The Power of Prayer - How to Pray with Absolute Confidence, Part 2

One thing I know about Jesus. He had absolute complements that God heard his prayers that God's power would be unleashed as he trusted.

Yes, Jesus was fully God, but he was fully man and his prayers were as a dependent human being in faith trusting the will and the promises of God is my question. Do you know how to pray with absolute confidence.

If not, stay with welcome to this Monday edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram on Dave Troy today. Chip wraps up his series the power of prayer. Just before we get started, let me encourage you to try using chips message notes while you listen chips free notes containers outline scriptural references and much more to help you remember what you hear and share what you're learning there. A quick download when you go to LivingontheEdge.org and click listen now look you have your Bible handy opening out of the book of first John, it's right before Revelation John chapter 5, let's join Chip for part two of his message how to pray with absolute confidence. How can you pray my confidence and certainty on the first question we need to ask is, to whom is this promise made to radical promise, but is not for everybody. Notice in verse 13. These things are written to those who believe in the name of the son of God. This is reserved for people who are God's children now the second question we might want to ask is: how must we pray to know that God hears our prayers. In verse 14 it Chip you're telling me that that this passage guarantees the God you hear my prayer. How I know that for certain. Look at the little phrase we pray how you look, according to the will of God.

If you are I for anything according to his will and that phrase means that is God's intention into the highest desire is his authorized plan to be fulfilled. The next question is this passage opens up is not only pray according to God's will have a quick aside, I hope your mind is saying in your heart of hearts I pray a lot of a prayers. I'm not sure I pray specifically, I think that instead of having faith in what I find my life and probably with many of you I find instead of praying in faith unusually pray and hope all God I hope this happens. Oh God, this is the desire of God and this is be nice if you did it is not what Jesus Jesus said when you come asking in faith believe that you received it in a week you and people thinking this through that one out to impress Peter and the boys. I think he was saying if you know the will of God is once you understand my will. Then you can ask for and I will deliver and you can take.

I want you to pray specifically and with certainty and with confidence and I will answer now the question is a $64 question is how do you know God's will. So you asked the right stuff right there's two ways.

The first is by the promises of God in Scripture. The second on those areas where the promises will look at later is by the ministry of the Holy Spirit leading you in prayer and showing you that God can give a personal word for you, and how to pray. You see right here in this book. I understand some of the promises in this book are just for Israel, not for you and me.

Some of the promises for specific people we know Hezekiah get some special promises of some of her special New Testament saints, but I want to tell you there are literally hundreds of promises that I can claim you can claim I know it's God's will.

I can ask according to that promise.

And God promises 100% of the time answer your prayer when you bring that promise and pray according to an amazing thing I've learned as I've been studying on prayer is the great many great women of God pray they pray with an open Bible. They pray with the Bible open and they go to God, not thinking once you read three chapters today to keep up my little chart. They read and they pray God show me your will for me. Show me your will for your family. Show me your will for the future and they asked God he gives in specific promises and they take it to the bank. They pray specifically. And God comes through for let me give you a couple examples of how to pray according to the will of God first by the promises. Let's pretend I'm sure no one here has this, let's pretend some of you have a big decision to make or you have a big problem and you would really like to know what God wants you to do. You need to know what to do or you need to know how to do it very situation you need to say something to your spouse, but you're afraid if I say that wait'll you would give me wisdom God about the situation with 20 or children.

You know that you are back in a way and you need to move into the situation and speak the truth that you know if you do it wrong you have fireworks and you need God to give you wisdom about how to approach her child or some of you have job situations in your supervisor when the people that work for you. You need wisdom from God about how to step into this delicate situation and know God's will so that he can work it out and so your need is wisdom biblical definition for wisdom is the ability and the skill to understand God's design for life, and then find your part in it so it works so can I tell you this morning if you need wisdom. There is a promise from God.

James 15 and in some conditions.

In verse six and seven. Here's what God promises every person in this room, if any man is generic man or woman if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men. She generously and without reproach, right but let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the seat is tossed to and fro. Let not that man expect to receive anything from the Lord. So here's a promise you, you have that conversation, you need to know what you need to know how to do something the Bible says you can go right before God is a God my fingers on his promise.

You said if I ever need wisdom that I can come and ask. I know it's according to your will, because it's writing your word I'm asking right now for wisdom. Please give it to me and as you do that you can be guaranteed with certainty.

God will give you wisdom. Now note you will have to keep your environment every promise has a condition.

The condition is its without any doubt. And that doesn't mean there's no doubt in your heart that means the word talks about is a double minded man.

It means that once God shows you what the wisdom is you already sign off and say whatever you show me all the as you were hoping it would be a nice little light conversation and you praying God shows you need to confront so-and-so you need to address this had on or you need to bring up an issue that everyone in the whole family's been afraid to talk about.

