Transcription
You are most welcome to the presence of the Lord this morning. Uh, we are sharing. We will be sharing on 20 keys to optimum results in prayer. 20 keys to optimum results in prayer. And we want to look at two scriptures.
First, James chapter 5, verse 16. James chapter 5, verse 16. The second part of it. First, I read from the amplified Bible, classic edition. It says, "The earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working." And then, Easy to Read Version: "Anyone who lives, anyone who lives the way God wants can pray and great things will happen."
Then, still James chapter 5, verse 16. We'll be looking at the Good News Translation. Good News Translation: "The prayer of a good person, the prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. It has a powerful effect." And the New Living Translation, same James chapter 5 and 16b: "The endless prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
Then we'll look at Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 10. Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 10. We'll be reading from the Easy to Read Version of Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 10.
"One time, Jesus was out praying, and when he finished, one of his followers said to him, 'John taught his followers how to pray. Lord, teach us how to pray too.'"
Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 10. And then verse 2: "Jesus said to the followers, 'This is how you should pray: Lord, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. We pray that your kingdom will come. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive our sins, just as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And don't let us be tempted.'"
"Ask God for what you need." Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house very late at night and said to him, 'A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Go away! Don't bother me. The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed, and I cannot get up and give you the bread.' Now, I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, but he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask."
Luke chapter 11. We are looking at verses 9 and 10 now. "So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for yourself. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock, the door will have the door opened for them." Hallelujah.
Now, the question arises, why did Jesus, why do the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray? When they asked, "Teach us to pray," they meant, "How can we pray effectively? How can we pray effectively?" So, what then is effective prayer? Effective prayer, first of all, is a type that produces the desired result. James chapter 5, 16b: "the one that produces the five and effectual prayer of a righteous man, a villain march, dynamic in his working, and it produces outstanding results, wonderful results."
Secondly, effective prayer is the type that makes a strong or pleasing impression on God. In Isaiah chapter 38, verses 1 to 6, we could see how King Hezekiah was able, in the place of prayer, to make a strong impression on God, as he prevailed in the place of prayer. And in Genesis chapter 32, verse 28, Genesis 32, verse 28, we could also see how Jacob prevailed in the place of prayer in that encounter with the angel. And in First Kings chapter 3, verse 10, we see how Solomon, through the wisdom and the kingdom-mindedness in his prayer point, made such a strong impression on God by what he asked for, that God actually acknowledged that he was pleased with his prayer request, even before God started speaking on his response. So, effective prayer is the type that commands the desired response from God.
Also, effective prayer is a type that pulls down every stronghold of the enemy. Effective prayer is a type that can contend against demonic spirits, the altars, the strongholds, the powers, and spirits of darkness, and successfully overcome them.
There are two principal factors that are responsible for effective prayers. The first factor is how we pray. How we pray. And this talks about the manner of prayer, the pattern of prayer, the mode of prayer, the way of praying. How we pray. And then the second dimension of effective prayer is has to do with what we pray for. What we pray for. And this time, this now has to do with content. The contents of your prayer request, your content of your prayer points. God will be looking at the purpose, the motive, the wisdom, the foresight, the proactiveness in your prayer request and your prayer points.
Now, there are 20 keys that we have identified that are very, very critical to obtaining optimum results in the realm of effective praying. And what are those keys? Number one: You will need to offer praise, worship, and proper thanksgiving. You will need to offer praise, worship, and proper thanksgiving. And this is always the proper way to begin your day. This is always a proper way also to begin your session of prayer and your daily devotion with the Lord.
Praise and worship must complement prayer. In Second Chronicles chapter 20, verses 21 to 22, Second Chronicles 20, 21 to 22, we could see how Jehoshaphat, having this understanding, even in a time of battle, activated the key of praise, the key of worship. Because certain things will always happen when you operate in this dimension. The forces of heaven are mobilized into physical action by your praise and thanksgiving. Praise and worship brings down the presence of God. It attracts the spirit and the presence of God. He said, "And when they began to sing and praise, when they began to sing and praise." It's quite instructive. This was at the very moment they began to sing and praise that God, God moved into action on their behalf. I pray that more than ever before, your praise and worship will always attract the Holy Spirit, attract the presence of God. I pray that more than ever before, your praise and worship will be so acceptable to God. The glory of God will always come down every time you praise and worship Him, every time you offer unto Him heartfelt thanksgiving. So, praise brings down the presence and the power of God.
