Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.36\00:00:02.76 Do you know how to pray the effective fervent prayer 00:00:02.76\00:00:04.93 that will open the flood gates of heaven? 00:00:04.93\00:00:07.30 Please join us now on "The Grace pipeline" 00:00:07.30\00:00:10.11 and learn what the Bible has to say about this. 00:00:10.11\00:00:13.71 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:32.26\00:00:34.40 In our last four programs 00:00:34.40\00:00:36.26 we have been learning the meaning of faith 00:00:36.26\00:00:39.33 and how to develop victorious faith in our own lives. 00:00:39.33\00:00:42.77 Today, we will learn how to pray 00:00:42.77\00:00:45.17 the effective fervent prayer of faith. 00:00:45.17\00:00:48.44 The word of God is alive and active 00:00:48.44\00:00:51.05 and when it is implanted in your heart, 00:00:51.05\00:00:53.42 it carries the promise of power to save your soul. 00:00:53.42\00:00:57.39 The series-- this Bible series follows 00:00:57.39\00:01:01.22 a Bible study book that is also titled "The Grace Pipeline." 00:01:01.22\00:01:05.13 So if you're following along in the companion book, 00:01:05.13\00:01:07.73 today we're going to begin on page 168 of chapter 10. 00:01:07.73\00:01:13.03 But before we begin today's study, let's quickly review 00:01:13.03\00:01:16.64 how God's grace pipeline operates, to understand 00:01:16.64\00:01:20.68 why prayer is needed to open the flood gates of heaven. 00:01:20.68\00:01:26.21 The love of God is the compelling force 00:01:26.21\00:01:28.62 behind the grace of God. 00:01:28.62\00:01:30.35 God's heart wells with love for us 00:01:30.35\00:01:32.89 and from that well of love flow all of God's blessings. 00:01:32.89\00:01:36.69 Grace is the pipeline through which all blessings flow 00:01:36.69\00:01:40.76 from heaven to earth and faith is the faucet. 00:01:40.76\00:01:44.27 It's how we tap into the grace pipeline. 00:01:44.27\00:01:47.10 And our faith regulates the release of blessings 00:01:47.10\00:01:50.44 from His great reservoir. 00:01:50.44\00:01:52.74 Now prayer is the handle that opens the faith faucet. 00:01:52.74\00:01:57.55 That's why it's important to understand the power of prayer. 00:01:57.55\00:02:02.92 Trust is the foundation for prayer, 00:02:02.92\00:02:05.22 relationship's the foundation for trust 00:02:05.22\00:02:08.36 and love is the foundation for relationship. 00:02:08.36\00:02:12.19 So the greater our understanding of God's love for us, 00:02:12.19\00:02:15.70 the greater our love will be for Him. 00:02:15.70\00:02:18.83 The greater our love, 00:02:18.83\00:02:20.44 the more intimate the relationship 00:02:20.44\00:02:22.14 becomes with God, 00:02:22.14\00:02:23.54 the greater the trust, the greater trust, 00:02:23.54\00:02:26.54 the more persistent our prayer of faith will become. 00:02:26.54\00:02:30.11 And the more persistent our prayer, the greater 00:02:30.11\00:02:33.48 the faith actions will develop and with greater faith, 00:02:33.48\00:02:37.05 we have greater access to God's grace pipeline. 00:02:37.05\00:02:40.72 And we receive a greater flow of God's blessings. 00:02:40.72\00:02:44.66 So let's get busy identifying how we can open the faith faucet 00:02:44.66\00:02:49.63 through persistent and effective prayer. 00:02:49.63\00:02:53.07 Is your grace supply a little low right now? 00:02:53.07\00:02:55.97 We're gonna learn how to tap in by the faith faucet 00:02:55.97\00:02:59.17 and to turn the handle opened 00:02:59.17\00:03:02.14 by the power of faith and the prayer of faith. 00:03:02.14\00:03:05.78 Christ has opened a new and living way for us 00:03:05.78\00:03:08.32 to draw near to God with a true heart 00:03:08.32\00:03:11.42 in full assurance of faith when we pray. 00:03:11.42\00:03:14.42 In His faithfulness and righteousness, 00:03:14.42\00:03:17.46 God will hear and answer all who access His grace 00:03:17.46\00:03:21.66 by prayer through faith. 