Prayer

Prayer…sometimes we make it so complicated, like we have to come up with some profound words to keep God’s interest. Some people love to pray, while others are scared to pray, because they feel they don’t know how to do it right…after today’s message if you fall into that category, I believe you will never feel that way again!

Others of you here today may have given up on prayer, or you might not pray as often as you should…I also hope after today that will change.

When we were kids it was all so much easier though wasn’t it? Listen to some of these prayers:

CHILDREN’S PRAYERS:

Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. Debbie, 7

Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. Jimmy, 6

Dear God: How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer. Norma, 8

Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. Hank, 7

Dear God: I need a raise in my allowance. Could you have one of your angels tell my father. Thank you. David, 7

Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any. Angela, 8.

Have you ever prayed, and prayed and nothing happened or maybe the outcome wasn’t what you expected.

Today I want to share with you twelve (12) things that the Bible teaches us need to be in line in order for our prayers to be answered!

Now that being said, God is sovereign and He does whatever He likes, but today we are going to look at the biblical conditions of our prayers! Perhaps there is a reason one or all of your prayers are not being answered…today is going to be a little different than the average Sunday, it is going to be more of a Bible survey on prayer…alright?

Now before we begin, and I know I have said this before, but there really isn’t a magical formula to getting God to answer our prayers, but THERE IS BIBLICAL GUIDELINES to how we should pray…so with that in mind

Lets get started because there is a lot to cover…

I. We must ask in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14)

Have you ever wondered why we tack on that in Jesus name stuff at the end of our prayers? Well look at Christ’s own words in John chapter fourteen verses 13 and 14:

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Pretty clear, when we pray, we are to pray to Jesus Christ! And that we should not be afraid to ask Him for anything!

Ok on to the next one…

II. We must be abiding in Him and His Word in us (John 15:7).

This condition of prayer reminds me of my relationship I have with my daughters…and after all Jesus is our heavenly father, so at times we as parents we can relate to where Christ is coming from. Aren’t you more likely to give your children stuff when they are obeying you, when they are showing how much they love you!

I remember figuring this out as a kid, and a few days before something was suppose to come out that I really wanted, I would start really behaving, doing extra chores and stuff…anyone know what I am talking about here, and then my mom would say

“What is it you want anyways…”

Well we can’t trick God…we can’t pull the wool over Christ’s eyes so, we truly have to follow what the Bible instructs us to do…we have to try to live up to the expectations that are set before us, right?

And so John 15:7 says,

If you remain in me and my words remain in you ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

And the third condition for answered prayers goes right along with the second it is…

III. We must be keeping His commandments (1 John 3:21-22)

Look at 1 John 3:21-22,

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

And I want to read a few more verses here because it goes on and says a few things that should be very familiar to you, especially after the series we just had:

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.