The doctrine of prayer
1. There are three categories of
prayer received by God the Father:
a) Prayer from the high
priest. The royal high priest is Jesus Christ, and right now at the right hand
of the Father he offers prayer Hebrews 7:25.
b) Prayer is from God
the Holy Spirit. This is the age of the royal priesthood, the royal family. We
are members of the body of Christ, Christ is royalty, we are one with Him, we
are royalty spiritually. Therefore God the Holy Spirit does something in this
dispensation He has never done before and will never do again, He offers prayer
on our behalf. Romans 8:26,27.
c) Prayer is always
addressed to God the Father.
2. Prayer approach for the royal
priesthood.
a) All prayer is
addressed to the Father Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 3:14; 1 Peter 1:17. b) The channel of approach is
through the high priest John 14:13,14.
c) The power of approach
is the filling of the Holy Spirit Ephesians 6:18.
3. Extrapolation of prayer promises.
Prayer is related to the faith-rest technique
Matthew 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24. Prayer promises are to give you confidence
as you approach the Father in the name of the Son in the power of the Spirit.
OT promises Psalm 116:1,2; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 33:3. NT promises Matthew
7:7,8; John 14:13,14; 15:7; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians
5:17; Hebrews 4:16.
4. There are eight basic principles
of prayer.
a) Prayer effectiveness
depends on the consistent function of GAP and resultant Bible doctrine in the
soul. John 15:7; Ephesians 3:16-19.
b) Prayer is an
extension of the faith-rest technique. It is actually a faith-rest exhale
toward God Matthew 21:22.
c) Prayer demands cognisance
of the will of God and therefore demands maximum doctrine in the soul through
GAP 1 John 5:14.
d) Generally prayer must
be offered in the spiritual status of the filling of the Spirit Ephesians
6:18. The exception is a rebound prayer for a carnal believer or a repentance
prayer for a reversionist.
d) Mental attitude sins
result from both carnality and reversionism and these destroy the effectiveness
of prayer Psalm 66:18.
e) Efficacious prayer
exists to the extent that the believer is grace oriented. Therefore the
believer begins to be effective when he begins the construction of the ECS.
f) The eternal decrees
took cognisance of all effective prayer in time.
g) Prayer effectiveness
reaches its zenith at the time of supergrace status Psalm 116:1,2.
5. The agenda for private prayer.
Confession of sin or rebound 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 11:31; Thanksgiving
Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Intercession Ephesians 6:18; Petition
Hebrews 4:16.
6. The doctrine of intercession.
a) The dynamics of
intercessory prayer is taught in passages like 1 Kings 18:42-46, the principle
being found in James 5:16-18.
b) The power of
prevailing prayer Acts 12.
c) The prayer for the
unbeliever Romans 10:1. (You cannot pray for something that will coerce their
volition, so you pray that the gospel message will be made clear to them, will
be revealed to them)
d) Prayer for an unknown
believer Colossians 1:3-11.
e) Prayer for the known
believer Ephesians 1:15-23.
g) The Lords prayer
John 17.
7. There are four categories for
petition in prayer.
Some of the ground rules for prayer
You must remember that prayer is
maximum concentration.
1. There are three categories of
prayer received by God the Father. The first category comes from the greatest
prayer warrior of all, the Lord Jesus Christ our great high priest Hebrews
7:25 describes His prayer life on our behalf. The second area is the emergency
prayer. God the Holy Spirit does all of the emergency praying Romans
8:26,27. The third category is the prayer from the believer priest, as per
Hebrews 4:16.
2. How to approach God in prayer.
All prayer must be addressed to God the Father Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 3:14; 1
Peter 1:17. The channel of approach is through our high priest, Jesus Christ
John 14:13,14. The power of approach of prayer is the filling of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18.
3. We should understand that God has
encouraged us to pray through promises. An extrapolation of prayer promises
falls into three categories: Those related to the faith-rest technique, like
Matthew 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24; or the Old Testament promises of prayer which
are somewhat different from the New, but just as valid Psalm 116:1,2; Isaiah
65:24; Jeremiah 33:3. Every legitimate prayer that ever was uttered in history
was heard in eternity past, and if it was a legitimate prayer it was included
in the plan. Then there are the New Testament promises, like Matthew 7:7,8;
John 14:13:14; 15:7; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17;
Hebrews 4:16, etc.
