Thursday, September 24, 2020

Everything by Prayer

 Everything by Prayer (Abbreviated summary)

by J. Irvin Overholtzer


ASKING

The first law of prayer is asking. God knows our needs, of course.  Then why does He not supply them whether we pray or not?  …Asking God for the things we need is just and right, for all things belong to God. Should we not ask the owner of them if we want them?

The Second Law-ASKING IN THE WILL OF GOD

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). Our God is glad to give us, through prayer, anything and everything that would be good for us. But in our shortsightedness, we often ask for things that would prove harmful if we received them. Should God give us these? Would He be kind if He did? Surely not. Is this not one reason why there is so much unanswered prayer?

The Third Law-ASKING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

In John 14:14, we have a most wonderful prayer promise, “If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus, in all of His glorified omnipotence, stands ready to keep this promise if it is claimed in faith. This promise has been so generally known that scarcely a prayer is uttered without the expression “In Jesus‟ name,” or some similar expression being made a part of the prayer. …Christ is the believer‟s High Priest, and none can come to God except by Him.

The Fourth Law-ASKING IN FAITH

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6, 7). In order to have and hold a faith that does not waver it must rest on something secure. It must rest on the Word of God.

The Fifth Law-ASKING BY A RIGHTEOUS MAN

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). This text imposes righteousness as a condition to answered prayer. Of course, we must have the imputed righteousness which becomes ours when we believe in Christ or we could not have answered prayer at all. But does this text refer to that righteousness? It certainly does not…

While we remain in this state of rebellion or neglect, our Father cannot bless us or answer our prayers. To confess our sins means to face them out with and before our Father—to acknowledge them, to again pledge to endeavor to do His will. Until this is done we will pray in vain for favors.

The Sixth Law-ASKING FOR DEFINITE THINGS

To obtain the fullest results in our prayer life, the sixth law of prayer must be known and obeyed. This law is that our prayers must be definite.  …Some persons seem to have no vision of things to pray for. They do not sense the need of this old world, or they do not realize their privilege of bringing omnipotent power to bear upon the problems of themselves and others. …

Those who do definite praying, God-directed praying, will soon be able to look back on many answered prayers, so definitely answered that they cannot be doubted. This will surely lead to an increase in faith, and to more and better praying and serving.

The seventh Law-ASKING BY ONE WHO IS GRATEFUL

Praise and thanksgiving are fundamental to true praying. The Word says “in everything give thanks.” If we keep our vision clear, there is no hour so dark nor struggle so hard but that there is an occasion for thanksgiving. Paul and Silas sang praises in the Philippian jail.

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© 1957, 2002 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.

https://cefnebraska.org/artillery/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Everything-By-Prayer-J.-Irvin-Overholzer.pdf

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