He says if you will ask me for wisdom. I guarantee 100% of the time I'll show you exactly what to do and exactly how to do is pretty specific is that's how God wants you to pray where you need wisdom you can pray for Shelley, how about for deliverance if it's drugs or alcohol, pornography or issues in your mind you're involved in a relationship that you know is not holy. There is a promise from God. You can pray specifically. And God guarantees will hear you know what it is. First Corinthians 1013 and says no temptation has taken you but such is common to man. We've all had but God is faithful, and with the temptation will provide no way of escape, that you may be able to. You can come to God if you need deliverance if you need help in getting over the hump is something you can open your Bible and put your finger on that promise and see God show me the way deliverance and then the condition is that you take might be joining a 12 step program and might be sharing your struggle with a close friend or even your mate. It might be saying I'll never drive home that way anymore it my meeting you get your cable disconnected because you're up late at night watching tracking find yourself drawn back to. I don't know the landscape God's as you pray specifically answer you.

1/3 example here is, arrest or piece some of the common man. You know the truth are known we could look peel back the façade of health, energetic and cool and nice and warm and lovely that we all look as you dine inside your worn-out beak what you need is rest what you need is peace in your RPMs one zoom zoom zooming you open your calendar need for God's another week and Monday here to do that here. There's air and the kids are here Wednesday and you're about as some of you. You're the emotional end of your wits and you think I can't take it when I can't take a life anymore is a promise you can pray a specific promise and you gotta God will step in. He'll calm the storm and he'll restore your body and your story or emotion due to the promise. Matthew 1128, unto me, all of you that are heavy burden are laid down.

Overwhelmed is the idea and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke coming to my leadership my authority for your life.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, prime, meek and lowly of heart um-hum one can put a trip on you I love you I'm God. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. For some of you need to block off a couple hours today and turn off all the TVs and turn off all the junk I get two or three hours, along with condensate God icon to you because I need rest. Diane and you go sit in the presence of God for a couple hours and it'll do more than any co-you could ever take slow you down show you where you need to slow down all those pushes nose often though she was all those demands from people who show you what his yoke demands and how you can say no to stuff and how you can say no to pressure and how you can be walking in his will, and how he can renew you from the inside out and you know the people that need rest.

The most are those that are sit here and you never made a personal relationship you've never asked Christ to come into your life. You just a great person you are in the person of people like you and what you really long for his peace in your soul and and right now as I'm talking you can shut off the whole rest of this message and you and God can have a conversation and his invitation, his condition to you, right now. Okay, forget what that guy. The structures listen to me you come right now.

You asked me to come in your life asked me to forgive you, taking my yoke come under my leadership in my authority for your life.

Take my word is guidance rest. I'll give you peace all restore the relationships. I'll give you forgiveness. You do that right now to honor his word. The final one here is for financial provision. Maybe you're here and you're thinking how you pray I get bills up my ears. I get people give them a call and other people keeps the enemy more credit cards of never understood that every week they want to give me more credit cards but your overwhelmed and you and your and you look at that stack of bills they look here and you think of the AAA anything pressure all the time God says you can pray specifically for financial issues, and he will answer, here's the promise. Philippians 419, my God. The apostle Paul writes to a struggling young poor church that is just given a very generous gift to his ministry, my God, he says shall supply all your needs by his riches and by his glory in Christ Jesus you got any. I'll take care of it. Now please don't read that to me. My God shall keep my middle-class lifestyle. In fact, it doesn't say that this is only Jenny's you know if your debt up to your ears if you made unwise financial decisions. God may allow some consequences to get you in a position of getting real dependent real quick late.

The other thing you'll notice is there is a condition of this passage is written to a group of people who don't have much, but have been generous with the firstfruits of what God gave this promise is for people that have financial need, but who by faith are giving first to the work of God. And if you're not doing that. This promise doesn't apply to you see with every promise, there's a condition God promises to meet the needs of those who are trusting him by faith. And as you trust him by faith with your time with your finances.

He says I'll always come through for you and the biggest evidence that we don't trust him is when I don't get in my time when I have given my finances because what I'm saying is if I give it to you, God, had paid his other bills and self finances are so important to the American church because probably the only way in such a wealthy society that we ever get a chance to trust God is basically of God died tomorrow, which is often obviously impossible. A lot of Christians would note for months when God is not to do anything supernatural in your life to come through for you and until you put yourself in a situation for him to do that you don't get that exercise trust will let me ask you here. What do you do those are promises. That's how you know to pray according to God's will, but as we wrapping up what you do if you have a promise from God. How can you pray if you you got a sick friend or a sick child or a sick spouse and look at Romans 826 to 27 this is what God says is incredible. He says in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness will what kind weakness. Well, when we don't know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit because the spirit intercedes for the saints in how accordance with God's will with our passage in first John teaches. If you pray according to God's will, he hears us. If he hears as we know for certain what were to get what we ask. So there's times where you don't have a promise and you sit quietly. Nancy depends upon the Holy Spirit show me how to pray here. We don't always have a promise to pray and so we need to do is depend on the Holy Spirit, some of you there praying for kids or people that you love or people at work and you don't know how to pray for one of my older sons.

Those of you parents are born through rough times and pains. I have been there. I mean the name of the game in our home. Sparks sparks and then heavy sparks and then this kid is so much like me that we not kids all the time and I'm glad that he moved out of the stage and is matured and grown, but I remember you know just I said what he said why any descendents rebellious chip on her shoulder and out in public with other people.

