Prayer Helps

PRAYER BOOK

REV MIKE JONES

Men ought always to Pray, and not to Faint Luke 18:1

Prayer has the greatest potential of any activity on earth because it touches the heart of God and moves the hand of God.

AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE 1

PROPER PRAYING 2

DEVELOPING A DEVOTION 3

TYPES OF PRAYER 7

PRAYING TO GET ANSWERS 8

PRAYING LIKE JESUS PRAYED 10

THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS 11

JESUS’ PRAYER INSTRUCTIONS 12

PRAYER PROMISES 14

UNANSWERED PRAYER 15

THY PRAYER IS HEARD 18

FAMILY PRAYER REQUESTS 21

MY FOUR MOST WANTED PEOPLE 22

PROVISION PRAYERS 23

PRAYING FOR LEADERS: 24

THE POWER OF PRAYER 27

PRAYING TO GET RESULTS 30

WHEN NOT TO PRAY 31

AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE

When did men begin to pray? When the first grandchild was born! And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:25-26).

  • Men knew there would be future generations
  • Parents knew they needed help with life
  • People knew they needed to regularly communicate with God

EFFECTIVE PRAYER:

  1. Communicates with God-
  2. Commits to God
  3. Gets into God’s Heart– And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean (Mark 1:40-41).
  4. Gets God’s Ear- ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:6-7). men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1).
  5. Expect God to Act- And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee (Matthew 9:2).

When God hears our heart and feels our hurt (He is “touched with the feelings of our infirmities” Heb 4:15) then He listens to us (Blind men by road- Luke 18:41) and accepts our humble efforts (Woman with issue of blood wanted to touch the hem of his garment- Matt 9:20-24).

Effective prayer is finding God’s will so you can join God at His work- And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (Matthew 8:2-4).

PROPER PRAYING

REASONS PEOPLE DO NOT PRAY:

1) Lack of Knowledge about How to Pray, What to Pray

2) Lack of Faith in Biblical Promises

3) Lack of Performance by God in Past Prayers

As many of you know, my wife makes a very good cake. I have learned several things from watching her cook cakes. You need a lot of ingredients; these ingredients need to be blended just right; and proper baking time is important. In the same way, there are many factors that come into play when we pray.

  1. FAITH- Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20).
  2. FLEECE- [A sign- Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above (Isaiah 7:11)] Gideon wanted Fleece (first wet; then dry). Abraham’s servant wanted someone to water his camels. Hezekiah saw the sign of the sundial to prove his healing. {Faith must always be in the Sovereign; not in the sign}
  3. CHOICES- Many prayer answers involve decisions between two or more choices- Abraham let Lot choose well watered valley but Lot also got Sodom where he lost his family.
  4. FEELING- Sarah felt it was best for Abraham to take Hagar until Abraham took Hagar! Be careful of following feelings; yet often I feel led of God to do certain things or go certain ways.
  5. CONTINUATION- For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (Heb 10:36). God does not always pay up on Friday.
  6. WILL OF GOD- Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).
  7. RELATIONSHIP- If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psa 66:18).

DEVELOPING A DEVOTION

No sinner is saved without Prayer and no Believer can survive without Prayer. The Prayer may be like Solomon’s Prayer (One of the longest in the Bible, 30 verses- I Kings 8:23-53) or like Peter’s Prayer (One of the shortest in the Bible, 1 verse, 3 words- Matt 14:30) but Prayer must be a vital part of everyone’s life.

Begin by sitting quietly for a few minutes and recognize you’re in the presence of God. DON’T RUSH!

Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit examine your life. When God points out a sin then confess THAT sin (be specific) and ask for forgiveness according to I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Then read Psalm 51 and make it a prayer. Now you’re ready to begin praying for others.

Helps in learning how to PRAY:

1. Model Prayers:

Lord’s Prayer- Matt 6:9-15 Luke 11

Prayer for Church Members- Eph 1:16-23; 3:14-21

Intercessory (Abraham for Sodom)- Gen 18:23-33

When in Trouble- II Kings 19:14-19

Prayer of Confession- Daniel 9:3-19

2. Psalms- For Praise or almost anything else

3. Hymn Book- Many Hymns make good prayers. If you can’t sing them then pray them.

8. Accomplishing the Impossible

9. Obtaining Good things

10. Receiving Wisdom

11. Obtaining Peace

12. Keeping you from sin

13 Revealing the will of God

Prayer enlists God’s Help in:

1. Defeating Satan

2. Saving the Sinner

3. Restoring the Backslider

4. Strengthening the Saint

5. Sending Forth Laborers

6. Curing the Sick

7. Glorifying God’s Name

1. Pray with Persistence- Determination

2. Pray with Insistence- Don’t be side tracked

3. Pray with Resistance- Prayer is a Battle

4. Pray with Desistance (Dont Stop)- Without Ceasing

5. Pray in Secret- For the Father to Hear

6. Pray specifically- to get Specific Answers

7. Pray in the Name of Christ- The only appeal to God

8. Pray in Faith- without it praying is vain

9. Pray, claiming the Promises of God- From the Word of God

10. Pray without dictating to God- According to His Will

11. Pray, Realizing the Power of God to handle any situation

12. Pray until you can Praise

THIS HAND OF PRAYER WILL HELP US REMEMBER FOR WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY-

BEGIN WITH “CLOSEST TO THE BODY”.

1. CLOSEST TO BODY- Reminds us to Pray for those who are closest to us, such as our parents.

We should also Thank God for Jesus who should be closest to us.

2. POINTER- Reminds us to pray for those who point us toward Salvation, such as our Pastor and Sunday School Teacher.

3. TALLEST- Reminds us to Pray for the leaders of our country.

4. WEAKEST- Reminds us to pray for those who are sick.

5. SMALLEST- Reminds us to pray for ourselves.

Regardless of how you do it, you need to Pray and having done all, Pray.

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY???

A) Three times a day ‑ Dan 6:10

B) Early in the Morning ‑ Mark 1:35

C) At Evening ‑ Matt 14:2,3

D) All Night ‑ Luke 6:12

E) All the Time ‑ I Thess 5:17, Luke 18:1

The dictionary defines Prayer as: An earnest or urgent request to God. A petition made to an object of worship. Prayer is also listed as an
appeal call cry
demand entreaty exhortation
petition plea solicitation
devotion supplication thanksgiving
worship praise invocation

  • Have A PATTERN‑ Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Have a time EVERY DAY for Prayer and Bible Study
  • Have A PLACE‑ Matt 6:5‑6 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Have a place you can be alone and spread out your Bible and Prayer Book. Keep a Pencil handy to write Prayer requests and answers, or to underline Passages God uses to speak to you.
  • Develop PERSEVERANCE‑ Matt 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. A Devotion Time is not a matter of the Emotions but of the Will. You must will to even when you don’t want to.
  • Avoid Pride– Have you come to Worship God or order Him to do what you want
  • Acknowledge Problem Areas– Make restitution if you have wronged anyone or attempt reconciliation if you have offended anyone.
  1. Give God your
    1. Body- feet, hands, mouth, etc.;
    2. Will- including your mind, emotions, ambitions, desires.
  2. Ask the Holy Spirit to do three things:
    1. Fill you with Himself– Ep 5:18
    2. Give you a greater love for Jesus Christ–Jn 17:26b
    3. Give you a greater burden for some lost soul–Ps 126:6
  3. Get into the habit of thanking God for everything! Thank Him for what He is doing in your life! Give Him all the praise for allowing your life to be a vessel through which He can work. Thank Him in every trying circumstance of your life that is sent to conform your life to His! Prayer must be seasoned with thanksgiving.

How can you serve God in your old age? And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:37)

Young Adults should pray about their:

  1. Partner- Husband or Wife
  2. Provision- Daily Bread
  3. Protection- He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (Psalms 34:20)
  4. Plan for their life- Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5 6) See also- Ps 16:11
  5. Power for living- That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)

If you Doubt- And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.(Mark 9:24)

Jesus did not teach His Disciples to Preach but He did teach them to PRAY!! Every important event in the life of Christ took place either immediately after or during a time of Prayer. Even in Death He Prayed! Can we do less??

TYPES OF PRAYER

  1. PRAISE/Thanksgiving ‑ Expressing our Love for God and acknowledging every gift He has given. Praise God for specific things He has done for you
  2. REPENTANCE –
    1. Self-Examination (Where did I go wrong?)
    2. Confession (Acknowledging YOU have sinned)
    3. Request for pardon (Asking God to Forgive and Restore)
  3. INTERCESSION ‑ To “go between” God and someone asking God to help them.
  4. PETITION ‑ Request for CERTAIN things (Specific & Persistent)
  5. DEDICATION ‑ Offering yourself a “living sacrifice” to God. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness (Psa 143:10)
  6. WORSHIP ‑ Seeking GOD instead of a GIFT.
  7. VISITING ‑ Just talking with God and allowing Him to talk to you thru the Scriptures.

CATEGORIES OF PRAYER:

A) Plea Prayers- A sudden trouble or a need beyond your ability arises and you cry out to God for help.