4. The eight principles of prayer.
a) Prayer effectiveness
increases as Bible doctrine becomes resident in the soul. It is based upon the
consistent function of GAP and the resultant doctrine in the soul. Prayer
becomes more effective as the believer puts on the full armour from God, as he
follows the colours to the high ground, as he constructs the altar of Bible
doctrine in the soul. This principle is taught in John 15:7; Ephesians 3:16-19.
b) Prayer is an
extension of the faith-rest technique. It is a soul exhale toward God Matthew
21:22. The function of the faith-rest technique demands for its fuel the intake
of doctrine on a daily basis.
c) Prayer demands cognisance
of the will of God and therefore demands maximum doctrine in the soul 1 John
5:14.
d) Generally prayer must
be offered under the filling of the Spirit Ephesians 6:18. The exception is
the rebound prayer.
e) Mental attitude sins
resulting from both carnality and reversionism destroy any possibility of an
effective prayer life Psalm 66:18.
f) Efficacious prayer
exists to the extent that the believer is grace oriented. Therefore prayer
begins to be effective when the believer has constructed the first floor of the
ECS Hebrews 4:16.
g) The eternal decrees
took cognisance of all prayer in time and incorporated the answers before
history began. Before there was any human history all of the prayers that would
ever be uttered in human history were known to God through His omniscience, and
as a part of the divine decrees they were incorporated into history long before
history existed Jeremiah 33:3.
h) Prayer effectiveness
reaches its zenith at the time of supergrace status, and from then on if the
believer holds the high ground he will become a great prayer warrior Psalm
116:1,2.
5. Private prayer. Organisation is
one thing that is absolutely necessary in an effective prayer life. So you need
an agenda, and the Bible suggests a fourfold agenda for your private prayers.
a) Confession of sin is
the first function of private prayer 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 11:31.
b) Thanksgiving
Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Thanksgiving is grace orientation, it recognises
the source of all blessing.
c) Intercession (Praying
for others) Ephesians 6:18.
d) Petition.
6. The doctrine of intercession.
a) The dynamics of
intercessory prayer are mentioned in 1 Kings 18:42-46; James 5:16-18.
b) The power of
prevailing prayer Acts 12.
c) The prayer for the
unbeliever Romans 10:1. (That the issue be made clear, that doctrine will be
presented, that the witnessing and the evangelism will be so lucid that they
will understand the issue)
d) The prayer for the
unknown believer Colossians 1:3-11.
e) Prayer for the known
believer Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21.
f) The true Lords
prayer in John 17 the dynamics of the Lords prayer.
7. The four categories of petition
in prayer.
a) Positive-negative
(Each petition is divided into two parts, the petition which is what you
actually say; the desire, which is what you really want) in which the petition
is answered with a positive but the desire behind the petition is not answered
1 Samuel 8:5-9; 8:19,20. The Jews asked for a king so that they could be like
other nations, and God gave them a king Saul but they werent like other
nations, they had more trouble than all the others.
b) The
negative-positive, where the petition is not answered but the desire is
Genesis 17:18; 18:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. This is where God says no to
the petition but He gives you the desire behind it.
c) Positive-positive,
the ideal prayer, where the petition is answered and the desire is also
answered 1 Kings 18:36,37; Judges 16:28; Luke 23:42,43; John 11:41,42,45.
d) Negative-negative,
the worst prayer of all where neither the petition nor the desire is answered.
