Prayer#2a
We began teaching on the subject of answered prayer. I want to pick up where we left off last time. In Luke, we get the impression that there is a correct and there is an incorrect way to pray. But there is one very important point that we all need to know about and that is that there is more than one type of prayer.
I. The Christian walk is likened to a battle (warfare).
A. (2 Cor 10:4) says, “(For the weapons of our warfare {are} not carnal, but mighty through god to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
1. It's God's army against Satan.
a. We know that God is going to win this warfare, but we are the battle ground.
b. In a time of war you need to have a defense and an offense.
B. Eph 6:11–17
1. Here we see some of our defense, our protection, and it is through the armor of God, but in that same passage of scripture it gives us some insight into our offensive weapons.
a. The Sword of the Spirit can be used as a defensive weapon and an offensive weapon.
2. The next weapon listed is basically an offensive weapon, a weapon to use in attack against the enemy. V 18
a. Notice that he says “all prayer” there is more than just one type of prayer.
(1) If your going to have a good offense, you have to have more than just one plan of attack, more that just one kind of prayer.
(2) In (james 5) it tells us that if we pray right our prayers are going to accomplish much.
II. The 1st type of prayer that I want to cover is probable the most common, and that is the prayer of petition. We started with that last time but I just want to go on with it a little more.
A. 1st we said that decisiveness is very important.
1. James says in (James 1:6‑8) “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man {is} unstable in all his ways.”
a. We've got to be asking as specific as possible. Know what it is that you want from the Lord.
B. 2nd we said find scriptures that promise the answer and meditate on it.
1. You can only get an answer to your prayers when you pray in line with the will of God.
2. The Word of God is the will of God.
3. (JOS 1:8) Says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (KJV)
4. When you find the promise and meditate on it you will find good success.
5. Our whole purpose in praying is to have success.
C. 3rd We have to ask, but to be more specific, ask the Father in the name of Jesus.
1. In (JOH 16:23) Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give {it} you.”
D. 4th and 5th go hand in hand and that is Faith and refuse to doubt. We'll come back to that later.
E. #6 Give God the PRAISE
1. (PHIL 4:6) Says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
a. The part that I wanted you to see out of that verse is the part that says, “By prayer with thanksgiving.”
b. When you're making a request to God, do it with thanksgiving. Thank Him before you ever see it.
III. Lets get back to the area of praying in faith.
A. MATT. 21:22
1. In (MARK 11:24) it says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.” (KJV)
2. We are always petitioning, or asking God to do something for us, and that is scriptural, He just told us in MATT. “ask in prayer, believing.”
B. The prayer of petition must be a prayer of faith.
1. The prayer of petition, also, is basically for your desires, your needs, and your problems.
2. It is your praying, you are the one doing the praying, not someone praying for you or with you.
a. Now there is nothing wrong with someone praying for you, but that's not the prayer of petition.
b. It also not the prayer of agreement.
3. In (MARK 11:24), Putting it a little bit in paraphrase, but keeping the idea that it was intended, it says, “When you pray, you believe that you receive {them}, and if you do that, you shall have {them}.” (KJV)
a. God is concerned about our needs and wants to meet them for us.
b. In the O.T. God promised His people more than just spiritual blessings.
c. He also promised them that they would prosper financially and materially.
d. He told them that He would take sickness away from their midst (EXO 23:25) and He also said that He would give them long life.
e. He told them that if they would keep His commandments, they would eat the good of the land.
4. God is just as interested in His people today as He was then.
a. He's concerned about everything that touches our lives.
b. (3JO 1:2) says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
C. MAT 7:11
1. We must realize that it is God's will that our needs ‑ spiritual, mental, physical, and material‑ be met.
IV. Now the 2nd type of prayer that I want to cover is the prayer of CONSECRATION.
A. LUKE 22:41‑42 Notice that Jesus said, “If thou be willing.”
1. Some people think that they should conclude every prayer with those words. (If it be thy will)
2. They claim that this is the way that Jesus prayed.
a. If you've studied this out then you will find that this is the only time that Jesus prayed that way.
b. When Jesus prayed at Lazarus tomb, He didn't say “If it be thy will.”
c. He said, in (JOH 11:41), “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” (KJV)
(1) Look with me over to 1JOHN 5:14–15
(2) According to this Verse, how do you know that God heard you? If you pray according to His will.
(3) How did Jesus know that God heard Him when He was praying at Lazarus tomb?
(4) What we can see from the Word He must have prayed according to God's will.
d. He then commanded Lazarus to come forth.
B. When Jesus was praying for Lazarus to come forth, He was praying to change something.
1. You don't put an “if” in this type of prayer.
a. Listen to the Phillips translation of (1JOHN 5:14–15) (The verse we just read from the KJV.) We have such confidence in Him that we are certain that He hears every request that is made in accord with His own plan. (15) And since we know that He invariably gives His attention to our prayers, whatever they are, we can be quite sure that what we have asked for is already ours.
2. We need to claim the promises of God.
a. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.” (MAR 11:24)
b. You're not believing if you're putting an “IF” in your prayer.
c. How can you stand in faith, believing God for something if you don't know His will?
(1) For us to have a successful prayer life, it is essential for us to get in the Word of God. There's no other way to know His will.
C. With the prayer of consecration it is a prayer of submission and dedication to God.
1. Look again at Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. LUKE 22:42
2. “If thou be will... nevertheless not my will... but thine be done.”
3. He wanted to do what the Father wanted Him to do.
a. This type of prayer is almost a prayer of worship. Totally surrendering yourself to God. Surrendering your will to God's will.
V. We need to come to the Father to dedicate and consecrate your life to Him in prayer. This might be a prayer that is most neglected.
A. Come before Him and tell Him that you dedicate your life to Him, that you're submissive to go anywhere and do anything He wants.
B. FATHER YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE.
TFC and WOLCC 5/31/92 SUN AM from “Prevailing prayer to Peace” by Kenneth E. Hagin. Also this is all of Prayer #3