Prayers : Part 8

Prayer that God Always Answers
Part 8

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Knowing how to pray is not difficult. All we must do is follow Jesus example and obey God's Word. Jesus simply said to ask the Father in his name, and He will give it to you. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full (John 16:24).

God cares about us. He cares about us praying. So we need to make certain that when we pray, we pray rightly. Moreover, we should be praying for others and getting answers to their prayers. One of our goals should be to have those people seeking us out to receive prayer, come to know the Lord for themselves so that they can receive Jesus Christ to allow them to take part in the relationship God desires they have with Him.

So far in this series we have identified two different types of prayer (prayer of commitment and prayer of binding and loosing), and today will continue on with understanding "what should we pray?". God never stated that you don't know how to pray...he did however say, you do not know "what" to pray for.

Pastor further went on to begin to introduce the benefits of the prayer of agreement.

Matthew 18:19-20

Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

Being in agreement means the parties involved must work at defining all of the details of their request. It is work and it takes time. Pastor gave two great examples of how we are often not in agreement, even when we agree. He gave a vivid illustration about a husband and wife deciding to get into "agreement" about a new house. They both agree that it would be great, and they pray together. However, they failed to get into the details. The husband is believing for an ultra modern high rise in the Four Seasons San Francisco, while the wife is believing for a bungalow in a suburban cul- de- sac. No agreement.

Being in agreement is in the details, and it takes work, but there are rewards for your labor. If you missed the message be sure to pick up a CD at service on Sunday.

Prayers : Part 7

Prayer that God Always Answers
Part 7

Today, we will get into the “nuts and bolts” of prayer. Up to this point in the series we focused on learning how to pray. We are supposed to be confident in prayer. We are to come boldly before the very seat of power, and as a child, you don’t bow and scrape (Hebrews 4:15, 16). Grace and mercy are covenant terms:
“Mercy” means withholding the punishment and judgment that is owed to you and that you rightly deserve. “Grace” is God giving everything that you both do and do not deserve because you are in covenant. Today, we will learn what to pray.

1. Your situation is going to determine what you should pray (or how you walk by faith). Different situations require different types of prayer. Ephesians 6: -- is rightfully using and applying the knowledge of the Word of God.

Ø Prayer of commitment – start with the root of the problem or fear, then cast (or commit) it completely to the Father, thank Him for freeing you, and do not take it back. It’s not a matter of will God, but rather will you? God gave you the right to choose.
1 Peter 5:6, 7 – How do we “cast all our cares”? Stop worrying and start praying (Philippians 4:6, 7).

Ø Prayer of binding and loosing –this is the prayer of walking in authority, of binding fear and insecurities over things which we have been given authority over.
Matthew 18:18; 16:19 – Jesus left us with the right and authority to bind on earth what will be bound in heaven. We are not at the mercy of our enemies.
Luke 10:17 -- we have been given authority over Satan, his demons and anything in his kingdom. This includes fear, doubt, unbelief and spiritual things.

If what you are waiting for falls into either of these two areas, review this message. Does worry keep you awake at night? Pray the prayer of commitment. Start rolling (casting) these things to the Lord. Other things you have been waiting for God to take, are yours to take authority over.

Prayers : Part 6

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full ."

John 16:23,24

Confusion enters when some of us look to the past or the Old Covenant to emulate prayer. We are in the New Covenant, a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Covenants are two parts of one plan, one relationship with God and is a fulfillment of what was before. Answering your questions builds the foundation that we need to understand prayer.

1. Prayer is us connecting with the Father. Relationships in the natural are developed and built upon how we ask and receive. You know communication is lacking when there are no answers. How else will you know God? I submit to you that you know God to the level you receive answers. The “how to” of prayer is found in our series text John 16:23, 24. God is not a respecter of persons, so we should confidently know, just as the disciples did, that whatever we ask we receive (1 John 5:14, 15).

What is prayer?
Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything. You’re probably worrying about an area you haven’t prayed about. Stop worrying and start praying. Prayer is a category in which you will find many different types and forms prayer. There is no ritual to prayer. However, there are forms of prayer meant to be used together (and not in any specific order):

• Prayer of confession – “Prayer” in Philippians 4:6 is translated from the Greek as “oration,” “oratory,” or giving voice to God’s Word. By verbalizing (speaking) your specific request, you know you’ve made your requests known to God. “Rhema” is speaking the Word full of faith and with such conviction and authority that it is as if God Himself is speaking. Quoting is not confession, but to get to rhema, you must start quoting.

Romans 4:17; 2 Corinthians 4:13 – God calls things as though they were – not are. As a child of God, you must begin calling things that do not exist in your life as though they already were.
Ephesians 3:14-17 -- There is no need to insert the Father’s name every other word, either. God knows you’re talking to Him – you wouldn’t do this when speaking with someone in the natural.

Prayer is not one specific thing. Like sports, prayer is a category in which you can find various types, situations, equipment, rules, and arenas in which prayer is used. The prayers of supplication, petition, thanksgiving, intercession, agreement, and confession are some examples.

