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Why Pray? By David Moore
When we pray we are generally seeking an answer for some kind of reason or another. But the one thing we need to understand is this; 1.) There is a certain way that we are to pray to get results. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask AMISS, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 I would like for to pay close attention to the Word AMISS. AMISS or KAKOS (KAK_OCE) in the Greek means diseased, evil, grievously, sickly, miserably, not genuine. We must ask ourselves why am I asking God for this, what is my motive? Am I doing this to glorify God or to glorify me? Am I asking to receive to build the Kingdom of God or to build my kingdom. 2.) What is prayer? Prayer is an earnest request, act of addressing a divinity. (Webster’s) Prayer is properly addressed to the Father, not to Jesus or to the Holy Spirit. In order to receive answered prayer it must be address in this manner. To the Father, “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. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matthew 6:6-7 In the name of Jesus, “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” John 16:23-24 By the might and power of the Holy Spirit, “14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” Ephesians 3:14-17 Prayer in the New Testament has never been addressed to the Holy Spirit distinctively, but to the Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, by the power and might of the Holy Spirit. Jesus even when He was on the earth prayed to the Father. Calling upon God the Father in the name of Jesus is the first act and true mark of a believer. Prayer is essential and crucial to the continuing growth of the Christian life. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables us to call God “Abba Father.” We can pray to the Father with the confidence of a child because of the Holy Spirit. 3.) How should you pray? There is an order to the way we should pray. Not only to whom we are to pray to, but how we are to pray. Lets take a look at the Lord’s Prayer and use this pray as an example as to the way we are to pray. First we are to begin with PRAISE,” 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10. Glorifying God for who He is and for what He has done for us. Second, we petition God, “11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:11-13. Thirdly, we are to ask for and walk in forgiveness, “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.” Matthew 6:14-15. Forth, give God thanks for all He does for you, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13b. and “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6. We should never pray to be noticed or to impress anybody. For when this happens you have already received your reward. “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 © 2010 - 2010 Anointed Fire Magazine- AnointedFire.com
of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 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.” Matthew 6:5-6. There is a time for private prayer and there is a time for corporate prayer. 4.) When should you pray? God’s Word instructs us to pray always with all pray and supplication, “18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:18. No matter where we are as believers we should be ready to pray, in the market, department stores, in the streets, letting the light of Jesus Christ shine through us. 5.) Can I get answers to my prayers? The answer to this questions is a definite YES, but when conditions for answered prayer are present, First, FAITH is a condition and is very essential for answered prayer, “God’s Word says it, I believe it, That settles it.” Faith in God and in His Word is how we as Christians are recognized and this is the commitment we make to the Father in the name of Jesus by the power and might of the Holy Spirit. 6.) Can my prayers be hindered? YES, because of corrupt character and injured relationships “4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:1-10. Understand this though, demons cannot hinder your prayer unless you allow them to. You have authority over them in the name of Jesus. So through out this teaching we have been learning a tremendous amount about prayer, How, When, Where, What, Why. Prayer must be understood as the direct link and communication to the Father. Our motives in prayer are very essential in receiving from the Father. When we fully understand that God the Father desires to bless us as we are faithful to act upon His Word, God will hold nothing back from us. When we make time to spend with God in prayer in the name of Jesus by the power and might of the Holy Spirit this will lead to the following, 1.) Greater communion with the Father. 2.) A stronger working knowledge of His Word. 3.) Greater understanding for His will for our lives. My prayer is as you have read this study is that you as a believer become all that God’s wants you to become. That you operate in the calling and the anointing that God has placed upon your life, and most of all that the lost will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior as you go forth as the powerful prayer warrior you have become and that you get answers to your prayers. May the Grace of God the Father through Jesus Christ be with you always. Amen! Remember; “Don’t wait to see the results to shout the victory: SHOUT the VICTORY to SEE the RESULTS” (All scripture is quoted from the King James Version)
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