8. Nine reasons for
negative-negative why prayer is not answered.
a) Carnality or reversionism
or both causes failure to be filled with the Spirit. Failure to be filled with
the Spirit means failure in prayer Ephesians 6:18.
b) Mental attitude sins
caused by either carnality of reversionism hinder prayer Psalm 66:18.
c) The specific Satanic
sin of pride and resultant self-righteousness. This is not just the mental
attitude sin but what comes from it. Job 35:12,13 says this person is dead when
it comes to prayer.
d) Lust type selfishness
James 4:2-4.
e) The malfunction of
faith-rest Mark 11:24. This means negative volition, toward doctrine, one of
the maladies of reversionism.
f) A general lack of
obedience or a lack of subordination to divinely constituted authority 1 John
3:22.
g) Insubordination to
the known will of God 1 John 5:14.
h) Malfunction of
marriage. Lack of domestic tranquillity 1 Peter 3:7.
i) Reversionistic lack
of compassion and grace orientation. If you are legalistic your prayer life is
ineffective. Proverbs 21:13.
9. The principle of grace in prayer.
a) The scripture tells
us that grace is a principle in prayer Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 1:7.
b) Prayer is the
privilege of the royal priesthood, and since grace is the basis of prayer no
believer can come to God in prayer and expect to be heard on the basis of his
human merit, ability, or any other human success story.
c) In other words, every
believer approaches God on the basis of the merits of Jesus Christ. The Father
has already been propitiated with Christ and since He is no respecter of
persons as far as we are concerned He accepts and hears our prayer on the basis
of the fact that we are in Christ. In other words, God doesnt answer prayer
because Im good, because Im benevolent, because Im sincere, etc. God hears
and answers prayer on the basis of who and what Christ is
a) 1 Samuel 8:5-9,
19,20. The prayer petition was a simple one, they wanted a king. That was their
desire. The petition was answered but the desire to be like other nations was
not, they were in a jamb all the time.
b) The petition is not
answered but the desire is Genesis 17:18; 18:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:17-10.
c) The ideal one where
the petition is answered and the desire is answered 1 Kings 18:36,37; Judges
16:28; Luke 23:42,43: John 11:41,42,45.
8. Nine reasons why prayer is not
answered.
a) Carnality or reversionism,
or both, causing failure to be controlled by the Holy Spirit Ephesians 6:18.
b) Mental attitude sins
caused by either carnality or reversionism Psalm 66:18.
c) A specific Satanic
sin of pride and a resultant self-righteous state Job 35:12,13.
d) A lust type
selfishness James 4:2-4.
e) Malfunction or
failure of faith-rest Mark 11:24.
f) A general lack of
obedience or subordination to Gods will 1 John 3:22.
g) Insubordination to
the known will of God 1 John 5:14.
h) Malfunction of
marriage, lack of domestic tranquillity 1 Peter 3:7.
i) Reversionistic lack
of compassion and grace orientation Proverbs 21:13.
9. Principles of grace in prayer
Prayer
1. The approach. How do you approach?
What do you say?
a) All prayer is addressed to God
the Father, always Ephesians 3:14, 1.
b) In the name of the Son John
14:13,14.
c) In the power of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18.
2. There are three categories of
prayer that are addressed to God the Father. He receives prayer from us. He
receives prayer from the Lord Jesus. He receives prayer from the Holy Spirit.
Prayer from the source of the Son Hebrews 7:25; prayer from the source of the
Holy Spirit Romans 8:26,27; prayer from the supergrace believer Hebrews
4:16.
3. There has to be an agenda. First
of all if you think you are out of fellowship, rebound 1 John 1:9. Second
item: thanksgiving, an expression of category #1 love Ephesians 5:20; 1
Thessalonians 5:18. Then, intercession - Ephesians 6:18. Petition Hebrews
4:16.
4. Prayer is an exhale of the
faith-rest principle Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; Matthew 18:19; John 15:7.
Prayer is an exhale of faith, which is directly related to the Word of God.
