THE POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER
John 14:12-14
When I first started as a professional counselor, I came to that time when classes were done, practicums were over, and it was time to sit down with that first client who was going to actually pay money to talk to you. I remember the agony of the hour or so before the appointment. I wondered if I was ready. I wondered if I could really help the person. I wondered if I had been a fool to even think about counseling as a career field! Had it not been for a lot of accountability, I probably would have cancelled altogether.
Nevertheless, I went to the appointment and used every counseling skill I could remember to get through the session. Months later, as I was wrapping up with them, I shared the fact that they had been my first REAL clients. They were kind in saying that they would have not known if I had not said it.
Maybe you have been in that situation. Perhaps it was the first day on the job, or the first day performing a task without supervision. All you knew is that you were alone and in need of remembering everything you had learned.
This was the situation in which the disciples were about to be. Jesus was preparing to go back to the Father. He had been teaching and coaching and modeling the work of the kingdom with them for three years. It would be their job to continue. Soon the Master would be gone and disciples would be left alone with a superhuman task: taking the gospel to the entire world.
This passage hinges on Jesus’ statement “because I go to the Father”. Because He was going to the Father, the disciples were going to need a special enabling, a special power to carry the good news to the ends of the earth. Because He was going to the Father, Jesus was going to be in the position to give them that special enabling, that special power.
Notice with me that THE BELIEVERS ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF KINGDOM REQUIRES:
I. GREAT POWER ON EARTH (12)
A. Power to do what Jesus did.
1. Jesus never intended for the church to fail
2. Jesus intended that the church would continue the ministry of the kingdom of God that He began while in earth.
a. “he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also”
b. NIV “anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing”
c. Literally, “he who is believing in me, the works that I am doing that one also shall do, and greater than these he shall do, because I go on to my Father”
3. The purpose of the impartation of the Spirit and Christ’s commissioning of the church is clearly directed at the positive advance of the gospel.
Matthew 16:18-19 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven “
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
B. Power to do more that Jesus did.
1. “and greater works than these he will do”
a. “greater” in number rather than quality
b. not to “outdo” the Lord, but to continue the work to more places and to reach more people.
2. History has seen this promise fulfilled.
a. Peter saw more conversions on the day of Pentecost than is ever recorded of Jesus.
b. Paul preached to the known world west of Jerusalem.
c. Billy Graham has preached to more people than Jesus and all the disciples put together.
3. Paul tells us that God’s storehouse is still not empty, nor is His mission satisfied.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Eph 3:20
Note: This power is by prayer as Christ works through us as we ask Him to do so.
Note: A mother was walking by her daughter’s bedroom door when she heard her daughter reciting the alphabet in a very reverent tone. "What are you doing" asks mom.
"I’m praying" comes the reply, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me." Source: adapted from unknown
What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. E.M.Bounds
You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. John Bunyon
THE BELIEVER’S ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM REQUIRES NOT ONLY GREAT POWER ON EARTH, BUT:
II. GREAT POWER IN HEAVEN (13)
A. To grant us according to His authority
1. Christ has been granted the authority of the Father.
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
2. His authority extends to every aspect of the Christian life.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
B. To grant us according to His will
1. “In My Name”
Note: The first time Jesus ever authorized prayer in His name.
a. According to His authority – “Be a name dropper”
b. According to His character – “as I would do”
2. “That the Father may be glorified”
a. Jesus’ ministry was from the Father (vs 10)
b. The Father is the recipient of all the glory of the Kingdom
c. “Hallowed by thy name” Matt 6:9
Note: So that we understand it’s NOT ABOUT US.
C. To grant us according to His promise
1. “Whatever you ask”
2. A blanket promise that is regulated ONLY by asking according to His name the Father’s glory
Note: If it is the plan of God – Ask For It!!
Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold upon God’s willingness. – Phillip Brooks
THE BELIEVER’S ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM REQUIRES NOT ONLY GREAT POWER ON EARTH AND GREAT POWER IN HEAVEN, BUT:
III. GREAT POWER IN ACTION (14)
A. The secret is in the asking
1. “Whatever you ask”
2. “If you ask”
3. “You have not because you ask not” James 4: 2
4. “Ask and you will receive…” Matt 7:7
B. Asking demands action
1. God’s is not a divine vending machine.
2. Prayer without action is as useless as action without prayer.
3. Great Blessing requires great faith and great action.
Pray as if everything depends on God, then work as if everything depends on you. Martin Luther
Pray to God, but row to the shore. Pray to God , but keep the hammer going. – Russian Proverb
He who prays and labors, lifts his heart to God with his hands. – St. Bernard
Conclusion:
It is beyond doubt that we have barely scratched the surface in realizing the reality of this great promise.
What would happen if:
You prayed by name for that lost loved one or friend.
You prayer walked your neighborhood and asked God to bring revival to it.
You began to intercede consistently and specifically for those in need
You began to pray daily for the power and presence of God in your home, at your job, in your church.
You prayed daily for your pastor…
Jim Cymbala, in his book “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”, details the miraculous growth of the Brooklyn Tabernacle because of its dedication to prayer. In 1972 he was asked to pastor part-time a small church in a shabby two-story building on Atlantic Avenue in New York City. The location was bad. The people were few. The facilities were falling apart. In fact, he tells about how a pew broke one Sunday night, spilling several people onto the floor as he preached.
As he prayed one day about what to do, Cymbala writes that he sensed God speaking: “If you and your wife will lead my people to pray and call upon my name, you will never lack for something fresh to preach. I will supply all the money that’s needed , both for the church and for your family, and you will never have a building large enough to contain the crowds I will send in response.”
He went back to the church and told them that from that moment on the health of the church would be measured by its Tuesday night prayer meeting. That first night 15 people came. God began to move. The church grew. The prayer meeting became larger. They were forced three times to seek larger facilities. By 1985 they were running 1600 each Sunday service. Hundreds came to the Tuesday night prayer meeting. God brought miraculous conversions.
Today, besides the Tuesday meeting, there is a prayer ministry in which each hour of each day of the week, someone is in prayer for the church and its pastor. Its choir is world famous. Its pastor is asked to preach all over the world. But most importantly, lives are being drastically changed by the power of God.
