3. Unselfishness is a condition of prevailing prayer. “Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).
4. Another condition of prevailing prayer is a conscience void of offense toward God and man. 1 John 3:20, 22: “If our heart (conscience) condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things; if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God, and whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” Here two things are made plain: first, that to prevail with God we must keep a conscience void of offense; and, second, that we must keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
5. A pure heart is also a condition of prevailing prayer. Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
6. All due confession and restitution to God and man is another condition of prevailing prayer. Proverbs 28:13: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy.”
7. Clean hands is another condition. Psalm 26:6: “I will wash mine hands in innocence, so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.” I Timothy 6:8: “I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
8. The settling of disputes and animosities among brethren is a condition. Matthew 5:23, 24: “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way. First be reconciled to thy brother, then come and offer thy gift.”
9. Humility is another condition of prevailing prayer. James 4:6: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”
10. Taking up the stumbling-blocks is another condition. Ezekiel 14:3: “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?”
11. A forgiving spirit is a condition. Matthew 6:12: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”; 15: “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.”
12. The exercise of a truthful spirit is a condition. Psalm 51:6: “Behold, Thou desireth truth in the inward parts.” If the heart be not in a truthful state, if it be not entirely sincere and unselfish, we regard iniquity in our hearts; and, therefore, the Lord will not hear us.
13. Praying in the name of Christ is a condition of prevailing prayer.
14. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is another condition. All truly prevailing prayer is inspired by the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:26, 27: “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” This is the true spirit of prayer. This is being led by the Spirit in prayer. It is the only really prevailing prayer. Do professed Christians really understand this? Do they believe that unless they live and walk in the Spirit, unless they are taught how to pray by the intercession of the Spirit in them, they cannot prevail with God?
15. Fervency is a condition. A prayer, to be prevailing, must be fervent. James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Excellent thoughts on prayer bro 🙂 Finney was a giant in his generation.
Completely agreed!
Wonderful post Pastor….Finney was a man who didnt excuse himself with God’s sovereignty but prayed revival down in his time……I believe God wants revival more than we do.
So true! Lets pray the same and much more fervent way!
Bless you bro!
Great Post Pastor. But, is this post, dealing with prayer in a general aspect or specifically on prayer for revival ? GOD Bless !!
It is applicable for both! To prevail in prayer, these are the scriptural conditions.
Let there be revival in our time
In Jesus name amen
I thank God for his Marcy that I am getting to know him through his Prayers.and hearing of his Savant Charles Finny I need more books. And My God continue blessing you as your continue pablishing his books.
This is so eyes opening that if this principle will be in place we will have the fire of revival down again and again.