“NECESSITIES FOR POWERFUL PRAYER”
FBCF – 9/27/23 Refresh
Jon Daniels
“Prayer is the most important work in the Kingdom of God.” (O. Hallesby)
? Know your audience – Jer. 33:3 – “Call to ME…”
? Know your enemy – Eph. 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8
? Abiding/Remaining – John 15:7 – “…that is, if we are vitally united & my message lives in your heart…” (AMP) – stay, remain, reside
? Faith – Matt 21:22; Mark 11:24
? Holiness/Purity – Ps. 66:18; Isa. 59:2; 2 Chron. 7:14 – Not legalism or perfection
a. “The person whose prayers are not answered is not the person who fights temptation & now & then loses the battle, but the person who is quite content w/ his spiritual mediocrity & makes no effort to improve or to overcome his lethargy & carnality.” (John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/do-answered-prayers-depend-on-my-holiness)
? Confession – 1 John 1:9; Prov 28:13; Ps. 32:5 – Goes hand-in-hand w/ repentance.
? Repentance – Ps. 51; Luke 15:17-20 – “The righteous person, whose prayer avails much, is not the sinless person, but the repentant person.” (Piper)
? Fervency – James 5:16 – “…the heartfelt & persistent prayer of a righteous person…” (AMP)
a. Other versions: earnest, continual, urgent, effective, active, prayer from the heart, insistent
? Consistency/Perseverance – Matt. 7:7-8; 1 Thess. 5:17
? God’s Will – 1 John 5:14-15
? Confidence – Heb. 4:16; Eph. 3:12
? The Word of God – Ps. 119:105
a. All 3 of these last points go together (as do all 12 points).
b. “How do we know that we’re on the same wavelength w/ God & praying according to His will? We begin w/ the Word of God. Pray the Bible w/ all its promises & commands. We must believe that God will give us what He has promised. Let it begin in your heart & on your tongue. God wants His Word to be done, so pray for it to be done in your life & in the lives of others.” (Tony Evans, note in Tony Evans Study Bible)
