We’ve been teaching on the subject of prayer for the last few weeks. So I want to pick up where we left off last time. In (LUKE 11:1) the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. From that we get the impression that there is a correct way to pray and an incorrect way. We have to find the right way to pray.

I) This Christian walk can be likened to a battle or warfare.

A) (2nd Corinthians 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, which would included God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, His Holy Angels, and those that are His sons and daughters; against Satan, his fallen angels, and all of his cohorts.

B) In (Ephesians chapter 6) beginning in (verse 11) it gives us a list of the weapons of our warfare.

1) Some of the weapons listed are defensive weapons others are offense weapons, and there are some that can be used as an offense the weapon and a defense of one.

2) But in (verse 18) we have another weapon which is mentioned and it can be used as a defense of weapon, but it is also a weapon of attack.

a) And it attacks the forces of darkness.

3) (Verse 18) says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:18).

C) Let me read to you (Ephesians 6:18) from the NIV translation. It says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

1) Notice how the NIV renders the last part of (verse 18), “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

a) Just like any soldier involved in warfare they have to “STAY ALERT.”

2) You have to keep watching for new attacks of the enemy.

a) Don’t wait for the enemy to fully march in to where you’re overcome by his many attacks.

b) Keep your eyes open and be ready for the 1st sign of attack.

c) And when you see the 1st sign of attack Paul tells us to “PERSEVERE” in prayer, meaning, don’t cut your prayers short.

(i) You have to press in and pray without giving up until you see the victory.

D) Turn with me to James 5:16.

1) Our prayers, if prayed correctly and fervently, should bring about the miracles of God.

a) The NIV translation renders (James 5:16) like this, “The prayer of a righteous man is POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.” The Amplified translation adds “CONTINUED PRAYER.”

b) The New Jerusalem Bible translates it this way, “The heartfelt prayer of someone upright works VERY POWERFULLY.”

c) The DARBY translation says this; “The fervent supplication of the righteous man has MUCH POWER.”

d) The Revised Standard Version says, “It has great power in its effects.”

e) And the New Century version says, “When a believing person prays, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.”

2) Now look at James 5:17-18.

a) Elijah prayed EARNESTLY or as some other translations put he prayed FERVENTLY and saw the miracle.

b) If you’re not seeing the answer to you’re prayers there’s a good chance YOU’RE CUTTING YOUR PRAYERS SHORT and GIVING UP TO SOON.

(i) If you want to see the answer to your prayers you’re going to have to PRESS IN AND PRAY, and many times MUCH INTERCESSION will be necessary for the miracle to be birthed.

II) Last time I said that 1 important point to getting your prayers answered is DECISIVENESS.

A) (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.”

1) I know that’s also talking about wavering in your faith, but it’s also true about WAVERING IN YOUR PRAYERS.

a) JAMES also said in (James 4:2) “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”

(i) We have to be asking as specific as possible without putting limitations on God or the Will of God.

B) We also said, “You need to FIND SCRIPTURES that PROMISE the ANSWER.”

1) (JOSHUA 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.”

a) When you find in the Word of God a scripture that promises the answer to your need and you meditate on it, you’re prayers are going to have good success. You’re prayers are then based on the Word of God.

b) (PRO 4:20-22) Says, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they {are} life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

(i) Keep the promises of God’s Word in your heart and meditate on them.

III) 3rd ASK THE FATHER for the things that you need. MATTHEW 7:7-8.

A) In (Matthew 6:8) Jesus said, “Your FATHER knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

1) But Jesus also said in (Matthew 7) that we need to ask so that it can be given to us.

2) JOHN 15:16.

a) Jesus said we should ASK THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

b) That’s a pattern that we need to follow.

c) If we want to get our prayers answered, we should follow the rule that Jesus gave us.

IV) #4. We need to BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE.

A) MARK 11:23-24.

1) The Amplified translation says, “When you pray, trust and be confident that it is granted you, and you’ll get it.”

a) You have to believe you have it before you get it.

B) Let me just touch on one thing before we go on.

1) Many people have the idea that TRUTH AND REALITY pertains to things they can SEE with their physical eye, or TOUCH with their hands.

a) But we can’t see the things of the Spirit.

(i) (2nd Corinthians 4:18) says, “For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

b) The things that are of the Spirit are eternal and will last forever.

(i) (EPH 1:3) Says, “Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly {places} in Christ.”

2) Many times people have the idea that if they can’t see it or feel it, it doesn’t exist or it’s not true.

C) That’s was called SENSE KNOWLEDGE TRUTH: not believing until you see it.

1) In (JOHN chapter 20) the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples but Thomas was not there with them.

a) When the other disciples told him "We have seen the Lord," Thomas said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

b) But eight days later Jesus again appeared to the disciples but this time Thomas was with them.

(i) Jesus said to Thomas “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

V) #5. Don’t doubt, or you could say, “refuse to let yourself doubt.”

A) Back in (MARK 11:23) it says, “And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

1) That verse says, “Shall not doubt in your heart.”

a) Do you know how DOUBT gets into your HEART?

b) It starts by DOUBTING in your HEAD.

2) (James 4:7) Says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

a) Doubt is of the Devil, and you can resist anything that the devil has and it has to flee.

VI) #6. Give God the PRAISE

A) Philippians 4:6

1) The words, “Be careful for nothing” means don’t worry.

2) That goes along with our last point.

a) Worry is really doubt. Paul’s telling us not to worry or doubt.

B) Then he says, “But in every thing by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.”

1) Notice that He’s saying; “With thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (KJV)

a) When you’re making a request from God, do it with thanksgiving.

b) Thank Him for the answer before you even see it.

c) Don’t wait until you have it.

d) Thank Him & Praise him when you’re asking Him.

VII) 1ST DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT FROM GOD, 2ND FIND the SCRIPTURE THAT PROMISES YOU the ANSWER and MEDITATE ON IT, 3RD ASK the FATHER IN the NAME OF JESUS, 4TH BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE, 5TH REFUSE TO DOUBT, and 6TH GIVE GOD the PRAISE EVEN BEFORE YOU SEE the ANSWER.

January 7, 1990 TFC & WOLCC 5/24/92 and Sunday, Prevailing Prayer to peace by Kenneth E. Hagin, pages 11–16 discernment was taken mostly from prayer#2.doc with some changes.