Confidence in Prayer

God answers prayer:

1 John 3:22
Keep the commands of God which are tied up in loving God and loving your neighabor.
Do the things pleasing in His sight. And what is that? It is effective faith. Hebrews 11:6

2 Cor 5:7 We are to walk by faith and not by sight. Do this and you will please God. To ignore this and you stay a child in the faith. A child in the faith does not overcome obstacles. 1 John 2:12,13

Solid food is for the mature but milk of the word is for babies. What is the difference in the Word? It is not the specific Scripture but our actions with the Scripture that determines if it is milk or meat. We are babies if we don't take the Word and use it with faith. Grown men and women will take the Word and use it. We overcome by faith and faith takes the Word and overcomes with it. 1 John 5:4

Sometimes I read the Word just to be soothed in my soul. But other times I read the Word for direction. It is at these times I'm eating meat. We need to obey the Word if we are to walk in victory.

1 John 5:14,15
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

Ask according to His will. Are the promises of God His will? Yes. 2 Corinthians 1:20 “
20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

God's will is the promises of the Bible.

 1 For as many as are the promises of God,
 2 in Him they are yes;
 3 therefore also through Him is our Amen
 4 to the glory of God
 5 through us.

There are 5 parts to this verse, 5 parts to thus promise.
 1 All the promises of God are given to us according to the Scriptures.

 2 In Him they are yes. Are we in Jesus? 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. If we are saved we are in Jesus. So yes we are in Him. WE are in Him when we are cooperating with Jesus and His direction for us. Yes we are in Jesus. John 6:21 When Jesus got in the boat, immediately the boat was at the other side. When we have Jesus we have the answer.

 3 Therefore also through Him is our Amen. Can we say the amen to the promise? Can we say the promise is going to happen? For amen means so be it. Are we sure the promise will happen? For that is what amen means. Can we say as Christians this amen? Then the answer will come.

 4 To the glory of God
We can's seek glory for ourselves and believe at the same time. John 5:44 If we seek glory for ourselves it nullifies the faith and we lose out place of belief. God will not share His glory with another. Isaiah 42:8 “"I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

 5 Through us. It is through Him through us. We work with God and God works with us.

God Always Answers Prayer.

Luke 11:9-11 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?”

Matthew 7:7-8  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

1 John 3:22 “ and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”

John 9:31 “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.”

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 16:24,27 “24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”

John 15:7 “ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:16 “ You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

James 1:2-8 “2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Psalm 10:17 “O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear”

Psalm 102:17 “He has regarded the prayer of the destitute
And has not despised their prayer.”

Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Praying Scripture

Start with Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Sing to the Lord worship songs. Then sing to the Lord a verse that is a promise to what you are praying about.

Proclaim about yourself what God has promised!
Believe God is answering prayer and pray that belief.

Renew your mind according to what the Bible says about you. Romans 12:1,2

Turn your Bible reading from gaining info to prayer. This will help you learn it as well.

When we say what the Bible says we are speaking according to the will of God.

Pray about what the Bible talks of for the specific issue at hand.

Pray favorite passages of Scripture. Those that have meant a lot to you.

Put yourself into the verse, or the person prayed for.

Pray a verse emphasizing one word at a time. Then pray the verse again emphasizing the next word.

When you are praying Scripture, you are following Jesus' example.

Colossians 1:9-11 Amplified “For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;”

Don't stop: Praying, asking specifically that:
| 1) You will be filled with the knowledge of His will. With insight into His purposes, and understanding of spiritual things.
| 2) Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
Displaying: admirable character, moral courage, personal integrity.
| 3) Fully please God in all things.
What pleases God?
  Faith Hebrews 11:6
  Mind set on the Spirit. Romans 8:5-8
  Walk with God. Genesis 5:24
  Fear the Lord. Psalm 147:11: Proverbs 2:1-5
  Follow the example of Jesus. Matthew 17:5; Philippians 2:5-9
  God takes pleasure in obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22; Matthew 6:6
  Offer a sacrifice of praise to God, doing good and sharing. Hebrews 13:15-16
  Do God's will. Hebrews 13:20-21
  Go beyond God's will/commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22
| 4) Steadily grow in the things of God.
And this involves action and not just understanding. James 1:22
If we don't do what we think we know, we don't really know it. Faith comes by hearing God's word. Romans 10:17 Prove your faith by doing what you have been taught. 2 Corinthians 13:5
| 5) All power would flow through you. We already have the blessings  of God in our life. Ephesians 1:3 It is there to draw on. Paul endeavored not to preach without it. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 We should pray for this power as Colossians 1:9-11 says. Jesus asks us to go in power. Matthew 10:8; These signs will follow those who believe. Mark 16:17
| 6) Face life with endurance and patience with joy. James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5
If we are in a problem that persists, ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 with faith James 1:6-8

