The Power Of Prayer Series

SERIES: UNDERSTANDING POWER PRINCIPLES

THE POWER OF PRAYER - POWER PRINCIPLE SIX

OBJECTIVES:

• Explain how prayer and fasting release God's power.

• Define prayer.

• Identify various levels of prayer.

• Identify various types of prayer.

• Identify hindrances to prayer.

• Define fasting.

• Identify two types of fasting.

• Explain the purpose of fasting.

KEY VERSE:

The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.(James 5:16b)

INTRODUCTION

• As we studied about the power in the name of Jesus we learned that believers can use His name in prayer to make requests of the Father.

• This lesson explores the power of prayer in the name of Jesus.

• It also presents the associated practice of fasting.

• Prayer and fasting are powerful principles which release the power of God in the lives of believers.

THE DEFINITION OF PRAYER

Prayer is communion with God. It takes different forms, but basically it occurs when man talks with God and God talks with man. Prayer is described as:

a. Calling upon the name of the Lord: Genesis 12:8

b. Crying unto God: Psalms 27:7; 34:6

c. Drawing near to God: Psalms 73:28; Hebrews 10:22

d. Looking up: Psalms 5:3

e. Lifting up the soul: Psalms 25:1

f. Lifting up the heart: Lamentations 3:41

g. Pouring out the heart: Psalms 62:8

h. Pouring out the soul: I Samuel 1:15

i. Crying to Heaven: II Chronicles 32:20

j. Beseeching the Lord: Exodus 32:11

k. Seeking God: Job 8:5

l. Seeking the face of the Lord: Psalms 27:8

m. Making supplication: Job 8:5; Jeremiah 36:7

THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS

Prayer was a powerful tool in the life of the Lord Jesus:

JESUS MADE PRAYER A PRIORITY:

a. He prayed any time of the day or night: Luke 6:12-13

b. Prayer took priority over eating: John 4:31-32

c. Prayer took priority over business: John 4:31-32

PRAYER ACCOMPANIED ANY EVENT OF IMPORTANCE:

a. At His baptism: Luke 3:21-22

b. During the first ministry tour: Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16

c. Before the choice of the disciples: Luke 6:12-13

d. Before and after the feeding of the 5,000: Matthew 14:19,23; Mark 6:41,46

e. At the feeding of the 4,000: Matthew 15:36; Mark 8:6,7

f. Before the confession of Peter: Luke 9:18

g. Before the transfiguration: Luke 9:28,29

h. At the return of the seventy: Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21

i. At the grave of Lazarus: John 11:41-42

j. At the blessing of the children: Matthew 19:13

k. At the coming of certain Greeks: John 12:27-28

l. Before His greatest anguish: Matthew 26:26-27; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:17-19

m. For Peter: Luke 22:32

n. For the giving of the Holy Spirit: John 14:16

o. On the road to Emmaus: Luke 24:30-31

p. Prior to His ascension: Luke 24:50-53

q. For His followers: John 17

LEVELS OF PRAYER

Paul calls for believers to pray always with "all prayer" (Ephesians 6:18). Another translation of the Bible reads "praying with every kind of prayer” (Good speed Translation). This refers to the various levels and types of prayer.

There are three levels of intensity in prayer: Asking, seeking, and knocking:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall beopened unto you:For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to himthat knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Asking is the first level of prayer. It is simply presenting a request to God and receivingan immediate answer. In order to receive, the condition is to ask:

. . . ye have not, because ye ask not. (James 4:2)

We have the powerful spiritual weapon of prayer, and yet many do not use it. They do notask, and because of this, they do not receive.

Seeking is a deeper level of prayer. This is the level of prayer where answers are not as immediate as at the asking level. The 120 gathered in the upper room where theycontinued in prayer is an example of seeking. These men and women sought fulfillmentof the promise of the Holy Spirit and continued seeking until the answer came (Acts l-2).

Knocking is a deeper level yet. It is prayer that is persistent when answers are longer incoming. It is illustrated by the parable Jesus told in Luke 11:5-10. The knocking level isthe most intense level of spiritual warfareprayer. It is illustrated by Daniel’spersistence–he continued to knock despite the fact he saw no visible results (Daniel 10).

TYPES OF PRAYER

There are various types of prayer illustrated in the model prayer given by the Lord(Matthew 6:9-13). Types of prayer include:

1. WORSHIP AND PRAISE:

You enter into God's presence with worship and praise:

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; bethankful unto Him, and bless His Name. (Psalms 100:4)

Worship is giving honor and devotion. Praise is thanksgiving and an expression ofgratitude not only for what God has done but for what He is. You are to worship God inspirit and in truth: