Effective Prayer Part 4
Hindrances to Effective Prayer
Sunday, May 17, 2020
I. Effective Prayer
A. Effective Prayer (quick review)
1.(Luke 11:1) “Lord, teach us to pray…”
a.Jesus and John both taught their disciples, so we too must be taught to pray properly and effectively.
b.Definition: Prayer is relational communication and fellowship with God based on the Word. Prayer invites heaven into earthly matters, it brings eternity into time, and brings the eternal into the physical.
~The 1st and primary purpose of prayer is to establish and maintain a personal intimate relationship with the Lord.
c.God’s power as owner combined with man’s authority as steward is the partnership that enables prayer to change things in the earth.
B.Hindrances to Effective Prayer
1. (Matt. 6:5-8 AMP) Don’t be like the hypocrites…
a.(v5) Praying to impress people.
b.(v6) Prayer must be from the heart, based on personal relationship.
c.(v7) Long, repetitive, vain prayers.
2.(v8) If God already knows what we need before we pray, why do we need to pray? (Prayer of Petition)
a.(Luke 11:9-13; John 14:12-14; 16:23-24) Asking shows your reliance on God and not you. God requires your cooperation/partnership for His will to come to pass in the earth.
b.(Jas. 4:1-3 AMP) You do not have because you do not ask or you with the wrong motives.
c.(1 John 5:14-15 AMP) The key to receiving what you ask for in prayer is asking in line with the will of God.
~(Eph. 5:17) The will of God is known by His Word. His will and Word always agree.
~(John 15:7-8) abide in Me and My word in you.
~(Mark 11:24) Believe you receive when you pray not when you see it. (present possession)
d.Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:16-18) What do I do between the time I prayed prayer of petition and received the manifestation? I pray continuously the prayer of thanksgiving.
e.(Jas. 1:5-8) What if I don’t know the will of God concerning the matter I’m praying about?
3.(Jas. 4:13-16) Tagging “if it be your will” at the end of your prayer is a way to ensure it will NOT be answered!
a.Sickness, disease, destruction, poverty, death is never God’s will.
~(Matt. 26:36-39) Jesus prayer in the garden.
[Pastor Lee Stokes]