CONTENTS:
- WHEN? After sins forgiven
- your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NKJV
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
- Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”And you forgave the guilt of my sin.Psalms 32:5 NIV
HOW?
FERVENTLY
- The fervent heartfelt prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NKJV/AMP/NIV
- Pour out your heart before Him. Ps 62:8 AMP
Examples
Lord Jesus
- And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. Luke 22;44 NASB
Jacob
- Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. Hosea 12:4 NASB
Hannah
- In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. … I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 1 Sam 1:10,15
Others
- Epaphras: He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. Col 4:12 BSB
WITH PERSEVERANCE
- “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. Mt 7:7, 8 AMP
- be unceasing and persistent in prayer 1 Thess 5:17 AMP
- Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart Luke 18:1 AMP
- as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Psalms 123:2 NKJV
- Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly] 1 Thess 5:17 AMP
Examples:
Daniel
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:2 NIV
Then he (the angel) said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. Daniel 10:2 NKJV
Elijah
Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 NKJV
seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 1 Kings 18:42, 43 NKJV
WITH FASTING
- this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37 NKJV
- Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey]. Acts 13:3 AMP
TILL PRAYED THROUGH
Pray till you get assurance that God has heard your Prayer
Key Verses
- if we know that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:15 AMP
- as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He has mercy upon us. Psalms 123:2 ESV
Example 1: Lazarus
- Now a man named Lazarus was sick… So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” … After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
- 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” … Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. So they took away the stone. 41b Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:1-44 BSB
COMMENTS
The above verses would suggest that Jesus got assurance from God the Father (See vs 41b) beforehand that Lazarus would be raised from the dead. This is why He told Martha (vs 23) though the actual coming back to life happened only later (vs 43, 44)
Could this not be the reason that He stayed back when He heard that Lazarus was sick i.e. to Pray Through
Example 2: Ezra
- And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him. 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.
- 31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way. Ezra 8:21-31 BSB
COMMENTS
Ezra got assurance from God beforehand (vs 23) that they would have a safe journey, though the journey happened only later (vs 31)
USING SCRIPTURE
1. USING SCRIPTURE VERSES
From Psalm 119 NKJV
- My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word. 25 - My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word. 28 - Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—
Your salvation according to Your word. 41 - I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
Be merciful to me according to Your word. 58 (I will show you mercy Jer 42:12 NKJV) - You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word. 65 - Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant. 76 - I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. 107 - Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. 116 - Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word. 154 - Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word. 169 - Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word. 170
2. USING SCRIPTURE EXAMPLES
Key Verse:
- God does not show favouritism Rom 2:11 Acts 10:34 NIV Deut 10:17 ISV
Implication: What God did for anyone else, He can do for you
Example 1:
- Lady healed touching hem of His garment Mt 9:20-22 (Mk 5:39 Lk 8:40)
- Others healed touching hem of His garment Mt 14:36
Example 2:
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2 Kings 20:1 NIV
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. 2 Kings 20:4-6 NIV
3.USING SCRIPTURE PROMISES
Key Verse
- the word of God, is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith]. 1 Thess 2:13
Implication: When you believe the word, it starts working for you.
See also:
the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word, and hold it firmly/tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15 NASB/AMP
Things we want:
- The LORD will protect you from all harm Ps 121:7 HCSB
Finances
- Wealth and riches will be in his house Psalms 112:3 | NKJV
Health
- by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NASB (Pastor David Cho/PG Vargis example)
Lifestyle of Continuous Prayer
- Devote yourselves to prayer Col 4:2 NASB
- I give myself to prayer. Ps 109:4 NKJV
- pray continually 1 Thess 5:17 NIV
Instant/Quick Answer to Prayer
- On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalms 138:3 NASB
- On the day I called, You answered me; And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life. Psalms 138:3 AMP
- Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Gen 24:15 AMP
- It shall also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isa 65:24 AMP
What/How our Prayer is to GOD: Incense/Delight
- Let my prayer be counted as incense before You Ps 141:2 AMP
- when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 NKJV
- the prayer of the upright is His delight. Pro 15:8 BSB
GOD hears prayer
- His ears are attentive to their cry Psalms 34:15 NIV
- the prayer of the upright is His delight. Proverbs 15:8 NKJV
- I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Psalms 116:1 NASB
- O You who hear prayer, To You all men come. Psalms 65:2 NASB
- this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV
- this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 AMP
Win battle Spiritually and see outcome Physically
- As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:11 BSB (I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands 1 Tim 2:8 NKJV)
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy. Ps 123:2 BSB
With tongues
15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV
With fasting
https://biblehub.com/luke/2-37.htm
Mark 9:29