Contents1.SevenStepstoAnsweredPrayer(Part1)2.SevenStepstoAnsweredPrayer(Part2)3.ThePrayerThatUnlocksHeaven4.TheAuthorityofJesus'Name5.ThePrayerofAgreement6.TheSixMostImportantThingsinPrayer(Part1)7.TheSixMostImportantThingsinPrayer(Part2)8.InterpretingOurPrayersintheSpirit9.Tongues—AFlowingStreamofPraise10.PrayeronaNewDimension11.ThePrayersofPetitionandConsecration12.ThePrayerofWorship(Part1)13.ThePrayerofWorship(Part2)14.UnitedPrayer15.ThePrayerofCommitment16.WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part1)17.WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)18.WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part3)19.WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part4)20.WhatPaulSaidAboutPrayer(Part1)21.WhatPaulSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)22.WhatOthersSaidAboutPrayer(Part1)23.WhatOthersSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)24.TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part1)25.TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part2)26.TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part3)

Lesson1SevenStepstoAnsweredPrayer(Part1)BibleTexts:James1:6-8;Joshua1:8;Matthew7:7,8;Mark11:23,24CentralTruth:Byfaithwereachouttoclaimwhatweneed,andwethereby

createtherealityofitinourlife.This two-partseriesonthesubjectofprayerdealswithfundamentalaspects

ofpraying thatgets results. If thebelieverwill faithfully follow these steps inprayer,hecanbesureofananswer.

Step1:DecideWhatYouWantFromGodJAMES1:6-86Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwavering.Forhethatwaverethislikea

waveoftheseadrivenwiththewindandtossed.7ForletnotthatmanthinkthatheshallreceiveanythingoftheLord.8Adoublemindedmanisunstableinallhisways.TheaboveScripturesshowustheimportanceofdecisiveness.Jamessaidifa

manwavers—ifhecannotmakeuphismind—heis"unstableinallhisways"andhecannotexpecttoreceiveanythingfromtheLord.

Often we are indefinite in our praying. When I ask people what they areprayingabout,theysometimesanswertheydon'tknow.Onepersonsaidhewasprayingjusttobepraying.

Ofcourse,thereisonekindofprayerwepraytoworshipandhavefellowshipwith God, but in this lesson we are dealing primarily with praying to get ananswer to our prayers. Ifwe are not careful, thisgeneral type of prayingwillcarryoverwhenweneedtobespecificaboutacertainneed.

Ifyouwent toagrocerystoreandpushedyourcartupanddown theaisleswithoutbuyinganything,peoplewouldthinksomethingwaswrongwithyou.Ifyousendachildtobuycertainitemsandhebuysjustthosethings,heisbeingdefinite.

The same is true with prayer. It would be better to pray for two or threeminutesandknowwhatyouareprayingaboutthantoprayaimlesslyfortwoorthreehours.DecidewhatyouwantfromGodandbedefiniteaboutit!

Step 2: Read Scriptures That Promise the

AnswerYouNeedJOSHUA1:88 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt

meditatethereindayandnight, thatthoumayestobservetodoaccordingtoallthat iswritten therein: for then thou shaltmake thyway prosperous, and thenthoushalthavegoodsuccess.

Inordertobesuccessfulinourprayerlife,God'sWordmustbeforemost.AswefeeduponHisWord,webuilditintoourinnerconsciousness.Then,intimeofneed,weareprepared.WecanusetheappropriateScripturesagainstthedevilwhenhetriestomakeusdoubtGodandrobusofwhatwewant.

In thewildernesswhenSatan temptedJesus to turnstones intobread, Jesusansweredwith theWord.He said, "... It iswritten,Thatman shall not livebybread alone, but by every word of God." Then Satan tookHim up on a highmountainandshowedHimall thekingdomsof theworld.He toldJesus ifHewould worship him, he would give all these kingdoms to Him. Again Jesusanswered,"...it iswritten,ThoushaltworshiptheLordthyGod,andhimonlyshaltthouserve."

SatanthentookJesusuponapinnacleoftheTempleandsaidtoHim,"...castthyselfdown…"AgainJesusansweredwiththeWord,saying,"...Itissaid,ThoushaltnottempttheLordthyGod"(Luke4:3-12).

Jesususedthesameweapontodefeatthedevilthatallbelievershavetoday:theWordofGod.Allwehavetodointhefaceoftemptationanddoubtistosay,"It is written." If the Scriptures are firmly implanted in our heart, we arepreparedforanyattacksofthedevil.

Inmattersofguidance,searchtheScripturestoseewhatGodhastosayaboutanysituation.HisWordplainlyshowsusHiswill.IftheScripturesdon'tpromiseus what we may be seeking, we don't have any business praying for it. WeshouldnotwantanythingthattheWordofGodsaysweshouldn'thave.

Ontheotherhand,whenprayingforthingsthatareexpresslypromisedintheWord,we canhave complete confidence thatGodwill give uswhatweneed.Yearsago Iwrote in red inkon the fly leafofmyBible, "TheBible says it, Ibelieveit,andthatsettlesit!"

Manypeopletrytopraybeyondtheirfaith.ItistheWordofGodthatgivesfaith."Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod"(Rom.10:17).ThereasonpeopledonotpraywithconfidenceandfaithisbecausetheydonotknowtheScriptureswellenoughtoknowifwhattheyareprayingforis

God'swill. Theymayhope it is, but they don't know it is. Aswe readGod'sWordandlearnHiswill,wecanappropriateHispromisesforoureveryneed.Step3:AskGodfortheThingsYouWantMATTHEW7:7,87Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshall

beopeneduntoyou:8 Foreveryonethataskethreceiveth;andhe thatseekethfindeth;and to

himthatknockethitshallbeopened.InMatthew6:8Jesussaid,"...yourFatherknowethwhatthingsyehaveneed

of,beforeyeaskhim."Yet in thenext chapter, aswe see in theversesquotedabove,HetellsustoaskHimforourneeds.Therefore,eventhoughHeknowsourneeds,HewantsustobringthemtoHimandaskHishelp.Step4:BelieveThatYouReceiveMARK11:23,2423ForverilyIsayuntoyou,Thatwhosoevershallsayuntothismountain,

Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea;andshallnotdoubtinhisheart,but shall believe that those thingswhich he saith shall come to pass; he shallhavewhatsoeverhesaith.

24 ThereforeIsayuntoyou,Whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem.TheAmplifiedversion of the above verse says, "...whatever you ask for in

prayer,believe—trustandbeconfident—thatitisgrantedtoyou,andyouwill[getit]."

Tounderstandthisbetter,weneedtorealizethattherearetwokindsoftruth:sense-knowledgetruthandrevelationtruth.

Some people think truth pertains to things they can seewith their physicaleyes.ButwecannotseethethingsoftheSpirit.Theyarenotflesh;theyarenotmaterial.

Everythingweneedisprovidedforusinthespiritualrealm."BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,whohathblesseduswithallspiritualblessingsinheavenlyplacesinChrist"(Eph.1:3).OurneedshavebeenprovidedforinChristJesus.Wemaynotalwaysbeabletoseethem,buttheyarethere.

When"sense-knowledgetruth"contradicts"revelationtruth,"ortheWordofGod,Istartwalkingbyrevelationtruth.IwalkbywhatGodsays.Thatwhichisinthespiritualrealmismaderealinthenaturalrealmthrough

faith.Faithgraspsitandcreatestherealityofitinourlife.

Therefore,whenyoupray,believethatyoureceivethatwhichyouareaskingforandyoushallhaveit.Thisisbeyondournaturalthinking.Thenaturalmindcannotgraspit,butwearetowalkbyfaithandnotbysight.

Once while preaching in a small church, I got too warm.When I steppedoutdoors after the service,mybodywaswetwithperspiration.When the coldoutdoor air hit me in the face, my throat started hurting, and by the time Ireached the parking lot, I could hardly speak. The next daymy chest startedhurtingandIcouldn'tspeakaboveawhisper.

I started reading Scriptures on healing. With my Bible open before me, Iprayedsilentlyandsaid,"Lord,yourWordtellsmeIamhealed.IfIaskedmybodyifIwerehealed,theanswerwouldbeno.IfIaskedmyfeelingsifIwerehealed,theanswerwouldbeno.IfIweretoaskthepeoplearoundmeifIwerehealed,theywouldsayIwasnot.

"YourWord saysGod is truth and everyman is a liar. So if I say I'm nothealed,Iamaliar.YourWordsaysthatGodcannothe.Romans3:4says,’Godforbid: yea, letGod be true, but everyman a liar; as it iswritten, That thoumightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou artjudged.'"

Whentimecamefortheeveningservice,IsteppeduptothemicrophoneandsaidIwantedtothankGodthatIwashealed.ThecongregationlookedatmeasifIwerecrazy,becauseIwasbarelywhispering.

IbegantotellthemwhattheWordofGodsaysabouthealing.IshowedthemfromtheWordthatIwashealed.ItoldthemwhatGodsaysistrueandthatifIsaidIwasn'thealed, Iwouldbe lying. I told themthat Iwanted themtostandandpraiseGodwithmebecauseIwashealed.

Aswe stood and began praisingGod, I hadn't said "hallelujah" three timesuntil my voice came back. Then I preached my sermon with a strong, clearvoice.Thatnightthecongregationsawanillustrationoffaithinaction.

AllwehavetodoisaskGodforthethingswewant,andbelievethatwehavethem.MemoryText:"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshallbe

opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seekethfindeth;andtohimthatknockethitshallbeopened"(Matt.7:7,8).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson2SevenStepstoAnsweredPrayer(Part2)BibleTexts:Proverbs4:20-22;Philippians4:6Central Truth:Thinking faith thoughts and speaking faith words lead the

heartoutofdefeatintovictory.Thepreviouslessoncoveredfourstepstotaketoseeourprayersanswered:1.DecidewhatyouwantfromGod.Bespecificinstatingyourpetitions.2.ReadScripturesthatpromisetheansweryouneed.SearchtheBiblefor

Scripturesthatapplytoyourneed.PlantGod'sWordfirmlyinyourheartsoyouwillbepreparedagainstSatan'sattacks.

3.AskGodforthethingsyouwant.MakeyourwantsknowntoGod.EventhoughHeknowswhatweneed, it isHisdivineplan thatwemakeourwantsknowntoHim.

4.Believethatyoureceive.Developastubbornfaiththatrefusestolookatcircumstances—afaiththatproducesresults.

In this lesson we will deal with three more steps to take to pray moreeffectively.Step5:RefuseToDoubtLeteverythoughtanddesireaffirmthatyouhavewhatyouask.Neverpermit

amentalpictureoffailuretoremaininyourmind.Neverdoubtforoneminutethatyouhavetheanswer.Ifdoubtspersist,rebukethem.Getyourmindontheanswer.James4:7says,"...Resistthedevil,andhewillfleefromyou."Doubtisofthedevil.Resistit.

Eradicateeveryimage,suggestion,feeling,orthoughtthatdoesnotcontributetoyourfaith.ConcentrateonthingsthatcontributetoyourconfessionforwhatyouneedfromGod.

Whenourdaughter,Pat,was3yearsold,agrowthappearedinthecornerofherlefteye.Itkeptgrowinglargerandlargeruntilitwasthesizeoftheendofherlittlefinger.Itwasacauseforconcern.

I knew inmy spirit that it was going to go away. Friends told us, "Oh, itprobablywill go away as she gets older." I knewwhenGod healed Pat, theywould say thegrowthwouldhavegoneawayanyway, so I tookher toaneyespecialistforanexamination.

HesaidPathadatypeofgrowththatwouldnevergoawaywithoutsurgery.Hesuggestedshebeoperatedon,becausethegrowthwouldbecomelargerand

largeruntileventuallyitwouldhangdownoverherface.Ithankedhimforhisdiagnosisandleft.

Thatnightabout10:15Iprayedabout itandsaid,"Lord, thedoctorsaidanoperation is necessary, but John 16:23 says, '...Whatsoever ye shall ask theFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou.'IamstandingonthatScripture.Ihaveaskedyou,andnowIbelieveyouhavedoneit.Ibelievetonightat10:15formybaby'shealing.IthankYouforthehealing."

Igotoffmyknees,andasIstartedtogotobed,thedeviltoldmetoturnthelight on and see if the growthwas gone. Immediately I resisted that thought.SeveraltimesduringthenightIwasawakenedwiththesamethought—togoseeifthegrowthwasgoneyet.

Isaid,"Satan,whyshouldIgetupandturnthelightontoseeifit'sgoneyet?Iknowit'sgone,becauseIhaveGod'sWordforit."

Thesamesuggestion returned thenextmorning,andagain Ipushed it frommymind.IkeptsayingPathadreceivedthehealingthenightbeforeat10:15.

When I sawheratbreakfast, thegrowthwas stillonhereye,but theBibletellsustowalkbyfaithandnotbysight.Iignoredthephysicalevidenceofthegrowth.IwalkedbyfaithandkeptthankingGodforherhealing.

Every time our family gathered at the dinner table, I saw that ugly growthstickingrightoutatme.ButIjustkeptthankingGodforthehealingwhichhadtakenplacethatnightat10:15whenIprayedandbelievedthatIreceived.

Iwassoengrossed in thankingGodfor thehealing that I reallydon'tknowwhen the growth left. A few days later we were driving along and Pat wasstandingonthefrontseatbetweenOrethaandme.IturnedtosaysomethingtoOrethaandInoticedPat'sgrowthwasgone.WhenImentionedittoOretha,shetoldmeithadbeengoneforabout10days.

We saw a miracle as a result of believing God and thanking Him for theanswer,eventhoughourphysicalsensestoldusithadnothappened.Thisistherealminwhichthebattleofprayerisfoughtandwon.

Our thoughts are governed by observation, association, and teachings. Wemustguardagainsteveryevil thoughtanddoubtthatcomesintoourmind.WemuststayawayfromallplacesandthingsthatdonotsupportourconfessionthatGod has answered our prayer. (Sometimes this means staying away fromchurchesthatteachmoredoubtthanfaith.)

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,whatsoeverthingsarehonest,whatsoeverthingsarejust,whatsoeverthingsarepure,whatsoeverthingsarelovely,whatsoeverthingsareofgoodreport;ifthere

beanyvirtue,andiftherebeanypraise,thinkonthesethings."

Step6:MeditateonthePromisesPROVERBS4:20-2220Myson,attendtomywords;inclinethineearuntomysayings.21 Let themnotdepart from thine eyes; keep them in themidst of thine

heart.22Fortheyarelifeuntothosethatfindthem,andhealthtoalltheirflesh.Meditate constantly on the promises on which you base your answer to

prayer.SeeyourselfinpossessionofwhatyouhaveaskedfromGod,andmakeplansasifitalreadywereareality.GodwillmakeHisWordgoodifyouwillactonit.

God'sWord says He hears and answers prayer. If theWord doesn't departfrombeforeyoureyes,youaresuretoseeyourselfwiththethingsyouaskedfor.Ifyoudon'tseeyourselfwiththem,God'sWordhasdepartedfrombeforeyoureyes.

Ifyoudon'tstandbytheWord,Godcan'tstandbyyou,eventhoughHewantsto.The onlywayGodworks is throughHisWord.Hemoves in linewithHisWord.HehasmagnifiedHisWordaboveHisName!IfyoustandbytheWord,Godwillstandbyyou.

Manypeopleprayandpray,buttheydon'tprayaccordingtotheWord.John15:7says,"Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,anditshallbedoneuntoyou,"Jesusdidn'tjustsay,"//yeabideinme";Headded,"andmywordsabideinyou."WithHiswordsabidinginus,wehaveasolidfoundation.

Once I went to pray for an elderly evangelist in FortWorth, Texas.ManypeoplehadbeensavedandfilledwiththeSpiritunderherministry.Now,attheageof82,shehadbeenoperatedon,andherdoctorshadfoundsevencancersinher body. They just sewed her up and told her she didn't have long to live.Monthshadpassedand,althoughbedfast,shewasstillalive.

WhenItalkedtoher,shesaidshewasoldenoughtodie,butIencouragedhertoletGodhealherfirst,becauseshecouldstillwinmanysoulsatherage.ThenI read Proverbs 4:20-22 to her and told her to visualize herself well andpreaching.

WhenIsawthiswomaneightmonthslater,shewasbusyholdingevangelisticmeetings!Shecameuptomeafteroneofmyservices, threwherarmsaroundme,andhuggedme.Itstartledme,andsherealizedIhadn'trecognizedher.She

lookeddifferentbecauseshehadgainedweight.Sheappearedtobeinexcellenthealth.

ShetoldmeshewassogladIhadn'tletherdie.ShehaddonewhatIhadtoldhertodo:Shehadbeguntopictureherselfwell,andnowshewasoutworkingforGodagain.Shesaidshehadevangelisticmeetingsscheduled for theentiresummer.

Ilaterheardthatthiswomanlivedtobe91yearsold.Shedidn'tdieofcancer.SheenjoyedmanymorefruitfulyearsfortheMaster.Beforeherhealing,shehadpicturedherselfdead,butIgothertoseeherselfwithwhatGodhadprovidedforher.

Wehavetoseeourselveswiththeanswer.Step7:GiveGodthePraisePHILIPPIANS4:66Becarefulfornothing;but ineverythingbyprayerandsupplicationwith

thanksgivingletyourrequestsbemadeknownuntoGod.The words "be careful for nothing" mean "in nothing be anxious." The

AmplifiedBiblesays,"Donotfretorhaveanyanxietyaboutanything."Aslongaswefretandareanxious,prayingandfastingwon'tdoanygood.

Thisverse says"with thanksgiving,"and thiscomesafterprayingabout thematter.WethankGodfortheanswerafterwehaveprayed.

The final step to answered prayer is to lift your heart toGod constantly ingratitudeandincreasingpraiseforwhatHehasdoneandforwhatHeisdoingforyounow.

Makeeveryprayerconcerningyourneedastatementoffaithandpraise,notastatementofunbelief.Youcandothisjustaseasilyasyoucanthinkthoughtsofdoubtandunbelief.Thinkingfaiththoughtsandspeakingfaithwordsleadtheheartoutofdefeat

intovictory!Donotacceptdefeat.Donotbedenied. It isyour familyright—yourredemptionright—tohavewhatGodhaspromised.Itisyours,anditwillcome.Acceptit,anditwillbecomeareality.

AndrewMurraysaid,"ItisnotgoodtastetoaskGodforthesamethingoverand over again. If, when you do pray again for something that hasn'tmaterialized,don'tprayforitinthesameway,becausethatwouldbeunbelief.RemindGodthatyouaskedforitandwhatHisWordsays,andtellHimyouareexpectingit.ThenthankHimforit."Oftenpeopleundotheirprayers!Theyget intounbeliefandstay there,as if

theywerespinningtheirwheels.

DuringaconventiononceinTexas,IheardRev.RaymondT.Richeyleadinprayerforamanwhowasin thehospital,dying.Afterweprayed,wethankedGodthatHehadheardus.

BrotherRicheystartedtowalkawayfromthepulpit,butthenturnedaroundandwentbacktothemicrophone.Heaskedhowmanyinthecongregationweregoing tokeeppraying for thisman in thehospital.Nearly everyone raisedhishand.

"Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor?"BrotherRicheyasked."Wealreadyhaveprayedforhim.NowletuskeeppraisingGodbecauseHehashealedthisman."

At thecloseof the service, someonecame inandannounced that thedyingmanhadsuddenlyrevivedandwasgoingtobeallright.HehadseenJesuswalkintohisroomandsay,"IamtheLordthathealeththee."Hehadawakenedandimmediatelywaswell.Thishadhappenedwhilewehadbeenpraying.

The Christian who practices these seven steps to answered prayer willdiscovergreatvictoryinhisprayerlife.

MemoryText:"Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,and

itshallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson3ThePrayerThatUnlocksHeavenBibleTexts:John16:23,24;Ephesians5:20CentralTruth:TheNameofJesusistheaccesstotheheart

oftheFather.Lesson3Wehaveakeythatunlocksthedoorofourautomobile.Wemaysaythatwe

unlockthedoor,butreallyitisthekeythatdoesit.Wealsohaveakeythatfitstheignition.Wecouldn'tstartthecarwithoutthiskey.Thiskeyistheimportantfactorindrivingthecar.Wecouldn'tgetanywherewithoutit.

TheNameofJesusThereisakeytoprayerthatwillunlockthedoorsandwindowsofheavenand

grantoureveryneed.Withoutthiskeywecan'tgetanywhere.ThiskeyisfoundinJohn16:

JOHN16:23,2423Andinthatdayyeshallaskmenothing.Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,

WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou.24 Hithertohaveyeaskednothinginmyname:ask,andyeshallreceive,

thatyourjoymaybefull.JesusisourMediator,Intercessor,Advocate,andLord.Hestandsbetweenus

and the Father. No place in the Bible is it ever recorded that Jesus told HisdisciplestopraytoHim.TheyalwaysweretoldtopraytotheFatherinJesus'Name.Therefore,ifwewanttobesureourprayersreachthethroneofGod,wemustcomeaccordingtotheruleslaiddowninHisWord.

IntheaboveScripture,Jesussaid,"Inthatdayyeshallaskmenothing."HesaidthistoHisdisciplesbeforeHewentaway.HewastalkingaboutHispresentpositionasMediator,seatedattherighthandoftheFather.

Anothertranslationreads,"Inthatdayyeshallnotpraytome."JesussaidtoasktheFatherinHisName.Thisisthekeythatwillunlockheaveninourbehalf.

WecantellJesushowmuchweloveHim,butwhenitcomestopraying,wemustask theFather through theLordJesus.Ephesians3:14,15 says,"For thiscause Ibowmykneesunto theFatherofourLordJesusChrist,Ofwhom thewholefamilyinheavenandearthisnamed."Itisnotimportantwhichchurchwe

belongto,butitisimportantwhichfamilywebelongto.OverflowingJoyJohn 16:24 says, "... ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

ThereisrealjoyinknowingthattheFatherwillanswerourprayers.The beloved preacher Smith Wigglesworth worked for many years as a

plumber before he began his full-time preaching ministry. One time whileinstalling plumbing in a large house, he noticed the owner kept coming in,looking at him, and then leaving. Finally she entered the roomwhere hewasworking,satdown,andasked,"Whatintheworldisitthatcausesthatwonderfulexpressiononyourface?Youlookasifyouarefullofjoy."

He told her that morning at breakfast his wife had told him two of theirchildren were very ill. Before they ate, they went upstairs, laid hands on thechildren, and prayed for them. They were instantly healed and joined theirparents downstairs for breakfast.Wigglesworth said it waswonderful to havesuchawonderfulJesus.

HetoldthewomantheScripturesays,"...ask,andyeshallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull."(Certainlyourjoycouldnotbefullifourchildrenwereill,buttheLordtoldustoaskHimforwhatweneed,"thatyourjoymaybefull.")

Thewoman askedWigglesworth if Jesuswould save her and give her thiswonderfuljoy,too.WigglesworthassuredherHewould.

Sheaccepted theLordandstarted rejoicing.SheaskedWigglesworth if shecouldkeepthisjoy.Heansweredthattheonlywaytokeepitwastogiveitaway.Hetoldhersheshouldtellallthewomenatherclubmeetingabouthersalvation.Shedidandallofthemweresaved.Thisisthewaytokeepit:Tellothersaboutit.

IfWigglesworthhadgone towork thatdaywith twosickchildrenathome,hisjoywouldnothavebeenfull.Hewouldhavebeenworried.Hewouldhavelooked distressed. Instead, he had a light on his face— a radiance that wasobvioustoallwhosawhim.Somethingseemedtoflowoutofhim.Whatwasit?It was the joy the Father has promised when we ask Him for our needs andreceiveinfaith.

OnanotheroccasionWigglesworthwasindirefinancialneed.Atthattimehewas in London visiting in the home of a wealthy man.Wigglesworth simplycommittedhisfinancialburdentotheLordandrefusedtoworryaboutit.Hetoldnoone.HeknewtheLordwouldtakecareofit.

Asheandhisfriendwereoutwalkinginthepark,Wigglesworthwashappyandsinging,rejoicinginhisspirit.Hisrichfriendcommentedthathewouldgive

allheownedtohavethesamespiritofjoythatWigglesworthhad.Wigglesworth told him itwouldn't cost him anything; all he had to dowas

castallhiscaresonJesus.Wigglesworthexplainedthatthisiswhathehaddone,andhewaswithoutacareintheworld.Hecouldbefreeandhappy.Hestilldidnotmentionhisfinancialneedtohisfriend,butinsteadtalkedofvictoryandjoyinChristJesus.

Onemanhadmaterialwealthbutnojoy.Theotherlackedmaterialthingsbutwas filledwith joy.Whatwas the secret?Wigglesworth knew the truth of theScripture,"...ask,andyeshallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull."

Canyour joybe full ifyouhavegreat financialburdenspressingyou?Canyourjoybefullifyouhaveunpaidbillsthataredue?IfyouhaveaskedHimtosupplyyourneedsandyoubelieve"yeshallreceive,"yourjoycanbefull.

JoyThatPrecedestheFactSometimes you have to have the joy before youwill receivewhat you are

praying for. If you are worrying and trying to figure matters out alone, youhinderGodfromhelpingyou.YouarecarryingtheburdeninsteadoflettingHimcarryit.Infact,ifyouareworrying,itwilldolittlegoodtopray,becauseyouarenotprayinginfaith."Becareful fornothing;but in every thing by prayer and supplicationwith

thanksgivingletyourrequestsbemadeknownuntoGod.AndthepeaceofGod,which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds throughChristJesus"(Phil.4:6,7).

When I was holding evangelistic meetings, I often would drive straightthroughfromCaliforniatoTexas.MymotheroncetoldmethatwhensheknewIwastraveling,sheprayedthattheLordwouldbewithme.Andshestayedawakeatnightworrying,waitingforthetelephonetoringwithnewsIhadbeeninanaccident. I toldher shewaswastingher timepraying if shewasgoing to stayawakeworrying.

Prayer ismorethanthat."...ask,andyeshallreceive, thatyour joymaybefull."WeshouldbefullofjoyevenbeforewereceivewhatweaskforbecausewehaveHisWordthatHeheardourprayer.

EPHESIANS5:2020GivingthanksalwaysforallthingsuntoGodandtheFatherinthenameof

ourLordJesusChrist.NoticeherethatPaultellsustogivethanksforallthings"untoGodandthe

Father"intheNameofJesus.PaultellsustopraytotheFatherandnottoJesus.

TheNameofJesusistheaccesstotheheartoftheFatherinallourrealpraiseandthanksgiving.

Someone said the way we pray doesn't make much difference. But if itdoesn't,whydidGodinspirePaultowritetheepistles?Tosaytheseversesarenot important would make as much sense as it would to say John 3:16 isn'timportant. Ifwe believe John 3:16 is important,we alsomust believe that allScripturesareimportantandareforourinstructioninwalkingwithGod.Whenyouwanttogetananswertoyourprayers,followtheteachingsoftheWordandpraytotheFatherintheNameofJesus.

When many people pray, they conclude their prayer, "for Jesus' sake."However,wearenottoldintheWordtoprayforJesus'sake.WearetaughttoprayintheNameofJesus.Whatisthedifference?

Ifyouwenttoabanktocashacheckforafriend,thecashierwouldaskyouifyou had an account there with enoughmoney to guarantee the check. If youdidn't, thecashierwouldn'tcashthecheck.Butifyouhadacheckfromamanwhohadanaccountinthatbank,youwouldbeabletocashthecheck.

ThesameistruewhenwegotoGodandtellHimtodosomethingforJesus'sake.WeareaskingittobedonetohelpJesusonourcredit.IfIhadastomachache,itwouldbefoolishtoaskGodtohealmeforJesus'sake.Itismystomachthathurts.Idon'twanttobehealedforHim.(Wearetheoneswhoneedthehelp.Hehasthestandingorcredit,andwecancomeinHisName.)

