Sermon Central
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Power Of Prayer Series
Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 19, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: This is perhaps the only instance in which any man has been told exactly how long he would live. Why God specified the time cannot be known now. It was, however, a full answer to the prayer of Hezekiah, and the promise is a full demonstration that God is
Power of Prayer (Isaiah 38: 1 – 8; Ref. 2 Kings 20: 1 – 11)
Illustration: A boy prays / writes a letter to God. God is not a man who will answer in a small way or partially. God answers in a big way – so that you are challenged and bear a testimony for Him in your life. My own life holds testimony to it. I came back to life at the age of 14 months.
Read Isaiah 38: 1 - 8
Background: Incident occurs 700 BC. When Isaiah went to Hezekiah, who was extremely ill, and told him of his impending death, Hezekiah immediately turned to God. God responded to His prayer allowing Hezekiah to live another 15 years. According to 2 Chronicles 32: 24 – 26, Hezekiah had a problem with pride even after his double miracle of healing and deliverance. Eventually he and his subjects humbled themselves, so God’s judgment was put off for several more generations. This is perhaps the only instance in which any man has been told exactly how long he would live. Why God specified the time cannot be known now. It was, however, a full answer to the prayer of Hezekiah, and the promise is a full demonstration that God is the hearer of prayer, and that he can answer it at once.
In Isaiah 39 we can see what happens when we don’t pray.
In Isaiah 40 we can see what God can do all the time.
Process of the power of prayer:
1. Our Actions-
a. Put our home in order (v 1) – we tend to reconcile with God only when it hits us right in the face.
(i) Personal lives – Hezekiah’s pride
(ii) Lives of children – (e.g. Eli; a pastor in Banswara dies and returns back to life.)
(iii) Life of the nation – God used Israel’s enemies to teach them lessons by losing many a battles. To chasten and set them on the right track – so that they would reconcile with God. God chastens those He loves.
b. Get into the prayer closet (vs. 2 - 3)
(i) Turning to the (God) wall: (e.g. Jonah, David; wailing wall in Jerusalem)
(ii) Reminding God for reassurance
(iii) Crying out / weeping before God: (Ref. Psalm 56: 8 “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll {8 Or put my tears in your wineskin} - are they not in your record?”) – e.g. Remember Hannah the mother of Samuel.
2. God’s Response-
a. Answer to prayer (vs. 5 – 6)
(i) Hears prayer – does God really hear our prayer? (e.g. Worship – Prayer healing at Nizwa.)
(ii) What does He want to see? Tears – signs of true / genuine reconciliation.
(iii) Deliverance – adding years to Hezekiah’s life.
b. God’s signature (vs. 7 – 8) - He can do anything! He is above all powers.
(i) Established as an unbroken covenantal promise. (e.g. rainbow for Noah & the generations to follow)
(ii) A reminder that God is sovereign and is committed to keep His promises.
(iii) He fulfills what He has articulated. (e.g. James says Elijah was a man like us and he asked God to withhold the rain for 3 ½ years and God heeded. I had asked for rain so that I would know God’s decision for our lives.)
Conclusion: In response to the power of fervent prayer, just like Hezekiah, God may change the course of our lives too. Never hesitate to ask God for radical changes if you will honor Him with those changes.
Illustration: TV Evangelist Reynard Bonke – couple of years ago raised a dead man to life through the name and power of Christ our Lord!
