Still on the last topic, ‘Our Prayer answering God’, we would like to look at the following factors regarding prayers.
1. Who should pray and who should be prayed for?
2. How to pray
3. When to pray
4. Types of prayer
5. Factors for effectual and fervent prayers
6. Barriers or hindrances to prayers
7. The major prerequisite of Prayer
8. The effects of prayers
1. WHO SHOULD PRAY AND WHO SHOULD BE PRAYED FOR?
1Timothy 2 verses1-2, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men”
“for kings and all who are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence”.
Bro Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit admonished Timothy and the church at large to pray for all men. He further explained that specific prayers be made for kings and those in authority in order to lead a quiet and peaceable life.
Almighty God expects every human being created by Him to pray for themselves and for others.
2. HOW TO PRAY
We are admonished in the bible to come boldly before His Throne just as we are. He knows our frailty. He is ever willing to forgive us when we genuinely seek His Face.
We must acknowledge our sins, confess them before Him, repent, believe that He has forgiven us and receive Jesus as Our Lord and Personal Saviour.
It is very important to have faith in our prayers. All we need is a little mustard seed faith.
(Remember, if God cannot help you, nobody else can!)
Failure to do all these, makes our prayer an abomination to God because anything done outside faith is sin and the prayer of a sinner is an abomination unto God.
3. WHEN TO PRAY
We must pray at all times (in good time and bad time), in the morning, at noon, night or at the midnight hour), anytime , at home, at work, at play, in school, at events, in churches, everywhere.
Jesus showed us the example of praying without ceasing when He prayed till He drew His last breath on the cross. (Thank God, the grave could not hold His Body down).
We must pray and fast when we see a lot of chaos and break down of law and order going on in our nation and in the world. When the land no longer yields its increase because it is filled with blood.
When righteousness is no longer upheld in our nation and in the world in general, it is time to pray!
When we experience personal challenges, difficulties and face spiritual battles, it is also time to pray.
4. TYPES OF PRAYER
i. The prayer of Thanksgiving
This is when in spite of life’s difficulties, we are able to thank God in our prayers for the good things, He has done, He is doing and He is yet to do for us.
(We ought to be forever grateful for the gift of life)
ii. The prayer of Supplication
This is when we earnestly, humbly ask God for something.
iii. The prayer of Intercession
This is praying to God on behalf of others. It could be on behalf of family, friends, nation or the world etc
iv. The prayer of Agreement
This is praying to God with one person or more people who share the same opinion or feeling as you regarding the prayer point. The power of unity is what brings about quick Divine Intervention.
v. The prayer of Petition
This is humbly appealing to God in a solemn way, acknowledging His Supremacy and reminding Him of His promises concerning any issue. It is a formal request to God in prayer.
vi. The prayer of Commitment
This is a prayer of dedication to God. When a child of God has truly surrendered to God and is fully yielded to His ways alone. No compromise at all is entertained.
5. FACTORS FOR EFFECTUAL AND FERVENT PRAYER
i. Salvation
ii Righteousness
iii. Faith
iv. Truth
v. Gospel of peace
vi. The Sword of The Spirit – The word of God
vii. Praises and thanksgiving
viii. Forgiveness
ix. Fasting
x. Obedience
xi. Consistency in prayers
6. BARRIERS OR HINDRANCES TO PRAYERS
i. Prayerlessness
ii. Unresolved conflicts
iii. Unforgiveness
iv. Selfishness
v. Unconfessed sins
vi. Misguided request
vii. Unbelief or Doubt
viii. Worry
7. THE MAJOR PREREQUISITE TO PRAYER IS ‘FAITH’.
8. THE EFFECTS OF PRAYERS
i. A quiet and peaceable life
ii. Salvation
iii. Love
iv. Victory
v. Miracles and healings
vi. Good success
vii. Blessings and prosperity
viii. Joy
ix. Deliverance
x. Testimonies
It is our most sincere prayer that as we all pray as individuals, as a nation and one people under God globally, The God of Heaven and Earth will hear us, forgive our sins and heal our land.(2Chronicles7:14)
We love you all with the love of God. Keep praying, believe in your prayers. Nothing is impossible with God!
Shalom
