Podcast Summary

Overview

Episode Title: 2 Focuses: Speak More & Lay Hold Pt. 2
Speaker: Pastor Craig Field
Date: January 26, 2025
Podcast: Promise of Life Church Podcasts

In this insightful and practical sermon, Pastor Craig Field continues his teaching on two foundational focuses God gave him: “Speak More” and “Lay Hold.” Building on the previous message, he delves into the differences and relationship between confession (speaking) and spiritually “laying hold” of God’s promises through prayer, particularly praying in tongues. Filled with relatable stories, practical analogies, and pointed exhortations, Pastor Craig challenges listeners to not just be “professional confessors,” but to enter the deeper realm of effective, Spirit-led prayer and action.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Dual Focus: “Speak More” vs. “Lay Hold”

• Theme: These are “two critically important flows, and they're completely different to each other.” (00:29)
  • Speak More: Refers to verbal confession of faith. Declaring what God’s Word says over your life, family, situations, etc.
  • Lay Hold: A deeper, more complex process involving prayer—especially tongues—to spiritually ‘grasp’ and birth the answer.

“You can't just pray but never speak. ... You can't just speak, you've got to learn to pray.” (02:39)
“Confessing is easy. A monkey can confess. ... But to lay hold is not that simple.” (03:58)

2. The Pitfall of ‘Professional Confessors’

• Many in faith circles “are professional confessors” but not dedicated pray-ers (04:14).
• True confession isn’t just parroting words; the heart and faith must be engaged.
• However, confession alone is not enough for breakthrough—this is where “laying hold” comes in.

3. What Does it Mean to 'Lay Hold'?

• Definition: It is an act of prayer (primarily in tongues), moving into the ‘spirit realm’ and actively taking hold of God’s promises beyond mere verbal expression.

“You can't lay hold with confession. You lay hold in the Spirit. You lay hold by praying that thing out in tongues.” (18:52)

• Why Pray in Tongues? Refers to 1 Corinthians 14:2—praying out “the mysteries” and making divine connections.

4. Illustration: Pastor Noel’s Testimony (07:02–20:20)

• Story: Pastor Noel was instructed by God to travel with Dr. Dufresne but lacked finances.
• Instead of seeking a job as a solution (which God told him not to do), he needed to believe God for provision.
• Key instruction from God:

  “Lay hold of those preaching opportunities in the spirit by praying it out in tongues.” (20:02)

• The practical result: As he did this, pastors began inviting him out of the blue—without him asking or promoting himself.

5. The Spiritual Mechanics: Two Arms, One Missing

• Analogy: Most believers try to receive with one “arm” (confession), but neglect the other (“laying hold” in prayer).

“You have two arms. Most people have one tied behind their back and they're trying to do everything with one hand.” (24:22)

• Using both “arms” (speaking and praying in the Spirit) accelerates results, particularly when time is a factor.

6. How To “Lay Hold” Practically (26:00–39:00)

• Step 1: Speak/confess God’s Word about the situation.
• Step 2: Get into a place of real prayer, particularly “in the Spirit” (praying in tongues).
  • Not just a distracted five minutes; enter the zone where the anointing is strong and the mind is focused.
  • Analogy: Walking from sand into deeper water—the deeper you go, the more effective the prayer.

“You need to pray until you get in the spirit. That's the first thing. Now when you're in that kind of zone...it feels like...then it goes [snaps fingers].” (31:17)

• Step 3: As you pray, the Holy Spirit (the “Coach”) will teach you the technicals—how to actually “lay hold.”
  • Each person will be shown specifics by the Spirit relevant to their situation.
  • Illustration: Golf and boxing—both technique and repeated action are needed.

“But the coach, the counselor, the helper, the guide, he's the guidebook, the living guidebook. ... The Holy Spirit...as your coach will say, now, as you're praying, now do this...He'll teach you.” (44:38)

7. Examples and Application (39:00+)

• Applies not just to financial needs, but to any area—healing, provision, relationships, etc.
• For business owners/employees: Laying hold manifests in increased clients, promotions, etc.
• For personal life: “Lay hold” can even apply to believing God for a spouse, favor, or spiritual gifts.

