The Law of Prayer
James 4:2
“…Ye have not, because ye ask not.”
The last seven words of James 4:2 provide a perfect place to discover the Law of Prayer. The God and creator of ALL, subjects Himself to the prayers of men! Separate prayer from man and prayer has no existence. God created prayer for men.
On April 26th, pastor preached a message intitled “My Kingdom is not of this world”. What a valuable source of truth concerning who is running this world that we are living in.
Quoted from his message:
“But right now, during the Church age, this world is under the god of this world [2 Cor 4:4]. He’s the one who is running things down here [Lk 4:5-6]. This is his world system [Eph 2:2] and it will be, until Jesus comes and ends the world [Matt 24:3]. As Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Because Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world:”
We are living in a world run by the Devil. God only intervenes in some things when men pray. To prove this statement let us look at just a few scriptures, because your entire Bible proves this point.
[2 Chronicles 7:12-15]
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
God committed himself to Intervene. Prayer allows men to put God’s work in God’s Hands.
[Jeremiah 29:10-13]
10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Prayer allows men to put God’s work in God’s hands.
There is a law here that you will see over and over in your Bible:
[Jeremiah 33:3] Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
[Psalm 50:15]
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
[Romans 10:13]
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Prayer Promises of Jesus:
[Matthew 18:19]
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.
[Matthew 21:22]
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
[John 15:16]
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The Requirement in each promise is that we “Ask in Prayer”
Abraham’s Example:
[Gen.18:16-33]
For sake of time, I am not going to read the entire passage. This is the account of when God was determined to destroy Sodom and Abraham needs to get a hold of God and get him to change some things. He has loved ones in harm’s way. It has been said that Abraham left off asking before God stopped answering! God intervened and changed his will in answer to a man’s prayer!
Application:
- If God’s work is put into his hands by the prayer of men, then if men are prayerless we tie God’s hands, or at the very least hinder His work
- If this Law of Prayer stands, what a privilege and responsibility men have!
- This is being taught to our Wednesday Night Prayer group. The simple prayer request that you pray for should take on a whole new life!
- Praying for missionaries Adversaries, Acceptance, and Attitudes takes on a completely different urgency.
God created prayer for men!