Prayer
Why teach on prayer except to do it?
If God knows what I need and want, why is prayer important?
What is prayer?
Why pray continually?
Why pray without ceasing?
What good is it?
The kingdom principle of prayer: prayer is the most misunderstood kingdom activity, yet prayer is the most important kingdom activity on earth
PLEASE READ “AUTHORITY IN THE EARTH” PRECEEDING THIS TEACHING
Ok, let’s get down to answers. We hear that prayer is communicating with God, and well it is, but it is more than that. Some say that it is asking God for something, and it is that also, but way more than that. Ok, what is it?
The kingdom principle of prayer: prayer is the most misunderstood kingdom activity; prayer is the most important kingdom activity on earth.
John Wesley understood something that most people don't understand. Without God man cannot and without man God will not.
Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.
If you read the teaching on “Authority in the earth” you might be thinking, “Oh, I get it”. Since we serve a God that knows everything but limits Himself to what He has proclaimed, He (As a Spirit), needs the authority to operate in an area that He gave to someone else (namely a human being). God needs a human to invite Him in to work in the earth. HERECY? No, read on . . .
Think about this, why did Jesus have to come into the world as a human? Couldn’t God have just done it all from heaven. NO! God could not step into the arena of the earth without permission. Look at the parable of the sheepfold given to us in Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
God will never work independently in the earth for that would usurp your will. He gave you a free will to make choices and He wants you to stay in touch with Him so that you know what to pray for. This is stated in Rom 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.
Jesus was always getting away to pray and He stated that He didn’t say or do anything except what the Father told Him.
The bible says, 1Co. 2:11 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God”. That is the reason we pray in tongues for the Spirit gives us the words and our mouth proclaims the thing that God wants to hear.
If we become a praying body by praying always, then God has a lot more to work with. Yes He wants us to commune with Him, that’s why He put us here on earth to start with, but He also wants to hear us praise Him and thank Him and not be just an emergency cord we pull when we are in a tight place.
God wants to answer all prayers!
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (v8) "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (v9) "Or what man is there of you, whom ifhis son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" (10) "Or ifhe ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" (vII) "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Mat 7:7)
But it matters how you pray!
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Mat 17:20)
Jesus shows the way to answered prayer
We must pray according to His will. 1 John 5: 14 KJV "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (v15) "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." It’s according to His will. I have heard people state, “Well, how do we know what God’s will is?” His will is His Word. But we must pray in faith. Mat 21 :22 KJV "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (More about this in the following teaching)
So then, it is not "if it be thy will", but rather, as Jesus prayed in (Mat 26:39 KJV) "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. /I (v42) "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Jesus knew what the Father wanted Him to do but He didn’t want to experience the separation from His Father by sin.
We pray according to His will and nothing happens!
It could be for one or more of the following reasons: Double mindedness (Jas 1 :5-8); Worry and anxiety (Phil 4:6); Unforgiveness (Mt 6:14-15); Sin (Jas 4:1-5); Unbelief(Mt 17:20-21); Wrong motives (Jas 4:3); and etc.
If you know all the conditions are right and they still don't get answered, then what? Are they really unanswered or did you not wait long enough?
Some examples where the people did or did not do as the Lord commanded:
Naaman was told to wash seven times in the dirty Jordan. (2 Ki 5:11-14) Jesus and the lepers (Lu 17: 12-14)
Abraham waiting 25 years for Isaac. (Gen 21)
Another man was healed that very hour. (Mat 8: 13)
Supernatural hinderences to answered prayer
A Daniel prayed for 21 days and fasted the whole time before an answer came.
(Dan 10:2 KJV) "In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks." (v3) "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." (v12)"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words."
Daniel had a secret weapon.
Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan 6:10)
They knew he was righteous. (Dan 6:4)
Daniel's secret weapon. (Dan 6:23 ) "Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Abraham used that same secret weapon ... faith without wavering, nothing doubting. (Gen 15:6) "And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness."
WHY DO WE THINK THAT WE MUST HA VE IT RIGHT NOW OR IT MUST NOT HAVE WORKED, or God didn’t hear us?
