Prayer Encouragement
Notes
Transcript
Prayer is a powerful instrument that God gave to His followers.
Instrument=a tool.
A tool against the enemy, against our own fleshly desires. A multi-functional tool that we must learn to use in every area of our lives.
Many people may pray, and not be Christians, but we cannot be a Christian and not pray. Prayer is a requirement for a Christian.
“Prayer is to the Christian what breath is to life, yet no duty of the christian is so neglected”
Why should we pray?
As Christians:
We are called to Pray. (Jesus himself prayed.)
We communicate with God through prayer.
Prayer gives us power over the enemy.
Prayer helps us humble ourselves, and exalt God through our lives.(Prayer is what makes us be more like God, and less like us.)
We can vent to God through prayer.
Prayer breaks chains.
Prayer is what makes the impossible, possible.
Prayer helps us forgive.
The power of prayer!
My testimony when I was a teenager.
I grew up as a Christian, but I didn’t have a relationship with God like many young people today.
What happened? I opened doors to the enemy.
I was a “Christian”, but didn’t have a relationship with God. Many of us may be called Christians, but how many of us can really say we have a relationship with the God we talk about. We talk about Him? But do we know Him?
I used to sing, preach, dance in the spirit, even enjoy the church services, but my intimate life with God was non-existent. I never prayed. Maybe one time here and there, but that was not enough to sustain me.
I remember throughout the years life just kept getting darker and I kept it to myself. The enemy used to torture me. Every morning I would hear voices and the enemy mocking me, bothering me to the point that I hated mornings.
I remember one night where the enemy started God started a deliverance in my life.
21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
I remember clearly the pastor came that night and when he came in through the front door, the enemy was not scared of him. He laughed. Why? I desired to be freed, but the person that was suppose to help me, couldn’t help me!
How many of us are ready to confront a situation like this one? Our titles have NO POWER in the spiritual world.
There’s youth that need our help. How can we help them? Many ways! But one important powerful tool that we have is prayer! Our intimate life with God.
I remember that it took weeks for me to be completely free! We fasted, we prayed, we screamed, we fought this battle spiritually. It wasn’t easy, but the power of God did it!
Those doors that were closed years ago are the ones that the enemy will want to open up again even after many years of them being closed.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Be sober, be VIGILANT we cannot be vigilant if we do not pray. If we do not look for his presence. We are open prey to the enemy.
27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Prayer, keeps us clean from falling into sin. It’s very easy to fall into sin these days because it’s Everywhere!
Testimony from 2020- Covid hit home!
Escuadron de oracion rose up!
What we did. How many day and hours we spent on the altar of God! There was times where I was physically drained but I knew I had to be there. I had to go up to God and scream out “GOD! HERE I AM, AGAIN! Reminding you what you promised to us! I’m tired, drained, even sick, but I am not letting go!! You promised! You told me, God!
God spoke to us, but we saw the opposite.
We held on to the Word of God, and the promises He had given us. By faith!
Let’s not fall into the lie that if we go to church somehow we’re still good even if we don’t have a daily relationship with our Father. Let’s not be like the people in the world. We are different! We live holy lives for God. We can’t be Christians that don’t know how to talk to God.
I’ve heard many people that don’t follow God or live holy lives speak about prayer like it’s some type of custom. How they “pray” and God always listens to them. What does the bible say about this?
31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
If we don’t have a relationship with God, wouldn't that make us like the rest of the world? Like I mentioned earlier about the pastor that came to brind “deliverance”, he had a title, our title of “Christian” is not what has the power.
WE HAVE TO MAKE PRAYER A PRIORITY! WITHOUT IT, WE ARE DEAD.
Just like in life we have a schedule, a time for school. time for work, time for church…we need to set a time apart that it’s just me and God!
There’s nothing more that I desire in this life than to become a prayer warrior. Is a constant prayer and desire in my heart, my soul, deep inside. God knows! Why? Because I know if I want God to be my foundation in life,than prayer is what will keep me grounded. I need to learn to stay there. In the presence of the Lord.
So when temptation comes I can run away like Joseph did.
So when the enemy comes with offers I can say just like Jesus said to Satan in Matthew 4:4 ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
So when the enemy tries to bring fear we can remember that 2 Timothy 1:7 “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love...”
Reina Valera Revisada (1960) Capítulo 26
41Velad y orad, para que no entréis en tentación; el espíritu a la verdad está dispuesto, pero la carne es débil
Ana
12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.
13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1:6 (NKJV)
6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night...
Daniel
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Jesus
35 Levantándose muy de mañana, siendo aún muy oscuro, salió y se fue a un lugar desierto, y allí oraba.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
LASTLY
Friday night to Saturday the spirit had this verse in my mind all night, I kept hearing it over and over again.
Lets not just pray for our needs, but for the needs of others. For God to heal others, break chains, save the lives of the lost. To fight for those around us and the lost souls.
37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
In camp they gave a dinamica about trusting in God and how we need to rely on him even when we cannot see where we’re going or see our prayers answered.
There’s nothing stronger than a prayer warrior.