5. There are eight principles of
prayer.
a) Prayer becomes more and more
effective as the believer functions consistently under GAP John 15:7.
b) Prayer is an extension of the
faith-rest exhale toward God Matthew 21:22.
c) Prayer demands cognisance of
the will of God. Cognisance of the will of God is based on the intake of Bible
doctrine. The more doctrine you know the more effective your prayer life will
become 1 John 5:14.
d) Prayer must be offered in the
status of the filling of the Spirit Ephesians 6:18. Therefore, God the Holy
Spirit is related in this matter and in all other matters of the function of
your priesthood. God the Holy Spirit indwells you, he keeps out demons. The
only way you can get any influence from the devil is through the soul, your body
is clear from demons.
e) Prayer is ineffective under any
state of carnality. Psalm 66:18 mentions the worst category of sins: mental
attitude sins.
f) Prayer in complying with the
principle of grace demands that the believer grow in grace through GAPing it
daily. Therefore prayer becomes an effective weapon in the angelic conflict
when the believer reaches supergrace Hebrews 4:16.
g) Prayer is ordained as a
function of the priesthood as a part of the divine decrees Jeremiah 33:3.
h) Prayer is directly related to
category #1 love and/or occupation with Christ, and/or recognition of the celebrityship
status of Christ Psalm 116:1,2.
6. Nine reasons why prayer isnt
answered.
a) You are not filled with the
Spirit Ephesians 6:18.
b) There is no faith-rest
function from doctrine in the soul, therefore no faith rest Matthew 21:22.
c) Mental attitude carnality
Psalm 66:18.
d) Lust type selfishness James
4:2-4.
e) Failure in the field of
authority, lack of obedience 1 John 3:22.
f) Noncompliance with the will of
God 1 John 5:14.
g) The specific mental attitude
of pride as a basic mental attitude sin and resultant self-righteousness Job
35:12,13.
i) Lack of compassion (bona fide
sensitivity).
j) Lack of domestic tranquillity
1 Peter 3:7.
7. The principle of grace in prayer
a) Prayer is the privilege and
the extension of grace function. Therefore it is impossible to approach God on
the basis of human good or human merit.
b) The believer priest approaches
God in prayer on the basis of our high priest, Jesus Christ, and His merits.
c) The Father is propitiated with the work of Christ but is
no respected of persons among believers offering prayer.
d) God does not hear my prayers
because I am fervent, moral, sincere, religious, or self-effacing.
e) God hears my prayers because of
the function of GAP, the ministry of the Son,
the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and reaching the supergrace life.
8. There are four categories of
returns on your prayer four ways in which God can answer your prayer.
a) He can give you a positive and a negative. In each one
of these categories you have a petition and a desire behind that petition. In
category #1 God says yes to the petition, no to the desire. Under this category
you wanted a million dollars and prayed for it. So God says no, or He says yes
to the petition but no to the desire behind it. 1 Samuel 8:5-9; 8:19-20 gives a
Biblical illustration. The Jews prayed for a king so they could be like other
nations. Petition: We want a king. But they lost all their blessings under the
reign of Saul.
b) Negative on the petition and
positive on the desire. You pray for a million dollars but this time you dont
get it but you get happiness. Illustration: Genesis 17:18; 18:23-33; 2
Corinthians 12:7-10.
c) Yes and yes. 1 Kings 18:36,37;
Judges 16:28; Luke 23:42,43; John 11:41-45.
d) No and no.
a) Principle Hebrews
4:16; 1 Peter 1:7.
b) Prayer is the
privilege of the royal priesthood. Since grace is the basis of prayer no
believer can come to God in prayer and expect to be heard on the basis of human
merit, human ability, human function, human ingenuity.
c) Every believer
approaches God in prayer on the basis of the merit of Jesus Christ, or the
Father is propitiated with Christ but is no respecter of persons as far as
believers are concerned.
d) In other words, God
does not hear and answer prayer because I am good, moral, benevolent, sincere
or religious.
e) God hears and answers
prayer on the basis of who and what Christ is. Every believer is in union with
Christ and gets through to the throne of grace on the basis of approach through
the high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer
1. The approach. How do you approach?
What do you say?
a) All prayer is addressed to God
the Father, always Ephesians 3:14, 1.
b) In the name of the Son John
14:13,14.
c) In the power of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18.
2. There are three categories of
prayer that are addressed to God the Father. He receives prayer from us. He
receives prayer from the Lord Jesus. He receives prayer from the Holy Spirit.
