PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

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THE POWER OF PRAYER

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1 JOHN 5: 14-15

MATTHEW 21: 22

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TODAY I LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE POWER OF PRAYER THAT WE CAN HAVE BY PRAYING IN AND ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL AND PURPOSE.

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• EXAMPLES OF PRAYER ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

  

1. PETER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON BY AN ANGEL.

ACTS 12: 11-12

 

• PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON

ACTS 16: 25-26

 

• ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL

1 KINGS 18: 37-39

 

IN THESE THREE ILLUSTRATIONS, WHAT IS THE COMMON DOMINATOR? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR PRAYER THAT CAUSED GOD TO RESPOND IN SUCH A POWERFUL MANIFESTATION?

 

I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE ILLUSTRATIONS REVEAL THAT THESE WERE PEOPLE WITH A KINGDOM MINDSET. THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN NEED TO THE NEEDS OF THE KINGDOM. THEY WERE NOT ONLY PRAYING IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S WILL AND PURPOSE, BUT THEY WERE ALSO LIVING THEIR LIVES ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND PLEASURE.

 

• WE CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME RESULTS

 

THE SAME PRINCIPLES OF FAITH THAT WORKED IN THEIR LIVES WILL WORK IN OUR LIVES AS WELL. THEREFORE, WE MUST FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE IF WE WANT TO SEE POWERFUL RESULTS WHEN WE PRAY.

JAMES 5: 13-18

 

WE SHOULD EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ASK:

1. WHY DO I WANT TO BE HEALED?

2. WHY DO I WANT GOD TO BLESS MY FINANCES?

 

IS IT FOR FURTHERING GOD’S PURPOSE AND HIS KINGDOM IN THE EARTH OR IS TO SIMPLY CONSUME IT UPON YOUR OWN LUSTS?

JAMES 4: 2-3

 

ARE WE SPENDING GOD’S BLESSINGS ON OUR OWN PLEASURES OR ARE WE INVESTING HIS BLESSINGS TO FURTHER HIS WILL AND PURPOSE IN THE EARTH?

 

SOLOMON FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF THE KINGDOM THE LORD GAVE HIM BOTH RICHES AND HONOR.

1 KINGS 3: 9-11

 

• JESUS ANSWERED SERMON ON THE MOUNT

MATTHEW 6: 31-33

 

• JESUS WAS KINGDOM FOCUS

MATTHEW 28: 18-20

MATTHEW 24:14

 

OUR PURPOSE IS TO ATTRACT AND WIN LOST SOULS AND THE UNCHURCHED TO CHRIST; TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST INTO MATURITY; TO EQUIP, ENCOURAGE AND PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR MINISTRY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.

 

• PRACTICALITIES OF PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

 

1. HAVE A LIFESTYLE THAT IS FOCUSED ON GOD’S WILL AND PURPOSE.

JAMES 4: 13-17

 

   2. GET INVOLVED IN THE CORPORATE VISION OF THE CHURCH AND BEGIN TO PRAY ACCORDINGLY.

MATTHEW 18: 19-20

 

   3. MAINTAIN A DEVOTIONAL LIFE THAT KEEPS YOU FOCUSED ON GOD’S WILL AND PURPOSE IN YOUR DAILY LIVES RATHER THAN YOUR OWN IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND GOALS.

1 THESSALONIANS 5: 17

 

   4. UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEASONS IN WHICH GOD CALLS YOU TO PRAYER AND FASTING IN WHICH HE REVEALS HIS BURDEN FOR YOU IN INTERCESSORY PRAYER.

EPHESIANS 6: 18-19

 

   5. PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ROMANS 8: 26

JUDE 1: 20

 

CLOSING:

LET’S BELIEVE GOD TOGETHER FOR GREAT THINGS AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO A DEEPER LEVEL OF PRAYER AND INTERCESSION BY PRAYING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND PURPOSE.

 

 

 

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