Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.40\00:00:02.77 Do you know how to pray the effective fervent prayer 00:00:02.80\00:00:04.96 that will open the flood gates of heaven? 00:00:04.99\00:00:07.32 Please join us now on "The Grace pipeline" 00:00:07.35\00:00:10.11 and learn what the Bible has to say about this. 00:00:10.14\00:00:13.74 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:32.28\00:00:34.41 In our last four programs 00:00:34.44\00:00:36.28 we have been learning the meaning of faith 00:00:36.31\00:00:39.36 and how to develop victorious faith in our own lives. 00:00:39.39\00:00:42.80 Today, we will learn how to pray 00:00:42.83\00:00:45.17 the effective fervent prayer of faith. 00:00:45.20\00:00:48.46 The word of God is alive and active 00:00:48.49\00:00:51.06 and when it is implanted in your heart, 00:00:51.09\00:00:53.43 it carries the promise of power to save your soul. 00:00:53.46\00:00:57.38 The series-- this Bible series follows 00:00:57.41\00:01:01.22 a Bible study book that is also titled "The Grace Pipeline." 00:01:01.25\00:01:05.12 So if you're following along in the companion book, 00:01:05.15\00:01:07.72 today we're going to begin on page 168 of chapter 10. 00:01:07.75\00:01:13.05 But before we begin today's study, let's quickly review 00:01:13.08\00:01:16.65 how God's grace pipeline operates, to understand 00:01:16.68\00:01:20.70 why prayer is needed to open the flood gates of heaven. 00:01:20.73\00:01:26.21 The love of God is the compelling force 00:01:26.24\00:01:28.62 behind the grace of God. 00:01:28.65\00:01:30.35 God's heart wells with love for us 00:01:30.38\00:01:32.87 and from that well of love flow all of God's blessings. 00:01:32.90\00:01:36.68 Grace is the pipeline through which all blessings flow 00:01:36.71\00:01:40.76 from heaven to earth and faith is the faucet. 00:01:40.79\00:01:44.28 It's how we tap into the grace pipeline. 00:01:44.31\00:01:47.11 And our faith regulates the release of blessings 00:01:47.14\00:01:50.46 from His great reservoir. 00:01:50.49\00:01:52.76 Now prayer is the handle that opens the faith faucet. 00:01:52.79\00:01:57.54 That's why it's important to understand the power of prayer. 00:01:57.57\00:02:02.93 Trust is the foundation for prayer, 00:02:02.96\00:02:05.22 relationship's the foundation for trust 00:02:05.25\00:02:08.36 and love is the foundation for relationship. 00:02:08.39\00:02:12.18 So the greater our understanding of God's love for us, 00:02:12.21\00:02:15.73 the greater our love will be for Him. 00:02:15.76\00:02:18.86 The greater our love, 00:02:18.89\00:02:20.45 the more intimate the relationship 00:02:20.48\00:02:22.15 becomes with God, 00:02:22.18\00:02:23.55 the greater the trust, the greater trust, 00:02:23.58\00:02:26.56 the more persistent our prayer of faith will become. 00:02:26.59\00:02:30.13 And the more persistent our prayer, the greater 00:02:30.16\00:02:33.48 the faith actions will develop and with greater faith, 00:02:33.51\00:02:37.04 we have greater access to God's grace pipeline. 00:02:37.07\00:02:40.71 And we receive a greater flow of God's blessings. 00:02:40.74\00:02:44.64 So let's get busy identifying how we can open the faith faucet 00:02:44.67\00:02:49.66 through persistent and effective prayer. 00:02:49.69\00:02:53.08 Is your grace supply a little low right now? 00:02:53.11\00:02:56.00 We're gonna learn how to tap in by the faith faucet 00:02:56.03\00:02:59.19 and to turn the handle opened 00:02:59.22\00:03:02.16 by the power of faith and the prayer of faith. 00:03:02.19\00:03:05.78 Christ has opened a new and living way for us 00:03:05.81\00:03:08.33 to draw near to God with a true heart 00:03:08.36\00:03:11.43 in full assurance of faith when we pray. 00:03:11.46\00:03:14.43 In His faithfulness and righteousness, 00:03:14.46\00:03:17.46 God will hear and answer all who access His grace 00:03:17.49\00:03:21.69 by prayer through faith. 