B) Planned Prayers- Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

C) Pattern Prayers- And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1).Have a Daily Prayer and Bible Study time. Have a place you can be alone and spread out your Bible and Prayer Book. Keep a Pencil handy to write Prayer requests and answers, or to underline Passages God uses to speak to you. A Devotion Time is not a matter of the Emotions but of the Will. You must will to even when you do not want to.

Consider the Consequences of Prayer Promises- When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. (Ecclesiastes 5:4)

PRAYING TO GET ANSWERS

HOW DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYERS? Does the answer come in some magical puff from Heaven or does God use other methods? During my time serving the Lord I have experienced 3 different ways God answers Provision Needs Prayers.

1) Providential Provision- Many times God has miraculously provided the answer. Often He would do this by instructing someone else to provide my need. This is not a case of me subtly hinting that I had a need and then the other person feeling obligated to supply that need. That makes everyone involved feel bad. This provision came because I would tell God and God would lay the need on the heart of the other person. This way, when the provision comes, it brings Glory to God, a blessing to the person giving (It is more blessed to give than to receive) and a blessing to me as I see God answer prayer.

2) Providential Payment- God would lower my normal expenses for a time in order for me to accumulate the money required to purchase my need. The provision is no less real simply because it came over time instead of instantaneous.

3) Personal Provision- Sometimes God would answer my prayer by saying that He did not need to intervene in any way since He had provided what I needed already if I would simply use my resources wisely. Answers like this develop me as a person as well as provide my needs.

Remember that IT IS BY PRAYER WE RECEIVE:

WISDOM‑ James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

PEACE‑ Phil 4:6‑7 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION‑ Matt 26:41 Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

ALL GOOD THINGS‑ Matt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\COLRWMF1\RELIGION\INMGW173.jpgHOW DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER NEEDS?

Example of food for my family. PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD- What is the Will of God about providing food for my family? But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5:8).

What Bible Principles did God give to determine how He expects men to provide food for their family?

  • Earn it– In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:19).
  • Gather it from God’s Provision- And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. …Gather of it every man according to his eating, (Exodus 16:15-16). NOTE: When Israel again became able to provide their food “by the sweat of their brow” the manna ceased and God expected them to work- And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year (Joshua 5:12).
  • Willingly accept whatever God’s provides- And the ravens brought (Elijah) bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook (1 Kings 17:6).
  • Allow others to be blessed by blessing you- And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son (1 Kings 17:13).
  • C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\COLRWMF1\FOOD\IHLFT044.jpg Use the resources God gives you wisely- After the feeding of the 5000 with the two fish and five loaves Jesus said unto his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”(John 6:12).

PRAYING LIKE JESUS PRAYED

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:1-4)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:9-15)

1. We are to Pray to our FATHER (In Jesus’ name, thru the Spirit)

2. We are to Pray for the Coming of the Kingdom

3. We are to Pray for His will to be done in everything

4. We are to Pray for daily necessities

5. We are to Pray for forgiveness, and practice it.

6. We are to Pray for the Leading of the Lord, and deliverance from evil.

7.We are to Pray in Faith (Without Faith it is impossible to please Him Heb 11:6)

Our Father in heaven, Help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom so that everyone on earth will obey you as you are obeyed in Heaven. Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil. Make us part of your kingdom for your kingdom is the only kingdom that will last.

THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS

(See John 17 for His Great Prayer)

Ministry Prayer- Lu 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (Note that the Disciples prayed when they wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to speak boldly- Acts 4:31)

Solitary Prayer- Lu 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Continuous Prayer- Lu 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Transforming Prayer- Lu 9:28-29 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\COLRWMF1\RELIGION\CHRIST.jpg Agonizing Prayer- Lu 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Lu 22:44-46 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Commitment Prayer-Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how long they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they are; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voices may be; nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be- which God cares for. Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much. William Law

JESUS’ PRAYER INSTRUCTIONS

C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\ARTLINE\APR00\JESUS32.TIF Jesus did not teach His disciples to preach but He did teach them to pray. Prayer was also a characteristic of the disciples of John the Baptist. (Lu 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?)

A) Pray Secretly (Prayer Closet) but remember the example of Jesus and the fact that, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: (Luke 19:46).

B) Pray Seriously

1> without vain repetitions- Do not become a “Balaam Beggar” who continues to beg God to do something until God allows him to do it but it ends up with Balaam dying with the enemy (Num 22).

2> with Earnest Desire- And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:1-7)

C) Pray Specifically- Jesus said, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight (Luke 18:41).

1> In Faith that God wants this need met and meeting it will bring good to you and glory to God.

2> Remember- ye have not, because ye ask not. (James 4:2). And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Luke 11:9)

D) Pray Sincerely.