00:03:21.66\00:03:24.13 We are invited to come boldly to the Lord 00:03:24.13\00:03:27.94 to obtain the grace we need. 00:03:27.94\00:03:30.27 Let's look at Hebrews 4:16 which gives us that directive, 00:03:30.27\00:03:35.18 and it says, "Let us therefore come boldly 00:03:35.18\00:03:39.08 to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy 00:03:39.08\00:03:43.39 and find grace to help in time of need." 00:03:43.39\00:03:48.09 If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, 00:03:48.09\00:03:51.39 you were given the privilege 00:03:51.39\00:03:52.96 of becoming a born again child of God. 00:03:52.96\00:03:55.96 Paul tells us that God has put His Spirit in your heart 00:03:55.96\00:04:00.64 by whom you cry out Abba, Father. 00:04:00.64\00:04:04.47 Now Abba is an intimate Aramaic expression 00:04:04.47\00:04:07.54 that means "papa" or "daddy." 00:04:07.54\00:04:09.64 And God invites His children 00:04:09.64\00:04:11.81 to come boldly before His throne of grace 00:04:11.81\00:04:14.48 to obtain mercy and find grace to help. 00:04:14.48\00:04:18.09 Though we may approach Him boldly crying Abba, Father, 00:04:18.09\00:04:21.79 let us draw near in reverent submission 00:04:21.79\00:04:24.89 following Christ's example. 00:04:24.89\00:04:27.03 Never be flippant in your approach to God. 00:04:27.03\00:04:29.96 When you pray, you're on holy ground. 00:04:29.96\00:04:32.60 So come to seek His face with an earnest desire 00:04:32.60\00:04:36.77 to personally know Him and to know His will. 00:04:36.77\00:04:40.61 A life of faith is lived before God in prayer, 00:04:40.61\00:04:44.71 desiring to share this time of precious intimacy. 00:04:44.71\00:04:49.78 Faith clears the path for effective fervent prayer 00:04:49.78\00:04:54.62 preventing vain babbling and mere formalism 00:04:54.62\00:04:58.46 in our approach to God. 00:04:58.46\00:05:00.33 So as we seek Him with all of our heart, we know He listens. 00:05:00.33\00:05:05.20 Our future is secure in His hands. 00:05:05.20\00:05:08.10 He has a good plan for our lives 00:05:08.10\00:05:11.34 and the prayer of faith is rewarded by his approval 00:05:11.34\00:05:15.08 and releases God's promises in His perfect timing. 00:05:15.08\00:05:19.31 The promise of James 5:16 is that 00:05:19.31\00:05:22.28 the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 00:05:22.28\00:05:27.39 Of course, the apostle James is referring there 00:05:27.39\00:05:31.26 to the account of Elijah's fervent prayer 00:05:31.26\00:05:34.10 that was found in 1 Kings 18:41-45. 00:05:34.10\00:05:38.87 And on top of Mount Carmel, 00:05:38.87\00:05:40.97 Elijah bowed down to the ground with his face between his knees 00:05:40.97\00:05:45.24 and he earnestly prayed for God to end the 42 month drought. 00:05:45.24\00:05:49.44 He sent his servant to see if rain clouds were coming. 00:05:49.44\00:05:53.48 There was nothing. 00:05:53.48\00:05:54.88 So praying again and again, 00:05:54.88\00:05:57.09 he repeatedly sent his servant to survey the situation 00:05:57.09\00:06:00.69 who continued to return with the same empty report. 00:06:00.69\00:06:04.09 There was not a cloud on the horizon. 00:06:04.09\00:06:06.80 Though nothing evidenced that God had heard his prayers, 00:06:06.80\00:06:11.43 Elijah's faith did not falter. 00:06:11.43\00:06:14.07 Persisting in prayer, he sent his servant the seventh time 00:06:14.07\00:06:19.14 and a cloud the size of a man's fist was coming up from the sea. 00:06:19.14\00:06:24.88 That small sign prompted the prophet 00:06:24.88\00:06:28.58 to prepare for God's deluge that was on its way. 00:06:28.58\00:06:32.95 Look to Elijah as your example. 00:06:32.95\00:06:35.79 The greater your need, 00:06:35.79\00:06:37.23 the more you should persevere in passionate prayer. 