A biblical view of prayer series outline

LIVING TO THE GLORY OF GOD DAILY

A STUDY IN BIBLICAL PRAYER

Charles e. Whisnant, July 28, 2010 Part One

1A THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN OUR TOTAL LIVES

1B A crutch by some, used little by others. Much in some lives.

2B The Benefits of Prayer:

1C We gain victory over the devil, and for God. Ephesians 6;12-13

2C We obtain things by prayer, which is God’s appointed means. James 4:2

3C We follow those in the Bible that did pray. Acts 6:2-4; I Thessalonians 3:10; FirstTimothy 1:3

4C We are true followers of Jesus, who made prayer very prominent in our daily lives. Mark 1:35.

5C We have fellowship with Christ in His present ministry. Hebrews 7:25.

6C We lay hold of God’s appointed means of receiving mercy and grace. Hebrews 4:16

7C We take advantage of God’s appointed means of obtaining fullness of joy. John 16:24.

8C We benefit by availing ourselves of God’s appointed means of experiencing freedom from all anxiety. Philippians 4:6-7.

9C We obtain the Holy Spirit in the sense of his ministry of power. Luke 11:13.

10C We gain ourselves of God’s means by which our hearts are not overcharged with overindulgence, drunkenness, and cares. Luke 21:34-36

11C We accomplish much through prayer.

1D Prayer promotes spiritual growth as Bible study does.

Prayer helps bring to light hidden sins as we invite God to search us. Psalms 139:23-24.

God washes and cleanses Psalms 51:2.

Opens our eyes to behold wonderful things in His Word Psalms 119;18.

Gives us wisdom for a spiritual walk James 1:5.

Imparts strength Pslams 119

Changes us more and more into Image 2 Corinthians 3:18.

1 | P a g e A B i b l i c a l S t u d y o f P r a y e r O u t l i n e C h a r l e s e . W h i s n a n t

2D Prayer draws on power that enables us to do our work.

3D Prayer makes use of for the conversion of others.

4D Prayer brings many blessings to the church. By it people root out heresy, solves misunderstanding, dissolves jealousies, and frictions. Psalms 119:126.

2A WHAT IS PRAYER

1B WORSHIPFUL ADORATION (PRAISE)

1C Having a spirit permeated by a sense of God, who he is as the God who hears and answers prayer. Psalms 34:1. 70:4. Psalms 84:4. We can worshipfully praise Him for:

1D His righteousness. Psalms 5; 145;17; 148:7

2D His strength and mighty works. Psalms 20:13; 31:4; 43:2; 46:1

3D His creation. Psalms 148-149

4D His kingship. Psalms 5

5D His lovingkindness, in giving benefits. Psalms 108:1

6D His building up Jerusalem. Psalms 147. The church. Ephesians 16:18

7D His giving of His Word. Psalms 147:19

8D His raising up Israel as his people and the Church. Psalms 148:14, Ephesians 2:11-21

9D His giving of honor to the godly to participate with Him in judging the nations Psalm 149:5-9 and 1 Corinthians 6:2.

2B THANKSGIVING:

Psalms 7:17, Psalms 30:1-4; Psalms 34.

Psalms 44; 51:17; 75:1. Psalms 136.

3B CONFESSION

Of sins. Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9, Job 42:6; Psalms 25:11

4B PETITION (DIRCT REQUESTS.)

Daniel 2:18; 9:16-19

5B INTERCESSION: (PRAYER ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.)

6B OTHER VITAL ASPECTS IN PRAYER (D.L. Moody gives five essentials:


1C RESTITUTION - A willing heart to obey God and make good a wrong when you are able: Matthew 5:23; Psalms 66:18

2C FORGIVING SPIRIT OF MERCY: Matthew 6:12-14

3C UNITY: Matthew 18:19

4C FAITH: Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; James 1:5-7, Hebrews 11:6

5C SUBMISSION TO DO GOD’S WILL: Psalms 80:18; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14

We can even pray, when we detect our slothfulness and coldness toward God, for God to quicken us and incline us in His Holy way. Psalms 119:25; 32; 36; 133.

111A THE TIME OF PRAYER:

1B THE TIME WITHIN OUR DAILY LIVES

1C Psalms 5:3; Mark 1:35; Psalms 55:17

2C Psalms 119:164; 42:8, 119:62; I Samuel 15:1 Psalms 119:147

3C Daniel 10:2-3; Acts 1:3, 13; 2:1

2B THE TIME IN LIGHT OF OUR MNEEDS OR IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

1C When we feel a pressing need: Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:4

2C Without ceasing: I Thessalonians 5:17

3C For all the saints: Ephesians 6:18

4C In everything: Philippians 4:6

1VA THE LENGTH OF PRAYER

1B In Terms of Days

2B In Terms of Hours and Minutes

1C I Kings 8, Genesis 32:24-32; Luke 6:12

3B Short Prayers\

1C Matthew 14:30, really short prayer.

2C “Our short prayers owe their point and efficiency to the long ones that have preceded them. The short prevailing prayer cannot be prayed by one who has not prevailed with God in a mightier struggle of long continuance…” E. M. Bounds

3C These factors are crucial in short or long prayers>

1D Genuine Faith


2D Genuine brokenness of repentance: Luke 18:13

3D The Lord’s compassionate goodness even when we doubt and fail. Matthew 14:31; The focus when we feel helpless and in need.

4C In Terms of an Unceasing Persistence:

1D Devoted servant of God’s will, pray longer and shorter prayers,

2D In his spirit and direction of life, one can pray with regularity, “without ceasing” as in I Thessalonians 5:17;

3D Other times “Day and Night” Nehemiah 1:5

4D Other times or set times: Psalms 55:17

5D At the moment of some particular need: Matthew 14:30

VA THE POSITION OF THE BODY IN PRAYER 1B Kneeling: Acts 9:40

2B Standing: 2 Chronicles 6:12

3B Lying Upon your bed: Psalms 4:4

4B In the car, sitting at a desk, hanging on for dear life someplace in danger.

VIA THE DEFINITNESS OF PRAYER

1B Ask exactly for what you need: Matthew 14:30

2B Ask as much as possible in according with God’s will in His Word. John 15:7

3B Definite results greet definite prayers:

1C Preservation of the saved from Satan’s attacks: Luke 22:31-32

2C Salvation of the unsaved: I John 5:16

3C Power for preaching God’s word. Ephesians 6:`18-20

4C Meeting of daily needs: Matthew 6:11, 25-34

V11ATHE PRIMER OF PRAYER

1B THE WORD: John 15:7 and Psalms 110

2B Getting to know God and submitting obediently to His Lordship: 1 Peter 3:15

3B Faith: Matthew 21:22; and Mark 11:24

4B Thankful remembrance of past blessings from God: Psalms 4:1; 44:1-7

5B Confession of sin and availability as a pure channel: Psalms 12:5-6

6B Burden for what burdens God – Salvation of the lost; Romans 10:1

7B Fellowship with God and Christians: I Peter 3:7; Psalms 66:18

VIIIA THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PRAYER


The situation in which we need to pray are as diverse as life itself. Paul says “in everything” Philippians 4:6. Here are a few illustrations :

When you read, I want you to stand, (to be on video). Give an example.

