God's plan of redemption - explained

Study 7. Keys to effective prayer

In John chapter 14 Jesus makes a wonderful promise to His disciples, though this is much misunderstood by many of the people of God today. Verses 13 and 14 of that chapter read as follows: "Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Many think that this is an authorisation to ask for whatever we want, including great riches and glory for ourselves, but that is not what is meant by these verses, and this is not what they are saying. What Jesus is clearly saying through these verses is "Whatever you ask in my name" Not what ever you ask, we shall look at the latter verses later.

Translated in to language that is very easy to understand these verses promises that every time we pray something that is in the Father's will and is therefore what Jesus would have prayed then we are assured that it will be done. No time limit on it, it may take a long time it may be only a short time, and we must persistent in our prayer, not just a one-off.

In Luke chapter 18 verses 1 to 8 Jesus told a parable intending to encourage His followers to be persistent in their prayers and to continue in them until they see what they are asking for manifest. So many get discouraged and give up after only a short time and this is one of the reasons why so few prayers are successful these days.

"He spoke a parable unto them to this end; that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; she came unto him, saying, avenge me of my adversary.

He would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself: though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubles me so much I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Then The Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said. Shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though He bare long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?"

Daniel knew the importance of persistence in prayer when you know that what you are praying is in deed in keeping with the will of God and for His praise and glory. In chapter 10 of the book of Daniel, verses 11 to 13 inclusive an angel comes to visit him and encourage him in his prayers, assuring Daniel that they are being heard but there is a spiritual battle going on.

"He said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto you, and stand upright: for unto you am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

Then said he unto me, fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that you set your heart to understand; and to chasten yourself before God, your words were heard, and I have come because of them. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty one days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia."

Few people realize that the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia is not in fact a human being but a ruling demonic force that was battling against the angel and trying to prevent Daniel's prayer from being manifest. Because Daniel persisted in prayer the angel was given authority to continue the fight until he had brought about the victory.

It is the same with us, there are demonic forces working to discourage the people of God and to see that their prayers are not answered, but one of the greatest forces that can ever be used in prayer is faith in God's word. If we take a promise of God like John chapter 14 verse 13 for instance and pray with great confidence what we believe to be God's will persistently, we too shall eventually see the victory just as Daniel did.

Jesus encouraged His disciples to fast and pray; something that Jesus was very experienced at doing, Himself. In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5 Paul writes "Do not refuse one another, except by mutual consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, so that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

By refusing one another Paul is referring to the conjugal rights of each other. It seems clear through this and many other passages in the New Testament that frequent prayer and fasting was practiced in the early church much more often than it is in the church today.

In Mark chapter 11 verses 20 to 26 Jesus teaches His disciples some very important principles for successfully answered prayer. "In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. Peter calling to remembrance said unto Jesus, master, the fig tree which you cursed has withered away. Jesus answering said unto them, have faith in God.

Truly I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be removed, and be cast cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he asks for.

Therefore I say unto you, whatever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive you.

There is another condition for answered prayer; that is that you forgive everyone who has in any way offended you, otherwise your prayer will not be successful. This is not the only condition that is involved for seeing a positive outcome to your prayers, Psalm 66 verse 18 reads: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."

This means that if you have any evil thought or intentions in your mind when you come before God in prayer then He will not listen to you. First repent of and renounce those evil thought in your mind and ask God to cleanse you and forgive your sin once more and then you can come before God with confidence that He will hear your prayer.

Another principle of prayer that is very rarely spoken of today is found in Matthew chapter 12 verse 29 and reads: "How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house." There is no doubt that the "strong man" referred to here is the devil and his forces of evil.

Matthew chapter 18 verses 18 and 19 tell us other things that are important in spiritual warfare. "Truly I say unto you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven."

Don't forget what Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 6 verses 12 to 18 that as Daniel discovered, we are not fighting flesh and blood so every day be sure to put upon yourself the full armour of God which Paul lists for us in these verses.

Who would send anyone out to battle unless they were fully equipped? The things written in these verses are designed to equip the body of Christ (all born-again believers) to do the job that they have been designed and intended by God to do.

It has been said that the best form of defence is attack, new Christians whether they realize it or not are not exempt from spiritual battle so the sooner they learn how to put on the full armour that God has given them and defend themselves each day the better will be their ability at spiritual warfare.

Continue to the next part of God's plan of redemption - explained... Study 8. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries

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