We are going to look at prayer this morning. Prayer is without a doubt the most powerful tool that a child of God has to get things done for his Lord. Prayer can go where we cannot go. Prayer can be offered anytime, from anywhere, and can reach any place. Prayer can touch lives that we cannot touch (because it enlists the power of Almighty God). Prayer is direct communication with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . ” See what the Apostle Paul said we are to do after getting all dressed up in “the whole armour of God” -- Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . ” I am thankful that this is a praying church! (If you don’t believe or are unaware of that just check our Facebook group and page when a prayer request is listed there). In the first four verses of this fourth chapter of the book James warns us of some problems that, if we are not careful, can creep into our prayer lives. First of all there is the impertinence, or assumption and arrogance, of unoffered prayer. James 4:2: “ . . . ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” There is the impertinence of unoffered prayer. Then there is the issue of unacceptable prayer. James 4:3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Some prayers are not answered because they are unacceptable - “Ye ask amiss” (AMISS = improperly; with bad intent. Motive and manner are under discussion.) We have seen the impertinence of unoffered prayer, and we have seen the issues with “unacceptable” prayer. Now for the next few minutes we want to examine the essentials of undeniable prayer. There must be:

I. SENSITIVITY TO THE SPIRIT -- Vs. 5.

II. SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER - VV. 6-7a.

III. STANDING AGAINST THE DEVIL - VS. 7b.

IV. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD - VS. 8.

V. SOBERNESS IN PURPOSE VV. 9-10.