It makes a lot of difference what our attitude is. The reasonwe fail manytimesinourprayingisbecauseourapproachisallwrong.SometimeswethinkGodshouldanswerourprayersbecauseofourownmeritorgoodness.

WhenPeter and Johnministered to the lameman at theGateBeautiful, asrecordedinthethirdchapterofActs,thepeoplewhowitnessedthemiraclewereamazed.Theythoughtitwasthroughsomespecialpowerofthesementhatthelamemanwas healed. But Peter said, "...why look ye so earnestly on us, asthoughby our ownpower or holinesswe hadmade thisman towalk?" (Acts3:12).

Itisn'tbyourownpowerorholinessthatwegetananswertoprayer.Wedon'tget our prayers answered because we are good; they're answered because ofJesus.Hehasa standing inheaven.He is theonlyapproach to theFather.Wecan'tgetthereanyotherway.WecometotheFatherinHisName.Jesusgaveusthe rightand theauthority touseHisName.Thekey toseeinganswers toourprayersisthroughthemightyNameofJesus.

MemoryText:

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou"(John16:23).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson4TheAuthorityofJesus’NameBibleText:Mark16:17,18

CentralTruth:Jesusgaveusthepowerofattorney,therighttouseHisName.

God hears and answers prayer.Wemight aswell settle that. It works. Toooftenpeoplejustmakeastabinthedarkatpraying.Theycallitprayingandletitgoatthat.Theyhopesomethingworksoutsomewayorother.

ButweneedtotakeourstandonGod'sWordandletheaven,hell,andearthknow that God'sWord is true and we believe it.We need to grow in prayer.ManytimesGodcondescendstomeetusonanelementarylevel,butitisbetterthatwegrowspirituallyandmeetHimonHislevel.

TheBibleteachesthereisasimilaritybetweenphysicalgrowthandspiritualgrowth. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that yemaygrowthereby"(1Peter2:2).Nooneisbornafullygrownadult.Wearebornasbabiesandgrowup.Noone isborna fullygrownChristian, either.Christiansare newborn babes and grow up. As we mature in theWord, our prayer lifeshouldimprove.

WhenIwasachildIprayed,"NowIlaymedowntosleep..."ButIdon'tpraythatway anymore. I've grown beyond that.Whenwewere spiritual babeswemay have prayed certain ways, but God wants us to grow spiritually. GodrequiresmoreofusnowthanHedidafewyearsago.Believer’sRightsintheNameofJesusMARK16:17,1817 Andthesesignsshallfollowthemthatbelieve;Inmynameshall they

castoutdevils;theyshallspeakwithnewtongues;18Theyshalltakeupserpents;andiftheydrinkanydeadlything,itshall

nothurtthem;theyshalllayhandsonthesick,andtheyshallrecover.Prayer shouldbeaddressed to theFather in Jesus'Name.This is thekey to

seeingourprayersanswered.InthislessonwewilllookattherightswehaveinJesus'Name.

Jesusgaveusthepowerofattorney,ortherighttouseHisName.WeuseHisNamewhenweprayforourindividualneedsandwhenwedealwiththedevil.Hesaid,"Inmynameshalltheycastoutdevils...."

WhenJesusappointedtheseventydisciplesandsentthemforth,"Theseventyreturnedagainwithjoy,saying,Lord,eventhedevilsaresubjectuntousthroughthyname"(Luke10:17).

InActs16:16-18wereadwherePaulcastanevilspiritoutofagirl."ButPaul,beinggrieved,turnedandsaidtothespirit,Icommandtheeinthe

nameofJesusChristtocomeoutofher.Andhecameoutthesamehour."I once knewof awomenwhose daughterwas in amental institution. This

mother decided to pray the prayer of faith for her daughter— exercising herauthorityinJesus'Nameandcastingoutthedevilthatkeptherdaughterbound.She asked 12 women who were strong in faith to go with her to the mentalinstitution.

Whentheyarrivedatthepaddedcellwherethedaughterwasbeingkept,themothersaidtotheattendant,"Iwantyoutoopenthedoorandletmein,becauseIwanttoprayformydaughter."

"Youcan'tdothat,"heanswered."She'llkillyou.She'sviolentlyinsane."Hearguedhecouldn'tletherinbecausehewouldlosehisjob,butallthetime

hewasunlockingthedoor.Themothersteppedinandhelockedthedooragain.Theinsanedaughterlookedmorelikeananimalthanahumanbeing.Herhair

andnailshadgrownlong,andshehissedandspatasananimalwould.While the 12 women outside prayed silently, the mother prayed out loud,

commanding thedevil to comeoutofherdaughter in theNameof Jesus.Sheprayedlikethisforabout10minutes.

Suddenly the daughter relaxed, looked up, and said, "Momma! Is that you,Momma?"Shethrewherarmsaroundherandhuggedandkissedher.Thatdayshe was dismissed from the institution as being well. This mother knew herrights.SheknewtheauthoritythatwasherstocastoutdevilsinJesus'Name.

Jesus also said in Mark 16:17, "In my name... they shall speak with newtongues."Everybelieverhastherighttospeakwithtongues.

ThenextversesaysthatinJesus'Name"Theyshalltakeupserpents;andiftheydrinkanydeadlything,itshallnothurtthem."

Thisdoesn'tmean,ofcourse,wearetotakeupserpentsandhandlethemjusttotrytoprovesomething.Itmeansthatifweareaccidentallybitten,asPaulwasontheislandofMelita,wecanshakeoff thesnakeandclaimimmunity in theNameofJesus.

WereadinActs28:3-6howPaulwasshipwrecked.Hepickedupsomestickstobuildafireandavipercameoutandfastenedonhishand.Thepeoplewhosaw this expected him to fall dead. When he didn't die and his hand didn't

becomeswollenfromthevenom,thepeopleknewtheyhadwitnessedamiracle.I have heard of similar experiences in our day. A woman missionary in a

foreigncountrywasstungbyadeadlyscorpion.Therewasnoantidotefor thebiteinthosedays;itsstingalwayswasfatal.

Themissionarywasshoppingonthestreetwhenthescorpionstungher,andpeoplewatchingexpectedher to swellupanddie.But she just shook itoff inJesus'Nameanddidn'tevengetsicktoherstomach.Asaresult,manyofthosepeopleweresaved.

TheScripturefurthersays,"...andiftheydrinkanydeadlything,itshallnothurtthem."Again,thisdoesn'tmeanwecandrinksomethingpoisonoustotrytoprove a point. It means if we do accidentally, we can claim immunity in theNameoftheLordJesusChrist.UsingtheNameofJesusAnumberofyearsagoareligiousdenominationwasholdingaconventionin

CorpusChristi, Texas.After the people began to gather at the groundswheretheywerehavingtheconvention,someofthembegantofallill.Soonabout20or30peopleweredesperatelysick,andtheybeganprayingforoneanother.

Astheyprayed,someonehadarevelationthewaterinoneofthehotelswaspoisonous.Thiswasinthedayswhentheydidn'thaverunningwater.Theyhadapitcherandbowlonawashstandineachroom.Thispersoncautionedtherestofthepeoplenottodrinkanymorewater.TheLordansweredprayerandeveryonewashealed.

They tooka sampleof thewater toanearbynaval station.Laboratory testsshowedtherewasenoughpoisoninthewatertokillaregimentofmen.UndersuchcircumstanceswehavearighttoclaimimmunityinJesus'Name.

Jesussaid,"...theyshalllayhandsonthesick,andtheyshallrecover"(v.18).Don't lay hands on someone and say, "If it be the Lord's will..." Lay your

handsonthemandclaimtheirdeliveranceintheNameofJesus.Youhavesolidgroundtostandon.

Jesussaid,"Inmyname...."ItisinHisNamewecancastoutdevils.ItisinHis Name we can speak with new tongues. It is in His Name we can claimimmunityifweaccidentallyarebittenbyapoisonoussnakeorifwedrinkanydeadly thing. It is inHisNamewe can lay hands on the sick, and they shallrecover.ItisHisNamethatgivesusauthoritytoclaimthesethings.

NoticeHesaidwelayhandsonthesick.Wedothelayingonofhands—notJesusortheHolySpirit.WelayhandsonthesickpersoninJesus'Name.

Wearetheoneswhotalkintongues.Ihaveheardpeoplesay,"ButI'mafraid

thatwasjustme."Certainlythatwasyou!Youhavetherighttospeakintonguesin Jesus'Name.Youdo the talking just asmuchasyou layhandson the sickperson.TheHolySpiritgivesyoutheutterance;youdothetalking.

This is our right in the Name of Jesus. It belongs to everyone, not justsomeoneespeciallycalled.TheordinarychildofGodhasasmuchright tousetheNameofJesusasanyone.

Letmecallyourattentiontosomethingelsehere.Wedonothavetostrugglefor faith.Somepeople think if they justhadenough faith, theycoulddo thesethings.ButnoticethispassageofScripturedoesnotsayawordaboutfaith.Jesusdidn'tsay,"Iftheyhaveenoughfaith...."Hesaid,"Thesesignsshallfollowthemthat believe; In my name they shall...." He went on to enumerate our rightsthroughHisName.

We do not have to struggle for faith. It is simply amatter of claiming ourrightsandboldlyusingwhatweknowbelongstous.

TheNameof Jesusbelongs tomeasmuchasmyhandsand feetbelong tome.WhenIawakeninthemorning,Idon'tprayforGodtogivemefaithtogetupandwalk.IjustgetupandwalkbecauseIknowmyfeetarethere!TheNameof Jesus is as muchmine asmy hands and feet aremine, and I can use HisName.

Therearepeoplewhoprayandpray,buttheresultsdonotprovetheirprayersareofanyvalue.Ifyoudon'tgetresultswhenyoupray,youneedtoreexamineyourmethods.Ifyouaren'texpectingresultswhenyoupray,thereisnoneedtopray.TheBusinessofPrayerJustasbusinessesexpecttomakeaprofit,soweshouldexpecttoprofitwhen

we pray. If a business was not making a profit, its management immediatelywould begin to reevaluate its methods and make necessary changes. Industrydemands thebest technicaleducation. Itdemandsmentrained todo their jobs.Christians,too,shouldmakeabusinessofprayer—thegreatestbusinessthereis—God'sbusiness.

Prayer is of the utmost importance. From a practical side, Christianity is alivingfaithintouchwiththelivingGodwhohearsandanswersprayer.

Simply talking into the air is not prayer. Taking up 20minutes on SundaymorninggivingGodahomilyonwhatHisdutiesaretowardtheChurchisnotprayer.Givingthecongregationalectureisnotprayer.

Weshouldprayforresults.Ifweprayandweseenoresults,itshowswehavetheformwithoutthepower.

AllthingsGodhasprovidedareofferedtousthroughprayer,andifwedonothavethem,itisbecausewehavenotmadeourprayerconnection.

Ifyouareprayingwithoutseeinganyresults,seektofindthetrouble.IsGoduntrue?No,He'snot!Isthedayofprayerandmiraclesover?No!Havewebeendepending upon the promises of aGodwhohas gone bankrupt?No!There issomethingwrongsomewhere,isn'tthere?IsitbecausewearenotknownintheBankofHeaven?

Let'sseektofindthecauseanduprootanydoubtandunbelief.Let'spraytotheFatherasJesustaughtustopray—inJesus'Name—becauseJesusstandsbehindHisWord.

WhenwecomeaccordingtoGod'sWord,ourprayerscannotfail.MemoryText:"Ifyeshallaskanythinginmyname,Iwilldoit"(John14:14).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson5ThePrayerofAgreementBibleTexts:Matthew18:18-20;Deuteronomy32:30;Romans8:26CentralTruth:There is tremendouspower as twoormore agree in prayer

concerninganythingtheymayneed.Of themanyprayerpromises in theBible,perhapsnone ismoresignificant

thanMatthew 18:19. Yet many dedicated Christians go through life having aknowledge of the Word— having read and even studied Matthew 18:19—withoutreallyappropriatingitintheirownlives.

God didn't put all of the promises about prayer in the Bible just to fill upspace.Theyarethereforourbenefit.Theyarethereforustoactupon.

TogetthefullimpactofwhatJesusissayinginMatthew18:19,let'slookattheversesprecedingandfollowingit.

MATTHEW18:18-2018VerilyIsayuntoyou,Whatsoeveryeshallbindonearthshallbebound

inheaven:andwhatsoeveryeshalllooseonearthshallbeloosedinheaven.19AgainIsayuntoyou,Thatiftwoofyoushallagreeonearthastouching

anythingthattheyshallask,itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven.

20Forwheretwoorthreearegatheredtogetherinmyname,thereamIinthemidstofthem.

Noticethephraseinverse19:"...itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven."ThestrongestassertiononecanmakeintheEnglishlanguageistosay"Ishall."InthisScriptureJesuspromised,''...itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven."Healsosaid,"Ifyeshallaskanythinginmyname,Iwilldoit"(John14:14).

P.C.NelsonwasaGreekscholarwhodidallhispersonalBiblereadingandprivatedevotionsfromtheGreekNewTestament.HesaidtheGreektranslationismorebeautifulthantheEnglish,butithasanumberofidiomsthatcannotbetranslatedintoEnglishandretaintheirfullmeaning.

Dr.NelsonsaidtheliteralGreekrenderingofJesus'statementis,"IfyoushallaskanythinginmynameandIdon'thaveit,Iwillmakeitforyou."

AuthorityToBindandLooseMatthew18:20 says, "Forwhere two or three are gathered together inmy

name, there am I in the midst of them'' We usually apply this Scripture to achurchservice.Ofcourse,itcanrefertothis,butwhatJesusreallywassayinghereiswhereverthesetwopeoplearewhoagree,Heisrighttherewiththemtomaketheirprayergood.

Jesuswasbringingoutthefactthatwhateverwebindonearthshallbeboundinheaven, andwhateverwe loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Heavenwillbackusup inwhatwedoonearth.Wehave theauthority to looseand tobind.

Insteadofusing thisauthority,however, toomanypeopleallowthedevil toblindthem.Theythinktheycan'thelpitiftheyaredefeatedanddepressed.Theythinkthereisnothingtheycandoaboutit.ButtheycandosomethingaboutitbyactingonthisScripture:byagreeinginprayerwithjustoneotherbeliever.

During 1957, our nation experienced an economic recession.Oregonwas astate which felt the recession quite desperately. At that time I was holding arevival in Salem, Oregon. As I preached on the subject of the prayer ofagreement, a couple in the church decided to claim this promise andmake itworkforthem.

Theyownedapieceofpropertywhich theyhadbeen trying to sell for twoyearswithnosuccess.Withtimessodifficult,itseemedimpossibletosellit,yetthecoupleagreedinprayerthattheywouldbeabletosellitwiththeLord'shelp.

Whenthemanvisitedtherealestateagent,hewastoldthatsincetheyhadn'tbeenabletosellthelotwhentimesweregood,therewaslittlehopetheycouldsell itnow.Theagentdidsuggest that theman talk toaclientwhopreviouslyhadbeeninterestedinthelot.Theagentwasn'ttoooptimistic,buthesaidifthisclientdidn'tbuythelot,hewouldtryoncemoretosellit.

Remembering Jesus' promise concerning the prayer of agreement, the manapproached the client, offering to sell the property at the same price they haddiscussedbefore.Thistimetheclientsaidhewouldtakeit.

Fortwoyearsthiscouplehadbeeninfinancialtrouble,desperatelyneedingtosell their lot. They could have had the money all the time if they had onlyexercisedtheirauthoritybyagreeinginprayerthat"itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven."

Insteadofbelievingwiththeirheartsandsayingwiththeirmouths,thecouplehadbeenprayingthatGodwoulddosomethingaboutit.Theynowrealizedthattheyshouldhavedonesomethingaboutit.(Wehaveourparttoplay.Whenwemakeourmove,Godwillthenmove.)MultipliedPrayerPower

DEUTERONOMY32:3030Howshouldonechaseathousand,andtwoputten thousandtoflight,except theirRockhadsold them,and theLordhadshutthemup?

Wemay bemighty in prayer alone, but we can bemightier with someonejoiningus.Weread in theaboveverse thatonecanchasea thousand,but twocanputtenthousandtoflight.Withsomeoneagreeingwithusinprayer,wecandotentimesasmuchaswecandobyourselves.Alotofpeopledon'tneedtobeinvolved;justahusbandandwifewilldo—justtwo.

IoncereadabookbyDr.GeorgeW. Truett, who for many years was pastor of the First Baptist Church in

Dallas, Texas. One chapter of his book deals with this subject of agreeing inprayer.

Hetoldthatwhenhewasayoungseminarystudent,hewouldgooutduringthesummerandconductrevivalmeetings.Oncewhenhewaspreachingunderabrusharbor inWestTexas,a tall ranchercameup tohimafter thesermononenightandaskedifhebelievedtheNewTestament.Dr.Truettanswered thathedid.Thentherancheraskedifhebelievedeverythinginit.Dr.Truettansweredthat he surely did. The rancher asked him if he believedMatthew 18:19. Dr.Truett said he didn't know offhandwhatMatthew 18:19 said, butwhatever itwas,hebelievedit.

TherancherquotedthisverseofScripturetoDr.Truettandtoldhimhewasthefirstpreachertheyhadeverhadwhoreallybelievedit.HeaskedDr.Truetttoagreewithhimthathisranchforemanandfamilywouldbesavedthenextnight.Hepromised to have them in church.Dr.Truett said hewould agree for theirsalvation.

Thisbigfellow,whotoweredoverhimabout6feet6incowboyboots,thengrabbed his hand and shook it.He said, "Lord, I've finally found someone toagreewithme.I'vebeenlookingforsomeoneforyears.ThislittlepreacherandIagreethatJohnandhisfamilywillbesavedtomorrownight."

Afterasleeplessnightofdoingbattlewith thedevil,Dr.Truettwent to themeetingthenextnight.Hesawtheranchercomein,followedbytheotherman,hiswife,andthreechildren.

Dr.Truettpreachedafiery,evangelisticmessageandgavetheinvitation,buthecouldn'tseemtomovethemantowardthealtar.FinallyhetoldtheLordthathehaddoneallhecoulddo;hewasgoingtosingonemoreverseandturnitovertoHim.

On the next verse of the invitation hymn, the oldest child, a girl about 13,

went forward. She knelt at the altar. Then one of the other children followed.Finallyallthreechildrenwereprayingatthealtar.Thenthemotherwentforwardandfinallythefatherfollowed.

At theconclusionof theservice, theranchergrabbedDr.Truettandsaidheknewifonlyhecouldfindsomeonetoagreewithhim,itwouldwork.HeaskedDr.Truetttoagreewithhimabouthisneighbor.

Atthispoint,Dr.Truettsaidiftherancherhadaskedhimtoagreewithhimthat the sunwould rise in theWest, hewould have agreed.Hewas ready foranything!Hesaidhewasyounganddidn'tknowanybetter.Hesaidwegetourheadseducatedattheexpenseofourhearts,butsimplepeoplejustbelieveGod'sWordandreceiveresults.

For two weeks the meetings continued. Every night the rancher asked Dr.Truett to agree with him for another family, and every night that family wassaved.Itworks.

TheHolySpiritintheMinistryofPrayerROMANS8:2626LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatwe

shouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered.

TheGreek translationof the lastphraseof thisverse reads,"withgroaningswhich cannot be uttered in articulate speech." Therefore, this verse includesgroaningsandprayingintongues.

Inconnectionwith this,Paulsaid,"For if Ipray inanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth,butmyunderstandingisunfruitful"(1Cor.14:14).TheAmplifiedBiblereads,"...myspirit[bytheHolySpiritwithinme]prays-----"

NoticeinRomans8:26thatwedon'tknowwhatweshouldprayfor.Wecan'tpossiblyknowinournaturalmindhowtoprayasweshouldbecausetherearesomany things known only toGod, but "the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities."TheHolySpiritwill helpus andwillmake intercession for uswithgroaningswhichcannotbeutteredinarticulatespeech.

Thisdoesn'tmeanit issomethingtheHolySpiritdoesapartfromyou.ThatwouldmaketheHolySpiritresponsibleforyourprayerlife,andHeisn't.Youareresponsibleforyourprayerlife.NoticethatthisversesaysthatHe"helpeth."Heisn'tsent todoyourprayingforyou.He issent tohelpyou ineveryaspectofyourlife,andespeciallyyourprayerlife.

Therearesomethingsthatcomeoutofyourheartthatcan'tbeexpressedin

words. It is theHoly Spirit helping you as these groanings come out of yourspiritandescapeyourlips.ItistheHolySpiritintheministryofprayer.

I do most of my praying in tongues. For example, my son might haveproblemsIknownothingabout.ItelltheLordIdon'tknowhowtoprayforhimasIoughtto,butIamlookingtotheHolySpirittogivemeutterance.Imightprayforhimanhourintongues.Imighthavearevelation,orGodmightshowme theanswer.Butwhether there isa revelationornot,wecanpray thatwaybecauseweknowitisBiblical.

Thiskindofpraying in theSpiritgets the jobdonewhennothingelsewill.TheHolySpiritmakesintercessionthroughustothethroneofgrace.

MemoryText:"AgainIsayuntoyou,Thatiftwoofyoushallagreeonearthastouchingany

thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is inheaven"(Matt.18:19).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson6The SixMost Important Things in Prayer

(Part1)BibleTexts:John16:23,24;Mark11:24-26;Acts27:25CentralTruth:"ThereissomethingaboutbelievingGodthatwillcauseHim

topassoveramillionpeopletogettoyou."—SmithWigglesworthMany times I have asked people, as they got up from praying, what they

believed.Oftentheyhaveanswered,"Well,IhopeGodheardme."ItellthemHedidn't.

InHisWordHesays,"Ifyoubelieveyoushallreceive,"not"Ifyouhopeyoushall receive."Hedidn'tsay to"keeponkeepingon"untilyouget theanswer.Hesaidwhenyouprayyoushouldbelieveyoureceive.

Whenyoubelieveyoureceive,youdon'thavetoprayallnightlong.Youcango to bed and sleep peacefully, knowingGod has heard you andwill answeryourprayer.It'sthemostwonderfulthingintheworldtobeabletopillowyourheadonthepromisesofGodandsleeplikeababy.Everythingaroundyoumightbeinturmoil,butinthemidstofityoucanhavepeace.

This lesson deals with the six most important things the Christian shouldknowaboutprayer.Number1:PraytotheFatherintheNameofJesusJOHN16:23,2423Andinthatdayyeshallaskmenothing.Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,

hewillgiveityou.24Hithertohaveyeaskednothinginmyname:ask,andyeshallreceive,that

yourjoymaybefull.WhenJesusspokethesewords,Hewashereonearth.Hewastalkingabout

thedayinwhichwelive.HehadnotyetgonetoCalvary.Hehadnotdiedandbeenburied.Hehadnot

risenfromthedead.TheNewCovenantwasnotinforce.HisbloodhadnotbeencarriedintotheHolyofHolies.(HisbloodisthesealoftheCovenant.)

Manhadthepromiseofredemption,buthadnotreceivedit.Eternallifehadbeenpromised,buthadnotbeenprovided.NonehadtheNewBirth—theyonlyhad thepromiseof it, because theNewBirth is availableonlyunder theNew

Covenant.ThisNewCovenantwas prophesied about in theOldCovenant.Under the

OldCovenant,men'sheartsneverwerechanged.That'sthereasontheykeptonsinning.Theycouldn'thelpbutsin.

SomeofthegreatestsaintsoftheOld Testament sinned. After they were forgiven for one sin, they would

commitanother.Theirnatureswereallwrong;theirheartswereallwrong.Theyonlyhadacoveringfortheirsins.

ButGodpromisedinHisWordthatHewouldtakethatoldheartoutofusandgiveusanewone.HesaidHewouldputanewspiritinus(Ezek.11:19).ThisbecameavailableundertheNewCovenant.

InJohn16:23,24,Jesus toldHisdisciples thatafterHewent toCalvaryandwasraisedfromthedead,peopleweretopraytoHisFather.

PrayerbasedonlegalgroundsshouldbeaddressedtotheFatherintheNameofJesus.WearenotsupposedtopraytoJesus.ThiswasHisinstruction.

ThedisciplesaskedHim,whileHewashereonearth,toteachthemtopray.He taught them to say, "Our Father...."We refer to this as the Lord's Prayer(Matt.6:9-13),butitisnotNewTestamentprayer.

This prayer didn't ask a thing in Jesus' Name; His Name wasn't evenmentioned.This prayer was prayed under the Old Covenant. Under the NewCovenant,whichwassealedwiththepreciousbloodofJesus,wearetopraytotheFatherinJesus'Name.

Nowletusfocusourattentionontheword"whatsoever"inJohn16:23.Oftenwe saywearebelieving for an answer to prayer "if it isGod'swill."But thisversemakesno such condition.On the contrary, it says,"Whatsoever ye shallask theFather inmy name, hewill give it you." Itmust have beenHiswill;otherwise,Hewouldn'thavesaidit!

WhydidJesussay,"WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou"?Theanswerisfoundinverse24:"...thatyourjoymaybefull."

Our joy certainly can't be full if we are out of work and our children arehungry.Ourjoycan'tbefullifourbodiesarerackedwithpain.Ourjoycan'tbefullifthereareproblemsinourhome.

JesussaidtheFatherwouldgiveus"whatsoever"weasksoour"joymaybefull."

But there is a secret to successwith thiskindofpraying.Thekey is in thewords,"Whatsoever ye shall ASK THEFATHER INMYNAME...."We are toaddressourprayerstotheFatherintheNameofJesus.

Number2:BelieveYouReceiveMARK11:2424 Therefore I say unto you,What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,

believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem.SmithWigglesworth once said there is something about believingGod that

willcauseHimtopassoveramillionpeopletogettoyou.God is a faithGod.We are faith children of a faithGod.Heworks on the

principleoffaith.Wearesavedbyfaith:"Forbygraceareyesavedthroughfaith;andthatnot

of yourselves: it is the gift ofGod:Not ofworks, lest anyman should boast"(Eph.2:8,9).

Wewalkbyfaith,notbysight.ItistheprayeroffaithGodlistensto.Hesaidyoucanhavethedesiresofyourheartifyoubelieveyoureceivethem.Youhavetobelievefirst,however.

Mostpeoplewanttoreceiveandthentheywillbelieve.Butitistheotherwayaround:Thebelievingpartcomesfirst.

IamconvincedthatifpeoplewouldquitprayingrepeatedlyaboutsomeofthethingstheyprayaboutandbeginthankingGodfortheanswer,theanswerwouldcomerightaway.Buttheykeeponprayinginunbelief.

Ifapersonasksforthesamethingagain,hedoesn'tbelievehereceiveditthefirsttimeheasked.Ifhebelievedhehadreceivedit,hewouldbethankingGodforit,anditwouldbemademanifest.

ThefaithJesuswastalkingaboutinMark11isheartfaith—aspiritualfaith—notheadfaith.Wegetusedtowalkingbyheadfaith.Butwearetobelieveinourheartthatwereceivewhatweareprayingfor,eventhoughwedonotseetheanswerwithourphysicaleyes.

This also is true of physical healing, but it seemsmore difficult to practicefaithforphysicalhealingthanforanythingelse,becausewehavethebody,withallitsfeelingsandsymptoms,tocontendwith.

Most people will believe God has healed them when they can see theirconditionhasgrownbetter,orwhenthesymptomsaregone.Anyonecanbelievewhathecansee.WhatJesuswasteachinghereisthatweshouldbelievewhenweprayandthenwewillreceive.

