How To Prevail In Prayer

HOW TO PREVAIL IN PRAYER

TEXT: Isaiah 62:1; 62:6-7

Isaiah 62:1 KJV For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, [7] And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

I. INTRODUCTION—NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

-The tradition with some people at the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year is to make some effort at changing their life.

-Here are some of the top things that have been identified as New Year’s Resolutions:

• Lose Weight

• Volunteer to Help Others

• Quit Smoking

• Get a Better Education

• Get a Better Job

• Save Money

• Get Fit

• Eat Healthy Food

• Manage Stress

• Manage Debt

• Take a Trip

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

• Drink Less Alcohol

-Many do their best but often fail at making the necessary changes to be successful at them. In fact some researchers have pointed out that within less than 20 days most of the resolutions have fallen by the wayside.

-It takes great effort to change!

-The greatest need for change is that which is in the spiritual life of people.

II. TO PREVAIL IN PRAYER REQUIRES TIME

-The passage in Isaiah serves as a leaping off point for us as we lead up to our prayer revival.

-There may be times that prevailing prayer is a fierce but brief battle but normally the type of prayer that will be effective is going to take time. There are few instant answers that we find in prayer. Certainly there are moments when God has performed instant miracles in prayer but those are few and far between.

-Prevailing prayer will require a commitment of time. It is important to understand that we are not speaking of a commitment to the clock but a commitment to purpose in prayer. Those who are immature in their prayer life will watch the clock but those who are mature in prayer find that they are more concerned with a purpose in their prayer. Find purpose in your praying and the time will take care of itself.

-Listen to Isaiah’s testimony:

• I will not keep silent!

• For Jerusalem’s sake, I will not remain quiet!

• The purpose in the prayer was for righteousness to shine like the rising sun and salvation to be a brilliant blazing torch!

• Purpose in prayer will put a watchman on his wall!

• Purpose in prayer will keep that watchman from silence in prayer!

-You who call on the Lord. . . give yourselves no rest. Furthermore by your commitment to prayer, the Lord will never cease to listen to you.

-That means that a man ought to be a praying man and that a church should be a praying church.

-Nehemiah prevailed in his praying:

Nehemiah 1:6 KJV Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

-The record of Scripture tells us that Daniel set aside a routine in prayer. . . Three times a day with his windows opened toward heaven. . . But there came a time when he spent as much as three weeks prevailing in a time of special need.

Daniel 10:2-3 KJV In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. [3] I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

-Paul also found a commitment to time in his prayers. He was prevailing for new converts and for the new churches that he had established.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

-We live in a generation that implies that pastors, ministers, and preachers should be doing everything but prevailing in prayer for their congregations. . . Organize. . . Administrate. . . Plan. . . Manage. . . Design. . . Have staff meetings. . . Figure out widgets. . . Do everything but pray and preach!

-Jesus gave himself to this when he prayed all night!

Luke 6:12 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.