PRAYING EXPECTANTLY
Rev. John W. Gerald
INTRODUCTION
One of the greatest hindrances to answered prayer is lack of faith, and since faith is difficult to fully understand, and its laws so complex, few people really know how to pray in faith. Ones own ethnic background may produce tremendous obstacles to praying in faith. 1.) One of the reasons that I am interested in this subject is that I have observed that we have been conditioned by inference from our normal and traditional habits of worship and living to doubt that God will do certain things in answer to prayer. We have not been generally taught by precept or example to expect great things in answer to prayer. We tend to pass on the same mental attitudes to succeeding generations. I want to change this in my case, and to influence all that I can to seek and to find the proper basis for praying expectantly.
2.) Besides the uncertainty about God’s will in a matter, there can also be the uncertainty about whether God will, or does, answer a particular prayer. One may believe that God is able, but may not know whether God is concerned enough about such a matter, or will bother himself to answer such a request. Many prayers for health and healing are offered half heartedly in practical unbelief because we are not convinced of God’s concern for such matters, since knowing God’s will for each case seems to be required, and determining His will may seem difficult, if not impossible. To pray expectantly, one must be convinced not only of God’s ability, but also of His willingness to answer his prayers, no matter how large or how small the requests may be. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him"? Matt. 7:11.
"Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean! ... I will, be thou clean". Matt. 8:2-3.
3.) One of Satan’s devices for hindering expectant prayer is to whisper in our ears that it is foolish to claim something we can neither see nor feel, and of which there is no physical evidence. He says that we are claiming a lie because the answer has not materialized. But God said that "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that receive them, and ye shall have them". Mark 11:24.
Our faith so often depends upon immediate responses, so that, whatever is long in coming, we tend to cease to expect. Our minds are so conditioned to physical evidences, that the validity of the long-awaited promise is questioned. We tend to have great difficulty believing that we have something that we cannot see, or otherwise is not physically evident. It is too easy to fall prey to Satan’s temptations to rely upon the physical senses. We accept the fact that we have citizenship without any physical evidence, or that we are forgiven when we ask a friend and he says that he forgives, but we seem to have difficulty transferring the same confidence to the promises of God when physical evidence is lacking.
4.) A fourth problem in praying expectantly is that one may not be sure that he can really pray in Jesus’ name. The concept is not fully understood, or, if it is, there could be other problems, such as sin unconfessed or unforgiven. When one’s relationship to God is beclouded with doubtful things which he allows, or uncharitable attitudes, or neglect of certain Christian duties, such as tithing, praying and reading God’s word, and faithfully worshipping and serving God as He has commanded, then effective prayer is hindered. One may not come to God in Jesus’ name with consciousness of sin unconfessed and unforgiven. He may not really come to God in Jesus’ name improperly motivated either. Praying for some selfish or carnal motive cannot be done in Jesus’ name, for all of his prayers were completely unselfish. When Jesus prayed for himself, it was always contingent upon God’s will in the matter. If we pray properly in Jesus’ name, our prayers should have the same spirit and motive that his had, which was to bring honor and glory to the Father through the Son. Improper motive hinders effective expectant prayer. Satan is adept in deception. He will suggest to us that we do not really have the authority to speak to God in Jesus’ name, or if we do it, it is simply a form which has no meaning, it is glibly done without comprehending its vale and power. We must sense our position in Christ to be effective in prayer. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you". John 15:7
5.) The fifth problem in expectant praying is failure to pray persistently. How often we fail because we do not continue persistently in prayer! We let the devil persuade us to quit before we have the answer. He has a multitude of reasons that he can give as to why we should stop praying before the answer comes, all of which he will try on us until he finds one that works. If we are not prepared to pay the price for answered prayer, we shall not see answers to prayer. Jesus taught importunity. He did not teach repetitious praying, but he taught persistent praying. Matt. 6:7.
Most people get through praying before praying through. We should not pray that God keep others awake with conviction unless we are willing to stay awake praying for them. Persistent and importunate prayer will not be denied. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16b
6.) The promises of God for answers to prayer are so great and so comprehensive that the weak in faith are incredulous. He begins immediately to try to modify them, when he should simply accept them as God spoke them. He simply cannot accept the fact that God intended for him to ask and receive whatever he desired. The largeness of God’s promises stagger our imagination, and Satan says that it will not, or cannot, be done. One must be sure that he is on the proper ground for praying faith, but he can be sure when he has a definite promise from the word of God, and he meets the conditions of that promise.
