WHAT IS PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL?
(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 heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Introduction:
a. Christians
expect God to answer their prayers because we pray according to the will of
God.
b. God reminds
Christians why their prayers may not receive an answer:
(JAMES 4:2-3) “Ye lust,
and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war,
yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
I. PRAYING
BASED ON GOD’S PROCEDURE IN HIS WORD
(MATTHEW 6:9-14) “After this
manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us
this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if
ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
II.
PRAYING BASED ON GOD’S PLAN FOR CHRISTIANS
(COLOSSIANS 1:9-12) “For this
cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to
desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of
God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all
patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light:”
a. God's plan for
Christians is that we acquire His wisdom, so that we walk before Him in a way
that is pleasing and glorifies Him in our lives.
b. God’s plan for
the Christian is spiritual growth based on His program within the local church.
(EPHESIANS 4:11-14) “And he gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;”
III.
PRAYING BASED ON GOD’S PURPOSE FOR CHRISTIANS
(2 TIMOTHY 1:9) “Who hath
saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began,”
a. The great
purpose of God for Christians is to be the light of the world—to reach the lost
at any cost. b. God's purpose is for the life of the Christian to be "salt
and light" to the world.
(MATTHEW 5:13, 16) “Ye are the
salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
IV.
PRAYING BASED ON GOD’S GREAT PROMISES TO CHRISTIANS
(2 PETER 1:4) “Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust.”
V. PRAYING
BASED ON GOD’S PROTECTION FOR CHRISTIANS
(PSALMS 91:1-2) “He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my
God; in him will I trust.”
a. God's promise
to Christians is His perfect protection, which is always prepared for His
people.
(PSALMS 91:3-6) “Surely he
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for
the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth
at noonday.”
b. God's
protection against our spiritual enemy, the devil, is always in action to help
His children.
(PSALMS 121:4-6) “Behold, he
that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper:
the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by
day, nor the moon by night.”
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