“A Better Way 2”
Faith Filled Prayer

I. Prayer is Heartfelt, Meaningful Communication with God
Prayer is a Heartfelt Expression of Conversation with God.

James 5:16 (AMP)The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous person makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]

Many of the Models People use Today for Prayer are based on Old Testament Concepts where a Mediator stood and Begged and Pleaded for Mercy between God and People who Sinned against Him!

A. Relational/Conversational Prayer

The New Testament Provides a New and Better Way to Pray to the Father where Jesus is the Only Mediator between Us and God.

DEFINE: Relational/Conversational Prayer - is Centered around Spending Time with God Fellowshipping and Cultivating a Personal, Life-Giving Relationship with God.

1. Focused on God

God’s Presence, Love, Goodness, Faithfulness and Mercy

Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

2. Benefits of Relational / Conversational Prayer

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Relational / Conversational Prayer Creates God’s Presence and Keeps Our Mind in Peace!

A. The Power of Faith Filled Prayer

Today We are Going to Look at How to use Our Faith when We are Believing God to meet a Need.

Mark 11:11–14 (NKJV)11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

1. Prayer is a Process

Mark 11:20 (NKJV) Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

PRINCIPLE 1:God Responds Right Away to Our Prayer, but Most of the Time it Takes a While for Us to See what God has Done.

The Moment Jesus Spoke the Tree Died, but it was not Evident Until the Next Day that the Tree was Dead!

B. Faith in God

PRINCIPLE 2: Faith Filled Prayer is a Spiritual Force that can Change what is Taking Place in the Natural World that We Live In!

Mark 11:21–22(NKJV)21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

C. Faith Filled Prayer

PRINCIPLE 3:Words Release the Power of Our Faith in Prayer, He Stresses the Word “Says” Three Times in Mark 11:23.

1. Jesus Emphasizes the Power of Our Words in Prayer

Mark 11:23 (NKJV)For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

2. Faith Filled Prayer Releases God’s Miraculous Power

John 14:12–14 (NKJV) 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

PRINCIPLE 4: Miracles have not Ceased with the Apostles and the Book of Acts, Faith Filled Prayer is Powerful and Still Works Today!

3. God Created the World Through Words

Genesis 1:3 (NKJV)Then God said, “Let there be light”…
Genesis 1:9 (NKJV)9 Then God said, “Let the waters be gathered together and let the dry land appear”…
Genesis 1:11 (NKJV)Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree…
Genesis 1:20 (NKJV)Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance and let birds fly above the earth.”
Genesis 1:24 (NKJV)Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature…
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image…

PRINCIPLE 5: God used Words to Form Everything We See. Everything in the Physical Realm that was Created Responds to the Power of Words!

Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

4. The Power of Words

Proverbs 18:21 (TPT)Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences.

PRINCIPLE 6: Words are Powerful. We should not Deny what We See, but We can Release the Supernatural Power of God through Our Words to Change what We See!

5. Confess with Your Mouth, Believe in Your Heart

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)…confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart

PRINCIPLE 7:Positive Faith Filled Words Release God’s Power and Life; Fearful Doubt Filled Words Release the Destructive Power and Death.As We Believe and Speak God’s Word it Sets the Course of Our Life!