00:06:37.23\00:06:40.96 Hebrews 11:6 says that "God is a rewarder of those 00:06:40.96\00:06:45.57 who diligently seek him." 00:06:45.57\00:06:48.94 In faith, count on the Holy Spirit's interceding assistance 00:06:48.94\00:06:54.18 when you don't know how to pray. 00:06:54.18\00:06:56.21 Romans 8:26 says this, 00:06:56.21\00:06:59.28 "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. 00:06:59.28\00:07:03.85 For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 00:07:03.85\00:07:06.62 but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 00:07:06.62\00:07:09.62 with groanings which cannot be uttered. 00:07:09.62\00:07:12.26 Now He who searches the hearts 00:07:12.26\00:07:15.03 knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 00:07:15.03\00:07:17.83 because He makes intercession for the saints 00:07:17.83\00:07:20.74 according to the will of God." 00:07:20.74\00:07:23.87 In our limited understanding, 00:07:23.87\00:07:26.01 we often do not know how to pray. 00:07:26.01\00:07:29.01 We rarely know how to pray. 00:07:29.01\00:07:30.71 But the Holy Spirit is our "paracletus," 00:07:30.71\00:07:33.88 the one who stands by us, 00:07:33.88\00:07:36.08 who actually dwells within our hearts. 00:07:36.08\00:07:38.52 And he knows everything that is happening in our lives 00:07:38.52\00:07:41.52 and the deep recesses of our minds. 00:07:41.52\00:07:44.49 He intercedes on our behalf with the Father 00:07:44.49\00:07:47.56 with groanings that cannot be uttered. 00:07:47.56\00:07:51.23 Now this phrase does not mean, 00:07:51.23\00:07:53.47 to the--it's not the Greek word "glossolalia" 00:07:53.47\00:07:57.21 which is speaking in tongues or language. 00:07:57.21\00:07:59.47 The Greek word used here means unspoken, wordless groanings. 00:07:59.47\00:08:06.65 Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit 00:08:06.65\00:08:08.68 is communicating effectively with the Father. 00:08:08.68\00:08:12.19 And his requests are always according to God's will. 00:08:12.19\00:08:16.02 And God always answers. 00:08:16.02\00:08:19.63 In faith, count on Jesus Christ who makes intercession with you, 00:08:19.63\00:08:26.00 He lives to make intercession for you 00:08:26.00\00:08:29.27 and He is able to save to the utmost. 00:08:29.27\00:08:33.04 Hebrews 7:25 reads, 00:08:33.04\00:08:35.91 "Therefore he (Jesus) is also able to save to the uttermost 00:08:35.91\00:08:41.45 those who come to God through Him, 00:08:41.45\00:08:43.89 since He always lives to make intercession for them." 00:08:43.89\00:08:49.02 The author of Hebrews was pointing out 00:08:49.02\00:08:52.36 that Jesus Christ is a new and better high priest. 00:08:52.36\00:08:56.93 The Old Testament high priest 00:08:56.93\00:08:58.77 could only enter into the presence of God once a year, 00:08:58.77\00:09:02.20 whereas Christ, our high priest, 00:09:02.20\00:09:04.64 is continually in God's presence in heaven. 00:09:04.64\00:09:08.21 He is our advocate, he is our mediator between us and God. 00:09:08.21\00:09:12.98 And this-- as the Spirit intercedes 00:09:12.98\00:09:16.08 on earth on our behalf, 00:09:16.08\00:09:17.85 Christ intercedes in heaven on our behalf 00:09:17.85\00:09:20.82 day by day and moment by moment. 00:09:20.82\00:09:23.39 And he's able to save us completely. 00:09:23.39\00:09:26.96 So every time you pray, 00:09:26.96\00:09:29.13 know that you have two prayer partners praying with you, 00:09:29.13\00:09:32.13 the Spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:32.13\00:09:35.64 In Luke 18, Christ spoke a parable 00:09:35.64\00:09:38.07 about a persistent widow, to prove that we should 00:09:38.07\00:09:41.94 always pray and not lose heart. 00:09:41.94\00:09:45.08 And He concluded by saying, 00:09:45.08\00:09:47.45 "Shall God not avenge His own elect 00:09:47.45\00:09:49.88 to cry out day and night to Him, though he bears long with them? 00:09:49.88\00:09:55.49 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. 00:09:55.49\00:09:59.29 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, 00:09:59.29\00:10:02.56 will He really find faith on the earth?" 