Kenneth Copeland — Lack of Knowledge of Our Right-Standing
The second great hindrance to prayer is the lack of knowledge
of our right-standing with God. Most people do not understand
what God actually did in Christ Jesus at Calvary. Jesus
became our sin so we could become the righteousness of God
(2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness is right-standing with God.
Your righteousness is vitally important in the field of prayer. We
saw in Ephesians 6 that righteousness is a breastplate.
Your right-standing with God gives you the right to
approach God in prayer without a sense of guilt,
sin or condemnation. There is a confidence you
experience, knowing you will receive when you ask
in faith, believing.
Romans 3:21-23 says, “But now the righteousness of God
without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and
the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith
of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there
is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God.” The Apostle Paul said the right to expect God to
answer your prayers is upon all and unto all them that believe.
No man on earth deserves God’s righteousness. But when he
receives Jesus as Lord, he is placed in right-standing with God.
He is made the righteousness of God by grace through faith.
The Word says God is not holding sin against the world
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21). He sent Jesus to take your place. If
you recognize this and let Him be your righteousness, God
will answer your prayer as if Jesus Himself prayed it. When
you realize that, you have your breastplate of righteousness
working for you. Something priceless is working in your life.
You may think you are the worst sinner the world has ever
seen. Any man who considers himself so far gone God cannot
reach him, must think that he is bigger than God. Through
the new birth, Jesus has made us the righteousness of God
through His sacrifice at Calvary. No sin Satan could dream up
is big enough to change that!
Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offence death
reigned by one….” (That, of course, was the offense committed
by Adam in the Garden of Eden. It brought death into the
earth.) “…much more they which receive abundance of grace
and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one,
Jesus Christ.” As born-again believers, we have been made
the righteousness of God in Christ. Therefore, we have been
given the ability to reign in this life. We must take advantage
of our right-standing relationship with God. We will then see
the results we desire in prayer.
James 5:16 says, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.” You may have read that verse of
scripture and thought, You know, if I were just righteous….
Jesus died for you! The righteousness He bought for you at
Calvary is more than enough to make your prayers effective.
Romans 5:17 says righteousness is a gift and Romans 3:22
says it is “unto all…them that believe.”
God is moved when a man believes His Word. If you are
believing, then James 5:16 says your prayer will avail much.
Faith qualifies you for answered prayer!
You have a God-given right to expect God to answer your
prayer. Don’t let the devil deceive you into thinking God will
not answer. Jesus said whatsoever you shall ask the Father
in His Name, He will give it to you. As long as you can pray,
believing, you will not be defeated. If you know your right standing
with God, you will not be overcome.
