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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=120 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04a76ba3.gif"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="42b6e480.gif" border=0 width="110" height="72" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Statements Of Faith"><U> Statements Of Faith</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U>Special Events</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directions"><U>Directions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Louis Radio"><U>St. Louis Radio</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fridaynight Meetings"><U>Fridaynight Meetings</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Partners"><U>Partners</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id235.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guest Book"><U><IMG SRC="85e6e6c0.gif" border=0 width="110" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04b76bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="CommercialScript BT" ><I><B><U>Riches In Christ</U></B></I><B> </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riches In Christ"><U><B> </B></U></A><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riches In Christ"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id236.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MP3 Free Audio"><U><B>MP3 Free Audio</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id237.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study"><U><B>Bible Study</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" About This Ministry "><U><B> About This Ministry </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ministers Pastors"><U><B>Ministers & Pastors</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order Tapes"><U><B>Order Tapes</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Study Outlines "><U><B>Study Outlines </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Symbol" ><B>   ·   </B></FONT><B>Current Radio Lesson</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Times New Roman" > <A NAME="current_radio_lesson_2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT>Current Radio Lesson                                           </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Times New Roman" > <A NAME="current_radio_lesson_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT><U>Click below to download this lesson in a PDF file.</U> </div> <div>                  <IMG SRC="7e613100.gif" border=0 width="19" height="16" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  > <a href="HTMLobj-2155/tcc589.pdf"><u>Praying As Sons And Daughters</u> </a>  <</div> <bR> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="712" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 3513 WIDTH="700"><div> Msftedit 5.41.21.2509;PRAYING AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS</div> <bR> <div> A.     Introduction:  We have been talking about learning to pray with confidence. Heb 4:16</div> <div>      1.     I John 5:14,15 tells us of the confidence we can have -- that if we pray according to the will of God we                will always get an answer to our prayer and the answer will be yes.</div> <div>           a.     God's will is found in His word.  We are to pray the will of God.  We are to pray the word of God.</div> <div>           b.     To pray the word of God means to follow patterns of prayer given in the Bible.  It means to pray                     specific prayers recorded in the Bible.  It means to find scriptures which cover your situation and                     then pray in agreement with them.</div> <div>      2.     In the past two lessons we looked at some patterns of prayer found in the Bible.  We looked at prayers                which praised and thanked God first -- before the problem or the request was stated. </div> <div>           a.     To praise God means to list or proclaim His virtues and His works which, in turn, leads to                          thanksgiving.  It is always appropriate to praise God.</div> <div>           b.     When you praise and thank God, you magnify God which in turn builds a firm foundation of faith                     from which to pray.  Those kinds of prayers bring results.</div> <div>      3.     In this lesson we want to consider some further aspects of how to pray the will or word of God.</div> <div>           a.     To pray the will of God means to pray as Jesus prayed.  Jesus is our example in everything,                          including prayer.  That is what we want to consider tonight -- praying as a son or daughter of God.</div> <div>           b.     Jesus always perfectly pleased the Father (John 8:29).  Everything Jesus did -- including how He                     prayed -- was the will of God.</div> <bR> <div> B.     While Jesus was on earth He taught us and showed us some important things about prayer.</div> <div>      1.     Jesus showed us and taught us that prayer is based on relationship.  Prayer is a son coming to his                     Father.  Prayer is communication with, communion with our Father.  Jesus showed us how sons and                daughters approach their Father in prayer.</div> <div>           a.     Jesus, our example, lived with the awareness that God was His Father and that the Father loved                     and cared for Him.</div> <div>                1.     That's where confidence in prayer begins -- with what you know about your Father.</div> <div>                2.     Our Father, your Father and my Father, loves us with the same love with which He loved                               Jesus. John 17:23</div> <div>           b.     Jesus prayed with confidence because He knew His Father always heard Him. John 11:41,42</div> <div>                1.     He knew His Father heard Him because He was His Father's dearly loved son. Luke 3:11; </div> <div>                     I Pet 3:12</div> <div>                2.     He knew His Father heard Him because He desired His Father's will above all. John 4:34;                          John 8:29; I John 5:14,15</div> <div>                3.     We can pray with the same confidence because we are dearly loved sons and daughters and                          we can learn to pray the will of God if we desire His will and set ourselves to seek His will                          through His word.</div> <div>      2.     In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus introduced to His listeners the idea of going to God as our Father in                prayer.  Note the pattern for prayer He gave them and us. Matt 6:9-13</div> <div>           a.     Begin with "Our Father".  Approach God with the awareness that He is your Father, loving Him                     and recognizing His love for you.</div> <div>           b.     "Which art in heaven".  This phrase was commonly used among the Jews.  