Is Your Prayer Life Better Than The Devils Of Gadarenes
The devils in the clothed man pictured above named legion prayed effectively and had all their requests granted by our Lord Jesus. This man who lived in the tombs of the country of Gadarenes had an unclean spirit. Mark 5:3 tells us about this man saying Who had his dwelling among the tombs, and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces, neither could any man tame him. And always night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
Now this man had devils in him named legion that were able to have all their prayer requests answered by our Lord Jesus. Let's look at how these devils were able to have all their prayers answered quickly by Jesus. And remember don't ever let some devils get through to God in prayer faster and better than any saint of God. Don't react to your problems; Instead present all your prayer requests to the Lord Jesus before you make any final decision and the peace of God that passeth all understanding will show you the way to fix all your troubles. Philippians 4:6 says Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Learn How To Pray Effectively From
The 7 Principles In The Word Of God
Used By The Devils Of Gadarenes
To Get All Your Prayers Answered
1) Pray Reverently
First the legion devils in the man in the tombs worshipped the Lord Jesus and prayed reverently to get all their prayers answered. Mark 5:6 tells us But when he (the man in the tombs) saw Jesus afar off, he ran and (the legion devils in the man) worshipped him (Jesus). And cried with a loud voice and said, What have I to do with thee Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? These devils were smart and first worshipped Jesus calling Him the Son of the most high God before they made any prayer requests. These devils had the wisdom to first worship Jesus before making any prayer request to effectively have all their prayers answered.
Notice that these devils didn't just say Jesus this is what I need or this is what I want. Unfortunately most people when they pray only ask Jesus for their needs and fail to worship Jesus. The result is that most of their prayers are not granted. These devils of Gadarenes first worshipped and adored Jesus before making any prayer requests. The result was that all the devils' prayer requests were granted. Learn a lesson from these devils and worship Jesus first to pray effectively before you make any requests. Then your prayer request will be answered quickly. Don't let a pack of devils get through to God better or faster than you can.
We are like the little child pictured above in the toy store when we make requests in prayer. If the little child first tells her mom and dad how much she loves them and kindly thanks them for taking her to the toy store, the kid usually can get anything she wants. But if the kid starts screaming and yelling in the toy store mommy give me that new toy or candy right now, the child probably will not receive anything.
Learn a lesson from little children and worship and thank Jesus for dying for you on the cross and shedding his blood to save you before you make any prayer requests. First get saved before you make a prayer request that Jesus will grant: Repent, stop sinning, make Jesus your God, and believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again. If you're thankful and praise Jesus daily, your prayers will be answered quickly. Remember the old expression fools rush in and just ask God for things without worshipping our Lord Jesus.
And finally remember that when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus told them at Luke 11:2 When ye pray say Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Jesus told the disciples to effectively pray first start your prayer by praising, worshipping, and thanking the Lord Jesus saying Hallowed be thy name Lord Jesus; Thank you for dying for me on the cross and saving me from hell by your precious blood that you shed at the cross. Notice that the Lord's prayer doesn't say Our Father which art in heaven, this is what I'd like; Now give me my daily bread.
2) Pray Scripturally
Next notice that the devils quoted scripture to Jesus to get their prayers answered and avoid torment. Matthew 8:29 says And behold, they (the devils speaking through the man in the tombs) cried out What have we to do with thee Jesus, thou Son of God; art thou come hither to torment us before the time? These devils reminded Jesus that according to the Word of God they could not be tormented before the time of the judgment day and Jesus granted their request and did not torment them because they prayed scripturally.
These devils probably held up a bible to Jesus and said you can not torment us before the time of the judgment because Jude 6 says And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. They also quoted 2 Peter 2:4 that says God spared not the angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment. Jesus granted these devils' prayer request and did not torment them because they quoted the scriptures.
Learn a lesson from these devils and quote scriptures to Jesus when you pray to get all your requests granted quickly. Remember Jesus has to honor his Word and when you quote scriptures in your prayers your faith will increase and God will give you many blessings. For example if you need a healing tell Jesus the bible says I am crucified with Christ at Galatians 2:20 and according to 1 Peter 2:24 By your stripes Jesus (39 stripes for all 39 types of diseases that ever existed) I am healed.
