#2Why should I pray?

Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

XVIII. WHY PRAY? PRAYER SHAKES WHAT WE CANNOT.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

XIX. WHY SHOULD GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY?
GOD PROMISES TO ANSWER PRAYERS:
Psalms 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

Isaiah 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

XX.WHY PRAY? OUR NATION IS SICK, PRAYER CAN CHANGE
OUR NATION:
A. By prayer we can change history.
B. We have guns in our schools, we need prayer.


II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and 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.

XXI. WHY PRAY? WE START OUR PRAYER AND GOD WILL HONOR
OUR EFFORT AND ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US PRAY!

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

XXII. WHY PRAY? PRAYER HELPS WITH OUR ENEMIES:

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

A. When you bury the hatchet, don’t bury it in someone’s head.
B. There is only one way to defeat an enemy, make him your friend.
C. Feed your enemy and pray for them.

XXIII. WHY PRAY? PRAYER BRINGS FORGIVENESS AS WELL AS
HEALING.
A. WILL WE SHOW OUR FAITH?

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

B. UNFORGIVENESS BECOMES A TERRIBLE PRISON.

James 5: 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

XXIV. WHY PRAY? GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO PRAY!
A. PRAYER RELEASES DIVINE POSSIBILITIES BEYOND THE
ABILITIES OF MAN
B. God commanded us to pray one for another.
James 5:16 (see above)

Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and
wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness,
it sustained him.

XXV. WHY PRAY? PRAYER HAS REAL POWER!
A. The atomic bomb is a very powerful weapon.
Its great explosive force comes from a sudden release of nuclear energy