Transcription
I want you to listen very closely today because what we're going to talk about will change your prayer life. It will change your relationship with God. It'll open the door to miracles, healings, and breakthroughs you've been believing for.
But I have to ask you a question first. Are you praying the right way? Now, I know some of you might say, "Well, Brother Hagin, I've been praying for years. I've been believing God, but it seems, it feels." And you know what? You're not alone. Many people, many Christians are praying, but they don't understand why their prayers aren't producing results. And the problem is they've been praying in the wrong way. That's why they're not seeing the results. They don't understand the authority that has been given to them, the power that is already theirs.
But I'm here to tell you that when you pray according to God's word, things begin to happen. Things must change when we align our hearts and our mouths with the truth of his promises. Let's look at Mark 11:24. It says, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
Now, notice what Jesus said. Believe that ye receive. He didn't say believe that you will receive. He didn't say believe that God might bless you. He said believe that you receive them as though it's already done. Why? Because in God's eyes, it's already yours.
But here's the thing. So many believers are praying the wrong way. They're not praying in faith. They're praying in doubt, begging for things God has already promised. They're waiting for God to do something he's already done, and that's why they're not receiving. The Father looks at them and says, "Son, it's already yours. You don't need to ask for it again. Just take it." Do you understand that? The promises are already there. The healing is already there. The peace is already yours. The provision is already available. But you have to know how to pray the right way to receive it. And that's what we're going to do today. We're going to learn how to pray the way Jesus taught us. No more begging, no more doubting, no more wondering if it's God's will. You will know how to pray effectively and you will see results. You'll pray with confidence knowing that what you've asked for is already granted in the heavenly realms and it's coming into your life in Jesus name. So, get your Bible, get ready because today we're fixing a prayer mistake that's holding back your breakthrough. We're going to unlock the door to God's answers. Are you ready to receive? Let's get started.
Now, let's get down to it. I'm going to show you the biggest mistake I see Christians making in prayer. It's the very thing that's causing them to pray for days, weeks, even years and still not see results. The biggest mistake is this, they treat prayer like begging. They think they have to beg God for something that's already been provided. They act like if they ask enough times, if they pray long enough, if they beg hard enough, then maybe God will give them what they're asking for. But that's not the way God operates and that's not what the Bible teaches.
In Luke 11:9, Jesus said, "Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you." Notice the key here, ask not beg. You don't have to beg God, he's not withholding from you. He's already given you everything that pertains to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3, it's already available. What you need to do is ask in faith and believe that you receive it, not beg and plead for it. When you beg, it shows you're uncertain. It shows you don't know what the word says about your situation. But God wants you to stand in faith. He wants you to approach him boldly knowing that his promises are true and that he is faithful to his word.
Let me tell you I prayed for people who have come to me crying desperate saying brother Hagen pray for me I need a miracle I need healing I need a financial breakthrough and you know what I say to them I ask them what scriptures are you standing on what does God's word say about this situation you see you can't pray for something if you don't know what God has already said about it you can't pray effectively unless you know his will and his will is found in his word so I'm going to tell you something right now and I want you to hear it clearly God is not withholding from you he's already given you everything you need for life and godliness 2 Peter 1 to 3 you don't have to beg for it you don't have to plead with God God is not reluctant to bless you he's already made the provision available to you you just need to receive it in faith
Let's take healing as an example how many of you have ever prayed for healing but it felt maybe you were even praying in desperation hoping that God would heal you but there's a difference between praying in desperation and praying in faith Matthew 8:17 says himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses that means Jesus already bore your sickness on the cross you don't have to beg him to heal you healing is already yours through Jesus Christ now you may not feel healed in your body yet but the Bible says that you have healing right now it's not about begging God to do something he's already done it's about receiving what's already been given so I'm going to tell you something stop begging stop pleading when you pray ask in faith believing that God has already provided what you're asking for when you pray for healing stand on the promise of God's word when you pray for provision know that God has already supplied all your needs according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19 when you pray for peace know that Jesus has already given you his peace not as the world gives, but his peace that passes all understanding. John 14:27.
You see, the problem isn't that God isn't answering. The problem is that we're asking in the wrong way. We're asking as though we don't have it yet when God has already given it to us. But faith changes everything. When you pray in faith, when you know what God has said and you act on his word, you'll start seeing answers come to you quickly. You don't need to wait for God to do something new. He's already done it all. Your job is to believe what he said and receive it by faith.
