The Profound Potential Of Prayer In Our Lives
INTRO.: Communication, what can it do for us? Why do we need it? Why is it important? We are reminded if its great importance all the time. Reagan was called the "Great Communicator." We hear of mass and modern communication all the time. Marriages flourish because of good communication. Businesses pay advertising firms large sums that they might communicate their products or services. The internet is really about communication. Politicians do their best to communicate their image as a positive one for the masses. Radio, television, telephones are all forms of communication. The big emergence of cell phones has happened because we like to communicate.
How do we communicate with God? Should we try? What are the benefits? This is what I want to look at today. Prayer is our avenue of communication with God. Today I want to look at The Profound Potential Of Prayer In Our Lives.
First we need to understand prayer is talking with God.
We can see it in the initial steps as we
Prepare for His pardon in our lives Through His Son
We must call upon His name Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
He wants us to call 2 Pet 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He is ready to hear us
He will hear us
1Jn. 2: 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
He will pardon and save us joyfully
Ps. 34: 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Not only will prayer help prepare for His pardon in our lives, it will encourage the
Pattern of His partnership in our lives
Placing Him first
Mt. 6: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Doing His works
Ps 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Giving Him our trust
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
When we seek Him and receive His partnership, it helps us continue to
Partake of His peace in our lives
His peace speaks to our being
He removes iniquity -
Ps. 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
He brings rejoicing to our lives -
Psa 105:3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
Happens one prayer at a time -
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Prayer also helps us to
Profess His purpose in our lives
Eph. 1:15-19 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
His goals should be our goals
Our goals should be His goals
We are dependant upon Him
Ps. 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
We glorify Him
The great news is we can experience the
Power of His presence in our lives
Power to forgive
Mk. 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Power to encourage
Ps. 18: 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Power to heal
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have 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.
Power to help
Mat. 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
So why bother with prayer or communication with God? It helps!
Before Christ walked on the water He spent the night in prayer
Before they came to crucify Him He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemine
Before Lazarus was resurrected He prayed
I could go on and on, but prayer truly does change things in our lives.
Gary Marcum New Beginnings Church 020203am