Acts
"For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD...him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being...For we are also His offspring."  Acts 17: 23, 24, 28


Psalms
"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still, Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Psalms 4:1, 4, 5



Psalms
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Psalms 5:1-3


Principles of Prevailing Prayer (Part 2)


"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,
and to the ministry of the word."  Acts 6:4
                                                                                       
Weekly Devotional
The principles we looked at in the first lesson are:
  • First get an audience with God.
  • Pray without ceasing.

This second lesson continues with:
  • Understand there is power in united prayer. There appears to be vastly increased power in united prayer. We see that God's special blessing is upon it as revealed in Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

However, this unity must be real. The petition must be grasped and internalized by the partner as if their very own petition. The agreeing is not in the asking but in the TOUCHING. We are not asking to only please our friend, but we are in agreement, we ourselves feel that thing as they feel it, and present it to God as one voice. Where there is real agreement, where the Spirit of God brings two believers into perfect harmony as concerning that which they may ask of God, where the Spirit lays the same burden on two hearts; in all such prayer there is absolutely irresistible power.

We saw in the last lesson how Queen Esther asked that there be united prayer for her before she petitioned the King, and as a result he held out his scepter to her and was able to make her request, and it was granted. 
The story of Peter in prison is also a beautiful example of how united prayer works. Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." The powerful results, "And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." Acts 12:7 (keep reading to verse 17).

  Also in Acts 4 when Peter and John were threatened and beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus Christ and went and told their brethren all that had been done, the Bible says in verse 24, and 29-31. "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghosts, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

There is power in united prayer, but the greatest power and results come when Christ unites our humble, sincere prayer with His and presents them to His Father. Hebrew 9:24 says, "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear int he presence of God for us."

And another beautiful reference records, "He explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul's behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven." Prayer 35

  • You must be obedient to the Word of God.  "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." 1 John 3:22. Not only must you keep His commandments, but you must do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

There are many things you can do that are pleasing to God of which there are no specific commands in the Bible for. Here is where you will have to be Spirit led, and not limit yourself because you are not commanded in the word of God to do it. Some people jump on the "where does the Bible say that" bandwagon to make excuses for stopping their bad habits or for starting new ones. Doing those things which are not pleasing in His sight, rob our prayers of  power.       "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." John 9:31

"Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings." Micah 3:4

If you would have power in prayer, you must be an earnest student of His Word to find our what His will is regarding you, and when having found it out, do it. "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." Ezra 7:10.