Prayer (2)

Course:  Different Forms of Prayer

Lesson 10

Lesson Title:  Confident Prayer

 

Text:  1 John 3:21-22  ‘Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.’

 

Introduction:  Two aspects concerning confidence in prayer.

Salvation has no relationship to works.

Salvation is by faith in what Christ has done alone.  We were dead in sin and through faith in Christ we have been made alive.

Salvation has no association with how we live.  A Christian’s life will reveal the fruit of salvation not the cause of salvation.

But prayer that sees results is not only linked to faith in what Christ has done for us;  it is also related to our relationship with Him.

 

Confidence in prayer can only be known when we walk in obedience.

1) Obedience to the revealed will of the Lord in His word

2) Obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

 

Confident prayer has two aspects

1)  Faith in what Christ has done for us

2)  Obedience to the will of the Lord

 

1)  Confident faith in prayer – seeing answered prayer because of what the Lord has done

  • The blood cleanses – there is no separation in Christ Jesus.  The barrier of sin is removed by the cross.
  • The life of Christ in us has brought us into a new relationship – It is Christ in me the hope of glory.  My life is united with Christ and it is Christ in me praying under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
  • The promises – we are ‘God’s remembrancers’ reminding the Lord of His promises which are our inheritance in Christ.

 

2)  Confident faith in prayer – seeing answered prayer because we walk in obedience

Jesus said to His disciples  ‘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. 

Answered prayer is not automatic. Asking is linked to abiding.   ‘abide in Me…’  ‘ask what you will…’

Answered prayer is associated with relationship.

If we abide in Him we will not pray selfish prayers.

We will pray to see Jesus glorified in our lives.

 

 

Illustration:  Seed Faith

Oral Roberts introduced the teaching of Seed Faith which has become the foundation of the Faith Movement. 

The teaching of Seed Faith is scriptural.

But presumptuous faith is not scriptural.

If we give money because we expect an automatic return for our generosity, we will probably become very discouraged.

Presumptuous faith has two major problems:

1) It doesn’t work – people become disappointed and disillusioned because they don’t see the things happen that they expected.

2) It is not scriptural

It is presumptuous faith that is wrong, not the doctrine of Seed Faith.

 

This is how Seed Faith works:

A farmer sows seed. He must sow bountifully to reap a good harvest. But sowing alone does not guarantee a harvest, bad weather can quickly destroy the crop. When we sow bountifully then we can pray confidently for a good harvest.

We can pray confidently concerning our daily needs when we have been generous and blessed others.

We can pray confidently on behalf of others concerning their needs when they have been generous and blessed others.

We can pray for blessing when we have blessed others.

We can ask the Lord to forgive us when we have forgiven others.

 

Remember when a person who has new life in Christ asks for forgiveness it has nothing to do with salvation. 

It has everything to do with prayer.

We need forgiveness to see answered prayer.

Bitterness and the works of the flesh will stop us from seeing answered prayer.

 

 

Main Points

1.  Confident prayer requires Faith  + love.  1 John 3:21-23, ‘Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.’

 

a)     Love (agape) must be central in our actions.

It is self sacrificing and far higher than the love of the world.

Prayer will be ineffective if ‘agape’ love is absent.

 

b)     What does it mean to have agape love?

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ‘Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,  Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;  Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’

 

‘Love suffers long,                                                        (longsuffering)

and is kind;                                              (kindness, gentleness)

love envies not                                                              (rejoices in the exaltation of others)

love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,                       (meekness)

Does not behave itself unseemly                               (self control),

seeks not her own                                                        (seeks the good of others),

is not easily provoked                                                  (not aggressive),

thinks no evil                                                                 (pure thought life); 

Rejoices not in iniquity                                                 (hatred of sin),

but rejoices in the truth                                                 (joy for God's word); 

Bears all things                                                             (meekness to carry burdens),

believes all things                                                         (faith),

hopes all things                                                            (hope),

endures all things                                                         (patience). 

 

This lifestyle is necessary to have confidence in prayer.

 

 

2.  Confident prayer requires Faith  + good character.

 

Examples of the link between what a person has done and answered prayer in scripture

Paul told the Philippians that the Lord would supply all their needs because they had supplied his.  (Philippians 4:17).

A person who prayed for the Philippian Church could have great confidence the Lord would provide their needs because they were a giving Church.

A Christian who does nothing to help others when they have abundance cannot expect God to meet their needs when they have financial problems.

 

a)     Centurion – built a synagogue  Luke 7:4-5 ‘ And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loves our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. ‘

We speak much about the centurion’s faith – speak the word only.

But it is hardly ever mentioned about what he had done.

Both are important

 

b)     Dorcas (Tabitha) – full of good works.

Acts 9:36  ‘Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.’

Peter kneeled down and prayed (he did not presume) then he turned to Dorcas and she was raised from the dead.

 

c)     Cornelius – ´he and his household were devout, generous, prayerful.

Acts 10:1-2 ‘ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

God answered the prayers of Cornelius because of his character.

 

Prayer that reminds the Lord of what a person has done.

When praying concerning the needs of people there is great power in reminding the Lord of His promises and then reminding the Lord of what the person has done.

 

 

3.  Confident prayer requires Faith  + knowing and asking according to the will of the Lord 

the will of the Lord  1 John 5:14-15  ‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.’

 

a)     Elijah (1 Kings 17)

Elijah prayed that it would not rain.

His prayer put him into a position of great difficulty.

He had no means of support.

The Lord used ravens to bring him meat at the brook.

When the brook dried up, a poor widow woman was his means of provision.

Elijah needed the supernatural supply of God because he prayed according to the will of the Lord.

 

If we want to see answered prayer we must also be ready ‘to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ’.  (2 Timothy 2:3)

This is why I love preaching in prisons.

Prisoners respond to this message.

Often the people in churches are soft and enjoy the comforts of this life.  They want God to run around ‘serving them’ and wonder why they do not see answered prayer.

 

b)     Knowing the will of the Lord.

We know His will as we abide in Him.

People who know the will of the Lord have an unstoppable determination.

It will be seen in their daily life.

Anyone who has done anything great for the Lord has needed an unstoppable determination.

It is only by knowing the will of the Lord that can give this.

 

It is my experience that people who seek man’s approval do not do great things.

Greatness is diligence with an unstoppable character and an unconcerned attitude.

Confident prayer is an expression of greatness.

It is praying in the will of the Lord with the diligence of an unstoppable character and an unconcerned attitude.

 

 

Summary

Confidence in Prayer is not attained by faith alone.

There are two aspects regarding confident prayer faith + obedience.

1.  Confident prayer requires faith  + love

2.  Confident prayer requires faith  + good character.

3.  Confident prayer requires faith  + knowing and asking according to the will of the Lord 

 

 

Steve Dulwich