John 16:23, 26 -- Jesus is not the intermediary or “message boy” of prayer. Think of prayer in terms of access to a computer or account. The User Name: Father; the Passcode: Jesus, the Christ. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, he gave us the permanent authority to communicate directly with the Father in Jesus’ name.

Prayers : Part 5

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full ."

John 16:23,24

We’re laying and establishing a sure foundation about prayer so that you as a member of the Body of Christ can receive answers (and isn’t that the whole point?). We first learned that you must be taught to pray. Christ’s attitude about prayer in John 16:23, 24 tells us that we shall receive what we ask the Father for. Knowing we have the petitions of our heart leads to boldness in prayer (1 John 5:14, 15).

1. Prayer is us connecting with the Father. Why does it seem so many beg or are weak and unsure when they pray? Change your mindset! Begging and groveling is not humility. Previously we covered:

• In what position should we pray? (part 3) Standing, sitting, laying face down; it doesn’t matter.
• Where should we pray? (part 3) Everywhere. Location doesn’t matter.
• When should we pray? (part 4) Diligently (Romans 12:12). Start and never stop.

This week we will explore:

• How long should we pray? Jesus didn’t give us a time reference specifically, but He did admonish us not to use “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7). Asking again and again and over and over will not work. The prayer of Thanksgiving is the only prayer we are to pray continually. Otherwise, ask once in confidence and trust that God hears you the first time. The answer is: pray as long as it takes, but petition once.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Remove the commas. “Rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks…”

Luke 18:1-8 – We are to always pray and not faint (give up) as a way of connecting with the Father. Remember that faith makes prayer work. Jesus’ point is that answers shouldn’t take long (v. 8).

Daniel 10:10-13 – God is the same today as in the Old Covenant. Inspiration can be found in Daniel’s account which highlights that to get answers, you must speak. God’s angel came for Daniel’s words. There is no such thing as a “silent prayer” or “silent petition.” Michael, one of the most powerful angels, came to help Daniel after hearing his prayer on the first day. Start standing against principalities.

Psalm 103:20 – Did you know that we almost have more power than angels? They are to minister to and work for us. We are behind enemy lines and prayer keeps in right standing with God, the Father. But we can help the angels out – they are battling the forces of darkness for us. Choose not to wait! God will avenge us speedily (Luke 18:8).

Prayers : Part 4

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full ."

John 16:23,24

Artificial prayers are not pleasing to God. Last week we learned that God is looking for the true worshippers – those who worship in spirit and in truth. Jesus said that truth delivers people (John 8). Through this series, I am looking for people to be free to pray.

Doing anything “just because” or because it’s “tradition” typically means there is no understanding behind it. As Jesus said, tradition and ceremony will strip the power right out of prayer. Doing things to fit in or for the sake of doing them, will water down and dilute God in the minds of people. Jesus dealt with this principle of going with tradition to appease people in Matthew 15:1-9.

There is a lot of tradition around prayer. When someone is asked to pray in public, have you ever noticed the change in the tone of voice? Or all of a sudden they begin to use Old English? God isn’t impressed by waxing eloquent! I bring this up because prayer is so powerful that we cannot allow the enemy to insert tradition into it. We are to come boldly, reverently, confidently to His throne. Boldness is absent where doubt lingers. Knowing God’s answer (His will) before you pray will give you the confidence to pray.

Prayer is us connecting with the Father.
Take the formality and ritual out of prayer. Talk with the Father which will make prayer alive instead of a ritual.

Matthew 16:23, 24; Matthew 6:5 –Where ever you lose relationship, you fall into tradition. Christ called us to relationship to deliver us from tradition and religion.

When you stop praying, you lose focus on the relationship. Never forget that you are the child and God is the Father. Don’t allow yourself to think that God is a bad parent by using “vain repetitions”! God is anticipating your prayers – He wants to hear from you so He can answer you! Prayer keeps you in right relationship with the Father; it is our lifeline to the Kingdom. Do you think you can ever ask for anything that God cannot handle? Are you asking in the way God has asked that we come? You must pray believing. Just because you can form the words and say them doesn’t mean you believe them.

When should we pray?
Psalm 55: 16, 17 – In this passage, we are given spaces of time, not specific times of the day. Here is my advice: release yourself from the bondage to pray at a specific time. It doesn’t matter when you call God – just call! Just start praying and don’t stop. Do not allow your circumstance to determine when you pray. Pray to change your circumstance!

Romans 12: 12; Hebrews 11:6 – Pray diligently. Pray all the time. Prayer is connection, not just to ask for stuff all the time. Just talk with the Father – tell Him how good He is! There is no greater disciple than grace. Man loves religion because it tells you the Do’s and Don’ts. Just be about pleasing God. Faith makes prayer work, not the other way around.

Daniel 6:10 – Daniel was diligent in prayer and his account shows us the power of prayer. Don’t cave in, be a witness to your friends and the world.