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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