FormanyyearsIhavepracticedthiskindoffaith,andMark11:24hasbeenmystandby.IhaveexperienceditinmyownlifeasIhaveprayedforthedesiresofmyheart,believingthatIreceivethem.Itistruenotonlyforhealing,butalsoineveryotherareaoflife.Nomatterwhattheneedmaybe—material,spiritual,

orfinancial—thisisthewaywereceive.SmithWigglesworth said somepeople are ready to give up if their prayers

aren'tanswered immediately.But,hesaid, thisproves that theyneverbelievedGodinthefirstplace.

OftenGodpermitsourfaithtobetriedandtestedrightuptotheend.WhenyoubelieveGod,youcanstandfirm,eventhoughyouaretested.

I have been there and I know by experience. I learnedmany years ago tolaughallthemorewhenthegoinggetsrough.Idon'talwaysfeellikelaughing,but Imakemyself laugh right in the face of the devil. I smile and say that IbelieveGod.

WhenPaulwasonashipboundforRome,agreatstormarose.Becausetheshipwasindangerofsinking,thecrewattemptedtolightenitbythrowingcargooverboard.Thisdidn'thelpthesituation,andthestormcontinued,nightandday,for"manydays."Finallythecrewandpassengersgaveupallhopethattheyorthe ship would survive. However, right in themidst of the storm's fury, Pauladdressedthem,sayinghebelievedGod:

ACTS27:2525Wherefore,sirs,beofgoodcheer:forIbelieveGod,thatitshallbeevenas

itwastoldme.Youand Imaynothave to facea storm-tossedsea,butwedohave to face

storms in life.We, too, can standwith the faithofPaul andannounce thatwebelieveGod.

Number3:ForgiveWhenYouPrayMARK11:25,2625Andwhenyestandpraying,forgive,ifyehaveoughtagainstany:that

yourFatheralsowhichisinheavenmayforgiveyouyourtrespasses.26 But if ye do not forgive, neitherwill your Fatherwhich is in heaven

forgiveyourtrespasses.Beforewecanexpectananswertoourprayers,wemustforgiveanywhomay

havewrongedus.Wecannotholdagrudge—wecannotkeepanunforgivingspirit—ifwewantourprayerstoreachGod'sthroneofgrace.Prayerwillnotwork inanunforgivingheart.Noone canhave an effective

prayer life and have anything in his heart against another. You cannot havehatredinyourheart.Youcannothaverevengeinyourheart.

Youarenotresponsibleforthatotherperson'slife.Youareresponsibleonlyforyour life.What is in another person's heart can't hinder you, butwhat you

haveinyourheartagainsthimcanhinderyou.Wemustwatchourinwardmanwithalldiligence.Wecannotaffordtoallow

arootofbitterness,abitofenvy,ora sparkof revenge toget in there. Itwillwreck our spiritual life. It will stall our prayer life. It will mar our faith andeventuallyitwillshipwreckus.

Afellowoncewantedmetopraythatheneverwouldhaveanymoretroublewiththedevil.ItoldhimIdidn'tknowanyonewhowasfreefromtroublewiththedevil,leastofallme.

Wecan'tpraythatwewon'thaveanymoretroublewiththedevil,butwecanlearn to take authority over him: "Resist thedevil, and hewill flee from you"(James4:7).

Godpreparesatablebeforeusinthepresenceofourenemies.Jesusisthererightinthepresenceofthedevil.Rightinthepresenceoftheenemiesofdoubtanddespair,wecansitatthetableofvictoryanddeliverancewithJesus.Inthefaceofadversecircumstanceswecanbelievewereceive.

MemoryText:"PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatching

thereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints"(Eph.6:18).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson7TheSixMostImportantThingsinPrayer

(Part2)BibleTexts:Romans8:26,27;1Corinthians14:14,15;Jude20;1Corinthians

14:4CentralTruth:WhenweallowtheHolySpirittopraythroughus—tohelp

usinourprayerlife—wewillseeamazinganswerstoourprayers.Prayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplication in theSpirit,andwatching

thereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints.—Ephesians6:18Dr. James Moffatt's translation of Ephesians 6:18, quoted above, says,

"prayingatalltimes...withallmannerofprayer...."Anothermoderntranslationsays,"prayingwithallkindsofprayer."

TheKing JamesVersion, even though it does not say "all kindsof prayer,"says"prayingalwayswithallprayer,"inferringthatthereismorethanonekindofprayer. If therewerenot, itmerelywouldhave said, "praying always," andwouldhavestoppedthere.

Howdesperatelyournationneedsprayer.Howdesperatelythechurchneedsprayer.Howdesperatelyweindividualsneedprayer.Nothingcantaketheplaceofprayerformeetingtheneedsofourfamily.

In our last lesson we discussed three points in our study of the six mostimportantthingstheChristianshouldknowaboutprayer.Theywere:(1)praytotheFatherintheNameofJesus;(2)believeyoureceive;and(3)forgivewhenyoupray.Thislessonwillcoverthelastthreepointsinthistopic.Number 4: Depend Upon the Holy Spirit in Your

PrayerLifeROMANS8:26,2726LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatwe

shouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered.

27AndhethatsearcheththeheartsknowethwhatisthemindoftheSpirit,becausehemakethintercessionforthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.

1CORINTHIANS14:14,15

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but myunderstandingisunfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will praywith the spirit, and I will praywith theunderstand ing also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with theunderstandingalso.

Christianseverywherepraywiththeunderstanding,butnotallpraywiththeSpirit(prayintongues).Manydonotknowitisevenpossibletodoso.

Some in their haste and their ignorance of the Scriptures have said thattongueshavebeendoneawaywith.But if thatwere true,howareweto"praywith thespirit" today?Surely theCorinthianChristiansdidn'thaveameansofprayingthatwecan'thave.Wehavethesamemeansavailabletoustoday.

Paulsaidthatwhenheprayedinanunknowntongue,hisspiritprayed.Whenyou pray in tongues, it is your spirit praying by the Holy Spirit within you.Likewise,yourgroaningistheHolySpiritwithinyougroaning.

I sometimes have been so burdened in prayer that I didn't have adequatewords toexpressmyfeelings.All Icoulddowasgroanfromsomewhere 'waydowndeepinsideme.Paulsaysthesegroaningsthatescapeourlipscomefromourspirit—ourinnermostbeing.Whenthishappens,itistheSpirithelpinguspray,asweseeinRomans8:26.

According to the late P.C.Nelson, the literalGreek translation ofRomans8:26says, "The Spirit Himselfmaketh intercession for uswith groanings thatcannot be uttered in articulate speech." Articulate speech means your regularkindofspeech.Speakingwithtonguesisnotyourregularkindofspeech,sothisverseincludesspeakingandprayingwithothertongues.

Paul said theHolySpiritwould help us in our prayer life.Why? "...forweknow not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makethintercessionforus...."(Rom.8:26).

We do not always understand everything concerning what we are prayingabout,but theHolySpiritdoes.WhenweallowHimtopray throughus—tohelpusinourprayerlife—wewillseeamazinganswerstoourprayers!

If I know specific details aboutwhat I'm praying for, I can believewhen Ipray,andIwillreceivethem.However,sometimestherearethingsweknowweneedtoprayabout,butwedonotknowhowtoprayforthem.TheHolySpiritknows, andHe can help us. (It is easier to have faith for needs like rent andgroceries because we know what we are praying for. But there are othersituationsinlifethataren'tsoeasytoprayfor.)

TherehavebeentimesinmyownlifewhenIhavetoldtheLordIdidn'tknow

exactly how I should pray concerning my children. When I know there is aproblem,Ibeginprayingintongues,andmostofthetimebeforeIgetthrough,Ihavetheanswer.

Number5:PraythePrayerofIntercessionThis point ties in closelywithNumber 4.Romans 8:26 says, "... theSpirit

itselfmaketh intercession foruswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered." Theprayerofintercessionisnotforyou.Anintercessorisonewhotakestheplaceofanother.Youareintercedingforanother.

EverySpirit-filledbelievercanexpecttheHolySpirittohelphimintercede.This intercessioncanbe for someone's salvation,healing,etc. It even includesprayingforthingsorpeoplewedon'tknowabout,buttheHolySpiritdoes.1

AfteratimeofprayingintheSpiritwewillknowwhetherwewereprayingintongues for ourselves — to build ourselves up spiritually and worship God,whichisdiscussedinthenextstep—orwewereintercedingforothers.

Onoccasion—andsometimesoveraperiodoftime—IhavehadaburdenofintercessionbeforeIevenknewforwhomIwaspraying.IcantellwhenIaminintercessionortravailforsomeonewhoislost.

(Whenyoutaketheplaceofalostpersoninintercession,youwillexperiencethatsamelostfeelinginyourownspirit.AsyouprayintheSpirit, intercedingfor the person, the Holy Spirit will deal with his heart and bring him underconvictionofsin.)Number 6: Edify Yourself by Praying in the Holy

SpiritJUDE2020Butye,beloved,buildingupyourselvesonyourmostholyfaithprayingin

theHolyGhost.1 CORINTHIANS 14:4 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth

himself_Thereisonephaseofspeakingwithtonguesinourprayerlifethatisneither

prayingforsomeoneelsenorintercedingforanyoneelse.Itispurelyameansofpersonalspiritualedification.Itaidsusspirituallyandedifiesus.Weallneedthiskindofpraying.Wecannothelpothers—wecannotedifyothers—unlessweourselveshavebeenedified.

Prayingin thismannerhasa threefoldvalue.First, it isameansofspiritualedification.Itaffectsusindividually.Second,itisameansofprayingforthingsaboutwhichwedonotknow.Third,theHolySpirithelpsusmakeintercession.

Speaking in tongues is not only an initial evidence of the Holy Spirit'sindwelling;itisacontinualexperiencefortherestofone'slife.ItistoassistintheworshipofGod.Itisaflowingstreamthatnevershoulddryup.Itwillenrichyourlifespiritually.MemoryText:"PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatching

thereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints"(Eph.6:18).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson8InterpretingOurPrayersintheSpiritBibleText:1Corinthians14:13-17,27,28CentralTruth:Every believer can interpret his prayers in the Spirit,

thusgainingspiritualunderstandingofthem.Praying in the Spirit is not something that belongs only to ministers. It

belongstoeverybeliever.Much has been accomplished through thosewho have yielded their prayer

livestotheHolySpirit,allowingHimtopraythroughthem.ButwewouldseeevengreaterresultsifmoreChristiansprayedintheSpirit.

1CORINTHIANS14:13-1713Whereforelethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemay

interpret.14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my

understandingisunfruitful.15 What is it then? I will praywith the spirit, and I will praywith the

understand ing also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with theunderstandingalso.

16Elsewhenthoushaltblesswiththespirit,howshallhethatoccupieththeroomoftheunlearnedsayAmenatthygivingofthanks,seeingheunderstandethnotwhatthousayest?

17Forthouverilygivestthankswell,buttheotherisnotedified.God, speaking through the Apostle Paul, said, "Wherefore let him that

speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret" (v. 13). Godcertainlyisnotgoingtotellustoprayforsomethingwecan'thave.

Iamconvincedthateverybelievershouldbeabletointerprethisownprayers,eventhoughhenevermayinterpretamessageintonguespublicly.Ibelievethata person can interpret without being an interpreter. (I will explain this pointmorefullylaterinthislesson.)

WouldtheSpiritofGodtellustoprayforsomethingwecouldn'thave?Thefact thatHehas toldus topray thatwemayinterpretmeansHehasmade thisavailabletoeverybeliever.

Therefore, every believer should be able to pray in tongues (pray in theSpirit),becauseweareencouraged todo so in theBible.Likewise,weshould

pray that we also can interpret what we have prayed in tongues, because theWordencouragesustodothis,too.

NoticewhyGodwantsustodothis.InFirstCorinthians14:13weread thatthosewhospeakinanunknowntongueshouldpraythattheymayinterpret.Twoof the next verses begin with the conjunction "for." A conjunction is aconnectingword.ThatmeansPaulwascontinuingwhathehadsaid.

Verse14reads,"FORifIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth,butmyunderstandingisunfruitful."Ifwecouldinterpretourprayerintongues,ourunderstandingnolongerwouldbeunfruitful.Itwouldbefruitful.

Sometimes it would be helpful for us to knowwhat we are praying aboutwhenweprayintheSpirit.Therearesomethingsweprayaboutthatweneedtounderstand. It would help us if our minds were enlightened about them.However,Iwouldneverinterpretprayersinwhichweedifyandbuildourselvesup.Thosearemerelyprayersofworshipandpraise,andtheydonotneedtobeinterpreted.Praying With the Spirit and With the

UnderstandingVerse 15 continues Paul's teaching: "What is it then? I will pray with the

spirit,andIwillpraywiththeunderstandingalso...."Thereisafurthermeaningtothisversethantheonewehavegenerallyaccepted.

First, itmeanswecanpraybothways:withtheSpirit(intongues)andwiththeunderstanding(inourownlanguage).

But italsomeans that ifwepray tobegiven the interpretationofwhatweprayintongues,wemayprayintheSpiritandafterwardsGodmaygiveustheinterpretation.Ifthishappens,wewillunderstandwhatwehaveprayedaboutintongues,andwecanpraywithourunderstandinginournativelanguage.

Ihaveprayed in thismanner since1938. In thosedays,wedidn'thaveanyteachingalongthoselines.SomeeventhoughtthatonceapersonwasfilledwiththeSpiritandspokeintongues,itwasn'tnecessaryforhimtospeakintongueseveragain!(Sadly,manyChristiansstilldonotriseabovethisleveltoday.)

AfterIwasfirstfilledwiththeSpirit,IwouldfindmyselfprayingintongueswhenIwaspraying,andIwouldstop,becauseIwasn'tsureifitwasrightornot.However,aboutayearlaterasIstudiedtheWord,Isawthatitwasallrighttoprayintongues;thatthisblessingisforustoday.

Similarly,IinterpretedmyprayerslongbeforeIdidanyinterpretinginpublic.Iknowfromexperiencethedifferenceitmakesinone'sprayerlife.

SomeofmyfirstexperiencesalongthislinecamewhenIwasanewbeliever.IwasdeeplyinlovewiththeLordandwouldseekHimandwaitonHim.Whilepraying aboutmy services and the sermons I was to preach, the Spirit of theLord would move upon me and I would interpret what I had just prayed intongues.

Onedaywhilepraying in theSpirit, Ibegan to interpretmyprayer. I foundoutthatIwasprayingaboutthegirlIwastomarry!Ialsolearnedthatwewouldhavetwochildren,theolderaboyandtheyoungeragirl.Iwasnotprophesying;Iwas interpretingmyprayer in tongues. Iwouldpraya fewwords in tonguesandthenpraytheinterpretation.

AtthattimeIwasasinglemanof21andIwassowrappedupinspiritualthingsthatIdidn'thavetimeforgirls

anddating.Thefarthestthingfrommymindwasthethoughtofmarriage!Buteverything

came to pass just as the interpretation indicated. I gotmarried that sameyear.Whenwewereexpectingourfirstchild, Iknewitwouldbeaboy. Infact,weonlypickedoutaboy'sname.

Whenwewereexpectingoursecondchild,Iknewitwouldbeagirl,sowepickedoutonlyagirl'sname.Someofour relativeswere skepticalandasked,"Whatifitisn'tagirl?"Isaid,"I'mnotgoingby'whatifs.'"Whenthebabywasborn,itwasalovelydaughter.Tongues and Interpretation: For Public or Private

Use?Aswasmentioned earlier, the fact that onemay interpret tongues does not

meanheisaninterpreter.Thetwoarerelated,buttheyarenotthesamething.Toillustrate,anautomobile,a truck,andabusare totallydifferentvehicles,

yettheyareallmotorizedformsoftransportation.Justbecauseapersonownsanautomobileanddrivesitdoesnotmeanheisatrucker.Evenifheownedatruck,thatwouldnotnecessarilymeanhecoulddriveit.Andbecauseamanisabusdriverdoesnotmeanheisatrucker.Theyaredifferentyetrelated.Thesameistrueoftonguesandinterpretation.

1CORINTHIANS14:27,2827Ifanymanspeakinanunknowntongue,letitbebytwo,oratthemostbythree,andthatbycourse;andletoneinterpret.

28But if therebeno interpreter, lethimkeepsilence in thechurch;and lethimspeaktohimself,andtoGod.

Inverse28weread,"Butiftherebenointerpreter...,"orifnointerpreteris

present.Thisinfersthattherearethosewhoareinterpreters.Wemakeagreatmistakebythinkingthattonguesandinterpretationisjustfor

publicuse.Thereisapublicsidetoitundercertaincircumstances,butasweseefromthepassageofScriptureabove,itsmainuseisprivate.

As I said, I interpretedmy own prayers long before I interpreted publicly.When I began to interpretmy prayers in private, it was like driving that car.WhenIbegan to interpretpublicly, itwas likedriving that truck: Itwaspartlythe same, but it was different. To interpret publicly, one stands in a differentoffice,onadifferentplane,inadifferentarea.

WhenIfirstinterpretedmyprayers,thatwasallIcouldinterpret.Icouldnotinterpretanyoneelse'sprayers.Icouldnotinterpretamessageintongues.Later,however,Ireceivedthegiftofinterpretation.

NoticethattheScripturedoesnotsay,"Lethimthatspeakethinanunknowntonguepraythathemayhavethegiftofinterpretation."Itsays,"Lethim...praythat he may interpret." Interpret what? Interpret his prayer.Why? So he can"praywiththespirit,and...praywiththeunderstandingalso."Thiswouldnotmakehimaninterpreter;itwouldmakehimonewhopraysintheSpirit.

EvenafterIreceivedthegiftofinterpretationandbecameaninterpreter,Istillcouldn'tinterpretwhatpeopleprayedintheirprivatetimesofprayer,butIcouldinterpretallpublicutterances.(Istillcaninterpretpublicutterances,althoughIdon'talwaysdo it.Often thereareseveralpresentwhohave the interpretation,andIallowsomeoneelsetogiveitforth.)

Ihavelearnedbyexperiencethatwhensomeonespeaksintonguespublicly,Ican interpret their message in tongues if I respond to the Spirit. In FirstCorinthians14:27,28,Paulinfersthataninterpretercandothis.Hesaid,"//therebe no interpreter ...," inferring that some are interpreters, having the gift ofinterpretation,whileothersdonot.

An interpreter might not be present in a meeting, and if no interpreter ispresent,thepersongivingthemessageintonguesshouldbesilent.Thisimpliesthataninterpreteralwayscouldinterpretthemessages.

In my own prayer life, I do not always interpret all the prayers I pray intongues—onlyastheLordwillsandasitisnecessary.

InRomans8:26weread,"LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatweshouldprayforasweought:but theSpirit itselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroan-ingswhichcannotbeuttered."

Ifyoudon'tknowwhat toprayforasyouought,youcanpray in theSpiritandtheninterpret.Thenyouwillknowwhatyouprayedfor.Thenyouwillbe

praying"withthespirit,and...withtheunderstandingalso."I am convinced that every believer should pray in the Spirit and "with the

understanding"—not justprayaprayeroutofhisunderstanding,butpraytheinterpretationsohecanunderstandhisprayersintheSpirit.

MemoryText:"Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may

interpret"(1Cor.14:13).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson9Tongues—AFlowingStreamofPraiseBibleTexts:1Corinthians12:7-11;Ephesians5:18,19;John7:37-39CentralTruth:Speakingwithtonguesisaflowingstreamthatshouldnever

dieout,butwillenrichthelifespiritually.Havingstudied in the last two lessons thenecessityandvalueofpraying in

tongues,letusnowtakeacloserlookatthekindsandusesoftongues.Tongues—OneoftheNineGiftsoftheSpiritICORINTHIANS12:7-117ButthemanifestationoftheSpiritisgiventoeverymantoprofitwithal.8FortooneisgivenbytheSpiritthewordofwisdom;toanothertheword

ofknowledgebythesameSpirit;9ToanotherfaithbythesameSpirit;toanotherthegiftsofhealingbythe

sameSpirit;10 To another theworking ofmiracles; to another prophecy; to another

discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another theinterpretationoftongues:

11ButalltheseworkeththatoneandtheselfsameSpirit,dividingtoeverymanseverallyashewill.

Intheseversesarelistedtheninegifts,manifestations,orwaysinwhichtheHolySpiritmanifestsHimself.

Three of these gifts are gifts of inspiration, or utterance: prophecy, diverskindsoftongues,andinterpretationoftongues.Thesevocalgiftsaredesignedasan inspiration in public worship. Of them, the gift of tongues is the mostprominent.

Tongueswithinterpretationisdistinctivewiththisdispensation.Alltheothergifts of the Spiritweremanifested in theOldTestament. Even in the life andministry of Jesus, all the other gifts were manifested except tongues andinterpretation.

Because tonguesand interpretation isdistinctivewith thisdispensation, it ismanifestedmorefrequentlyintheChurchthantheothergifts.

"Divers kinds of tongues" are supernatural utterances given by the HolySpirit. They are languages never learned by the speaker, and they are notunderstood by him. Usually they are not understood by the hearers, although

there are exceptions to this. There have been timeswhen thewords someonespeaksintongueshavebeenunderstoodbysomeonepresent.

Aminister once toldme of an experience he had hadwhile preaching at amissionstationinMexico.

He said, "I preached for about five nights with the local missionaryinterpreting my sermons into Spanish. One night a Mexican woman cameforwardtoreceivetheHolySpiritafterIhadpreached.ThepowerofGodfellonherandshebegantospeakinthemostperfectEnglishIhadeverheard.Icouldunderstandeverythingshesaid.Shehadneverbeentoschooladayinherlife,andhernativetonguewasSpanish.

"Hearingherspeakinmylanguage—English—alanguageshehadneverlearned,wasoneofthemostbeautiful

experiencesIhaveeverhad. It reallydidsomethingforme.Ineverhavebeenthesamesince."

AnotherinstanceinwhichtongueswasunderstoodbyalistenerbutnotbythespeakerinvolvedawomanmissionarytoIndia.

Whilehomeonfurlough,sheattendedaserviceataBibleinstitute.Oneofthestudentsgaveamessageintongues,butnointerpretationcame.Whileeveryonewaitedandwonderedwhytherewasnointerpretation,themissionarystoodandsaid,"ThatstudentwasspeakingoneofthedialectsofIndia.Iunderstoodeveryword that was said. The message was for me, and that is the reason nointerpretationwasgiven.ThroughthismessageGodspoketome,tellingmeHewantedmetogobacktoIndiaandtellingmewhatHewantedmetodothere."Tongues—The InitialEvidence of theBaptism of

theHolySpiritSpeaking in tongues always ismanifestedwhen people are baptized in the

HolySpirit:"Andtheywereall filledwiththeHolyGhost,andbegantospeakwithothertongues,astheSpiritgavethemutterance"(Acts2:4).

Idonotargue,however,with thosewhoclaimtohavetheHolySpiriteventhoughtheyneverhavespokenintongues.Afterall,theHolySpiritdoesaworkof regenerationwhen a person is born again, and the Bible tells us that "TheSpirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God"(Rom.8:16).

Many years ago, as a young pastor hungry for the deeper things ofGod, Icame to theconclusionwhile reading theNewTestament that if I received thesameHoly Spirit that the disciples did on theDay of Pentecost, Iwanted the

same accompanying sign. And if I didn't have the same sign— speaking intongues— I had no scriptural evidence that I was filledwith the sameHolySpirittheywerefilledwith.

ThankGod,IdidreceivethatsameHolySpiritanddidspeakwithtonguesastheSpiritgaveutterance.

SmithWigglesworthoncearguedthathealreadywasfilledandbaptizedwiththeHolySpirit,eventhoughatthattimehehadnotspokeninothertongues.

When he heard that some people in an Episcopal (Anglican) church werespeakingintongues,hewenttoseeaboutit.Hefoundthatthepastor,hiswife,andmanyoftheirmembershadreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirit.

TheyaskedWigglesworth,"DoyouhavetheHolyGhost?"Wigglesworthrepliedthathedid."Well,haveyouspokenwithtongues?"theyasked."No,butI'mjustasmuchfilledwiththeHolyGhostasyouare!"hereplied.Afterawhile,however,Wigglesworthbegantoseethenecessityofspeaking

intongues.Hewent to theEpiscopalrectorytoaskthepastor toprayforhim,buthewasn'thome.

Thepastor'swife,however,said,"I'llprayforyou."Wigglesworth said, "Lay your hands onmy head and pray that I'll get the

tongues.""You don't want the tongues," she said. "You want the Holy Ghost. The

tongueswilltakecareofthemselves."Wigglesworthargued,"ButIalreadyhavetheHolySpirit!""Nevermind,justkneeldownthere,"thepastor'swifesaid.Shewastiredof

arguingwithhim.Wigglesworthknelt,andashandswerelaiduponhim,thepowerofGodcame

overhimandhebegantospeakinothertongues.Helatersaid,"TheHolyGhostsettledallmyargumentsforme.Ihadbeenarguinganddiscussingthesubjectwith themeveryday that I had theHolyGhost just asmuchas theydid. In amoment's timeIsawthat I reallyneverhadbeenfilledwith theHolyGhost. Ihad had some wonderful experiences as a minister as God blessed me andanointedmetopreach,andmanyhadbeensavedandevenhealed,but IneverhadbeenfilledwiththeHolyGhostuntilthen.

"WhenyougetanexperienceinsidetheWordofGod,youhaveanexperienceoutsidetherealmofargument.Before,Ionlyhadanargument,butnowIhaveanexperiencewithGod."

Therearedifferentpurposesforministeringintonguesinapublicassembly

and speaking with tongues in your prayer life as a Spirit-baptized individual.However,theessenceof tonguesis thesame,andthesourceof the tongues—theHolySpirit—isthesameinbothcases.TonguesintheBeliever'sPrayerLifeTheSpirit-baptizedbelieverdoesnothave tostopspeaking in tonguesafter

his initialexperience.Hecancontinuetouse tonguesinhisprivateprayerandworshiptoGodeventhoughhemaynotbeusedtoministerintonguesinpublic.

ThelateHowardCarter,whofoundedtheoldestPentecostalBibleschool intheworld in England, said, "Wemust not forget that the speakingwith othertonguesisnotonlyaninitialevidenceorsignoftheHolySpirit'sindwelling,butit isacontinualexperience for the restofone's life toassist in theworshipofGod.Speakingwith tongues isa flowingstreamthat shouldneverdieout,butwillenrichthelifespiritually."

Sometimeswebecomesatisfiedandwefeelwehave"arrived"spiritually,sotospeak,becausewehavebeenbaptizedintheHolySpiritandhavespokenintonguesforawhile.

Apastoroncetoldmeaboutayoungmaninhischurchwhohadbeenseekingthebaptismof theHolySpirit.Heattended thechurch's revival serviceseverynight, and finally one night he received. After that he stopped attending theservices. When the pastor asked him about it, he said, "Why, I finally gotthrough!"Butwedon'tevergetthrough.Thatexperienceisjustthebeginning.

EPHESIANS5:18,1918 Andbenotdrunkwithwine,wherein isexcess;butbe filledwith the

Spirit;19Speakingtoyourselvesinpsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongs,singing

andmakingmelodyinyourhearttotheLord.Paulwrotetheseversestotheborn-again,Spirit-filledbelieversintheChurch

atEphesus.Hetoldthemto"befilledwiththeSpirit."Hetoldthemtobedrunkon the Spirit, not onwine. TheGreek says, "be being filled"; in otherwords,maintainaconstantexperience.KeepdrinkingoftheSpirit.

ThenPaulgavetheEphesiansthecharacteristicoftheSpirit-filledlife:"Speakingtoyourselvesinpsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongs,singingand

makingmelodyinyourhearttotheLord."Apsalmisaspiritualpoemoranode.Itmayormaynotrhyme,butthereis

anelementofpoetryaboutit.ItisgivenbytheinspirationoftheHolySpiritonthe spur of the moment. It can come by tongues and interpretation or byprophecy.

