More Than Efficient - To Be Effective

MORE THAN EFFICIENT --- EFFECTIVE VS. INEFFECTIVE

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG) The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT2) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

We hear so much about the power of prayer. There are 100s of books that have been written about prayer. We hear of many secret formulas (EMC2) that suggest how we should pray. People also tell us how to pray. We hear so many sermons on prayer. The discussions on prayer are endless. Perhaps there is a truth: WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE ABOUT PRAYER MORE IS SAID THAN DONE?

Know that one of the greatest assets of prayer is so simple: PRAYER IS TO COMMUNE WITH GOD. When we pray we talk intimately with the Creator of the Universe. Good prayer is expressing our deepest feelings and warm friendship with God. Good prayer is personal and often private. Effective prayer opens the doors of our hearts to receive God’s heart!

THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER WHEN WE ALIGN WITH GOD’S PLAN. WE MUST CONFESS!

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

IF THERE IS EFFECTIVE PRAYER THAT TOUCHES GOD, THE INVERSE MUST BE TRUE. THERE IS INFEFFECTIVE PRAYER.

*EFFECTIVE: the ability to achieve, to be successful achieving the desired intended purpose, produces the desired results, valuable, bring about desired outcome.

* INEFFECTIVE: useless, not producing an intended effect, lacking in power, unable, lacking ability.

*FERVENT: intense, enthusiasm, passionate, powerful, strong –earnest commitment, heart felt, strong emotion.

THERE IS A SATANIC GOAL TO HINDER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRAYER. LET US STUDY SOMETHINGS THAT WILL LIMIT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PRAYERS.

1 WILLFUL, UNREPENTED SIN WILL ALWAYS LIMIT THE REACH OF OUR PRAYERS.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

2. IF WE PRAY PRAYERS TO BE HEARD AND SEEN OF MEN --- WE MISS GOD’S HEART.

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3. WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND OUR PRAYERS? COULD WE BE PRAYING SELFISH PRAYERS?

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:3 (MSG) And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

4. GRUDGES --- UNFORGIVENESS WILL ALWAYS LIMIT THE POWER OF YOUR PRAYERS.

Matthew 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Matthew 5:23 (MSG) "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you,

24 abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

5. UNFAITHFULNESS AND INSTABILITY, UP AND DOWN HURTS THE POWER OF PRAYER.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

6. UNBELIEF LIMITS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRAYER.

James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

7. LET US HONESTLY SEACH OUR HEARTS ABOUT OUR DOMESTIC ATTITUDES. DO WE REALIZE HOW DANGER CAN HIDE DEEP WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND OUR FAMILIES.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.