Venezuela has the most oil reserves in the world. However, unlike Saudi Arabia or other countries we associate with oil, they do not have a lot of wealth. Over 90% of the people in Venezuela live in poverty. Oil is considered black gold and although it has all that oil, it does not utilize it to improve the plight of their nation.
In a similar way, Christians are like Venezuela. Prayer is the greatest gift and asset we have from God. James 5:17-18 says Elijah was a man like us and when he prayed earnestly it did not rain for over 3 years. Prayer has the power to change the world, yet so few of us pray. We fail to realize how amazing it is that God avails himself to prayer.
We are privileged to have prayer. In Luke 11:9-10 what does Jesus our Lord want us to take away from His parable? The attitude we should have towards prayer. Normally we are down and we doubt if our prayers are heard or answered. The Lord requires a specific attitude that we must have before we pray. The prerequisite to prayer is to believe that prayer works. God hears and answers prayer! If we grasp this, then we can pray on. Even though we have prayed and tried, we must not let go of prayer because God truly does hear and answer. This must be our conviction otherwise prayer will fail. Remember that prayer is a privilege. This parable is telling us God wants us to be tenacious. He wants you to fight on. He wants you to keep pressing on in prayer no matter what happens. We pray until God’s will be done. Sometimes the answer might be delayed or not the answer we expected but God does answer for His glory and our good.
In life, we have many challenges. We constantly face formidable enemies on all sides. We deal with them in constant prayer. In Psalm 3:4, King David is running from his son Absolom. “I was calling to Yahweh with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain”. The verb tense is present tense, “was calling”, showing that David was constantly praying. This is how we deal with our enemies.
God works all around us and in us. Prayer works. That’s the prerequisite. That’s where we start with prayer. How do you know prayer works? Because Jesus said it. He is trustworthy. Jesus has credibility, and He never changes, so His words can be trusted forever. As God’s representative, Jesus says to you that God answers your prayers. He was not just any teacher. He is God incarnate, sinless, and perfect. His word even saves you (Romans 10:17). So our prayers stand on the words of Jesus, the God-man. He said, “knock and it will be opened to you”. This is His promise to answer prayer. In a world where so many people are untrustworthy, politicians, CEOs, and professors, God is not like them and is completely trustworthy. Whatever He says, it will be done, according to His will. Sometimes God’s answers will bring challenges and difficulties (Genesis 15:13-14) but if we have confidence in salvation then we must have confidence in prayer. We pray because we are saved. It is silly to believe in Jesus’ words of salvation and doubt His words in prayer.
Another takeaway is to pray unceasingly. Prayer is like breathing. Jesus prayed continually through His life and ministry on earth. Consider how powerful Jesus is. He is almighty sovereign God (John 2:19, Colossians 1:16-17). He is the Creator. Nothing happens in this universe without his permission. Every breath we take is allowed by His sovereignty. Jesus promised He would answer when we seek Him. John 15:7 Does this verse excite you and draw you to prayer based on the promise made? Ask and it will be done for you. King David is an example of praying according to Jesus’ promise. David had sinned severely and knew his child was born out of wedlock. (2 Samuel 12:15-16). Yet David prayed boldly for his son because God is full of mercy and grace. We can always go to the Lord because of His promise and power.
However in reality we know we hear many no’s from God. Life can be like that. We only remember the no’s so we get discouraged and disheartened. Or we ask why our prayers are not effective even though God commands us to pray. James 4:2 says you do not have because you do not ask. This shows we do not truly pray faithfully. Prayer is not going up to a vending machine, it is communion with God. Relationships take time and investment. A quick meal prayer or random cries do not constitute a relationship with God. The purpose of prayer is to know God. Knowing God requires your time and persistence. So hear Jesus when He says to keep praying.
We also pray with wrong motives. Sometimes God answers prayers with wrong motives for His glory such as when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking and water still came out. However, God says there are hindrances to prayer. For example, God does not answer the prayers of an unforgiving spirit (Matthew 6:15, Matthew 27:46). As a believer it is unacceptable and tragic to hold an unforgiving spirit. How can we who are forgiven so wonderfully hold on to wrongs against us and use our hurt as an excuse. Shame on you if you live in that past. God desires you to forgive others before coming before Him (Mark 11:25-26, Matthew 5:23-24).
Therefore Habitually repent and habitually forgive. This opens the channels that have been clogged. The stream of prayer can flow with repentance and forgiving others. Prayer will be your hope and confidence in both good times and bad. Prayer is the promise of God. May we taste the goodness of God now on earth through prayer.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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