Introduction

The characteristics of the prayer of faith.

• Mark 11:24 literally says "All things whatsoever praying you ask." The English Bible has "you desire." Desire can be built upon an emotion and led by self rather than the Holy Spirit. The desire to gratify self interests will not be answered. George Muller always sought the glory of God and sought to be certain that he was not being motivated by self interest.
• There is no place for uncertainty in prayer. Much prayer is offered without knowing the mind of the Lord. We must be fully assured of the will of God and pray with full assurance of faith upon the word of God, "believe that you receive them..." Find a specific promise in scripture or a general promise. Pray asking the promise.
• We will not see answered prayer if we grieve the Holy Spirit. The prayer of faith must be under the control of the Holy Spirit. We have the witness of the Spirit when God's Spirit bears witness with our spirit. But there is an empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enables the gifts of the Spirit to be in operation in our lives. We can pray the prayer of faith on a higher level when the Holy Spirit empowers us with a Word of Wisdom, a Word of Knowledge, or the Gift of Faith. The manifestations of the Spirit enable the body of Christ to pray with great faith and power.

Question: Is it necessary to pray for the Holy Spirit?

Yes, scripture tells us to ask for the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13 says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" We know from the scriptures that it is His will to give the Holy Spirit.

• We must pray for the Holy Spirit because we can do nothing without the help of the Holy Spirit. John 15:5 says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." We are dependent upon Him daily in order to live effective lives that glorify the Lord.
• The disciples prayed for the manifestations of the Holy Spirit to accompany the preaching of the Word (Acts 4:29-30). God answered the prayer in Acts 4:30. We need the Holy Spirit to confirm His word today if we are going to see people come to Christ.

Example of Effective Prayer: Praying for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

The requirements for answered prayer:

• Obedience to the word of God - Acts 5:32, "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him." If the body of Christ is not moving in the power of the Holy Spirit it is because the Church is not being obedient to the word of God.
• Standing firm on the promises of God - Acts 1:4 says, "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father." The gift of the Holy Spirit is called the promise of the Father. The disciples obeyed the command of the Lord and prayed together for the fulfilment of the promise.
• Being fully persuaded that the promise is given to us - Acts 2:39 says, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Scripture clearly affirms that the promise of the Father is given to "as many as be afar off" - that includes us today.
• Pray, asking with full confidence in faith because God will always do what He has promised.

Main Points

1. We must pray right

(a) Without wavering - Much prayer is half hearted. Prayer without wavering is not presumptuous prayer. It is prayer that meets God's conditions, and stands on God's word. Steadfast Faith will stand firm knowing that God will answer prayer that is firmly founded on the promises of God. The prayer of faith does not doubt but asks with full assurance of answered prayer.

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).

(b) With a renewed mind (not in carnality)

• We must pray with right desires. If we are seeking to fulfil lustful or selfish desires our prayers will not be answered. James 4:3 says, "You ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." Right praying always has the glory of God as the primary concern.
• The prayer of faith asks according to the will of God. 1 John 5:14 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us." We must know His Word. If we are renewed in mind we will know His will (Romans 12:1-2). If we obey His word we will know the truth (John 8:31-32). The word of God must be in us (Colossians 3:16).

2. We must believe right

(a) God will keep His promises. The prayer of faith is not "faith in our faith," it is faith that God keeps His word. The prayer of faith must stand sure that God will fulfil His Word. The assurance of prayer is in the promises of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

Faith holds firm that God will do what He has promised. Psalm 119:49 says, "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope."

(b) God will fulfil His purposes. The prayer of faith must have assurance that the purposes of God for our lives will be fulfilled. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." We can pray with certainty knowing that the will of God for our lives will be fulfilled. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it."

3. We must be careful to keep in right relationships with one another

(a) With a forgiving heart. The prayer of faith must be united to a forgiving heart. Unforgiveness will prevent answered prayer. Jesus said in connection with prayer that our sins will not be forgiven unless we forgive (Matthew 6:15). Jesus forgave those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). How much more should we forgive those who wrong us. Stephen even forgave the Religious leaders who murdered him (Acts 7:60). The great answer to Stephen's prayer was the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

(b) With the fruit of the Spirit.

• Love. The prayer of faith must always be united with the fruit of love. Ephesians 5:2 says, "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us." We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Being tender hearted towards one another and not holding grudges or bitterness in our hearts (Ephesians 4:30-32). Our heart will condemn us when we pray if we do not walk in love (1 John 3:20). Christians who have an effective prayer life have learnt to walk in love (1 Corinthians 13).
• Gentleness. We must be gentle in our dealings with one another. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 says, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves." Christian leaders must be careful to be gentle towards all and always willing to forgive. Harsh words can hit people so hard that they never recover. We should always seek to build one another up.

Summary

The characteristics of the prayer of faith are:

1. Right praying that is built upon the word and will of God and seeks only the glory of God.
2. Right beliefs that are built upon the promises of God, the plan and purpose of God and under the control of the Holy Spirit.
3. Right relationships with one another so that the Holy Spirit is not grieved. Unforgiveness will hinder answered prayer.