FACTORS THAT NURTURE GROWTH IN PREVAILING PRAYER A. Knowledge of God, His Word, and His will 1. Scripture declares that we can have confidence in God’s response to our prayers. As we grow in the knowledge of God’s will day by day, our prayers overflow from that abundant reservoir of the knowledge of His will. Knowing God and growing in intimate communion with Jesus are fundamental to growing in prevailing prayer. Meditation on God’s Word and walking in obedience to His words day by day enable us to grow in the experiential reality of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 Jn. 5:14-15) B. Growing in holiness of mind, heart, and works 1. The condition of our hearts and lifestyle impacts the effectiveness and fervency of our prayer life. Contriteness of spirit, embracing repentance, and lowliness of mind keep believers from the snare of temptation and sin, and allow the power of God to work through us to accomplish His glorious works. Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. (Isa. 66:1-2) “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” (2 Chr. 7:14-16) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (Jas. 5:16) C. Giving thanks and praising the Lord 1. We must not underestimate the value of consistent thanksgiving to Jesus as we practice the presence of the Lord. One of the elements of praying without ceasing is maintaining a joyful heart of thanksgiving. Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! (1 Chr. 16:8) …do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers… (Eph. 1:16) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thes. 5:16-18) D. Abundant sowing in all manner of prayers for all the saints I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting… (1 Tim. 2:8) …praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints… (Eph. 6:18) E. Persistent seeking, asking, and knocking “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” (Lk. 18:7-8) “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Mt. 21:22) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Mt. 7:7) F. Fasting, with prayer You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. (Isa. 58:4) G. Fellowship of believers in the light If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 Jn. 1:6-10) H. Faithfulness in marital relationship Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Pet. 3:7) I. Corporate intercession “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18:19-20) J. Spiritual groaning under the burden of the Lord Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom. 8:26–27)
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:28:03 +0000