7.) The seventh reason for problems in praying expectantly revolves around our mental attitude toward others. An uncharitable attitude toward others hinders prayer. Matt. :14 -15; I John 3:14-15.
Jealousy, envy, strife, criticism, contentions and resentments produce bitterness and are the fruits of darkness and death, not light and life. These prevent effective expectant prayer. Jesus even prayed for the forgiveness of his executioners. Unless we can come to God with the mind of Christ, and pray as he did, without selfish pride, we stand in the way of answers to our own prayers. Since He commanded that we love one another, God holds us accountable for our attitudes toward each other.
8.) Spiritual pride, or self righteousness, would be another hindrance to effective prayer. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble". James 4:6.
"Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not suffer". Ps. 101:5
Having too high esteem of oneself hinders effective prayer.
9.) The last hindrance to effective prayer that I want to discuss is that of not having, or being in the Spirit of Christ. To me, this is really at the root of all unanswered prayer. To fail to be in the spirit of Christ is to fail in the most essential part. This is comprehensive. It includes all the other problems. We may not fail in any other way, but to fail to have the Spirit of Christ brings us short of every promise.
We cannot approach God in an acceptable way out of the Spirit of Christ.
We cannot pray in Jesus’ name out of the Spirit of Christ.
We cannot love God or our fellowman as we should without the Spirit of Christ.
We are not on praying ground without the Spirit of Christ.
Having the Spirit of Christ puts us in the proper relationship with God for praying in faith and praying in the will of God without doubtful questioning. It gives us the proper motivation for prayer so that we will not be praying selfishly or carnally. It will cause us to seek the good of all men and the glory of God. Without the Spirit of Christ we lack these acceptable qualities. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus". Phil. 2:5.
III. PROCEDURES FOR PRAYING EXPECTANTLY
To prevail in prayer one must observe the laws of prayer.
Mr. George Mueller set forth five conditions of prevailing prayer, which he followed:
a.) Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of Jesus as the only grounds for claiming a blessing.
b.) Separation from all known sin.
c.) Faith in God’s promise as confirmed by his oath.
d.) Asking in accordance with God’s will, not selfishly
e.) Importunity
Harold Linsell says that the laws of effective prayer are:
a.) All prayer ... should have for its chief end the glory of God.
b.) Prayer must be offered in the name of Jesus because prayer exists for the benefit of those who have been converted to Jesus Christ, and only the name of Jesus guarantees prayer-access to the Father.
c.) Prayer offered according to God’s will is both heard and answered. Prayer, to be effective, must be in the will of God.
d.) He (the one who prays) must intensely desire that for which he prays.
e.) Ask, and it shall be given you - men must express their desires.
f.) All prayer, to be effective, must be offered in faith.
g.) The last law of effective prayer is appropriation. Appropriation counts the answer as though it has already arrived, even before it comes.
Lindsell PP. 60 - 75
IV. MY GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE EXPECTANT PRAYER
1. Establish a right personal relationship with God. Be sure that no sin remains in the heart or life. Be sure that no Christian duty has been slighted, be sure that the Spirit and word of Christ abides, and that you are abiding in Him.
2. Seek to be in, and to pray in, the known will of God. While some things may not be found in the express will of God, one should be sure that they are found in His implied will, or within the scope of those things approved by His Spirit, that is, the things that He would do or did for others, especially those things found in the scriptures. He has said that he would give good things to them that ask him.
3. Seek answers to prayer that will bring honor and glory to God through Jesus. John 14:13. This was George Mueller’s purpose in his life of faith and prayer. Andrew Murray made a strong point of this in his book, With Christ in the School of Prayer in lesson Twenty. "He that seeks God’s glory will see it in the answer to his prayer, and he alone".
4. Establish a scriptural basis for the hope of answers to prayer. God’s word or promise, when the conditions are met, is your authority for expecting the answer, and for acting in faith that it will come. Faith is not presumption, It is the ear that has heard and the eye that has seen the Lord doing that which he has declared unto his people, performing His oaths. Dr. Eldon Fuhrman, Wesley Biblical Seminary.
5. Pray with importunity. The desire for an answer to ones prayer is often tested by the delay of its coming. But when we persist and refuse to be denied, as Jacob, the answer with the blessing will come. Jesus taught us to persist in prayer. Ask, or keep on asking, seek, or keep on seeking, knock, or keep on knocking until the answer comes.
