Prayer defined

  • PRAYER ( AFTER THE WORD OF GOD ) ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE WILL DO AS A CHRISTIAN;

  • James 5:16; Eph 6:18 ) There are different kinds of prayers, Not All, some; 1.intercession ( 1 Tim 2:1 ), 2.fasting ( Matt 6:16 ), 3.dedication ( Lk 22:42 ), 4.meditation ( 119:99 ), 5.supplication ( Matt 7:7 ), 6.binding and loosing ( Matt 18:18 ), 7.praise and worship ( Matt 21:16 ), 8.thanksgiving ( Phillip 4:6 ), 9.agreement ( Matt 18:19 ), 10.confession ( Rom 10:8-10; proactive; Gentiles inheritance Acts 26:18 ), 11.authority ( Isa 45:11; reactive ) 12.pray in tongues ( 1 Cor 14:14 ); 13.listening, it’s a dialogue ( Jn 10:27; Gens 18:33 ); 14.God’s presence ( 1 Cor 1:9 Ps 140:13 );

  • ( 1 Jn 5:14-15 )- pray according to God’s will, scripturally;

  • ( 1 Thess 5:17 )- pray without ceasing;

  • Prayer is our way of fellowshiping with God; which is why we were created ( Rev 4:11; 1 Cor 1:9; Phillip 2:1; 1 Jn 1:3 );

  • Prayer is God’s encouragement to us ( 1 Cor 2; Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13 );

  • Prayer is God’s guidance for us, in our efforts according to His will ( All Bible hero stories; several different kinds of prayer, of faith, meditation, etc; Jesus, and Apostles time here on earth in Gospels, Acts );

  • Pray like it’s yours to keep, not yours to gain! accept what God has done for you by grace, through faith ( Eph 2:8-9 ) ( Rom 5:2, 4:15-16 ); God deals with us according to OUR PERFECT SPIRIT ( Rom 8:16-17 ) ( 1 Jn 3:9 ) ( 1 Jn 4:17 )

  • ( Matt 6:9-13 ) – explained- Pray in this MANNER v9 that means in this likeness, not direct words; Jesus also said God knows what you want before you pray v8, so because he knows, basically pray from position of answer; Jesus was working from a unfinished process ( Matt 15:24; Jn 16:12; 19:30 ), so you can reference every example to a finished work scripture; v9 hallowed be thy name- reference to ( 1 Thess 2:13; Eph 5:20 ); v10 kingdom come, will be done in earth, as heaven- reference to ( Col 1:27; Gal 2:20; Eph 1:5 ); v11 give us this day, daily bread- reference to ( 2 Cor 4:16; 1 Cor 15:31 ); v12 forgive our debts, as we forgive debtors- reference to ( Eph 4:32 ); v13 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, thine is kingdom, power, glory- reference to ( James 1:13-15; 1 Cor 10:13; Gal 1:4; Rom 14:17 );

  • If it is according to God’s will, He has already answered ( Matt 7:7 ) ( 2 Cor 1:20 )

  • ( 1 Jn 3:20-21 ) OUR hearts condemns us, and WE, can’t receive from God, when we live in disobedience;

  • God has done His part, Jesus said it is finished ( Jn 19:30 )

  •  ( Deut 10:13 ) things that God commands us, is for our good, it’s up to US to learn to receive from God ( Col 2:6 ) ( 1 Jn 3:22-23 ) ( James 1:5 ) ( Matt 22:22 )

  • God has spiritual laws, in the Bible ( Rom 3:27 ), that when you cooperate with them, things happen, it’s not personal between you, and God; there is forever peace between re-born believers, and God after Jesus ( Rom 5:1-2 ) ( Rom 4:15 ) ( Col 1:22 ) ( Isa 54:9-10 )

  • ALWAYS start prayer with thanksgiving, and praise; ( Ps 100; Philip 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 )

  • Pray in tongues, in the spirit ( 1 Cor 14: 2,4,13; Jude 20

  • MOST IMPORTANT– Pray scriptural- ( Matt 6:9-14, manner v9 model prayer, not necessarily direct words; Lk 10:2; Jn 17:9-26; 20:22-23; Acts 4:29-30; 1 Cor 1:1-10; 1 Cor 3:6-7; 2 Cor 4:4; 11:3; Eph 1:17-20; 3:16-19; 4:17-18; Philip 1-11; Col 1:9-12; 2:2; 4:12 ), These are patterns, yes you can say them word for word, but ALSO, allow Holy Spirit to guide you as you say these things ( Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13 );

