THE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTABLE PRAYER
Introduction
A. We believe in the effectiveness of prayer, and we have the privileges of making
requests to our Heavenly Father.
B. Let’s read what James, one of the elders in the church in Jerusalem, wrote about
prayer in James 5:16-18 (894).
1. James wrote that the sincere prayer of a righteous man avails much (a relative
term). V16
2. James used a prayer by the prophet Elijah to illustrate the result of a sincere
prayer
Vv 17-18
C. Let’s focus on the necessary conditions of acceptable prayer because we want our
prayers to be effective.
I. God accepts the prayers of obedient Christians.
A. He doesn’t accept the prayers of those living in sin ,but He does accept the prayers
of those who have an obedient heart. Proverbs 15:8,29 (494); Proverbs 28:9 :
1 Peter 3:12 (896)
II. God accepts the prayers of those who pray in faith. Hebrews 11:6 (889);
James 1:5-7 (891)
A. God is sovereign and knows what is best. Possible responses:
B. If we ask God in faith, we must accept the answer in faith.
III. God accepts our prayers when we pray according to His will.
A. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He taught them in Matthew 6:10:
1. God’s rule to extend from heaven to earth.
2. If someone hasn’t accepted God’s will, his prayers are hypocritical Matthew 7:
21;. Must pray in harmony with God’s well. 1 John 5:14-15 (902)
IV. God accepts our prayers when we have a forgiving attitude. Ephesians 4:31-
32 (865); Matthew 7:12 (708); Matthew 6:14-15 (707)
V. God answers prayers that are answerable. James 4:3 (893) “Amiss” means improper.
VI. God accepts prayers that are prayed in the name (authority) of Jesus. Ephesians
5:20 (866); Colossians 3:17 (871)