00:10:02.56\00:10:05.83 He will find faith in you if you continue earnestly in prayer, 00:10:05.83\00:10:11.61 being vigilant in its practice 00:10:11.61\00:10:14.01 and offering thanksgiving along with its request. 00:10:14.01\00:10:18.58 Like Elijah, we must be persistent 00:10:18.58\00:10:21.38 until the answer is received, 00:10:21.38\00:10:23.95 like the patriarch Jacob who wrestled all night 00:10:23.95\00:10:26.76 with the angel of the Lord which as we've learned, 00:10:26.76\00:10:29.62 was Christ Jesus before His incarnation. 00:10:29.62\00:10:32.53 We need our faith to cry out for change in our character saying, 00:10:32.53\00:10:38.53 "Oh, Lord, I will not let you go unless you bless me." 00:10:38.53\00:10:43.07 Faith pleads the promises of God. 00:10:43.07\00:10:46.34 Now I feel compelled to share some examples with you 00:10:46.34\00:10:49.48 because you may be familiar with another book in program 00:10:49.48\00:10:52.71 that I've done entitled "Exalting His Word" 00:10:52.71\00:10:56.22 which teaches us to return God's word in prayer to Him. 00:10:56.22\00:11:00.26 Now from time to time, someone will approach me 00:11:00.26\00:11:03.09 and they'll ask me, "Where's the biblical examples for this?" 00:11:03.09\00:11:05.86 Let me quickly give you four references. 00:11:05.86\00:11:08.70 In Genesis 32:9-12, Jacob pleaded God's promise 00:11:08.70\00:11:13.44 when he returned to his home country 00:11:13.44\00:11:15.60 saying he wasn't worthy of the least of all the mercies 00:11:15.60\00:11:18.54 and truth that God had shown him. 00:11:18.54\00:11:20.61 And he asked God to deliver him from the hand of Esau. 00:11:20.61\00:11:24.81 Reminding God what He had promised him, 00:11:24.81\00:11:28.45 saying in verse 12, "For you said, 00:11:28.45\00:11:32.65 'I will surely treat you well 00:11:32.65\00:11:35.22 and make your descendants as the sand of the sea 00:11:35.22\00:11:38.56 which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" 00:11:38.56\00:11:41.60 So there we see Jacob pleaded God's word. 00:11:41.60\00:11:45.23 And when Moses was afraid that God would wipe out 00:11:45.23\00:11:49.64 the rebellious nation of Israel, 00:11:49.64\00:11:51.77 he pleaded God's promise saying, in Exodus 32:13, 00:11:51.77\00:11:57.95 "Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, 00:11:57.95\00:12:00.72 your servants to whom you swore by your own self 00:12:00.72\00:12:03.75 and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendents 00:12:03.75\00:12:06.99 as the stars of the heaven 00:12:06.99\00:12:08.69 and all this land that I have spoken up, 00:12:08.69\00:12:10.99 I will give to your descendents, 00:12:10.99\00:12:12.96 and they shall inherit it forever.'" 00:12:12.96\00:12:15.43 And then Solomon pleaded God's promise in 1 Kings 8:26 saying, 00:12:15.43\00:12:20.47 "And now I pray, O God of Israel, 00:12:20.47\00:12:22.47 let your word come true which you have spoken 00:12:22.47\00:12:24.71 to your servant David, my Father." 00:12:24.71\00:12:27.84 And then the psalmist 00:12:27.84\00:12:29.24 pleads God's promise in Psalm 119:49 saying, 00:12:29.24\00:12:32.85 "Remember the word to your servant 00:12:32.85\00:12:35.92 upon which you have caused me to hope." 00:12:35.92\00:12:39.52 So you see it is biblical. 00:12:39.52\00:12:41.16 And we lay claim to God's promises through prayer. 00:12:41.16\00:12:45.23 If we meet the condition of the promise, 00:12:45.23\00:12:47.60 God will answer with perfect timing 00:12:47.60\00:12:50.63 when we ask and keep on asking, 00:12:50.63\00:12:53.13 as Jesus instructed us to do in Luke 11. 00:12:53.13\00:12:56.77 But we must remember one important thing. 00:12:56.77\00:13:00.38 While the love of God is unconditional, 00:13:00.38\00:13:03.41 His promises are not, they carry conditions. 00:13:03.41\00:13:07.88 Let's look at seven conditions 00:13:07.88\00:13:10.09 the Bible reveals for answered prayer. 