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Effectual Prayer

Prayer of Faith = Praying in Power

James 5:16-18
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Faith:

What is the nature of faith?

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

"Faith is an expectation that's anchored in a reality that's higher than circumstance." --Taylor Welch

Faith in what?

God's ability to perform, to control, to act, to plan, to protect, to guard, to prosper, to bless, and to do whatever He wills without limit. We know that God voluntarily limits His actions in accordance with His word and His promises and His revealed nature in scripture.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Colossians 1:17
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

We understand by faith that God created the universe, and we understand through science that the universe operates by means of a system of intricate laws such that matter and energy are not stuff but are actually the result of how the laws of physics function. God made the laws of physics which emanate the visible and tangible results we refer to as physical matter and time and space and energy. The way the world thinks is that the physical universe brought forth life and then life brought forth intelligence and consciousness. But once we understand that God is before all things and that in Him all things consist, we see that the world has everything upside down and backwards. It is not the physical universe that gives rise to consciousness; it is God and His Spirit that gives rise to the physical universe. And not just a one-off event, in creation, but in real time, in the now, always, He upholds all things and can control all things. The universe is unfolding according to God's plan. Our minds need to be re-programmed to regard God as the primary reality. Our worldview needs to be completely inverted. The world views reality as proceeding from and defined by the material, but the correct view of reality is that everything proceeds from and is subject to God.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 1:11
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

What are the enemies of faith?

Fear, doubt, and unbelief

What is fear?

Fear is not the lack of faith; fear is faith in the wrong thing. Fear means to believe a lie. Fear means to put your faith in something that is not God's purpose for you. Typically a fear is anchored in something in your past. Your past colors your expectation of the future. Change--in other words, rewrite--your past, and you change your future. (These concepts are taken from a Taylor Welch talk from The Deep End podcast)

I've heard it said that the best way to deal with fear is to face it head on. Interrogate it. Deconstruct it. Ask yourself "what am I really afraid of?" Most likely it's not the thing that presents itself to you. When you go deeper, you might find that the thing you are afraid of turns out to be either trivial or highly unlikely to even happen. The anticipation of a thing is typically worse than the thing itself. So what are we really afraid of? Physical pain? Humiliation? Being abandoned? How many times have such things actually happened to us? Hasn't God always been there with us during hard times, and hasn't God always put us back together when we've been traumatized in the past? Doesn't God have a purpose even in our sufferings? So what do we have to be afraid of? Can we trust Him or not?

Romans 8:37-39
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fear might reveal an idol in our heart. It means we are afraid of losing something something we value.

Luke 16:15
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

Often times, we seek refuge in the familiar; what we know is regarded as more valuable than the unknown. Our fear of the unknown is colored by our preference for the comfortable. But what is familiar to us is our old life instead of the kingdom of heaven. We can't let fear bind us to our old life and to the familiar ruts that we run in and stay stuck in. Often times, fear and familiarity are the two things that allow us to convince ourselves that we can't obey God; for example, in the case of an addiction.

If we value God above all else, then we can have no fear, for "perfect love casts out fear." If we value anything else other than God, then the prospect of losing that thing can terrify us.

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
― Oswald Chambers

Our fear can be an indicator that we have made a wrong agreement with the devil--we have believed a lie. The devil has used some trauma in our past to suggest a lie to us, and we have adopted that lie as a convenient defense mechanism in order to cope with our pain instead of believing the truth, which would heal us of the pain. The lie the devil told us was that we are helpless and defenseless and cannot rely on God but must compromise with the devil or the world instead to take care of ourselves. Have I believed a lie that God is not able or interested in protecting me or providing for me? What "survival" mechanisms have I adopted for myself once I assume that I cannot trust God for everything? This agreement with the lie and this decision to build behaviors based on this lie creates a stronghold in my life. I need to ferret out the lies I have agreed to and to tear down those strongholds.

2 Cor 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

What is doubt?

Doubt means to hesitate or to draw back or to be double-minded.

James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 14
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

So even though Peter was in the midst of literally doing something only God could have enabled him to do, yet he still doubted, because his mind rebelled against the reality he was experiencing in the moment. Why? Because he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the wind and the waves instead, to allow the world to reprogram his mind again.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

What is unbelief?

Mark 9:14-29
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

Notice: "faithless" aka unbelieving
Notice: "'If You can!'" and "all things are possible to him who believes."
Notice: Why they disciples couldn't cast it out: their lack of faith, but that prayer and fasting increases faith. Faith is authority in the spirit, and prayer and fasting increases one's reliance on faith, makes it stronger. Obedience to the Holy Spirit increases one's faith and increases one's trust in God, which increases one's authority on the earth with regard to prayer and to casting out demons and to healing, etc.

