Answered Prayer: Our Assurance

We have the authority to approach Holy God because of our relationship to JC; inherited sons/daughters of the living God.

What does it mean to pray in JC's name?

1. Association-When we come to God in JC's name, this means we're coming to Him based on our association with JC. Our association is based on our recognition of our sinfullness; our separation from God; our asking JC to forgive us of our sins based on what He did at Calvary; we're forgiven of our sins; we are reconciled unto Him; He adopts us into His family, having forgiven us of our sins; we are children of God; we are joint heirs with JC; He's our Savior, our LORD, and our Master.

John 15:4--Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Our relationship with God is based on our relationship with His Son, JC.

2. Access-we recognize that JC is our access to the Father

Ephesians 2:18--He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

JC came to this world, dies on the cross as a substitute, took upon Him our sins, and gave us His righteousness. We are clothed in His holiness, which allows us to approach God's throne.

Ephesians 3:11--11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Hebrews 4:13--Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Only those who are under the blood of JC can approach the throne of God. Our access to God the Father to answer prayer is through His Son, JC. This is because of His work on the cross, justifying our sins and reconciling us to God and His righteousness that is inside us. This allows us to face Holy God, Him to hear us, and Him to answer our prayer.

3. Authority-because of our familial relationship with God, we can approach Him in boldness and confidence. We don't deserve this but God loves us some much He's granted us the privilege to come before Him and call Him "Father."

4. Agreement with His will-to pray in JC's name is to ask God to give you whatever JC would've asked of the Father on your behalf. God will carry our His will in your life even if you don't know His will. He will guide your life because you are obedient to Him.

God reveals His will for us through His word. This is God primary way of directing us. God sent us HS to guide us.

5. Awareness of our dependence upon Him-approach Him in humility. He wants us to come to Him in submission.

6. Assurance that He will grant our petition

A Pattern of Powerful Prayer

How do you answer the question, "How can I pray for you?" Often times we want to pray for someone but we don't know what to pray for them. So, we wind up praying general prayers.

Colossians 1:9--For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.

This prayer is a powerful prayer. It has within it, the energy, strength, and authority of God. This based on our relationship with God. it's based on truth. We have the confidence that God will answer this prayer.

1. Knowledge of His will: Knowledge means more than just an idea. it means a fullness of the understanding of the will of God. This is not factual knowledge but experiential knowledge.

2. Walk worthy of the Lord: walking in a fashion that is in keeping with who we are.

3. Bearing fruit in every good work: this is a request for a wise investment for their life. Busy-ness is not good work and all works are not good works.

4. Increase in the knowledge of God: growing in the Lord. This is not just head knowledge. This is an experiential growth in the knowledge of God. As you increase in the knowledge of God, you will experience a new freshness, rejuvenation, energy, excitement about your life. The more you learn about the Lord, the more excited you get about praying. Sometimes pain is God's mechanism to bring you into an understanding of Him.

5. Strengthen with all power according to His might: we could not know who God is without the HS. Don't trust in your own strength. Be humbled and learn to trust in God. Don't do things in your own strength.

6. Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints.

God will answer this prayer. If we make any petition according to his will, he hears us. If we trust God with prayer, He will make a difference in someone's life.

When Facing Challenges

II Chronicles 20

When facing challenges, we pray. We should have afoundation on twhich to base that prayer.

1. God is interesated in what I'm facing. He's interested in every challenge I face in my life.

20:2--Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD , and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

2. God is greater than our challenge.

20:6--"O LORD , God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

Jehoshaphat knew that God was interested in his challenge, God knew his challenge, and God was greater than the challenge.

3. Seek the LORD in prayer.

20:3--Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD , and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

God is the God if heaven. He is the Lord over all nations. The smartest, wisest thing to do is to lie before God in prayer. In our prayers, we should include the attributes of God in them. This will add power to our petition. Fix our eyes on God.

Jehoshaphat included others in his prayer. He humbled himself and told his people, "I can't do it." It is a sign of wisdom, not weakness, to say you can't do it and include others in your prayer. There's strength, power, boldness in that.

God will give you a solution to whatever you're dealing with. Don't shout-out someone through whom God will send that solution.

20:14--Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

Focus your prayers on the attributes of God and your prayers will have more power because they will. What God requires of us will be simply but it will always require faith. God works on our behalf on the basis of our faith in order to increase our faith.

20:20--Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD , for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

God was sending a message: Jehovah God, the God of Israel, is the only true God. Israel didn't even draw a sward. God defeated 3 armies on their behalf. Trust Him and He will bless you, no matter what.