Results of Prayer John 16:23-24 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In this lesson we want to focus on the results of prayer or those extra things you receive other than what you specifically prayed for. There are always side benefits to prayer that exceed the simple answer to the request.
“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24
Most people are looking for a way to find pleasures from the things of the world like movies, sports, travel, bars, video games and all of the things you can think of with which people distract themselves. These things come at a high price. Prayer will cost you nothing except a little bit of time, but it will be time well spent because prayer brings the following results.
Results that come from a faithful prayer life
Joy, peace, pleasure – With prayer we do not need worldly pleasures because prayer gives us joy, peace and pleasure. What is distinctive about the joy you get with prayer is that it is real, but it is hard on the flesh because it comes from the Holy Spirit (Matt. 26:41). The world’s happiness, or the happiness of the flesh, is a fleeting happiness that is provided through some outward stimuli. The problem with that is that once the stimulus is removed then the happiness evaporates as well. The joy provided by the Holy Spirit is not dependent on any outward stimuli, or circumstances, but rather overcomes them (Phil. 4:6-7). True peace is not in a prescription but comes through prayer (2 Cor. 12:9-10). This peace brings us pleasure.
Fruit – Prayer helps us to bear fruit in our walk with Christ (John 15:16, Acts 16:25).
Filling with the Holy Spirit – Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to be active in your life (Acts 4:31).
Strength & power – Without God we can do nothing (Eph. 6:10, 6:18).
A Quiet and peaceable life – When you pray and are in harmony with God’s word you are left with fewer things to worry about (1Tim. 2:1-2, John 15:5).
Free course – When you pray you provide yourself to be the agent of God’s purpose (2 Thes. 3:1, Col. 4:12).
Perfection and completion in God’s will – It is impossible to ever be perfectly in God’s will apart from prayer (Col. 4:12).