1> Be willing to do what you are requesting (Forgive so you can be forgiven, give so you can be given)

2> Humbly, recognizing your own unworthiness- Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14)

E) Pray Boldly- For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

F) Pray Fervently- Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:16-18)

God values the prayers of His people- And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints (Revelation 5:8). And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand (Revelation 8:4).

If Prayers are “ignored” then there is a reason and that reason should be determined and removed.

PRAYER PROMISES

Matt 21:22 ‑ And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Luke 11:9 ‑ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be open unto you.

I Jn 3:22 ‑ And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Phil 4:19 ‑ My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matt 6:33 ‑ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jer 33:3 ‑ Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowst not.

Ps 37:4 ‑ Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Ps 34:15 ‑ The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

HOW CAN WE HEAL THE LAND? II Chron 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

HOW CAN WE DELIGHT THE LORD? Prov 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

HOW CAN WE ASK FOR THINGS THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR?? Rom 8:26 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

HOW CAN WE KNOW WE’RE DOING SOMETHING?? James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I John 5:14‑15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hearth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

HOW CAN WE GET WHAT WE WANT?? Matt 7:7‑8 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

UNANSWERED PRAYER

C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\COLRWMF1\SIGNSYMS\NOSMBL.jpg When it appears that God will not hear your prayers‑When I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer (Lam 3:8). Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through (Lam 3:44)‑ then it’s time for us to find out why‑ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord (Lam 3:40).

I. THERE ARE TIMES THE ANSWER IS DELAYED

A) By Satan‑ Dan 10:12‑13 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, Thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me;

B) To Increase Our Faith

1. The Canaanite woman who asked for the crumbs from the table in Matt 15, had her Faith called Great after it was first delayed

2. The death of Lazarus‑ Jesus delayed coming to him in order to show God’s Glory. Jn II

3. By waiting on God, Habakkuk went from doubt to trust in God even in the midst of famine, bankruptcy, and trouble.

C) To take our eyes off the Gift and put them on God. Time after time Jesus had to get people to focus on WHO HE WAS rather than on WHAT THEY WANTED. (We may not intend to but many times we try to make God OUR Servant instead of seeing us as HIS servant!!!)

In Mississippi I had done all I could to repair my car so I cried out to God. Immediately a neighbor came by with exactly the tool I needed. During Apollo 12 I had a weather machine that had to produce a map but would not work because it needed a tube we did not have. After 3 days of effort I finally cried out to God and the machine miraculously began to work.

III. THERE ARE REASONS YOU FAIL TO RECEIVE ANSWERS:

  1. DISOBEDIENCE‑ Deut 1:43,45 As I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord,…And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear to you.

Their disobedience was caused by disbelief (They believed the report of the 10 spies instead of God’s Word and would not enter into the promised land.) If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,…nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt 17:20

  1. SECRET SIN‑ Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. If my heart is set on sin can a Holy God have fellowship with me???
  2. INDIFFERENCE‑ Prov 1:24,28 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded,…Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: Zech 7:14 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. Ignore God and there may come a time when HE will ignore YOU!!
  3. NEGLECT OF MERCY‑ Prov 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. You reap what you sow.
  4. DESPISING GOD’S LAW‑ Prov 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Would YOU give something to someone knowing they would use it wrongly??
  5. INIQUITY‑ Is 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.
  6. SELFISHNESS‑ James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Sometimes people want things that aren’t good for them‑ you don’t let a child eat an entire gallon of ice cream at one time, even though they think they want to.!!
  7. REFUSING TO TAKE YOUR PLACE IN GOD’S PLAN‑I Pet 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered. God is concerned about what you do with what He gives you. If you aren’t willing to accept His plan and purpose for your life then He can’t give you the blessings that come with the Responsibilities.
  8. UNBELIEF‑ Matt 17:20‑21 Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
  9. FAILURE TO ASK- James 4:2…ye have not because ye ask not.

A missionary in India was preaching once when he noticed a visitor watching the light bulb above his head. After the service the visitor asked if he could borrow the bulb. The missionary had another so he loaned it to him. Soon the man returned and said something was wrong. When the missionary went with him to his home he found the light bulb hanging by a string in the center of the room!! The man was not connected to the power‑‑ and neither are a lot of people!

Maybe the “light” in your prayer room is not burning because you aren’t connected to God by Faith in Christ.

THY PRAYER IS HEARD

Luke 1:13

These have to be some of the most welcome words that a person can hear, “Thy Prayer is Heard”; your request is granted; you have what you wanted. Zacharias should have “jumped for Joy” when he heard these words. Instead he feared and had such little faith until the angel had to make him dumb until the birth of John the Baptist.