00:13:10.09\00:13:13.29 First, we must walk in obedience keeping his commandments. 00:13:13.29\00:13:19.09 1 John 3:21-22 says, 00:13:19.09\00:13:22.90 "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, 00:13:22.90\00:13:25.60 we have confidence toward God. 00:13:25.60\00:13:28.04 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, 00:13:28.04\00:13:30.87 because we keep His commandments 00:13:30.87\00:13:33.21 and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 00:13:33.21\00:13:37.48 God responds to his obedient children. 00:13:37.48\00:13:41.08 Have you ever felt that God didn't hear your prayers? 00:13:41.08\00:13:44.59 Ask yourself this. 00:13:44.59\00:13:46.49 Are you praying with reverent submission 00:13:46.49\00:13:49.62 willing to do what God wants? 00:13:49.62\00:13:52.59 Hebrews 10:36 counsels us that we have need of endurance 00:13:52.59\00:13:58.77 so that after we have done the will of God, 00:13:58.77\00:14:01.37 we may receive the promise. 00:14:01.37\00:14:04.04 Clearly, that scripture teaches us that we must obey, 00:14:04.04\00:14:10.28 as a condition to receiving the "yes" answer to our prayers. 00:14:10.28\00:14:14.48 Obedience is not a negative word. 00:14:14.48\00:14:17.99 It is not doom and gloom. 00:14:17.99\00:14:20.39 It is joy because we are doing what is best for us 00:14:20.39\00:14:25.06 and God will give us the greatest reward. 00:14:25.06\00:14:29.10 Obedience is the pathway to God's blessings. 00:14:29.10\00:14:33.94 Now number two, the second condition 00:14:33.94\00:14:36.47 is to "Abide in Christ, with his word abiding in us." 00:14:36.47\00:14:42.88 To abide means to dwell in. 00:14:42.88\00:14:47.12 And when we are in Christ, 00:14:47.12\00:14:49.38 the Bible says we live and move and have our being in Him. 00:14:49.38\00:14:53.69 We must remain faithful to abide in him. 00:14:53.69\00:14:56.83 To have the word abide in you 00:14:56.83\00:14:58.46 means it needs to be in your heart, not just in your head. 00:14:58.46\00:15:02.93 Bible study is the first step 00:15:02.93\00:15:04.63 but putting the word into practice is the second step. 00:15:04.63\00:15:08.87 Notice the condition in the promise of John 15:7 00:15:08.87\00:15:13.17 when Jesus said, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, 00:15:13.17\00:15:20.02 then" and here's the promise, 00:15:20.02\00:15:23.22 "you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you." 00:15:23.22\00:15:28.76 So now the third condition for oh, answered prayer 00:15:28.76\00:15:34.86 is that we ask according to God's will. 00:15:34.86\00:15:39.43 How do we know the will of God? 00:15:39.43\00:15:41.90 It is revealed in the Bible. 00:15:41.90\00:15:44.51 We cannot make a prayer request 00:15:44.51\00:15:46.51 that is in any manner opposed to God's principles or His word 00:15:46.51\00:15:51.31 and expect an answer to our prayer. 00:15:51.31\00:15:53.82 Well, we'll get an answer 00:15:53.82\00:15:55.45 but that answer will be a resounding no. 00:15:55.45\00:15:58.85 James 4:3 says, "You ask and you do not receive 00:15:58.85\00:16:03.46 because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." 00:16:03.46\00:16:09.26 But 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "Now this is the confidence 00:16:09.26\00:16:15.17 that we have in Him, that if we ask anything 00:16:15.17\00:16:18.74 according to His will, He hears us. 00:16:18.74\00:16:22.21 And we know that if He hears us, whatever we ask, 00:16:22.21\00:16:26.18 we know that we have the petitions 00:16:26.18\00:16:28.78 that we have asked of Him." 00:16:28.78\00:16:31.42 You see, when we ask according to God's will, 00:16:31.42\00:16:34.32 we can have communication confidence, 00:16:34.32\00:16:38.03 the absolute assurance 00:16:38.03\00:16:40.20 that he listens and answers our petitions. 00:16:40.20\00:16:44.03 When our prayers align with His will, 00:16:44.03\00:16:47.44 we know He hears and grants our request. 