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[Music] Hallelujah. Once again, you're welcome to God's presence. And today, we shall go into the second part of the topic, "20 Keys to Optimum Results in Prayer." In part one, we looked at seven of those keys, and in this second part, we shall be looking at six more of those keys. So, we begin this teaching this morning by looking at Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 4. And I would want to read from the easy-to-read version.
Luke chapter 11, verses 1 to 4. It says, "One time Jesus was praying. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, 'John taught his followers how to pray. Lord, teach us how to pray too.' Jesus said to his followers, 'This is how you should pray: Father, 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 do not let us be tempted.'"
And we shared in a past teaching that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. And what it meant was that, "Lord, you teach them how to pray effectively." And we have also discovered that there are at least two major dimensions to effective prayer. Two major dimensions. One, how we pray. How we pray. And this talks about the pattern. This talks about the manner of prayer, the pattern of prayer, the mood of prayer, the way we operate. And the second dimension of breakthrough prayer, breakthrough in prayer, is as to do with what we prefer. What we prefer. And this has to do with the contents of your prayer points, the insights, the foresight, the wisdom in your prayer, when the proactiveness of your prayer points.
So, in the first part of this teaching, we highlighted seven of the keys. And so, in the second part of this teaching, we shall be looking at six more of these keys. And key number eight to optimum results in prayer is that your prayer must should be offered with faith. In James chapter 5, verse 15, we are told about the kind of prayer that is regarded as the prayer of faith. It says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." In James chapter 5, verse 15, easy-to-read version, it says, "If such a prayer is offered in faith, it will heal anyone who is sick. The Lord will heal them. And if they have sinned, he will forgive them."
So, the question is, what does a prayer of faith imply? What does it imply? A prayer of faith is a serious and committed prayer that is based upon the promise or the Word of God. For instance, the early church gathered in prayers before the day of Pentecost, based upon the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ to them. He had given them a promise in Acts chapter 1, verse 4 to 8. So, Acts chapter 1, verses 1 to 14, you see Jesus gave them a promise. And based on this promise of sending down the Holy Spirit, they waited upon the Lord continually in expectation of what the Lord had promised was going to happen.
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A prayer of faith is also a prayer offered with a step of faith. The prayer offered with a step of faith. James chapter 2, verse 26. But the essence of faith, actions of faith being taken, is further emphasized. And this also applies in the remedy. I'll give an example. Whenever you add fasting to your prayer, you add fasting to your prayer, then of course, you have just offered your prayer together with a step of faith. Because the act of fasting itself is an expression of your faith. For you to deny yourself of food for a given period of time in order to wait on the Lord in prayer is an expression of faith. So, by the time you are fasting and you are praying, it's already obvious that you believe that what you are doing is going to have an impact. You believe that what you are doing, you are doing, will surely have a response from the Lord. So, when you pray for healing or deliverance while backing up your praying with fasting, then that is the kind of prayer that is offered with a step of faith.
A prayer of faith also is a prayer offered with a strong belief that God will surely answer. A prayer offered with strong belief that God will surely answer. First Kings chapter 18, verses 22 to 24. First Samuel chapter 12, verses 16 to 18. You see instances where there was indisputable evidence. The men absolutely believed that something definite was going to happen in response to their prayer. A prayer of faith also is a prophetic declaration offered with confidence that what you have said shall surely come to pass. In Mark chapter 11, verse 23, Jesus also told us on the need for us to pray and make such prophetic declarations, emphasizing the need for us to be very confident of what we say and have very great expectations that what we have said shall surely come to pass.
And then, a prayer of faith is also a prayer that is offered persistently. So, we can assess whether or not a man or woman is praying, is offering a prayer of faith, by their persistence in prayer. Luke chapter 18, verses 1 to 8. By the persistence in prayer. Why? Because it takes faith. It takes faith to persist in prayer.
And number nine, the ninth key is that you must fast and pray as often as necessary. Fast and pray as often as necessary. Mark chapter 9, verse 29, King James Version. Mark 9:29. It says, "And he said unto them, 'This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.'" So, Jesus was emphasizing here that there are some types of spirits, there are more powerful, more defiant, even to prayer. And we need to deepen the spiritual barricade of our prayers with fasting to be able to dislodge and overpower and overcome such stubborn spirits.