Prayer from the source of the Son Hebrews 7:25; prayer from the source of the
Holy Spirit Romans 8:26,27; prayer from the supergrace believer Hebrews
4:16.
3. There has to be an agenda. First
of all if you think you are out of fellowship, rebound 1 John 1:9. Second
item: thanksgiving, an expression of category #1 love Ephesians 5:20; 1
Thessalonians 5:18. Then, intercession - Ephesians 6:18. Petition Hebrews
4:16.
4. Prayer is an exhale of the
faith-rest principle Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; Matthew 18:19; John 15:7.
Prayer is an exhale of faith, which is directly related to the Word of God.
5. There are eight principles of
prayer.
a) Prayer becomes more and more
effective as the believer functions consistently under GAP John 15:7.
b) Prayer is an extension of the
faith-rest exhale toward God Matthew 21:22.
c) Prayer demands cognisance of
the will of God. Cognisance of the will of God is based on the intake of Bible
doctrine. The more doctrine you know the more effective your prayer life will
become 1 John 5:14.
d) Prayer must be offered in the
status of the filling of the Spirit Ephesians 6:18. Therefore, God the Holy
Spirit is related in this matter and in all other matters of the function of
your priesthood. God the Holy Spirit indwells you, he keeps out demons. The
only way you can get any influence from the devil is through the soul, your
body is clear from demons.
e) Prayer is ineffective under any
state of carnality. Psalm 66:18 mentions the worst category of sins: mental
attitude sins.
f) Prayer in complying with the
principle of grace demands that the believer grow in grace through GAPing it
daily. Therefore prayer becomes an effective weapon in the angelic conflict
when the believer reaches supergrace Hebrews 4:16.
g) Prayer is ordained as a
function of the priesthood as a part of the divine decrees Jeremiah 33:3.
h) Prayer is directly related to
category #1 love and/or occupation with Christ, and/or recognition of the celebrityship
status of Christ Psalm 116:1,2.
6. Nine reasons why prayer isnt
answered.
a) You are not filled with the
Spirit Ephesians 6:18.
b) There is no faith-rest
function from doctrine in the soul, therefore no faith rest Matthew 21:22.
c) Mental attitude carnality
Psalm 66:18.
d) Lust type selfishness James
4:2-4.
e) Failure in the field of
authority, lack of obedience 1 John 3:22.
f) Noncompliance with the will of
God 1 John 5:14.
g) The specific mental attitude
of pride as a basic mental attitude sin and resultant self-righteousness Job
35:12,13.
i) Lack of compassion (bona fide
sensitivity).
j) Lack of domestic tranquillity
1 Peter 3:7.
7. The principle of grace in prayer
a) Prayer is the privilege and
the extension of grace function. Therefore it is impossible to approach God on
the basis of human good or human merit.
b) The believer priest approaches
God in prayer on the basis of our high priest, Jesus Christ, and His merits.
c) The Father is propitiated with
the work of Christ but is no respected of persons among believers offering
prayer.
d) God does not hear my prayers
because I am fervent, moral, sincere, religious, or self-effacing.
e) God hears my prayers because of
the function of GAP, the ministry of the Son,
the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and reaching the supergrace life.
8. There are four categories of
returns on your prayer four ways in which God can answer your prayer.
a) He can give you a positive and
a negative. In each one of these categories you have a petition and a desire
behind that petition. In category #1 God says yes to the petition, no to the
desire. Under this category you wanted a million dollars and prayed for it. So
God says no, or He says yes to the petition but no to the desire behind it. 1
Samuel 8:5-9; 8:19-20 gives a Biblical illustration. The Jews prayed for a king
so they could be like other nations. Petition: We want a king. But they lost
all their blessings under the reign of Saul.
b) Negative on the petition and
positive on the desire. You pray for a million dollars but this time you dont
get it but you get happiness. Illustration: Genesis 17:18; 18:23-33; 2
Corinthians 12:7-10.
c) Yes and yes. 1 Kings 18:36,37;
Judges 16:28; Luke 23:42,43; John 11:41-45.
d) No and no.