00:16:47.44\00:16:51.37 We don't always know what God's will is for a situation. 00:16:51.37\00:16:56.14 That's why we depend upon the intercession 00:16:56.14\00:16:58.55 of the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ 00:16:58.55\00:17:02.48 to guide our prayers. 00:17:02.48\00:17:05.79 We will get an answer. 00:17:05.79\00:17:07.59 The answer may not always be what we expect, 00:17:07.59\00:17:10.79 but it will prove to be better in the long run 00:17:10.79\00:17:13.60 than anything we could have imagined. 00:17:13.60\00:17:16.90 Now the fourth condition is to ask in submission to God's will. 00:17:16.90\00:17:23.30 You know, Jesus sets the example of this in Luke 22:42 00:17:23.30\00:17:28.88 where he said, "Father not my will, but yours be done." 00:17:28.88\00:17:33.62 He was praying that the Lord would take the cup from Him, 00:17:33.62\00:17:37.39 but nevertheless, His prayer was "Lord, your will be done." 00:17:37.39\00:17:42.79 Christ's total focus on earth was to do his Father's will. 00:17:42.79\00:17:48.20 Yet, He faced a very real personal struggle 00:17:48.20\00:17:51.67 as he considered the cruel horror of the crucifixion. 00:17:51.67\00:17:56.64 The shame and the agony he would endure, 00:17:56.64\00:17:59.94 and the thought of being separated from His father, 00:17:59.94\00:18:03.04 which just overwhelmed Him. 00:18:03.04\00:18:05.18 He demonstrates in Luke 22:42 that it is never wrong 00:18:05.18\00:18:09.58 to express our true feelings in prayer. 00:18:09.58\00:18:12.25 God knows our thoughts anyway. 00:18:12.25\00:18:14.49 Our struggle will only be resolved 00:18:14.49\00:18:18.03 when we, like Christ, are willing to do God's will. 00:18:18.03\00:18:22.76 The outcome of God's will is always, 00:18:22.76\00:18:25.87 always finally the best outcome possible, 00:18:25.87\00:18:29.64 so we should not dread it. 00:18:29.64\00:18:31.94 We may not always understand it. 00:18:31.94\00:18:33.88 But there's nothing to fear when God is in control. 00:18:33.88\00:18:38.21 Now the fifth condition is to ask in the name of Christ. 00:18:38.21\00:18:44.35 Before Christ, the people approached God through a priest. 00:18:44.35\00:18:49.26 Now we have a new relationship if we are in Christ. 00:18:49.26\00:18:52.69 We are God's children. 00:18:52.69\00:18:54.56 And we're made a kingdom of priests, the Bible says. 00:18:54.56\00:18:57.93 Christ is our mediator. 00:18:57.93\00:18:59.53 And when we are in Christ, we are praying through him. 00:18:59.53\00:19:03.54 And we need no other mediator between us and God. 00:19:03.54\00:19:07.34 In 1 Timothy 2:5, the Bible says that there's only one God 00:19:07.34\00:19:12.75 and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 00:19:12.75\00:19:18.05 And Christ makes this glorious promise in John 16:23-24 saying, 00:19:18.05\00:19:25.69 "And in that day you will ask me nothing. 00:19:25.69\00:19:29.56 Most assuredly I say to you, 00:19:29.56\00:19:32.03 whatever you ask the Father in my Father's name or in My name, 00:19:32.03\00:19:37.51 He will give you. 00:19:37.51\00:19:38.94 Until now you have asked nothing in My name, 00:19:38.94\00:19:42.24 ask and you will receive that your joy may be full." 00:19:42.24\00:19:48.58 Now the sixth condition is to bear fruit consistent 00:19:48.58\00:19:53.22 with the profession of your faith. 00:19:53.22\00:19:56.36 Jesus told his disciples in John 15:16. 00:19:56.36\00:20:00.53 He said, "You did not choose me but I chose you 00:20:00.53\00:20:04.70 and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. 00:20:04.70\00:20:07.87 And that your fruit should remain 00:20:07.87\00:20:09.47 that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you." 00:20:09.47\00:20:14.51 Now this verse particularly applies 00:20:14.51\00:20:17.58 to those who are called to ministry, 00:20:17.58\00:20:19.71 to those who are appointed to service in ministry. 