The Unrealized Importance Of Prayer

Scriptures are KJV

As I start this message, a lot of you are probably thinking – oh ANOTHER message about prayer – how boring! I don’t need THIS. But THIS show on Prayer has new stuff in it you really need to hear. Life changing stuff.

Definition of Prayer: The Norwegian theologian Ole Hallesby gives a good definition of prayer.

"To pray is nothing more involved that to let Jesus into our needs. To pray is to give Jesus permission to employ His powers in the alleviation of our distress." (copyrighted - from sermoncentral.com).

*** How many times have you heard someone say “Well I guess I’ll just pray, I don’t know what else to do?” As if there wasn’t any REAL hope in prayer?

*** How many times have you thought “Wow, I sure hope God heard me pray. I hope He will answer?

Think about how that lack of faith must look to our Lord, who stands ready to meet our every need, who wants to answer our biggest prayers.

I seldom ever read anything anymore but the Word of God. There is so little time left, I just feel I need to be in the Word. And I teach, so I need to be in the Word. How will I have any revelation to bring yall if I am not in the Word?

But recently, I have been reading up on one of the old revivals. And I had started reading a kindle book at night before I sleep by Frank Bartleman. He was a Revivalist Preacher in the time of the Azusa Street Revival that started in 1906 and he writes as an eyewitness to it.

I was very surprised when I read about how the entire Azusa Street Revival was birthed through prayer! This started me thinking we must surely underestimate the importance – and power – of our prayers! I mentioned it to a friend of mine who said she heard that Rhema Bible College also was birthed through prayer. I was not able to verify that, but it may be true. I know my own ministry was birthed through prayers I prayed for years while I was employed full time in the Oil & Gas Industry. I prayed without ceasing to do Kingdom work instead. And that prayer was answered.

So if prayer can birth a revival that we are still talking about over 100 years later, what else can it do? And What do YOU need prayer to do for YOU? And why aren’t we using our ability to pray more if it can achieve so much?

Why Pray

Why pray? Because HE WILL ANSWER YOU.

John 15:7-8 KJV

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

If His Words abide in us. That word abide means to STAY – to REMAIN. When you read the Word of God each day, His Word begins to abide in you – to remain, and to renew your mind and the way you see the world. As you continue in His Word, it changes you. You become more like Him. And that bears fruit for Him in this dark world we live in.

Another way we bear fruit for the Lord is through prayer – we help pray the lost into His Kingdom. Just as my Mom and Sister and some other people interceded for me until I surrendered my heart and my life to the Lord. And now I just can’t stop talking about Jesus. (They are probably up in heaven laughing together about how they tag-teamed me – LOLOL) And then the people we pray in go on to bear MORE fruit and glorify Him even more. In this way, we also redeem the time.

So Why Don’t We Pray More? – Satan attacks your prayer time - 5 Weapons Coming Against Our Prayer Time Right Now

Satan is afraid of our prayers – REALLY afraid. So he sends distractions whenever he knows we usually pray.

I had missed a day saying my confession prayers lately and then one morning when I began to get distracted, I suddenly became very aware of the weapons being used against my prayer time.

I encourage you to become very aware and make a list of 5 of the weapons being sent against your prayer times. This will help you understand just how powerful your prayers really are. Satan will not bother you if your prayers are ineffective.

***** If every time you prayed, your prayers were answered, how much more would you pray?

This one day I was studying this, I made a LIST of what distracted me: