Why Pray? Series

Why Pray?

We have been in a study of Prayer. We were interrupted by Christmas and the New Year. I believe that we need to learn how to pray so that we can see results.

Many Christians have prayed for years and cannot tell you for sure that “GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS”.

Everyone prays, Christians pray, sinners pray, heathen pray but not many results are seen.

We want to learn to Pray and get Results.

The last time we talked about Prayer we discovered the PURPOSE OF PRAYER.

#1 The Purpose of Prayer is Fellowship and Relationship.

Many pray because they have a shopping list that need to be addressed.

The primary reason for prayer is fellowship and relationship.

Jesus prayed all night several times and it was not because He was in want or need. Jesus wanted fellowship and relationship with His Father.

#2 The Way to Receive from God.

James 4: 2 Ye lust and have not: ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain ye fight and war yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James says we fight and scratch and struggle to get things but that is not the way to get it.

PRAYER is the way our needs are met.

James said that if you don’t ask you will not get it.

Then he identifies 2 Reasons that prayers are not answered.

1. Ask amiss = asking for the wrong things. God will not let you have a great successful Robbery. GOD WILL NOT ANSWER A PRAYER THAT GOES AGAINST HIS NATURE.

2. Consume it upon your lusts = God does not answer selfish prayers. God will not make you rich so you can show your kinfolk you are special. God will make you rich if your desire is to help God’s Kingdom.

God knows what you have need of and he wants you to have it.

John 16:24: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

#3 The way God’s Kingdom is established in the earth is prayer.

Matt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We are to pray for God’s Kingdom and righteous rule be established in the earth.

I believe if the Church and Christians would pray for this kind of thing rather than the silly selfish things that we pray that God would hear us and heal our land and we would bring this nation back to God.

This is WHY we pray.

This is HOW we pray:

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

The last time we talked about Prayer it was called PRESISTENT PRAYER

Don’t give up in prayer, don’t give out in prayer, and don’t give in, in prayer.

Delay is not Denial.

1. Some delay is because of DEMONS

Daniel prayed for 21 days and found out it was demons that delayed the answer.

2. Some delays are DIVINE.

1. Time to focus on God and not man to supply the need.

2. Time to refine our request and see if it is a desire or a wish.

3. Test of Faith. Abraham waited 25 years

Ga 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

How to Pray

John 16: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you.

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full

Jesus was explaining to the disciples that He was going to die on the cross and that they would be full of sorrow, but He would be back and they would have joy that nobody could take away.

V.23 Jesus said in the day I come back we are having a new relationship.

I am going to give you the AUTHORITY to go to God and ask for what you have need of.

He said I have taken care of your needs and showed you the POWER that is available to you.