Hensley Ministries

1. What is prayer?

2. Who can pray?

3. How does ones prayer reach God?

4. Are there types of prayer?

5. What is 'prayer of faith' and 'prayer of doubt?

6. How can God answer prayer, if everyone is praying?

7. Does God say no?

1. Prayer is the communication between man and God. The open door between those of divine nature and human nature. It is out right communication. The word God is the Hebrew word Elohim meaning divine ones. It is speaking about the divine life (life that is spirit) in a realm not failure with ours. This realm is the realm of the spirit and is not constrained by time nor limited by fleshly attributes of man. In this realm all matter is known to be created and that creation is known to have been created by The Spirit expressed unto man as being Yud Ha Va Ha, The Great I AM. Jehovah being the name expressed and created by English speaking individuals for years with respect yet, with limited understanding of the name.

In and throughout time man has approached God through limited understanding of that realm; for all approaches toward the divine realm were to make since of the realm in which man presently resided which was Earth. The first man created by God had direct contact with the Lord God who laid forth his design and spoke man into creation.

1. So prayer is you talking to God as a child talks to his or her father. But remember that when you were a young child you spoke to your father differently, and now as an adult your conversation has changed. Know that you and your Father have both an understanding of life, and do not act like a young child when you are an adult. speak to Him about life and understand that He knows you and understands.

2. Anyone can pray! That is speaking to God. in the light of Scriptures we know that man speaking to God outside of covenant can only approach Him as called by His Spirit. The proclaimed word of God draws one to repentance. It is here that God grants forgiveness upon the shed blood (death) of His Son that He sent into this world so that He may deal with you as a child and not as an enemy seeking help. Once one repents and accepts the covenant that God has provided, they are now able to stand and walk with God in relationship with Him.

3. Prayer reaches God by faith! Faith comes by hearing and the hearing is the reception of the spoken Word of God via the preaching or proclamation of the Gospel. The Gospel is the hearing of the Kingdom of God by those who have been called and who have reached maturity in spreading the knowledge and understanding of the Kingdom of God. They are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; that what is called the fivefold ministry to the Church. God the Father hears your words of faith, your agreement of what He has said, what He has spoke through His Son, and what He is communicating by His Spirit. the angels also do hear and respond promptly as they await to hear your commands in faith for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.

4. Yes, there are types of prayer. Here is a good definition of prayer types found in the Bible from a Christian site on the internet www.wordlibary.co.uk

"Praying always with all prayer and supplications in the spirit"
Ephesians 6:18

The bible talks about different types of prayer. Knowing what type of prayer to pray and when to pray it is very important to our prayer life.

1. Prayer of supplication.

Luke 11: 9 - 13, James 5: 17-18, 1 kings 8: 37-40, 54 - 55

A. What does the prayer of supplication involve?
B. What adjustments do we need to make in our life if we are to take up the prayer of supplication?

Supplication means to petition or entreat someone for something. A passionate zeal and hunger fuels the prayer of supplication. Jesus wants us to seek his riches. This is where the prayer of supplication comes in. It is a prayer that all Christians should regularly engage in. Ask God to give you a hunger to seek his face. Notice that in the above three scriptures people were seeking (or asked to seek) for something specific which meant a lot to them. Do you desire to know God's will for your life? The prayer of supplication can sometimes lead us into fasting. Nehemiah 1: 1-6

2. Prayer of intercession

Genesis 18: 22 - 33 (Abraham) 1 Kings 18: 41 - 46 (Elijah) 2 Kings 4: 32-36 (Elisha) Acts 12: 1 - 18 (The early church)

A. What is the prayer of intercession?
B. Who can get involved in the prayer of intercession?
C. What effects do the prayer of intercession have?
D. What is the difference between the prayer of supplication and intercession?

To intercede means to plead or mediate on behalf of another person. Jesus is interceding for us (Hebrews 7: 25) so is the Holy Spirit praying for us and through us as we pray in the spirit. (Romans 8: 26 - 27).

When we take it upon ourselves to pray earnestly for other people, we enter into the realm of intercession. To enter into intercession we must have a heart that really loves the Lord and cares about the things God cares about.

