Touré Roberts - Prayer, The Forgotten Advantage - Part 2

I believe with all my heart that this is what God is trying to give you today, and I believe that prayer is the Forgotten Advantage. I believe it’s a tool that will help you get there. We started this last week, and we talked about prayer; we defined what it means to pray. You remember that it’s to invoke the resources of the infinite and release them, to bring them into the finite. In other words, to take Heaven’s resources. Sometimes what you need to break through what you’re experiencing in this earthly realm will be found in that realm. Sometimes what you’re up against, and I would argue more often than we might realize, is not a natural thing, and we are trying to get through a spiritual barrier with natural weapons. So, when we pray—and this is the Forgotten Advantage—we bring resources from a greater realm down to override our difficulties in this realm. It’s to invoke the resources of the infinite and to bring them into the finite realm. We mentioned that, you remember? We discussed how, through prayer, you don’t have to accept life as it is. There are certain things in our lives that we tolerate, and there’s a scripture that says, «You have not because you ask not.» The truth is, if we fail to pray, we fail to realize, or we fail to cause to be manifested in our lives, the things that God has already said yes to. If we don’t pray, we might never know what God has already granted. There are prayers that God has already answered that you haven’t prayed. That’s why it’s the Forgotten Advantage. What if there’s something that isn’t happening in my life that God has already ordained but isn’t manifesting because I haven’t asked Him about it? He’s like, «I’ve already said yes in the spirit, but you’ve been so distracted by what you need that you haven’t even asked the One who can supply it.» We talked about how prayer and faith go hand in hand, and we examined James. You remember the verse that says when a person asks, they should ask in faith, not doubting. It states that he who doubts is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways; let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord. We discussed this season called the balance season; you remember that? It’s like the in-between season—it’s not a no, but it’s not quite a yes. It’s when you’re waiting. And what do you do when you’re waiting? I submit to you that your disposition in the waiting season will determine the outcome of what you prayed for. I want to encourage you right now: it is absolutely free to be fully convicted in faith regarding what you’re expecting. It doesn’t cost you anything in the in-between season to align and agree with the outcome you’re expecting. What do you do in the in-between season? What thoughts, beliefs, or realities are you committing to during this time? Sometimes God may not manifest what you’re asking for quickly because He wants to see who you become in the waiting process. Do you fall apart, or do you stand in faith, saying, «I asked God; He said He would supply all your needs; He is faithful; He can do anything»? So, I will stand in the yes until my yes shows up. I feel that for someone right now. You are in the balance; you are waiting. It’s not a no, and you haven’t seen the yes. I dare you to rest in the yes and to fight off every thought and idea that tries to pull you into doubt. We talked about that. Today, I want to shift gears a bit, and if you weren’t here last week, I encourage you to go back to YouTube and watch that message or check our live stream archives, because that word was everything—not because I preached it, but because I believe it’s timely. We need to understand prayer, and I cannot wait to work through this series. I won’t even finish it today, but let me tell you what I think God is doing. I really believe that God needs us to be who He created us to be. I’ll say it again: you need to be who God created you to be because you are living in a world that mandates it. It requires God’s children to be powerful, not weak; to be discerning, sensitive to the Spirit, able to hear His voice and know when to move and when not to move—when to stay, when to go, when to hold, and when to let go. Solomon said there are times and seasons for everything, so we must be so close to God and so filled with Him that we will know what to do and when to do it. Are you hearing me?