PRAY FOR IT BELIEVE IT AND RECEIVE IT

PROCLAMATION

“ ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered.  ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours.’ ”  Mark 11:22-24 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives.  Jesus sent two of His disciples into town to get Him a colt that had never been ridden. (Mark 11:1-3)  When they returned with the colt, they threw their cloaks over it and Jesus sat on it.  Some of them spread their cloaks on the ground in front of Jesus while other spread palm branches in front of Him as He rode into town.  Some went ahead of Him and shouted, “Hosanna!” (Mark 11:4-10)  When He reached Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out those who were buying and selling.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  He said, “Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?  But ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:15-17)  The next morning, as they saw the withered fig tree which He had cursed on the day before, Jesus said to His disciples, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:20-24)

APPLICATION
Jesus, The Christ, cursed a fig tree which did not produce any fruit (Mark 11:13-14) and it withered and died. (Mark 11:20-21)  If we are not going to produce any fruit for The Lord God, then what good are we to Him?  We are known by the fruit which we produce. (Matthew 7:20)  We should have faith in God.  This is not so that He would grant us our selfish desires, but that His will might be done in our lives.  If we pray for something, and believe that we will receive it, then we shall receive it; that is, if it brings glory to God.  For whatever we do, we should do it all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

GOD'S PEOPLE MUST BE A PRAYING PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“… You who call on The Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of earth.”  Isaiah 62:6-7 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah.  Some Bible scholars believe that here He was referring to prophets, pastors, and ministers.  Others believe that He was referring to all of the members of the church, especially the prayer warriors.  This group of people is encouraged to speak out, and to pray without ceasing. (Isaiah 62:6 and Luke 18:1)  They should also not let Him alone.  They should bother Him with incessant prayer as Moses did, wrestle with Him as Jacob did, (Genesis 32:24-26) and annoy Him as the widow with the unjust judge. (2 Samuel 14:1-20)  They should not let Him go without receiving a blessing.

APPLICATION

Prayer is our way of communicating with God.  We are all encouraged to pray regularly and frequently.  We are to pray about everything.  We should pray before we speak, make a decision, or take any action.  No problem or request is too big or too small to take to The Lord in prayer.  We have not received that which we want because we have not asked for it in the name of Jesus. (John 16:24)  Whatever we pray for, and believe in, we will receive if it gives God glory. (Matthew 21:22)  We should continue to pray multiple time daily until something happens.

THERE IS POWER IN CORPORATE PRAYER

Proclamation:

“Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that The Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.’  When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”  Acts 12:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that Herod had arrested some members of the church and was planning to execute them. (Acts 12:1)  He had James, the brother of John, put to death with a sword.  When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested and planned to execute him after the Passover. (Acts 12:2-4)  While Peter was in jail awaiting execution, chained between two soldiers, an angel of The Lord appeared, released him, and led him out of the prison into the city. (Acts 12:6-10)  Peter initially thought that he was seeing a vision (Acts 12:9) but when he came to himself he realized that The Lord God had saved him.  Once he was outside of the prison, he went to Mary’s house where the believers had gathered and were praying for him.  They were praying for him but did not believe that their prayers had been answered. (Acts 12:13-17)

Application:

There is power in prayer.  Jesus, The Christ, said that men ought to always pray. (Luke 18:1) Prayer changes things.  There is also power in corporate prayer.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)  Great and wonderful things happen when the people of God are gathered together in one place and are on one accord.  Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)  So, pray until something happens. 

REJOICE GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS

Proclamation:

"Praise be to The Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.  Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." Psalms 28:6-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of King David which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After lamenting about his situation, David prayed for deliverance, then offered praise and thanks to God, even though his situation had yet to change.  David knew that God would hear him, strengthen him, protect him, help him, save him, and bless him, so he was joyful and thankful before anything happened.

Application:

After we pray, we should have faith, believe and behave as if our prayers have already been answered.  Our faith in God should allow us to know that He hears our prayers and that He will bless us because He loves us, not because we deserve it.  Let us exercise a little more faith in God with each passing day.  If we pray for rain, then we should go and get our umbrella because we know that the rain is coming.

PRAY FOR IT AND THEN PREPARE FOR IT

Proclamation:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."  Matthew 21:22 (KJV)  The New International Version of The Holy Bible reads: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Matthew recorded these words which Jesus spoke to His disciples after He spoke and the fig tree withered.  He told them that if they had faith, and did not doubt, they could speak to a mountain and tell it to throw itself into the sea, and it would be done.  Jesus told them that they would receive whatever they asked for in prayer, if they had faith, and believed without a doubt that they would receive it. 

Application:
As believers today, we need to increase our faith in The Lord.  When we pray and ask for something, we need to begin to prepare to receive it.  We shouldn't just pray for it, we should believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will happen and then prepare to receive it.  We should act like it is already done.  If it is in His will, it is already done. (John 15:7)  We could do so much more if we sincerely prayed and believed. (James 5:16)  Pray for it, believe it, prepare for it, and receive it.