The Threshing Floor

Prayer

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

There are hundreds of books and probably thousands of tapes telling us how to pray. Prayer can be defined in many different ways and you can find teaching on intercession, petition, praise, worship, repentance and others. If you are of an analytical turn of mind you can take the time to study the various forms as set forth by many teachers.

As far as God is concerned we need only come to Him in open trust and love speaking our hearts to Him. He not only knows what we need long before we do, but has already placed the answer in our path. He knew us from the foundation of the world and long ago knew every need and circumstance of our lives. Nothing can ever surprise Him. Nothing!!

If we will just remember Who this is with Whom we have to do, our prayers will not only change but be far more "effectual". When our hearts are full of loving confidence in the One Who is our Life, prayer becomes at once a loving conversation of thanksgiving, worship and praise. Anything less, is mere doubt and fear and an insult to the One Who "loved us and gave Himself for us".

This study is a brief outline of the subject of prayer and introduces the believer to the solid, simple reality of conversation with our God.

PRAYER BASICS

Luke 11:9, 10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Psa 100:3-5 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

"In My Name"

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:26, 27 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mark 16:17, 18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

John 14:13, 14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

From Faith

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

The constant, eternal will of God for those who have been accepted in the Beloved is only good!

Mark 11:22-26 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 12:28-32 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How can it please the Father for His children to disregard the plain Truth of our salvation and doubt His loving, eternal goodness? Salvation is the greatest and most difficult miracle possible! If we have believed for Salvation, how much easier should it be to receive healing and deliverance?

Heb 12:2, 3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Jesus initiated and fully finished our faith. We now believe with the faith of the Son of God, His own perfected fully effectual faith.

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Jude 1:20, 21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Faith receives

For Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Mat 21:21, 22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Authority

Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:20, 21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

When Jesus prays the Father hears and the answer is "yes". Jesus has prayed not only for the original disciples and apostles, but for all of us who have believed because of their testimony. His prayer gives us the authority to resist evil and become one in Christ. It is our part to believe and walk in the promise.

Eph 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Always, we are exhorted to stay the course, keep the faith, stand fast in the faith, be strong. Now, having done all to be able to stand, we are to stand in patient power waiting until we see the visible manifestation of God's promises. Diligence is not pestering God, it is resisting the devil and believing God no matter how long it takes, or what lying wonder may manifest to test our trust in our Heavenly Father.

PRAY THE WORD

How more perfectly can anyone pray than to pray the very promises of God? Whether we quote them or paraphrase them in our own language, when we speak them the very creation strains to obey. Because we are children of the Most High God, when we speak His words with full assurance of faith it is as if He is speaking them. Therefore it is essential that we speak them only when and how the Holy Spirit puts them in our mouths.

Rom 8:26, 27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: 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 hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Cor 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

The written words of God are certain, they are His will for us…His promises to us. When we pray "in the Spirit" whether in tongues or our native language it is as we speak HIS words of promise and provision that all creation is called to attention to yield to Him.

Rom 3:25, 26 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 4:16, 17 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

We must be ever ready to speak with confidence the promises of God to His children. No matter what circumstances seem to scream at us, His words prevail…always! The sin adulterated mind of the flesh reels at this! This seems to contradict every principle of our experience. Until we are willing to turn away from our carnal opinions to the "Truth that is in Christ Jesus" we will continue to yield to the weak and pathetic things of this world that keep us sick, depressed and bound.

Rom 4:19-21 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Abraham knew the truth, when God says something He will bring it to pass. Abraham had no evidence of God's promise of a son. He had only the experience of a continuing aging process that went on unabated and apparently would continue to death. But, Abraham knew God! God was not a man that He should lie! God had promised and made covenant with Abraham. Abraham knew, not hoped, knew, that somehow, some time, some way, God would make good on His promise.

Rom 5:1, 2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 10:6-11 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

We have no need to know when or how our God will bring about the answers to our prayers. We only need to know, really KNOW that He will!

1 John 5:14, 15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

How much more clearly can He say it?

Prayer for the saints

Phil 1:9, 11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Col 1:9-13 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Th 5:23-25 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us.

