1. Effective Prayer

2. Pray without Ceasing (1 Ths. 5:17) Be serious and watchful, 1 Pet. 4:7 Prayers of righteous people are powerful, Jas. 5:16 Prayer loses its place in our lives when we lose faith in our God, Luke 18:1-8 2

3. Prayer is Based on a Relationship with God Prayer is ineffective and futile without a relationship with God – Our Father: Family relation, Matt. 6:9; Gal. 3:26 – Prayers are petitions that grow out of this relationship, Matt. 7:7-11 (Gal. 4:6-7) – In fellowship with God: Our Father hears and answers us, Jno. 9:31; 1 Pet. 3:12 Prayer is a spiritual blessing the Christian has in Christ, Eph. 1:3 (Gal. 3:27); Heb. 4:16; Phil. 4:6-7 3

4. Some Important Aspects of Prayer Prayer is an appeal, Eph. 3:20 – Nehemiah, Neh. 1:11-2:4, 8 – It moves God to action, Jas. 5:16-18 “The possibilities of prayer are gauged by faith in God’s ability to do.” “The power of prayer is that it activates the power of God.” “Prayer is not getting God to do my will; it is asking that God’s will be done in my life, my family, my business, and in my relationships, as it is done in heaven.” Matt. 6:10 4

5. Some Important Aspects of Prayer Prayer is a request, Phil. 4:6 – For forgiveness, Matt. 6:12 (Acts 8:22) – For God’s blessings (for ourselves and for others), Eph. 6:18-20 Material, Matt. 6:11, 31-32 Spiritual, Phil. 4:7 Ex. Wisdom, Jas. 1:5-8 5

6. Some Important Aspects of Prayer Prayer is an expression of: – Joyful thanks, 1 Ths. 5:16-18 – Respect, 1 Chrn. 29:10-13 – Dependency upon God, 1 Tim. 5:5; Psa. 17:6; 61:1-4 (86:1-7) 6

7. How to Effectively Pray (Luke 11:1) Pray in faith, Mk. 11:22-24; Jas. 1:5-6 – “Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God!” – Christians expect prayer to prevail! 1 Jno. 3:22; 5:15 7

8. How to Effectively Pray (Luke 11:1) Live in harmony with what you pray, Mk. 11:25-26 – Our life must reflect our prayers – Examples: Prayer of adoration (show reverence in our living) Ask for blessings (be thankful for present ones) Seek God’s forgiveness (be forgiving of others) Ask for strength to endure a trial (live by faith) 8

9. How to Effectively Pray (Luke 11:1) Be obedient, 1 Jno. 3:22 – Rebellion forfeits answers, 1 Pet. 3:12 Ask according to God’s will, 1 Jno. 5:14-15 – Our prayers must honor God’s will instead of ignoring it, Matt. 26:39 Don’t stop praying, 1 Ths. 5:17; Lk. 18:1; 11:5-8 9

10. We rejoice in the great blessing of prayer! We must be a praying people, for our God is a prayer-answering God!