Prayer changes your life
Matthew 7:7-11
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Introduction-
I want to talk to you about prayer. Nothing else reveals more about a believer than their prayer life. It is how we approach God, it tells how much we trust God. It tells the spiritual power that we have for Kingdom work. Truth be told, people say that they pray a whole lot more that they actual pray. We are all familiar with prayer terms.
Ask, seek, knock.
The church that prays will reach people.
The weapons of prayer.
Conditions to answered prayers.
When Heaven is silent.
The power of prayer. We know these terms, but the final and bottom line is: Will you pray? Do you pray? Do you know how to pray?
Normally, people get real spiritual when:
1. It’s convenient
when nothing else interrupts.
Phone rings,- stop praying.
It fits our schedule.
2. When we feel guilty.
Pastor gives a message like today and you force yourself to pray. Struggle with a issue. You give a shotgun prayer to stop the guilt and clear your conscience.
3. When we are in trouble
when all else fails....pray.
When you are at the end of your rope.
These things are not necessarily bad, but don’t you think it would be nice for God to hear from you without the beginning line being “it’s me again....help”
Prayer does change things That is an absolute fact
James tells us
you have not because you ask not.
You have not because you pray shotgun prayers that are amiss.
He tells us double minded men are unstable and that they should not expect to receive anything.
Prayer is a discipline. Meaning that you have to be sincere and intentional. You can always find something else to do. In fact, the devil and your own personal desires will provide a whole lot of things at that time you should be praying. There are a million things to do instead. The most effective Kingdom changing prayer is simple. Not a lot of words. And will not usually take place in a crowd, it will be in a private prayer room when you get serious with God. We say that we love God, but our schedules and our checkbook say otherwise. This morning you have a choice,
You stay the same.
You determine and do spend more time in prayer.
You let God set your priorities.
You continue to run your schedule.
The writer and singer of the song- “Don’t worry, be happy” committed suicide. We can say everything is okay. But is it? Could today be the start of something great?
Prayer is spiritual warfare.
There is warfare going on to stop you from praying. There is warfare that takes place when you are diligently praying. Heaven reacts to the prayers of God’s people. Prayer is vital for a Christian. If we say that we put on the armor of God and forget our prayers we are fooling ourselves. Communication with God, our commander-in chief. The one who directs or should direct our lives must be able to communicated with us. I got news for you. You think of spiritual warfare and you think of people “binding and loosing”. You think of people that are used to heal people. You think of spiritual warfare as a militant person just looking for someone or something to mow down. Spiritual warfare is realizing there is good and evil. It is realizing that one group is determined to destroy and one is determined to restore and move forward the kingdom of God. Being neutral is not an option. It is taking the easy way out. Listen:
Frank Jackson gives us an illustration of good battery, bad connection. The first thing we do is think it has to be the battery. We don’t have power to operate, must be the battery.
Tape recorder, we drag our words.
Flashlight, go dim.
Radio, the words just get weaker and weaker. A lot of times, we have some corroded cables. We are not hooked up to the power source. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18. Praying or throwing our words around without being hooked up to the power source is just as foolish. There is limited power and then it will positively run out of power in ourselves. In order to get the full power available from the power source, there has to be a good connection. There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the lamb. Your die hard, your energizer, your Duracell, is the fact that God almighty is your power source.
“When heaven is silent- check your connection”
Let me give you a few things to think about this morning.
James tells us “ask in faith, not wavering.
Come to Him often.
Not only when it is convenient.
Not only when you are guilty.
Not only when you are in trouble.
Pray for yourself
pray for others (intercessor)
pray for the country
pray for the church elections, the pastor, the leaders, positions open, allow God to see if you are the right person for it.
Where two or three are gathered in Jesus name, has the potential of starting a revival.
In your life.
In your family.
In your church.
In your community.
I can do all things through Christ. That is where I get my power
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”
Closing:
There is power in persistent prayer.
I want a faith that works
Listen much, speak little, be swift to obey God.
God can change your life through prayer- through communicating and being plugged into the things of God.
Listen to God’s voice.
Get yourself in a position to hear God.
Pray until something happens Push
Moses prayed and God spared Israel from judgement
Joshua prayed and God caused the sun to stand still.
Solomon prayed and God gave him wisdom.
Joseph prayed and God made him a redeemer for his family and Israel.
Jeremiah, were learning takes our weaknesses and turns them around for our good.
Can we take time this morning to pray?
Can we determine to be a church that wants to be plugged into the power source?
Can we take the focus off ourselves and put it on the things of God?
Would you allow God to change your life and priorities this morning?
Altar:
Special needs
Church Elections
Leaders including your pastor
Unsaved loved ones
Direction for your life.
Those that are and have been sick for some time. (Include Mike)
Take a moment and get quiet, allow God to speak to us.
Benediction.
