John R. Bisagno - The Power of Positive Praying

Copyright 2015 by Global Son Rise

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4336-8580-4

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.3

Subject Heading: PRAYER \ CHRISTIAN LIFE

Uness otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked nkjv are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Scripture references marked nasb are taken from the New American Standard Bible, the Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Scripture references marked niv are taken from the New International Version ( niv ), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Scripture references marked kjv are taken from
the King James Version, which is public domain.

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To my precious wife, Uldine, who has exemplified a life of positive praying for sixty wonderful yearsand more.

I love you angel,

Your John

Brother John has given us a great gift by updating his reflections on prayer. Writing with wit, passion, and clarity, Brother John graciously invites us into a deeper prayer lifeunderscoring the importance of prayer in the life of a disciple while not turning it into a duty or burden. I found the last sectiondealing with specific issues in the disciples prayer lifeto be especially practical and useful.

James T. Birchfield, Senior Pastor,
First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas

The Golden Anniversary version of John Bisagnos classic The Power of Positive Praying is precisely that... golden! Writing a book on prayer is one thing; revising it after a fifty-year PhD in the School of Prayer is quite another. I have been deeply moved and blessed by this treasure of the kingdom.

Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor,
Windsor Village United Methodist Church

Most of faithful Western Christianity knows that prayer is the battle. And since the Enlightenment, most of Western Christianity has thought more than it has prayed. Brother John Bisagno draws us back again not only to prayer but to the transforming power of prayer.

The Rt. Revd Clark WP Lowenfield, Bishop,
Anglical Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast

The Power of Positive Praying will help grow your trust in God as you see His mighty hand move in your life. I recommend you read this book to sharpen and deepen your life on your knees. John Bisagno is a wonderful friend to me, and we have prayed together countless times. He is the right man to teach us to pray more fervently and effectively.

Gregg Matte, Pastor, Houstons First Baptist Church
and author of I AM Changes Who I Am

Introduction

Jesus Priority
in Prayer

Charles H. Gabriel expressed the desire of every believer in his beloved hymn More like the Master. Peter taught that we can and should become precisely that.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. (1 Pet. 2:21 kjv )

Nowhere was He more our example than in prayer.

Jesus knelt to pray (Luke 22:41). And we do the same. We kneel reverently as did Solomon in the temple. We bow before Him, as did Abraham at Bethel, Moses at Sinai, Elijah at Carmel, and Jonah at Nineveh.

Like the Master, our lives are marked by prayer. The earthly ministry of our Lord began and ended in prayer:

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened. (Luke 3:21 kjv )

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34 kjv )

When we pray, Satan trembles. When we pray, heavens gates open wide. When we pray, desperation fades and trials wither before us like grass before the scorching sun. When we pray, power comes, love fills our heart, and life is filled with song.

And there is glorious privilege in prayer. William W. Walford said it well:

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Fathers throne
Make all my wants and wishes known:
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempters snare
At thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless:
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word, and trust His grace,
Ill cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

From whom better to learn the New Testament method of the power of positive praying than the One seated at the right hand of the Father? Here are ten things to get us started.

1. Jesus prayed in secret. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there (Matt. 14:23 nkjv ).

The physical closet of prayer, as the closet of the heart, is imperative to a healthy prayer life. Prayer must become habitual. To pray without ceasing in every place is a constant attitude of the divine presence. But there is no substitute for the habitual practice of prayer in the secret place.

2. He prayed before eating. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would (John 6:11 nkjv ).

Discipline in returning thanks is basic training for the really big battles.

3. He prayed before the important events of His life. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him (John 17:12 nkjv ).

Of greatest importance is that which glorifies the Father and reconciles men and women unto Him.

4. He prayed in times of great popularity. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone (John 6:1415 nkjv ).

Do our successes drive us more to dependency on Him, or less?

5. He prayed in times of rejection. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray over there. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me (Matt. 26:3638 nkjv ).

Jesus needed His friends in His night of darkest sorrow as we need Him in ours.

6. He prayed submissively. He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will (Matt. 26:39 nkjv ).

Not my will, but Thine are our most important words in prayer.

7. He prayed earnestly. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44 nkjv ).

Shallow words move not the heart of God. The depth of soul behind our words stirs the heart of God.