1B TRIALS: Psalms 18:6; 34:4-7; 118:5; Psalms 140; 141:1-4; 142:3; 143; 144; Romans 15:30-32; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Example:

2B DUTIES IN A BROAD-SPECTURM

1C PRAY

1D BEFORE: in preparation: Nehemiah 1:11; Luke 6:12, Romans 1:10

2D DURING: Nehemiah 2:4

3D AFTER: Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12

Example:

3B RECEIVING CHRIST IN SALVATION: Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13

Example:

4B IN FREE MOMENTS OR WHEN WE LIE DOWN TO REST. Psalms 119:62; 148.

Example:

5B JUST TO THANK GOD. Lots of times in Psalms.

Example:

6B SEEKING WISDOM AND GUIDANCE: James 1:5

Example:

7B FOR DISCERNING THE WORD OF GOD: Psalms 119:18; Ephesians 1:15-16

Example:

8B FOR VICTORY OVER A LYING, DECEITFUL TONGUE: Psalms 120:1-2


Example:

9B FOR OPENING DOORS OF EVANGELISM: Ephesians 6:18-20, Colossians 4:3 and Example

10A FOR CHOOSING LEADERS: Luke 6:12; Acts 113;1-2;

Example:

11A FOR CIVIL LEADERS; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Example:

12A PREACHING GOD’S MESSAGE WITH BOLDNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS: Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4

Example:

13A FOR OTHER’S PROBLEMS: Deuteronomy 9:20; Numbers 12:11-15

Example:

14A FOR THE SALVATION OF OTHERS: Romans 10:1

Example:

15A FOR THOSE WHO CONDEUM YOU: Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28

Example:

16A FOR DIVINE ENABLEMENT: Psalms 119:28

Example:

17A FOR FRUIT: John 15:7-8

Example:

IX TESTIMONIES IN PRAYER


1A BIBLICAL EXAMPLES:

1B Abraham: Genesis 18:22-33

2B Jacob: Genesis 32:22-32

3B Job: Job 5:8-9

4B Moses: Exodus 32-33; Numbers 11-12; 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 9:20

5B Samuel:1 Samuel 12:23

6B Hannah: 1 Samuel 1

7B David: 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; Psalms 34; 4-6

8B Solomon: 1 Kings 3:3-14; 8:22-53; 2 Chronicles 6:14-42

9B Elijah 1 Kings 17:1; 17-24; 18:36-39

10B Hezekiah: Isaiah 37

11B Jeremiah: Jeremiah 9:1; 14;17; 33:3

12B Daniel: Daniel 9:1-19; 2:17-23; 6:11-1

13B Jonah: Jonah 2

14B Habakkuk: Habakkuk 1 and 2

15B Anna/Hannah: Luke 2:36-38

X THE PRAYERS OF JESUS CHRIST:

Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; John 17


1A THE PLACE OF PRAYER

1

2

3

2A THE LENGTH OF PRAYER

1

3A THE ALERTNESS OF PRAYER

1 LUKE 22:40-44

4A THE INTENSITY OF PRAYER

1 Luke 22:41-44

5A THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF PRAYER

1 It is worship: Luke 2:27

2 It leads to thanksgiving: Luke 2:37-38

` 3 God is the object: Luke 6:12

4 It is related to the Holy Spirit: Luke 3:21

7A MENTAL DEFENSE OF PRAYER

1 Lack of prayer leads to fainting: Luke 18:12 Keeping men from fainting and entering temptation> James 1:5-8

8A SCHOOLING OF PRAYER

1 John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray: Luke 5:33; 11:1

2 Luke 11:1-2

9A DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

1 Luke 5:16

10A POSTURE OF PRAYER

1 Luke 5:16

XI THE BELIEVERS PRAYERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH IN ACTS

1A AS THEY WAITED PENTECOST: 1:14

2A FOR GOD’S DIRECTION IN CHOOSING A MAN TO REPLACE JUDAS: 1-14


3A AS A MARK OF CONTINUANCE IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: 2:39-42

4A AS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED EXERCISE: 3:1 AND 10:9

5A FOR BOLDKNESS AND GOD’S BACKING IN WITNESSING: 4:29-31

6A FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE IN CHOOSING TABLE SERVERS: 6:6

7A FOR SPECIAL PRAYER OF LIFE TO DORCAS: 9:40

8A FOR BARNABAS AND SAUL BEFORE THEY DEPARTED AS MISSIONARIES 13:3

9A FOR THE GROWTH OF NEW CHRISTIANS: 14:23

10A FOR DELIVERANCE OF PETER FROM PRISON: 12:5

1B How did they conceive God here?

1C He is One whom we may continue to ask. The imperfect tense emphasizes continual action in pasts times.

2C He is One to whom group prayer is important,. The whole church was praying, and there were many at this prayer meeting.

3C They approached Him with uncertain faith. They had prayer problems, but they did pray. When the answer came, they could not believe but had at least two other explanations: 12:15 and 12:16. Yet what grace is also here! 12:16. Despite uncertain faith God answered prayer.

4C They prayed not realizing that the answer was even then walking to meet them.

5C In this case, God used an angel to answer their prayers.

11A PRAYER AS THEY OPENED GOD’S WORK IN EUROPE, A WHOLE CONTINENT: 16:13

1B They prayed before any report of fruit was given.

2B They thought of God as One whose work of winning souls is furthered by an undergirding of prayer.

3B They penetrated to heaven before God penetrated to a heart 16:14.

4B They prayed with perseverance for several days before persecution arrived, not after the trouble started. 16:19

12A PRAYER IN PRISION 16:25-30

1B Paul and Silas prayed at midnight.

2B They did not talk over their situation with other prisoners who were in no position to help them.


3B They sang hymns.

4B They met their situation with prayer and not panic, singing and not sighing.

5B They depended upon God’s sufficiency,

6B Their songs must have had the gospel in the words. The jailer knew the issue was salvation and not religion.

13A PRAYER WITH THE EPHESIANS ELDERS AFTER AN ADDRESS: 20:36

1B Paul is teaching them the place of services and challenged them to be faithful, in feeding the flock of God. 20:28-32

2B The right concept of God and the right attitude of a servant before Him.

14A PRAYER OF FAREWELL TO CHRISTIANS IN TYRE. 21:5

15A PRAYER IN THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE AND RECEPTION OF GOD’S COMMISSION: 22:17

16A PRAYER IN THE HEALING OF MANY ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA: 28:8-9

Summary:

1 What a place, then, is given to prayer in the lives of theses early believers who werer often so effective in doing and communicating the will of Christ?

