Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, June 14, 2009

1 John 5: Principles of the Effective Prayer Life.

1. The protocol for our prayers is that they must be offered: John 14:13-14; 1 John 5:14-15; Mat 6:7-9; Heb 4:16

a) To God the Father only, b) In the name of the Son, c) In the power of the filling of the Holy Spirit, d) According to the will of God,

e) With complete faith / confidence in God to hear and answer your prayers, f) Not in repetitive and meaningless words or chants.

2. The mechanics of effective prayer includes: 1 Kings 18:42-46 a) Pray in private, Mat 6:6 b) Have humility of soul, c) Be specific and precise, d) Be persistent, until God answers yes or no, e) Be expectant, ready to move when the answer comes.

3. Prayer effectiveness increases as Bible doctrine becomes resident in your soul and you have put on the full armor of God. John 15:7; Eph 3:14-19; 6:10-19; Heb 13:10, 15; James 5:16b

John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

4. Prayer is an extension of the Faith-Rest Technique. It is a soul exhale toward God. Mat 21:21-22

Mat 21:22, “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

5. Prayer demands cognizance of the Will of God and therefore demands maximum doctrine in the soul. 1 John 5:14

6. Generally prayer must be offered under the filling of the Spirit, Eph 6:18. The exception is the confession of your sins, the rebound prayer of 1 John 1:9.

Eph 6:18, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

7. Mental attitude sins resulting from both carnality and reversionism destroy any possibility of an effective prayer life. Psa 66:18; 1 Peter 3:7

Psa 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

8. Efficacious prayer exists to the extent that the believer is grace oriented. Heb 4:16

Heb 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

9. God’s eternal decrees took cognizance of all prayer in time, and incorporated the answers before history began. Isa 65:24; Jer 33:3; Mat 6:8

Jer 33:3, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Mat 6:8, “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

10. Prayer effectiveness reaches its zenith at the time of supergrace status, and from then on if the believer holds the high ground he will become a great prayer warrior. Psa 116:1-2

Psa 116:1-2, “I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.”

James 5:16b, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, June 14, 2009 Tape # 09S-025 Ten Principles for Effective Prayer 1 John Series 1 John Series 1 John 5:14-15; Eph 6:18; Psa 66:18: 116:1-2 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009