Now, I want you to stop for a moment and think about this. What have you been praying for? What have you been waiting for God to do? I want you to know right now that if it's in the word, it's already done. It's yours. If you've been praying for healing, it's already yours. If you've been praying for provision, it's already yours. If you've been praying for peace, it's already yours. So, stop begging and start believing. Don't let another day go by without standing firm on the promises of God. Get in the word, find the scriptures that promise you what you're praying for, and stand on them in faith.
So, let's stop here and think about this for a moment. What's the solution? We'll get to that next. But first, I want you to say this with me right now. I don't have to beg. I don't have to plead. I have what I'm praying for because God has already given it to me.
Now that we've addressed the mistake of begging God instead of believing God, let's move to the solution. I want to talk to you today about how to pray correctly according to God's will and how to receive answers to your prayers with confidence and boldness. And the first step to correcting that mistake is understanding that God's will is already laid out for you in his word. You see, the problem with most believers is they don't know what God has already said about their situation. They pray in the dark not knowing where to stand. But God's word, that's your light. That's where the will of God is revealed. God's will for you is clearly written in His word. Every promise in the Bible belongs to you. And those promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:20.
Take a moment and think about this. How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't know if it's God's will for me to be healed?" Or, "I don't know if it's God's will for me to have financial blessing?" Well, the answer's already in the word. You see, if it's in the word, it's God's will. God wants you healed. God wants you to prosper. It's written all over the Bible.
In 1 John 5:14, John wrote, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." Do you see that? "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if He hears us, we have what we asked for." But here's the kicker. God's will is in His word. When you pray according to the word, you can be sure that God hears you, and you can be just as sure that the answer's on its way.
Let me give you an example. Let's say you're praying for healing. Now, some people make the mistake of asking God for healing as if He's deciding whether or not He wants to give it to them. As if He's up in heaven saying, "Maybe I will. Maybe I won't." That's not God's will at all. Healing is God's will for you. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:2-5 that by His stripes, we are healed. Notice, it doesn't say we will be healed. It says we are healed. It's a finished work. You don't need to pray and wonder if God's going to heal you. The Bible has already told you His will. You just need to stand on it and receive it by faith.
The same goes for finances. Some people pray, "Oh God, if it be thy will, bless me financially." Now, there's nothing wrong with asking God to meet your needs, but you need to know that God's will is already set. Philippians 4:19 says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus." That's a promise, not a maybe, not a we'll see. It's a guarantee.
Now, here's the thing. The word of God is your authority. You have every right to claim what God has promised. If you're not sure about the will of God, you're not going to be able to stand in faith. But when you know God's will, you can stand boldly and claim his promises with confidence. You don't have to wonder, "Will God do it for me?" No, my friends, God has already done it. Now, you receive what's already been provided.
I'll tell you a story from my own life. Many years ago, when I was still pastoring, I faced a challenge in my body. I had been diagnosed with a condition that the doctor said was incurable. I'll be honest with you, I had my doubts at first. I asked God, "Lord, do you really want to heal me? Is it your will to heal me?" But then I went back to the word. I took out my Bible and I started reading the scriptures. I realized something, healing is mine. It's not something I'm asking for as though God hasn't already provided it. No, God has already provided my healing in Christ, and I took it. I received it by faith. And within just a few days, all the symptoms of that condition were gone. Why? Because I prayed according to God's will. I didn't have to wonder, I didn't have to beg, I simply believed that what God said in his word was true, and I received it. And you can do the same.
Now, I'm telling you this because I want you to know that God's word is not just a nice suggestion, it is God's will. And when you know his will, you can pray with authority. You can claim his promises as your own, and you can see the results. If you're struggling in your prayer life today, I encourage you to get in the word, find the promises that apply to your situation, and stand on them. Pray the word, not your emotions. The word is settled in heaven, Psalm 119:89. It's already done, and God will never change. If you'll do this, you will see results. No more wondering, no more begging, just prayer based on faith in God's word, and you'll begin to see the power of God moving in your life. Amen.
Now, we've talked about the mistake of begging God for things he has already provided, and we've corrected that mistake by understanding that God's will is found in his word. But here's the key to unlock an answered prayers, it's faith. Faith is the key that unlocks every door of blessing, every door of healing, every door of provision. If you want your prayers to work, you got to pray in faith, and that faith must be based on God's word.
I want you to open your Bible to Mark 11:24, and let's read it again, but this time, I want you to get it in your spirit. Jesus said, "Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them." Did you see that? Jesus didn't say, "Pray and hope that it'll happen." He didn't say, "Pray and wait and see." He said, "Believe that you receive them."
Now, I know some people might say, "But Brother Hagin, how can I believe I've received something when I don't feel it?" That's the challenge right there. Your faith is not based on feelings. Faith is based on the word of God, not on what you can see, feel, or even think. Faith is a choice. You choose to believe what God has said, regardless of how things appear in the natural.