In Acts chapter 16, verse 25, Acts 16:25, we saw how Paul and Silas, even in prison, offered high praise unto the Lord. And it's also quite instructive that at that, on that same night, on that same night, because when they were singing, the Bible says the other prisoners in the other cells in the prison, they heard them. They were offering high praises. And that same night, there was a divine intervention. I pray for someone listening to me right now with an urgent, present need. I pray that the Lord Almighty will respond to your praise, worship, and prayer, and grant unto you a timely response to that urgent need, in the name of Jesus. Let the Lord hear you say a powerful amen.
And Psalm 149, verses 7 to 9. Psalm 149, verses 7 to 9, tells us, "Let the high praises of God be in your mouth." The high praises of God. And then also, we must always offer proper thanksgiving. Proper thanksgiving. Not just thanksgiving, proper thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is so, so powerful in the presence of God. And it's quite instructive that there were some miracles in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ that the most significant thing you could point to that happened was thanksgiving. In John chapter 11, verse 41, John 11:41, before He raised Lazarus from the dead, all He did was to give thanks unto the Lord. And in John chapter 6, verse 11, before the miracle of feeding thousands of people that were gathered in His presence, all He also did was to first of all give thanks unto the Lord and bless the little that was available. And then grace came upon that which He had thanked God for.
We should always have a list of things to thank the Lord for. It's very important. We should always have a list. Most people have a prayer list consisting of different prayer requests and prayer points, but it's also important that you must also have a list of things you consistently thank the Lord for. And then you will also have, in addition to this list, recently answered prayers. Some of your prayer points that God has recently answered. You should thank the Lord for His answer, His response, His intervention to those needs for a considerable measure of time. These are things that will open the door wide open to you in the place of answered prayers with the Lord.
Then, number two, the second key to optimum results in the place of prayer is that there must be repentance and forgiveness. There must be repentance and forgiveness. There must be sincere repentance. There must be sincere repentance.
Psalm 66:18: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Proverbs 28:13: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever shall confess and forsake them shall have mercy." So, we must not be self-righteous before God when we come before Him in the place of prayer, but rather we should always approach Him in an attitude of humility, in an attitude of repentance. We must confess and repent and confess every known sin. We must confess our disobedience to certain divine instructions He may have given us, and to which we have not properly obeyed. And then sometimes, if we reflect properly, we could observe that we are still guilty of our unforgiveness. We should also repent of this in the presence of the Lord, because unforgiveness can hinder God's answer and response to prayer. Jesus spoke so strongly about this in Mark 11:25. Mark 11:25, from the amplified Bible, classic edition: "He says, 'And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop, leave it, let it go, in order that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop.'" Very, very important. Unforgiveness can hinder answer to prayer. So, if you are talking about getting optimum results in the place of prayer, then forgiveness is very, very important and mandatory.
Same scripture, Living Bible: "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against. Forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too."
So, we must strive to live a holy life and have a compassionate and forgiving spirit to be guaranteed of answered prayers. In Proverbs 21:13, something instructive is mentioned there. He says, "He that shut his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry out himself and not be heard." So, God demands that we walk in compassion towards one another and towards our neighbors.
And then we saw some interesting things from James chapter 5, verse 16. Contemporary English Version: "James 5:16 says, 'The prayer of an innocent person is powerful and it can help a lot.'" The Message Bible, James 5:16: "It says, 'The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.'" Wow. And then The Voice Bible says, "Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. When they are rooted in a righteous life." So, that means the lifestyle, the character, the attitude, the morality of the person praying, it's also very, very, very crucial and significant in the realm of optimum results in prayer.
And what's the third key? You need to have a personal list of strategic prayer points. You need to have a personal list of strategic prayer points. Very important. Your prayer points should be proactive and offered ahead of time. It's quite interesting that God will come to Solomon in First Kings chapter 3 and still ask him, and still tell him, "Ask me for whatever you want." God already knew what was in his heart. It's quite instructive that Jesus received blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10. And this was a man crying out for intervention, crying out for mercy. And Jesus, after He turned to Bartimaeus, still asked him, "What will you have me do for you?" So, we must present to the Lord specific requests at different points in time. And God also wants to know your priorities at every point in time in the place of prayer. What do you consider your priority prayer point? He wants to know in the place of prayer.