00:20:19.71\00:20:23.65 Jesus is saying, if they continue to grow in maturity 00:20:23.65\00:20:27.99 and productive ministry, 00:20:27.99\00:20:30.16 they would obtain the answers to their prayers 00:20:30.16\00:20:33.19 for more fruitful ministry. 00:20:33.19\00:20:35.56 Now the Scripture can, in principle, 00:20:35.56\00:20:37.77 be applied to all Christians. 00:20:37.77\00:20:40.57 He chose us first by dying for us, 00:20:40.57\00:20:44.91 long before we chose Him. 00:20:44.91\00:20:47.14 And He appointed us to be His witnesses. 00:20:47.14\00:20:51.71 We should bear the fruits of repentance 00:20:51.71\00:20:54.98 and the fruit of the spirit. 00:20:54.98\00:20:57.55 Our actions should agree 00:20:57.55\00:20:59.42 with our profession of faith in Christ. 00:20:59.42\00:21:03.09 Now as we come down to number seven, 00:21:03.09\00:21:06.70 this is the seventh reason 00:21:06.70\00:21:10.03 or step to developing victorious faith. 00:21:10.03\00:21:13.97 And this is the most important condition 00:21:13.97\00:21:17.97 if we want answered prayer. 00:21:17.97\00:21:21.08 And that is number seven, 00:21:21.08\00:21:23.81 "Employ the faith factor and ask believing." 00:21:23.81\00:21:29.12 Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, 00:21:29.12\00:21:35.36 "Whatever things you ask in prayer 00:21:35.36\00:21:38.53 believing, you will receive." 00:21:38.53\00:21:41.63 We must believe to receive. 00:21:41.63\00:21:44.23 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:21:44.23\00:21:47.97 But we must have a solid foundation for our believing. 00:21:47.97\00:21:53.78 Our basis for believing is the word of God. 00:21:53.78\00:21:57.88 When we know what the Bible says, 00:21:57.88\00:22:00.38 we can pray according to His word 00:22:00.38\00:22:03.65 and our prayer request will be in harmony with His will. 00:22:03.65\00:22:08.39 The Bible is filled with God's promises to you. 00:22:08.39\00:22:12.83 Even his commandments or promises 00:22:12.83\00:22:16.00 of what He will accomplish in your life. 00:22:16.00\00:22:19.30 To pray believing, you must know what the Bible says. 00:22:19.30\00:22:23.84 Let me sum it up this way, little Word equals little faith, 00:22:23.84\00:22:29.88 and little faith equals little prayer. 00:22:29.88\00:22:32.95 Prayer is the vehicle but faith is the fuel 00:22:32.95\00:22:37.59 and it requires both to reach our desired destination. 00:22:37.59\00:22:42.99 Faith comes by hearing the word of God, and faith fuels prayer. 00:22:42.99\00:22:49.26 When we believe and trust God, we are stirred to pray, 00:22:49.26\00:22:54.67 and persevering prayer is the greatest evidence of faith. 00:22:54.67\00:22:59.54 So little word equals little faith, 00:22:59.54\00:23:02.78 little faith equals little prayer. 00:23:02.78\00:23:05.21 The Apostle James tells us 00:23:05.21\00:23:07.45 that we do not have because we do not ask. 00:23:07.45\00:23:10.82 Then in James 1:6-8 he says, 00:23:10.82\00:23:14.12 "That we must ask in faith with no doubting. 00:23:14.12\00:23:18.76 For he says, that the one who doubts, 00:23:18.76\00:23:21.46 is like a wave of the sea 00:23:21.46\00:23:23.67 that is driven and tossed by the wind." 00:23:23.67\00:23:26.87 And James warns us there that if we do not ask in faith, 00:23:26.87\00:23:32.14 we're being double-minded. 00:23:32.14\00:23:34.28 And any double-minded person, he said, should not suppose 00:23:34.28\00:23:38.38 that they will receive anything from the Lord. 00:23:38.38\00:23:41.95 Conditions for answered prayer, there are seven of them. 00:23:43.95\00:23:48.59 And I want to put them up 00:23:48.59\00:23:49.99 and give you just a little bit of time to write these down. 00:23:49.99\00:23:54.56 Number one, 00:23:54.56\00:23:56.40 "We must walk in obedience, keeping his commandments." 