Are we like this today? Has Prayer become such a form to us until it would shock and frighten us if it were answered?? How can we become people who value Prayer because we know God craves our Prayers and answers our requests??

1. FAITH TO PRAY‑ Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Mark 9:23 If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth

Faith is a relative thing. Put “Utter Unbelief” on one side of a paper and “absolute certainty” on the other. Now draw a line between these two. Any point on that line will be faith! (Naturally some faith will be more than other).

People talk of needing “Perfect Faith” to get their Prayers answered. If that is the case then Zacharias would have missed the Blessing. And the Church that prayed for Peter but didn’t believe it could be him when he came to the door would have never won his release (Acts 12:1‑16).

Most of us must pray like the father in Mark 9:24, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. As you pray and see God answer your Prayers your Faith will grow but you must START WITH THE FAITH YOU HAVE!!!!

2. PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER‑ Luke 11:9 I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. The Greek of these words mean continuing action‑ Ask and keep on asking, seek and keep in seeking, knock and keep on knocking. Many times we pray about something one or two times and then stop‑and are surprised later when God grants our request!

The thing we must be aware of is that God hears us the first time! God is not deaf!

He asks us to persist in Prayer for several reasons:

A) It helps us see if we really want or need what we are requesting. (I have prayed for some things that later on I was glad God didn’t give me!).

B) But most important of all, God likes to hear our Prayers. Prov 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the unright is his delight. Verse 8 of Revelation 5 says that the incense of worship in Heaven is the “Prayers of Saints” (See also Rev 8:3‑4). Most Christians do not realize what a joy it is for our Heavenly Father to hear our Prayers so we seldom pray; and often pain, God’s heart.

 3. OBEDIENCE IN PRAYER‑ I Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. God does not want to reward rebellion. He expects us to live right and use the resources He gives us correctly.

James says that we ask and receive not, because we ask amiss, that we might consume it upon our lusts (James 4:3). This simply means that we must follow God’s PRINCIPLES even as we Pray.

A) The Principle of Getting is to Give‑‑Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (See Malachi 3:9‑10 where God says to bring the tithes into the storehouse to see the windows of Heaven open!)

B) The Principle of Reaping is to Sow‑‑Prov 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (See also Gal 6:7‑9)

It is not only that WE OBEY GOD BEFORE WE PRAY but also that WE OBEY GOD WITH THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS!!

4. ACCORDING TO HIS WILL‑ I Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. We realize that God’s plans and purpose are vastly more important than any of ours and we yield to HIS DESIRE FOR US.

And God has even given us help in determining what His will is‑ Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know now what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

When we find His will then we have these great Promises to claim‑ Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Matt 6:33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

5. ASK IN JESUS’ NAME‑ Jn 14:13‑14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

When I present a check to the bank they can’t cash it unless it is signed. In the same way the “Name of Jesus” enables God to hear and answer our Prayers, even though we have no claim on “Heaven’s Bank” by our own merits!!!!

Here are some Promises for you to “Cash”:

Phil 4:19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Ps 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

PRAYER POSITIONS:
A) Kneeling- Ps 95:6, Luke 22:41
B) Standing- Luke 18:11,13
C) Lying Down- Ps 4:4, Matt 26:39

FAMILY PRAYER REQUESTS

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things.

(Pray for their Salvation, Supply of needs, Any Sickness, their area of Service, and any Special requests you know of) List each family member by name (Then group their family beside them as they marry)

FAMILY

Spouse

Children

Children

       
       
       
       
       
       
       

One great reason why so many of us have so little of the Holy Spirits power in our lives and service is because we spend so little time and thought in prayer. We Have not, because we ask not.

WHY PRAY- If God is as good as we represent Him, and, if He knows all that we need, and better far than we do ourselves, why should it be necessary to ask Him for anything? I answer, What if He knows Prayer to be the thing we need first and most? What if the main objective in Prayer be the supplying to our great, our endless need- HIMSELF.

Hunger may drive the runaway child home, and he may or may not be fed at once, but he needs his mother more than his dinner. Communion with God is the one need of the Soul beyond all other needs. Prayer is the beginning of that communion, and some need is the motive of Prayer- George MacDonald.

MY FOUR MOST WANTED PEOPLE

Make a list of four people you want to see won to Christ He that winneth souls is Wise Proverbs 11:30. Give God no rest (Isa 62:7) until they come to Christ or die.

  • Select people you are genuinely concerned about.
  • Pray earnestly for each one on the list each day
  • Be their friend. Invite them home; Do things with them.
  • Share Christian literature with them.
  • Share with them what Christ and His Church mean to you.
  • Invite them to come to Church services & activities with you.
  • Seek to win their commitment to Christ.
  • When they accept Christ help them to grow in the Christian life. Add another person to the list. Keep it at four.

