Prayer
In these two Vs. we just read we can see the importance of prayer. Our prayers can and should avail much. But the disciples knew that they couldn’t just pray any old way and get quality results. The disciples knew that they needed instructions on the subject of prayer. If they needed instructions on prayer then so do we. The Word of God has given us some very valuable insight into the subject of prayer.
I) Turn with me to James 1:6-8.
A) In these Vs. we see a glimpse of the importance of decisiveness.
1) We have to decide what it is we want from God.
2) James says that if we waver, we could look at that as wavering in faith and that person will not receive anything from the Lord.
a) But we can also look at this as a person that CANNOT MAKE UP HIS MIND, that person is also WAVERING OR UNSTABLE in all his ways.
3) Look at James 4:2.
a) All of us want to get out of bondage, out of lack, out a sickness, out of defeat and out of oppression.
b) James is saying that you have not because you don’t ask.
(i) In other words, you don’t have the freedom from those bondages and you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask.
c) Now you just don’t go to God and say, “Oh God I need something from you.”
(i) What are some things that come from God that you don’t want: His judgment His wrath?
d) What is that something you need?
(i) What I’m trying to say is that you need to be as specific as possible without putting limitations on God.
(ii) When I was going to Rhema I could have said, “Lord I want to be the pastor in this city or that city.” I would have been limiting God and very possibly could have missed the perfect will of God.
4) Keep your finger there in (JAMES 4) and turn with me to ISA. 43:26.
a) God is telling us here to put Him in remembrance.
(i) Put Him in remembrance of what?
(ii) Put Him in remembrance of all the sins we’ve committed, our past failures, every fault that we have?
(iii) NO, those things are under the Blood of Jesus. (1JOHN 1:9) Says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us {our} sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
b) If we’ve confessed our sins to Him He’s forgiven our iniquities; and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
(i) In (Jeremiah 31:34) the Lord says, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
(ii) (2nd Corinthians 5:21) Says, “For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) {to be} sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
c) We’re not to be putting God in remembrance of our sins and failures because he has already forgiven us. There are under the blood and now we have God’s righteousness.
5) So what are we to be putting God in remembrance of?
a) The main thing that we’re to be putting God in remembrance of is His promises.
(i) We’re not demanding that God would do something for us.
b) But when it comes to prayer we should be praying that God would bring His promises about in our lives.
(i) We should be very specific in our prayers when it comes to the known will of God, and God’s promises is His perfect will for you.
(ii) When God’s perfect will is not known you can’t be as specific or detailed, without possibly putting limitations on God or praying for something that might not be His perfect will.
(iii) But when it comes to a promise from God be as specific as possible. Ask what the Word says.
(iv) Pray something like this, “Father, your Word says that by Jesus strips I’m healed, so I ask you to heal my body. Father your Word says healing is for me and if your Word says it, it’s true, I believe it, therefore I’m healed, In Jesus Name.”
c) Now when your praying in the Spirit or in tongues most of the time you don’t know what you’re praying for, it doesn’t seem to be very specific.
(i) But the Bible tells us in (Romans 8:26-27) that when we’re praying in the Spirit we’re praying according to the perfect will of God.
B) Go back to JAMES 4:3.
1) What I wanted you to see in this verse is that it’s possible to ask wrongly; like praying for something that’s not the Will of God, or praying with the wrong motives, or praying for sinful pleasures.
2) Whenever possible, pray the Word of God and you can never go wrong.
a) If you’re not sure how to pray then pray in the Spirit.
II) In order for your prayers to be answered, 1st decide what you want from the Father, 2nd find the scriptures that promises the answer.
A) Turn to JOSHUA 1:8. Notice that it says, “For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (KJV)
1) Who is the one that is going to have prosperity and good success?
a) The one who is meditating on the Word day and night.
B) You’re not going to have a very high success rate in your prayer life if you don’t know the Word and give it high priority in your life.
1) If we don’t know the Word, it’s likely you’re going to pray outside the parameters of the Word of God.
C) We need to give the Word 1st place, so that we don’t pray beyond or outside the Word of God.
1) And really praying in line with the Word of God is the only way that we can have the faith that is needed to get our prayers answered.
a) James said, “Ask in faith, nothing wavering.”
2) Turn to ROM 10:17.
a) Many times people will pray beyond their faith. They hear a promise of God and say, “Well, I’ll just try it out.”
(i) If you’re just going to try it, you don’t have the faith to receive.
(ii) You have to believe it works. You have to believe that the promise is for you and that God will bring it about.
b) The only way your going to believe that it works is by giving the word 1st place.
D) Turn with the to MARK 11:23‑24. Notice that (V 24) says, “When ye pray, believe (or have faith) that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.”
1) We already read (ROM 10:17) which says, “So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
2) You need to decide what you need from God, then you need to fine the scriptures that promise the answer and put your faith in that promise.
a) Not just trying it, but by praying and believing with all your heart that it’s already yours.
TFC 12/30/89 & WOLCC 5/17/92 Sun AM Prevailing Prayer to Peace By Kenneth E. Hagin Lesson 1. Also preached on Sunday, August 02, 1998 in which this message came after “Victory through Prayer #4.”