Louis G. Hulsey July 1, 2012 Casa Grande, Arizona Prayer Changes You Louis G. Hulsey July 1, 2012 Casa Grande, Arizona

Luke 18:1 Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

What Prayer is Not Prayer is not convincing God to see things your way. “Prayer is not about directing God,” (5 Basic Principles of Prayer, Alive Publications, Annapolis, NC, 18 ). True prayer is not demanding that God do our will.

What Prayer is Not Prayer is not a time of complaint to God or a presentation of a wish list of our needs. Prayer is not just a flood of words to force God to hear us. True prayer is not a ceremony or a ritual.

What Prayer Is Prayer is “the affirmation of our trust in God and His word,” (Small, 18) The power of prayer is not in our words. It is in our faith. Sometimes we seek the Lord and the Lord increases our faith. When our faith touches God, Heaven responds.

What Prayer Is God’s promises are conditional. Prayer, obedience, is meeting God’s conditions. God hears us when we obey Him.

Isaiah 59:1-2 “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 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.”

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

What Prayer Is Prayer is God’s method and plan for governing this world through His people. God is not limited by your lack of prayer, but you are limited by your lack of participation in the great work He is doing in the earth.  Prayer helps you release, helps you enforce, God’s will in the earth.

What Prayer Is Prayer is the exercise of your place as God’s under-ruler in the earth.  Prayer prepares you to reign with Christ during His Millennial Reign. 

What Prayer Does Paul’s entire ministry was the result of his prayer life. Paul’s ministry flowed from his relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 9, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10, But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12 11, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13-14 13, Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 15, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Prayer Gives us the Mind of Christ. Prayer reveals the wisdom and character of God. Prayer untangles our thinking. It helps us to agree with God. Prayer helps us to see ourselves by His standards. It reveals our faults and God’s glory. Prayer helps us to see the true motives of our hearts.

Prayer Gives us the Mind of Christ. Doug Small says, “We all come to prayer with a tangled mass of motives altruistic and selfish, merciful and hateful, loving and bitter. Frankly, this side of eternity we will never unravel the good from the bad, the pure from the impure,” (Small, 14).

What Prayer Does Prayer let’s us see things from God’s point of view. Prayer pours life into your spirit. Prayer increases our faith. Payer builds power into your Christian life. Prayer overcomes temptations and discouragements.