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 to 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 that 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 (*JAM 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 the 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) *There are *2 kinds of truth: Sense‑knowledge truth & revelation truth.

*

*2) **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 thereof 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:” (KJV)

*3) *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*: n*ot 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) *(*JAM 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) **/PHIL 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*.