2 We who seek to follow in their footsteps as men of God today should among other things, follow them as men of prayer.

XII PRAYER AND GOD’S SELF-GOVERNMENTOctober 27, 2010 November 03, 10th

“If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (1 John 5:14).


In the great majority of the books written and in the sermons preached upon prayer the human element fills the scene almost entirely: it is the conditions which we must meet, the promises we must “claim,” the things we must do in order to get our requests granted; and God’s claims, God’s rights, God’s glory are disregarded.

True or False: “God in His Sovereignty has ordained that human destinies may be changed and molded by the will of man. This is at the heart of the truth that prayer changes things, meaning that God changes things when men pray.

True or False “Human destiny” is settled not by the will of man, but by the will of God. John 1:13: 1 Samuel 2:6-8

True or False: If a believer prays in faith and asks for those things which are according to God’s will he will most certainly obtain that for which he has asked.

True or False: There are other things that will happen if he prays, and will not happen if he does not pray.'“

True or False: God who has decreed the end has also decreed that His end shall be reached through His appointed means, and One of these is prayer.

True or False: “The possibilities and necessity of prayer, its power and results, are manifested in arresting and changing the purposes of God and in relieving the stroke of His power.” Daniel 4:35

True or False: There is no need whatever for God to change His designs or alter His purpose for the all-sufficient reason that these were framed under the influence of perfect goodness and unerring wisdom.

True or False: God’s policy is shaped as the prayers are more numerous, more efficient.” Ephesians #:11; 1:11; Romans 11:34

True or False: Such thoughts on prayer as we have been citing are due to low and inadequate conceptions of God Himself.

True or False: Well did Luther remark, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.”

The design of prayer. Why has God appointed that we should pray? 1. First and foremost, prayer has been appointed that the Lord God Himself should

be honored. Isaiah 57:15; Jonah 2:9;

2. In the second place, prayer is appointed by God for our spiritual blessing, as a means for our growth in grace.

1. Prayer is designed by God for our humbling. 2. Prayer is designed by God for the exercise of our faith. Romans 10:83. Prayer calls love into action: Job 27:10; Psalms 116:14. Prayer is designed by God to teach us the value of the blessings we have sought from Him.


3. Third, prayer is appointed by God for our seeking from Him the things which we are in need of.

True or False: If God has foreordained, before the foundation of the world, everything which happens in time, there is no need to pray. True or False: God be the Predestinator of everything that comes to pass, and the Regulator of all events, then prayer a profitless exercise? I Thess 5:17; Luke 18:1 James 5:16-17

What then is the relationship between God’s Sovereignty and Christian prayer?

True or False: God has elected certain ones to be saved, but He has also decreed that these shall be saved through the preaching the Gospel

True or False: God has decreed the means as well as the end, and among the means is prayer. Even the prayers of His people are included in His eternal decrees.

True or False: That prayers for the execution of the very things decreed by God are not meaningless is clearly taught in the Scriptures. James 5:17, 18; Daniel 9:2-3; Jeremiah 29:1

True or False: The design of prayer: not that God’s will may be altered, but that it may be accomplished in His own good time and way. John 15:5; John 17:11, Jeremiah 15:1

True or False: Our views respecting prayer need to be revised and brought into harmony with the teaching of Scripture on the subject

True or False: Prayer is a coming to God, telling Him my need, committing my way unto the Lord, and leaving Him to deal with it as seemeth Him best John 11; 2 Corinthians 12

True or False: No prayer is pleasing to God unless the spirit actuating it is “not my will, but Thine be done.”

True or False: will it surprise you when we say that every real prayer of faith that has ever been offered to God has been answered?

True or False: Real prayer is communion with God so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. True or False: What is needed is for Him to fill our hearts with His thoughts and then His desires will become our desires flowing back to Him.

XIII WHAT IS BIBLICAL PRAYER AS FOUND IN THE BIBLE

Charles e. Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher. November 17th -24th December 1, 8, 15, 2010

1A The majority of prayers focus on spiritual concerns, not matters of physical well-being and comfort.


While the physical aspects remain important to us and to God, we need to develop in prayer so that we give priority to the burdens on which these Scriptures place strong emphasis. Which is the whole point of Biblical praying.

2A The greatest number of references are to intercessory prayer.

3A Prayer is to be unceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17 night and day 1 Thessalonians 3:10

4A Intercessory prayer can be earnest labor: Epaphras in Colossians 4:12-13.

5A Praise and thanksgiving seem to be interchangeable. Hebrews 13:15. Philippians 1:9-11. 4:6 Colossians 1:3; 4:2-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Revelation 11; 17; 15:3-4; 19:1-6

6A Christians are to be thankful in everything. Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

7A Christians are to pray for the unsaved, such as leaders. I Timothy 2:1-2

8A We are to pray in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:18-20, Jude 20. Romans 8:26-27 tells us that the Spirit finally knows how we should pray when we do not.

9A Proper prayers of the saints are likened to sweet incense rising in fragrance to God. Revelation 5:8; 8:3 and Psalms 141:2

10A Prayer is to be both with the spirit and mind (understanding), in one’s own language which he understands, not in a tongue which the mind does not understand. I Corinthians 11:14-15

11A It is good to enlist prayer warriors to pray (intercede) for you, even a lot of people, as Paul did, Romans 15:30-32

12A Christ is engaged in intercession for us, protecting our salvation. Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25;I John 2:1-2

13A Thanksgiving is most usually for spiritual benefits. Romans 1:7-12.14A When God does not give that for which we ask, we need to seek to profit from any

lesson of spiritual benefit He intends for us. 2 Corinthians12:7-10

15A We are always to offer intercessory prayer with joy. Philippians 1:3-4

16A The end result of all our prayer for others (intercession) should be the praise and glory of God Philippians 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

17A Thanksgiving is to sweeten every prayer. Philippians 4:6

18A Believers are to “devote” yourselves to prayer. Colossians 4:2-4

19A Believers are to keep alert in prayer. Colossians 4:2-4. This is to watch, as Jesus taught.

20A We are to pray God will grant other believers peace in every God honoring circumstance. 2 Thessalonians 3:16.


21A We are to expect answers to our valid prayers and the prayers of others. Philemon 22.

22A Since we have a great high priest who sympathizes with our weakness we can draw near to God’s throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and grace that help us in our needs. Hebrews 4:14-16.

23A Loud crying and tears in prayers: as Jesus in distress. Hebrews 5:7

24A We are to pray in faith. Hebrews 11:6; James 1:5-7

25A We are to pray with right motives. James 4:3. Humility, submission, resisting the devil, drawing near to God, cleansing our hands and hearts, weeping. James 4:6-10

26A Prayer of a husband and wife can be hindered if they do not live with each other in ways that are obedient to God’s word. (will) I Peter 3:7

27A We are to casts all our anxieties in prayer on God believing He cares for us. I Peter 5:7.

28A Obedience to Christ’s commandments enhances the effectiveness of prayer. 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15.

