When Women Pray

WHEN WOMEN PRAY

Text: Act 1:4,14; 12:5, 12-17

Intro: Into the late 20 century women were on the move and they moved from being homemakers to women of the marketplace. I have no problem with this trend. Yet, I think we should be aware that because of the high demands now placed upon our wive's and mother's, the amount of praying that's now going on in the homes has been deeply and considerately impacted. In years past, women who were stay at home mothers were “all day” prayers many of them.

While they cleaned, they prayed

While they gave the children bath's, they prayed

While they cooked, they prayed

While they mopped, they prayed

As they prayed, churches experienced unprecedented revival during these times.

Today, because of all of the demands that we place upon our wive's, mother's & grandmothers, they have a hard time finding even a second to pray for their family, their church and the lost.

Prop: In times past, the prayer movements of women made a significant difference in the spiritual climate of the church.

We need to get back to that place where women pray with out ceasing. You don't have to quit your job to do it, you don't have to quit being a strong women to do it and you don't have to change who you are to do it.

WE ALL JUST NEED TO SIMPLY COME BACK TO THAT PLACE, WHEN WE PRAYED WITH OUT CEASING!!!

Ladies, you can pray when you're are driving to work and from work!!!

Ladies, you can pray when you're clipping coupons!!!

Ladies, you can pray when you're getting your manicure and pedicure!!!

Ladies, you can pray when you're shopping!!! Husbands say no, that's when I need to pray!!!

Ladies, where ever you're at and whatever you're doing, YOU CAN PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING AND TOUCH UPON THOSE YOU LOVE!

Inter: What happens when women pray?

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they#should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them#cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

1. WHEN WOMEN PRAY, THEY TOUCH THE HEART OF GOD

A. You can find support for this in the story of Hannah! As you read the text, you find out that she moved God's hand to action and was that God supernaturally prepared her body/her ovaries/her eggs for an immediate pregnancy.

B. We need to ask ourselves, what caused God to respond so quickly and so powerfully?

C. I believe that the answer is found in her femininity and womanhood. The fact that she was not embarrassed to lay it all out there before God. “She poured out her soul before God!”

D. She made her soul bare before God and had become so vulnerable emotionally that Eli the priest thought that she had been drinking.

TRANSITION: WHAT ELSE HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN PRAY?

2. WHEN WOMEN PRAY, THE CHURCH IS EMPOWERED TO BE A WITNESS

A. To live holy/ pure

1. The weak in the church become strong when empowered by God.

2. We cannot live holy / pure apart from God's enabling power at work w/in us.

a) Jesus at garden of Gethsemenee

b) Paul's prayer for help

3. As we are enabled to live holy, we#are then enabled to witness effectively to others.

B. For preachers to communicate the gospel

Eph 6:18 praying always with all#prayer and supplication in the spirit,#and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

eph 6:19 and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that i may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

eph 6:20 for which i am an ambassador in bonds: that therein i may speak boldly, as i ought to speak.