Four principles are essential to understand the nature and purpose of prayer.
1) God's purpose is more important than our plans.
Isaiah 46:10-11, 55:11-12, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrew 6:17, Mathew 5:18-19
2) God has placed his word above even himself.
Psalm 119:89-90, 138:2-3
3) God will never violate or break his word.
4) God's holiness is the foundation of his integrity and faithfulness.
Genesis 1:26 "let them"
He didn't say "let us"
The legal authority to dominate earth was given to mankind only. God didn't include himself. The creator and the heavenly beings cannot interfere in the earth realm without the cooperation or permission of mankind.
What's prayer?
Prayer is man giving God legal right and permission to interfere in earth's affairs.
2 chron. 7:14, Luke 18:1-2, Ephesians 6:17-18, 1 Thess 5:16-19, Matt. 16:19-20, 18:18-20
To rescue humanity in flood he need Noah;
for creation of a nation, he need Abraham;
to lead the nation of Israel, he need Moses;
to bring back Israel from captivity, he need Daniel;
to defeat Jericho, he need Joshua;
for preservation of the Hebrews, he need Esther;
for the salvation if mankind, he need to become a man- Jesus.
Does prayer really works?
Unanswered prayer is the major obstacle that stand in the way of a life of true faith.
1) we feel abandoned and isolate from God, imagining that he doesn't care about our problems
2) we question God's character and integrity
3) we feel as if our lives are very unsettled and unstable.
4) we come to premature conclusions about ourselves and our prayers
5) we doubt our calling as God's intercessors
Prayer is not just an activity, a ritual or an obligation. It is communion and communication that touches God's heart. -The misunderstood art of prayer
The pathway to prayer
1) we must realize that when prayer does not bring results, it is an indication that something is wrong.
When prayer isn't answered, the word of God generally provides an indication of why it as not answered, gives insight into the kind of prayers God responds to and point out what can inhibit our prayer.
God answers as soon as we ask, and he reveals those answer in his timing. That's why Jesus told his disciples Luke 18:1 ...pray and not give up...
2) God is faithful to answer prayer. Mark 11:24
3) God's will and word do work when they are understood and put into practice.
True prayer will
- build intimacy with God.
- bring honor to his nature and character
- causes respect for his integrity
- enable belief in His word
- cause a trust in his love
- affirm his purpose and will
- appropriate his promises.
Why pray if God's all knowing?
First we must know God create humanity to reflect his character and personality. Having his "likeness" Genesis 1:26
Humanity cannot reveal God's image and likeness apart from a relationship with him.
He want us to approach him as a child Ps 103:13,
john 4:16 God must have a primary place in our lives because we were designed to find fulfillment and ultimate meaning in him.
Second, God create humanity to carry out his purpose in the earth. When God created man in his image, he gave him a free will (gen1: 26-28) let them rule
God never desire to rule the earth by himself.
God is love, he want to share for what he has.
God create us not to be servant, is to be son and daughter who are wholeheartedly involve in family Bússiness .
God doesn't want us to work for him, rather than work with him.
Man can only function in his purposes only as he is connected to his source- to God is creator or father.
Nature of prayer
Prayer exist from the beginning of God's relationship with man.
"Prayers is the expression of man's relationship with God and participation in his purpose."
"Prayer is involvement of oneself with God."
"Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.
Adam and Eve turn their back on God and desire their own will apart from God's will
The authority of prayer
Prayer is the vehicle by which you are meant to commune with the invisible God. It is the medium through which your spirit is intended to affect and be affected by the will and purpose of the divine Creator.
God's plan of redemption is consistent with his character and purposes.
God respected man's authority even when it lay dormant within his fallen nature.
Jesus is the second Adam.
To restore man's broken relationship with God, Jesus had to be without sin. He has to choose to do the will of God.
Jesus transferred authority to those who believe.
Prayer is both a right and a privilege of redeemed man.
Man's redemption allows him to have dominion
We have authority through the word. Power in prayer is not based on feelings but on the word of God.
John 5:7, 19-20
Our right to pray comes from both our calling in creation and our redemption in Christ.
10 steps preparedness in prayer.
1) appropriate God's grace.
2) put on righteousness
3) put on truth and honesty.
4) cleanse with the word
5) worship and praise God.
6) separate yourself
7) believe
8) give God the glory
9) wash in the word
10) remain in the anointing.
Cultivating the God kind of faith
Everyone lives by faith
Crucial truth to remember: faith is active belief. It is belief combined with expectation and action.
Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayer because he knows they wouldn't be good for us.
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