It meant God is                          omnipresent (I Kings 8:27), omnipotent (II Chron 20:6), omniscient (Ps 11:4; 33:13-15), and holy                     (Deut 26:15; Isa 57:15).  This Almighty God is your Father.  This Almighty God is bigger than any                problem or need facing you.</div> <div>           c.     "Hallowed be Thy Name".  Set apart, above all things, and revered is Your Name.  The Jews                          referred to God as "The Name".  Name means character.  Praise and honor to Your Name, to who                     You are and what You have done.</div> <div>           d.     "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done".  Desire God's will, His glory and the furtherance of His                     kingdom above all else.</div> <div>           e.     Now, with that foundation of faith and confidence in your Father, present your need, your problem.</div> <div>      3.     After giving them a pattern for prayer to their Father, Jesus taught them what the Father is like.</div> <div>           a.     Jesus said that our Father is better than the best earthly father and that it is His will to meet the                     needs of His children. Matt 7:9-11</div> <div>           b.     Jesus said that we don't have to worry about the basics of life because we have a Father who loves                     us and will care for us. Matt 6:25-34</div> <div>      4.     Throughout His earth ministry Jesus told us about and showed us a prayer answering God who always                says yes when we pray His will.</div> <div>           a.     Listen to these words of Jesus--Matt 7:7,8; Matt 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9,10; John 14:13;                     John 15:7; John 15:16; John 16:23; John 16:24</div> <div>           b.     In His earth ministry Jesus showed us the Father by doing the works of His Father. John 14:9,10</div> <div>                1.     There isn't a single instance of Jesus saying no to a request that was made of Him.  Jesus said:                      If you've seen me, you've seen the Father.</div> <div>                2.       This is an extremely strong proof of the fact that God is a prayer answering God and His                               answer is always yes if we can learn to pray in line with His will.</div> <div>      5.     God is a prayer answering God whose answer is always yes if we can learn to pray in agreement with                His will.  Jesus also shows us and tells us much about the will of God in prayer.</div> <div>           a.     If what you are asking or praying about is glorifying to God or will advance the kingdom of God in                the earth, it is the will of God. Matt 6:10</div> <div>           b.     If what you are asking about is something a good father would want his child to have or something                a bird or a flower needs to live, it is the will of God. Matt 7:9-11; Matt 6:25-34</div> <div>           c.     If what you are praying about was covered by the Cross of Christ, if it was provided by the death,                     burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God has already expressed His will, has already said yes to it.</div> <div>                1.     II Cor 1:20--Jesus is the Yes pronounced upon God's promises, every one of them. (NEB)</div> <div>                2.     Through the Cross of Christ God has provided us with, said yes to everything we need to live                          our natural and spiritual lives. II Pet 1:3; Eph 1:3; Gal 3:13,14</div> <bR> <div> C.     Jesus also taught us about prayer by demonstrating it, by praying prayers that produced results.  He showed      us how sons of God pray.</div> <div>      1.     Most prayers are verbal expressions intended to get God to act.</div> <div>           a.     Some are in the form of requests or petitions to God, as Jesus showed us in the Lord's prayer:                      Give us this day our daily bread.</div> <div>           b.     Some are in the form of a command designed to change something in the physical realm, as Jesus                     showed us when He changed physical things or healed people:  Peace, be still.   Be made whole.</div> <div>      2.     As a man, Jesus frequently prayed through speaking a word of command. Mark 11:12-14; 20-24</div> <div>           a.     As a man, Jesus was authorized to command in accordance with the will of God, and the power of                     the Holy Spirit in Him produced results. </div> <div>           b.     In Mark 11 Jesus spoke to a fig tree which died in response to His command.  Words don't kill                     trees.  Power which is released through words kills trees.</div> <div>                1.     Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?  The tree was a hypocrite tree.  It had the appearance of fruit                          but produced no fruit.  The Pharisees had the appearance of fruit but produced no fruit.</div> <div>                2.     Jesus had a running discussion with the Pharisees throughout His ministry about the                                    unfruitfulness of their lives and the life of the people of Israel under their leadership.</div> <div>           c.     When His disciples marveled at the results, Jesus used the incident to teach them about faith and                     prayer.  He told them they could pray as He prayed.</div> <div>                1.     Jesus said that in a situation where you are authorized to speak or command, you must believe                     that what you say will come to pass.     </div> <div>                2.     Therefore, you must believe you have your answer when you pray, when you command --                          before you see it.  That is what Jesus did to the fig tree.</div> <div>      3.     An important element in prayer to change something in the physical realm is believing you have                     something before you see it.</div> <div>           a.     The only way you can do that is if you know you have commanded something you are authorized                     to speak to -- diseases, devils, destructive circumstances.</div> <div>           b.     The only way you can do that is if you know you have asked for something already provided                          through the Cross -- everything pertaining to life and godliness.</div> <div>      4.     When you believe you receive before you see it, when you believe that what you say will come to pass,                you do not pray:  </div> <div>           a.     Lord, do this, if it be Thy will.  You find out the will of God from the scripture before you pray.</div> <div>           b.     You don't keep asking over and over.  You have your answer.  Now, you thank God for it.</div> <bR> <div> D.     Prayer is a son coming to his Father.  There is no clearer example of that than praying in the name of Jesus.</div> <div>      1.     Prayer in the name of Jesus is not a formula or a ritual.  