Prayer - Completed

Click here for the audio message of – Luke 11:1-13

This morning we will finished our study of prayer. There are a few more aspects of prayer to look at. We will look briefly at the conditions, content, and hindrances of prayer.

First, the conditions of prayer. Now when you're going to pray, how are you going to pray? Well, you ask in Christ's name. And this needs to be explained because more people get this over simplified. They think that at the end of every prayer you say "in Jesus' name, Amen," and that guarantees it.

That is not what it means in John 14:13 when it says, "If you ask anything in My name." What the word "name" means is all that Jesus is. So praying in His name is asking consistently with who He is. That's all. It is saying, "This I ask as if Christ was asking it."

Secondly, we not only ask in Christ's name, we ask in faith...we ask believing. God wants you to believe Him and then when He does respond you'll give Him praise.

Matthew 21:22, "And all things whatever you ask in prayer believing you will receive."
Do you really believe God does answer prayer in your heart? That's a condition. And what he means by that is, Do you really believe God will answer your prayer?

Thirdly, asking in God's will, consistently with God's will. Praying, "Father, this I ask in Your will." First John 5:14, "This is the confidence that we have in Him, if we ask anything according to His will He hears and does it."

So in Christ's name, asking in faith and in God's will. And if we say, "God, do this whether You like it or not," He's not going to do that. God is not up there whimsically responding to everything we ask for whether He wants to do it or not. Prayer, as I said, is lining us up with God's will.

Another thing, prayer must come from a pure heart. James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man..." If there's garbage in your life, the channel of prayer is really closed off.

And then the last thing is we're to ask with earnestness. God really wants what is called by the old English word "importunity." Remember the guy in Luke 11 who wanted to get the bread?

So he goes and he starts banging on the door and the guy's asleep. And he says, "Get out of here." And the guy keeps banging and banging and banging and the guy says, "Get out." Bang, bang, bang. The guy finally comes down and he says, "I want some bread."

And the Lord says, you see, he got the bread for his much knocking, so shall you for your much asking. In other words, this is seeking. This is being so intense and so desirous that you continue to seek the Lord, not endless repetition but earnestness.

The second thing to look at this morning is the content of prayer. What is prayer to be about? Well first of all as I’ve mentioned before prayer is to be about anything it is just conversation with God.

Ephesians 6:18, all kinds, any old kind...standing up, sitting down, crying out, whispering, praying in a closet, praying in public, supplication...which is asking for things, interceding...which is praying for somebody else's needs, thanksgiving...which is thanking God for what he's done, praise...which is just extolling His virtues. Any kind and all kinds of talking to God.

Now what is to be the subject of your prayers? Who do you pray about? There are really only two things, yourself and others...that's it. Pray for yourself and pray for others.

If you search through the Bible you will find a list of about 15 different specific groups that you're told to pray for. You're supposed to pray to the Lord, He'll send for laborers into His harvest, you're supposed to pray for new missionaries and teachers and preachers.

Do you ever pray for your President? You're told to pray for those in authority over you. Do you ever pray for the governor? The policeman? Yep, you should pray for your local police. There's a lot of people you're supposed to be praying for and they're all there in many places in the New Testament.

Finally, there are some hindrances to prayer. And generally speaking the hindrance is Psalm 66:18. "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me." The hindrance to prayer is sin. Psalm 66:18, the hindrance to prayer is sin.

Now that sin can take many, many, many forms. Selfishness for example. If you ask selfishly to consume it on your own lusts, your prayers are hindered. Unconcern (Proverbs 21) would be another. You are praying for someone because you are supposed to, not because you really care.

Another would be anger at your spouse. If you're not getting along with your wife, your prayer won't be answered. Did you know that? That's kind of a heavy, isn't it? People wonder why things aren't going well in their home, well they ought to maybe get right with the wife before they get right with the Lord.

When you doubt things, James says, you're wavering, your prayers are hindered.

That is our brief look at prayer. Hopefully, each of you have gotten some better insight into prayer and are able to pray better.

Need help prayer. Ask God to clear your mind when you prayer. That is one of Satan’s tools. He tries to fill your mind with noise. Maybe it isn’t necessarily bad stuff. Maybe it is simply a shopping list, but it keeps you from talking to God and that is Satan’s goal.

Here is a simple way I teach people to pray. It has four simple parts to it.

1. Thanks
2. I’m Sorry
3. Help Me
4. Help my neighbor

That’s it. That is a simple prayer, you fill in the blanks.

Thank God for something He has done or given to you.

Confession your sins to Him, say you are sorry.

Ask Him to help you through your situation.

Finally, ask Him to help others around you.

That’s it. Try it this week. It is simple.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank you for our study of prayer. We know we are not experts on the subject, but we know what to do. Help us to clear our minds and our schedules to take time to communicate with you through the day.

Show us your will for our life and demonstrate your power through us so that others may come to know your saving grace.

AMEN.