JOHN7:37-3937Inthelastday,thatgreatdayofthefeast,Jesusstoodandcried,saying,

Ifanymanthirst,lethimcomeuntome,anddrink.38Hethatbelievethonme,asthescripturehathsaid,outofhisbellyshall

flowriversoflivingwater.39(ButthisspakeheoftheSpirit,whichtheythatbelieveonhimshould

receive: for theHolyGhostwasnotyetgiven;because that Jesuswasnotyetglorified.)

WaterisatypeoftheHolySpirit.JesusstoodatthelastdayofthefeastandtoldthepeopletodrinkoftheSpirit.HewasencouragingustostayfilledwiththeSpirit.Bydoingso,wecanovercome thedevil and the sinsof thisworld,andwecanlivealifethatispleasingtoChrist.

"...walkintheSpirit,andyeshallnotfulfilthelustoftheflesh"(Gal.5:16).MemoryText:"Andbenotdrunkwithwine,whereinisexcess;butbefilledwiththeSpirit"

(Eph.5:18).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson10PrayeronaNewDimensionBibleText:1Corinthians14:2,4,18CentralTruth:Aswe pray in the Spirit, our spirit is not bound by

humanlimitations.Somepeopleask,"Whatistheuseofspeakingwithtongues?"Therealsoare

thosewhohavebeenfilledwiththeHolySpiritandhavespokenintonguesbutseenoreasontocontinuetospeakintonguesintheirdailyprayerlife.

EvidentlyGodthoughtthatspeakingintonguesisveryimportant,becauseHeinspired the Apostle Paul to devote an entire chapter in the Bible — FirstCorinthians14—tothissubject.

Although all will agree on the utmost importance of prayer, where in theBiblecanwefindanentirechapteronprayer?Thepayingoftithesandofferingsis another important subject;we could not carry on thework ofGodwithoutmoney.ButwhereintheWordofGoddoweseeanentirechaptergiventothesubject?Water baptism also is important. But again we do not find an entirechapterdevotedtothesubject.

WhatIamsayingis thatGoddoesnotputunnecessarythings inHisWord.Hehasnot filled theBiblewithunimportant subjects.Therefore, the teachingsonthesubjectofspeakingintonguesarevitalandnecessarytoeverysuccessfulChristian.

SpeakingSecretstoGod1CORINTHIANS14:2,4,182 Forhe thatspeaketh inanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,but

unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speakethmysteries.

4Hethatspeakethinanunknowntongueedifiethhimself_18IthankmyGod,Ispeakwithtonguesmorethanyeall.Inverse two,whenPaul said,"Forhe that speaketh in anunknown tongue

speaketh not untomen, but untoGod," hewas not referring toministering intonguesinapublicassembly;hewastalkingaboutaSpirit-filledbelievertalkingin tongues in his private prayer life. (This also includes praying in tonguesduringprayerservicesatthealtarinchurch,becausewegotheretotalktoGod.)

Paul continued, "...howbeit in the spirit he speakethmysteries." Mof-fatt'stranslation of this verse says, "... he is talking of divine secrets in the Spirit."Godhas divised awaywherebywemay speak toHim supernaturally! In theSpirit,wespeakdivinesecretstoGod!

WhileIwasholdingameetinginMesa,Arizona,thepastortoldmethestoryofayoungJewishboy.Hedidn'thavetoomanyfriends,sooneof theboysinthechurchbefriendedhimandinvitedhimtogotochurchwithhim.

At first the Jewish boy refused, saying that he didn't believe in Christ.However, he began thinking thatmaybe he shouldn't be so obstinate, becausethisChristianboywastheonlyonewhohadbeenkindtohim.Soheagreedtogowithhim.

During the service, a woman stood and gave a message in tongues. Nointerpretationwasgiven.Thepastor toldme, "Iwaited for a fewminutes, butfinallywhentherewasnointerpretationtothemessageintongues,wewentonwiththeservice.AsIwasshakinghandswiththepeopleattheconclusionoftheservice,theJewishboyaskedme,'Whowasthatladywhowastalkingtome?'

"AtfirstIdidn'tunderstandwhathemeant.Hewentontoexplain,'Thatladywhogot up in the service and talked tome spokemy language [Hebrew] andevencalledmyname.She toldmewhat Ihadbeen thinking.She toldme thatChristwastheMessiahandthatIshouldbelieveonHim.'

"Heseemedtoresenthertalkingdirectlytohiminfrontofthecrowd.Isaidtohim, 'Thatdearladyisawidowwhohasonlyaboutafifthgradeeducation.Shetakesinwashingsforaliving.ShespeaksnolanguagebutEnglish.'

"ThenIcalledthewomanoverandintroducedhertohimsohecouldseeforhimselfthatshewasaveryuneducatedwoman.

"ThefollowingSundaynighttheJewishboywasbackinourservicesagain,andthatnighthegavehishearttoChrist."

ThisyoungJewishboyreceivedChristashisMessiahandSaviorasaresultofahumblewidowwhoyieldedtotheSpirit'soperationthroughhertospeaktoalostboy.

SpiritualEdificationFirstCorinthians14:4says,"Hethatspeakethinanunknowntongueedifieth

himself....''Thismeansthathebuildshimselfupspiritually.Jude20 says, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,

prayingintheHolyGhost."ThisdoesnotsaythatprayingintheHolySpiritwillgiveyoufaith;itsaysit

buildsyouup"onyourmostholyfaith."Itisameansofspiritualedification.While I was a young pastor of a community church out in the country, I

stayedwithoneofthecouplesinthechurch.Thewifewasdesperatelyillwithanulceratedstomachandcouldeatnothingbutbabyfoodanda fewraweggsmixedinmilk.Sheevenhadtroublekeepingthatonherstomach.

ThenshereceivedthebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Iwasnotpresent,butshetoldmeaboutherexperienceofbeingfilledwiththeSpiritandspeakinginothertongues.

Noone laidhandsonher topray forherhealing,but fromthemomentshereceived theHoly Spirit, shewas instantly healed and could eat anything shewanted.

Surelynoonecouldfindfaultwithanexperiencethatcanbringbothhealingandblessing.Thiswomanwasabeliever,awonderfulchildofGod,adedicatedChristian.Byprayingintongues,shebuiltherselfuponhermostholyfaith,andherfaithbegantooperate.

I have seen this happen many times. I have seen people with incurableconditions receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speak with tongues, andbecomehealedinstantly.Wehadprayedforsomeofthesesamepeoplewiththelayingonofhandsbefore,buttheyhadfailedtoreceivetheirhealing.

Weknow that speakingwith tongues isa real spiritualboost toaperson. Itedifieshim—itbuildshimup.NewDimensionsinPraiseSpeakingwithtonguesisawaywecanmagnifyGod.WereadinActs10:46

concerning Cornelius and his household, "For they heard them speak withtongues,andmagnifyGod...."

IministeredforseveralyearsbeforereceivingthebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Duringthoseyears,Ihadsomewonderfultimesinprayer,butoftenIwentawayfrommy place of prayer disappointed, even though Iwas blessed. I felt as ifsomethingweremissing.

I would try to tell God how much I loved Him, using all the descriptiveadjectivesatmydisposal.ButIwouldexhaustmyvocabulary.InmyspiritIfeltIhadnotsaidwhatIwantedtosay.Thiswasbecausemyspiritwantedtoprayapart frommy understanding: "For if I pray in an unknown tongue,my spiritprayeth,butmyunderstandingisunfruitful"(1Cor.14:14).

AllthischangedafterIreceivedtheHolySpiritandprayedintongues.IcannowcommunicatewithGodonanewdimension.Myspiritisnolongerboundbyearthlyvocabularies;itcansoarbeyondthelimitationsofhumanspeech.My

spiritisenabledbytheindwellingHolySpirittosaywhatitwantstosay.Icannotbegin toestimate theworthofpraying in theSpirit inmy life.For

manyyears,Itraveledontheevangelisticfield,havingtospendmuchtimeawayfrommy family. Again and again the Holy Spirit alerted me to needs in myfamily. I would be awakened in the night by the Spirit's urging me to prayconcerningaproblemthathadarisenathome.Iimmediatelywouldgotoprayer,saying,"Idon'tknowwhatiswrong—Idon'tknowthesourceofthetrouble—butYouknoweverything."

Iwould ask theHolySpiritwithinme,who ismyHelper, to helpmeprayabout this situation,whatever itmight be, in theway it should be prayed for.ThenIbeganprayingintongues.

Ihaveprayedasmuchassixhoursintongues.OftentheLordletmeknowwhatIwasprayingaboutandwhattheanswertoitwas.WhetherornotHedid,Iknewmyprayingwasright,andinafewdaysIwouldseehowitworkedout.

Praying in the Spirit has been such a blessing to my life that I want toencourageChristianseverywheretomakeitapartoftheirprayerlife,too.IwantyoutoknowthejoyoffellowshippingwiththeLordintheHolySpirit.Iwantyou to allow theSpirit to helpyouwithyour praying. Iwant to invite you tocomeoninandcommunicatewithGodsupernaturally.

Godwantstodosomuchmoreforyou.Hewantstocommunicatewithyouinabetterway.

MemoryText:"ForifIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth..."(1Cor.14:14).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson11ThePrayersofPetitionandConsecrationBibleTexts:Matthew21:22;Mark11:24;Luke22:42CentralTruth:God is concernedabout everything that touchesus, andHe

hasmadeaprovisiontomeetourneedsthroughprayer.In theKingJamesVersion,Ephe-sians6:18reads,"Prayingalwayswithall

prayerandsupplication in theSpirit..."Moffatt's translation reads, "Praying....withallmannerofprayer."Yetanothertranslationsays,"Prayingwithallkindsofprayer...."

Intoday'slessonwewilllookatsomeofthedifferentkindsofprayerintheNewTestatment.

Just as numerous games are classified as "sports," different kinds of prayeroftenarelumpedtogetherunderthegeneralcategoryof"prayer."

We need to realize that just as different rules govern each game, differentprinciples,rules,orspirituallawsalsogoverndifferentkindsofprayer.Insports,therulesthatapplytobaseballdonotapplytofootball.

A visitor from Europe was taken by his host to see an American baseballgameinNewYorkCity.Hedidn'tknowmuchaboutthegame,becauseitisnotplayedinhiscountry,andhehadtoaskanumberofquestionsbecausehedidn'tunderstand the terminology. He was accustomed to sports that were quitedifferentandheknewthesamerulesdidn'tapplyinallcases.

Likewise,spiritually,theprinciplesthatapplytoonekindofprayermaynotapply toanother,andyoucanbecometerriblyconfused ifyou try toapply thewrongruletoacertainkindofprayer.

Thefirstkindofprayerwewillstudyinthislessonistheprayerofpetition.ThePrayerofPetitionMATTHEW21:2222 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall

receive.MARK11:2424 Therefore I say unto you,What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,

believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem.By far themost frequent prayer of Christians is the prayer of petition.We

alwaysarepetitioningoraskingGodtodosomethingforus.Thisisscriptural,

ofcourse,becauseHetoldusinMatthew21:22,"...askinprayer,believing."The prayer of petition must be a prayer of faith. It primarily concerns an

individual's desires, needs, and problems. It is you praying for yourself, notsomeoneelseprayingforyouoragreeingwithyouinprayer.

Whenyoupraytheprayerofpetition,believethatyoureceive.Ifyouwilldothat,youwillhavewhatyouaskfor.GodisconcernedaboutourneedsandHewantstomeetthemforus.

Notice that in the Old Testament, God promised His people more thanspiritual blessings;He promised them that theywould prosper financially andmaterially.HetoldthemHewouldtakesicknessawayfromtheirmidst,andHewouldgivethemlonglife:"...thenumberofthydaysIwillfulfil"(Exod.23:26).GodalsotoldthemthatiftheywouldkeepHiscommandments,theywouldeatthegoodoftheland(Isa.1:19).

GodisjustasinterestedinHispeopletodayasHewasthen.Heisconcernedabout everything that touches our lives. He promised us in Third John 2,"Beloved,Iwishaboveallthingsthatthoumayestprosperandbeinhealth,evenasthysoulprospereth."

Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto yourchildren,howmuchmoreshallyourFatherwhichisinheavengivegoodthingstothemthataskhim?"(Matt.7:11).WemustrealizethatitisGod'swillthatourneeds—spiritual,physical,andmaterial—bemet.

Somepeoplethinktheyshouldconcludeeveryprayerwiththewords"Ifitbethywill."Theyclaimthis is thewayJesusprayed.However,Jesusprayed thiswayononlyoneoccasion,whenHewasprayingintheGardenofGethsemane.

Bycontrast,whenHestoodatLazarus'tomb,Hedidn'tsay,"Ifitbethywill."Instead,He said, "I thankYoubecauseYouhearmealways" (John11:41-43).ThenHecommandedLazarustocomeforth.

Theprayer toraiseLazaruswasaprayer tochangesomething.Anytimewepraytochangesomething,wedonotneedtoputan"if"inourprayer.Ifwedo,we are using thewrong rule, and the prayerwon't work. Instead,we need toclaimGod'spromiseforourpetitionandbelievethatwereceiveit.

Jesus'prayer inGethsemane—theprayer inwhichHeputan"if—wasaprayerofconsecration.

ThePrayerofConsecrationLUKE22:4242Saying,Father,ifthoubewilling,removethiscupfromme:nevertheless

notmywill,butthine,bedone.In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ prayed the prayer of submission,

consecration,anddedication:"...ifthoubewilling...neverthelessnotmywill..."HewantedtodowhattheFatherwantedHimtodo.

It was not a prayer of petition. It was not a prayer to get something or tochangesomething.Itwasaprayerofconsecration.

WhenweconsecrateourlivesforGod'suse,togoanywhereanddoanythingHewantsustodo,wepraythiskindofprayer.Inaprayerofconsecrationanddedicationwepray,"Ifitbethywill."

WhenitcomestochangingthingsorgettingsomethingfromGod,however,we do not pray, "If it be thy will," because we already have God's Wordconcerningit.WeknowitisHiswillthatourneedsbemet.

Memory"PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatchingthereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints"(Eph.6:18).

THELESSONINACTION:-Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson12ThePrayerofWorship(Part1)BibleText:Acts13:1-4CentralTruth:AsyieldedheartspouroutpraisestoGod,theHolySpiritwill

manifestHimselfintheirmidst.Aswenoted in the last lesson,most of our prayers are thepetition typeof

prayer.Toomanyofusarelikethelittleboywhoprayed,"Lord,mynameisJimmy,

and I'll take allYou'll gimme!" This seems to be the only kind of prayer weknow anything about. And if it is the only type of prayer we are praying, Iwonder if theLordsometimesdoesn'tgetabit tiredofhearing just "giveme"prayers.

WeneedtotaketimetowaitonGodandtoministertoHim—timewhenwearenotaskingHimforanything—timewhenwearenotpetitioningHim.

NotonlydoweneedtoministertotheLordinourindividualprayerlives,butwealsoneedtodoitasagroup.WereadofagroupintheNewTestamentwhoheldsuchaservice:

ACTS13:1-41 Nowtherewere in thechurch thatwasatAntiochcertainprophetsand

teachers;asBarnabas,andSimeonthatwascalledNiger,andLuciusofCyrene,andManaen,whichhadbeenbroughtupwithHerodthetetrarch,andSaul.

2AstheyministeredtotheLord,andfasted,theHolyGhostsaid,SeparatemeBarnabasandSaulfortheworkwhereuntoIhavecalledthem.

3Andwhentheyhadfastedandprayed,andlaidtheirhandsonthem,theysentthemaway.

4Sothey,beingsentforthbytheHolyGhost,departeduntoSeleucia;andfromthencetheysailedtoCyprus.

TodaywhenChristiansgatherforachurchservice,weusuallyministertooneanother.Our services are designed thatway. Fewof our songsminister to theLord; we minister to one another in song. Even when we sing special solonumbers,wearenotministeringtotheLord;weareministeringtooneanother.

Our prayers are primarily petitions. We petition the Lord to move in ourmidst,tomanifestHimselfamongus,andtomeetourindividualneeds.

When the minister stands to speak, he doesn't minister to the Lord; heministerstothecongregation.Whentheserviceisover,ifwedohaveatimeof

waitingonGodinprayer,thisusuallyconsistsofpetitioningprayeragain.Thus,wedon'tgo tochurchnecessarily tominister to theLord,but topray

andseekGodonourownbehalf.TheChristianswejustreadaboutinActs13,however,cametogetherand"...

ministeredtotheLord,andfasted."Morethanonepersonwasinvolvedin thisaccount,becauseitsays,"AsTHEYministeredtotheLord,andfasted...."Thisisthetrueprayerofworship.God'sDesireforMan'sPraiseGodmademansoHewouldhavesomeonetohavefellowshipwith.Hemade

manforHisownpleasure.ItistruethatGodisconcernedaboutusandwantstomeetoureveryneed,butevenmorethanthat,Hewantsourlove,worship,andfellowship.

We are born ofGod.He is our Father. No earthly parent ever enjoyed thefellowshipofhischildrenmorethanGodenjoysthefellowshipofHissonsanddaughters.

In one revival meeting we held I decided to do something different. Afteraboutsixweeksofmeetings,Iannouncedtothecongregationonenight,"Let'shave somedifferent kinds of services. For three nights out of these remainingtwoweeks,IwantustocometogethertoministertotheLord."

Iexplained,"ImayreadfromtheWordalittleandmakeafewcomments,butI am not going to do any preaching.We are not going to petitionGod to doanything.WearecomingasagrouptowaitontheLord—toministertoHimandtoworshipHim.Ifyoudon'twanttopraythisway,donotcomeontheseparticularnights."

Iadded,"Idon'twantustocomeandwaitonHimforjusttenminutes.Iwantustocomewiththethoughtinmindthatwewillwaitatleastanhour

inprayer,andperhapslonger.WewillministertotheLord,praiseHim,tellHimhowmuchweloveHim,andthankHimforHisgoodnessandmercy."

Onemighthaveexpected thecrowds tohave fallenoffon thosenights,buttheydidn't.JustasmanypeoplecametopraiseandworshiptheLordascameontheothernights.IfoundthatthepeoplewantedtowaitonGod.Andinthatkindofatmosphere,Godministered tous inunusualways. Iamconvinced thatwemiss out on many blessings because we don't take time to get into the rightattitudeofworshipandtoministertotheLord.ThePowerofPraiseLetmecallyourattentiontothefactthatthisisthekindofatmosphereGod

canmovein.WereadinActs13:2,"AstheyministeredtotheLord,andfasted,THEHOLYGHOSTSAID...."Withheartsfullofloveandpraise,yieldedtotheLord, the Holy Spirit can manifest Himself and make known God's will andleadingforHischildren'slives.

Aministertoldmeofanexperienceheoncehadwhichillustratesthispowerof praise. Early in hisministry,while hewas still a young evangelist, hewasstayingatapastor'shomeduringoneofhisrevivalmeetings.

During thenight a call came for thepastor to gopray for a babywhowashavingconvulsions.Thepastorhadbeencalledoutoftowntopreachafuneral,butthepastor'swifeaskedthisyoungevangelisttogowithherandafewotherfaithfulChristianstoprayforthechild.

Relatingtheexperiencetome,hesaid,"Werebukedthedevil,prayedatthetop of our voices, and went through all the motions we sometimes feel arenecessary to get God to hear our prayers. After about forty minutes of suchrigorouspraying,thechildwasnobetter,butcontinuedhavingconvulsions.

"I had done about all I knew to do — I'd done everything I'd ever seenanybody else do— but nothing happened. Then the group gradually becamequietandthepastor'swifebegantosaysoftly,'PraisetheLord,praisetheLord,'andpraisesbeganrollingfromherlips.Shecontinuedinthisspiritofpraiseforabout tenminutes.Finally,onebyone,allofuspicked itupuntilwewereallpraisingGod.Inthemidstofthatatmosphere,thechild'sconvulsionsceasedandhefellasleep.

"Westoodaround rejoicing,butwhilewewere talking, thechildawakenedandwent back into convulsions.We became alarmed and started to pray andrebukethedevil.Weanointedthechildwithoilandlaidhandsonhim.Wewentthroughalltheusualmaneuversagain,butnothingseemedtohelp.

"Thenwhenwesettleddownagain,thepastor'swifebegantopraisetheLord,ministeringtotheLord,andtellingHimhowmuchshelovedHim.Wealljoinedin,andsoonthechild'sconvulsionsstoppedandhewenttosleep,permanentlyhealed.ThatnightIwitnessedthepowerofpraise."

Thiswasaninstancewhentheprayerofworshipworkedwhennothingelsewould. As these believers, like those in the Early Church, "ministered to theLord,"theHolySpiritmovedandmanifestedthemightypowerofGod.MemoryText:"And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalemwith great joy: And

werecontinuallyinthetemple,praisingandblessingGod."(Luke24:52,53).THELESSONINACTION:'‘Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson13ThePrayerofWorship(Part2)BibleTexts:Acts16:22-25;2Chronicles20:15,17-19,21,22;Luke24:50-53CentralTruth:PraisewasacharacteristicoftheEarlyChurch.In the sixteenth chapter of Acts we have the story of Paul and Silas in

Philippi.Wereadof theirarrest,howtheywerebeatenwithmanystripes,andhowtheywerecastintoprison.

ACTS16:22-2522Andthemultituderoseuptogetheragainstthem:andthemagistratesrent

offtheirclothes,andcommandedthemtobeatthem.23 Andwhen theyhad laidmany stripesupon them, theycast them into

prison,chargingthejailertokeepthemsafely:24 Who,havingreceivedsuchacharge,thrustthemintotheinnerprison,

andmadetheirfeetfastinthestocks.25AndatmidnightPaulandSilasprayed,andsangpraisesuntoGod:and

theprisonersheardthem.

ASongatMidnightIwant to call special attention to verse 25: "...Paul and Silas prayed, and

sangpraisesuntoGod...."Whatdidtheyhavetobesohappyaboutthattheyfeltlikesinging?Surelynothingwasgoingrightforthem.

TheyhadbeenpreachingtheGoodNewsoftheGospelandwhatdidtheygetfor it?Theywerebroughtbefore the rulers, chargedandbeaten, and thencastintoprisonwiththeirfeetplacedinstocks.

Theirbacksweresoreandbleeding.Everypartoftheirbodiesached.Butdidtheysittheremoaningandcomplaining,crying,"Whydidthishavetohappentome?"No.TheBiblesaysthey"sangpraisesuntoGod."

Iftheyhadbeenlikesomeofustoday,theScripturemighthaveread,"Andatmidnight Paul and Silas griped and complained, whined and whimpered,wonderingwhyGodhadallowed this tocomeupon them."Theirconversationmighthavefollowedthisline:

"Paul,youstillthere?""Sure,I'mstillhere.WhereelsecouldIbe?""I tell you,my poor back is really hurtingme. I just don't understandwhy

Godeversentthisonus.HeknowsthatI'vetriedtoserveHimandhavedone

mybest."Thatkindofattitudewouldhavejustgottenthemfurtherintotroubleinstead

ofoutofit!We can learn something here from Paul and Silas. After all, they were in

trouble.Theywereinpain.Theywereinjail.Allinall,itwasableaksituation.Onecouldhardlyblamethemforbeingdiscouraged.However,assomeonehassaid,PaulandSilasgotinjail,buttheydidn'tletthejailgetinthem.

Thisisthereasonmanypeoplearedefeated.Troublecomestoeveryone,butourattitudetowardit iswhatmakesthedifferencebetweenvictoryanddefeat.Howwelookatthesituationmakesthedifferenceinwhetherwegetoutatall.

IntheexampleofPaulandSilaswecanfindhelpforourmidnighthour—ourtimeoftesting—whenthestormsoflifethreatentosweepusoverboard.

Paul andSilasweren't inPhilippi on a vacation.Theywere there to do theLord'swork.Theyweren'toutofthewillofGod.

The first thing that some people think when adversity strikes is that theysurelymustbeoutof theLord'swill or sucha thingwouldn't havehappened.ButPaulandSilaswererightinthemiddleofGod'swill.

If we were meant to measure if we are in God's will by whether or noteverythingrunssmoothly,withnohardplacesandnosacrifices,thenPaulnevergot in thewillofGodinhisentireministry—hemissed it frombeginning toend!

Let us notice something else in verse 25: "And atmidnight Paul and Silasprayed,and sangpraisesuntoGod:ANDTHEPRISONERSHEARDTHEM."Theyweren'tquietaboutit.TheywerepraisingGodoutloudrightthereinjail.

Not only did the prisoners hear them, butGod heard them! "And suddenlythere was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of theprisonwereshaken:andimmediatelyallthedoorswereopened,andeveryone’sbandswereloosed"(v.26).

DeliverancecamewhiletheywerepraisingGod.ASonginBattleLetuslookatanOldTestamentcounterparttothisstory.Duringthereignof

King Jehoshaphat, the Ammonites and Moabites came against the Israelites.JehoshaphatcriedouttotheLordinprayerandHeansweredhim.

2CHRONICLES20:15,17-19,21,2215Andhesaid,Hearkenye,all Judah,andyeinhabitantsofJerusalem,andthoukingJehoshaphat,ThussaiththeLorduntoyou,Benotafraidnordismayedbyreasonofthisgreatmultitude;forthe

battleisnotyours,butGod's....17Yeshallnotneedtofightinthisbattle:setyourselves,standyestill,and

seethesalvationoftheLordwithyou,0JudahandJerusalem:fearnot,norbedismayed;tomorrowgooutagainstthem:fortheLordwillbewithyou.

18 And Jehoshaphatbowedhisheadwithhis face to theground: andallJudah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping theLord.

19AndtheLevites,ofthechildrenoftheKohathites,andofthechildrenoftheKorhites, stood up to praise the LordGod of Israel with a loud voice onhigh_

21Andwhenhehadconsultedwiththepeople,heappointedsingersuntotheLord,andthatshouldpraisethebeautyofholiness,astheywentoutbeforethearmy,andtosay,PraisetheLord;forhismercyendurethforever.

22Andwhentheybegantosingandtopraise,theLordsetambushmentsagainst the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were comeagainstJudah;andtheyweresmitten.

Jehoshaphatknewhisarmywasnomatchfor thoseof thecountriesbandedagainsthim,butheknewhisGodwasmorethanamatchforthem.Hecalledaprayermeetingandthepeoplefastedandprayed.TheSpiritofGodmoveduponayoungman in the congregation andhe stood andprophesied.TheLord toldthemnottofear,forthebattlewastheLord's.

Thenextmorningwhentheywentoutagainst theenemy'spowerfularmies,theydidnotgoagainstthemwithswordsandspearsbutwithsongsofpraise(v.21). Theymarched and chanted, "Praise the Lord; for hismercy endureth forever." In their hour of trial, instead of cowering in fear, the children of IsraelsangpraisestoGodjustasPaulandSilasdidinjail.

Andwhatwastheoutcomeofthisbattle?Lookatverse22:"Andwhentheybegan tosingand topraise, theLordsetambushmentsagainst thechildrenofAmmon,Moab,andmountSeir,whichwerecomeagainstJudah;andtheyweresmitten." When they began to sing praises to God, He did something. TheywitnessedamanifestationofGod'spower.Praise,aCharacteristicoftheEarlyChurchAspiritofpraiseandrejoicingwasacharacteristicoftheEarlyChurch.LUKE24:50-5350AndheledthemoutasfarastoBethany,andhelifteduphishands,and

blessedthem.51 Anditcametopass,whileheblessedthem,hewaspartedfromthem,

andcarriedupintoheaven.52Andtheyworshippedhim,andreturnedtoJerusalemwithgreatjoy:53Andwerecontinuallyinthetemple,praisingandblessingGod.Amen.After the disciples watched Jesus return to heaven, they went back to

JerusalemwithheartsfilledwithpraiseandthanksgivingtoGod.Thenwe readabout them inActs2:46,47:"And they, continuingdailywith

oneaccordinthetemple,andbreakingbreadfromhousetohouse,dideattheirmeatwith gladness and singleness of heart, PraisingGod, and having favourwithall thepeople.And theLordadded to thechurchdailysuchasshouldbesaved."

