Power Of Prayer

2003

If I told you that you would be meeting with Jesus, for 15 minutes today, and you would be able to make just one request…what would you ask for? $$…protection…healing…new job…

I Luke 11 the disciples got that kind of chance. They had been watching Jesus as He prayed and really were impressed.

Their request was simple…”Lord teach us to pray”

NOW isn’t that about the craziest thing you’ve ever heard!! Of all the things he could have asked for he ask Jesus to teach them about praying…

I really believe the disciples saw the results of prayer in Jesus’ life and they wanted that.

They saw Jesus pray and they saw what happened when and after He prayed…

What is amazing is that the disciples watched and listened as Jesus preached some of the most awesome messages you could imagine.

They watched as He performed miracle after miracle and yet they never asked how to do any of that.

They didn’t ask Jesus to make them great preacher…they didn’t ask Him to make them great healers…”Teach us to pray”

They recognized that prayer was the key to Life for Jesus.

Prayer brought with it the power to preach…the power to heal.

Prayer brought power into the ministry of Jesus and all those who dare to follow Him and believe…

BUT

Prayer is not some magic wand that you just wave around and demand that Santagod deliver your every wish…like some genie in a lamp…

Prayer, for many, is the last resort. They pray only after they have exhausted EVERY other option.

One day a deacon came to the pastor with a problem and the pastor said… “Well I guess the only thing we can do pray.”

The deacon says “Oh my, has it come to that?”

I believe the worst concept of prayer is that for too many, prayer is nothing more than our duty.

Our motivation for prayer is guilt… “I know we should pray…pray more.”

It worries me when I hear words like “Ought to pray or should pray” coming from fellow believers.

With this attitude, prayer becomes an obligation…a duty…a job.

I want to give you four purposes of prayer

1. Prayer is and act of dedication:

Prayer is an opportunity for us to:

1. Express our devotion to God…

2. Voice our dependence on God…

Prayer is a way of say to God… “I need You Lord”

Prayer is admitting to God that I can’t do life without Him…

Prayer makes you honest…

John 15:5-7 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

If you cut a branch off the tree it may live for a little while on stored nutrients but eventually the branch will die.

If we disconnect ourselves from Jesus we lose out source of power…our source of strength…

But if we are dedicated to the Vine we have the power and the promise that we can do anything.

2. Prayer is an act of communication:

If you need me to do something for you it will never get done unless we communicate.

You will never what God wants from you, unless you communicate with Him…

In John 15: 15,16 we read some wonderful stuff… “15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

Did you catch that!? WE CAN ASK BECAUSE JESUS IS OUR FRIEND

Too often we fail to pray because we fail to recognize the awesome privilege we have…

The God who spoke everything into existence…The God who, with His own hands formed man …really doe want to talk to me…

Did you know that God really is interested in

Your car payment…

Your house payment…

Your need for clothes…

That problem you’re having at work…

That health issue you are facing…

When we realize that God really doe love us and IS concerned about us

PRAYER BECOMES A “WANT TO” INSTEAD OF A “HAVE TO”

3. Prayer is and act of supplication:

Phl 4:6NLT “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”