THE POWER OF PRAYER
Matthew 21:22
Morning Meditation 7/4/2014
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
While the word power is not mentioned in this verse, it is strongly implied. The scope of this promise is great: "And all things." It would be easy to get agreement among the saints that this does not really mean "all things." But one cannot get around the fact that it says, "all things." The words "whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer" are words of promise. God does not limit prayer because prayer is asking the Omnipotent God of creation to do something. It is inconceivable that we could ask something He couldn't do. The condition on our part is brought out in the word "believing." We must exercise confident faith in God which includes faith in His willingness because of the promise that He will do for us what we ask. The words "ye shall receive" completes the promise. It is a promise of certainty.
Someone has said, "We have more need to be taught to pray than to preach. With regard to prayer, there is need for a rediscovery of the possibilities that have always existed, that of direct communication with the eternal God. There are two important points that we will look at in this meditation.
THE CONDITIONS OF POWER IN PRAYER
1. The will of God. 1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." The supreme source of all power in prayer belongs unto God.
2. The name of Jesus. John 14:13-14, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." This truth is illustrated in the life of the Apostles in Acts 3:1-8, "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."
3. The ministry of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26-27, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." We cannot frame our words to express the deep yearnings of the soul, the Holy Spirit, who is a "discerner of the thoughts and intense of the hearts, helps to present our deepest need to the Father.
4. The faith of the heart. With the heart man believeth (Rom. 10:10). James 1:5-6, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Next let's look at--
THE HINDRANCES TO EFFECTUAL PRAYER
1. Selfishness is a hindrance. James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." We ask amiss when we ask anything for the honor and exaltation of self.
2. Secret sin is a hindrance. Isaiah 66:18, "For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory." Many times believers wander from the path of obedience and commit sins that they think are hidden. They do not understand the nature of God. God is Omniscience. There is nothing that he does not know. God is upset with us when we act in a fashion that ignores His Omniscience. God wants to be treated like God.
3. Unbelief is a major hindrance. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." James 1:6-7, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
4. Formality is a hindrance. We may end our prayers "For Christ sake, Amen," when there has been nothing for Christ's sake in the prayer. His holy and mighty NAME is often used in heartless flippancy.
5. An unforgiving spirit. Mark 11:25-26, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
