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I. ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD - “Our Father”
“Behold
what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
should be called children of God!” 1 Jn 3:1
Each
of us must ask, “Do I have a vague concept of God, a mere
respect for a Divine Creator? Do I only know about God? Am I
relying upon good works and trusting in a good philosophy for
salvation? Or, am I God’s child? Can I call Him, Father?
Jesus
said, “Ye must be born again. . . “in order to have a
new nature that is in harmony with God’s Spirit; “you received
the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Rom.
8:15 (NIV). This is the beginning of a beautiful eternal
relationship wherein answered prayer becomes a way of life
from a Father to His loving, obedient child.
II. LEARNING MORE ABOUT “OUR FATHER” - “who art in heaven,”
“Let Him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and
knows Me, and I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness,
justice, and righteousness on earth: for I delight in these
things,’ declares the LORD.” Jer. 9:24
Each of us
must ask, “How well do I know my Heavenly Father?” Also, “What
is the quality of my relationship with Him? Faith is simply
confidence in God. The key to power in prayer is in “knowing
the one to whom you are speaking so well that you have total
confidence in His love and His desire to answer prayers.”
III. REVERING OUR FATHER’ S ALMIGHTY
NAME - “Hallowed be Thy
Name”
“Do
not profane my name. I must be acknowledged as holy. (Lev.
22:32).”
I sat
at a small conference table with a visitor who, for years, had
profaned God’s name by using it as a sentence filler and an
emotional explanation point. Finally, I politely asked,
“Larry,’ (changed)
why do you treat God’s name with such disrespect? He
stammered, “I don’t disrespect God... He soon left.”
By
contrast, I worshiped at a Messianic Synagogue and noticed
blank spaces for words in their writings. A member explained
that many Jews still hold to the ancient tradition of not
writing or speaking the most sacred word for God.
You
and I must sacredly regard God’s name in our words and deeds.
This is fundamental in a life with power in prayer.
IV. DESIRING OUR FATHER’S UNIVERSAL
REIGN — “Thy kingdom
come”
“But
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these
things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:33
“Thy
kingdom come” is a sincere plea for God’s kingdom, ruled in
righteousness, to be brought forth in its fullness now and
forever. As we glimpse, through scripture, into the various
stages of God’s Kingdom, we joyously and fervently pray,
“Lord, Thy kingdom come.”
V. GOD’S WILL - “BE FILLED” WITH
HIS SPIRIT -
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me’ and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and
delivered Himself up for me. Gal. 2:20
The
availability of the Spirit-tilled life, promised in the Old Testament,
is the fundamental principle of the New Testament Covenant.
It is sealed in Jesus’ blood.
Therefore,
God’s primary will is for us to be empowered with His Spirit
in order to do Christ’s work on earth. Many church members try
to do the Lord’s work with only human wisdom and knowledge.
Catherine Marshall likens the additional power in the Spirit—
filled life to electricity vs. campfires and candles.
We must be
changed and charged like Peter, who denied even knowing Jesus
before the Day of Pentecost. . .later, had courage to die a
martyr. In the dimension of the Spirit Filled life resides the
potential for unlimited power in prayer.
VI. ASKING OUR FATHER
- “Give us this day our daily bread”
“If you then, being (basically) evil (by nature) know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your
father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask
Him!” Matt. 77-11
You
and I would be astounded if we knew how many amazing things
did not happen because we did not pray? Too often we remain
silent and preoccupied with worldly cares — while our Heavenly
Father almost pleads with us to come to Him for blessings:
“Truly,
truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything
He will give it to you in My name.” Jn 16:23, 24
VII. REPENTING TO OUR FATHER - “Forgive us our debts”
“If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
lJn.1:9
Sin
breaks harmony with “Our Father” and short—circuits our prayer
life. It is any thought or action that is contrary to the
nature and character of God.
Sin
begins as a thought. Even the beautiful, powerful Lucifer, so
close to God Himself began his fall with a flicker of pride.
