Prayer: What Difference Does It Make? Prerequisites to Effective Prayer III Mark 11: John 5:13-15

Steadfast Faith Jesus spoke these words to encourage us in prayer He ties effectiveness to the condition of faith He says we must have faith and not doubt What does that look life in daily life?

Steadfast Faith What is FAITH? – Hebrews 11:1-2 – Faith is being sure/being certain – For what we hope for/what we do not see (Romans 8:24)

Steadfast Faith Faith is seen in: – They heeded or trusted God’s Word (7,8,11,17) – They acted/obeyed in response to it – They trusted God to act in the present (29-30) – They trusted His greater purpose (11:13)

Steadfast Faith I Come to the LORD and Trust HIS CHARACTER (Hebrews 11:6) – Foundationally prayer is about a relationship I TRUST in HIS WORD and Act upon It – Prayer should never be divorced from His Word (John 15:5-7)

Steadfast Faith I TRUST in HIS WORD and Act upon IT – His Word will keep me from frivolous prayers Jesus was not telling us God is a cosmic genie God is not going to answer selfish prayer (James 4:3)

Steadfast Faith I TRUST in HIS WORD and Act upon It – The Word reveals that God is not going to violate His principles to answer my prayers (2 Thessalonians 3:10) – The Word can be laid before God as we pray within the guidelines of Scripture

Steadfast Faith I TRUST in HIS Word and Act upon It – Some devotionally wait on the Lord to speak His Word to them as they seek wisdom about life decisions – Tom Elliff

Steadfast Faith I REST in HIS Ultimate Will Within the Framework of His Greater Purposes – 1 John 5:14 – Jesus in the Garden