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17)
"Pray for those who persecute you" –(Mat 5:44 NIV)
"And when you pray …" –(Mat 6:5)
"This, then, is how you should pray …" –(Mat 6:9)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –(Rom 12:12)
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –(Eph 6:18)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." –(Phil 4:6)
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." –(Col 4:2)
"Pray continually" -(1 Thes 5:17)
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone …" -(1 Tim 2:1)
When you pray you need to believe that He heard you. We have a promise of Him hearing us, (1Jn 5:14-15) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." Some say, “how can we know the will of God”, others say, “if it be thy will”. How weak and ineffective our prayers are when we don’t have faith for the answer. If you are looking for a specific answer then you might be unheard. God says (Jas 4:2-3) “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
God may have other plans for the object you are praying about.
Jesus said "when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (Mt 6:6 NAS). With these few words, Jesus set the common perception of prayer on its ear. He said prayer was not to be a public demonstration of how "Spiritual" we are. No, the intimate nature of our communication with God calls for getting alone, away from all interruptions and distractions. Why? Because, it's just you and your Father in a family discussion.
When people say they don't know how to pray, what they usually mean is that they don't know how to pray like some of us. They don't know how to use our "Christian jargon." Jesus said you don't need to worry about getting all the words right because "your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Mt 6:8 NAS). God's listening to our heart more than our words. We don't have to be self-conscious about our praying; God isn't grading us on how well we express ourselves.
Again, compare prayer to breathing. Our breathing is done without our conscious attention to it, or even awareness that we're doing it. It is the natural expression of our moment-by-moment dependence on oxygen. That's how God wants us to treat our communication with Him. He wants prayer to be the air we breathe, the environment in which we live. Isn't that wonderful? Through prayer we can live in continuous contact with God. Just think how much that can change us and improve the quality of our lives.
(Mat 6:7) "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking".
(Mat 6:9) "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (You might be interested in my “
(Rom 8:26) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered".
(Jas 5:16) "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1)
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Rom 12;12)
“Continue in prayer,” (Col. 4:2)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1Thes. 5:17)
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1Tim. 2:8)
I could continue but let me end by saying that we must continually put on the whole armor of God. Helmet, breastplate, shield, truth, preparation of the gospel, and prayer. (Eph.6:10-15)
If God knows what I need and want, why is prayer important?
What is prayer?
Why pray continually?
Why pray without ceasing?
What good is it?
The kingdom principle of prayer: prayer is the most misunderstood kingdom activity, yet prayer is the most important kingdom activity on earth
PLEASE READ “AUTHORITY IN THE EARTH” PRECEEDING THIS TEACHING
Ok, let’s get down to answers. We hear that prayer is communicating with God, and well it is, but it is more than that. Some say that it is asking God for something, and it is that also, but way more than that. Ok, what is it?
The kingdom principle of prayer: prayer is the most misunderstood kingdom activity; prayer is the most important kingdom activity on earth.
John Wesley understood something that most people don't understand. Without God man cannot and without man God will not.
Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.
If you read the teaching on “Authority in the earth” you might be thinking, “Oh, I get it”. Since we serve a God that knows everything but limits Himself to what He has proclaimed, He (As a Spirit), needs the authority to operate in an area that He gave to someone else (namely a human being). God needs a human to invite Him in to work in the earth. HERECY? No, read on . . .
Think about this, why did Jesus have to come into the world as a human? Couldn’t God have just done it all from heaven. NO! God could not step into the arena of the earth without permission. Look at the parable of the sheepfold given to us in Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
God will never work independently in the earth for that would usurp your will. He gave you a free will to make choices and He wants you to stay in touch with Him so that you know what to pray for. This is stated in Rom 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.
Jesus was always getting away to pray and He stated that He didn’t say or do anything except what the Father told Him.
The bible says, 1Co. 2:11 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God”. That is the reason we pray in tongues for the Spirit gives us the words and our mouth proclaims the thing that God wants to hear.
If we become a praying body by praying always, then God has a lot more to work with. Yes He wants us to commune with Him, that’s why He put us here on earth to start with, but He also wants to hear us praise Him and thank Him and not be just an emergency cord we pull when we are in a tight place.
God wants to answer all prayers!
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (v8) "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (v9) "Or what man is there of you, whom ifhis son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" (10) "Or ifhe ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" (vII) "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Mat 7:7)
But it matters how you pray!