3) Pray Specifically
James 4:2 Ye Have Not Because Ye Ask Not
Next we see that the devils of Gadarenes prayed specifically and had all their prayer requests granted quickly. These devils specifically asked and prayed for Jesus to grant them three requests. Don't torment us; Don't send us out of the country; And Send us into those pigs over there. These requests were quickly honored because they were specific and not general. Earlier we saw that the request don't torment us was granted. The other two requests are listed at Mark 5:10-13 that say And he (the devils again speaking through the man) besought Him (Jesus) much that He would not send them away out of the country. (This specific request was granted and the devils were not sent out of the country).
Mark 5:11 goes on to say Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought Him (Jesus) saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. (Again because of another specific prayer request the devils were allowed to enter into the swine). Learn a lesson from this story and be specific and not general in your prayer requests and Jesus will give you blessings.
Now think about this: These devils got three specific prayer requests answered in 2 minutes. When was the last time you had three prayers answered in 2 minutes? Or when was the last time you had any prayer answered? The reason most people don't have their prayers answered is because they fail to ask for anything. Most people rarely pray and ask God for anything. James 4:2 says Ye have not because ye ask not. Jesus told us at John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
In fact the true meaning of the word pray is to ask or request. In other words, talking to God, confessing your sin, and worshipping Jesus is not praying. Praying is asking God specifically for what you need. People used to say we pray or ask the court to do something. Now we say we petition the court to do something. Paul used the word pray to ask for a court hearing at Acts 24:4 that says Notwithstanding that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray (ask) thee that thou wouldst hear us at thy clemency a few words. Remember therefore that you have not prayed to the Lord Jesus until you've asked Jesus for something.
A Warning In A Dream To A Man Who Failed To Ask God For Anything In Prayer
A man dreamed he went to heaven and met an angel giving him a tour. The man saw a huge warehouse. He asked the angel what's in the big warehouse. The angel told him that's not for you to know; The man got suspicious because the door to the warehouse was open.
When the angel wasn't looking, the man went into the warehouse and looked at what was inside. The man saw a huge infinite mountain of what looked like christmas presents of all sizes. The man saw innumerable gift wrapped boxes of all sizes. When the angel saw that he was in the warehouse, the angel told the man to come out immediately and slammed the warehouse door shut. The angel told the man you weren't supposed to be in there; Don't tell anybody you saw that.
Then the man asked the angel what was all that stuff in the warehouse. The angel replied, That's all the stuff God prepared to give you in your life if you had just asked for it; But you didn't ask in prayer for it, so it remained in heaven.
Wow, God has a lot of things He wants to give us but we have to ask specifically in prayer for anything we want. But remember you have to ask correctly in God's will for anything and not ask amiss to consume it upon our lusts. James 4:3 warns us Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Jesus taught us that when we pray we should say Lord Jesus Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth. In other words when we pray we should tell God that His agenda is more important than our personal worldly requests. So therefore stay in God's will to get your prayers answered; This is done by daily reading and memorizing the bible, always attending your local church, and always praying. And if you are in God's will, like a blessed preacher of old named Jimmy Hood ask God for a million dollars so you don't have to hear God say in heaven I had a million dollars to give you but you didn't ask for it.
If you correctly pray according to God's will to receive prayer requests to lift up the name of Jesus, you will please God and get your prayers granted. And remember Proverbs 16:7 says When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. And an enemy listed at 1 Corinthians 15:20 is death. Therefore, if you make specific prayer requests according to God's will to please Jesus, the Lord will let you live longer and avoid the enemy of death.
How My Friend Bill Grady Got A Specific Prayer Request Granted
One of my favorite preachers named Dr. Bill Grady was granted a prayer request for specifically asking God for his need. After a preacher failed to pay Bill Grady enough money for teaching the Word of God, Bill Grady only had an arm and hammer baking soda box in his refrigerator with no food. While driving over a bridge in a car, Bill Grady prayed and told God specifically I need food. Can I have some food God.
Within 10 minutes after Bill Grady got home, a strange car pulled into his driveway and a big dude got out walking to Bill Grady's door. The big dude started kicking Bill Grady's door yelling Grady Grady open the door. At first Bill Grady didn't know what to do because he didn't recognize the big dude. Finally, Bill Grady opened the door and realized it was his old college friend from 30 years ago. His friend said Bill the reason I was kicking your door was because Jesus told me to bring you 7 bags of food groceries and my hands were full. Wow, God answered Bill Grady's prayer in 10 minutes and had his friend provide him with all the food his family needed.
