Sermon Central
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Transforming Prayer Series
Contributed by David Calhoun on Aug 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Prayer has the power to transform us from lost to saved, sick to healed, poor to prosperous, sad to joyful, upset to peaceful.
TRANSFORMERS 3
Transforming Prayer Part 1
ILL: Flight 93 Video Clip– Lord’s Prayer… Most people wait until death is near, the marriage is in failing, the kids are in trouble, money is low etc. before praying. God will certainly hear our prayers of distress but why wait till destruction to pray?
ABRAHAM & ISSAC PRAYED:
and their barren wives bore a child
JACOB PRAYED:
And God changed his brothers heart so he did not kill Jacob
MOSES PRAYED:
God sent plagues on Egypt … And God removed the Plagues
And God did not destroy Israel… Waters parted…
Food fell from heaven… Water flowed out of rock
The entire Egyptian Army was destroyed
SAMSON PRAYED:
He killed more philistines blind than when he had his sight
HANNAH PRAYED:
And God gave her a son
ELIJAH PRAYED:
It did not rain for three and a half years …it rained again
Fire fell from heaven and consumed a wet altar
ELISHA PRAYED:
His enemies were struck with blindness
His servant’s eyes were opened to see the hills full of God’s army
An axe floated to the surface of water
A dead boy was raised back to life
JEHOSOPHAT PRAYED:
And his enemies were defeated with a song of praise!
HEZEKIAH PRAYED:
God added 15 years to his life
NEHEMIAH PRAYED:
And the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt w/o proper resources
ISAIAH PRAYED:
And he saw the Lord
DANIEL PRAYED:
And survived in a lions den unharmed
SHADRACH MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO PRAYED:
And the hottest furnace in the world could not singe their clothes
JABEZ PRAYED:
And God healed him and increased his wealth and influence
JONAH PRAYED:
And the fish spit him out on dry ground
PETER AND PAUL PRAYED:
The Holy Spirit was poured out
Tens of thousands came to confessed Jesus as Lord
The dead were raised, The sick were healed
THE CHURCH PRAYED:
Tongues of fire fell from heaven
Peter was released by an angel from Jail
The earth shook
JESUS PRAYED:
And was able to endure the crucifixion and the cross
The lame walked… The dumb talked… The Blind saw
Storms halted… Demons left…. Sickness fled
Water turned into wine…. And the dead lived again
1. PRAISING PRAYERS
a. PROSEUCHE – Prayer of Worship
He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
"It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ’den of robbers.’"
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
i. ASK while worshipping!
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
ii. These are the UNSELFISH prayers
iii. Remember Jehosophat … PRAISE won the Battle without fighting
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
iv. Pray in… Different word (I will cover that one later) with all kinds of PRAYERS (worship prayers) and request
b. EUCHARISTEO: to be thankful, to express gratitude
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
ILL: WALKING ACROSS EGYPT: Thankful
c. EUCHARISTIA: with gratitude
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
2. PLEADING PRAYERS
a. Dictionary.com – in Law – to address a court as an advocate
i. This continues in the “UNSELFISH” praying of the praising prayers…so that your prayers are not self centered but others centered
b. Enteuxis: intercede/offer up a petition for another
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
i. We tend to worship just for ourselves… So WE can feel close to God, know God more, be healed, filled with the Spirit etc. But these verses said SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER through your songs of worship