1.                                                                      2.

3.                                                                      4.

Is God obligated to hear the GENERAL PRAYERS of Sinners? No- If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalms 66:18). God in His love and mercy does hear and answer some prayers made by Sinners but He is not obligated to do so in the same way He is with those who are part of His Family through faith in Jesus Christ.

Is God obligated to hear the REPENTANCE PRAYERS of Sinners? Sinners should call on God for Salvation- As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me (Psalms 55:16).

But they need to do so while God is near- Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6) and while God is calling them- No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: (John 6:44). Else there may come a time when God will suddenly cease to deal with them- He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1). Or even worse there may come a time God refuses to hear your prayer- And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: (Isaiah 1:15).

Today is the day of Salvation (2Cor 6:2). Sinners need to recognize that walking without God is like walking in a mine field. You never know when your next step will end life and begin eternity.

PROVISION PRAYERS

FINANCIAL NEEDS And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (II Cor 9:8) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)

REQUEST

DATE

HOW ANSWERED

DATE

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

FINANCIAL WANTS Ps 81:10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

REQUEST

DATE

HOW ANSWERED

DATE

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

PRAYING FOR LEADERS:

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH SERVICES

1. C:\2MJData\GRAPHICS\COLRWMF1\SCRIPTUR\ICHR2123.jpg The Pastor:

A) That God would anoint him to preach the Word of God in the Power of God; and give him wisdom to select the right messages each week so that souls would be saved and Christians would grow in the Grace of God.

B) That He would receive strength and wisdom to accomplish God’s Will in Visiting, Soul Winning, and Studying during the week.

C) That God would keep him Spiritually Pure and sensitive to the will of God and the needs of the People.

2. Fruit-

A) That Lukewarm and backslidden Christians would renew their vows and come back into fellowship with God.

B) That Lost people would be convicted and converted by the messages

C) That Lives and Families would be transformed to the Glory of God.

3. Music-

A) That God would provide health and wisdom to the musicians and singers; they are a vital part of the worship service.

B) That the music ministry would be anointed of God to help us worship God.

C) That God would burden people for the Choir and Special Music

4. Giving-

A) That people would obey God in giving Tithes and Offerings

B) That the Church would use its income correctly

C) That Missions, Outreach Ministries, and Special Needs would have their needs met.

5. Others-

A) Life Group Attendance, Teachers, Effectiveness

B) Media Ministries- Quality DVD, Radio, Website etc.

C) Nursery, Toddler, and Childrens Church Workers- Youth Leaders and activities

PRAY FOR GOVERNMENTI exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1Tim 2:1-2)

II Chron 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

President

 

Vice President

 

Representative

 

Senators

 

State Government

 
   

Is there any pending Legislation that you should pray for?? (Remember that Mordecai and Esther saved a Nation!)

Is our Country in Crisis and no one seems to have the answer? Jehoshaphat faced an impossible situation in which he did not know what to do- O our God, we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee (2 Chr 20:12); but he prayed to God and God said he would fight the battle and grant the victory- Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: …for the LORD will be with you (2 Chr 20:17)

PRAY FOR THE SICK: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. — James 5:16

   
   
   

HAVE YOU PRAYED FOR YOUR ENEMIESI say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Mat 5:44

1) Pray for their Salvation- That would turn an enemy into a brother!

2) Pray for the Ability to leave Vengeance to God- (Rom 12:19‑21) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. {21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

3) Pray that Bitterness will not bring you into bondage and defeat you as a Christian- (Heb 12:14‑15) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: {15} Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Prayer should be not a job but a joy. We approach the throne of God with petitions for ourselves or others with the knowledge that we come to a God who delights to answer prayers. Pray in Faith. Pray EVERY day. But above all, PRAY.

Psalm 81:10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

James 5:16 THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.

I Tim 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Listen to what R A Torrey had to say about the Power of Prayer:

–The devil is not afraid of the Church; he is only afraid of God, and the church without prayer is machinery without God.

–Prayer can do anything God can do for God responds to the touch of prayer. There is only one limit to prayer and that is the ability of God. Since all things are possible with God therefore prayer is omnipotent.

–We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity but we accomplish little; we have many services but few conversions.

Listen to what the Bible has to say about our failure to Pray:

(James 4:2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet YE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK NOT. (Mat 7:7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

(Mat 7:11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

(Psa 50:15) And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Prayer also has the power to

–Transform your Pastor. If you are not satisfied with your Pastor then pray for him. It has been demonstrated again and again that prayer can transform a poor preacher into a good one. Even Paul, the great man of God, asked for prayer from almost all of the churches he wrote to.

