Al Danks - Effective Prayer

Effective Prayer

Al Danks

perfectingprayer.com

Christian Life Series Book #2

Effective Prayer

Copyright Alton Danks

ISBN 13: 9780998098920

Table of Contents

Effective prayer is a threat to Satan's kingdom. He will intensely and persistently oppose it and those who seek to pray effective prayer. Paul warns us of this and instructs us to put on the whole armor of God so we can overcome in prayer.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:10-18)

So, following God's instructions given through Paul, we put on God's armor.

Father, we thank you in the name of Jesus for your armor and we put on your armor: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the sword of your Spirit.

One of Satan's favorite means of fighting against prayer is to lead us onto the path of leaning to our own understanding. Indeed, he uses this way to fight against all things that pertain to life and godliness.

In answer to Jesus' prayer, the Father has sent the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all the truth onto the path where we trust in God to guide us and order our steps.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, (John 16:13)

If we ask God, he will send the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all the truth including the truth of prayer: what prayer is, how to pray, and what results to pray for.

Father, we thank you in the name of Jesus that you send forth your Spirit of Truth to guide us into all the truth. We ask that you send your Spirit of Truth to guide us into all the truth and show us things to come. Fill us with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so we live a life worthy of you, fully pleasing to you, and bearing fruit in every good work. Father, we ask especially that you send your Spirit of Truth to guide us into all the truth of effective prayer.

Two of the first things we need to understand about prayer is why we pray and why we should work to improve our fruitfulness in prayer.

We pray to cause God's will to be done on earth. This is one of the things Jesus teaches in his model of prayer.

May your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

The Holy Spirit helps us to pray in a way that causes God's will to be done on earth.

We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.... the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

God hears us when we pray in a way that causes his will to be done.

If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Jesus' life and prayer was to do God's will and to cause it to be done.

I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 5:30)

I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)

I have come to do your will, O God, (Hebrews 10:7, Psalms 40:8)

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)

Our lives and prayer are also to be to do God's will and cause it to be done.

The Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Jesus' prayer that God's will be done on earth and the declarations about prayer according to God's will imply that prayer is needed to cause God's will to be done on the earth.

The Bible gives us some examples where God's prophets lived with the understanding that their prayer was required to cause God's will to be done.

Daniel perceived in the books that the desolations of Jerusalem would last for seventy years. His response when learning that was to pray and seek God for the end of the desolation.

I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:2-3)

God told Elijah that he would send rain upon the earth. Not only did Elijah respond by praying that it rain, his prayer that it rain is given as an example of effective prayer in the book of James.

After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." (1 Kings 18:1)

Elijah's response

1. Do the will of God

So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. (1 Kings 18:2)

2. Pray that it rain

And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again," seven times. And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you. '" And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. (1 Kings 8:42-45)

James teaches that the rain came in response to Elijah's prayer.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:17-18)

More sobering, however, is the example from Ezekiel where God looked for a person to pray so he could avoid destroying, but he could find no one so he destroyed.

He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; (Isaiah 59:16)

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. (Ezekiel 22:30-31)

There are a number of incidents in scripture that show God doing things in the earth with no accompanying prayer from man.

In Genesis 3:22-24 he drove Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden and placed a cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life.