Here is a list of Paul's prayers that could be prayed.
Romans 1:8-10
Romans 10:1
Romans 12:12
Rom 15:6
Rom 15:13
Rom 15:30-33
1 Cor 1:4-9
1 Cor 16:23
2 Cor 1:3-7
2 Cor 2:14-16
2 Cor 9:12-15
2 Cor 13:7-9
Gal 6:18
Eph 1:3-5
Eph 1:15-23
Eph 3:14-21
Eph 6:19-20
Phil 1:3-6
Phil 1:9-11
Phil 4:6,7
Phil 4:23
Col 1:3-14
Col 4:2-4
1 Thes 1:2-3
1 Thes 2:13-16
1 Thes 3:9-13
1 Thes 5:23-24
1 Thes 5:28
2 Thes 1:3-5
2 Thes 1:11-12
2 Thes 2:16-17
2 Thes 3:2-5
2 Thes 3:16
1 Tim 1:12
1 Tim 2:1-3
2 Tim 1:3-7
2 Tim 1:16-18
2 Tim 4:22
Titus 3:15
Philemon 4-7
Philemon 1:25

How I pray to Get Answers

I like this tree because it's looking for the light.

1 Review your position in Christ. Eph 1:3,18; 2 Corinthians 5:17 Listen to God for His direction. John 10:27

2 Give your day to the Lord denying your fleshly desires. Romans 12:1,2; Matthew 11:28-30

3 Live in the joy of relationship with the Father. John 15:5; John 16:22

4 Base your prayers on God's promises. 2 Cor 1:20
Find the will of God in the matter. Answered prayer is promised for the will of God and our submission to Jesus with the cross of Christ. Rom 12:1,2; 1 John 3:22; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15

5  Confess what God has shown you is His will, even before you see it. Hebrews 10:23

6 Believe you receive the answer when you pray. Mark 11:23,24; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14,15

7 See the answer coming to you. Your vision in the Spirit is reliant on your relationship with God and your commitment to Christ with self denial. Deut 2:24

See yourself through the Word as a success not a failure. Romans 13:14; Matthew 6:22; Deut. 28:13

8 Hold fast to your confession and stand on the word of God. Eph 6:13, Hebrews 10:23

9 Reject doubt 2 Cor 10:3-5
speculations
strongholds
Fight off the opposition in faith and the word. 1 Timothy 1:12; Romans 5:17

10 Live in love. Faith works through love. Gal 5:6; 1 John 4:12 Let all you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 6:14
If you don't have love, stop and renew your love for God and others. 1 Peter 1:22

11 Sow to your future. Give out from your need. Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35
Don't give your time and money mindlessly. Give them in faith that God is working with you.

12 Act on your prayers of faith. If there is never any action there is no faith. Faithless prayers are religious.  James 2:17

13 Rejoice in God through all these steps. Especially if you don't see the answer.  Neh. 8:10; Psalm 100; Psalm 150:6; Psalm 34:1f
Use worship as a way to see your answer coming.
Don't neglect to worship God for your relationship.

14 Return to God and listen for His direction.

The short version to this is: PRAY AND GO. Pray and get direction from God. Then go and obey. Then return for analysis, prayer and adjustment. Then go again. Repeat.

God Answers Prayer

1 John 3:22 "
"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."

Keep the commands of God which are tied up in loving God and loving your neighabor.
Do the things pleasing in His sight. And what is that? It is effective faith. Hebrews 11:6

2 Cor 5:7 We are to walk by faith and not by sight. Do this and you will please God. To ignore this and you stay a child in the faith. A child in the faith does not overcome obstacles. 1 John 2:12,13

Solid food is for the mature but milk of the word is for babies. What is the difference in the Word? It is not the specific Scripture but our actions with the Scripture that determines if it is milk or meat. We are babies if we don't take the Word and use it with faith. Grown men and women will take the Word and use it. We overcome by faith and faith takes the Word and overcomes with it. 1 John 5:4

Sometimes I read the Word just to be soothed in my soul. But other times I read the Word for direction. It is at these times I'm eating meat. We need to obey the Word if we are to walk in victory.

1 John 5:14,15
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

Ask according to His will. Are the promises of God His will? Yes. 2 Corinthians 1:20 “
20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

God's will is the promises of the Bible.

