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PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER

October 12, 2003

PRAYER IS TAUGHT

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

PRESUPPOSITIONS OF PRAYER

1. God is a personal being. God is a “He” not an “it” therefore we can have an I/Thou relationship with Him.

2. God is imminent. This mean He is near or close, which tells us that God can hear our prayers (Acts 17:27-28).

3. God is Omnipresent. He is everywhere, so when I can pray anywhere and God will hear me.

4. God is sovereign. He has control over all of His creation. We can make our requests known to Him (Dan.4:35).

5. God is Omniscienent. He knows everything and knows best how to answer our prayers

6. God is Omnipotent. He is all powerful. Nothing is to difficult for Him.

7. God cannot lie. He has promised to listen and hear our prayers (Psalm 65:2).

Prayer is a ministry to the Lord

Luke 2:37

And she [Anna] was a widow of about fourscore and four years [eighty-four years], which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Acts 13:1-3 “… in the church that was at Antioch … they ministered to the Lord,… when they had fasted and prayed,…”

The Lord delights in our prayers

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

THE EARLY CHURCH PRAYED TOGATHER

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

JESUS MADE A PURPOSE TO PRAY

Matthew 14:23

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

PRAYER IS A FIGHT

Romans 15:30

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

PRAYER HAS OBSTICLES FROM SATAN

Acts 16:16

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling:

prayer is a command

Mark 13:33

Jesus said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (pray is in the imperative mood of command)

prayer shows our love for Jesus Christ

John 14:15

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

GOD HEARS THE RIGHTEOUS PRAY

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

answered prayer is conditional

1 John 3:22

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (walking by faith).

Living in Sin hinders our prayer

Psalm 66:18

If I regard iniquity [unrighteousness] in my heart (the place of decision making, Prov.4:23), the Lord will not hear me:

WHEN YOU PRAY FORGIVE OTHERS

Mark 11:25

Jesus said, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have anything against anyone: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

ASKING FOR WRONG THINGS

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Jesus prayed for his fathers will

Mark 14:36

And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."

We ask according to his will

1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

His will is found in His words

John 15:7

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

effective Prayer is done by faith

Matthew 21:21-22

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing [present,active, participle], ye shall receive.

People that don’t pray are in the flesh

Romans 8:8

So then they that are in the flesh (no prayer life) cannot please God (no faith).

CONTINUAL PRAYER IS THE EXERCISE OF FAITH

Luke 18:1-8

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint [don’t quit or give up but instead persevere];

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming (faith expressed by perseverance) she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge [vindicate or give justice to] his own elect, which cry day and night unto him (in prayer), though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily [shortly]. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?

Don’t quit PRAYer

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;