  • Confessions – no one will believe what you say more than YOU; Confession in Greek is agreeing with what God has said; confess, healing, prosperity, peace, faith, joy, etc, scriptures, about your life EVERYDAY; Confess because faith has come ( Rom 10:17 ) and you believe, not because if you say it, you will GET God to; HE ALREADY HAS; ( Ps 119:172; 35:28; 116:10; Deut 30:14; Rom 10:8-10; Lk 12:8-9; Jer 23:28; Prob 18:20-21; 2 Cor 4:13; Isa 34:16 )

  • ( Eph 6:12 ) means – the battle is not against people and flesh, the battle is against evil forces, and evil spirits in this world. The only way to defeat evil forces is to pray, that’s how we battle evil spirits is to pray, cause we can’t put them in jail, or physically defeat them. We fight defeated darkness, the only battle is deception

  • PRAYER: is a supplication or expression addressed to God; prayer is us talking to God; prayer appears 371 times in scripture; to entreat ( ask urgently )

  • God chose you, people, to work through; The creator of the universe could do whatever he wants, but He chooses to use people to get things done; God reacts off prayer, He doesn’t just do things without people praying first, He dose nothing without our content

  • prayer doesn’t influence His purpose. it does influence His actions

  • prayer is not a wish list or just what you want

  • prayer is building a relationship with God

  • prayer connects supernatural to natural, to know someone: helps place value on people

  • prayer is about perspective; when most humans pray, we pray from our own perspective, what makes sense to us; our perspective must be the same as God’s perspective; pray according to God’s will, not your will

  • God chose to operate in the redemptive processes work through the cross of Jesus Christ, and released by the Holy Spirit, through the Church; which is why the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we must be obedient, and pray God’s will into action, so don’t let anyone deceive you into believing you’re not important, YOU, reading this sermon, are important, and your prayers can get stuff done in the spiritual, and physical realm

  • prayer is calling into existence what He ( God ) has willed, but which cannot be released on the earth until someone speaks it into being; it can’t be released until someone speaks it out, because He chooses to operate this way

  • prayer releases the power of the Holy Spirit from us to accomplish things

  • ex: Elijah prayed for rain, even though God knew he needed rain, Elijah still had to pray for it to happen, and it took him seven times to pray ( 1 Kings 18:42-45 ) same thing with salvation, all of us come to salvation, because we said the sinners prayer ( Rom 10:9-10 ), and because someone prayed for us, along with ( 2 Cor 1:11 ) means- it’s tells us how our prayer helps others, and others will give thanks because of our prayers ( Philip 1:19 ) means- through our prayers, and the Spirit of Jesus, turned us out of the deliverance of the enemy, so no matter the person, as long as your near Christ they matter, not saying that people who are not close to Christ, they’re prayers aren’t answered, because God hears all prayers of mercy, and His mercy and how much mercy He has on people is up to Him, but obedience is key to being effective in the kingdom of God; in other words I wouldn’t gamble on how much mercy God has for you over just being obedient

  • ( Judges 16:28-30 ) means – in spite of Samson’s past, God still answered his prayers about destroying the pagan temple and worshipers. God heard Samson’s prayer of confession, and repentance this final time. One of sins greatest weapons is to keep us from praying, because the enemy knows the importance of it. perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Don’t let guilt feelings over your sin keep from praying, and removing guilt, which there is no condemnation ( Rom 8:1 )

  • How to pray ( keys to help people, not ritual )

  1. come to Him clean; with the right motives ( James 4:3 ) ( 1 Jn 1:8-9 ) FOR YOUR HEARTS SAKE ( Deut 10:13 )

  2. forgive others ( Lk 6:37 ) FOR YOUR HEARTS SAKE ( Deut 10:13 )

  3. Pray the ANSWER, which is scripture; find out what God in His word about the situation; TALK TO YOUR PROBLEM ABOUT GOD, NOT GOD ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM! ( Isa 43:26 )

  4. ask ( Matt 21:22 )

  5. ask in Jesus name ( Matt 21:22 ) asking in Jesus name enforces and assures what Jesus did on the cross

  6. ask according to His will ( 1 Jn 5:14-15 )

  7. ask in faith ( that it will happen ) ( Ps 5:3 )

  8. specifically – who what, where, when, why ( 1 Tim 2:1 )

  9. Remember when praying for others, you can only play a part, because that person has free will to choose, so pray like Paul did, that they will receive revelation, wisdom, and understanding for their situation( Eph 1:17-18 ) ( Deut 30:19 )

  10. When praying for healing; thank God for healing; then SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN, OR PROBLEM, and command, with the authority we have for it to leave ( Matt 21:21 ) ( Mk 11:23-24 )