You do not have to say:  In the name of Jesus                to pray in the name of Jesus.  </div> <div>           a.     Prayer in the name of Jesus is taking Jesus' place and acting in His stead.</div> <div>           b.     Prayer in the name of Jesus means praying like Him, as He prayed.  It means to pray as Him, as                     His representative, as He would pray in the situation.</div> <div>           c.     There are two types of prayer in the name of Jesus:  Prayer to the Father (John 15:16; 16:23,24)                     and the prayer of command (John 14:13,14).</div> <div>           d.     In one we pray as the man Jesus would in speaking to the Father.  In the other we pray as the man                     Jesus would in speaking to disease, devils, and destructive circumstances.</div> <div>                1.     John 11:40-42--Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus as a man, as a son, in dependence on                          His Father.  Jesus knew the power of His Father, the Holy Spirit, would flow when He spoke.</div> <div>                2.     John 6:11--Jesus knew His Father would meet His need in this situation and He gave thanks                          for it.</div> <div>      2.     When we pray to the Father in Jesus' name it is taking the place of Jesus in the sense that what Jesus                was on earth we are -- sons of God.</div> <div>           a.     Through the Cross of Christ and the new birth we are born of God.  We are united to Christ.  We                     become members (parts) of Christ's body and we have exactly the same standing before the Father                that Jesus had when He was on this earth. Eph 1:22,23</div> <div>           b.     Therefore, we can approach our heavenly Father with the same access Jesus had, the same freedom                Jesus had, and the same confidence Jesus had. Eph 3:12</div> <div>      3.     When we pray the prayer of command it means:  I am authorized to represent Jesus or take His place in           this situation, and I am empowered to do His works by the power of the Father, by the power of the                Holy Spirit.</div> <div>           a.     In John 14:13,14 Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in His name He will do it.  The context of                     His statement is in v12.  Jesus tells us that we are to do the same works He did and greater works.</div> <div>           b.     The word ask has the idea of demand.  These are not prayer verses or instructions about how to                     approach the Father.  They are command verses.  </div> <div>           c.     Jesus is telling us that when we command healing to come, sickness to go, captives to be set free,                     as He did during His time on earth, He will do it.  He will heal the sick and set the captives free.</div> <div>                1.     An example of this kind of prayer is found in Acts 3:1-9  Peter and John came upon a lame                          man and did what Jesus would have done in that situation.  </div> <div>                2.     They set the captive free.  Peter ministered the power of God given to him by Jesus in His                          place.</div> <div>      4.     When you pray in the name of Jesus do so with the consciousness of the fact that you pray as a son or                daughter of God.  </div> <div>           a.     You are looking to your Father as truly as the man Jesus looked to His Father.</div> <div>           b.     You are looking at devils and disease with the same confidence as the man Jesus because you                          know that He and the Father back you.</div> <bR> <div> E.     Conclusion:  The idea that God doesn't always answer prayer is so built into our consciousness that simply      hearing these statements from the word of God one or twice doesn't necessarily undo our wrong thinking.</div> <div>      1.     We have to become so persuaded of these facts from God's word that nothing moves us -- even when                prayer isn't answered.  All of us, including me, have prayed prayers that were not answered.</div> <div>           a.     Our tendency is to look at our experience and conclude that our prayer was not answered because                     it was not the will of God.</div> <div>                1.     In other words, we base what we believe about the will of God on what we see.</div> <div>                2.     But, God does not reveal His will to us through circumstances.  He reveals His will to us                               through His written word.  We are not to walk according to what we see, but rather, according                     to what God says. II Cor 5:7</div> <div>           b.     The Bible is very clear that God is a prayer answering God whose answer is always yes if we can                     learn to pray in agreement with His will.  Jesus, our example, did it -- got every prayer answered.       </div> <div>                He lived on earth as a man whose prayers were always answered, and He is our example.</div> <div>      2.     Why aren't my prayers answered?  I don't know fully. Deut 29:29</div> <div>           a.     But, this I do know.  It's not because God is not a prayer answering God.  It is because something                     in me needs to change.  I'm not yet fully conformed to the image of Christ.  I sometimes pray with                     wrong motives, motives that are not Christ-like.  Sometimes I pray in unbelief.  Sometimes my                     heart condemns me because of sin.</div> <div>           b.     But, I can and will change.  He who has begun a good work in me will complete it!!</div> <div>           c.     Confidence in prayer comes from knowing that God is a prayer answering God and that if a prayer                     is not answered, something in me needs to change.</div> <div>      3.     To pray effectively you must have the confidence that God is a prayer answering God and that the                     answer is always yes if you can learn to pray according to the will of God, as Jesus did.  And, we can, if           we will learn to pray as sons and daughters of God.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id40_m.htm" TITLE="Current Radio Lesson"><U>Back to Top</U></A></div> <div>  <script language="javascript" src="http://www.dataplain.com/cgi/js_counter.cgi?kannady"></script>    <script type="text/javascript"> var sc_project=5423948; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=47; var sc_click_stat=1; var sc_security="c5f52b00"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js"></script><noscript><div class="statcounter"><a title="joomla 1.5 stats" href="http://www.statcounter.com/joomla/" target="_blank"><img class="statcounter" src="http://c.statcounter.com/5423948/0/c5f52b00/1/" alt="joomla 1.5 stats" ></a></div></noscript>   </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>