Great kid at home is testing me all the time and I'm saying God you know any non-communicating you know that rebellious spirit will deal with nonmember at my wits and literally cry doing call what I know is right and going bedroom, trees and money into hard money in an idiot. What's it mean I think of doing God's will, I hope, I think maybe even there's a parent, a member praying memorize our present Lord be show me how to pray for my son as I was praying Lord we break in spirit that's the problem. My soul and not pray directly right is God wheat we transform this kid's attitude and as I prayed with the Holy Spirit showed me how to get any audible voice that I just there and when I realize the spirit of God begin to reveal and in the best time to pray and sometimes shut up and let him speak God to send you know it's not rebellion is not the issue. It's hurt in his woundedness and feel good about himself and he feels an adequate employee I started to pray differently. God help him see himself the way you made him God shore up the wounds and their currently has inside because that's where was feeling from and I kept the boundaries and then my wife and I like absolute lunatics look for opportunities, times and a slot for Coke. Let's go talk any common ground to just communicate my son regardless of his performance that we love you and you'll never do anything to keep chip will be back in just a minute with a specific application. This message, but if you're just joining us, listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram chips message today how to pray with absolute confidence is from his series, the power of prayer, whether you're a new Christian or a seasoned follower of Christ. Prayer is the key to God's throne room and answered prayer is something you can experience is your relationship with the matures in the power of prayer will discover the steps to developing a dynamic prayer life.

You learn how to remove common roadblocks to answered prayer and how to pray with absolute confidence for limited time ship series, the power of prayer is available for special ulnar discount price and the MP3s are absolutely free for complete ordering and pricing details. Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 will trip your message today is about how to pray with absolute confidence.

What are we doing to help people do that to tell you about a very special resource we put together for you and I'm really excited about it yet.

I know that we all suffer.

We all struggle and is a part of our experience and in life when it's hard. What we need more than anything else is. Hope I get that intellectually, but one of the big questions is will will how do you get it. And certainly we experience it when we read the Scriptures or when were in a small group of people or worship God, but I would have to say one of the primary ways that I experience. Hope is when I talk to God when I experience him in prayer when when the struggles and the ups and the downs are called by the spirit. When I'm in conversation with God.

And what I've learned over the years is a lot of people pray, but a lot of people don't experience God when they pray and so we developed an online course. It's five short videos is very practical and I share with you. This is how I personally connect with God. But this is what I've learned over the years. I want to encourage those of you who really want to experience God more deeply and is not that you don't pray, but like all of us were human right we get into ruts and pretty soon for saying words but were not experiencing God's presence, or his power.

If that's what you want this online video course is really good help but strip will this online course on prayer really is a great tool for Living on the Edge, no matter where you are in your prayer life which appears in the questions that go with each short session will take you to a whole new depth of communication with the Lord you can do these five sessions at your own pace by yourself or with a few friends just go online to LivingontheEdge.org take your next step toward experiencing God through prayer will know your strip with his application.

As we close today's program and wrap up this entire series on prayer. You know it's one of those topics that on the one hand, we need to step into and have confidence in pray boldly and yet it's so easy to start thinking that if I do certain things God is obligated in an unhealthy sense to do these things and it really becomes very subtly about again my performance. I'm going to do this this this this XYZ and then God's going to do this and I'm going to come boldly and and I shared that story about my son. At the very end because I just want to remind you of something.

The goal at the heart of conversation with your heavenly father is that you would both feel and experience his fatherhood and his love for you that as a daughter of the living God as a son of the living God. He's for you. He understands he he gets your struggle. Just as I could see it took me a while that my son was on a journey in a process and some of the things those many years ago that we were dealing with was really about a wound in his heart.

What I really wanted to do was help them with that so we could be close more than his behavior. At the time, getting you know right or better work some other expectation that I had.

So what I want you to recognize is that you have a heavenly father who want you to come in confidence because you coming in Jesus name you're coming boldly as a son or a daughter because Jesus blazed the trail you come before the throne of grace. You have every right to be there because he looks at you as the righteous son the righteous daughter you are justified before him. You have been set apart. You've been adopted.

His spirit lives inside of you and he is for you and so he he is complemented. If you will.

When you come with an absolute confidence to say Lord I want to pray your will.

I want to be your son.

I want to be your daughter. I believe you're going to interact. Not because I'm wonderful, but because I come in the name and the power of Jesus. And this is for you and your glory and you promise this and so I'm standing on that promise. When you begin to come to God like that it brings him great delight you will experience great power and the transformation that will occur may be far more NU than even all the circumstances you're praying about. So take God up on this offer experience his power in prayer just before we close. I want to thank those of you who make this broadcast possible through your generous giving Living on the Edge invests your gifts to purchase your time create programs and provide resources to help Christians live like Christians Living on the Edge is been a blessing to you. Would you prayerfully consider sending a gift today. You can donate online at http://livingontheedge.org or by calling us at 1-888-333-6003. Thank you for your partnership with us tomorrow. Trip begins a new series.

The genius of generosity. So I hope you'll be with us for that for everyone here. This is the same. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge