Characteristics
of
Acceptable Prayer
“Continue earnestly in
prayer, being vigilant
in it with thanksgiving”
~ Colossians 4:2
Acceptable Prayer
• Offered in Faith
Matthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6
Matthew 21:21-22
So Jesus answered and said to them,
"Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and
do not doubt, you will not only do what was
done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this
mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the
sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things
you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he who comes to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.
Acceptable Prayer
• Offered in Faith
Matthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6
• Offered in Harmony with God’s Will
1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)
1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in
Him, that if we ask anything according to His
will, He hears us.
Luke 22:40-42
When He came to the place, He said to
them, "Pray that you may not enter into
temptation." 41 And He was withdrawn from
them about a stone's throw, and He knelt
down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is
Your will, take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you
ask amiss, that you may spend it on your
pleasures.
Too often, rather than expressing our
desire that God’s will be done. We express
our own desires in prayer. (Selfishness)
Acceptable Prayer
• Offered in Faith
Matthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6
• Offered in Harmony with God’s Will
1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)
• Offered by the Righteous
1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the LORD are on the
righteous, And His ears are open to their
prayers; But the face of the LORD is against
those who do evil."
James 5:16-18
Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a
man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not
rain on the land for three years and six
months. 18 And he prayed again, and the
heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its
fruit.
Isaiah 59:1-2
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it
cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have
separated you from your God; And your sins
have hidden His face from you, So that He
will not hear.
Acceptable Prayer
• Offered in Faith
Matthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6
• Offered in Harmony with God’s Will
1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)
• Offered by the Righteous
1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)
• Offered with Persistence
Luke 18:1-8 (Read); Acts 2:42
Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acceptable Prayer
• Offered in Faith
Matthew 21:21-22; Hebrews 11:6
• Offered in Harmony with God’s Will
1 John 5:14; Luke 22:40-42; ( cf., James 4:3)
• Offered by the Righteous
1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16-18 (cf., Isaiah 59:1-2)
• Offered with Persistence
Luke 18:1-8 (Read); Acts 2:42
• Offered in the Name of Jesus
Ephesians 5:20; Hebrews 7:24-25;
Ephesians 5:20
“Giving thanks always for all things to God
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
(Singing and Prayer in the Spirit)
1. To the Father
2. In the name of the Son
3. Note: Proper use of term “Lord”
Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:11, “… into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 2:20, “For if, after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, …”
2 Peter 3:2, “… the apostles of the Lord and
Savior”
2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ…”
Hebrews 7:24-25
But He, because He continues forever, has
an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He
is also able to save to the uttermost those
who come to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them.
Conclusion
The ability to pray to God
and receive answers in
our lives is truly one of the
greatest blessings we can
have as the children of
God.
May all our prayers be
acceptable to Him!