29A Celestial brings and heavenly elders have a strategic ministry in relation to God answsering our prayers. Revelation 5:8; 8:3;.

30A A Christian who prays can get God’s answer in giving life to “brother” who is sinning sin that is not unto death. 1 John 5:16

31A The prayer of the lasts book in our New Testament closes with longing petition for Christ to come and intercession for God’s grace to be with all those in the seven churches. Revelation 22:20-21

32A The only New Testament book that do not mention the word “prayer”, “ask”, “request” is found in

XIV

God answers all prayers, even if His answer is “No”, but prayers that get “No” answers are commonly thought of as unanswered prayers.

1A God gives many clear encouragements to expect answers to prayer (Luke 11:1-12), but many people pray and are not effective with God. So when this happens they get discouraged and some quit praying, some get bitter, while others stay discouraged, trying to serve God but slowed by a sense of frustration and defeat.


2B Some examples in the Bible of Ineffective Prayer

1B I Samuel 28:6 Saul

2B 2 Samuel 17:7-23Nathan and David

3B Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity

4B Proverbs 1:24-33 Mockery and indifference to God

5B Isaiah 59:1-2 The barrier created by wrong-doing

6B Lamentations 3:44 Prayers should not pass through

7B Joel 1:13-20 Morning for the Land

8B Matt5hew 20:20-23Mother of Zebedee’s sons’

9B 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 Paul’s thorn in the flesh

3C Possibilities in God’s Answers to Prayer

1A “YES” answers: Nehemiah 2:4, Daniel 2:17-23, Psalms 20:2, 40:1-3

2B “NO” answers:

Deuteronomy 3:23-27 Moses Land of Promises

2 Samuel 12:7-23 No to David and the baby.

Matthew 20:20-23 To sit on My right hand….No.

3C “Wait a while” answers

Genesis 15:2-12

Psalms 13; 88:14

Mark 7:25-30

Romans 1:13

I Thessalonians 3:10

4D “YES” to the Request, “NO” to the Purpose

Mark 5:12 Request Purpose Answer

Numbers 11:4-4

I Samuel 8:5-9; 19-20

2 Chron 18:4-22

Psalms 106:15

5E ‘NO” to the Request, “Yes” to the Purpose

Genesis 18:21-33 Abraham Request: Purpose: Answer.

2 Samuel 12:15-23 David Request


Mark 5:18-19 Man freed of Demons

Luke 16:27 Rich man

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul’s

6F “YES” to both the Request and the Purpose

Judges 16:28 Samson

2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat

Daniel 2 Daniel

Luke 23:42-43 Thief on the Cross

John 11:41-45 Jesus: Raise Lazarus from the Death

7G “NO” to Both the Request and the Purpose

I Samuel 28:6 Saul

Proverbs 28:9 Disobedient man

Isaiah 59:1-2 Apostate Jews

Luke 18:9-14 Pharisee

James 4:3 Early Jews

8H SOME POSSIBLE REASONS FOR AN ANSWER OF “NO” OR “WAIT” 01/19/2011

1 Sin hides God’s face from a person:a. Daniel 3:15b. Psalms 66:18; Isaiah 59:1-2; Ezekiel 14;1-3c. Maybe you are grieving the Spirit: Ephesians 4:30d. Hurtful attitudes, Ephesians 4:31e. Pride: James 4:6

2 Our own hearts condemn us and unable to approach God with confidence: I John 3:19-22

3 We shut up our compassion (mercy) Being unwilling to give or to forgivea. To those in need: Proverbs 21:13; Luke 6:38: Luke 11:5-13b. To forgive and show mercy: Matthew 6:13-15; Mark 11:23-26; James

2:13


4 Not asking in faith:a. James 1:5-7; Matthew 21:22

5 Covetous with regard to money and other matters; Malachi 3:7-9

6 chilly toward God’s word Proverbs 28:9a. Rather then allowing the Word to Abide in us: John 15:7b. Rather then to delight in His Word and Christ: Psalms 1:1-3

i. I have loved theses verses since Roanoke Baptist Templeii. Remember teaching them at West Hanley in Fort Worth

c. The way that leads to success Joshua 1:8i. Dad’s last sermon series in 1966 was in this chapter.

7 The excuse of a busy life as reason not to pray: not good.

8 Not asking according to God’s will: I John 5:14-15

9 Not praying period – James 4:2a. Proof that prayerlessness is sin

i. A direct statement I Samuel 12:23ii. An obvious disobedience to commands to pray I

Thessalonians 5:17iii. Sinning as a result of not praying. Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40iv. We faint because we have NOT prayed Luke 18:1

b. Results of NOT praying

i Grieve the Lord

ii Fail in temptation

iii DO NOT HAVE what we could have. James 4:2

a. Wisdom: James 1:5

b. Victory over argue persistently. James 4:1-3

c. No healing: James 5:13-15

d. No daily bread. Matthew 6:11

e. No physical life extended when we are ill.

Asa in 2 chronicles 16:12-13 and Hezekiah Isaiah 38


f. Not revival 2 Chronicles 7:14

h. No fruit. John 15:7-8

XV THE PRAYER OF THE UNSAVED

February 02, 2011 Bible Study Charles e. Whisnant5, Pastor/Teacher

God does not promise to answer the prayer of the unsaved, but sometimes He chooses to respond to them for His own purposes.

1A Prayer Related to Safety

Such prayer may be directly involved in an turmoil in which a person is also coming to salvation spiritually. Luke 23:39; Jonah 1:14-16

2A Prayer Related to Salvation Spirituality

1B The two men praying in the temple: Luke 18:9-14

2B The two men hanging on the cross: Luke 23:39-43

XVI PRAYER AND FASTSING

Definiton:

1A Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God's face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.


The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the "how-to's" of this life-changing experience. When I first undertook an extended fast, I had difficult time finding information on the nature of a Biblical fast, how to start, what to expect physically and spiritually, and how to terminate a fast. Bill Bright.

1. Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast. Exodus 14;29 Moses: I Kings19:8 Elijah. Hannah 1 Samuel 1:7.

2. Day of Atonement: 24 hour fasting: Leviticus 16:29, 31; 23:26-32.o Judges 20:26; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Joel 1:14;

3. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.

4. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."

5. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.

6. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!

7. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.8. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to

others.9. Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. You will discover more time to pray and seek God's face. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God.

2A Some characteristic of fasting

1a Grief: 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1;7; 3:35; Nehemiah 1:4

2b Repentance or penitence: i.e. confection of sin

1. 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 21:27; Daniel 9:3-4;2. Humbling oneself is part of this: Psalms 69:113. An affliction or humbling of the soul.4. Disciplining (controlling) regular desires: Psalms 35:13, Ezra 8:21

3c Appealing to God for His help. Exodus 34:28; 2 Samuel 12:16-23

1. David fasts all night after his child of adultery with Bathsheba fell ill2. Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:4,103. A person expected to gain God’s help, but would not if he was not

inwardly sincere: Isaiah 58:3-4; Joel 2:12-14;


4. Genuine spiritual commitment to God must be present or fasting is of no avail Isaiah 58:5-12; Jeremiah 14:11-12; Joel 2:12-14

5. Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and with weeping:.. render your hearts and not your garments: Zechariah 7-8

3C New Testament fasting: 3521 nest e uo

1a Jesus

Practice: Matthew 4:1-4 at the temptation

Teaching: Matthew 6:16-18. For the glory of God not man.

