The Power of Prayer:#2-POWER
Ephesians 1:19-21
CHCC: June 14, 2009
(from Discover the Power of Prayer by Max Lucado)
SKIT: TUNE UP
Ed: Today we’re talking about the power of prayer. I want to start with a song about prayer. (start strumming with noticeably out of tune strings)
Lawrence: Um … Ed … Ed (trying to get his attention)
Ed: (a little annoyed) What?
Lawrence: (begins to tell which strings are flat/sharp …)
Ed & Lawrence: (back & forth conversation until the guitar strings are all in tune)
Ed: (Explain that this was a skit to make a point)
The time to TUNE up is BEFORE you perform, not after. In the same way, we need to pray BEFORE we start the day, not after we’ve already made a mess of things. When we pray, the Holy Spirit is like Lawrence – telling you what is out of tune so you can fix what you didn’t even realize was out of tune.)
WHISPER A PRAYER
D Aaug A D D7
Whisper a prayer in the morning … Whisper a prayer at noon
G D Bm Em A7 D G D
Whisper a prayer in the evening … He’ll keep you heart in tune.
God answers prayer in the morning … God answers prayer at noon
God answers prayer in the evening … He’ll keep you heart in tune.
Jesus may come in the morning … Jesus may come at noon
Jesus may come in the evening … So keep you heart in tune.
Power of Prayer #2: POWER
Today we’re going to talk about the WHEN, WHY, and HOW of prayer.
1. When should we pray? – As a First Resort
Too many times we pray as a LAST resort! Years ago (before she knew better) my wife used to watch a soap opera called GENERAL HOSPITAL. How many of you ever saw that … now be honest. Of course, I had NO interest in it whatsoever --- I mean who cares what Luke and Laura were doing --- well, I couldn’t help but see it now and then.
Anyway, I heard a lot of what I call “soap opera prayers.” Someone would wander into the GENERAL HOSPITAL chapel and say something like this: “Uh, God, I know you haven’t heard from me for a long time. But right now I really need you. If’ you’ll just help me out this one time, I promise I won’t bother you again!”
It’s too bad when prayer is saved for a last resort --- a spare tire ---something to pull out only after you’ve worn out every other alternative. That’s not the way prayer was meant to be. It’s not the way the first Christians viewed prayer.
In Acts 12 we read about a time when the early Church faced terrible persecution. King Herod had arrested several Christians. He had John’s brother James executed. When he saw this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter also. Herod planned to hold him until Passover ended, and then to have a public trial.
Acts 12:5 says, So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
Herod had the power to completely destroy the little fledgling church. But these Christians didn’t look to government or powerful leaders for help. They knew the truth of Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD Almighty.
We tend to think big problems can be solved through education or the economy or politics. We think all power resides in Congress or the Presidency. Meanwhile, we ignore the greatest source of power in the universe!
Imagine you went to a Gas Station and you pulled into a long line of cars just sitting there. Before long, you notice no one’s pumping gas. People are standing around looking hot and tired, complaining to each other. Some of them are washing their car windows. Others are buying candy and cokes at the counter. Then you see that when they leave, people are pushing their cars out of the station and down the road. The attendant tells you the station has plenty of gas, but no one is filling their tanks.
Would you think those people must be crazy? Would that confuse you … or frustrate you? Think how God must feel when we keep pushing our heavy burdens rather than plugging into the power supply that He has made so readily available to us through Prayer!
Which brings us to point number two in the outline:
2. How should we pray – As if everything depends on God(Because it DOES!)
The Church in Jerusalem knew they had a problem that was too big for them. Peter was trapped in prison, guarded by 16 soldiers, and held by 2 chains. He had a real problem. But the early church knew that behind every miracle is a problem.
What problem are YOU facing today? Do you face something that is beyond your power to solve? Do you need a MIRACLE? Then PLUG into God’s power through prayer. And STAY connected to God while you wait for His answer.
Which reminds me of the new Leaf Blower I bought to replace one that someone stole when I left the garage door open. I thought I’d save some money by getting a battery-powered blower. But I found out it doesn’t have anything like the power of the old one that PLUGED into the electric socket.
There’s no substitute for PLUGGING in to the power of prayer! Sure, there’s a lot you can do on your own. But if you want to make a REAL and eternal difference, you have to stay plugged into God’s power.
Here in our church, we have a lot of wonderful and very capable people. Many of you work very hard in various ministries … whether it’s teaching the children, or helping those in need, or maintaining the facilities, or preparing for the worship service or many other types of service. In our church, we want to do all that is humanly possible to serve the Lord. But God gives us the mandate to ACCOMPLISH much MORE than is humanly possible!
I remember a pastor friend who used to pray every Sunday, “Lord, please let SOMETHING happen today that’s not printed in the bulletin!” The things that really matter here at CHCC are the things that go way beyond our plans and programs. That’s why we end our service with an invitation to come forward for prayer. God hears those prayers, and His answers make all the difference.
