TWO MEN, TWO PRAYERS:
INGREDIENTS IN SUCCESSFUL PRAYER
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr Kyfingers@aol.com
I do this in a three part series.
Prayer is a basic tool of being a Christian.
The style and method of prayer may vary from one individual to another. Prayer must be more than saying words, prayer is effected by attitude and life experiences.
I. TWO MEN, TWO PRAYERS
Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray;
the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed THUS within (himself),
God, (I) thank thee, that (I) am not as other men are, extortions, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 (I) fast twice a week, (I) give tithes of all that (I) possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exhalted himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exhalted.
A. Good effective prayer is more than words, it is attitude, it is pouring yourself out before God.
B. The Pharisee mentioned God one time, he mentioned himself six times.
C. The deep impulses that motivates us come from the inner man, the subconscious state.
D. Bad prayer is offered WITHIN YOURSELF?
Selfish praying that exhalts self and throws up what you have done, and puts down others is not acceptable to God!
E. Real good effective prayer is more than compiling a WISH LIST demanding God to take immediate action as you have ordered Him
to do!
F. This little boy had a Mother that was real religious.
She wanted her son to know the value of prayer.
So the Mother purchased a Prayer Book for the little boy.
Each night the little boy had to read a prayer out of the book.
One cold night the little boy crawled into bed, and he forgot to read his prayer. It was dark and cold.
The little boy said: God there is the book, read the prayer for Yourself.
G. Our enemy inhabits pride. God inhabits praise.
Will we be to proud to be faithful to pray?
Will we submit and humble our hearts in prayer and release God’s plan? It is up to you?
II. LET US TAKE A DEEPER LOOK!
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILED MUCH.
A. Necessary:
***logically unavoidable ***cannot be denied ***required ***essential
B. Ingredients:
***something that enters into a compound
***any combination or mixture
C. Succeed --- Success:
***to rise above difficult circumstances and achieve success ***to overcome ***triumph ***prevail ***win
***to turn out well *** to attain a desired object or end ***to come after as an heir *** to achieve success
***favorable or desired outcome
***the attainment of favor, eminence
D. Effective:
***producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect
***impressive striking (as finding gold)
***ready for service or action
***a soldier equipped for duty
***getting the job done
E. Fervent:
***exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling
***characterized by deep or forceful emotions ***intense
***very hot ***glowing ***zealous ***to boil
F. Avail:
***to press toward attainment of a goal or purpose
*** to be used to ones advantage ***serve ***profit ***to bring about ***useful ***helpful
III. A CHECK IS WORTHLESS UNLESS THE SIGNATURE OF THE
AUTHORIZED PARTY IS WRITTEN IN THE BLANK!
A. THE FIRST INGREDIENT TO EFFECT PRAYER IS PRAYING IN JESUS’
NAME!
B. YOU CAN’T PRAY WITHIN YOURSELF, YOU MUST PRAY TO GOD
THROUGH JESUS’ NAME.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in MY NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in MY NAME, I will do it.
IV. MANY OF US HAVE DEVELOPED A SPARE TIRE MENTALITY PRAYER
LIFE! OUR PRAYER LIFE MUST BE A STEERING WHEEL NOT A SPARE
TIRE!
A. Ponder the difference between a steering wheel and a spare tire?
We only use a spare tire in case of an emergency. If we have a flat, we get out the spare tire.
B. We seldom think of the spare tire unless there is a flat.
C. Prayer must be more than a fire escape from hell.
D. Prayer is sweet daily communion and communication with the Father.
James 4:2 Ye lust, and ye have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain, ye fight and war, because ye ask not.
V. TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE WE MUST PRAY.
A. If we refuse to be faithful in our prayer life it will cost us dearly.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:
ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
B. WE CAN SEE THERE MUST BE SOME NECESSARY INGREDIENTS
FOR EFFECTIVELY PRAYING!
VI. FANCY WORDS SPOKEN IN PUBLIC PLACES DO NOT BY
THEMSELVES MAKE GOOD PRAYERS!
A. EFFECTIVE PRAYER IS FOUND IN THOSE TIMES WHEN IT IS JUST GOD AND YOU!
B. Do we pray showoff prayers? Or is it for God’s ears?
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not BE AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE: THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING IN THE SYNAGOGUES and in the corners of the streets,
THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN.
Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
6. But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thy pray shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
VII. JUST BECAUSE YOU PRAY LOUD AND LONG DOES NOT MEAN
YOU PRAY EFFECTIVELY!
A. How loud you pray, and how long you pray does not mean you are praying effectively.
B. Good prayer is more than launching words into space.
C. Do we launch faith with our words?
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS,
as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8. BE NOT YE THEREFORE LIKE UNTO THEM:
for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of,
before ye ask Him.
VIII. WE CAN NEVER HAVE AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE
WITHOUT FAITH.
A. FAITH IS A PROCESS.
B. FAITH IS A JOURNEY.
C. FAITH IS A PRODUCT OF CHOICES, CHOICES HAVE
CONSEQUENCES.
Hebrews 11: 6 But without FAITH it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM.
James 1: 6 But let him ask in FAITH, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
IX. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KEYS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER
IS YOUR MOTIVE FOR PRAYING AND YOUR MOTIVE IN PRAYING!
A. GOOD PRAYER IS RELYING ON GOD WHILE DOING YOUR PART.
B. I had a church member come to the altar, he asked prayer to find a job. We gathered around him and had a strong prayer.
I saw him the next Sunday, I asked him if he had found a job?