Matthew 9:14-17: They didn’t for a reason but later did.

2b Early Chrisitans

Cornelius fasted; Acts 10:30 When selecting and commissioning missionaries Acts 13:2-3 Paul: 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 Acts 9:9; 27:33, 14:23

4D Should we fast in our present day

1. It has reasonso Fostering love for God that hungers and thirsts after righteousness: Mt

5:6o Purifying the life through developing self control over a selfish, self-love

catering to one’s cravings and egotism.1. Fasting prevents luxuries from becoming necessities.2. Fasting is a protection of the spirit against the

encroachments of the body Seeking God’s mercy and power to fulfill deep spiritual needs.

2. It is temporaryo Mark 2:19: Fasting is a good time while Christ is away.

3. It is not for salvation4.

5E The Principles of the Biblical Fast

Types of Fasts in the Bible• The Normal Fast: No food is eaten, but water is drank (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:2)• The Absolute Fast: Abstaining from both food and water (Acts 9:9; Ezra10:6).…..Today, it is advisable to drink water due to modern toxins & pollutions in the body``…..which need flushed.• The Partial Fast: Diet is restricted, rather than total abstinence from

food…..(Daniel 1:15; 10:2-3)


Isaiah 58:1-14

LET’S TAKE A FEW OF FASTING AND PRAYER

Charles e. Whisnant, February 09 2011

Xvi fasting and prayer

Dorothy Fields our 90 year old regular at every service member said last week, she had not every heard a lesson on “fasting.” And she has been saved since she was 10 years old.The first time I heard of fasting was Bill Gothard at an All Day Minister’s Seminar.

I have never heard a sermon by anyone in my life on “fasting.” You would think that fasting is not in the Bible or at least it’s not very important.

“I was able to hear from God better than ever before because my mind wasn’t cluttered with all the junk of a normal day.”

There’s something about the topic of Christian fasting that makes people defensive. I know I’m that way. When someone starts to talk about it, you can never be quite sure where they’re going or what burden they may try to lay on your conscience. So let me put your mind at ease on the topic. If you don’t want to fast, don’t fast. I have no hidden agenda that I’m going to spring on you in the last paragraph.

I do have an agenda to clarify the biblical teaching on fasting and call attention to bad habits some men have developed when they teach on fasting. Have noticed that teachers who promote fasting often have a way of telling you about their own practice of fasting (even as they make you feel guilty about your lack of fasting)? That is fundamentally wrong—unless I missed their exemption from Jesus’ command to keep our fasting from the attention of men (Matthew 6:1; 16-18).

I don’t want to press you into fasting. It’s more important that you understand why biblical saints fasted than for you to mechanically skip a few meals simply so you can say you’ve fasted. When you understand the principles behind fasting, you have a better idea of how to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life circumstances.

The preliminary question is: what is fasting?


Answer: Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

That’s straightforward enough. But let’s ask a more penetrating question.

Why did the saints fast in the Old Testament?

In summary, we can say that voluntary fasting in the Old Testament expressed a mournful, urgent seeking of God in distressing circumstances.

Consider some illustrations from the Old Testament.o 2 Samuel 12:16-18 o I Kings 21:27 Fasted for mercyo 1 Samuel 7:6 Israel fasted in repentanceo Esther 4:3; 16o Jonah 3:6-10 Ninevites fasted in repentance for mercy

Those who were fasting were faced with extreme circumstances of impending death or God’s imminent judgment. Greatly distressed and conscious of their utter helplessness, they suspended their normal eating habits in an urgent, extraordinary seeking of God who alone could deliver them from their distress.

In other words, their fasting naturally flowed from profound spiritual urgency. It was not the product of schedule spiritual practice. It expressed deep dependence on God in times of uncommon suffering.

In Joel 2:12-13 we read: Fasting was an outward expression of the inward reality of a shattered heart. It was an urgent

response of repentance and great humility. It was the seeking of deliverance from a cordial God in intensely distressed situations.

Old Testament fasting presupposes the spiritual realities of sin, judgment, repentance, helplessness, and dependence on God. It is a serious mistake to pursue external fasting without an solemn appreciation for the more important internal reasons that prompt it. Someone who casually pursues fasting as a religious duty without a broken heart actually mocks the reason for its existence.

The Question for us today.

1 Ask yourself some serious questions.a. Do you turn to God in your trials or surrender to fear and grumbling? Maybe you should

ask how do I? What do I do in these times?b. Do you repent of sin or tolerate it in your life? c. Are you confident in your own strength or do you see your utter need for the grace of God?

2 The true answers to those questions say much more about your sanctification than whether you have fasted of late, or if ever.

Biblical Fasting a Spiritual Discipline

Why Fast?

When current circumstances become overwhelming and divine intervention is sought after, fasting was and is a method of seeking out favor from God, as this entity is understood within the Old and New Testaments. Some examples of seeking God's special favor are:


A method of seeking God with sincerity: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart." Jeremiah 29:13;

Protection, Repentance and Blessing: Joel 2:12 to the end of the chapter, Ezra 8:21-23,31; Direction and Guidance: Acts 13:1-3; Illness/Severe Illness/Grief: 2 Samuel 12:15-19; Humility: Psalm 35:13, 1 Kings 21: 25 - 27; Communication With God and the Holy Spirit: Exodus 34:28, Acts 13:1-3

Some poor reasons for fasting.

A self-appointed fasting guru gladly tells readers how to fast, when to fast, what to eat. Misses the point of fasting.

Note: Note: Note:

Some New Testament thoughts on fasting and prayer.

First summary: The New Testament leaves the details of fasting to the discretion of the believer and even de-emphasizes fasting in the progress of revelation

Matthew 6:1-18. Christ taught us to give, pray, and fast privately. If you do, your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

o Christ gave specific instruction as to prayer.o Christ gave no instruction on how to fast. As to when, how, what not to do. “in this way.”

Does the Bible Teach us that we should not each certain foods?

What’s depressing is the result these self-appointed authorities have on those who follow them. They attach consciences with false guilt. Setting themselves up as judges of what goes into your mouth,

Tthey oppose our Lord Jesus Christ, who declared all foods clean and said that nothing should be rejected if it is received with gratitude (Mark 7:19; 1 Timothy 4:1-5).


Charles e. Whisnant, February 16, 2011

XVI PRAYER AND FASTNG

XVII PAYER OF FAITH What is the Prayer of Faith?

