PRAYER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) INTRODUCTION

2) UNBELIEVERS & CARNAL BELIEVERS CANNOT PLEASE GOD, THEY ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED IN EVERYTHING THEY THINK, SAY, AND DO

3) THEREFORE THE PRAYERS OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD NOR ARE THEY EFFECTUAL

4) GOD BESTOWS BLESSINGS ON ALL MANKIND IN ACCORDANCE:

a) WITH HIS COMMON GRACE TO ALL MEN, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION WHETHER THEY PRAY OR NOT

b) IN ANSWER TO PRAYERS OF FAITHFUL BELIEVERS FOR OTHERS

5) THEREFORE ONE MUST HAVE ONE'S SINS ACCOUNTED FOR IN ORDER FOR ONE'S PRAYERS TO BE LISTENED TO

6) IN ANY CASE, AN INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE ACCESS TO GOD IN ORDER TO HAVE HIS PRAYERS HEARD AND ANSWERED.

ONLY BELIEVERS HAVE THIS ACCESS AND ONLY IF THEY ARE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD: ONLY IF AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE NOT IN A CONDITION OF HAVING GRIEVED OR QUENCHED THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH SINS.

7) FINALLY, AS A BELIEVER, ONE MUST PRAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WORD

8) THE MECHANICS OF PRAYER

a) PRAYERS ARE TO ADDRESSED TO GOD THE FATHER

b) PRAY IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON

c) WE ARE TO PRAY IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

d) CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TOLD WHAT TO SAY IN THEIR PRAYERS

9) UNLIKE UNBELIEVERS, CHRISTIANS HAVE A CLAIM WITH GOD RELATIVE TO PRAYER. GOD HAS OBLIGATED HIMSELF TO ANSWER EVERY BELIEVER'S PRAYER - WHEN HE IS PROPERLY APPROACHED

10) OLD TESTAMENT PRAYER VS NEW TESTAMENT PRAYER

11) ELEMENTS THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN PRAYER

a) INTRODUCTION

b) CONFESSION OF SIN IN ORDER TO PRAY IN POWER OF THE SPIRIT

c) PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING

d) INTERCESSION FOR OTHERS

e) PETITION FOR OUR OWN NEEDS

12) THE RELATIONSHIP OF PRAYER PETITIONS AND PRAYER DESIRES

a) INTRODUCTION

b) GOD GIVES WHAT IS ASKED FOR BUT NOT WHAT IS DESIRED