Christians too can mentally craft false gods as we develop our
philosophies and establishes our priorities. We must recognize
sin and repent.
Confession of sin may not be repentance. Many people do not
mind telling God about their sins, but would not consider
giving them up. Repentance is action, and brings visible
results. It heads a life in another direction.
When
our sins are cleared away, we may walk with God in peace and
harmony as Adam and Eve in the Garden — with unlimited power
in prayer.
VIII. FORGIVING OUR FELLOW MEN
- “as we also have forgiven our debtors”
“But
if you do not forgive men, then your father will riot forgive
your transgressions.” Matt. 6: 15
IMAGINARY DIALOGUE
‘Lord, do you mean I am to ask you to forgive me in
just
the same manner as I have forgiven those who have offended
me?” “Yes
my child, for it is written, ‘Pray, then, in this way: And
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
(Matt. 6:9,12).
“But,
Lord, does that mean that I have to forgive
others before I come to you for my forgiveness?”
“It
is written, ‘Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have
anything against anyone; so that your Father also. . .may
forgive you. . .But if you do not forgive... (Mark 11:25,26).”
In
this era of rampant divorce and broken homes there are
multitudes of justified reasons for bitterness between
husbands, wives, children, grandparent, friends.... It is
impossible for imperfect people to rub shoulders with
imperfect people without friction sparking at some point.
We
need not drag the bad encounters of our yesterdays through our
tomorrows. God’s way of forgiveness is the only workable
system whereby people can live together, in love, peace and
joy. It is only in this realm of oneness with God and a right
attitude toward our fellowman that there is power in prayer.
IX. ACTIVATING POWER OVER TEMPTATION - “Lead us not into
temptation”
“Let
no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’;
for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not
tempt anyone”. Jas. 1 : 13
Temptation
is anything that diverts our attention from living in God’s
will. Therefore, it is imperative that our spiritual antennas
zoom in on temptations before they make us fall. “Lord,
deliver us from temptation,” should be one of our most intense
petitions because of our human weaknesses and worldly
enticements. We often lack power in prayer because we are
sloshing around in sin — many times because we don’t know we
are there. We must recognize temptations and rise above them
by the power of God’s Holy Spirit to enter the realm of prayer
where “nothing is impossible.
X. DEFEATING SATAN
- “but deliver us from evil”
“For our struggle is not against flesh arid blood, but against
the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of
this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in
the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12
Often,
Satan has us swirling in a whirlpool of negative circumstances
because we Christians do not recognize his hand in our
affairs, or realize victory over him is possible.
Consequently, he works unchallenged behind his invisible
cloak.
Jesus
recognized Satan when He asked God to “Keep us
from the evil
one (John 17:15),” and instructed us to pray, “deliver us from
evil.” Billy Graham states, “We are in a battle every day with
the devil. There is a devil. There are demons.’ Scripture
unmasks Satan and teaches us how to recognize him and his
strategy. Christians must know how to stand in the victory won
at Calvary in order to have power in prayer.
XI. VICTORIOUSLY PRAISING OUR
ETERNAL FATHER! -
For
Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever”“To the
King eternal, eternal, invisible, the only God, be honor and
glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Tim. 1:17
While we
are on holy ground in God’s presence, and He has revealed the
awesomeness of His Kingdom, Power and Glory, our hearts can
only shout with victorious praise — “Hallelujah!” to our
Eternal Father.
XII. PROCLAIMING UNWAVERING FAITH! - “AMEN.”
Christ is
the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the
creation of God.. .Rev. 3:14,15
Amen
is much more than a signal ending prayer — a period at the end
of a sentence. Christ is the Amen, the faithful and true
Witness, the beginning of the creation of God... (Rev.3: Amen
is also an assertion that one agrees with and supports the
prayer “And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen’ (Deut.
27:15).” The Bible ends with a tremendous unmerited blessing
signed by Christ, the Amen - “The Grace of the Lord Jesus be
with all. Amen. (Rev.22:21).”
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