Let me illustrate this. If you pray for healing, don't wait for symptoms to disappear before you believe. You believe that you are healed before you see it. Why? Because healing is already yours in Christ. You don't have to feel healed to believe you're healed. The word is already said it's yours. 1 Peter 2:24 says, "Who his own self bear our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin should live under righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed." You were healed when Jesus took the stripes on his back over 2,000 years ago. It's a finished work. Now, you may not feel healed immediately, but that's when you stand in faith believing that the word is true. Faith believes God's word above all else. Your faith should say, "I am healed, not because I feel it, but because God said it." And I want to tell you something, the moment you believe it, that's when you receive it.
There's a powerful key to receiving in prayer, and it's believing that you've already received. You see, faith doesn't wait for the manifestation to happen before it believes. Faith believes the moment you pray, the moment you ask, you must believe that you've already received it, even if you can't see it yet with your eyes.
Let's look at another powerful verse, Matthew 21:22. "And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing you shall receive." There it is again, believing. You see, prayer is not just about asking. It's about believing that you've already received what you've asked for. And when you believe that, you can stand in faith knowing that God's word will always come to pass.
Now, I want to tell you something very important. There is no prayer without faith that will work. Many people pray, but their prayers aren't based on faith. They pray with a thought in the back of their mind, "Well, I don't know if this is going to work. I don't know if I can believe God." That's not faith. That's doubt. And doubt cancels out your prayers. You must believe in the power of prayer and believe in the promises of God's word.
Mark 11:23 makes it very clear, "For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith." You see, faith involves two things: speaking and believing. You must speak to the mountain, not about it. Jesus didn't say tell God about your mountain, or tell your friends about your mountain. He said speak to the mountain. You speak directly to the problem in faith, and you tell that mountain to move.
Now, that doesn't mean that when you speak in faith, everything changes instantly in the natural realm, but you don't quit praying and believing just because you don't see immediate results. You keep standing in faith, knowing that God is at work even when you can't see it yet. One of the most important things I can tell you today is this: Never speak words of doubt after you've prayed in faith. Once you've prayed and believed, you have to hold fast to what you said. Your words are the key. When you speak words of faith, you reinforce your position. The devil will come and try to steal your faith, but you keep speaking the word. You keep saying what God says about you, your situation, and your future. Don't let the devil steal your confession.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "But Brother Hagin, I've prayed, nothing's happened." Don't give up, keep standing, keep believing, keep speaking. Faith doesn't quit. And remember, once you pray, you believe, and then you receive by faith, even if it doesn't show up immediately. I remember a time years ago when I was praying for a breakthrough in the financial situation. I didn't have the money in my hands, but I knew that God had already promised me provision. I stood on the scriptures and I believed that I had received, and you know what happened? Just a few days later out of nowhere a financial blessing came in and I had the exact amount I needed. I didn't see it right away, but I believed I had received it the moment I prayed. That's the power of faith and prayer. When you believe, you receive. It must come to pass. It has no choice because the word of God never fails. So, stand in faith today. Don't wait for the answer to come before you believe it. Believe it. And then watch God move on your behalf. Hallelujah.
Now, we've already learned that faith is the key to answered prayer. But there's another thing that many believers are missing, and that's the words they speak after they pray. I want you to hear me clearly. Because your words, especially in the moments after you pray, will either confirm your faith or undermine it. Too many Christians after they pray start speaking words of doubt and fear, and that's where they lose their victory.
Mark 11:23 says, "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith." Notice the words Jesus uses. "He shall have whatsoever he saith." It doesn't say he shall have whatsoever he prays. It says whatsoever he saith. You see, it's not just about what you pray, it's about what you say after you pray.
Let me give you an example. You may pray for healing and say, "Father, I believe I receive my healing in Jesus' name." And that's great. But then you go on and say, "But I still feel sick. It's been days and nothing's changed." What have you just done? You've just canceled out your prayer with those negative words. If you've prayed and asked in faith, you have to continue speaking in faith. Stop speaking words of doubt over your situation. The devil will try to get you to say things. That's a trap. Don't fall into it.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Your words have power. Your words will either give life to your faith or death to your faith. It's time to stop speaking in doubt, stop speaking in fear, and start speaking in faith. If you've prayed for healing, don't say I'm still sick. Don't say I still have the symptoms. That's speaking death over your healing. Instead, say I believe I am healed because God's word says I am healed. Speak what God says, not what you feel. Don't talk about the problem, talk about the answer. Talk about the promise.