00:23:56.40\00:24:02.67 Number two, 00:24:02.67\00:24:05.01 "We must abide in Christ, with His word abiding in us." 00:24:05.01\00:24:11.05 Number three, 00:24:11.05\00:24:12.81 "We must ask according to God's will." 00:24:12.81\00:24:17.49 Number four, 00:24:17.49\00:24:19.65 "We must ask in submission to God's will." 00:24:19.65\00:24:23.29 And number five, 00:24:23.29\00:24:25.23 "We must ask in the name of Christ." 00:24:25.23\00:24:28.53 Number six, 00:24:28.53\00:24:30.63 "Bear fruit consistent with repentance." 00:24:30.63\00:24:35.10 And number seven, 00:24:35.10\00:24:37.21 "Employ the faith factor and ask believing." 00:24:37.21\00:24:41.61 In our journey to understand grace, 00:24:45.15\00:24:48.92 we have considered that God's love is the compelling force 00:24:48.92\00:24:53.56 behind the visitation and the triumph of grace. 00:24:53.56\00:24:58.73 So the more we appreciate God's love, the more we are inclined 00:24:58.73\00:25:05.03 to share intimacy in relationship with Him. 00:25:05.03\00:25:10.77 Communication will be as natural as a child with the parent, 00:25:10.77\00:25:16.11 and the way we communicate with God is through our prayer. 00:25:16.11\00:25:19.95 So through our faith in Christ, we gain boldness 00:25:19.95\00:25:25.52 and we come boldly before our heavenly Father with confidence. 00:25:25.52\00:25:31.46 And as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. 00:25:31.46\00:25:35.80 That's his promise. 00:25:35.80\00:25:37.73 You know, someone has said that "Grace writes the check, 00:25:37.73\00:25:42.67 Faith takes it to the bank." 00:25:42.67\00:25:46.07 The prayer of faith secures God's promise. 00:25:46.07\00:25:50.21 The immeasurable riches and power of God's grace 00:25:50.21\00:25:55.22 are poured out from on high through His heavenly pipeline. 00:25:55.22\00:25:59.49 Faith is the faucet that allows us to access this grace. 00:25:59.49\00:26:04.46 And I want to say one thing, just a moment, 00:26:04.46\00:26:06.96 if you imagine this grace pipeline, 00:26:06.96\00:26:10.43 there are different areas of faith. 00:26:10.43\00:26:13.60 We may have that faith faucet, 00:26:13.60\00:26:15.40 we need to tap into the area for God's provision 00:26:15.40\00:26:19.17 to understand tithing 00:26:19.17\00:26:21.74 and returning a tenth of what God gives us to Him. 00:26:21.74\00:26:26.75 That's one area that we may tap into by faith. 00:26:26.75\00:26:30.82 We need to tap into by faith 00:26:30.82\00:26:33.19 where God has told us that he will cut us free 00:26:33.19\00:26:36.99 from the cord of the wicked that binds us. 00:26:36.99\00:26:39.86 We know we have to tap into that by faith. 00:26:39.86\00:26:43.33 We tap in by faith for justification, 00:26:43.33\00:26:47.07 we tap in by faith for sanctification, 00:26:47.07\00:26:50.81 we tap in by faith claiming God's promises for our children. 00:26:50.81\00:26:56.91 For all of these things, 00:26:56.91\00:26:59.11 we have to remember that as we tap in by faith, 00:26:59.11\00:27:03.65 it is the prayer of faith and that is the handle 00:27:03.65\00:27:08.59 that opens the faith faucet. 00:27:08.59\00:27:11.93 And as we develop victorious faith, 00:27:11.93\00:27:15.36 we will tap into God's grace pipeline. 00:27:15.36\00:27:19.73 We will turn the prayer handle 00:27:19.73\00:27:22.30 and we will witness the gushing flow of His Grace. 00:27:22.30\00:27:27.38 Well, I can't believe how fast our time goes 00:27:27.38\00:27:30.11 but please join us next time, 00:27:30.11\00:27:33.31 where we will see the importance of guarding grace in our lives. 00:27:33.31\00:27:38.92 I don't think that there is 00:27:38.92\00:27:41.82 any more important lesson that we could learn, 00:27:41.82\00:27:45.89 except for how to guard grace. 00:27:45.89\00:27:49.46 So until then, we pray that you will grow in the grace 00:27:49.46\00:27:53.87 and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:27:53.87\00:27:57.04 To Him be all the glory, amen. 00:27:57.04\00:28:00.04