HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part lesson)
THERE WAS AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR THAT FROZE ICE FIGURES OF HUMANS AND SET THEM ON CONCRETE STEPS IN THE SUMMER. His thought was this: “LIFE IS SHORT, ENJOY, ENJOY IT BEFORE IT MELTS!” --- BE KIND!
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE DISCIPLE CAME TO JESUS AND SAID “LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY.” FIRST TIME I REALLY LEARNED WHAT THE DISCIPLE REALLY SAID: HE SAID: “LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!” Let us really listen, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
WE LEARN EFFECTIVE PRAYING BY PRACTICE. THE MORE YOU PRAY THE MORE YOU DESIRE TO PRAY. PRAYER CAN BRING WONDERFUL RESULTS. GOOD PRAYER CAN RELEASE DIVINE POWER.
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.
Did you hear about the two drunks sitting in the bar arguing about prayer. The one drunk said: I WILL BET YOU $10.00 you cannot pray “THE LORD’S PRAYER!” The other drunk said: “YES, I CAN, I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT BET!”
They both laid down $10 on the bar. So the drunk started quoting the prayer real loud he said: “NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE, I PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO TAKE!” The drunk said: I bet because I thought you was so pagan you could not say the “Lord’s Prayer!” I did not think you could pray it. So the man picked up his money.
EXPECT THE TEST OF BEING OFFENDED AND HURT. THIS SPIRIT OF OFFENSE WILL HINDER A HEALTHY PRAYER LIFE AND CAUSE A FALLING AWAY. THE ATTITUDES WE ACCEPT DETERMINE OUR ALTITUDE.
*OFFEND, OFFENDED: To feel upset, to be angry, annoyed or resentful; hurt feelings, to cause pain; to cause to sin or fall.
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
IF WE DON’T RISK BEING HURT, WE CANNOT PRAY OR LOVE OR GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. REAL UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL GIVE OTHERS THE PERMISSION OR RIGHT TO HURT US. This could be a STUMBLING BLOCK or a STEPPING STONE.
The Bible teaches a deep lesson we seldom address: THE HIGHEST MATURITY LEVEL we can achieve is found in the CLASSROOM OF PAIN AND SUFFERING. YOUR REAL MATURITY LEVEL WILL SHOW WHEN YOU DON’T GET YOUR WAY.
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IS FORMED because there is some foreign object that gets in the oyster shell. The imperfection causes the oyster to start secreting a substance to coat the dirt. Layer by layer the secretion builds a pearl.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME? WRONGFUL PRIORITIES LIMIT PRAYER.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
WE KNOW THERE IS POWER IN AGREEMENT. THE INVERSE IS TRUE: THERE IS POWER IN DISAGREEMENT.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
YOUR PRAYER LIFE IN PUBLIC WILL NEVER ARISE WHAT YOUR SECRET, CLOSET PRAYER LIFE IS.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
I AM TOLD THAT INDIANS WOULD GET OFF THEIR HORSE AND PUT THEIR EAR TO THE GROUND TO LISTEN. ARE WE LISTENING? PRAYER IS MORE THAN JUST TALKING, WE NEED TO LEARN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY.
Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
IF OUR PRAYER LIFE IS BURIED IN DOUBT, DON’T EXPECT GREAT RESULTS.
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. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
DISCORD AND STRIFE IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS CAN HINDER PRAYER. HOW DO WE TREAT OTHERS? DO YOU HONOR PEOPLE? YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS CAN HINDER PRAYER.
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.
THE PRAYER FOR HEALING IS MORE THAN JUST TO ALLEVIATE PAIN. REAL HEALING IS TO SERVE.
Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
DO WE THINK PRAYER IS A SANTA WISH LIST? DO WE PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL?
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
IS OUR PRAYER LIFE BASED ON SELFISH MOTIVES, HUMAN PASSION OR DO WE SEEK GOD’S WILL?
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
LIFE CAN BE CRUEL AND MEAN. THEN WE GET HARD HEARTED --- HATRED THRIVES AND HINDERS HEALTHY PRAYER.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
DO WE UNDERSTAND: WE REAP WHAT WE SOW? SOW SPARINGLY? BOUNDFULLY? DO WE LACK IN LOVE?
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
ONE OF THE MOST DISLIKED HINDERANCES IS CLEARLY IN THE BIBLE. SIN BECOMES A GREAT HINDERANCE TO A HEALTHY PRAYER LIFE. UNFORGIVEN, UNREPENTED, WILLFUL SIN KILLLS PRAYER! PRAYER KILLS SIN.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
TO EXERCISE AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE WE MUST LIVE BY FAITH. WITHOUT FAITH WE CAN NEVER PLEASE GOD.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
SOME FEEL GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE OUT DATED. WE MUST KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. WE MUST LOVE GOD’S COMMANDMENTS.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
ANXIETY, WORRY FEAR, DEPRESSION ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
CONCLUSION: WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE ABOUT PRAYER MORE IS SAID THAN IS DONE. I think one of our biggest regrets in eternity will be we wished we had prayed more. If we are anemic in the word of God we will be anemic in our prayer life. May we hear the Holy Spirit’s call to a greater, healthier prayer life? I think a person that prays will sow in tears but reap joy.
Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)
(Two part lesson)
