THE PRAYING LEADER (ParT. 1)
Mark 11:22-24 (NIRV) 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said. 23 “What I’m about to tell you is true. Suppose someone says to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea.’ They must not doubt in their heart. They must believe that what they say will happen. Then it will be done for them. 24 So I tell you, when you pray for something,
believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours.
WHAT IS PRAYER?
Mark 11:22 (NIRV) 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said.
ANSWER: PRAYER IS HAVING FAITH IN GOD.
Prayer is humbly depending on God. Anytime we do not pray we are choosing
to do life with only human strength. The sin of a prayer-less life is pride- It is a belief- “ I can do this without God’s Help.”
A. JESUS COMMANDS TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD. Not faith in ourselves, the economy, our money, the Doctors reports, in what we see, present facts and circumstances, in people, in our job, business, in are own ability, etc. . . .
Faith: (pistis) belief, rely on, trust in, place your assurance and confidence in God, be joined or partner with God, conviction that God exists and is the creator, ruler of all things, provider and only bestower of eternal life through faith in Christ, belief that Jesus is author of my life. (Maker, producer, writer, creator, originator, designer
B. THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FAITH IS THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD.
What Jesus says. Everything He tells us absolutely true and we can bank, trust and place our assurance on it. There is no true faith in God without the Word of
God. Our faith is not in positivity but in God’s Word.
Mark 11:23 (NIRV) What I’m about to tell you is true (I assure you)....
True: (amen) it is already done and established, sure, firm, absolute, faithful, will be fulfilled, so it is, is yours
(after a prayer was made or Word was spoken the people would respond by saying Amen-making what was said their own. So be it. Amen is a
Universal Word, best known word in human speech.)
3 TRUTHS ABOUT PRAYER
Mark 11:23 (NIRV) ... Suppose someone says to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea.’ They must not doubt in their heart (in God’s unlimited power). They must believe that what they say will happen. Then it will be done for them.
A. A VISION OF A SPECIFIC DESIRED OUTCOME.
A vision of the mountain-removed, obstacle gone, hinderance removed, challenges overcome, sickness gone, goal accomplished, of starting and leading a D.G and all obstacles, procrastination removed, of developing 144 small group leaders, the business deal approved.
Hebrews 11:1 (TLB) 11 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty
that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.
Insight: There is no faith with a vision, a hope, a desired future outcome. We will not receive what we are not believing or
expecting for.
Question: How do you know you the vision will come to pass?
Answer: I already have the title deed. The title deed is my faith in God’s Word. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have
heard from God and it will come to pass. My faith is proof.
B. MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH IS BUILT THROUGH MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD DAY AND NIGHT.
First we develop a faith filled mindset and then prosperity and success come. It will not come to pass if we don’t believe what we are
saying will happen.
Insight: We must meditate on every scripture that aligns with the vision that God has given us until we believe it and even start
dreaming it while we are asleep. It is only faith filled declarations that will come to pass.
Psalm 1:2-3 (AMPC) 2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. 3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
TRUTH #2- PRAYER IS NOT JUST PETITIONS BUT IT ALSO FAITH FILLED DECLARATIONS.
It is not just asking but commanding. We have to know when to ask and when to command. Sometimes we are asking for something that God has already given us the authority and power to declare. Ex. “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk”. “Lazarus come
forth.” “In Jesus name come out!” We don’t ask demons to come out- we cast them out.
Mark 11:23 (NIRV) ... Suppose someone says to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea.’ They must not doubt in their heart (in God’s unlimited power). They must believe that what they say will happen. Then it will be done for them.
Example of faith filled Declarations: “I command every obstacle that is in the way both physical and spiritual to be removed in Jesus name, that is hindering me from being a disciple and multiplying leader developer! I command all sickness to leave my body in Jesus name that is hindering me from doing the ministry that God has called me to do! I command all poverty and lack to go. The truth is God supplies all of my need according to His riches in Glory!”
A. DOUBT FILLED DECLARATIONS WILL NOT COME TO PASS.
The biggest problem is that we are declaring things that we don’t believe so therefore nothing happens.
James 1:6-7 (AMP) 6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. 7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord
B. THE CONDITIONS FOR A NEW THING TO BE ESTABLISHED IN OUR LIVES IS TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT
AND DECLARE IT BY FAITH.
Any area that we are not deciding and decreeing will not change for the better.
Job 22:28 (AMP) “You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s
favor] will shine upon your ways.
C. POWERFUL FAITH FILLED DECLARATIONS BEGIN WITH PERSONAL WORD FILLED DECLARATIONS.
Either we are declaring doubt, the devils ideas, sickness, lack, circumstances or we are declaring the Word of God, His vision and promises
our of our mouth. We must keep declaring it until we believe it. What we keep speaking over ourselves we will eventually believe and
become. We will never have victory in our lives, if we can’t first get victory in our mouth!
Joshua 1:8 (CSB) 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
TRUTH #3- THE PATTERN FOR ALL ANSWERED PRAYER IS- PRAY IT- RECEIVE IT AND SEE IT.
Mark 11:24 (NIRV) So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours.
A. PRAYING AND RECEIVING MUST HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
Any prayer that we make without believing that it is already done, will not work. We don’t believe it when we see it, we believe it and then we will see it. That’s why we make our petitions with thanksgiving. Asking and receiving must happen at the same time or else our prayers will be ineffective.
Philippians 4:6 (AMP) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything every circumstance and situation] by
prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God.