00:03:21.72\00:03:24.16 We are invited to come boldly to the Lord 00:03:24.19\00:03:27.96 to obtain the grace we need. 00:03:27.99\00:03:30.29 Let's look at Hebrews 4:16 which gives us that directive, 00:03:30.32\00:03:35.19 and it says, "Let us therefore come boldly 00:03:35.22\00:03:39.10 to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy 00:03:39.13\00:03:43.38 and find grace to help in time of need." 00:03:43.41\00:03:48.08 If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, 00:03:48.11\00:03:51.37 you were given the privilege 00:03:51.40\00:03:52.95 of becoming a born again child of God. 00:03:52.98\00:03:55.99 Paul tells us that God has put His Spirit in your heart 00:03:56.02\00:04:00.65 by whom you cry out Abba, Father. 00:04:00.68\00:04:04.49 Now Abba is an intimate Aramaic expression 00:04:04.52\00:04:07.56 that means "papa" or "daddy." 00:04:07.59\00:04:09.66 And God invites His children 00:04:09.69\00:04:11.82 to come boldly before His throne of grace 00:04:11.85\00:04:14.47 to obtain mercy and find grace to help. 00:04:14.50\00:04:18.07 Though we may approach Him boldly crying Abba, Father, 00:04:18.10\00:04:21.77 let us draw near in reverent submission 00:04:21.80\00:04:24.87 following Christ's example. 00:04:24.90\00:04:27.06 Never be flippant in your approach to God. 00:04:27.09\00:04:29.97 When you pray, you're on holy ground. 00:04:30.00\00:04:32.61 So come to seek His face with an earnest desire 00:04:32.64\00:04:36.77 to personally know Him and to know His will. 00:04:36.80\00:04:40.61 A life of faith is lived before God in prayer, 00:04:40.64\00:04:44.71 desiring to share this time of precious intimacy. 00:04:44.74\00:04:49.78 Faith clears the path for effective fervent prayer 00:04:49.81\00:04:54.62 preventing vain babbling and mere formalism 00:04:54.65\00:04:58.45 in our approach to God. 00:04:58.48\00:05:00.33 So as we seek Him with all of our heart, we know He listens. 00:05:00.36\00:05:05.21 Our future is secure in His hands. 00:05:05.24\00:05:08.12 He has a good plan for our lives 00:05:08.15\00:05:11.35 and the prayer of faith is rewarded by his approval 00:05:11.38\00:05:15.10 and releases God's promises in His perfect timing. 00:05:15.13\00:05:19.33 The promise of James 5:16 is that 00:05:19.36\00:05:22.30 the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 00:05:22.33\00:05:27.39 Of course, the apostle James is referring there 00:05:27.42\00:05:31.24 to the account of Elijah's fervent prayer 00:05:31.27\00:05:34.12 that was found in 1 Kings 18:41-45. 00:05:34.15\00:05:38.87 And on top of Mount Carmel, 00:05:38.90\00:05:40.97 Elijah bowed down to the ground with his face between his knees 00:05:41.00\00:05:45.24 and he earnestly prayed for God to end the 42 month drought. 00:05:45.27\00:05:49.45 He sent his servant to see if rain clouds were coming. 00:05:49.48\00:05:53.48 There was nothing. 00:05:53.51\00:05:54.88 So praying again and again, 00:05:54.91\00:05:57.08 he repeatedly sent his servant to survey the situation 00:05:57.11\00:06:00.69 who continued to return with the same empty report. 00:06:00.72\00:06:04.07 There was not a cloud on the horizon. 00:06:04.10\00:06:06.77 Though nothing evidenced that God had heard his prayers, 00:06:06.80\00:06:11.46 Elijah's faith did not falter. 00:06:11.49\00:06:14.10 Persisting in prayer, he sent his servant the seventh time 00:06:14.13\00:06:19.15 and a cloud the size of a man's fist was coming up from the sea. 00:06:19.18\00:06:24.89 That small sign prompted the prophet 00:06:24.92\00:06:28.58 to prepare for God's deluge that was on its way. 00:06:28.61\00:06:32.96 Look to Elijah as your example. 00:06:32.99\00:06:35.79 The greater your need, 00:06:35.82\00:06:37.23 the more you should persevere in passionate prayer. 