Chapter 1
1 Follow the Rules To Get Results..............................................
Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit....
—Ephesians 6:
There are different kinds of prayer, just as there are different
games in sports, each with its own set of rules. Rules that apply
to baseball do not apply to football. If you tried to use the same
rules, you would get confused.
Similarly, there are rules or spiritual laws that govern certain
kinds of prayer, but do not apply to other kinds of prayer. We
make a mistake by lumping together all kinds of prayer, because
if we take the rules that govern one kind of prayer and try to
apply them to another kind of prayer, we won't see the desired
results.
As we look in God's Word to discover the kind of prayer that
gets results, notice again our text, Ephesians 6:18. Moffatt's
translation reads, "... praying ... with all manner of prayer. ..."
Still another translation says, "Praying with all kinds of prayer.
..."
For example, some people think every prayer should end
with the words, "If it be Thy will." They say this is the way Jesus
prayed. But Jesus did not pray this way every time. When Jesus
prayed at Lazarus' tomb, He didn't pray, "If it be Thy will." He
said, "... Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me" (John
11:41). He then commanded Lazarus to come forth, and Lazarus
came forth.
This prayer was one to change circumstances. When you
pray to receive something or to change circumstances, never
pray "if." If you do, you're using the wrong rule and it won't
work.
The only kind of prayer in which Jesus included an "if" was
a prayer of consecration and dedication. In the Garden of