Notice theexpression,"They,continuingDAILYwithoneaccord... eat theirmeatwithgladness...praisingGod...."WiththeseearlyChristians,thiswasn'taspasmodic occurrence— something that happened once in a greatwhile. TheBibleusesthewords"continually"and"daily."

ToomanyChristianstodayget"prayedthrough"abouteverysixmonthsandhave a time of praising and blessing God. If we were writing about theirexperience, we would have to use the words "occasionally" or perhaps even"semi-annually." But the Bible records that the early Christians "werecontinuallyinthetemple,praisingandblessingGod."

IfwewanttoseethesamemanifestationofpowertheEarlyChurchhad,wearegoingtohavetoseethesamemanifestationsofpraisetheyhad.MemoryText:"And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalemwith great joy: And

were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen" (Luke24:52,53).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson14UnitedPrayerBibleText:Acts4:23-31CentralTruth:Thereispowerinunited

prayer.InthethirdchapterofActswereadthatasPeterandJohnenteredtheTemple

throughtheGateBeautiful,theysawamanbeggingalms.Petertoldthemantolookatthem.Expectingtoreceiveacoin,helooked,and

Petertoldhim,"SilverandgoldhaveInone;butsuchasIhavegiveIthee:InthenameofJesusChristofNazarethriseupandwalk"(Acts3:6).

Petertookthemanbythehand,liftedhimup,andthemanstartedwalking.HeenteredtheTemplepraisingGod.

Thisraisedastiramongthepeople,andPeterandJohnweretakenbeforethepriests and elders. They were cast into prison, and the next day were takenbeforetherulers.Unabletodenythatatruemiraclehadtakenplace,thepriestswere forced to let themgo.However, they commanded themnot to preachorteachintheNameofJesusanymore.Thenweread:

ACTS4:23-3023Andbeingletgo,theywenttotheirowncompany,andreportedall

thatthechiefpriestsandeldershadsaiduntothem.24Andwhentheyheardthat,theylifteduptheirvoicetoGodwithone

accord,andsaid,Lord,thouartGod,whichhastmadeheaven,andearth,andthesea,andallthatinthemis:

25 Who by themouth of thy servant David hast said,Why did theheathenrage,andthepeopleimaginevainthings?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gatheredtogetheragainsttheLord,andagainsthisChrist.

27ForofatruthagainstthyholychildJesus,whomthouhastanointed,bothHerod,andPontiusPilate,withtheGentiles,andthepeopleofIsrael,weregatheredtogether,

28Fortodowhatsoeverthyhandandthycounseldeterminedbeforetobedone.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threaten-ings: and grant unto thyservants,thatwithallboldnesstheymayspeakthyword,

30Bystretchingforththinehandtoheal;andthatsignsandwonders

maybedonebythenameofthyholychildJesus.FromPrisontoPrayerGroupNotice the first thingPeter and Johndidwhen theywere released from the

prison:"Andbeingletgo,theywenttotheirowncompany…"Agoodplacetobewhenintroubleiswithyour"owncompany"—peopleoflikefaith!Itisgoodtobearoundpeoplewhoknowhowtopray.

IoftenhavethoughtthatifthisgrouphadbeenlikesomeChristianstoday,thefirstthingtheywouldhavedonewouldhavebeentoorganizeacommitteetogotalktothoseleadersandmakeadealwherebyeveryonecouldgetalong.Afterall,theseleaderswerereligiousmen,too.TheybelievedinGodandprayer.Theonlydifferencewasthattheydidn'tacceptJesusasbeingtheMessiah,theSonofGod.

However,theBibledoesnotsaytheyappointedacommitteeforcompromise.It says, "... they liftedup their voice toGodwithoneaccord."Theyknew thevalueofunitedprayer.

I was raised in a Southern Baptist church, and in my youth I never heardpeople praying aloud in united prayer. In our church someone usually led inprayer.Weneverliftedourvoicesasagroupinprayer.

WhenIstartedattendingsomeFullGospelservices,theirprayingallatoncedisturbed me. I would go down to the altar to pray with them, but I prayedquietly.Itbotheredmebecausetheyprayedaloud.Theirservicesstimulatedmyfaith,butwhenIprayedatthealtar,Iwouldgetatthefarend,awayfromthem,soIwouldn'tbeclosetotheirnoise.

One time Iventured to say somethingabout it. I told them thatGodwasn'thardofhearing.Theyresponded,"Heisn'tnervous,either."

I decided to search my Bible for the scriptural answer to this question. IwantedtoseehowtheEarlyChurchhadprayed.(Weclaimtobepreachingthesame New Birth they preached, so we might as well be following them inprayer.)

As I read through theBookofActs, I underlined in red pencil every versewhereitsaidthepeopleprayedinagroup.Icouldn'tfindoneplacewheretheycalledononepersontoleadinprayer!Nordidtheyhaveanykindof"sentenceprayers."TheBible said they lifted their voices.They all prayed at once, andtheyallprayedoutloud.

Afterreadingthis,thenexttimeIwenttoaFullGospelserviceIgotrightinthemiddle ofwhere theywere praying.Mymind had been renewedwith theWord, and I got ablessing I neverhad receivedwhenpraying alonequietly. I

sawforthefirsttimetheblessingofunitedprayer.ResultsofUnitedPrayerWhatwastheresultoftheunitedprayerofthebelieversinthisfourthchapter

ofActs?Wastheirunitedprayeranswered?Let'slookatverse31:ACTS4:3131 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were

assembledtogether;andtheywereallfilledwiththeHolyGhost,andtheyspakethewordofGodwithboldness.

In verse 29 we read that they had prayed, "And now, Lord, behold theirthreatenings:andgrantuntothyservants,thatwithallboldnesstheymayspeakthyword."

TheyhadnotaskedtheLordtoremovethepersecutionortostrikedowntheirenemies.TheyhadnotaskedtheLordtomaketheirwayeasy.Insteadtheyhadprayed that in the midst of persecution they might preach the Word withboldness.AndtheLordhadansweredtheirprayer.

Verse 31 says that "... the place was shaken where they were assembledtogether...."Doyouknowofanygroupofpeoplewhoareprayingandshakinganything today? If Christians today would get together and pray "with oneaccord,"theywouldshaketheworldforJesus.Thereispowerinunitedprayer!

Notice,too,thattheirprayerwasforsomethingspecific.Theyweredefiniteintheirpraying.Theywerenotprayingsomegeneralizedprayer;theywereprayingabouttheneedthatfacedthem.Andtheyallprayedatonce.AstheyliftedtheirvoicestoGodinferventprayer,"theplacewasshaken."

Inourlastlessonwestudiedaboutasimilarincident.PaulandSilashadbeenthrowninjailinPhilippiforpreachingtheGospel.

Insteadof complaining to theLord aboutwhat hadhappened to them, theyliftedtheirvoicestotheLordinsongsofpraise."AndatmidnightPaulandSilasprayed,andsangpraisesuntoGod:andtheprisonersheardthem"(Acts16:25).They,too,wereprayingaloud,for"theprisonersheardthem."Theyweren'toffinsomecornermumblingquiet,forlornpleastoGod.TheprisonersheardthemastheysangpraisesuntoGod.

SomepeoplesaytheywanttoprayquietlybecausetheLordknowstheyhaveasongintheirheart.Butifitisthere,itisgoingtocomeout,"...foroutoftheabundanceoftheheartthemouthspeaketh"(Matt.12:34).

DidGodanswer theunitedprayerofPaulandSilas?Acts16:26says,"Andsuddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison

wereshaken:andimmediatelyallthedoorswereopenedandeveryone’sbandswereloosed.''Againtheplacewasshakenasaresultofunitedprayer!

When Paul and Silas joined forces in prayer and praise to God, the veryfoundationsoftheprisonwereshaken!Thestockscameofftheirfeet,andtheywerefree.

The jailer,awakenedby theearthquake,sawtheprisondoorsstandingopenandassumedtheprisonershadfled.Heknewhewouldbeheldresponsiblefortheirescape,andhebecamesofrightenedthathewasgoingtokillhimself.JustthenPaulcriedout,"...Dothyselfnoharm:forweareallhere"(v.28).

The jailerknewhehadwitnessed thesupernatural thatnight.HeknewPaulandSilaswerenoordinarymen,andhe"...cametrembling,andfelldownbeforePaul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to besaved?Andtheysaid,BelieveontheLordJesusChrist,andthoushaltbesaved,andthyhouse"(vv.29-31).AsaresultofPaulandSilas'unitedprayerthatnight,thejailerandhisentirefamilyacceptedChristasSaviorandallwerebaptized.

Thereissupernaturalpowerinunitedprayer!MemoryText:"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication ..." (Acts

1:14).THELESSONINACTION:''Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson15ThePrayerofCommitmentBibleTexts:Matthew6:25-27;Philippians4:6CentralTruth:Whenthewindsofadversityblow,wecandoexactlyasthe

WordofGodsays.Wedonothavetofretorworry;wecancastourburdensontheLord.

Do you sometimes pray about a problem with seemingly no results?UnansweredprayersusuallyareduetoournotprayinginlinewiththeWordofGod.

Oftentherearetimeswhenweneedtopraytheprayerofcommitment.Petertalkedaboutthiskindofprayerwhenhesaid,"Castingallyourcareuponhim;forhecarethforyou"(1Peter5:7).IbelieveTheAmplifiedBibletranslationofthisverse ismost illuminatingandenlightening. It says,"Casting thewholeofyourcare—allyouranxieties,allyourworries,allyourconcerns,onceandforall — on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about youwatchfully."

HowwonderfulthatwecancastourcaresupontheLordinprayer!PrayAccordingtoLawsGoverningPrayerIfpeoplewouldjustpraythisprayerofcommitment,itwouldeliminatesome

ofthethingstheyareprayingabout!Somepeople'sprayersarenotansweredbecausetheyarenotdoingwhatGod

saidtodoaboutcares,anxieties,worries,andconcerns.OtherChristiansseemsatisfiedtothinkthatGodknowsandunderstandsall

abouttheirproblems—buttheystillclingtothesecares.Therefore,theydon'tgettheirprayersanswered.ItisnotenoughtoknowthatGodunderstandsandisconcerned.WemustdowhatHesaidtodoifwewanttobedeliveredfromourproblems.

Castallyourcares,allyouranxieties,allyourworriesuponHim,forHecaresforyou.Thisistheprayerofcommitment—theprayerofcastingorrollingourcaresandburdensuponHim.

AScriptureinthePsalmsmayhelpusseemoreclearlywhatPeteristalkingabouthere:"CommitthywayuntotheLord;trustalsoinhim;andheshallbringittopass"(Ps.37:5).AreferenceintheKingJamesVersionsays,"RollthywayupontheLord."

Commit,cast,rollyourburdenontheLord.He isnotgoingto takeitawayfrom you. Some request, "Pray that the Lordwill lighten this load." He's notgoingtodothat.Hedoesn'twanttojustlightenyourload;Hewantstocarryitall. But there is a vital part that we must play in this. It is the prayer ofcommitment.

God does not want His children to worry, to be full of anxiety, or to beburdeneddownwiththecaresoflife.Butthereissomethingyoumustdo.

Inimperativesentences,suchasthoseinFirstPeter5:7andPsalm37:5,thesubjectof thesentenceisunderstoodtobe"you."TheLordsaid,"Youcastallyourcareuponhim.""YoucommityourwayuntotheLord."

Wemustdoourpart—wemustobey theLordbeforeHecancometoouraid.WemustturnlooseofourproblembeforeHecantakeover.

This is a once-and-for-all proposition; it isn't something you do every day.WhenwereallycastourcaresuponHim,wedon'thavethemanymore.Weareridofthem.Theyarenolongerinourhands,butinHis.

ThereissomuchthattheLordwouldhavedoneforus,butwewouldn't letHim. We may have been honest and sincere in our praying, but we saw noanswers to our prayers because we did not come according to His rules, Hislaws,thatgoverntheoperationofprayer.WedidnotdowhatHetoldustodo,andwewonderedwhyHedidn'tworkcertainthingsoutforus.

Sometimeswehavebroughtourburdentothealtarofprayer.Wehaveprayedandprayedandprayedaboutit.Thenwhenwegotuptoleave,wepickedupourburdenoffthealtarandtookithomewithus!

Thentherearethosewhodonotreallywanttogetridoftheirproblems.Oh,they claim— sometimes rather loudly— that they do.But they don't— notreally — because if they did, they wouldn't have anything to get people'ssympathy with. They wouldn't have anything to complain about. They wouldalmosthavetoclosedownconversation!TheFutilityofWorryMATTHEW6:25-2725 ThereforeIsayuntoyou,Takenothoughtforyour life,whatyeshall

eat,orwhatyeshalldrink;noryetforyourbody,whatyeshallputon.Isnotthelifemorethanmeat,andthebodythanraiment?

26Beholdthefowlsoftheair:fortheysownot,neitherdotheyreap,norgatherintobarns;yetyourheavenlyFatherfeedeththem.Areyenotmuchbetterthanthey?

27Whichofyoubytakingthoughtcanaddonecubituntohisstature?

Jesus was simply saying in this passage, "Which of you by worrying andbeingover-anxiousisgoingtochangeanything?"Weallknowthatworryislikearockingchair:Itkeepsyoubusy,butitdoesn'tgetyouanywhere.

Luke's Gospel records the same teaching and says, "And he said unto hisdisciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life ..." (Luke12:22). Another translation of this verse reads, "Be not anxious abouttomorrow."

Of course, we have to plan and prepare for tomorrow. We have to makecertainprovisionsforthefuture.ButwhattheLordwasteachingushereisthatHedoesn'twantustobefilledwithanxietyandworryabouttomorrow.WecansaywiththeGospelsongwriter,"Idon'tknowabouttomorrow,butIknowWhoholdsmyhand."That'sallthatisimportant.

WorryNullifiesPrayerPHILIPPIANS4:66Becarefulfornothing;but ineverythingbyprayerandsupplicationwith

thanksgivingletyourrequestsbemadeknownuntoGod.TheAmplified translation of this versewill help us. It says, "Do not fret or

haveanyanxietyaboutanything."Again,"you"istheunderstoodsubjectofthesentence. When the Lord said, "Be careful (anxious) for nothing," He wassaying,"[You]becarefulfornothing...."Inotherwords,"Don'tyoufretorhaveanyanxietyaboutanything."

As long as you fret and have anxiety concerning the thing you are prayingabout,youarenullifyingtheeffectsofyourpraying.Youhaven'tcast itontheLord;youstillhaveit.Ifyouhaveit,Hedoesn'thaveit.IfHehasit,youdon'thaveit.

Aslongasyouarestillworryingaboutyourproblem, lyingawakeatnight,tossingfromonesideofthebedtotheother,tryingtofigureitout,Hedoesn'thaveit.Aslongasyourstomachchurnseverytimeyouthinkaboutit,aslongasyoucan'teatforworryingaboutit,Hedoesn'thaveit.Youdo.Andreally,allofyour praying about it will not work, because you have not done as He hascommanded.

Hehaspromisedtobringittopass,butonlyafteryouhavecommittedyour"wayuntotheLord."

WhenwecastourcaresontheLord,wenolongerhavethem.Toillustrate,ifItookthelastfivedollarsoutofmybillfoldandgaveittoyou,Iwouldn'thaveitany longer; you would. Then if someone came along and asked to borrow a

dollar,promisingtopayitbackthenextday,Iwouldhavetosay,"Idon'thaveadollar."

I pastored for about twelve years. Occasionally during that time, problemsarose,andIwouldbetemptedtoworryaboutthem.WhenIwouldfindmyselfbecoming anxious about something, I would start talking to myself. "Now,Kenneth," Iwould say, "you knowbetter than this.You are beginning to fret.Don'tdoit.It'snotright."

ManytimesduringthenightIwouldawakenandthedevilwouldbringtomymind a picture of certain conditions which existed in the church. I would betemptedtoworry,but insteadofworrying,I'dstart laughingrightout loudandsay, "I don't have that problem. Praise the Lord, I'm carefree. I don't have it,devil.Youcanshowmeapictureofitifyouwant,but

Idon'thaveit.TheLordhasit."It'samazingwhatGodcandowithyourproblemswhenHehasthem!Butas

longasyouholdontothem—aslongasyoutrytofigurethemoutforHimandtrytohelpHimworkthemout—Hedoesn'thaveanyofthem.Youhavethemall.

When thewinds of adversity blow,we can do exactly as theWord ofGodsays.Wedonothavetofretorworry;wecancastourburdensontheLord.

Ifyouhaven'tdone ityet, there isnobetter time thannow to turn looseofyourproblemsandsleeppeacefullytonight.Ifthedeviltriestobringapictureofthembeforeyou,put themoutofyourmindimmediatelyandsay,"No,Idon'thavethat,devil.Idon'thaveacare,IhaveturnedthemovertotheLordandHehasthem."

He'll work on it while you are sleeping. He never slumbers or sleeps (Ps.121:4). You need sleep, but He doesn't. "... he giveth his beloved sleep" (Ps.127:2).YouareHisbelovedbecauseyouareacceptedintheBeloved,theLordJesusChrist(Eph.1:6).

Therefore, you can sleep peacefully. If we really believe the Bible andpracticeGod'sWord,wenevershouldworry.IfwereallybelievewhatJesussaid— "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14) — wewouldn't worry even if our house burned down while we were away. Wewouldn'tworry or fret about it.Wewould say, "PraiseGod,we'll get a betterone."ThisistheattitudeGodwantsustohave.Purposeinyourheart todaytopracticeGod'sWord;topracticefaith.

MemoryText:"Castingallyourcareuponhim;forhecarethforyou"(1Peter5:7).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson16WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(PartI)BibleText:Matthew6:5-13

CentralTruth:TheLord'sPrayerisapatterninwhichweseecertainprinciplesofprayer.

WhileJesuswashereonearth,Hetaughtmuchaboutprayer.PerhapsthebestknownofHis teachingsonprayer is theoften-repeated"Lord'sPrayer." In thisbriefprayer,wefindapatternforprayerwhichJesusgavetoHisdisciples.Justprecedingthisprayer,asrecordedinMatthew'sGospel,areafewverseswhichalso are very enlightening on this subject. They actually are a prelude to theprayer.

MATTHEW6:5-135Andwhenthouprayest,thoushaltnotbeasthehypocritesare:forthey

love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, thattheymaybeseenofmen.VerilyIsayuntoyou,Theyhavetheirreward.

6Butthou,whenthouprayest,enterintothycloset,andwhenthouhastshutthy door, pray to thyFatherwhich is in secret; and thyFatherwhich seeth insecretshallrewardtheeopenly.

7 Butwhenyepray,usenotvainrepeti tions,as theheathendo: for theythinkthattheyshallbeheardfortheirmuchspeaking.

8Benotyethereforelikeuntothem:foryourFatherknowethwhatthingsyehaveneedof,beforeyeaskhim.

9 After thismanner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,Hallowedbethyname.

10Thykingdomcome.Thywillbedoneinearth,asitisinheaven.11Giveusthisdayourdailybread.12Andforgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors.13Andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil:Forthineisthe

kingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,forever.Amen.

PrivatePrayerOneofthefirstthingsJesussaidherewas,"Andwhenthouprayest,thoushalt

not be as the hypocrites are...." Surely none of us wants to be hypocritical,especiallyinourpraying.ThenHedescribedthehypocrite:"...theylovetopray

standing in the synagoguesand in the cornersof the streets, that theymaybeseenofmen."

Thisdoesnotmean,however,thatallofourprayingshouldbeprivate.Aswelooked at the Early Church in prayer in Lesson 14, we saw them prayingtogetherasagroupthroughouttheBookofActs.

WhatJesuswasreferringtoherewasthedangerofprayingonlytobeseenofmen. There are those who pray in public to appear really spiritual; to makepeoplethinktheyarerealprayerwarriors.Thosewhoprayonlyfortheapplauseofmenhavetheirreward,andthatisallitis—thefleetingapplauseofmen.

JesustoldHisdisciplesto"enterintothycloset,andwhenthouhastshutthydoor,praytothyFatherwhichisinsecret."Hewasstressingtheimportanceofaprivateprayerlife.

PublicprayerisnecessaryandvitalinthelifeoftheChurch.Prayingtogetheras a family is necessary and vital to the spiritual strength of the home. Butprivate prayer is essential to the spiritual life of the individual. It iswhenwegrowinspiritualstature.Itshouldnotbejustatthosecrisistimeswhenwearedriventoourknees.WeshouldbespirituallypreparedforsuchtimesthroughadailyprayertimewhichwesetasideforfellowshipwithGod.RepetitiousPrayerJesus went on to say, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the

heathendo:fortheythinkthattheyshallbeheardfortheirmuchspeaking" (v.7).

Thus,wehavetwoadmonitionsfromtheLord:(1)don'tbelikethehypocritesinourpraying,and(2)don'tbeliketheheatheninourpraying.

Jesussaidtheheathenthinktheywillbeheardbytheirgodsbecauseoftheirrepetitious praying.Sad to say, someof this heathen thinking has sifted downintoChristianthinking!ManyhavetheideathatGodwillhearthembecauseoftheirmuchspeaking—their lengthyand repeatedcallingonGod.They repeatthesameprayer—theysaythesamephrasesandwords—overandoveragain,thinking they will be heard because of that. But this is exactly what JesuscondemnedwhenHesaid,"...usenotvainrepetitions,astheheathendo...."

ThenHesaid,"Benotye therefore likeunto them: foryourFatherknowethwhatthingsyehaveneedof,beforeyeaskhim."Heknowsbeforeyouask,yetHewantsyoutoask,asweshallseeinthenextchapterofMatthew,whereHesaid,"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou..."(Matt.7:7).

Goddoesnothearyousimplybecauseyourepeat thesameprayeroverandover.Some seem tohave the idea that if they could just pray long and loudly

enough,eventuallytheycouldtalkGodintohearingthem.ButGodisnotgoingtohearyoubecauseyouprayedloudlyorquietly.Aswehaveseeninpreviouslessons, it is the prayer of faith that God hears. He hears you because youbelieveHimwhenyoupray,andyoucomeaccordingtoHisWord.BasicPrinciplesofPrayerIn the next few verses in Matthew, Jesus taught His disciples some basic

elements of prayer. Commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer, it is moreaccurately theDisciples'Prayer, or themodel for prayer thatHegave to themwhileHewalkedwiththemontheearth.

Dispensationallyspeaking,thisisnottheChurchpraying,forthedisciplesdidnotaskanythingintheNameofJesus.WhentheChurchprays,shepraysintheNameofJesus.(However,wecanlearnmanytruthsconcerningprayerhere.)

Jesuswasnottellingthedisciplestopraythisprayerwordforword.Hewasgiving them some principles in connectionwith prayer that will work for theChurchtoday.ThePrincipleofPraiseTheprayerbeginswiththewords,"OurFatherwhichart inheaven...."The

unsavedcanpraythisprayerjustastheycanreciteapoemorsingasong.Buttoreallypraythisprayerfromtheheart—toreallyhavefellowshipwithGod—one must actually be a child of God. Otherwise, he cannot truly say, "OurFather...."

We hear much teaching these days about "the fatherhood of God and thebrotherhoodofman."SomewouldtrytomakeusbelieveweallarechildrenofGod;thatHeistheFatherofallofus.Whileit'struethatHe'stheCreatorofall,andweallare fellowcreatures,He isn't theFatherofallofus.He isonly theFatherofthosewhohavebeenbornagain;thoseinHisfamily.

DuringJesus'earthlyministryHeoncesaidtoagroupofPharisees,whowerevery religious people, "Ye are of your father the devil" (John 8:44). ThePhariseesweregoodpeopleasfarasworkswereconcerned.YetJesussaid,"Yeareofyourfatherthedevil"!

JesusissayingherethattherightapproachtoGodistocometoHimbecauseHeisourFather,andtocomeinpraiseandinworship:"OurFatherwhichartinheaven, Hallowed be thy name ..." (v. 9). Come into His presence first withpraiseandworshipbecauseHeisourFather.

ThePrincipleofPuttingGodFirstThenextverse in thispatternprayer says,"Thykingdomcome.Thywill be

doneinearth,asitisinheaven"(v.10).TheprincipleinvolvedhereisputtingthekingdomofGodfirst.

Lateroninthissamechapter,Jesusrepeatedthisprinciple:"ButseekyefirstthekingdomofGod,andhisrighteousness;andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou" (v. 33). Ifwe putGod first,we need have noworry aboutmaterialneeds,for"allthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou."

Wedonothavetogothroughlifewiththesolesofourshoeswornthin,withunpaid bills past due, anddriving an oldModelTFord. IfGod is first in ourlives,"allthesethingsshallbeadded."

Haveyou ever thought howall-inclusive this prayer is? Jesus prayed, "Thykingdomcome.THYWILLBEDONEINEARTH,ASITISINHEAVEN."Doyousupposethereareanysickpeople inheaven?No.Nor is itGod'swill thatthereshouldbeanysickpeopleonearth.

Godwants to shower our liveswith blessings. Hewants our lives here onearthtobelivedinthecenterofHiswill,asitisinheaven.Hewantsustoenjoyabundantliving.Jesussaid,"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more

abundantly"(John10:10).ThePrincipleofDailyPrayerInthenextverseofthisprayer,Jesustaughtustheimportanceofdailyprayer,

ofaskingGodforoureveryneed:"Giveus thisdayourDAILYbread" (Matt.6:11).EventhoughGodknowsoureveryneed,HestillwantsustoaskHim!ThePrincipleofForgivenessJesus taughtmuch about forgiveness duringHis stayhere on earth, andHe

includedforgivenessasoneoftheessentialelementsofprayer:"Andforgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors"(v.12).Inverses14and15Healsosaid,"For if ye forgivemen their trespasses, yourheavenlyFatherwill also forgiveyou:Butifyeforgivenotmentheirtrespasses,neitherwillyourFatherforgiveyourtrespasses."

Prayerwillnotworkinanunforgivingheart.Wesimplycannotholdagrudgeagainstanyoneandmaintainaprayerlifethatgetsresults!

Therearemany instanceswherementalconfusionandemotional frustrationcanbeattributedtoharboringbitternessagainstothers.Doctorshavelearnedthatpeoplewhoholdresentmentintheirheartsaremoresusceptibletocertaintypesof diseases. When they can get such patients to rid themselves of theirresentment, although they have not responded at all to medical treatment, in

most cases their trouble clears up. More and more, medical science isdiscoveringhowcloselyourinnerfeelingsarerelatedtoourphysicalhealth.

I have heardChristianswhowere notwalking in close fellowshipwith theLordtellmehowbadlytheyhadbeentreatedbyacertainperson.Theywouldsay,"Oh,yes,Ihaveforgivenhimallright,butIneverwillforgetwhathedidtome!"Theyreallyhadn'tforgiventhatpersonatall!Resentmentstilllurkedinthehiddencornersoftheirheart.ThePrincipleofDeliverancefromTemptation"Andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil..."(v.13).Theword

temptationmeans "test" or "trial."Many tests and trials couldbeovercome inadvancebythechildofGodwhoisenjoyingthefellowshipwiththeFatherthataproperprayerlifebrings.

Thenwecometotheconclusion:"...Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,and the glory, forever.Amen " (v. 13). The prayer that beganwith praise alsoendswithpraise.

