Many men do not want to pray – not because they do not think it is important, but because they do not know how to pray.  They may be timid and, through a false sense of humility, convinced they are unworthy to ask anything of God.  They may not feel articulate enough.  Or, they may be so burdened down with personal sin and difficulties that they are guilt-ridden and have no personal victory in their lives.  They can barely pray for themselves – let alone others – and have never learned how to rise above a focus on themselves and their problems to those of a community and national level.

We teach men to have victory in their personal lives so that they are able to pray for the bigger issues that touch hundreds, millions, and billions.  We teach men that prayer consists not just of supplication but of enforcing the legal authority of heaven and thus declaring and decreeing what we hear heaven saying.  When the disciples asked Christ how they should pray, part of His instructions were “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  It is thus up to us to ensure that God’s will is happening on earth.  His will is not automatically assured.  We must pray and contend against the spiritual forces of wickedness.

Prayer is best learned by doing.  By listening to other men pray who have learned by reason of use.  Courage breeds courage and when men pray with boldness and authority, it fosters more and more prayer. 

Christ said the gates of hell will not prevail against us.  Gates are defensive mechanisms – not offensive.  A gate protects territory – it does not invade territory nor expand territory.  Our job is to break down the gates of hell that are trying to keep us out – that lie to us and tell the church to “stay in our lane”.  Our job is to take back the territory that we have ceded through our sin and ignorance – and that has been stolen from us. 

We pray from a place of victory.  We play offense, not defense.