And then something very critical in the realm of optimum results in prayer is a factor of timing of our prayer points. Timing of our prayer points. There are times, you know, when the timing of your prayers can become a major advantage. The timing of your prayers and intercession goes a long way to guarantee God's timely response to your prayer request. We have found that from experience that the longer you pray ahead towards a particular thing, the more guaranteed that that thing will happen right on time.
Also, you must always pray certain prayer points on time or ahead of time, because at certain times, you cannot just pray any time you like and still get the same result. It's no longer guaranteed. Sometimes God can, for instance, put a burden on you to rise up and pray over a particular thing. And from experience, we have discovered that, unknown to you, there is something going on right now. There is something about to happen. You are not aware, but God will put that burden in the hearts of certain people. And by the time they diligently respond and pray, they will act in response to that prayer, and something will have happened somewhere as God moved to your prayer. But if you were to ignore that push, that leading, that burden that God had put in your heart to pray, sometimes for someone, and you may not even know what's going on with that person at a particular time. We have also seen instances where something eventually went wrong, and someone somewhere acknowledged that just before that thing happened, he or she had a leading, a burden to pray for that person, but they didn't pray.
Also, in the realm of specific strategic prayer points for better impact and in times of urgency, you may need to pray with the specific names of certain people that you are praying for. You will need to mention the names of people, specific people that you are praying for. Sometimes you are praying against a sickness, you may need to also mention the specific name of that particular sickness, that particular problem, that particular spirit. These are dynamics that brings out the very best, makes your prayer come with more clinical precision in getting at the target and bringing optimum results. I pray that more than ever before, you will always receive timely interventions and responses from the Lord every time you stand to pray, in the name of our Lord Jesus. Hallelujah.
So, what are the other keys? Still on that key, you will need to update your prayer list from time to time. Sometimes you have a fresh leading, you have a revelation about something, where you have dreams. One of the things God expects when you have a dream that is truly from the Lord is to immediately raise a prayer point based on whatever is a message from that dream. And then secondly, sometimes you may need to take action relative to what you are seeing from that dream or revelation. So, sometimes there are new developments coming up, and you will need to update your prayer list.
And then, number four, the number four key is that you must back up your prayer with strong reasons. Back up your prayer with strong reasons. Strong reasons. Isaiah chapter 41, verse 21, God's Word Translation: "He says, 'Present your case,' says the Lord. 'Bring forward your best argument,' says Jacob's King." And then the King James Version, Isaiah 41:21: "Say the Lord. Bring forth your strong reasons. Bring forth your strong reasons,' said the King of Jacob." You need to back up your prayer request by giving God strong reasons why you feel God needs to answer your prayer request. In Job chapter 1, verses 9 to 11, then Job chapter 2, verses 4 to 5, you could even see that when even Satan, even Satan, when Satan approached God in Job chapter 1, Job chapter 2, and presented some request to God based on the reason he gave, God allowed him to have his way. He gave strong reasons, and you see his reasons being articulated in that same instance in Job chapter 1 and Job chapter 2.
And then there are some other instances like the Gentile woman in Mark chapter 8, verses 28 to 29. The Gentile woman in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, you will discover that what touched the heart of Jesus and brought about a turning point for an answer to her request was the reason she gave, the reason with which she backed up her request to Jesus. And then, of course, we see a very, very interesting encounter of our father in the faith, Abraham, with the Lord in Genesis chapter 18, verses 17 to 33. And you see Abraham presenting four different requests to the Lord, four different requests, and each of them was backed up with a reason. And it's also instructive that God agreed to each of these requests because of the reason with which Abraham backed up his request.
Prayer must be in agreement with God's will. In Matthew chapter 26, Matthew 26, verses 36 to 46, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, and there He tried, He attempted to prevail with God in the place of prayer. And it's quite instructive that this was the only time that Jesus prayed and God did not answer His prayer, because what He asked for was not in agreement with the perfect will of God. And understanding the dynamics of the workings of the Godhead, of which He is part of, is God the Son. Jesus rounded up His prayer by telling God, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will." So, your prayer points must always be in agreement with the will of God. And that is why, for you to excel in the place of prayer, you must also be very, very consistent in Bible study. Study your Bible consistently. And when you come across certain relevant scriptures to certain situations, write note those scriptures and use them in the place of prayer.
