The Power & Purpose of Prayer

There are many topics on Prayer Pattern of prayer, Prevailing prayer, Intercessory prayer, Hindrances to prayer, Corporate prayer, Warfare prayer… The dynamic duo: fasting & prayer! Prayers that always get answered! Prayers that don’t get answered! Prayers that won’t get answered!

Today we will look at the purpose and power of prayer: Lets start with James 5:13-18 The main verse is 16 (b) “The prayers of a righteous person is powerful and effective”

James 5:13-18 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples Why did they not ask about teaching them to heal, do miracles etc?

Jesus didn’t just have a prayer life, but a LIFE OF PRAYER! Jesus prayed very early Mk 1:35 35 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.

Jesus prayed all night Lk 6:12 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Jesus prayed alone Matt 14:23 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Jesus prayed before making important decisions: a) Before choosing the 12 disciples: Luke 6:13 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles b) Before he went to the cross at Gethsemane Matthew 26:36 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Jesus still lives to intercede for us… Heb 7:25 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.   When the disciples asked him “Teach us to pray…they knew what they were asking

Few Things about Prayer Prayer was God’s idea! (He wants us to pray) Ask Matt 7:7, Lk 11:9, Pray: James 5:13-15 Call on me: Jer 33:3, Psalm 50:15  

He expects us to pray & says “WHEN” you pray Matthew 6:5,6,7,8 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Why Pray? To Partner with God Psalm 115:16 “The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.” We have dominion, authority, God needs a body! He does not violate his own law…that’s why Jesus had to come! When God wants something done on earth, he looks for a body! It all starts with prayer…

Prayer shows our Dependency on God! Its Not by might or power… John 15:5 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.   Jude 20 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Phil 4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.   Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1John 5:14,15 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Hebrews 5:7 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Lord, teach us to PRAY!