“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).
I. P-revailing
“… as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”
(Gen. 32:28).
- To prevail means to become effective, to succeed, to triumph.
- There are times when we must prevail in prayer as Jacob did. God does things when we pray persistently that He otherwise would not do.
II. R-equesting
“Ask, and it shall be given you” (Matt. 7:7).
- Some Christians fail to pray as they should until trouble strikes.
- We must pray often, asking largely. God desires our daily fellowship with Him in prayer, petition, and praise.
III. A-ccepting
“… whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matt. 21:22).
- Many Christians pray often, but they fail to receive from God because they lack faith.
- We must ask with expectancy, accepting God’s blessings by faith (Mark 11:24).
IV. Y-ielding
“… not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
- Jesus was facing the cross. His life was at stake, but He yielded to His Father’s will.
- Prayers will be answered; burdens will be lifted; broken homes will be mended; and souls will be won to Christ when we yield our will to God’s will.
V. E-vangelizing
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
- Our prayers can reach around the world to touch missionaries, loved ones, and the unsaved.
- The prayer of faith is effective, both near and far, to sustain, save, and secure.
VI. R-ejoicing
“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).
- Rejoicing comes with the anticipation of answered prayer. It is an act of faith preceding the answer (Ps. 91:15).
- We must praise the Lord after our prayers are answered. God is worthy of our praise.
Borrowed from: Spray, R. E. (1978).
Easy-to-Use Sermon Outlines(pp. 38–39).
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House