The following is a teaching on some of the aspects of PRAYER. If you have prayer requests, follow the directions at the end of this segment and our ministry will be glad to pray for you.

Definition:

Pray -> (World Book) -> To speak to God in worship; enter into spiritual communion with God; to pray for help; to ask God. An act of worship to express praise to God.

Praying is simply talking to God. God wants us to talk to Him continually as stated in Ephesians 6:18, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." No matter what day, time or place, God's ears are always open to hear you talk to Him. In the past few weeks we have studied the armour God has given us, along with the weapon He has given us, but it doesn't stop there. Praying is a piece of armour and weaon all rollied into one. You can pray for protection and you can war or fight in your prayer closet against the enemy. David was a man who knew prayer was a way of protecting and fighting. Let's look at Psalm 64. Here we'll see how David's prayer delivered him from his enemies and let God fight for him. (1) "Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. (2) Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers, (3) who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. (4) They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. (5) They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, 'Who will see them?' (6) They plot injustice and say, 'We have devised a perfect plan' Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. (7) But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. (8) He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. (9) All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. (10) let the rightous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him let all the upright in heart praise him!"

Prayer! What a defence/offence system! David had many enemies during his life but as he prayed, God delivered him by shooting arrows at them. David was also able to take refuge in God as stated in verse 10. So, in answering, What is Prayer? The answer is talking to God; listening to God and seeing victorious results that come from prayer. Prayer changes things!

Yes. The Bible tells us in Psalm 91:15 (God speaking), "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him." When you call God, you never get a busy signal. You never will have to be put on hold. God will always answer His phone.

The New Testament says in Luke 11:9-10 (9) "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (10) For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." In this passage we see we must ask before God can give; we must seek to find and we must knock and the doors will open. Many times you look at Christians and wonder why they're not blessed. It could be because they don't pray - they don't ask, seek or knock. James 4:2 says, "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." God listens but some aren't talking. If you don't ask you don't get it. Killing won't get it. Coveting won't get it. Asking, which is praying, will get it!

Could you imagine going through the drive-through at McDonald's, pulling up to the speaker and saying nothing? If you did that I can assure you that when you drive to the pick-up window, you aren't getting anything but a strange look from the waitress. Many times we don't have what God has for us simply because we don't ask. McDonald's has Big Macs, McNuggets and shakes - all for you, but if you don't put your order in you won't get a thing. God has a whole lot more than McDonald's and it is yours if you simply ask Him. God wants to bless you by answering your prayers. Let's look at the proof.

If you want your prayers answered, you must believe that God will, first of all, answer them. The only thing that pleases God is faith. Faith is simply believing, trusting and having confidence in God. If God is going to answer your prayers and move on your behalf, you must have faith. Faith activates God. Faith and prayer brings results. In James 5:15 it says, "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." Now, God heals the sick but it is the prayer of faith that moves God. So you see, God will answer your prayer when you trust Him. This prayer of healing is backed up by God's Word. God is willing and able to do what His word says; therefore when you ask for something in God's Word, it will happen. God is faithful!

The passage Mark 11:22-24 states, (22) " 'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. (23) 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' " Here God gives us the formula for answered prayer.

If you realize that God wants the best for you and believe, your prayer life will be of great success. Faith comes by hearing God's Word. The more you hear, read and pray it, your faith will grow and blessing will abound. When you pray, keep this passage in mind. Luke 11:11-13, (11) Which of your fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? (12) Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (13) If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" God wants to give you more than your earthly father. I have a wonderful, loving earthly father so I know, that as great as he is, my heavenly Father is even greater. I have been blessed by my earthly father which in some cases is a rare commodity today. If you haven't had a good example for a father, don't ever measure your heavenly Father by your earthly father. God loves you unconditionally; no strings attached. The more you get to know God, the more you'll trust Him and see His love for you. When you get to that point you'll see God's hand move in your prayer life.

1 John 5:13-15 says, (13) "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (14) This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." If you have Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you can approach or come to God with confidence, or faith, in knowing that anything you ask God for, if it agrees with His Word, know that He, not only hears us, but we have what we asked for.

Prayer is very important to you and to God. First of all, God's Word in Revelation 5:8 explains how God feels about our prayers. It says, "And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Incense is a sweet smelling aroma that comes from spices and gums when burnt. So, you see, when your prayers go up to God they are like a welcome fragrance that He desires to smell and enjoy. Is prayer important to God? I would say He enjoys hearing our prayers therefore when we pray it is another way to please God and worship Him. Whenever we know that something pleases God, it is important for us to do it and glorify our heavenly Father.

If you have a prayer request let us join our faith with yours and pray one for another. Send your request by mail, phone, fax, or email. To the following addresses below...