Another advantage of fasting is that fasting attracts the mercy of God. Fasting attracts the mercy of God. And there are numerous scriptural instances. In First Kings chapter 21, verses 27 to 29, Acts chapter 9, verses 8 to 12, you could see evidence of the power of fasting and the kind of impression it has on the Lord. Paul waited on the Lord three days without food and water, and the Lord had mercy on him. And that was the beginning of his encounter, transformation. It's been that God is moved to intervene in a situation when we fast with the right motive. So, not just fasting, but fasting with the right motive. Second Chronicles chapter 20, verse 17. And then, of course, you see the instance of Esther in Esther chapter 4, verse 16. And what subsequently happened in Esther chapter 5, verses 1 to 3. Much more than she desired, eventually was given to her and happened for her as a result of that time of intense prayer added with fasting, not just by her, but by all the other Hebrews that she had called upon to fast along with her.
Now, there are different types of fast. They are different types of fast. Sometimes you can fast without water, without food. You can fast without food for a given period of time. And then also, sometimes you can also fast without food and water for a given period of time. There are also different durations of a fast, depending on the leading that you have or the leading that the corporate spiritual covering over you has received from the Lord. Because when we are under a spiritual authority, God would also lead us into times of prayer, into times of fasting, by speaking to the leadership of the church. And that is why when a church goes into a particular time of prayer, members of the church of that particular denomination or ministry are expected to be part of the season of prayer and fasting. Sometimes you may have a personal meeting to also pray and fast.
The different durations that you could be led to for some common occasions are times of over ten periods of prayer and fast that we see from time to time. Could be the fast for 3 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days, 21 days, 30 days, 40 days, 70 days, and 100 days. It could be as you are led by the Spirit, or as your spiritual leadership is led by the Spirit.
Now, there are some two conditions of fasting that we also need to put across here. It is medically advised that an absolute fast, that is no food, the fast without food and water, should not exceed three days. Should not exceed three days. Also, in certain cases, when someone has a health challenge, or a woman has gone progressed into the very advanced stage of pregnancy, instead of you in such a condition now engaging in a fast, you can alternate with a vigil. You can alternate with midnight prayers. It will also, in most circumstances, achieve the same result in the spirit realm.
And then, key number 10 is that you should join other believers in united prayers. Join other believers in united prayers. Acts chapter 12, verse 5. Acts chapter 12, verse 5. We could see how the church, easy-to-read version, it says, "So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly in prayer, constantly praying to God for him." So, in addition to your private time of prayer, you must regularly join all believers in united prayers, in corporate prayers. Sometimes it could be in the context of a prayer meeting. Sometimes you will need to join some prayer vigils. Sometimes you need to join others in a prayer retreat, as the case may be. It's quite instructive in Acts chapter 12, verse 5 to 7. After this, as a church was praying, it was more or less like a prayer relay. So, believers, obviously, we are going at it at a particular time, and then others were taking over from them, in the way of running shifts, shifts in a place of prayer. So, there was prayer constantly going on on behalf of God's intervention for Peter. And it's quite instructive in verse 7 that the Lord eventually intervened and sent an angel to bring him out. We pray this morning that many that are listening to this message right now, in need of a divine intervention, may the Lord mighty step into that situation and grant you a timely deliverance, timely victory, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, it took the collective prayers of the church in Jerusalem for God to intervene and deliver Peter.
And then, key number 11, you would also need to engage in prayer of agreement at certain times. Prayer of agreement at certain times. Matthew chapter 18, verse 19. Matthew 18, verse 19, easy-to-read version, it says, "To say it another way, if two of you on earth agree on anything you pray for, my Father in heaven will do what you ask." If two of you. Sometimes it could be two, sometimes it could be more than two, could be three. So, you would also need to engage in prayer of agreement at certain times. Sometimes it could be prayer of agreement with your spouse. Sometimes it could be a prayer of agreement with your prayer partner or prayer partners. Sometimes it could be a prayer of agreement with your pastor. So, there are different instances where different people you could team up with to offer to God a prayer of agreement. Sometimes members of a family could come together to pray on issues that you know bother, that are central to the needs and expectations of members of that family.