MemoryText:"But seek ye first the kingdomofGod,andhis righteousness;andall these

thingsshallbeaddeduntoyou"(Matt.6:33).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson17WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)BibleTexts:Matthew7:7-11;Luke11:5-13

CentralTruth:Godlovesusandwantsustohavegoodthings,justasweloveourchildrenandwantthemtohavegoodthings.

Themodel prayer Jesus gave toHis disciples, commonly referred to as theLord'sPrayer (Matt.6:9-13),beginswith thewords,"OurFatherwhichart inheaven...."

InthenextchapterofMatthew,whenJesuswasagainteachingonprayer,Heusedanotherillustrationofhowtheearthlyrelationshipbetweenfatherandsonislikethebeliever'srelationshipwiththeheavenlyFather.

MATTHEW7:7-117Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshall

beopeneduntoyou:8 Foreveryonethataskethreceiveth;andhe thatseekethfindeth;and to

himthatknockethitshallbeopened.9Orwhatmanisthereofyou,whomifhissonaskbread,willhegivehim

astone?10Orifheaskafish,willhegivehimaserpent?11Ifyethen,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftsuntoyourchildren,

howmuchmoreshallyourFatherwhichisinheavengivegoodthingstothemthataskhim?

KnowingGodAsFatherHerewecanseeonereasontheJewscouldnotunderstandJesus.IfJesushad

come along as the prophets of old, proclaiming judgment against them andpresentingadistant,unapproachableGod to them, theymighthaveunderstoodHimbetter.ThatwasthepictureofGodtheywereaccustomedto.

WhenGodcamedownandtalkedtoMosesonthemountain,therewasfire,thunder,andlightning.Anyonewhotouchedthatmountaindiedinstantly.WhenthepresenceofGodmovedintotheHolyofHolies,noonedaredintrudethereforfearofinstantdeath.TheJewsknewaboutaGodwhowashighandholy—aGodwhodealtanawfuljudgment—andtheyfearedHim.

Jesus,however,camewithamessageoflove.HeintroducedGodasaFather.

Hesuggested theycould approachGodas aFather.But the Jews just couldn'tcomprehendthatkindofaGod.

Weseethesamethingtoday.Tomany,Christianityisjustareligionaboutafaraway God. They really don't know Him. They never have come to HimthroughJesusChristinordertoknowHimpersonallyastheir

Father;sotheytrytoapproachHiminthewrongmanner.ButthankGod,HeisourFatherandwecancometoHimbecauseweareHis

children!Ask,Seek,Knock...BelieveWhetherornottheyuseit,mostChristiansareawarethatthisverseisinthe

Bible:"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshallbeopeneduntoyou"(Matt.7:7).

Toooften, though,wefail toreceivewhatweareaskingfor;wefail tofindwhat we are seeking; and the door onwhichwe are knocking is not opened.Why?Wemustbedoingsomethingwrongwhenwedon'treceive,becausethenextversepromises,"Foreveryone thataskethreceiveth;andhe that seekethfindeth;andtohimthatknockethitshallbeopened"(v.8).Whatisthereasonforourfailure?

Ioncereadabookbyamissionarywhohadspent32yearsintheHolyLand.Thiswas around the turn of the century,when customs therewere verymuchliketheyhadbeenforcenturies.

In his book, the missionary commented on this passage of Scripture inMatthew 7. He said, "I thought, as most Christians do, that when Jesus said,’Ask,and it shallbegivenyou; seek,andye shall find; knock,and it shallbeopeneduntoyou,'Hemeantifyouaskedanddidn'treceiveanimmediateanswertokeeponasking.However,after living in theHolyLandformanyyearsandbecomingfamiliarwiththethinkingoftheEasternmind,IlearnedthatthiswasnotwhatJesusmeantatall.

"In those days, if someone came to the outer gate and knocked, seekingentrance,themorewealthywouldsendtheirservanttocalloutandaskthenameofthevisitor.Ifitwassomeonewhowasknown,theycouldenterimmediately.Ifitwassomeoneunknown,theservantwouldgotothemasterofthehouseandaskifheshouldletthevisitorin.Thethoughthereisthatwhenyouknock,ifyouare known, you gain immediate entrance. ’To him that knocketh it shall beopened.'"

Ifwhenweaskwedonotreceive,ifwhenweseekwedonotfind,ifwhenweknock it isnotopened tous,we shouldaskourselves ifweareknownby the

Master of the house. If not, we should become acquainted personally andintimatelywithourLordandSaviorJesusChrist.WeshouldmakeHimLordofourlife.

Havingdonethis,thenextstepisfaith,to"...believethatheis,andthatheisarewarderofthemthatdiligentlyseekhim"(Heb.11:6).For,asJesusexplainedin Matthew 7:11, our heavenly Father is eager to give good gifts unto Hischildren:"Ifyethen,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftsuntoyourchildren,howmuchmoreshallyourFatherwhichisinheavengivegoodthingstothemthataskhim?"(v.11).

What earthly father wants his children to go through life poor anddowntrodden,sickandsuffering?Onthecontrary,mostofuslaborandsacrificesoour childrencanhaveadvantagesweneverhad.So ifyou,beingcarnal—beinghuman—wantgood things foryour children, "...HOWMUCHMOREshallyourFatherwhichisinheavengivegoodthingstothemthataskhim?"

Thosethreewords,"howmuchmore,"sendathrill throughmyspirit.Ifwewanthappinessforourchildren,howmuchmoredoesGodwantthesameforus.Ifwewantgoodhealthforourchildren,howmuchmoredoesGodwantgoodhealth for us. Ifwewantmaterial blessings for our children, howmuchmoredoesGodwantthesameforus.

Luke'saccountofthisstorygivesusafewmoredetails.LUKE11:5-135 Andhesaidunto them,Whichofyoushallhavea friend,andshallgo

untohimatmidnight,andsayuntohim,Friend,lendmethreeloaves;6Forafriendofmineinhisjourneyiscometome,andIhavenothingto

setbeforehim?7Andhefromwithinshallanswerandsay,Troublemenot:thedoorisnow

shut,andmychildrenarewithmeinbed;Icannotriseandgivethee.8 Isayuntoyou,Thoughhewillnotriseandgivehim,becauseheishis

friend,yetbecauseofhis importunityhewill riseandgivehimasmanyasheneedeth.

9AndIsayuntoyou,Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshallbeopeneduntoyou.

10Foreveryonethataskethreceiveth;andhethatseekethfindeth;andtohimthatknockethitshallbeopened.

11Ifasonshallaskbreadofanyofyouthatisafather,willhegivehimastone?orifheaskafish,willheforafishgivehimaserpent?

12Orifheshallaskanegg,willheofferhimascorpion?

13Ifyethen,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftsuntoyourchildren:howmuchmoreshallyourheavenlyFathergivetheHolySpirittothemthataskhim?

ThePrayerofImportunityInthisaccount,whichdealswiththeprayerofimportunity,manypeoplehave

hadthemistakenideathatJesuswas teachingus tokeeponaskinginorder togetresults.

In this parable we see amanwho had a guest arrive during the night. Hedidn'thaveanybreadtosetbeforehim,sohewenttohisneighbor'shouseandasked for a loaf of bread. The neighbor responded, "I'm already in bed; don'tbotherme."Butwhen theman kept pleadingwith him, he finally granted hisrequest.

Jesuswasillustratingherethatalthoughtheneighborwouldnotgetoutofbedtogivethemanbreadjustbecausehewasafriend,hegaveittohimbecauseofhisimportunity.JesuswassayinghowmuchmoreourheavenlyFatherwillhearusandgrantourrequests.

Itistheimportunityoffaith,nottheimportunityofunbelief,thatgetsresults.WecankeeponbeggingGod—importuningallwewant—andweneverwillgetananswerifourimportuningprayerisinunbelief.

Itistheimportunityoffaiththatworks:"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshallbeopeneduntoyou."

AndrewMurrayhadrealinsightintothissubjectofimportunityinprayer.HesaiditisnotgoodtastetoasktheLordforthesamethingoverandoveragain.Hesaidifthethingwhichyouhaveprayedabouthasn'tmaterialized,don'taskagain thesamewayyoudid in thebeginning.Thatwouldbeaconfession thatyoudidn'tbelieveGodthefirsttime.

JustremindGodofyourrequest.RemindHimofwhatHepromised.RemindHimyouareexpectingtheanswer,andletthisimportunitybeanimportunityoffaith.Itwillbringresults.

Luke'saccountofthestoryismoredetailedthenMatthew's,andinverse13,Lukeaddedsomething.Matthewrecorded, "//ye then,beingevil, knowhowtogivegoodgiftsuntoyourchildren,howmuchmoreshallyourFatherwhichisinheavengiveGOODTHINGStothemthataskhim?"

Luke enlarges on this by saying, "If ye then, being evil, know how to givegoodgiftsuntoyourchildren:howmuchmoreshallyourheavenlyFathergiveTHE HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him?" (Although Matthew didn't

specificallynametheHolySpiritinthisverse,weknowthattheHolySpiritisa"goodthing.")

Iamsure theHolySpirithadapurpose for inspiringLukeandMatthew torecordthisastheydid.TheHolySpirit,asHeinspiredMatthew,wantedtostressthegoodthingsoflife.HewantedustoknowthatGodlovesusjustasweloveourchildrenandwantthemtohavegoodthings.TheHolySpiritinspiredLuketoemphasizethespiritualthingsGodhasforus.

By asking, seeking, and knocking in faith, we can enjoy the abundantblessingsGodhasforHischildren.

MemoryText:"Ask,anditshallbegivenyou;seek,andyeshallfind;knock,anditshallbe

openeduntoyou"(Matt.7:7).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson18WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part3)Bible Texts: Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14,20-24; John 15:7,8

CentralTruth:WheretheWordofGodabides,therefaithabides.InMatthew21wecometoanotherpassagewhereJesustaughtonprayer.He

actuallywastalkingaboutfaithandprayer.Youcan'tverywelltalkaboutfaithwithouttalkingaboutprayer,norcanyoutalkaboutprayerwithouttalkingaboutfaith.Theygohandinhand.Pray,Believe,ReceiveMATTHEW21:18-2218Nowinthemorningashereturnedintothecity,hehungered.19Andwhenhesawafigtreeintheway,hecametoit,andfoundnothing

thereon,butleavesonly,andsaiduntoit,Letnofruitgrowontheehenceforwardforever.Andpresentlythefigtreewitheredaway.

20Andwhenthedisciplessawit,theymarvelled,saying,Howsoonisthefigtreewitheredaway!

21 Jesus answeredand saidunto them,Verily I sayuntoyou, Ifyehavefaith,anddoubtnot,yeshallnotonlydothiswhichisdonetothefigtree,butalsoifyeshallsayuntothismountain,Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea;itshallbedone.

22 And all things,whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shallreceive.

Let'slookatthissameaccountinMark'sGospel.ThisistheonlyreferencetoprayerintheBookofMark,butthewriterdevotedagreatdealofattentiontoit.WhereasMatthewtoldthestoryinfiveverses,Marktakesnearlytwiceasmanyversestotellthesamestory.

MARK11:12-14,20-2412Andonthemorrow,whentheywerecomefromBethany,hewashungry:13Andseeingafigtreeafaroffhavingleaves,hecame,ifhaplyhemight

findanythingthereon:andwhenhecametoit,hefoundnothingbutleaves;forthetimeoffigswasnotyet.

14AndJesusansweredandsaiduntoit,Nomaneatfruitoftheehereafterforever.Andhisdisciplesheardit....

20 And in themorning,as theypassedby, theysaw the fig treedriedup

fromtheroots.21AndPetercallingtoremembrancesaithuntohim,Master,behold,thefig

treewhichthoucursedstiswitheredaway.22AndJesusansweringsaithuntothem,HavefaithinGod.23ForverilyIsayuntoyou,Thatwhosoevershallsayuntothismountain,

Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothesea;andshallnotdoubtinhisheart,but shall believe that those thingswhich he saith shall come to pass; he shallhavewhatsoeverhesaith.

24 ThereforeIsayuntoyou,Whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem.

In studying the Bible, it is good to compare the different Gospel writers'accounts of the same incidents in Jesus' life. In this way we get differentviewpoints.(Onewritermaygiveusdetailsthattheothersleftout.)

In Matthew's account of the above story, Jesus said, "And all thingswhatsoeveryeshallaskinprayer,believing,yeshallreceive"(v.22).Markputitalittledifferently:"...Whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethatyereceive them, and ye shall have them" (v. 24). Both writers gave the basicformulaforfaith:Pray,believe,receive.

Someonehasasked,"Butwhatifyoudidn'treceive?"Thenyoudidn't askbelieving,didyou?TheScripture says ifyouprayand

believe,youshallreceive."Yes,butmaybeitisn'tthewillofGod,"peoplewillreply.TheScripturedidn'tsayanythingaboutthat.Wearetooquicktousethisasan

excuse for our unbelief. Jesus said if you ask in prayer, believing, you shallreceive!

"Butwhatifsomeoneaskedfortenmillionoilwells?"someonemightask.Well,ifyouhavefaithfortenmillionoilwells,youwillgetthem.ButIdoubt

seriouslyyoucouldbelieve that.Don't askme toagreewithyou inprayer forthem,because Idon't think Icould.However, ifyoucanbelieve thatyouwillreceivetenmillionoilwells,youwillgetthem.SometimesIhavebelievedforthings thatseemedalmostas impossibleandhavereceived them.Jesussaid it,andIbelieveit:"Whatthingssoeveryedesire,whenyepray,believethatyereceivethem,and

yeshallhavethem."

TheWordofFaithInJohn'saccountofwhatJesussaidaboutprayer,notone timedoesheuse

thewords"faith"or"believe."Letuslookatoneexample:JOHN15:7,87Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,

anditshallbedoneuntoyou.8HereinismyFatherglorified,thatyebearmuchfruit;soshallyebemy

disciples.Whywasitunnecessarytousethewords"faith"or"believe"inthispassage

of Scripture about prayer? It is because there is no problemwith faith if Hiswordsabideinyou.ThereisonlyalackoffaithwhentheWorddoesn’tabideinyou,becauseiftheWorddoesn'tabide,somethingelsedoes.IftheWordabidesinyou,faithabidesinyou:"Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod"(Rom.10:17).

ApersonmaybegivingmentalassenttobeliefintheWordofGod.Hecouldstand up, shake his fist, and declarewith fervor that he believes in the verbalinspirationoftheBible,thathebelievesitfromcovertocover—fromGenesistoRevelation—yetneverhavetheWordabidinginhim.

NoticethatJesusdidn'tsay,"//YEabideinme____"IfHehadstoppedthere,wewouldautomaticallyhaveit

made as born-again Christians, because with the New Birth we do abide inChrist.ButtheScripturegoesontosay,"...andmywordsabideinyou...."

TheWordiscalled"thewordoffaith":"Butwhatsaithit?Thewordisnighthee, even in thymouth, and in thyheart: that is, thewordof faith,whichwepreach"(Rom.10:8).IfthisWordabidesinyou,itwillcausefaithtospringupinyourheart.TheLightoftheWordThatisthereasonthePsalmistofoldsaid,"Theentranceofthywordsgiveth

light..."(Ps.119:130).WhenweknowtheWord,wearenotprayinginthedark.Wehavelight.

AgainthePsalmistsaid,"Thywordisalampuntomyfeet,andalightuntomypath"(Ps.119:105).Wearenotwalkinginthedark.OurpathwayislightedwhenwehavetheWord!

Ifwehavealightedpathway,wecanwalkinthatlight."...ifwewalkinthelight,asheisinthelight,wehavefellowshiponewithanother..."(1John1:7).Thisdoesn'tsayathingaboutstandinginthelight.Itsays"walk."God'sWordisalightuntothepaththatwewalk.

ThePsalmist also prayed: "...quicken thoume according to thyword" (Ps.119:25). Jesus said, "If my words abide in you...." He cannot quicken us

accordingtoHisWord—althoughHewantsto—unlessHiswordsabideinus;unlesswewalkinthelightoftheWord.

IheardF.F.Bosworthpreachwhenhewas75yearsoldandstillactiveintheLord'swork.He said, "I always start everymorningby saying, 'Lord,quickenthoumeaccordingtothyWord.'"

Thenhewenton to saywhat itmeant tohim tobequickenedaccording toGod'sWord.Hetoldmehowhestillwasingoodhealthatage75.ForallthoseyearshehadtrustedGodandneverhadanykindofmedication.

Bosworthlivedtobe81yearsoldandwasbusyintheLord'sworkupuntiltheend.InJanuary1958,heknewthetimehadcomeforhimtodie.HeknewinhisspiritthattheLordwascomingforhim.

AclosefriendofhisflewtohisbedsideinFlorida.Whenhearrived,BrotherBosworth was sitting up in bed. He lifted his hand and praised God, saying,"Brother,thisistheday

Ihavewaitedforallofmylife.Iamgoinghome."Hehadprayeddaily,"Lord,quickenthoumeaccordingtothyWord,"andthe

LordquickenedhimeverydayuntilHetookhimhome.Bosworthdiedwithoutsicknessordisease.HejustwenthometobewiththeLord.

God'sWordistruewhetherornotweputitintopractice.MemoryText:"Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,and

itshallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson19WhatJesusSaidAboutPrayer(Part4)BibleTexts:John14:10-14;16:23,24,7-11Central Truth:Whatever our needmay be, it is our privilege in Christ to

demandthatthisneedbemet.LetuslookagainintotheGospelofJohntoseewhatJesushadtosayabout

prayer.As strange as it may seem, John did not record anything the other Gospel

writersdidinregardtoprayer.Theothersdidnotincludewhathewroteintheiraccounts.JohnsaidifeverythingJesussaidanddidwaswritten,theworlditselfcouldnotcontainthebooks.HesaidhewrotethatwemightbelievethatJesusistheSonofGod.

Not all the Gospel writers recorded the same thing. Luke recorded part ofwhat Matthew said. Mark recorded only one instance of Jesus' teaching onprayer,aswesawinourlastlessononMark11:12-24,thecursingofthefigtree.MatthewcoveredthisinMatthew21.

Matthewalsotalkedabouttheprayerofagreement,whichnoneoftheotherwritersmentioned:"... iftwoofyoushallagreeonearthastouchingany thingthattheyshallask, itshallbedone for themofmyFatherwhich is inheaven"(Matt.18:19).Actually,wehave toputall theaccounts together togetaclearpictureofJesus'teachingsonprayer.

Johncoversthesubjectofprayerfromanentirelydifferentstandpoint.Letuslook at two passages of Scripture which seem similar, but really are quitedifferent.

JOHN14:101410 Believest thou not that I am in theFather, and theFather inme? the

wordsthatIspeakuntoyouIspeaknotofmyself:buttheFatherthatdwellethinme,hedoeththeworks.

11BelievemethatIamintheFather,andtheFatherinme:orelsebelievemefortheveryworks'sake.

12Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Hethatbelievethonme,theworksthatIdoshallhedoalso;andgreaterworksthantheseshallhedo;becauseIgountomyFather.

13Andwhatsoeveryeshallaskinmyname,thatwillIdo,thattheFathermaybeglorifiedintheSon.

14Ifyeshallaskanythinginmyname,Iwilldoit.Many think this Scripture refers to prayer, but Jesus is not talking about

prayerhereatall.NowletuscomparetwoversesinJohn16.JOHN16:23,2423And in that day ye shall askme nothing.Verily, verily, I say unto you,

WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou.24Hithertohaveyeaskednothinginmyname:ask,andyeshallreceive,that

yourjoymaybefull.In this passage of Scripture, Jesus was talking about something entirely

different fromwhat Hewas talking about in chapter 14. In John 16He said,"Whatsoeverye shallask theFather inmyname,HEwillgive it you."But inJohn14Hesays,"Andwhatsoeveryeshallaskinmyname,thatwill7do...."Heistalkingabouttwodifferentthings.ToDemandAsOurRightLet us examine these Scriptures in the Greek New Testament. The Greek

wordhere translated"ask"means"demand."Or,"Whatsoeveryeshalldemandinmyname,thatwillIdo."

We are not demanding it of God.Whenwe pray, we ask of God in Jesus'Name.Butwearedemandingthisofthedevil.

Actually, theGreek ismoreexplicit than theEnglish translation.TheGreekreads,"Whatsoeveryeshalldemandasyourright..."(notaskasafavor).

Whateverweaskordemandasourright,Jesussaid,"Iwilldoit."WehavetherighttodemandthatSatantakehishandsoffourfinancesifwearehavingdifficultymakingendsmeet.Whateverourneedmaybe,itisourprivilege,ourright,inChristtoask,todemand,thatthisneedbemet.

WeseeanexampleofthisintheBookofActs.PeterandJohnsawacrippledmanbeggingalmsatthegatecalledBeautiful.Peterstoppedandsaid,"Lookonus."Themanlookedatthem,expectingtoreceiveacoin.Petersaid,"SilverandgoldhaveInone;butsuchasIhavegiveIthee:InthenameofJesusChristofNazarethriseupandwalk"(Acts3:6).

Peter demanded in Jesus'Name that the cripple get up andwalk.He didn'tpraythatGodwoulddoit.HeknewJesushadsaidthatwhateverwedemand,orask,inHisname,Hewoulddo.

JustbeforeJesussaid,"Whatsoeveryeshallask [demand] inmyname, thatwill I do,"He said,"He that believeth onme, theworks that I do shall he doalso...."PeterwasdoingtheworksJesusdidwhenhehealedthecripple.

Even though we pray for the sick today— and this is certainly scriptural(James5:14-16)—Jesusneverprayedforthesick.

Jesussaid,"...theworksthatIdoshallhedoalso...."Ifwejustprayedforthesickandgotresults,wewouldn'tbedoingtheworksJesusdid.Jesuslaidhandson the sick, but He never prayed for them. He would command the devil toleave, orHewould just say,"Go thyway; and as thou hast believed, so be itdoneuntothee"(Matt.8:13).

SowhenJesussaidinJohn14:13,"Andwhatsoeveryeshallask[demand]inmyname,thatwillIdo,"HewasnottalkingaboutprayingtoGodtheFather;HewastalkingaboutdoingthesameworksHedid.

GreaterWorksNotonlydidJesussaythatwewoulddothesameworksthatHedid;Healso

said,"...andGREATERworksthantheseshallhedo..."(John14:12).ThenHewent on to tell uswhywewould do greaterworks: "...because I go untomyFather."ThegreaterworksthattheChurchcandoandisdoingtodayareduetothefactthatJesushasgonetotheFather.

JOHN16:7-117NeverthelessItellyouthetruth;Itisexpedient[profitable,foryourbest]

foryouthatIgoaway:forifIgonotaway,theComforterwillnotcomeuntoyou;butifIdepart,Iwillsendhimuntoyou.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and ofrighteousness,andofjudgment:

9Ofsin,becausetheybelievenotonme;10Ofrighteousness,becauseIgotomyFather,andyeseemenomore;11Ofjudgment,becausetheprinceofthisworldisjudged.Whatarethesegreaterworks?Weshowmenandwomenhowtobecomeborn

again."Butweren'tpeoplesaved,orbornagain,underJesus'ministry?"someonemight ask. They were saved in the same sense that the people in the OldTestamentwere saved, but theywere not "born again."Thework of theHolySpiritisnecessaryintheNewBirth,andwhileJesuswasonearththeHolySpirithadnotyetbeengiven.ThisiswhyJesussaid,"...ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway: for if I gonot away, theComforterwill not comeunto you; but if Idepart,Iwillsendhimuntoyou"(John16:7).

"Butdidn'tJesusforgivepeople'ssinswhileHewashereonearth?"someonemightsay.Yes,butthereisadifferencebetweenhavingone'ssinsforgivenandbeingbornagain.

Afterapersonisbornagain,ifhesins,hecangetforgiveness,butheisnotbornagainasecondtime.(Ifthatweretrue,wemightbebornagainthousandsoftimes.)TheNewBirthisagreaterworkthanahealingoramiracle.

Sopeoplewerenotbornagainwhile Jesuswasonearth.Second,weneverread in the four Gospels, "And the Lord added daily to the Church such asshouldbesaved."However,wedoseethisrepeatedlyintheBookofActs.Thisisbecausetherewasn'tanyChurchinJesus'dayinthesensethatwethinkoftheNewTestamentChurch.

TheonlyBodyofChristthatwasonearthwasHisphysicalbody.TherewerethosewhobelievedonHimandwhohadthepromiseofthatwhichwastocome,but their belief s could only be consummated when the Holy Spirit came tobaptizethemallintooneBody.TheBodyhadtobeformed.

Todaywe are the spiritualBody ofChrist. The onlyBody ofChrist in theworldtodayistheChurch.

NotonlywasnoonebornagainoraddedtotheChurchundertheministryofJesus,neitherwasanyonefilledwiththeHolySpiritunderHisministry.Theseare"thegreaterworks"thatwedobecauseHewenttotheFather.

PrayinginJesus'NameLetuscomparenowwhatJesussaidinJohn16regardingprayer:"Andinthat

day ye shall ask me nothing..." (v. 23).When He said "in that day," He wasreferringtothedayinwhichwenowlive—thedayoftheNewCovenant,thedayoftheNewTestament.

Onetranslationofthisversereads,"Inthatdayyeshallnotpraytome."HetoldusnottopraytoHim,buttopraytotheFatherinJesus'Name.(SeeLesson3.)"...WhatsoeveryeshallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou."

ThenHewenton tosay,"Hithertohaveyeaskednothing inmyname:ask,andyeshallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull"(v.24).

HewastellingHisdisciplesthatwhileHewasontheearthwiththem,theydid not pray to the Father in Jesus' Name; however, "in that day," when Hewouldnolongerbeontheearth,theywouldasktheFatherintheNameofJesus,"andyeshallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull."

OurheavenlyFather longs tomeetoureveryneed—ifonlywewouldaskHim—soourjoymaybefull!MemoryText:"Ifyeshallaskanythinginmyname,Iwilldoit"(John14:14).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson20WhatPaulSaidAboutPrayer(Part1)BibleText:1Thessalonians5:16-18CentralTruth:WhenwearefullytrustingGod,wecanthankHiminevery

circumstanceoflife.In his writings to the Early Church, Paul had much to say to these new

Christians about prayer. We already have studied many of his teachings onprayer in previous lessons, so we will not repeat them here. In the next twolessons, we will merely look at some additional things he had to say aboutprayer.

1THESSALONIANS5:16-1816Rejoiceevermore.17Praywithoutceasing.18 In every thinggive thanks: for this is thewill ofGod inChrist Jesus

concerningyou.Verse17intheKingJamesVersionisalittlemisleading.Somepeoplehave

gotten the idea that Paul was telling us here to pray all the time. Othertranslationsof this verse read, "Nevergiveup inprayer," or "Beunceasing inprayer."Inotherwords,don'tgiveupyourprayerlife.Maintainaprayerlife.Itdoesn'tmeanthatwearetopraywitheverybreath.Thisisnotpossible.

The exhortation never to give up in prayer is sandwiched between theexhortationsto"rejoice"and"givethanks."Thatisagood"sandwich,"isn't it?Paulsaid,"Rejoiceevermore."Wearetobefullofrejoicing.

Thenhesaid,"Ineverythinggivethanks:forthisisthewillofGodinChristJesusconcerningyou."

"ButIjustcan'tthankGodineverything!"somemightexclaim.Paulsaidyoucould.HesaidthisisthewillofGodinChristJesusconcerning

you.WeallwanttobeinthewillofGod.Andwecanwhenwehavethingsintheirproperperspective.

Whenweknowandactupon theWordofGod,wecan truly thankHim ineverything.Ihavedonethisinmyownlifewhenthingslookedbleak.