2 Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

We must pray

1 Tim 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

James 5:13-15 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

EFFECTIVE FERVENT PRAYER

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.

Effectual: 1754. energeo, en-erg-eh'-o; from G1756; to be active, efficient:--do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).

Luke 18:6-8 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Luke 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; … Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Luke 11:11, 12 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

These parables are often mistaught because they are read with the sin adulterated mind of the flesh. What the Lord is saying here is that even an uncaring friend or an unrighteous judge will give in to pressure; how much more will our righteous, loving Heavenly Father readily and gladly give us whatever we ask that is according to His will? Mere humanity, being evil knows how to give good and appropriate gifts, how much more the living God? This is not about bothering God until He finally gives in to our badgering!

1 Th 5:16-21 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2 Th 1:11, 12 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Our walk before the Lord must be in honesty and with all our heart.

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 10:22, 23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

James 1:3, 4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1 Pet 1:7, 9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Pet 5:8, 9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Our walk of faith is a walk of determined, diligent effort and constant vigilance. We stand in the face of doubt and unbelief to calmly and deliberately speak the promises of God. In effectual, unbreakable confidence we move surely and inexorably through the challenges of the enemy. We go from glory to glory, from victory to victory from faith to faith. We constantly rejoice in the certain knowledge and comfort of our "ever present help in time of need".

PRAYING AMISS

Below are some egregious errors made by untaught persons when they go before the Throne of Grace. Take heed not to be guilty of such affronts to the Glorious Majesty.

Luke 18:6-8 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

It is a terrible sin to assume our loving Heavenly Father gave His only begotten Son to die for us and now waits while we grovel at His feet before answering our meager prayers. The idea we must "be persistent" in prayer until God somehow decides we are serious or that we have "prayed through" enough is near to blasphemy! We are accusing Him of disregarding His own promises to us. We are saying that the Just and Most Holy God is no better than an unjust human judge!!!

Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Coming to God to spew our unbelief in His glorious Presence is horrible. Many come to whine and complain and list all their supposed problems. They come begging God to heal or help them as if He doesn't care or hasn't already provided for them. In short, they come to Him in doubt and unbelief! Apparently they have not read His word where it clearly states that He has already provided "everything that pertains to life and Godliness through the acknowledging of Him". If you go before the Throne of Grace go with the certain knowledge it is already provided not in unbelief!

Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

These passages speak for themselves, self righteousness reeks of hypocrisy and judges a brother.

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Whatever we do in loving obedience to God is the least we should do…there are no rewards for merely doing what we should anyway. Only what the Holy Spirit can do through us is of any value whatsoever!! Do not be caught in the trap of self righteousness and mere religion when you can walk humbly in the glory of true relationship.

IMPROVING ONES PRAYER LIFE

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Gal 4:4-7 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

In our flesh dwells NO good thing! Anything worthy of any commendation is always and only of Jesus Christ! If we would be more effectual in prayer, let us draw ever nearer to Him Who is our life! This is NOT about us! This is about Jesus, Who HE is and what only He HAS done! Let us determine to trust Him in all things and follow Him in every moment of life. Let us come into the Presence of Almighty God only in full faith and open and pure conscience. Let us BE in Christ!

MAKE IT BETTER , STRONGER

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Strength comes from use, exercise. We must build on our most holy faith and constantly abide in His Presence in loving conversation.

Luke 7:6-9 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Rom 1:16, 17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1 Cor 2:-105 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

The more we come to know, really know, the Lord, the better we can trust Him. The better we can trust Him, the more we can believe His words to us. The more we believe His words to us, the more fervent and effectual we become in prayer. It is simply relationship, pure, devoted intimacy with the Lover of our souls expressed in any way we can. Prayer can be speech, song, dance or that deep groaning of the Spirit which can not be uttered. However we do it, it must always and only come from our very spirit in purity and sincerity and faith.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes as we read or hear the word of God when the Holy Spirit is revealing its meaning to us. Hearing is of the Spirit….not the mind of the flesh. Approach the word of God with reverence and joy…it is the repository of the knowledge of the Holy.

tfm@threshingfloor.org

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