The Fundamentals:
Step #5 "The Power of Prayer!"
Nehemiah 2:1-6
Nehemiah 2:4b "Then I prayed to the God of heaven," (NIV)
The Power of God was and is triggered by prayer!
What can we learn about the power of prayer from Nehemiah's example:
1. The power of prayer is not merely communicating words with God, but communion with God himself.
Deuteronomy 4:7 "Yes. What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way GOD, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us?" (The Message)
Prayer does not lead to an experience with God; prayer is an experience with God.
2. The power of prayer does not depend on the one who makes the prayer, but on the one who hears the prayer.
1 John 5:14-15 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him." (NIV)
God hears your prayers!
3. The power of prayer does not depend on telling God what is on our hearts, but on us asking what is on his heart.
Psalms 143
The power of prayer is to join God, not God joining us.
4. The power of prayer is unleashed not by our eloquence, but by our hurt.
Romans 8:15-16 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (NIV)
Prayer is the key that unlocks heaven's door!