00:06:37.26\00:06:40.94 Hebrews 11:6 says that "God is a rewarder of those 00:06:40.97\00:06:45.60 who diligently seek him." 00:06:45.63\00:06:48.96 In faith, count on the Holy Spirit's interceding assistance 00:06:48.99\00:06:54.18 when you don't know how to pray. 00:06:54.21\00:06:56.23 Romans 8:26 says this, 00:06:56.26\00:06:59.29 "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. 00:06:59.32\00:07:03.85 For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 00:07:03.88\00:07:06.63 but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 00:07:06.66\00:07:09.63 with groanings which cannot be uttered. 00:07:09.66\00:07:12.25 Now He who searches the hearts 00:07:12.28\00:07:15.05 knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 00:07:15.08\00:07:17.85 because He makes intercession for the saints 00:07:17.88\00:07:20.76 according to the will of God." 00:07:20.79\00:07:23.89 In our limited understanding, 00:07:23.92\00:07:26.01 we often do not know how to pray. 00:07:26.04\00:07:29.01 We rarely know how to pray. 00:07:29.04\00:07:30.73 But the Holy Spirit is our "paracletus," 00:07:30.76\00:07:33.88 the one who stands by us, 00:07:33.91\00:07:36.10 who actually dwells within our hearts. 00:07:36.13\00:07:38.52 And he knows everything that is happening in our lives 00:07:38.55\00:07:41.52 and the deep recesses of our minds. 00:07:41.55\00:07:44.48 He intercedes on our behalf with the Father 00:07:44.51\00:07:47.55 with groanings that cannot be uttered. 00:07:47.58\00:07:51.25 Now this phrase does not mean, 00:07:51.28\00:07:53.49 to the--it's not the Greek word "glossolalia" 00:07:53.52\00:07:57.21 which is speaking in tongues or language. 00:07:57.24\00:07:59.50 The Greek word used here means unspoken, wordless groanings. 00:07:59.53\00:08:06.66 Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit 00:08:06.69\00:08:08.68 is communicating effectively with the Father. 00:08:08.71\00:08:12.17 And his requests are always according to God's will. 00:08:12.20\00:08:16.01 And God always answers. 00:08:16.04\00:08:19.62 In faith, count on Jesus Christ who makes intercession with you, 00:08:19.65\00:08:26.03 He lives to make intercession for you 00:08:26.06\00:08:29.27 and He is able to save to the utmost. 00:08:29.30\00:08:33.05 Hebrews 7:25 reads, 00:08:33.08\00:08:35.93 "Therefore he (Jesus) is also able to save to the uttermost 00:08:35.96\00:08:41.45 those who come to God through Him, 00:08:41.48\00:08:43.88 since He always lives to make intercession for them." 00:08:43.91\00:08:49.02 The author of Hebrews was pointing out 00:08:49.05\00:08:52.36 that Jesus Christ is a new and better high priest. 00:08:52.39\00:08:56.95 The Old Testament high priest 00:08:56.98\00:08:58.80 could only enter into the presence of God once a year, 00:08:58.83\00:09:02.22 whereas Christ, our high priest, 00:09:02.25\00:09:04.64 is continually in God's presence in heaven. 00:09:04.67\00:09:08.21 He is our advocate, he is our mediator between us and God. 00:09:08.24\00:09:12.98 And this-- as the Spirit intercedes 00:09:13.01\00:09:16.10 on earth on our behalf, 00:09:16.13\00:09:17.84 Christ intercedes in heaven on our behalf 00:09:17.87\00:09:20.81 day by day and moment by moment. 00:09:20.84\00:09:23.39 And he's able to save us completely. 00:09:23.42\00:09:26.95 So every time you pray, 00:09:26.98\00:09:29.14 know that you have two prayer partners praying with you, 00:09:29.17\00:09:32.16 the Spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:32.19\00:09:35.64 In Luke 18, Christ spoke a parable 00:09:35.67\00:09:38.08 about a persistent widow, to prove that we should 00:09:38.11\00:09:41.96 always pray and not lose heart. 00:09:41.99\00:09:45.07 And He concluded by saying, 00:09:45.10\00:09:47.46 "Shall God not avenge His own elect 00:09:47.49\00:09:49.89 to cry out day and night to Him, though he bears long with them? 00:09:49.92\00:09:55.47 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. 00:09:55.50\00:09:59.29 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, 00:09:59.32\00:10:02.59 will He really find faith on the earth?" 