The Book of Acts follows the four Gospels and gives us the history of the early Christian Church. The early church leaders had a great devotion to prayer. The first thing they did after Jesus' ascension into heaven was to gather together and pray. 

Bringing together the 3 chapters in John that we've been looking at this week—Chapters 14-16—we see a remarkable emphasis on praying to the Father in the name of Jesus with great assurance that our prayers will be heard and answered. But there are conditions like abiding in Christ and having the Holy Spirit as our guide and helper.

In John 16:23-28 Jesus gives the strongest possible encouragement to believers to pray in his name with great confidence and joy. However, there are conditions that go along with these promises. When we come before the father in the name of Jesus we do so on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross and his righteousness, not on the basis of our own righteousness. 

Jesus told his disciples that it was in their best interest for him to leave because then he would send the Holy Spirit. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to have Christ's words abiding in us. There is a clear link between having the guidance of the Holy Spirit and abiding by Jesus' words and praying effectively. Believers in Jesus Christ never pray alone—they pray in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

In John 15, as in John 14, Jesus gives remarkable promises about prayer. Jesus calls us to abide in him, surrender to his Lordship, and be obedient to his teachings. When we abide in him we have the incredible promise of effective prayer and fruit-bearing that glorifies God. 

In John 14:16-17 Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit who dwells within believers. We need God's help to pray as we should and God gives us that help in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel of John Chapter 14 Jesus gives the strongest possible encouragement to believe in prayer. Believing prayer is prayer that will give glory to God. There is a strong emphasis on living a life of obedience to Jesus' commands in this passage and praying in his name.

In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 21, after the "cleansing of the Temple", Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in true faith which is always surrendered to God's will. Jesus gives encouragement to them to have a strong belief in prayer but is also teaching that faith is not a tool to manipulate God into giving us what we want. 

In Luke Chapter 18, Jesus teaches about the importance of humility in prayer. The parable he tells contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee with an often despised tax collector. The tax collector, however, is considered justified by God because of his humility. 

Jesus teaching on prayer found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 18 immediately follows his teaching on his return in Chapter 17.  He uses a parable to teach that they should always pray and not lose heart.  God is pleased when we persevere in trusting him.