The Genesis of Prayer

Prayer is mankind exercising dominion on the earth by giving God the freedom to intervene in the earth’s affairs.

When we pray but don’t receive answers to our prayers, we may wonder “What is the purpose of prayer? Doesn’t God do whatever He wants to do, anyway? Why should we have to pray when God already---

· Knows everything

· Controls everything

· Predetermines everything

· Does not change”

These are valid questions. To answer them, we first need to understand essential truths about God’s nature and His purpose for mankind that lead to the necessity of prayer. Notice these truths:

1. Humanity was created to reflect God’s nature and to have fellowship with him.

2. Humanity was created to have dominion .

3. The meaning of dominion.

4. The nature of prayer.

5. Purpose is the raw material of prayer.

6. God’s will is the confidence of our prayer.

7. Prayer is exercising the authority of dominion.

8. Broken relationship with God means broken effectiveness in prayer.

9. God’ purpose for mankind is eternal.

PRINCIPLES

1. God is a God of purpose, and His purposes are eternal.

2. God created mankind for and with a desired purpose.

3. God desired offspring with whom He could share a relationship of love, as well as rulership and dominion.

4. God created mankind in His image, with His nature and moral character, and with sovereign will.

5. God gave mankind the freedom to function as the legal authority on earth. He place His will for the earth on the cooperation of man’s will. This purpose never changed, even after the fall of mankind.

6. God’s will is His purpose for mankind. To fulfill what they were created to be and do, men women must desire to do God’s will.

7. Prayer is an expression of mankind’s unity and relationship of love with God. It is also an expression of mankind’s affirmation of and participation of God’s purposes.

8. Prayer is the involvement of one’s whole self with God.

9. Prayer is the medium through which the human spirit affects and is affected by the will and purpose of the divine Creator.

10. Prayer is not optional. It is essential for the fulfillment of God’s purpose on earth.

11. Prayer is man giving God the freedom to intervene in earth’s affairs.

12. When we know God’s purpose and will, when we are obedient to it, and when we ask God to fulfill it, and when ask God to fulfill it, God will grant what we ask of Him.

13. When Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God, their effectiveness in prayer was also broken. True prayer is maintained through oneness of heart and purpose with God.

CONCLUSION

Prayer is not option for the believer. Time spent in prayer is not time wasted but time invested. As we embrace the will of God, as we live before Him in the righteousness of Christ, and as we seek to fulfill His purposes, nothing will be able to hinder our prayers, and we will begin to understand Jesus’ saying, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19;26).