The power of a pure prayer life

Matt. 7:7-11

Introduction: Both Jesus in Luke 18:1 and the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1 emphasized the importance of prayer, noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers from God. Prayer is more than making a request or a wish or placing some sort of spiritual order; it is confession, adoration, thanksgiving and fellowship with God. By its very nature prayer is talking with God. It is the basis of the successful Christian life, and is so important that not praying is considered a sin (1 Samuel 12:23 “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”) When we pray, we should follow the model prayer gave His disciples and address it to our heavenly Father – beginning with adoration, including thanksgiving and confession of sins, make reconciliation with others, pray for our needs and the needs of others and conclude in Jesus name (Matt. 9:6-15; John 14:14). To have a powerful prayer life we must have pure prayer life look with me as I preach for a little while on the subject of “The power of a pure prayer life.”

God will answer our prayers when we...

I. Obey Him (1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.)

Do we concern ourselves with pleasing God? I don’t think so. Today most of us are only interested in getting from God what we can when we want it the way we want it. We read from the word of God, if we expect to receive from God we better be willing to be pleasing to God.

II. Confess our Sin (Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:)

If we have present within our heart wickedness the Lord will NOT hear our prayers. It is not just important that we confess sin it is necessary for our walk with God. How can we expect a Holy and righteous God to hear our pleas if we are holding onto things that He considers wicked?

III. Abide in Christ (John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.)

We can not claim to love the Lord if we do not love one another. Jesus told this to His disciples and He meant it, He also means it today for His church. If we cannot love each other within the church how can we expect the world to see us as the body of Christ?

IV. Ask according to the will of God (1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:)

The child of God has the authority to ask anything of God, as long as it is according to His will. Some may ask how do we know? The answer is simple, by reading our Bible. If we want to know the heart of God we learn it from the word of God. Read then make your petition according to what God has shown you from His word.

V. Ask in Faith (Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.)

Many who pray never expect God to answer them, because of their lack of faith they never will receive an answer. God answers the Christian who believes they will receive an answer. You may not get the answer you expect but rest assured God will answer the prayers of men and women who believe they will one.

VI. Have pure motives (Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.)

Are you asking God for selfish reasons? Are you asking God because you have some desire, pride or maybe you want to use God to get even with someone; you are amiss. God tells us He will not answer that prayer, God will meet our needs we have that promise. God does not promise to meet our desires.

VII. Live peaceably with our spouse (1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.)

Problems within the home have been the cause of many hindered prayers. The marriage is our earthly type of the relationship between Christ and the Church. God tells us our relationship with our spouse should be a godly one, understanding that we are heirs of the grace of life. We cannot have the ear of God if we do not have the heart of our spouse.

Conclusion: Do you have power in your prayer life? Do you have a pure prayer life? Those two questions must be answered and dealt with if you ever want to have a successful prayer life. You may say “I am satisfied with my prayer life” but is God satisfied with your prayer life? Do you have something between you and God that needs to be dealt with today?

Close as God leads…