–Extend your Ministry- Prayer knows no bounds- We can contribute to the conversion of the heathen and the evangelization of the entire world by our prayers. Many a missionary has received more help from a bed ridden saint of God who knew how to pray than they have from a rich church that gave some money to his cause and then forgot about him.

–Claim the Backslidden- Strangely, Prayer also has the power to impact the slack living of other Christians- (1 John 5:16) If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

 What are some things that proper praying has the power to accomplish in our lives?

1) Prayer reveals our weaknesses and our wickedness so we will realize our need of the Holy Spirits work in our life- (Psa 139:23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

A life of power can only come when we realize our own powerlessness and worthlessness- Isaiah- (Isa 6:5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Moses had to spend 40 years in the desert getting Egypt out of Moses before he could get Israel out of Egypt!

2) Prayer has the power to break the chains of known and secret sins in our life- (Psa 19:12‑13) Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. {13} Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

(Of course, it is the Holy Spirit who sets us free from sins power, but the Holy Spirit works in our lives in answer to our prayers- (Luke 11:13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?)

3) Prayer has the power to give us victory over Temptation- (Luke 22:40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. Like David, we need to make this our constant prayer-(Psa 17:5) Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

4) Prayer gives power to govern our tongue- (Psa 141:3) Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

5) Prayer has the Power to bring us Wisdom- (James 1:5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

(Psa 86:11) Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

6) Prayer is the basis of understanding the Word of God- (Psa 119:18) Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

 (Luke 18:1) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Do you desire the power of God in your Sunday School Class, in your personal witnessing, in the training of your children? Pray for it. Like Jacob wrestling at the brook, hold on to God until you get it.

7) Prayer puts the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our life- (Acts 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

There have been times of great revival in the past without very much preaching and with little organization but there have never been a great and true revival without much prayer.

Every precious spiritual blessing in our lives is given by our heavenly Father in answer to true prayer. Prayer promotes our own spiritual growth and our likeness to Christ as almost nothing else can. The more time we spend in real true prayer, other things being equal, the more we shall grow in likeness to our Saviour. In prayer we gaze into the face of God, and we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor 3:18)

It is related of John Livingstone that he spent a night with a few like-minded people in prayer and religious conversation. The next day he preached in the Kirk of Shotts with such power that 500 people dated their conversion or rededication to that sermon.

PRAYING TO GET RESULTS

Use the example of Elijah in James 5:16b-18.

I. THE EARNESTNESS OF ELIJAH’S PRAYER

A) Effectual- Effective because it affects God. Praying to impress people will not move God.

B) Fervent- Earnest, heartfelt, continued. The heart cries of a child that God cannot over look.

II. THE EXPECTATION OF ELIJAH’S PRAYER- Remember that Elijah sent the servant back to check on the cloud 7 times before he got the results he was looking for. Remember also that Naaman had to dip in the Jordan River 7 times to be healed. Pray expecting an answer.

III. THE EFFECT OF ELIJAH’S PRAYER– Availeth Much. When you pray things happen- A pastor met a missionary home on furlough. The Missionary told the Pastor that he was on his way to Church to join some ladies in a special Prayer Meeting and asked the Pastor to join him. When they arrived the Missionary told the Ladies that he needed $50 to be able to return to his work and he wanted them to help him pray for it. Everyone there prayed but the missionary said he did not feel they had gotten thru to God as they should so he asked for them all to pray again. As they were praying again the Lord seemed to speak to the Pastor and say, “What about that $50 in your pocket?”. The Pastor stopped the Prayer Meeting immediately and after giving the money to the Missionary told the group, “It’s a dangerous thing to Pray!”

God has the DESIRE to Answer Prayer Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee Great and Mighty Things, which thou knowest not.

God has the WILL to Answer Prayer- James 4:2 “You have not because you ask not” Is 59:1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

God has the ABILITY to Answer Prayer- Ps 81:10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt; Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Eph 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

WHEN NOT TO PRAY

1. As a Public Performance- (Mat 6:5) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

2. When filled with Pride- Like the Pharisee who looked up to Heaven and boasted that he was not like the Publican (Luke 18:11). Jesus said, I tell you, this Publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:14)

3. When it is a Lip Pattern instead of a Heart Cry- (Mat 6:7‑8) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

4. When God has already given an answer (Even though the answer is not what you want! Remember the trouble Balaam got into by not accepting God’s answer‑Num 22?)

1. Sin in the life of Moses‑ Deut 3:25‑26 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter

2. Sickness in the life of Paul‑ II Cor 12:8‑9 For this (thorn in the flesh) I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

5) When God has already decreed Judgment Jer 7:16 Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

Jer 11:13‑14 According to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Did you ever wonder what it would be like if you could not Pray???

