Prayer that Produces Results
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 10/04/2020
Foundation Scripture:
Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). Luke 18:1 AMPC
1. Prayer is Communication with Your Heavenly Father.
a. Anyone can cry out to God for help, but only the believer knows Him as Father and has a basis for prayer and fellowship with Him.
b. Matthew 6:9 Wuest — Therefore, as for you, in this manner be praying Our Father who is in heaven, let your Name be venerated, let your kingdom come, let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
c. 2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV — The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
d. Communion denotes relationship—communication; fellowship; partnership.
e. The Message Bible says: The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
2. Prayer Changes Things.
a. Prayer does not change God—prayer changes people (if they allow it) and prayer changes things.
b. Ephesians 6:18a AMPC — Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty…
c. There are different kinds of prayer in the Bible and you do not pray the same prayer for every situation.
d. Just as different sports have different rules, different kinds of prayer have different rules.
e. If you want results when you pray, you must follow the rules that the Father laid out.
3. God’s Will.
a. God’s Word is His will—find out what He has already promised and then come to Him in faith and ask based on these promises.
b. When the leper asked Jesus concerning His will to heal him, Jesus response was, “I will!” and immediately he was cleansed and healed (Matt. 8:2-3).
c. According to the multitude of “great and precious promises” in God’s Word (2 Pet. 1:4), it is His will that all our needs—spiritual; physical; material—be met.
d. 3 John 2 NKJV — Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
e. Without faith, you cannot please God, neither will your prayers be answered.
f. Hebrews 11:6 KJV — 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.
g. You need to have faith that He is able; but most importantly, faith that He is willing.
4. Prayer of Consecration.
a. The only time it is appropriate to pray, “If it be Thy will…” is in a prayer of consecration to the will of God for your life, calling, and mission (Jam. 4:13-15).
b. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, before the Cross (Matt. 26:39,42; Luke 22:42).
c. When we pray any other prayer (of request), it is a posture of unbelief to pray, “If it be Thy will.”
5. Prayer of Petition.
a. When you pray to request anything of the Father—you must pray in faith and expectation.
b. Have faith; do not doubt; believe; trust; be confident; and forgive (Mark 11:22-26 AMPC).
c. For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it] (Vs. 24).
d. You do not have because you do not ask (Jam. 4:2).
e. Luke 11:9-10 NKJV — So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
6. Praise and Answered Prayer.
a. There is a time to ask and there is a time to praise and worship God and thank Him for His goodness.
b. You do not wait for the answer before you praise Him—you praise Him in faith and expectation.
c. When Jehoshaphat and Judah were about to be attacked by a great multitude, from several nations, they chose to praise and worship God, and He delivered them (2 Chr. 20:21-22).
d. Paul and Silas were severely beaten, and chained up, but when they began to praise and worship God they were delivered (Acts 16:25-26).
7. Cast Your Cares on Him.
a. Many people do not get their prayers answered, because of fear, worries, and cares.
b. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
c. Be anxious for nothing means: do not worry about anything.
d. 1 Peter 5:6-7 AMPC — Therefore humble yourselves… 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
e. Cast ALL your cares on Him—in faith—and trust Him to keep His promises to you.
f. When you cast your cares on the Lord and commit your ways to Him, you demonstrate trust and faith in Him to bring it to pass (Ps. 37:5 AMPC).
g. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV — You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
8. United Prayer.
a. When we come together and pray in agreement—in one accord—our prayers are answered.
b. Matthew 18:19 NKJV — “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
c. Praying in one accord means agreeing with the Word and agreeing with each other—each one praying in faith and in line with God’s Word.
d. When we are each yielded and submitted to the Holy Spirit—with one heart, one mind, and one purpose—our prayers are more powerful (Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Philp. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8).
e. If we, as the Church, the Body of Christ, join our hearts, faith, and voices together to pray and ask God for anything, we will see God do mighty things (Acts 4:23-33).