3. Prayer of faith

Mark 11:12 - 14, Mark 11: 20 - 25, Luke 7: 1 - 10, James 5: 13 - 18, Matthew 9: 18 - 26

A. What does the prayer of faith involve?
B. How much faith do we need to receive from God?
C. What are the hindrances to the prayer of faith?
D. What is the relationship between the Word of God and the prayer of faith?
E. What is the difference between the prayer of faith and supplication?

The prayer of faith is rooted in our confidence on God's Word. The woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9) knew that touching Jesus would get her healed. Her faith gave her the strength to press through the crowd. When you are sure that what you are praying for is God's will for you, the prayer of faith can be employed. Unforgiveness (Mark 11: 25) and doubt (James 1: 5-8) are the two greatest hindrances to the prayer of faith. Where the prayer of supplication is seeking God's will, the prayer of faith is knowing God's will, praying it and receiving it from Him.

4. Prayer of agreement

Genesis 11: 1-9, Matthew 18: 19-20, Exodus 17: 8-13, Psalm 133: 1-3, Acts 4:23, Hebrews 10: 24-25

A. What is the prayer of agreement?
B. Why is the prayer of agreement so powerful?
C. How can we get involved in the prayer of agreement?
D. Do we have to be together to stand in agreement?
E. How can couples take advantage of the prayer of agreement?

The prayer of agreement is when two or more people come together and agree with one another and with the Word of God that something specific will be done. People that do not worship God or indeed worship Satan, can also stand in agreement and see power released (Genesis 11: 1-9).

God has given power and authority to the Church and when we stand together in unity we can see more of God's power released (Matthew 28: 16-20). Unity is standing together with one purpose, sharing a joint vision and trusting God's Word to be fulfilled. We need to appreciate the power of unity if we are to see God's power released.

5. Prayer of praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 100, Acts 16:16-34, Psalm 149:4-9, 1Thessalonians 5:15-19

A. What effect can praise and thanksgiving have on negative situations?
B. How can praise and worship take the place of prayer and bring about answered prayers?
C. What hinders us from praising God as much as we should?

Praise and worship brings us into the presence of God. When we praise God in the mist of seemingly negative situations we are affirming our faith in Him. This pleases God and helps our faith.

Praise and thanksgiving are powerful weapons to the believer. It destroys the hold of Satan and unbelief over our life. Praise and thanksgiving in effect disarm the two most deadly weapons to our Christian walk; namely, unbelief and satanic attacks. These two things can manifest in many different ways. No wonder why the scriptures call praise a two edged sword (Psalm 149: 4-9)

Summary

1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NKJV)

In practise we all use different types of prayer during our prayer times. What may start as a prayer of faith can soon develop into supplications. There is no reason why we cannot apply any of the above types of prayers to all the situations that face us.

If any of the above types of prayers are not present in your life, then you should seek God's face about it. Ask Him to fill you with more of His love and make your prayer life richer. 

1. In that we have stated that prayer is communication from the mortal to the immortal, the individual man or woman of faith to God the Father; the question remains if there is a right and wrong way to pray. Yes, there is praying (communication) in faith and praying (communication) in doubt. To speak to the Father one must not approach Him in ignorance of what he has already revealed through the Apostles doctrine (teaching) which came by the Messiah Jesus. In saying this one must understand that you would not approach the Father in the name of Jesus asking for something that He has already said you could have! For doing so one is actually not approaching the Father in faith but in doubt of what has already been revealed by his Son who is the head of the Church.

2. How does God sort out all those prayers? Hum, now we enter the heart of the reality of prayer. We are to speak forth words of faith ourselves. We have certain rights and privileges as a son or daughter of the Living God. Our communication to our Heavenly Father is personal and He truly cares about our plight in life. The communication with the Father is a sure way to maturity! The Spirit guides us in areas we are not strong in and areas we are not dealing with. But in saying that, we are not in some spiritual clinic. We are commanded to go forth and preach (proclaim) the Kingdom of God. In doing this we will become aware of obstacles in our path and hindrances that we find as we are gong about doing the work of the Lord. It is here we receive from the Lord because we are seeking Him (seeking His guidance) in our path of obedience. this is where we are loved by Him because we keep his commandments. Our journey will reveal what we need to ask, knock, and seek Him about.

Yes, God does say no to things, request, desires, and anything that is not of faith! However, God stands behind and will give to us anything that we ask of Him in Jesus' name so that He may receive glory. God says yes to faith and rewards those who diligently seek Him.