Systematic theologian and author, Wayne Grudem, says, “The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”
Understanding the authority of scripture is crucial to effective and fervent prayer. When the scriptures say something, it’s God himself who has said it. If we believe and obey it, we have believed and obeyed God. If we disbelieve or disobey it, we have disbelieved and disobeyed God.
God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29).
Here are some powerful statements God makes about prayer
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV).
Notice that it says, “believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” It doesn’t say “believe that you will receive it”. It says, “believe that you have received it”. You do the believing at the time of prayer. It also doesn’t say, “and it is yours”, as it right now. It says, “and it will be yours”. In the future, later than the time of prayer, you will get the physical manifestation of the prayer.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 NIV
Notice that John’s words above also re-enforce the idea from Mark 11:24 that we “believe we have received it” at the time of prayer. John says if we ask something according to his will…” we know that we have what we have asked of him.” That’s at the time of prayer. That’s God’s word and God never lies. In fact, he cannot lie. So we must believe it and act on it in prayer.
The best way to pray is to:
- Prayerfully ascertain God’s will. Use George Muller’s approach. Always find a Bible verse that speaks to that subject. The word and the spirit must be combined. Then pray and make sure that the spirit of peace confirms it to you that that word is true, that you are the servant called to intercede for it, and that the timing is right for God to bring it about.
- Pray God’s will to be done. This is when you embark on regularly praying about it until it comes to pass.
Going back to the Mark 11:23-24 NCV, we see the scriptures say:
“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you. So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you.” Mark 11:23-24 NCV
And you can believe you have received them when the things you ask for in prayer are according to God’s will.