James 5:13-17 (King James Version)

13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:


15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN: The Prayer of Faith Shall Save The Sick?

The examination of James 5:13-16 Charles e. Whisnant February 16, 2011

Questions about these verses:

1 What kind of suffering is referred to in v. 132 What about sickness in v. 143 The Elders have more prayer than others?4 Do Elders have a special access path to God?5 What is the anointing and why oil?6 Does the prayer of faith always restore the one who is sick and

allow the Lord to raise him up?7 What does sin have to do with it?8 What kind of healing is this in v. 169 Why the illustration about rain?

The key to interpretation of any passage is always the context. In other words, each section of Scripture must be interpreted in the light of the whole book, the chapter it's in, the paragraph before, the paragraph after. In other words, context is the environment of thought in which a given passage is contained. We communicate using context. If I said to you, "Yeah, I went right up and right down." You don't know what I'm talking about. I might be talking about my temperature, my weight, a roller coaster ride, an airplane trip, short one, driving my car up a hill, taking a walk, you need a context. That's a simple way to say that every conversation with any meaning has to have a context. Every passage of Scripture has an environment of thought in which it exists and makes sense.

FIRST WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF THE LETTER THAT JAMES WRITE?

1. James is writing to them in the midst of the stress and hostility and persecution and temptations and trials that the world is bringing to bear on them to exhort them to stay faithful. Some of them need to examine their...themselves to see if they're even saved. The ones who are genuinely Christians need to remain faithful in a very difficult situation.

2. He comes right back as he closes to the theme with which he opened the epistle. "Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” James 5:7-11. , he is calling them again to be faithful in persecution. They are in a continual situation of suffering. They are in a continual stress of animosity that could produce bad temper, it can produce weakness. I mean, you can just sort of give up in that kind of ambush. It's possible for a believer to get angry, to even sin with his mouth, to retaliate, to feel vengeance.


3. You get the feeling of this epistle? It's an exhortation to people who under persecution, to hold patiently, strongly, without complaint, taking their share of suffering and enduring it all for the name of Jesus Christ.

4. Prayer is mentioned in every single verse...from verse 13 through verse 18. The heart of endurance...what is the heart of endurance? You want to be able to endure, what do you do? Pray. You depend on a divine resource. You go to God.

FOUR THINGS WE DISCOVER IN THESE VERSES

1 PRAYER AND COMFORT2 PRAYER AND REFURBISHMENT3 PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP4 PRAYER AND POWER

James recognizes the hardness of the conflict. He knows there's the need of prayer. And he not only covers four features of prayer but he fits everybody into it.

1. In verse 13 he talks about the believer, the individual. 2. And then in verses 14 and 15 he talks about the elders, the pastors, the leaders of the church. 3. Then in verse 16 he talks about the whole congregation, the one anothers. So he embraces the whole

church in its prayer life and also speaks about the wonderful features of prayer that benefit the life of the believer.

The main consideration of this passage based on verse 13 is clearly the casualties of the battle. The weak believers, the defeated believers, the ones who have lost the victory in their spiritual lives, the fallen soldiers, the seriously wounded in the fight and that's how it is out there. You've experienced it, haven't you? Sometimes it's more than you can take and the battle gets hot and heavy and your spirit is broken. And somebody has crushed you. In some places in Christian history, and some places in the world today, it might even be physical wounds that are inflicted.

Now I say all that to say this and this is the key to interpreting the passage if you understand the context. I am convinced that the thrust of this passage has absolutely nothing to do with physical sickness or disease at all.

It is not a passage about healing physical diseases. It is a passage about healing spiritual weakness, spiritual weariness,

spiritual exhaustion, and spiritual depression. But a section on how to help people who are spiritually weak and broken

and embattled and bruised and wounded and hurt and have lost the victory, that makes sense.

POINT # ONE: PRAYER AND COMFORT

“Is any among you afflicted 2553 let him pray 4336 Is any merry?2165Let him sing pslams”5567 kjv

AFFLECTED:


http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=5567




1. to suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles) 2. to be afflicted

MERRY

1. to gladden, make joyful a. to be glad, to be merry, to rejoice b. to rejoice in, be delighted with a thing

SING PSALMS

1. to pluck off, pull out 2. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang

a. to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate

b. to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. c. to sing to the music of the harp d. in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

So the main interpretive point that I want you to notice out of verse 13 is that James is not concerned for prayer in relation to those who are physically sick.

He's not concerned with prayer for those who have some disease. But those who are mentally and emotionally suffering the effects of their trials, temptations, and

persecutions.

POINT # TWO: PRAYER AND REFURBISHMENT

Romans 5:14 I any sick770 among1722 you, let him call for the elders of the church;

SICK

1. to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless 2. to be weak in means, needy, poor 3. to be feeble, sick 4. 2 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 4:19; 14:1-2,21

AMONG:

You're in the middle of the battle, you're fighting for your life, as it were, against the persecutors, and you're losing out.

But if you've hit bottom, you want to know something? Hard for you to pray, isn't it? In fact, you may not be able to pray effectively. So what do you do?

Verse 14, "Let him call for the...what?...the elders4245 of the church."

If you're suffering, pray. If you've hit bottom and you're weak and the power's gone out of your life and out of your prayers and you're overwhelmed with the persecution and the trials and the struggles, then go the spiritual strong and let them pray over you. See that? Isn't that a beautiful ministry?




"But what about anointing218 him with oil1637 in the name of the Lord?

ANOINTING

OIL1637

1. olive oil

a. for fuel for lamps b. for healing the sick c. for anointing the head and body at feasts d. mentioned among articles of commerce

Aleipho (Greek) It means to rub or oil.

It doesn't mean dotting his forehead with a little dab of oil. It means rubbing. Literally means to crush over. It's used of an outward anointing of the body. In this case with olive oil, It was used of washing someone. It's used of pouring oil over someone's head, or pouring oil over their

feet, rubbing them with oil. The root of it is lipos which means grease. It's not a ceremonial word. All uses of the ceremonial

anointing use the verb chrio, and every time you see aleiphoit has to do with that applying oil to someone. People did it after a bath. In fact, oil was the base of soap.

It was used with wine, in Luke 10:34, the good Samaritan put wine and oil on the man? The wine, of course, because it fermented and had alcohol cleansed the wounds. And

then the oil soothed him. It only was good for a topical or external application. Athletes were often rubbed down with oil because of the soreness of their muscles. And sometimes oil, often oil, was perfumed with a fragrance. It is still used in the

Middle East. Now to say to oil someone literally meant if you had a believer coming in weak and weary and

wounded and crushed and broken in the battle and maybe that person had literally been persecuted by their employer or by someone who hated Christ and they came in with a wound, they would literally pour oil on that wound.

And I want to say to you that as pastor and elder here and I say this on behalf of the rest of us that o We want not only to teach God's Word to you but we want to be strength to your spiritual

weakness. We want to be the spiritually strong to whom you may come that we may gather around you and if need be oil you in the sense of stimulating, messaging, encouraging, comforting, strengthening, restoring you and crying out to God on your behalf with the prayers of righteous men.

