Sermon Tone Analysis

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.