4) Pray Fervently
The devils of Gadarenes got their prayer requests granted because they prayed fervently and persistently. Mark 5:10 tells us And he (the devils speaking through the man in the tombs) besought him (Jesus) much that He would not send them away out of the country. And then Mark 5:12 goes on to say And all the devils besought Him. Therefore, when you pray keep asking over and over again for your requests. Whenever anyone tells you if you ask more than once for anything you don't have faith, this is not of God because God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him and continually ask for their prayer requests. And even our Lord Jesus prayed the same prayer request with the exact same words three times in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus wants us to have importunity or persistence when we pray. The man pictured above at Luke 11:5 got his prayer request answered because of his importunity or persistence. This man kept knocking on his friend's door at midnight asking for three loaves of bread. His friend said Trouble me not the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee any bread. But this man was persistent and kept knocking on his friend's door asking for the bread. And because of his importunity, his prayer request was granted. Therefore, when you pray keep asking for your request even when you don't see it or feel it. God will honor your importunity and give you the blessed desires of your heart. Be not weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not.
Now notice that prayer differs from supplication. Supplication is defined as pleading and begging God persistently for your prayer requests. In other words, supplication is asking God over and over and over again for something. Sometimes, Brother Bob has had to pray for years the same request that Jesus eventually granted because of my persistence. And the bible tells us to have supplication and fervently with persistence ask for our needs in prayer at Philippians 4:6 that says Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
5) Pray Collectively
The devils of Gadarenes got their prayer requests granted because they prayed collectively together. Mark 5:12 tells us And all the devils (together in a group) besought Him (Jesus) saying Send us into the swine that we may enter into them. Because these devils prayed together in a group, Jesus granted their prayer request and let them enter into the swine.
Learn a lesson from these devils and pray in groups with one another to get your prayer requests granted. Remember the bible says that two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour. If one of them falls the other will lift him up. But woe unto you if you are alone and fall and there is no one to help you. If two lie together they have heat but how can one be warm alone. One prevails, two withstands, and a threefold cord is not easily broken. Also remember that one ant can push a crumb but ten ants can push the same crumb better.
James 5:16 tells us 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. When people pray together in groups the prayer is more powerful. Groups of people at Peter's church kept praying that Jesus would send an angel to release Peter from prison. Acts 12:5 says Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Because the church prayed for Peter to be released from prison, God sent an angel to take Peter out of prison through three iron gates to freedom. Peter thought he was having a dream but when he saw the angel go up the ladderway to heaven after completing his assignment, Peter learned that the prayers of his church friends sent the angel to set him free from prison.
6) Pray Acceptably
The devils of Gadarenes got their prayer requests granted because they prayed acceptably. Instead of the devils asking Jesus to send them into some horses, they acceptably asked Jesus to send them into some pigs because they realized that Jesus did not like pigs. These devils realized that Leviticus 11:7 says And the swine, though he divide the hoof and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud,; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat and their carcase shall ye not touch., they are unclean to you.
Brother Bob tells all my friends everywhere to pray acceptably by making time to listen to God more and more. The more you listen to God, the more God will listen to you. God speaks to us through His Word and by listening to the preachers at our local churches. Therefore the more we listen to the Word of God and the more we go to church and listen to our preachers, the more God will listen to us and answer our prayers. On the other hand, if people fail to listen to God (rarely read the bible and rarely attend church) God will not listen to them and not answer their prayers. This is stated at Zechariah 7:13 that says Therefore it is come to pass, that as He (God) cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I (God) would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts.
George Muller got 20000 prayer requests answered because he listened to God by reading through his bible 200 times during his life (100 times on his knees). Because George Muller listened to God he had 5000 prayer requests granted the exact same day he prayed them. George Muller said four hours of work after one hour of prayer accomplishes more than five hours without prayer. And Martin Luther said I have so many things to fix today; I'm gonna spend the first three hours in prayer.
7) Pray Believingly
Finally the devils of Gadarenes got their prayer requests granted because they prayed believingly. These devils prayed for things that were a good way off. Matthew 8:30 tells us And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought Him (Jesus) saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. Jesus granted their request in something that seemed impossible and a good way off allowing them to enter into the swine because the devils prayed believingly.
Learn a lesson from these devils and start praying for things that are a good way off and seem impossible to receive according to man. Remember with man it is impossible; But with God all things are possible to them that believe. In other words start asking for big things that seem a good way off. For example it's easy to pray for $5 but why not pray for $5 million dollars to further the work of Jesus and feed the hungry, bless the missionaries, and meet the needs of many orphans and widows. And one final thought; When you pray have the faith the size of a mustard size. Matthew 17:20 promises If you have faith as the grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I pray in Jesus name that this little bible study blesses multitudes all over this earth with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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