5 Parts to 2 Corinthians 1:20
 1 For as many as are the promises of God,
 2 in Him they are yes;
 3 therefore also through Him is our Amen
 4 to the glory of God
 5 through us.

There are 5 parts to this verse, 5 parts to thus promise.
 1 All the promises of God are given to us according to the Scriptures.

 2 In Him they are yes. Are we in Jesus? 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. If we are saved we are in Jesus. So yes we are in Him. Yes we are in Jesus. John 6:21 When Jesus got in the boat, immediately the boat was at the other side. When we have Jesus we have the answer.

 3 Therefore also through Him is our Amen. Can we say the amen to the promise? Can we say the promise is going to happen? For amen means so be it. Are we sure the promise will happen? For that is what amen means. Can we say as Christians this amen? Then the answer will come.

 4 To the glory of God
We can's seek glory for ourselves and believe at the same time. John 5:44 If we seek glory for ourselves it nullifies the faith and we lose out place of belief. God will not share His glory with another. Isaiah 42:8 “"I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

 5 Through us. It is through Him through us. We work with God and God works with us.

Prosperity and Peace

Prosperity and peace go together. If you don't have enough, there is tension because you are striving to get the basic needs for your life. Peace is hard to come by without having what you need.

Jesus said in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 

This verse presents a different dynamic to peace and prosperity. God's word will bring peace to us as we live by faith, not by sight. The world has problems, but Jesus has overcome the world. How has He overcome the world for us? "And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith." 1 Jn 5:4b

In the spiritual, we overcome by faith. The natural will present problems, but faith in the word of God will overcome the problems in the natural.

Ps 122:7 seems to be talking of peace and prosperity in the natural. Yes, the two go together. It is hard to have one without the other. In the spirit there is a different dynamic. Life can be superseded by the word of God.

At times spiritual peace and natural peace look the same. You can tell the difference when trials, tribulations and troubles come our way. Spiritual peace will shine during the trial, but natural peace will crash.

There is no strength with natural peace. It is just enjoyed as it happens. Spiritual peace, on the other hand, is not reliant on circumstances or others. There is a joy and peace given by God to those who walk with Him by faith. They are not looking at what is seen but what is not seen. Their life is hid in God. Life circumstances don't shake them. Why? Because they are living according to the promises of God. Their concerns are given to God and they receive peace according to the promise given in Phil 4:6-9

Yes, God offers prosperity, but we are not to focus on prosperity or seek it as a primary object.  1 Tim 6:9 gives a warning. "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." In fact, we are to flee riches and seek the things of the spirit. 1 Tim 6:11

That is not to say that blessings aren't a by-product following God. Yes, blessing will come, but the example and lessons of Job show that we are not to judge others who have not entered into the life of prosperity.

(What are the quick lessons of Job?
1 Things aren't always as they look.
2 Don't be quick to judge.
3 Job came closer to God through trials.
4 Job was healed when he prayed for his friends.
5 The good generic counsel of Job's friends didn't apply to him.)

We are to use the blessings and prosperity we have received to minister to others for the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 9:8  "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."

What do you do if your basic needs aren't met? Go to God in prayer, receive peace from Him, walk in faith and joy, not in your circumstances but in your relationship with God.

Phil 4:11 Paul learned to be content in whatever circumstance he found himself. "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." When he wrote that he was sitting in a jail cell. 

We can be content wherever we are as we have a close relationship with Christ. Only our walk with Christ fulfills, not the abundance of stuff. 

Desire contentment; seek for contentment. It is a rare jewel. With contentment comes peace, allowing us to advance in the kingdome of God.

Psalm 33:17 "A horse is a false hope for victory nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength."

People look at having things and investments for security, yet it is not our ability in the natural that will give us victory. Victory comes through the Lord. We should not reject the natural means as led by God but use it to serve the Lord. Keep in mind the natural is only a tool the Lord uses. 

Serve God, walk in peace and prosperity, minister to others and live in a peace that is not reliant upon circumstances but on Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Go in peace,

Scott

Hindrances to Prayer

These first 7 came from RA Torry's book Power in Prayer

1. Self Indulgence
The first hindrance to prayer we will find in James 4:3,
"Ye ask and receive not BECAUSE YE ASK AMISS, THAT YE MAY SPEND IT IN YOUR PLEASURES."

2. Sin
The second hindrance to prayer we find in Is. 59:1,2:
"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."...

3. 0ther Gods
The third hindrance to prayer is found in Ez. 14:3, "Son
of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put
the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be
inquired of at all by them?"(R.V.)  IDOLS IN THE HEART CAUSE GOD TO REFUSE
TO LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS.