When I first started out on the evangelistic field, often I would close onerevivalmeetingwithnoothermeetingsinsight.

Ihadawifeandtwochildrentosupport.Atthetime,myniecealsowaslivingwithus,sotherewerefiveofustofeedandclothe.

WhenIwouldclosearevivalandputthelastofferinginmypocket,oftenitwouldn't be enough to pay the rentwhen I got home. Iwouldn't have enoughmoneytobuyfood.AndIdidn'thaveanyprospectsforothermeetings.

OnonesuchoccasionIstarteddrivinghomeatnightaftertheclosingservice.Idrovethenbecausemytireswerebald,andIhadabetterchanceofmakingitatnightwhenitwascooler.(Duringthedaytime,theroadswerehot,andtherewasagreaterriskofablowout.AndIdidn'tevenhaveasparetire.)

Allthewayhome,thedevilperchedonmyshoulderandwhisperedinmyear,"Whatareyougoingtodonow?Whatareyougoingtodonow?"Ididn'thaveair-conditioning, so the windows were rolled down. I could hear the tiressinging,anditseemedasiftheypickedupthephraseandtauntedme:"Whatareyougoingtodonow?Whatareyougoingtodonow?"Itkeptgettinglouderandlouder.

But thankGodwhen you have theWord, you canwalk in the light of theWord.

Isaid,"I'lltellyouwhatIamgoingtodo,Mr.Devil:I'mgoingtoactjustasiftheWordofGodisso.TheBiblesays,'Rejoiceevermore.'Irejoiceforthe$42offeringIdidget.TheBiblesays,'Ineverythinggivethanks..."IthankGodforthe$42.Imayhaveneeded$102,butIthankGodforthe$42.Iamrejoicing.Iamgivingthanks.

"AndI'lltellyousomethingelse,Mr.Devil.IthankGodforthistest,forthisisagoodtimetoprovethatGodandtheBiblearetrue.ThisisanopportunityformetobelieveGod,and

IamthankingHimfor it.SinceyouaskedmewhatI'mgoingtodo,I'll tellyouexactlywhatI'mgoingtodo:I'mgoingtogohome,gotobed,andsleeplikeababy."

Iarrivedhomearoundtwoo'clockinthemorning,andmywifeasked,"Howdideverythinggo?"IknewshewaswonderingifIhadreceivedenoughmoneytomeetthebills.

"Everything is just fine," I told her. "Wedon't have a thing in theworld toworryabout.I'lltellyouaboutitinthemorning."ThenIwenttobedandsleptsoundlyandpeacefully.

Earlythenextmorning,beforeIhadawakened,thephonerang.WhenOrethahanded it tome, I found that the callerwasapastor Ihadheardofbuthadn'tactuallymet.

Heasked,"Whencanyoustartameetingwithus?""Assoonasyouwantmeto,"Ianswered.

"ThenhowaboutstartingnextSunday?"hesaid."I'll be there," I said, praising God in my heart for answered prayer, for

meetingmyneedsagainasHehadinthepastbecauseIhadtrustedinHim.I had obeyedGod'sWord and had rejoiced in the face of despair. If I had

griped all the way home, I am not sure it would have worked out that way.MemoryText:"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerningyou"(1Thess.5:18).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson21WhatPaulSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)BibleTexts:1Timothy2:1,2,8;4:1-5CentralTruth: Prayer, accompanied by obedient surrender to God,

touchesheaven.In Paul's writings to the young minister Timothy, he had a number of

instructions regarding prayer. At this time Timothy was the pastor of a NewTestamentchurch.PrayforHeadsofGovernment1TIMOTHY2:1,21Iexhorttherefore,that,firstofall,supplications,prayers,intercessions,

andgivingofthanks,bemadeforallmen;2Forkings,andforallthatareinauthority;thatwemayleadaquietand

peaceablelifeinallgodlinessandhonesty.Toooftenweputourselvesfirstinourpraying.Infact,sometimesthatisas

farasweeverget—justprayingforourselvesandourownpersonallivesandneeds.

ButherePaulinstructedTimothy,"...FIRSTOFALL,supplications,prayers,intercessions,andgivingofthanks,bemadeforallmen."Thenhebecamemorespecific and said, "For kings, and for all that are in authority_" (In that day,peoplewereruled

by kings. This would be comparable to presidents and other heads ofgovernmentinourday.)

WhydidPaulsayweshouldprayforthoseinauthority?"...thatwemayleadaquiet andpeaceable life inall godlinessandhonesty."Whateverhappens inthenationweliveinaffectsallofus.Godisconcernedaboutus,andwhetherornotourleadersareChristians,Godwilldosomethingsforoursake.

Wenoticethatintercessionismentionedhere.WhenAbrahamintercededforSodomandGomorrah,Godcamedownandtalkedwithhimbeforedestroyingthosewicked cities.AbrahampleadedwithGod not to destroy the cities if asmanyastenrighteouspeoplecouldbefound,andGodsaid,"/willnotdestroyitforten’ssake"(Gen.18:32).

TherearemorethantenrighteouspeopleintheUnitedStates,soweneednotbe frightened, but we do need to intercede for our country and the heads of

government.GodwilldosomethingsjustbecauseweaskHim.PrayWithHandsOutstretchedtoHeaven1TIMOTHY2:88Iwill therefore thatmenprayeverywhere, liftingupholyhands,without

wrathanddoubting.EveryonewillagreewiththefirstpartofPaul'sstatementtoTimothy—that

men everywhere ought to pray. But notice Paul also gives some explicitinstructionsonprayer:"...liftingupholyhands,withoutwrathanddoubting."

We would all encourage people to pray without doubting. Jesus said, "...whosoevershallsayuntothismountain,Bethouremoved,andbethoucastintothe sea; and SHALL NOT DOUBT in his heart, but shall believe that thosethingswhich he saith shall come to pass; he shall havewhatsoever he saith"(Mark11:23).(Certainlywealsocanseethenecessityofprayingwithoutwrath.)

If we encourage people to follow two-thirds of Paul's instructions in thisverse, then we also should obey his third admonition: "... lifting up holyhands...."

Thoseofuswhocomefromdenominationalchurchesmayfinditdifficultatfirsttoliftourhandsinprayer.IcanrememberwhenIfirstcamearoundpeoplewholiftedtheirhandstopray.ItwasthehardestthingIhadeverdoneinmylifetoliftmyhandsandpray.

Someonemayask,"Doyouhavetodoit?"No,youdon'thavetodoit,butifwe aregoing toobeypart of theverse,whynotall of it?Whynot prayNewTestamentstyle?

IfPaulwaswritingtotheChurchundertheinspirationoftheSpiritofGod,Iam under obligation to obey. Ifpart of it is inspired ofGod, thenall of it isinspired,andweneedtopayattentiontoit.

SanctifyingPrayer1TIMOTHY4:1-51 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall

departfromthefaith,givingheedtoseducingspirits,anddoctrinesofdevils;2Speakingliesinhypocrisy;havingtheirconsciencesearedwithahotiron;3Forbiddingtomarry,andcommandingtoabstainfrommeats,whichGod

hathcreatedtobereceivedwiththanksgivingofthemwhichbelieveandknowthetruth.

4 Andevery creatureofGod isgood, andnothing tobe refused, if it bereceivedwiththanksgiving;

5ForitissanctifiedbythewordofGodandprayer.In this passage,Paul is not referring to sinners or the heathenworld.He is

talkingaboutbelieverswhodepartfromthefaith.Verseonesaysthat"...someshall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines ofdevils."

Then in verse three he mentions some of these doctrines of devils:"Forbidding tomarry, and commanding to abstain frommeats ..."Most of ushavemetindividualswhohavefallenpreytosucherroneousteaching.

ButPaul, speakingunder the inspirationof theHolySpirit, saidconcerningmeats, "...which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving to themwhich believe and know the truth. And every creature of God is good, andnothingtoberefused,ifitbereceivedwiththanksgiving:ForitissanctifiedbythewordofGodandprayer."

ThedevilwilluseanymeanshecantoleadpeopleawayfromGod.I once knew a minister who was on fire for God and had a remarkable

ministryinreachingthelost.Hecouldgetmorepeoplesavedaccidentallythanmostpeoplecanonpurpose.

Buthegotoffonthesubjectofdiet,andhestartedteachingpeoplewhattoeatandwhatnottoeat.HepreachedOldTestamentdietarylawsandspentallhistimetryingtoregulatepeople'sdiets.Ifhegotanyonesaved,Idon'tknowofit.Thedevilunderminedhisministryofreachingthelost.

Peoplehaveaskedme,"Doyoueatpork?"CertainlyIeatpork.Isanctifyit"by thewordofGodandprayer,"asPaul teaches.Youcouldeat skunk ifyouwantedto,because"...everycreatureofGodisgood,andnothingtoberefused,ifitbereceivedwiththanksgiving"(v.4).

We can regulate our diet however we want as long as we receive it withthanksgivinganditissanctifiedwithprayer.Thennothingweeatneedhurtus.NothingIeateverhurtsme,becauseIsanctifyit.Somanypeopletellmetheycan'teatthisortheycan'teatthatbecauseithurtsthemiftheydo.Itneednot,ifyouwillsanctifyitasPaulteachesusinthispassageofScripture.

Weneedtobecarefulofsegmentsofthechurchworldwhichhavegoneoffinto these areas, because Paul says that they have given "heed to seducingspirits,anddoctrinesofdevils,"MemoryText:"I will therefore thatmen pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without

wrathanddoubting"(1Tim.2:8).THELESSONINACTION:-Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson22WhatOthersSaidAboutPrayer(Part1)BibleTexts:James5:13-18;Jude20,21CentralTruth:Ourprayersarenotansweredonthebasisofhowgood

wehavebeen,butonthebasisofourrightstandinginChrist.Now let's turn to some otherwriters and seewhat they have to say on the

subjectofprayer.WhatJamesSaidAboutPrayerJAMES5:13-1613 Is any amongyou afflicted? let himpray. Is anymerry? let him sing

psalms.14Isanysickamongyou?lethimcallfortheeldersofthechurch;andlet

themprayoverhim,anointinghimwithoilinthenameoftheLord:15Andtheprayeroffaithshallsavethesick,andtheLordshallraisehim

up;andifhehavecommittedsins,theyshallbeforgivenhim.16Confessyourfaultsonetoanother,andprayoneforanother,thatyemay

behealed.Theeffectualferventprayerofarighteousmanavailethmuch.Jamesasksthreequestions:"Isanyamongyouafflicted?Isanymerry?Isany

sick among you?" He is talking about three different things here. The words"affflicted" and "sick" do notmean the same thing in this verse of Scripture.Jamesgaveoneinstructionfortheafflictedandanotherinstructionforthosewhoweresick.

TheGreekwordtranslatedhere"afflicted"doesn'trefertoillnessorphysicalaffliction.Itmeansa testor trial.Jamessaidifyouaregoingthroughatestortrial, doyourownpraying.Notmanypeopledo that.Mostpeople runaroundlooking for someoneelse todo theirpraying for them.But Jamesdidn't sayaword about getting anyone to pray for you in this situation.He said, "let himpray."

Thisdoesn'tmean it'snotall right forus topray foroneanother.ThemainthingGodwantsustolearnistodoourownpraying,becausewecanthengaingreatvictories.Ifyouhavetodependonsomeoneelsetoprayyououtofatrial,then the next time you are confronted with one of life's tests, you still won'tknowthewayout.Youstillwillhavetofindsomeoneelsetoprayyouout,andifyoucan'tfindsomeone,youmightnotmakeit.

James said, "7sanymerry? lethimsingpsalms."This passageofScriptureneedslittlecomment.It'seasytosingwhenwearemerry,isn'tit?

James then said,"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of thechurch;andletthemprayoverhim_"P.C.Nelson,whowasaGreekscholar,broughtoutinhiswritingthat

the Greek word translated "sick" implies that the person is so ill he can't doanythingforhimself.Heishelpless.

Ifapersonhadaheadacheorsomeminorailment,hecouldgotothechurch,wherethepastorcouldprayforhim.Butwhenheissoillhecan'tgetoutofbed,heistocallfortheeldersofthechurchtoprayforhim.

(WemustrememberthatwhenJameswrotehisepistle,theChurchwasinherinfancy.Thediscipleswouldgotoaplacewheretherewasn'tachurch,preach,winpeopletotheLord,andestablishawork.Thesenewchurchesdidn'thaveallthe ministry gifts. Because some churches didn't have a pastor, they wouldappoint the eldest in the congregation, or in some places they would appointthosewhohadmaturedmostspirituallytobeinchargeandwatchovertheflock.As the church developed and grew, God gave "... some, apostles; and some,prophets;andsome,evangelists;andsome,pastorsand teachers" (Eph. 4:11).So in the process of time, there were those who were separated unto theministry.)CanaPersonWithSininHisLifeBeHealed?James instructed thosewhoweresick tocall for theelders toprayfor them

andanoint themwithoil."And theprayerof faith shall save the sick,and theLord shall raisehimup;and ifhehavecommitted sins, they shallbe forgivenhim" (James5:15). Jameswasn't saying that everyone is ill becauseof havingcommitted sins; hewas saying the reason some are sick is because they havesinned: "If he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." There isforgivenessandhealingforus.

Many people think because they have failedGod theymust continue to besickbecausetheymust"pay"fortheirsins.However,thisScripturedoesn'tsay,"Ifhehavecommittedsins,hehastogoonbeingsicktopayforthem."Itsays,"Ifhehavecommittedsins,THEYSHALLBEFORGIVENHIM."

Jameswentontosay,"Confessyourfaultsonetoanother,andprayoneforanother, thatyemaybehealed" (v.16).This isall tied together.Wecan't takethisverseoutofitssettingandapplyitincorrectly.Jameswasn'tsuggestingthatwecometochurchtohaveaconfessionmeeting.Hewassayingthatwhentheelderscometoprayforthesickman,ifhehassinned,heshouldconfesshissin.

Heisn'tgoingtogethealedwithunconfessedsininhislife!WhatIsa’Righteous’Man?Jamesfollowedthisadmonitionwiththewords,"Theeffectualferventprayer

ofarighteousmanavailethmuch."Then in thenext twoverseshegaveusanexampleofarighteousman.

JAMES5:17,1817Elias[Elijah]wasamansubjecttolikepassionsasweare,andheprayed

earnestly that itmight not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space ofthreeyearsandsixmonths.

18 Andheprayedagain,and theheavengaverain,and theearthbroughtforthherfruit.

Youmightthink,asIoncedid,ButElijahwasaprophet.HewasagreatmanofGod.Ican’tpossiblydowhathedid.However,Jamesdidn'tsay,"Elijahwasaprophet,andheprayed."HesaidElijahwasaman"subject tolikepassionsaswe are." He had the same faults and failings we do, and he made the samemistakes—yethisprayersworked.

God doesn't hear a prophetmore quickly thanHe hears any other believer.Jamesdidn'tsayitwasthe"effectualferventprayerofaprophet"thatgotthejobdone.Hesaid,"Theeffectualferventprayerofarighteousman____"

"Well,ifIwererighteousIcoulddoit,"youmightsay.Butyouarerighteousifyouaresaved,becauseyouarethe"righteousnessofGodinhim[Christ]"(2Cor.5:21).Godmadeyourighteous;youcan'tmakeyourselfrighteous.

Asapastorfornearly12years,Ioftensawpeopleinmycongregationwhodidn't livehalfasconsecrated livesasothersdid,yet theycouldpray twiceaseffectivelyas theothers.Theycouldpray theprayerof faithmorequickly forthemselves and their families. I was puzzled about this until the Lord finallyshowedmethrough

HisWordthatwedon'tgetourprayersansweredonthebasisofhowgoodorhowbadwehavebeen;itisonthebasisofourrightstandinginHim.

WearemaderighteousinChristJesus."Forhehathmadehimtobesinforus,whoknewnosin;thatwemightbemadetherighteousnessofGodinhim"(2Cor.5:21).

Righteousness means right standing with God. Jesus is our righteousness.Every one of us who is a born-again believer has the same right standing orrighteousnessJesushas.Weareinvitedtocomeboldlytothethroneofgraceby

wayofthebloodofJesus.

WhatJudeSaidAboutPrayerJudealsosaidsomethingaboutprayerthatisenlighteningandhelpful.JUDE20,2120Butye,beloved,buildingupyourselvesonyourmostholyfaith,praying

intheHolyGhost.21KeepyourselvesintheloveofGod,lookingforthemercyofourLord

JesusChristuntoeternallife.Jude'steachingshereagreewithwhatPaulsaidtotheChurchatCorinth:"For

ifIprayinanunknowntongue,myspiritprayeth...,"and"Hethatspeaketh inanunknowntongueedifiethhimself..."(1Cor.14:14,4).(SeeLessons9and10.)

Theword"edify"meanstobuildup.Prayinginanunknowntongueedifiesorbuildsupthebeliever.Youcouldsayitisameansof"spiritualmusclebuilding."

Judedidn'tsayprayingintheHolySpiritwouldbuildupyourfaith.Hesaid,"...buildingupyourselvesonyourmostholyfaith..."

It'sfoolishtotakeatextoutofitssettingandtrytoprovesomethingwithit.Weshouldn'ttrytomakeaversesaysomethingthatdoesn'tagreewiththerestofthepassage.Wemustinterprettheverseinthelightofthewholepassage.Wemuststudyitincontext,puttingalltheversestogether.Thenoneversewillhelpandmodifytheotherandtheywillfittogether.

Romans 10:17 tells us how to build up our faith. "So then faith cometh byhearing, andhearingby thewordofGod."Webuild up our faith through thestudyofGod'sWord.Then, throughprayingin tongues,webuildupourselvesspirituallyonthefaithwealreadyhave.

WecanbuildspiritualmuscletoneintooureverydaylivesasweareedifiedthroughprayingintheSpirit.

MemoryText:"...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"(James

5:16).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson23WhatOthersSaidAboutPrayer(Part2)BibleTexts:1Peter3:1-6,12;1John5:14-16;Hebrews6:4-6;10:26-29;

3John2CentralTruth:God's eyes and ears are everopen to the criesof the

righteous.In Peter's epistles to theChurch, he, too, gave believers instructions in the

matterofprayer.

RelationshiptoSpouseCanHinderPrayers"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving

honouruntothewife,asuntotheweakervessel,andasbeingheirstogetherofthegraceof life;THATYOURPRAYERSBENOTHINDERED" (1Peter 3:7).Peter is talkingaboutmarriages inwhichbothhusbandandwifearebelievers,becausehesaid,"...beingheirstogetherofthegraceoflife____"

Men, if some of your prayers are not being answered, perhaps you shouldexamine your relationship with your wife. Do you show her tenderness andrespect,"givinghonouruntothewife,asuntotheweakervessel"?Ifnot,Petersaysthatyourprayersarehindered.

Hegivessimilaradmonitionstowives.Letuslookatthem.1PETER3:1-61Likewise,yewives,beinsubjectiontoyourownhusbands;that,ifanyobey

nottheword,theyalsomaywithoutthewordbewonbytheconversationofthewives;

2Whiletheybeholdyourchasteconversationcoupledwithfear.3Whoseadorningletitnotbethatoutwardadorningofplaitingofthehair,

andofwearingofgold,orofputtingonofapparel;4Butletitbethehiddenmanoftheheart,inthatwhichisnotcorruptible,

even theornamentof ameek andquiet spirit,which is in the sight ofGodofgreatprice.

5Forafterthismannerintheoldtimetheholywomenalso,whotrustedinGod,adornedthemselves,beinginsubjectionuntotheirownhusbands:

6EvenasSaraobeyedAbraham,callinghimlord:whosedaughtersyeare,aslongasyedowell,andarenotafraidwithanyamazement.

Here Peter suggests that there is a way of winning an unsaved husbandwithouttheWord:"...ifanyobeynottheword,theyalsomaywithoutthewordbewonbytheconversationofthewives."Theword"conversation"heremeansone'smanneroflife;herconduct.

GodHearsPrayersofRighteousFurtheroninthischapter,Peterhasmoretosayaboutprayer.1PETER3:1212FortheeyesoftheLordareovertherighteous,andhisearsareopenunto

theirprayers:butthefaceoftheLordisagainstthemthatdoevil.Whoaretherighteousthatthisverserefersto?InLesson22wesawthatwe,

asborn-againbelievers,aretherighteousinChristJesus:"Forhehathmadehimtobesin forus,whoknewnosin; thatwemightbemadetherighteousnessofGodinhim"(2Cor.5:21).Righteousnessisnotbasedonhowgoodorbadweare,butonourstandinginChrist.Jesusisourrighteousness.

Peter said thatGod's eyesareoverus, and"...hisearsareopenunto [our]prayers...."I'mgladGodhaseyesandears,aren'tyou?HeseesusandHehearsus.Hisearsareopentoourprayers;butaswesawinverseseven,wecanhinderourprayers.Goddoesn'thinderthem—Hedoesn'trefusetohear—butwecanhinderthem.Letustakecarethatwedon'thinderthem;thenwecanknowHisearsareopenuntoourprayers.

WatchandPrayTheninFirstPeter4:7weread,"But theendofall things isathand:beye

thereforesober,andwatchuntoprayer."UndertheinspirationoftheHolySpirit,Petersawintothefuturetothedayinwhichweliveandadmonishedbelieversconcerning the necessity ofwatchful prayer. InMark'sGospelwe readwhereJesus, talking about the last days, said "Take ye heed,watch and pray: for yeknownotwhenthetimeis"(Mark13:33).

God'sWillinPrayerJohn,too,hadimportantthingstosayaboutprayer.1JOHN5:14-1614Andthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,that,ifweaskanything

accordingtohiswill,hehearethus:15Andifweknowthathehearus,whatsoeverweask,weknowthatwe

havethepetitionsthatwedesiredofhim.16Ifanymanseehisbrothersinasinwhichisnotuntodeath,heshallask,

andheshallgivehimlifefor themthatsinnotuntodeath.There isasinuntodeath:Idonotsaythatheshallprayforit.

Althoughtheword"pray"ismentionedonlyonceinthispassageofScripture,Johnhasusedthewords"ask"and"petition,"referringtoprayer.Hesaid,"...ifweaskany thingaccording tohiswill,hehearethus."Remember this: If it isaccordingtotheWord,itisaccordingtoHiswill.

Somepeople take the attitude that theywill pray for something and if it isGod'swill,Hewillgiveittothem.Ifitisn'tHiswill,thenHewon't.However,thisisn'twhattheBiblesays.

Johnsaid,"...ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearethus."HisWordisHiswill.IfweknowwhatHisWordsaysaboutacertainmatter,thenweknowwhatHisWillisaboutthatmatter.ThisagreeswithJesus'statement,"...ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,anditshallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7).

Verse16oftheabovepassagehasbeenthesubjectofmuchcontroversy,andmost preachers just stay away from it. However, it ties right in with the twoprecedingversesandcontinuestalkingaboutprayer:

1JOHN5:1616Ifanymanseehisbrothersinasinwhichisnotuntodeath,heshallask,

andheshallgivehimlifefor themthatsinnotuntodeath.There isasinuntodeath:Idonotsaythatheshallprayforit.

JohnissayingherethatifweaskGodtoforgivesomeone,thisisaccordingtoHisWordandaccordingtoHiswill,andHewilldoit.

Someyearsago,IwasholdingameetingnearmyhometowninTexaswhenIreceivedacallthatmygrandmotherhadfallenintoacomaandwasneardeathather home.Each night after the evening service I drove back to her home andwouldsitupwithherthroughthenight.Sheneverregainedconsciousness.

ThethirdnightasIsatthereIprayed,"DearLord,I'msosorryIdidn'tpraywithGrannytheotherdaywhenIvisitedher."

I knew Granny was a Christian and loved the Lord, but there are sins ofomissionaswellascommissionandIcouldseewhereshehadmissedit.(OtherscanseewhereIhavemissedit.Wecanseewhereothersmissitsometimesbetterthanwecanseeourselves.)

SoIprayed,"Lord,IwishIhadprayedwithher.JustletherrevivesoIcanhaveawordofprayerwithher.(ShewaselderlyandIknewinmyspiritshewasgoingtogo.)Letmemakesurethereisn'tanyunconfessedsininherlife."

AsIprayed,Someonesaid,"Whydon'tyouaskMetoforgiveher?"

Itwassorealitstartledme.IjumpedoutofthechairandtheBibleonmylapscootedacrossthefloorandunderthebed.

"Whosaidthat?"Iasked.Ithoughtsomeonehadheardmeprayingandwasteasingme.However,IfoundnoonewhenIlookedaroundtheroomandoutsidethe door. I sat back down and began to study, but I couldn't concentrate, so Istartedtoprayagain.

"Lord,whydon'tYoubringher out of it and letmehave awordof prayerwithhertoseethatshedoesn'tdiewithanyunconfessedsininherlife?"

AgainthatVoicesaid,"Whydon'tyouaskMetoforgiveher?"Ijumpedagainandsaid,"Someoneisplayingtricksonme."Butacheckinto

thebedroomsofeveryoneelseinthehouserevealedthattheyweresoundasleep.I went back to Granny's bedroom and tried to study, but I could not, so I

begantoprayagain.WhenIdid,Hesaidthethirdtime,"Whydon'tyouaskMetoforgiveher?"ThistimeIhadthepresenceofmindtorememberthatElihadtoldthechild

SamueltoanswerwhenGodcalled.IrealizeditwastheLord,andIanswered,"MeaskYou?"

Hesaid,"Yes,youaskMe.Don'tyouknowthatmyWordsaysinFirstJohn5:16,’Ifanymanseehisbrothersinasinwhichisnotuntodeath,heshallask,andheshallgivehimlifeforthem...’?"

I turned the pages of my Bible to that Scripture and read it. "That's right.That'sexactlywhat it says!All right,Lord, IaskYou.Please forgiveher.Youcanforgiveherof thesethingsthatIcanseeofomission,andofanythingelsethatshedidn'tseeorIdon'tsee,Youforgiveher."

Hesaid,"Allright,Ihave."I thanked Him for it. To me that settled it. Can't you see that this was

accordingtoHiswill?Thelastpartofthatversedoesmakeanexception,however.Itsays,"...there

isasinuntodeath:Idonotsaythatheshallprayforit."Howwillweknowifapersonhas committed this sinuntodeath?Wewill only know this as theHolySpiritrevealsittous.

ThishashappenedtomeonlytwotimesinmylifewhenIhavebeenprayingforsomeoneandtheLordshowedmethattherewasnoneedtoprayforthem,becausetheyhadsinnedthesinuntodeath.

What is this sin unto death? First, John is not talking aboutphysical deathhere,butaboutspiritualdeath.Thisisn'tasinthatanunbelievercancommit.ItisasinonlyaChristiancancommit,forheusedtheterm"brother."

LetuslookintotheBookofHebrewstofindoutmoreaboutthis.HEBREWS6:4-64Foritisimpossibleforthosewhowereonceenlightened,andhavetasted

oftheheavenlygift,andweremadepartakersoftheHolyGhost,5 AndhavetastedthegoodwordofGod,andthepowersof theworldto

come,6Iftheyshallfallaway,torenewthemagainuntorepentance;seeingthey

crucifytothemselvestheSonofGodafresh,andputhimtoanopenshame.HEBREWS10:26-2926Forifwesinwilfullyafterthatwehavereceivedtheknowledgeofthe

truth,thereremainethnomoresacrificeforsins,27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,

whichshalldevourtheadversaries.28HethatdespisedMoses'lawdiedwithoutmercyundertwoorthreewit

nesses:29Ofhowmuchsorerpunishment,supposeye,shallhebethoughtworthy,

whohathtroddenunderfoottheSonofGod,andhathcountedthebloodofthecovenant,wherewithhewassanctified,anunholy thing,andhathdonedespiteuntotheSpiritofgrace?

