PRAYING IN FAITH (PART 2)
by Pastor Richard Tow
January 10, 2016
Text: Mark 11:22-24

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Description: In Mark 11:24 Jesus said, “…when you pray, believe that you receive….” This is a key to successful prayer. But what is needed in order for me to pray that way? This message focuses on how to exercise our faith by taking God at His word. The Holy Spirit empowers our faith by revealing to us the things God has provided in Christ.

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OUTLINE
Praying in Faith (Part 2)

Intro

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
What is required for praying in faith?

I. I need more than just my natural resources.
A. Rom. 8 distinction walking in the flesh verse walking in the Spirit
B. Cannot live carnally and make principles of the Kingdom work
II. I need to take God at His word.
A. Know what God has said in Scripture
B. Rely on what God has said in Scripture
III. I need to exercise the faith I have.
A. ASK! “You have not because you ask not….”
B. ACKNOWLEDGE God’s promises in His word
> Rom. 10:17 “…faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
> Rom. 4:18-22 (NIV) Abraham did three things:
(1) Faced the natural facts; but didn’t let that dominate his faith
(2) Was fully persuaded that God was able to fulfill His promise
(3) Kept praising God and giving Him glory through the process
C. ASSERT verbally as God has spoken it in His word.
> Rom. 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
> Greek “homologeo” = say the same thing (Thayer)
> Importance of words illustrated by Israel’s failure to enter Promise Land
D. ACT consistent with your belief in God’s promises
Faith without works is dead: James 2:18-22
IV. I need the help of the Holy Spirit
A. Rom. 8:26
B. 1 Cor. 2:9-12 “But as it is written:’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
C. Illustrated
D. We cannot make revelation happen; but we can position ourselves to receive it!