Words that Change our hearts and the world Part 3
Just a little review first
Part 1 we talked about
We should always pray
Prayer is not an option it is a command from God
Prayer has power
Part 2 we talked about most effective ways to pray
Get in a quiet place
Know who you are talking to
Schedule a time to pray
Create a prayer list
Pray specifically
Pray out loud at times
Take time to listen
We know we need to pray and the attitude and aptitude of prayer
What are the types of prayer
– We talked about quiet, alone, prayer as one type of prayer
– We know also that when we pray, regardless of the type of prayer, we need to pray in faith. James challenges us when praying for the sick
James 5:15a
“a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well….”
Through time of spending in prayer we learn to hear from Him and more and more of our prayers are answered because we are praying His will. 1 John 5:14
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”
We need to understand that prayer is a battle. Our flesh does not want to take the time or energy to pray but the enemy as we have seen in these skits especially does not want us to pray.
In Matthew Jesus had gone through His temptation in the wilderness and had defeated the devils advances and in Matthew 4:10,11 we read this…
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Remember Jesus is God in the flesh but later Jesus has to rebuke Satan again. Matthew 16:23
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Satan never won with Jesus obviously but we have to have a “Jesus” mind set to stay focused
Types of prayer
– Thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6 and Colossians 4:2 tell us to pray with thanksgiving.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”
Psalm 95 and 100 tell us to enter into the presence of God with thanksgiving.
When Christ prayed He often gave thanks – Matthew 15:36; 26:26, 27; Luke 22:19.
Praying with thanksgiving should be a regular part of our prayer life.
Two weeks ago we read this scripture from 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
A grateful heart is a heart God can work with
– Supplication – this is a word ill bet you used this week. It is an old word and Philippians 4:6 uses it in the New King James
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
God really cares about you and I know some of you struggle with that but supplication is prayer that you pray for what you need. It is asking for the stuff of earth and heaven that you need to get you through the day.
The Greek word for this is used 60 times in the New Testament
The point being that it is not arrogant to pray for your own needs. God welcomes you with open arms when you take your genuine requests for help to Him.
– Intercessory prayer – standing in between two people, it is praying on behalf of others
1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”
Notice here that Paul doesn’t tell us to pray only for those people we like but to pray for all people…we are to intercede, stand in the gap for implore God for all men and women regardless. The power of any nation is in the hands of the church.
We can stand in the gap for our families, our neighbors, our nation, our work place our schools, people that are hurting or broken and the Lord hears it and moves on their behalf.
Both Supplication and Intercessory prayer can involve, healing, prophetic insight and spiritual warfare
– Consecration – this is the type of prayer where something is dedicated, or set apart to the Lord or confirmed to the Lord.
Christ’s prayer over Communion in Matthew 26, Luke 22, Mark 14 is this kind of prayer.
Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:9-11 is an example of a dedication that does not seem like a prayer but truly is.
So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
Then in the New Testament Acts 13: 1-3
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
We can consecrate our day, our jobs, our families all to the Lord anything that we have the authority over we can dedicate to God
Whatever type of prayer you pray know that God is listening. We are called to all of these types of prayer.
As I started this teaching out
1 John 5:14
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”
So many times we simply throw up prayers to heaven, God hears them but are we really able to hear Him? Do we know that our prayers have been answered.
You do if you have listened over this last few weeks, our praying isn’t simply for us to have what we need, God cares and makes things happen but through prayer, our words do change our hearts and the world.
As we believe this let’s put it to work today, what do you need prayer for? Let us agree in prayer for your mountains to move.
Here is the power of prayer wrapped up in one verse Jesus shared
Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
What is impossible for you right now? Whatever it is I hope you realize now that nothing is impossible and your prayers can change your world!