Would you say that your circumstances change the intensity of your prayers?

 

Is the fervency and frequency of our prayers limited because we feel like God won’t answer.

 

Do we lack fervency and frequency in our prayers because of an inner belief that we can meet our current needs?

 

“Prevailing” definition: “To prove more powerful than opposing forces.”

 

“Saying prayers is not offering prevailing prayer. Prevailing prayer is that which secures an answer.”                                                                            Charles Finney

 

Biblical Conditions for Prevailing Prayer

 

(A) Faith in God: This is the belief that we’ll receive what we ask for. (Matthew 21:22)

 

(B) Our prayers must be according to the revealed will of God: (I John 5:14-15)

 

“How awfully profane is the use very frequently made of the Lord’s Prayer, both in public and in private.

 

To hear men and women chatter over the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” while their lives are anything but conformed to the known will of God is shocking and revolting.

 

 To hear men pray, “Thy kingdom come,” while it is most evident that they are making little or no sacrifice or effort to promote this kingdom, forces the conviction of bare-faced hypocrisy.

 

 Such is not prevailing prayer.”                                              

Charles Finney

 

(C) Unselfishness: (James 4:3)

 

James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (ESV)

 

(D) A conscience void of offense toward God and man: (John 3:20-22)

 

Is there uneasiness (“actionless conviction”) in our hearts? Does this “actionless conviction” serve as a hindrance in our prayers?

 

John 3:20-22

²⁰ If our heart (conscience) condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things;

 

 ²¹ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

²² And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (KJV)

 

(E) A pure heart: (Matthew 5:8 & Psalm 66:18)

 

Purity of heart produces transparency before God; it draws Him to us and us to Him.

 

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (ESV)

 

The Greek word for “pure” in this verse means…

 

“Without mixture; unmixed with undesirable elements.”

 

Psalm 66:18 – If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. (KJV)

 

(F) Confession and restitution to God and man: (Proverbs 28:13)

 

Proverbs 28:13

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy” (KJV)

 

(G) Clean hands: (Psalm 26:6 & I Timothy 6:8)

 

Psalm 26:6

I will wash mine hands in innocence, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. (KJV)

 

I Timothy 2:8:

I will (desire) that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (KJV)

 

(H) The settling of disputes/animosities among fellow Believers: (Matthew 5:23-24)

 

Matthew 5:23-24

If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way.

 

 First be reconciled to thy brother, then come and offer thy gift. (KJV)

 

(I) Humility: (James 4:6)

 

James 4:6:

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. (KJV)

 

(J) Removing stumbling-blocks: (Ezekiel 14:3)

 

Are there any practical, spiritual or relational barriers between God or man in my life that are causing separation?

 

Ezekiel 14:3: Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them? (KJV)

 

(K) A forgiving spirit: (Matthew 6:12)

 

Matthew 6:12: Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; ¹⁵: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV)

 

(L) The presence of a truthful spirit: (Psalm 51:6 & John 4:23-24)

 

Psalm 51:6:

Behold, Thou desireth truth in the inward parts.”  (Finney quote) If the heart be not in a truthful state,

 

 if it be not entirely sincere and unselfish, we regard iniquity in our hearts; and, therefore, the Lord will not hear us. (KJV)

 

John 4:23-24

²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

 

²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (ESV)

 

(M) Praying in the name of Jesus (condition of prevailing prayer): (John 14:12-14)

 

John 14:12-14

¹² Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

 

¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (ESV)

 

(N) The inspiration of / praying in the Holy Spirit: (Romans 8:26-27)

 

“By this I mean guarding against everything that can quench or grieve the Spirit of God in our hearts.”                                                                                  Charles Finney

 

Romans 8:26-27: For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (KJV)

 

(O) Fervency: (A prayer, to be prevailing, must be fervent.) (James 5:16)

 

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV)

 

(P) Perseverance or persistence in prayer: (Luke 11:9-10 & Luke 18:1-8)

 

Luke 11:9-10

⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

 

¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (ESV)

 

Luke 18:1-8

¹ And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

 

² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

 

³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

 

⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

 

⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me (importunity), I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'”

 

⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

 

⁷ And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

 

⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (ESV)

 

(Q) Travail of soul: (Isaiah 66:8, Galatians 4:19 & Romans 8:26-27)

 

“Travailing” prayer is the kind of prayer that is, figuratively and spiritually speaking, prayer that produces (a birthing process) something that God desires to bring to life.

 

Isaiah 66:8

⁷ Before she travailed, she (Israel) brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

 

⁸ Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

 

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. (KJV)

 

Galatians 4:19

¹⁹ My little children, of whom I travail (“the pains”) in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (KJV)

 

Romans 8:26-27

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings (out of circumstances creating great pressure) too deep for words.

 

²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what  is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(ESV)

 

(R) The willingness and obedience to use means: (James 2:14-18)

 

James 2:14-18

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

 

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,

 

¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

 

¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)

 

“In order to secure the object prayed for, God may require that we use all means necessary in order to the secure of the desired answer to our prayers. To pray for a revival of religion, and use no other means, is to tempt God.”          Charles Finney

 

(S) Praying specifically: (Philippians 4:6-7)

 

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

 

(T) Praying honestly and authentically (no false pretenses): (I Peter 5:6-7)

 

I Peter 5:6-7

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

 

⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (ESV)

 

(U) A belief in the faithfulness of God and all His promises: (Lamentations 3:22-26)

Lamentations 3:22-26

 

²² The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

 

²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 

²⁴ “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

 

²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks (darash – “in prayer and worship”) him.

 

²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (ESV)

 

(V) Watchfulness: (II Corinthians 5:7)

 

II Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith and not by sight. (ESV)

 

(W) Being selfish in giving: (Proverbs 21:13 & Luke 6:33)

 

 Proverbs 21:13

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered. (KJV)

 

Luke 6:38

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (ESV)

 

(X) Unresolved marriage issues: (I Peter 3:7)

 

I Peter 3:7

⁷ Likewise husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (ESV)

 

(Y) Having idols in your life: (Ezekiel 14:3)

 

Ezekiel 14:3

Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? (KJV)

 

(Z)  Trusting in human intellect as a substitute for prayer: (Proverbs 3:5-7)

 

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

 

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (ESV)