rejected by her husband.
From the story of Elijah and Elisha, we can see that praying in tongues is the double portion the Lord wants us to receive
“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion (double mouth) of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.””
— 2 Kings 2:9–10 NKJV
Elisha knew that the time was coming for his mentor Elijah to return to the Lord.
God hid the idea of the double portion in the Bible because God esteems this gift of praying in the Spirit highly.
Child of God, are you enjoying your double portion, firstborn inheritance of the “double mouth” (praying in the Spirit)?
“Distomos” — From the Greek word “distomos,” we get two words “di” (meaning “two”) and “stomos” (meaning “mouth”). “Stomos” is where the English word “stomata” is derived from.
The significance of stomata in plants is a picture of the significance of praying in tongues in our lives
The “stomata” is the cell structure on the underside of a leaf of a plant that allows the exchange of carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere. Researchers found that trees that were brought from the wild did not grow as large when they were planted in a controlled environment in the city despite having all the known necessary conditions.
After their study, they concluded that the missing condition was the sound of the jungle which could not be found in the controlled environment. These sounds played a part in opening up the stomata of the plants, which was necessary for healthy growth.
God is teaching us that the sound of praying in tongues will cause our spirit man to be open to all that He has for us, including the gifts of the Spirit and the double portion anointing that Elisha asked from Elijah.
“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.”
— 2 Kings 2:11–12 NKJV
This is a picture of the Day of Pentecost when Jesus’ disciples saw Jesus ascend and the Holy Spirit fell upon them.
“...for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
— John 7:39
Today, we see that Jesus has been glorified and that’s why we can receive the Holy Spirit, crying, “My Father, My Father,” just as Elisha did.
It is because Jesus hung on the cross, crying out, “My God, My God,” that today you can cry “My Father, My Father.” Jesus took our distant relationship with God and exchanged it with His position of sonship.
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!””
— Galatians 4:6 NKJV
Don’t neglect this gift of grace—praying in the Spirit—that causes you to know your place as a son and also lights up all the other gifts of the Spirit.
This is the new covenant God has made with us: His Spirit is upon us and His words will not depart from our mouths.
What was the law under the old covenant has been replaced with the Spirit in the new covenant.
The first Pentecost celebrated the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, and 3,000 people died.
Under the new covenant, when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, God gave the Spirit on Mount Zion and 3,000 people were saved.
This changes how we interpret the Bible. Today, we read God’s Word with New Testament eyes and see through the lens of grace.
For example:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
— Joshua 1:8 NKJV
“meditate” — This is the Hebrew word “hagar,” which means “mutter.”
This verse is similar to Isaiah 59:21:
“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.
— Isaiah 59:21 NKJV
Today, as people under the new covenant, we can take Joshua 1:8 as “The words of the Spirit shall not depart from your mouth. Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Instead of striving to keep the law which brings you under the curse, pray in the Spirit. Don’t worry about holiness as it will be fulfilled in us by the leading of the Spirit.
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates (‘hagah’ — mutters) day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”
— Psalm 1:2-4 NKJV
“And in His law he meditates (‘hagah’ — mutters) day and night” — Looking at this verse through the lens of grace, we can read this line as “And he prays in the Spirit day and night.”
Just by praying in the Spirit, you will have good success, you will make your way prosperous, and you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.
Whenever we see the law in the Word, replace it with the Spirit because what was once the law to be kept is now a divine Spirit to be followed.
The Holy Spirit always glorifies Jesus.
You can always have more of the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is a continuous process.
When a person receives the Holy Spirit, the Spirit does not overtake the person like an evil spirit that possesses people. Instead He wants us to cooperate with Him. We must want to be led. He will not force us to do anything.
Demonstrate your faith by speaking! It is elevated discourse that is full of power and the Father appreciates it.
Pastor Prince prays for those who have not prayed in tongues before to receive this gift.
Pastor Prince prays for the following conditions/situations:
“The Lord bless you and your families throughout this week. The Lord bless you with the blessings of father Abraham, the blessings of Deuteronomy 28. The Lord make His face to shine on you, protect you and your loved ones throughout this week from every COVID-19 virus, from every infection, disease, danger, harm, and from the power of the evil one.
The Lord keep you, the Lord preserve your coming in and your going out. The Lord preserve you and your loved ones from all evil. The Lord shines on you and grants you an abundance of favor throughout this week. The favor of God will open doors for you and shut some doors that are no good for you. The favor of God is on you. Wherever you go, the favor of God is working for you.
Thank you, Lord, that for your people who are watching this right now, health is springing forth speedily because you are granting it to them right now. The Lord bless you with shalom wholeness, well-being, and peace in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We hope these sermon notes blessed you! If they did, we encourage you to get the sermon and allow the Lord to speak to you personally as you watch or listen to it.
© Copyright JosephPrince.com 2020
These sermon notes were taken by volunteers during the service. They are not a verbatim representation of the sermon.
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