  11. God answers all prayers that are according to His promises; which are in His Word; ( 2 Cor 1:20 ); so the problem is NOT God; when not manifested; it is Satan hindering ( 1 Pet 3:7 ) ( 1 Thess 2:18 ); or YOU, by not keeping believing just because you don’t SEE it right away; ( Heb 11:1 ) ( Eph 3:20 ) no instant manifestation; keep thanking God for His goodness; that He has answered already ( Matt 7:8 ) keep rebuking the problem ( James 4:7 ); act as if you have it already; ( that;s faith ); don’t entertain negative thoughts about the problem ( 2 Cor 10:4-5 ); do these things until you see manifestation;

  12. Meditate on the word of God, and fast, and work on unbelief, and doubt; BEFORE problems come ( Mk 4: 13-14 ) ( Josh 1:8 ) ( Matt 17:20-21 )!

  • how to pray Biblical ( Matt 6: 9-13 )

  • more keys how to pray

  • ACTS

  • Adoration

  • Confess

  • Thanksgiving

  • Supplication

  • JOY

  • Jesus

  • Others

  • Yourself

  • We pray cause it’s good and pleases God that’s how we formally talk to God; ( 1 Tim 2:4 ) means- Gods will is that no one perish, and get to know him

  • our request are for God’s ordained order to come into effect, they super cede the powers on earth

  • Why your prayers don’t seem answered? 1. not according to His will  2. is according to His will, others hindrance; 1. Satan  2.unbelief  3. you, etc

  • ( 2 Chron 7:12 )- means – don’t always expect immediate answers; I know of this story of a mom praying for her son to be saved for 67 years. the man lived his whole life in his own will, and not having a relationship with Christ, but because of a merciful God, the last will be first, and the first will be last ( Matt 19:30 ); this man died on his death bed, but he gave his life to Christ before his last breath, and made it to heaven; 2 points to this story; 1. don’t stop praying just because no immediate answer, have a tenacious endurance attitude when praying; 2. Don’t gamble on God’s mercy to get to heaven; don’t be like that person in ( 1 Cor 3:13-15 ) that all his work done here on earth is burned up, but he made into heaven like one who was escaping through the flames; don’t gamble on just barely making it to heaven. God had mercy on this man, but don’t take that chance; be sure of your salvation. ( Gal 6:9 ) means- not to get tired of doing good, doing good meaning prayer; don’t get tired or discouraged when you don’t see an immediate answer; just know that time time is nothing to God, , so don’t give up as Jesus tells us in ( Lk 18:1 ) to pray, and not give up; or Paul writes to us to pray without stopping in ( Eph 6:18 )

  • The goal of Jesus Christ is to destroy the devils work ( 1 Jn 3: 8 ), ( Jn 10:10 ), so now that Jesus sits on the right hand of the father, and is interceding for us in Heaven, He uses the Church, us, to destroy the devils work, and we do that with prayer, and serving Christ without fear, and with power and authority. the Church should stop the worst that hell intends and insist on the best that heaven intends; unlock, and let God use us as a vessel to break bondage’s, and strongholds from the devil, and forces of evil

  • God has given authority, and the power to the Church to enforce His will on the earth; and the only way to bring His will into action, is to pray it into action

  • The Lord uses humans vessels, the saints, to shoot power through ( Isa 52:11 ), are you prepared to get things done through prayer, are you ready to use your body as a human sacrifice, and yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, and allow the Holy Spirit to bubble up in side of you, and do things God ask or tells you to do

  • God has something in which He stores up our prayers for use at proper time ( Rev 5:8; 8:3-5 ), either when enough prayer has been accumulated to get the job done to release it, or when He fills it is the right time

  • pray scripture, to pray scripture, you have to know scripture, even Jesus quoted scripture when tempted by the devil, and this really pleases God; so study your word, that’s really defeating to the enemy

  • we release through prayer, Christ’s finish work, and the Holy Spirit into situations

  • Asking – when you ask, you don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, that what you get you will spend on your on pleasures ( James 4:3 ); People today think we serve God to get whatever we want, and just try to get what we can out of God; people we serve God, because we love Him, we appreciate what He did on the cross, dieing so we can live, because we’re sinners, because we need a savior to save us from the dominion of the evil one. We want to live forever, and have eternal life; because we want peace, and joy inside of our hearts; not because we want something all the time;if I serve you I get this deal no; Lord I’m here because you have a purpose for my life ( Eph 2:10 ); God promises blessing and prosperity along the way, so it’s wrong to ask for things, just make sure they’re in the guidelines of His will if they’re wants, or needs

