Characteristics of Acceptable Prayer

1
CharacteristicsofAcceptable Prayer

• Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in
  it with thanksgiving
• Colossians 42

2
Acceptable Prayer

• Offered in Faith
• Matthew 2121-22 Hebrews 116

3
Matthew 2121-22

• So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I
  say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt,
  you will not only do what was done to the fig
  tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be
  removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be
  done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer,
  believing, you will receive."

4
Hebrews 116

• But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
  for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
  and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently
  seek Him.

5
Acceptable Prayer

• Offered in Faith
• Matthew 2121-22 Hebrews 116
• Offered in Harmony with Gods Will
• 1 John 514 Luke 2240-42 ( cf., James 43)

6
1 John 514

• Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
  that if we ask anything according to His will, He
  hears us.

7
Luke 2240-42

• When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray
  that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And
  He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw,
  and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father,
  if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me
  nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

8
James 43

• You ask and do not receive, because you ask
  amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
• Too often, rather than expressing our desire that
  Gods will be done. We express our own desires
  in prayer. (Selfishness)

9
Acceptable Prayer

• Offered in Faith
• Matthew 2121-22 Hebrews 116
• Offered in Harmony with Gods Will
• 1 John 514 Luke 2240-42 ( cf., James 43)
• Offered by the Righteous
• 1 Peter 312 James 516-18 (cf., Isaiah 591-2)

10
1 Peter 312

• For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
  And His ears are open to their prayers But the
  face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

11
James 516-18

• Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray
  for one another, that you may be healed. The
  effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
  avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature
  like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would
  not rain and it did not rain on the land for
  three years and six months. 18 And he prayed
  again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth
  produced its fruit.

12
Isaiah 591-2

• Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it
  cannot save Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot
  hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you
  from your God And your sins have hidden His face
  from you, So that He will not hear.

13
Acceptable Prayer

• Offered in Faith
• Matthew 2121-22 Hebrews 116
• Offered in Harmony with Gods Will
• 1 John 514 Luke 2240-42 ( cf., James 43)
• Offered by the Righteous
• 1 Peter 312 James 516-18 (cf., Isaiah 591-2)
• Offered with Persistence
• Luke 181-8 (Read) Acts 242

14
Acts 242

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread, and in prayers.

15
Acceptable Prayer

• Offered in Faith
• Matthew 2121-22 Hebrews 116
• Offered in Harmony with Gods Will
• 1 John 514 Luke 2240-42 ( cf., James 43)
• Offered by the Righteous
• 1 Peter 312 James 516-18 (cf., Isaiah 591-2)
• Offered with Persistence
• Luke 181-8 (Read) Acts 242
• Offered in the Name of Jesus
• Ephesians 520 Hebrews 724-25

16
Ephesians 520

• Giving thanks always for all things to God the
  Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• (Singing and Prayer in the Spirit)
• To the Father
• In the name of the Son
• Note Proper use of term Lord

17
Lord Savior, Jesus Christ

• 2 Peter 111, into the everlasting kingdom of
  our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 220, For if, after they have escaped
  the pollutions of the world through the
  know-ledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
  
• 2 Peter 32, the apostles of the Lord and
  Savior
• 2 Peter 318, but grow in the grace and
  knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

18
Hebrews 724-25

• But He, because He continues forever, has an
  unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also
  able to save to the uttermost those who come to
  God through Him, since He always lives to make
  intercession for them.

19
Conclusion

• The ability to pray to God and receive answers in
  our lives is truly one of the greatest blessings
  we can have as the children of God.
• May all our prayers be acceptable to Him!