Romans 5:15 AND THE PRAYER2171 OF

FAITH 4102

1. conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

a. relating to God 1. the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider

and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ b. relating to Christ




1. a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God

c. the religious beliefs of Christians d. belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ,

springing from faith in the same 2. fidelity, faithfulness

a. the character of one who can be relied on

SHALL SAVE 4982

1. persuade a. to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe b. to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's good will, or to seek to win one, strive to

please one c. to tranquillise d. to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something

2. be persuaded a. to be persuaded, to suffer one's self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have

faith: in a thing 1. to believe 2. to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person

b. to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with 3. to trust, have confidence, be confident

THE SICK2577 AND THE LORD

1. to grow weary, be weary 2. to be sick

SHALL RAISE 1453

to arouse, cause to rise

a. to arouse from sleep, to awake b. to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life c. to cause to rise from a seat or bed etc. d. to raise up, produce, cause to appear

1. to cause to appear, bring before the public 2. to raise up, stir up, against one 3. to raise up i.e. cause to be born 4. of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect

HIM UP, AND IF HE HAVE COMMITTED:4160

1. to make a. with the names of things made, to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc. b. to be the authors of, the cause c. to make ready, to prepare d. to produce, bear, shoot forth e. to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self f. to make a thing out of something g. to (make i.e.) render one anything

1. to (make i.e.) constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that 2. to (make i.e.) declare one anything

h. to put one forth, to lead him out i. to make one do something


1. cause one to j. to be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about)

2. to do a. to act rightly, do well

1. to carry out, to execute b. to do a thing unto one

1. to do to one c. with designation of time: to pass, spend d. to celebrate, keep

1. to make ready, and so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover e. to perform: to a promise

SIN 266

1. equivalent to 264 a. to be without a share in b. to miss the mark c. to err, be mistaken d. to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong e. to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

2. that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act 3. collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN 863 HIM

1. to send away a. to bid going away or depart

1. of a husband divorcing his wife b. to send forth, yield up, to expire c. to let go, let alone, let be

1. to disregard 2. to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic) 1c

2. of teachers, writers and speakers

1. to omit, neglect 2. to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit 3. to give up, keep no longer

to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person to leave, go way from one

a. in order to go to another place b. to depart from any one c. to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned d. to desert wrongfully e. to go away leaving something behind f. to leave one by not taking him as a companion g. to leave on dying, leave behind one h. to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining i. abandon, leave destitute

POINT # THREE: PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP

James 5:16 Therefore, confess1843 your faults3900 one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed2390

Therefore,





Don't wait till you get to the bottom. Maintain a relationship with other believers that you're always praying for one another.

It's a general element of fellowship. It's a marvelous thing.o Mutual honesty, confess your sins to one another. o It doesn't mean pour out every bit of garbage in your life, it means don't hide your evil. o Sin wants you alone, did you know that? o Sin wants to isolate you. o Sin doesn't want anybody who shouldn't know to know. o And as long as it's private and secret, you can nurse it and nurture it and feed it. o And God wants it open and out and exposed among people who love you.

confess1843

Let it out, be honest, share your struggle, let people know you're in a battle so that you don't become weak and defeated and weary and exhausted and wounded and victimized. Open up, share, seek forgiveness with one another

one to another

Confess your sins to another believer. Not every specific sin but the weakness of your life until God gives you the victory over those areas. But the point here is, don't let yourself go down to the point of spiritual weakness driven by your sin

because you never dealt with it and you never dealt with it because it was allowed to keep you alone. Don't let that happen.

POINT # FOUR: PRAYER AND POWER

James 5:16b "The effective1754 prayer of a righteous man can accomplish2480 much."

Effective1754

o in the Greek is the word from which we get our word energy. o The energetic empowered prayer of a righteous man who has no sin dealings in his life is

going to have a tremendous impact.

I think if the people who are going trying to get their problems solved by having some counseling would get together with a godly righteous man and get on their knees and spend time in prayer, they would find the power is in prayer, not in the counseling.






XVII LOOKING AT PRAYER: STUDY OF DANIEL’S PRAYER

Daniel 9:3-4

Charles e Whisnant March 02 2011

Daniel understood the Word of God, and he began to pray.

The historical content: 70 years.

The spiritual context of Daniel’s prayer:

1. Humility2. Confession3. Reverence

PRINCIPLES THAT TELL US THE NATURE OF TRUE INTERCESSORY PRAYER: THE ACTION OF PLEADING ON SOMEBODY’S BEHALF.

Number one, PRAYER IS IN RESPONSE TO THE WORD OF GOD.

Prayer is in response to the Word of God. That, to me, is the first striking reality that hit me as I studied this passage.

Daniel's prayer was born out of an understanding of the Word of God. Because, unless we understand the word of God, we do not understand the purposes and the plans of

God in order to govern and guide our prayers.

You know why we ought to pray when we find out God’s purposes in His Word?

Not because God needs our prayers to do it, but because we need to line up with God’s causes.

Prayer is for us. It’s for us...


We line our hearts up with His causes.

We see our sinfulness.

We see the need of His grace and power.

And we submit ourselves to His plan.

Psalms 119:24, 119:99 and Revelation 22 Ezra 9:4-5

The Word generates prayer. When it speaks of God, we long to commune with Him.

o When it speaks of blessing, we long to praise. o When it speaks of glory, we long to receive it. o When it speaks of promise, we long to realize it. o When it speaks of sin, we long to confess it. o When it speaks of judgment, we long to avoid it. o When it speaks of hell, we pray for the lost.

NUMBER TWO: PRAYER IS POSITIONED (GROUNDED IN GOD’S WILL

If God...has a purpose, His people identify with His will. I don’t ever pray, and I don’t think anyone ever should, as if we were changing the will of God. We are praying to line our hearts up with His will. And His will is always to bless those who are obedient

NUMBER THREE: PRAYER IS CHARACTERIZED PASSIONATED OUT POURING

There was a passion. There was a persistence. There was an intensity in his prayer. And he says, “I set my face unto the Lord God.

The greater your knowledge of God, the deeper your commitment, the more overwhelmed you are with your sinfulness. I have listen this year the Old Testament now as of Marcy 02 2011 I am up to 1 Samuel chapter 20

If you’re studying the Word of God, then the natural response is that you commune with the God of the Word.

You know, I find in my own life that, as I prepare a message, the whole experience of preparation is a combination of prayer and the ministry of the Word. I can never separate the two.

All prayer should be produced or originated by Word.

It should have a secure feeling of being in touch with the will of God.


I get worn out of people going around trying to force God to do something, claiming and demanding things from God. When God wants us to identify with His causes, which are already determined by His own absolute perfection to be the best causes...