“You say, I need a mate. Well, there's dating websites or there's laying hold in the spirit. Let me tell you, you lay hold of that mate in the spirit, you'll get the right one.” (01:08:16)

8. Correction of Limiting Mindsets

• The path of the righteous “grows brighter and brighter”—God expects growth, responsibility, expansion, and productivity.
• Retirement isn’t a biblical concept of inactivity: “This is a time to re-fire, not retire. ... God expects you to work until you die, but your work should be full of joy.” (52:39)

9. The Relationship of Speaking and Laying Hold

• Don’t “just speak”—lay hold; don’t “just pray”—speak!

“It doesn't matter what it is. In the realm of the Spirit. It's there. God needs my confession of faith and my dominion, but he also needs...the other hand in the Spirit, reaching out to that realm and laying hold and pulling it toward me.” (58:30)

10. Encouragement and Closing Prayer (1:10:00+)

• Pastor Craig encourages listeners not to feel condemned, but instead inspired to step up their prayer life and action.
• Powerful prayer of blessing, affirmation, and appreciation for the congregation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On confession and prayer:
  “A monkey can confess, a parrot can confess. ... But confession by, in and of itself is not hard. ... But to lay hold is not that simple.” (03:58)
• On missing out due to lack of knowledge:
  “Sometimes you think you're in faith, but you're actually not because you don't have enough knowledge.” (18:23)
• Key revelation from God:
  “Lay hold of those preaching opportunities in the Spirit by praying it out in tongues.” (20:02)
• Analogy:
  “You have two arms. Most people have one tied behind their back and they're trying to do everything with one hand.” (24:22)
• About entering deeper prayer:
  “...It feels like this and then it goes. ... You can pray in tongues, but when you step into the realm of the Spirit, your feet touch the water.” (31:17)
• On learning from the Holy Spirit:
  “He will come with you and say, ‘Oh, okay, you heard what he said. Now you know you can do this... quietly your mind, now you're praying this out in tongues, but let me teach you how to lay hold.’” (44:38)
• On application to life:
  “It means no matter what it is...if it's a promotion, I can lay hold of it. ... The new building, that might take some time because it's big, but I can lay hold of it.” (58:04)
• On the fruit of laying hold:
  “Things are germinating, things are happening. But once that has happened, then all of a sudden, bing, it pops through the soil and...in the natural, you say, oh, there it is.” (01:02:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:29 – Pastor introduces the two focuses: “Speak More & Lay Hold”
• 03:58 – Differences between confession and laying hold; confession is simple, laying hold is complex
• 07:02 – Pastor Noel’s testimony, real-life application of the principle
• 18:52 – God’s instruction to “Lay hold in the Spirit by praying in tongues”
• 24:22 – ‘Two arms’ analogy: using confession and laying hold together
• 31:17 – Description of “getting in the Spirit” in prayer
• 44:38 – The Holy Spirit as our “Coach” in prayer, technical aspects of laying hold
• 52:39 – Encouragement for business owners and correction to retirement thinking
• 58:30 – Combining confession and prayer for accelerated breakthrough
• 01:02:35 – Analogy of manifestation (“popping through the soil”)
• 01:08:16 – Applying “lay hold” to various life situations
• 1:10:00 – Closing prayer and affirmation

Tone and Language

Pastor Craig communicates with warmth, humor, and candor, using everyday analogies, gentle correction, and direct exhortation. The tone is practical, encouraging, and occasionally playful, always emphasizing hope, growth, and spiritual partnership with God.

Takeaway for Listeners

This episode is an invitation to deepen your spiritual life:

• Don’t settle for mere confession; enter the Spirit-led work of laying hold in prayer.
• Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in effective, productive, and technical spiritual action.
• Growth, progress, and breakthrough require both “arms”—your confession and your prayer life working in harmony.

“Speak, lay hold; speak, lay hold. Don’t forget to speak, but start to lay hold. Get in the spirit. Start praying those things out in tongues. Let the Spirit of God teach you how all that works.” (01:09:09)

For more, listen to the full message or visit Promise of Life Church.