Believing Prayer Is Never Surprised.  
The church gathered in the home of John Mark in Acts 12:12 were involved in 
"believing prayer."   Against all odds they prayed on. Even when they did 
not believe for a miracle they persisted, they prayed on, they prevailed 
knowing that God Was Able to do better and more than they could ask –  He 
did!

The Only Impossibility Is Pleasing God Without Faith
Prayer is, and always should be, the core of the church.  It is the 
umbilical cord that ties us to the Lord Jesus.  Jesus said, "Without me you 
can do (accomplish) nothing."  Paul goes further expounds this truth in 
Hebrews 11 when he declares that it is virtually impossible to please God 
without being an on-fire prayer warrior.  Listen...

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that comes to God 
must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently 
seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Conditions for Answered Prayer
To put it another way, without being involved in believing prayer you 
cannot expect that you can approach God, nor receive any reward from Him.   
Let's look at the conditions of believing prayer:

I. Believe that He is...
        1. He is Able - Jeremiah 32:17,27
        2. He is Sovereign - I Chronicles 29:11
        3. He is Still on the Throne - Ephesians 1:18-21
        4. He is Listening - Psalm 34:15

II. Believe he rewards "diligent seekers"
        1. He Answers - Isaiah 59:1-2
        2. He Does More Than We Ask - Ephesians 3:20
        3. He Rewards Us - Luke 11:9-13


Are You a "Believer?"  

Hope in the human sense is not faith. It is wishful thinking, or wishful 
praying, or wishful asking. God is not a wishing well that we should cast 
our prayer coins at His feet and hope for the best. Wishful praying is not 
praying in faith. It is not part of Jesus’ promise that "when you pray, 
believe that you shall have…"  Jesus meant "know assuredly" that you will 
have, not wish hard enough and maybe God will hear you. 


Believing Prayer
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." – James 5:18 KJV
"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" – James 5:18 NIV

Faith is Essential - Hebrews 11:6   
     1) Believe He is 
     2) Believe He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Faith is Demonstrable - 
Show me your faith. Faith without works (or evidence) is dead. Show your 
faith and its work.  James 2:17-26 How? Be specific, persistent, believe.

Faith is Tangible - 
Anchored on God’s Word believing for something. Faith is always related to 
the "promises" - the Word of God and the work of God.


Be Specific
Matthew 20:30-34 Two blind me approach Jesus with shouts. Jesus asks, "What 
do you want me to do for you." 

Matthew 18:19 Teaches us to agree together with 2-3 people "as touching any 
thing" then ask and it will be done.

Be Persistent
James 1:7-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers 
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that 
man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man 
is unstable in all his ways.

Luke 11:8-13 Jesus teaches us to be persistent before God with our needs. 
That is, we are to be urgent about it. 

Prayer is "dominant desire." What do you really want God to do? What do you long for?

Be Absolutely Convinced (Believe)
Mark 5:36 When a ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus for his daughter the 
news was that she was already dead. But Jesus said, "Be not afraid. Only 
believe."  Can you believe God when it appears all is lost?

Mark 9:23-24 A man with a demonized epileptic son came to Jesus crying for 
help. Jesus said, "If you believe, all things are possible to him that 
believes."  The man responded in desperation. "Lord, I believe - help my 
unbelief!"

Mark 11:23 Jesus again challenges his disciples when they saw him wither a 
fig tree with his words. "Have faith in God. For I say to you that whoever 
shall say to this mountain, Be removed and cast into the sea, and shall not 
doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall 
come to pass, he shall have whatever his says. Therefore whatever things 
you desire when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will 
have them."


         WHAT ARE YOU ASKING AND BELIEVING GOD TO DO?


Don’t pretend you have faith when you really don’t believe it is going to 
happen. That is praying a lie. Exercise real faith in God’s goodness and 
promises. This kind of praying takes more time. One must come boldly to the 
throne of grace, but carefully and sincerely. 

Be specific in the request that you long for, believe God wants, and are 
willing to persist for.

In your life and family

1.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
2.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
3.  ____________________________________________________________________

In your church.

1.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
2.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
3.  ____________________________________________________________________


In the lives of others.

1.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
2.  ____________________________________________________________________
 
3.  ____________________________________________________________________


Take some time to consider your "faith requests." Be sure they are from the 
heart, not from the top of your head. You must long for them, believe for 
them, and plead for them. You must be willing to prevail for them, agonize 
over them, then search and claim God’s promises for them. Are you praying 
according to the will of God?  Are you praying for God’s purpose, God’s 
kingdom or your own?