00:10:02.62\00:10:05.85 He will find faith in you if you continue earnestly in prayer, 00:10:05.88\00:10:11.61 being vigilant in its practice 00:10:11.64\00:10:14.02 and offering thanksgiving along with its request. 00:10:14.05\00:10:18.58 Like Elijah, we must be persistent 00:10:18.61\00:10:21.38 until the answer is received, 00:10:21.41\00:10:23.96 like the patriarch Jacob who wrestled all night 00:10:23.99\00:10:26.75 with the angel of the Lord which as we've learned, 00:10:26.78\00:10:29.63 was Christ Jesus before His incarnation. 00:10:29.66\00:10:32.53 We need our faith to cry out for change in our character saying, 00:10:32.56\00:10:38.55 "Oh, Lord, I will not let you go unless you bless me." 00:10:38.58\00:10:43.09 Faith pleads the promises of God. 00:10:43.12\00:10:46.34 Now I feel compelled to share some examples with you 00:10:46.37\00:10:49.50 because you may be familiar with another book in program 00:10:49.53\00:10:52.72 that I've done entitled "Exalting His Word" 00:10:52.75\00:10:56.23 which teaches us to return God's word in prayer to Him. 00:10:56.26\00:11:00.24 Now from time to time, someone will approach me 00:11:00.27\00:11:03.08 and they'll ask me, "Where's the biblical examples for this?" 00:11:03.11\00:11:05.85 Let me quickly give you four references. 00:11:05.88\00:11:08.71 In Genesis 32:9-12, Jacob pleaded God's promise 00:11:08.74\00:11:13.44 when he returned to his home country 00:11:13.47\00:11:15.62 saying he wasn't worthy of the least of all the mercies 00:11:15.65\00:11:18.55 and truth that God had shown him. 00:11:18.58\00:11:20.61 And he asked God to deliver him from the hand of Esau. 00:11:20.64\00:11:24.81 Reminding God what He had promised him, 00:11:24.84\00:11:28.44 saying in verse 12, "For you said, 00:11:28.47\00:11:32.64 'I will surely treat you well 00:11:32.67\00:11:35.22 and make your descendants as the sand of the sea 00:11:35.25\00:11:38.55 which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" 00:11:38.58\00:11:41.63 So there we see Jacob pleaded God's word. 00:11:41.66\00:11:45.26 And when Moses was afraid that God would wipe out 00:11:45.29\00:11:49.65 the rebellious nation of Israel, 00:11:49.68\00:11:51.80 he pleaded God's promise saying, in Exodus 32:13, 00:11:51.83\00:11:57.94 "Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, 00:11:57.97\00:12:00.73 your servants to whom you swore by your own self 00:12:00.76\00:12:03.74 and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendents 00:12:03.77\00:12:06.99 as the stars of the heaven 00:12:07.02\00:12:08.68 and all this land that I have spoken up, 00:12:08.71\00:12:10.97 I will give to your descendents, 00:12:11.00\00:12:12.94 and they shall inherit it forever.'" 00:12:12.97\00:12:15.45 And then Solomon pleaded God's promise in 1 Kings 8:26 saying, 00:12:15.48\00:12:20.50 "And now I pray, O God of Israel, 00:12:20.53\00:12:22.47 let your word come true which you have spoken 00:12:22.50\00:12:24.72 to your servant David, my Father." 00:12:24.75\00:12:27.85 And then the psalmist 00:12:27.88\00:12:29.25 pleads God's promise in Psalm 119:49 saying, 00:12:29.28\00:12:32.86 "Remember the word to your servant 00:12:32.89\00:12:35.92 upon which you have caused me to hope." 00:12:35.95\00:12:39.52 So you see it is biblical. 00:12:39.55\00:12:41.14 And we lay claim to God's promises through prayer. 00:12:41.17\00:12:45.23 If we meet the condition of the promise, 00:12:45.26\00:12:47.59 God will answer with perfect timing 00:12:47.62\00:12:50.65 when we ask and keep on asking, 00:12:50.68\00:12:53.16 as Jesus instructed us to do in Luke 11. 00:12:53.19\00:12:56.77 But we must remember one important thing. 00:12:56.80\00:13:00.38 While the love of God is unconditional, 00:13:00.41\00:13:03.42 His promises are not, they carry conditions. 00:13:03.45\00:13:07.87 Let's look at seven conditions 00:13:07.90\00:13:10.09 the Bible reveals for answered prayer. 