Five Conditions For Answered Prayer

Introduction

We are in a series on Prayer for today and the next couple of weeks.

As we learn more about prayer, let me encourage you to begin to put this into practice.

Join us on Wednesday at 6:00 on our Facebook group page in a room

Last week, we looked at the 4 purposes of prayer

Act of dedication

Act of Communication

Act of Supplication

Act of Cooperation

Some may say

Prayer just doesn't work for me

I don't believe in it

Why are there so few answers?

Does God promise to answer everyone's prayers?

No, He ignores some.

Why?

Five Conditions For Answered Prayer

You Must Have an Honest Relationship With God

John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.”

Every promise has a premise

I will give if you remain

How to remain? By having God's word in you

God requires us to listen to Him first, so He will listen to us

Bible Study is important. The more you understand the Bible, the more effective your prayer life

3 questions to ask in evaluating your honest relationship with God

Do I or have I refused to admit things I've done wrong in the past?

Unconfessed Sin - an activity, attitude, or habit

It breaks our connection with God.

When we cover up things our honest relationship is broken

Ps. 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Prov. 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

1 John 1:8-9, “lf we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession is being honest with God. Saying you are right, I was wrong, please forgive me

Am I currently ignoring any of God's principles?

If l'm doing something God doesn't want me to do , I'm breaking the connection

1 John 3:21-22, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”

Promise to give anything we ask, condition - obey commands

How can I keep all God's commands?

God does not demand perfection, just obedience. He wants us to want to do right

Do I really want God's will for my life?

1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

According to His will

It's a mistake to say is it your will that I ask for this

Real issue should be, am I in God's will?

Augustine said, "Love your God, do what you please", Why? Because you will want to please God

How do you know you want God's will

How eager are you to read the Bible?

Bible reveals God's will.

You Must Have a Forgiving Attitude For Other People

Mark 11:24-25, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Outside of faith, the #1 thing related to prayer is forgiveness

Resentment kills prayers

Are you holding a grudge

Matt 5:23-24, “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

Offering, wronged some one, go and make it right

Can't say I love God and hate your brother

Heb. 12:15, “Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.”

Lord's Prayer

Forgive us and we forgive

I want you to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody else

Bitterness and resentment blocks prayer

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Marriage - easy to have resentment in families

Disharmony in home blocks answer to prayers

Pastor and Deacons - harmony in home, why? so prayer life won't be hindered

You Must Be Willing To Share Results

Prov. 21:13, “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”

Sow and Reap principle

Give and given to you

Generosity - more you give the more God gives to you

If ignore cries of needy, God ignores us

He wants us to be like Him. We must be a blessing to other people

1 John 3:22-23, “And receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Believe in Jesus and love one another

Love = generosity

Why have good health if only spent on you, why not help others

Stewardship

James 4:1-3, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Motive is important

Why you pray more important than what you pray

You Must Believe God Will Answer

James 1:5-7, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;”

One kind of prayer God answers - Prayer of Faith

Matthew 9:29 "... according to your faith..."

What are you expecting God to do?

Hebrews 11:6, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

What is faith?

Believe God can do it= Fact

Believe God might do it = Hope

Believe God will do it= Faith

Faith is not desire, desire can lead to faith

If God answered prayer some would have a heart attack

We see so little because we expect so little

According to faith, not education, willingness, family

Plant a seed, it grows, it's a law of the universe

Pray and believe and follow conditions, miracles happen, law of the universe

You Must Pray In Jesus Name

John 14:13, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” Then in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Must pray in Jesus name

What's so special about Jesus name?

It's not a sign-off

Or a mystical password

Pastor, son and friends, to carnival, bought tickets, saw boy didn't know, not part of party. Asked him why should he give him one, boy turned and pointed to son and your son said you would give me one.

God doesn't owe me anything

I come before Him not on my merit, but on Christ's merit

He said I could ask based on what He did on the Cross

Christ is the only mediator between man and God

Is it necessary to say "Jesus name", no, if you have the attitude, but a good idea to remind you why you have the right to pray

You pray to the Father through the Son

So How Does This Work For Me Today?

Which condition have you overlooked and have no answers to prayer

Do you have a grudge against someone?

Are you willing to share the results?

Do you believe God will answer?

Do you pray in Jesus name?

Can't pray in Jesus name unless you know Him, do you have an honest relationship with God?

Pray

Salvation

Believe in you

Live these conditions