Transforming Prayer Series

TRANSFORMERS 3

Transforming Prayer Part 1

ILL: Flight 93 Video Clip– Lord’s Prayer… Most people wait until death is near, the marriage is in failing, the kids are in trouble, money is low etc. before praying. God will certainly hear our prayers of distress but why wait till destruction to pray?

ABRAHAM & ISSAC PRAYED:

and their barren wives bore a child

JACOB PRAYED:

And God changed his brothers heart so he did not kill Jacob

MOSES PRAYED:

God sent plagues on Egypt … And God removed the Plagues

And God did not destroy Israel… Waters parted…

Food fell from heaven… Water flowed out of rock

The entire Egyptian Army was destroyed

SAMSON PRAYED:

He killed more philistines blind than when he had his sight

HANNAH PRAYED:

And God gave her a son

ELIJAH PRAYED:

It did not rain for three and a half years …it rained again

Fire fell from heaven and consumed a wet altar

ELISHA PRAYED:

His enemies were struck with blindness

His servant’s eyes were opened to see the hills full of God’s army

An axe floated to the surface of water

A dead boy was raised back to life

JEHOSOPHAT PRAYED:

And his enemies were defeated with a song of praise!

HEZEKIAH PRAYED:

God added 15 years to his life

NEHEMIAH PRAYED:

And the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt w/o proper resources

ISAIAH PRAYED:

And he saw the Lord

DANIEL PRAYED:

And survived in a lions den unharmed

SHADRACH MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO PRAYED:

And the hottest furnace in the world could not singe their clothes

JABEZ PRAYED:

And God healed him and increased his wealth and influence

JONAH PRAYED:

And the fish spit him out on dry ground

PETER AND PAUL PRAYED:

The Holy Spirit was poured out

Tens of thousands came to confessed Jesus as Lord

The dead were raised, The sick were healed

THE CHURCH PRAYED:

Tongues of fire fell from heaven

Peter was released by an angel from Jail

The earth shook

JESUS PRAYED:

And was able to endure the crucifixion and the cross

The lame walked… The dumb talked… The Blind saw

Storms halted… Demons left…. Sickness fled

Water turned into wine…. And the dead lived again

1. PRAISING PRAYERS

a. PROSEUCHE – Prayer of Worship

Mark 9:29

He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Matthew 21:13

"It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ’den of robbers.’"

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

i. ASK while worshipping!

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 10:4

Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

ii. These are the UNSELFISH prayers

iii. Remember Jehosophat … PRAISE won the Battle without fighting

Acts 12:5

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

iv. Pray in… Different word (I will cover that one later) with all kinds of PRAYERS (worship prayers) and request

b. EUCHARISTEO: to be thankful, to express gratitude

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.

ILL: WALKING ACROSS EGYPT: Thankful

c. EUCHARISTIA: with gratitude

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2. PLEADING PRAYERS

a. Dictionary.com – in Law – to address a court as an advocate

i. This continues in the “UNSELFISH” praying of the praising prayers…so that your prayers are not self centered but others centered

b. Enteuxis: intercede/offer up a petition for another

1 Timothy 2:1

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Ephesians 5:19 & 20

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

i. We tend to worship just for ourselves… So WE can feel close to God, know God more, be healed, filled with the Spirit etc. But these verses said SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER through your songs of worship