The Art of Prayer

from Kenneth E. Hagin’s book

By Irene Rødland Toft

According to Kenneth E. Hagin, this is an essential handbook on prayer, for all believers, prayer groups and congregations. Kenneth E. Hagin takes us to God's Word to explain various forms of prayer, as well as how to pray in the most effective way. If God is to accomplish what He desires, it is important that the true art of prayer is practiced in the church.

Next, I want to look at a few teaching points from this book that have spoken to me in particular.

Love is the foundation for successful prayer

According to Kenneth E. Hagin, God's form of love is agape - an important prerequisite for success in prayer life.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)

"… because the love of God (agape) has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us."

God is love, and through the new birth God became our father and God's love nature was born in our spirit. We are children of a family of love, and love is, according to Bro. Hagin, the foundation of all activity in the Body of Christ on earth.

When it comes to prayer, it means that I can choose to let myself be dominated by agape love. According to Reidt (who Kenneth Hagin sometimes quotes in the book), this means loving people and renouncing one's own will in order to pray and intercede for all people. That we lay down our lives for the good of humanity. 

John 15:13 (NKJV)

"Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

What has especially spoken to me through the teaching in this book is agape. I have learned at RHEMA to correct my thoughts according to what the truth of God's Word says. It is important to let agape love dominate thoughts, actions and attitudes. This also applies to prayer, because agape is the basis for successful prayer. As an example, I have found that when I choose to practice forgiving, praying for and blessing people who have treated me unfairly, it has preserved my heart. It has also strengthened my relationships with people.

Compassion and Prayer

Jesus had compassion for the people around him, and through this compassion people were healed. 

Matthew 14:14 (NKJV)

"And when Jesus went out (of the boat) He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick."

Matthew 9:36-38 (NKJV)

"36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd.

37 The He said to His disciples, «The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Here we see that Jesus says that we should share in this compassion by praying for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. This is something The Holy Spirit reminds me of in prayer.

According to Reidt, the works that Jesus did were born out of compassion and love. The believers are to engage in these, including prayer, as a result of sharing in Jesus' love and compassion.

John 14:12 (KJV)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also;  and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my FatherHe shall do greater works than these: for I go unto my Father."

I have learned at RHEMA Bible Training Center that it is important to be a hearer of the Word as well as a doer of the Word, James 1:22-25. Practicing prayer as taught in this book will produce results, for God's Word is the foundation of prayer.

I would recommend Christians to use this book actively as a handbook. I would also recommend churches to use it in teaching about prayer.

---

Source: The Art of Prayer by Kenneth E. Hagin. Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications. Copyright RHEMA Bible Church AKA Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. Please visit www.faithlibrary.org for additional materials.

Bønnens kunst er tilgjengelig fra www.agape.no