  • ( 1 Jn 5: 14-15 ) means if you ask anything according to His will, He hears you; then when we get what we asked according His will, then we know that we have what we asked of Him that was according to His will, so three cars, a large house, diamond rings, gold teeth, etc are things spend on our own pleasures, and to better or reputation, and make us look good to the world, and not God. Being blessed with things is fine, but if you have money, and all this jewelry, etc, and others in your back yard are in need, the Lord would want you to spread your wealth instead of multiples things you don’t need; so if you’re asking for these things that have no eternal value, then check what you’re asking God for; Examples of what would be God’s will is a car to get to Church, or get to work, or give people a ride to church, or bible study, etc, or a home to host small group bible studies in, or a tv or dvd to watch sermons to help you grow spiritually in the kingdom of God; God knows our NEEDS, be careful what your WANTS are in God’s will

  • ( Eph 6:18 ) means – and pray in the spirit on all occasions, keep on praying for the saints; is telling us to pray at strategic times; if we are alert He will warn us of the well timed attacks of the enemy, so we can pray a boundary of protection by praying; us saints have to have each others back as the enemy is working so hard to throw darts at the leaders of the church; ministries; and people in the church; as He sees us doing God’s will he tries to give us un assurance of who we are or what our purpose is, so stay on your post, and start, and end your day with time with God by prayer

  • God is not in total control of everything, us humans play a huge role and responsibility in life, prayer is a huge part of how situations play out! proof God is not in total control because His will is never rape, murder, rob, steal, fight, etc

  • when we pray for others we bring individuals to God, in prayer asking the Father to meet with them

  • INTERCESSORY PRAYER:  intercessory prayer is the special ability that members of the body of Christ have to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis, and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian ( Lk 12:48 )

  • intercessory prayer does everything the redemptive work Jesus did on the cross except salvation

  • intercessory prayer is standing before God on behalf of other people in situations other than your own, that would not be addressed if you didn’t do it in prayer;praying for someone else

  • We, the church, have the authority to remit-address Jesus to pardon for horizontal, people to people reasons, NOT eternally, sins, or retain– hold, sins, in people’s live! ( Jn 20:22-23 );

  • God has given authority and the power to the church to enforce His will on the earth

  • We all know and heard about Jesus Christ, because someone shared with us, or prayed for us. My personal testimony is I know for a fact when I was busy working for the enemy, my mom, and grandma, and others prayed I would get to know the Lord one day, and those prayers slowly but surely help knock down evil doors, and break chains, and strongholds controlled by the enemy. So if you know someone struggling right now; pray for them; intercede for them at this time, and God loves to answer prayers, and God loves to destroy the devils plans; so pray expecting change no matter if it takes years or seconds for people to be delivered from the bondage of the enemy

  • Intercession is translated – reached to, light upon, chance upon, happen upon, help put God’s will into existence with your intercession prayer for someone today

  • If you’re wondering if YOU’RE good enough, you are; God wants your attention like YOU ARE; If you’re waiting to get perfect to walk in the will of God it will never happen; God wants you as you are drunks, prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, rapist, gang bangers how ever you are, no sin is to great for the conversion of darkness to light; that comes with the salvation, that comes from the grace given from Jesus Christ ( Isa 1:16-18 )

  • FASTING: there are some duties for Christians praying, and fasting are a few of them

  • 3 Types of fasting

  • 1. absolute fast – is extreme, should be done for short period of time – no food, no water, should be supervised

  • 2. normal fast – no food of any kind for certain number of days; can take juice or broth

  • 3. partial fast – giving up particular foods for an extended period of time, certain meats, sweets, etc

  • when the Holy Spirit is calls you to fast, He is preparing you for what is ahead

  • fast so we know the right ways for our lives

  • fasting helps us identify hidden sin in life

  • fasting will bring in the lost

  • fasting will break poverty

  • fasting will bring health and healing

  • keep it personal during the fast

  • fasting scriptures ( Isa 58 ) ( Matt 6:16 ) ( Joel 1:14 )

  • PRAYER: Father, thank you for you, you are everything to me, and Father I pray for anyone reading this sermon will first of all be blessed, I pray for there spiritual welfare, and I pray the discernment and wisdom for people, and I pray that people reading this will come to realize there purpose for the kingdom of God, and learn the importance of praying, and fasting and having a daily relationship with your son Jesus Christ; I speak favor in the lives of people reading this, and ask Lord for a miracle, and pray that there will be more workers for this harvest; in Jesus name I pray Amen;