THE POWER OF PRAYER

LUKE 11:1

A. PRAYER
  1. Is not just a repetition of so many words: Matt. 6:5; 11:1; Eccl. 5:2
  2. But a heart to heart communion with God: It is opening the heart to our heavenly Father, our best friend; also, listening to what He will say to us.
  3. When we come to God in prayer in this spirit, we cannot help but be affected by this fellowship:
    1. As Moses was - Ex. 34:29, 30
    2. As our blessed Lord was - Luke 9:28, 29
B. THE POWER OF PRAYER
  1. Someone has said, and very truthfully, "More things are wrought through prayer than by any other means."
    1. Take a retrospective look into the history of prayer -
      1. Israel was victorious so long as the hands of Moses were stretched upward in prayer - Ex. 17:11, 12
      2. The scene before the servant of Elisha changed, new vistas were opened to him, when Elisha prayed. 2 Ki. 6:16, 17
      3. The law of nature was superseded, and a nation was converted through the prayer of Elijah - 1 Ki. 18:36-39
    2. The story of prayer is one of power far beyond our minds to comprehend.
  2. The secret of this power is threefold:
    1. It comes because of our connection with the Lord Jesus Christ - John 6:44; 14:13
    2. Prayer connects us with God, the true source of all power in heaven and in earth.
    3. Nothing is too hard for Him; all things are possible for Him.
  3. Faith, childlike faith, is a third secret of the power of prayer:
    1. Note the words of Christ - Matt. 17:20, 21; 21:22
    2. Faith is the victory that overcometh all obstacles - 1 John 5:4, 5
    3. Prayer changes things -
      1. It influenced the Son of God - Luke 9:29
      2. It transformed Stephen - Acts 7:55
      3. It will influence your life day by day - Deut. 33:25
      4. A simple prayer by Elisha did what the army of Israel could not do - 2 Ki. 6:17, 18
      5. It caused nature to react in the days of the apostolic church - Acts 4:31
    4. Prayer has brought visible and instant results for some of God's people.
      1. Daniel received a quick and revealing answer - Dan. 9:20
      2. Blind Bartimaeus received his sight in answer to his persistent cry for help - Mark 10:47-52
C. THE LAW OF PRAYER
  1. Prayer is, like all God's blessings, subject to the law of prayer:
    1. It is most effective when it is in accordance with the will of God - 1 John 5:14
    2. That is why it is best to include these words in every request we bring to God, "not as I will, but as thou seest it is best for me."
  2. None of us knows how to pray; our minds do not always comprehend the end results of our prayers:
    1. Could we see the end from the beginning, we would not make some of our requests to God because they will not be, if granted, for our own good.
    2. So we must trust the granting of our requests to the wisdom of our heavenly Father - Rom. 8:26
  3. What is still more important, if that is possible, is:
    1. That we live our prayers; that we act our prayers.
    2. He, who knows all things, knows how we will use the power of prayer.
    3. Will the power of prayer magnify the Lord or will it be used for self-exaltation?
    4. Will it be used for the encouragement of others to seek God in prayer? or shall we neglect our duty to God and our fellowmen?


Design © John Bryant 2011