00:13:10.12\00:13:13.28 First, we must walk in obedience keeping his commandments. 00:13:13.31\00:13:19.09 1 John 3:21-22 says, 00:13:19.12\00:13:22.91 "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, 00:13:22.94\00:13:25.61 we have confidence toward God. 00:13:25.64\00:13:28.05 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, 00:13:28.08\00:13:30.87 because we keep His commandments 00:13:30.90\00:13:33.23 and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 00:13:33.26\00:13:37.47 God responds to his obedient children. 00:13:37.50\00:13:41.08 Have you ever felt that God didn't hear your prayers? 00:13:41.11\00:13:44.58 Ask yourself this. 00:13:44.61\00:13:46.50 Are you praying with reverent submission 00:13:46.53\00:13:49.63 willing to do what God wants? 00:13:49.66\00:13:52.59 Hebrews 10:36 counsels us that we have need of endurance 00:13:52.62\00:13:58.79 so that after we have done the will of God, 00:13:58.82\00:14:01.40 we may receive the promise. 00:14:01.43\00:14:04.06 Clearly, that scripture teaches us that we must obey, 00:14:04.09\00:14:10.28 as a condition to receiving the "yes" answer to our prayers. 00:14:10.31\00:14:14.50 Obedience is not a negative word. 00:14:14.53\00:14:18.00 It is not doom and gloom. 00:14:18.03\00:14:20.39 It is joy because we are doing what is best for us 00:14:20.42\00:14:25.06 and God will give us the greatest reward. 00:14:25.09\00:14:29.13 Obedience is the pathway to God's blessings. 00:14:29.16\00:14:33.94 Now number two, the second condition 00:14:33.97\00:14:36.47 is to "Abide in Christ, with his word abiding in us." 00:14:36.50\00:14:42.88 To abide means to dwell in. 00:14:42.91\00:14:47.11 And when we are in Christ, 00:14:47.14\00:14:49.38 the Bible says we live and move and have our being in Him. 00:14:49.41\00:14:53.67 We must remain faithful to abide in him. 00:14:53.70\00:14:56.83 To have the word abide in you 00:14:56.86\00:14:58.44 means it needs to be in your heart, not just in your head. 00:14:58.47\00:15:02.96 Bible study is the first step 00:15:02.99\00:15:04.66 but putting the word into practice is the second step. 00:15:04.69\00:15:08.87 Notice the condition in the promise of John 15:7 00:15:08.90\00:15:13.20 when Jesus said, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, 00:15:13.23\00:15:20.01 then" and here's the promise, 00:15:20.04\00:15:23.22 "you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you." 00:15:23.25\00:15:28.76 So now the third condition for oh, answered prayer 00:15:28.79\00:15:34.89 is that we ask according to God's will. 00:15:34.92\00:15:39.44 How do we know the will of God? 00:15:39.47\00:15:41.93 It is revealed in the Bible. 00:15:41.96\00:15:44.52 We cannot make a prayer request 00:15:44.55\00:15:46.53 that is in any manner opposed to God's principles or His word 00:15:46.56\00:15:51.32 and expect an answer to our prayer. 00:15:51.35\00:15:53.82 Well, we'll get an answer 00:15:53.85\00:15:55.46 but that answer will be a resounding no. 00:15:55.49\00:15:58.86 James 4:3 says, "You ask and you do not receive 00:15:58.89\00:16:03.44 because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." 00:16:03.47\00:16:09.28 But 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "Now this is the confidence 00:16:09.31\00:16:15.20 that we have in Him, that if we ask anything 00:16:15.23\00:16:18.75 according to His will, He hears us. 00:16:18.78\00:16:22.22 And we know that if He hears us, whatever we ask, 00:16:22.25\00:16:26.20 we know that we have the petitions 00:16:26.23\00:16:28.80 that we have asked of Him." 00:16:28.83\00:16:31.41 You see, when we ask according to God's will, 00:16:31.44\00:16:34.33 we can have communication confidence, 00:16:34.36\00:16:38.03 the absolute assurance 00:16:38.06\00:16:40.19 that he listens and answers our petitions. 00:16:40.22\00:16:44.06 When our prayers align with His will, 00:16:44.09\00:16:47.44 we know He hears and grants our request. 