Grace Fellowship Church GraceDoctrine

Grace Grace Fellowship ChurchFellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Tuesday, June 2, 2009Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Memory VerseMemory Verse

John 14:2, John 14:2, “In My Father’s house are “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have were not so, I would have

told you; for I go to prepare told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”a place for you.”

John 14:13-14John 14:13-14

The Doctrine of PrayerThe Doctrine of Prayer

Later in the Upper Room Later in the Upper Room Discourse our Lord Discourse our Lord

reiterates the points made reiterates the points made in verses 12-14.in verses 12-14.

John 15:16; 16:22-24John 15:16; 16:22-24

When a request is made in When a request is made in the name of the Son, God the name of the Son, God the Father treats it as if the the Father treats it as if the

Son made the request Son made the request Himself and the Father Himself and the Father

denies nothing to the Son.denies nothing to the Son.

Mat 18:19-20, “Again I say to Mat 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they earth about anything that they

may ask, it shall be done for them may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. by My Father who is in heaven.

For where two or three have For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I gathered together in My name, I

am there in their midst.”am there in their midst.”

Does this count?Does this count?

Does this count?Does this count?

How about this?How about this?

How about this?How about this?

Doctrine of Prayer:Doctrine of Prayer:

A. Definition:A. Definition:1. As part of equal privilege 1. As part of equal privilege of election, the Church Age of election, the Church Age

believer is a Royal Priest, and believer is a Royal Priest, and there has never been such an there has never been such an emphasis on every believer emphasis on every believer

entering into prayer. entering into prayer.

a. In past dispensations, a. In past dispensations, there were specialized there were specialized

priesthoods. A priest is a priesthoods. A priest is a person representing the person representing the

human race (believers) to human race (believers) to God.God.

b. Any system of b. Any system of specialized priesthood in specialized priesthood in the Church Age is a false the Church Age is a false

system. All believers in the system. All believers in the Church Age are catholic Church Age are catholic

priests.priests.

c. You have the right to c. You have the right to represent yourself before represent yourself before

God the Father in the name God the Father in the name of the Son and through the of the Son and through the power of the Spirit. You power of the Spirit. You

also have the right to also have the right to spiritual privacy.spiritual privacy.

2. From the Royal 2. From the Royal Priesthood originates Priesthood originates

prayers to God the Father prayers to God the Father as the recipient of all as the recipient of all

prayers.prayers.

3. Prayer from the function 3. Prayer from the function of your Royal Priesthood, of your Royal Priesthood,

gives you access and gives you access and privilege to present two privilege to present two categories of requests to categories of requests to

God the Father.God the Father.

a. Petitions; prayers for a. Petitions; prayers for yourself.yourself.

b. Intercessory prayers; b. Intercessory prayers; prayers for others.prayers for others.

4. Therefore, prayer is 4. Therefore, prayer is communication with God communication with God

for the expression of for the expression of personal needs in petition personal needs in petition

and the function of and the function of intercession for others.intercession for others.

5. The approach to prayer 5. The approach to prayer is part of God’s protocol is part of God’s protocol

plan for His Royal Family plan for His Royal Family and has a precisely correct and has a precisely correct

procedure.procedure.

a. All prayer is offered to a. All prayer is offered to God the Father, not to God the Father, not to

Jesus Christ or to the Holy Jesus Christ or to the Holy Spirit as illustrated in: Spirit as illustrated in:

Mat 6:9; Eph 1:17, 3:14; Mat 6:9; Eph 1:17, 3:14; 1 Peter 1:17.1 Peter 1:17.

b. Prayer is addressed in b. Prayer is addressed in the name of or through the the name of or through the

channel of the Son. channel of the Son.

John 14:13‑14; Heb 7:25John 14:13‑14; Heb 7:25

c. All prayer is made c. All prayer is made through the enabling power through the enabling power

(filling) of God the Holy (filling) of God the Holy Spirit, Eph 6:18.Spirit, Eph 6:18.

6. Prayer is related to the 6. Prayer is related to the omniscience of God. omniscience of God.

Isa 65:24Isa 65:24

Isa 65:24,Isa 65:24,“Before they call I will “Before they call I will

answer; while they are still answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.”speaking, I will hear.”

God hears the prayer twice: God hears the prayer twice: in eternity past, and at the in eternity past, and at the

time of the prayer.time of the prayer.

7. Prayers and their 7. Prayers and their answers are part of the answers are part of the

Divine decrees and part of Divine decrees and part of the foreknowledge of God. the foreknowledge of God. He knew and answered all He knew and answered all

your prayers in eternity your prayers in eternity past.past.

8. All answered prayer is 8. All answered prayer is part of your Portfolio of part of your Portfolio of

Invisible Assets. Invisible Assets.

a. As a primary asset, a. As a primary asset, prayer is a part of your prayer is a part of your

equal privilege of election, equal privilege of election, a part of your Royal a part of your Royal

Priesthood.Priesthood.

b. As a secondary asset, b. As a secondary asset, prayer is a part of our prayer is a part of our Christian production. Christian production.

Therefore, prayer is one of Therefore, prayer is one of the most powerful and the most powerful and

effective functions in all of effective functions in all of history.history.

9. Prayer is an invisible 9. Prayer is an invisible power directed toward power directed toward

invisible God (1 Tim 1:17) invisible God (1 Tim 1:17) in relationship to our in relationship to our

invisible assets. invisible assets.

John 4:24,John 4:24,“God is spirit, and those “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must who worship Him must

worship in spirit and worship in spirit and truth.”truth.”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Tuesday, June 2, 2009Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Tape # 09-036

Doctrine of Prayer, Part 1Doctrine of Prayer, Part 1Upper Room Discourse, Part 268Upper Room Discourse, Part 268

John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:22-24; Mat 18:19  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009