And then, key number 12. Key number 12. You need to pray as frequently as necessary. As frequently as necessary. Leviticus chapter 6, verses 8 to 13, easy-to-read version, it says, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Give this command to Aaron and his sons. This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering must stay on the altar all night until morning. The altar's fire must be kept burning. The priest must change clothes and put on the special linen clothes. Then he must gather up the ashes from the fire and burnt offerings and set them down by the altar. Then he must take off the special clothes and put on other clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a special place that is pure. The fire that was started on the altar must never be allowed to stop burning. Every morning, the priest must put food on the altar. This is very, very symbolic of what should happen in your prayer life. They must arrange the burnt offerings on the wood, and they must burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. That fire must always be kept burning on the altar. It must never be allowed to stop burning.'"
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And then in First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 17. First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 17, easy-to-read version, it says, "Never stop praying." If you saw one beside you listening to this message with you, I'd like you to talk to that person and tell that person, "Never stop praying." And then, King James version, First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing."
Now, you should also understand here. When the Bible says, when the Lord is saying, the Spirit of God is saying, "Pray without ceasing," that doesn't mean you are going to be praying non-stop, 24 hours, day in, day out. No. Pray without ceasing. You know, therefore, gives you a clear insight that you are expected to pray and keep on praying at even intervals. It's set in intervals. You must pray again. You must pray again. And then, of course, the frequency of some prayer sessions. Matthew chapter 6, verse 11, King James Version. It says, Jesus was teaching, now teaching the disciples how to pray. And then he gave them a model of the Lord's Prayer, which is called the Lord's Prayer. Then in verse 11, while teaching them on how he said, "Give us, pray in this manner, give us this day our daily bread."
Now, there are some prayer sessions that must be observed again, at least daily. So, when you have prayed in the next 24 hours, you will need to pray again. You will need to have that time of prayer again. That is what will happen with your personal devotion, your prayer altar. And then, of course, there are also some prayer sessions that you hold at least on a weekly basis. Only weekly basis. And there are some prayer sessions that you hold at least on a monthly basis. These are, you know, optimum intervals. And it has been proven that when you have failed to pray again after a long measure of time, then it's more like what you have done before no longer had the effect it had initially. Even if you have fasted and prayed at the beginning of the year for 21 days, that does not imply that for the rest of the year you will not pray. Even when you have prayed, had attended a prayer meeting for this week at the beginning of the month, that doesn't imply that for the rest of that month you will not pray anymore. So, there are some prayer sessions that should hold again at set intervals. Some of them only daily basis, some on a weekly basis, and some on a monthly basis, and some only yearly basis, or else the fire may go out, or else you may no longer be guaranteed of optimum impact and optimum effect, optimum results in response to your prayers and prayer points.
So, the same way this applies to frequency of prayer sessions, it also applies to frequency of setting some specific prayer points. There are some particular prayer points that we must pray on a daily basis. So, these prayer points must be prayed again at least daily. Some weekly, some monthly, and some on an annual basis. So, your procession should be as frequent as necessary. Your prayer points should be taken as frequent as necessary as well. And you know, one very interesting illustration has to do with supplements and medications, medical prescriptions. For instance, for different patients for the same ailment could vary in terms of the quantity of the medication that you take and the frequency, the frequency of how often they are to use or take those drugs that have been prescribed. So, the frequency of prayer required may imply that you engage in not just sometimes, not just one day fast or one night vigil. Sometimes you may be required to have what will be appropriate to achieve optimum results would be a 3-day fast. Sometimes a 7-day fast. Sometimes a 3-day vigil or a 7-day vigil, or 7 three-day vigils, or three night vigils, or seven night vigils. So, are daily and weekly prayer sessions of prayer should be as frequent as necessary. However, we should always please have a balance. For instance, God Himself expects you to work. He admonishes us that he would not work, let him not eat. So, there is time to be at your workplace, and there is time to be in a place of prayer. So, spend an appropriate time in a place of prayer at a time you are not supposed to be at your workplace. There must be a fair balance in whatever we are doing.