00:16:47.47\00:16:51.40 We don't always know what God's will is for a situation. 00:16:51.43\00:16:56.15 That's why we depend upon the intercession 00:16:56.18\00:16:58.56 of the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ 00:16:58.59\00:17:02.48 to guide our prayers. 00:17:02.51\00:17:05.78 We will get an answer. 00:17:05.81\00:17:07.58 The answer may not always be what we expect, 00:17:07.61\00:17:10.77 but it will prove to be better in the long run 00:17:10.80\00:17:13.60 than anything we could have imagined. 00:17:13.63\00:17:16.91 Now the fourth condition is to ask in submission to God's will. 00:17:16.94\00:17:23.33 You know, Jesus sets the example of this in Luke 22:42 00:17:23.36\00:17:28.88 where he said, "Father not my will, but yours be done." 00:17:28.91\00:17:33.61 He was praying that the Lord would take the cup from Him, 00:17:33.64\00:17:37.39 but nevertheless, His prayer was "Lord, your will be done." 00:17:37.42\00:17:42.77 Christ's total focus on earth was to do his Father's will. 00:17:42.80\00:17:48.23 Yet, He faced a very real personal struggle 00:17:48.26\00:17:51.67 as he considered the cruel horror of the crucifixion. 00:17:51.70\00:17:56.66 The shame and the agony he would endure, 00:17:56.69\00:17:59.94 and the thought of being separated from His father, 00:17:59.97\00:18:03.04 which just overwhelmed Him. 00:18:03.07\00:18:05.17 He demonstrates in Luke 22:42 that it is never wrong 00:18:05.20\00:18:09.57 to express our true feelings in prayer. 00:18:09.60\00:18:12.24 God knows our thoughts anyway. 00:18:12.27\00:18:14.47 Our struggle will only be resolved 00:18:14.50\00:18:18.02 when we, like Christ, are willing to do God's will. 00:18:18.05\00:18:22.77 The outcome of God's will is always, 00:18:22.80\00:18:25.88 always finally the best outcome possible, 00:18:25.91\00:18:29.66 so we should not dread it. 00:18:29.69\00:18:31.94 We may not always understand it. 00:18:31.97\00:18:33.90 But there's nothing to fear when God is in control. 00:18:33.93\00:18:38.23 Now the fifth condition is to ask in the name of Christ. 00:18:38.26\00:18:44.34 Before Christ, the people approached God through a priest. 00:18:44.37\00:18:49.26 Now we have a new relationship if we are in Christ. 00:18:49.29\00:18:52.68 We are God's children. 00:18:52.71\00:18:54.54 And we're made a kingdom of priests, the Bible says. 00:18:54.57\00:18:57.94 Christ is our mediator. 00:18:57.97\00:18:59.55 And when we are in Christ, we are praying through him. 00:18:59.58\00:19:03.56 And we need no other mediator between us and God. 00:19:03.59\00:19:07.34 In 1 Timothy 2:5, the Bible says that there's only one God 00:19:07.37\00:19:12.74 and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 00:19:12.77\00:19:18.04 And Christ makes this glorious promise in John 16:23-24 saying, 00:19:18.07\00:19:25.70 "And in that day you will ask me nothing. 00:19:25.73\00:19:29.60 Most assuredly I say to you, 00:19:29.63\00:19:32.04 whatever you ask the Father in my Father's name or in My name, 00:19:32.07\00:19:37.52 He will give you. 00:19:37.55\00:19:38.94 Until now you have asked nothing in My name, 00:19:38.97\00:19:42.24 ask and you will receive that your joy may be full." 00:19:42.27\00:19:48.59 Now the sixth condition is to bear fruit consistent 00:19:48.62\00:19:53.23 with the profession of your faith. 00:19:53.26\00:19:56.34 Jesus told his disciples in John 15:16. 00:19:56.37\00:20:00.53 He said, "You did not choose me but I chose you 00:20:00.56\00:20:04.72 and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. 00:20:04.75\00:20:07.89 And that your fruit should remain 00:20:07.92\00:20:09.48 that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you." 00:20:09.51\00:20:14.51 Now this verse particularly applies 00:20:14.54\00:20:17.60 to those who are called to ministry, 00:20:17.63\00:20:19.71 to those who are appointed to service in ministry. 