Charles Spurgeon told of hearing a man swearing with every breath. He went up to the man and asked him if you would not rather Pray to God instead of Swear at God. The man laughed and said he had no need of prayer. Mr Spurgeon told him he would give him a considerable amount of money if he would agree never to pray. The man laughed, took the money, and went on his way.

All afternoon the thought keep ringing in his heart, “Never to pray”. Soon he realized the foolishness of his promise and sought Mr Spurgeon in order to get out of the deal he had made. Mr Spurgeon had only a short step to bring this man to salvation. What a horrible tragedy it would be to never be able to Pray.

There is mighty power in prayer. It has much to do with our obtaining fullness of power in the Christian life. The one who will not take time for prayer may as well resign all hope of obtaining the fullness of power God has for him. It is those who wait upon the Lord who shall renew their strength (Is 40:31). Waiting upon the Lord means more than spending a few minutes running through some stereotype form of request. True prayer takes time and thought, but it is in reality the greatest time saver you can find. We can do more in ten minutes WITH God than we can do in ten days FOR God. Pray first. Then join hands with God and marvel at what is accomplished.

DO NOT SIMPLY TALK ABOUT PRAYER- PRAY

C:\1MJData\WEBSITES\MinMinDW\images\13mmbanner.jpg

Minister Ministry is a non-profit, faith-supported ministry that exist in order to assist Servants of God and expand the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Our Mission: To Minister to others that they may more effectively Minister for Christ by providing Biblical Information and Literature to as many people as possible, using as many methods as God provides, so that everyone possible can come to Know Christ as Savior and then Show Christ in their Changed Life

BOOKLET MINISTRY- We presently distribute many books each year. Some are Bible Studies of specific subjects. Some are studies of books of the Bible. Some are development books (such as this Prayer Book). And some are devotional books from the weekly newspaper articles we write.

Pray that God would give the wisdom needed to write these books.

Pray that God would give the ability and finances to print and distribute these books.

Pray that God would use these books to convert the lost, as well as encourage and enlighten the saved.

NEWSPAPER MINISTRY- Our weekly newspaper devotional articles in several local papers in South Carolina and Oklahoma presently reach hundreds of people each week. Pray that God would direct in everything that is written and pray that God would open more doors to this ministry.

INTERNET MINISTRY- Our Weekly Newspaper Devotional Articles are sent to hundreds of people each week via email. They are also available on our web site- www.ministerministry.com and published on Face Book. Our web site also contains many sermons and Bible Study helps with more added regularly.

Our Finances: This is a FAITH Ministry depending on God for provision- II Cor 9:8 God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

The ministry expands or contracts purely on the provision of God. As funds become available, Bibles or other Christian literature are purchased and distributed to those whom it is felt will benefit the greatest from such material. Materials are also printed and then distributed. Some finances are used to encourage and assist Ministers of the Gospel by providing meals and emergency needs. Distribution is made without regard to race, religion, or national origin.

No salaries are paid and operational expenses are kept as low as possible in order that all money received can be used to advance the work and word of God.

A yearly Financial Statement of income and expenditures is issued to all contributors and is available on our website. Tax receipts are issued for all gifts received.

Our Ministry VersesBut so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43-45)

MINISTER MINISTRY
Rev. Mike Jones
2434 Allen Road Effingham, SC 29541
“To Know and to Show CHRIST”
(10th Printing- May, 2014)

The most important Life Decision you will ever make is your decision about receiving Christ as your Savior. The decision you make about Christ will affect you NOW and for ETERNITY. This is not something to be treated lightly or put off until a later time. It is:

1> An ETERNAL DECISION THAT YOU MUST KNOW YOU MAKE– 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

2> It’s a DESTINY DECISION– Heb 9:27 it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Every person MAKES A DECISION about Christ- Either to Accept Him as Savior or reject Him and be lost. EVERY man must Die. EVERY man must face the Judgment. Only the Blood of Christ can deliver us from Condemnation.

WHO SHOULD BE SAVED: YOU-ROM 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

ROM 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

WHY YOU SHOULD BE SAVED: DEATH/JUDGEMENT ROM 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

WHEN TO BE SAVED: NOW- ROM 5:8 God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

THE WAY TO BE SAVED: TRUST CHRIST AS SAVIOR- ROM 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

HOW TO LIVE AFTER YOU ARE SAVED: ROM 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Have you Accepted Christ as Savior?
If you need help or follow up booklets then contact–
Rev. Mike Jones / Minister Ministry
2434 Allen Road / Effingham, S C 29541