David Jeremiah tells a story about a Welsh woman who was the first in her small village to have electric lines run to her home. The installation was costly, but she felt like it was worth all the expense. A month later, the Meter Reader came out --- and to his surprise, he saw that she had barely used any electricity. He asked her why she wasn’t using the power supply --- and she answered, “I certainly AM using electric power. Every night I turn on the lights long enough to get my kerosene lamps lit!”
Does that sound familiar? We have the ability to plug into the very POWER of God – but we plug in just long enough to rev up the power of the flesh … . and then on we go … . trying to make things happen on our own power.
I spent a lot of my life depending on my own abilities. In fact, when I was a young man, just getting started in ministry, I thought I was really something and if anyone could make things happen, it would be me! But since then I’ve learned that the things that really MATTER --- the things that LAST --- can only come through the power of God.
The time I make the biggest difference is the time when I’m in prayer. And the ones who make the biggest difference are those of you who faithfully PRAY for others. Look at what Ephesians 1:19-21 tells us about the POWER of prayer: I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (New Living Translation)
Max Lucado says this: “Next time you complain about being a victim, think about that verse. Next time you think that you’re vulnerable and you have no power, remember this: the same hand which pushed back the rock of the tomb is available to push back the rock of your prejudice, the rock of your problem, the rock of your temper, the rock of your temptation. The power that stirred the stilled heart of the crucified carpenter can stir your flagging faith. The same strength which put Satan on his heals and opened the doors of death and hell can defeat Satan in your life. Within arms length is the power source. All you have to do is plug in.” (Discover the Power of Prayer by Max Lucado Lesson 2 – CD)
Now we’ve come to the last question:
3. Why should we pray? – Because God will give us Confidence and Comfort
The early church prayed for Peter and they got an amazing answer. On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, an Angel appeared beside Peter --- and struck him in the side to wake him up. When the Angel told him to get up and put on his sandals, the chains suddenly fell off Peter’s wrists. Peter followed the Angel out the Prison doors, thinking he must be dreaming. But when the Angel left --- and he found himself standing out in the open street --- Peter realized God had answered his prayers beyond anything he … or his friends … had even hoped for.
Sometimes that’s the way God answers prayers --- but not always. Peter was set free, but what about James, who was executed by sword a few weeks earlier? Did the church pray for James, too? I’m sure they did. The church prayed in both cases. When the answer was what they wanted, they rejoiced. When the answer was not what they wanted, God gave them the COMFORT that only He can give.
You see, their confidence was NOT in what God would do. Their confidence was in who God IS. They knew that God would HEAR their prayers and ANSWER with love and power.
God often answers prayer in a different way than we had in mind. I heard one time about a dad who heard his young son praying by his bed one night. The dad stopped at the door and heard the boy praying intensely, over and over again, “Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo.” The next day, the dad asked his son what he was praying about and the boy said, “I put the wrong answer on my geography test yesterday --- so I’m praying for God to please make Tokyo the capital of Mexico!”
Have you had a time that you prayed earnestly, but the answer was not what you asked for? Too often we expect God to adjust to US rather than for us to adjust to HIM. Sometimes … kind of like that little boy . . . our prayers miss the mark. We need to remember that God’s ways are not our ways.
We often pray for healing here at CHCC. We look to James 5:14 as a pattern where it says, Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
We pray with faith that God will answer. We pray --- not because God MUST grant healing, but because we know He CAN. There’s nothing too hard for our God! Time and time again, we’ve seen God answer prayers in wonderful and amazing ways.
But we don’t believe that God will always do exactly what we want. Our faith is in Who God IS, not in what He DOES. We know God never promised His children a trouble-free life. But we also know that God hears our prayers. We know He cares. And we believe that He will work everything together for GOOD for those who love and trust in Him.
You can be sure that when you pray, God will do what is best. He will always give you the best possible outcome. This is our CONFIDENCE! And when things turn out different from what you wanted --- when you have to endure hardship or sickness or grief --- God will give you the strength and COMFORT you need. He will give you that peace that passes understanding.
CONCLUSION:
Some of you folks are already powerful “prayer warriors.” Others of you may be just getting started in learning how to connect with God through prayer. No matter where you are in your prayer life, I want to challenge you this week to:
* Pray as a FIRST RESORT! Start every day with prayer. Pray BEFORE you make a decision or start a project. If you want HARMONY in your life, then let the Holy Spirit give you a TUNE up before you take action.
* Pray as if EVERYTHING depends on GOD – because it does. Remember that the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you through prayer. Don’t be like the Welsh woman! Don’t just plug in long enough to go back to your own efforts. Stay connected to God all day every day. Live in communion with the Father!
* If you do this, your life will be full of the CONFIDENCE and COMFORT that only God can give!