And then the last key. Hallelujah. The next key will be key number 13. Your prayer should be fervent and intense. Your prayer should be fervent and intense. In James chapter 5, verse 16 B, it says, "The fervent, effectual prayer." King James Version, "fervent, effectual prayer of the righteous availeth much." Jeremiah 29:12 to 13. Talks about a time when you will truly come before the Lord with all your heart. If fervent prayer is a type offered intensely with all your heart, with all your heart. If you are praying intensely, with all your heart, you cannot at the same time answer a phone call. You cannot at the same time respond to a phone call. Any time you disrupt your prayer to answer calls, issues privately, we pray fervently. All your entire focus is absolutely on your prayer. Absolutely on your prayer. And that's why sometimes someone is praying and he does not even know that seven people have entered the same room in which he's praying because he's so focused, she's so focused on her praying at that point in time. And in James chapter 5, verse 16, amplified, it says, "The earnest, persistent prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working." And we see instances of fervent prayers from Hannah in First Samuel chapter 1, verse 15, from our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 22:44. Fervent prayer, the prayer offered with a desperate desire. Let the kind of fast Esther called for in Esther chapter 4, verse 14. Everyone was instructed to go without food and water. In most cases, when your prayers are truly fervent, consciously or unconsciously, it will reflect physically. This is not absolutely always so. The three major ways you could see some manifestations physically when one is really praying fervently. One would be loud cries. Hebrews chapter 5, verse 7. Easy-to-read version says, "While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God asking for help from the one who could save him from death. He prayed to God with loud cries and tears, and his prayers were answered because of his great respect for God."
Another manifestation you see from people when they pray fervently is by their body movement. This was what happened with Hannah in First Samuel chapter 1, verses 12 to 30. King James version, First Samuel 1:12 to 18. "And Hannah answered and said, 'No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink.'" By the way she was, you know, praying so fervently, the priest looking at her from a little bit afar off assumed that this woman was drunk. And so she had to make a clarification. "I pour out my soul before the Lord." I stand as God's servant to agree with someone who is currently down. It is our spirit. The same God who had mercy upon Hannah today, have mercy upon you. Whatever has brought heaviness in spirit to you, the Lord will mighty intervene and turn around a situation from the very foundation in the name of Jesus. Instead of sorrow, the Lord grant you joy.
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The Lord take away your pain. The Lord take away whatever is the root of discouragement in your life in the name of Jesus. And today, may the Lord grant you a complete and permanent solution, complete and permanent healing. Everything you lost in a mysterious move of God, the Lord grant you complete restoration. For the shame you suffered, the Lord grant you double honor. Those who mocked you, very soon will publicly celebrate you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Another manifestation of fervent prayers is that when people are praying fervently, you observe, sometimes they begin to sweat. You observe, you know, the father and prayer will begin to manifest in the remote past. Fresh. In Luke chapter 22, verse 44. Luke 22:44, King James Version. "This was a lot. Jesus, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Fervent prayers. Easy-to-read version says, "Jesus was full of pain. The struggle he had in prayer, sweat dripped from his face like drops of blood falling to the ground." Fervent prayers. So, whenever we cry out in prayer, we are praying fervently, and it makes a strong impression on God for a prompt intervention, prompt response to a situation.
There are many instances also in Mark chapter 10, verses 46 to 52. You see the blind man, Bartimaeus, crying out, calling on the Lord Jesus to have mercy. And the Lord indeed had mercy, and he received a miracle. Someone today, in verse 3, Luke 18:7. Now, still on these issue of the fervor, your prayer, the intensity, it may also have to also sometimes relate to the measure of intensity of your prayer. The intensity of prayer required may imply sometimes that you offer not just prayer or praying added with fasting.
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There are times where to be clear by the measure of what is at stake, that just prayers would not produce the optimum result. It has to be intensified with fasting. Sometimes you may need to offer not just a fast for three days from maybe 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but an absolute fast or dry fast without food or water for three straight days without breaking by 6 p.m. So, different measures of intensity could be required at different points in time to deal with the situation on hand.
