Power in Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We have been here in 1 John for several weeks, and tonight, we will probably end on a note of prayer. These two verses are very interesting because they tell us how to get our prayers answered. These verses hold the key to answered prayers, so for a little while, we are going to look at the subject of “Power in Prayer”
Last time, we looked at the witness of the Spirit and how we can know that we know that we know that we have eternal life!
And with the assurance of eternal life comes another confidence: answered prayer.
R. A. Torrey said, “Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God’s infinite grace and power. All that God is and all that God has is at the disposal of prayer. But we must use the key. Prayer can do anything that God can do and since God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent.”
How can I pray and get my prayers answered? It seems like everybody prays. Even the heathen pray. But how do you pray and get your prayers answered?
The greatest blessing in your life is to get your prayers answered.
You are saved because you prayed.
Your companion, this church, and your children, are all an answer to prayer.
Your job was an answer to prayer—your health, your place of service.
The key to get God to work is PRAYER. The key to get prayer to work is HIS WILL.
George Mueller wrote, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.”
Nothing we ask for lies beyond the power of God except that which lies beyond His will, His purpose, His plan.
I-Our Confidence In Prayer
I-Our Confidence In Prayer
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
We have acceptance!
We have acceptance!
The “WE” (acceptance) of verse 14 points back to the “YOU” (assurance) of verse 13.
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.
The word of God teaches us that we can know that we are saved and that we can know that God hears our prayers. The child of God, saved by the grace of God, can have confidence in the presence of God.
We have access!
We have access!
Notice, our confidence lies in HIM! Who? God!
That word confidence; it means “free and fearless confidence, boldness, assurance.”
We have access to the throne of God anytime anywhere...
This confidence does not mean that we have arrogance or apathy, but that we have reverence and respect for the Person of the Lord.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We have access to the King of kings! We have an audience with God!
What a wonderful treasure and blessing to be able to come boldly to the throne of the grace of God to get His help when we need it. We have that privilege as a child of God.
We can ask!
We can ask!
1 John 5:14 (KJV 1900)
14 ...if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
Prayer is simply asking—making our requests known.
What are you asking God for?
If you are not asking, you are not receiving. “Ask and ye shall receive”! “Ye have not because you ask not.”
This is the confidence that we have… “…that if we ask anything according to his will...”
We can have confidence in Him, but there is a condition to our confidence. We must ask according to His will! John says that if we ask anything! Prayer covers a multitude of areas as long as it is the will of God.
Jerry Vines said, “We must desire God’s will, discern God’s will, and do God’s will.”
If we do not desire God’s will we can never have power in prayer. When we do not discern God’s will we can not pray in God’s will and when we know the will of God, but do not do it that also hinders our prayers.
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Most of the time we can determine God’s will by reading the Word, listening to the Spirit, and discerning the circumstances around us. Prayer keeps a Christian in the will of God and living in the will of God keeps a Christian in the place of blessing and service.”
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Some of us do not have power in prayer because we really do not believe that God can do what His word says He can do. Some times we get discouraged in our praying because we see no answer. Maybe it’s because we are not praying in the will of God.
II-Our Conviction In Prayer
II-Our Conviction In Prayer
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we are abiding in Christ, the very desires of our heart are heard by God whether we voice them or not. If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and we have what we desire from Him. That is God’s assurance for the Christian. He will answer your prayer in one of several ways.
He may answer Directly.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;
And while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
These are the best kind!
But sometimes,
He may answer Differently.
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
A Christian man was once shipwrecked on an island and he was the lone survivor. He began to pray that God would send a ship to rescue him. Every time a ship came by he would try to flag them down but nothing worked.
He would take his tattered shirt and wave it but no one on the ships saw him. The man built him a little hut for protection from the elements. The little hut was all the man had. One day the man saw a ship and he went to try to flag it down but to no avail. As he turned he noticed that his little hut was on fire and begin to bum quickly.
The man thought to himself that the only thing that he had left was now gone. About that time he heard the horn on the ship blowing. He ran down to the beach and there were men to rescue him. The man said to the sailors, ‘I didn’t think you saw my signal.’ The sailors said, ‘Not see your signal? Man we could have seen a fire and smoke like that for miles.”
Sometimes God sends answers to prayer in a different form.
Sometimes,
He may answer with a Delay.
18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you,
And therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you:
For the Lord is a God of judgment:
Blessed are all they that wait for him.
Jesus waited to come to Bethany while Lazarus was sick. Mary and Martha sent to Him and requested that He come, but Jesus waited. Then when Jesus did come Lazarus had been dead 4 days. Jesus answered Mary and Martha’s prayer and He raised Lazarus from the dead and gave him back to his sisters well.
Other times,
He may answer with a Denial.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
When God says no, it is best.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Do you have confidence in your praying?
Can you get a prayer answered?
There is not a sin in our life that could not be traced back to prayerlessness!
When you cannot get a prayer answered, your Bible doesn’t speak to you anymore, and you lose your joy, and you become miserable, you begin to find fault, you start to criticize and before long, you don’t want to come to church.
Pretty soon you are siding with the enemy. You have moved from discord to division. You are headed for destruction. You’re about to become a casualty, a castaway. You are unprofitable. If you do not repent and get right with God, you will soon drop out and others will follow.
When you quit loving the Father it is easy to quit loving the Family (the church).
Pride will keep you from Prayer. it will also keep you from Peace and Joy and Forgiveness.
You cannot pray in God’s will until you pray for God’s forgiveness,
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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