C. He said, NO! I stayed at home by the phone all week, and no one called me?
D. The sad news is, he never went out and applied for a job? He waited for God to do it?
X. WE MUST DEVELOP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN OUR APPROACHING THE THRONE.
In EXODUS 29:20 Before a man could even approach the altar, before a man could anoint the altar:
A. The man had to anoint his right ear,
(willfully submitting what one hears and says to God.)
B. The man had to anoint the thumb on his right hand,
(willingly submitting what he does and his actions to God.)
C. The man had to anoint the great toe on his right foot,(willingly submitting his journey and walk before God.)
XI. GOOD EFFECTIVE PRAYER COMES OUT OF A BROKEN HEART.
A. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL LAW THAT BRINGS RESULTS!
B. TEARS ARE A LANGUAGE,AND GOD KNOWS WHAT THE TEARS SAY!
C. GOD UNDERSTANDS TEARS!
Psalms 34: 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken
heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Psalms 126: 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
XII. REAL EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER!
A. We need to pray in God’s perfect will, but there is more than that we need to be walking in God’s perfect will daily.
B. Real prayer is coming to the Heart of God in total submission!
C. Many people presume they know God will, and they think God’s will is their will. This is not so.
Matthew 6:10 Thy Kingdom come. Thy WILL be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His Will, He heareth us.
D. There are these words spoken by Hudson Taylor:
I used to ask God, please come and help me.
Then I ask God if I could come and help Him.
Now I ask God to do His own work through me.
XIII. LET US ADDRESS A REAL FACT THAT LIMITS EFFECTIVE PRAYER! SIN!!! SIN WILL ALWAYS HINDER PRAYER.
Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, SIN LIETH at the door.
Psalms 66: 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
the LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME:
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
XIV.AS A MOTHER IN TRAVAIL, SO MUST MY PRAYER MOVE IN
TRAVAIL!
A. TRAVAIL:
***physical, or mental exertion *** agony
***great effort ***labor ***work, grind
***work of a painful, laborious nature ***toil
***circumstances like giving birth ***not relaxed
B. Today people will stand in line a long time to get something free and easy.
C. Prayer is neither free, nor is it easy.
Isaiah 66:8 (part B) For as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children.
Luke 22: 44 And being in agony Jesus prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
XV. PRAYER MAKES A GREAT TEAM WITH FASTING.
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
XVI. PRAYER IS AN EFFECTIVE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE WEAPON.
A. Prayer makes failure a stepping stone not a stumbling block.
B. When we are discouraged prayer and praise can help us.
II Corinthians 10: 4 FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE
NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING
DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;
XVII. IMPORTUNITY, FIXED HEART, PRESSING ON, CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
A. Somewhere in today’s theology we have developed a thought that all you have to do is pray one time and then forget it.
B. Some will go on to say, If you pray more than once it is a lacking of faith that God heard you.
C. THIS IS NOT TRUE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO SEEK GOD!
D. IMPORTUNITY
***troublesomely urgent
***overly persistent in a request
E. PERSIST
*** to go resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposite
*** to be fixed *** to continue pass normal time.
Luke 11: 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
F. MANY STRONG HOLDS WILL NOT BE BROKEN BY THE
OCCASIONAL PRAYER OF A SLEEPING SAINT.
XVIII. WE MUST LET GOD ARISE AND LET GOD SCATTER THE
ENEMIES.
A. WE MUST REACH OUT AND TAKE WHAT GOD HAS FOR US.
B. Apathy and indifference creeps and grows in our daily life.
Much like a spider builds webs every where.
C. We must do more than clean the spider’s webs away,
let us kill the spiders.
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent TAKE IT BY FORCE.
XIX. WE ARE IN A WRESTLING MATCH, THIS IS WAR.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he could not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And the angel of the Lord said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And Jacob said, I will not let you go, except thou bless me.
Psalms 68:1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, let them also that hate Him flee before Him.
Do we act like we are more than conquerors?
Or are we running around acting like orphans?
Romans 8: 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
XX. PRAYER MUST BECOME THE GREAT TOOL OF INTERCESSION.
GIVE THE GOOD SACRIFICE AND STAND IN THE GAP.
(Ezekiel 22:30)
A. ABRAHAM FOR SODOM AND LOT’S FAMILY?
Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
For 50? For 45? For 40? For 30?
For 20? For 10?
B. MOSES
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive sin ----; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
XXI. SUCCESSFUL PRAYER COMES TOGETHER IN LOVE AND UNITY.
A. Recently at our church, I put everybody’s name in the offering sack.
I drew out three names, and made that a prayer team.
I drew out three more names and made that a prayer team.
B. I did this and let God build the prayer teams.
I assigned a child to each of the prayer teams.
C. Often we make prayer teams with our friends and exclude those not our friends.
D. I asked these prayer teams to come together in the service and share their prayer needs and write them down. Then the prayer team prayed over the needs, and made a one month commitment to lift these
prayer needs daily.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in MY NAME, there am I in the midst of them.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and they spake the Word of God with boldness.
XXII. SUCCESSFUL PRAYER MUST ACCEST THE ROLE OF WAITING
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
XXIII. PRAYER STANDS AND CLAIMS THE PROMISES OF GOD.
II Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God are in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God.
II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Will you volunteer to be faithful in prayer?
Will you invest in the proper ingredients for a good prayer life?
Two men? Two prayers? What about you?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Will you join my team and pass this work on?
I DO THIS LESSON IN THREE PARTS.
