CharacteristicsCharacteristicsofof

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”

~ Colossians 4:2

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

• Offered in FaithOffered in FaithMatthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6

Matthew 21:21-22Matthew 21:21-22

So Jesus answered and said to them, So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. sea,' it will be done. 2222 And whatever things And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.who diligently seek Him.

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

• Offered in FaithOffered in FaithMatthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6

• Offered in Harmony with God’s WillOffered in Harmony with God’s Will1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)

1 John 5:141 John 5:14

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His according to His willwill, He hears us.

Luke 22:40-42Luke 22:40-42

When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

James 4:3James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.pleasures.

Too often, rather than expressing our Too often, rather than expressing our desire that God’s will be done. We express desire that God’s will be done. We express our own desires in prayer. (Selfishness)our own desires in prayer. (Selfishness)

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

• Offered in FaithOffered in FaithMatthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6

• Offered in Harmony with God’s WillOffered in Harmony with God’s Will1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)

• Offered by the RighteousOffered by the Righteous1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)

1 Peter 3:121 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the LORD are on the For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."those who do evil."

James 5:16-18James 5:16-18

Confess your trespasses to one another, Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be and pray for one another, that you may be healed. healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails muchrighteous man avails much. . 1717 Elijah was a Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six rain on the land for three years and six months. months. 1818 And he prayed again, and the And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.fruit.

Isaiah 59:1-2Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. cannot hear. 22 But your iniquities have But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, have hidden His face from you, So that He So that He will not hearwill not hear..

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

• Offered in FaithOffered in FaithMatthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6

• Offered in Harmony with God’s WillOffered in Harmony with God’s Will1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)

• Offered by the RighteousOffered by the Righteous1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)

• Offered with PersistenceOffered with PersistenceLuke 18:1-8 (Read); Acts 2:42

Acts 2:42Acts 2:42

And they And they continued steadfastlycontinued steadfastly in the in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and breaking of bread, and in prayersin prayers..

Acceptable Acceptable PrayerPrayer

• Offered in FaithOffered in FaithMatthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6

• Offered in Harmony with God’s WillOffered in Harmony with God’s Will1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)

• Offered by the RighteousOffered by the Righteous1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)

• Offered with PersistenceOffered with PersistenceLuke 18:1-8 (Read); Acts 2:42

• Offered in the Name of JesusOffered in the Name of JesusEphesians 5:20; Hebrews 7:24-25;

Ephesians 5:20Ephesians 5:20““Giving thanks always for all things to God Giving thanks always for all things to God

the Father the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus in the name of our Lord Jesus ChristChrist.”.”

(Singing and Prayer in the Spirit)(Singing and Prayer in the Spirit)

1.To the Father2.In the name of the Son3.3.Note: Proper use of term “Lord”Note: Proper use of term “Lord”

Lord & Savior, Jesus ChristLord & Savior, Jesus Christ

2 Peter 1:11, “… into the everlasting kingdom 2 Peter 1:11, “… into the everlasting kingdom of our of our Lord and Savior Jesus ChristLord and Savior Jesus Christ.”.”

2 Peter 2:20, “For if, after they have escaped 2 Peter 2:20, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the know-the pollutions of the world through the know-ledge of the ledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus ChristLord and Savior Jesus Christ, …”, …”

2 Peter 3:2, “… the apostles of the 2 Peter 3:2, “… the apostles of the Lord and Lord and SaviorSavior””

2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and 2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Lord and Savior Jesus ChristChrist…”…”

Hebrews 7:24-25Hebrews 7:24-25

But He, because He continues forever, has But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. an unchangeable priesthood. 2525 Therefore Therefore He He is also able to save to the uttermost those is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Himwho come to God through Him, since He , since He always lives to make intercession for them.always lives to make intercession for them.

ConclusionConclusion

The ability to pray to God and receive answers in our lives is truly one of the greatest blessings we can have as the children of God.

May all our prayers be May all our prayers be acceptable to Him!acceptable to Him!