6. Pray earnestly and with fervor. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". James 5:16b.
"...Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints". Eph. 6:18.
God hears when His people cry out from the heart for His help.
7. Invite the Holy Spirit into your prayer experiences, and pray in the Spirit. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom. 8:26-27.
8. Pray in complete confidence that you will have what you ask. "Ask, and it Shall be given you". Matt. 7:7.
Shall is imperative, an obligation God has committed Himself to. Ask, Keep on asking, and it SHALL be given you.
9. Pray with thanksgiving that God hears and answers your prayers. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Ph. 4:6. Praise is an expression of confidence. Satan fears praise more than prayer.
V. THE PRACTICE OF EXPECTANT PRAYER
1. One of the first qualities of expectant prayer is that of simple trust, or child-like faith. There can be such a rest of faith that one can believe whatever God says. One can have such confidence that no apparent obstacle will cause it to falter, a trust that will accept no denial. To have answers to ones prayers, he must have such a faith and trust, that when he prays, he expects the answer.
2. As a child, one must also have the sense of acceptance and belonging to effectively pray and believe for answers to prayer. One who knows that he is accepted, and that he belongs to God as a child belongs to his father, has no fear of rejection, and has confidence that what he asks, he will receive. This is a comfortable, secure, and healthy relationship. It is born of love and trust. It is without fear or condemnation. It helps build faith and sees answers to prayer.
3. The practice of expectant prayer also requires total dependence upon God. When we can see the supply of our needs in something that we can do, or provide for ourselves, we seldom see the need of asking for it. If we perceive that our help will come from any human source, we are not depending upon God for it. Some people believe that we should not ask God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. Certainly we must realize that ultimately and finally we are totally dependent upon God, and there are many things that are beyond human reach and means that are well within the bounds of prayer.
4. Expectant prayer develops patience, for some answers that are sure to come are delayed in coming; as the seed is planted, but one must wait for the harvest; so answers to prayer, too, may require some waiting. Faith that can patiently await the answer will be rewarded.
5. Expectant prayer requires the acceptance of the wisdom of God as to what is best, since God is omniscient, all factors are known to Him. There can be no doubt that He knows best. When one senses that a particular thing is not in God’s will for him, he should accept God’s will unquestioningly. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments, and his ways past finding out"! Rom. 11:33.
6. Praying expectantly requires a tenacious spirit. One who gives up easily will be often disappointed. The forces with which we have to deal are spiritual, and mighty. Our prayers are resisted by the Devil. He must be overcome often before the answer can come. Daniel had fasted and prayed for twenty one days before the answer came, though his prayers were heard the first day. The answer was hindered the " the prince of Persia". Had Daniel ceased to pray, the answer probably would not have come, but he prevailed by persistent prayer. Tenacious, persistent, and importunate prayer accepts no denial in the things that are within the will of God. There is assurance that the answer will come.
7. Praying expectantly requires that one pray in the right prayer-stance, that is; for the glory of God; in the name of Jesus; according to the will of God; in faith; with thanksgiving, and based on the authority of God’s word.
VI. THE PROOF OF EXPECTANT PRAYER
The proof of expectant prayer is found in asking and receiving. Dr. John R. Rice says that prayer is asking, and the answer to prayer is receiving. It is as simple as that. When one has prayed expectantly, he is assured of receiving the things for which he has prayed. It is asking and receiving; seeking and finding; and knocking and having the doors opened to him. No one knows that he has prayed aright unless and until his prayers are answered. When they are answered he has the proof.
CONCLUSION
If we are to see miracles in answer to prayer today, we must understand our privileges in prayer, and learn to expect answers to prayer prayed according to the laws of expectant prayer. We must understand that God is pleased to have us ask largely and believe for great things. We must approach Him boldly and not timidly. We must not falter in faith or in our efforts in prayer. We must remember that whatever we ask must be what Christ would ask, as we pray in His name. Some things we know to be in His will from His word; some things we can conclude to be in His will from His works; some things we can sense to be in His will by His Spirit. Therefore, in those things which are discerned by the Spirit, we need the Spirit’s guidance in prayer. In all prayer we should seek to pray in the Spirit. When a right relationship to God is established, and when we pray in simple child-like faith and trust, we can expect miracles of Divine healing, miracles of casting out demons, and deliverance from all the power of the enemy, miracles in revivals, miracles in the supply of our needs, and signs and wonders confirming God’s word in this day in answer to prayer.