"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Mat 17:20)
Jesus shows the way to answered prayer
We must pray according to His will. 1 John 5: 14 KJV "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (v15) "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." It’s according to His will. I have heard people state, “Well, how do we know what God’s will is?” His will is His Word. But we must pray in faith. Mat 21 :22 KJV "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (More about this in the following teaching)
So then, it is not "if it be thy will", but rather, as Jesus prayed in (Mat 26:39 KJV) "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. /I (v42) "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Jesus knew what the Father wanted Him to do but He didn’t want to experience the separation from His Father by sin.
We pray according to His will and nothing happens!
It could be for one or more of the following reasons: Double mindedness (Jas 1 :5-8); Worry and anxiety (Phil 4:6); Unforgiveness (Mt 6:14-15); Sin (Jas 4:1-5); Unbelief(Mt 17:20-21); Wrong motives (Jas 4:3); and etc.
If you know all the conditions are right and they still don't get answered, then what? Are they really unanswered or did you not wait long enough?
Some examples where the people did or did not do as the Lord commanded:
Naaman was told to wash seven times in the dirty Jordan. (2 Ki 5:11-14) Jesus and the lepers (Lu 17: 12-14)
Abraham waiting 25 years for Isaac. (Gen 21)
Another man was healed that very hour. (Mat 8: 13)
Supernatural hinderences to answered prayer
A Daniel prayed for 21 days and fasted the whole time before an answer came.
(Dan 10:2 KJV) "In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks." (v3) "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled." (v12)"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words."
Daniel had a secret weapon.
Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan 6:10)
They knew he was righteous. (Dan 6:4)
Daniel's secret weapon. (Dan 6:23 ) "Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Abraham used that same secret weapon ... faith without wavering, nothing doubting. (Gen 15:6) "And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness."
WHY DO WE THINK THAT WE MUST HA VE IT RIGHT NOW OR IT MUST NOT HAVE WORKED, or God didn’t hear us?
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17)
"Pray for those who persecute you" –(Mat 5:44 NIV)
"And when you pray …" –(Mat 6:5)
"This, then, is how you should pray …" –(Mat 6:9)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." –(Rom 12:12)
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." –(Eph 6:18)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." –(Phil 4:6)
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." –(Col 4:2)
"Pray continually" -(1 Thes 5:17)
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone …" -(1 Tim 2:1)
When you pray you need to believe that He heard you. We have a promise of Him hearing us, (1Jn 5:14-15) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." Some say, “how can we know the will of God”, others say, “if it be thy will”. How weak and ineffective our prayers are when we don’t have faith for the answer. If you are looking for a specific answer then you might be unheard. God says (Jas 4:2-3) “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
God may have other plans for the object you are praying about.
Jesus said "when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you" (Mt 6:6 NAS). With these few words, Jesus set the common perception of prayer on its ear. He said prayer was not to be a public demonstration of how "Spiritual" we are. No, the intimate nature of our communication with God calls for getting alone, away from all interruptions and distractions. Why? Because, it's just you and your Father in a family discussion.
When people say they don't know how to pray, what they usually mean is that they don't know how to pray like some of us. They don't know how to use our "Christian jargon." Jesus said you don't need to worry about getting all the words right because "your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Mt 6:8 NAS). God's listening to our heart more than our words. We don't have to be self-conscious about our praying; God isn't grading us on how well we express ourselves.
Again, compare prayer to breathing. Our breathing is done without our conscious attention to it, or even awareness that we're doing it. It is the natural expression of our moment-by-moment dependence on oxygen. That's how God wants us to treat our communication with Him. He wants prayer to be the air we breathe, the environment in which we live. Isn't that wonderful? Through prayer we can live in continuous contact with God. Just think how much that can change us and improve the quality of our lives.
(Mat 6:7) "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking".
(Mat 6:9) "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (You might be interested in my “
(Rom 8:26) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered".
(Jas 5:16) "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much".
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1)
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Rom 12;12)
“Continue in prayer,” (Col. 4:2)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1Thes. 5:17)
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1Tim. 2:8)
I could continue but let me end by saying that we must continually put on the whole armor of God. Helmet, breastplate, shield, truth, preparation of the gospel, and prayer. (Eph.6:10-15)