This is something I've had to learn over the years. And I want to help you avoid the same mistake I made. When I was younger, I used to pray for healing and I'd pray in faith, but then I'd turn around and speak words of doubt. I'd say, "I just don't feel any better." Well, that doesn't move the hand of God. That's cooperating with the devil, giving him permission to steal your healing. You know, sometimes people say, "Well, Brother Hagin, I can't help it. I just feel bad." Well, I'm not saying you don't feel bad. I know what it feels like. I've been through it myself, but that's not what you say. You say what God says. You speak life over your situation. You don't say I can't. You say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You don't say I'm defeated. You say, "Thanks be to God who always causes me to triumph in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14.
Do you get the point? Stop confessing the problem, start confessing the answer. Your words align with your faith. If you believe you receive, then your words should confirm that belief. If you're still talking about the mountain, you're not speaking in faith. You're not saying what God says. You're saying what you see in the natural.
In Romans 4:17, God speaks of Abraham saying, "As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations before him whom he believed, even God who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were." What does that mean? It means God calls things that are not as though they are, and we are made in God's image. If God calls things that be not as though they were, then you can call your healing into manifestation even when you don't feel healed yet. You can call a provision into your life even when you don't see the money in the bank yet. You can call peace into your heart even when everything around you seems chaotic. Why? Because you are acting in faith and speaking God's word.
Now, this is something that many people don't understand. Words are powerful. They are creative forces. That's how God created the world in Genesis 1. He said, "Let there be light, and light was." God used words to create, and you, my friend, are made in his image. Your words have creative power. So, what are you creating with your words? Are you creating faith or fear? Are you creating victory or defeat? I'm telling you, if you want to see your prayers answered, you have to align your words with your faith. Don't say what the devil wants you to say. Don't say what the world says. Say what God says.
Mark 11:24, "When you pray, believe that you receive it, and then when you're walking by faith, speak words that confirm your prayer. Speak words of victory. Speak words of healing. Speak words of abundance. Speak words of peace. And when you do, I'm telling you, those words will become your reality. You'll see your prayer answered. You'll see the mountains move and you'll walk in victory in every area of your life. Hallelujah.
All right. Now that we've dealt with some of the mistakes people make in prayer and we've talked about the power of words, let's move on to something very important, how to pray the right way. It's one thing to know what not to do, but now I want to show you the correct way to pray so that your prayers can be effective, powerful, and full of faith. The first step to effective prayer is understanding that prayer isn't just about asking God for something. It's about aligning with God's will and receiving by faith. Faith is the currency of the kingdom. It's the way we receive from God and it's the way we take hold of what God has already provided. And when you pray, you must pray in faith. James 1:6 says, "But let him ask in faith nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
The first thing I want you to understand is that when you pray, you must believe. Believe what? You believe that God has already made a provision for you in his word. If you don't have a scripture to stand on, then you're not in faith. You're just wishing. And wishing won't move mountains. You've got to believe that you receive.
Now let's break down exactly what you need to do when you pray.
Step one is this, find a promise in the word. You can't pray in faith unless you know what God has said about your situation. Let me ask you, what does the Bible say about healing? What does the Bible say about provision? What does the Bible say about peace and joy? Let's take healing for example. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:5 that by his stripes we are healed. That's a promise. And if you're standing on that promise, you can pray in faith knowing that God has already provided healing for you. Find the promise that corresponds to your need and stand on it in faith. You don't need to wonder if it's God's will to heal you. The word already tells you it is his will. And once you know what the word says, your prayer can have faith behind it. But if you don't know what the word says, your prayer is going to be weak and you're going to be uncertain doubting whether God really wants to answer. You must have a promise to stand on. And don't just pick any scripture. Find the scriptures that promise you exactly what you're believing for. In Romans 10:17, the word says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." That means faith comes by hearing the word. And when you hear God's promises, faith will rise up on the inside of you.
Step two is present your petition to God. I want you to understand this clearly. When you pray, you don't have to beg God. You don't have to make a long list of reasons why you deserve it. You don't need to remind God of how much you've suffered. Just present your request with boldness. In Philippians 4:6, Paul says, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." When you come to God in prayer, bring your requests to him boldly, not in fear or uncertainty. You're presenting your petition to your father, the one who loves you and wants to bless you, and you don't have to beg him for it. He already wants to give it to you. So ask him confidently knowing he has already provided everything you need.
