The Power of Prayer
August/02/ 2020
The Power of Prayer
Romans 8:28 “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.”
Three foundational ideas about prayer:
1. Prayer is more about God doing something IN YOU than God doing something FOR YOU.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.’
2. Prayer REMINDS US that we are not in control and KEEPS US close to the One who is.
James 4:8 NASB “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”
3. Prayer isn’t only about ASKING it’s also about TRUSTING.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight”
James 5:13-18 NIV “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
If we are going to have an effective prayer life we must…
1. Pray with FAITH
James 5:13-15 NIV “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Matthew 21:21-22 NLT “Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Matthew 17:20 “I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you.”
2. Pray with FOCUS
James 5:13-15 NLT “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
James 4:2 NIV “you do not have because you do not ask…”
When you pray specific prayers you get specific answers and God gets the glory.
3. Pray with FEELING
James 5:16b NKJV “…the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:17 NLT “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Prayers that TOUCH OUR HEARTS are prayers that TOUCH GOD’S HEART.
4. Pray with FREQUENCY
James 5:16 MSG “make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.”
James 5:17-18 NLT “ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
5. Pray with FRIENDS
Matthew 18:19-20 NIV “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
When we agree together in prayer 2 things happen:
a. Jesus has promised he will be there
b. God will answer
James 5:16 NLT “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people…”
