UNDERSTANDING PRAYER

1 THEN He [Jesus] spoke a PARABLE to them, THAT MEN [humans] ALWAYS OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART,
2 SAYING: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 NOW there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 AND he would NOT for a WHILE; BUT afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 YET because this widow TROUBLES me I will AVENGE HER, lest by her CONTINUAL COMING SHE WEARY ME.’ ”
6 THEN the LORD said, "HEAR what the UNJUST judge SAID.
7 AND SHALL GOD NOT AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT WHO CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT TO HIM, though He bears long with them?
8 I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 (NKJV)

• As a Believer, you are not to give up in Prayers, when the world waxes worse and worse, and the persecutions come, in which you almost despair of life.

• You have to cry to God and He would not hesitate to avenge you speedily. God would not be like the unjust Judge in the parable, who hesitated before he eventually helped the widow (Luke 18:4).
• Jesus meant in the parable that If Believers would be persistent, or importunate, or solicitous, in Faith and Prayers, how speedily God would avenge them, even better than the unjust judge did (Luke 18:7,8).
• It is the Persistency of Faith, and not the Persistency of doubt, that causes God to respond and avenge His elects.
• Jesus in the parable was talking about the people of God who are under prosecutions, and are crying out to God for Deliverance; such would surely receive His, God's, help If they persisted.

• Asking in Jesus' name:
13 AND WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY [Jesus'] NAME, THAT I WILL DO, THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON. 14 IF you ASK anything in MY NAME, I will do IT" (John 14:13,14 NKJV).

• Believers are given the right to exercise authority over the devil, in the name of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19).
• It is a demand or command of whatever due the Believer because of the rights and privileges God has provided for him or her in Christ Jesus—which is based on the authority invested in His name (Philippians 2:9-11).
• The Greek word for 'ask" implies or means "call-for", or " require" or "demand" something or what is due you.
• Therefore, John 14:13 could be read As this: "AND WHATEVER YOU CALL FOR, or REQUIRE, or DEMAND, IN MY [Jesus'] NAME, that I WILL DO, THAT The Father May be glorified in The SON."
• In such a situation, the Believer is standing against satan and whatever circumstance which does not line up with the Word of God in his or her life.
• Such a Believer is exercising his or her Authority over satan and whatever the adverse circumstance, affecting his or her life. Commanding satan to bow his knees, take his hands off, in the name of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9,10).

• The principles for the New Testament Prayer:
23 “AND in that day YOU WILL ASK ME NOTHING. MOST assuredly, I say to you, WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE YOU. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL" (John 16:23,24 NKJV).

• Believers in Christ Jesus are to address their prayers to God the Father in Jesus' name. And NOT through an angel, or one saint or another. Not through Angel Raphael, or Mary, or Patrick, or any of the saints.
• God the Father can only be accessed through Jesus' name. The Believers pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. If you understand the principles of Prayer, you will not pray amiss (James 4:3).
• Jesus told a parable about prayer in Luke chapter 18:1-8; which was used As the text of this teaching.
• He talks about asking in His name in John chapter 14:13,14. And in John chapter 16:23, He taught that All prayers should be addressed to God the Father in His name.

• Prayer is the strongest weapon in the world.

• Many failed in the place of prayer because of their inabilities to persist.
  WITHOUT persistency, you could not get the desired results in Prayer.
• The widow who went to the unjust Judge was persistent, importunate, in her request. She was asking for justice.
• When dealing with opposition in prayer, you had to be Persistent, otherwise you would not get the results.
• The devil would not want his captives to go, hence, Persistency is needed when dealing with him on any matter.
• If you wanted to fell a tree, the first stroke of the Axe would not make it Fall, it might take several strokes. The tree might fall at the fifteenth stroke of the Axe, but the weakening of it started with the first stroke.
• If you are dealing with a problem, and abandoned it after a period of time, and you are not Praying on it, the powers or the forces behind it would be reinforced. When you resumed to pray on it, It means you are just starting all over again.
• Prayer is a journey, which when embarked upon, you do not turn back on the way, you have to get through, and see the end of the matter—get the results.
• It takes persistency in Prayer to prevail. God would avenge His children who are Persistent, importunate, in their walking with Him in Prayer.
• Believers must not be lazy in Prayer. We have authority in the name of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19).
• God Promises to avenge on the enemies of those who are His; who called on Him day and night, speedily (Luke 18:7,8).
• We have the privilege to approach God through the Lord Jesus Christ which those who are in the world, and not in Christ Jesus, the unbelievers, could not do:
  "LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME of NEED" (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

• Life is not a funfair. The devil would want to challenge whoever declares his or her allegiance for Christ Jesus (Revelation 12:17).

• Note:
  (i) The kingdom of darkness is real (1 Peter 5:8).
  (ii) They are out to devastate the elects, the chosen ones of God (Revelation 12:17).
  (iii) God has given us the name of Jesus Christ, the authority in it, to deal with the devil and his agents (Luke 10:19).
• We are potential winners in Christ Jesus. The battle being talked about is, the battle or fight that has already been decided in our favour—we cannot lose, but only to WIN (Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• Whatever hold on your life; sickness or diseases, such is broken now in Jesus' name.
  Peace!