4. Not helping the poor.
The fourth hindrance to prayer is found in Prov. 21:13,
"WHOSO STOPPETH HIS EARS AT THE CRY OF THE POOR, HE ALSO SHALL CRY
HIMSELF, BUT SHALL NOT BE HEARD."

5. Not forgiving
The fifth hindrance to prayer is found in Mark 11:25, "And
when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any; that
your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

6. Not treating wife right
The sixth hindrance to prayer is found in 1_Peter 3:7, "Ye
husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to
knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel as
being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your
prayers be not hindered." (R.V.)  Here we are plainly told that A
WRONG RELATION BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE IS A HINDRANCE TO PRAYER.

7. Doubting
The seventh hindrance to prayer is found in James 1:5-7,
"But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask IN FAITH, NOTHING
DOUBTING: for he that doubteth is like the
surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he
shall receive anything of the Lord." (R.V.)

8. Not according to God's will. David Wilkerson.

9.  Our Prayers Can Be
Denied When We Show No Diligence
to Assist God In The Answer.
It is the fervent prayer, a prayer needs works of faith. and a death to self to gain
the answer.
Prov 1:28 no diligence or indifference.

10. There is no persistence in prayer. Luke 18:1f

11. Lack of fellowship with God and His word. John 15:7

12. Sometimes there needs to be fasting. Matthew 17:21 Mark 9:29

13. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

14. Disobedience to God's direction  and not letting our ministry and fruit remain. John
15:16

15. Stubbornness Zech 7:13 Just as God called and I did not listen so when one calls
God will not listen.

16. Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.  James 4:4; 1 John 2:15,16,17

The following 6 reasons came from Proverbs 1:24f
17. God called and they refused to listen.
18. Did not pay attention to God's stretched out hand.
19. Neglected God's counsel.
20. Did not want God's reproof.
21. Hated knowledge.
22. Did not fear God.

Prayer Resources Link

Here are some prayer resources I just ran across at a 24/7 prayer web site.

Creation Prayer

The Lord's prayer talks of creation prayer. Matthew 6:10 "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

When we pray what God desires, we can pray into existence the things He desires. Such as a Christian fellowship where none existed before. Another example is to pray provision for a needy family.

Jesus only prayed as the Father led. We can pray as the Holy Spirit leads and as the Bible directs.

Some reject this type of prayer because of past abuse. Should we reject salvation because someone preached the gospel for personal gain? Of course not.



Isaiah 42:9 "Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

Romans 4:17,21 "(as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. "

There is power in prayer!

Jesus Habit of Prayer and Prayers

Jesus Habit of Prayer and Prayers

Luke 6:12 Prayed all night
Matthew 14:23 Sent crowds away, went alone to mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16 Jesus would often slip away to the wilderness to pray.
Luke 9:18 While He was praying alone
Luke 9:28 went to the mountain to pray with the 3
Luke 9:29 while He was praying His appearance became different.
Mark 1:35 Early morning while it was still dark He got up and left the house and prayed in a secluded place.
Luke 3:21 While He was prayi8ng heaven opened.
Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell He left for the mountain to pray.
Luke 22:41-44 wrestle in prayer before the cross. Garden of Gethsemane
John 17 all High Priestly prayer
Luke 4:1,2 40 days in the wilderness
John 11:41,42 prayed before raising Lazarus from the dead
Luke 22:31,32 described prayer for Peter.
Matthew 6:9-13 Lord's prayer outline
John 12:27,28 A pre garden of Gethsemane prayer
Luke 23:34 forgiveness prayer from the cross
Mark 15:34 A prayer of desperation from the cross
Luke 23:46 A finality prayer from the cross
Luke 11:1 Jesus prayer in in a certain place

Spurgeon on Prayer

If you listen to mp3 sermons, this is a good one.

Prayer is Heart Beat of Life

Just as the heart beats to push blood through the body, so prayer is the heartbeat of Christianity.

As blood is used to empower the body to act, so prayer is useful in preparing us for spiritual work.

Without blood we can't do anything. Without prayer we can't do anything. We can accomplish something after we pray, but nothing before we pray!

Hurry vs Prayer

The more I hurry, the further behind I get. Jesus has turned much upside down in the spiritual realm. Poverty is the kingdom. Weak is strong. The foolishness of preaching brings salvation. To lead is to take the least position.

Could it be that having problems should first bring us to prayer instead of action? Pray then act! Not, do all you can and when there is nothing else we can do, pray!

If we believe we will pray. When we pray then we believe more.

Prayer of course is, preparation. If there is no action after prayer then prayer is faithless and therefore is useless.