THE FATHER’S INSTITUTE (TFI) BASIC CLASS 110

COURSE: EFFECTIVE PRAYER TEXT: Luke 18:1-8, Matt.7:8, James 5:13-18, I John5:14

OBJECTIVE To understand the principles of prayer and how to make our prayer life effective.

INTRODUCTION   Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. It is the means of getting things done in God’s kingdom. Prayer is communication between you and God. In other words it is a dialogue and not a monologue.

Prayer is not a religious rite, but a means of bringing in God’s wisdom and power to change our circumstances. Effective prayer is result oriented. For prayer to be effective therefore, we must pray according to God’s will.

SOME QUOTES ON PRAYERS

Time spent in prayer is never wasted. Francis Fenelon

Fervent prayers produce phenomenal results. Woodrow Kroll

Prayer delights God’s ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand Prayer delights God’s ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand. God cannot deny a praying soul. Thomas Watson

Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. George Herbert

Prayer is not a hard requirement – it is the natural duty of a creature to its creator, the simplest homage that human need can pay to divine liberality. Charles Spurgeon

To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God’s responses. Charles Stanley

Our attempts may be feeble Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. Max Lucado

Prayer is the link that connects us with God. A.B. Simpson

O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth. Andrew Murray

When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end. R.A. Torrey

THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER (Luke 18:1-8)   The new Christian should always pray, even when he does not feel in the mood. (Lk.18:1) There is no limit to the object of prayer, it may be simple routine of life or some problem or personality that seems to be outside Gods control (Lk.18:2)

Prayer is not affected by our status or ability but by our faith in the person (God) to whom we are praying (Lk.18:3)   God honours the persistent prayer (Lk.18:5)

WHY WE NEED TO PRAY Prayer enables us to grow spiritually. It release strength, forgiveness, peace, guidance and the Holy Spirit into our lives (Jude 20) Prayer enables us to co-operate with God

WHY WE NEED TO PRAY God has committed Himself to act in answer to prayer (Luke 11:9-10). God is willing to change his plans in response to prayer (Genesis 18:20- 32; Exodus 32:9-14; II kings 20:1-6).

WHY WE NEED TO PRAY Through prayer God’s kingdom can be fully established on earth (Matt.6:10) Possibilities are limitless because the God to whom we pray has no bounds (Rom.8:32) Not to pray is to sin (I Samuel 12:32) when we don’t pray we fail God; because he said “Ask of me” (John 14:13-14; James 4:2)

BASIS FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYER   You must be righteous. Only righteousness by the blood entitles you to answered prayer (Pro.15:8, James 5:16) Prayer must be made in line with the will of God (I John 5:14-15)

BASIS FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYER   You must be righteous. Only righteousness by the blood entitles you to answered prayer (Pro.15:8, James 5:16) Prayer must be made in line with the will of God (I John 5:14-15)

HOW SHOULD YOU PRAY: Jesus gives a model in Matt.6:9-13 You must have a relationship with God  Praise and worship him Ask for God’s government to be established in and through your life.   Ask for your needs to be met

HOW SHOULD YOU PRAY: Jesus gives a model in Matt.6:9-13 Ask for forgiveness of sins as you forgive others. Ask for victory over temptation Each of these elements in the model prayer gives some idea of the kinds of things we should include in our communication with God.

HINDRANCES TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER Unforgiveness (Mark 11:25) Unbelief (Hebrew 11:6) Doubt/ lack of faith (James 1:6-8) Wrong motives (James 4:3) Laziness (James 4:2) Unconfessed sin (I John 1:7-9, Isaiah 59:1-2)

CONCLUSION Jesus saw prayer as more important than food (Mtt.4:2), sleep (Lk.6:12) and ministry (Luke 5:15-16). He made time to pray (Mark 1:35, Matt.14:23) and prayed especially before important decisions were taken.