00:20:19.74\00:20:23.64 Jesus is saying, if they continue to grow in maturity 00:20:23.67\00:20:28.00 and productive ministry, 00:20:28.03\00:20:30.14 they would obtain the answers to their prayers 00:20:30.17\00:20:33.19 for more fruitful ministry. 00:20:33.22\00:20:35.57 Now the Scripture can, in principle, 00:20:35.60\00:20:37.77 be applied to all Christians. 00:20:37.80\00:20:40.59 He chose us first by dying for us, 00:20:40.62\00:20:44.92 long before we chose Him. 00:20:44.95\00:20:47.15 And He appointed us to be His witnesses. 00:20:47.18\00:20:51.71 We should bear the fruits of repentance 00:20:51.74\00:20:54.98 and the fruit of the spirit. 00:20:55.01\00:20:57.55 Our actions should agree 00:20:57.58\00:20:59.41 with our profession of faith in Christ. 00:20:59.44\00:21:03.09 Now as we come down to number seven, 00:21:03.12\00:21:06.70 this is the seventh reason 00:21:06.73\00:21:10.06 or step to developing victorious faith. 00:21:10.09\00:21:13.98 And this is the most important condition 00:21:14.01\00:21:18.00 if we want answered prayer. 00:21:18.03\00:21:21.08 And that is number seven, 00:21:21.11\00:21:23.83 "Employ the faith factor and ask believing." 00:21:23.86\00:21:29.13 Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, 00:21:29.16\00:21:35.36 "Whatever things you ask in prayer 00:21:35.39\00:21:38.51 believing, you will receive." 00:21:38.54\00:21:41.65 We must believe to receive. 00:21:41.68\00:21:44.25 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:21:44.28\00:21:47.98 But we must have a solid foundation for our believing. 00:21:48.01\00:21:53.78 Our basis for believing is the word of God. 00:21:53.81\00:21:57.88 When we know what the Bible says, 00:21:57.91\00:22:00.38 we can pray according to His word 00:22:00.41\00:22:03.66 and our prayer request will be in harmony with His will. 00:22:03.69\00:22:08.40 The Bible is filled with God's promises to you. 00:22:08.43\00:22:12.83 Even his commandments or promises 00:22:12.86\00:22:16.02 of what He will accomplish in your life. 00:22:16.05\00:22:19.33 To pray believing, you must know what the Bible says. 00:22:19.36\00:22:23.86 Let me sum it up this way, little Word equals little faith, 00:22:23.89\00:22:29.88 and little faith equals little prayer. 00:22:29.91\00:22:32.96 Prayer is the vehicle but faith is the fuel 00:22:32.99\00:22:37.58 and it requires both to reach our desired destination. 00:22:37.61\00:22:42.99 Faith comes by hearing the word of God, and faith fuels prayer. 00:22:43.02\00:22:49.27 When we believe and trust God, we are stirred to pray, 00:22:49.30\00:22:54.67 and persevering prayer is the greatest evidence of faith. 00:22:54.70\00:22:59.54 So little word equals little faith, 00:22:59.57\00:23:02.79 little faith equals little prayer. 00:23:02.82\00:23:05.21 The Apostle James tells us 00:23:05.24\00:23:07.45 that we do not have because we do not ask. 00:23:07.48\00:23:10.82 Then in James 1:6-8 he says, 00:23:10.85\00:23:14.12 "That we must ask in faith with no doubting. 00:23:14.15\00:23:18.76 For he says, that the one who doubts, 00:23:18.79\00:23:21.50 is like a wave of the sea 00:23:21.53\00:23:23.68 that is driven and tossed by the wind." 00:23:23.71\00:23:26.90 And James warns us there that if we do not ask in faith, 00:23:26.93\00:23:32.15 we're being double-minded. 00:23:32.18\00:23:34.27 And any double-minded person, he said, should not suppose 00:23:34.30\00:23:38.37 that they will receive anything from the Lord. 00:23:38.40\00:23:41.99 Conditions for answered prayer, there are seven of them. 00:23:43.98\00:23:48.60 And I want to put them up 00:23:48.63\00:23:50.00 and give you just a little bit of time to write these down. 00:23:50.03\00:23:54.54 Number one, 00:23:54.57\00:23:56.42 "We must walk in obedience, keeping his commandments." 