Summary: How to suceed in prayer

PREVAILING PRAYER

I PREVAILING PRAYER PLEADS THE PROMISES

V.9 Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’

a. GOD’S PROMISES ARE UNFAILING

I Kings 8:56 "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.

b. GOD’S PROMISES ARE IN CHRIST

II Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

II PREVAILING PRAYER CONFESSES IT’S UNWORTHINESS

V.10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant.

a. HUMILITY IS ESSENTIAL TO GOD’S BLESSING

II Chronicles 7:14

b. HUMILITY BRINGS EXALTATION

James 4:10

III PREVAILING PRAYER ASKS DEFINITELY

V.11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.

a. DEFINITELY AND CONTINUALLY

Luke 11:9

b. DEFINITELY AND UNITEDLY

Acts 4:24

Acts 4:31

IV PREVAILING PRAYER NEEDS TIME ALONE WITH GOD

V.24 So Jacob was left alone . . .

a. SECRET PRAYER IS EXHORTED BY THE LORD

Matthew 6:6

b. SECRET WAS PRACTISED BY THE LORD

Matthew 14:23

V PREVAILING PRAYER IS INTENSELY EARNEST

V.24 and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

a. EARNEST PRAYER AVAILS WITH GOD

James 5:16

EARNEST PRAYER REACHES GOD

b. Jeremiah 29:13

VI PREVAILING PRAYER MANIFESTS CLINGING FAITH

V.26 "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

a. A CLINGING FAITH DOES NOT WAVER

James 1:6

b. A CLINGING FAITH BRINGS RESULTS

Galatians 6:9

VII PREVAILING PRAYER IS REWARDED

V.28 & 29 "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." . . . " Then he blessed him there.

a. GOD’S WORD PROMISES AN ANSWER

Jeremiah 33:3

b. PREVAILING PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

John 14:13