BEGINNING MAINTAINING A LIFE OF PRAYER

Charles e Whisnant March 16, 2011

Xlv Prayer: maintaining A Life of Prayer

1A COMMENCEMENT OF A LIFE OF PRAYER

1 Get your encouragement from your Heavenly Father: Luke 18:1-18, 9-13

2 Remember God cares about everything in your life: Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; I Peter 5:7

3 Think of prayer as a total indispensable.

1 Pray, or faint Luke 18:1

2 Pray, or not trust God: Proverbs 3:5-6

3 Pray, or not bear fruit: John 15:7-8

4 Pray, or not have wisdom from God: James 1:5

5 Pray, or not see God’s Word correctly: Psalms 119:18

6 Pray, or not have God’s enablement in life and ministry: Psalm 119:28

7 Pray, or sin against God: I Samuel 12:23; I Chronicles 7:14

8 Pray, or have not: James 4:2

4 Follow basic piece of advice for prayer:

1 Take time! Can’t find time? Prioritize time.

2 Set a specific place to pray: Jesus in Mark 1:35, Matthew 6:6

3 Pray many times during day: Psalms 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17-18

4 See persons as prayer: Daniel 9, Nehemiah 1:11; 2:4; Luke 22:31-32

5 Use means, but depend on the Lord, not on the means:

1 Read prayers.


2 Take advantage of times to pray: showers, mowing the grass, sitting in an office

6 Seek opportunity to pray with others: Matthew 18:19; Acts 13:1-2

2A SAFEGUARD A LIFE OF PRAYER

1 Continue all the essentials as we have said already:

2 Dedicate yourself to prayer and keep attentive in it: Colossians 4:2

3 When you miss a time of scheduled prayer, get right back to it

1 Meditate on God Himself, and by this will motivate you to seek Christ and His will.

2 Warm your heart at the Words of His own Words. Psalms 77:11-20

3 Remind yourselves often that God’s love continues steadfast; Romans 8; 28-39

4 Repent if you need to and get to it. Make your life count—rather, let God make it count. 2 Chronicles 7:14; Job 42:6-8; Proverbs 28:13 and I John 1; 9

4 Keep casting all your care upon the Lord: Psalms 55:22 and I Peter 5:7

5 Guard against certain little things which are like “the little foxes that spoil the vineyards: Song of Solomon 2:15

6 Keep to get your heart toward God’s concerns, and this will encourage you to 36-347keep praying.

7 Keep realizing that prayer is not an optional extra you can cut out at busy times. It really is the essential crux in all life.

8 Deliberately prioritize. Give yourself special times set apart to pray and guard against compromising these. Too many rationalize to themselves they don’t have time for prayer, Bible reading, and witnessing. At the root of this is really disobedience. God said to Adam and Eve to keep my one commandment. They didn’t. So we must keep what God said is important over any other pressing concerns.

Where the Lord is seen and obeyed as LORD, it is amazing how you will make the discovery that you have time to act as if He is LORD.

Schedules change, not matter how busy life is. Things revolve around His Lordship, not around the “lists”.


9 Make sure that the Word, the Scriptures are your basic resources, and not something else. Be a Bible Christian. Listen to the teaching of the Bible with your Bible open and mind tied into the Holy Spirit. Study the Word.

10 Think of yourselves as a “slave” of the Savior Christ Jesus the Lord. Take time to be holy. Take time to do the important things that are vital in an exemplary Christian life.

11 Reduce as much as possible distractions in time, place, and alertness of prayer if you are able. While you should pray anytime and in many situations, other times try to find a place where you can give full attention to prayer. Park bench. End of the corn field.

When it might not be good to pray when you need to give full attention to prayer:

1 When you are so full of just eating a big meal. Or very hungry. Having a headache. These could cause an interruption of thoughts.

2 Having magazine or books in front of you or TV, or DVR, or even in front of the Computer.

3 Feeling discomfort with your clothes.

4 When the Cell phone or line phone is ringing. Getting text messages.

5 “Please Do Not Disturb.” “In Conference a the Moment”

6 Trying to pray when you know you need to pick up your wife from work.

7 Praying when you are freezing could be a distraction.

8 Yes pray in bed, but not as a substitute for neglected prayer at other ties.

9 Pray while driving (do not text while driving), yes, but not because you have not prayed at all that day.

10 Sometimes get completely always from others. I used to go into the woods and find a place to pray. (Peasant Valley Ranch)


Nine Types of Prayer

The Bible tells us quite clearly that there are nine types of prayer.

1. The Prayer of Faith: Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:23-24 2. The Prayer of Consecration: Luke 22:423. The Prayer of Commitment: 1Peter 5:74. The Prayer of Worship: Acts 13:1-4; Luke 24:52-535. The Prayer of Agreement: Matthew 18:18-206. The Prayer in the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 14:14-157. The Prayer of Binding and Loosing: Matthew 18:18-198. The Prayer of Supplication or Petition: Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6 9. The Prayer of Intercession: Ezekiel 22:30-31

Each type of prayer has a specific "rule" or set of principles that governs it. Effective prayer is a result of following these principles.

Prayer that Gets Results: The Prayer of Faith

Have Your Ever Wondered?• How can I have my prayers answered by God? • Why does it seem like God never answers my prayers?• Why aren't my prayers being answered?• Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayers? • How Come My Prayers Go Unanswered?• Why Doesn't God Answer Me?• Are There Different Kinds of Prayers?• How Do I Pray in Faith?• Is Praying In Faith Important?• What is Faith According to the Bible? • How Do I Know If I am Praying In Faith?


http://hubpages.com/hub/Gods-Providence-and-Ezekiels-Wheel

http://hubpages.com/hub/Let-the-Healing-Begin

http://hubpages.com/hub/Bible-Studies-Insights-Is-Your-Heart-Right-Matthew-721-23

TAKING A LOOK AT BIBICAL PRAYER

Charles e. Whisnant

Pastor/Teacher

Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

Minford, Ohio


Why Fast?

When current circumstances become overwhelming and divine intervention is sought after, fasting was and is a method of seeking out favor from God, as this entity is understood within the Old and New Testaments. Some examples of seeking God's special favor are:

A method of seeking God with sincerity: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart." Jeremiah 29:13;

Protection, Repentance and Blessing: Joel 2:12 to the end of the chapter, Ezra 8:21-23,31; Direction and Guidance: Acts 13:1-3; Illness/Severe Illness/Grief: 2 Samuel 12:15-19; Humility: Psalm 35:13, 1 Kings 21: 25 - 27; Communication With God and the Holy Spirit: Exodus 34:28, Acts 13:1-3 Fighting Evil - Casting Out Demons: "Mark 9:27-29...His disciples asked Him [Jesus] privately, 'Why

could we not cast it out?'...So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting..' (NKJV)."

Read more at Suite101: Fasting - Seeking God's Favor: The Elements of Biblical Fasting and Prayer for Pertinent Matters http://www.suite101.com/content/seeking-gods-favor-special-

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