The sin God is talking about here is not the sin of lying, cheating, orsomething like that. God offers forgiveness for such sins. There is noforgiveness,however,forthosewhohave"troddenunderfoottheSonofGod...."

The Hebrew Christians to whom this book was written were under greatpersecutionandweretemptedtogobacktoJudaism.WhentheyacceptedChrist,they were cut off from their families, ran into financial hardships, and facednumerousothertrials.ButGodwarnedthemintheseScripturesthattogobacktoJudaismwas todenyChrist. Itwas to say that theywouldbecounting"theblood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing," or, inotherwords,thatJesus'bloodwasjustcommonbloodlikeanyotherman's.

Let us remember that as long as a person stays in Christ, he is eternallysecure.Butwedon'twanttoforgetthatthereisasinuntodeath.John'sThree-DimensionalPrayer3JOHN22Beloved,Iwishaboveallthingsthatthoumayestprosperandbeinhealth,

evenasthysoulprospereth.Thewordtranslated"wish"intheKingJamesVersionis"pray"intheoriginal

Greek.Therefore, Johnsaidhere,"Beloved, IPRAYaboveall things that thou

mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. " If he wasmotivatedbytheSpirittopraythatway,thatwouldbethedesireoftheSpiritofGod for every person. It is all right, then, to pray for financial prosperity,becauseJohnsaid,"7prayaboveallthings...."

John'sprayerhereconcernsthreedimensionsofourlives:physical,spiritual,andmaterial.Hesaid,".../pray...thatthoumayestprosper[materialblessing]and be in health [physical blessing], even as thy soul prospereth [spiritualblessing]."Thus,weseethatGoddesirestoblesseverypartofthebeliever'slife.

MemoryText:"FortheeyesoftheLordareovertherighteous,andhisearsareopenunto

theirprayers:butthefaceoftheLordisagainstthemthatdoevil"(1Peter3:12).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson24TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part1)BibleTexts:John3:16;2Peter3:9;Acts16:31CentralTruth:Ifourprayerrequest isaccordingtoGod'sWord, it is

accordingtoHiswill.In the next three lessonswewill focus our attention on thewill ofGod in

prayer.As we look at our memory text, First John 5:14, notice the words

"confidence"and"heareth":"AndthisistheCONFIDENCEthatwehaveinhim,that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he HEARETH us." Anothertranslationofthisversesays,"Andthisistheboldnesswehavetowardhim...."

Underwhat condition canwe have confidence thatGod hears uswhenwepray?HehearsusifweaskanythingaccordingtoHiswill!

In thenextversewe read,"And ifweknow thathehearus,whatsoeverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatwedesiredofhim."NoticethatthisScripturesays,"Andif...hehearus...wehavethepetitionsthatwedesired...."ItwouldseemfromreadingthisthattheremustbesomethingHedoesn'thear.

Ifwedon'thavethisconfidenceorboldnesswhenwepray,itmustmeanthattheLorddoesn'thearus.Ifwedon'tfulfillourpart,itwon'twork.

How can we get confidence, boldness, and faith? TheWord of God givesfaith:"Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod"(Rom.10:17)."Theentranceofthywordsgivethlight..."(Ps.119:130)."Thywordisalampuntomyfeet,andalightuntomypath"(Ps.

119:105).When we walk in the light of theWord, we are not walking indarkness.

Manytimesweprayindarknessbecausewedon'tknowwhatGod'swill is.We don't come with confidence or boldness.We come trembling and fearful,hopingHewillhearus,butthatwon'twork.

We first need to go to God's Word and find out what it says about ourparticularproblem.Thenwecanpray in faith,knowingHiswill in thematter.(AlmosteverythingweneedtoprayaboutiscoveredinHisWord.)TheWillofGodConcerningSalvationFirstof all,weknow that saving the lost isGod'swill,because that iswhy

Jesuscametoearthanddied.

JOHN3:1616 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoeverbelievethinhimshouldnotperish,buthaveeverlastinglife.2PETER3:99TheLordisnotslackconcerninghispromise,assomemencountslackness;

butislongsufferingtous-ward,notwillingthatanyshouldperish,butthatallshouldcometorepentance.

ACTS16:3131Andtheysaid,BelieveontheLordJesusChrist,andthoushaltbesaved,

andthyhouse.Idon'tknowofanyonewhowouldprayforalostlovedonebysaying,"Lord,

if it is yourwill, save him."However,muchof our praying for the lost is noteffective.Why?Becausewedonotcomewithconfidenceandboldness.

Ourtextsaysifwecomewithconfidenceandboldness,askingaccordingtoHiswill,weknowthatGodhearsusandwehavethepetitionswedesire.Thatshouldbeclearenough.However,ourprayingis tooofteninthenaturalrealmratherthaninthespiritualrealm.Wepray,"Godsaveourlovedone,"andthenwe wait to see if God has answered our prayer! If the person gets savedimmediately,webelieveGodheardus.Ifhedoesn't—ifweseenochangeinhislife—wethinkGoddidn'thearus.Thisiswalkingbysight,notbyfaith,anditbringsonlyconfusion.

Youmightsay,"Ihaveprayedandprayedformyunsavedlovedones,anditseemsasifmyprayingdoesn'twork."ReturntoGod'sWordandyou'lldiscoverwhyyourprayersaren't answered:"And this is the confidence thatwehave inhim,that,ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill..."

There'snoquestionthat it'sGod'swill tosavethe lost,aswejustsawfromtheScriptures.TheWordofGodisthewillofGod.Therefore,ifourrequestisinaccordancewithHiswill,weknowwehavethepetitionswedesireofHim.

Ionceknewacountrypreacherwho,becauseofhislimitededucation,neverhadanopportunity topastora largechurch.Mostofhispastoratesweresmallcommunity churches. However, he was in constant demand to hold revivalsbecauseofhistremendoussoul-winning.Whereverhewent,alandslideofsoulsresulted.He couldgo to a churchwhere noonehadbeen saved in years, andgreatnumberswouldacceptChristasSavior.

When he was in his early sixties and still enjoying phenomenal success, Ionceaskedhimthesecretofhissuccess.

"Itisaverysimplething,"hetoldme."Ijustapplythesamefaithtoseefolks

savedas Ido to see themhealedor tobelieveGod for anythingelse. Itneverentersmymindtodoubtthatpeoplewillcometobesaved.Ifdoubtdidcome,IwouldresistitintheNameofJesus.

"Ipray,butnotmorethanothersdo.IdoseekGod,ofcourse,butIattributemy success in soul-winning to one thing: I have confidence the unsaved willcome.By the eye of faith I see the altar filling upwith lost souls.And if themeetingdoesn'tgoaswellasitshould,Idon'tnecessarilyincreasemyprayingaboutit;Ijustexercisemorefaith."

Thispreacherwasexpressingtheconfidence,theboldness,ourScripturetextistalkingabout,becauseheknewthewillofGodinthematter.

Some people, on the other hand, only look at the circumstances. They say,"Noonecametothealtarforsalvationlastnight.Theyprobablywon'ttonight,either."Thiskindofpersonislookingatthewrongthing.Hemayprayforsouls,but he does not see themcoming toChrist.He really doesn't have confidencethattheywillcome.Hisfaithisonlyinwhathecansee.WeCanNullifyOurPrayersOften people undo their prayers! They may have prayed and even asked

otherstopray,butthentheynullifytheirprayersandthefaithofthosewhoareprayingwiththembyspeakingnegatively.Talkfaith,notdoubt!

Ionceknewaministerwhoaskedmeandotherstoprayforhisson.However,atthesametimehewasrequestingprayer,hewouldtellhisboy,"You'llneveramounttoanything.Idon'tknowwhatintheworldI'mgoingtodowithyou!IhavedoneeverythingIcando. Ihaveprayedandprayed,but it looks likemyprayersdon'tdoanygood."

Thismanwasconfessingdefeatandfailureratherthanvictoryandfaith.Hewasbuildingdoubtandinsecurityintohisson.Thisiswhysomanypeoplehavelosttheirchildren.

Aswe pray for our children, we must not do anything in our home thatwouldnullifytheeffectsofourprayers.Wemustbuildconfidenceandtrust inourchildren.Wemustinstillasenseofsecurityinthem.

BeforeIwasmarried,Iusuallystayedinthehomesofpastorsduringrevivalmeetings,andIoftenfeltsorryfortheirchildren.

I particularly remember one pastor's 12-year-old son. His parents wereimpatientandshort-temperedwithhim.Theywerealwaystellinghimhewouldnever amount to anything. Sure enough, he didn't!He broke the hearts of hisparents.Hewasmarried several times, and he never provided a living for hisfamily.

These parentsmay have prayed and asked their church to pray. Theymayhaveshedmanytearsandevenfasted.Buttheirlivesnullifiedtheeffectsoftheirprayers.

Fromthespiritualstandpointaswellasthenaturalstandpoint,thethingsthathappen tochildren in their earlyyearsarewhatmold their lives as adults.Letthese years be spiritually rich andmeaningful for your children. Let your lifematchyourwords.WorkwithGod;don'tworkagainstHim.

Ialsohaveseenpastors'childrenneglected.Thepastors'wivesweresobusyworkingin thechurchthat theirchildrenwereleftalonetodoas theypleased.That'swhyItoldmywifewhenwewerefirstmarried,"I'llrunthechurchandyourunthehouse."

In the first churchwepastored afterweweremarried,wewere told itwastheircustomforthepastortoteachtheadultBibleclassofmenandthepastor'swifetoteachthewomen.Itoldthemmywifedidn'tteachSundaySchool.

They argued, "But it's our custom here.We have been doing this formorethan20years!"

"Well, I just changed that custom," I replied. "We'll consolidate the twoclassesandmakeonebigauditoriumclass,andIwillteachit.Mywifedoesn'tteachSundaySchool."

Whentheyaskedmewhy,Itoldthem,"Iamgoingtopreachandpastorthechurch.Mywifeisgoingtostayhomeandkeephouseandtakecareofmeandour children,whenwe have them. Iwant her to run things there, and I'll runthingshere.Therearemanycapablepeopleinthechurchwhocanwork,solet'sputthemtowork."

When they wanted to make Oretha president of the women's missionarycouncil, Iputmyfootdownagain."Shecanattendthemeetings,"I told them,"butshewon'tserveinanycapacity."Thishaspaidoffwellforus.

AuthorityToClaimYourFamilyEverybelieverhasauthority inhisownhousehold.Wehavemoreauthority

there thanwehaveanywhereelse.Acts16:31tellsus,"...Believeon theLordJesusChrist,andthoushaltbesaved,ANDTHYHOUSE."Toomanypeople,inprayingfortheirfamily,havestruggledandbeggedGodtosavethem,buttheyhave not backed up their prayers by claiming the promise. Thus, they haveprayedindarknessinsteadofinthelightofGod'sWord.

Our text says, "... if we ask any thing according to his will [we know thatsalvationforourchildrenisGod'swill],hehearethus:Andifweknowthathe

hearus ...weknow thatwehave thepetitions thatwedesiredofhim" (I John5:14,15).

IfweknowGod heard us,we don't have to keep beggingHim to save ourchildren.Thisdoesn'tmeanthatthewholefamilywillcometoChristovernight,butaswestandinfaith,thankingGod,theywillbesaved.

For us to continue asking and begging God is a confession that we don'tbelieve we have our petition. If we really believed we had the petition wedesiredoftheLord,astheScripturesays,wewouldbethankingHimforit!

Sometimes, you see,wego through the rightmotions butwithout the rightbelieving.Wecangothroughthemotionsbecausesomeonetoldustodosoorbecausesomeoneelsedidit,butforittowork,wemusthavefaithfortheanswerdowninourhearts.

The thought never enteredmymind that our childrenwould not be saved,because I had authority and power in that area. I prayed for them once andclaimedtheirsalvationonthebasisoftheWord.Whenthethoughtwouldcometomethattheymightnotbesaved,IwouldrejectitimmediatelyintheNameofJesus. Ihadconfidence—Ihadboldness—thatourchildrenwouldbesavedbecauseIhadprayedaccordingtoGod'swill.

KnowingwhatthewillofGodisconcerninglostsouls,wenevershouldpray,"Lord,ifitbeyourwill,savethisperson."WeknowitisHiswill!MemoryText:"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing

accordingtohiswill,hehearethus:Andifweknowthathehearus,whatsoeverwe ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John5:14,15).

THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson25TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part2)BibleTexts:Isaiah53:4,5;Matthew8:16,17;1Peter2:24

CentralTruth:Tobeaneffectiveprayerwarrior,wemusthaveGod'sWordabidinginus.

As we continue our study about God's will in prayer, let us look at thesepertinentwordsofJesusinJohn15:7:"Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. "Under whatconditionsdidJesustellustoaskwhatwewill?Hesaid,"Ifyeabideinme...."Inotherwords,tobebornagainisthefirstrequirement.Ifwearebornagain,weareabidinginHim.

Healsosaid,"...andmywordsabideinyou...."SowemusthaveathoroughknowledgeofGod'sWordtobeaneffectiveprayerwarrior.WemusthaveHisWordabidinginus.Inordertodothiswemust"StudytoshewthyselfapproveduntoGod,aworkmanthatneedethnottobeashamed,rightlydividingthewordoftruth"(2Tim.2:15).

When we have God'sWord abiding in us, we will know what His will isconcerning any matter we need to pray about. As we saw in our last lesson,God'sWord isHiswill.Therefore,we canbringour petitionswith confidenceandboldnesstoGod'sthroneofgrace.

Ifwehave followed stepsone and twoof the aboveverse— if (1)we areabidinginHim,and(2)HisWordisabidinginus—wecan"askwhatyewill,anditshallbedoneuntoyou."Whatapowerfulpromise!

ThebelieverwalkinginfellowshipwiththeWordneverwillaskforanythingoutsideof thewillofGod. Ifheknows theWord,heknowswhat ispromisedhim;heknowsthewillofGod.IfheisnotwalkinginfellowshipwiththeWord,he isnotgoing tohaveasuccessfulprayer lifeandgetanswers tohisprayers.His prayer life isn't going to be effective, because Jesus plainly stated, "// yeabide inme, andmywords abide in you…"Wemust come according toHisconditions.God'sWillConcerningHealingWhatdoesGod'sWordhave tosayaboutphysicalhealing?Is itHiswill to

healthesick?LetuslookatsomeScripturestodetermineHiswillinthismatter.ISAIAH53:4,5

4Surelyhehathborneourgriefs,andcarriedoursorrows:yetwedidesteemhimstricken,smittenofGod,andafflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for ouriniquities:thechastisementofourpeacewasuponhim;andwithhisstripeswearehealed.

MATTHEW8:16,1716 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were

possessedwithdevils:andhecastout thespiritswithhisword,andhealedallthatweresick:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet,saying,Himselftookourinfirmities,andbareoursicknesses.

1PETER2:2424Whohisownselfbareoursinsinhisownbodyonthetree,thatwe,being

deadtosins,shouldliveuntorighteousness:bywhosestripesyewerehealed.We see from theseverses that healing the sick isGod'swill becauseChrist

boreourinfirmitiesandcarriedourdiseases.JustasHepurchasedoursalvationthroughHisdeathonthecross,soHehaspurchasedourhealing:"...bywhosestripesyewerehealed."WhenwehaveHisWordfirmlysettledinourhearts,weneednotwonderifitisHiswilltohealus.Weneednotpray,"Lord,healmeifitbethywill."

Yearsagowhilepastoring,Iwascalledtoprayforoneofthememberswhowas ill.Knowing the importance of her own confession of faith for healing, Iasked,"Sister,willyoubehealednowasIanointyouwithoilandlayhandsonyouinJesus'Name?"

"Well,Iwillifit'sGod'swill,"sheanswered."Howareyougoingtofindoutifit'sHiswill?"Iasked."Ithoughtyouwouldprayforme,andifit'sHiswill,111behealed.Ifitisn't,

Iwon't."Under these circumstances I knew the woman was not going to receive

healing. I knew her unbelief would stop the flow of God's healing power. IwantedtotalktoherandshowhersomethingsfromtheWordofGodbeforeIprayedforher,butshesaid,"Goaheadandprayforme.Iaminsomuchpainandmisery."

I anointed her and prayed, knowing in my heart that she wouldn't receiveanythingbecauseshewasn'tbelievinginlinewiththeWord.Istumbledthroughaprayerandhadhardlysaid"amen"whenshesaidtoherhusband,"Pete,gocallthedoctor."

ThethingthatreallypuzzledmewasthatshehadjustgottenthroughsayingifitwasGod'swill for her tobehealed,Hewouldheal her and if itwasn't,Hewouldn't.Shedidn'tgethealed;therefore,byherownadmission,itwasn'tGod'swillforhertobehealed.YethereshewascallingthedoctorandpayinghimtogetheroutofthewillofGod!

Accordingtoherreasoning,itwouldseemshewouldn'tevenwanttogetwell,because she would be getting out of God's will. It would be wrong to buymedicineandenlistthehelpofthedoctortogetheroutofthewillofGod.

Certainlythisisafoolishlineofreasoning,butthisisthelogicsomepeoplefollowconcerningprayerfortheirhealing.

Aswenotedbefore,ifwewanttoknowGod'swillconcerningamatter,studyHisWord.HisWordisHiswill.HisWordtellsusitisHiswilltohealus.Let'snotdoubtHisWord,butinsteadclaimitspromisesforourhealing.

LooktotheWordforGod'sWillManypeopletrytofindthewillofGodbysaying,"Ifit'sHiswillHe'lldoit,

and if it'snot,Hewon't."WeshoulddetermineGod'swillby looking into theWord.

If I am uncertain about something, I go to theWord first. I don't pray inuncertainty, because Iwould bewastingmy time. I could not pray in faith; Iwouldbeprayinginunbeliefanddoubt,anditwouldn'twork.WhenweknowwhatGod'sWordsaysaboutamatter,weknowwhatHiswillis.

Oftenpeoplewant toputall the responsibility foramatteronGod, so theysay, "Itmust not havebeenGod'swill, because I prayed, 'If it be thywill, dothis,' and He didn't do it." These people want to relieve themselves of allresponsibilityandputitonGod.Butwecan'tgetoutofitthateasily.

GodgaveusHisWordandtoldusto"Searchthescriptures...whichtestifyofme"(John5:39).InthemwelearnHiswill.

Then there are thosewhoknowwhatGod'sWord saysabout amatter, yettheyfinditdifficulttobelieveitwillworkintheircase.

Theyarelikeamanwhoknowshewillneedsomeextramoney,sohegoestohisbankerandarrangesforaloan.Hedoesnotneedthemoneyrightaway;hejustwantstohaveeverythingreadysohewillhaveaccesstoitwhenheneedsit.

Themanhashisbanker'swordthateverythingisinorderandhemaypickupthemoneyanytimehewants,butthenhethinksWhatifhedoesn'tgiveittome?Whatifhedidn’tmeanwhathesaid?

Themanwillhavetobelievewhatthebankersaidandthenactonittogethis

money.Somepeopleare like thatwithGod.TheyknowwhatHesaid inHisWord

aboutsalvationfortheirlovedones,healing,oranyotherneedtheymighthave,but theyfind itdifficult tobelieveHewilldowhatHesaidHewoulddo.ButthankGod,HekeepsHisWord!

MemoryText:"Ifyeabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,yeshallaskwhatyewill,and

itshallbedoneuntoyou"(John15:7).THELESSONINACTION:"Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly..."(James1:22).

Lesson26TheWillofGodinPrayer(Part3)BibleTexts:1Peter5:7;3John2;Philippians4:19CentralTruth:WecanfindapromiseinGod'sWordforeveryaspectoflife.

Thenwecanknowhowtopray,andwecanhavetheassurancebeforewepraywhatHiswillis.

StudyingGod'sWordislikesearchingforvaluablegems.Wecanfindafewjewelsontopofthegroundwithoutmuchdigging,butifwereallywanttogetdownwherethevaluableveinsare,wehavetodigforthem.

TolearnthedeepertruthsofGod,wearetoldto"Searchthescriptures;forinthemyethinkyehaveeternallife:andtheyaretheywhichtestifyofme"(John5:39).

SurfacereadingofourmemorytextinFirstJohn5:14,15hasbroughtsometothewrongconclusionaboutwhatJohnwassayinghere.Hesaid,"Andthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,that,ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearethus:Andifweknowthathehearus,whatsoeverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatwedesiredofhim."

SomehavethoughtJohnsaid,"If it isGod'swill,Hewillhearme,andif itisn't, Hewon't." However, that wasn't what hemeant. Johnwas saying if wehaveGod'sWordonamatter,wedon'thavetosay,"Ifitbethywill,"becauseweknowHisWordisHiswill.

For this reason I encourage people to find Scriptures with a promiseconcerningwhattheyareprayingabout.SometimeswhenpeopleaskmetoprayforthemIsay,"WhatScriptureareyoustandingon?"Manytimestheyanswertheyhavenone inparticular. "Well," I tell them, "that iswhatyou'llget, then:nothinginparticular."

IfyourrequestisinaccordancewithGod'sWord,thatisHiswill.(IthastobeHis will for Him to promise it in His Word.) It is His will that we haveeverythingHehasprovidedforusinHisWord.

IhavefoundapromiseinHisWordforeveryaspectoflife.ThatmeansIcanknowjusthowtopray,andIcanhavetheassuranceofwhatHiswillisbeforeIpray.

Many times the reason prayer isn't working for people is because they arepraying in darkness. They are trying to get God to help them apart from theWord.WearetowalkinthelightoftheWord.

No one can build a successful prayer life if he doesn't know theWord. Asuccessful prayer life is built and based on the writtenWord.When we prayaccordingtotheWord,it isalampuntoourfeetandalightuntoourpath.Weknowwhichwaytowalk.Toomuchofthetime,however,becausewefailtoseewhatGod'sWordhastosayaboutasubject,westumbleabout,notknowingjustwherewearegoing.Prayerthenbecomesamatterofdesperation,beggingGodtodosomething.ButwhenweknowtheWordaheadof time,wecancometoGodwithconfidence.God'sWillConcerningWorry1PETER5:77Castingallyourcareuponhim;forhecarethforyou.Awomanwithalookofdesperationonherfaceoncecametomerequesting

prayer. She began crying as she said, "Brother Hagin, the cares of life, theanxietiesandworries,arejustsogreat."Shebegantocryharderasshesaid,"Ijustcan'tcarryallmyburdens.IwantyoutopraythatGodwilldooneoftwothings:thatHewilleithergivemegracetocarrythemorelsetakeabouthalfofthemaway.Icancarryhalfofthem,butIjustcan'tcarryallofthem."

"Well, I can't pray that prayer," I told her. "It would be unscriptural." Abewildered lookcameacrossherface. Iwenton toexplain,"IcannotprayforyououtofthewillofGod.IfIamgoingtohaveanyconfidencethatGodwillhearmyprayer,ImustprayinlinewiththeWordofGod.

"TheBibletellsus,’Andthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,that,ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearethus:Andifweknowthathehearus,whatsoeverweask,we know thatwehave the petitions thatwe desired ofhim.'

"IknowGod'swillforyoubecauseIknowwhatGod'sWordsays.Itisn'tHiswilltogiveyougracetobearyour

loadofcare.NorisitHiswilltotakehalfofitawayandletyoucarrytheotherhalf.HowdoIknowthis?

BecauseofwhatHisWordsays."FirstPeter5:7says,'Castingallyourcareuponhim;forhecarethforyou.'

Thatversedoesn'tsay tocasthalfofyourcares; itsaysall.Thatversedoesn'tsayGodwillgiveyougracetocarryyourworries; itsaystocastallyourcareuponHim.Why?Because’Hecarethforyou.’"

Then I said, "Sister, isn't it wonderful thatwe already have the answer foryourprayerrighthere?"

Then I read her this same verse from The Amplified Bible, which is more

explicit:"Castingthewholeofyourcare—allyouranxieties,allyourworries,all your concerns, once and for all — on Him; for He cares for youaffectionately,andcaresaboutyouwatchfully."God'sWillConcerningFinancialBlessing3JOHN22Beloved,Iwishaboveallthingsthatthoumayestprosperandbeinhealth,

evenasthysoulprospereth.PHILIPPIANS4:1919ButmyGodshallsupplyallyourneedaccordingtohisrichesingloryby

ChristJesus.InPaul's letter totheChurchatPhilippi,hewascommendingtheChristians

for theirgenerosity ingiving,aswesee in theverses justpreceding theaboveverse. They had taken up an offering of money and goods to send to otherChristians.Becauseofthis,Paulwassayingtothem,"Becauseyouhavegiventothemandhelpedthem,Godshallsupplyallyourneeds."Hewastalkingaboutmaterialandfinancialmatters.

Anotherversewe thinkof in connectionwith financialblessing is found inLuke6:38:"Give,anditshallbegivenuntoyou;goodmeasure,presseddown,andshakentogether,andrunningover,shallmengiveintoyourbosom.Forwiththe samemeasure that yemetewithal it shall bemeasured to youagain."Weoften hear this verse quoted when an offering is being taken. The emphasisusuallyison"give"inthefirstpartoftheverse.Butlet'snotoverlooktheresultsofthatgiving:"...itshallbegivenuntoyou...."Thus,weseefinancialblessingspromisedinthisverse.

Wouldyouliketoseeincreasedfinancialblessingsinyourlife?Increaseyourgiving, because the Scripture says that your returnswill be "...pressed down,and shaken together, and running over.... For with the same measure that yemetewithalitshallbemeasuredtoyouagain."

Ontheotherhand,wecanhinderourprayers*forfinancialprosperitybynotcooperatingwithGod;bynotenteringintothedoorsGodopensforus.

I knew a young, able-bodied fellowwhowaswithoutwork for quite sometime.Hehadawifeandfivechildren.Peopleinthechurchtheyattendedhelpedby taking themgroceriesandclothes for thechildren.Thechurchwomenalsohelpedalltheycouldbygivingironingandotherworktohiswifesoshecouldearnalittlemoney.

WhenItalkedtothemanhetoldme,"Well,theLordsaidHewouldmeetallofourneeds.Somepeople tellme togetoutand look fora job,but Iam just

waiting for the right one to come to me. The Lord will do it. And in themeantime, we are getting along all right." (But someone else was paying hishouserentandfeedinghisfamily.)

Wecan'tjustsitandwaitforsomethingtocometous.Theonlythingthatwillcomewillbeapileofbills!AmancanbelievethatGodwillhelphimandblesshimfinancially,butheneedstomoveintherightdirectionanddowhateverhishandfindstodo.

Ifthefirstjobhefindsisn'texactlywhatheprefers,atleastitwillhelphimuntilsomethingbettercomesalong.Inthemeantimehecanprayforguidanceingetting a better job. God can open another job for him as he is faithful inwhateverhefindstodoinprovidingforhisfamily.

Aswecontinue todigdeeper intoGod'sWord,wewill seemoreandmorethingsshowingusHiswillinprayer.

Forexample,weknowtoprayforthelostinheathenlands,becauseHisWordsays,"Askofme,andIshallgivetheetheheathenforthineinheritance,andtheuttermostpartsoftheearthforthypossession"(Ps.2:8).

WealsoknowtopraythatGodwouldsendministersforthinthepowerofHisSpirit: "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forthlabourersintohisharvest"(Matt.9:38).

Aswe study theWord of God, instead of saying "according to thewill ofGod,"wewillsay"accordingtotheWordofGod."Thenwewillhavetherightperspective.MemoryText:"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing

accordingtohiswill,hehearethus:Andifweknowthathehearus,whatsoeverwe ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him " (1 John5:14,15).

THELESSONINACTION:”Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly...”(James1:22).1Foracompletestudyofthissubject,seeRev.KennethE.Hagin'sbookThe

ArtofIntercession.