Prayers Purpose, Power and Promise

Prayers Purpose, Power and Promise Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mk. 1:35)

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.

Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:3-4)

Pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17) It is the bridge between heaven and earth to a deeper intimacy with Father God. A man without prayer is like a tree without roots. Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)

Prayers purpose is connection prayer positions us in God’s lounge room where we can share our heart, needs and concerns with him who, welcomes the intimacy, listens intently and answers according to his will.

Prayers Power Jesus in Gethsemane (Mt. 26) facing his greatest challenge – Prayed Daniel – threatened with death (lions) continued to pray 3 times a day (6:10)

Nehemiah when faced with an enemy bent on stopping the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt = “prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves” (4:9)

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. (Acts 16:25-26)

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:14-18)

"Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honours God and brings him into active aid." E.M. Bounds "Our prayers lay the track down upon which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails." Watchman Nee (1903-72)

Prayers power is the manifestation of Father Gods love towards those who connect intimately with him Prayers Promise:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and prayand seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.

if we, who profess faith in and relationship with the God of the bible, become people who pray, Prayers promise is, he will hear from heaven and minister into our world.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Mt.21:22) Prayers promise is, when we believe we will receive

Remember, prayer positions us in God’s lounge room where we can share our heart, needs and concerns with him who welcomes the intimacy, listens intently and answers according to his will

If our focus is purely on the need, prayer then becomes a “want list” we bring to God hoping he hears us but when we come with an desire for intimate interaction with the one who loves us & cares about our needs, our faith is activated and faith brings results.

And as he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense - the prayers of God’s people! (Rev.5:8) Prayers promise is, the prayers of God’s people are valued by & precious to him

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray." (Samuel Chadwick 1860-1932)

Prayer should not be regarded "as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty." E.M. Bounds

“The great people of the earth today are the people who pray! I do not mean those who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor those who explain prayer; but I mean those who actually take the time to pray.

When God’s people possess a heart revelation of the purpose of prayer, the power of prayer and the promise of prayer • they touch heaven and change earth • will I be such a person in 2019?

Prayers Purpose, Power and Promise