And as a follow-up to the fifth key is the sixth key, and that is, pray in the Spirit on a regular basis. Pray in the Spirit. Speak in tongues. Pray in the Holy Ghost on a regular basis. Romans chapter 8, verses 26 to 27: "When we pray in tongues, every prayer that the Holy Spirit enables us to pray, when we pray in the Spirit, is always in agreement with the perfect will of God. Always in agreement with the perfect will of God." When we pray in our own understanding, sometimes our prayer points can be out of God's perfect will. But any time we pray in tongues, pray in the Spirit, every single prayer point being spoken in mysteries through short prayer time is always in agreement with the perfect will of God. And I pray therefore that the Lord Almighty will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, if you are yet to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and you will, may you receive this grace to pray and speak in tongues as often as necessary, in the name of Jesus. The Spirit of God can never pray out of God's will or out of God's timing. Sometimes we may know the will of God, but we may be wrong in terms of timing. That is where even mature believers miss it when it comes to the will of God. They miss it. They make a lot of mistakes in the realm of timing. But the Holy Spirit can never be wrong with the will of God. The Holy Spirit can never be wrong with the timing, the perfect timing of God for anything to happen.
And then, key number seven: Always round up your prayer with prophetic declarations, positive confessions, and affirmations of what you are expecting God to do. Always round up your prayer with prophetic declarations, positive confessions, and affirmations of what you are expecting God to do. Very, very important. Jesus made this clear in Mark chapter 2, verses 11 to 23.
"Open your eyes to discover the kind of power you have. The way you speak the word without any doubt in your heart, whatever you have declared shall be done for you." And it's very essential that you support your prayers, support your declarations, support your positive confessions and affirmations with scripture. For instance, when Jesus had the encounter in the wilderness with Satan in Matthew chapter 4, verses 1 to 10, every instance He was tempted, Jesus won the battle by repeatedly using the Word of God. He quoted the appropriate scripture at every point in time. Hallelujah.
I would want to take a break at this point, and we'll continue with the other keys. 20 powerful keys, time-tested, proven keys that when you use each of these keys, some of them together, and then some at certain times, some at certain circumstances, you will always, by the message of God, obtain the optimum benefits that any man could ever receive through the act of prayer. Hallelujah. And that is why this moment, I want to pray.
Please lift up your hands and let us pray. Our Father, we thank You for the power of Your Word. We thank You, Lord, for this great key. We thank You for prayer of intercession. We thank You, Lord, for the gift You have given unto every child of Yours to come before You and receive answers to our prayers, our requests, our burdens, our challenges, our needs, through the act of prayer. Thank You, Lord, for the fellowship that we have with You every day through our daily devotions and our time in the place of prayer. Lord, we are praying right now that You will release afresh Your Spirit of grace and supplication upon everyone listening to this message. We pray, Lord, that You will remove from everyone listening the spirit of prayerlessness, the spirit of sleep, the spirit of slumber. Lord, remove it from the prayer life of everyone. And the Lord, we ask that You will instead release Your Spirit of prayer, Your Spirit of grace and supplication. Let it come upon each and every one. Lord, we ask that You will light up with fresh fire, revive a fire, the prayer altars of everyone listening to this message, in the name of Jesus. In the precious name of Jesus, I stand in agreement with everyone right now listening to this message. I pray that whatever are your current prayer burdens and prayer requests, I pray that the Lord will show you mercy. The Lord will show your family mercy and answer all of those prayers that you all are currently committing unto the Lord in the place of prayer, in the name of Jesus. Every demonic obstacle, every prince of pressure standing in the way, attempting to block the answers to your prayer, we bind and we cast them out away from your life, away from your loved ones, away from your family, in the name of Jesus. The Lord grant you open heavens to receive the physical manifestation of answers to your prayer, in the name of Jesus. May the Lord give you evidence, new evidence, fresh evidence of answered prayer, in the name of Jesus. Anyone currently laboring under some dimension of negative trend, a negative cycle of events, the Lord break that yoke out of that life, in the name of Jesus. Whatever has been that negative pattern, today the Lord terminates it away from your life, away from your loved ones, away from your family, in the name of Jesus. Things will work well for you from now on, in the name of Jesus. Things will work well for that loved one of yours for whom you have been praying, from now on, in the name of Jesus. By the mercies of God, things will work well for your family from now on, in the name of Jesus. It is done to the glory of God, in Jesus' name. Thank you for spending time with us, and I encourage you to please be with us for the next part of these very special series of teachings on 20 keys to optimum results in prayer. God bless you richly in Jesus' name.