00:23:56.45\00:24:02.69 Number two, 00:24:02.72\00:24:05.02 "We must abide in Christ, with His word abiding in us." 00:24:05.05\00:24:11.04 Number three, 00:24:11.07\00:24:12.83 "We must ask according to God's will." 00:24:12.86\00:24:17.49 Number four, 00:24:17.53\00:24:19.66 "We must ask in submission to God's will." 00:24:19.69\00:24:23.27 And number five, 00:24:23.30\00:24:25.21 "We must ask in the name of Christ." 00:24:25.24\00:24:28.56 Number six, 00:24:28.59\00:24:30.65 "Bear fruit consistent with repentance." 00:24:30.68\00:24:35.13 And number seven, 00:24:35.16\00:24:37.21 "Employ the faith factor and ask believing." 00:24:37.24\00:24:41.65 In our journey to understand grace, 00:24:45.19\00:24:48.93 we have considered that God's love is the compelling force 00:24:48.96\00:24:53.55 behind the visitation and the triumph of grace. 00:24:53.58\00:24:58.73 So the more we appreciate God's love, the more we are inclined 00:24:58.76\00:25:05.05 to share intimacy in relationship with Him. 00:25:05.08\00:25:10.80 Communication will be as natural as a child with the parent, 00:25:10.83\00:25:16.11 and the way we communicate with God is through our prayer. 00:25:16.14\00:25:19.96 So through our faith in Christ, we gain boldness 00:25:19.99\00:25:25.53 and we come boldly before our heavenly Father with confidence. 00:25:25.56\00:25:31.45 And as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. 00:25:31.48\00:25:35.82 That's his promise. 00:25:35.85\00:25:37.74 You know, someone has said that "Grace writes the check, 00:25:37.77\00:25:42.68 Faith takes it to the bank." 00:25:42.71\00:25:46.07 The prayer of faith secures God's promise. 00:25:46.10\00:25:50.21 The immeasurable riches and power of God's grace 00:25:50.24\00:25:55.22 are poured out from on high through His heavenly pipeline. 00:25:55.25\00:25:59.47 Faith is the faucet that allows us to access this grace. 00:25:59.50\00:26:04.44 And I want to say one thing, just a moment, 00:26:04.47\00:26:06.95 if you imagine this grace pipeline, 00:26:06.98\00:26:10.46 there are different areas of faith. 00:26:10.49\00:26:13.62 We may have that faith faucet, 00:26:13.65\00:26:15.42 we need to tap into the area for God's provision 00:26:15.45\00:26:19.19 to understand tithing 00:26:19.22\00:26:21.74 and returning a tenth of what God gives us to Him. 00:26:21.77\00:26:26.75 That's one area that we may tap into by faith. 00:26:26.78\00:26:30.83 We need to tap into by faith 00:26:30.86\00:26:33.19 where God has told us that he will cut us free 00:26:33.22\00:26:36.99 from the cord of the wicked that binds us. 00:26:37.02\00:26:39.85 We know we have to tap into that by faith. 00:26:39.88\00:26:43.35 We tap in by faith for justification, 00:26:43.38\00:26:47.08 we tap in by faith for sanctification, 00:26:47.11\00:26:50.83 we tap in by faith claiming God's promises for our children. 00:26:50.86\00:26:56.93 For all of these things, 00:26:56.96\00:26:59.12 we have to remember that as we tap in by faith, 00:26:59.15\00:27:03.66 it is the prayer of faith and that is the handle 00:27:03.69\00:27:08.59 that opens the faith faucet. 00:27:08.62\00:27:11.92 And as we develop victorious faith, 00:27:11.95\00:27:15.37 we will tap into God's grace pipeline. 00:27:15.40\00:27:19.75 We will turn the prayer handle 00:27:19.78\00:27:22.32 and we will witness the gushing flow of His Grace. 00:27:22.35\00:27:27.39 Well, I can't believe how fast our time goes 00:27:27.42\00:27:30.13 but please join us next time, 00:27:30.16\00:27:33.33 where we will see the importance of guarding grace in our lives. 00:27:33.36\00:27:38.91 I don't think that there is 00:27:38.94\00:27:41.83 any more important lesson that we could learn, 00:27:41.86\00:27:45.88 except for how to guard grace. 00:27:45.91\00:27:49.49 So until then, we pray that you will grow in the grace 00:27:49.52\00:27:53.90 and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:27:53.93\00:27:57.06 To Him be all the glory, amen. 00:27:57.09\00:28:00.06