Step three, believe you have received it. This is where many Christians miss it. We tend to pray for something, but we don't believe we've received it. We just wait for it to show up before we believe it. Now I want you to look closely at Mark 11:24 again. It says, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them." Jesus didn't say to believe that you will receive. He said, "Believe that you have received." This is a key and I want you to get it in your spirit. Faith believes in the now. You don't wait for the manifestation to happen to believe it. You believe you have it now. Even if you don't see it yet in the natural, in the realm of the spirit, you already have it. You've asked, you've prayed, and now you believe you have received it. When you believe that you've already received what you've prayed for, you're walking in the faith realm. You're no longer waiting for the answer. You're acting as though it's already done. That's faith. And when you walk by faith, the natural realm has to line up with what you believe.
Step four, speak your confession of faith. Now, I'm going to talk to you about something very important. After you've prayed and believed, you got to speak it out. Words are powerful. And your words will either confirm your faith or undermine it. In Romans 10:10, it says, "For with the heart man believeth under righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Your confession is the final step of faith. After you pray, you need to keep speaking the word over your situation. If you prayed for healing, keep saying, "I am healed in Jesus' name." Keep declaring, "By his stripes, I am healed." Your confession is not just about asking, it's about affirming what you've received by faith. Speak it out loud, speak it with boldness, and never speak words of doubt. When you speak, you confirm your faith and continue to walk in the victory that's already yours.
Step five, thank God for the answer. Once you've prayed, believed, and spoken in faith, now it's time to thank God. Don't wait until you see the answer. Thank him right now in advance. In Philippians 4:6, Paul said, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. Notice that Thanksgiving is part of the prayer process. When you thank God, you're expressing your trust in his faithfulness. Thank him for answering your prayer. Thank him for healing you. Thank him for providing your needs. Praise him as though it's already done because in the spirit realm it already is.
Now, I want you to understand when you pray in this way, you are praying in faith and you will see results. It's not about begging. It's about standing on God's word, believing you've received, and speaking the answer into existence. If you'll pray this way, you will experience the power of answered prayer in your life just as I have, just as many others have, and I believe God will move in your situation as you begin to pray this way.
Now, I want to talk to you about something that trips up a lot of believers, persistence and patience. Some folks pray in faith, believe they receive, speak the word, and then when nothing seems to happen, immediately they give up. They think, "Well, I guess God doesn't want to answer my prayer." But listen to me. God is not the problem. Your faith is the key, and persistence in that faith is vital.
In Luke 18:1, Jesus taught a parable saying, "Men ought always to pray and not to faint." Now, that word faint doesn't just mean getting tired. It means to lose heart, to quit, to give up. And the Bible says that we should never quit in prayer. You might not see the answer as quickly as you thought, but you must never give up. I want you to understand this. Faith does not give up. And God is not slow in answering your prayers. But sometimes we need to stand firm. Persistence is what will bring the answer through.
There may be spiritual forces working to hinder the manifestation of your request. The Bible says, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me." The answer to Daniel's prayer was on the way the moment he prayed, but it was hindered for 21 days by a spiritual force, but Daniel didn't give up. He didn't stop praying just because he didn't see the answer right away. He persisted and eventually the angel broke through and delivered the answer. You see, when you pray, your answer may be on the way, but the enemy tries to hinder it. That's why persistence is so important. Don't give up. Don't give in to doubt. Stand in faith and keep praying.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:13, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." Stand. When you've prayed in faith, stand. Don't be moved by what you see, what you feel, or what anyone else says. Stand firm in your faith knowing that God has heard you and the answer's coming. Having done all to stand, stand.
Now, that's where patience comes in. Patience is not about waiting in the sense of just sitting around doing nothing. No, patience is about enduring while you stand in faith. It's about waiting expectantly for God's answer, knowing that he is working behind the scenes even when you can't see it. Hebrews 6:12 says, "That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." It takes both faith and patience to receive God's promises. I'll tell you, patience isn't about doing nothing. Patience is actively standing on God's word no matter what the circumstances look like. When you believe God has already answered your prayer, you wait expectantly knowing that it will come to pass at the right time. Don't give up and don't lose heart.
Now, some of you might be thinking, "But Brother Hagin, I've been standing for so long and it's hard. I prayed for years is this and I haven't seen the answer yet." Well, I understand. I've been there myself. But, let me tell you, the moment you give up, you lose everything. If you don't quit, if you keep standing in faith, your answer's coming. You can't quit now. You've come too far, and God's answer's just around the corner. Remember this, God is faithful. He's not a man that he should lie. Numbers 23:19. If he said it, he will do it. If he promised it, he will perform it. Just because you haven't seen it yet, doesn't mean it's not coming. Stand your ground. Keep speaking the word. Keep thanking God for the answer, and it will come to pass.