And the last point for this second part of the teaching is key number 14. You will need to operate a daily prayer altar. A daily prayer altar. Mark chapter 1, verse 35. Mark 1:35, easy-to-read version. The Bible says, "The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. He deliberately woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark, went to a place where he could be alone, where he could be Lord and pray." So, you would also need to operate a daily prayer altar. Your prayer altar is a specific time of the day when you fellowship with God. It's your own moment of personal devotion with the Lord. Effective prayers begins with a personal relationship with God through the prayer altar. You build up your intimacy with God. The time of praise, the time of worship, the time of quality time given is the type of prayer, and it's also a time of Bible study, worth studying.
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Consistency in your daily prayer altar will keep your prayer life on fire. And also enable you to maintain the consistency required to breakthrough in prayers and receive answers to your prayer points. So, you must discipline yourself and keep it going on a daily basis. Now, for you to get the best results in your time in the prayer, observing your prayer altar, personal devotion, you need to avoid distractions. Avoid distractions to your prayer altar as much as possible. So, it is very wise to fix the time for your prayer altar for a particular time of the day, based on your personal schedule, your personal environment. Let it be at a time you would not be easily disturbed or distracted. So, you could see the example of our Lord Jesus in Mark 1:35. He had to leave his house and go to a place where he could be alone. You could go to a place where there would be no disturbance, no distraction. This is very essential if you are going to get the best from your quality time at the prayer altar. You also need to always prepare yourself ahead of time. So, it's also wise to fix the time for your prayer altar for a time where you are not already worn out, when there is fresh energy. Because there are people who, in their daily prayer, their time of prayer everyday, some sometimes fall asleep. Some take prayer vigils, and while they are praying, they name because they are already tired, they are worn out from the issues of the day. So, deliberately prepare yourself ahead of time to be refreshed for your time with God, your personal devotion. Hallelujah.
So, in the third and closing part of the teaching, we look at the last six keys to optimum results in prayer. Prayer is so powerful. Prayer can change virtually anything. Because when you are praying, you are connecting with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And with God, all things are possible.
So, right now, at this moment, pray together. Lift up your hands wherever you are. I'd like you to just, in one minute, appreciate God for what you have heard. Appreciate Him for what you have already known that the Lord has confirmed again to you by emphasizing to you that you have already been doing the right thing, the right way. So, continue with the way you have been praying and fellowshipping with the Lord.
Father, we thank you for your word. We appreciate you for your faithfulness. We pray, Lord, that at this moment, you release your spirit of grace and supplication upon your sons and daughters in the precious name of our Lord Jesus. We take authority over you, spirit of sleep, you spirit of slumber, you spirit of prayerlessness. We bind you in the name of Jesus. We cast you out of these lives. Every prayer load that has been silenced, every prayer that has gone cold, the Lord will mighty revive this moment in the name of Jesus. The Lord put fresh fire into your prayer. Lord, may the spirit of revival come upon each and everyone listening to this message at this moment in the name of Jesus. I stand in agreement with you concerning each of those your major prayer points, and I pray that the Lord will show you mercy and grant you a timely divine intervention in response to that prayer request in the name of Jesus. Every prince of Persia standing in the way of God's answer to your prayer, we will throw them out of the way in the name of Jesus. And just like David received God's answer to his prayer, we declare that today, the Lord will open the way for you to receive the physical manifestation of God's answers to your prayer in the name of Jesus. We decree that between now and the close of the year, you will hear good news. There shall be shouts of victory. There shall be sound of rejoicing in your camp in the name of Jesus Christ. Your prayer is answered. That prayer is answered in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Heavenly Father. In Jesus name, we have prayed. Hallelujah.
Although Jesus with a clap offering, wherever you are. Offer Him with a clap offering if you are sure the Lord has spoken to you, He has prophesied onto your life, He has heard your prayer. Wherever you are listening now, offer Jesus with a clap offering. He deserves our praise. He deserves our Thanksgiving. He sits in heaven and does whatever pleases. It is your turn to be honored by God. Hallelujah.
So, please stay tuned with us for the third and final part of these teachings on "20 Keys to Optimum Results in Prayer." God bless you. Jesus Evangelical Assembly, the House of Our Prayers. Now, the blessing.
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