God is listening

Does God hear me?

1 John 5:14-15
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

John 14:12-14
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 16:23
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

Is the separation between me and God removed?

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

God is willing

Does God love me?

John 16:26-27
In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

Am I praying according to His will?

Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will

1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

How do we know what is God's will?

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So God says that when you love Him, your desires will come into alignment with His desires.

On the flip side, the natural mind of man is emnity with God...

Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Your natural mind cannot comprehend the things of God. But the Holy Spirit naturally apprehends everything correctly.

The mind is the battlefield.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The way to be transformed by the renewing of your mind is not to try to reform or educate your mind but to allow the Holy Spirit to mortify it and to replace your thinking with His own.

Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

So being able to pray in the will of God, first of all, depends on having our mind and our desires cleansed and aligned with God's mind and God's desires. Another way to ensure we are praying in the will of God and to ensure that our prayers are powerful and effective is to pray the promises of God back to Him. But how can you know those promises if you don't read His Word?

Psalm 119:11
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

But you'll notice that when the saints and prophets prayed God's promises back to Him that their prayers were irresistable.

So, read God's promises! Immerse yourself in His word, and then you can confidently pray in the will of God!

No treatment on the topic of prayer would be complete without at least mentioning praying in the Spirit.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Ephesians 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Jude 1:20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 14:2
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:4
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:5
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

What other things can hinder our prayers?

How you treat your wife:
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Unforgiveness can hinder your prayers. Unforgiveness is presented by Jesus as such a serious issue that He says that unless you forgive your brother from your heart that your Father will not forgive you!

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Another thing that God hates is complaining. Did you know that negative thoughts are like a thousand times more powerful and destructive than positive ones are helpful? We are told about the power of positive thinking by secular self-help gurus. But the real power lies in uprooting and replacing our negative thoughts.

Negative thoughts are like weeds in a garden.

Mark 4:19
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

How do you deal with weeds? You have to pull them up by their ROOT systems. You can't just chop off the tops; they'll grow back; they're grow stronger and spread out more, and their roots will get that much more robust and harder to dislodge next time. Get yourself into the practice of observing your thoughts rather than identifying with your thoughts. Whenever you encounter a negative or complaining thought, stop what you're doing and reflect. Repeat what you just said to yourself, and bring it out into the light. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where that thought came from, what it's root is, what it's seed is. There is a belief attached to that thought. What is it? Examine that in the light of scripture. You will find a lie hiding there. You believed that lie. Replace that lie with the truth of God's word. Confess that God's word is true and repent of believing the lie.

Thinking intentionally and consciously

Most of our thoughts are habitual patterns. Most of the thoughts you have today are the same ones you had yesterday and last week and last year or a decade ago. Realize that you are not your thoughts. You are the one observing your thoughts. Our thoughts have power because we let them have power. We usually run on automatic pilot and allow our patterns of thinking to control our expectations and our reality and our behavior without us even being aware of it. But what if we chose instead to be aware of our thinking? What if we didn't just trust all of our thoughts but examined them and tested them? What if we made sure that our reality was defined by what God says is true and that our behavior was a proper response to that truth instead of sleep-walking through life based on faulty assumptions?

Even in our prayer life, Jesus warns us against mindlessly droning and repeating words until they cease to have any real meaning.

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Cultivate your faith

Matthew 17:20
So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 13:31-32
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

Cultivate the garden of your thinking so that the "mustard seed" of God's truth grows up in it and chokes out all the weeds, all the lies of the enemy. God's word has life in it; that's why it is like a seed. But that seed must find good soil, it must be watered, it must germinate in us, so that when it grows up, it will become a strong tree. What do the birds of the air represent in this parable? Not like other parables where birds and air are meant to designate evil; the birds of the air in this case represent good things. They represent various kinds of blessings and positive secondary effects through the infrastructure of that tree of faith being matured in our hearts, blessings such as peace and prosperity and blessings that extend to our family and circle of friendship.

Fear and timidity

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear (or timidity), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We have the legal authority to approach God's throneroom covered in His righteousness because of the blood of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We have the authority to command compliance to God's decrees in the both spiritual and the physical realms.

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Matthew 18:18
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

We can request that God judge the forces that are stealing from us and otherwise illegally interfering with our enjoyment of God's promises to us.