Prayer (Everyone Does It... Few Are Sure It Works) Part 1: Keys

Part 1: Keys

Prayer is universal. Every human being has a natural inclination to address a deity. Even the atheist when he mashes his finger prays to someone. Every religion does it. Yet very few people believe it works. The sad thing is that it is the smallest meeting in every church. Why? As human beings we are inclined to resist things that don't work. People have tried prayer and feel that it doesn't work so they avoid it at all cost. People don't attend prayer meeting. That's why we relegate it to a few old church mothers. However, there is no ministry in the bible called intercession. The bible says that all men should pray.

If we all would be honest, we prayed for years and did not see results. I believe the reason why is because we don't know the keys and principles to prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Okay... what are keys? Keys are principles. Keys give you authority, access, power, and control over something. If I give you the keys to my car you have access to it at any time. The principle of prayer gives you access to heaven so we can control and impact what happens here in the earth.

Have you ever asked these question: "Does God hear me?" "Why does it seem like my prayers are hitting the sealing and bouncing back at me?" " Is God mad at me?" "Why is prayer so boring and fruitless for me?" Most of the time we pray and wonder if it is even making sense, but because of the pressure of doing it we do it as a ritual without expecting any results.

He said I will give you the keys to heaven. Heaven is a place. In Matthew 18:19 he says "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."These are powerful statements. These are prayer keys. Jesus came to bring a kingdom to earth. Not a religion. We have developed a religion that is not compatible with the kingdom. Thats why he said keys of the kingdom and not to the kingdom. There are many keys of the kingdom. We have been using the wrong key to unlock things in our life through prayer. Prayer is giving God permission to impact your life. In order to get the right results in prayer you have to use the right key.

Note: Prayer is not automatic. Just because you can talk does not mean you can pray. Jesus told the pharisees " you think you will be heard because of your much speaking." In other words long drawn out prayers does not guarantee that the lord will answer you. So that tears the thoery down that prayer is just talking to God. Let me prove it. In Luke 11:1 Jesus went to pray and when he finished the disciples asked him to teach them to pray. When they ask him Jesus did not say "just talk." He gave them a pattern to go by. He taught them for three chapters on prayer. Prayer has to be learned.

See you tomorrow for part 2